Chapter 11 -

Pact of Trust

I went back to the guild's headquarters only the next morning. I wasn't worried about my mother's security. I knew she was in good hands; her friends were surely taking care of the baby while she was resting. I wasn't really joyfull to go back there, I knew they would look at me differently; they knew who I was now...

I knew what I had to do. Even if they would ask me a thousand questions about my actions, I had to stick to my goal and prevent anything that could jeopardized it; First, I had to speak with Lucy, Gray and Natsu... These three could definitely cause some problems.

As I thought, people were looking at me differently when I entered the guild's Headquarters, but I couldn't see discontent in their eyes, what could be comprehensible since I had fooled them, sort of... No, they saluted me, smiling widely. A bit surprised by their greetings, I walked toward the stairs and I took a deep breath before walking them up.

I stopped in front of the door of my mother's room; it was closed. I hoped she was fine. Then, a warm hand grabbed my wrist and dragged me away. I knew who it was. Without complaining, I followed the pink haired guy. Natsu brought me into another room where Gray and Lucy were waiting for us.

''What took you so long?'' Said Gray to Natsu, in a hurry

''She wasn't here!'' Natsu answered to his friend.

There they were, in front of me, staring at me. If their gaze had been keen at first, they quickly softened. Before I could say a word, they all came to hug me. I welcomed them. It felt good! However, I quickly came back to reality; I had to speak to them. It was a matter of life and death; literally. I stepped back. They seemed taken aback by my reaction, so I spoke.

''I need to talk to you. Please, don't interrupt me until I finish; understood?'' I said firmly, looking at Gray and Natsu especially.

They slowly nodded, but I knew words were stuck across their throat.

''I guess you know who I am by now. I am sure you'd like to ask me a lot of questions, but I can't say too much. However, there's something I need you to do.'' I said, looking at them, seriously.

''By the end of the week, Erza will sneak out of her room to go searching for Jellal. Even if you'll want to go after her, I want you to let her go, alone. I'll take care of everything; I know what to do to. If everything goes the right way, Jellal will bring her back few days later. I know you will take care of her daughter while Erza is gone; you will do well.'' I said, lowering my head, a bit emotional, remembering brief moments of my childhood.

As they were listening to me, their expressions changed, passing from curious to eager.

''What are you going to do?'' asked Natsu, clearly concerned.

Hearing his question, I lifted my head.

''What needs to be done.'' I said, as firmly as I could, but I could hear my voice shake.

''Let us help you!'' said Gray, kindly.

I was touched my their gesture, but I couldn't accept their help. I knew that they wouldn't let me do what I had planned. I was absolutely sure that they would fight, tooth and nail. However, one life had to be taken in exchange for my mother's; that life needed to be mine for the circle to close itself.

''No, I have to achieve it by myself.'' I said with determination. My eyes started to sting.

''Members of a family are there for each other.'' said Lucy, putting a hand on my shoulder.

Then, I had to fight the tears that were threatening to fall from my eyes, but I manage to speak steadily.

''Yes, be there for Erza's daughter who is probably asleep in her arms right now. What you can do for me is promising that you won't come after us, no matter what happens. Care about me enough to trust me.'' I said, looking at them, almost pleading.

''I want you to be a big and happy family and that's the only way you can be...'' I added, letting a single tears fall from my eyes.

''We trust you!'' replied Lucy who was crying too.

''We trust you since you said you wanted to save Erza'' added Gray, friendly.

''Somewhere, I knew who you were. You look like Erza, you smell like her and you've got Jellal's eyes. Knowing who your parents are, we know you had good reasons to lie to us and keep secrets.'' Natsu said, looking straight at me.

Then, I've seen the three of them sharing an accomplice gaze.

''We will do what you ask us to! We trust you! But, promise us that you'll all be fine.'' said Gray, a bit worried.

Unfortunately, I couldn't answer entirely positively to his question, Another secret I would keep for myself! But I had to answer something...

''Erza and Jellal's daughter will be fine; she will have two parents and a big family who will surround her with love. So, by extension, I will be fine.'' I said, smiling as authentically as I could.

''How will you save Erza?'' asked Natsu, curious.

Another question which I could not answer! I wished they would understand it yet again and they wouldn't take back their words; I seriously doubted they would; they had always been people who respected their words.

''Once again, this is an information I can't give you; you'll have to trust me on that one either.'' I said, looking at each of them.

''We do!'' said Lucy, who was now smiling.

''We will do as you ask us because it is what's best for our family.'' said Natsu as he came to hug me tight.

Lucy and Gray joined us promptly.

''Before going down to business, let's have some fun this week!'' Natsu said, full of enthusiasm as he dragged me with him outside of the room.

Shortly after, we were in front of the building where Natsu and Gray showed me few of their tricks in a fiery fight. As I was watching them fighting, I took few glances at the window of my mother's room. Once, I saw her standing in front of the window, her little girl in her arms. We looked at each other for few seconds. I saw her eyes passing from the baby to me. Then, she turned her head and walked away from the window. Clearly, she was pissed at me. I could manage that fact because the most important thing was that, in the end, she would be alive...