A/N: I'd like to issue a warning that this chapter includes spoilers for the aftereffects of the Grand Wizard Tournament arc.

Chapter Seven:

Their upcoming job was to take place in the land of Joya and they would leave the next morning. Lucy, Grey, and Jellal had spent most of the afternoon at the public library scouring the shelves for books, documents, and periodicals about Joya. Their other teammates lacked the patience for such delicate research and Erza needed to pack. The reference material they had gathered was stacked high on their table and they could hardly see one another past the mountain of books.

Lucy had her enchanted super fast reading glasses in her pocket, but was studying the map of the region first. "So, Joya is located east of Fiore. It's neighbors to the north and south are Iceberg and Desierto respectively. No wonder the man build a casino there. It's an ideal location for a tourist attraction given the less hospitable neighboring lands north and south of it," Lucy said tapping her manicured finger nail against its location on the map that included both topographical details and political lines. "Do we know what the main resource of the land is?"

"Jewels," Jellal said. He stood and began to pace alongside the table. He flipped through a few pages of his book. "It says here that the land was named Joya because of the jewels mined there. There is some farming, but the country is landlocked on all borders, but one small sliver to the common sea. It relies heavily on imports and exports."

"Ur used to have Lyon and me train in the country of Iceberg. I remember the locals talking about the precious stones of Joya. You're the cultured one of us, Lucy. Did you know anything about the area?"

She shook her head. "No, but after my mother died father didn't exactly invest in any new jewelry." Her hand went automatically to her neck. She'd decided that morning to wear an opal necklace that once belonged to her mother. She unhooked the clasp on the back and examined the jewel. She could faintly see an engraving on the setting that the opal resided within. From the Land of Joya, was on the back of it. "It seems this necklace hailed from there."

"Okay, so we have motive. Someone could be trying to sabotage this casino in order to have better access to a series of mines in the area, perhaps?" Gray suggested. He flipped to another periodical. He'd taken the assignment of researching current events from the Joya newspapers. "While the motive of greed is certainly a strong one there must be more to the mystery. The common trend I've found with the newspapers is two fold. There's been a great number of disappearances of youths and children and the senior citizens' homes are filled to capacity."

"That is odd," Lucy agreed. "We'll need to interview the staff at the senior citizens facilities and talk to the police once we get there. Mystogan, I think you should stick to the shadows. Explore the casino and the nearby grounds and keep a special close eye on any youths you happen to cross." She had to remind herself to call the blue-haired mage by his moniker and not his real name because his identity was to remain a secret.

Gray had moved aside a stack of books and Lucy could see him smiling at her through the tunnel he'd created. "What?" she asked, feeling self conscious. Why was he smiling at her? She wasn't even wearing the silly looking enchanted reading glasses.

"It's just nice to hear you take charge, is all," Gray said. He pushed the books back together and she couldn't see him anymore. What was that supposed to mean? And why was he hiding behind the books now?

"Um, thanks," Lucy said. "Does that sound good to you, Mystogan?"

"It's what I would have suggested," Jellal agreed. He moved his chair from the edge of the table and put it next to Lucy's. "Can I ask you a question, Lucy?"

Why was he so close? Gray moved aside the books once more so that he had a clear view. Lucy shot him a quick, what do you think this is about look, to which he shrugged. "Sure, what is it?"

"Do you think Erza will be okay with me on this mission?" Jellal asked. It was strange to see the stoic and confident man look so unsure of himself.

"You've known her for longer than any of us," Lucy said carefully. She didn't want to tell him that he'd been the one to break Erza's heart, smash it, and then burn it to cinders. That should be something he figured out on his own, right?

"She didn't seem pleased to see me at the guild hall."

"The last time you saw her, she confessed her feelings and you told her you had a fiancé. I would want to avoid an engaged person whom I had feelings for too," Lucy said. She looked over at Gray and he was pressing his lips tightly together. The scenario was oddly similar to hers with Natsu that resulted in her current sort of relationship with Gray.

"Sometimes, you need to distance yourself from that person in order to move on," Gray added. He was still looking at Lucy. She shifted in her chair, uncomfortable under the intensity of his dark gaze.

"You were lying though, weren't you?" Lucy added, looking back to Jellal. She reached for his hand and held it reassuringly. "You were hoping to protect her. You didn't feel worthy of her?"

Jellal squeezed her hand and then released it. "That's an insightful reasoning," he answered. "However, you were all gone for seven years. It was plausible that during that time I met someone."

"I was with Ultear when she died," Gray said. Lucy turned back to him and wondered when this had taken place. She'd have remembered seeing the former terrorist turned avenger.

"Impossible," Jellal whispered.

"We were leaving the tournament and I felt a familiar chill in the air. I saw her, as an old woman in the street. She turned back the hand of time and saved my life and countless others," Gray said. He touched his temple and side of his head. "I died from a shot to the head, but when she turned back time I was able to avoid the attack. She gave her years of life so that we might have time reversed."

Lucy reached through the tunnel of books and took Gray's hand in sympathy. She had no idea that he'd come so close to death as to have actually felt it take place. He gripped her hand tight in return. "I rushed out into the street and managed to reach her side shortly before she collapsed," Gray said. Lucy remembered that. She'd wondered why he had stopped their carriage and she remembered seeing him in the middle of the street holding a dying old woman. "So, Ultear's loss is why your guild disbanded and you came here. Was she your fiancé?"

"No," Jellal said. He blew out a frustrated breath that ruffled his long bangs. "I invented a fiancé so as to discourage Erza. I didn't want her wasting her time on someone as damaged as I am. But, before she died Ultear wrote a letter to Meredy and myself. She made us promise that we would seek out our happiness."

Lucy fisted her free hand and tucked it under her chin to look over at Jellal, her heart strings had been successfully tugged upon. "That's very romantic."

"Yes, well, I'm not sure she feels the same," Jellal said standing and taking another book from the stack. "I think I'll check this book out and bring it with us. It's a history book about the land of Joya that includes local myths and legends. It could serve as a useful reference tool. I will see you at the train in the morning."

Lucy and Gray watched him leave and it was then that Lucy realized she was still holding Gray's hand. They met each other's eyes, dark blue met honey brown and they both seemed to realize what they were doing. They released hands simultaneously, a blush of rosy red had spread across Gray's cheeks and Lucy could feel the warmth of her own face. "So, we should probably start putting some of the books back," she suggested.

"Yes, of course," Gray agreed. He had already scooped a huge stack into his arms and started stalking away from the table.

Lucy took a moment to appreciate her half-naked friend's strong muscular back. Apparently somewhere in that little interlude of releasing each other's hands and gathering a stack of books the ice mage had lost his shirt. Lucy picked up the discarded clothing from the floor and draped it over the back of his chair. He'd figure it out when he came back for another round of books to put away.

OoO

Erza had three suit cases laid out across her bed, an open closet, and an empty set of drawers. The laundry service would be knocking on her door shortly to bring back her cleaned clothing from her last job. Frankly, she didn't know what to bring with her on this trip. She didn't know what to bring on most trips. That's why she brought so much! And then, she'd end up not using but a fraction of the things she brought. If she wanted a change of clothing normally she'd just requip and not even use the outfits she packed so carefully.

This time would be different. She was only going to bring three suitcases full of clothing. A fourth suitcase would have spare weapons. And a fifth suitcase would have hair products. Five suitcases wouldn't be bad. It was stupid, but she felt self-conscious to bring as many bags as usual since Jellal had invited himself along on their job. Why was she worried that he might think she was materialistic?

There was a knock on her front door. The laundry service had arrived. The mage in charge of the laundry had a knack for delivery too and suddenly all the clean clothing filled Erza's set of drawers and closet. Erza started the painstaking task of deciding on her outfits. She'd pack for winter coldness, autumn chilliness, and spring time briskness just in case the weather in Joya had fluctuations. And a swimsuit. She'd pack a swimsuit, because surely a fancy casino had a pool. And since it was a fancy casino and she was supposed to blend in she packed a couple of fancy gowns and cocktail dresses that Lucy had helped her find a few months ago. And shoes, she needed an assortment.

Erza stepped back proud of her downsizing the amount of luggage.

Her satisfied smile quickly vanished when she realized her five suitcases had somehow multiplied into fifteen. It would have to suffice. Still, fifteen suitcases for her was certainly an improvement. Perhaps in time she'd be able to condense it down to five, but this job would last for weeks so fifteen was quite reasonable.

There was another knock on her door. Erza went to answer it and was surprised to see Natsu standing on her doorstep. "Come in," she greeted.

He glanced around and his dark eyes fell upon her suitcases. A fanged grin spread across his face. "Already packed? That's a lot less than usual."

"Thank you, I'm trying to pack lighter," Erza admitted. "What brings you here?"

"The others are still at the library, Happy is spending time with Wendy and Carla, and Lisanna needed to run some errands with her sister Mira," Natsu answered.

That didn't really explain his presence, unless to say he had no one else to visit. That had best not be his answer! "I see. Are you packed? Our train leaves early in the morning."

"Yeah, it's about that," Natsu said. He rubbed the back of his spiky pink hair. "I think I am not going to take the train."

"Oh?"

"I hate transportation. I always feel terrible. Lisanna and I are going to reach the casino on foot. She's already agreed. Since it will take longer we're going to leave this afternoon though. I just, I wanted you to keep an eye on Lucy for me," Natsu said shuffling his feet.

"It looks like Gray will be doing that just fine," Erza retorted with an arched eyebrow.

Natsu's face became flushed with anger. "That stupid icicle. Just make sure he doesn't do anything to hurt Lucy. I know she doesn't want to talk to me right now and normally I would just wait at her place until she returned home, but she wants me to keep my distance since I'm engaged."

"That is reasonable," Erza said. She wished Jellal would keep his distance. There was nothing more cruel than having the man you loved want to spend time with you when he was engaged to another.

"Well I don't think it's reasonable. Just because I want to marry Lisanna I don't see why I can't spend time with Lucy like I normally do. We're partners!" Natsu growled.

Wow, maybe he really didn't understand. Erza reached over and took his shoulder in a firm grip, maybe too firm as the Salamander was now cringing. "Give Lucy space. When you chose to become engaged with someone, that someone becomes your most important person. That person becomes even more important that your partner or best friend." Though in Erza's opinion your partner and best friend was the person you should want to be engaged with, but who was she to judge?

"I don't really understand what you're saying, but thanks anyway," Natsu said shifting so that his shoulder was out of Erza's grip. "I'll see you in Joya in a few days. Remind Gray that if he hurts Lucy I'll kill him."

Erza closed the door behind him. Stupid boys. Did they really fail to notice when they are the ones that hurt the women they care about? It helped to think about her teammates and their problems rather than her own. The triangle that was Gray x Lucy x Natsu was certainly interesting. She wondered how Lisanna felt about it all.

The idea of a train ride with just her, Lucy, Gray, and Jellal made her nervous again. She could use Lucy and Gray as barriers from Jellal, but it would have been better with Natsu and Lisanna too. Maybe she needed a bubble bath to calm her nerves. A nice soak in some calming lavender should do the trick.

A/N: Erza is one of the silliest and scariest characters in the show so it has been fun writing her. I found a map of the Fairy Tail world and it looks heavily based upon Europe. Any guesses as to what might happen on the journey to Joya?