Chapter 20 POV Ultear

I smiled as I walked through the forest. It had been two weeks since Zeref found me and turned me back to my right age. I smiled as I turned my face up to the sun. I remember that day so very well.

I was walking towards a town near the ocean when I was stopped by a man in a black and white outfit. "Lord Zeref!" I gasped as I bowed slightly. "Ultear, you do not have to do anything like that with me." Zeref said as he lifted my chin, forcing me to look into his black eyes. "My Lord Zeref, I did not expect to see you on the way to this town." I said looking at him. "Ultear, what happened to make you age so drastically?" Zeref asked as he moved a lock of gray hair. "I uh...wanted to atone for my sins by turning back time in hopes of saving people from the dragons." I replied looking down at my feet. "Ah. That is a wonderful thing that you tried to do, Ultear." He said softly. "Do you wish to go back? In age I mean?"

I gasped softly as I fell to my knees. "Is that a yes, Ultear?" Zeref asked kneeling infront of me. "Yes, m'lord Zeref." I replied softly. "You're wish, I shall grant." Zeref said as he began to cast his spell.

I jumped when I felt a hang on my shoulder. I turned to face the person and found Zeref looking at me. "Zeref!" I said rather freaked out. "I'm sorry to have scared you, Ultear. That was not my intention." Zeref replied as he ran his hand through my hair. "I did not expect to see you again, Zeref." I said with a smile. "Oh how I have always hoped that he would come back and see me." I thought as I met his black eyes.

"Most people don't expect to see me often." Zeref said with a genuine smile. "It is nice to see you again, Zeref." I said still smiling at him. Zeref smiled back at me. It was a beautiful and genuine smile. "But, what are you doing here; Zeref?" I began cautiously. "I mean, I thought that you didn't like to be around people."

Zeref sighed and nodded. "Normally I don't want to be around people, but I was a little lonely; so I started walking. Some how I ended up here." Zeref replied with a light blush. "Well, it's nice to have you here, Zeref." I said as I sat beneath a tree.

Zeref grinned and sat beside me. "You enjoy solitude, Ultear?" He asked as he looked at me. "Sometimes. Being aline is nice most of the time, but occasionally I like to be with one or two other people. Most of the time I'm with Meredy though." I said sweetly. Just enjoying his company. "You know, the last person that I really had a chance to talk with was Mavis Vermillion." Zeref replied looking down at his hands. "Oh Zeref, I'm sorry." I said as I wrapped my arm around him.

He looked up at me and smiled. "It's alright, Ultear. Really." Zeref said as he put his hand on my cheek. "When did you talk to her last?" I asked as I rested my head on his shoulder, after moving my arm. With a smile he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"I haven't spoken with Mavis since the Grand Magic Games." Zeref replied kind of sadly. "Oh wow. It's been a bit then." I began as I looked up at him from his shulder. "It's a shame you aren't really able to talk to someone all the time." He nodded sadly.

The two of us sat there beneath the tree and talked for hours on end. I sighed softly and sadly as the sun began to set. "Everything okay, Ultear?" Zeref asked looking at me with some concern. "Oh. Yea, thinking how I ought to head home; but I don't want to because I'm happy here with you, Zeref." I replied with a small smile. "How 'bout I walk you home, Ultear." Zeref suggested sweetly. I looked at him in shock. "If you want to, that would be really nice; Zeref." I replied with a smile.

The two of us walked happily towards my apartment. "This is crazy! If anyone asks where I was this afternoon no one will believe me. Well, except Meredy. She always believes me." I thought as we approached my apartment. As I went to unlock the door the handle turned and the door opened before us. "Meredy, you scared me!" I said trying to catch my breath. Meredy looked at me as gasped softly. "Oh...I'm sorry, Ultear. I was getting ready to leave. I also didn't know you had company." Meredy said slightly wide eyed at the fact that Zeref was standing behind me.

I shook my head and took Zeref's hand; and walked past Meredy. "Okay Meredy, where are you doing, what are you doing and with who?" I asked as I released Zeref's hand and put both my hands on my hips. "Ultear..."She groaned frustratedly.

I tapped my foot at her. "Meredy, I'm only asking because I want to make sure that you are safe." I said as my hands fell from my hips. "Ultear, I know that you care and want me to be safe. This is not some cray adventure." Meredy began in a typical teenage attitude. "I'm going to the movies with a boy from school. He is in the guild Sabertooth."

I stared at Meredy in shock. "Are you going with Sting? Rogue? Rufus?" I asked trying to remember the decently looking guys in Sabertooth. "No, no and no." Meredy chuckled lightly. "I'm going with Ogra." I couldn't find the words for what she had just told me. "Please, please be okay with this." Meredy pleaded with her hands folded in front of her in a begging manner.

I sighed softly. "Okay. Okay. This could be much worse. I mean, she could be asking me to approve of her and Midnight. That would never happen." I thought as I watched her face. Meredy looked so very nervous. I turned around looking for Zeref and didn't see him. "Great Houdini act, Zeref." I thought as I turned my attention back to Meredy. "Okay." I grumbled as i walked her to the front door.

With a smile I waved them off before walking back into the apartment. I wandered around looking for Zeref. He seemed to be no where. The last place I looked, my room; is where I found him. Asleep on my bed. Without another thought I changed clothes and crawled into my bed, laying my head on his chest.

I woke to the sun shinning through the curtains. I rolled over to the otherside of the bed to see if Zeref was awak and found him gone. "Hmm." I said as I got up and walked towards the kitchen and living room. "I guess he went home or...wherever." I said as I began to make breakfast before class.

I sat at my table and thought about the day before while I ate my breakfast. "Hey Ultear." Meredy said as she walked into the kitchen. "How was your date last night?" I asked before sipping on my coffee. "It was wonderful, Ultear." Meredy said as she spun around/ I chuckled happily with a smile. "I'm so glad you had such a good time, Meredy." I grinned happily.

I got up and put my dished in the sink. "Well Meredy, I have to go to class." I began as I grabbed a bottly of water from the fridge. "So, I will see you this afternoon; okay?" I sipped on my water as she nodded. I smiled and walked back up to my room to change for class.

I walked to my class with a smile as I enjoyed the sun. I day dreamed the entire way to class. "I have never felt this way before. I have never had a man in my bed before either. Hmm. I wonder if this is what love really is." I thought as I entered the classroom.