That evening everyone ate in the master bedroom that Lucy was occupying. Virgo made a delicious home-cooked meal and set up a small dining area in the room for everyone to eat at. The meal was greatly appreciated since it had been a long time since they all had one.

Lucy filled everyone in on how everything went with her spirits that day and everyone was relieved to see the immediate improvement in her whole demeanor.

Cobra knew she was not even close to being right as rain again but having her connection with her magic back, he saw fair improvement in her mental state. She was thinking in a clearer capacity and gained a little bit of the confidence that was stolen from her. He found relief in seeing the improvement, at that moment he knew she would be OK, eventually.

Cobra was more concerned with Bickslow at the moment. He was tense and his emotions were swirling. He appeared very despondent and quiet as he ate. Cobra didn't exactly believe all of what Bickslow told him earlier but he knew that the man was not lying to him. Cobra felt that he was leaving something out or skirting a larger issue at play.

Even the totems were not behaving normally. Wendy had to eat around the small totem that was Pipi as she was unusually attached right then and eerily quiet. Popo was propped on Lucy's pillows and refused to leave her side, Popo just kept repeating "stay" quietly in the background. Papa was on the ground by Cobra's feet patiently waiting for the slayer's attention. Cobra could hear that Papa's soul had something to say but he waited. Cobra wondered why he was the only one to see the odd behavior in the totems.

As everyone was finishing up Midnight asked the inevitable question of the group, "Now that Lucy is safe and settled, do we have a plan as to how everything will proceed?" he turned to Wendy and asked, "What else does Lucy need before we move on?"

Wendy smiled warmly at the group as she put her fork down, "Aside from one more session to work on some of the remaining scars and her feet, everything else can be managed by her spirits and Cobra." she lifted her napkin to wipe her mouth, "As much as I would love to continue staying here if we don't want to raise suspicion we should depart for Magnolia within' the next two days. Any longer and we may draw unwanted attention."

Midnight nodded and hummed in agreement and turned his attention to Lucy, "I agree with Wendy, the next time we are out of town for a job we can hopefully detour back to visit and see how you are doing."

Lucy smiled at the kind soft words that came from Midnight, "I hope so, I hate to see you leave." She paused and looked down at her clasped hands in her lap, immediately feeling the sadness of their departure. "You're right though, any longer and it will be suspicious and I am not ready to go back." She gave a very melancholy smile to the group, "But I will be, at some point."

Lucy wished at that moment that she could just snap her fingers and she would be her old self again. Not this shell of a woman repairing herself piece by painful piece. She wanted to be that big sister to Wendy again. A confident new friend for Midnight. That playful and peaceful companion she was to Bickslow, and maybe more. She also wanted to show Cobra that she was a strong and resilient woman that could overcome the tragedy and horror of her experience.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt the bed dip next to her and Cobra took her hand, "You will be all those things again. I'll do my damned to help you get there. You have nothing to prove to me, I know you are all those things just by you being here now. You are a fighter, just like Midnight and myself."

The tears began to well up in Lucy's eyes, "Thank you" she looked to everyone in the room, "Thank you all for everything." She scanned the room and was alarmed to see that Bickslow was missing. She frowned and paused, "Where's Bickslow?"

Popo lifted from her spot and floated to Lucy, and simply said, "Stay." She hugged the small totem and looked at the others in the room to see if they had any idea what was going on.

Cobra looked at Papa which had followed him silently to Lucy's side. "Spill it, Papa."

Papa began to hover but did not leave his spot by Cobra's foot, "He's in too deep, and he trying to keep, up above in his head, instead of going under."

Cobra growled and kicked the small totem lightly, "Fuck you, seriously, a song is all you got?"

Midnight piped up, "Yea and an awful one at that."

Wendy looked puzzled at the whole exchange, "A song? Why is Papa singing a song?"

Cobra responded simply, "Because he is an asshole that's why."

Papa flew up and bonked Cobra in the head "Takes one to know one, sour snake"

Cobra ignored the actions of the totem, instead, he directed his next question to Wendy and Midnight, "Why are his puppets being creepy?"

Wendy sighed, as she looked down at Pipi in her arms, "Pipi started being clingy shortly after you left Cobra." She looked up at the slayer sadly, "Things have changed since you left, they don't treat him in the same regard as they used to. I think the babies are feeling insecure, but I don't really know for sure."

Midnight grunted in agreement, "Yes, it is not surprising to see Papa with you like that or even Popo with Lucy. Those souls have an affinity for you three and it seems like they are reaching out for security or comfort. Bickslow has not been himself since yesterday."

Lucy sat quietly and listened to the information. She didn't know how to feel at the idea that the guild was treating him differently than they did before, but she couldn't speak to that since she has no idea what it is like there anymore.

She did, however, feel responsible for whatever Bickslow was going through at the moment. When she woke up earlier that day she knew there was something wrong, he wasn't right. Maybe he saw too much in her soul and was too disgusted by what he saw and can't stand to be around her. Maybe he sensed her feelings toward him and it pushed him away, as she had feared. That must have been why he was so quiet at dinner. Lucy sniffled before speaking up, "I… I think it's my fault. He's told me before that when he connects to a soul, he sees everything. Maybe… Maybe he-"

Bickslow stood at the doorway, "Geeze can't a guy take a leak?" as he walked into the room with a careless attitude as he scooted Cobra away from Lucy.

Cobra glared toward the seith mage as he moved away knowing right away it was a lie but eased up when he heard Bickslow's soul share that he just needed air because he was feeling the onset of a panic attack at the idea leaving.

Bickslow sat down next to Lucy, "She's right, I can see a lot when I control a soul. It's like opening a floodgate and it all rushes in. Sometimes it is orderly and linear, but when someone has had a tragic experience it is just a jumbled mess of incoherent information."

He looked toward Lucy, "This is not your fault." He paused and looked at everyone in the room. He needed to get his head out of his ass. The people in the room were proved to be true friends and allies in this world right now. He sighed and turned his attention back to her before he continued. "You were right this morning, there was something bothering me. You went through a hell that no one should ever endure. I had to come to terms and digest what I saw and felt"

In his mind, he was debating on whether to share what he was struggling with since dinner when the subject of returning to Magnolia came up. His soul asked the silent question that had been plaguing him since they had arrived at that small inn, should he stay?" he looked toward Cobra and saw him nod.

Turning his attention to the room, "I felt like I was drowning at sea during a raging storm. Her experience, her memories of the past year just crashed into me over and over. That is something you just don't move on from like it never happened." He grabbed Lucy's hand, "I'm not leaving when they go back to Magnolia. I can't go back and face the guild knowing what I know now." he put his head down and shook it, "We failed her and we failed her HARD." He looked up at everyone else, "I am not going to make that mistake twice, I'm staying by her side." He looked down when he felt a tight squeeze of his hand.

Lucy looked up at Bickslow, she suddenly did not feel alone in her ordeal, even if she never wanted anyone else to ever experience it. She smiled at him in thanks and felt utter and total relief knowing that he was going to be staying.

Wendy took careful measure of his words, "I am sorry we failed you Lucy." her attention turned to Bickslow, "You need to stay." Wendy began to shed silent tears, she knew things were bad for Lucy but she didn't truly understand. She got up and joined Bickslow and Lucy, hugging them tightly.

Midnight smiled at the exchange then shared his thoughts, "I agree with Wendy. Bickslow, you belong here with Lucy and Cobra. We will just tell the guild that we ran into Cobra and you decided to aid him in the search for Lucy."

Wendy nodded, "That is a good plan, it's not a lie that will be detectable to the other slayers."

Cobra shook his head, "Ok enough of this touchy feel shit. It's making my skin crawl." he stood abruptly, "Let's get this shit cleaned up so Sunshine here can rest. She is tired as fuck right now and won't admit it."

Lucy gawffed at the man, "I am not."

Cobra simply gave her a pointed look, "You can't bullshit a bullshitter sweetheart."

As Bickslow rose from his spot, he grabbed Lucy's dishes and as he did so, all his babies except Poppo followed him.

"Stay" was all Poppo said and Lucy hugged the small totem to her chest, "You can cuddle with me sweet pea"

Everyone exited the room with their dishes just as Virgo emerged to put away the dining set up back into the celestial realm. She then proceeded to help Lucy prepare for a night of much-needed sleep.

Midnight and Cobra were sharing a room in the cabin. Cobra sat in a comfortable chair near the window and Midnight was sitting on his bed. It was the first real opportunity they had to themselves since Bickslow, Wendy, and Midnight arrived.

Cobra played with the label on his bottle of beer as Midnight just watched him. This was a normal interaction between the two long time companions. Midnight would watch Cobra, read his tells and then figure out how to get the slayer talking without getting poisoned.

Cobra, for the most part, heard Midnight's soul and pretty much knew what was coming so he took the silence as a time to gather his thoughts about whatever Midnight wanted to ask him.

Midnight noted how the slayer fidgeted, his knee bouncing a mile a minute, staring intensely at the bottle in his hands. Midnight knew the man well enough to know that he was struggling with something. Being the ever astute observer that he was he figured it had a lot to do with a certain blonde and a certain soul seer.

From years together, Midnight watched as the slayer held his cards very close to his chest. The few times he extended himself in the past he had been burned, badly. Cobra was not the destructive, vindictive, and violent man he was today for no good reason. Emotions were held close to his chest and he kept a time hardened mask on at almost all times.

So it was a bit of a surprise to Midnight to see that his mask was cracking. Yes, Cobra formed close bonds with Wendy and Bickslow when he was at the guild but in his absence, the bonds only seemed to grow stronger. Midnight understood that they were the only ones allowed to ever see him like this.

Wendy was a female dragon slayer and the only one in Fiori at that. Midnight wasn't foolish enough not to read on up his enemies when they were just that so long ago. She was reaching the age where her dragoness was beginning to exert authority over the male slayers. She was a queen and didn't even know it, Midnight watched from the sidelines as the other slayers resisted the instinct to follow. This created turmoil on a level that Midnight doubted even the slayers were aware of.

Cobra, despite his asshole ways, is the only slayer to give the little queen the respect she demanded and deserved which formed a kinship between the two of them that was not seen among any of the other slayers. Again, Midnight doubted that all parties involved were even aware of their actions. It did bring more negative attention to Cobra for forming any kind of connection with the guild's sweetheart. Wendy, for her part, grew more frustrated with the ignorance the guild exhibited over all of it.

Bickslow formed an immediate bond with Cobra from the moment the doors opened at Fairy Tail. The ease that they felt around each other was noticeable to Midnight and Wendy. Her instincts told her it was more than friendship but Midnight wasn't so sure since Cobra's history was pretty blank when it came to matters of the heart.

Either way, their connection put Bickslow even closer to the fringes of the guild's social dynamic. He saw the decline in Bickslow after Cobra left and it was painful to watch. It was something he knew the seith mage regretted every day, not going with his gut and leaving with Cobra. If Midnight had to guess, fear was the biggest factor in not joining Cobra. Fear of what though, he wasn't sure. Some may have perceived him as weak, but the seith mage was by no means weak. He was stronger than many in the guild and no one truly acknowledged it. Midnight was pleased with Bickslow's decision to stay. Lucy would benefit from his presence as well as Cobra.

In Midnight's internal musings he knew what he wanted to ask, a question that he thought the slayer needed to address. So without directly asking, "Erik, how do you feel about Bickslow's decision to stay and not return to Magnolia."

Cobra looked up at Midnight, he knew what the reflector mage really wanted to ask but he figured he would play along. "It's a good decision for himself, he needs to be with Lucy as much as she needs to be with him."

Midnight exhaled audibly, he should have expected this by now, but it had been a while since he spent time with his friend. "How will his decision affect you?"

Cobra smirked, "Just fine, I will have help getting Tits McGee back in fighting shape."

Midnight just frowned, to which Cobra turned serious, "Just ask the fucking question, if you want to dance then I can fucking dance."

"What are your feelings for Bickslow?" Midnight had an air of agitation to his voice,

"There it is, well glam puss, like people always throw out, 'it's complicated'." Cobra leaned back in his chair, setting the beer on the table.

"Care to elaborate?" Midnight asked, hoping to get the slayer to expand on his vague answer.

"They are meant for each other. Their souls blend like sections of an orchestra playing the same piece. I don't know where that leaves me."

Midnight smirked, "Why is that any concern of yours?"

Cobra's tone of voice turned dark, "Because, I am a selfish prick and want him for myself." he paused and said more quietly, "I want her for myself too."

Midnight thought for a moment, "So you are attracted to both of them?"

Cobra nodded his head curtly.

Midnight's next question royally irritated Cobra, "So, is it your dragon that desires them?"

Cobra stood abruptly, "Fuck my dragon, how about what I want. Which, for the record, never fucking works out because I have the worst fuckin' luck in life and that is the last thing those two need to deal with."

Midnight watched Cobra pace the room, and wondered how much digging Cobra did listening in to them, "How do they feel about you?"

Cobra stopped with his back to Midnight, that was a good question, "I… I am not really sure. Bickslow's actions contradict what his soul sounds like. Clearly, he and Lucy are meant for each other but, at the same time he… I don't fuckin' know."

Cobra turned toward Midnight, "He closed himself up, I can't hear his damned soul as clearly anymore."

Midnight nodded his head, that was what was bothering Cobra. If his long time friend was nothing else, he was in the very least a nosey motherfucker. "What about Lucy?"

Cobra sat again, his body unsettled and fidgety, "She's not in any shape to think about shit like that. She wasn't afraid of me though."

Midnight gave his friend a look that questioned what he meant by that.

"When I found her in that cesspool, I lost my fuckin' shit. She watched me kill the entire guild and all she could think about was how cute I looked when I was smiling and doing something I enjoyed. I was covered in blood and she didn't bat an eye."

Midnight processed that information, "Wasn't she drugged?"

Cobra nodded his head, "Yea, but her soul, her soul didn't have an ounce of fuckin' fear in it, she didn't even flinch. Fuck, even your soul is alarmed when I am in one of those moods."

Midnight nodded, "Yes, well I don't exactly find maiming and killing fun like you do." then he smiled at the slayer, "Who knew the light of Fairy Tail had a dark side."

Cobra shook his head, "That's the thing, I don't think she does. I know barely anything about her yet for some fucked up reason it feels like I have been with her forever." Cobra sighed and relaxed back into his chair, "This is just so fucked up Macbeth. I've been alone for months and I was so fuckin' lonely and so fuckin' determined to find her and I don't understand why."

Midnight just smiled at his friend, "You'll figure it out in due time Erik. I am going to get some sleep now." Midnight stretched his limbs and yawned, he laid down and before he even truly settled in he was fast asleep.

Cobra decided he had thought enough for the evening and crawled into his own bed and was asleep in no time as well.