As Lucy sat in the backyard stretching her muscles before beginning her physical therapy with Capricorn, she dwelled on how she used to wonder what life would be like if she ever escaped her ordeal. Would things return to normal? She had entertained thoughts about reuniting with her friends, hot baths, and meals. After some time those thoughts had morphed into wondering where she was going in life. Thoughts of leaving wizardry and opening her own shop selling stationery goods. Her future house and gardens with some faceless romantic interest. After a few weeks of daily abuse, the ideas started to seem absurd and she had abandoned it much like how she felt her family had abandoned her.

She often thought about the actions and plans that Fairy Tail was making to get her back, but after months of struggle, hunger, and torture she gave up on the idea. She started to question her value as a person, what her purpose in life as if she was even worth saving, her sanity was slipping.

What Cobra never realized was the day he rescued her was the day she gave up hope. She finally released the final thoughts of who would come to her rescue. She resigned herself to the torment and torture until her will to live was extinguished.

Lucy felt such overwhelming gratitude for gaining a second chance. She vowed to herself that she would not waste a second opportunity to live life. She wanted to become a better mage than she was before. To be someone that her spirits could count on because despite being assured by every single one of them that it was OK, to Lucy it would never be OK.

Cobra and Bickslow watched on from the house as the blonde was going over her daily physical therapy routine with Capricorn in the backyard training area. Time had flown by quickly for the three temporary housemates. Bickslow, Cobra, and Lucy's spirits made some adjustments to the existing training area to accommodate the abilities of Bickslow and Cobra and to add some elements that would assist Lucy in her physical therapy.

Capricorn began working with her just a few days after the casts had been removed. Everything healed great after a brief lacrimal check-up from Wendy. However, the scarring on her body was a clear indication that she had not been OK. She just needed to build strength, surety, and flexibility in her whole body, not just the recently healed limbs.

Cobra watched and listened carefully to Lucy as she maneuvered with a variety of balls and straps. It had been three weeks since the casts were removed and she was still very stiff and unsure of herself both mentally and physically.

Tensions ran unevenly through the house in those weeks. All three companions had their moments of surety, doubt, and confusion. The only person who had the one up on everyone was Cobra since he could hear their souls. Granted, he was beginning to doubt he was the only one with some semblance of the ability.

Lucy had been unaware of it, but she was beginning to answer and comment on some of Cobra's mental musings. Cobra was too unnerved to even mention it. In the meantime, he also discovered that Lucy's spirits would sometimes come out on their own when Bickslow would mention them in passing. Virgo was the most common since she prided herself on taking care of her Princess and her companions.

Lucy and Bickslow just chalked it up to Virgo's usual attentiveness and ability to come out of her own gate. It was only Cobra who picked up on oddities in the beginning. He knew something was brewing but in his own stubbornness, he refused to really examine the situation.

Bickslow was a whole other anomaly that was starting to irk him. The tiresome little shit called Papa was always at Cobra's side. It was strange behavior and everyone knew it but no one acknowledged it.

Papa was currently settled on the table in front of Cobra. The totem pulled him out of his thoughts when he spoke, "Just ask Daddy you spineless snake".

Cobra drew his brows together and flicked the totem with his fingers, "Why are you always so god damned rude?"

Papa lifted in the air "I'll be nice when you get your head out of your ass."

Cobra growled and turned to Bickslow who was just smiling at the usual exchange.

"Why the fuck does he do this?" Cobra asked in a raised voice.

"The hell if I know." Bickslow just gave his usual tongue lolling in response.

"Liar" Cobra said angrily, "This one has always been a pain in my ass, constantly hovering." He stood abruptly knocking over the chair. He was getting irrationally upset and he knew it but he was getting pissed at the nonchalant and dismissive attitude of the Seith mage. Lolling his tongue didn't help matters because it was a defense mechanism for Bickslow and he just used it on him.

Bickslow sat up straighter knowing the slayer was more serious now than ever. "Look Papa has always been a little shit. I just assumed he liked you. Like Popo likes Cosplayer."

Cobra huffed and crossed his arm, "His name should be Piss Ant instead of Papa, I am sick of him getting in my fuckin' head and just spoutin' off what I am thinking when he goddamned feels like it!" Cobra was all but yelling at this point.

Bickslow stood from his chair carefully since he was aware of just how pissed off Cobra was at that moment and he wasn't stupid enough to make a sudden movement. The words that Cobra said registered and Bickslow's brain ran through over a dozen scenarios as to why Papa was behaving that way most of which involved his seith magic.

Cobra stilled and looked at Bickslow who knew right away that the slayer was listening. He was unsure of how mad the man was about his thought process though.

"Bicks, tell me what the fuck is going on before I…" The threat died on his breath because Cobra knew at that moment that no matter how mad he was at the man in front of him, he could never hurt him or threaten him bodily harm like he would with pretty much everyone else.

Papa hovered between the two and said in a mocking childlike tone, " Awww… Shitty snake would never hurt his precious Bixy"

Bickslow watched as Cobra's eye narrowed and his aura turned deadly, Bickslow turned his head toward the totem and in stern voice commanded, "Papa that's enough, cut the shit."

Cobra also warned the small totem, "Better listen to your Daddy because I will certainly fuck up that little hunk of wood you call a body."

Those words struck a chord in Bickslow and his frustration turned to anger at the idea that anyone would threaten his totems. He glared at Cobra, trying to control his magic from bleeding out, "You will do no such fucking thing."

Cobra stepped forward at the challenge while he was seething, a small portion of him was quite frankly turned on at the anger Bickslow had expressed. Wanting to see just how far he could push the man in front of him, "Oh yea Puppet Master, watch me."

Cobra moved his arm as if he were going to reach for the totem who was seemingly stunned silent. Bickslow's hand lunged out and grabbed Cobra's wrist, the magic in Seith Mage reaching its limit in containment, his deep maroon eyes began swirling with threads of forest green, "DON'T… YOU… FUCKING… DARE" he ground out.

The slayer stared back at the seith mage in total and complete fascination. The anger and devotion he exhibited toward his souls made Cobra feel a pang of loneliness and jealousy that no one would ever fight for him that way.

Papa settled himself onto a small side table nearest Cobra, "Daddy would, so would Cosplayer."

Cobra heard the small totem but was too preoccupied with staring into Bickslow's eyes. It was almost as if watching the swirl of colors mix and blend were melting away his will to fight. He was having trouble recalling exactly how they ended up like this.

Something important was hovering at the edge of Cobra's brain but he couldn't grasp the idea that was floating in his head. He felt far too much euphoria staring into Bickslow's eyes, he wanted nothing more than to embrace the man and never let him go but something was nagging at the edges of his consciousness.

Bickslow caught on to what was happening and began to panic, he was not in control of his magic, and very slowly he was rolling Cobra's mind. Something was preventing him from stopping though. He wasn't sure what it was but as the poison slayer in front of him stared into his eyes, he felt equally lost looking into the deep plum color of Cobra's iris. Bickslow wished he had both eyes at that moment because it was so beautiful to look at.

A shower of gold appeared out of nowhere, both men far too engrossed in each other to notice or care. From the outside it looked bizarre and awkward, two men ready to engage in some kind of fight only now they were stock still.

Loke looked around for Lucy but was confused to see she was not present. He then turned his attention over to Bickslow who stood next to him and then over to Virgo who was standing by Cobra also looking for her master.

"What the hell is going on?" Leo asked

"I am not sure Big Brother, but I thought Lucy was summoning us." Virgo's face showed no surprise or emotion as she looked from the Slayer to Leo.

"I did too," Leo responded quickly, his voice laced with confusion and concern.