It was a fine pirate ship,fitted with with canons at all.

It was when he took a closer look at these 'pirates', it was clear that it was a more organised operation, perhaps privateers would be more apt description.

"Welcome aboard. Do you have a name?"

"... Simon"

He seemed a rather flamboyant fellow with red/maroon suit from head to toe and flowing blonde hair.

"Well,mister Simon. I might as well give you a tour. Shall we?"

He seemed like the Captain or just the head honcho. This clearly was an act and a pitch to recruit me as one of the crew.

He led him down to the lower decks of the ship. He had started to get an uncomfortable feeling about all this as some of the crew gave me funny looks and even snickered.

He must be ready for any situation and had a trick up my sleeve. Something quite supernatural.

...

The team walked along a path in the forest on their way home at Magnolia after a job request to get rid of some critters which affected some villagers and their crops.

Natsu and Lucy were walking a little distance at the back seemingly in another argument while Gray,somehow still having his shirt on walked alongside Erza in her usual heart creuz armor.

She was quiet for some time,her mind was somewhere else. Perhaps something traumatising and a sense of guilt.

Gray wasn't always the sharpest tool in the shed,less so than Natsu but still,so he decided to inquire Erza about her state of being and if something was on her mind.

"Hey,Erza..." she blankly stared at him and caused Gray to momentarily loose his nerve.

'Man, she's scary despite being beautiful'

He didn't realise he thought of her as beautiful and continued

"I just wanted to say... how are you holding up?You've been extremely quiet since,well...you know."

He wanted to be careful and not come off as insensitive. But he really was worried.

Erza closed her eyes,sighed and looked ahead.

"Sorry, I had a lot on my mind. What did you want to say?"

Gray had a good idea of what Erza was thinking about. After all it had only been a few days since the events at the Tower of Heaven and while outwardly she seemed cool and calm as ever,she clearly was still going through a lot.

She had to say goodbye to her old friends who were being decieved after being freed from that cursed tower went on to travel the world. Then there was Jellal,posing as Magic Council member Seigrain. Not being able to save him hurt her the most. There was someone else he couldn't remember at the moment.

Maybe he should talk to her but she's very guarded about her true feelings,always appearing strong,in charge and amazing.

Gray didn't catch the last thing he thought when Erza said

"Gray? You there?" Erza cocked an eyebrow while Gray quickly turned away with embarrassment to avoid her gaze. "Something wrong?"

'Calm down, Gray. You're embarrassing yourself man' he thought to himself and turned back to face her.

"I just wanted to say ..." she listened "if there is something you want to talk about we're right here. Even flame brain too"

Despite Gray's caution,she momentarily closed her eyes and gave an understanding smile.

'phew! Dodged a bullet here ' Gray relaxed for now. She wasn't angry and he didn't want to face her wrath.

"I still wonder about them." Total silence between Gray and Erza "We probably wouldn't never find their remains but I can only pray that they found peace."

The two kept walking was originally going to talk about the upcoming Magnolia festival to lighten the mood but not it would seem inappropriate.

Soon they could hear Lucy yelling loudly while Happy joined Natsu in teasing her.

"You jerks! I'm not walking with you guys till we reach home"

Lucy said angrily as she ran a few paces and joined Erza and Gray.

"Those guys are too much" she sighed and turned to talk to Erza who also paid attention "We couldn't really talk much since... you know. Are you doing okay?"

Lucy asked politely and sincerely which really touched Erza.

"Yes,I will be."

For all she knew that Fairy tail is her new family and would do anything to protect her no matter what.