Mirajane and Ryker were kissing after their reunion, they felt very good, light after so long apart, forgetting that they were in the middle of the guild with everyone watching them. They had to separate to be able to breathe and Mira looked at him carefully, passing her hand over his face that she hadn't seen in a long time, appreciating every detail, Ryker, in turn, just let himself feel the light and delicate touch of that hand. white that he missed so much.

"Beard", she commented as she stroked it and felt it in her fingers.

"I thought it was cool, I liked how it turned out," Ryker said.

Mira smiled and caressed his face again. "Take it off!" she said in a commanding voice.

He looked at her in surprise and confusion. "But, I like her," he replied.

"Take it off!", she ordered again, with her same beautiful smile, but something about that angelic face terrified him.

"Yes ma'am!", he obeyed.

"You look much better without a beard", she said, looking at him passionately. Mira then noticed something else on his face that made her worried. She brought her hand to his face and ran it next to his left eye. "Why is your left eye closed?" she asked distressed.

Ryker smiled in a way that he knew was reassuring, he didn't want to worry her. "I lost this eye, now I only have vision on one side," he replied calmly.

Looking worried and sad, Mira approached him hugging him and Ryker wrapped her in his arms. "I'm so sorry, Love. We'll figure this out, I promise," she said.

"It's not really a problem. I've gotten used to it, so there's no need to worry about it," he said, smiling reassuringly. She always felt better when he smiled like that and somehow Mira felt calmer.

Walking away, Mirajane held his face with both hands and smiled at her boyfriend, they got closer and kissed again. Seconds later, the couple heard someone coughing next to them, drawing their attention. Makarov was standing next to them with a wide, happy smile.

"Master!", Mirajane said in surprise.

"Makarov," greeted Ryker.

"My children! I am deeply grateful for the return of one of our own," he said with genuine joy. "Ryker, I must thank you for the sacrifice you made, if it weren't for that I don't know what would become of our country. But, I'm sorry for the trials you had to go through."

Ryker looked at him gratefully and complimented him on his words. "I did what I had to do, master, there is nothing to be grateful for. But I think I owe you all some explanations."

"That would be really nice," Makarov agreed.

Ryker was sitting at a table, with Mira on one side and Wendy on the other, whenever she could she hugged him and he put an arm around her pulling her closer to him. They didn't leave him for a minute, while the rest of the guild was sitting, or surrounded, at the table listening to what he had to say.

"So Ryker, tell us what happened?", Levy asked gently.

"To tell the truth, I have no idea. I was in a coma for two months, in the meantime I don't remember anything", he replied.

"Like this!? You must remember something?", Natsu said indignantly.

"I don't remember," Ryker confirmed. "After I blew up that whole place, what happened is a mystery."

"So where have you been all this time?" Gray asked.

"In Seven ," Ryker responded shocking everyone.

"You ended up in another country! But how?", Lucy asked perplexed.

" Seven isn't too far from Annaheim , where we were fighting Karan," Erza explained. "He must have somehow gotten there after that explosion."

"It's likely, from what I know I was found in a river. I don't remember any river there, but I might have fallen into some river and been carried to Seven by then," Ryker reasoned.

"That's interesting," Makarov said thoughtfully, "you said you fell into a coma. Were you in a hospital?"

"No, I was saved by one person. Her name is Alice, if it weren't for her I wouldn't have survived", he replied.

"I guess we should thank her then," Makarov said.

"Really, I owe her my life," Ryker smiled quietly at the memories. "She had healing power, just like Wendy," he said looking at the little girl next to him. "But unlike her, she used water as a cure," he explained.

"Water! Like Juvia?" asked Juvia in surprise.

"Not exactly the same way as you, but yes," Ryker replied.

"That's very impressive, Ryker, I'm glad you're okay. Now, how did you meet Alice?", Lucy asked curiously.

"She was the one who found me in the river, passed out, as she said. She thought I was dead due to my deplorable condition, according to her. Luckily she noticed that I was still breathing and took me to her house to take care of me. It took months for me to get strong enough to get out of bed," he replied.

"Well, what matters is that you're here and I'm excited to fight you again," Natsu said with a wide smile.

"You fool! He just arrived and you already want to fight him!", Lucy slapped him on the head, irritated.

"I'm just excited about the return of a nakama , Luce...", Natsu replied, cringing.

"It's okay, Lucy. But, I'm not going to fight you, Natsu," he said. "After waking up from the coma, it took me six months to fully recover. Fighting isn't something I want to do right now," Natsu sulked at a lost fighting chance.

"Six months to recover is a long time, Ryker!", Lisanna said scared. "You must have been really hurt."

"It's been a long journey, Lisy, and I'm not 100% yet," Ryker responded.

"So it's true that you lost one eye", Wendy said sadly and the rest of the guild was scared by what she said. However, come to think of it, Ryker, ever since he returned, had one eye closed, they thought.

"It was the only thing Alice couldn't cure," he said, but he wasn't sorry. "But it's okay, I've gotten used to it," he ruffled the hair of the little mage next to him and reassured her.

"Maybe Porlyusica can help," Erza commented. "As you know, I also have a fake eye."

"And truth! Porlyusica- san can help you", Wendy said excitedly, agreeing with Erza's idea.

"They're right, Love. She can make you a new eye. It won't be the same as natural, but it can give you a better quality of life," Mira said.

Ryker looked at them all and shrugged. "I don't think it's necessary..."

"We insist!" Mira and Wendy said at the same time.

Ryker shrugged again. "I can't go against you", he finally accepted the proposal. He continued telling everything he went through during the time he was in Seven and with Alice and the adventures he had, at the same time he learned about everything that happened in the guild and in Fiore during that period.

The conversation continued for a long time until Makarov announced that the guild would be celebrating that night for Ryker's return. With that the guild cheered up even more and everyone drank, fought and had fun in the way that only Fairy Tail could do. In all that confusion, Ryker was talking to Mira and her sibilings, like old times, when Wendy shyly approached him.

"Ryker!" she called him. "This is... this is yours," she took off the necklace she was wearing and handed it to him.

He took Wendy's necklace and looked at it, surprising himself. "My dogtag!", he looked at her, she was twisted and singed.

"I found it after we returned to the battlefield, it was the only memory I had of you. I told Mira-san to stay with it, but she thought it would be better if I stayed with her. But now that you're back I think I should come back to you", Wendy explained shyly and blushing slightly.

Ryker looked at her and smiled. He knelt in front of her and placed his dogtag back around Wendy's neck, who looked at him in surprise without understanding what was happening. "Mira was right. It looks better on you", he said smiling at the little bluenett. He looked at the dogtag and then ruffled Wendy's hair. "Stay with her, so something of me will always be close to you, protecting you, even if I'm far away." Wendy smiled and hugged him, being reciprocated completely.

"Thank you, Ryker", the little girl thanked him slyly.

"Always, shorty," he smiled. "You haven't changed anything," he commented.

"Actually, I think I've grown up a little," Wendy replied shyly.

There were celebrations throughout the night and many wizards greeted Ryker and they chatted a little about anything, he actually ended up talking more about the time he spent away than anything else. Little by little, the drunks began to fall into the corners of the guild or were slaughtered in a fight started by the guild's troublemakers. Over time, Ryker began to get tired of all that partying, having never been a party man he just wanted to be quiet and talk to his closest friends and be by his side, especially Wendy and Mirajane. However, he understood that this was a special situation, even when Cana rented him for a long, long time, not that he complained, after all it was Cana Alberona and he developed a deep sympathy for that crazy, alcoholic brunette. It was evening trade and there was no sign that Fairy Tail's celebration would end anytime soon.

"As much as I want to stay, I had a long trip from Seven here and I still need to find a place to stay," he said, feeling tired from days of travel.

"You're kidding, aren't you!?", Lisanna said with frowns. "Of course you're staying with us," she said pointedly.

Ryker looked at her gratefully. "I appreciate Lisy, but I don't want to bother you again. I stayed at your house twice, I don't want to stay three times," he gently declined her invitation.

"Do not be stupid! It won't be any bother, you're practically family, literally", she nudged him and winked at him, leaving him embarrassed. "Besides, I bet Mira-nee would love it," she poked him again and he blushed again.

"Don't try to convince me using your sister, Lisy!" Ryker snapped.

"Then why don't we ask her?", Lisanna said, as Mira approached them. " Mira-nee , don't you think Ryker should live with us again? At least until he finds another place to stay", she asked her sister, as soon as she arrived.

Mira looked at them and smiled graciously. "It is clear! I would love to," she turned to him and jumped up and down with joy. "You're coming, aren't you?", she looked at him with a sparkle in her eyes and expectation.

Ryker has never seen anything cuter than her at that moment. He sighed and gave up on himself. "How could I refuse your request?", he smiled at his girlfriend.

Jumping on top of him, Mirajane enveloped him in a hug. On the way to the Strauss house Mira walked next to Ryker, holding onto his arm and resting her head against him, never leaving his side.

It was comforting to be back in that house where he spent so many days. After eight months he could say that that place hadn't changed at all, or almost nothing, and even though it wasn't his home it was like being at home again. Mira made him feel welcomed from day one and still made him feel good in that place, which he was very grateful for.

They were in the room, with all the furniture in its respective place, as always very tidy and clean, just as the Strausses liked. "Wait here, I have a surprise for you", Mira said and left the room.

"What's going on?" Ryker asked Lisanna and Elfman.

"Like Mira-nee said, it's a surprise," Lisanna replied.

"What's happening is that you're going to sleep in the guest room, far away from Mira- nee - san ! You two aren't married yet to sleep in the same room, that's not manly!", Elfman said in a threatening tone.

Ryker looked at him scared for a few seconds and then smiled at his brother-in-law. "No problem," he replied to Elfman's satisfaction.

The door to the room opened and a medium-sized, beige dog ran inside. Ryker recognized him as soon as he saw him and the animal recognized him too. Wolf ran towards Ryker and cried, jumping on top of him and licking his face and wagging his tail frantically, happy at his owner's return.

"Hey kid!" said Ryker playing with his dog, who cried and howled with joy and fussed with every touch from his owner. "Did you keep him?", Ryker asked looking at Mira, who saw them happy with the reunion.

"Yes, I couldn't leave him alone. Wendy always comes to check on him," she replied.

"I see," he focused his attention on the dog. "Thank you, Mira," he looked and smiled at her. Ryker and Wolf went to the backyard and they played a little, letting the dog finish missing his owner after so long away, before returning inside again.

"Where's Ryker?" Lisanna asked as she entered the guest room.

"He's taking a shower," Mira replied.

"I brought sheets and pillows," Lisanna placed everything on the bed.

"Thank you Lis", Mira thanked her.

"And how are you?" Lisanna asked. "Him coming back like this, out of nowhere, is still hard to believe. I mean... we all thought he died and now... I don't know," she sighed thoughtfully.

Mira sat next to her on the bed and looked thoughtful. "I don't know either," she sighed heavily. "I'm happy he's alive and well, but it's all still very recent. I don't know what to think right."

"And he hasn't even said how he went back to the past and found us," Lisanna recalled. "And to think that he did it and that you were right, Mira-nee . I'm sorry for doubting."

"No need to apologize, Lis. I know it seemed crazy at the time, who would believe it?", Mira smiled sweetly. "But him being there, with us, warms my heart. Helping us when we needed it", she smiled at the memory. "I don't know what happened for him to be there or how he managed to be there, but I'm grateful and I'm happy it happened."

"It's like destiny, Mira-nee . You two together forever and how you liked him when you met him as a child", Lisanna said teasingly.

"Ara, ara!", Mira was embarrassed at her sister's comment. "I didn't like him at the time. It was just... I just had a soft spot for him."

"Of course, of course ... But, the important thing is that he's here," Lisanna said, placing her hand over her sister's. "I'm going to go to my room and leave you two alone", Lisanna got up and went to the door. She stopped and turned to her sister, sitting on the bed: "Don't make too much noise this time", she said and left the room, closing the door, leaving Mira blushing and embarrassed.

After showering, Ryker entered the room wearing shorts and a t-shirt and went to the bed where Mira was sitting petting Wolf. He sat down next to her and petted the dog lying on the bed between them.

"You look so much better like this," Mirajane commented.

"Elfman lent me a shaver," he responds to Mira's compliment for shaving his beard. "I hope he didn't give you too much trouble," he said, stroking the dog while the animal wagged its tail. At that moment he was calmer and quieter, enjoying the caresses, lying between Mirajane and Ryker.

Mira smiled looking at the dog. "He behaved very well. He missed you," she said looking at Ryker who smiled in response.

"Get down, Wolf!", Ryker ordered and the dog immediately got off the bed and went to a corner of the room and lay down. Ryker approached Mira and placed a hand over hers, but he didn't make eye contact with her. "It's... it's good to see you're okay," he said awkwardly and embarrassed.

She understood perfectly well what he meant, opening up emotionally wasn't the easiest thing for Ryker many times, but he didn't need to, she knew how to read him better than anyone. "Me too, Love", she approached him and placed her hand on his face affectionately.

They looked into each other's eyes and sealed the distance with a hot kiss, Ryker wrapped an arm around Mira's body pulling her close to him. She stopped kissing him on the mouth and went all the way to his neck, nibbling his ear, going down and licking his neck, wanting to quench all the thirst she had for all those months of solitude.

Ryker felt a shiver run through his body and felt butterflies in his stomach as Mirajane kissed him. He wanted to grab her and make up for all the lost time, but he shouldn't, at least at that moment.

"Mira... wait!", he pushed her away, against his and her will.

"What is it!?", she said surprised and slightly annoyed, making a sullen expression – which was very cute, in Ryker's opinion.

"Your brother said we shouldn't sleep together, we're not married. And I don't want to be killed by him", he couldn't help but laugh, hearing what he said.

Mira looked at him and laughed along with him. They laughed with each other for a while, until she looked at him with a sinister malice that made him swallow hard. "I'm the one who decides what to do and with whom", she said, devouring him with her eyes. He turned away from her, fearing for what she was thinking of doing to him, Mira crawled closer to him, thirsty for him.

Ryker put his hand in front, stopping Mira's advance and she looked at him blankly and he smiled at her. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the window.

"What… what are you doing!?" Mira asked in surprise.

"Escaping through the window," he explained.

"And where?", she asked anxiously.

"You know where", he looked at her with a smirk. "Wolf, you stay!", he ordered the dog and the two jumped out of the first floor window.

They ran through the streets of Magnolia, with Ryker pulling Mirajane by the hand and she looked at him without understanding what he was doing or what he wanted. "Ryker," she called after him, "you looked like a teenager, hanging out the window like that. And with me still!", she said. "I thought you were tired."

He turned his face to her, smiling in such a way that it made her blush. "Just relax and wait," he said.

Crossing the entire town and heading out to the fields and then to the cliffs surrounding Magnolia Lake, they were overlooking the town and the lake from atop a cliff. They enjoyed the view, the city lights and the starry sky along with the glow of the moon, which reflected in the waters of the lake.

Ryker was sitting on the ground against a tree, Mira was sitting on his lap placing her back against his chest while he wrapped his arms around her. They enjoyed each other's touches, completely relaxed, forgetting everything and everyone, all their problems, at that moment, as if nothing had changed.

Looking at the landscape in the distance, Mira caressed Ryker's hands resting on her belly, she was completely relaxed. Staring at her bare shoulder, he kissed it and placed his head against hers, smelling the scent of Mira's white hair. She smiled, relaxing into her boyfriend's affection and turned her face towards him and kissed him on the lips softly.

"I always came here," she said nostalgically, "it was a way for me to be close to you. I don't know how to explain it, but I could feel his presence in that place. It eased my pain," she said wistfully.

He heard her words and sighed. "I'm so sorry, Mira. I... I didn't want you to suffer, I wanted you to be happy, but I ruined everything. I caused a lot of pain," he lamented, asking for forgiveness for what he thought he did to her. "I just wanted to protect you, protect everyone who did so much for me."

Mirajane moved on top of his lap, lying sideways to him and looking at him. Ryker was scared and worried, she was shaking and crying, shedding rivers of tears. She started hitting him, punching his chest repeatedly, Ryker had no reaction, he just let her hit him, let him vent, let her release all the pain that was inside her. He pulled her to him and hugged her, letting Mirajane cry on his shoulder, she sobbed and even screamed, releasing everything that was trapped inside her heart.

"It's okay Mira, you can let go", he said hugging her. She grabbed him and held him tight in a hug, as if her life depended on it and to know if he was in fact alive and there, to not let him go anywhere.

"Don't leave me!", Mira said crying, almost begging. "Don't leave me!" she repeated.

Ryker felt her pain and sympathized, he felt deeply guilty about the situation he left Mira in. "I won't, Mira. I promise I will never leave you", he hugged her tighter, wanting to protect her and trying to make amends with her in some way.

"I... I don't want to lose you again", Mira said, holding onto him and shedding the tears that were streaming down her face.

"You won't," Ryker held her and pulled her away from him so she could look into his eyes. "I promise, Mira. If a similar situation occurs again, I swear I will find another way that doesn't involve sacrificing myself. I will never leave your side again", Mira looked at him with relief with her big, bright blue eyes.

She ran her hand over his face, admiring him. "I will protect you no matter what. We will always fight together. I know what you went through and I won't let you go through that again, we will protect each other and live. I will live for and for you," Ryker looked at her with amazement and admiration, his heart felt light and relieved.

He pulled her in and kissed her deeply and passionately. "And I will live for and for you."

Mira had her head resting on his chest while Ryker stroked her hair. After all, after Mira let out all her pain they came to a mutual agreement and now they were just relaxing with each other.

"Remember when I first brought you here?" Ryker asked.

"Clear! It was our first date", she replied smiling.

"First date!" he said laughing.

Mira smiled sweetly. "For me it was a date."

He smiled, unable to shake it. "I think I can agree with that."

"This is also where we started dating," she reminded him. "Many important things, memories occurred here. It's a special place, our special place."

"True, I love this place. And with you here it makes it even better", Ryker kissed the top of her head. "And that's when we did it…OUCH!".

"Your perverted! Don't remember these things!", she said, blushing and embarrassed.

Ryker laughed. "You didn't complain at the time, quite the opposite…", he laughed even more and Mira blushed even more. He pulled her face and kissed her lovingly and took a blue wildflower and placed it in Mira's white hair, matching her eyes. "I love you", he said, truly admiring her.

Mira smiled and kissed him again. "I love you too, forever and ever."