"This is stupid," Alex grumbled, looking at the video lacrima before her. "I don't see how talking about what's been happening will help anybody."

Eric rolled his eyes. "Kinana said talking to somebody helps with stress." He walked over to Alex's desk and leaned against it. "And you have been the most stressed-out person I have ever met these past few weeks."

Ultear nodded and leaned against the wall. "And since you refuse to talk to any of us about your troubles, Meredy and I made you this lacrima so you can talk to the people you want to. The other guild members." She looked across the room. "You put so much effort into keeping Meredy and me out of jail; we want to help in any way we can."

Alex nodded. A week after the Tenrou Island group appeared, Jellal and Erik came to the office and asked her to let the two girls into Fairy Tail. Since joining, they have been doing everything possible to help Fairy Tail.

Alex sighed and rested her head against the desk. She had been working hard and felt overwhelmed by all of the paperwork Master Makarov had managed to leave behind. "Fine," she looked at the lacrima. "How do you work this thing anyway?"

Erik smirked. "All you gotta do is turn it on and start talking. Treat it like you would a journal, or tell the group that went to Tenrou Island what's going on or how you feel about them leaving." He shrugged and started walking out the door to where Ultear was still standing. "Do whatever you want with it. We'll be at the bar downstairs until it's time to go home." He glared at her. "And you will be coming home tonight."

Alex rolled her eyes and smiled as they left. "Got it, Dragon boy. I'll be down in a couple of hours." She closed her eyes and sighed when the two closed the door. "Maybe I do need to talk to someone," she muttered.

"Snake boy isn't wrong," Hotaru admitted. "You've been distant from everybody for a little while now. Talking to someone, even if it's a lacrima, might unload some of the stress you've been carrying."

Alex nodded and looked at the lacrima staring at her from her desk. "I guess you're right. I'll try to see how I feel about it." She turned on the lacrima and looked at it. "Hey, everybody." She sat up straight and looked at the lacrima. "I must admit, this is pretty weird, talking to a lacrima and pretending it's you guys. It reminds me of the letters we saw in Lucy's apartment that she wrote to her mom."

Alex chuckled sheepishly. "You probably didn't know that. Sorry, Lucy." She turned her head to the window. "It's strange around here right now. Everyone wants to go out and search for you guys. I'm letting them right now because even though I know they won't find you, they'll be mad if I try to stop it." She turned back and frowned at the lacrima. "Macao is upset you chose a replacement before you left, Master Makarov. He thinks I'm too young and inexperienced." Crossing her arms, Alex sighed. "Maybe he's right. I know not everyone agrees with the changes I've made and the ones I plan on making, but I know in my soul these plans will keep Fairy Tail thriving for years to come."

"Don't forget to talk about the good things that happened, too," Hotaru encouraged. "If you feel this journal with bad things, they'll feel bad for leaving. Even though I think they should feel bad for not listening, you would feel guilty about it later."

Alex nodded thoughtfully. "Hotaru said I should tell you about the good things. Even though I may never let you see this, I think it will be good." She frowned. "What should I start with?"

Alex's face brightened. "I know! The first fantastic thing is that Erik and Kinana are moving in together. They're having a baby, and the guild is excited to have some good news to spread and drink to. Bisca and Alzack decided there was no time like the present to finally admit to the guild they were dating. They came to me the other day and asked me to officiate their wedding in two months. Once I became Fairy Tail's master, I had that power." She grinned, excited. "Of course, I told them I would be honored."

Alex sighed and looked at the lacima on her desk, a severe look on her face. "I'm not going to lie, guys. I miss you like crazy, and these first few weeks without you have been difficult. It will be more challenging once the others give up hope that you will ever come home." She smiled sadly. "Don't worry though, Fairy Tail will still be wonderfully chaotic when you return. And we'll have a whole bunch of new members, too."

Alex leaned forward. "Eric and Ultear were right. "Talking to you did help a little. I think being able to talk to you will make this all a little easier." She sniffed her shoulder and grimaced. "They were also right about me needing a shower, so I'm going to get off for now." She grinned and waved to the lacrima. "I'll talk to you all again when I can. Bye."

Alex shut off the lacrima and left the office. Erik looked up from his beer when she reached the bar and nudged Ultear. Ultear looked at Alex and smiled. "Are you ready to go, Master?"

Alex rolled her eyes as the guild mates continued to ignore her request that they not call her 'Master.' "Yeah, let's get out of here. I need a shower and to sleep in my bed. Are the others at home now?"

Erik nodded. "They left hours ago. We decided to stick around in case you decided to come home tonight."

Alex nodded and opened the door for their little group. They walked silently for most of the trip when she decided to speak up. "Thanks for the lacrima suggestion," she said quietly. "It helped more than I thought it would."

Ultear smiled kindly. "Of course. We're here to help in any way we can."

"That's why you're going to shower first when we get home," Erik smirked. "This is me helping the entire house because, take it from a guy with an advanced sense of smell: You stink." Ultear and Erik laughed at Alex's insulted look until she eventually relaxed and started laughing with them.

Welcome back! I'm sorry this took so long. I don't have an excuse for why it took so long, but I am motivated to get this story written. The chapters may be shorter now, but I think this will do for the journal entries I want to do. I hope you all enjoy this story and have fun with the new OCs I'll be introducing. Thank you to everyone who loves this character and the story I've been trying to write, even if I struggle to get the story into words. I'll see you next time!