"Do you think I'm underdressed?" Cana whispered to Mira as the two of them followed Freed into one of the many federal offices in Crocus. "Or do you think no one will notice?"

Freed briefly turned around to send the two of them a dark look. A bit tired from the drive into Crocus, he tried to refocus himself as they approached, showed their identifications, handed their bags (and, in Freed's case, his sword) over for inspection before walking through the metal detectors. Freed waited, his weaponry licence being processed. With a tight smile, he took his drivers' licence, weaponry licence, and sword back before following after Cana and Mira. Cana stretched out her arms, swinging her decidedly large purse crossbody. She smirked to herself when she caught her reflexion in some of the dark, glass doors. Okay, maybe I am a bit underdressed. Do the leather jacket and the high boots even out the bra top and capris? She laughed a bit to herself, running for just a minute to catch up with Mira and Freed. Mira teasingly pulled at her hand once she caught up, as if keeping her with them. Despite the uneasy mood that hanged over the three of them since having decided to go into Crocus a few days before, everything felt lighter. Freed paused a little bit before the room they had been directed to. Cana and Mira stood beside him, trying to see if he were okay. After a moment, Cana gave him a hug, brushing off his shoulders in an almost motherly way.

"Come on, Freed," She teased. "You want answers or not?"

Freed sighed. "Just nervous," He said when she let him go. "I feel rather silly for not having thought to go and look for records in person."

"It's fine," Mira said, the three of them finally walking into the room. "You haven't been able to dedicate all your time to it. You've been working, you've been living the life you have now."

Freed managed a bit of a smile. "Thanks, Mira."

He handed his drivers' licence to one of the staffers, who directed them down another corridor after handing it back to him. Entering the next room, Cana pulled two other chairs over to one of the computers in the corner. Freed sat down, and stared at his drivers' licence. In some ways, it was grounding, and always had been. But it gnawed at him every so often. That's the whole purpose of this trip. To take a look at something that should have occurred to me when I first started looking a few years ago. I'm usually on top of things…what is wrong with me? Freed swallowed hard. The photograph had been taken when his licence had needed to be renewed about two years before. December X784. It had been right after the Battle Of Fairy Tail. After everything went terribly. After he had cut off his hair in penance, something which had, he recalled with a half smile, been Bickslow's idea. He pushed that aside, telling himself his discomfort was only the reminder his licence photograph was giving him. The rest of it was perfectly normal. Normal. Grounding. Fact.

Freed Bryon Justine.
Date Of Birth: 19. February. X764
Height: 5'10"
Eye Colour: Green
DMV Customer ID Number –
Date Of Issue: 23. December. X784
Date Of Expiration: 6. August. X792

"Did you get the programme loaded?" Freed reached over and tapped Cana on the shoulder. She nodded, and he put his drivers' licence into the reader. "Want to bet on how long it will take to load the results?"

Cana started laughing. "You don't want to bet on that," She rolled her eyes. "It's a government server. It's a flip of a coin."

Mira craned her neck a bit to look over their shoulders from where she was trying to pull some physical records.

"As a general rule of thumb, I don't like to bet against Cana," She said, turning back to the files. "She has two things on her side: scarily good intuition, and a lot of skill when it comes to any type of bar or social game."

She tugged out a few files, and flipped through them until she found the page she had been looking for.

"What are you specifically looking for, Freed?"

He turned towards her when she sat down on the opposite side of him from Cana, whose fingers were nervously tapping against the table. I hate waiting for things to load. It just stays on the boring, useless government screensaver with the symbol and name. Fiore National Archives and Records Administration, I promise you that we know where we are. She laughed a bit to herself, before leaning over a little to take a look at what Mira and Freed were paging through. She flinched, however, when the computer beeped and began to load a directory. Freed frowned when he clicked one of the top options, and little loaded.

ADOPTION RECORD

Mother: Jeanne Leah Justine, DOB May the 15th, X695

Father: Bryon Alexander Justine, DOB February the 24th, X694

The Justines petitioned for legal adoption and issuance of a Social Security Number for a toddler they had found wandering near their farm. Upon examination of the case, and a few months of observation of the boy tentatively in their care, the toddler – who for all intents and purposes had been a John Doe – was legally adopted by the Justines. The Justines have fostered a number of children over the years, as well as having adopted three children, all of whom they had raised and whom had since moved out.

Freed's eyes narrowed as he scrolled through the rest of the screen, and onto another.

"Why isn't there more? Why didn't they do more testing if I were a John Doe?"

Cana frowned. "Maybe because they didn't feel it was necessary?"

"Unlikely," Mira said, shaking her head. "But I think it could be fairly simple."

Freed turned to her, surprised. "In what way?"

"A lot of kids are born off the grid, and, given your state and the way they found you, that was the best assumption, and the most logical," Mira sighed. "And, given how swamped the government always is, that likely seemed to be a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Or, honestly? You may just not have shown up in the records for one reason or another."

"Of all the people to request a meeting with me, I hadn't expected it to be the four of you."

Erza scowled at Siegrain the second she, Lucy, Natsu, Happy, and Gray stepped into his office. He shut the door behind them, and leaned against it for a moment, his legs crossed at the ankle. He gestured them towards the two couches across from each other in his office, a coffee table in between them. To say he had expected her to eventually request a meeting with him would be an understatement. I'm rather shocked she didn't show up in the midst of a Council meeting for the sheer pettiness of it. Happy perched himself on Natsu's head, curling up in his hair and purring. Natsu reached up to lightly scratch his belly, something the cat had always loved. Gray scowled at Natsu when he sat down across from him, and uncomfortably tugged at the dress shirt Lucy had insisted he wear with dress pants. I look like a praying mantis. This is ridiculous. How does anyone go around like this every day? Lucy and Erza sat beside each other. Lucy kept nervously watching Natsu and Gray, on some level terrified they would start fighting on the drop of a pin. Erza kept her gaze focused, and unwavering. Siegrain. Whenever he realised it, he kept trying to avoid her eyes. Is she trying to unsettle me? Intimidate me? Finally, clicking the door locked, he walked towards them, pausing at the end of the coffee table, waiting for one of – any of them – to speak.

"When did you start wearing that ring?" Gray eyed the man's right hand strangely, focused on the blooming rose ring. "Didn't think that was something –"

"It's a symbol between me and Stella, nothing more," He sent Lucy a pointed look when she perked up. "Though, to be clear, she and I are not engaged yet by any means."

"What a relief," Erza said dryly. "At least I know you aren't secretly hung up on me."

Siegrain sighed. "Erza, with all due respect –"

"People only say that when they're about to undermine it," Erza cut in. "And you know full well why I'm here, don't you? Or do you –"

"I could do without the condescension," He coldly interrupted. "Yes, I am well aware you want to discuss Jellal. If it's because you think I know much of anything about what happened to him, then you're going to be rather unsatisfied."

Erza frowned. "Then, let's start with an easy question," She hesitated. "Is he alive?"

"To our understanding, yes, that appears to be the case," Siegrain began to uncomfortably pace. "But I know nothing more than that. If the Elders know more, then perhaps it's indicative of the fact they may likely be less than eager to trust me, at the moment, because of what happened with firing Etherion, despite it being – legally, mind – the case that I had no idea it was part of Jellal's plan all along," Bitterness crept into his voice. "Ultear, truly, got me to fall into it."

"It's too obviously more than that," Gray shook his head. "You still have hard feelings towards your brother, don't you?"

Siegrain began to say something but, to his relief, Natsu was quicker.

"Brother or not, he tried to kill him!" Natsu scowled at the memory. "He tried to kill a bunch of people, and, sure, it was probably because of Ultear, but there's still reason to be angry!"

Happy shook himself out in Natsu's hair.

"Aye!" The cat agreed. "He's still responsible for at least some of it!"

"Either way," Lucy said, trying to calm them down and standing up to force Siegrain to be face to face with her. "We're here because we're looking for him. But not just for him. For justice."

Siegrain raised an eyebrow. "And you want my assistance in that? Really?"

"Swallow your pride, Siegrain," Erza snapped, her hands tightening around her swords. "For once in your life, swallow your damn pride."

"Jellal's only prayer of a defence would be that he isn't guilty by reason of insanity," Siegrain sharply replied. "And, considering what he's accused of, I imagine prosecution would be seeking the death penalty. I will say, on that note, though, the King has made it clear his entire reign he is against capital punishment. He does not intervene, of course, with the federal government's courts and Parliament, but he has intervened in cases where the Magic Council is involved, and where the Council has recommended capital punishment, that is, for those –"

"Don't patronise me," Erza snapped. "Especially not if you're suggesting you would be willing to put your own brother to death."

"I would not have any involvement in that decision," He coldly replied. "As I have a rather obvious conflict of interest."

Erza grit her teeth. "Siegrain, listen," She said once she calmed herself. "I need to know where he is. I need to. Jellal…" She sighed. "He isn't as bad as you think he is."

"Whether he is or isn't to any degree will not matter to the rest of the Council," Siegrain sent her a dark look. "Again, it is unlikely a jury would have a much better opinion of him, considering the documentation of all he has done. If – no, when – he is found, he is going to be arrested, Erza. And that will happen no matter what you say."

"Could it be proven Jellal had more than one aura?" Gray suggested, much to Erza's surprise. "Couldn't he be let go if that's the case, because he was possessed? If that is true, and if it can be proven, of course."

Erza eyed him in shock, for a moment, having been sure he was significantly more hesitant than her or Lucy in the endeavour.

"Honestly," Erza quietly pressed. "Do you think that could help Jellal's case when he's found?"

Siegrain considered it. "Possibly," He said slowly. "But it is equally unlikely much would change from it."

Erza buried her face in her hands. "If he dies now, or is taken away by the Magic Council, or eventually is executed, he will never be able to make up for what he's done. It isn't right!"

"Erza," Lucy reached over to pat her back. "Are you…still in love with him?"

She had asked the question before.

Every time, the queen of fairies hated it.

"Yes," Erza said quietly, nodding. "I love him."

The rather unprecedented response left them all quiet for a long time.

"I don't want to hate my brother," Siegrain said heavily. "But I don't know what to make of him either. I trust you understand that?"

"Sounds reasonable," Natsu shrugged. "I mean, like I said, he did try to kill us."

"Ultear sounds a lot scarier, though," Happy chimed in, shuddering and wrapping his wings and tail around himself. "She sounds like the kind of person who would eat children."

"She does what it takes to survive," Siegrain said, not bothering to mask his anger. "No matter how amoral it is, if it gives her pleasure and allows her to survive and thrive, she will do it."

"Well," Lucy said uncomfortably. "It doesn't sound as though Jellal is at all like that, or ever has been."

"Most people don't have an opinion as high of themselves as Ultear does," Gray said dryly. "Although we are in the office of one of those people."

Siegrain's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

"Let him have the chance to make things right, if we can find him," Erza said, her eyes relentlessly staring into Siegrain. "We'll never know who he really is if we don't."

The twenty three year old Wizard Saint hesitated.

"That's a major crime."

"So?" Erza replied.

"Sometimes that's what is necessary," Lucy added. "No matter what we're told to believe."

Siegrain crossed his arms with a sigh.

"Look me in the eyes, and tell me I'm not going to regret this."

"I have some rather unfortunate news for you, Maky. About Ivan, and, more specifically, that he's been found yet with a rather formidable legal defence."

Makarov barely felt his fists clench when he sat down across from Yajima, who himself looked rather bothered at the thought of Ivan being cleared. What are you playing at, Ivan? Too many thoughts ran through his head, and the worst of them was that he would force the kids to testify. When was the last time they had seen their father? It felt almost indistinct. His eyes narrowed at the memory. When was the last time he had spoken to Ivan? Our relationship has been contentious for years. But what can I do? He's been a horrible parent, and had been an even worse spouse. What kind of person threatens their spouse to take their children away? She and I have never gotten on, but she loved those kids, and never would have hurt them. There was something about the anger he felt when thinking about his son he could not understand. On some level, he told himself, it was simply a projection, a show of how protective he had become over his grandchildren. What did I do wrong? How in the hell did you get like this, Ivan? Almost unaware of it, Makarov nearly shattered the glass in his hands. He suddenly set it down, startled by himself. Yajima looked about as thrilled by the situation as him. Of all the people, how could Ivan Dreyar mount a strong legal defence? He's been one of the most wanted men in the country for over a year! Something about it felt wrong. Something about it felt as though there were much more to it, and much more below the surface.

"Who's on his legal team?" Makarov finally said. "I'm rather surprised to hear he has a formidable legal defence."

"That's unclear," Yajima admitted. "At least, I didn't look much further into it. But I saw some names on the list I know are incredibly skilled lawyers."

Makarov sighed. "Do you think prosecutors will have a chance?"

"It will be much more complicated," Yajima paused in consideration. "But I sincerely doubt Ivan will have an easy walk through this. Several members of the Council are quite angry. I can't say I want to be in their position, particularly with my retirement coming at the end of the year."

"Good for you, actually retiring," Makarov said, half jokingly. "I have a feeling I will be working until I drop dead. Not that anyone is going to do me in any time soon."

Yajima smirked. "You're absolutely improbable, Maky. Very few people would be willing to do what you do for even half as long."

The two of them laughed, for a moment, but, when silence fell, it was heavy.

"It may be a good idea to prepare your grandchildren for having to speak at a trial for their father," Yajima eventually said. "Have you told them yet?"

"Absolutely not. They've been through more than enough. And, frankly, Ivan's influence on his children had some horrible manifestations in them as adults," Makarov shook his head. "And how they acted – not only in supporting and encouraging it with Evergreen, Bickslow, and Freed – with pitting the entire guild against each other in a game to see who was the strongest with Laxus is a testament to that exact issue."

Yajima frowned at the memory. "I do recall you telling me about it, at the time. You said your youngest grandchild 'threw the worst tantrum known to man' about you kicking Laxus out of the guild to begin with, and continued it well after. Didn't you say she did so until you allowed Laxus to rejoin Fairy Tail?"

Makarov let out a short, mirthless laugh.

"She and Esseca were incredibly close to their brother throughout that time, but she was particularly angry about it," He said. "Laxus admitted to me, fairly recently, he told her not to pick fights over it, but she said she would always fight tooth and nail for family. In the end, I am glad I had Laxus rejoin the guild. But I do wonder…what will happen to the three of them if, for some reason, Ivan forces them to relive it to help himself and detract from me?"

"I can't!"

Caity had fallen to her knees, shaking badly, her magic consuming her beyond her body so badly it felt as though she had lost it all in that moment, in using her magic with her high G aria before her body fell to the ground, completely unconscious and…

"I helped Freed set all of the traps," Esseca had said, sitting down across from her grandfather. "But…if I had known Caity were suffering, if Laxus had known she were manic, we would have protected her, made sure she didn't lose control of…"

"What were you thinking?" Makarov had shouted, and Laxus had flinched, a feeling of dread bubbling in him which he had not felt since he had been a child. "If you thought this was some way to prove yourself, and how you are so much more than just a member of the guild, you were wrong! This is absolutely unacceptable! Are you trying to become your father? Because it certainly seems that way!"

"He's your son," Laxus had barely been able to say. "How weren't you able to –"

"This isn't about me!" Makarov had snapped. "This is about you, and how you have gone too far. You have gone way too far."

"Is there anything you still regret, about all of it?" Yajima said, cutting into his thoughts. "I sincerely hope you don't blame yourself for any of what has happened these past few years."

Makarov hesitated. "I don't have any regrets, bar one," He finally said. "And it's that I accused Laxus of becoming like, of being precisely like his father. I worry he will never be able to let go of any fear I may have pricked in him. Most of all, it wasn't true. It never has been. But, the sad truth is, we all have hair pin tempers in my family."