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Meredy thanked Lucy when being handed a glass of water. She sipped it, glancing over the rim and around the room. Light flooded in through the window opposite of where she had been offered a seat. There was a desk to her left, the door on the right. There were shelves filled with ancient books, though even more files, labels reading names of guild members and quests, sorted by reward or location.

It was lovely. She could perfectly imagine how Fairy Tail's Master would sit there, hours after hours, the sun bathing him from the side and the cheerful chattering of his guild echoing from the main hall. As chaotic as everything around the guild was, it gave a sense of home.

She had been more than shocked, mostly on behalf of her friends, when the Master had turned without getting up, seemingly permanently rooted into his wheeled chair. His welcome had been heartfelt but his features grave. He must have already heard.

"She's never late," Lucy pointed out when Natsu grew impatient.

"We can't exactly start without them; put up with it, Flame Brain," Gray growled at his guildmate, from where he leant against a shelf, arms crossed.

"How about I put you up, Ice Princess,"

"That's not even an insult,"

"Oh yeah? Maybe this is!" Natsu lunged a fist and Meredy stared in fascination at how they started brawling without any interruption. Or proper reason. Lucy was edging away, finding a save spot next to Meredy and Wendy, while Makarov made a thoughtful face, perhaps not even noticing. It was just an everyday occurrence.

The door opened and Erza and Jellal hurried in. The fight stopped immediately, but she was not even giving a comment – she was too busy with excusing them.

"I apologise for the wait," she said, vaguely looking around without actually meeting anyone's eyes. Jellal kept his head lowered, but he peeked up to exchange a glance with his guildmate and they nearly unnotably nodded at one another. He was checking whether she was alright and she confirmed.

Meredy blinked twice. He had already averted his gaze, but hers lingered on his face. She wondered whether – and she hoped for his sake – she was the only one to notice his slightly swollen lips.

Both of them had damp hair, telling of a rushed shower and fleet walk to the Guild Hall.

"It's no trouble," the Master said calmly, his voice scratchy from age. The countless wrinkles on his face eased a little upon seeing them all together now. Meredy thought it to be relief, making her ponder whether he had already been worried about something else to have happened.

"I have already been told about some your most recent troubles, but I would like it in detail." He went on, his eyes travelling the room without any sharpness to them towards his family and guests. They stopped at Jellal, who felt the gaze, nodding. Everyone followed, watching while he retold, starting with the voice in his head. Erza had poured him a glass of water even before he had begun, knowing well in advance how hoarse his voice would come.

Jellal had strategically planted himself against the wall near the door, the only thing blocking an escape being Erza. And he looked as if he really wanted to escape. He had never been one to like crowds. Accepting numerous people as his guildmembers all at once had been strange enough already, but now, and in such a tiny space with several others – it was visibly too cuddly for his taste.

Erza seemed to be aware as well, while the rest was absorbed into his retelling. She was trying hard to find a compromise of comforting closeness and unsuspicious distance. The fact that she was focusing on him more than the task at hand had its effect already, easing his tensed muscles, even if just a tad.

"Hm… but there was no telepathic message in the house itself?" Makarov asked and everyone stared at him instead. Erza narrowed her eyes, starting to understand his way of thinking.

Jellal nodded.

"Only a weak feeling of magic,"

"So he was either in or close to Magnolia or perhaps has more power than we originally assumed," Erza pondered out loud, two armoured fingers on her chin.

"We should ask Warren – whether he knows anyone with that power," Lucy suggested and the Master nodded. Jellal was using his chance of not being required to speak to down his water in one gulp. Erza wordlessly retrieved and refilled it, and this time he took it slower.

"Meredy," Makarov turned to her and she felt her back straighten of its own accord, "please tell us what happened then," he asked and she hummed in consent.

"I heard a voice, too, and it was Jellal's. He wasn't calling for me, though, but for Erza," she said, watching the attention drift to the couple, "since she was the target," she quickly went on to keep everyone to stick to the point, "I guess I was closer to the sender, but I don't know that much about telepathy, to be honest," she smiled apologetically.

"That punk should've called for me!" Natsu roared, spitting a tiny flame from his mouth, clenching his fists with fighting spirit.

"Warren is out on a mission, I think," Wendy piped up for the first time from her corner. The Exceed in her arms was giving dirty looks at the now more focused couple next to the door, making Meredy curious.

"We'll ask him when he's back," Lucy agreed. The Master muttered something of the same nature, then turned back to the pink-haired mage.

"Continue,"

"Well, I was near Kunugi at that time, but the trains were all stationary for the night. I followed Jellal's trace – my magic can do that with him – until the mansion. I found him alone and unconscious and then something exploded and I was buried beneath the wall…

"Someone came, rather small and hooded,"

"The illusion guy!" Natsu yelled, receiving a punch from Gray, returning it immediately. Erza shot them a strict look and both froze like cadets.

"I don't know what exactly happened, but I think there was lightning…" she frowned uncomfortably, gaze on her lap. Lucy put a hand on her shoulder, making her look up. Meredy smiled gratefully.

"So then both were attacked by electricity," Lucy noted.

"And it was probably a tool, from what Jellal said," Wendy added.

"But why Meredy?" Natsu pondered, "If that guy was in Magnolia anyway," he said, earning disbelieving stares at such a clever remark no one had been aware of yet, "he could have at least let me have a piece of him!" He bared his teeth and Gray rolled his eyes.

"Meredy," Erza ignored the last statement, "you said you were in Kunugi when you received the message,"

"Near, yes," she confirmed.

"I was there on my job," the Queen of the Fairies went on, "perhaps the assaulter knew and accidentally missed me, finding you instead," she added up.

"But then why didn't he just call for you in the first place? If he was going to do that anyway, he wouldn't have had the risk of you being gone," Wendy tilted her head at her guildmate. Erza's expression darkened.

"He wanted to blackmail me by using Jellal; he had those seal stones ready," she reminded. Meredy glanced from her to Jellal, who kept his head lowered. Makarov was deep in thoughts, Natsu spoiling for a fight.

"But why Jellal?" The Fire Dragon Slayer cawed, "First of all, Jellal could have beat that guy to a pulp and second, why not just call for us directly?" He stomped angrily, now restraining from letting it out on Gray, however.

"If we assume that it is the guy from the poster," Lucy chimed in.

"Of course, it's him," Gray gave back with an of irritation clenched jaw, "what other idiot would challenge us?"

"It still doesn't make sense," Lucy argued, "I mean what were the odds that it would actually turn out this way for Jellal to be beatable?" She started gesturing with her hands. Meredy stole a glance at her guildmate who was now more than ever trying to merge with the wall. Could he not see that no one was holding it against him?

"Jellal didn't know about the wanted poster until yesterday; he couldn't have known it to be a trap," Erza interposed.

"Then if the not-moving trains were part of the plan, he must have known about Meteor," Wendy said quietly in her corner, being met with nods of approval. Makarov gave a hum.

"I will send letters to the Mayor of Oshibana for information on the house. And for the police and citizens to give reports."

"This is stupid – I'm going back there to investigate that creepy ol' place again," Natsu pounded a fist into his other palm.

"I'm with ya," Gray followed Natsu out the door, "I'll get Juvia," he added when Natsu turned to grab Lucy's wrist, dragging her along under mild protests.

"Don't get separated, whatever you do. At least four of you. That place could still be studded with traps!" Makarov called after them. He glanced at Wendy when she sought his eyes, giving his assent with a nod. She followed her team while Charle nagged about it being an imbecile idea.
Meredy watched them exit, listening to the furious bellowing of the Fire Dragon Slayer in the hall. She put down her glass, noticing that Jellal had already done so. She met his eyes, finally, seeing the same indecisive urge to go.

"I would like to ask you two to stay," Makarov made her wince, so precisely nipping their idea in the bud. She turned to meet dark eyes, shining with concern. "I know Wendy did an excellent job on healing you, but I want Porlyuscia to check, just to be sure. We don't know what we're up against here, so I want to be absolutely certain that you won't suffer from whatever – magic or devices – that person used on you.

"Erza," he looked up at her, "be so kind and ask Jet to find her," he asked and she nodded, leaving his office.

"You… won't send her to go with them?" Meredy asked with a hint of hesitation. She wondered for a second whether he had guessed about the secret relationship upon Titania's silence when everyone had set out.

Instead of conveying any insight, Makarov have a grumble.

"I will leave that decision to her. I only reluctantly want to send her back to where she had been in such distress; she must be the most affected after you," he said, glancing from her to her guildmate.

"That's very considerate," Meredy noted with a smile. He only lifted a hand, palm facing upwards.

"It's what any good father would do for his children,"

"I see." She said, then furrowed her brow. "But aren't you a little too old to be her father?" She tapped her chin with one finger, wincing when he laughed out loud. She blinked repeatedly, an uneasy but amused smile on her face.

"You should see the age gaps of all of those brats, young lady," he chuckled and her face brightened.

"Oh, so you've been quite busy over the years," she remarked. He burst out into an even more hearted laughter when the door opened. Erza stared in puzzlement when she saw her Master wipe a small tear from his eye, his tiny body vibrating with only slowly ceasing cackling.

"Master?"

"I like this one," he grinned, slapping a hand onto Meredy's knee and she nearly jumped. "You can stay for as long as you like," he addressed her then, turning to include Jellal, as well, "both of you are always welcome here," he declared, calmer now.

"Thank you," they said unison, Jellal humbly while Meredy's tone was cheery.

"It's true, it can be relatively vague if you've never had any interaction with a person before trying to contact them," Warren explained. They had moved to the infirmary, waiting for the elderly healer and close advisor of the guild to arrive. Should she have accepted.

"For example, you can specify via someone who knows them; if Gray were to ask me to contact Juvia and I would've never met her, I could probably reach out to her,"

"If you were within reach," Jellal said, not meeting anyone's eyes. He had his head down, leaning against one of the beds, arms crossed. He could not look up. Not only because he still felt stupid about being there, but because of that… it was hair, was it not? Like some kind of antenna. He knew that if he dared to take a peek at it, he would not be able to stop staring. He did not want to be rude.

"Yes. For longer distances, we use miniature communication lacrimas," Warren confirmed, pride ringing in his voice upon mentioning his own invention.

"So then whoever did it got through to me via Jellal,"

"Thinking it would be me, since I had been on a mission in Kunugi," Erza finished Meredy's sentence. The two were still full onto solving a riddle he could not focus on. And did not quite want to. Of course, it was a threat and he would do anything if it prevented her – both of them – from getting hurt, but for now, she was fine. He did not mind being the target if only it protected her.

"Which means he must have been there, too. Otherwise the signal wouldn't have reached you. And you," Warren turned to Erza, "weren't there anymore, so the signal reached her instead," he gestured over at Meredy, who returned a serious nod. She was really into it. Jellal could not help but frown to himself, feeling guilty. She yearned – and she deserved – company so much, why would she not just join another guild? Someplace people were as open and cheerful as her. Someplace that could make her forget her hardships and just… let her enjoy life in freedom.

"It doesn't add up," Jellal interrupted their pre-celebration about solving the puzzle. All eyes landed on him, giving him all the more reason at keep his focused on his feet. "It means he must have been in Magnolia only hours prior. No train departed when I received the message; I had to use Meteor," faces fell, he knew.

"How fast in Meteor?" Warren tried. "Perhaps he was in the last train and used telepathy the second it left," he shrugged, receiving nods and encouragement from everyone who was not Jellal. He suppressed a sigh to himself. He would not keep on interrupting their theories – it made them stay longer. And he was tired. Tired of…

He knitted his brows together in a frown. Had he grown so soft over the past weeks, that he was already exhausted from the usual running and fighting and wondering? Had she actually gotten him to settle down, after a life full of running? Was it such a welcome change that he could quit any action at all?

"Jellal?" Erza pulled him out of his thoughts. He glanced up slightly, noticing her to be right in front of him, bending over to be able to catch a glimpse of his eyes. Her lips formed a smile then, making his shoulders sink of their own accord. He returned it, however weekly.

"We wondered whether it was a previous client – since he reached you without troubles," she said, straightening when he did.

"Hm," he tightened his arms, "anyone who I might have interacted with?" He asked. Only now did he notice Warren to be gone, the door closed. Meredy was sitting on a bed on the opposite wall, legs crossed and playing with the hem of her dress, inspecting a tear.

"That shouldn't be too hard," he said but Erza shook her head.

"Not anymore," she put a hand on his arms, making him aware of his stiffness, "we've been to quite a few shops and restaurants," she reminded. He was thankful for her low volume, not daring to throw another glance at his guildmate to check whether she was listening.

"Then that would include you; he could have reached you directly," he argued. He sat down on the bed behind him.

"What about the people who installed the new tub? Did any of them seem… suspicious?" Erza wrinkled her forehead, already knowing the question not to be getting them anywhere. Perhaps she was just as desperate to continue with the topic – any topic – as he was to get back home. Something to distract from being unable to act like they usually did around one another.

"You mean was one of them planning to lure me into an abandoned mansion within weeks to come instead of magicking the bathtub to drown me sooner?" He raised a brow and she puffed her cheeks, caught with the impossibility of her speculation. He let the teasing smirk drop, eyes losing their shine.

"Why didn't you tell me about the poster?" He asked, his tone stern, voice quiet. Erza glanced away, wrapping her arms around her.

"I didn't deem it to be serious; we weren't even sure whether it was real,"

"Still, I could have helped,"

"How, if even we didn't know anything about it?"

"By not letting you go out on missions by yourself for a start," he countered and she now met his eyes, something between apology and stubbornness shining in her own.

"That would have only preponed their idea of you being a target," she retorted. Jellal pressed his lips together. He could not exactly say to her face how that did not matter – because it did to her. And he was not up for a lengthy lecture.

"I could have at least been more alarmed for the trap," he said and it came out more sharply than he had intended. He sighed, closing his eyes with annoyance at himself.

"I'm sorry," the tenderness of Erza's voice made him glance back up, meeting honestly apologetic ones now. "I really hadn't taken it seriously until now; I would have told you if I had," she leant down to place a peck on his cheek, supporting herself with her hands on his knees. He felt the tension lift from his sore muscles.

Returning the tiny smile she offered, he let his features ease again. He put his hands on top of hers, and she knew it was a sign for it to be alright. Both him and the situation.

He let the corners of his mouth tug a little further upwards.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" He asked, and she gave a lopsided smile in return.

"That Meredy is taking pictures of us again?"

"Yes- wait what? No!" He spun his head to the side, nearly bumping Erza's nose. "Meredy!" He nagged at his guildmate who was still sitting there with her legs crossed, ceaselessly tapping the camera function of a portable lacrima. "How- where did you even get that?! I thought yours was destroyed," he exclaimed, and she shrugged.

"It's Erza's," she simply said. Jellal took another breath for more complaints, turning to Erza instead. She blinked innocently at his bewilderedly furrowed brows.

"She asked for it," she grinned and he groaned. The pair of them… They would bring him to his grave someday.