Hello there!

I'm back for another chapter!

Today started off as a shit day, but having you guys here already makes it all the better. And being able to bring yet another chapter to this story is perfect. Look at me, strike 3!

This chapter was definitely heavily influenced by the first time I met Dommie's friend group. It was *not* my fault.

Devil20, I'd first like to know which platform you would be posting, if that is okay!

Dommie, don't say that to me, you know what happens. You are annoying, I'll answer your texts when I want to, and no, you cannot mix the orange with the whites, and yes I'm airing out our dirty laundry in the story. Love you.

On with the story, because I'm hungry and cranky.

I hope you like it :)

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Fairy Tail. I do, however, own the rights to this story and OC characters that might appear in the future.

Chapter III: The First Smile

X—X

Night had fallen hours before when Sting finally stepped out of his office. There was a sweet melody in the air, and he followed it down the stairs to the guildhall. The large room was dark, except for a Lacrima lamp, keeping a familiar redhead company.

He smiled and walked quietly in her direction. She looked up and smiled sweetly, never breaking the melody that left her lips. Only once he was at the edge of the couch did he notice she was holding a pink bundle in her arms. He sat down quietly next to her and watched as she finished the tune with a sweet note.

"Hey, Master," she spoke quietly.

"It's Sting, Ivy, please."

"Sting." she flushed. "Hello."

"Hey. What are you doing down here so late?" he frowned.

"Well, I was helping Yukino clean up when Frosch came down and asked me if I could sing them to sleep again." She looked at the Exceed in her arms. "Poor little one has been having bad dreams ever since Rogue lost control in that one training session."

"What happened?"

"Frosch was a little too close. The attack landed right next to them, and they got scared." she looked at Sting. "I've talked to the both of them, and Rogue is heartbroken that he made Frosch feel this way. And Frosch knows that Rogue would never hurt them on purpose, but they were still terrified."

"I'll talk to Rogue. Sometimes, beating some sense into him works." Sting leaned back on the couch.

"You and Rogue..." she tried. "You're close. Yukino told me you're like brothers."

"You've been asking about me?" he smirked.

"I-I was-! Curious..." She looked away and bit her lip. "I wanted to know more."

"Next time you want to know more about me..." he leaned in. "Come ask the source."

"You're a Dragon Slayer." he nodded, "What was it like? Growing up with a dragon?"

"It was... challenging. I didn't get some things that all kids have, like being tucked in at night or staying home on rainy days. But I got things that kids don't get, like learning magic from an actual dragon, or napping between a dragon's wings, or flying on the back of one." he smiled. "I'm not saying Weisslogia was a perfect father. But he was a good one."

"Weisslogia...? Was that his name?"

"Yeah."

"Well, he made you the man you are today, so... thank you." Ivy sighed. "Thank you, Weisslogia, for what you did, for Sting to be who he is today."

"He would have liked you," Sting admitted in a whisper. "Even being the massive dick that he was... he admired the people that could love and live with all their hearts."

"And you think I'm like that?" she craned her neck to look into his eyes.

"You've shown me you're like that." Sting pushed a ginger lock behind her ear.

"Sting..."

The two locked eyes for a moment, and the Dragon Slayer saw the stars of the night sky reflected in her periwinkle gaze. He cleared his throat and looked away for a moment to take a shaky breath.

"What about you? Where are you from?"

"Hum, not from around. I'm from Stella," she revealed.

"Do you have any family?"

"Not anymore." she shook her head. "At least, not any that misses me."

"I'm sorry." Sting bit his lip. "Can I ask what happened?"

"My mother and my father passed away. Fell sick when I was a babe, and gone when I was a child. I was taken in by my grandparents and uncle."

"Was that not... good?" he heard the quickening of her heartbeat.

"In some ways." she lowered her eyes. "My uncle does not like magic, so he forbade it in the house. But my grandparents loved it, so I practiced in secret. They loved it when I sang them to sleep. But they both fell ill, so my uncle was left in charge of me. It was not a pleasant experience. Then, my grandma died, and one of my lights went off forever."

"I'm sorry, Ivy."

"It's okay." she smiled sadly. "It was her time to go. A few years later, my grandfather passed away too, and I left."

"Why Sabertooth?" he asked, propping one elbow on the back of the couch. "Surely, you've heard of others..."

"I keep a notebook by my bed so that, when I dream and wake up in the middle of the night, I draw them and go back to sleep. I don't remember them when I wake up."

Frosch stirred in her arms, and she sang a few more notes before smiling. "About a month ago, maybe a month and a half, I did the same. But when I woke up in the morning, I-! There was this feeling in me. And I opened the notebook to see this... symbol. Night after night, the same dream, the same symbol. It happened so often that I started remembering the dream. And so, I got up and I followed that... instinct."

"And it brought you here." he licked his lips. "The calling brought you."

"The calling brought me to you." she nodded.

"I'm glad it did." he smiled.

"Yeah... me too."

Sting leaned in closer, eyes fixated on hers. He watched her for any sort of nervous cue, but there was nothing. Only expectance and a bit of curiosity. She did not pull away, only parted her lips, and gave him a small smile, the kind of smile that set him at ease. And her periwinkle eyes were shining, and her scent got stronger, and her heart beat faster-!

A door opened and the two pulled apart. They turned to find Rogue standing there, cheeks red and an apologetic grimace on his face. Sting glared daggers at him, but the slayer only mouthed 'sorry' before walking to Ivy. She nodded and stood up slowly, moving so that Rogue could take Frosch from her.

"Thank you, Ivy." Rogue nodded. "I'm sorry for the trouble."

"It's no trouble at all." she shook her head. "But you need to talk to Frosch. Heal together."

"I'll try. Dobengal asked me to tell you that he found a mission, and he wanted you to go with him." Rogue let out.

"Okay. I'll talk to him tomorrow." Ivy nodded. "Thank you."

"Of course. Goodnight."

Sting only nodded and the two watched the Dragon Slayer leave. Once he was out of sight, Sting turned to Ivy, who looked down at her fidgeting hands. He placed one of his over hers to steady her, and she looked into his eyes. Her cheeks were dusted with pink, her lower lip was trapped between her teeth, and her heart was beating fast.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Y-yeah." she nodded shakily. "I guess... we should get some sleep too. It's late. I apparently have a job tomorrow. Can I go on a job tomorrow? I only got here a week ago."

"Of course you can." he nodded "You're free to do whatever you want, Ivy."

"Okay. Then... goodnight, Sting."

He watched her as she unwillingly – by the look in her eyes – let go of his hand and pulled away. "Goodnight, Sylvia."

She smiled brightly and waved back at him as she left the hall to her room. Sting watched her until she disappeared, and then cursed.

"I'm gonna kill you, Rogue."

–X–

Sting was halfway through his beer when the doors were pushed open. Out of habit, he turned to see who had arrived when his shoulders relaxed and he took a deep breath. Dobengal walked inside the guild with Ivy, the two smiling and carrying a number of tomes. Five days had passed since the last time that he had seen her, and he felt like he could finally relax.

"Hey, everyone!" Ivy greeted them with a wide smile. "We're back!"

A chorus of exclamations followed, and the two moved to the bar. They placed the books down and Dobengal immediately started rambling. Sting took Ivy in, frowning. Although he was glad to see her, he was not happy to notice her all banged up, with a bandage around her right hand and wrist, and a band-aid on her cheek. Something stirred inside him, something angry, and he had to take a deep breath.

And as if that was not bad enough, she reeked of another male's scent.

"How was the job?" Sting asked.

"Sting!" Dobengal exclaimed, jumping. "Didn't even see you there, man."

"Clearly." he rolled his eyes, taking small pleasure in the fact that, almost the male had jumped when he noticed his presence, Ivy had not, only smiled. "How was it?"

"It was great!" the male grinned and wrapped his arm around Ivy's shoulders. "Ivy here was awesome! I had no idea Sound Magic could be used like that! But there we were, trying to fight off the bandits when-!"

Sting choked on his beer. "What?!"

"What?"

"Your job was to fight bandits?!" The Dragon Slayer shouted, standing up. "Are you stupid?! Why would you take Ivy on a job like that?! It was her first!"

"She's fine, Sting."

"Yeah, clearly!" he growled. "It's not like she has her hand covered in bandages or anything! It's not like I can smell the blood coming off her! Seriously, how much of a dumbass can you be?!"

"Sting."

He immediately stopped and looked at her. His hands closed in fists to not jump on the male and do something. She carefully extracted herself from under Dobengal's arm and stepped up to the Dragon Slayer, grabbing his wrist. His attention zeroed in on her, as he searched her eyes for clues. She simply smiled, and that act alone eased his heart a bit.

"I'm okay. I've got tough skin, and I can take care of myself. I know you're worried, and yes, I know my first job as a Sabertooth member wasn't the... easiest, but I'm okay with it." she squeezed his wrist gently. "It was nothing I couldn't handle, Sting. I'm okay."

"...promise?"

And she showed him her brightest smile. "I promise."

He nodded. "Do you... wanna go freshen up now? I'm sure Yukino would love a little help putting those in the library. She's been wanting to organize it for a while now."

She gasped, and her face lit up. "Can I? Oh, that would be a dream!"

"How about this? From here on now, you're responsible for the Sabertooth library."

She shrieked and jumped, wrapping her arms around his waist. Sting gasped but wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She snuggled into him, but something must have crossed her mind, for she pulled away, red in the face.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"It's okay." he nodded, face tainted pink. "Go on. I'll take the books to the library."

She nodded and extracted herself from his hold, going up to her room with a spring in her step. Sting shot back the rest of his beer and grabbed the books, giving a meaningful look to Dobengal. The male simply looked away, and the Dragon Slayer left.

He pushed the doors open and sighed. He dropped the books on a nearby table and took a deep breath. He could still feel her warmth, her heat in his arms. He blushed and ran his fingers through his hair. He was doomed. Sting felt another presence nearby and chucked humorlessly.

"Anything to say?"

"Well, you could have toned it down with Dobengal." he let out, stepping out of the shadows. "But the protectiveness wouldn't let you."

"I couldn't help it. Just seeing her like that..."

"I know." he nodded. "But now, rumors are gonna fly."

"I don't care."

"Well, at least try to control your facial expressions. Because when Dobengal put his arm around her, you looked like someone just told you murder was allowed. And encouraged."

Sting shrugged. "Can't help it."

"Aaaand there's the possessiveness." Rogue chuckled. "I'm honestly proud of you."

"For what?"

"For finding a nicer way to say 'go take a shower because you stink like another man and I don't like it'."

"Yeah, that was a good one," Sting smirked.

"I'll keep in mind to call her the next time you blow up on someone," Rogue smirked. "First time I've ever seen you calm down so quickly."

"Shut up."

"Whipped."

A/N: Rogue is a sarcastic little shit around the people he feels most comfortable with, and this is a hill I will die on.

Let me know your thoughts on this new story!

Lots of love from this weirdo,

LoneeWolf :)