Dear Readers,

If you haven't noticed, we are slowly seeing Lucy relax a bit toward others in the guild. She's still not close with most people, but she's spending less time being stiff and formal, so yay! Over the next few chapters you'll see more of who she is in her head actually being displayed to others.

I hope you're excited! Let me know if we are getting too detailed, I like the way its flowing but I don't want to bore you!

Reminder: I own nothing, Desna owns Cristoff and the other Pradesh Family Members, Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail. Shout out to GoddessxNyte for being the world's most supportive Beta (and also keeping up with my crazy schedule).

Enjoy!

"Really, Master Dreyar-"

"Call me Makarov, Lucy," he insisted.

"Makarov, we have been here for too long already to leave without compensating you in some way. The council may no longer exist, but that doesn't give me license to ignore proper etiquette-"

"So don't leave," Makarov suggested, picking at the wax in his ear, seemingly bored.

"I have things to accomplish, as the highest ranking office remaining I am needed-"

"You're right. You're needed here, against Tartaros."

Lucy was flabbergasted. Flustered. They had been at this for hours, and Makarov had yet to name what she and Doranbolt owed for their time and medical supplies, nor had he given any indication that the conversation was coming to a close. If he hadn't said she could leave without giving the guild anything, she would have assumed she was some kind of hostage.

But no, she was stuck between Makarov's stubbornness in refusing to accept compensation, and her own stubbornness and childhood lessons that told her she could not leave without giving him something for his hospitality. It was exhausting.

Finally, Makarov turned his full attention to her and his tone became serious, "Major, let me ask you a question."

"...alright," she agreed with trepidation.

"What do you plan on doing once you leave here?"

Thrown off, she thought for a moment before answering, "I will see about rebuilding the council. With so much at stake, we need to get up and running and track down Tartaros and deal with them."

Makarov nodded, crossing his arms over his chest, "And have you considered whether or not this task is possible?"

She had. And unfortunately, she was leaning towards 'no', but who was she to say what wasn't possible when the alternative could mean something unspeakably horrible for all of Fiore. She didn't know what she was planning but she had to at least try to stop them.

"I… I don't think worrying about what is possible is going to help, all due respect, Makarov. The fact remains that something must be done, and I am the only one capable of getting the council up and running enough to even attempt to intervene."

Makarov smiled at her, "You have spirit, my dear girl. More than that council ever knew what to do with. But there is something you've not considered."

"...what would that be?"

"The council has never been the only option for threats against Fiore, Major. Or are you saying that some ragtag group of mages you manage to put together in the next week will be more capable of dealing with the situation than Fairy Tail is?"

Lucy thought on that for a moment, before pointing out, "Sir, Fairy Tail is a ragtag group of mages, no offense."

The small man burst out into uproarious laughter, "You're not wrong there, child," he agreed, "But the fact remains we are the strongest ragtag group of mages available."

Lucy looked at her lap, "I… suppose you are right. But it's not your problem. It's the council's job to deal with this threat-"

"Lucy," he said seriously, "I think it's about time you accepted that the council doesn't have a job anymore. They don't exist. Hell, your own commission extension expired while you were in a coma, or have you forgotten?"

The celestial mage winced and narrowed her eyes at him, "How do you know that?"

The smile he gave her was nothing short of devious, "I have my ways."

"That's rather vague."

"Not the point. The point is, Tartaros is a problem. So, join us - Fairy Tail is a family, and beyond that, we protect our home. And, we could use your help."

Lucy thought on that for quite a while, before excusing herself from his office to think through his words.

"What's on your mind, Major?"

Lucy looked up from where she sat on the railing on the outdoor balcony, "Scarlet. Good to see you," she said formally, trying to clear the thoughtfulness from her expression and not having much success in it.

"I was sorry to hear of what happened with the council. You have my deepest condolences for you comrades," Erza told her, "I can't imagine what you're going through, Major. Frankly, I hope I never have to."

Lucy sighed deeply, kicking her feet slightly, but didn't respond..

Erza leaned her forearms on the railing and looked out over the city of Magnolia, just as Lucy was doing. They sat in silence for a while, both deep in thought.

"Call me Lucy," the celestial mage finally said, "Erza, right? That's your first name? May I call you that?"

Erza looked at the older girl in shock. They'd met a few times, and despite being on opposite sides of most of their interactions, they'd always gotten along fairly well. They shared similarities that neither was likely to ever discuss aloud. Similar insecurities, fears, a past that was similar in that neither had control of what happened around them, so they sought control in their surroundings now that they'd escaped their respective prisons. Despite the fact that before Erza had been stuck on an island for five years, she had been older than the blonde, they had always understood each other.

Despite that, they'd never considered each other on a first name basis. It protected both of them, kept them from getting too close. Looking at the woman who had outgrown her in both life experience and age, Erza sighed softly. Since the last time they'd met, they'd both allowed people close to them, let some people into their life despite their mutual fears of betrayal, or abandonment, or getting hurt. And Lucy had just lost all but one of the people she'd fought so hard to befriend.

Erza's eyes softened, "You may call me Erza, if you'd like Lucy. It would be an honor to count you as a friend."

Lucy looked at her, clearing the sadness from her eyes, and giving the requip a small but genuine smile, "The honor is mine, Erza."

They both sat for a while longer, before Lucy sighed and spoke again, "Can I ask your opinion on something?"

"Of course. What is it?"

Lucy rubbed at her eyes, as if trying to wipe the stress from them, "Makarov wants me to stay. Says Fairy Tail is a family, and asked me to stay and help defend it. I get the impression he means more than just with Tartaros, he wants me to join the guild. Is it… wrong of me to feel like I'd be betraying Lahar by accepting?"

Erza put a hand to her chin, "I don't know, Lucy. I can't say I'd ever consider my feelings… wrong, really. But I do think, from what I remember of your brother, that he would want you to have people who care for you, that you care for in return," she laughed quietly, "though, based on his opinion of Fairy Tail, something tells me he would have picked a different group of people."

Lucy chuckled, remembering his many rants about the guild she was currently with. She had a feeling he secretly admired their courage though, she always had gotten that impression, as much as he'd tried to hide it.

"I guess you're right. With Tartaros looming, I can't help but feel like the only option that would end any way but poorly would be for Dory and I to stay here and join forces with you. I do like your guild quite a lot - something I'm telling you in confidence, Scarlet - and Makarov is not wrong. I technically do not owe the council any more of my life. But," her voice turned into a whisper, "I'm just so terrified. I'm afraid of how easily I will get close to the people here - I'm not sure who else I can afford to lose."

Erza covered Lucy's hand with her own, "Being afraid is only natural. But you can't let it control your decisions, Lucy. I think we've both learned that lesson the hard way."

Lucy nodded.

Another few minutes of silence. They watched as the sun sank down to touch the horizon, the deep orange rays lighting up the buildings and streets of Magnolia an a new and beautiful light.

"Erza," Lucy looked at the mage by her side, head tilted to the side, "What do you think I should do?"

The requip mage gave her a smile, but shook her head, "I can't answer that for you, Lucy. But I think you already know what you want to do," she said, releasing the celestial mage's hand and making a show of stretching, "Don't stay out here too much longer. I hear a strawberry cake calling my name. I'll see you inside?"

"...Yeah. Be right there," Lucy confirmed, clutching the fabric of her brother's jacket lightly, feeling the captain's patch hidden underneath.