"Gajeel. . ." Gabbey murmured from her spot on the bed, face pressed into a pillow. 

    "Yeah?"

    "What are we doing today?"

    "Nothing that is set, why?"

    "I want to die."

Gajeel let out a sigh as he leaned pushed himself up into a sitting position - making Gabbriel jostle around from the sudden movement. Before the sun had even risen, Gabbey had walked into Gajeel's room and passed back out on his bed. 

Didn't say a word. Just plopped down and passed out. So Gajeel - in his sleepy mind - murmured; "What the hell?" - and fell back asleep. 

But that was hours ago. The sun was now shining high in the sky - and the Redfox twins have been up for a while now. They were just taking in the silence. 

    "It's not that far away. . .A month at least, right?" Gajeel grunted out, knowing exactly why Gabbriel's mood was getting worse with each passing day. 

    "Fourty-eight days - so six weeks and a couple days."  She replied almost instantly. The twenty-one year old always kept count. Always.

    "When it's closer to time, tell me what you plan to do." Gajeel put a hand on her head lightly, ruffling her hair up a bit. "You know I'm here."

    "Thanks, Nee." Gabbey hesitated slightly before continuing. "I. . .I think I might take Levy."

    "Levy?" 

Gabbey didn't have to look up to see Gajeel's face was one of shock. The only person she ever took was Gajeel - that's it. "Yeah. . .I - uh, shit this is going to be cheesy. I think Levy's the closest thing I'm going to have to a girl best friend."

As much as Gabbriel didn't want to admit it - the short blue-haired girl was growing on her. For most of the week all Levy and Gabbriel have done was hang out. Whether it was talking in the guild-hall or just walking around Magnolia, she had gotten closer to her. 

She knew a lot about Levy - she told her about all her favorite things besides reading - her secrets, her past, her family, even which boys she thought were cute. But, in return, Gabbey shared a little about her own life. 

Not the hard parts, of course not. Gabbey would never share the deep scars that littered her body - mentally and figuratively. 

But, she told Levy about some of her time in Phantom Lord, what her hobbies and favorites were. She even told her some light secrets. Levy was the first person - first woman - that Gabbriel had easily became friends with. 

Yes, she had Juvia - she would kill for Juvia - but the other bluenette has been so infatuated with Gray that they barely talk anymore. Levy was just. . .Levy. 

    "You're right, that was cheesy." Gajeel agreed, making Gabbriel groan in disgust. "But - if you really want to take Levy to Oak Town, do it. Don't feel obligated to take her, have her earn it."

    "Earn it. . ." Gabbey murmured. "Got it. . ."

    "Now, what we're going to do next is get ready for the day. We're going to go to the guild hall and eat some of Mira's food, some cherries, and some metal. Maybe talk to some people. Maybe. No excuses."

    "Fine."

So, the two of them got ready. Gabbriel wore her usual dress, tights, boots, so on. But, she pulled up half her hair into a small ponytail and left the rest to cover her back. She changed a few of her piercings before walking into their living room. 

Gajeel didn't wait once he saw his sister, he just walked out the door with her following. 

The trip to the guild hall was mostly quiet as they took in stores and items on sale. They passed a grocery store - making Gabbriel groan. 

    "I need to go food shopping soon." She sighed. "We're out of. . .everything."

    "Well, lets do a job later on and then we can get some food for the house." Gajeel suggested as they started up the slope to the guild hall. 

    "Sometime tomorrow then? Day after?" 

    "How about we check out what they have on the board before deciding."

    "I guess." Gabbriel sighed as they entered the guild hall, going straight to the bar for what they needed.  But, the first thing that the both of them noticed was the strange new smell. To Gabbey, it was like she was breathing in the outside after being stuck in a house for so long - pure fresh air. 

The kind of fresh air that rose from the Earth after a long, hard rain storm. 

It was almost the same as hers - so close Gabbey had to pinch herself - but then reality set in. Her  scent was of flowers and cherries, there was the difference. This scent was just fresh.

And she was dead. 

  "I'll get the stuff," Gajeel muttered, walking off as Gabbey slowly made her way over to Levi - who was squeezing Lucy to death. 

  "Levy," Gabbey called out, eyeing the little blue hair girl that wasn't too far away. A white cat was next to her. "What's going on?"

  "Oh, Gabbs!" Levy grinned, pulling a slightly reluctant Lucy over. "We have two new members of Fairy tail! You have to meet them!"

  "I don't -"

   "Wendy!!" Levy dragged the two older women over by their wrists - although Gabbey simply let herself be dragged. "Wendy, you've got to meet Gabbriel!"

  "Gabbriel?" Wendy repeated, turning around to see the tall Iron Dragon Slayer. She gulped in slight fear, intimidated by the older woman. "O-Oh, hi. . ."

  "You don't have to worry about Gabbey here!" Levy reassured Wendy gently. "She's just a big ol teddy bear!"

  "I'm a dragon slayer,"

  "A big softie! Promise!"

Gabbriel sighed, gently pulling her hand away from Levy's and holding it out to Wendy. "Gabbriel Redfox, You can call me Gabbey for short."

  "Or Gabbs!"

  "No."

  "Nice to meet you," Wendy shook Gabbey's hand, still a bit intimidated.   "I'm Wendy, Wendy Marvell."

  "Well, Marvell, what brings you to Fairy tail?"

  "M-My last guild turned out to just be illusions. . .So Natsu, Lucy, Grey, Erza, and Happy brought me here." She explained. Her eyebrows furrowed at the thought of someone else giving her pity. 

  "That's rough," Gabbey simple commented, glancing around. "But, at least you found Fairy tail. Even if they are pretty stupid, they'll treat ya like family."

  "Really?"

  "Really." Gabbey shrugged. "They're just that idiotic."

  "You keep calling them stupid, but I feel like you enjoy the feeling the most." Wendy commented offhandedly. Gabbey narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at Wendy from the corner of her eye. 

  "Hm," Gabbey grunted, changing the subject. "What kind of magic do you use?"

   "Oh!" Wendy smiled bashfully. "I use healing magic. I am the Sky Dragon Slayer."

  "Nice," Gabbey nodded as the guild fell silent. She held her fist out for a fist bump - which Wendy quickly returned. "Welcome to the Dragon Club."

The black haired woman started walking towards her brother's figure as more people crowded Wendy - excited for the new Dragon Slayer. A sudden flare of jealousy - that was clearly her brothers' - made her sigh as put a hand on his shoulder. 

  "What's up?" She asked, grabbing a cherry and popping it in her mouth. 

  "They all. . .have cats," Gajeel muttered. "Where's our cats? Why don't I have a cat?"

  "Because we're special," Gabbriel tried to cheer him up. "Besides, we can barely handle ourselves. If we added two more cats, we'd be in trouble."

  "Yeah. . . I guess you're right. . ."

Her red eyed gaze went over to Wendy again - eyebrows furrowed in thought as she ate another cherry and mixed it with a metal screw. 

  "What's on your mind?"

  ". . .I don't think Wendy has a place to stay."

Gajeel scoffed, grabbing a handful of metals and shoving them in his mouth. "Didn't you just say we're a handful enough as it is?" 

  "Still. . .She wouldn't be staying for long if we did invite her. . ."

  "Gabbriel," Gajeel started off in a warning. 

  "Fine."

🌹🌹🌹

Gabbey walked out of the guild hall with a bag full of cherries. Mirajane had noticed her loved for the dark fruit and decided to get her a full bag of cherries for Gabbey to take home. The newer member tried to deny the gift, but at one glare from the beauty, she took the bag and walked out. 

Ironically enough, Wendy and Carla were walking out about the same time as she was. Gabbriel thought back to the conversation her and Gajeel had earlier that afternoon - and with a shrug - starting walking to the kid and her pet. 

  "Oi, kid!" Gabbey called out, making Wendy pause and turn. 

  "A-Ah! Gabbey-kun! How have you been?" 

  "Please, just call me Gabbey," She wrinkled her nose as if she was smelling something awful. "'Gabbey-kun' makes me sound like an old lady."

  "Hai, I'll try to remember that." Wendy nodded, tilting her head slightly. "Is something the matter, Gabbey?"

  "No, not really. I was just wondering if you had a place to stay tonight." At the question, Wendy seem to deflate a little. 

  "M-Master Makarov said I could stay a few nights at the Fairy tail inn free of charge - until I can get my own jobs." Wendy replied. "But, I really don't have anything over there yet, and I'm sure the inn only comes with a bed. . ."

  "You would think so," Carla sniffed. 

  "Well, you two are welcomed to stay with my brother and I." 

  "R-Really??" Wendy stammered. "We wouldn't want to intrude-"

  "You won't be intruding if I invited you to stay," Gabbey easily replied. "You could stay in my room and we can all have breakfast in the morning." She paused. "E-er, if you want to have cereal." 

  "Is it a clean place?" Carla asked, eyeing all the piercings the woman in front of them had. 

  "As if it would be anything but," Gabbey retorted. 

  "It's up to you Wendy," The white cat sighed. "But please make the decision quick, I'm getting tired." 

  "I-I would love to stay the night at your place, Gabbey!" Wendy said, bowing slightly. "Thank you!"

  "Yeah, none of that," Gabbey started to walk her way home. "Lets just go."

The walk back to Gabbey's house was mostly silent, and only broken when Gabbriel noticed the look of awe on Wendy's face as they pasted a drinks stand. 

  "Have you never had boba tea?" Gabbey asked, making Wendy jump a little. 

  "I-I've heard of it, but my old guild was never close to any towns that could make it." Wendy admitted. With a shrug, Gabbey walked up to the stand and glanced over the sign. 

  "Three vanilla teas with strawberry boba. Two mediums and one small." She paused slightly before adding, "make that four vanilla teas with strawberry boba - three mediums and one small. Do you have any scrap metal around?"

  "Gabbey?"

  "Yes?"

  "What are you doing?"

  "Buying us all some boba tea," Gabbey turned back to the vendor and handed his a couple jewls. "Thanks,"

   "You didn't have too. . ." Wendy trailed off as Gabbey handed Carla and Wendy a cup. 

  "You're right, I didn't have too," Gabbey shrugged, waving her hand at the cup in the little girls hand. "Well, drink up." 

   "T-Thank you, Gabbey!" Wendy exclaimed, before taking a tiny sip from the straw. "Oh! This is really good!"

   "I got all of us the most original taste, to get you two started off. It's no problem, really." Gabbey said, noticing that Wendy was opening her mouth again to thank her. She ran a hand through her bangs, shaking her head. "No more thanking, okay? I can tell you're grateful, no need to repeat it at every action I do." 

  "Can we get going?" Carla asked impatiently - although Gabbey saw her drinking her tea happily. "I'd like to go to bed."

  "We're almost there," Gabbey gestured for the two new members to follow her. Not even a block later did they arrive. Gabbey unlocked the front door, let the two newbies in, before following them. 

   "This is a nice apartment," Wendy complemented, yawning half way through her sentence. Gabbriel chuckled. 

   "Thanks, come on. My room is over here."

The older woman made sure that Wendy and Carla had everything they needed before they went to sleep - making sure that they were comfortable. She even gave Wendy her biggest T-shirt to wear. 

   "Where are you going to sleep?" Carla asked curiously as Gabbey went to turn the lights off. 

   "I'll be in Gajeel's room - don't worry about me though. Get some sleep you two."

Gabbriel flipped the switch, closing the door where they was a tiny crack in the door. Just before she left, she could hear Wendy mutter; "Goodnight, Gabbey."

   "Night, kid," Gabbey mumbled, walking to her twins' room for the night.

((Guess whose back, back again. Maddie's back, still wanting to have a breakdown ^-^))