Gabbriel was the first person to move in the guild. She walked over to the table that was thrown and stood it up right, patting it gently before she started to move towards the entrance of the guild hall. 

   "If you would excuse me, I have a problem to take care of," Gabbey said calmly, as if nothing happened.

   "Just like that?!" Natsu exclaimed. "No explanation, no thanks, just storming off?!"

   "Thank you, for the help," Gabbey stopped walking. "But it was unnecessary. This is my problem, you don't need an explanation."

   "Of course we need an explanation!" Lucy started. "Three people just waltz into the guild hall and threaten to kill you, and take you away!"

   "Gabbey, what's going on?" Levy asked gently.

   "It's none of your guys concern!" Gabbey stated monotonously.

   "What do you mean?! You're family, it is out concern!"

   "Don't take it the wrong way," The noirette snapped suddenly, glaring at the members of Fairy Tail. "But you guys aren't my family! Gajeel is, and so is Juvia, that's it! Just because we're in the same guild, and I talk to you guys, doesn't mean we're family!"

Silence rung throughout the guild hall at Gabbriel's words. Daella flew forward, resting at Gabbey's shoulder and whisper, "Gabbey, calm down."

   "Don't tell me to calm down," Gabbey hissed to Daella. "People can die because of some stupid mission I did long ago!"

   "Then maybe you should tell them, so they can be ready and protected!" 

   "The less they know, the more protected they are!"

   "It doesn't matter if you think we aren't your family!" Natsu roared suddenly, taking steps towards Gabbey to be face-to-face. "You're in Fairy Tail! We treat each other as family, regardless of what others think! Are you going to get that through your thick metal skull or am I going to have to beat it into you?!"

   "I'd like to see you try!" Gabbey snarled, taking a step closer. Their noses were barely touching by now. 

   "Enough!" Makarov spat out from his spot on the bar. Natsu and Gabbriel didn't move, intently staring each other down. Gajeel was close enough to stop the two, but far enough to let Gabbey deal with her own fight. "Gabbriel, Natsu, stand down! "

The two parted, still glaring at each other, but not making any other move. 

   "Now," Makarov let out a sigh, closing his eyes. "Gabbriel, tell us what is going on."

   "But-!'

   "Gabbriel!" Makarov raised his voice slightly. "Whether you think this guild as a family or not, you are posing a threat to the guild! You will tell us what you know!"

   "Fine!" Gabbey spat, stomping towards a chair and sitting down aggressively. "Story time with Gabbriel! Sit around you children!"

   "Gabbriel," Daella warned, hopping to the table to sit. "Stop it."

   "Whatever," Gabbey huffed, watching as Gajeel and Juvia sat next to her. Natsu, Erza, Lucy, Levy, Grey and Wendy sat in front of her while the more nosy guild mates circled around. Makarov made his way into the crowd and sat in front of Gabbey as well. "What do you want to know?"

   "Anything that can help," Makarov said gently, seeing the pain behind the irritation. "If you wish to tell us the more personal things, you can, but that's up to you."

   "Great," Gabbey sighed. "Well, those three wizards are from a guild called Serpents--"

   "The same guild on that mission you took?" Juvia interrupted. 

   "The same guild that killed. . ." Gajeel trailed off. Gabbey nodded stiffly, making Juvia gasp and Gajeel silently take her hand under the table. 

   "Killed who?" Lucy asked softly. 

   "Someone important," Gabbey answered shortly before continuing. "Serpents are a dark guild that work under an old fart named Chai. He likes to be called 'Grand Master Chai', though. They want the Dark Lord Zeref to rise and control him to take out their enemies. I'm not sure who they are planning to attack, but the Magic Council would be a good guess."

   "Then, why are they coming after you?" Levy asked. Gabbey grimaced. 

   "While in Phantom Lord, I took a mission and infiltrated their guild. My college and I pretended to be apart of their guild, got all the information on them and their plan we could, before we went to leave. Lets just say, it didn't end up like that. . . I got away with their secrets and the one thing that they needed to revive Zeref. I don't know why they're hunting me down, it's been two years. . ."

   "What did you take?" Wendy asked, holding tightly onto Carla. 

   "The Infinity Elixir Stone," Gabbey mumbled, causing Makarov to choke on his spit. 

   "The Infinity Elixir Stone?!" He wheezed. "How'd you get your hands on that?! Where is it!"

   "Hidden," Gabbey sniffed. "Only I and two others know where the stone is hidden and that's all."

   "Gramps, what's the Infinite Exile Stone?" Natsu asked. 

   "The Infinity Elixir Stone is very powerful object that can revive a single person, or have someone live forever." Makarov explained. 

   "Oh! You mean the Philosopher Stone!" Levy exclaimed. 

   "I don't call it that because I feel like I'm ripping off my favorite book series." Gabbey admitted. "But, yes. That."

    "And they plan to revive Zeref with that stone?" Makarov closed his eyes. "A stone that you have?"

   "Yes."

   "Alright," Makarov opened his eyes. "Natsu, Gray, Erza, Lucy, and Wendy. You five will be watching over Gabbey until we find out a better plan."

   "What?!"  Almost everyone exclaimed.

   "I'm not letting them into my house!"

   "I'm not going to watch over her!"

   "Why me?!"

   "Quiet!" Makarov ordered. "You are going to let them stay as long as they need to until this whole thing blows over. You five will watch her and make sure she is protected. And this is not a request, this is an order!"

   "Yes, Master," Erza nodded her head. "We will do our best to protect Gabbriel."

   "Gajeel," Gabbey turned towards her twin brother. "You can't let them get into this. Don't!"

   "It means more protection for you," Gajeel admitted slowly. "A lot more protection than Juvia and I can give you. You're just going to have to get use to it."

🌹🌹🌹

   "This sucks," Natsu grumbled as he sat in the living room of Gabbey's and Gajeel's place. Everyone was sprawled out among the limited chairs in their living room and some sat on the ground.

   "You don't have to be here," Gabbey snapped, sitting grumpily in her claimed chair. Her arms were crossed as well as her legs, and she didn't look in the mood to deal with anyone's shit.

   "Yes! I do! Because that's what a family does! Protect each other!" Natsu argued. 

   "Stop saying we're family!"

   "Stop denying it!"

   "You guys, stop arguing, you're giving me a headache," Gray groaned, putting a hand to his head. 

   "Shut up, ice-freak!" The two Dragon Slayers retorted. 

  "Will you two shut up?!" Gajeel finally snapped from the kitchen. He was warming up some food that Levy had brought along. The short girl didn't want to leave Gabbey alone to deal with this problem. "Natsu, stop irritating her and everyone else! Gabbey, Makarov told them to be here, so they're stuck here until this whole thing blows over. So they're going to stay!"

Gabbriel let out a irritated growl, leaning back in her chair and looking away from everyone. A tense silence fell over everyone before Lucy spoke up hesitantly. 

   "S-So, how is everyone's day?"

   "Peachy," Gabbey grumbled, but snapped her mouth close at warning pull Gajeel gave to their bond.

   "I'm doing good Lucy!" Daella chirped, sitting in a small circle with the other Exceeds. They all held cards in their hand, playing some game. "How is yours?"

   "Rough," Lucy let out a dramatic sigh. "My rent is due soon, so I'll have to get a mission soon."

   "What about the bandit one?!" Natsu exclaimed, seemingly over the small spat. "That should give us enough jewls to split evenly!"

   "Jet and Droy took that one before we left," Levy added in. "I knew Gajeel and Gabbey really didn't care for them, and they follow me everywhere."

The twins sent Levy a grateful look. 

   "Damn!" Natsu groaned. 

   "Food's ready," Gajeel grunted, walking over with two bowel and handing one to Gabbey. "Fortunately, Levi cooked us something. Gabbey and I can't cook."

A murmur of Thanks, Levy echoed throughout the room as everyone stumbled up to get some food. Soon the only sound that filled the room were the scrap of spoons against the bowels as they ate. 

   "So, what is the sleeping arrangement going to look like?" Erza asked after a bit, putting her bowel to her side as she started the conversation. 

   "I was going to have Levy and Lucy sleep in my bed," Gabbey shrugged. "I was gonna take this chair."

   "You're too nice," Gajeel scoffed. "I was going to let everyone fend for themselves and sleep in my own room."

   "So rude!"

   "I didn't ask to have a sleepover with you guys!" 

   "Uh," Wendy nervously pressed her fingers together. "I-I have an idea."

   "What is it, Wendy?" Gray hummed, clearly already for bed. He was only in his boxers.

   "Clothes, Gray."

   "Shit!"

   "Why don't we build a fort?" Wendy asked. "Move the chairs around and get some sheets and blankets. . .We can all keep an eye out on Gabbey and sleep together. . ."

   "I don't see why not."

   "Yay! Pillow fort!!"

🌹🌹🌹

The lights were out, only the soft glow of the moon illuminating the room. The once clean living room was now a cluttered mess, couches and chairs pushed together to hold up sheets and blankets. Gajeel and Gabbriel even went as far as to nail some blankets to the walls and ceiling. 

The protection unit, with Levy, Gabbey, Gajeel, and - eventually - Juvia. The blue haired rain lady made an appearance half-way through their set up and decided to join them all. 

It totally wasn't because a certain ice mage had started to strip again. 

Everyone had a pillow - only because they went back to their own houses and got the material - and was sleeping in a somewhat pile. 

Lucy was next to Natsu and Happy, who snored loudly through the night. Erza and Juvia were next to each other as well, Gray not to far from the latter. Daella and Lily laid cuddled next to Gajeel, who was only arms length away from Gabbey. Levy and Wendy were cuddles up together near Gabbey's feet, Carla curled up into Wendy's side. 

It was peaceful.

But, not for long. 

There was a slight creak as the window slowly opened from the outside, a short but armed figure slinking in. They paused, as if to make sure no one awoke, before continuing into the house. 

A katana laid across their back in it's sheath, and the only color shown was the grey in their eyes. Their clothes were black, their shoes were black, even their hair. That's what made it so easy to blend into the blackness that was the shadows. 

The figure crept their way towards the slumbering group, making sure to step lightly and not make a sound. They passed a ridiculously loud pink-hair dude whose snore could wake up Zeref himself, an armored redhead, two blue haired children, and finally, their target. 

The target was sleeping relatively away from the group, but not far enough to their liking.  Her curled black hair was tossed behind her as she cuddled her pillow first. Her nose wiggled lightly, like she was smelling something, but settled down.

 The figure themselves didn't know the targets name, just to take her out as quick as possible. With practiced slowness that all assassins should have, the shadow figure took out a dagger and thrust down towards the targets' head. 

Red eyes snapped opened as the target clutched their wrist tightly, fighting to make sure the knife didn't impale her. 

   "You really choose the wrong girl," Gabbey snarled, pulling her fist back. The assassin let the knife drop, only to catch it in her other hand. Gabbey shoved the wrist she had away,  scrambling away from the sharp edge. Her hand was clutched into a fist, holding onto something that she grabbed. 

The assassin let out an irritated grunt, watching as Gabbey pulled herself up and into a fighting stance. Nothing was said as they clashed together, punches and kicks being exchanged. Gabbey was quick, trying to get a feel of the figures' fighting style. 

   "Ow!" Lucy whined, waking up as someone stepped on her hair. "What was- GUYS!" 

Gabbriel growled. "I got-!" She was cut off as the shadow figure kicked her in the chest, sending her flying back. She landed on the table, the legs giving out at the sudden weight, and the object in her fist flew out of her grasp. The loud crash successfully woke everyone up. 

   "W-Wha?" Happy murmured, rubbing his eye. 

   "There's someone attack Gabbriel!" Lucy squeaked, making Gajeel shoot up. 

   "What?!"

   "What kind of protective unit are you?!" Gabbey shouted in annoyance, rolling off the table before the assassin's knife plunged into her. Thinking quickly, Gabbey rolled and pushed herself to stand up, sending a fist at the assassin. The attack hit, making them groan before swinging back. 

   "Not a very good one!" Carla said dryly, watching as the assaulter slice the bridge of Gabbey's nose. "Don't just stand there! Do something! "

   "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" Natsu roared, sending his flaming fist towards the two fighting figures. The assassin dodged, saw everyone was up and ready for a fight, and dashed towards the window. 

   "Iron Make; Thorns!" Gabbey shouted, sending her tiny metal shards towards the escaping assassin. They tried to dodge, but one thorn actually hitting the assassin in the shoulder before they got away. "Shit!"

   "What was that?!" Gray exclaimed. 

   "Did someone try to kill you?!" Levy gasped, covering her mouth. Gajeel walked over to his sister, pushing at the bond. 

   "Are you okay?" Gajeel muttered, glancing over Gabbey. "I think they re opened that wound the Archer dude gave you."

   "I'm fine," Gabbey grumbled, wiping away the blood on her nose. "Just surprised. If I didn't smell something off, they would've got me."

   "What did you smell?" Wendy asked, quick to be at Gabbey's side. "I can heal that for you!"

   "No," Gabbey shook her head, walking over to the ruined table. "I smelt. . .cherries."

Gabbey was silent was she searched through the rubble of her table, gently picking something up and examining it. 

   "We probably need to tell Gramps, right away," Erza stated, looking over at her guildmates. "Say that someone has sent an assassin out on Gabbey. We need to keep a tighter-"

Gajeel almost stumbled back at the wave of grief and rage that hit him, not doubt from Gabbey herself. She was staring at the object in her hand still, muttering to herself. Wendy and Levy seem to have noticed as well. 

   "Gabbey?" Wendy asked softly as the small trio made their way closer to the black-haired mage. 

   "What the actual fuck?" Gabbey snapped suddenly, turning around to face Gajeel. In her hand was a simple silver bracelet. "What the fuck, Gajeel! How do they have this!? They can't have this! Unless they stole it right off her dead body!"

   "Have what?" Lucy asked as Gabbey continued her rage. 

   "I knew that guild was low, but this is a new low! Why the fuck would they do that? It's disgusting!"

   "Gabbriel!" Erza said in a loud voice, making Natsu and Gray wince. It was her not-taking-shit tone. "I think you need to tell us something."

   "I don't have to tell any of you guys shit," Gabbey spat, turning towards the red head and stepping closer. "I don't even want you guys here! If I wanted people here, I would have asked!"

   "Don't start something you can't finish," Erza said lowly, making Gabbey sneer. 

   "Gabbey!" Levy exclaimed, stepping in between the two mages. "Gabbey, calm down. We just want to help! That's all, we want to help."

   "They don't know-" Gabbey started, but Levy interrupted. 

   "Then maybe they should."

The two stared at each other, Gabbey slowly calming herself down. They both knew that Gabbey would never hurt Levy, not after all she put the bluenette through. Gajeel sent reassurance towards Gabbey, putting a hand on her shoulder. 

   "It might do you some good, Gabbey," Gajeel murmured lowly. "We both know we don't do feeling shit, but maybe this would help, you and them."

Gabbriel let out a long breathe, her shoulder slumping as she slowly walked over to her chair, sitting down her her face in her hands. Team Natsu was mildly surprise. Gabbey looked like she was giving up, that the world had finally crushed her from the weight on her shoulders. With a sigh, Gabbey rubbed her face and looked up. 

   "I'm only going to tell you once."