The big group of adventurers opened the great door to the guild hall and welcomed the cacophony that greeted them on the other side. Of course many of the guild members that were left behind mobbed them to find out what had happened. How they had ended up at home at the same time. The group answered their inquisitive friends and afterward each member went to seek out their own sense of comfort since they had grown weary from both the journey and now the questions.

When Erza watched their short bald master try to wheedle his way to his office she chased after him. He had some explaining to do and if she had to force the answers out of him so be it. She made it time to get in the office also before the door slammed into her face. "So, tell me, Master, why you felt the need to send a carrier pigeon to Crime Sorciere and not us." It wasn't really a question it was a statement demanding an answer.

"It's their pigeon."

"Oh, come on, it's not about the pigeon and you know it."

Master Makarov sighed. "I didn't really think things through when Laxus led the group out. That grandson of mine is an immovable force when he sets his mind to something. But once you all left I got some clarity."

"I bet Jellal sent you a message first. You've been keeping contact with him this whole time haven't you?"

He didn't deny it. "Ever since Grand Magic Games I felt he could use a friend that was on his side. He is a good boy that was corrupted and made some wrong choices in life. Personally, I don't blame Ultear either she was also corrupted into believing things were, well I wouldn't say right, but that the things she was doing weren't wrong. So long story short I've kept close correspondence with Crime Sorciere to check up on them and know how they are doing."

Erza nodded. Master had a very forgiving nature, and his logic was sound. She couldn't fault that reasoning. That didn't keep her from being irritated that she had no inkling that he had been keeping correspondence up with Crime Sorciere for this long.

Meredy spied Juvia across the room and bounded over to her. "Juvia!"

"Oh Meredy!" She greeted enthusiastically. They both hugged each other briefly. "How are you?"

"Life on the road, always glamorous," Meredy chuckled softly. "But, really I want to know how life is with you."

Juvia shrugged and her face became sad. "Honestly until yesterday I debated on leaving Fairy Tail."

"Wait, why would you consider leaving your home?"

Juvia cast her eyes on Gray who was catching up with Natsu and Lucy. Probably attempting to get Natsu riled up and fight him. "I'm growing worried that I am going to end up with my heartbroken." A small smile lit her face momentarily. "But, I sensed something yesterday that had me pondering my happily ever after again."

"So, still no move forward with Gray, huh?"

Juvia shook her head. "We had a long talk yesterday. It turned out mostly positive but we are not together like I had hoped we would be. I told him I thought of leaving though, going to Lamia Scale, and he talked me out of it."

"What's at Lamia Scale?"

"Well, there is another ice make mage there that was taught by the same teacher as Gray. His name is Lyon and unlike Gray he has professed feelings for me."

Meredy's eyes popped open. "Do you have feelings for him?"

"No, but I thought maybe if I spent more time with him. That I got to know him better. That perhaps my feelings for him might change."

"But when you told Gray this...?"

"I think he might have gotten jealous. I can't be sure. But I didn't recognize the look upon his face."

'Well, things look like they might be looking up for Juvia. It's about time!' '

Gajeel and Levy escorted Jaspar over to their normal spot. Pantherlily soon joined them and sat on Levy's lap. She hugged him to her and pet him. "God, I missed you!"

Gajeel and Lily didn't have to say that they missed each other. They both just nodded to the other one. But to Levy he said, "I missed you too." Once he settled himself comfortably against her and felt how her hands kneaded at his fur he began to purr contently.

Gajeel swung an arm over the couch behind them. It was his way of hugging Levy without actually hugging her. He turned to Jaspar and asked, "So, does Levy have to part with her ring until you are done with the spell?" He knew that if that were the fact it would upset her emotionally. But she would come to terms with it intellectually. Then do what needed to be done to get the ring enchanted properly.

"Oh no, I just need to work on it a little each day. It can stay on her hand while I work on it even."

"That won't hurt her will it?"

"No, I don't see it having any averse effects toward Levy."

Gajeel grunted his acknowledgment.

"How long do you think it will take?"

"Probably about five months or so."

"Five months?!?!" Gajeel stammered.

Levy stopped petting Lily for a moment and put a hand on his chest to calm him down. "That's an awfully long time, and we will surely have to do a job here and there during that time."

"Then I will go with you. An adventure will do these bones some good." Levy and Gajeel shared a concerned questioning look with each other. "Don't worry so much. I'm a man of many talents."

The entirety of The Thunder Legion sat at their table accompanied by Rory, Oric, and the Strauss family. Laxus looked at Rory across the table. He wanted to pull her to him and set her on his lap. He wanted to keep her close so he could protect her. His dragon roared inside his head to keep her safe. It was quite annoying to be battling himself inwardly. He looked at her and thought at her directly. Are you doing okay? You aren't hurting or anything?

Rory glares at him. You don't have to worry so much. We don't KNOW whether or not I am pregnant yet. There is nothing to worry over for the moment.

Trust me It's getting bothersome for me too. I keep having to tell my dragon to cool it. But it's fighting me to be overly protective.

You don't like it?

No! I shouldn't be instructed how to feel by this force driven inside of me.

Well, I'll admit it is becoming 'bothersome' to me too. But it's also kind of nice to feel your concern wash over me.

Laxus grunted in her head then the left corner of his lip curled upward and he half smiled at her.

Oric couldn't decide between glaring at Laxus or visually seeking out where Meredy went. The girl was going to plague his dreams at night. He was sure of it.

Lucy and Natsu went over to their normal spot when they headed into the guild. Lucy leaned on Natsu out of exhaustion. Happy rushed over to the two and curled himself into Lucy's bosom. His eyes filled with tears. "I missed you two so much!"

Lucy reached down and peeled the exceed from her chest. She sat him on her lap and pet his head between his ears. "We missed you, too."

"Hey, buddy, guess what? You won't have to skip out because of me getting motion sick now. Turns out that as long as Luce is with us the motion sickness doesn't affect me."

"Well, we don't know that I have to be with you or not. Only that since we were mated it won't affect you. Not long from now I am going be heavy with child and probably not want to tag along on every job with you." Don't you dare mention my future or current weight, Natsu!

Wendy had been heading over with Carla and caught the tail end of what she had said. "Have you been doing alright? The morning sickness isn't too bad is it?"

Meredy was walking toward the bar to get herself a refreshment when she overheard what Wendy had said. "Oooh, you're pregnant Lucy?!?! Could I sensory link with you so I can see how the baby is doing?"

Lucy corrected Meredy with the plural instead of the singular. Explaining to yet another person how dragon slayers and their mates always carried at least twins.

"Ooh, I want to sensory link with you even more!" This time she didn't wait for permission she established the link and felt what Lucy felt. Then she spread out the link to also include the babies inside her. She was able to sense each little one individually. "Oh, you got some magical little ones in there, Lucy."

"Wait, you can sense the babies directly?"

"Yeah my magic let's me do that." She states enthusiastically. "I can sense what kind of magic they are attuned to also."

"Um, I hate to ask but on our trip recently there was a moment where I was able to wield magic I shouldn't have been able to. Also, my spirits called out with another magic that wasn't mine nor their own. Um, can you sense if somehow the babies were able to protect me?"

"Oh, I can sense that yes. But, I can't easily explain it to you. Because it's a bit more complicated then that."

"Complicated good or bad?"

"Oh good, definitely good. But it will require that I stay here in Magnolia until well after the babies are born." Meredy was being evasive and it was starting to give Lucy a headache trying to follow her. She yelled across the room. "Jellal, we need to find a way we can stay here!"

Jellal frowned at her.

Oric perked up and decided he too would stay at Fairy Tail.

Master Makarov left the office just before this announcement. "How are we going to do that? Will Jellal once again hide amongst us as Mystogan?"

"No, I don't think he will have to do that. I'm an apothecary in addition to a jewel crafting mage. I think we can concoct something to help us with this situation."

That somewhat settled the guild went back to talking among their own groups. Things settled down as much as they could for the rambunctious bunch. But obviously a lot more was in store for them