Jellal rummaged through the contents of the fridge and pantry. Mirajane had obviously thought of everything when she had set up the cabin for him. He covertly glanced over at the redhead that sat on a stool at the counter top nearby. Yeah Mira definitely thought of everything. Even a way to get the object of his affection alone with him in the woods.

Jellal may not have been part of Fairy Tail but even he knew of the matchmaker shenanigans, and the lengths she would go to put those motions into place. She had obviously handed out the information to Erza after the event took place. But if she had participated wouldn't she be with said male now.

Jellal constantly did this to himself. He constantly tore himself up inside wondering what male she would pick to settle down with. He, himself, wasn't worthy of such affection. Plus he had told her that lie awhile back about having a fiance.

But, wait, if she had believed he had a fiance she would have never just kissed him like she had? He still tasted the vanilla strawberry cake flavor that obviously lingered since she last sampled her favorite delicacy. He still felt the heat coursing through his blood of how the kiss made him feel physically. But most importantly he still felt emotionally rattled on how to deal with it all.

Jellal put together a crude meal. It was too late to get fancy with anything. Plus he was more used to eating over a campfire then dealing with the modern appliances. He wondered if there were a grill outside but he quickly dismissed it. He just had to get her fed and out of here. He glanced her way again and finally noticed the small suitcase she had sat beside her. She apparently planned on staying which did not sit well with him.

Once the chilli began to bubble he ladled it into two bowls and sat beside her. It wasn't easy being this close to her but it was either sit here at the counter top, or have her needle him for why he sat so far away.

"I'm sorry it is just chilli. I'm not much of a cook."

Erza shrugged. "I'm sure it's fine. Besides, I can't really cook myself."

Jellal chuckled as he remembered how Erza had tried to cook for the group at the Tower of Heaven when they were children. He was the only one that finished his meal but he regretted it the next day. He could barely focus on his work and he has been punished for how he "slacked off."

"Oh, you're remembering..." Erza pressed her lips together and cut herself off. Then she went back to focusing on her meal. The chilli was actually quite good, even if it did come from a jar. At least Mira didn't buy it in a can, jarred food has a bit better flavor then something from a can.

Jellal made quick work of his food and took his bowl and spoon to the sink. He meticulously cleaned them and put them in the dish drainer to dry.

Erza curbed the sigh she about made as she watched the muscles in his back tense and contract with the movement of the simple household chore. She nibbled delicately at her food not really ready for the conversation they were about to have. But she knew it would have to happen sooner or later. Her appetite gone she took her remains to the trash then went to clean her own bowl out. Jellal quickly grabbed it from her. "I'll get it."

Erza merely nodded in response and seated herself on the rust colored couch in the sitting area. There was not a lacrimavision in this small cabin so she didn't have anything to keep her mind off the cerulean haired male in the kitchen. Her mind drifted off and soon her eyes drooped from exhaustion. The walk to the cabin obviously taking more energy out of her then she had initially realized.

Jellal noticed how Erza's body went limp and heard how her breath became steady. He double checked his suspicions and found the red head drooping on the couch. She didn't look comfortable in the position she was in. Nor did the armor she wore look comfortable to sleep in. He blushed as his mind conjured up her in lace and silk sleep attire.

Jellal knew she would be weighted down by the metal but he disregarded that fact and picked her up. He carried her up the stairs to the small bedroom above. The bed was king size and he now knew why the bed was so big. But he was determined to sleep on the couch downstairs instead. He laid Erza down on the mattress and a sigh left her. "Jellal."

Jellal looked down to see if she had awakened. He couldn't decide if he was relieved or annoyed when he realized she had said his name in her sleep. He pushed back a stray hair that had fallen over her eyes. "I really don't deserve you." He said before exiting the room.

Meredy really still hadn't any specific destination in mind but she grabbed Oric's hand and dragged him along anyway. She wasn't surprised he didn't complain. In fact her heart started beating faster when he took the hand holding a step further and laced their fingers together. Such a simple act but it made her immensely happy. She turned to smile at him.

Oric had never witnessed anything quite as lovely as Meredy's smile. It was like his own personal sunshine. Damn that sounded lame. But he couldn't help it. Her beauty sparked this poetic notion in his heart that needed to be filled. It was bizarre how much he could feel for someone in such a short time.

Meredy turned back to the street around them and bit her bottom lip. "Okay, truth time. I didn't really have anything in mind. I just kind of wanted to get out of the guild hall. I just wanted to get away from the chaos for the day."

Oric shrugged. "Honestly, I figured as much. But I do agree with getting away from the chaos. You know I bet there are food stands set up at the park. Perhaps we should investigate there."

"But wouldn't that defeat the purpose of getting away from the chaos?"

"True, but at least there we can blend in and pretend to be tourists."

"Oooh, sneaky. I like it."

As Oric predicted the park was crowded with food carts, crafter's tables, and the like. They meandered through the throng of people, stopping only occasionally to glance at something on display.

Meredy stopped at a jeweler's stall. The work was exquisite, not quite the quality of Jaspar's but still beautiful in it's own way. The artist obviously took care in the shaping of the metal settings just as much as the jewels that adorned the piece also. She picked up a bracelet and examined it more closely. Her eyes bulged out when she caught sight of the amount of jewels the jeweler was asking for. It wasn't outrageous for the workmanship, but it was definitely outrageous to her coin purse. She quickly put it back and pretended not to want it.

Of course Oric took notice of how her eyes lit up when she came across the specific piece. He wasn't a fan of the price either but he had a plan to reestablish his wages.

He picked up the bracelet covertly nodded to the sales clerk. The sales clerk came over. Oric quickly negotiated with the clerk and they both settled on an agreement that shaved off quite a few jewels from his selected purchase.

"Meredy, let's grab some food and find a place to sit and eat."

Of course selecting something to eat was a chore itself. Too many things looks scrumptious to them both. They ended up with a few selections from each stall they stopped at. Despite the crowd it wasn't hard to find somewhere to sit. Someone thought it through to set up picnic spots here and there throughout the park. They found a blanket and each dug into their own food.

"So...I have a deal for you," Oric started.

Meredy was mid bite when he prompted the conversation. She quickly swallowed, unaware of the smudge of barbecue sauce that stained the corner of her lip. "What kind of deal?"

Oric took a breath and quickly stroked his finger across the stain. He licked his finger clean. The moment had them both blushing and he quickly cleared his throat. "I have a surprise for you but to receive it you first have to answer my questions."

Meredy eyed him curiously. She was pretty much an open book so this wouldn't be terribly difficult. "Okay, fire away with the questions."

"What's your middle name?"

"I don't have one."

"Birthday?"

"We always had celebrated it in April, Ultear and I. But that was when they found me. So it was more an anniversary then a true birthday."

"Ultear was basically a foster mother to you?"

Meredy nodded. She proceeded to tell Oric the long story of how they met. The trials and tribulations they went through together. How they both became part of Crime Sorciere. Then how suddenly she just disappeared one day. A tear slowly crept down her cheek.

Oric reached out and wiped the tear from her cheek. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you said."

"No, it's okay. I mean I miss her of course. But I think there was more to it then her merely disappearing. I remember how we received the news of her leaving the guild. A sweet little old lady had brought us a letter. I didn't understand how she knew Ultear. But I felt that both this little old lady and Ultear had gone to great extremes to help us out at that time. It wasn't anything I can prove or really define at a great extent. But...it did give me some closure at least. Doesn't make me miss her any less though."

Oric nodded. He stroked the back of her hand. "Tell me what you are hiding about Lucy's babies. Why you need to be here?"

Meredy felt like she had been stricken. She never expected to be asked anything so bluntly by Oric. Especially not that.

"Sorry, I know that came out harshly. I guess I am just curious. My sister is pregnant now too you know? I mean she hasn't outwardly announced it. But I've noticed how she stopped wearing her armor. I've noticed how she will touch her belly when no one is looking. Also, where her stomach was flat there is now a nearly unnoticeable bump. You knew she was pregnant didn't you?"

Meredy nodded. "Yeah, I figured it out. But if it's Rory you are concerned about I can tell you that as I see it right now Lucy and Rory are very different circumstances."

"Are you saying that the birth of Lucy's babies will go badly? Or be harmed from the babies in general?"

"Oh, no, not that. I know I've said it before. But I know what magic the babies possess. I know how many there are. I even know she will need my help after. But it's nothing bad in any way. It's just unique."

"Now you got me even more curious." Oric pulled the bracelet from his pants pocket. "I tell you what. You clue me in, and I promise I won't tell anyone but also you will get this bracelet as a special prize."

"You are playing dirty." Meredy grumbled in reply.

"Sometimes dirty is the only way to play."

Mikayla's story was of course quite a sad one indeed. She sipped gently at the water glass in her hand. Rory rubbed her back gently. Mikayla fought off several hiccups before she actually began to tell her story. She looked up at Sting and somehow she felt not fear or shyness but an odd sense of courage pump through her veins.

Is that what Sting would bring to the table in their relationship. Would he give her the courage that she lacked herself? If so the magic that paired dragon mates knew exactly what it was doing. She took a deep breath before beginning her tale.

"Yes, I once had a twin brother. His name was Kerwin. When both my brother and I were born, we were both premature. Kerwin weighed 2 lbs 12 ounces (1 kg 247 grams). I weighed 3 lbs 14 ounces (1 kg 758 grams). I was obviously the healthier twin." Mikayla took another drink of water. "But, that wasn't the only obstacle we both had to face in the beginning of our lives. When we were born there was a magical imbalance between our powers. Kerwin's magic flickered between us, like it didn't want to stay in his little body. My own magic seemed to want his magic for itself. I'm sorry but I was a baby. I will never claim to have wanted his magic for myself. It just sort of happened. When my magic engulfed his it also took some of his bodies immunities. My body became stronger. Poor Kerwin caught a nasty virus when we were about 5 months old. His body fought as hard as it could." She hiccuped again as she began to cry. "But with his poor amount of immunities, his lack of magic, he had no real way to fight off the disease."

Natsu felt for her he really did but he had to know. "Is that something that could happen to our babies?"

Mikayla shook her head but Linnea fielded the question. "There is no way to know for certain of course. But Hemlock believed that because his wife was no mage, and they didn't have the aided magic of the dragon slayer gem, that it somehow weakened their bond. That the lack of magical energy between them was what may have created the imbalance."

Sting looked down at Mikayla. He sat down on her opposite side from Rory and quickly clasped her hand. "There's more isn't there?"

Mikayla took a deep breath again. "Yeah, like I said when my father kidnapped Lucy he was looking for the dragon slayer gem again because my mother was pregnant again. I have twin brothers that are only five months old, Branwynne and Draven. Draven is like me, he's the stronger of the two. Luckily little Bran hasn't lost his magic. But his immunities are still weak regardless."

Levy looked up at Gajeel. He knew of course what his wife was thinking. They were going to ask Jaspar to help the poor babies before finishing their job. Their own future could wait a bit longer.

"Er, I'm not trying to be insensitive here," Sting began. "I'm just curious. Is this another reason you have so many magical abilities? Is this another possible reason your magic is unstable? I mean aside from the chaos magic itself."

Mikayla shrugged her small shoulders. "I'd guess it was a possibility."

Levy cleared her throat to get the group's attention. "I think we have someone you should meet. I think he can help."