~*****~

"You're telling me I missed you getting married?!" I exclaim loudly.

"Co-Congratulations!" Erza stammered in surprised. "When did this happen?"

"About six years ago." Alzack smiled.

"Sure wish all you guys coulda been there," Bisca giggles. "Poor thing nearly passed out when I proposed. It was adorable!"

"Did ya have to bring that up?" Alzack complained.

"You bet your ass she did, I've been waitin' for this ever since I met you two!" I exclaim. "C'mon, Bisca, give me the dirty details, you guys are literally the cutest couple!"

"How could you get married without me there?!" Erza whined as she shook Max around.

"That's wonderful! Do you have children?" Lisanna chirped.

"We have a daughter," Bisca smiled as I continued to plead for details.

"Yeah, we named her Asca." Alzack hummed.

I squealed. "I need to meet her! She's bound to be the cutest little kid in the world!" I say excitedly.

Bisca laughed as I clung to her arm. "Definitely, we should totally introduce you all to her."

The door bursts open, and my gaze snaps towards it. "Welcome! Can I help you?" Kinana chirped.

"Wonderful. It seems the rumors were true!" A familiar voice rings out.

"Who are these bozos?" Elfman wondered.

"I think I know," Mira hummed.

"Hello my lovelies!" Sherry's voice rings out. "I'm glad to hear your deaths were exaggerated!"

"You appear to be in great health!" Jura exclaims.

"The sentiments a little redundant when they haven't aged in seven years," Yuka hummed.

"You've barely been back two days and you've already trashed the place." Lyon mentioned haughtily.

"Ice Princess!" I chirp loudly.

"Stop calling me that!" Lyon snapped at me.

"Blue Pegasus and Lamia Scale helped us search for Tenrou Island longer than anyone else would," Max explained.

"We appreciate it." Erza hummed.

"Well, I guess we owe you one, man," Gray smiled.

"I'd love to take you up on that, but I've got seven years on you now." Lyon smirked. "And I'm not the kinda guy who takes advantage of children."

"Yeah, rub it in," Gray sighed.

~*****~

"So you see, thinks haven't been completely bad while you guys were taking your seven year siesta." Sherry mentioned. "In that time, Lamia Scale climbed the ranks to Fiore's second best guild! No hard feelings. Right, Lucy?"

"Second, huh?" I trail off. "Hold on, is Pegasus number one? Cause I think I remember hearing Master Bob say he'd kidnap me to join Blue Pegasus again if they did hit number one."

"Real funny!" Tobey exclaimed. He began ranting, causing Yuka to sigh.

"Here he goes... Tobey, you're embarrassing yourself again." Yuka comments.

"Now, Tobey's wild rant aside, we're just glad to have you back with us." Jura mentioned.

"That's right!" Tobey chirped.

I leaned near Natsu and nodded my head towards Lyon. "Check it out, he's totally diggin' Juvia." I mention impishly.

"How much you wanna bet he starts spoutin' that true love stuff." Natsu asked.

"I never believed in true love until now--" Lyon immediately spouted. Natsu and I began choking on our laughter.

"Whoa-- I don't think he's playin' around!" Lucy squealed.

"He has no idea what he's gettin' himself into here!" Gray snorted.

"Oh no-- the love triangle has become a... love maze!" Juvia cries.

"What a healthy imagination," Lucy sighed.

"Why is she imagining that I love everyone in the guild?" I ask irritably. "I'm not that much of a flirt, am I? I wouldn't say that's a healthy imagination."

"It's anything but healthy." Gray hummed.

"Hey, Aria, wanna see our daughter? Alzack's got a picture of her!" Bisca chirped.

The others at the table gasped in shock as I knocked the table over trying to get to it, as if I were a crazed hermit. "Definitely takes after you two!" Wendy chirps.

"She's so cute, oh my god, I just wanna eat her up!" I whine.

"She reminds me of Wendy in way," Lily mentions. "Tiny and adorable."

"Yeah," Gajeel nodded.

Wendy gave a sharp cry. "STOP PICKING ON ME!" Wendy cried as she ran off.

"What'd I say?!" Lily cried.

I giggle. "She's just trying to come into adulthood a little too early." I mention. "She'll come around."

~*****~

My throat burned as I continued to sneeze in my own home, dusting everything almost violently to get rid of seven years of neglect. "Miss, it looks like everything is still in its place!" Ballad hummed.

I nod thankfully at her assistance before rooting through my desk, where I notice something is indeed missing. "I'd like to say we came back completely intact, but it looks like someone did break in." I mention lightly. I sniff delicately and try to find a different scent. There's only the musty old house I'd been in for the past few hours. Whoever broke in, broke in quite a while ago.

I grimace and shut the drawer with a growl. "What was missing?" Ballad asked curiously.

"A necklace I got from Everest. I never wore it because I'm afraid I'd lose it with how much I fight. Not to mention it's very delicate." I explain. I sigh lightly and sink into the creaky old chair. "We might have to make a trip to a merchant guild to see if anything like it has been sold recently."

Ballad hummed delicately. "Should we go to Acalypha?" She asked.

I hum again and nod before grasping at my travel bag. "We'll go now. I'm sure this is going to be an annoying trip."

"Aye, ma'am!" Ballad chirped and soared out of the room for her little pack.

The next morning, we arrived at Love and Lucky just as the members arrived. "Excuse me, I know it's early, but I was wondering if a peculiar item came through here to be sold in the past seven years." I mention to the clerk.

She hums gingerly. "Seven years? Do you know the exact year?" The woman asks.

I shake my head. "No, I was... tied up. For quite a while. I only recently got home. It's a necklace made of silver with a nearly clear shard of nevermelt ice right in the center. It kinda resembles a large cat eye when you look at it." I explain.

She begins rooting through her files. "This might take quite a while. Did you want to sit while you wait? There are some lovely restaurants in town you could visit." The woman smiled.

I shook my head and trailed to the seating area. "Thank you for your help." I call out before plopping down.

I don't know when I ended up dozing off, but when I did, I hear Lucy exclaim. "You're here?! Don't tell me you're here to see my dad, too!" Lucy snapped at me. I blink rapidly and yawn.

"Why are you yelling?" I ask, my hand stifling my yawn. "Oh, hey, Natsu, what are you doing here?"

"My safe got up and walked away...." Natsu whimpered.

I chuckle and lean against my palm. "Natsu, that means it was stolen." I chuckle. "It looks like everyone is getting stolen from these days." I sigh loudly and stand up, my back creaking from the bench I'd dozed off on. "I had something stolen, so I was trying to see if anything passed through here that was remotely similar."

Lucy hummed and gazed off to the counter where the clerk sat. The other was still rifling through the files. "Excuse me, may I ask you something?" Lucy chirped.

"Yes ma'am?" The woman hummed.

"Do you happen to know if a Mr. Jude Heartfilia will be coming in today? He's still registered here, isn't he?" Lucy asked.

The woman gazed at her in shock. "Would you be Jude's daughter by any chance?"

The woman gazed down thoughtfully. "There a problem, lady?" Natsu asked.

"Is he out sick today?" Happy asked.

"Do you have his home address?" Lucy wondered.

"Um, actually... I'm very sorry to have to tell you this, but... Jude passed away a little over a month ago." The woman stated softly. "It was a shock to all of us."

Natsu and I glanced at one another hesitantly before we lead Lucy out of the guild. I could go back later. Right now, Lucy needed her friends.

~*****~

Lucy was silent after visiting her father's grave. I didn't blame her. I went back to the Merchant Guild after bidding Lucy and Natsu goodbye. Unfortunately, my search ended up at a dead end with the guild. "Does that mean you gotta start going to mercenary guilds, now?" Ballad asks lightly as we trail through the forest.

"Seems like it. I'll send a letter to Marko and see if any of his connections have any leads." I mutter. "I was really hopin' I'd at least get a lead at the guild, that way I could raise hell." I heave out a loud sigh before slinging my arms upwards. "I hate to see Lucy so down..."

Ballad hummed. "Yeah... But she'll heal. She has all of us to help her, right?"

I giggle and nod. "Yes. She does. At the very least, I can share in her grief. I know how it is to lose a parent..."

Ballad plopped onto the ground and began to walk ahead of me, swinging her little arms. I hear harsh panting coming from up ahead and I stop in my tracks when Natsu and Happy fly over the ridge. "There you are!" Natsu bellowed from atop the ridge before he loses his footing and slips down-- rather painfully I might add.

"Smooth, Natsu," Happy chirped as he flew into my arms. "Hey, Aria, did you know that your smell is super strong when you're upset?"

I flinch and grimace. "Yeah, it's always been a thing for me." I mention irritably. "Everest used to tell me I'd stink her out of the cave if I kept being upset at her."

"Yeah, well, we smelled it all the way from Magnolia and came runnin'! We were afraid you'd gotten hurt!" Happy chirped as Natsu sat up, rubbing his head irritably.

"For real, I thought you got eaten by a bear or somethin'," Natsu commented.

"Awe, is Natsu concerned for Aria~" Ballad cooed. "He looooves her!"

"GET OUTTA HERE, YA FREAKIN' JERKS!" Natsu shouted, raising his fists at them.

I chuckle and release Happy. "Thanks for comin' out here, Natsu, but I'm afraid I'm not gonna be very good company."

Natsu tilted his head. "So the guild had no idea about your stuff?"

I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest. "No, they didn't. I'm gonna have to get in touch with Marko. Truth be told, I might have to travel all the way to their guild to discuss how we're going about getting it back."

"What was it?" Natsu asked.

I glance over at him for a moment before sighing. "A necklace Everest made me. She's really good at making trinkets. I left it at home cause I was afraid I might lose it on Tenrou island. Now I've really lost it to a freakin' thief." I sigh loudly and sling my arms over head.

"Well, don't give up hope!" Natsu chirped, suddenly full of confidence. "I'll find that necklace for ya! You don't need to get in touch with what's his name!"

I chuckle and lean against his arm as we continue to trek through the forest. "Thanks, Natsu. But I don't know how you're going to accomplish that when I haven't the faintest clue where it's at."

Natsu just hummed. "Well, it's bound to smell like you, right? So I'll just follow my nose!" We fell into silence again before I feel Natsu grasp my hand. I glance up at him and smile at his nervous expression. "This all right?" He asked almost silently.

I nod and tilt towards him. "You know, you don't have to ask to do things. Like holding hands or kissing." I mention impishly.

Steam billowed from his head as he stared hard at the ground. "I know that--" He retorted wildly. "I just don't wanna irritate you, cause you get scary when you're irritated."

I giggle. "I can guarantee you, that if I get irritated, it won't be because of you being affectionate." I mention. "I think it's cute when you initiate contact."

"I ain't cute," Natsu grunted, his face angling upwards.

"Sure, sure--" I wave my hand dismissively before I'm backed into a tree, and silenced by Natsu's lips on mine.

~*****~

The next morning, Makarov asked me to accompany him, Erza, and Mira to Twilight Ogre so we could settle this debt situation. "I'm done playin' games, old man," Banaboster snorted irritably. "I ain't got nothin' else to say to you, m'kay? There ain't no way I'm gonna back down until you and your guild paid the debt you owe me."

"I would like nothing more than to pay you," Makarov hummed in a friendly tone. "But I'm sure you're well aware of the financial rut we've found ourselves in."

"Your business records have a lot of holes in them. It makes you wonder if we're paying more than we really owe!" Mira chirped.

"Would you care to explain that?" I ask.

"YOU TRAMP!" Banaboster shouted. "Are you accusin' me of fraud or somethin'?"

"Not at all!" Makarov tried placating him. "You can be assured that we'll repay whatever we owe with proper interest. Some day."

"You startin' to try my patience, you little piss-ant!" Banaboster exclaimed as he stood up.

"Forgive me, that came out wrong. What I meant is that we should start by renegotiating our interest rate." Makarov explained.

"What?!" Banaboster shouted. "I DON'T NEGOTIATE WITH DEAD BEATS WHO ROUGH UP MY BOYS AND DON'T PAY THEIR DEBTS! CAPICHE?! YOU THINK YOU'RE TOUGH, LITTLE MAN, BUT I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR BEIN' DISRESPECTFUL! ME AND MY BOYS GOT A REPUTATION TO UPHOLD!"

Makarov kicked his legs up and down. "Understood. We only came here to discuss money, but we can discuss your reputation as well. I have no problem telling you what I think."

"You wanna wear cement shoes, ya old geezer?!" Banaboster kicked his table while he shouted.

"Get payback for what's owed," Makarov repeated. "If memory serves, that's the Twilight Ogre creed. Much like an eye for an eye."

"Indeed." Erza hummed. "And when you think of it in those terms, you owe us for seven years of property damage and abuse."

"So it seems you owe us." Mira added.

"It's time to pay the piper, scum." I state. "For each and every claim that was made."

I could feel the magical pressure just the three of us were exuding. "The suffering my children endured at your hands, all the years I wasn't there for them. It brings tears to my eyes!" Makarov boomed as he raised in stature, building up to his giant form. "You hear me? So if it's war you want, then it's war you're gonna get!"

Everyone began panicking in the guild as we turned our gazes onto them, ready for the word to attack. I slam my fists together and grin. "Get ready, ya lowlife punks!" I sneer before we launch, destroying the inside of their guild and beating the snot out of them.

~*****~

The next few days went without an issue. Twilight Ogre wouldn't come anywhere near us, so I suspect that means that the guild in the clear. Otherwise, I'd gotten the go ahead from Master to tear up their guild when they try something.

I peered closely at the job request I'd plucked off the board. It was a hefty reward-- one I'd need after pouring nearly all of my horde into the guild's upkeep. "Whatcha got there?" Natsu asks curiously as he peers over my shoulder.

"It's a capture job. This guy escaped from prison and the reward is four million jewel," I mention impishly.

"FOUR MILLION JEWEL!?" Natsu exclaimed.

"Alright, now we're talkin'!" Lucy chimed in. "I'm broke, and a huge cash injection is just what the doctor ordered! What are we waitin' for?"

"Well, we haven't decided if we're taking it yet, for starters," I tease.

"Well, we sure could use the money, too," Natsu hums. "So I say lets do it!"

"This job seems kinda familiar," Lucy mentions as I hand over the flyer. "Didn't Gray almost take a job catching an escaped convict a little while ago?"

"Aria was too hungover to remember," Ballad reminds her. "This is the same job, but back then the reward was only four hundred thousand jewel!"

"For some reason, he's way more valuable than he used to be." Natsu commented.

"I wonder who the client is." Lucy hums.

I shove my pinky in my ear. "Some dude called Count Ballsy Mike." I say.

"That says Balsamico," Ballad retorts.

"That's a pretty sour name, huh?" Natsu laughs.

"He'll go great on your salads!" Happy chirped.

"Count Balsamico?" Macao echoed. "You know, rumor has it that Velveno is gonna make an appearance at the huge magical ball that the Balsamico family is throwin' this year."

"What the heck are you talkin' about, old man?" I ask irritably.

"They throw a big, fancy party every seven years," Wakaba chirped. "It's very exclusive; you gotta be a wizard to even get through the door. The next one's happenin' this Saturday!"

"All right, then let's crash this rich guy's party this weekend, and walk out four million jewel richer!" Happy cheered.

"Sounds like a plan! I'm fired up!" Natsu cheered.

"This is gonna be great!" Lucy chirped as Natsu and I beamed at one another before beginning to run off. "Wait, I just thought of something, you guys! If we're going to this high class ball, we're all gonna need to work on our dance moves first, don't you think?"

"Our dance moves?!" Natsu exclaimed.

I shrug. "No biggie. Being a clown in a traveling circus teaches you all the swanky moves." I comment.

~*****~

"I don't get why I gotta be the one to show him," I mention to Lucy as she forces me to teach Natsu how to ballroom dance.

"What I don't get is why you're so embarrassed. You guys have been sneakin' around lately, and I can only guess as to what you're doing." Lucy retorts with no hesitation.

Wakaba and Macao begin cooing in pride for Natsu getting lucky. "Shut your traps, geezers." I snap.

"Just shut up." Lucy snapped. "Okay, Natsu, we're gonna start off with the basic steps. First, grab onto Aria's hands."

"C'mon, this is so embarrassing..." Natsu grumbled, his face flushed as he takes my hands.

He's not exactly horrible, but he has an issue with stepping on feet. "C'mon, man, I'm not wearing thick boots today!" I exclaim.

"Sorry!" Natsu complains.

"So, is this some sort of foot stomping game?" Romeo asks.

Mira chirps out a response-- something about moving in perfect rhythm, and now all I can think about is dirty things. "Hey, what are you guys doing over here?! Playing some kinda game or somethin'?!" Gray exclaims.

"It's not a game, doofus!" Lucy shouts

Gray sheds his shirt and quite literally steals my hands from Natsu. "Let me play a round with ya!"

"That sounds dirty! Back off!" I shout as I haul him over head and send him flying.

"If you have to strip down to dance with Gray, then I am more than willing!" Juvia barks as she sheds her top coat.

"Well, you may not be aware, but in certain circles, I was once known as the dancing demon," Erza mentions, seemingly appearing from no where.

"You were?!" Natsu and I bark.

Erza requips into a ball gown. "Ready? Let's dance!"

"Nah, I don't think I'm quite ready yet," Natsu grumbled as he tried to discretely move behind me.

"Don't be so foolish! All you need is SPIRIT!" Erza booms.

Erza easily pulls Natsu from behind me and spins him like a top. "What... what happened to this lesson?" I ask curiously.

Lisanna approached with a smile. "I can teach Natsu. He'll be cuttin' a rug like a pro in no time."

"If ya don't mind, I'm gonna take a break for just a--" Natsu tried, but Lisanna began spinning him like a top, too.

"Now let your shoulders relax a bit and keep your back straight!" Lisanna explained.

"This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me!" Natsu complained.

"How can Natsu be such a big sissy!?" Elfman asked. "C'mon, Kid, man up!"

"All right, Elfman! May I have this dance?!" Erza asked aggressively. She began spinning him like a top.

"Ballroom dancing looks amazing, I wanna try it too!" Wendy chirped.

Warren smiled and approached her. "May I have this dance?" He asked, holding a hand out to her.

Turns out, Wendy's a pro at ballroom dancing. Soon, everyone began dancing, leaving me to sit on the sidelines, wondering what the hell was going on. "Wait, am I seriously the only one here who doesn't have a partner?!" Lucy cried.

I laugh. "I don't either, but that's the fun. You get to watch all these other people have fun and smile while they dance the night away." I explain delicately.

Ballad chirped. "At least Capricorn is a good dancer!" She mentioned as Lucy dances with her spirit. "I think I like watching, too, cause you get to see who's enjoying themselves and who's not-- like Natsu! He looks ready to hurl!"

I laugh loudly.