Zeref is standing there looking at us with fear and acceptance in his eyes. "Natsu?" he whispers. "So it's time. You've come to kill me."

"Kill you? You idiot! I'd never do that to Violy!"

"But..." Black clouds start to swirl around Zeref. "Violet, RUN!"

I put up a shield of shadows running life magic through them. "It's okay, Nii-san, we have a plan. It's okay."

The black cloud reaches us and Natsu's scarf turns black. The living shadows around me are torn apart and I am left exposed in the swirling cloud of death.

His scarf turned black. That can't be good. But I'm okay, I can do this. I scoop Natsu up with shadows as fast as I can, before they dissolve and throw him out of range of Zeref's magic.

"Violy!" He yells, and starts to run back toward me. He stops short of the death magic and stares at me. I turn away from him and continue walking toward Zeref, wrapping him in my embrace. "Nii-san, I am here. Zeref, you are my brother. You will never be alone again. I will never reject you. I accept you just the way you are." I have tears streaming down my eyes, I kiss his head. And lay my head down on his shoulder. "Nii-san."

The swirling death magic lowers and disappears.

"Vio-nee," Zeref sobs, "you aren't dead."

"No, I'm not dead. I love you brother. I missed you. I want you in my life."

"But the world rejects me." Black clouds start to form again.

"You don't have to reject it back. If you accept the world, it will stop rejecting you. Please try Nii-san. I don't reject you."

Zeref's eyes return to normal. The death magic is gone. He falls to his knees sobbing. I stay with him, falling to the ground with him still in my arms. I will always stay with him. Cool shadows whisper in my ears. "You are amazing." I look up to see Rogue looking on, Sting holding him back from coming to me. Lector and Frosch are hugging and crying. I look for Natsu and see that he is looking on too, grinning at me. Seb and Happy are flying in circles above Natsu.

Lucy's POV:

I can't sleep all night. I just keep running my fingers over Leo's key and trying to sort this out. But I like Natsu, don't I? I do like spending time with him... It's morning and the birds are singing now. Out of exasperation, I throw Leo's key across the room. I sigh and pick it up. Should I head to the guild? Maybe I will stay home in case he comes back. I bury my face in my hands and breath deeply, trying to calm myself down.

My phone rings. "Erza?"

"I just wanted you to know that Gray and Juvia are not available for a quest today, so don't worry about coming in for a job request."

"Oh, okay." I guess I'll get in the shower. Then maybe I will feel better.

I get out of the shower and get dressed quickly, thinking that Leo could pop in at any time. I go to feed my fish. Natsu. The fish remind me of Natsu. I tilt my head to the side. What do I think of when I am reminded of Natsu? What is he to me? What am I to him?

I know I can't eat, but I have nothing better to do so I head for the kitchen. There are Gerber daisies on the table with a note. "Almost as beautiful as you." What? Everyone says I am beautiful, so that's not so special. But Gerber daisies. He knows that they are my favorite? I let out a sigh and sit at the table.

"You don't like them." Leo says simply, popping up behind me.

"I well, uh, I love Gerber daisies. But the note... Leo, I am not special to you. You call a lot of women beautiful."

"Lucy-sama," He says. I am all too aware that he is right behind me now. He doesn't touch me, but I can almost feel the warmth of his body. "It is your heart that is beautiful, and you open your heart to everyone who needs it. That is what makes you special. That is why since the day you saved me I have wanted no one but you. I love you."

"But I can't love someone, be with someone, if I have to share. That's why I can't let myself..."

"You can't let yourself, what Lucy?" He comes up behind me and whispers in my ear. "Have what you really want?"

Do I feel this way about Natsu? Do I get jealous if I have to share?

"You are special, Lucy. I am trying to tell you I don't want anyone else. I never did. You rejected my confessions of love, so finally I stopped trying. I tried to forget you. I even went on a date with someone else. But when I couldn't forget you, I started flirting with other women in front of you, hoping to get your attention. How did I know trying to make you jealous would back-fire so badly?"

He is gone again. I have his key. I could make him come back. No. I won't give in. I have to think this through. What about Natsu? And how can this even work with Leo anyway? He is a celestial spirit. I have always loved celestial spirits.

I guess I will head to the guild after all, I need something to distract me.

Gray's POV:

I head to the guild and look at the job requests. This will be interesting, having Juvia instead of Natsu again. She works well with Lucy too. "Gray-sama?" Juvia says from behind me. "You are picking a quest for us? Can I talk to you about that?"

"Uh, sure, whatever. Spit it out."

"No, I mean, I would like to talk to you," She looks around the room. "Privately."

"Uh, okay, let's go upstairs I guess." Juvia grabs my hand and races up the stairs. She seems nervous. "Juvia, why do you seem nervous? I thought we worked well together."

"We do work well together!" she says, smiling at me. "Uh, um, Gray-sama, Juvia really likes you, I mean, I... I don't want to live without you... uh, I am not just flirty with you... it's because... because..." She lowers her voice. "I love you." Her face turns red and she buries it in her hands.

My heart is beating a mile a minute. I don't know what to say. "What about Lyon?" is all I can think. Stupid!

"Juvia doesn't want Lyon. Lyon doesn't make me happy the way you do!"

"But why not, he's a good guy, right?" and he seems so much better for you. Wow, I am really screwing this up.

Juvia starts to cry. Ugh. "I'm sorry, Juvia, that's not what I mean. I am such a major screw up." I try to comfort her by pulling her in for a hug, but it's awkward because she is sitting in a chair, so I end up pulling her into my lap.

"Gray-sama?" she looks up at me, her lips are so close. No. I won't use her like that. I have to be sure.

"I... I have to tell you. Erza said I have to tell you why..."

"Erza! What is she doing meddling in my business?!"

"No, wait Gray-sama, I have to tell you!"

"What is it Juvia?"

"The day we met, when I was fighting for Phantom Lord, you saved me. You saved me from falling to the ground. You were kind to me. You stayed with me after defeating me in battle. Gray-sama, that was the first time I ever saw the sun. I am a different person because of you. You are the sun Gray-sama, without you there is only rain. I can't lose you."

"That was the first time it didn't rain?" I say. "That's why you seem so clingy and desperate." I mumble. Ugh. The wrong thing to say again. She starts scooting herself off of my lap. "No, um, wait, Juvia. I understand. Wait, just let me... just give me a minute, okay?" She starts to get up to leave. "I didn't mean for you to leave," I say grabbing her hand...

Violet's POV:

I don't know what to do, should I just stay like this forever?

"Yay!" Yells Seb and joins the hug with me and Zeref. Rogue smiles and walks up to us and joins the hug as well. "Welcome to the family, Zeref Nii-san." He says. Zeref flinches and gets a twinge of black in his eyes, then calms again. "Y0u aren't rejecting me? Why not? Don't you know who I am?"

"You mean The Black Wizard Zeref?" says Sting, walking towards us.

"Yeah, we've heard of him." Adds Natsu.

"But now we want to get to know our brother." Finishes Rogue.

"But you will, you will reject me..." Zeref's eyes go black. Rogue and Seb move away and I encase Zeref and I in a shadow cage.

"You can't hurt me, Nii-san," I say. "And I can protect the others with this shadow cage. I meant it. I don't ever have to leave you. You have a family now. You always will."

I take his hand and stand up. "It's hard to keep going, but we can. We can because we are family, and every day it gets easier. Yes, now let's get you something to eat. You are starved and weak aren't you?"

"How... how do you know that?"

"I have the same type of magic as you. I have had to learn to control it."

"I used to be able to control it, but that's only when I don't care. When I care it gets- gets, too painful." His eyes go black again and he collapses as dark clouds start to form.

"It's okay, you don't have to explain. Don't worry. I understand."

I sit cross legged and lay his head in my lap. I might be here for a while. I wonder why things are so much harder for him. I have to get him something to eat or this will just continue to spiral downward. Maybe if he falls asleep...

I stroke his hair and start to sing one of my favorite songs, trying to soothe him.

Hey, in this world I can see so much beauty
And happiness that I can't help but
Believe we'll find it too

There will come a time when someone accuses you of telling lies
(Oh my dearest)
And they'll try and hurt you with their heartless words and judging eyes
Even if the world turns on you and won't believe a word you say
And even if they make you wear a crown of thorns upon your head

I will stand and be the one
To wipe away those tears you shed
And when someone's hurt you
Let me be the arms you can run to

So everything that makes me whole
Belongs to you; I'll give my heart and soul wah
I'm Yours

The two of us have something precious
We must protect no matter what (oh my dearest)
But there will come a time (oh my dearest)
When our own strength alone won't be enough (ahh)
Even if all hope is lost and somehow you and I lose our way
And even if the darkness comes and tries to take you far away

I'll become the light that shines down enveloping all dark you see
(Oh my dearest)
I'll hold you close and won't let even God above take you from me
(Oh my dearest ahh)

So everything that makes me whole
Belongs to you I'll give my heart and soul
I'm yours

He is asleep. I am worried about him being weak, but he should be okay, he has been out of control of this death magic for years now. I drop the shadow cage and motion for Rogue to come and talk to me. "My Vi-chan?"

"I am afraid to leave him, but I think he needs food."

"Right, I'm on it!" Rogue goes to talk to Sting and comes back. "Sting has a friend already on her way. She'll bring something with her. What do you think she should bring?"

"Bread. Fresh baked bread, it's his favorite, and some stew to go with it."

"That should be easy enough to get at any café. You want something?"

"I'll just have the same." I say, smiling gratefully. Sting has a friend coming? I wonder who?


Editor's notes:

Image is Sting, Zeref, and Rogue by Dorapz on deviantART

Song Lyrics are from "My Dearest" English adaptation of the Guilty Crown theme song by Amalee