{Hey guys! I hope that my wonderful readers are enjoying this fanfiction! Please vote and comment to show the love!}

(Shout-out to DeleaCrawford for commenting last chapter!)

-Levy-

"Oi! What's going on out there, Gajeel?!" a voice called out suddenly.

The monster quickly pushed Levy away, yet he kept a firm grip on her wrist. The bookworm supposed he was rather afraid that she would attempt to run away again, but she knew better this time. She knew that this creature possessed a great speed, allowing him to easily capture her once more if she were to even think about it.

"Shut it Cat. Actually, on second thought. Come here." The dragon hybrid tightened his grip on her as a small, black and white panther appeared from the darkness of the cave.

Levy noticed instantly that the panther walked upright, and he even wore a small pair of trousers. It was easy to see that this cat was indeed an exceed. But Levy was worried about it.

What on earth is that little cutie doing with this deadly beast?!

"Get away from here! Go and run away before he eats you too!" Levy yelled in fright towards the small and now confused panther.

Suddenly, both the panther and the monster busted out laughing, which angered and confused the short woman.

"Y'you....you actually think....you think that idiot....is going to eat me?" the exceed laughed out, rolling around on the ground.

Levy blushed madly. "Well yea! Isn't he a man-eating dragon hybrid?"

The grip on her wrist tightened even more, so she looked up to see the silver-scaled dragon glaring at her.

Wait...wasn't he just laughing?!

"Is that what you and your stupid village think of me?" he asked.

Levy sighed, still irritated with her current situation. "Well, that's what they think. I never believed them. Heck, I thought you were a made-up story! Why couldn't you be fake?! I was going to prove that whole village wrong, and now you ruined it!"

"Look, Shrimp. I ain't gonna kill myself to make ya happy. I'll do somethin' else for ya if ya want, but I ain't gonna kill myself for ya," the human beast growled.

"What.did.you.just.call.me?" she asked through clenched teeth, ignoring everything else he said other than that annoying nickname.

He smirked at the petite blunette. "I called ya Shrimp. Got a problem with it?"

"Actually, yes, yes I--"

"Erm. I don't mean to interrupt, but who's the girl?" the cat suddenly asked.

The beast looked away from the girl and glanced down at the round-eared cat.

"Heck if I know." The hybrid man shrugged his shoulders.

Levy glared at the beast before glancing over at the cat with a smile. "I'm Levy McGarden!"

The cat smiled back. "Your name suits you. I'm Pantherlily, but you can call me Lily for short."

"Nice to meet you Lily!" Levy chirped out.

Lily and Levy both glanced over at the dragon hybrid, who was grumbling various words under his breath.

"Aww! Is Gajeel mad that the pretty girl likes me better?" Lily teased the tall humanoid.

Levy couldn't help but giggle as this Gajeel person let her go to chase Pantherlily around the cave. As she watched them goof around, she glanced back towards the opening of the cave.

There was still a heavy downpour outside, which reminded her that she was soaking wet from said rain. However, she was wondering if she could easily and quickly escape while the monster was hopelessly distracted...by a cat.

She thought it possible, and with a confident smile upon her face, she quietly snuck away from the noisy pair. She quickly and quietly tip toed towards the entrance.

I'm almost there....almost there....

And just as she began to exit the cave, a sudden and loud noise erupted from within her.

"ACHOO!!" She sneezed loudly, freezing in her spot as she knew that her chances of escaping were now gone.

"What the--Oi?! Where's the Shrimp at?!"

Scared to see the monster's angry face, Levy covered her eyes and simply waited for Gajeel to grab her. Hearing the pounding footsteps coming towards her, the short woman braced for the worst.

However, she never felt any pain. Surprisingly, the dragon monster gently picked her up, holding her close to his chest. She noticed instantly that he was very warm, and despite her fear and irritation towards the hybrid, she found herself snuggling closer to his chest for the warmth that she craved.

"Shrimp. Look up at me."

Furrowing her brows at the nickname, her head shot up as she glared at the metal head. But she was suddenly shocked to see that he had somewhat of a concerned look upon his face. She simply stared at him as he stared back at her.

"You're sick," he merely stated.

Raising a brow in confusion, Levy folded her arms up. "And how do you know that?"

He laughed slightly, and she quickly noticed that it was a very unique laugh. It sounded much like a 'gihi' sort of sound.

"I can scent your sickness, Shrimp." Gajeel smirked and continued to stare at the blue-headed girl. "Besides, your nose is runny. And your eyes are red and watery. And you're starting to sneeze."

Levy pouted. "I'm not sick."

And as if on cue, she sneezed loudly once more, causing Gajeel to wince at the loud noise.

"Sheesh Shrimp. Yer gonna make my ears fall off. Come on. Let's get you inside the house." Gajeel continued to walk with Levy in his arms.

"House?" Levy asked.

Suddenly, Lily appeared in front of her, but he was flying this time with a pair of white, feathered wings. "Gajeel has a human side you know. He needs human things too. It's a pretty cool house, built right into the cave too!"

Levy smiled and giggled when the flying cat flew over her and tickled her side. A low rumbling noise was then heard, which caused her to glance up at the being from which it was coming from.

She noticed how content Gajeek seemed to be , as a small smile covering his face.

He looks almost...happy. Was I quick to judge this being? I mean, he doesn't seem cruel or deadly. Maybe a little rude, but nothing that's absolutely horrible!

Suddenly, they came to a complete stop. Levy was suddenly curious as to why Gajeel and Lily stopped by this cave wall. She glanced over, and noticed that a stone door was in front of them.

Wow. When Lily said that Gajeel's house was built into the cave, he really wasn't kidding!

Levy nearly blushed at how embarrassing her original thought of the cave house would look like. She had literally pictured in her mind, an actual house that was built inside the cave. She pictured it being made out of wood, having windows, and even having a roof. She now felt so silly for thinking that.

"Alright Shrimp. Ya ready to see your new home?" Gajeel asked her.

He acts as if I'm going to stay here forever. Pft, as if. I'll find a way to escape someday.

She would find a way to escape this place. Perhaps she could run away the next time the dragon man went out to collect supplies or food. The clever woman had to simply act as if she would accept her fate.

"Sure!" Levy replied with fake enthusiasm.

Sighing softly, Gajeel slid the stone door open, the content look now replaced with a scowl.

Drat. I'm such a terrible actress!

When the cave house was revealed, Levy couldn't hold back her gasp as she looked around. She noticed that Lily walked straight towards a small room that, from what she could see through the room's open door, contained a tiny bed and dresser.

Aww! How cute! Lily has his own little room!

"Whatcha smilin' about Shrimp?"

Ignoring the idiot, Levy continued to look around. She noticed that he had a rather large living room, along with a large kitchen as well. She also noticed four wooden doors, not counting Lily's room, scattered about.

Curious, she wanted to know what each door led to. "Um...what are those rooms?"

A small 'gihi' was heard above her. "The door on the far right is my bedroom, the door next to Lily's room is the bathroom, the door in the kitchen is an extra bedroom, and the door by the dragon painting is the library."

Did he just say what I think he just said...?

"Did you say library?!" Levy asked with a very noticeable excitement to her voice.

She glanced up and saw Gajeel smiling slightly at her. "Yep! But you can go there later. You need to sleep off that cold of yers."

Sighing, Levy nodded. "Oh, all right."

With another 'gihi' from Gajeel, he carried her towards kitchen and then towards the wooden door. Opening it with ease, he carried her inside and lit the oil lamp swiftly.

Levy became absolutely astonished with the room that she was in. The walls, which were the cave stone, were painted ruby red. She knew that the color was the exact same color as her kidnapper's eyes.

Wait, why would I care?!

Still, it was a very beautiful color, and it stood out from the other rooms, which had walls that were left as the stone's natural color.

The floor was also left as the cave stone, yet a bright blue rug in the shape of a circle covered most of the floor. The bookworm actually loved how the rug matched her hair color.

Gajeel sat Levy down, allowing her to walk around her new room. Levy didn't waste any time as she instantly rushed over towards the bed.

A beautiful quilt covered the bed, it's squares telling a story. She looked over each scene, easily realizing that it somewhat matched up with the story that the elder woman would tell to the children. And yet, there was something different about this version of the story. It was more...happy and...romantic even.

"My mom made that." She heard Gajeel say.

Glancing over towards him, she saw a sadness in his eyes, which made her become even more curious about this entire situation.

Here she was, discovered by the monster of the mountains, and yet she was perfectly fine and alive. Sure she was sick with a cold, but that was her own doing. If he had been like the monster that the elder told about so often, he would have ripped her apart by now and possibly even consumed the little blunette.

But he instead welcomed her(if you call being held hostage welcoming)into his home, giving her what she had now declared the most beautiful room that she had ever seen.

It just doesn't add up! What's going on here?!

"Your mother did a beautiful job," she found herself saying to him.

He shrugged. "Tch. She could have done anything in the world before it happened, and instead she chose to make this blanket."

"What happened?" she asked.

"It's nothin' important. Get some sleep. I uh...hope ya like yer new room." And with that said, he closed her door and walked away.

Levy stood there, not knowing what to do at that moment. She knew she went too far by asking that question, but at the same time, she wondered why she even cared that she hurt his feelings. After all, he pretty much kidnapped her.

Well, I did trespass on his...territory.

She simply shook her head and sighed. She knew she'd need a good nights sleep to think more properly and to help rid herself of this annoying cold.

Slipping off her red flats, Levy crawled into the massive bed and blew out the light. Laying there, she stared up at the ceiling as tears rolled down her cheeks. With the silence now surrounding her, it gave her time think.

She would never be able to see her friends again, Lucy, Juvia, Erza...Erza! She'd miss the wedding next summer at this rate! With Gajeel's reputation, Levy knew that everyone will assume that she is dead once a week or two passes. Simply thinking about how heartbroken her friends will be when they hear the news nearly caused Levy to let out a sob.

She wouldn't get to meet Lucy and Nastu's first baby. She wouldn't get to see how many kids Juvia and Gray ended up with. She wouldn't get to see Erza and Jellal with their future kids either.

After an hour or two of crying, Levy slowly managed to fall asleep.

I have to find a way to get away from that...that idiot!