An hour later Erza gathered up Laxus, Cana, and Lucy together in the living room to introduce them to Gray. She said that he was a distant cousin from Stella who would be moving in with them. At first they doubted that he really was a relative but once they saw how much he resembled their ancestor in the oil painting all doubt was erased.

"I just can't get over it." Lucy said. "You look exactly like the man in the portrait. You even have his name."

"Tragic lack of imagination on my parents part but they held a lot of deep respect for my family history." Gray said. "Am I right to assume that you're another cousin of mine?"

"Not really no. My name is Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia and I'm not Erza's sister. I'm her stepsister."

"Really? You could have fooled me. After all you both have such pretty brown eyes."

Lucy blushed and smiled, feeling very charmed by the young man's words.

"Gray this is my cousin and yours Laxus Dreyar." Erza said.

"It's very nice to make your acquaintance cousin Laxus." Gray said holding out his hand to shake with the blonde man. Laxus took the hand and shook it but he looked at Gray suspiciously.

"Mr. Fullbuster I don't mean to be rude but I'm confused." Laxus said.

"By my visit?"

"By you. You see I know our lineage and unless I'm missing something you must've fallen off the family tree."

"Families grow apart but the blood ties remain the same." He turned to his gaze to Cana. "And who's this good looking lady?"

"This is Dr. Cana Alberona. Our live in therapist." Erza said.

"A woman doctor? What an age this is."

"Excuse me?" Cana said.

"Women don't really get into the medical field where he's from." Erza said.

"And where did you say you you're from again?" Laxus asked.

"Stella."

"Which part?"

"Altair. Wonderful city. You really should visit it sometime."

"What brings you to Magnolia?" Lucy asked.

"I recently arrived here on some business and after learning that my family had so much history here I decided that it would be best if I lived here. I have already made plans to move into the old house that my ancestor had lived in with his family."

"Good luck. It's boarded up and the keys are gone." Laxus said.

"That's not much of problem considering I have the keys and the deed to the house."

"You do? But how?"

"Both were passed down to me from my family. My older relatives always said that if I was to ever live in Magnolia they would prefer that I live in our ancestral home and I couldn't agree more."

"So you're going to live in that spook house?" Lucy asked.

"I am and of course you all are welcome to move in with me. If you'd like that is."

"I think it would be best if we did." Erza said. "It's a bigger house, plenty of room space, Natsu wouldn't have to sleep outside in that shack anymore."

"If you were to open up that house again the mortgage would cost us all an arm and a leg."

"Cost is no issue." Gray chuckled. "I will cover every expense regarding the house and any other financial problem."

"So you're just going to let us live in a manor house, rent free, and you take care of all the expenses? I don't buy it."

"I understand your suspicions completely but believe me I want nothing from you. You see I am a very wealthy man, I have an entire fortune that I may do with as I please yet it's not very satisfying. Family is the only real wealth that's what my father told me. What's the point of being rich if you can't use all that wealth to help those you love and care about? All my relatives save for you, Erza, and Romeo are dead. You're having money problems while I have enough wealth to buy up every store in this town so I figured that I should help my remaining family however I can."

"That's very generous of you." Cana said.

"Generosity is a rare virtue I'm told. Luckily I posses it."

At the moment they heard a door open followed by the sound footsteps being heard on the floor.

"Erza." The person walking downstairs said. It was Juvia. "Erza I'd like to discuss something with you about Romeo. I hope that-"

But her words stopped when she walked into the room and saw that her employer had company at the moment. The very instant that Gray saw the young woman he looked at her in utter amazement. Recognition flickered in his eyes and he found himself unable to look away from her. Juvia felt his gaze and found herself staring back at him.

"I...I'm sorry." She said not breaking eye contact with Gray. "I see you're busy right now Erza. I'll come back later."

"No Juvia you've come at a perfect time." Erza said. "This is Gray Fullbuster a distant cousin of mine who's lived in Stella for most of his life but he's decided to move in with us and help me with my financial issues. Gray I'd like you to meet Juvia Lockser, Romeo's governess."

Gray while not breaking his gaze on her for a second, walked over to Juvia, gently took her by the hand, and brought it to his lips so he could gently kiss the back of it. Juvia felt flustered and went a little rosy cheeked for a moment. She didn't know why but at the moment she felt a strange sense of familiarity.

"Hello." He said with a charming smile.

"Hello." She said shyly. "Have we met?"

"I would have remembered."

In that moment the two of them seemed to be in some sort of trance formed by long forgotten feelings and emotions. They just stood there in silence. Staring at each other for what seemed like hours.

"You probably recognize him from the portrait Juvia." Erza said breaking their trance. "The one you saw when you first arrived here. He looks very much like my ancestor. The first Gray Fullbuster."

"Oh..." Juvia said. "Yes of course. I was sure that I had seen that face somewhere before. I'm sorry for staring Mr. Fullbuster."

"No apologies necessary." Gray said.

"So Juvia you wanted to talk to me about Romeo?" Erza asked.

"Yes I did. It's about his progress."

"Alright. Meet me in my room we'll talk there."

"Okay." Juvia turned her attention back to Gray. "It was very nice to meet you Mr. Fullbuster."

"And so very nice to meet you Miss Lockser." He said.

She then left the living room and went down the hall to where Erza's room was. Gray didn't take his eyes off of her until she was gone.

"Gray is everything alright?" Erza asked him. "You seemed to have spaced out for a minute."

"I'm sorry. It's just that you never mentioned Romeo having such a breathtakingly beautiful governess." He quickly regained his composure. "Back to the matter of the house I'm sure you all would like time to consider my proposal. Until you have made a final decision, Natsu and I shall work on restoring the place."

"Natsu is working with you on this?" Lucy asked.

"Yes I find him to be very trust worthy man to work with and I do intend to pay him handsomely for his services. Also he's agreed to move in with me as well."

"So it's not just the family? The staff can move in too?" Cana asked.

"Of course doctor. My ancestor and his family shared their home with the staff. It's only fitting that I do the same." Gray said. "It's become rather late now and I have some business to attend to not to so I'll go now. I enjoyed meeting you all and I do hope that you accept my offer. Goodnight."

He stepped out of the house and walked off the property.

"He's not like most men is he?" Cana asked Erza.

"Well that's not a bad thing is it?"

"He sure is neat." Lucy said. "I wonder what it's like over there in Stella. Must be pretty exciting. I hope he'll tell us about it."

"I don't know something doesn't seem right about him." Laxus said. "Erza are you sure we should trust this guy?"

"Trust me Laxus none of you would have met him if I didn't trust him. Now I really do think we should accept his offer."

"Free room and board? Sign me up." Cana said.

"I definitely need a new bedroom." Lucy said. "I mean my closet can't even fit all my clothes."

"So we're all in agreement here?" Erza asked.

"I guess." Laxus said.

"Good now if you'll excuse me I need to have that discussion with Juvia."

It wasn't anything bad. Juvia just wanted to inform Erza that Romeo was doing exceedingly well but on a few occasions his mind seemed to be focused on something else. She suggested that maybe she could put together some activities that were fun for Romeo yet educational. Erza agreed that it was very good idea. With that matter settled Juvia went to her room, changed into her night dress, and went to bed. Shortly after she fell asleep something slipped into her room as stealthy as a bat and went to her bedside. That something was Gray who had taken in great interest in the young governess.

"Juliette." He whispered as his clawed hand gently caressed her snow white cheek. "You've come back to me."

His dark eyes filled with sorrow as they continued to look down on her fair face and study her delicate features. He took notice of her neck and it made him realize just how long it had been since he had a drink of blood. He licked his fangs, opened his jaw, and prepared to bite down on her neck. But then the memory of Juliette flashed into his mind and he willed himself to get away from Juvia.

"No. I will not lose you again."

He vowed before disappearing out of her room and into the night to find someone else to quench his blood thirst.

At first Gray did not like the idea of keeping secrets and lying about who he was. He had hoped that maybe one day he would be able to tell everyone the truth. But if this woman was who he thought she was then she could never know who and what he really was. He feared that if she did then she would suffer the same tragic fate of his long lost love and he would not allow that to happen twice.