That last conversation had left Erza shaking like a leaf. Her skin had turned pale and her legs were buckling. She couldn't recall a time that she had ever been so afraid. In fact most of the time Erza was a very brave woman who was believed to have no fear at all. But today she realized what it was that scared her most in this world. Her beloved nephew, the boy who she's loved like her own son, being taken away from her by some terrifying person who she's now discovered isn't even human.

"Calm down Erza." Gray told her gently. "It's going to be alright."

"Where's Romeo?" She asked him.

"He's upstairs with Juvia. You asked her to keep him occupied, remember?"

"I want to see him. Now."

"Okay, okay. I'll go get him but first I think you should sit down and take a breather."

Gray quickly helped her into a comfortable chair before she could collapse and started to make his way upstairs to fetch the boy. He had just entered the hallway when he heard a faint voice calling his name.

"Gray...Gray...Gray."

It was coming from the attic. He went up there to investigate and he started out walking slowly until the faint voice became more clearer as he got closer. Clear enough for him to recognize who it belonged to and when he did he bolted up there as fast as he could. Upon arriving at the top he saw the person who had been calling him and at the sight of her again he thought that he would go into the same state Erza was in.

"Wendy." He said to the ghost of the little girl standing before him.

"Hello Gray." She said.

He slowly approached her, hoping that she wouldn't run away from him like he did last time. She didn't, when he understood that she was going to stay out he fell to his knees right in front of her.

"Oh Wendy is it really you? Really, really you or have I gone mad?"

"It's me big brother. I have come back."

Tears were already in his eyes.

"I thought that I would never see you again." He bit back a sob. "Why did you run away from me the other night?"

"You know why. Because I couldn't stand the sight of you killing someone. It was too horrible to bear."

"I know. I know that I've done terrible things and you cannot imagine how much I hate myself for doing them. But I promise you Wendy that I have never harmed anyone sincerely innocent or moral."

"I know you haven't Gray but I'm frightened."

"I would never hurt you Wendy or anyone else in our family. Never!"

"I am not frightened for myself or for the family. I am frightened for you. The more you kill people the more of your humanity you lose. I'm afraid that soon you'll become a complete monster."

"Don't worry Wendy, I'm on the verge of curing myself from this terrible curse. I haven't harmed anyone in almost an entire month. I'm getting better."

"I know and I hope that you will soon be free of this awful pain that has befallen you. But I don't have much time, I have a very important message to tell you. Please listen to me because I can only say it once."

"What is it?"

"You must keep Romeo away from his mother. She is very dangerous and she pans to do something very bad to him."

"What is she planning?"

"I don't know the exact details but knowing what she is, whatever plans she has for Romeo cannot be good."

"I knew it! She's a witch isn't she? Just like Ultear."

"No Gray. She is not a witch but she is something that is as equally powerful and dangerous."

"What is she?"

"She's a phoenix."

"A phoenix? But Wendy aren't those typically giant birds made of fire?"

"That's what the Greeks and Romans believed but in truth a large bird of fire is only one of the many forms a phoenix may take. In general the phoenix is a supernatural fire with it's own consciousness. It can change it's shape and blend with other organisms. They live for only three hundred years before their flames go out and they crumble into ashes, unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless they find a body to burn in it's place. Then the phoenix's life is renewed. However the process will only work if the phoenix and the body chosen share the same blood."

Absolute horror filled Gray's face as he put two and two together, making a very mortifying realization.

"No..." His voice had gone quiet with terror. "She wouldn't...She couldn't...Her own son?! I know she's a selfish person but is to such a strong to degree that she would actually sacrifice her child?!"

"As I said before I don't know exactly what she plans to do but I do now that her hundred years are almost up."

"Oh my God above! We have to get to Romeo now! Hurry Wendy!"

"I can't go with you Gray."

"What are you talking about?"

"I am dead Gray. I died a long time ago which means my time here is very limited and I can only be seen by living occasionally. For purposes of emergency like warning you to keep Romeo safe. Now that I have given you my warning I must go."

"No! No Wendy! Don't leave me again! Please!"

"Oh Gray, I love you so much and I miss you so terribly. We all do."

"We?"

"Father, Mother, Lyon, Ur. We've been watching you suffer for so many years and it hurts us deeply. Words cannot describe how much we wish that we could help you."

"What about Juliette?"

Wendy's look of sadness then changed into a look of joy. As if she had wonderful news to tell him. News that would comfort him in his misery.

"Juliette is not with us."

"What do you mean? She died. I know she did."

"Yes she died but she could not leave or rather she would not leave. Her soul wasn't ready to ascend heaven. Not without you. All she wanted was to be with you again even if it meant going through the trials of living on earth all over again. Because of the desire to be with you and along with a spell Ur cast, her soul was called back to the living but in a different time and in a different body."

"Juvia?" He said almost afraid to hope. Wendy nodded. "So she is Juliette reincarnated."

"Was there really any doubt?"

"I was a little afraid that it was only coincidence that they were so much alike."

"I can't be with you anymore Gray and neither can anyone else in your old family. At least not while you live on earth. But at the very least, you can still have your bride."

"But she doesn't remember any of that. As far she knows I'm just a relative of her boss who has a crush on her."

"Do not lose hope big brother. Do you remember what Ur used to tell us whenever we wept over losing Mother?"

"It was so long ago I don't think I can."

"She said life is fleeting, memories may fade, but love never dies. Juvia may not remember the relationship you two had centuries back but that same love she had for you is still in her heart. The very first time she saw you she already felt drawn to you. She didn't know why but that didn't change how she felt. Be patient Gray, in time you'll have her back."

"Will I ever have you back? And the rest of our family?"

"We'll all be waiting for you in heaven."

She raised her hand up to rub his cheek before placing a kiss on it. Her kiss was not tangible at all yet Gray could feel all the love his sister had for him in it.

"Goodbye Gray and remember this, no matter what you do, no matter how guilty you feel for what you are and what you've done, we will always love you and we'll never see you as a monster."

Her final words before she disappeared from his sight and leaving him in tears.