AN: To those who read Fighting Redfox to its satisfying end, thank you! It means a lot. I'm glad that you all enjoyed the story I shared with you! This is another Gajevy multi-chapter story for you! I hope you like it as much as FR!

Storyline: [AU] He's a cop who's had a rough few years. She's an out-of-towner with baggage she wished she could shake. Both have a past they'd rather not talk about. They must save each other from themselves to rediscover what had once given their lives meaning, all while danger hovers. Love and acceptance are only words until proven with action. [Two Plot Convergence] [Crime drama, lemon]

*Rated Mature - There is intense language, drug usage, violence, and sexual content.

*This is a Trigger Warning Story. Reader discretion is advised.

*I do not own any of the media.

*I do not own any of FairyTail - that's all Hiro Mashima.

AN: Thanks for all the reviews on previous chapters. I'm still glad y'all wait patiently for me to get my ass in gear to write this haha. I have the entire story outlined, with a few tweaks here and there as more is written. I'll most likely fine-tune this chapter after it's been posted.

Anyone who reads my stuff knows by now I usually write unconventional, slightly disturbing, and/or harsh/angsty drama. I try to make everything as close to real-life as possible. If you don't like what you read in this fictional story (or in any of my works), you don't have to read it, I'm not forcing it upon you. The beginning of each chapter states this story is rated M and has trigger warnings.

Chapter 12 - Progress

The hot summer months gave way to the cool autumn air and Levy found the weather to be a pleasant change. The cool breezes helped keep at bay the chance of sweating through t-shirts when she worked outside. The crisp and colorful foliage and the earthy smell of fallen, orange leaves, all were her favorite parts of the season.

Brown, curling leaves crunched under her Ariats as she walked down the barn aisle. After turning the other horses out to pasture for the rest of the day, she grabbed a long lead line from its hook and headed for the round pen. It was a good chance to take advantage of the sun while it was still out.

Being outside and around horses -the farm life in general- allowed her to clear her thoughts. The quiet scene, the familiar scents, the expanse of the cropland and pastures altogether gave her inner peace. She could control where she wanted to be. Who she was, where she was headed, what was coming. It was freeing.

To be confined with no options or way out was her personal hell.

The here and now of the dirt under her boots, the lead in her grasp and her intentions with it were all her comfort. A place of safety. Of confidence. Instincts and muscle memory took over completely once she was in the vicinity of her favorite of beasts.

Within a large circle pen of tall, steel fencing, Gladiolus quietly watched her approach, his ears erect and alert with interest.

"Hello good boy," Levy murmured. She unlatched the gate and glided through with slow, fluid movements. From the corner of her eye, the black horse took a few steps towards her.

She offered up her hand as well as the long lead for him to smell, though she was sure by now he would have little to no objections to her handling. He stood still with his head low for her to attach the metal clip onto his halter.

After a moment and a pat, Levy sent the horse out to the rails with a flick of the long line's end. He moved to the outside edge, jogging along the path imprinted into the dirt from his previous sessions. At another flick of the line and an encouraging cluck from Levy's mouth, he increased his jog into a lope.

His inside eye watched her as she stood in the center, which continually turned to stay lined up with his shoulder. His inside ear flickered towards her, listening to her instruction. After several circuits, Levy turned him around by stepping towards his way of travel, pointing the lunge line in the opposite direction.

Turning on his hind leg, he loped the opposite leg lead.

They repeated the process until Levy saw him lower his head a little more, his muzzle working like he just ate up a juicy apple. His head, neck, and shoulder tilted to the inside to face her.

She let the held tension go slack and when the gelding slowed, he moved perpendicular to completely face the center where she stood and slowly walked up to her, stopping a few feet before contact to leave space between them.

Levy let her smile widen.

Today might be the day.

Unzipping her vest pocket, she gave him a palm-full of baby carrots. A usual treat.

In the previous weeks, Levy had succeeded in reintroducing the bit and bridle. He now accepted the headstall with the bit with no hesitation. He even allowed her to throw a saddle blanket over his back. And as much as she wanted him to be ready, Levy was unsure if he would let her add the saddle.

Dave had never told her his long term plans for Gladiolus, whether he wanted to sell or keep him, given that he was initially just an auction rescue. He owned three other horses, all safe to ride and no issues.

Levy left Gladiolus in the pen to retrieve the saddle blanket from the fence rail.

She observed his awareness as she unfolded it and shook out a small dust cloud. He acted as if he'd seen a million blankets. Unmoved and rather uninterested.

"You better let me do this," she murmured. She calmly came up to his side with the saddle blanket in hand. His large eye locked onto her as she poised and finished, "'Cause if Dave doesn't want you, I do."

The thick material smoothed out over the beast's short back, Levy took her time with it. She walked around him to check the evenness on either side and spoke to him in quiet, confident tones.

His weight shifted and a hind hoof rested at a tilt, the toe digging into the dirt, signaling that Gladiolus was completely at ease.

As much as she had suspected. She narrowed her eyes, her lips pressed themselves into a line; things could change once she carried over the western saddle.

There was a time not so long ago when she hadn't even been able to show him a saddle without some kind of resentment on his part. He would back up, pin his ears, bare his teeth, even lash out with them and strike with his legs. Never mind trying to place it on him.

Levy couldn't understand why Gladiolus would let her do everything else except that. Every time she worked with him, she would bring it out and witness the same behavior. Eventually, she came to realize that his reaction was not her nor the saddle itself.

It was the memory associated with it.

That was something she understood well enough…

She knew they had shared a similar path. And it was then that Levy had decided she wanted him, regardless. Whether or not Dave claimed continued ownership, or if she could even reprogram Gladiolus' horse brain into accepting a willingness to bare riders.

The bond they would have to establish was more than ordinary. She knew how to approach his perspective, and it made the friendship a little stronger. A little more meaningful.

She was where he was now. Mentally. Emotionally. Or at least she had been. Gajeel and Penny had helped change that.

Levy set the saddle down on the ground front first with the horn burying into the dirt.

There was no reaction from Gladiolus.

When she hauled it up into her arms, he only looked at her. His ears flickered back and forth as he watched her calmly walk to his side.

"I'm only setting it there," she easily explained in a quiet, unconcerned tone. Her eyes shifted from the saddle to his head and back again.

Please don't freak again...

Gradually, the weight settled over the horse's withers and back. The saddle tree hugged the blanket, which provided protection and cushion against where his future riders would sit.

The relaxed hind hoof shifted flat to bear his weight.

Levy took the lead and gently coaxed him forward before he could do anything else or become nervous. The saddle's stirrups dangled on either side of him, the cinch buckle held up by the saddle horn. He tilted his head enough for one eye to check on what was happening behind him.

His front leg pawed the dirt.

"It's ok. Easy, boy, easy..."

Levy's low, steady voice beside still spoke to him as she guided him around the pen, starting and halting at different points. She could sense his apprehension and allowed him to raise his head while he investigated. To try to keep his head and neck at her level while he inspected what he currently feared could cause him to further panic. Instead, she let him discover in his own way that she was trying to help him. He had nothing to fear.

A few minutes of nervous fidgeting and accidentally bumping into Levy with his body, he started to quiet. His head lowered and he licked at his lips. A small sigh blew out from his nostrils.

Levy let the smile spread over her teeth. "Good boooy," she said happily. She let out her held breath as well. She was finally getting somewhere with him. "It's not so bad, huh."

She gave him some more baby carrots before sliding the saddle and blanket from him. A thought occurred to her then as her gaze swept over his body, settling on his back.

The horse was fully gentled. Ridable. There had been a time when people could freely do so without bad behavior. The fear he possessed of a saddle didn't mean that he couldn't be ridden. It would just have to be without it.

A whisper in her mind said no. You're the only one home right now, what if he bucks or worse, he rears and slips and falls on you?

Levy blinked.

But what if he doesn't?

With resolve, she took a step towards Gladiolus. Before she could get a good hold of his mane in preparation, the sound of tires on gravel came to her ears.

A familiar truck approached up the drive. Small plumes of dust clouds misted over the lane in the vehicle's wake. Knowing who it belonged to, Levy's face lit up like a beacon. Testing out a theory would have to wait until another time. Gathering up the long-discarded lead, she walked towards the farmhouse and waved a hand.

The truck's engine silenced and Gajeel rose up from the open driver's door. "Hey," he announced. His hand shot up in a short wave.

"Hey."

Levy waited as he paused to open the back passenger door. The little girl ran around the parked truck, aimed for where she stood. "Hello, Penny!" She exclaimed. Her greeting was met with a smile and a leg hug.

She turned to Gajeel. "I didn't know you were coming by," she said.

"I thought we'd surprise you. I've got the next two days off. Falls on Halloween. First time since Penny was born."

Levy's eyes creased at the corners with a bright smile at his news and she held up the lead still in her hand. "I just got done with a session, otherwise you could've watched," she said.

"There's always a next time." Gajeel's voice was low as he replied, his eyes meeting hers. There was meaning in it.

She tried not to flinch. What little heat that settled comfortably in between them caused her grip to tighten around the rope. Her next breath lodged itself in her throat. The man was hardly resistible.

Penny's exclamation broke their personal moment of eye contact. She ran towards the fence giggling. "Is this your horse?!" She shouted once she reached the round pen.

Gladiolus walked up to the rails and lowered his head to investigate the small child. His ears focused on her, his nostrils flared as he took in the scent of her hair.

"Penny," Gajeel cautioned with a heightened voice. His body tensed.

Levy could hear the apprehension and his concern for his daughter's safety. She shifted to follow after Penny, knowing Gladiolus at the moment was harmless. Working with him daily had improved his overall mental health and gentle nature.

Penny reached up to touch the gelding's nose. She booped him between his nostrils with her fingertips. His head rose up at the sudden contact, but he immediately lowered again. His muzzle worked back and forth as her fingers touched him in the same place.

"Penny," Gajeel said in warning when he caught up with them. "Don't put your fingers there. He could bite you."

Levy picked her up and propped her on a hip. "Gladious may act like a wild man, but he's gentle," she said reassuringly. She turned her head to Gajeel. "I was actually thinking of riding him bareback and seeing what happens."

"You were going to ride him? Today?" He pointed a thumb at the black horse still interested in Penny's hand. "I thought you said you couldn't yet."

"True, but I could without a saddle." At Gajeel's disapproving glance, she added thoughtfully, "He was someone's horse once. He's a broke horse still."

She turned back to face the fence and her current equine project. "He just needs to remember the good. Everything else will fall into place."

"He's pretty." Penny reached out to pet him. Her palm brushed the bottom half of his long face.

"I have carrots in my pocket. Do you want to give him one?"

"Yes!" Penny bounced against her.

"Alright. Hold your hand flat like this and keep it like that."

"Why?" Penny asked.

Levy produced a few of the treats from her vest. "So he doesn't accidentally bite you instead of the food."

"He'll bite me?!"

Levy chuckled and replied, "No, not on purpose, silly."

Their simple exchange and the way she lovingly spoke to Penny made Gajeel relax. She carefully chose her words and tone to match the toddler in her arms. As he simply watched and listened, he forgot why he was nervous for his daughter in the first place. Hearing Levy help build the little girl's confidence warmed his heart to a near uncomfortable degree, which aroused more than just emotional feelings.

The flame he held for the woman was fanning hotter with every day that passed.

The concentration of his gaze disrupted when Levy moved closer to Gladiolus. The gelding's whiskered lips took the carrot from Penny's hand.

"His mouth tickles," she laughed.

"Do I get to feed him one?" Gajeel asked. His hands were casually stuffed into his pants pockets.

Levy turned to face him. Her mouth twisted into a crooked smile. "Hmm. I don't know. He may bite you."

At the play in her words, Gajeel badly wanted to lean in to kiss Levy with that infectious smile of hers and the playful sarcasm directed at his expense. She was so beautiful -in all ways- while standing there holding his daughter. A shake of his head produced a matching expression to hers.

Holding out his hand he quickly said, "Just give me the damn carrot."

His throaty chortle interrupted Penny's gasp.

"Daddy, you said a bad word."

He shifted his gaze to the horse while he addressed his little girl. "It's a bad word to you, don't repeat it."

Gajeel offered his hand with the orange vegetable for the horse to lip up. While Gladiolus was crunching on it, Gajeel slowly rubbed the side of his face and his forehead between the eyes, automatically straightening out the long forelock that lay there as he would with Penny's hair in the mornings.

Levy giggled as Gladiolus turned his attentions to Gajeel, his head low as he smelled the man's clothing. His muzzle roughly brushed over his jeans pocket.

Gajeel glanced up after a moment. "What's he doing?"

"He wants another carrot. He likes you," Levy explained. She handed him another treat to offer the curious horse.

Penny excitedly bounced in Levy's arms. "I want to ride him!" She exclaimed suddenly.

"No," Gajeel quickly stated, his head snapping up towards Penny, then at Levy. "No one's riding today."

"But-!"

"I said no, Penny."

Levy didn't miss the way he glanced to her after he silenced Penny's whine. Feeding a horse was one thing. It was entirely different to ride one. She suspected that underneath his outward fondness of the horse in front of them, he wasn't as keen on horses as she was just yet.

She put Penny down to give her arms a break. "Your daddy's right. We can't ride him right now. Maybe another day."

Gajeel side-eyed her in thanks as Penny began to exacerbate the issue they dismissed. She broke down in a heap on the ground, her eyes now flooding with tears. He wasn't prepared for how much his little girl had invested into Levy's main hobby and wasn't sure how to handle it.

"Hey, it's almost Halloween," Levy announced joyfully, with a tinge of surprise. She looked down at the child hoping to somewhat distract her, if not to fully redirect her emotions. "Do you have a costume yet?"

She shook her head through a sob.

Gajeel shifted his weight. The guilt trip weighed down his shoulders. What time he had off from work was spent doing things that needed to be done first. A costume she would wear once for two hours wasn't on that list.

Levy held her hand out towards Penny and waited for her to place her little hand on it. She said, "Well that's ok, I may be able to help with that."

Gajeel curiously narrowed his eyes as Levy led his daughter along. The crying had all but abruptly stopped. Penny wiped her eye with the back of her free hand. As impressed as he was with his girlfriend's uncanny ability to manage the child, he was more curious as to what she was thinking. Maybe a woman would do better in the creative process than him right now.

"So what 's your idea?" He asked, falling into stride beside them.

The sun was fading behind the line of trees as they approached the farmhouse, casting long shadows over the yard. It would soon be time for dinner, which he planned on including Levy in his and Penny's free evening.

Levy wrapped her other arm around his. She rested her head on his arm. "You'll see," she chimed, then out a slow, content sigh.

"There," Levy said with a smile. She stood up and looked at Penny in the full-length mirror.

Standing in a white long sleeve, brown vest, and blue jeans was Penny, the cowgirl look complete with a child's sized Stetson atop her head and a small coiled lead rope attached to her belt loop. Twin copper braids which started from the top of her head hung over her shoulders.

The day had arrived and Penny was ready to collect candy.

She rushed out of the bathroom -almost tripping on the lead rope- to find Gajeel. "Daddy! Daddy, look!" She cried.

Levy heard her socked feet thrum on the flooring as she flew past the bathroom in the opposite direction, realizing Gajeel was in his bedroom. She giggled and zipped up the bag she brought everything in.

"Daddy, look! I'm a cowgirl!" Penny announced with pride.

Gajeel turned around as he finished tucking the tail of his shirt into his jeans. "I see. Yes, you are," he said. "A pretty tough cowgirl."

As soon as he said it, Penny abruptly turned to leave the doorway. She bumped into Levy but it hindered her not; she was gone just as fast as she arrived.

Gajeel threaded the belt through the loops of his jeans. He nodded to Levy. "Thanks for her costume," he said. "She's excited if you can't tell."

"It's no problem." Levy gave a slight lift of her hand. She ducked her head, but her gaze lifted to him. Her lips twisted up. "Her braids look good. I wonder how long that took you."

He caught the smirk she wore and gave her one of his own. "Too long. She almost had to go out without them."

"Did you follow a Youtube tutorial?"

"Yep."

"How many times did you watch it?"

He shook his head once. "I don't wanna say…" he said slowly.

They both let the light conversation fizzle out in titters. It was pleasant in each other's company. Easy and relaxed. Whether or not they knew what to say, there was never a need for filler. Silence and gestures went a long way between them. And when words were exchanged, there was nothing to slow down the meaningful conversations. Except for Penny.

She quickly found Gajeel usually meant what he said when he opened his mouth to speak. What came out was always encouraging. Everyone in his circles trusted him and it was hard for her not to do the same. His manners and demeanor deliciously -and dangerously- drew her in like a fish takes to water.

Her heart furiously fluttered every time he looked at her.

Finished with his clothing, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror on the wall as he buckled on his nice watch he wore off-duty and realized Levy had never been in the bedrooms. Her eyes flickered over the dresser with his random items upon it, his unmade bed, and open closet door before landing on his dresser again. A glass container sat half filled with various coin money.

She shifted and reached into her pocket. What coins she currently possessed were slipped into the jar he used to collect loose change. "There," she said, a matter of fact.

"Thank you for the offering."

His comment caused a light laugh to part her lips. When she looked up, he was standing before her. The cologne he had spritzed by now in their relationship comforted her, as well as his arms when they wrapped around her to pull her close.

Her head tilted to look up at him. His kind and loving gaze automatically pulled a smile out of her. About the time their lips touched, Penny reappeared in the doorway again in search of assistance, holding her boots on each hand.

Their embrace ended in favor of helping Penny put on her shoes, but Levy loved to witness bits and pieces of the father-daughter relationship. Nothing could ever replace what those two possessed in each other. It was special. And she personally never had what Penny did now.

Once she had her boots on the right way, Gajeel handed her the small collection bucket and he couldn't pass up the opportunity to capture the moment. "Let me take yer picture first," he grumbled and pulled out his phone before an overly excited toddler could get too distracted.

Levy managed to take one of both of them before they headed off down to the other end of the street to join the majority of the participants. Many parents and their dressed-up children were out on the sidewalks, stopping at every lit up porch and entry.

It had been many years since either Levy or Gajeel had been out for trick or treating. She breathed in deep the cool, refreshing evening air. Remembering to take a few pictures here and there, she snapped one as Gajeel and Penny returned to the sidewalk from a trek up porch steps.

"What'd you get?" Levy asked Penny.

The cowgirl gladly raised her bucket. Inside was a Reeses.

"Abomination..." Gajeel made a face. Taking Penny's hand, the three of them continued down the sidewalk.

In a short amount of time, the streets were void of traveling vehicles and more groups of people appeared for the neighborhood event. Penny's bucket slowly filled with random candy the more they traversed down one side of the block. Homeowners sitting outside to pass out the treats commented on the children's costumes and how cute the babies were.

At one of the houses, Penny let go of Gajeel's hand to take Levy's. "I want to go with her," she announced. She grabbed her hand and started up the crowded walkway.

"Alright then." Gajeel winked at Levy. He parked himself by the street to wait.

The two passed other people on their way back to the streets. The woman on the porch saw Penny and happily said, "You're the first cowgirl I've seen tonight!"

She dumped a handful of wrapped chocolates into Penny's plastic bucket and turned to Levy. "Her hair is so pretty. I love it," she expressed.

All Levy could do was smile. "Thank you," she said simply. With a hand on Penny's shoulder, she added, "What do you say for the candy, Penny?"

"Thank you!"

They returned to Gajeel as more parents and children came to the house. At her odd expression, Gajeel touched her cheek and curiously asked, "What? What happened?"

Levy knew the woman assumed that Penny was her child, but the strange feelings it evoked inside were a bit too strong to voice aloud. At least not yet. "She just loved Penny's hair," she replied.

Gajeel didn't have to say anything. Levy could tell he was proud of himself by the way he nodded and straightened. Thinking about him doing his daughter's hair warmed her heart. Looking up to him in her peripheral, Levy felt a sense of gratefulness. "Thanks for letting me come out with you two tonight. This is fun."

"Of course, baby." He took her hand in his and gently squeezed.

Her smile deepened at the term of endearment never yet used on her. Since they officially began their dating relationship, he had stuck to calling her by her name. Hearing the subtle change he voiced was unexpected, and just like the woman's assumptions, caused strange feelings she didn't know how to process.

She could only identify them as good feelings.

Soon they reached the end of the block and had to cross the street at the four-way stop to circle back on the opposite side, eventually to make it back to their house and end the night eating Penny's hard-earned sweets. Gajeel suspected she received popcorn ball or two; he usually took those for himself, as well as the large hard candies.

It was nearing the end of the allotted trick or treating time for the county by the time they were a handful of houses from Gajeel's. There was less foot traffic on their side. Small groups of teenagers roamed the empty street on skateboards. Penny watched them for a moment before asking for another packet of M&Ms.

Levy gazed at the small town sights as they turned the corner on Gajeel's block. The night was creeping in. A gust of wind blew her hair into her eyes.

She opened her mouth in a soundless, surprised gasp.

There was the man who'd assaulted her standing by a tree.

It was as if ice had been dropped on her stomach. Her breath painfully caught in her throat as her eyes searched the immediate area again. Was it really him? They were just there minutes ago, she had walked Penny up to a house herself. Alone.

And he was here in Crawford.

Had Zackary finally found her?

Gajeel slowed and turned. "Oi, slowpoke," he jested. One look at her face made him tightened his hold on his toddler's hand and halt. He kept his eyes on Levy.

She looked at the same tree again and the many people in its vicinity. The person she feared most seemed to completely disappear. Was she even sure she saw him? It could have been her eyes playing tricks…

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing..."

She hurriedly caught up with them, looking side to side and over her shoulder until she was beside Gajeel once again. She had the overwhelming sense that someone was watching her and would jump out to snatch her.

Gajeel didn't say anything. He only noted the change in her demeanor. He sensed her unease. Fear had settled in her voice. She avoided his eye contact and focused on the ground before her while they trekked on. When she did look up, there was a nervous flicker in her normally calm, intelligent eyes.

She gave him some of the same vibes he felt during domestic calls he and Laxus came across while on duty.

He chose his next words carefully. "Levy. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Mhm," she hummed enthusiastically. She crossed her arms over her chest and shivered. She focused on the sight of Gajeel's house looming in the near distance.

It wasn't very convincing, but he let it go. It wasn't the place. He glanced around trying to determine what could have spooked her. When they arrived at the house, Levy was the first to the front door.

Four walls never felt as good to Levy as it did when she walked over the threshold and safely into the familiar living room. She took a deep breath to calm her frightened nerves and beelined it up the steps to the kitchen for a glass of water.

The water ran for a moment into the sink and then she filled a glass. After one sip she stared at herself in the black of the uncovered window. She greatly wished then that Gajeel had curtains over the window above the sink.

The touch on her arm sent her flying. Water sloshed onto her hand when she jumped at the sensation. Air sucked into her throat and sharply choked off what would have been a cry. She spun around, her eyes wide. Her backside bumped into the counter.

Gajeel held his hands up with caution and took a half step back. "Easy," he murmured. Concern filled his gaze. It was apparent something afflicted the woman.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she began. She wiped her hand on her jeans and took another quick sip.

"No need to be sorry." He watched her calm herself. "Levy," he stated.

He noted it took her longer to look him in the eye. When she did he gave a soft smile. He leaned a hand on the fridge door. "You good?"

She only nodded, trying to return the gesture, but failed miserably.

"Are you absolutely sure? I know something is off. Because I'm a cop," he stated blatantly. He touched his chest with the tips of his fingers as he said it. He tried to settle her remaining fear with that fact.

She set the water glass down. "I-I know, I'm fine now. Honestly."

He only stared at her. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Of course, he would go into detective mode. Levy held her breath hoping he would let it go. But this time he stayed unmoving. Her eyes skirted to the living room behind him. The air slowly expelled with her words, "I, I just thought I saw someone I know…"

"Is that all?" He simply asked.

Yes, no… Levy chewed on her lip for a brief moment. She wanted to tell him about Zackary and what had happened, to get the crippling weight off her chest and out into the open, to maybe somewhat heal a little bit at a time and move forward without that guilty sense she couldn't shake. But her jaw locked up and forbade her from speaking the words.

She didn't want Gajeel to see her in a different light. A worse light.

"I've only been in one other relationship before you," she said slowly. And then she clamped her lips together again. Words stopped entering her mouth. No, it didn't feel right.

Gajeel didn't blink. He shrugged once. "So you saw your ex?"

Levy couldn't say any more even if she wanted to. Her eyes welled up and began to redden. Her voice wavered. "I don't want to…"

Instantly Gajeel regretted pushing her to talk to him about it. He thought it might help her to get it out, but now he knew it was deeper than what it appeared to be. It wasn't his intention to make her cry. "Shit, baby, I'm the one who should be sorry."

He moved to pull her close in his worry for her, and she let him. She felt safe in his embrace. The contact calmed her. She blinked to clear her eyes. "It's ok, Gajeel. Really. I'm good now."

"Alright." He offered a smile. He glanced at his watch. "We should probably drive you home, it's getting late for Penny."

The thought of being alone at the farmhouse while Dave closed up shop in town made her sick. If she really had gotten a glimpse of Zachary and he saw her, he could already know where she now lived, let alone where she was at the moment. She struggled to swallow back the bile that threatened to come up.

She simply gripped Gajeel's forearm.

He felt the clamminess and sudden strength of her hand. She looked as though she was about to get sick right there on the kitchen floor.

"Could I please stay here?" Her hazel gaze silently pleaded with him.

"Uh, yea. Yea, if that's what you want," he supplied in surprise. Images of Levy with him in his bed rolled through his mind, but he knew better. "You can have the bed, I'll just take the couch."

Relief washed over her. She shook her head and smiled. "Thanks, but the couch is fine for me."

She was grateful for his discretion and decision to table the recent topics for another time. They migrated to the living room where Penny was attempting to separate the candy into individual piles on the carpet. The amount of candy shocked Levy.

"Oh my goodness, Penny. You robbed the candy bank," she laughed.

"No, I didn't!"

Gajeel sat down on the floor next to her. "Yea ya did. You made out like a bandit," he said and then laughed at her frightened expression.

"Don't arrest me."

That made Gajeel laugh harder. He picked up the popcorn ball he knew would be there in the pile. "I'll take this off your hands for later."

Penny tried to hide her yawn while she sat on the floor. It was clear she was getting sleepy. Levy sat beside Gajeel and said to her, "Come here and let me take out your braids."

The toddler walked to her and sat down in her lap. While Levy worked to undo the beautiful work Gajeel had done earlier in the evening, he turned on the television and let her watch a little TV before bedtime.

He leaned back against the side of the recliner and snagged a piece of chocolate from a candy pile. As he unwrapped and ate it, he quietly studied his girlfriend. Her fingers gently combed through Penny's now wavy hair. She was good with her. He wondered if she had any past experience babysitting, and regardless, he knew she undoubtedly would make an excellent mother.

She became aware of his gaze. "What?" She asked innocently. She let a smile grace her face.

He shook his head and kept his lips from betraying his thoughts.

What could have happened to her for her to keep silent about her past? He supposed eventually she might tell him. Until the time came, he would respect her wishes. After all, everyone to some degree had their own secrets to keep.

Penny closed her eyes, leaning heavily against Levy's chest, which signaled bedtime. While he put her to bed, Levy picked up the candy and set it all on the kitchen table. Thinking about the little girl and her generous father made her smile.

After a few minutes, Gajeel came back to the living room. He had changed into something more comfortable. He held out a few articles of clothing. "Something to change into if you want," he offered.

He supplied her with a blanket and a pillow from his bed and made sure the front and back doors were locked. When she came back from the bathroom, he noticed with a certain pride his department's casual t-shirt looked good on her.

"You know we can trade places. Or you could come in there with me. You don't have to sleep on the couch."

Levy shook her head. She placed an appreciative kiss on his lips and backed away. "Thank you, Gajeel. For everything." She smiled.

He nodded. "You're welcome, Levy." He receded back to the hallway. "You know where to find me."

It was strange being in someone else's house at night, but sleeping there was better than being alone. Or worse. While she was thinking of it, she text Dave to let him know she would be out until morning and then settled down on the couch.

AN: A question: do you want me to define horse terms mentioned? There will undoubtedly be more in future chapters. I could make a glossary at the end or beginning of the story. Let me know what you prefer.