A pink haired maiden walked through the streets of Crocus. Another tall figure walked beside her. It was hard to remain inconspicuous with their hair color and from the clothing they wore. Everything about them screamed mages. People seemed to skirt around them, yet their eyes followed their movements. The young woman didn't feel bothered, she knew that Cobra was behind her, keeping the people at a distance. He liked to be alone and could tolerate only a few people. The air around him intimidated others.

They were on a mission. The other members from their guild, Crime Sorciere, had scattered. The poison dragon slayer and Meredy's mission was to find the whereabouts of Jellal and then report back. The young mage decided to keep Cobra with her for his efficiency for reading people's minds. If anyone could read out the darkest minds, it was him.

"Where are we going?" he growled out. He didn't like to talk either, if he didn't have to. The pink-haired woman smiled. She gave little orders on what they were doing. Jellal's mission had been vague.

"Why don't you read my mind?" she suggested.

"Because you think of some weird stuff."

She turned to look up at him, her eyebrows raising. "But Sorano says it's the best way to keep you from reading my mind."

"That b..."

She smiled and shook her head. "If she's here, she would kick your ass."

"I'll like to see her try."

"Aww, we both know you'll lose."

"You wish." Cobra acted like Sorano and the other members of Crime Sorciere didn't matter to him but they did. He liked to act tough.

She stopped at a bar. The place was already crowded. Tourists and citizens of Crocus were sharing their happiness by drinking alcohol.

"Can you read their minds?"

"Mostly they're betting who's going to win this year Grand Magic Games," he answered.

"Do you know whose going to triumph?" she asked. Fairy Tail was the talk around town. After was Sabertooth and Blue Pegasus. But Fairy Tail drew in the crowd for their outstanding performance two years ago and the way they saved Crocus from the dragons.

"No. I could read people's minds but I can't see the future."

She waved her hand into the air. "I was just asking."

He knew when he was being dismissed. She walked inside the bar called Heaven's Wane. The place where she took a seat, the people hurried away from her. Their faces showed uneasiness not over her but her companion. She sighed. Cobra relaxed in his seat next to her. The bartender came to them instantly. He tried not to visibly shake while he took their orders.

To keep their everything simple, the pink hair maiden order beer for them.

The bartender rushed to get their order, relief settling over him to be away from them for a moment.

"You can stop intimidating them for now." She needed information, which was why they were seated at a bar. It was the perfect area to catch up on the action going on in Fiore.

"Fine," he grunted.

Two glasses of ice cold beer were pushed in her direction. She reached into her dress pocket and pulled out jewels. "Keep the change," she said with a bright smile.

Briefly, the bartender returned her smile but then he flinched at her companion's stare and he moved on to the other customers.

"Cobra."

"We're not here to flirt Meredy."

"I wasn't!" she quickly denied.

His expression turned serious.

"I was being nice." When he didn't look convinced, she added, "Really."

He swiveled in his chair. His hand reached into his coat pocket to pull out a bottle of liquid. The pink haired maiden never questioned what was in the bottle but she could assume it was poison, seeing that he consumed poison being a dragon slayer. Jellal mentioned to her that dragon slayers could eat their element as fuel. That meant Cobra could consume posion. Fairy Tail's Natsu could consume fire and Gajeel could consume metal. Sabertooth's Sting could consume light and Rogue could consume darkness.

Their magic was pretty interesting.

"Whatever. We're here on a mission."

She didn't need to be reminded. She rolled her eyes at him and left him alone. She pulled her drink, pretending to sip, as her dark green eyes took in the people around the room. Some of males were drunk. Their eyes were on her but they thought better to approach her, thanks to Cobra's lack of welcome.

"Do your thing," she whispered so only he could hear.

Taking in the noise, he closed his eyes. His face relaxed. Meredy took her to cue to lean back, her elbow planting on the bar table behind her. Her fingers curled around her glass. The coolness of the glass comforted her.

"Interesting," the poison dragon slayer said.

"What is?"

"The group of males by the back entrance spotted a blue haired guy with a blond girl earlier. They've been chasing them around town."

"Really?" Jellal was running around with a girl. That was new considering he and Erza decided to stay friends. She thought he would swear off females since Erza was special to him and things didn't work out between them.

"Even more interesting. The blond female is believed to be Lucy Heartfilia."

"You mean the Celestial Mage from Fairy Tail?"

"Yeah."

Meredy was well aware that Cobra and the other Oracion Seis had a past with the celestial mage.

"But she disappeared a while ago."

"It appears she was and now she's running around town with Jellal."

"That Jelly." She liked to refer him as such since he reminded her of blueberry jelly.

He chuckled lightly while folding his arms across his chest.

"Any more information."

"The guy with the green hair," he pointed out. "He's at the other end of the room, seated with four other males. He looks uncomfortable."

Meredy's dark green eyes darted to the location. "He knows more information about Lucy. A little more than necessary."

"Then we target him."

"Right."

A plan ran through her mind that Cobra easily understood. He would create a distraction while she singled out the green haired male. From there they would get their information. Cobra smirked while he easily rose from his seat.

"What kind of lame ass drink is this?" he threw his glass on the floor near one of the ruffian's foot. The big man turned on the poison dragon slayer, his black eyebrows touching on his face.

"What the hell? You're going to apologize for that," he said getting onto his feet. His big friends followed his action.

"Make me." He took Meredy's drink and threw it at another group of men. They too got up from their seats.

"You take care of yourself," she whispered the words for him to hear. Then she raised her hands into the air. "I have nothing to do with this, fellows."

They reacted, all of them hurling towards Cobra. The maroon haired male welcomed them by throwing his fist in the air. The whole place broke out into a fight and Meredy discreetly made her way to the green haired guy who sat in his seat, shell shocked by all the fights.

She smiled as sat down on the chair next to him. Her hand passing through her long pink locks. "You don't mind me sitting here? I feel much safer here by your side."

"Uhh..." he stuttered, looking for a good way to speak. "Y-you c-c-can."

She lightly touched his shoulder. "Why thank you. You're smart not to be fighting."

"R-really?" He looked at her with hope filled eyes and she could see how young he was. He was a teenager, probably sixteen.

"Well yes," she said. "They're fighting over nonsense."

"I-I guess you a-ar-e r-right."

"You know I am." She leaned into him. Her finger lightly traced a pattern on his shoulder. "How about we go somewhere more private?"

He swallowed, nervousness showing clearly on his face. The pink haired maiden felt a little guilt for tricking the young teenager but if Cobra said he knew information about Lucy and she was seen in town with Jellal, she needed to find out what was going on. "O-okay."

Her smile brightened her whole face, causing him to blush. She elegantly held out her hand to him, which he took. Together they stood up and headed out of Heaven's Wane.

OoO

All the Fairy Tail members gathered by the hotel they were staying for the Grand Magic Games. Erza planned that they meet a little before midnight due to the games beginning exactly at midnight two years ago.

Her dark eyes shifted to the different members. She tried to plan accordingly, picking certain people for their strengths and qualities that could help a team. Unlike Master Makarov who picked his teams with ease, Erza pulled an all nighter to choose teammates.

Her task wasn't easy. The only guide she had was her experience for the maze from the previous game. The team needed a leader, someone with a commanding presence but at the same time people looked up to. That person needed to know how to stay calm during a crisis and know how to keep everyone else in check.

Erza picked Laxus for the job.

The next person had to be the brains behind the operation. It was a tough choice between two of the smartest people in their guild, Levy and Freed. Considering that Freed would gladly fight beside Laxus, the guild master chose him. His rune magic was a plus.

The next group of people were fighters. Natsu, Gajeel, Juvia, Gray, and Wendy. Together, their magic was diverse. They would could cover each other weaknesses.

"Erza," Levy called her. The guild master blinked her eyes. "Everyone is here."

"Good." She turned around and saw that all the Fairy Tail members were waiting for her next move. It was close to midnight, the time of the first day for the Grand Magic Games.

Then a lacrima rose into the night sky and a little animal, resembling a bear appeared as a see through image.

"Welcome, my friends, to another year of the Grand Magic Games," the little animal said, getting everyone to cheer. When the applause died down, the strange animal spoke. "My name is Teddy, as in Teddy Bear, and I will be your host for the next few days. And now let me introduce to our first task as many guilds, over twenty, will be competing to earn the first five spots. Yes, you heard right, my friends. Five spots. And it begins with a maze of riddles."

Teddy was going over the rules when someone stumbled upon Erza's group. The young boy swaggered and then fell down, distracting the members of Fairy Tail. The guild master was going to help him when she was beaten by Wendy and Juvia.

"Are you okay?" the small blue-haired girl questioned the stranger. His clothes were a little dirty and dishevel, his green hair was a mess and his skin was pale.

"No, he's not okay," another voice said. The woman came out of the shadows, her pink hair and beautiful face made everyone gasp.

"Meredy?"

"Erza."

"This teenage boy has some interesting news for you." She pointed to him.

"What can it be?"

Erza's eyes narrowed on the boy whom Wendy and Juvia were now holding up.

"Tell them," Meredy ordered.

"About what?" he asked, his head lolling to the side.

"What you told me about the blond-haired girl, about Lucy Heartfilia."

The members of Fairy Tail froze. It had been a long time since they heard someone with an actual lead to their beloved friend.

"Oh, my master kidnapped her," he said like he was talking about the weather despite his drugged like state.

Shock wasn't a word to describe their feelings.

His head dropped forward. "And my master wants you to pay, that is if you want her back alive."

Erza couldn't stop Natsu, Gray or the others from pouncing on the boy.

OoO

The moment the boy told Fairy Tail everything he knew, Meredy excused herself and pulled out the communications lacrima to contact Jellal.

"Did you think it was wise for the boy to tell Fairy Tail about the kidnap? We usually gather more information," the poison dragon slayer said from the shadows.

"They have a right to know since it was Erza who sent Jellal on a solo mission to stop a very dangerous guild."

"But if she is with Jellal like the rumors say, then the boy is lying."

Meredy smirked. "My thoughts exactly. I just have to check in with Jellal."

And that was exactly what she did.

OoO

"What?" The shock on Lucy's face made him pause. Jellal acknowledged that he couldn't keep her in the dark about his mission but he still couldn't fathom how the dark guild used her. He turned away from her, making sure she didn't see his face darken. The dark guild knew who she was. If they did, Lucy was no longer safe.

He thought she was a random person they were going to attack.

"We have to leave here first thing in the morning," he said, giving her a choice to disagree with him. However, things were getting too serious.

"Yes," she said, conceding with ease.

He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Lucy." He paused again. He was uncertain how to tell her his next train of thought. The celestial mage had her reasons for not returning to Fairy Tail. "I will need to tell Fairy Tail they don't have you."

"No!" she quickly protested. "You can't tell them anything about me!"

"I won't tell them you're with me, Lucy," he responded swiftly. "I'll them I investigated and I discovered they didn't kidnap you."

Her brown eyes widened. "You are willing to lie for me?"

He blinked. He didn't think he was lying. More like he was protecting and respecting her wish. "If you don't want to go back to Fairy Tail, I understand." Because he comprehended better than anyone what it was like to want to be separated from everyone else. He was stuck inside his body for many years, witnessing the misdeeds that were done to innocents. When he was able to take control of his body, he couldn't find the willpower to face those people.

But now, he did as he stood in front of someone who he also hurt in the Tower of Heaven.

"Yes," he answered.

Her eyes got watery. "Why?"

"Lucy..."

"You just met me days ago and yet you're willing to go so far as to lie for me?"

She stepped back from him. "You don't have to protect me. I can fend for myself."

He was losing her. If he didn't act the right way, the woman he saw under the façade she pulled of, would disappear forever.

"Lucy, that night the men attacked you, I was on mission to stop them once and for all. I came by you on chance. Now, they know who we are."

"Then it makes more sense we go our separate ways. If we do, you can tell Erza how you know they don't have me."

"And if we part ways now, it gives them a greater chance of finding and attacking us. We do better as a team."

"No."

She was stubborn. "I'm better off on my own." Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I did fine before." But he realized she was putting up a front. Lucy might want to have nothing to do with Fairy Tail. She might want to leave him but she was doing her action because she cared for them. In her own way, she was trying to protect them.

Erza was right. Lucy didn't have a mean bone in her body.

It was one of the things that attracted him to her. Her selflessness.

He sat down on the bed and watched her pace the floor. He could tell she was working herself in a mental state, blaming herself for everything, no doubt.

"There are wanted signs all over the place for me," she said after some time. She wiped away the tears from her face. Jellal wanted to hold her in his arms, to comfort her but he held himself back. Right now, she wanted to be strong, to feel like she was in control of the situation.

"Fairy Tail has been looking for me for years. They might have well as found me." Was she giving in? She sat on the edge of the bed next to him. Her teeth sank into her bottom lip. He was tempted to lean down, to nip at her bottom lip.

"Lucy," he said.

"Don't."

His lips tugged upward. "Don't what?"

She turned to him, her eyes widening. She looked innocent and so tempting. He couldn't help but tease her a little.

"Don't do that."

"Don't do what?"

His eyes drifted down to her pretty pink lips. Her mouth opened as she inhaled a breath. "Don't look at me like that!"

He dipped his head, his lips mere inches from hers. "Or what?"

She could have backed away from him, but she didn't. He smirked just before he pushed her long blond hair to the side. He bent his head lower, his mouth touching her delicate neck. His tongue swept between his lips, tasting the sweetness of her skin.

"Jellal?"

"Relax Lucy."

"I..."

He ran his hands down her arms. Her hands trailed into his hair and pulled him up to her mouth. He could feel her fingers flex and relax while holding him. Their lips touched and everything turned magical.

"Lucy," he whispered as he nipped at her bottom lip. His hands moved down her back and then tugged her shirt up. His fingers played with her soft skin. He pulled her closer. She rolled her head back, to his delight, and exposed her long neck.

Her breathing hitched as his fingers slid over her ribs, upward until he cupped her. She moaned in sheer pleasure. He toyed with the tight bud and she began to move restlessly against hm. He took his time, his other hand reaching to caress her other breast. Then he bent his head and ran his tongue slowly across her throat.

She leaned farther back, her hands behind her, supporting her weight on the bed. Jellal rolled them on the bed so that Lucy was sprawled out under him, flushed, hot, and sweet to look at. He quickly removed her shirt and tossed it on the floor. Looking down at her, he took his time reveling the sight of her, trusting and ethereal.

"You're beautiful."

He dipped his head and licked at her silky skin. Her hands entangled in his hair, holding him to her as she moaned. She was vocal and he was learning, she was very responsive to his touch.

Deliberately, he stopped playing her breasts. He heard her whimper and a small smile crept on his face. He switched direction, his hands slowly moving to her legs. He pushed them a little wider, his fingers brushed over the tender spot just below her pants. He felt her tense and slowly moved his hand away until he felt her relax.

Then he trailed his fingers back to her sensitive spot, his head pulling back so he could gauge her reaction to his touch. Her brown eyes were hazy, her mouth open as her chest heaved up and down. A whimper escaped her when he stilled.

Blinking her eyes, she looked up at him. What he saw transfixed him. She looked at him, her eyes shining and hoping.

"Beautiful."

Her eyes closed and a smile formed on her pretty face. Taking the hint, he pulled down her pants, exposing her to him. He kissed her flat abdomen, sliding his hands to curve around her hips. Her back arched from the bed and her hands gripped his head as he bent to taste her sweet spot.

He slid one finger in her, enjoying her gasps and moans as she wildly moved her hips. She was tight, slick and hot. He placed two fingers inside of her, slowly circling and playing until he could tell she was closing into her peak. Raising his head, he watched as she climaxed and never in his life could he remember seeing anything so beautiful.

A/N: I'm sorry it's been a while. There's been much going on in my personal life but I haven't forgotten my stories. I ask for a little more patience as I am still trying to sort things in my personal life and thank you for your support.