the train station of Crocus, Makarov sauntered off a car, Happy hovering inches away from his head.

The Exceed was rather happy to have had the chance to see his blonde human friend again. He was genuinely worried about her. She has been gone for months. And no one knew why, if they even bothered to ask. Makarov was reluctant at first, but then he agreed but asked of something in return. Happy had to keep seeing Lucy a secret because it wasn't safe.

Happy had promised to zip his lips when he returned to Magnolia, or at least try to. One time, he caught Gray eating Erza's cake, and well, he spilled the beans not even an hour later while the team was at their table. Erza had forgiven the Ice Mage...after nearly killing him. In conclusion, Happy wasn't very good at keeping secrets, but he will make an effort to keep this one. Makarov has urged him to do so, almost begging.

"So, where's Lucy at?" Happy said impatiently.

The cat was practically animated when Makarov agreed to let him see his blonde human.

"Patience, Happy," Makarov said, almost silently. "I assure you, Lucy is safe and you'll see her soon enough."

The guild master understood the blue cat's concern. He hadn't seen or heard anything from Lucy in two and a half months. Makarov remained calm on the outside, but on the inside, he was near a meltdown of worry. After receiving word from both Loke and Porlyusica, he feared Lucy and her child have been tossed into inevitable peril, especially since those mysterious new fellows. Loke had been brief and gave little to none about the attackers.

If they came for her once and they'll do it again.

"Come, Happy. Lucy's waiting for us."

"Aye, Sir!"

~

"Ouch!"

A cry rang throughout Lucy's apartment.

"It'd hurt less if you'd stop moving, Emo Freak."

"I'm moving because it's hurting me, dumbass!"

"THAT'S WHY IT HURTS, FUCK FACE!!"

"IT HURTS BECAUSE YOU KEEP JAMMING MY FINGER WITH THE NEEDLE, BIMBO!"

I wince at Midnight's much louder shout. I had his hands in my own. I gripped his left in mine, my right equipped with a pair of tweezers. Midnight had gotten a splinter after dropping one of the glass mugs in the kitchen, but he's acting like a giant baby about it. It was then he got the splinter by trying to use his bare hands to clean the shards up

"They're called tweezers, dummy! And be nice! I'm helping you!" I scold him with a frown, yanking his hand back to me, readying the tweezers on the reddening splinter, the tiniest piece of black glass poking from his thumbprint.

"Ow! You're squeezing too hard!" Midnight hissed, glaring at me intensely.

"Well, stop pulling and then I wouldn't have to!" An eyebrow twitches. "You'd better not be like this when my baby comes, I don't want to be taking care of two babies." I pinch the shard with the tweezers carefully and yanked it quickly.

"OW!" Midnight exclaimed rather dramatically, falling off the footstool and onto his back, clutching his finger as if I had cut it off.

I roll my eyes, getting to my feet as I look at the shard. It had some blood on it, but other than that, nothing.

"And I thought you were the drama queen," Cobra commented from the kitchen. He was the one who got stuck cleaning up Midnight's mess, literally.

"Shut up, " I grunt tossing the shard in the trash.

"I only speak the truth," Cobra smirked smugly.

"I'm willing to bet you're seeing what's gonna happen if you don't shut up." I glare at the maroon-haired man.

His smirk grew wider, which made me roll my eyes in annoyance.

"You don't get to joke around with me. I'm still mad at you." I huff stubbornly, tossing the tweezers on the counter.

"Do you think I care?" Cobra said insensitively.

"Not really, but it's a bad trait you should try to change it."

"Eh."

"Rude."

"Like I care."

"I'm bleeding out! Someone call nine-one-one!" Midnight cried from the living room.

From the narrow cabinet near me, I take an alcohol swab and a small bandaid. Why is it Midnight is a powerful being on the battlefield, but if he gets a little splinter, he's like a toddler throwing a tantrum?

"If you're bleeding out, don't die on my carpet! It's new!"

I hurry back into the living just as Midnight peeled himself off the floor. I go to him, ripping the alcohol swap from the package.

"How generous of you to be my nurse and aid my battle wound." Midnight snatched the bandaid from my fingers.

"You're welcome, " I deadpan, watching as Midnight tears the wrapping off the bandaid.

Before anything else could be said, there was a subtle knock on the front door.

"It's that old man and annoying blue cat," Cobra said, sauntering out of the kitchen, munching on a bag of potato chips.

Happy? The possibility made my heart swell. I hurry to answer the door. As soon as I unlock and barely open it, I'm tackled by a blue blur and am sent stumbling back.

"Lushie!" A cry, well, cries out.

"Whoa!" I feel myself falling.

I don't fall on the ground, but more on something soft and hand-like. Before I even got hint of what happened, I was on my feet again.

"Are you alright, Child?" Makarov asks, his arm reverting into its' original size.

"Yes, " I say and then bring my attention to the feline currently crying into my breasts. "Happy..." I feel myself tearing up as well. I wrap my arms around him.

"I'm so sorry, Lushie! I forgot about you!" He sobs loudly, his claws poking through my shirt and bra.

"It's okay, Happy! I'm not angry with you, not at all." I smile softly.

"Forgive the confusion, Happy begged to come along," Makarov said, shutting the door and paddling past me, making himself comfortable on the recliner. "I allowed him to, but--"

"I promised I wouldn't tell anyone!" Happy says, peeking out at me, teary-eyed, "Lushie...are you okay?"

I wanted to pretend that I didn't know what the cat was talking about, but I couldn't. I wanted to forget. Every way and twisting path, I'm always reminded of what happened.

"You're such an innocent soul, Happy." I pet his ears as I go over to the couch. "Everything's okay, I promise."

"How are you doing, Child?" Makarov asks.

"We're doing pretty well, I mean just before you came, Midnight got a splinter and was acting like a dying moose." I giggle feeling the annoyed and embarrassed glare of the emo man himself.

Makarov laughs out, "Who would've thunk you'd be taking care of two felons, er, " The old man stilled for a second, glancing at both Midnight and then back at Cobra, "No offense."

Cobra grunted with disinterest whereas Midnight shrugged his shoulders as he folded his arms over his chest. I don't they minded being called felons since it was a fact, but I really want to believe they both wanted to change.

"Have you heard from Lahar or Mest, erm, I mean Dorinbolt recently?" Makarov looks at me as I continue caressing Happy's silently sobbing head.

"They sent money through the mail, but not physically. I assume they want to keep a low profile." I answer.

"It's easy for them to say!" Cobra snorts rudely. "It's not like they're the ones who get patronized every day."

I roll my eyes. "And I'm guessing it never occurs to you that you did it yourself?"

"Keh! In desperate times, you go with the flow." Cobra said.

"Yeah, because that's what you do, " I mumble sarcastically.

"I heard that."

"Heard what? My last nerve?"

"For a pregnant lady, you sound like you still get your period."

"Wha--! Why you..." I growl.

"Now, now, everyone. Calm yourselves." Makarov chuckled with amusement. "You don't want to burst a seam."

"What's that mean? Are you calling me fat?" I caught Makarov's glance my way. I suddenly felt very insecure about my body. Well, I'm always insecure, but now that I have a baking bun, it's worse.

"Eh?! No, no! I didn't mean...! Don't cry, please!!" Makarov frantically waved his hands, paler than a ghost at this point.

My pregnancy hormones are spinning wildly and I find myself tearing up.

"Look what you've done, old man. You made her cry." Cobra said rather nonchalantly.

"What?! ME?!!"