"So when is the paperwork finalized?" Gajeel asked as he lazily doodled in his sketchbook.

"Still another two weeks, and then we can bring her home," Rouge, Gajeels younger brother answered as he worked in his own sketchbook. Like Gajeel his eyes were a sharp red, and his jet black hair was cut into a faux hawk that flopped over one eye.

"You still nervous?" Gajeel asked as he glanced over at his brother.

Rouge chuckled as he set his pencil down, nervously twisting the silver band on his left ring finger. "Wouldn't you be? Sting's ecstatic of course."

"You guys will make great parents, and from what you told me, she's just as excited."

"She is. Two years just seems to fly by so fast. The finish line is finally in sight," he smiled to himself.

"We're all waiting right beside you! Another to add to the family!" Wendy said as she came bounding out of the back. "Or as Mercedes says," she moved her hands to sign Forever Home.

Mercedes Ann, soon to be Mercedes Eucliffe, had been bounced from foster home to foster home due to her impaired hearing. She didn't play with the other kids, and when other would be parents came by, she would hide with her foster parents.

When Sting and Rogue came by the foster home, they quickly fell in love with her. Sting, who was a ray of sunshine, sat on the floor with Mercedes and started drawing for her. He didn't speak until she tugged on his shirt to get his attention. She said and signed, I'm Mercy.  From that day on, Rouge and Sting had been learning sign language to speak to their soon to be daughter. Everyone at the shop happily learned with them so they could greet their newest family member.

Gajeel and Rogue smiled as the bell on the shop door rang, and in walked the subject of Gajeel week long distraction. Today Levy wore a black baggy MCR shirt and skinny jeans, a purple and pink bandana tied in her hair. She grinned when she saw Gajeel and walked up to the counter.

"Right on time Levy, you ready to get started?" Gajeel asked as he flipped his notebook shut.

"You know it," she answered with a grin. She started to follow him back, having just passed the desk when there was a loud and long growling sound. Levy froze as everyone turned to look at her, a fair blush crawling up from her neck to hairline.

Gajeel raised an eyebrow as he rested his hip against the wall, "You didn't eat, did you?"

Levy adjusted her bandana to try and hide her embarrassment, "I was going to eat afterwards."

"None doin short stuff," Gajeel told her as he walked back to the front of the parlor, passing her and heading for the door. He pushed it open and stopped, turning to look at her when she didn't follow. "Well come on."

She frowned, "Where?"

"Can't work on a hungry canvas, so I'm going to feed you"

"Oh no that's ok, I can just eat afterwards."

Rouge snickered and leaned over the counter to whisper, loudly, "That's his way of asking for a date."

"Oi!" Gajeel snapped, his own face taking on a red tint as he started to sign rudely.

"Hey, don't you go saying that around Mercy!" Rouge called after him as he and Levy headed out.

They walked down the street in an awkward silence until they reached a small outdoor café. "Get whatever you want," Gajeel grumbled slightly. They sat together at a small table, Gajeel with his large meat lovers sandwich and Levy with only a salad. "That's it? Just some rabbit food?" He teased lightly as he took a bite into his sandwich.

"It's good for you," was Levys defense, waving her fork of greens at him before taking a bite. They were quiet for a moment before Levy asked, "So you know sign language?"

"Mm," he swallowed and chased it with his drink. "Everyone at the shop has spent the last year or so learning. My brother Rogue, the smart mouth behind the desk, and his husband are adopting a little deaf girl. Her name is Mercedes though none of us have met her yet."

She smiled softly, "That's very sweet. Husband you said? They must have had a hard  time."

"Two years of fighting, but later this month it will be finalized and they'll be bringing her home."

"That's fantastic," she grinned. "So does his husband work at the parlor too? Juvia told me it was family owned."

"He does occasionally. He's actually a photographer for Inked magazine, and occasionally a model himself."

"The tattoo magazine?" she giggled lightly, "Let me guess, that's how he and Rogue met?"

Gajeel laughed, "No actually. When Rogue was in college he was a bartender to pay his way, and this stupid drunk blonde just kept hitting on him.  He doesn't look it, but Rogue flusters easily. It was comical to watch."

Levy laughed, "I'm sure it was." After a moment she asked, "Do you usually take clients out to lunch?"

"Not usually no," he smirked lightly "but then again most clients remember to eat. Plus, you're Juvias friend. She'd gut me if I had you passing out on my table."

She chuckled and nodded, pointedly taking another bite of her salad. After that, they ate in a comfortable silence before walking back to the parlor.

"Since I've wasted a good amount of time," Gajeel said as they went back to his area and he closed the curtain. "We'll just do some outline touch ups, I'll fix any missed lines and we'll make sure there's no infection. Not a lot of time to get in much color."

"That's perfect actually," Levy said as she checked her phone before taking her shirt off. "My boss decided I need to come in this afternoon so it works out."

Gajeel nodded and politely looked away as he set up what little color he would need before rolling his chair and tray over to where Levy had laid down. He was proud of how the piece was healing, light on peeling and there was no sign of infection. He fixed the spots where her bra had obviously rubbed but otherwise it didn't need much work. "I almost feel bad for wasting your time." He said as he wiped the spots he fixed before letting her sit up.

"Don't, I actually enjoyed going to lunch." She smiled at him, and he could feel his heart speed up slightly. She pulled her shirt on and he followed her out to the counter, waving her away when she tried to pay.

"Don't worry about it. Just don't be late for work," Gajeel said with a smirk.

Levy smiled and nodded, waving at the others before leaving. Gajeel was still watching the door when Rouge stood beside him, "Well she was cute."

"Don't even start."

{So this isn't nearly as long as the last chapter but oh well. Hope yall enjoyed!}