Mirajane woke up her fiance by gently shaking his shoulders and pressing little kisses on his blond head. The husband-to-be made some of his usual grumbling noises, somewhat a mix between a dog and a penguin, she guesses, and roll to his stomach. Mirajane giggled sweetly before climbing on his back, gently tickling his ribs and nuzzling her nose to his thick neck.

"Laxus-kun," she cooed when he made a deep whine against the pillows they had on their shared bed. "Laxus, wake up. Master Makarov wants to see us, honey."

"'Bout what?" he growled, heaving a large sigh that gently rose Mirajane's curvy body and back down when he exhaled. "I told him that the papers were on his desk. Can't he understand simple words?"

Wearing her favorite pink nightgown, Mirajane fixed the thin straps on her shoulders before plopping her upper body on his bare back. "Come on, Laxus. Everyone is waiting for us at the bar and we're the only ones left. He said it was important."

"Too early to deal with the kids, Mira."

"It's just Erza, Jellal and the Three Musketeers, honey," she told him softly, snuggling her face against his warm skin. She felt Laxus sigh and slowly move under her, and she got up and picked out some pants from the floor of their bedroom. Once she found him slowly rising from the bed in his sweatpants, she smiled and gave him a good morning kiss. "Come on, slowpoke. We're gonna be late for the party, if we don't hurry."

Mirajane strolled happily in her bunny slippers out of their apartment with her hubby in tow, going to the elevator and taking the ride down to the garage where everyone was already sitting and talking casually to each other. Once Mirajane locked her blue eyes with a familiar redheaded woman, she scurried over to hug Erza, who was sharing a mug of hot tea with Jellal, who still appeared to be half-awake, like Laxus was, his head tipping up and down from dozing.

"Morning, Erza-chan," Mirajane sang softly while Erza rolled her eyes at her friend's joyful rays of sunshine. "Did you and Jellal sleep well last night? You two went to bed awfully early, in my opinion."

When her friend's cheeks went as red as her hair, Mirajane knew she got her good. "Sh-shh!" Erza's brown eyes snapped to her smiling, yet naughty face. "That's none of your business, Mira..."

"I'm just teasing, Erza-chan," Mirajane cooed again before pressing her cheek to Erza's boiling one in a affectionate snuggle. "I don't want to make my Maid of Honor to get mad at me for teasing about your sex life, ne?"

"Mira, leave Erza alone," Laxus said with a yawn, making the platinum blonde giggle and let go of Erza. "Keep it up with her and she's going to bite you again, like last time."

"I think that was a love bite," Mirajane grinned, making Erza go limp in her arms and lean towards Jellal. Looking up to see Makarov enter with his laptop in his hands, Mirajane got everyone's attention. "Good morning, Master Makarov!"

Macao smacked Gildarts awake while Wakaba leaned back to give a welcoming nod to the old man. "What did ya need, Makarov? We were starting to wonder if you were just testing to see if we could actually get up."

"I had to get my computer," Makarov sighed before going around the counter and using the stepping stool to reach up to a wooden chair set behind the counter. "I'm sorry for making all of you guys wait like that, but this is rather important and I would like it if the kids didn't hear about this first."

"What's up, Gramps?" Laxus crossed his arms while everyone tuned in on the older man opening his laptop.

"The cops found a body today near the docks, right where the border of the city exits to the mountains," Makarov said as he pressed a few keys on the keyboard. "They called me this morning when they identified the body, and I wanted you guys to help me with it."

Setting the laptop on the counter, Makarov looked to Erza and Jellal with a concerned look in his eyes, making the married couple frown at his behavior. Sighing, Makarov looked back to the blue-lit screen with a stern expression. "Jellal, Erza...do you know of a man named Zancrow."

Jellal's eyes widened and Erza looked down to her lap. "Zancrow...yes, we know of him," Erza swallowed thickly, and Mirajane could see something in her best friend's brown eyes that didn't sit well with her. "He was Acnologia's client and one of his allies from years ago. Probably a distant relative, or something."

"He was one of the co-leaders to Acnologia, specifically to the part where Erza and I are from as children," Jellal added. "He disappeared with Acnologia, from what we remember, but only after trying to dispose of the children they had..."

"That was around the time you two got out, no?" Makarov asked.

Erza and Jellal nodded. "A few of us were able to get out, but not many survived because of Zancrow," Erza said. "One of our good friends, his name was Simon, was killed when he was caught trying to escape with us. He was one of the older kids who watched out for us, the smaller ones."

Heaving a rough sigh, Makarov turned the computer screen for everyone to see and both Erza and Jellal visibly froze at the sight on the laptop. A police photo of a dead man lying on the pavement with his skull bashed to pieces, the blond hair the man had was stained with red while the rest of his body was covered in ashes, having been set on fire. The man's eyes were wide open in agonizing pain as his body was sprawled in a weird position, showing that he had suffered and scrambled around before his death. Gildarts whispered a 'damn' under his breath while Macao whistled lowly.

Mirajane looked to Erza, who looked away from the screen and covered her mouth with her hands. Jellal nodded slowly to Makarov, confirming that it was indeed Zancrow's body on the photo. "They found his car at the docks, too, with residue of drugs and money in the backseat. The whole front of his ride was smashed, and they guessed he hit his head on the windshield on impact with no airbag. Someone yanked him out and poured gasoline on him and set him on fire to kill him. There are no prints on him or his car."

"So it was really Zancrow in the city, and not Acnologia?" Wakaba raised a brow, playing with the folded pack of his cigarettes. "Done deal, right? The races are off and case goes cold."

"Apparently not," Makarov shook his head. "Jason sent out a message about prize money doubling to racers who win the races being set up. It doesn't look like Zancrow had anything to do with funding, but was rather trying to make a run for it."

"And someone caught him before he could make it out of here," Laxus finished with a sneer. Looking to Jellal wrapping an arm around his wife, who remained mute and unresponsive, the blond man was hesitant of his question. "Does...the attack look familiar at all to you guys? Do you think you can tell who did it to him?"

"Zancrows form of torture was setting people on fire with gasoline," Jellal said lowly, guiding Erza's head to rest on his shoulder. "Whoever was able to do this to him knew of his habit and turned it against him. Did they get any traces on the wreck, Master Makarov?"

The elderly man shook his head, making Macao huff. "You think the guy knew what he was doing when he took Zancrow out. How long has it been since anyone could touch a hair on that man? Someone definitely had it against him, that's for sure."

"Too bad it wasn't us," Gildarts growled.

"That's not what we're gathered here for," Makarov snapped, closing his laptop. "This is a sign of rebellion and war starting here in the city, so that means shit is about to hit the fan. Everyone is going to be on edge about this with Acnologia's men being targeted and it's likely other gangs are going to go at each other's throats, and we are no exception outside the garage."

"So what are we going to do?" Laxus asked.

"I want change of plans," Makarov sniffed bitterly. "The big shots aren't taking this action seriously as they should, so we're gonna do things a bit differently: I want all of you to keep eyes and ears open all day and everyday. Whatever is said at the races, on the streets, or within these walls, I want you to report to me. Things like this hasn't happened anywhere for nearly twenty years, and there's a reason why it's starting again."

"You think it has something to do with the old S-Class, Makarov?" Wakaba raised a brow, knowing that was what was on everyone's mind, including Mirajane's. "You think it could be the Igneel or someone trying to -?"

"It's too early to tell, but it is a possibility," the elderly man sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "But, until we know for sure what the hell is going on, I don't want the kids to know about this. This is all between us, see?"

Everyone nodded, and Mirajane looked back to her best friend while her boss continued. "Keep an eye on the kids and keep them safe whenever we step out of the garage. Natsu is already thinking that his father is somewhere out there and is itching to go hunting' for Acnologia. With the Phantom Lord, too, since Jose has a new client and he has a few kids in his care. Knowing him, he's gonna do something stupid.

"I already talked to Blue Pegasus, and they're pulling out of the races with the excuse of a break into their garage and their rides were damaged," he went on. "They think whatever is causing all this mayhem is going to put the cops on the streets more often, so they don't want to risk getting caught in the crossfire. I suggest everyone stay armed inside and outside the car, just incase. Conceal and carry what you can and try to get the kids to do the same."

"Isn't this a bit too much for something we barely know?" Gildarts' face scrunched with displeasure.

"I'd rather be ready ahead of time than be caught without, Gildarts," Makarov's eyes narrowed before looking to Mirajane, who remained standing tall and collected. "Mira, I know this may be a lot to ask, but I would like you to ride with Laxus and join the crowd at the races. See if you can pick anything up."

"Of course," Mirajane nodded seriously.

"Whoa, I said I didn't want shit, Gramps!" Laxus snapped. "I thought we agreed to leave me out of races until after the wedding. And don't put Mira out in the public when they haven't seen her in so long! That's sketchy enough as it is!"

"But Acnologia doesn't know that. And I want all my best racers out there keeping an eye out." Looking around the counter for a good minute, Makarov took in every face present carefully. "You guys are more than criminals, homeless and trouble makers to me; I consider everyone here and those still asleep in their beds upstairs family, and I will not take things likely. If Acnologia is indeed back, I'm not going to take chances in putting my family's lives in danger, got it? Blood is thicker than water."

"Blood is thicker than sweat," Macao added in, crossing his arms in defeat, but determination in his eyes.

"Thicker than booze," Gildarts nodded.

Wakaba tilt his head back with closed eyes. "And much more thicker than any of the liquids pulsing in our rides."

"You all are better than what the law puts you to be, and that's why you're here working between the the law and the road," Makarov said strongly, and Mirajane could feel her heart swell with pride of how far she and her siblings have come, along with her friends and comrades. "You have proved all who has done you wrong that you're better than the bad guys on the TV or the papers. Remember that you are part of Fairy Tail, and your lives matter."

After the meeting at seven in the morning, Makarov dismissed the members and returned to his office. Gildarts left to go back to bed before Cana woke up, and Macao and Wakaba left to tend to their rides on the other side of the garage while the slightly younger adults remained at the bar. Laxus sighed before wrapping his muscular arms around Mirajane, making her smile at his affectionate gesture. Looking up, Mirajane was awarded to a light kiss on her forehead by her fiance.

"I'm heading back to bed," he mumbled against her exposed forehead, making her giggle. "Wake me up if I sleep in too late, 'kay?"

Feeling him lightly pinch her rear, Mirajane rolled her eyes and nodded. "Alright, sweetie," she said softly. Stealing a glance to Jellal and Erza still in their seats, the platinum blonde's eyes softened when she noticed how the man ran his fingers through Erza's long red hair. "I'll see you in a while, Laxus-kun."

Understanding her tone of voice, Laxus nodded before giving one more kiss to her head and leaving, letting Mirajane clasp her hands in front of her before approaching the married couple in quiet steps. Reaching with both hands, Mirajane slipped her palms onto Erza's stiff shoulders and leaned down to press her upper body and head against her in a cuddling manner.

Closing her blue eyes as she snuggled her head against her best friends', Mirajane hugged Erza close to her after hearing a quiet sob. "Are you okay, Erza-chan?" she asked quietly when Jellal sat up, but holding his wife's hands tightly. "What's wrong sweetie pie?"

Despite their old competition the two women had on the roads, Mirajane and Erza had a close relationship, like sisters, and have considered each other their support for years. Ever since Erza and Jellal joined Fairy Tail, the two women have been best of friends and it was Mirajane who confided her troubled past with Erza and vice versa. Mirajane knows about the two's dark past of being of Acnologia's gang as children, and she always knew when Erza is struggling with her thoughts about her past...

"It's okay, Erza-chan. You know that," Mirajane cooed softly when Erza finally looked at her with unshed tears. She wasn't crying at all, and Mirajane took it as a good sign. Cradling the S-Class woman's head to her chest, Mirajane rocked her gently in her hold. "It's good that Zancrow is gone, right? He was the one that gave you those nightmares, now he can't hurt you anymore."

Erza nodded, her voice a bit scratchy from containing her cries. She tried her best to smile, yet Mirajane just soothed her to relax, whispering that it was okay. "It's just that...you know, last time I saw someone get burned alive like that..." Erza shook her head slowly, hands squeezing Jellal's tightly.

The blue haired man looked up to Mirajane with a tired look in his eyes. "Simon, our friend who passed away when we escaped as kids, was killed that way," he explained quietly, rubbing his thumbs across his wife's knuckles. "Zancrow shot him in the leg and set him on fire while we hid in the vents. We wanted to stop him, but he had guns and we didn't."

"He's gone now," Mirajane told both of them, offering a small smile. "He's gone and he's not going to hurt anyone ever again."

"I just wish...it was me," Erza whispered against Mirajane, causing both her friend and husband to look her way. Her face was sad, Mirajane could tell, but her eyes read anger; a distant memory that haunted her best friend's mind for years and shared the pain with her beloved. Brown eyes didn't shed tears for the recently deceased, no, because the man who was murdered brutally from slipping out of the city was not worth tears of mourning. Mirajane could see the rage inside the redhead, the rage that was only reserved to the ones who caused hell to the innocent. For Jellal, Mirajane knew he felt the same, but he was so much more reserved with his demons - his only wish to support and love Erza with everything he has.

"I wish it was me who took that fucking piece of shit out with my bare hands," Erza growled under her breath. " I wish I killed that man slowly, just like he did to Simon..!"

"He died in pain and slowly, babe," Jellal whispered, bringing her hands up to kiss her fingers. "Whoever did it without us did a good favor of not letting him get away."

Erza nodded, letting Mirajane snuggle her once more with the kind of affection that was reserved for her family. "How about I get you some cheesecake, Erza-chan," she suggested sweetly, fixing Erza's bangs from hiding her left eye. "I got some of the strawberry cream you like the other day. That can be your breakfast. I got muffin mix I can make for Jellal, too, if that sounds good."

Jellal gave a half smile when he saw his wife quietly nod against her friend's breasts. "That sounds great, Mira. Thanks."

"Anytime," Mirajane giggled, knowing that Erza was now looking up to her with the impatience for cake.