Freed's POV

Two days after the trial, after Phaedra returned from her walk with Wendy and Shararu, she announced to us all that she had arranged for us to be sent back to Ishgar. There was a variety of reactions to this news from the group members, but no one vocalized any argument when Phaedra walked to Levy's bedside and took her hand tenderly in both of hers. It was obvious that Levy's health and potential recovery from her paralysis was the reason behind Phaedra's rush, and I couldn't help but admire her for her capacity to care for someone she hardly knew.

Early that evening, Phaedra gathered us all in the banquet hall of the palace for a hurriedly prepared feast. To my surprise, it seemed that all of Tarzish was invited as throngs of people came and went. I watched with interest as Phaedra and Zeira greeted everyone who approached with humility and respect. It was incredible to see how these two women, so obviously burdened by an unfathomable guilt, were able to put that aside and look after the people around them.

Mirajane let out a small sigh next to me and I looked down at her, surprised to see that she was frowning down at her untouched plate of food. Gently, I reached under the table to place a hand on her knee, which startled her and caused her to look up at me.

"What's wrong?" I asked softly, trying to figure out why her normal smile was absent. One corner of Mirajane's lips quirked up in a semblance of a smile and she rested a hand on top of my own, squeezing my fingers

"I'm just disappointed that Laxus was right," Mirajane said with a small sigh.

Glancing to the other side of the room where Laxus was leaning against the wall of the banquet hall I wasn't surprised to see that several groups of women were gathered near him, sending furtive glances his way before giggling together. It also wasn't surprising that he was completely ignoring any attempts to hold a conversation with him by a few brave few. What did surprise me though, was that his eyes seemed to be fixed resolutely to the head of the massive table in the room, where Phaedra and Zeira were standing and mingling with the people.

Yesterday, while Phaedra was still dead asleep and recovering from her stay in the dungeons, we had all been making plans for when we would head back to Ishgar. Lucy and Wendy had been excitedly talking about how they would help Phaedra pick where her Fairy Tail emblem would go and all of the places in Magnolia they wanted to take her. But Laxus had interrupted them and calmly stated that he didn't think that Phaedra would be coming back to Magnolia with us. Almost everyone in the room had angrily told him that was ridiculous, especially Gray. Laxus had just waited until the room had quieted again and he reminded us of how the Tribal Leader had requested that she and Zeira help them rebuild Tarzish.

Now, watching Phaedra stand next to Zeira and seeming to do everything she could to comfort the people who came to speak with her, her golden headband glistening against her ebony hair... I was sure everyone had realized that she had no intention of leaving. Moving my free hand over, I patted Mirajane's hand on top of mine soothingly and smiled down at her.

"At least we can rest easy knowing that we saved her from losing her freedom to that tyrant," I said quietly. Mirajane smiled sadly and I felt my heart quiver slightly at the look. She was so kind and cared so deeply for the people around her. It didn't surprise me that she wasn't happy that we couldn't take Phaedra back with us, but I hoped that she wouldn't worry herself too much.

Just as I was about to say something along those lines, Mirajane's attention shifted to something past my shoulder and her eyes went wide. A gleam of curiosity danced in her deep blue irises and her lips quirked up into a smile.

"Oooooo. What's going on there?" Mirajane whispered, pointing in the direction of the head of the table. I turned to look just in time to see Phaedra and Gray walking out of the room and out into the palace hallways. I flinched when Mirajane suddenly burst from her seat and grabbed onto my hand tightly.

"Let's follow them!" she whispered with obvious delight. Before I could respond, she pulled my hand firmly and I stumbled to my feet, following after her as she made her way towards the doorway Phaedra had just walked through.

"Mira, I don't..." I started awkwardly, feeling uncomfortable with such blatant snooping.

"Shh!" Mirajane said, bringing a finger to her lips in a silent command for me to keep quiet.

Sighing, I allowed her to pull me and we slipped through the doorway as silently as I could manage. Halfway down the hall, I could see Phaedra and Gray facing each other near a window that overlooked a picturesque scene of the desert. I had to admit that there was a strange beauty to the golden sand rolling in hills as far as the eye could see, but my attention was pulled away from the view as Mirajane jerked me behind a column much closer to our two friends than I thought was prudent.

"How have you been handling the heat?" I heard Phaedra ask quietly, but with genuine concern. Mirajane peeked around the column and I wasn't surprised at all to see that Gray had shed his shirt at some point during the dinner. He was now standing in just his pants, without even shoes on his feet. I saw Gray flinch and press a hand to his bare stomach, and I thought I saw the tips of his ears turn slightly red.

"I'm managing fine," Gray mumbled, then shook his head. "But Phaedra.... are you really going to stay here?"

I strained my neck, trying to stay hidden behind our column but curious despite myself about this unexpected conversation. Phaedra's shoulder slumped slightly at Gray's question, causing her poncho's hem to shift around her arms before she turned to look out the window.

"Yes." Her response was simple, but I was amazed at the emotion conveyed in that single word. I could hear her determination, but also a depth of achingly painful sadness that made me reach out and wrap an arm around Mirajane since I couldn't give Phaedra a hug.

"But why? I thought you hated it here. We came to save you!" Gray said, sounding more desperate and upset than I had expected. Phaedra expelled air through her nose in a quiet sigh and she turned back to face Gray.

"I know. And I appreciate everything that you and everyone have done for me. But... I have already abandoned my people once. Their entire world has been turned upside down, and it is my duty to help them get back on their feet." Phaedra's words were clear and powerful, but I could hear the guilt underlying her words. Although I was probably more sensitive to that emotion because of my own past and I found myself silently applauding Phaedra for continuing forward even though I knew how suffocation that feeling could be.

"Then I'll stay too." I blinked rapidly in confusion at this unexpected declaration, and Mirajane sucked in a quiet gasp of excitement. Leaning just slightly farther over, I tried to catch a glimpse of Gray's features, but my eyes instead stopped on a familiar figure leaning against a column farther down the hallway. My mouth dropped open of its own accord as I saw Laxus leaning his back heavily against the column, his eyes closed.

Why is Laxus here? I thought, so flustered and confused by this unexpected development that I almost missed Phaedra's response.

"That is kind of you to offer, Gray, but..."

"You can have me do anything. I can create a bunch of ice and then let it melt to help out with the water problem. Or I could be your bodyguard if someone tries to go against you. Or..." My eyebrows arched in surprise at how desperate Gray was sounding as he listed off reasons for why he would be helpful to Phaedra. Suddenly a loud clap rang out, causing me to flinch at the unexpected sound and Mirajane raised a hand to her mouth, her eyes sparkling with interest.

Silence descended between Phaedra and Gray as she slowly lowered her hands and looked straight at him. She looked to the side for a moment, probably to gather her thoughts, before she turned back with a look that seemed to demand no arguments.

"I'm sorry, Gray. But you cannot under any circumstance stay in Prekt," Phaedra said slowly and firmly. Gray stiffened, obviously not expecting this response, but Phaedra continued before he could offer a counter-argument.

"I know that it was not your intention to kill Quetzel in your battle," Phaedra said, her voice deadly serious. "And I do not blame you for what happened. However, if the people were to ever find out that you were the one who ended her life, there is nothing I could do that would stop them from sentencing you to death."

Gray took a startled step back and I felt Mirajane's hand clutch my own forcefully. Phaedra's serious expression cracked slightly and I could see sadness leaking through her eyes as she met Gray's gaze.

"Quetzel wasn't like the other princesses. She was known as 'the people's princess.' King Hizeah used her and her beautiful magic to buoy up the people during hard times and they all loved her dearly. As I said, I do not blame you. Any of us could have lost our life during that battle, but I cannot allow you to endanger your life by staying here. I am only a guardian princess. I am a symbol of strength to the people, however broken it might be, but the true power in Prekt is held in our ruling leaders. I can't protect you from them if they find out what you did."

Gray lowered his head and looked off to the side, hiding his expression from my view. I wondered if this was another reason why it seemed that the first thing Phaedra had done when she woke up was to find us a way to get back home. She was worried for Gray's life. Mirajane squeezed my hand and I gripped it back automatically. My gaze moved over to Laxus hidden behind his column. His back was still against the stone pillar, but his head was now bowed and he appeared to be in deep thought.

"I will miss you though."

I was surprised when it was Phaedra that broke the silence, her voice more gentle than I had ever heard it. Although I really hadn't had many opportunities to hear her speak in the past.

"You remind me of my little brother, Zared," Phaedra continued, her lips quirking up in a gentle smile. "He was always arguing with my sister, just like you and Natsu," she said with a chuckle, her eyes taking a faraway look. Gray's head came up and I was surprised when he took a step closer to Phaedra, and she tilted her head in a silent question.

"I don't want you to think of me as a younger brother," Gray said firmly. Mirajane once again sucked in a quick intake of breath and she jiggled my hand excitedly. I groaned inwardly at this reaction. Mirajane had a pretty bad case of matchmaker syndrome, and I finally understood why she had been so interested in following after these two.

Glancing past the column, I saw that Phaedra actually looked hurt briefly before she nodded and sighed. "I didn't mean to offend you," she said sadly and Gray flinched as if Phaedra had physically punched him.

"N-no! I didn't mean... it's just that I don't think of you as a big sister at all," Gray said, stumbling horribly over his words. Phaedra still looked hurt and I could almost see the gears running frantically as Gray tried to backpedal his way out of the mess he found himself in.

"I mean that I want you to see me as a man. Because I see you as a woman..." Gray trailed off as Phaedra's hurt expression gave way to one of confusion. "I mean, obviously you are a woman. It's not like I ever thought you were a guy... what I mean is..." Gray continued to stumble over himself and I winced, wishing that I could extricate him before he said anything else mortifyingly embarrassing. Glancing around the column once again, I could see Phaedra glancing around uncertainly but then she sighed and gave an awkward smile up at Gray as he tried to gather his wits.

"I didn't mean to say I thought of you as a little brother, Gray," she said gently, almost soothingly. "I just noticed a similarity between you and Zared. You will always be an important friend to me, and I am grateful for all that you have sacrificed in coming here."

Gray's entire countenance seemed to fall when Phaedra had said the word 'friend' and I wasn't surprised when Mirajane's shoulders slumped right along with his. Not sure why, I glanced away from the two in the hallway and looked over at Laxus silently hiding. He hadn't moved from his spot, but his eyes were once again closed and I wondered why on earth he was eavesdropping on this conversation.

"Will I see you again?" Gray mumbled, not meeting Phaedra's eyes. I was surprised when a delicate smile graced her angular face and she nodded.

"I don't know how long it will take me, but I promised Wendy that I would come to Fairy Tail as soon as the people of Tarzish are once again safe and happy." That seemed to take the rest of the fight out of Gray as he nodded quietly.

"We'll all be waiting for you then," he said, his voice sounding tired and sad even as he was trying to appear happy. I wasn't sure if Phaedra didn't notice or if she purposefully ignored his tone, but she smiled up at him and bowed her head.

"I am very happy that you've recovered from your fight against King Hizeah, Gray. Good luck with all of your guild jobs when you get back," she said brightly. Gray nodded quietly at that but didn't move to leave.

"Thank you for saving me, Phaedra. I really thought he was going to kill Natsu and I before you showed up," Gray said, the sincerity of his words almost palpable. Phaedra laughed reservedly, waving her hand in front of her face as if she could wipe away his thanks.

"You should really be thanking Laxus. I never could have broken free of the King's grip if he hadn't fried the king's presence out of my mind."

This comment surprised me. I had been unconscious for the last part of the battle and hadn't really had a chance to ask how Phaedra had managed to break free of the King's hold in order to help fight against him until the decay mage ended up killing him. Glancing over, I saw that Laxus hadn't moved from his position, but he had turned his head slightly to the side with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Did it hurt?" Gray asked, his voice sounding deeply concerned. Phaedra blinked and then shrugged, seeming unconcerned.

"Yes," she responded bluntly, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Laxus's jaw tighten and his eyebrows furrow. "But I was able to fight because of it. Any amount of pain is worth being in control of my own body." Phaedra's tone was firm. I felt sadness as I thought of her painful history, but I was also insanely curious about this turn of events and why Laxus was so concerned with Phaedra.

"We've been out here pretty long, Gray. I should get back," Phaedra said, not unkindly, but with no room for argument either. Gray nodded and I watched as Phaedra hesitated and then reached out and patted his upper arm awkwardly. He looked down at his bare arm where Phaedra had touched him and she quickly retracted her hand.

"Stay safe, Gray," she said, then turned and walked away. Mirajane and I both quickly moved further behind our column, holding our breaths as Phaedra walked past us with a fluttering of loose fabric as she went to the doorway and reentered the banquet hall.

Gray did not move an inch from where he had been standing. I felt Mirajane relax and she shifted her weight on her feet, looking like she was about to go out to talk to him. I swiftly wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her against my chest, preventing her from leaving the safety of the column.

As her soft body rested against me I could feel my heartbeat pick up slightly, and when she looked up at me with a questioning expression it took more self-control than I could imagine to not lean down to press my lips against hers. But I mentally shook myself out of the moment and tipped my head slightly to the left. Mirajane looked in the direction I had indicated and her eyes widened to the size of coins as Laxus stepped out of his own hiding place and began to walk over to Gray's silent form.

"Why is Laxus here?" Mirajane mouthed to me, looking shocked. I could do nothing but shrug helplessly. To my surprise, Mirajane wrapped her arms around my waist, cuddling up even closer to me, but still peeked around the column to try and watch what was happening. I had to swallow past an incredibly dry throat and remind myself not to be distracted by Mirajane's cuteness, but I too was interested in what Laxus had to say to Gray after a conversation like that.

Laxus walked over to Gray, but he didn't stop to face him. Instead, he walked right past him to the window Phaedra had been looking out of for part of their conversation and leaned his forearms on the sill, looking out at the desert without a care in the world. Gray seemed shocked at Laxus's appearance, but to my surprise, he didn't do or say anything for several long moments.

"How long?" Gray's voice was rough with emotion, and I felt a small pang for him. I hadn't really noticed before, but it now seemed painfully obvious that Gray had been harboring feelings for Phaedra for a while. I was sure her dismissal of him was stinging him more than he would like to admit.

"The whole time." Laxus's response was brief and to the point, just like he normally was. But I was still unsure of what role he played in this whole situation and why he had put himself in the position so that Gray knew he was eavesdropping. A strange sound somewhere between a grunt and a groan escaped Gray's chest and he ran a hand through his messy hair.

"I'm such an idiot." Laxus didn't move an inch from his spot leaning against the window as Gray voiced his frustration. He just remained there quietly, waiting for Gray to release what he was feeling. "I should have just come out and said how I felt. Now she probably thinks that I don't want to be her friend. But it's not like I really just want to be her friend... but... Ack!"

Mirajane and I both were doing everything in our power to keep our breathing as quiet as possible as Gray vented to Laxus. The scene was so foreign to me I could hardly believe it was happening, but what was said next came as an even bigger shock.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Don't you like her too?" Gray spat out at Laxus, although his voice sounded more tired than angry. Both Mirajane and I held our breaths as we met each others equally wide eyes.

Laxus? Like a woman? I thought to myself incredulously. Before things had changed between Mirajane and me, I had always assumed that eventually, Laxus would settle down with Mirajane by his side, because I couldn't picture anyone else being able to be on his same level. But now that Mirajane and I had chosen each other, thoughts of Laxus being with someone else in a romantic way had completely disappeared from my mind.

"My feelings aren't important in this conversation," Laxus said in a deep voice, still not looking over at Gray.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Gray asked, sounding defensive and a little irritated.

"What were you trying to get out of that conversation with Phaedra?" Laxus asked, looking out of the corner of his eye at Gray. He stiffened at the question, but almost instantly his shoulders slumped and he chuckled without humor.

"I had planned to tell her how I felt. But I blew it," Gray said with obvious regret. Laxus tilted his head slightly before turning to look at Gray more fully.

"Do you think she would have understood even if you had told her more directly?" Laxus asked. Mirajane tilted her head against my chest with a look of confusion that Gray seemed to be mirroring.

"What do you mean?" Gray asked slowly. Laxus let out a breath of air and pushed off from the sill, turning around and sitting on the windowsill so he could look at Gray more directly.

"I mean. Phaedra is a woman that has been abused since she was twelve years old," Laxus said quietly, but firmly. "Not only that, but she was also raped. It surprises me sometimes that she lets any man within 15 feet of her, to be honest."

Mirajane's head bowed down and I was surprised when she rested her forehead against my shoulder. I looked down at her sad body posture and wondered if she felt guilty about trying to play matchmaker with Phaedra after hearing Laxus's succinct observation.

"So... you're saying that we should give up?" Gray asked, sounding confused and upset. Craning my head around the column I saw Laxus shaking his head before reaching out and clasping one of Gray's shoulders in his large hand.

"I'm saying that even if you or I talked to Phaedra about love or feelings, she may not be capable of understanding that kind of emotion right now. Especially with the responsibility that she is shouldering for getting this twisted place back into a normal, functioning society," Laxus said with a frown, glancing towards the doorway that Phaedra had left through to go rejoin the festivities. He removed his hand from Gray's bare shoulder and I watched as Gray slowly nodded.

"I guess that makes sense," I thought I heard him say. Although he had mumbled pretty badly so I could have been wrong.

"Right now we are outsiders who her people will never fully trust. Just wait, and if you still feel the same way when she comes back to Fairy Tail, then maybe you can try again," Laxus said with a shrug. His voice didn't hold much emotion, but I found myself close to tears.

Didn't he just admit a while ago that he liked Phaedra? Why is he encouraging Gray to confess his feelings? I thought to myself, angry at Laxus for being so selfless. You would never know it, but part of the reason I was so loyal to Laxus was because he always put others before himself. He may be brusque to strangers and avoid socializing, but if someone was in danger he would be the first one to step up and protect them no matter what.

"Is that what you're going to do?" Gray asked, sounding like he wanted to be angry, but I thought I could hear a tremor in his voice that sounded like intimidation. I nearly fell over from shock when one corner of Laxus's mouth quirked up in a smile as he regarded Gray with a calculating gaze.

"I would worry more about figuring out how to talk to Phaedra without insulting her before worrying about what I'm going to do," Laxus said with a wolfish grin and Gray's fist clenched, but I could see the tip of his ears turning red from embarrassment.

"I'm not Natsu," Gray growled, his fists still clenched into fists. "I don't have a death wish and want to fight you to see who is stronger. But I'm not going to back down when it comes to Phaedra," Gray said, sounding firm in his declaration. Honestly, I felt my heart skip a little at such a bold declaration and I almost wished I could have had a chance to proclaim my devotion to Mirajane in such a way, but Laxus's chuckle distracted me from my strange thoughts.

"Good. I don't plan to back down either," Laxus said, a challenging glint shining in his blue-green eyes. The two looked at each other for a while, and then Gray turned away. As he walked away from Laxus I caught a glimpse of a small smile playing along his lips.

Once he had left the hallway I was trying to come up with a plan of how Mirajane and I could sneak out without Laxus noticing. Suddenly the loud sound of a throat being cleared caused me to flinch.

"You two can come out now," Laxus said with a slight drawl to his voice.

Mirajane's head snapped up to look at me and I closed my eyes and sighed. It IS Laxus after all, I thought ruefully as I slowly stepped out from my hiding place, holding Mirajane's hand in mine. Mirajane seemed much more subdued than her usually bubbly self as we walked over to Laxus, who was still sitting in the open sill of the window overlooking the neverending sand dunes.

"Do you really have feelings for Phaedra?" Mirajane blurted out as we walked up to him.

I had to give her credit, Mirajane had absolutely no fear. She stood there holding my hand loosely while staring with a strange mix of sadness and curiosity in her expression. Laxus raised an eyebrow at her and then shifted so he was sitting at an angle on the sill and he could rest his back on the edge of the opening.

"Why were you eavesdropping on them?" Laxus asked without emotion, completely ignoring Mirajane's question. Her bottom lip puffed out in a pout that was so adorable I thought my nose might start to bleed, but then she sighed and shrugged, looking chagrined.

"I was curious. I wanted to know why Gray took her out to speak privately," Mirajane admitted, then squeezed my hand. "And I dragged Freed along with me so, don't blame him."

I blinked in surprise at the almost challenging tone that had come into her voice when she said that, and looking over at Laxus I saw that he was staring down Mirajane. These two powerhouses were known as some of the most powerful fairy tail mages for a reason and I wasn't sure how this had turned into a staredown, but I REALLY didn't want to have to break up a fight between these two.

Luckily, Laxus broke eye contact with Mirajane first and leaned his head back against the stone wall behind him. The tension that had suddenly sprouted up seemed to diffuse immediately and Mirajane relaxed her grip on my hand, which I only now realized was close to going numb from her incredible grip.

"I can't really blame you. I was eavesdropping too, after all," Laxus muttered under his breath, and I was surprised to hear a hint of chagrin in his tone. I observed Laxus for a moment in silent confusion.

In all my years spent following Laxus and seeing him in dozens of different situations, I could never remember him ever seem unsure of himself. Even when he was attacking Fairy Tail, he had convinced himself to his core that it was the right decision. Although we all knew that Fairy Law showed what his heart truly thought of Fairy Tail and that they weren't actually his enemies. But now, with the backdrop of a setting sun turning the sky a deep red, giving the world a strangely ethereal look, I could see hesitation and doubt clearly in Laxus's normally inexpressive face.

"Are you sure you want to leave... without at least trying to tell Phaedra how you feel?" Mirajane asked gently. "It could be years before she is able to leave here."

Laxus heaved a long sigh, closing his eyes and seeming to soak up the last rays of sun before the day ended. Mirajane and I waited silently as Laxus continued to sit with his eyes closed and making no sign as to his willingness to answer Mirajane's question. I was just about to pull on Mirajane's hand to prompt her to give him space when he slowly opened his eyes and looked at both Mirajane and me.

"Like I told Gray, I don't think Phaedra would be able to even grasp what I meant if I were to tell her that I was attracted to her. And if she did, she wouldn't have time to give me a proper answer because she has other things she needs to do," Laxus said, his voice quiet, but strong.

Surprising even myself, I felt myself take a step closer to Laxus and meet his strong gaze. "But are you sure you won't regret keeping silent?" I asked. Laxus returned my steady gaze and after a second he flicked his eyes over to Mirajane and then a small smile twitched up the corners of his lips.

"You got your girl in the end, Freed. I'm happy for you two," Laxus said with a genuine smile and I furrowed my brow, confused why he had reacted that way. He turned away from Mirajane and me and gazed out over the desert sands once more.

"I've never felt this way towards a woman before. All I know is that I don't want to cause her any extra stress, and right now I don't think I am the right one to support her." Laxus didn't move his face from looking out the window, but I saw his iris slide to the side, glancing at me out of his peripheral vision. "Whether I regret it or not, I've decided to wait until she is ready to free herself from this place. Once she has made that choice on her own, then I'll see if these feelings haven't changed and move forward from there."

Mirajane and I both stood there in stunned silence as Laxus pulled up his legs from the floor. Draping one leg off the edge of the palace, he propped his other one up and rested his arm on top of his knee, turning his full attention on the beautifully vacant scene in front of us as the sun continued to sink lower. I knew that this was Laxus's silent signal that our conversation was at an end, but I felt an odd ache in my heart that wouldn't allow me to leave him alone in such a moment of self-sacrifice.

With a final squeeze, Mirajane slipped her hand out of my own and silently walked over to Laxus. I watched as she reached out, wrapping her arms around his neck loosely before she leaned her forehead against the side of his. Laxus didn't move, neither to acknowledge her or to pull away from her touch. Mirajane slowly reached up with one hand and gingerly stroked the side of Laxus's head. I walked over as well, wrapping an arm around Mirajane's waist and placing my free hand on Laxus's shoulder. Squeezing it hard in the only show of support I could think to give.

I don't know how long we stayed like that. But as we watched the sun setting from the open window in a country we didn't know existed a few weeks ago, silently supporting the man I would always consider to be my personal hero as he chose for himself to leave the woman he loved to allow her to grow in her own timing... Life seemed a very precious thing in those quiet, endless moments.

A/N Wow... I did not mean for that chapter to last this long. Sorry about that :S Thanks for sticking with me. I hope you enjoyed this mellow but (hopefully) emotional chapter