~Sting's P.O.V.~

"Hey Sting-kun? Time to wake up!" giggled my exceed partner who was hovering above my head with his wings.

"Give me 5 more minutes Lector.." I mutter.

"Aw come on, we have to go into Magnolia today to go shopping!" He said. "You didn't forget what today is did you?" I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

"No, I'll never forget what today is.." I said sadly. I got dressed in my regular clothes and left my bedroom. There I saw Rogue and Frosch looking at the same picture I was looking at yesterday. "'It's that time of year again isn't it?'" I mocked. He smiled and punched my arm gently.

"Yea yea, I told you I miss her too right?" he said.

"Well come on, we have to go get her a present for her birthday."

"What present are we getting her this year?"

"We'll think of something on the way, right Lector?"

"Hai!"

"Fro thinks so too!" We all laughed at the good times and headed out to Magnolia. A thought in my head made me grin as we walked. Maybe we'll see Natsu-san and the rest while we're there...

~Jessie's P.O.V.~

"Come on Jessie wake up!" whined Lexi. I grumble.

"Just 5 more minutes.." I beg. She shook me harder.

"C'mon, it's your birthday! I looked around the place while you were gone, and everyone's not here! They're probably waiting for ya at the guild!"

"It may be my birthday," I said as I sat up. "but it's also...that day." Lexi wiped the tears forming on my eyes with her paw.

"I know it's that day, but it's been 6 years! You have got to get over him..." she insisted. "Er, I mean it." I shook my head, smiling.

"We both know it's him."

"Well, can we please just celebrate or not? I mean, you're 19!" I grin and ruffled her fur.

"Yea, I guess we can celebrate." I said. Her eyes lit up and she started to drag me to Fairy Tail, but I quickly stopped her. "Um, I have to change first genius." She stopped and looked at me, finally realizing that I was in my dark purple pajamas.

"Oops, forgot about that," she said. "My bad. You should probably change first." I chuckle and take off my pajamas and put on a purple flowing dress that matched my crystal blue guild mark on my cheek (which I got back yesterday) and put on my golden locket.

"Do you really have to wear that locket?" Lexi huffed.

"It's my only memory of Sabertooth, so hush," I replied

"And that's a good memory you're talking about?" I shot her an angry look, and she quickly backed away. Satisfied, I let Lexi drag me out of Fairy Hills and in to Fairy Tail.

"Happy birthday Jessie!" said the whole guild when we entered. Everyone surrounded me and started giving me gifts, which made me blush. Man, I've forgotten what a real family feels like.

"W-wow, thanks," was all I could lamely say, but I couldn't think of anything else to say. Just then Master cut through the crowd. I couldn't help but smirk as I remember how he came in to the bar drunk, but if he's embarrassed about it, he's not showing it.

"Happy birthday Jessie," he said, holding out a gift. I held back a laugh as I had to crouch down to take his gift. "Go on, open it." I examined the present. I was wrapped in white wrapping paper, and the ribbon glowed a shiny gold. I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as I realized that this was oddly wrapped just like how....he did. I slowly untie the ribbon and tear the wrapping paper. I silently gasp as I open the box. It was a picture of the whole guild 8 years ago. Everyone was smiling, even Laxus. Tears started to flow down my face, which made everyone show faces of worry. "Is something wrong?" asked the Master. I slowly shook my head.

"I've forgotten what a real family feels like," I whisper. That made Master slightly frown, but it slowly turned in to a warm smile.

"Well, that's because you've been away for too long," he replied with a tone that made me feel better. "Now come, a celebration awaits you." I was dragged away by Lexi and Erza and for a couple hours we drank, played games, and a whole lot of other stuff.

~❧Time skip - 4 hours❧~

After we finished all the games and drinking, it got a little chaotic...okay, so maybe not a little, but a lot. I don't know who started it and why, but a free-for-all soon broke out. Everyone was smashing each other's faces together or throwing tables at random guildmates, except for a shy blue-haired little girl that I didn't recognize. I remember that she often talked with Natsu, Erza, and Gray, so I decided to go and introduce myself to her.

"Hi, I haven't seen you before, what's your name?" I asked gently with a warm smile. She looked up at me in reaction to hearing my voice, but then blushed and avoided my gaze.

"H-hi, eto, my n-name is Wendy.." she awkwardly replied. I brightly smile at her and chuckle. It's obvious that she's very shy, and her shyness reminded me of Ro-, er, some boy I knew.

"Wendy huh? You're very cute," I beam, and she blushes further, obviously embarrassed. To lessen her embarrassment, I ask, "You're a Dragon Slayer right?" Her face twists with confusion and she glances up at me in surprise.

"H-hai! I'm a Sky Dragon Slayer," she replies, a small smile painted on her lips. Then, a white Exceed who looks a lot like Lexi walks towards Wendy. "Oh! And this is Carla," Wendy introduces her to me when she saw the cat. She gestures to the white cat that Lexi, who was (apparently) watching this from afar, was eyeing.

"Pull yourself together child! She's being nice so there's no need to be shy," Carla huffed. I couldn't help but giggle. They were like mother and child, although Carla should only be 6 years old.

"How did you know that I was a dragon slayer?" Wendy looked back at me and asked curiously.

"Well, it's because I'm a Water Dragon Slayer," I reply with a grin. "Although my nose is not sharp as Natsu's, one look at your eyes can tell me." Her eyes grow wide with admiration.

"Wow! You're another female dragon slayer!" Her eyes gleam with awe, but she quickly turned away when I laughed a little.

"Been around too many boys huh?" I joke. She blushes, embarrassed (I assume she gets embarrassed a lot), but I put a hand on her fragile shoulders.

"Well, it's nice to meet you Wendy, I hope we can be friends," I beam with a warm smile. Her eyes light up and she returns my warm smile.

"Hai! I would love to!" she says happily. It was then that a burst of flame and ice scattered across the whole guild. I slapped my forehead as Wendy and Carla ducked for cover. 8 years and they still fight..?

"Is that all you got Snowball?" smirked Natsu.

"I'm not even trying Flamehead!" countered Gray with a smug smile of his own.

"P-please stop it guys!" Wendy stammered a plea. I pushed her back a bit, causing her to glance at me with confusion.

"Watch this," I said with a mischievous smirk. Wendy frowned with worry, but obeyed and stepped back. Hmm...what magic should I show off.... I smugly asked myself. After picking a random magic floating in my mind, I stepped towards the two rivals. "Water create...Whips!" Two whips made out of water appeared in my hands in the matter of seconds. I tightly gripped the whips, the surface of the water not breaking from the contact as I will them to coil around the two idiots' necks. I then pull them towards each other, slamming their heads together and knocking them out. "Mavis, you guys are so pathetic. If that knocked you out, then you've got a long way to make up for before you can beat me once more," I walked over to them and smirked. They both rubbed their heads in pain.

"What the heck was that for?!" yelled an angry Natsu. I gestured towards the whole guild, which was either burned or frozen. Many of the guild members were knocked out during the battle, and they laid either unconscious or groaning. "Hehe, maybe we went a bit too far," Natsu nervously chuckled and sweatdropped as he scanned the damage.

"You think?" I ask sarcastically as I too surveyed the destruction around the guild. Everyone was pretty much exhausted and/or knocked out from about four and a half hours of pure destruction. The only ones left standing was Natsu, Gray, Wendy, Carla, Lexi, Lucy (who was hiding under a table), Erza (who was just eating strawberry cheesecake), and Mira. I wondered where Happy, Natsu's Exceed, was, but then I saw him passed out near the bar, probably having been caught in the crossfire of a battle. "Well, I think I'm going to go take a walk around the market," I announced as I turned to the door and started to leave, but before I could take one step, Erza grabbed my arm.

"If you're going, we're coming with you," she says sternly. Lucy came out of from her hiding spot under the table and nodded in agreement. Wendy smiled and gave a nod as well. Natsu and Gray had somehow fallen asleep and Lexi was trying to wake them up, but she gave up and nodded too.

"N-no, you guys don't have to do that," I wave off. Just because it's my birthday doesn't mean that they should follow me.

"Aw come on, it's your birthday, and you can't be alone on your birthday!" Lucy pouted. I sigh and shake my head. This is Fairy Tail for you.

"You guys are too kind," I shake my head while grinning. "Alright, let's go." And that was how all my old friends followed me out of the guild and to the Magnolia Market.

~~~

"So, why are we here?" Lexi asked when we got to the Magnolia Market. The streets were lined with booths and stalls that were selling various items, from jewelry to clothing to food. 

I shrugged and replied, "I just wanted to walk down memory lane." My magenta-colored Exceed gave me a knowing smile and I'm pretty sure everyone else was too, but they were all behind me and I didn't want to look as I knew that I'd blush. 

Soon, we were all talking about what we did over the 8 years, like what they did at Tenroujima, the Grand Magic Games, all of that. 

"And then, Natsu, being the idiot he was, got out the King's crown," Lucy retold the story, a smile painted on her lips as she tried to recalled what had happened.

"He was punished very heavily afterwards," Erza says, a dark aura around her. I sweatdrop, but laugh and shake my head.

"Why isn't he in jail right now?" I half-joked, actually curious about the answer.

"Oh, the king gave him a pass because of..some things we did in the aftermath of the GMG," Lucy answers, sweatdropping. I just laugh again and shake my head. 

"It's Fairy Tail, after all," Lexi giggled. I nod in agreement and warmly smile. My smile soon disappeared, however, when a familiar voice called my name with excitement.

"Jessie!"

~Sting's P.O.V.~

"So. what're you getting for her this year?" Lector asked curiously. A smug smile curled onto my lips.

"You'll see," I answer with mischievous smile.

"C'mon Sting why can't you tell us?" Lector pouted.

"If Sting wants to get his own present for her, that's fine Lector," Rogue said after seeing my face, his red eyes narrowing in annoyance. "Because the gift I'm going to give her is gonna be better." 

"Wha--?!" I spit incredulously. He smirked at my reaction. I grit my teeth and scoff. 

"There is no way in hell is your gift gonna be better than mine!"

"We'll see," he said arrogantly. That made me laugh. I haven't seen him like this for quite a while, the last time being 6 years. It's been 6 years, huh... I thought to myself, reminiscing about the past. My thoughts were interrupted, however, when Frosch suddenly said the name I had just been thinking about.

"Jessie!" she chirped with glee. My eyes grew wide and I immediately lifted my head to see if she was really there, and lo and behold, standing right in front of me a couple feet away was the girl I hadn't seen for 6 years.

Jessie.