Acnologia was beginning to cool down after Jellal's escape although any mention of the council still left a bad taste in his mouth.  

Erza had been very lonely and Fairy Tail felt the loss of two of its strongest members. Simon was given a grave next to Lisanna's but Jellal couldn't be mentioned, any evidence would land Fairy Tail in hot water and so everyone missed Jellal, but they missed him silently. 

Erza eventually joined Natsu's, Gray's, and Lucy's team, they went on jobs quite frequently together, but when Erza was alone, she was far more solemn, but she was tough and still... well, Erza.

Gajeel, however, was beginning to worry Acnologia, he had hoped that Gajeel would have made a team, but he was still going solo; if he wasn't on a job, he was in the house, and if he wasn't in the house, he was playing guitar alone in the woods. Acnologia was worried, partly because Gajeel was beginning to remind him of himself, the hairstyle wasn't helping that out either.

Finally, Acnologia could take no more, he walked up to Gajeel while he was playing guitar, sat down, and utilized one of the many lessons a parent learns... probing.

"How's life?" he asked.

"Good."

"Anything new?" Acnologia asked.

"No." He strummed a few chords on his guitar.

"Go on any good jobs recently?"

"No." He strummed a few more notes.

"Have anything weighing on your mind?"

"Yeah actually," Gajeel sighed. He placed the guitar to his side and looked into the distance, "I'm thinking of leaving Fairy Tail."

That was not the answer Acnologia was expecting, "Okay... why?"

"I feel out of place, everyone has friends or wants to be friends, and I don't really care. I'm only friends with my family, and I can still come home even if I'm in another guild."

"Where do you want to go?"

"Phantom Lord, their master reached out to me a little while ago. I've spent some time at their guild; they seem to be a bit more like me."

'Reserved, aggressive, and scary, you want to join this guild why?' Acnologia thought, but he wanted to assist Gajeel, not move against him. "If you want to do it, do it. I would advise against it, but you're welcome to do what you want. Your home will always be there for you... unless Natsu burns it down... and fairy tail will always welcome you back, even if Natsu burns it down."

Gajeel smiled softly but there was something in his eyes that Acnologia didn't trust... what had Jose said to him? "Thanks, uncle, I will come home every weekend, I swear. I'll keep in touch with the lacrima, and I'll be back for everyone's birthday and holiday."

"You better, Rogue needs his big brother present when he turns twenty," Acnologia scoffed.

"Wouldn't miss it," Gajeel nodded.

"Do you want some help getting there?"

"Nah, I'm bringing myself, but can you take the guitar back?"

Acnologia smiled and took the guitar, Gajeel walked into the woods towards Phantom Lord, Acnologia felt his heart begin to throb; he had a really bad feeling about this.

The dragon family took Gajeel's leaving... as well as expected. Rogue was depressed but semi-happy that Gajeel was happy, Sting and Natsu were like two angry steaming peas in a pod, Wendy said prayers for Gajeel every night, Laxus was constantly checking the lacrima, making sure his brother didn't need any assistance, and Erik would leave simply to stand on a mountain and listen to Gajeel's new life in a creepy way.

Gajeel kept his promise; he was back every weekend and every holiday. But Acnologia was beginning to get nervous about Phantom Lord, Master Jose had threatened Master Makarov multiple times in the past week, and Phantom Lord's members were acting more hostile.

"Gajeel, do you know what's going on with Phantom Lord?" Acnologia asked him one Saturday night. The other six were still at the guild looking for jobs for the week.

"What's going on with them?" he asked.

"They've been causing trouble, Gajeel, I don't like that you're there," Acnologia confessed.

"You worry too much uncle," Gajeel chuckled in his Gihee manner.

"I serious Gajeel, I don't want you to be pulled into something that you regret."

"I'm fine, just forget it," his voice was strained now.

"Gajeel, Phantom Lord-"

"IS MY GUILD!" Gajeel growled.

"Gajeel-"

"I don't care what you think about it, it's my guild and we'll do whatever we want. That's what Fairy Tail does. Just leave us alone," he growled.

"Gajeel, you really should listen-"

"You know, Master Jose distrusts my loyalty enough, these visits home aren't helping either, just let me live my life!" Gajeel growled, he walked out the door and slammed it behind him. Luckily everyone else was staying at the guild till ten, but they would walk home to find that Gajeel had returned to Phantom Lord.

Acnologia felt that his heart was being torn apart; he knew that these Phantom Lords guys were going to be trouble, but now Gajeel was in their ranks... what if something happened... what if he had to fight his own nephew? He didn't exactly feel like going all psycho on him.

The next couple of weeks were hard on the family. Dragons were very sociable creatures, and there was a gap in the pack that couldn't be filled. Acnologia was at the bar, when he decided to reach out and feel Gajeel's emotions... not too deeply so that Gajeel would notice, but deep enough to feel something. Acnologia reached out and touched Gajeel's mind.

Stress and worry poured into Acnologia, Gajeel was not feeling like himself, the separation must be hard for him, but there was something else at work too.

Acnologia went asleep pondering what was going on.

He woke up at two in the morning with an overwhelming feeling of fear, and guilt. It was from Gajeel.

"Erik," Acnologia hissed from the living room. He heard a moan followed by a thump. Erik, in the snake pajamas that he'd gotten for his birthday, walked out completely tired.

"What?" he moaned.

"I need you to listen for Gajeel."

"He's too far away."

"Try at least."

Erik sighed, opened the window and listened; he wasn't there for two seconds before he looked at Acnologia and said, "We have trouble."

Acnologia jumped down the building, Erik after him.

"What about the others?" Erik asked.

"Go get them, I going after your brother."

Erik moaned, "But I just jumped down, you want me to go back up again?"

"Do whatever you want."

Erik huffed and walked away muttering some colorful curse words. Acnologia walked towards the park, where he found a horrific sight. Levy, Jet, and Droy were strung up in the tree, the mark of Phantom Lord painted on them.

Acnologia quickly let them down gently. Then he listened and heard heavy breathing down an alley. When he got there he found Gajeel, bleeding.

"Mavis help me," Acnologia breathed. He knelt down and shook Gajeel. "Gajeel, Gajeel wake up."

"Uncle..." he muttered.

"Yeah, yeah it's me," Acnologia smiled, he looked at a wound in Gajeel's side, blood was pouring out of it, Acnologia swore, "You're gonna be okay, let me get you to the guild.

"Uncle, I'm sorry - I didn't listen. Levy, Jet and Droy, they're hurt, I-" He began to pant... he was almost in tears.

"Hush, I saw them, I'll get them later, your wounds are life-threatening, I'm getting you to the hospital," he ordered.

"No Uncle, I didn't do anything," Gajeel gritted.

"I know you didn't," Acnologia nodded.

"No Uncle, that's what I did, I didn't do anything to save them, I just watched as they strung them up... I let it happen."

Acnologia studied Gajeel's eyes, they were glazed over in pain, and any attempt to stop the bleeding was failing, where was Wendy! The hospital was too far away... the closest thing was...

"Gajeel, calm down, it's gonna be okay," Acnologia's hand was now drenched with blood, Gajeel's blood. He lifted Gajeel up and ran to the guildhall... and prayed that someone was there. 

Acnologia barged into the guild with Gajeel in his hands. Blood was dripping down and it covered Acnologia's upper arms. Cana, Mira, Makarov, and Erza who were still there rushed forward.

"What happened?" Makarov asked.

"I need to stop the bleeding, Erza you need to go find the other dragon slayers especially Wendy-" Acnologia began.

"We're here Uncle—GAJEEL!" Natsu cried when he saw his brother on the table. He rushed forward with everyone else. Sting, Erik, and Laxus had Jet, Droy, and Levy in their arms; they laid them on another table and ran forward.

Wendy was using her healing magic, but Gajeel looked even worse in the light. He had bruises covering his body and the wound on his side wasn't the only wound bleeding.

"What happened, who did this," Rogue hissed, grabbing Acnologia.

"Phantom Lord," Erik said hearing Gajeel's thoughts.

"WHAT HAPPENED?!" Natsu roared.

"He was trying to prove that he was loyal to Phantom Lord, so he told them that Fairy Tail cared about its members more than anything. They went after Jet Levy and Droy, he... didn't do anything at first... he wanted to be accepted into the guild... but... Something happened," Erik listened carefully, "I think Levy screamed out for him, and he stopped them... then Master Jose came and..." then Erik's voice changed it became more of a snarl, "Jose did this, he did this to Gajeel, he kept him alive to show us a lesson," Erik said.

Laxus began to growl, deep and menacingly. "Oh they showed us a lesson; I won't ever let some guild threaten my guild again, not if it leads to this."

Wendy was panting, Gajeel had stopped bleeding, but he was still breathing heavily.

"He's bleeding internally, I'm trying Uncle, but there's just so much," Wendy cried.

"Just focus on saving him, we can worry about the smaller things later," Acnologia coaxed.

"Phantom Lord has hurt our own... this will not stand," Makarov said, his eyes burned with a vengeance.

"Makarov, you can do whatever you want... Jose hates you... but he hurt my nephew... He's going to pay," Acnologia growled.

"So it begins, Fairy Tail's war on Phantom Lord," Sting said.

"So be it," Natsu growled, his eyes more reptilian than human.

The preparations took a few days... Acnologia stretched out to everyone, he wasn't just going to barge in without any plan. He gathered info on all of the members.

"Wendy, this guy is one of the elemental four, a wind mage, if he sneaks up on someone, he can drain them of magic, you have to feel for him," Acnologia instructed his young mage.

"Shouldn't I be helping Gajeel, Levy, Jet, and Droy heal?" she asked.

"Heavens no child, you'll drain yourself before the battle even starts, none of them are in imminent danger so you don't have to push yourself," Charle scolded.

"The furball's right Wendy, we need you out there," Acnologia nodded.

"I am not a furball sir," Charle objected.

All of a sudden Rogue rushed in, "Uncle, Gajeel just woke up."

Acnologia slowly opened the door to the medical bay. He passed by the beds of Levy, Jet, and Droy, and turned to look at the iron dragon slayer; his side was wrapped in bandages, as were his arms, legs, and part of his neck.

"Gajeel, how you feeling?" Acnologia asked.

Gajeel's red eyes snapped open, "Uncle, Phantom Lord has something, a weapon, it can destroy so much, and kill so many-"

"Chill Gajeel, you've had a rough go, you need to be calm-" Acnologia growled pushing Gajeel back down.

Then the ground shook.

"It's here," Gajeel breathed, he looked up at Acnologia. Acnologia looked to the window. There a large mechanical robot was wading towards them; an army of phantoms flew around it.

"Everyone, we have trouble!" Acnologia yelled as he moved to run outside.

"Uncle, there's a way to stop it," Gajeel yelled.

Acnologia looked to Gajeel.

"Get rid of the elemental four, and the robot can't fire," Gajeel cried weakly.

"Fire?" Acnologia asked. As if to answer his question, the robot's magic circle began charging and fired. He ran outside as a huge beam of energy was heading straight for the guildhall, Erza charged forward to block the blast dawned in her adamantine armor. She would be able to block it, but it could drain her dangerously.

Instead, Acnologia morphed into his dragon form and flew in front of Erza. The blast came quickly, but Acnologia was hungry. He inhaled the blast, and when there was too much he began to eat and eat. Finally, the magic died down and Acnologia could breathe again.

"Why do we even freak out anymore?" someone behind him asked.

"Yeah, Acnologia just eats everything," another sighed.

Acnologia morphed back and fell to his knees.

"Uncle, are you okay?" Rogue asked coming to Acnologia's side.

"That wasn't good for me," Acnologia groaned.

"Can you still fight?" Sting asked.

"Probably," Acnologia said standing up.

"Uncle... stop moving," Erik ordered, his voice was low.

"What?" Acnologia asked.

"Whatever was in that is not good for dragons, it's wrecking your internal systems," Erik said.

"Okay, I'll spit it out," Acnologia shrugged.

"You'll... what?" Lector asked.

"Apocalypse dragon..." he began.

"BRACE YOURSELVES!" Laxus yelled.

"ROAR!" Acnologia blasted his breath towards the robot and hit its leg, completely crippling it. His breath was full of the previous magic blast he had eaten; it felt pretty good giving the phantoms a taste of their medicine.

Acnologia backed up after his roar ended, he felt much better.

"Okay... that worked," Natsu smiled.

"NATSU!" Happy cried. He plunged into Natsu crying.

"Happy, what's wrong?" Natsu asked.

"They took her, I tried to stop them, but I'm too weak, they took her," Happy cried.

"Who took who?" Wendy asked.

"Speak clearer Tomcat," Charle ordered.

"These Phantom Lord jerks snatched Lucy in an alley, I tried to stop them, but all I could do was grab her keys," Happy said, tears streaming down his face and Lucy's key pouch in his hand.

"Why'd they take her?" Rogue asked.

"Cause her father paid Phantom Lord a whole lot to get her back home," Gajeel's voices sounded behind them. Gajeel was outside using a tree as support. "That's why they started the attack, to get Lucy, but now that they have her, they'll just keep going till we're dust."

"I think you mean till they're dust," Sting growled.

It was Natsu's silence that disturbed many. As the salmon haired mage stroked Happy, he gritted his teeth.

"I can go get Lucy, you guys deal with that monster," he said gesturing towards the giant robot.

"I'll go with-" Sting began.

"No, I'll go alone," Natsu said.

They nodded and turned their attention to the giant robot. "You know the plan?" Acnologia asked.

"Yes," everyone nodded.

Sting stayed on the beach using his white holy magic to repel the phantoms, Laxus stayed as well. Rogue went into shadow form and raced across the water heading for the robot. Erik jumped on Cubellios and soared above the city, listening for any of Phantom Lord's members sneaking up on the Fairy Tail members, from the explosions, Acnologia guessed he found a few. Lector and Frosch grabbed Gray and Elfman and flew them towards the robot. Wendy and Charle flew towards the robot, Wendy's senses on high alert. Erza reequipped into her Darkwing armor and also flew towards the robot.

Mira watched as her brother flew towards the robot. "Do you think he'll be okay...? I know he wants to help, but I don't want him to get hurt."

"Would you feel better if you could be with him?" Acnologia asked.

"It'll only slow him down," Mira sighed.

"Do what you wish," Acnologia said. He transformed and, with Makarov on his back, flew towards the robot... then something occurred to him, he left Makarov to deal and flew towards the Heartfilian mansion.

As he flew he heard Gray freeze a path to the robot, he heard Gajeel stop him.

"You're going to deal with Juvia Lockser, one of the elemental four-" Gajeel began.

"I'll be careful," Gray rolled his eyes.

"I couldn't care less about you, but Juvia is a nice girl, so don't hurt her too badly, she's a loyal friend," Gajeel said.

"No problem, I'll try not to kill her" Gray scoffed.

"I MEAN IT YOU STUPID ICE MAGE!" Gajeel growled.

"Don't worry," Lyon sighed, "I'll watch out for her."

Everyone was fighting fiercely on the beach and on the robot. Erza easily beat down Totomaru in seconds... Elfman, however, struggled with Sol. Acnologia nearly stopped when Sol used Merci La Vie on Elfman, he was not going to lose another member, but as it turned out... there was no need to worry.  Mira has gotten a ride from Lector, who had returned to fight with Sting, then... she went She-devil, watching her brother almost die awakened her magic that she had spent so long trying to forget.

Acnologia flew a little quicker; Mira could deal with Sol and help the others. Acnologia landed on the outskirts of the Heartfilian mansion. He stopped and listened to the battle. Mira and Elfman had gone to face Jose... Jose had nearly killed Mira... but Elfman had awakened his magic as well and went full beast mode. They were holding their own, Erza had joined them. Gray had found Juvia. They exchanged blows for a few moments until Gray realized who his opponent was.

"Gajeel asked me to go easy, are you gonna let me keep that promise?" Gray asked.

Juvia dropped her umbrella, "I hated how Gajeel was treated, I hate this war. I don't want to fight anymore, and... I hope no one hurt you my destined one," Juvia said, her eyes going all heart-esc.

"Umm... what?" Gray asked.

"My darling, you and I are destined for each other like Ice and Water!" Juvia exclaimed.

'Okay... that's creepy' Acnologia thought.

Then Aria appeared.

"A traitor... how sad," he cried.

He blasted Juvia, she went flying.

"JERK!" Gray yelled.

But Aria was gone, "You left yourself open, how sad." He appeared behind him ready to drain Gray of his magic.

"SKY DRAGON WING ATTACK!" Wendy yelled attacking Aria before he could hurt Gray. Aria disappeared, but Wendy followed.

"Be careful, child!" Charle yelled after her.

Gray turned his attention to Juvia, who was slipping off the edge. He caught her before she could fall and helped her up. Juvia looked up as the sun came out... and it got mushy gushy.

Acnologia shivered, but the fight with Phantom Lord was going well. He... had another very different fight.

Acnologia strode past all of the servants, up the stairs and right into Jude Heartfilia's office.

"What are you doing here?" Jude asked angrily.

"You're a monster you know that?" Acnologia growled.

"Sorry?" Jude asked.

"You hired a violent guild to kidnap your daughter, force her back so that she has to do what you want her to do. No wonder she ran away."

"Get out of my house."

"I would, but the people you hired nearly killed my nephew, they hurt my family."

"Get out," Jude said again. Acnologia had sworn to himself that he wouldn't kill this man for Layla... but Jude was trying him.

Acnologia placed down Anna's letters, "What? You think you're the only one to feel loss? You think you're the only one to lose the woman you love most in this world, you're not. Except, mine was murdered, yours chose to help this world and sacrifice herself."

"I said get out!"

"You're blinded by loss, and because of that, you pushed away someone and hurt them even more. Your daughter didn't run away," Acnologia growled, "You pushed her out the door!"

"LEAVE ME!" Jude yelled.

Acnologia began to close the door, "Oh and, before I forget," he threw a bag into the room, "Phantom Lord is going to fail, here's your refund, courtesy of Fairy Tail. Your daughter's guild... and family."

Jude gave him a look of hatred.

"Oh, and Lucy is worth way more than 20 million jewels," Acnologia chuckled as he closed the door.

He hoped that was enough to deter Jude for a good long while.

Acnologia transformed and took to the sky once again, he listened closely. Rogue and Wendy and beaten Arias, Gray and Juvia were on the ground, working together with Gajeel; 'darn that child was going to kill himself' he thought. Makarov was squaring up with Jose, and everyone else was clearing the premises. Natsu had gotten Lucy, and she was helping destroy the phantoms with her spirit Sagittarius. Natsu was... having a little bit of fun beating up phantom lord members. Mystogan had destroyed every Phantom Lord outpost. 

Fairy Tail was winning.

Acnologia flew over Phantom Lord's robot, transformed right as Makarov used Fairy Law. Acnologia waited for that madness to end. Jose was basically bleached and blinded... the lucky scoundrel. If only Acnologia had been ten seconds faster.

"Sorry Acnologia, you took too long," Makarov shrugged.

"It's better this way," Acnologia nodded. Jose was lucky that Acnologia didn't get to him first... and he figured Jose realized that.

They reached the beach in time to celebrate with the rest of the guild. Lucy apologized for the whole thing and was immediately scolded for it, everyone reassured her that it wasn't her fault and Cana gave her a drink to console her.

The guildhall had taken quite a beating.

"Well, repairs will be needed," Makarov sighed.

"Well... I had another idea," Acnologia said.

"What?"

"Well... we have a bigger guild now... so we may need a bigger guildhall," Acnologia shrugged.

Makarov sighed, "I guess you're right."

So the guildhall was reconstructed, bigger and better.

During the construction, Gajeel disappeared. The dragon slayers scoured Fiore trying desperately to find him.

"He blames himself," Laxus scowled as they traveled.

"I shouldn't have left him out of my sights," Natsu growled.

"GAJEEL!" Rogue cried.

"Shut up," Erik said freezing.

They were silent but after a few seconds Erik deflated, "It's not him."

"Dammit," Sting gritted.

"Hopefully Uncle's having more luck then we are," Wendy sniffed.

Acnologia and Serena had gone out on their own desperately trying to find their lost dragon. Serena was successful. He caught Gajeel in a foreign port before he left for yet another country. What gave it away - Gajeel's hair in the crowd.

"GAJEEL!" Serena cried waving frantically.

The dragon slayer turned and his red eyes met with Serena's. There was a moment of stunned stillness, and then the dragon slayer began to run.

Serena took a moment, processed it and then began to run after him.

The chase was relatively short, Serena was older, faster, and his dragon senses were more accurate. In a few minutes, he tackled Gajeel.

"I caught you," Serena smiled.

"Let go of me," Gajeel snarled from under him.

"Do you know the stress you put on your uncle?" Serena asked.

"Don't lecture me," Gajeel growled, "don't you dare lecture me."

"But Gajeel," Serena said extravagantly, "It's what I do!"

Eventually, Serena got off Gajeel and the two had a civil discussion in a local restaurant.

"I just have to go," Gajeel shrugged.

"Don't pull that tough guy BS on me," Serena smiled leaning back and shedding his usual extravagant self.

"Serena, you left, why can't I?" Gajeel growled.

Serena smiled and leaned in, "Did I leave Gajeel? Did I really? Acnologia is a true dragon but he doesn't have a treasure to guard, he has kids instead... even if I tried to leave he'd find me. That's just who he is, no one would guess it but I have to give him a rundown on where I'm going and doing so that he doesn't freak out. I've never left the nest... I just don't return as often."

"Well I need to leave," Gajeel snarled.

"Why?" Serena asked, "Because you messed up? Because you did stuff you regret and you can't live with yourself? When did you ever flee from a fight?"

"I'm not running away," Gajeel snapped causing the couple in the table next to them to watch them.

"Yes, you are. You betrayed your family or so you feel, you caused pain to multiple members of your guild and your home was destroyed because of you," Serena listed out. The couple next to them looked at each other and then got up an left, Serena didn't care. Gajeel's eyes were full of pain even though his posture was relaxed. "You're so certain that everyone will hate you that you run!"

"That's not it!" Gajeel snapped, "It's not that I'm afraid of them... It's that I don't deserve the forgiveness that they're gonna give me!"

"Now you're beginning to sound like Jellal."

"Jellal was possessed... I have no excuse. I knew was I was doing and I did it. There should be no forgiveness for me... but they're gonna give it to me anyway."

"Yeah... so why not go accept it, they are not going to stop until they bring you back. And think... who is going to find you next... not Makarov I assure you."

"Uncle," Gajeel sighed.

"Yeah," Serena laughed, "he isn't going to talk... he's just going to grab you by the scruff of your neck and drag you across the earth all the way back to Fairy Tail and if you think otherwise you're just wrong."

Gajeel was silent, he looked up to Serena and gave a long drawn out sigh.

(A few days later)

Fairy Tail seemed empty without the dragon slayers but there was still liveliness. Levy, Jet, and Droy had all awoken and were being filled in with the state of events. 

Then, at the midday the guild door opened slowly and the solitary figure walked in. The guildhall fell silent as Gajeel walked through the droves of people heading for the one person he needed.

Silently he stood before Makarov.

"Gajeel," Makarov nodded solemnly.

"Master Makarov," Gajeel said, his words caught in his throat, "I wish I could apologize for the damages done... but there is nothing to excuse what I've done."

"Child," Makarov said softly, "You should know that you have already been forgiven. We've all heard from Levy, Jet, and Droy how you tried to defend them, we saw you try and fix your mistakes, you are forgiven."

"That's the problem," Gajeel gritted. Slowly he got down on his knees and everyone realized he was crying, "I should have to get on my hands and knees and plead for your forgiveness. I should be hated by every person in this room... I should have people wanting revenge. Levy, Jet, and Droy, they shouldn't be praising me, they should be seeking justice because of what I've done. I should be running from your fury!" he cried, "But instead.... instead I'm treated with smiles and love... things I don't deserve in the slightest... I wish you all would hate me... I wish I could get what I deserve!"

Makarov smiled, "Well, you're right about one thing even if the rest of it was wrong... you should get what you deserve," he held out a hand, "my boy, please, rejoin Fairy Tail." he said slowly.

Gajeel almost responded, and then the guild doors opened.

"GAJEEL YOU BASTARD!" Natsu roared. Gajeel braced himself but to his surprise, Natsu tackled him with a hug, "YOU EVER PULL A STUNT LIKE THAT AGAIN AND I'LL KILL YA!" he cried squeezing Gajeel.

"You jerk!" Sting cried tears of joy streaming from his eyes as he hugged Gajeel as well. Rogue looked like he was about to cry too as he pried Sting and Natsu off Gajeel he had nothing to say... the shadow dragon slayer only beamed.

"GAJEEL!" Wendy cried she was also crying... and she too tackled Gajeel but the iron dragon slayer was able to catch himself. He held the young dragon slayer as she cried into his shirt, "We were so worried!" she cried.

Erik swore in draconian and slapped Gajeel upside the head, "If you do that ever again you'll be lucky if Natsu gets to you first," he growled. But he had a smile on his face and Gajeel realized he too was about to cry.

Gajeel muttered a quick sorry but Erik sat down and hugged him, "You idiot," Erik breathed.

"YOU! LIGHTNING ROD!" Laxus roared walking in. Gajeel's hair stood on end as the lightning cracked. Gajeel was being held by Wendy and Erik and realized he couldn't dodge if Laxus attacked him... but Laxus wasn't in the mood. He walked up and put a hand on Gajeel's ruffled hair, "do it again... I dare ya."

Gajeel was crying too now; almost sobbing.

"Everyone... get away from him," a familiar voice commanded. Acnologia stood in the doorway. Slowly everyone backed away and the dragon king moved forward. Gajeel got to his feet and looked Acnologia in the eyes, Gajeel was still crying.

"Do you know what you did?" Acnologia growled and everyone was taken back with Acnologia's harsh tone.

Gajeel was about to respond when a firm hand grabbed him and pulled him into Acnologia's chest. Everyone's eyes widened.

Acnologia was hugging Gajeel in a firm embrace.

"You just near gave me a heart attack," Acnologia breathed. Gajeel shook as he cried, he swore to himself to... he was a grown man... but in Acnologia's arms, he felt like a young child again.

"I'm sorry," Gajeel breathed.

"It's okay," Acnologia breathed and something wet touch Gajeel's face... Acnologia was crying too, "I forgive you... I'll always forgive you... no matter what... Just don't you dare scare me like that again!"

Gajeel wore his guild mark on the opposite shoulder then his first Fairy Tail guild mark. The shoulder that his original guild mark and the phantom lord symbol had sat on was covered by a thick scar... no one wondered where it came from. Removing it without magic was Gajeel's reconciliation.