It's been a week since Levy and I returned from the cave, and I've been making sure that she stayed relaxed and didn't do much. I was worried because after we were about to leave the cave, I heard her wince, and we realized that the walls had managed to snag Her foot before I could pull her all the way out. We both didn't realize due to our adrenaline.

Today, I had to check in with Master Jose, being informed that he had a big task for me to complete today. I wasn't sure what it was, but it honestly made me a tad nervous. Whenever Jose wanted to speak to me personally, it usually meant that we had a large scale request, like the one with those Fairy Tail wizards. They probably weren't even as weak as Jose claimed them to be. I mean, Shrimp is from that guild, and she's strong as heck!

As I entered the room, I glanced around and noticed that the other guild members were snickering at me. I didn't spot my friend Juvia among the crowd, which was really odd. Where was she?

I growled. "What are ya punks laughin' at, huh?!"

"How's your little wife treating you, eh? Do you come home to a nice dinner with a sappy kiss on the cheek?" one of them snickered out, the others laughing with him.

"What's the big deal? Just because I have a girl to mess around with anytime that I want to doesn't mean nothin'! I can still kick yer sorry butts anytime I want to!" I yelled out, taking a fighting stance.

The others also took a fighting stance, but before we could begin the fight, my opponents froze in place, followed by Jose's chuckle.

"My, my. Gajeel, I didn't expect you to still have such a temper. Forget about those brats and come here. The matter is urgent," he informed me, beckoning me to walk closer.

Nodding slightly, I complied and walked towards his throne-like chair. "Master Jose, what is it?"

He smirked. "You see, word is getting around the city that my dragon slayer is going soft due to him finding his mate. And you see, we can't have that Gajeel. In other words, I want you to get rid of your mate."

"Are you serious?! I ain't doin' that! Don't ya know anything about dragon slayers and their mates? The only way you can eventually get over her is if she's k--" I stopped myself from finishing the sentence, but it was too late.

A smirk formed on Master's face. "Are you saying that the only way for me to get my dangerous dragon slayer back is to kill Levy McGarden?"

I growled loudly, my eyes glowing in anger. "I swear on everything, if you even DARE to harm her, I will--"

"Now who said I would harm her? Oh no, I'm no monster. But you, you are the iron monster that everyone fears. It's up to you to kill Miss McGarden," Master Jose chuckled out.

A roar escaped from my mouth. "Are ya crazy?! I'm not killing my own mate! I lo--"

"How precious, Gajeel Redfox is in love with a pathetic excuse of a mage. Do you get it now? You're letting yourself become weak! And I will say this one time. Kill Levy, or you will be kicked out of Phantom Lord permanently." he said lowly.

A slight smirk edged it's way on my face. "Is that all? Well, consider this crappy guild one member less! We're outta here!"

Jose quickly rose from his seat. "You can't do that! You were suppose to feel pathetic for going soft!"

"You may think I'm a wimp for fallin' in love, but I don't give a crap! Bye loser!" I called out, leaving the guild.

I knew he'd be after me, so I couldn't waste any time. As quick as I could, I rushed towards my house, barging inside.

"Gajeel? Is that you?" I heard Levy call from the bedroom.

Rushing into the bedroom, I grabbed our bags and slung them on top of the bed, slamming the closet doors open and stuffing the bags with our clothes.

"Gajeel, what's going on?!" my little mate asked frantically.

"We're leaving, Levy. I don't know to where yet, but we're leavin',"I told her in a panicked state.

Grabbing some of Levy's books, I stuffed them in the bags as well, zipping them up and slipping them on my back. Quickly, I picked Levy up and ran out of the house.

She glanced up at me with wide eyes, holding on. "Tell me what's going on?"

I sighed. "Jose wants ya dead, Levy. He doesn't like how soft I gotten. And he wanted me to kill ya, but I ain't doin' that! I love ya, and I ain't gonna get rid of ya for selfish reasons, not anymore."

She looked away, resting her head against my chest. "I love you too. . ."

Out of shock, I stopped. "What?"

"I said. . .I love you, Gajeel," she whispered out.

Smiling brightly, I kissed the top of her head. "Gihi, I'm so happy that ya do. Now, we need to find a new place to live."

"Let's go to Fairy Tail," she suggested.

"Are ya crazy?! They'll kill me the moment I step inside!" I blurted out.

My little bookworm glanced up, smiling. "Not if I assure them that you've changed and want to join us. Makarov welcomes in those for a second chance, and I know that he will welcome you in as well."

"Ya sure about that?" I questioned.

She nodded, smiling. "Positive."

Nodding, I headed towards the guild, hoping that they wouldn't be too mad at me.

~~

The moment we got there, balls of fire were shot at us, more than likely Salamander's doing. Levy squeaked when one barely missed catching her hair on fire.

Growling, I raced towards the doors. "Cut it out, Salamander! I have your guild's little bookworm!"

Suddenly, the doors opened, and Levy was snatched from my hold. "Hey! Don't take my girl away from m-ACK!"

The full force of Fairy Tail was against me, and I knew that I couldn't beat them all. I held my ground, but I refused to fight. Fighting would only give them the wrong idea, and I wanted them to know that I was a wimp, that I didn't want to fight back this time.

"No! Guys, stop!" I heard Shrimp yell, standing in front of me.

A tall guy with orange hair huffed. "Levy! Get out of the way so that we can defeat him!"

"I won't! He's not Kurogane anymore, I swear! He's only Gajeel Redfox, a dragon slayer in need of a new guild to join!" she spoke out, her short height barely giving me any defence against her guild.

"And why would you care, Levy? He kidnapped you! He's apart of Phantom Lord, who kidnapped Lucy too! And we're only lucky that we managed to rescue her from her dad!" A dark headed guy yelled out, his boxers being his only source of clothing.

She grabbed onto my shirt. "Because I love him! And I'm his mate!"

The large collection of gasps flooded this area, and a short old man trotted through the crowd. "Alright, children. Enough of this. I will decide for myself if whether or not Gajeel is worthy of joining our guild."

"He's not worthy of anything, especially Levy!" Natsu yelled out in disgust.

I couldn't take it anymore. "I'm well aware that I'm not worthy of anything. I'm sure as heck not worthy of a woman as wonderful as Levy. But I swear that I'll prove myself, even if it means life threatening situations. I don't give a crap."

The guild grew silent, until a tall redheaded woman stood out from the crowd. "His words hold truth, so I think we should give him a chance. One little chance."

"I agree with Erza. Perhaps we should all go inside and have a drink," the old man suggested.

~~

It didn't take that long for the guild to somewhat accept me. I was leaning against one of the booths. I had a drink in my hand, and my girl was curled up against me with a book in her own hands. At the moment, my life was complete.

Until, that is, a loud noise was heard. The roof of the newly repaired guild fell down in a crumbled mess. As quick as I could, I grabbed Shrimp and moved her out of harms way, blocking the attack from harming her.

"What is that?!" Levy called out in fear.

I glanced up at the hole in the ceiling, my eyes widening at the figures who crawled in.

"Phantom Lord. . ."