Angel Rose

Chapter 16

"Come on, Angel. You've been taking solo missions for over a month now. Don't you think you nee a break?" Lucy whined to me. "Master is having Natsu and I cook, we're going to go down to the beach, it'll be fun. Natsu's even talking about doing fireworks. And we invited Sabertooth to join us. The whole guild will be there." Mira added.

"Mira, I just want to go on the job. Couple more of these and I can afford to buy a house for me and Tigerlily." I argued.

"One day can't hurt, Angel. The Master really wants everyone to be there."

"Are you trying to send me back into mating season early? Think about it, the only Dragon Slayer that won't be there is Cobra. That leaves five male Dragon Slayers, two of which don't have a chosen mate."

"Yeah, but it can only happen four times a year. It wouldn't happen again so soon. Come on, Angel, we've barely seen you and Tigerlily since she hatched. We just want you to spend some time with us." Lucy's pout did me in; my shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Fine. One day without a job."

"Great. Go home and change. We're all meeting on the beach in an hour."

"She said she would come."

"She better not have bailed on us." I heard Gray say as I walked onto the beach with Tigerlily.

"Bite your tongue, Gray. I said I would be here and I am. I always keep my word." I snapped, smacking his shoulder as I passed him.

"Angel, Tigerlily, there you are." Wendy called further down the beach.  I waved to her before turning to Lucy.

"No funny business. I know you and Mira are up to something. I may not know what exactly you're planning yet, but I'll be watching you."

"I'm not up to anything!" Lucy protested loudly.

"Sure you aren't. Tiger and I are gonna go down by the water now. Gray, if I see those swim trunks come off, you're a dead man. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Come on, the water's great!" Wendy called out to me, waving from where she stood in the surf.

"Angel, can Tigerlily come with us? Carla, Lily, and me are building sandcastles." Happy asked, flying above us.

"Tigerlily!" I smiled at Tiger's enthusiasm before looking back at Happy.

"Okay. But you have to be very careful with her. She's still just a baby."

"Aye, sir!" I watched in amusement as Tigerlily sprouted her wings and latched onto Happy's tail to follow him.

"Angel, come on!" Wendy called again.

"Coming! Just a sec!" I stretched to my feet and threw off my bathing suit cover, tossing it in a pile on my towel.

"Whoa!" A glance to my left showed me Macao and Wakaba with bloody noses.

"You dirty old men. Keep your blood in your noses!" I threw a bolt of lightning at them before marching into the water up to my chest level. With the waves gently rucking against me, I was able to relax. "You were right, Wendy. The water feels great right now. I guess I should thank Lucy and Mira for convincing me to come today."

"We know you've been busy, but we really have missed you."

"I know Wendy. After my next job, I'll try not to be gone for so long." I promised.