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Mira worried.
She worried about a lot of things. Big things and small things. But most of all, she worried about her guildmates. The things they did were always so dangerous, both inside and outside the guild hall. And since she didn't go out on jobs anymore, if something happened outside Magnolia, she would have no way to help.
Mira doesn't really know when it happened, but at some point, the guild had become her family. Just as close to her as Elfmen. This did not make her worrying any better.
There were so many to worry about. Laxus with his bad attitude and concerning lack of empathy. Cana with her drinking problem. Master with his old age, but ever present stubbornness. Romeo, who had already lost one parent, and had nearly lost the other too many times. Elfmen, who still held the death of Lisanna over himself.
But there were a few guildmates that always made her extra worried.
Erza, her rival when they were younger. So, so strong, and yet she wore armor to protect herself even when she was relaxing. Erza, despite living with the guild for nearly forever, still clearly had no idea how to bond with people, and pulled away whenever someone tried to connect to her. Mira, who was confident no outside source could kill the redheaded powerhouse, worried that Erza's own solitude would be her downfall. But whenever Mira tried to get closer, Erza would clam up and disappear on a job.
Gray was another subject of her worry. Despite nearly being twenty, he was still the baby who stormed into Fairy Tail looking for strong wizards, bags under his eyes and shirt already missing. As much as Mira wanted to treat him with as much affection as she does her actual brother, Gray seemed allergic to any physical contact that wasn't in the middle of a fight. He kept himself away from other members, sitting alone or as far away as he could. Not to mention his cold attitude, which turned many, if not all of the new members away from him. Gray was practical, and Mira trusted him not to crumble in on himself, but it still worried her to see him surround himself with walls.
And finally, her biggest worry of all; Natsu. The boy was chaos incarnated, his jobs often ending with angry calls to her or the master about property damage. And while he was no doubt one of the strongest wizards in the guild when he was serious, Mira feared the destruction might catch up with him some day. But, Natsu hadn't always been a worry of hers. When they were younger, Mira had no doubt that Natsu could grow up into a strong, emotionally competent individual.
But then Lisanna died.
And in the midst of Mira's grief and anger, she failed to see the little dragon slayer close in on himself. Now, years later, she can see how much it still affects him. How he doesn't relax or go on jobs with anyone other than Happy, how he shys away from emotional talks, how he removes himself when anyone mentions bonding. It was as if he was scared to get close to someone else, only for them to be ripped away again.
No matter what Mira tried, these three evaded her attempts to help, or maybe her methods just weren't the right ones.
Then Natsu returned to the guild with a letter asking for payment for the city he nearly destroyed, and a blonde wizard asking to join Fairy Tail.
Mira, for once in her life, thought she found a guild member she wouldn't have to worry about. Lucy was practical, knew her limits and had an understanding of basic social concepts, had her own apartment, but could still hold her own when the guild dissolved into mindless wrestling. Lucy was a bit of a nerd and a hot head, but she fit right in.
And sure, when Mira learned that Lucy was a runaway from a neglectful father, that her mother had died when she was young, and that half her Celestial Spirits were crazy, she did worry.
But that was put on the back burner when she saw how Lucy pulled together some of Mira's biggest worries.
It started with Natsu. He was the one who brought her to Fairy Tail after all.
The fact that Natsu would grab Lucy's and when they were running towards their next job, that he snapped at Elfmen to be quiet when Lucy had fallen asleep in the guildhall, that Lucy ordered Natsu food when he was busy fighting the others. It was how Natsu seemed more comfortable with casual contact and closeness than he had been in years, draping himself over Lucy when she ignored him, that he refused to go on a job without Lucy, when before he would skip over a job if he saw others going, that Natsu suddenly looked at the rewards of the jobs to see what could pay for Lucy's rent instead of just grabbing the first one that caught his attention.
Things that seemed insignificant to others that made Mira's heart swell.
It didn't take long for Erza and Gray to be dragged into Lucy's orbit either. Little things at first, like sitting next to each other while they ate, or huddling together to look at the job board, or helping each other home when they'd had a little too much to drink.
Lucy dragged Erza out for a shopping trip when she had saved up enough gold, Gray and Natsu following like loyal puppies, even if they complained every step of the way.
And just like that,they were attached to each other like a hoard of puppies.
Natsu would tackle Gray in a friendly greeting, lift Lucy off her feet in the hug when he got excited, and bump into Erza as he talked to her. He'd hook his arms around their shoulders as they walked, and Mira swore she once saw him bite Erza's shoulder affectionately.
Gray, who had always been so aloof, snarked and goofed around with Lucy, would sit with his feet in Natsu's lap, and would call Erza out for being too formal or prudish, only to end up with him in a headlock that was a little too gentle.
Erza, the armored queen of them all, would share friendly brawls with Natsu that never involved weapons or magic, share books and tea with Lucy, and would buy clothes for Gray whenever he genuinely lost them. If one of the others sat next to her, Mira would watch as Erza raised her hand to run her fingers through their hair, sometimes encouraging a tired head into her lap.
And Lucy, bless her soul, didn't seem to realize how monumentous these moments were. She simply wrapped her arms around Natsu's neck, hugging him back, leaning into his embraces and pinching his side when he got too cheeky. She conversated with Gray, not even blinking when she pulled a shirt back over his head, pulling his ear when she was annoyed. She leaned against Erza and talked about whatever book she was reading, would do Erza's hair when she was bored, which usually led to Natsu aslo begging for his hair to be done.
And just when Mira didn't think it could get any better, Wendy stumbled into their arms. Sweet, young Wendy, who had seen too much for her few years and was far too self sacrificial for Mira's heart.
Natsu took to the other dragon slayer much faster than he did with Gajeel. He'd give her piggyback rides when she was tired, conspired with her like the child he was, and sometimes the two of them would go out for an early morning flight with Carla and Happy.
Erza and Lucy seemed to have simultaneously agreed that Wendy was now their little sister, and treated her as such, taking her out on trips, defending her against the boys, both always willing to wrap the small girl in their arms.
Gray, ever the problematic one, took a more subtle route. He wasn't as physically affectionate as the others, but he would often show up to the guild with small gifts and trinkets for her. And, when the poor girl got overwhelmed, Gray would be the first to lead her away and find a quiet spot for her to recollect herself.
Before Mira's very eyes, a bond had formed that was stronger than Mira had ever seen. Stronger than friendship, stronger than family.
So when Lucy came in to the guild hall one morning, the others following her drowsily, and started complaining about how they had broken into her apartment and ended up breaking her mattress, Mira couldn't help but smile.