i love you to the moon and back

by mirajens

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Gildarts never thought he had to love someone.

The mighty Gilrdarts of Fairy Tail was a man not suited to deal with matters so flighty as love. He was a big man, a strong man who only ever left destruction in his wake. He couldn't help it. He was strong. Sometimes, he was too strong and he broke things and hearts and even though he didn't mean to. It was his way, and it was why he confined himself to such solitary missions that spanned years.

But he had a daughter now.

Sweet Cana who drank too much and wore too little. Brave Cana who taught herself magic to provide for herself and give herself piece of mind. Patient Cana who waited almost two decades for a father who was never home. Smart Cana who put men in place with her wit and made the girls jealous of her self-assurance. He loved her too much already. She was the best thing in his life and it was a fucking blessing that she even let him into her little heart in the first place.

But now Gildarts drank because he was alone in some faraway land, a hundred thousand miles from his best girl on her birthday and with all his power, he couldn't even wish her a happy birthday and hug her.

So he brooded in his lonely booth, a tall mug of bitter ale his only companion.

He imagined all those years Cana struggled to tell him the truth. Where did she live then, he wondered. With Cornelia dead and him ignorant, who took care of her? Who fed her, who clothed her and who kissed all her hurts away? Who made her hot chocolate on cold winter nights and who told her snow monsters weren't real? Who did she leave her doggy with when she set out for Fairy Tail? Who combed her hair and told her she was growing up into such a beautiful lady? Who lectured her about the dangers of drinking so much and who in hell warned her off the creeps that her lack of proper clothing would attract?

Who tucked her in every night with a bedtime story of powerful mages and tales of dragons and handsome princes? Who fawned over her when she first recognized her power? Who wrapped her up in a million blankets, fed her hot soup and worried over her when she was sick? Who gave her candy when evil kids teased her for not having parents?

Who did she cry to when she saw Gildarts being more of a father to Natsu and Lisanna and everyone else but her?

It was these things that made guilt write in his gut. He wished he could get all those years back and be a proper dad to her. She was so beautiful and strong and fantastic that Gildarts wasn't sure if there was space for him in her life. She didn't need a dad now— she made that clear. But Gildarts knew she needed a father back then. The very thought made him dizzy.

So he drank.


AN: I will sacrifice my firstborn son for more Cana/Gildarts family moments. LIKE, EVEN LACRIMA SKYPE CHAT THINGS. Also, can we taLK ABOUT CANA'S PUPPY WHERE IS IT IS IT STILL ALIVE AND IS IT HAPPY NOW

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