Author's Note: This is the first Mirajane/Laxus (Miraxus) fanfic I've ever written. As Miraxus is one of my favourite pairings of Fairy Tail, I really don't think there are enough fanfics around, so I decided to write one, and will probably write more in the future, if all goes well. Hope you enjoy this one.

Summary: After Makarov retires, Laxus becomes the new Master of Fairy Tail. Mirajane is there to help him cope. Who would have thought he had a fascination for flowers?

Fairy Tail Garden

Chapter 1:

Fairy Tail Garden

He was always a little too cautious about his self-image. I guess that part of him will never change.

Inside of Fairy Tail Garden, just behind the Fairy Tail guild, there were flowers of every kind. Roses, tulips, orchids, sunflowers, daffodils, and more, all danced and bathed in the warmth of the sun. Near a large bush of roses, were two chairs and a table decorated with a small centerpiece arranged with several assorted and colourful flowers. In addition, there was also a kettle, two tea cups, two plates, and a small platter set up with a variety of baked goods and fruit.

"Congratulations, Laxus! I think you'll make a great master." Mirajane said as she picked up two packets of sugar on the table. She smiled gently and turned around. "Two sugars or one?" she asked, staring at Laxus, who was pulling some weeds out of the rose bush.

Laxus had just come back from a very important meeting with Makarov. He had wanted to discuss with him the future of the Fairy Tail Guild and what was best for its present and future members. As it was, although he has enjoyed his time as master very much, there was a time for everything. Fairy Tail was starting to evolve and grow into a beautiful guild, one just like he had imagined; new members were sure to join and would want to learn new things. Who else but someone who was old enough and had experience, yet still young enough to reach out to its new members. As was decided, Laxus is the new Master of Fairy Tail, and as for Makarov, well, it was time to start an early vacation and let someone else pay the bills for once.

…

Earlier, inside of the Makarov's office…

"…But…I don't know if I'm ready to take on that responsibility yet." Laxus scratched the back of his head. "Don't you think Guildarts would make a better-"

"Laxus" Makarov cut him off abruptly looking Laxus straight in the eyes. He paused for a moment before speaking again. "Laxus…if I didn't think you were cut out for the job, then I wouldn't have made such an important decision." He smiled. "You've come a long way, and I'm proud of you…besides, you have some really good people speaking in your favour. People who really care a lot about you…who don't think you're as bad of a guy as you still think you are."

Laxus blinked. "People…" Just what is the old geezer talking about? What good people? The only people in the guild he could think of that show any concern for him are the Raijinshuu, and he knew for sure their word alone couldn't waver the master's decision.

"Master, I…" Laxus began.

"Laxus just know you have people closer to you who care about you a lot…more than you think." Makarov said. "Now, off you go. I'll have important documents and what not to give you later on to make it official."

Laxus sighed. "Thanks… Master." He said, waving a hand as he left the office and headed towards the back door of the guild.

Makarov sighed and smiled. "That boy…when will he ever learn to just let go of things once in a while and loosen up a bit?" Just be happy the way you used to be. Everything will be alright.

Laxus needed some fresh air. He walked along the path that led to the Fairy Tail Garden; passing by a patch of roses he thought to himself, beautiful. A simple rose. It peacefully basks in the sun's warmth, showcasing its beauty to the world, yet without a care in the world to who is watching it, it blooms on forever.

Laxus paused and sighed again. Could he really be getting soft? If so, why is it that he still can't forgive…no, he couldn't yet forgive himself for what he had done to the guild; the one place he could call his true home, his precious nakama, his own family. No. How could anyone forgive him? Still…love him?

He reached out to touch a rose, just to get a closer look, to smell it, to bask in its beauty and-

"Ouch!" Laxus pulled his hand away immediately and sucked at the little trickle of blood that bled down his index finger. What the hec was that?

Suddenly, he could hear a voice not too far off from where he was. In fact, it was right behind the rose bush. Someone was…giggling at him.

He looked up to see the person who was emerging from behind the bush and….

"Mirajane?!" Laxus eyes bulged. "What are you doing here?" He quickly took his finger out of his mouth.

"Hi" Mirajane said as she smiled and waved at him. Laxus noticed she had some gardening gloves on, a white sun hat, and a white flower print dress, which was now smeared with a little dirt. "Isn't it obvious? Though, I could ask you the same thing…I see you're not very familiar with roses, are you?" She looked down at his finger and laughed again.

"Sh…shut up. What are you talking about?" Laxus said flustered as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"…Beautiful" She said as she looked at the roses.

"Huh?" Laxus said as he watched her then followed her gaze back towards the rose bush again. "Oh.Y-yea…I hadn't noticed." He tried to act cool and nonchalant. He didn't know why, but he couldn't let his cool cover be blown in front of Mirajane, or anyone for that matter.

"Beautiful…yet dangerous; a flower so delicate in appearance, that to the untrained eye, may not see the thorns that lie underneath." She continued while smiling.

Laxus stared deeply at Mirajane for a moment, and then swallowed. "You seem to know a lot about flowers."

"Mmm." She turned around with a knowing expression. However, Laxus couldn't help but see the mysteriousness that lay behind both her words and her all too knowing expression. Could she only have been talking about the flowers or…maybe it's what his heart wanted him to believe.

"I…I didn't notice the flowers had thorns on them. I guess everything is not as it appears to be, huh." Laxus gave her a half smile.

"Hmm, true." Mirajane said as she bent down to get back to her weeding. "So, Laxus what are you doing out here?"

"…Just thinking…" Laxus looked up to the sky. He looked back at Mirajane who was struggling a bit with one of the weeds. The face she made as she tried so hard to pull it out...it was simply adorable, Laxus couldn't help but smile. "Need a little help with that?"

…

"It's not official yet…and just one sugar please. Thanks." Laxus said, as he turned around and smiled at Mirajane. He turned back to his weeding and wiped his forehead. How he had ended up picking the weeds out of the Fairy Tail Garden, he'll never know. Then again, Mirajane sure had a way of getting people to do what she wants.

"Thanks for helping out with the garden, Laxus. I know it's probably not something you're used to…" Mirajane trailed off as she sat at the table and placed a plate in front of her.

Laxus smirked. Oh, that's right. "Well, you did promise to cook for me; it's kind of hard to refuse an offer like that. Who would have thought, master of Fairy Tail, pulling weeds out of a flower garden." Laxus looked down at the rose bush.

"I'm sure you'll get used to it." Mirajane beamed.

Laxus turned around and thought for a moment. "Get used to what, being master, or pulling weeds?" Laxus joked.

"Both" Mirajane replied, her facial expression unchanging.

Laxus chuckled uncomfortably. She's joking, right? Somehow I don't think so.

Mirajane giggled. "I'm sure you'll be a great master, Laxus. Now come, your tea is getting cold."

Laxus took his gardening gloves off, got up from the ground and headed towards the table. As he sat down in the chair opposite Mirajane, she handed him his tea.

"Thanks." He took the tea cup from her and brought it up to his mouth to sip. "Mmm, this is good." He said, and took another sip.

Suddenly, to Laxus' surprise, Mirajane started to laugh uncontrollably. Laxus spit out his tea and started to choke a little. "W-what's with you all of a sudden?" he stared bewildered at the waitress in front of him.

"Y…you have some mud smeared on your forehead." Mirajane held her stomach with tears in her eyes.

"Huh?" Laxus stared at her confused for a moment before wiping his forehead with his hand. "Really, this is what got you all worked up."

"I'm sorry…" Mirajane said, still giggling. "I shouldn't laugh, but I thought it was funny. I guess it's a sign you've worked really hard today."

"Hmph." grunted Laxus, feigning disappointment with a pout. "I don't think anyone could have worked harder."

Mirajane smiled. "Oh really? Then I guess it's good I had your help then."

Laxus blushed and glared at Mirajane, slightly agitated.

Mirajane took a strawberry off of her plate and began to eat it when she asked "So, what is your first duty as Master, Laxus?"

"Eh?" he stared at Mirajane blankly for a few seconds. "Well, I haven't really thought about it yet." Laxus looked down at his tea with a melancholy smile and then laughed to himself. "You know, it's odd…after all those years of pining after the title of master, wanting to beat my grandfather, and take control over the guild all for power…thinking I was entitled to it all….now, suddenly I find myself in a place where I feel I don't deserve it...the position I mean. Well, at least now I know I didn't want it in that way." Laxus looked up at Mirajane's concerned face for a moment. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, do you think I really deserve it?"

Mirajane stared considerably at Laxus for a moment, and then closed her eyes. "Laxus…if master thought you didn't deserve the position as Master, surely he wouldn't have made such an important decision."

Laxus' ears twitched at the familiar comment. "Y…you sound just like the old geezer." He sighed. Mirajane opened her eyes and smiled. "It's really for you to decide in your heart if you truly deserve it but, you didn't get the position because you wanted power or fame, neither because you are his grandson but…" Mirajane looked down, blushing a little. "…because you aren't the same person you were 7 years ago. "

"I…huh?" Laxus stared wide eyed at Mirajane. "Wh-what do you mean?" he said, now blushing himself.

"You've changed, Laxus, and that's all that matters, right? You did what you had to do to become a better person." She paused for a moment. "But…all of us have to change at some point, right?" Mirajane looked up and gave him a genuine smile.

Laxus blinked. "Y-yea, I guess so." He stuttered and scratched the back of his head. "I guess you of all people would understand what I'm going through, huh." Laxus said, remembering just how her past self used to be. The former Demon Mirajane, known and feared by guilds from all over for her power. Now looking at her, hair down, and her front bangs tied up into a cute little pony tail…she really had changed so much. Even her smile was-

"As long as you can forgive yourself, then you'll see other people have already forgiven you, too" Mirajane said, knocking Laxus out of his thoughts.

"…" Laxus stared at her for a moment. "Forgive myself…?"

"Mmhm" Mirajane beamed as she got up and started to pack the dishes away.

Laxus stared intently at Mirajane for a moment and said "…Have you forgiven me?"

Mirajane looked in disbelief at her comrade for a second before she replied "Of c-"

"LAXUS!" Freed yelled as he was running down the path, with tears in his eyes. "There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you!" Before Laxus could react, Freed had already jumped on him in excitement, hugging him tightly and rubbing his cheeks against his.

"Y-you're really annoying." Laxus said irritated, scowling his face.

"…It seems he's really missed you." Mirajane said, smiling genuinely at the scene.

"Ah…Mirajane, you're here too." Freed said obliviously, still holding onto Laxus.

"Sorry, were we disturbing you?" Evergreen said, as she was suddenly beside Mirajane and put a hand on her shoulder, followed by Bixlow.

"Ah…no, it's okay. We were just cleaning up and Laxus here was…" Before Mirajane could continue, she turned around and saw that Laxus had a please don't tell them I've been pulling weeds or I'll never live it down kind of look. "Um…he was just trying my cooking and told me I should save some for you too. Would you like to try some?"

"Oh?" The Raijinshuu all turned to look at Laxus, who in turn, blushed.

"W-what are you all staring at?" he growled angrily.

"Ooo, Laxus did that just for me? Considerate, so very considerate." Freed exclaimed, as he rubbed his cheeks against his again. "Gah! Couldn't you get excited without doing that?"

"He did it for all of us, let's dig in." Evergreen exclaimed, already scarfing down one of the brownies that were on the platter. Freed and Bixlow followed afterwards, heading for the cupcakes.

"Seriously…" Laxus watched on at his bodyguards in exasperation and sighed, shaking his head. He then turned around to look at Mirajane, who seemed to be amused by the scene in front of her.

"Mirajane…" Laxus said as he gave a small smile, and she turned around. "Thank you…"

End of Chapter.

Ugh…um…yea. I've never written an FT fanfic before, so…I hope this first chapter was alright. Reviews are welcome, please! :)