A/N: Hey everyone, there seems to have been some confusion on the previous chapter of this story. Please remember I said it was going to jump around in the timeline, which means that not everything is going to get posted in chronological order. The last chapter, as posted in the note at the top of it, was a year before Jackal came to work at the coffee shop. So, no. It wasn't a mistake that I put Sting. I meant Sting for last chapter.

This chapter is a continuation of the last. It's still before Jackal has come to work at the coffee shop.

Two months came and went, and Laxus still hadn't come around to mend things between himself and Erik. As part of their agreement, Lucy and Erik started dating. After giving the hulking blond another week and a half to come to his senses, Erik showed up at her apartment, quietly went inside once she answered the door, and told her it was time. That was it. There were no extravagant declarations of love, aside from him saying that she was a great sister and he did love her, and no overly romantic gestures. Lucy really didn't mind that either. That wasn't who Erik was, even concerning Laxus. He was quiet and subtle about his feelings - at least, when they were positive ones.

As it turned out, she was hopelessly single anyway when the time came for them to start dating. Sting, as she'd found out from Gajeel, was in a very committed relationship. With Gajeel's younger brother, Rogue. Why no one had thought to tell her was beyond her comprehension, but it had resulted in Bickslow beating up Gajeel for not giving him vital information, Cobra beating up Bickslow for putting the idea in her head to begin with, and Sting quitting the coffee shop when he decided to actually use his scholarship money to go to college.

Another five months passed, and Lucy and Erik came to realize that - even though they weren't physically attracted to one another - they worked well as a couple. Sort of. They were just doing the same things they always did, spending time with one another, watching marathons and binging on too much food, going out for drinks with their friends, except they were simply categorized as a couple instead of 'siblings'. Occasionally, they would even kiss. That was mainly Lucy's doing, because she thought it was hilarious to see how red Erik's face would get when she randomly kissed him. Even though he reciprocated, she knew Erik didn't feel a damn thing for her below the belt. And that was absolutely fine by her.

It was on their six month anniversary, with Lucy curled up against Erik's side while they watched a horror marathon, that she got a phone call from her brother. Laxus had been distant ever since things ended between himself and Erik. Brooding, even. He didn't come by the coffee shop, and he didn't call Lucy or anyone else. The only person that still talked to him, because the guy was persistent and refused to let his best friend sulk with no outlet to get things off his chest, was Bickslow. But he never told anyone what was going on with Laxus, aside from the same 'He's alright' and 'Laxus is just busy'.

That night, though, Lucy's smile over her brother finally calling her faded as soon as she put the phone to her ear. "Hey, La-"

"Lu… Lucy," Laxus giggled. "Whatcha doin'?"

"Laxus, are you drunk?" It was no secret that when Laxus got drunk, he was a giddy little thing. Giggling, blushing, the works. And he was overly affectionate. The fact that he didn't want people to know he was gay went by the wayside once he had some alcohol in his system, and that was actually how the rest of their friends had found out that he and Erik were together in the first place.

"Well, yeah!"

Lucy sighed and put her brother on speaker while Erik paused the movie they were watching, his brow furrowed in concern. "What's up?"

"I asked what you're doin'," Laxus laughed. "Are you and Erik having fun?"

"We're just watching movies, like we always do on Wednesday night."

Laxus let out a long sigh as his laughter trailed off. "Well, I hope you guys enjoy it. And that you can make him happier than I can. Sure seems like it, since Bix told me… You've been dating for forever."

"Laxus," Lucy sighed, her eyes widening when the line suddenly cut off. "Laxus?!"

Erik shook his head and jumped to his feet, dragging the blonde with him. "C'mon, Tinkerbell. I know where he's at." He didn't waste any time trying to change out of his pajamas, or letting Lucy change out of her own. Their shoes were on and they were rushing out of her apartment and down the street. Down to the coffee shop.

"Laxus Dreyar, get your ass down here!" Erik shouted once they had rounded to the back of the building.

"Coby Woby!" Laxus giggled as his head peeked over the edge of the roof. "You came!"

"You're afraid of heights, jackass! Get down here before you get your ass hurt!"

"No! I'm not doin' it!"

Lucy bit her lips when Erik rolled his eye and started climbing the ladder that led to the roof. "Aren't you afraid of heights worse than him?" she asked while following him up.

"N-Not the fucking point," he ground out. "You know why I'm doing this."

"Well, if you fall, you can use my body as a shield," Lucy laughed.

"Not helping, goddamnit…"

Laxus woke up the next morning with a killer headache, lying on a couch. One eye cracked open, and he groaned once he saw his surroundings. Lucy's apartment. All he could hope was that he didn't make a complete fool out of himself the night before. He was never letting Bickslow take his ass out to drink again.

With another groan, the blond slowly got up from the couch and quietly stumbled through the familiar living room and into the bathroom. He paused as he caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye, coming from Lucy's bedroom. Once his head turned, Laxus found a more than familiar burning in his chest at the sight that greeted him.

The deeply tanned skin of his ex-boyfriend was the first thing Laxus noticed, watching as the shirtless man he'd missed more than anything over the last eight months leaned over the bed and tenderly kissed Lucy's forehead. It was obvious that Erik had slept with her the night before, and Laxus couldn't watch that shit. He couldn't be around the two of them while they were all lovey-dovey with each other. Lucy was affectionate, more than making up for his own inability to let others in. She was the kind of person Erik really deserved to be with.

Erik frowned when he heard the door to the bathroom quietly closing. That meant Laxus was awake. Hopefully, they could talk things out though. He loved Lucy, but she just wasn't the one he wanted. She was never going to be anything more than a sister to him.

Once the coffee was brewing, something that Lucy usually did when he was over because she said that he shouldn't have to feel like he was at work while he was at her house, Erik settled himself on the couch and waited for Laxus to come back out of the bathroom. They hadn't had a chance to talk the night before. Laxus was too drunk to remember any of it, so Erik hadn't even made the effort once they were on solid ground again. Besides, he didn't want a drunken love confession - although, he'd gotten several of them during the walk back to Lucy's apartment. He wanted to really talk the shit out, and sort through everything when Laxus was in his right mind.

Laxus walked to the living room, a quiet sigh leaving him once his eyes locked with Erik's. He knew that look. It meant Erik wanted to talk. And really, even though he didn't want to, Laxus was in no shape to just leave. The sun outside was way too bright to deal with.

Once the blond was seated on the far end of the couch, Erik let out a slow breath to shore up his resolve. He and Lucy had talked about this a lot over the past few months, and he had agreed that Laxus should be the one to come crawling back to him. Except, the way his ex-boyfriend looked, it didn't seem like he was going to. He'd shut down again. Erik didn't want to be the reason that Laxus felt obligated to come back. He didn't want to guilt trip the guy.

"So," Laxus muttered. "How's-"

"Do you remember anything that happened last night?" Cobra blurted out.

Laxus blinked in surprise, then slowly shook his head. His brow furrowed when Erik sighed and got ready to stand up. "Wait, what did I do?"

Cobra forced himself to meet Laxus' gaze. Of course the blond wouldn't remember anything he'd said. He wouldn't remember telling Erik and Lucy that he was sorry, and that he loved Erik more than anything. Erik knew he shouldn't have gotten his hopes up, but he hadn't been able to help it. "It's not important," he said flatly.

"Erik," Laxus whispered, his pounding head tilting to one side when the smaller man froze. A quick flash of pain crossed over his features before it was hidden again, and Laxus found himself more than confused at just what had caused it. "What's wrong?"

"Not a damn thing, Laxus."

"No, something's wrong. You always tell me what's going on… Why are you hiding it from me now?"

"Because there's no reason to tell you anything," Erik answered, clenching his jaw. If he was supposed to treat Laxus like he was anyone else, then that was what he would do. Except, the muscular blond sitting beside him had always been his kryptonite. Erik was an asshole to pretty much everyone, but he just couldn't bring himself to do that with Laxus. He just turned to mush, and in that moment, he hated that he couldn't be stronger.

"Why not?"

"You left me," Erik sighed quietly. 'Damnit…' He wasn't supposed to bring any of that up. Laxus was supposed to do the talking where that was concerned.

"Well…" Laxus caught the quick glance cast his way when he rubbed a hand over his tired face. "I guess it doesn't matter. You're with Little Bit now, so…"

"God you're a fucking dumbass," Erik sneered. In a matter of seconds, he'd gone from upset and ready to just crawl back into bed and sleep his life away, to pissed the hell off. It wasn't often, if ever, that he was genuinely mad at Laxus, which meant he finally had the motivation to do what he did best. Just like Lucy had told him eight months earlier.

"Rub his face in the mistake he made. Make him feel like total shit for it. Unless Laxus realizes that you're not just gonna wait around for him forever, he'll keep it up, because he thinks you're okay with it. Even though I've told him enough times that it's fucked up."

Laxus jolted at the look on Erik's face. "Huh?"

"You know as well as everyone else does," Erik whispered. "I'm gay. I've never had any problem admitting that shit."

"And yet, you're dating my sister."

"Because you're a fucking tool and can't see that I only want you," Erik spat. "You're so goddamn scared of admitting shit that I got fucked over every time we were together. I'd think that things were going great, then you'd get a wild hair up your ass and leave me."

"Erik-"

"No, I know Alice told me to let you come to me, and to listen when you finally did, but I'm not. I've got some shit to say, and you're gonna listen, goddamnit."

Laxus' mouth clamped shut with an audible pop, his eyes wide and shocked. Erik was never like this with him. It was one of the things he loved about the guy. No matter what happened, Erik was still a damn sweetheart with Laxus, even when he was pissed and ready to tear someone's head off. Slowly, the blond nodded.

Erik turned to face the blond, leaning his elbows on his knees. "You treated me like shit for years before we got together," he said softly. "And even though you did, I still fucking wanted you. And when we woke up in a bed together after drinking our asses off, you have no fucking clue how happy I was that I got to be with you even for just a night. I agreed to keep it quiet, because you asked me to, and I knew it'd never happen again anyway. And when it happened again, I kept it quiet again."

Laxus nodded again.

"I did whatever the hell you wanted, because I just wanted to have time with you. I was fucking desperate for you to care about me, and I let you walk all over me."

"Erik, I-"

"No, motherfucker," Erik spat. "Listen to what the fuck I have to say for once. Usually, when you broke up with me, I'd be able to take the day off of work or just keep myself cooped up in the office if I needed it, and no one would fucking know. And last time… I couldn't hide that shit if I wanted to. And yeah, I talked with Lucy about what was going on, and we agreed that if you didn't realize what the fuck you did wrong to make me stay away, then I'd just date her. You left me. You always fucking left me, when all I ever did was give a shit about you."

"Well-"

"You know I don't get along with most people. You know I don't fucking like the majority of people I meet, and that it's hard as hell for me to trust anyone. Being with you only made it harder, because every time I thought you'd open up and just be my boyfriend, just fucking care about me, you'd leave."

"But, Erik-"

"Goddamnit, Laxus!" he shouted. "Shut the fuck up!" Did he care that Lucy most likely woke up from him shouting? In that moment, not really. She already knew he was going to talk to Laxus, considering they were going to be in the same apartment, and she was probably just as surprised as he was that he wasn't already just crying over this shit. If he wasn't so pissed, he probably would be.

Laxus' jaw clenched in anger, but he nodded anyway.

Erik took a deep breath, then continued more quietly. "What you and I had… I loved being able to wake up next to you, Laxus. And I loved having you hold me, and…" He shook his head and looked down at his hands. "But I can't do that shit anymore. The only reason I agreed to be with your sister is because I was hurting. She's not the one I want, but I can't have you either. At least, with Lucy… I feel like I've got someone that gives a shit about me. She's not ashamed of being with me, like you were. She's still just like a sister to me, and I know she feels the same way, but with her…"

Laxus' breath caught in his throat as Erik looked back up at him, the grief and sadness clear in his single eye that shined with unshed tears.

"I don't have to worry every day that it's the last time I'll get to hold her," Erik whispered shakily. "And I never have to wonder if she loves me as much as I love her, even if we're not actually attracted to each other. I-I can… I can kiss her in public if I really want to, because she's not scared of people finding out that we're together. She's everything you weren't for me, Laxus."

The two sat in silence for several minutes with neither trying to say a single word to the other. Finally, when Laxus really just couldn't take it any longer, he whispered, "Is it alright if I talk now?"

Erik nodded, but didn't look away from his hands.

"I didn't realize what day it was when I broke up with you last time," Laxus sighed. "That really doesn't excuse it, but when I talked to Bix… He saw you were upset and figured something happened. I went down there to apologize, and walked in to see you making out with my sister."

"Her idea," Erik muttered.

"I figured, but that didn't make it hurt less." Laxus hesitated for a moment, then carefully moved across the couch and pulled Erik's hands into his own. Their fingers laced together, and Laxus felt the small tremble in his ex-boyfriend's hands. "I know I fucked up, and I don't want to lose you."

"You already did…"

"Then I want to fight to get you back," Laxus said in earnest. "Whatever I have to do, I'll do it. I've never been more miserable than these last few months without you, Erik. I took it all for granted before, and… If you'll give me the chance… I'll never do that again."

"L-Laxus, I don't know…"

"You don't have to decide right now," Laxus whispered, a small smile on his lips as he lifted Erik's chin and pressed their foreheads together. "Take all the time you want. You're it for me. It took losing you to realize it, and it never should have come to that, but I know now. I'll wait for you. However long you want or need."

"I don't know if I can trust you again…"

"Then I'll get your trust back first. We can start over from square one. Just friends. And if you're ever ready for more, then I will be too."

"I-I don't…" Erik's eye slid closed to keep himself from caving. He knew what he wanted. He wanted Laxus, more than ever before. And the stormy eyes he had been looking into always just melted any resolve he had to stay away. Slowly, his head dropped, and he was surprised to find Laxus staying completely still so his nose was nestled in Erik's maroon hair. "I don't know…"

"Just think about it," Laxus whispered with a gentle squeeze to Erik's hands. "No pressure. And, if you don't want to be with me, or if you can't, then… I'll understand. I really don't deserve any more chances from you."

Erik nodded and carefully pulled back. "I-I'm gonna make breakfast, so…" He stood and kept his gaze on the floor as he walked into the kitchen, blinking in surprise when he was instantly pulled into Lucy's arms. "A-Alice?"

She squeezed him tightly and kissed his cheek. "I can't make the decision for you, Erik. But, this was what you wanted."

He nodded. "I know…"

"Well, it's up to you if you want to take him back."

"I-I know, Tink…"

Lucy sighed as he hugged her back just as tightly. "Just think it over while you cook. Maybe you'll have an answer by the time you're done."

Once breakfast was ready, Erik had made up his mind. It had really been made up from the very beginning, since the night before when he'd seen Laxus. He was always weak against the hulking blond, and he didn't know if he ever wanted that to change. Still, the partially functioning logical part of his brain was telling him that he needed to give it a little more time.

Lucy smiled after getting Laxus back up from where he'd collapsed into a hungover heap on the couch, then made her way to the kitchen to help Erik get everything out to the table. One look at him, and she knew he'd made up his mind. Her arms wound around him, and she sighed as their lips met. Really, she couldn't help it. He didn't get her all riled up, but she still appreciated just what he could do with his lips alone. "I'm happy for you, Cobra."

He smirked and pulled back slightly. "Is it that obvious?"

Lucy nodded with a gentle smile. "Looks like another boyfriend of mine turned out to be gay," she giggled.

"You sure you're alright with-"

She pressed her fingers to his lips to silence him. "I'm sure," Lucy whispered. "This is what we wanted all along, silly. You're still just a brother to me, even though I'll miss the way you kiss."

Erik laughed when she gave him a playful wink. "Is that why you did that? One last kiss to remember me by?"

"Duh," she laughed. "Still, I'm glad he's finally come around. Guess it took a little longer than we both thought."

"At least he did…"

Lucy gave him one last lingering hug, then helped him carry the food out to the table. Once everyone was seated, she cleared her throat loudly and looked across the small table. "Erik, I… I have something to tell you," she said, lowering her eyes to her plate.

"What's up?"

It took everything in her to hide the grin that wanted to stretch across her face. "I can't be with you. I love you, but I'm just not in love with you. It's… It's not you, it's me. We're just on different paths, and I thought we could make this work, that maybe I could feel a spark, but… It's…" Lucy dropped her face to her hands and let out a choked, obviously fake, sob. "It's over."

Erik smirked as he looked at the surprise clearly etched on Laxus' face. His lips parted with a reply sitting on the tip of his tongue.

Lucy threw a hand out and dramatically wailed, "No. Don't speak! I know just what you're thinking, and I don't need your reasons! Don't tell me, 'cause it hurts!"

"Little Bit," Laxus chuckled. "Did you just quote No fucking Doubt?"

Lucy grinned when Laxus and Erik laughed. "Maybe. Now, you two need to kiss and make up. Wait, lemme get my phone. It's gonna be so hot!"

Erik shook his head and rolled his eye. "Do you have any idea how fucking creepy it is hearing you say shit like that about your brother? Not even me, but… He's blood, Alice."

"She's a few fries short, babe," Laxus muttered with a smirk.

Erik froze, his face falling as he looked back at Laxus. In the year they had been together, Laxus had never called him anything aside from his name or 'Cobra'. Not once had he used a petname that made it so Erik felt like he really cared. After a moment, Erik cleared away the sudden thickness in his throat and looked down at his food again "M-More like a burger and a toy…"

Laxus frowned at the sudden change in Erik's mood, then glanced at Lucy as she smiled and got up from the table in silence. Once she was out of the room, he realized just what he'd said. And why Erik clammed up as quickly as he did. "I'm sorry."

"I know."

Laxus sighed and looked at his own untouched food. It wasn't even a matter of whether or not they were together. He'd never let Erik know just how he felt about him, aside from the fact that he was even willing to date him - albeit quietly - or that they'd had sex pretty regularly while they were a couple. But something as simple as that little petname… He'd never even done that for the guy. "It won't be like that ever again," he whispered. "I swear."

"I-I know…"

With a small smile, Laxus pushed his chair back and knelt next to the smaller man. Gentle, calloused fingers brushed over his deeply tanned chin, carefully turning Erik's face until they were looking into each other's eyes. "Kiss me, babe," he breathed. "I love you, and I was a fucking idiot, but just-" Laxus' eyes widened, then fluttered closed, as Erik dove forward and their lips crashed together.

Erik didn't care about anything else. What he'd wanted to hear from Laxus all this time, what he'd quite literally dreamt about more often than not, finally happened. "I love you," he groaned against Laxus' full lips, his fingers sifting through the soft golden spikes of hair. "I love you so fucking much."

"Take me back."

"Always."

Laxus groaned as Erik forced his head to one side and that lithe tongue fiercely plunged between his lips. He'd never been able to get enough of Erik's kisses. Even when he was struggling with accepting the fact that he loved a man in the first place, the way Erik kissed him was unlike anything he'd ever experienced before. His mind shut off completely, and he was more than happy to let it happen.

A quiet giggle sounded through the room, and Erik pulled back from the intoxicating lips of the blond. He turned so he could see where Lucy's laughter had come from, a glare sharpening his gaze when he saw her phone out and recording the two of them. "You're a fucking cockblock, y'know that?" he growled.

"No way in hell was I not recording this," Lucy laughed. "I'm showing it to your babies!"

"We can't have babies," Laxus groaned.

"No shit," Erik nodded. When she ignored them and started typing furiously, his eye narrowed in suspicion. "Alice… Don't fucking tell me…"

A devilish grin spread over her face, making Laxus and Erik shudder in unison. "I-I think she did," Laxus whispered.

"Oh," Lucy chuckled darkly. "It's on Facebook now. In the past two minutes you've gotten seventy-five likes… Twenty-two shares…" She paused and refreshed the page on her phone. "And so far, fifty-eight people have commented saying 'Finally.'"

A deep flush crossed Erik's cheeks. "Fuck you…"

"No thanks," Lucy laughed. "I don't fuck gay guys. Or my siblings." She stuck her tongue out at the newly reformed couple, then screamed when Erik shot up from his chair and began chasing her through the apartment.

Laxus smirked and shook his head, then took his seat again. His head was pounding still, and Lucy's screaming wasn't helping, but it didn't really matter to him as he took a bite of the food his once-again-boyfriend had made. Erik wasn't an amazing cook by any stretch of the imagination, but this was still a whole lot better than what Laxus was capable of doing. A quiet chuckle left him as Lucy rushed back into the living room, an eerily high-pitched screech tumbling from her lips just as Erik tackled her to the floor. From where he was sitting, Laxus had a perfect view of the morning's festivities.

"I'm gonna murder the shit outta you!"

"That's disgusting!" Lucy shouted. "Just murder me! Don't bring my shit into this!"

"Goddamnit!" Erik cackled, his fingers wriggling wildly as they pressed into her sides.

"He can't help you now! Fuck!" Lucy squirmed one way and the other to get away from the tickling torture she was being forced to endure. "Stop! HAHA!"

"You guys are ridiculous," Laxus muttered around his fork. Erik and Lucy had been friends since high school, even though he was two years ahead of her, and they had always been like this. Absolutely insane. 'But I still fucking love them…'

Erik squeaked. "Get your finger outta my ass!"

"Oh my god!"

"Why the fuck are you smelling it?!"

"It smells like daisies!" Lucy's hysterical laughter was cut short by a scream and a soft thud on the floor. And then more hysterical laughter.

"Gimme that goddamn phone!" Erik bellowed. "I do not use daisy enemas!"

"Too late! I have proof!" Lucy found her laughter increasing until her sides ached. Then she screamed. "Did you just bite my boob?!"

"I did! I'll bite it off next time!"

Laxus blinked slowly while taking a bite of his toast, listening to Erik grunt in pain.

"Oh god, my balls…"

Laxus shook his head while sipping at his coffee. The two rolled one way and the other in an impromptu wrestling match, and Lucy's phone skittered across the floor until it hit his foot. He picked up the phone and saw that Lucy's last post on Facebook really did say that Erik's ass smelled like daisies.

With a wicked grin, Laxus started taking a video of the two as Erik pinned Lucy to the ground by sitting on her chest and hooking her legs under his arms so she was bent in half.

"If the devil doesn't like it, he can sit on a tack!" Erik sang loudly, a wicked grin on his face.

"Ow!" Lucy shrieked when he pinched her behind.

"Sit on a tack!"

"Oh god, sto - Ow!"

"Sit on a tack!"

"Cobra, don't you dare - OW! You bit my ass!"

"Goddamn right, I did!"

"I can't breathe!"

"Get smaller tits." He paused then wiggled where he was sitting on her breasts and added, "Nevermind, I'm comfy."

"Still can't breathe."

"How the hell are you talking if you can't breathe?"

"..."

"Alice?"

"..."

Erik grinned and looked up at Laxus, then gave the phone a thumbs up.

"Ah! Get your finger out of my ass!"

"It's alive!" Erik shouted while wrestling with the flailing blonde.

"I fucking love you, Cobra," Laxus laughed just before he ended the video. That shit was going online. Especially because not many people got to see Erik as anything other than an asshole. It was the one thing he never was where Lucy or Laxus were concerned, and in that moment… Laxus wanted everyone to see just what he saw in the normally grouchy asshole. His smile, his laugh, how big of a dork he was, and everything else Laxus loved about him.

And there's the rest of the Laxus/Cobra/Lucy triangle. Next chapter will have Jackal in it again. I'm just not sure where in the timeline it'll be after Jackal and Lucy meet. I hope you guys enjoyed this. I definitely loved writing it.

So, Review, Follow, Favorite! I love you, guys!

~~GemNika