Couples Therapy

Chapter 10

Considering the guild had survived years without Mirajane and Laxus being together, one would think that their breakup would, at the very least, not affect it at all. If not put everything back in its correct order. Laxus could go back to being a brooding, yet protective watchman of the guild and Mirajane could be the extremely available, yet equally unattainable barmaid that got in everyone's business.

Things, essentially, should have been back to normal. Instead, things seemed to just become awkward.

"I don't know," Levy sighed as she and Gajeel sat with one another in the hall. Lily was there, standing on the table, listening as well. "I just feel bad."

"Why?" the slayer in question grumbled. "What does the two of them have to do with the two of us?"

"A lot," the woman reasoned. "I mean, they're kind of the whole reason we're…that we're…"

That got a snort from the man before he moved to sling back some of the ale sitting in front of him. The second he did his face grew dark.

"Damn it," he growled. "This is the wrong type of beer."

Levy made a face at him. "Does it really matter? Isn't it all just the same?"

"No, shrimp," he grumbled as he glanced around for Lisanna. "It ain't. And why is Mira's damn sister workin' anyhow? She never gets anything right."

"Be nice," Levy said, giving him a look. "She's super busy and Kinana is sick and-"

"And this is why Mira should be-"

"You know that her and Laxus have things all mapped out," Lily said with a nod of his head. "She works in the morning and in the night. He gets the hall during the afternoon."

At that, Levy shook her head. "They can't honestly think that that will work for a prolonged period of time, can they?"

Gajeel just took to staring at his cat. "So what then, Lily? You keepin' up with relationships now?"

"Huh? No! Of course not." He crossed his arm and looked off. "I just have a hard time ignoring it when it is spoke of in my prescience. That is all."

"Who speaks of it?" Levy was grinning at him then as Gajeel only gave him a hard stare. "Pantherlily?"

"Yeah, cat, who? Who just forces you to listen to-"

"You are right now," he pointed out, still refusing to look at them. "And…and Happy! He does constantly."

"Happy does what constantly?"

Suddenly, they found the core members of Team Natsu standing before their table. It was Natsu who spoke, even glancing at his Exceed friend as if questioning him as well.

"Nothing," Levy was quick to say as the blue cat only frowned, knowing just from Pantherlily's tone that whatever they were saying about him hadn't been good. "We were just talking about…well, about Mira and Laxus."

"Oh." Happy's frown faded. "Yeah, I talk about that a lot."

Natsu only frowned as Lucy moved to take a seat on the other side of the table. "What are you guys doing?"

"I'm just along for the ride," Happy explain as he stayed resting on Lucy's head. "She's the one that sat down."

"We're supposed to be picking a job," he complained. "Lucy-"

"Go pick one, Natsu," she said with a slight shrug. "Come show it to us when you find one you like, huh?"

He didn't wanna do it alone (then they'd critique whatever he chose the whole time they were out doing the job), but neither of them were passing up talking about that with Levy, so he was on his own.

"It really is kinda sad, huh?" Lucy said after he walked off. "That they-"

"I didn't really want to talk about this," Gajeel grumbled. "I just wanted Lisanna to bring me the drink that I ordered. That's all."

"Gajeel, shush," Levy said, not even glancing at him. He glared at her words, but she only continued to stare at her blonde friend. "It is sad, huh? I mean, I never really…liked Laxus and Mirajane together."

"Not at all."

"I always picture her with…literally anyone else."

"Yeah and I think that he belongs with someone a lot more…rugged or something. Just not Mirajane."

"Right?" Levy nodded. "I've always thought that."

"Now that they're broken up though," Lucy said slowly, "I just…kinda think it's sad. Laxus is super bummed about it, Lisanna said. And Mira too."

"I know, Lucy," Happy suggested as he bounced off her head to land on the table with Pantherlily. "You should date Laxus to make it up to him."

"Shut up, cat."

"What?" He cocked his head. "I owe Laxus my date with Carla. So if he wants, I would gladly give him you."

"You don't have me to give away," she pointed out. "And I don't think that Laxus would really want me anyways."

"Don't get down on yourself," Levy said. "I bet he would totally take you."

"Is this really what you all talk about when I'm not around?" Gajeel complained. "Honestly?"

"Laxus wants Mira," Lucy insisted with a frown. "Not me."

"Everyone needs a rebound," Happy kept up. "And you're perfect for that."

"You're about to get it, cat. Mira's my friend. And you know that I'm with Natsu."

He only snickered. "I'm just joking. Sheesh, Lucy, you take everything so seriously."

"Yeah, sure."

"I," Levy went on, "just think that Laxus and Mirajane did a lot for all of us these past few weeks and that we kinda owe them. Don't we?"

"You too are donating Lucy to Laxus?" Lily sighed. "I suppose I will cast my vote the same way."

"Lily!" Lucy complained as the two Exceeds only snickered. Gajeel was more concerned with the fact that Lisanna still hadn't passed by and that he couldn't find her anywhere.

"I am about to get behind that damn bar and get my own beer," he grumbled to which Levy only shushed him again.

"What can we do for them though? Seriously, guys?" the letter mage asked. "I mean, it's all kinda our fault that they broke up, isn't it?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Gajeel grumbled. "Did I make the two of them incompatible and completely wrong for one another? My bad."

"Stop being so grouchy," Levy said as Lily only snickered.

"I do agree," Lucy said slowly. "With some of that, at least. We didn't make them all break up…did we?"

"I think you did, Lucy."

"Look, Happy, if you don't-"

"I'm just saying," Levy intervened, "that they broke up on one of their stupid counseling session things, right? That's what I heard."

"More or less," Lucy agreed.

"Well, we're the ones that kept encouraging the whole thing," Levy insisted. "We all let Mira think that she was the goddess of therapy and kept letting her take us all out places. If we hadn't done that, she would have been over the whole thing long before they took Freed out and ended up in that big fight."

"Or," Gajeel kept up. "They would have just had a fight over something else because that's what happens and you're both just trying to get involved in this because you're as nosey as Mirajane. Now, where is her fucking sister?"

"Is, uh, something wrong, Gajeel?" Lucy asked, rubbing at the back of her neck. "Or-"

"When isn't something wrong?" Levy sighed. Lily's snickers agitated him that time though and Gajeel turned his glare on him.

"What, cat? You think it's funny, huh? That I can't even get any damn service in this guildhall because Lisanna's too damn stupid-"

"All this over a beer?" Levy rolled her eyes. "Anyways, we should just do something for Mira and Laxus."

"Like what?" Lucy asked. "I mean, they're broken up now. It's not like we can just take them out to dinner. Unless…I guess we could take them out each separately or something."

"Can I not go on the Laxus dinner?" Happy asked. "Please?"

"I find that I would rather not enjoy that either," Lily agreed.

"Yeah, uh, Gajeel and I already went to dinner with Laxus and it was okay," Levy said slowly. "No need to do it again."

"Well I'm not going alone," Lucy complained.

"Maybe we can all just give Laxus a gift," Happy suggested. "And take Mirajane to dinner."

"What kinda gift can we get Laxus though?" Levy asked. "I mean-"

"Lucy."

"For the last time, cat-"

"Hey, are you guys gonna come on this job or what?" Natsu was back then, coming to hand off one of the request fliers to his girlfriend. "I think I picked a great one."

"You always think that," Lucy sighed as she took the paper from him. Happy only grinned up at his friend though.

"Hey, Natsu, do you think it's okay if Lucy goes on a date with Laxus to make him feel better?"

"Happy-"

"Why would that make him feel better?" the slayer asked, scratching at his head. "I mean-"

"I think Happy's a little sidetracked," Levy said with a giggle, glancing at Natsu. "But hey, you know Laxus pretty well, right?"

"Right."

"As well as you can know someone who you annoy constantly and hates when you talk to him," Lucy mumbled as she took to reading over the flier. "With those qualifications, he knows him awfully well."

"Well," Levy went on. "What do you think we should do for him? We're trying to do something for both Mira and Laxus, you know? Since they broke up?"

He gave her a blank stare and, for a moment, she feared that he'd either forgotten that they'd broken up or that they were ever together. Instead, he only shrugged.

"You should give them therapy."

"Eh?" Even Gajeel glanced over at that one, giving up his fruitless search for Lisanna. "Therapy?"

"Sure," Natsu said, taking the job request back from Lucy then before looking around for Makarov or whoever was tending bar. He wanted to get gone and fast. "That's what they all did for us. Now they need it returned back to them. You can counsel them and get them back together. That's all Laxus would want."

For a moment, they all just sat there. Then Happy snickered.

"Natsu came up with a better solution than you, Lucy."

"He came up with a better one than you too!"

"We could do that," Lily said slowly. "I suppose."

"How though?" Levy asked. "Mira won't go for it. Lisanna says that she doesn't even want to talk about it with her. And Laxus would never let us do something like that to him."

When everyone looked to Natsu again, he just frowned, suspicious.

"What?" he complained. "Do I have something in my teeth?"

"No," Lucy said slowly. "But you had the answer to the last question, so-"

"Oh." Then he grinned, punching at the air. "Tell Laxus that if he shows up, he can fight me! No way he'd pass up on-"

"And we should have quit while he was ahead," Happy sighed.

"He was ahead at something?"

That came from Gray, who had been walking passed, but stopped at the words.

"Really?" the ice mage insisted. "I'm impressed already."

Natsu only growled, turning his eyes onto his sworn rival. "Why don't you just keep walking, pervert? We're busy."

"Pervert? How am I-"

"Gray, your clothes," Cana sighed from the table next to theirs. To Levy and Lucy though, she only said, "If you wanna get Mirajane somewhere, that's easy enough. Just tell her that you're taking her out for some other reason. Any other reason. She'll go if it's interesting enough to her. And Laxus, well, just get one of the Thunder Legion to invite him out somewhere. He'll do almost anything for one of them."

"Are you speaking of Mirajane and Laxus?" Erza came over then as well. "And trying to find a solution for their tiff?"

"Does everyone in this damn hall just think they're invited to come join in on conversations?" Gajeel complained. "And for the last time, where is Lisanna?"

"Uh, yeah," Levy said slowly, glancing at Erza. "Why?"

"I am concerned as well," she said. "Mirajane and I are friends, after all."

"After all," Lucy mumbled. "And if you're so concerned, why are you taking the job request from Natsu?"

"W-Well, I might be a tad more concerned with this, sure, but I came over here for the conversation." Nodding her head then, Erza said, "Excellent choice, Natsu. Come. Let's-"

"You just came over here to speed things along," Lucy accused. "And we'll leave after we finish this."

When Erza gave her a look, the blonde only grinned sheepishly before getting to her feet.

"Or, uh, we can go now," she said. "Whatever you want, Erza."

Snickering, Happy took to the air. "You're in trouble, Lucy."

"Shush, cat."

"I don't wanna go on a job with this idiot," Natsu complained, as he and Gray glared at one another.

"Oh, yeah, like I wanna go with you, flame breath."

"Then why are you trying to?"

"I never said I was!"

Erza frowned, glancing up from the flier. "The two of you aren't fighting, are you, boys?"

"Wha'?" Gray looked away first. "Us?"

"No way!" Natsu even trough down some laughter. "The two of us? Never."

"Never," Gray agreed. "Best buddies right here."

"Totally."

That made the ice mage frown some. "Would you stop trying to get the last word?"

"Me? You're the one that keeps-"

"Yeah, because you keep-"

"If," Cana spoke up again after taking a long gulp from her barrel of wine, "you guys want my input on the subject-"

"Why would anyone want that?" Gajeel asked. "Why would I want any of your inputs? I was trying to have a drink, with my shrimp, and my kitty when you idiots all-"

"-the thing to get Mirajane interested in going is pretty simple," Cana said with a nod of her head.

"And what's that?" Lucy asked as Erza only turned to walk off, Natsu and Gray taking to glaring at one another the second her back was turned. "Cana?"

"Tell her that she finally got her Gray and Juvia thing to go through," she said. "That'll perk her right up. Say that they're dating and that they want her to go out with the two of them, as a celebratory-"

"What?" Gray was completely done with Natsu then. "Why would you even suggest something so-"

"Did I hear what I think I heard?"

And Gajeel only groaned as the rain woman appeared literally out of nowhere, coming to toss her arms around Gray.

"We are going on a date?" She even bounced slightly as she held tight to him. "I knew this day would come!"

"No," he hissed. "We're not. We-"

"Gray," Cana complained. "Do you want Mirajane to be miserable forever?"

"No. But there are other options for-"

"Then just go on one fake date with Juvia and-"

"That's not fair! Why do I have to give up for them? Her and Laxus didn't help me any with this therapy stuff," he said. "And what do you mean about Mirajane trying to get me and Juvia to-"

"Oh, Gray," Levy sighed. "Were you that blind? Mira's been trying at that for weeks now."

"Yeah, well, she can keep trying, but it's not gonna do any good," he said, trying to shake Juvia off. "I'm not going to-"

"Gray." Erza turned then, on her heel, to stare at him. "Are you saying that you do not believe that Mirajane had done enough for you over the years to qualify you to make a little sacrifice for her sometimes?"

"A little? This is-" Then he saw the look in Erza's eyes and gave into his fate, allowing Juvia to hug him without even fighting it. "I guess not."

"Good. It is decided then." Erza set out once more. "We will take this small job and then, when we return, we will begin preparations on counseling Mirajane and Laxus. Even getting them back together if it's necessary. Now, I know that Master is gone, but where is Lisanna? Someone must process this request."

"That is what I've been sayin' for the past hour," Gajeel complained. "I mean-"

"I can find her," Natsu said, nodding his head before taking a big whiff of the air. "I smell her right now."

Levy elbowed Gajeel. "Why didn't you think of that?"

"Don't test me, shrimp."

"Lisanna," Happy called as he flew after Natsu who assumed the scent trailing position, which just meant that he got down on all fours and sniffed at the ground, nearly running into almost everyone he passed. "We're gonna find you!"

"Because I don't see this ending horribly," Lucy sighed, following along. "And Natsu, is that really necessary?"

"It is completely necessary."

"Yeah, Lucy," Happy agreed. "Completely."

Natsu led his two friends out of the main part of the hall and into one off the halls. He came to a stop at one of the closet doors.

"Lisanna," he called. "Are you in there?"

It took a moment. "Uh…yeah. Did you…need something? Or-"

Natsu only popped up then, reaching out to open the door. "Yeah, I- Oh. Hey, Bickslow."

"Go away," the seith growled from his position the floor, visor pushed up as he glared out at them. "Seriously."

Lisanna, who was sitting in his lap, only frowned over her shoulder. "We're a little busy."

"You do know that you're on the job right now, right?" Lucy asked slowly, rubbing awkwardly at her neck. "I mean, Gajeel's about to lose it out there."

Happy only covered his mouth with his paws. "You guys are in love."

"Yeah, sure, just close the door," the seith grumbled. Then, to Lisanna, he said, "Your friends are annoying."

"We need to talk to you anyways, Bickslow," Natsu said with a nod of his head. "It's important."

"Schedule an appointment," he growled. "I'm free anytime other than now. So-"

"It's about Mirajane and Laxus," Happy said. "We want to get them back in love too!"

"Guys, I don't think this is the time," Lucy tried. "Maybe-"

"What's the plan?" Hearing her sister's name was all Lisanna needed to stand right back up. She and Bickslow couldn't have been doing much as the only thing she really had to do was straighten her shirt a tad before facing them. "Happy?"

"Uh, Lissy," Bickslow complained. "We were kinda-"

"Ah. Lisanna. They found you. Good work, Natsu." Erza appeared then too. "Here. This is the job that we are-"

"Here you are." And there was Gajeel and Lily as well. "You know, I tried to be nice about it and just drink, you know, the wrong beer, but I ain't puttin' up with it! This guildhall's bad enough, but now I can't even get drunk the way I wanna? You better shape up or ship out!"

"By which Gajeel means," Lily snickered as he fluttered along, "you gave him the wrong ale."

"The completely wrong one!"

Lisanna only stared at all of them. "This is a lot to take in. Let's focus on Happy right now. What was that about Mira and Laxus?"

"Boss?" Bickslow perked up. "Is he here?"

"No, but-"

"Oh. Then I don't care." Reaching out of the closet then, he tried to drag Lisanna back in. "Go away. All of you. There has to be other people in this guild to deal with your prob- And Erza's giving me looks. Get away from me, Lisanna. Gotta save myself."

"Stop pushing me," she complained as he only shoved her right back out of the closet before closing the door behind her. "So annoying."

"Mirajane and Laxus can be dealt with later," Erza told them all harshly. "And so can Gajeel."

"No," Black Steel growled. "He can't."

"Alright," Lisanna said slowly, glancing away from Happy then. "Uh, what was it you wanted then? Erza?"

"The job. Fill the request. Please."

"Right. I can do that. Of course I can do that."

"And then," Happy said, "we can talk about Laxus and Mirajane, right? Maybe? Erza?"

"No." She turned to walk off then. "We have a job to do."

"Fine," the Exceed complained. "Teaser though, Lisanna. Gray and Juvia are going on a date!"

"What?" She was quick to head after them, Natsu and Lucy following. "You can't leave me with only that. I need more information!"

Gajeel only growled, following them with the snickering Pantherlily. "Just get my beer, woman! I hope you're not expecting a tip after all of this."

"Wow, Gajeel," Natsu snickered along with Happy. "That's how you handle problems now?"

"Yeah," Happy giggled, though he made sure to stay close to Lucy, just in case. He wasn't as stupid as Natsu. "You don't sound tough at all anymore!"

"Look, you stupid little-"

"No tip?" Lisanna shook her head. "Then why should I even bother getting you a new beer?"

"What? You little-"

"Don't make me sic my boyfriend on you," she threatened.

"Yeah, like I'm afraid of someone who plays with dolls. Try again, girlie."

"I'll get my sister's boyfriend to kill you then."

"Laxus and your freaky sister broke up, last time I checked."

"And last time I checked, he's still in love with her, which means he'll do whatever I want him to do. So-"

"Hey, that's a good angle," Happy told her as she went behind the bar to get the request sent in. "We can completely bypass the Thunder Legion and go through you. Can you get Mira and Laxus to both-"

"Later," Erza reminded. "I mean it, Happy. We have a job to do and-"

"Why are you guys talking about sis and that unmanly scumbag?"

That came from Elfman who they found was seated at the bar, a newspaper out in front of him.

"Uh, don't you mean the idiot that left the most glorious man to ever walk the face of this planet?"

And that, of course, came from Evergreen, who was seated next to her boyfriend at the bar, filing her nails.

"Mirajane is not an idiot, Ever."

"Uh, yeah, Elf, she is."

"Don't you talk about my sister that way!"

"And don't you talk about my Laxus that way."

"Oh, now he's your Laxus? Really?"

"Really."

"That's-"

"We're getting Mirajane and Laxus back together," Lisanna told them before they dissolved any further into their fight. "And-"

"Fill the request, Lisanna," Erza said as she turned to walk away from the bar. "We're leaving. Come on, guys. And where is Gray?"

"Uh, I think he's being smothered to death by Juvia," Lucy said, pointing over to where the man had yet to be unable to escape the other mage's grasp. "Maybe we should just leave him to her."

"Ha ha!" Natsu punched the air. "See that, little buddy? Gray's all tangled up in a woman. Which means, of course, that I win."

"Win what?" Lucy asked.

"Uh, gee, Luce, the obvious competition we were having to see who wasn't smothered to death by a woman."

"When were you having that-"

"As soon as he saw that he was going to win," Happy said. "Duh. Come on, Lucy. That was obvious."

"So obvious," she grumbled as she walked off with them. "Shocking I didn't get it."

Lisanna, left behind the bar, only sighed, glancing at her brother and his girlfriend.

"So are you guys gonna help?" she asked.

"Help with what?"

"Help get Mira and Laxus back together, Elf. Duh."

"What," Ever complained, "do you think everyone's been doing for the past, oh, two weeks?"

Making a face at the other woman, the younger of the two said, "But this time there's a plan."

"What plan?"

"Well, I don't know. Happy came up with it."

"Oh, great," Ever said with a nod of her head. "Mirajane and Laxus closest friends couldn't get them back together, but a stupid plan thought up by an idiot will. That's great, Lisanna. Put some money on that one."

"Watch who you're talkin' about," Gajeel grumbled, though he still only glared at Lisanna. "My shrimp came up with that plan."

"Did she?" Lisanna shrugged. "Well… Did you need something, Gajeel or-"

"My beer!"

Elfman snorted. "Men don't yell at women."

"What'd you just say to me?" Gajeel growled. "You stupid little-"

"Great, Elf," Ever complained. "Argue with Gajeel. That'll solve everything and not cause any problems at all."

It was his turn to growl. "Ever, I'm trying to deal with something here!"

Lily snickered. "What happened to not yelling at women?"

Lisanna only groaned. "Okay, okay. Enough. This isn't helping Mira and Laxus which, obviously, is what we're all here for."

"No," Gajeel complained. "It's not. Now get me my-"

"Did someone mention Laxus?"

Again, they were joined, though that time it was by Carla, who spoke, and Wendy.

"Because," the Exceed went on as she landed on the bar in front of Lisanna, "there is a very pressing matter I must discuss with him involving tea that he owes-"

"He's not here," Lisanna said with a shrug. "We're just working on getting him and Mirajane back together."

"No, Lisanna," Gajeel insisted. "Only you're doing that. And at this point, I'm nearly certain it's just to piss me off!"

"Well aren't you a clever one?"

"You-"

"I really hope that they get back together too," Wendy said as she frowned a little. "I think it's sucks that they broke up. I really thought that they were cute together."

"I think you're alone on that ship," Lisanna told her. "But we do have a plan going that you're welcome to get involved in-"

"You're not even masterminding this," Lily pointed out. "You were literally brought in on the tail end of things. And not even because anyone wanted you involved."

"I don't remember it that way."

"Of course not."

"I'm pretty sure Bickslow and I orchestrated the whole thing."

"Figures."

Elfman only shook his head. "You shouldn't get involved, sis. Mirajane told us both that she's fine without Laxus and that this was going to be the ending to this all along. If she don't want you poking your nose in it, then-"

"She's just saying that because she's scared, Elf," Lisanna said. "I mean, sure, who in their right mind would want to get back with Laxus?"

"Uh, try everyone."

"No, Ever," the younger woman retorted. "They wouldn't. But Mira does. I can tell. I'm her sister."

"I don't care," Gajeel growled. "Just get me my beer."

"Are you still on about that?"

"Lisanna-"

"Just get it for him," Carla complained. "He looks like he's about to blow a gasket."

"Or a nose stud," Wendy quipped which got some giggles. Not from the slayer though. And, finally bored with him, Lisanna went to get him the drink that he wanted.

"Here you go," she said, setting the mug in front of him. "You're welcome."

It only took a sniff.

"This is the wrong drink. It's the same wrong one that you gave me before which is making me question why the hell you're tending bar."

Lisanna just stared at him. "You know, you get more flies with honey than vinegar."

"The hell would I want flies for?"

"I don't know, Gajeel. It's a saying. What? Am I supposed to understand every saying I use? I mean-"

"Thank you," the slayer growled when, at the sound of the guildhall doors opening, he turned and found that it was Mirajane walking in. The night shift was starting. "Finally. You know how sad it is, Lisanna, that the airhead is more competent than you behind the bar? Do you- And she's gone."

Pantherlily only shook his head as Lisanna headed back down the hall. "The closet awaits."

"I really don't want to be here right now."

"Come on, boss," Bickslow said as he led the man down the road. "What's the big deal? Me and Lissy miss you."

"Yeah," Lisanna insisted as she walked along with them. "Can't I miss you, Laxus? I mean, we spent, like, every day that you weren't out on a job together. Just because you and Mirajane are broken up, what? That means that you don't care about me at all anymore?"

"I didn't say that," he grumbled. "But-"

"Oy, boss, we're just takin' ya to dinner. Our treat," the seith said, reaching over to pat the man on the shoulder. "Even saved up some jewels just for the occasion."

"Really?"

"Sure."

Of course not. Why would he? His and Lisanna's obligation would be filled the second they got the man to the restaurant. Everything after that would be on the next pair they passed the torch to.

Then he and Lisanna could get back to hanging out and wasting the day away. He liked the idea of smoking, drinking, and then banging, but she usually liked drinking, banging, and then smoking so, really, the day was up for grabs.

Hmmm.

For Lisanna though, it wasn't at all. A week or so had passed since that day in the bar where the plan was originally formulated and now, with Team Natsu back from their little trip, things were finally underway. So long as Gray and Juvia had held up their end of things with Mirajane, when they showed up with Laxus, things would really get going.

Not that they would be able to see it all come into fruition. Nope. Her and Bickslow, as the others claimed, were not finishers. Or starters, really, but they were the least likely Laxus would suspect of actually pulling something so massive off (tricking him and Mirajane into a counseling session, sure, but something like this, no way).

Plus, they both insisted on having a part in it all and they were so annoying about it that the others had no choice, but to include them. They were honestly just that annoying.

With so many moving parts, it was a monster to plan, but so far, so good. On Lisanna and Bickslow's half. And honestly, that was all they cared about. If everyone else failed and Mirajane and Laxus didn't get back together, they would be able to hold it over the others for, oh, ever that they'd gotten their end done.

Oh, and Ever and Elf had theirs finished which was, of course, to stay the hell out of everything. Levy and Lucy made that one pretty clear (in much nicer words). The two of them just wouldn't be good at bringing people together. Heck, they could hardly keep themselves together.

"Sure?" Laxus repeated. "What do you mean? That was a yes or no question."

"Then yes."

"Bickslow-"

"What do you think I'm doin' then, boss? Huh? If not what I just told you that I am?"

"I think that you idiots are gonna eat a lot, get a huge bill, and dump it on me."

"What? Us? Never."

"That does sound like us, Bicks," Lisanna pointed out.

"Yeah, Lissy, I know, but we're not."

"We're not," his dolls, who were floating around, insisted. "We're not, boss. We're not."

"Alright, alright," he grumbled. "And you better not anyhow, because I will just pay for myself and leave you idiots to wash dishes or floors."

"I think that's just in cartoons, Laxus," Lisanna told him slowly. "I think they would just arrest us in real life."

"Good. You dummies need a night in the slammer."

"I do not like the sound of that at all, no," Bickslow said with a shake of his head. "Could you imagine it, boss? A guy like me? A single father of five? In jail? I mean, obviously, I would do great in there, I'd probably become, like, a prison god or something-"

"Obviously," Lisanna agreed.

"-but I would enjoy it so much that I'd probably never make it back out. And we can't have that, can we?"

"I don't see why not, but whatever," Laxus sighed as he only continued to trudge along. There was no part of him that wanted to go out with the two idiots. None. And if it had just been Bickslow to show up, he might have managed some way to weasel out of it (or just sent the dumbass packing), but with Lisanna there, well, Laxus couldn't pass up on an opportunity like that, could he? Though he wouldn't say it aloud, some info on Mirajane would be nice. And who better to somehow get to slip up on it than her sister? "Can we just stop talking though? For now? I have a headache."

"Sure, boss," Bickslow said. "Or should I say yes?"

"No, idiot, right then saying sure would have been fine."

"No need for the harsh words, boss. I am buying you dinner after all."

Or more like not at all.

Hehe.

Laxus was in for a shock when, as they walked into the restaurant, a scent hit him. It was, of course, a very strong one. Mirajane. It was very obviously Mirajane. And it was a lot stronger than it should have been, had it just been lingering on Lisanna or something.

Mira was there.

"No need for assistance, simple hostess," Bickslow said to the woman at the front, ready to seat them. "Our group's right-"

"No. Bickslow-"

"Come on, boss." The seith only tugged him along and, honestly, Laxus was too shocked to fight it.

Had Mirajane put them up to this? Did she want to see him? He couldn't run off if that was the case. He'd go see her and they-

And no. It wasn't the case. At all. Her face as she noticed his approach said it all.

"Laxus." It was Gray that spoke that. He was there with Mirajane for some reason, Juvia sitting on the same side of the table with him. That was hard to miss, honesty, as the rain woman was practically in his lap as she did not, at all, allow any space in the booth to be between her and her beloved. "You made it."

"What do you mean?" Laxus growled. Mirajane though was only staring at her sister.

"Lisanna," she hissed. "What-"

"What's that, Bickslow? You left the stove on?" Lisanna looked to her boyfriend. "That's a shame."

"Eh? Oh, no, yeah. Totally. Don't wanna burn down the apartment, boss. Cheers!"

Laxus tried to grab at them, but the two idiot were wiry and made it out with the seith's babies in tow.

"Don't bother with them," Gray told Laxus though, upon closer inspection, the Dragon Slayer found that the other mage looked extremely uncomfortable. Which was odd, considering he was the same mage that walked around naked (or close to it) ninety percent of the time. "I asked Bickslow and Lisanna to get you."

"And why," Mira asked, "would you do that? You said that you wanted to invite me out as-"

"A thank you," Juvia agreed, nodding her head as she left her arms wrapped tightly around Gray. "And it is. But we also have to thank you too, Laxus. It was because of the two of you that we get to be together now, after all."

"After all," Gray grumbled. "Uh, Juvia, would you mind loosening up a tad? I mean-"

"A thank you?" Laxus frowned. "For what? We didn't get the two of you-"

"I got them together," Mirajane said then, sitting up taller than before. She wouldn't look at her dragon though. "Of course they would be thankful."

"And how did you do that? I mean-"

"Shut up, Laxus."

"Don't you tell me to shut up! I-"

"Shut," Mirajane hissed, "up, Laxus."

"Look you-"

"Hey, guys, don't start arguing." Gray tried to put his hands up, but they were currently pinned to his sides by his overly affectionate (and apparent) girlfriend. "Juvia here let me in on the fact that the two of you helped convince me to ask her to out. And you did. Thinking back on it, I can definitely think of instances of you implementing it on me. So just sit down, Laxus, and let me buy you some dinner. Steak sound good?"

When the man just glared at him, Mirajane literally gave out an uncharacteristic groan.

"Just sit down, Laxus," she complained, even sliding over in the booth. "They went through a lot, I'm sure, to get Lisanna and Bickslow to do that, so-"

"You don't tell me what to do, Mirajane."

"Then go! Just leave."

"I just said that you don't tell me what to-"

"Not to be a bother," Gray started then, "but you're making a scene."

Laxus only turned his glare back to the maker mage. "You're literally sitting here in a button up shirt and your boxers, bro."

"Wh- When did that-"

"No, no," Juvia said as Gray tried to pull his downed pants off the floor and back up, all without even standing (he wasn't doing so hot). "It is much better this way."

Rolling his eyes then, the Dragon Slayer sighed audibly before moving to take a seat next to his (apparently ex) girlfriend.

There was no point in fighting it. If the idiots had constructed such an elaborate scheme, why blow it for them? Sometimes being at the top of the guild like he was meant, yes, harping on the others, but just the same, it also meant keeping from discouraging them. And though he hated being the butt of the plan, he had to hand it to them; they'd achieved crossover with Juvia and Gray mixing with Bickslow and Lisanna.

Oh, if only he knew. If only.

Mirajane, clearly, had had her bravado broken by his appearance and even looked a tad flustered. Part of Laxus wanted to just go ahead and leave, to make her feel better, but the vengeful part of him who, after that dinner with Freed, had gone over to her house, ready to talk it out only to be thwarted didn't want to do anything close to that. She was the one in the wrong. Her. He was Laxus freaking Dreyar. He didn't need a woman to begin. She'd been lucky to get what she'd gotten. And now that it was over, well, sucked to be her.

"Anyways," Gray got back to saying then, looking to Mira. "It just hit me one day, you know? That Juvia and I…belong together."

The woman in question squealed, squeezing him harder. Mira only blinked.

"I understand that part," she said. "It's only… You've known of her feelings for you for some time. I'm just…surprised that the little effort that I put into this actually pulled something off."

"Of course it did," Juvia said, glancing over at them. She had a job to do too, after all. If she blew it, then her and Gray's time with Mira and Laxus would be over and, well, her (fake) relationship with Gray would be also. She was hoping that during the time she was convincing Laxus and Mirajane to get back together that she might also get Gray to see how great the two of them would be together. A pipe dream, sure, but no more than most of the ones she had. "You're a miracle worker, Mirajane. And you too, Laxus. You both just mesh so well together. As counselors, of course."

"Of course," Laxus grumbled.

Mirajane didn't even glance at him. She was refusing to. "Well, thank you for feeling so grateful. I just wish that you had realized how…awkward this is for Laxus and I."

"Well," Gray said as he went back to trying to shove Juvia off. It was as futile as ever. "We just thought that we should thank you both at the same time."

"But why?"

"Eh?"

"Why?" Mira insisted. "I don't understand-"

"What difference does it make?" Laxus shook his head. "We're here now so-"

"Shut up, Laxus."

"Look, woman, if you don't stop-"

"Oh, wow, I can't believe you guys are here."

Then, suddenly, at their table were two more people that Laxus did not want to see. At all.

"Hi," Mirajane said slowly, staring up at Levy and Gajeel, the former holding Pantherlily in her arms. "Uh, are you guys-"

"This is a damn conspiracy," Laxus growled as the sight of them. Gajeel only snarled back.

"What are you talkin' about? I am just takin' my cat and my shrimp out to eat." Then, he was elbowed by Levy, he added, "The cat and the shrimp that I have such a great relationship with because of you and Mirajane. So what a coincidence that we have stumbled up you-"

"You guys could have at least tried to come up with some convincing dialogue," Laxus added. You know, since he was the master of coming up with stuff like that. "I mean-"

"What are you talking about?" Lily asked. "We are merely out for a meal."

"Right."

"We are."

"Laxus, shush," Mirajane sighed, rolling her eyes. "Do you have to fight with everyone?"

"Fight? I'm not fighting with anyone, woman, so-"

"Shush."

"Mirajane-" She didn't cut him off that time. No, he stopped himself. Mainly because a scent hit him. Looking up, he said, "No. No way. Is that-"

"Natsu, we're not supposed to be here yet," Lucy was complaining as she and her boyfriend came into the restaurant, Happy tagging along with them. "The plan is for us to show up when Carla and Wendy do. Look, Gajeel and Levy are still here. Which means-"

"Laxus! Mirajane!" Happy flew right passed the hostess and headed over to the table where all the others were. "What a surprise! Now where's Carla?"

"What is going on?" Mirajane looked straight to Levy. "Why are-"

"I'm not a part of this," Laxus said, starting to get to his feet. "I'm not-"

"Enough!" Gray had finally managed to shove Juvia off though it involved him also tumbling out of the booth, bumping into the already agitated Gajeel.

"G-Gray." Juvia was scrambling after him. "What-"

"I said that I would go on this fake damn date with you," he hissed, "but this is just-"

"What are you doing?" Lucy complained, coming over as well to frown at him. "You're ruining things!"

"Hey, Gray, get up!" Natsu came to kick at him. "Ruinin' things, is he, Luce? Well-"

"So are you!"

"I'm not doing this either," Mira said as, after Laxus got out of the booth and started to head off, she quickly followed. "At all."

"Doing what?" Levy wasn't ready to see it all blow up. "Guys-"

"Learn to plan shit better," Laxus growled over his shoulder. "I managed to trick the damn demon through nearly all of your stupid counseling sessions and you idiots couldn't even pull this off? I mean, honestly?"

"What are you talking about?" Finally, Mira looked at him. It was hard not to. In her rush to get away, she'd caught him at the entrance to the restaurant (the hostess had vacated to deal with the brewing Gray and Natsu fight which, of course, also involved a cheering Happy and Lily as well as a growling Gajeel) and he had said something that sparked her interest, if only a little. "Tricking me?"

He only snorted, not even holding the door open for her. "What do you think I mean? I made all that shit up, Mira. I bought Cana off with booze, I gave Carla tea, I promised Gajeel a concert-"

"What?"

"You were never any good at this." They were outside then, on the sidewalk, and he stopped to face her. "You sucked at it, so I made it work for you. Are you that stupid that you never realized- Don't walk away from- Mira!"

It wasn't like he wanted to chase after her. At all. He was tired of Mirajane. He was tired of the guild. He was tired of whatever stupid plan it was that the others had hatched that had fallen through. He'd had two weeks to think things over and clarity was winning out. All he ever did when he was with Mirajane was work on keeping her happy. Well guess what? It was time to make himself happy.

Then it had to go and happen. Some drunk had to fall all over Mira, just right down the road, and he had to run down to there to protect her. From the drunk.

"Cana?"

The woman, for some reason or other that no doubt had to do with the big elaborate scheme the others had going on, was dressed in a heavy trench coat, probably to hide or something else stupid like that, but had been stumbling around the block, intoxicated and lost. When she'd seen Mirajane running off, well, what was she left to do, but pounce on her?

"Get off her." Laxus came to drag the drunk off as Mirajane, eyes still stinging from the tears that had been threatening to fall due to her dragon, only stared. "Cana, what are you-"

"Hey! Don't touch me!" Cana jerked away from him. "I'm a lady."

"Oh, yeah, okay. How much have you had to drink today?"

"Bah! I don't ans'er to ya! Laxus! It's your fault that I'm 'lone."

"What are you talking about?"

Cana, leaning heavily against him then as, after shoving away, she found it too hard to stand on her own, only said, "Erza and Freed were takin' me to the place to do the thing with the other… I's the mastermind! Since you payed me and Bacchus bill that day, Laxus. You're real good guy some-"

"Erza and Freed, Cana."

"They's takin' me, but then they got into a fight!"

"A fight?" Laxus frowned. "What are you going on about? Why were you with- Are you talking about that stupid thing back at the restaurant? They were taking you there and then got into a fight?"

"Sure."

He'd already had the sure discussion with Bickslow once and was not having it with another idiot then.

"Over what?"

"Freed said that ya were right and Erza said that Mira cou' do better and-"

"I don't have time for this." Laxus looked down at Mirajane who was getting to her feet then. "Are you alright? Mira, don't walk away, I'm asking you a fucking question."

"Hey!" Cana yelled as he shoved her off though, luckily, she was able to catch herself, as he took of after the demon once more. "This what I get, huh? For fixin' ya?"

"Mira," Laxus called.

"No."

"Just come here."

"I said no."

She wasn't running though and, when he did, he caught her easily. Mirajane just pulled away though, when he tried to grab her and, giving up, he took to only following her.

"Laxus. Mirajane."

Then they ran into a very irate looking Erza who was walking down the sidewalk, coming the other way. In her hand was a blade.

"Have you see-"

"Cana's drunk and you just left her-"

"Not her," she hissed, cutting Laxus off. "Freed. You do not challenge me to a battle and then-" She stopped, suddenly, in front of Mirajane, causing both her and Laxus to do the same. "Oh. The two of you are back together then, I take it?"

Mira only gave her a look. "What do you think?"

"Well, I am uncertain, but-"

"Stop snapping at people," Laxus said, frowning over at the takeover mage. "You're mad at me, not Erza."

"So you are not back together." Erza nodded. "Yes, well, that is most unfortunate."

"What are you taking about?" Laxus grumbled. They were standing in the middle of the sidewalk, forcing others to go around them, but considering they were some of the most recognizable mages in Fairy Tail and were still very much so some of the best, no one made any direct complaints. "Cana told us that you and Freed are fighting over how Mira could do better."

"Oh, she can." Erza spared no feelings. Ever. "Of course she can."

"Thanks," he grumbled dryly. "Then what's your point?"

"Just because she can doesn't mean she should." The swordswoman's eyes were still darting around, as if she was trying to locate someone. No doubt Freed still. "I very much so liked the two of you together."

"I think you're the only one," Mirajane told her, face still contorted into an uncharacteristic frown. "Erza."

Shrugging, she said, "I just thought it was nice that finally all the top mages in the guild could get along without tension. You kept Laxus from getting upset and he kept you from failing, once more, to beat me at your numerous-"

"What is that you want, Erza?" Laxus asked. "That you stopped us?"

"Directions to your follower. We have a score to settle."

"Yeah, well, I like the Thunder Legion in tact, so that isn't going to happen."

Erza huffed, looking them both up and down once before moving to walk around them. "Fine. I will locate him myself. I hope the two of you have a nice day, anyhow. And for what it's worth, you were very much so right, Mirajane."

The other woman only blinked. "About what?"

"Jellal and I. We are together. And you did help us, in a roundabout way. We did not wish for anyone to know and, through your insistence that we go out to dinner with you, we were able to go on a date, in Magnolia, out in the open. You as well, Laxus. It is a shame that we won't be able to do that again.

Snort. "Yeah, right. Jellal was an idiot. That punk kept tryin' to-"

"You and Jellal- Wait, Erza! We have to talk about-"

"No," she said as she swiftly moved down the street and away from them. "We don't."

Mirajane though, at hearing news like that, couldn't keep her sour expression or demeanor for long. After all, it was off the coupling of her guild mates that she thrived, not herself.

"Did you hear that, Laxus?" She was literally bouncing as she grabbed onto his arm in her excitement. "Now that Erza's with Jellal, I just have to find someone for Wendy and Laki and you-"

"And me?" He shook her off. "What's wrong with you, woman?"

"Huh?"

Growling, Laxus said, "You can't put me with someone, demon. I'm with you!"

She blinked, staring up at him. "No, Laxus, you're not."

"Yes, I am. Just because we're broken up doesn't mean that you can go around, putting me with other woman. What's wrong with you?"

"I think that's exactly what it-"

"There's somethin' wrong with you." He set off then too and, with Erza long gone, Mirajane only followed. "I mean, what? You think that we can just go back to being guild members like it's nothing?"

"I don't get what else you would want, Laxus. You said that you were tired of-"

"I said that I was tired of trying to keep you happy and that I want to make me happy. Or for you to at least put in an equal effort on my front. It's not fair, Mira, that I constantly have to give and give for you just so that you can berate me or act like I do absolutely nothing for you. It's not fair. I love you and I'm pretty sure that you just like to use me as a prop."

"That's not true. How could you say that?"

"Uh, because it is true." He'd stopped again, just to glare at her. His scar was much more menacing when he was upset. "You just like to show me off as the guy that you changed or your prime example of how good your skills are at match making. They're not! You just got lucky with Levy and Gajeel, everyone already knew Natsu and Lucy were happening, and seriously. What? You figured out that Erza's been banging the guy that she's clearly had feelings for, albeit rather awkward and odd ones, since you met her? Great, Mira. You're a true match-"

"Why are you being so mean to me? What have I done, Laxus? Huh?"

"What have you- You didn't describe me as your perfect man!"

They were both just staring at one another then, but it was Mirajane that spoke next.

"Is that seriously what this is all about? Why we're breaking up? Because you're so insecure about some stupid made up guy who, by the way, was gay in the fantasy, hence the reason he was with Freed, that I would never be with anyway?" She huffed. "You don't think that if I wanted a guy like that, I wouldn't go find one? Seriously, Laxus? I chose you, idiot. Why do you have to be so…so…stupid?"

His breath left then as he just stared at her. "Mira, don't cry. I-"

"I'm not!" She sniffled. "You big jerk."

"No, seriously, stop it. C'mere."

"No."

So he just got closer, first just laying a hand on her shoulder before, slowly, moving to hug her.

"It's okay."

"No, it's not. You're being mean to me over something stupid and-"

"I'm not being mean. I'm just…upset. That's all."

"That's not all. You're mean."

"Demon-"

"No."

Bowing his head, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, forgetting for a moment that they still, very much so, were in the middle of the sidewalk, out in public. "It's okay."

"No. You came and yelled at me the other day-"

"I yelled at you? You yelled at me. You said that if I wanted to be done, fine, then you would be and that I could just go-"

"Because you came over yelling about how-"

"Because you were mad at me over-"

"I should have been! You said that you wanted to sleep with my friends."

"…Yeah, that was bad."

"That was very bad."

"But you got what I meant, right? I mean, sure I think about them, sometimes, but I-"

"I don't want to do this." Mira shoved him of then, turning to walk off. "You're being-"

"I'm sorry." He wouldn't let her go then. He had her. He'd been trying since that day out with Freed and his 'date' to get her again and now he finally did. She was so close to breaking. He could just tell. He just had to make sure that he kept his anger down. That would ruin everything. "Mira, honest. I am. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I…I make mistakes. A lot. But demon, if you'd just give me a chance to take you somewhere to talk-"

"We're doing more than enough talking now."

"No, we're not. I just...I haven't been eating right, Mira, and I get drunk every night and there's something wrong with my washing machine-"

"What are you-"

"It turned all of my undershirts blue and-"

"Laxus, did you not separate the colors?"

"See? This is why I need you."

"You got by fine before me," she said as she only frowned at him.

"That's because Freed did my laundry, but I don't want to ask him to start again."

"Why not?"

"Because then I would look weak."

"Weaker than asking me to come back to do it?"

"Mirajane-"

"What, Laxus? You think that I'm going to come back to you just because you want me to take care of you? That's stupid."

"That's not stupid," he grumbled. "That's what a relationship is. You take care of me and I take care of you. What, Mira? You think that those are some shallow reasons? Huh? Well, guess what? I'm sure the same things that you miss me for sound just as silly. But it's true. My nails need to be cut-"

"You can do that yourself, you know."

"-I haven't felt like going out to eat, so I've only been able to cook sandwiches-"

"You don't cook sandwiches, Laxus. And you could always just make yourself something-"

"-and I an dangerously low on groceries-"

"I'm not your maid! I'm-"

"I know that, demon," he said. "But you do take care of me. And I like for you to take care of me. You've been doing it for so long now that I'm no good at doing it myself anymore. I need you, Mira. And not just for those shallow reason. Because…I love you. A lot. And you make me happy and even though you annoy the hell out of me sometimes, you're still my favorite person to be around. I just…I'm hard to get along with, I know. And I'm obnoxious and moody and I growl a lot-"

"Too much. And grunt."

"-but I really do love you. How could you ever doubt that, Mirajane? Huh? There ain't nobody else that I'd ever get this mad at and still be begging to forgive me. And that's what I want. Even if you don't wanna…date, even though I hope that you do, I want you to forgive me. Please?"

"Knock it off."

"No." He only frowned. "I've spent two weeks, Mirajane, stewing over at my house, mad at you and what happened and thinking up all the reasons why it was a good thing. Why we needed to break up. But when I saw you, there in the restaurant, there was nothing I want more than for you to have been the one to summon me there. For it to have been you that wanted to see me. So that we could just make up and go back to normal. It's easy to stay mad. It's very easy. But I don't want to. And something tells me that you don't either."

When she only stared at him, he smiled, finally, truly.

"So let me take you out to dinner, huh? And we can talk?" He slowly moved to cup her cheek. "And if things don't get all worked out, they don't get all worked out. But if they do, well, I just really hope that they do."

She still pulled away from him though before turning to walk off. "Just drinks. That's all."

He was all smiles though as he headed after her. "Sounds perfect."

"Oh, Mira and Laxus! Were we late?"

Not again. The man only groaned as someone came rushing down the street towards them.

"Oh no," Wendy said as she came to stop in front of them. "Did you guys already make up? I wanted to be a part of it."

"If you hadn't taken so long getting ready," Carla quipped as she stood next to the girl, "then we would have been here."

"We're not-" Mira started, but Laxus only frowned at them.

"You guys are in on it, huh?" he asked. "That stupid plot or whatever?"

"We were just trying to help you," Wendy said, grinning at him regardless of his tone. "You guys did so much for us that-"

"I know, Wendy," Mira said with a frown. "About the tea."

"The tea?"

"Oh, you do?" Carla nodded. "Then you know, Laxus, that you still owe me-"

"Yeah, yea. I don't have time for this."

"What tea?" Wendy asked with a frown. "Carla-"

But Laxus had Mirajane by the arm then, dragging her off and he was thankful to find that she wasn't pulling away. Just allowing herself to be taken along.

"That was rude, dragon."

"Yeah, but-" He kept walking, but did stop talking as he glanced back at her.

Dragon?

"You shouldn't be rude to Wendy. She's a lot younger than you. You should be a role model, if anything."

He was still stuck on the dragon thing.

Were drinks even necessary then? If she was calling him that? He was pretty sure not. And, as they passed every café in the area as well as the bars and Laxus just led her straight to his apartment, Mirajane said nothing in protest.

The person that they found outside his door, however, had a few things to say.

"Laxus," was the first thing. "Since when have you changed your locks?"

The man frowned. "Since you kept breaking in, Freed. And what are you doin'-"

"Mirajane." The letter mage, who had been sitting with his back against Laxus' front door, got to his feet then. "Are the two of you- Did things go well?"

"Go well with what?" Laxus wasn't letting him off the hook.

"Huh?"

"You asked if something went well," Laxus repeated. "What do you mean?"

"W-Well-"

"Erza's looking for you," Mirajane said simply, finished with the whole thing then. "And we want you to go down to the restaurant, to make sure that Natsu and Gray didn't too much damage."

"Restaurant?"

"Stop playing, Freed," Laxus grumbled. "And I don't take kindly to my body guards running from fights."

"I didn't run from a fight! Erza has gone mad. All I did was suggest that perhaps you were better off not-" He caught himself before bowing his head. "I should not speak on it now. I came here to comfort you after the plan went south, but apparently it has taken. I will go now to deal with the aftermath, as you have suggested."

As he headed off, Mirajane only looked to Laxus.

"He's so weird."

"Yeah."

"But endearing."

Grunt. He was working on getting his keys out of his pocket then. "Come on."

Inside, Mirajane found the result of her not being around for two weeks, i.e. Laxus had managed to trash the place. There were beer cans and liquor bottles littering the floor along with those blue undershirts he was talking about before.

It was more cute than annoying for some reason, but that was just probably because she hadn't been around him for a few days.

"You want something to drink?" he asked as she just stood there, looking around. Then he noticed the couch. "Oh. Yeah. Here, let me clean that off, huh?"

It was covered with just as many bottles and cans as everywhere else. He hadn't been having a good past few days.

After knocking those to the floor, he motioned for Mirajane to take a seat before heading off to get them something to drink.

When he returned, she didn't look as happy anymore. There'd been too many interruptions. He would have to start from the beginning again. Great.

"So," he began as he took his seat next to her, passing off a beer to the woman first. "Uh-"

"You invited me over to talk," she said. "And you have nothing to say?"

"Actually," he corrected, "I invited you out to talk. I said nothing about coming here."

"You took me here."

"I'm quite the gambler these days, Mira."

"Right."

He relaxed some on the couch. "I had a whole thing going there, back on the sidewalk. I lost it though, once we got here. Uh, what was I going on about? Do you remember?"

"Not really."

"It's those idiots," he grumbled. "They screwed me up. Bothering me and-"

"They're not idiots," she told him tersely. "They're our friends. And do you know how much they must care about us? Huh? To put together that?"

"Not much," he told her. "That was horrible. They all are horrible. And they did a horrible job. I mean, did they think that all of that would just be coincidental and-"

"They were trying to show us how grateful they were, Laxus," she said. "We fixed their relationships and they-"

"How many times do I have to say that most of those were bull? Huh? I got Carla to go out with the other cat, I got Gajeel and Levy to originally go out together by promising them a concert, I-"

"But we still helped," she argued with a frown. "We did. I did."

"Mirajane-"

"I did. I helped Natsu and Lucy-"

"They're idiots. They would have gotten back together even if you didn't- Don't start that. I'm not insulting you, demon," he insisted as she started to tear up and try to get to her feet. "It's just the truth. That was the problem. I was lying to you before. Doing things behind your back. Keeping secrets. That was wrong. It was making a joke of everything. I'm sorry."

Mirajane wouldn't look at him then though. "Did I help anyone? I mean, were Lisanna and Bickslow at least-"

"I had nothing to do with that." That was the truth. "At all."

"See? Then I helped-"

"But," he added because, well, if they were being honest, they needed to really be honest. "They were faking on their own. They wanted to play therapy with us or something." Taking in her look, he added, "That Pantherlily thing though? All you. Seriously, demon. You did that one good. And this Gray and Juvia stuff-"

"They weren't really together. Remember? He threw her off and-"

"You just didn't have a chance to-"

"I thought you said that you would stop lying to me?"

He sighed. "It's just so hard. You're so cute and I hate seeing you all sad."

"Shut up, Laxus."

"It's true." He shifted on the couch to stare at her, ignoring the fact that she wouldn't give him even a glance. "I love you and like seeing you happy. That's my flaw. But don't let it be fatal. We were fine before we started this counseling garb. So let's just put it behind us and-"

"This is my dream, Lax. This is-"

"No, silly, it's not." He even shook his head. "It's your fixation for the moment. Obsession and love are different. You don't love doing this. You're obsessed with it. And that doesn't last. And, during the moments that I wasn't hating you and hoping we never spoke again-"

"Why would you even mention-"

"-I was thinking up things to replace it," he told her. "And your enjoyment of this comes mostly from your love of, well, watching love. You're a romantic. Okay. That just means you need something else romantic to replace it."

"Like what?"

"I'm thinking romance novels or something," he told her with a shrug. "But not this. I mean, do you really like counseling people more than you like me? I thought, demon, that the enjoyment of it came mostly from the two of us getting to spend time together. Does it not? We can do other things together."

She frowned. "How can we read together?"

"Well, that's the thing," he said before getting to his feet and heading out of the room. When he returned, he had a book in his hand. "We can read, uh, more adult ones and-"

"No thanks."

"Mira, it's got what I like and what you-"

"We're not doing that."

"Fine." He huffed and tossed the book down on the coffee table. "But we're not counseling people anymore. That's final."

"Laxus, we didn't come here to talk about that. We came to talk about whether or not we're going to be together and-"

"Demon, you came to my apartment." He raised an eyebrow. "How much more together do we have to be? We're together. I thought that was obvious."

"No, it-"

"Do you not forgive me?" he asked, coming to sit down once more, closer that time. "Mirajane?"

"You said that you wanted to sleep with-"

"I'm sorry. I don't know what else you want me to say. I'm so sorry. I've been a jerk for so long that sometimes it pops back up. That's all."

When he saw Mirajane swallow so heavily after that, he thought that it would be because she was deciding on whether or not to forgive him. Instead, she said something entirely different.

"Do you forgive me?"

"Eh?" He frowned. "What are you-"

"About what I said. About that…perfect guy I described. That upset you a lot," she said, glancing at him. "And I wasn't very kind about it either, when I saw how upset it made you. I'm sorry, Laxus, but sometimes I just get-"

"Of course I forgive you!" His frown didn't fade. "Why wouldn't I? It's just that sometimes I'd like you to say sorry." Was that asking too much? He was afraid it was. Or that it would sound chickish. He didn't wanna come off like a woman. "Err, I mean-"

"I should," she agreed softly. "I treat you badly sometimes. I take for granted that you care about me and will just do whatever I want. I knew, deep down, that you weren't enjoying taking people out. And I was making you foot the bill. I just-"

"It's alright. It-"

"No, Lax, it's not." She was moving closer to him then. "And I truly am sorry. Me and you aren't just a given. I should work at it just as hard as you."

"You should," he agreed before leaning down to brush his lips against hers. Then he said, "But you're wrong about one thing."

"Huh?"

With a grin, he said simply, "We are very much so a given."

"I know. What if we pretend to be married and drive Mira so crazy that she falls back on Laxus?"

"Meh."

"Or what if we follow them around to see if Laxus is cheating and completely sabotage it with the other woman if he is?"

"I feel like that would blow up in our faces."

Bickslow huffed. "Well, Lissy, if you're not going to agree to any of these-"

"What are you two going on about?" Evergreen came to sit down at their table. "I hear that that stupid plan that you all insisted that Elf and I couldn't be a part of was a disaster."

"We didn't come up with crap," Bickslow said to which Lisanna nodded. "We were just helping things along."

"Yeah, we had nothing to do with that."

Gajeel, from where he was sitting at a nearby table, snorted loud enough for them to hear. "Are you dummies serious?"

"Leave them alone, Gajeel." Levy, who was sitting with him, had her nose buried in a book, licking her wounds from that terrible fiasco the day before. "Just sit here quietly and be glad that Kinana's working."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lisanna sent them a glare.

"That you don't work well, I think, Lissy," Bickslow said.

"You spent all off the other day fooling around in a closet with him," Gajeel growled. "What do you think it means?"

"Least I don't come up with defunct plans."

That made the slayer glare. "Look, you little-"

"I thought yesterday went great," Natsu said from his own table. "Really."

"And how," Lucy complained from her spot next to him, "would you figure that?"

"I got to beat the crap outta Gray-"

"No," came a complained form yet another table. "You didn't, flame brain."

"Uh, yeah, I did. And I'll do it again if you don't-"

"Maybe," Erza intervened as she sat next to Gray, "you both could just be quiet."

"You sure are in a sour mood," Happy grumbled from his spot in Lucy's lap.

"And you are not?"

"He is," Lucy sighed. "For some reason he thought that he'd capitalize off the plan and somehow get another date with Carla."

"Awe, little buddy," Natsu said, glancing down at him. "You knew that was crazy."

"Not as crazy as Juvia," Gray grumbled to which Erza only shook her head. "I had to spend the whole rest of the day explaining to her that we weren't really dating."

"Oh? And you think you have it bad?" Erza snorted. "I spent the day tracking Freed only to never be able to find him."

"If you wanted a fight, Erza, you could've came to me." Natsu pumped his fist. "I know! Let's-"

"No."

"But-"

"No." Erza shook her head. "I spent the rest of the night with an overly drunk Cana. Why did anyone ever get her involved? Or inebriated? It makes no sense."

"I've found that most of the things we do as a group don't," Lucy sighed.

It was about then though that the guildhall doors opened and Mirajane walked in. That wouldn't have been too interesting, had it not been arm in arm with Laxus.

"Hey." Everyone else, but Natsu was speechless as he ran over to the couple. "We did get you guys back together! You're welcome. You should fight me in return, Laxus."

The slayer had been laughing and talking to his demon before, but at the sight of the Salamander, he only frowned. Then he reached out and patted the guy on the shoulder.

He was that jolly.

Bickslow, not buying it, got to his feet, dragging Lisanna along, off to hide in the closet. Clearly, the boss had lost it.

Then Laxus spoke.

"If you don't get away from me and my woman, Natsu," he said as the pat on the shoulder turned into a vice like grip. "I'll rip your head off. And that goes double for you other idiots. Don't mettle in my life. Ever again. Else I'll show you how much stronger the Thunder Palace has become and down this whole damn guild. You idiots. How dare you-"

"Behave." Mira put a hand on Laxus' arm. "Dragon."

And there it was. What they were missing those past few weeks. Laxus only released Natsu before turning to walk over to a table by himself and sit down.

It hadn't felt that good to have things back to normal in a long time.

As all the women rushed over to the bar to talk to Mirajane and get the info, Gajeel only shook his head as Lily snickered form his spot on the table with the slayer.

"We're in a guild full of morons," he told his kitty who only nodded.

"Perhaps," he agreed. "But those same morons did get you involved with Levy, roundabout as it might be."

And as Gajeel glanced over at where she was sitting then, at the bar with Lucy and the others, he had to nod slightly. He could hear, even from where he was, Mirajane making her retirement speech from counseling. It almost made him grin.

"Yeah," he said. "I guess they did.

"But," Mirajane was keeping up from the bar as the others listened. "Laxus has agreed that I'm pretty good at my guitar and he's going to be buying me some new gear. He thinks I should get more back into that."

"Really?" Lucy, who had heard Laxus complain before to Lisanna that, though Mira had a nice voice, he didn't enjoy her singing near as much as he pretended to, frowned. "Laxus said this?"

"Yep. He says he loves my music."

And over at his table, Laxus only put on his headphones and put his head down as he waited for the demon to bring him his beer.

So maybe being completely truthful wasn't being utilized yet. It probably never would be either.

"I'm glad to see you are here, Laxus," Freed greeted as he came into the bar. Erza was so preoccupied over at the bar that she didn't even notice. Lucky him. "How did things go last night?"

He only grinned at the other man. He'd had a beer or two in him at that point and was still riding high.

"I took a woman home with me, Freed," he said. "What? You think I've lost my touch? That I can't seal a deal anymore?"

"N-No, but-"

"Me and the demon just needed a little space," he told the other man. "And a reevaluation. We're a given, man. We're a given."

And as much as he hated to say it, the words made Freed grin.

"It is good to hear that," he told him. "Very, very good."

"Hear what?" Mirajane was coming over with Freed's standard drink without him even ordering it. "Did Laxus tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Freed asked as the slayer frowned some.

"Uh, Freed, Mirajane's decided that, well, she's no good at counseling, really," the man said slowly, "but that her matchmaking skills are at least standard, so-"

"Don't worry, Freed." Mirajane patted him on the head even before heading off. "I'll find you the perfect person. I promise!"

After she was gone, Freed just looked to his idol.

"Uh, Laxus-"

"I can't break her heart more than once a night, man," he sighed. "You understand."

"No, I don't. Why did you not just include match making in the conversation and-"

"Just a few dates, huh?"

"A few? Laxus-"

"You owe me." He gave him a long stare. "You nearly ruined me and the demon, Freed. So you're doing this."

Of course he was doing it. And suddenly, his grin over the two of them being reunited wasn't as big.

"She's going to ruin my life, isn't she?"

Laxus only shrugged a little. "Just for a week or two. Or hey, maybe she'll find you the perfect…person."

How could she when she was dating that person?

"Maybe," Freed sighed. "Or maybe you'll make me to pretend to enjoy someone to make her feel better and then the two of you will become a match making service and you will be even more miserable."

Blinking, Laxus thought for a moment before shrugging. "Yeah, well, you know. Things happen."

"Yes," Freed agreed as he glanced over at where Mira was behind the bar, happily speaking to Lucy and Levy. "They do."

And sometimes, a dragon overindulges a demon to the point of insanity. Honestly, at that point, none of them should expect anything less.

Then, in a rare moment of clarity (getting back with the demon had him that off base), Laxus said, "I just care about her, man."

"You," Freed said slowly, "love her."

"Yeah." Laxus even grinned, not letting on to Freed that Erza was craftily making her way over to the table, no doubt to attack him. "I love her."

He did. And that alone allowed for maybe just a little hiding of the truth.

Just a little.

It's over. Finally. This got to the point where I haven't even looked at the word count because I know it's too long. I thought about trashing the whole thing and writing something different and a lot smaller, but I figure it closes everyone's little arc (unhappily for Juvia and Happy) and if you don't wanna read it, just don't.

Sorry for the lack of updates on other stuff recently, but I was focused on this and tweaking it, so I didn't have much time for anything else. Sorry. Hopefully I can get Mohawks and Manliness wrapped up now that this is done and close out A Dragon's Love.