Chapter 9

-Couple-

Through her sleep Carin felt how someone was stroking through her hair and noticed that it was a pleasant feeling. After the long party the last night where everyone was laughing, drinking, eating and talking (and trying not to fight because of the injuries) Carin had walked up to the infirmary to look after Laxus but he was sleeping so she sat next to him and seemingly fell asleep as she was really exhausted and tired. Surprised she opened her eyes and looked up.

Laxus was sitting in his bed and stroked through her hair, smiling faintly as she raised her head.

"You've slept quite long." He told her as she rubbed her eyes and sat up.

"Oh, really? What time is it?" She asked as she tried to get fully awake and Laxus pointed over to the window.

"It's forenoon. Although all the others seem to be still sleeping." Laxus replied. "What did you do the whole night?"

"We've been celebrating our victory." Carin replied and smiled. "Although it was surprising that it doesn't escalated into a fight."

She remembered how happy everyone had been. Gajeel was again playing the guitar and trying to get something which sounded like singing and made Lucy and Levy dancing in bunny costumes although Levy looked quite uncomfortable and stared mostly with a sulky face at Lucy's bouncing chest. Natsu had then made a contest with barrel surfing and Erza came out victorious in the end because she somehow managed it to surf from the one side of the Guild to the other and crashed against the wall. The others were also partying and Carin had watched how Reedus managed it to draw several pictures of the happenings within minutes.

Even Grandeeney, Igneel, Metalicana and Raiden took part in the party and seemed to be enjoying themselves which made Carin happy. She had never saw them enjoying themselves like this so it was a refreshing sight. Shutai however doesn't returned but Carin knew that he was all right although he was weakened because of being under the seal for so long.

"So did you enjoyed yourself?" Laxus asked and Carin nodded.

"Yes, I did. Although I felt bad for you all." She said and looked from him to Macao, Wakaba, Droy, Nab and Warren who also were here because their injuries were much more heavier than the other's. Laxus was the only one awake, the other four were still asleep.

"It wasn't that bad. I have heard you all down there from time to time." Laxus replied and looked at his legs as he tried to move them.

"You shouldn't move your legs until they're fully healed." Carin reminded him sternly while he only patted her head.

"Yes, but unlike yesterday I can feel them now." Laxus replied. "And it's a good thing that I can move them now."

"I still think you shouldn't have done that... but thank you though." She smiled at him and squeezed his hand. She really wanted to hug him but she was fearing someone might come in and tease them so she suppressed her need for now.

"No problem, I couldn't let you get injured." He said and raised his hand as he stroked over her head and then pulled her closer as he hugged her. Carin got a flushed face as he pressed her to his chest and she only hoped that no one would walk in.

"But getting injured by yourself is good?"

"Stop nagging about it already." Laxus said.

"I don't nag! I'm only worried." Carin replied and sulked but Laxus only chuckled. "But letting that aside, do you need something?"

"Maybe something to drink." He said and Carin nodded as she stood up.

"I'll bring you something." She said and then went out to get something to drink from the Guild building's kitchen. When he was looking at her Carin's heart always started to beat faster as she remembered then how he kissed her in the cave. Thinking about this her face started to glow and she looked at her friends who were sleeping in the Guild. To her surprise she found Levy sleeping next to Gajeel, still wearing the bunny suit and holding Lily in her arms. Carin smiled as she saw them but also noticed that Lucy, Natsu and Happy were also sleeping next to each other with Natsu resting his head on Lucy's shoulder. Seeing this Carin smiled, she really wanted to take a picture of them all but since she wasn't as good as Reedus she tried to burn the images of them into her mind. After all even Evergreen and Elfman slept next to each other, leaning on each other's shoulder. Juvia also seemingly took the advantage of her Gray-sama being asleep as she had put her arms around him and hugged him in sleep while blushing. To her surprise she even found Romeo and Wendy sleeping close to each other and grinned.

"Man, this would be great to take a picture of them. Bad thing I don't even have a Lacrima in which I could save it." She murmured to herself while trying not to be too loud as she took something to drink for Laxus and then brought it to him. Passing her sleeping nakama it somehow made her remember what had happened in Ryuzetsu Land. Back then the people who are nearly hugging each other right now had been together on the LoveLoveSlide. Although Natsu also nearly knocked her over but Laxus saved her but accidentally groped her breasts. Carin saw him being embarrassed and turning red for the first time then. This was actually pretty much fun back then and she enjoyed remembering it but also was surprised how long ago it actually was.

"What's so funny?" Laxus wondered as she entered the infirmary, still chuckling.

"Oh, it's only funny to see the guys hugging each other in sleep." She replied with a smile on her face and reached him the drink. "Here you go."

"Thanks." He replied and took the glass from her hand. She noticed that he was watching her face intently which made her blush a bit.

"Heh, I don't do anything so you don't need to turn red." Laxus said and raised his hand as he stroked with the back of his hand over her cheek. This however only made her blush more and she pouted as he chuckled.

"Stop messing around with me!" She pouted and hit his hand away while glaring playfully at him. Laxus however seemed to enjoy teasing her which actually wasn't new to Carin – he used to do that all the time when they were little.

Carin then heard someone walking up to the infirmary and caught the smell of Porlyusica. The medical advisor of Fairy Tail then walked inside and looked quite surprised that they were awake.

"Oh, so you two are the only ones awake here." She said and approached them while Carin shot her a smile.

"Well, everyone was celebrating the success in the fight against Dragons." She told her as Porlyusica then moved beside her to check on Laxus's legs.

"Grandeeney had really amazing healing abilities." She said. "It seems like your broken bones are halfway healed although you gained the injuries yesterday."

"Well, Grandeeney is able to heal heavy injuries within days." Carin bragged about her adoptive sister while Porlyusica put Laxus some weird salve on his legs and then bandaged them again, telling Laxus not to move them for today.

"What a pain." He sighed after Porlyusica left.

"Well, you have to endure it until your legs will be all fine." Carin told him and stood up to open the window and let some fresh air into the infirmary which was smelling too intensively like hospitals for Carin. Her senses were as distinctive as the senses of real Dragons so unlike the Dragon Slayers she was able to apprehend much more things. The aseptic scent was making her dizzy so she needed some fresh air.

"Fresh air can make you feel better." She told Laxus as she returned to him and was about to sit down on the chair next to his bed but Laxus grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto the bed.

"Oi, what are you doing?" She asked as she nearly fell on top of him but quickly managed it to land on the mattress next to him.

"Nothing. Yesterday I overheard that your gramps is going to talk with the Magic Council about this situation. Do you know what they want to talk about?"

"Well, I guess mostly about Acnologia..." Carin muttered and told him what Shutai told her yesterday which surprised him.

"He wants to fight that thing?"

"Yes, but I guess he does posses an advantage; his size. He's around two times bigger than the dark Dragon. Although Acnologia might be stronger than he is now." Carin said and sighed.

"You wanted to fight him instead, right?" Laxus asked and Carin nodded.

"That thing is after me. It would be a lot better like this but grandfather was against it."

"I can see why." Laxus replied with a slightly glum expression while Carin only sighed again. She was happy that Laxus cared about her but she knew that maybe a fight against Acnologia wouldn't be unavoidable. She however decided not to tell Laxus that otherwise he would only argue with her about this. She remembered how he told her not to fight strong members of Tartarus although he was in pain. That was before her fight against Marde Guille when she tried to obtain the book with E.N.D in it but also to protect the ones who were suffering under the effects of the Magical Barrier Particles – and the fight was difficult for her because she couldn't use her full powers against a strong opponent. They were silent for a moment while Carin reminded herself to begin repair her armor from back then, after all it could come in handy and it would be bad to fight against Dragons without it. During the Dragon King Festival she had got quite the problems because she was used to fight them with her armor on so she could fight more reckless than without the armor.

"Carin." Suddenly Laxus spoke and Carin winced as she had been lost deep in thought.

"Huh? What is it?" She murmured and looked surprised at him.

"Don't try to fight Acnologia. Even if you'll use the Soul Shift Spell once again you won't return so soon." He raised his hand and put it on her head, stroking over her hair. "I don't think I would like that."

Carin wondered what had gotten into him to say something like that so suddenly but then she giggled as she reminded herself that Laxus wasn't a person who showed any of his feelings.

"What's so funny?" He asked and looked embarrassed while she continued chuckling.

"You're surprisingly honest. Quite the opposite of your usual demeanor."

"Well..." Laxus looked like he was lost of words and only made a grimace. "I won't be like back then, before my excommunication. After all I finally realized that Ivan's not the father I wished he was. Fairy Tail's my family... and you."

Suddenly showing her a gentle smile Carin noticed her cheeks growing hot and she hung her head to not show her embarrassment.

"Uhm... that's..." She muttered while her heart was fluttering and her body temperature raised. "Don't tease me."

Laxus however smiled as he raised her head by putting his hand under her chin.

"I'm not teasing." He replied and glanced around before his face went closer and Carin closed her eyes as his lips touched hers softly. Carin was unable to push him back so she only moved closer so he wouldn't move because of his injured legs. She put her hands on his chest as he put his arms around her and squeezed her chest to his own as he deepened the kiss. This was a completely new feeling for Carin, she never kissed anyone before so she never had such a passionate kiss. She tried not to make any weird noises while Laxus's tongue invaded her mouth. She shivered as he continued the kiss and then finally pulled away while Carin touched her lips in slight surprise.

"That..." She muttered as her face grew hotter than it was but Laxus only laughed.

"You're all red."

"That's obviously your fault." Carin said embarrassed. "You took me by surprise again."

"Sorry for that." He replied and hugged her. His lips touching her ear he muttered; "I'm not really good at that, I never said it to anyone... I don't think you'll hear that often from me,, too... but I love you."

Hearing these three words Carin felt how her heart stopped beating for a moment but then a smile appeared on her lips and tears of joy started to gather in her eyes as she squeezed herself tighter to him.

"I feel the same..." She murmured and wiped her tears away. Now she could understand how her parents felt while being together – so happy. However the confession meant that they were a couple now. Carin knew that they would surely get teased by their friends but right now she doesn't cared, she wanted to stay in his arms.