A/N: First of all I apologise for how long it took me to write this but I've had soo much school stuff on it's not even funny (which will restart in 4 week argh, I hate high school). Secondly I'd like to thank Anny, Alex Darklight and Rav, you guys are the reason I keep updating. All of your ideas were really valid, I was kinda ashamed that I got so caught up in the story that I hadn't really thought about how they would interact with the guild, but I hope I rectified that. There's a Cana and Grey moment that I'm not sure I pulled off, really need opinions on that front. Also I was so nervous about the Ever Green thing I sorta sidestepped her explosion…. So I hope that doesn't damage the story or whatever.

In other news I have decided that my own Laxana week will definitely be a thing, but as for release dates, no promises it will be any time soon because I want to release them all together so just bear with me, I'll have a status report in my next A/N. For my au, I really want to do an Australian style Fairy Tail but I'm not sure whether that would be good because of the cultural references, so please give your opinion.

This chapter is definitely my least favourite, it chops and changes too much for my taste but for all my regular readers, this could be regarded as the calm before the storm, that's all I'm saying. But as always, read, review and enjoy!

p.s. hibiki is purposefully called hibiscus (not a typo!)

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

Laxus and Gildarts sat together, an unlikely pair. Laxus' thoughts were caught up in Cana's injuries. From what he'd managed to glean, long story short Cana used a massively powerful spell but was still defeated and at the last minute was saved by Gildarts. The useless old man had actually come through on his promise, but there was no way in hell he was thanking the idiot. The way he treated Cana was unforgivable…. Unforgivable… Not that he seemed to notice.

"So you got kicked out of Fairy Tail?" Gildarts asked, his smug face killing any respect Laxus had been slowly developing for the man.

"You already knew that, why are you bringing it up?" Laxus snapped, eyes glued to Cana's back, a back that was almost completely destroyed in places.

"I thought you and the old man had a fight, I didn't realise you got expelled!" Gildarts said, breaking into a fit of laughter. Laxus' glare had no effect on the mage and he began contemplating how many punches he could get in with his body in that state. "I didn't think it was possible to be expelled from Fairy Tail! You must have done something really stupid." Gildarts said in the break between his laughing fits, groaning as his injuries throbbed. Laxus turned his stare back to Cana, her stiff back concealing her face from him.

"Shut up old man." Laxus snapped. Gildarts grinned at his own joke, as he followed Laxus' gaze. Gildarts paused for a second, contemplating his young ex-guild mates situation.

"How much do you want to bet she knows you're listening to every word she's saying?" Gildarts pondered, his gaze alternating between the two mages. There are very few times when a man will look at a woman with those desperate eyes, the eyes of a starving man ready to do anything just for a single glance.

"I already know that, old man." Laxus said, remembering how she had explicitly avoided commenting on the other girls words about how lucky they were he showed up or how to avoid looking at him she positioned herself with her back facing him, or earlier when he was getting his wounds checked she retreated to a spring with Lucy. "She's avoiding me for some reason…" he muttered but his words weren't lost on Gildarts.

The group of girls gave Laxus odd glances at his intent expression.

"Cana, Laxus has been staring at you this whole time." Lucy said, a concerned frown creasing her face. Cana hunched her shoulders, defeated; now she had to reply and of course Laxus would be listening to every god damned word. She wanted to go over there and hug him, tell him that she was so happy he came to their rescue, that being able to be this close to him made the invasion worth it- but of course that can of worms was better left unopened in front of the guild at least. Now all the girls turned to look at Laxus, but Cana decided not to risk it.

"Really?" she asked, obviously trying to avoid the topic which earned her odd looks from the group, but they took the hint and dropped the subject, more concerned on how Levy dragged Gajeel all the way to base camp, her cheeks flushing.

Laxus considered why she'd be avoiding him like this. Maybe she'd found someone else and couldn't bear to tell him. She was amazingly talented, strong and beautiful, it wasn't a stretch. He'd heard that Fairy Tail had teamed up with a lot of other guilds lately… maybe one of those guys had made her an offer she couldn't refuse. The idea of some other man with Cana wasn't acceptable, she was his mate. Wait, he thought, where did 'mate' come from? Cana's hair swayed in the breeze, her scent distracting him.

"Maybe she thinks that if she gives you attention the others will realise something's going on?" Gildarts offered, watching her blatantly avoid looking in their direction.

"Since when did you become the woman whisperer?" Laxus asked, trying to further conceal his concerned state. Gildarts chuckled, internally glad Laxus seemed to be in a better conscience about him since the last time they met. Gildarts monitored Laxus' magic energy stability constantly. He sensed that Laxus had discharged more lightning energy than was physically possible, Gildarts guessed Cana had something to do with that. His current theory was that Cana acted as the amplifier and Laxus the manipulator but he'd need to witness it himself. He glanced over at the boy, his eyes trained on Cana almost like a predator singling out his prey.

"Maybe you should go over there so she can't ignore you…" Gildarts suggested, watching closely as Laxus' expression changed slightly.

"Maybe you should put a sock in it old man." Laxus snapped. "But you might be on to something." Laxus said standing and making his way straight for Cana, his usual swagger catching the attention of the majority of the guild. Cana could feel his body heat radiating onto her back and the widening of her companions eyes could only mean one man. Cana sighed, so he wasn't going to let her avoid him until this fiasco was over- damn. Cana turned, hands on hips.

"What do you want Sparky?" Cana asked, trying to strip the affection from her tone and expression. Laxus scrunched up his mouth in fake contemplation, leaning forward he whispered loud enough for only Cana to hear.

"You." In a flash Cana was in his arms and his lips on hers. She momentarily froze in shock until she slowly came to the realisation of where his plan was going. Cana's frustration at being forced to reveal their relationship to everyone despite the current situation rose and rose until it bean bubbling over the top. She accumulated a small amount of lightning energy in the tip of her index finger and ran it across his neck causing him to release her immediately. A low growl rose in his throat as clutched his neck, a dark scratch mark marring the white skin.

"What was that for?" Laxus snapped accusingly, raising his arms up in frustration. The pair were oblivious to the wide eyed stares headed in their direction from nearly all the members of the guild.

"You just had to go and make a dramatic entrance just like always." Cana snapped, just as furious, fists balled. "Don't you ever think? Oh sorry, I forgot who I was talking to!" she screeched, taking a slight step back so she didn't have to deal with the closeness of his body on hers.

"Now you're on with the same shit, calling me dumb is getting a little cliché." Laxus snapped, his hand reaching out to clasp her arm. By this point Mira had recalled a little composure and stepped forward.

"Calm down guys, neither of you should be fighting in the condition you're in." Mira said as calmly as she could manage, staring at the two in slight astonishment. Cana realised how childish she was being and gave an apologetic smile to Mira, ignoring Laxus' presence with a jerk of her shoulders.

"Sorry Mira, I guess I got a little carried away." Cana said sweetly, then turning to offer a fake smile at Laxus. He visibly relaxed under her stare despite her obvious ill intent. Cana relaxed in subconscious reaction to Laxus' countenance, rolling her eyes at the spectacle.

"Yeah, sorry." Laxus grunted, moving to stand next to Cana, trapping the two in their own little world. Mira at first thought that Laxus was mocking her and prepared to make a comeback when she saw that glint in his eye, the same look Mira had dreamed about when she was younger. She used to read stories to Lisanna sometimes, she always used to wonder when the prince had overcome all the terrors of the world for that one woman what would he look like. Obviously it would be different for each man but that look of desperation, the fear, the possessiveness and that small sliver of joy that would change an entire world if it had to, that's what it would be. Laxus wasn't a prince, and he didn't change the world for a single kiss, but that look he gave Cana when she began to reprimand him, that look was the one Mira dreamed of. Mira shook her head slightly, moving back to the gaggle of female mages watching from a safe distance as Cana began her verbal assault.

"You know, you just ruined any chance I had at creating a little excitement in my life!" Cana said, a smug grin on her face. "We could have kept this a secret and see who worked it out first, or had secret dates. Now everything is out in the open." Cana continued, taking him in, frustrated. His bandages were a little erratic in some places but he seemed thoroughly patched up. Cana was glad he was ok, but the urge to hug him to her was cancelled out by her pride.

"You sure have put a lot of thought into this, I didn't realise how important I was to you." he said smugly, leaning forward to attempt to steal a kiss but Cana's glare stopped him in his tracks.

"Oh, and what were you thinking about when you were staring at my back for the last god knows how long?" Cana snapped. Laxus grinned pulling her towards him, the rough material of his bandages rubbing against her bare skin.

"I wasn't staring at your back." he said, leering at her as his hands slowly slid down to touch her arse. He then obviously glanced down at Cana's chest. "Although I can't decide which view I like better.." Laxus said before quickly kissing her. "Actually, definitely the front." he said before kissing her lightly again. Cana's enraged expression softened every time their lips met, her fingers running through his hair.

"You're such a sweet talker, I can't help but think how many times you've used that line." she said between kisses, her venomous implication hanging between them. Laxus exchanged his smug expression for an annoyed scowl, refusing to meet her lips. "Can I make a guess?" Cana said, her fake smile loaded with smug irritation. Laxus dropped his arms from where they were once around her waist.

"You just had to go and ruin a perfectly good thing." Laxus muttered. Cana raised an eyebrow, taking in his injuries.

"You're injured, maybe you should rest for a while. I'll be over there with the girls if you need anything. Maybe some tea?" Cana smiled at her own joke, retreating away to where the girls were discussing the new development, an irritable Laxus in her wake. Laxus trudged back over to where Gildarts sat, a stupid grin on his face.

"Smooth" Gildarts said, adding insult to injury.

"Shut up Gildarts, before I punch that stupid fucking grin off your face." Laxus snapped, lying on his back so as to stare at the sky instead of Cana.And here we go again Laxus thought to himself, as he listened to Cana avoid giving details about their relationship. Laxus sighed, resigned to wait until this temper tantrum was over.

Laxus watched from across the clearing as Cana and Gildarts emerged together. Gildarts smiled down at her lovingly, it seemed he was almost afraid to let go. Laxus stood, walking over to claim Cana from her idiot of a father. As he approached he couldn't help but chuckle. Cana smiled up at him about to step forward but Gildarts stopped her.

"You!" he said accusingly. Laxus' smug grin turned into a heated scowl at Gildarts' accusing tone.

"Me?" Laxus snapped, grabbing Cana's hand and trying to pull her away from Gildarts but he only succeeded in creating a tug-of-war with Cana stuck in the middle.

"How dare you run your hands all over my daughter!" Gildarts snapped, pulling her back towards him. Cana was unimpressed by both sides and pulled away, but her participation didn't seem to be compulsory.

"Those words don't mean as much when you only found out you had a kid a few minutes ago!" Laxus spat, clearly enjoying finally being able to cut Gildarts down to size. "A few minutes out of seventeen years," Laxus said, taking a pause to emphasise his point, "not exactly father of the year material."

"I'm here now, and I'm not going to tolerate a punk like you being anywhere near her!" Gildarts snapped, the shock of his realisation causing reason to take a detour. Laxus grinned, as if he could keep him from his Cana.

"It's a little late for that isn't it?" Laxus said, stepping forward so their chests were brushing with each breath. Unbeknownst to Laxus his words would spurn rumours for weeks after their delayed departure from the island.

"It's never too late to take out the trash, punk." Gildarts said, his meaning clear.

"You two are absolutely ridiculous, do you know that?" Cana snapped. Laxus and Gildarts ignored her, armed with their fiercest scowls and vocabularies.

"As if she'd listen to you over me. If I had to choose between me and the dad who was too drunk or never around long enough to notice I existed, I know who I'd pick." Laxus whispered low enough for only Gildarts to hear. Gildarts fury flowed through him, his tensed body shaking slightly.

"Just remember kid, not all mistakes are good ones." Gildarts muttered back, magic energy levels rising. Laxus' already tight fists strained harder. Cana could see where this was going and like hell she was going to let the two idiotic men duke it out just after she'd told Gildarts she was his daughter, this day was not going to end like this. Cana reached out for Laxus' hand, tugging him away with all her strength. Laxus resisted but knew the consequences of ignoring her with something like this. She'd hit him as hard as she could, leave him in the dust and not talk to him again until he came grovelling. Though he'd never admit it, while he was away he spent the majority of his free time thinking about her, trying to remember everything he could, and this sounded a little too similar to the Grey incident a few years back. Laxus sighed, turning his back on Gildarts.

"What?" Laxus asked impatiently, still annoyed that she had to stand in his way when Gildarts was finally getting what he deserved. Cana was caught half was between a glare and a smile, happy he'd actually listened to her for once.

"You can't seriously think I'd let you bash up Gildarts-Dad, literally as soon as I tell him. Don't you have any class?" Cana asked, hands on hips in mock seriousness. Gildarts circled around to face Cana, ignoring Laxus' presence.

"Don't worry Cana-chan, even in this state I could easily wipe the floor with that punk." Gildarts said with a sweet smile, trying unsuccessfully to angle himself between the two young mages. Laxus grinned down at Cana, confident in his ability to capture her and get her away from her annoying father. Laxus' train of thought paused for a second; isn't this where he is supposed to stop and think about Cana's feelings, that she'd want the second most important man in her life (her father) and him to get along. He thought briefly about whether he should be the bigger man, and let Gildarts win this one, for her sake….. No, Gildarts didn't deserve that, especially after the way he'd treated her, like she was just some girl with a problem that he could meddle with and discard. He'd make him pay….

"Neither of you are fighting before we get back to Fairy Tail at least." She said, staring directly at Laxus, the message clear, if he started a fight here, he'd be dead meat… Laxus rolled his eyes, about to pull her into his arms, out of habit more than spite for her father but before he could get the chance she'd planted a quick kiss on his cheek, then Gildarts and started walking over towards where Grey was sitting, trying to hide how he avidly watched the spectacle by trying to pick a fight with Gajeel which earned him a thorough lecturing from Levy.

As Cana approached, he shuffled awkwardly before relaxing slightly when she sat down. They sat in silence for a few moments, Cana watching Laxus and Gildarts share some heated words but a fight seemed to have been safely avoided.

"I know you're dying to ask streaker, so just get it over with." Cana said, her tone tired as she addressed her best friend who'd slowly been drifting away from her. First Loke to the celestial spirit world, then Grey to team Natsu, not even Laxus seemed to stick around.

"What the fuck was that?" Grey asked, including everything from the kiss he'd heard about from Lucy earlier to Gildarts and Laxus' fight. Cana sighed, realising how much she'd really kept from the ice mage… he never seemed to be around.

"Ahh, I ran into Laxus on a job a while back and then I just seemed to keep running into him and we just clicked I guess." She said, running a blade of grass between her fingers. The ice mage took a little time to process this, it wasn't impossible, they did have some similarities; stubborn, prideful, strong… but still, it was a little bit of a stretch. There was definitely something she wasn't saying, but then again, she wouldn't keep a secret unless it was important so he left that conversation for another time.

"And the Gildarts thing… You probably already guessed but he's my dad." Cana said, turning to smile at him. It wasn't genuine, but fake was the wrong term. She obviously hated every moment of this awkward explanation so he decided to change the subject, nodding in her direction to indicate his understanding.

"I hope we can get back to Fairy Tail soon." Grey said, his gaze sweeping the clearing, taking in every one of his guild mates. Levy was frantically fussing over Gajeel while Lilly watched, an all knowing expression on his face. The trio was lost on Grey but the group of girls staring their way wasn't. Grey now knew why she'd come to sit with him, to avoid the attention of the gaggle of gossiping women that irritated her extremely, not that she'd let on. She was too much of a tom-boy to really ever get into gossip or drama, her way of looking at things was one of hidden treasures- those precious people she'd never let go. As his gaze continued to swivel he saw the thunder legion in deep conversation towards the edges of the forest, the topic obvious. Freed seemed to be trying to calm Ever Green who's hysteria seemed to be stable at least. A few hundred metres from their huddle was Natsu and Elfman, an air of secrecy surrounding them.

"What do you think those two idiots are up to?" Grey asked in a feeble attempt to lighten the mood, nodding in the idiotic duo's direction. Cana smirked as she took them in.

"I reckon they're trying to work out how to get seconds without Mira working out it was them who took it, 'cause then it'd be game over." Cana said, chuckling at the thought of Natsu and Elfman at the mercy of Mira's Satan Soul transformation. Grey's gaze continued on to see Gildarts and Laxus sitting on either side of the Master, who was obviously close to hitting the both of them.

"I think Gildarts and Laxus are in for it worse, the Masters just about to crack their heads together." Grey said, and as if on cue the Masters arms grew, smashing their heads into the ground in front of them. Cana giggled, her shoulder bumping Greys.

"Isn't this just like when we were kids? Except you'd need to be naked and fighting Natsu. Elfman would be restraining Mira and Erza. Gildarts would be drinking with Gramps, Waccaba and Macao." Cana said, looking around the clearing, just as Grey had.

"Laxus would be listening to his music and Freed would be checking out the request board until Bixlow hit him over the head with a chair again." Grey continued, remembering one particular day in which their whole generation entered the brawl, even timid Lisanna challenged Cana to a fight after she insulted her one too many times. Cana chuckled at the memory, closing her eyes to rest her back against Grey's.

"You know, we had some good times, too bad we had to grow up." Cana said quietly, intently listening to her best friends breathing.

"Actually Cana, I don't think growing up is something we do too well." Grey said, his tone comforting. Even if he didn't know what was going on, he said just what Cana needed to hear. Fairy Tail would always be a constant unmoving thing, growing up seemed so close but in reality was so far far away. This fiasco would undoubtedly affect the rest of her life, but her life hadn't happened yet. Grey, Loke, Lucy, Levy and everyone else would always be there for her, lightening a load most of them would never know existed. But in growing up you gain that independence, distancing yourself from others to stand alone before the world, but hopefully she'd never grow up, hopefully she'd always have Fairy Tail to consume her.

"You know you're always thinking too hard, Cana. You need to let loose more." Grey said, his tone serious, obviously worried about the spiralling events before her. Whatever that thing with Laxus was, she most likely didn't want it to turn out that way, judging her avoidance of the women-folk, but most of all her tone worried him.

"You, know Grey, just this once I think you're right." Cana said quietly, her tense body relaxing slightly against his, something that didn't go unnoticed by Laxus. Grey closed his eyes, mimicking her slightly, a faint smile on his lips. "Grey, let's not grow up together, deal?" Cana said, enjoying the slight breeze flowing over them and Greys even breathing rubbing against her back soothingly.

"Deal." Grey mumbled back, letting out a small sigh as he savoured the peace following after battle, it seemed to breed moments like this, with his best friend beside him, and making bright promises for the future… what could possibly go wrong?

Laxus woke to Cana's frantic face, shaking his shoulders, large brown panic stricken eyes begging him to respond. Laxus felt himself groan but the sound seemed to lag until finally his hearing cleared. Cana breathed out a sigh of relief, her upper body collapsing forward onto Laxus' chest.

"I was worried there for a second." Cana said, a faint sleepiness to her tone, her surroundings all but faint mirages as far as her train of thought was concerned. Laxus recovered his senses, checking Cana quickly for excess injuries but she seemed to be in the exact state she was in before Achnologia- That dragon had attacked them all! What happened? Where was everyone? Laxus looked around frantically, his hand placed protectively on Cana's back. He spotted Bixlow first, a dark figure hanging from a tree branch, swearing profusely, this time however not echoed by his babies' chirps. Freed was looking up at Bixlow from his seat on the ground below, his injured body leaning up against the tree's bark covered trunk.

"Bixlow would you please quit it" Freed snapped, the man's annoying complaining worsening the migraine already plaguing the rune mage.

"If you were twenty feet up in the air, with a tree branch practically through your gut, you'd be complaining too Mr up tight and mighty!" Bixlow snapped back, just as irritated.

"Oi, where's Ever?" Laxus yelled out to them, the shock of hearing his voice causing Bixlow to fall from his perch. Freed didn't bother hiding his snide grin as he looked down at Bixlow's writhing form.

"She went to get help!" Freed yelled back, getting to his feet to stumble over to where Laxus sat across the clearing, his arm still around Cana. Freed took Cana in, obviously measuring something. Laxus grunted towards him, his question obvious- what is it? Freed shrugged, eyes still on Cana.

"She made a b-line straight for you, like she knew…" Freed said, almost airily. "Ever was the first of us to wake up, and in the best condition, but when Cana saw you Ever couldn't get her to… calm down." Freed said, trying to think of the best way to describe what happened between the two women, Laxus couldn't help but tighten his grip on Cana, her deep but irregular breathing indicating she was on the verge of sleep.

"Don't worry about her Freed," Laxus said, looking straight at his friend, his stare unyielding. "she's a lot stronger than people realise." He said ambiguously. Freed frowned, not liking that he was now the one out of the loop, what possibly could have happened between them that Laxus would be so confident in her? Cana, who's main talent lied in drinking beer and partying. Laxus' eyes went back to Cana, brushing her hair back away from her face, the moment a little too intimate for Freed's tastes.

"Either way, she went ballistic when you didn't wake up straight away, she even tried using magic but we're all too drained to manage something like that so Ever thought the best thing to do would be to go look for the others." Freed said quickly, wanting to get his explanation over quickly so he could retreat to care for Bixlow. Unfortunately, Bixlow had successfully made his way over to the trio, laying on the ground with his face turned to the sky.

"We looked after her like you asked boss." Bixlow said, almost as if he was asking for approval.

"Thanks, I heard she gave you two a run for your money." Laxus said, grinning at the memory of the stories Cana told him of her legendary mishaps. Bixlow groaned at the thought, a hand raised to cover his face, even Freed's usual serious expression was scrunched in distaste.

"Did she tell you everything?" Freed asked quietly, once again letting his eyes soak in Cana's sleeping form.

"Not everything, but I have an idea of what happened. The only one she swore not to tell me was something about a Lava monster near Bally-something." Laxus said, eyes trained to their expressions. Freed blushed profusely while Bixlow turned his head away in shame.

"Baltai, and it's probably best for everyone if we never mention that fiasco again." Freed said, eyes glued to the ground. Laxus was curious but he knew how much of a fight she'd put up to keep it from him so he'd let it go- just this once though. He grunted in agreement, but before he could offer a change in subject he heard footsteps, lots of them, darting towards their position. Friends, or enemies there to finish the job they started? Laxus could only pull Cana to him, crouching slightly over her before familiar scents but strange faces appeared before them.

"Bisca?"

Laxus sat, face a slight green colour in a circle with Gildarts, Gramps, Freed and Bixlow.

"You really need to get over your travel sickness, it's really weak." Gildarts said, a sadistic smile on his face. Freed was about to interject but Laxus cut him off.

"This isn't travel sickness old man, this is from having to sit so close to you. Your stupidity is making me feel sick." Laxus ground out, trying not to gag. Gildarts rolled his eyes, about to utter a retort but Makarov's stare cut him off.

"If either of you cared about Cana at all, you'd give it a rest and try to get along." Gramps said, taking on a civil tone. Laxus looked over at Gildarts who was glaring at nothing in particular. Freed and Bixlow were interchanging looks, none of which Laxus was interested in.

"You know Gramps, you might be on to something." Laxus said, his complexion looking a little better. "Why don't we just settle our problems the good old fashion way, a fight? Once we get back together just you and me old man?" Laxus said, looking excited for the first time since they boarded the god damned death machine that was slowly taking them towards Magnolia. Gildarts grinned at the proposition, happy to take the deal.

"You're on, brat." Gildarts said, slapping his shoulder a little too hard, the green tinge returning with a vengeance. Laxus' grip on his knees tightened, his stomach contents threatening to make an unwelcome appearance.

"You'll kick his arse boss." Bixlow said enthusiastically trying to distract him, he knew that with Gildarts around Laxus would never agree to be knocked out as was the usual practice, hoping Ever would show up soon to break the ice. Makarov gave Bixlow a glare for encouraging him, but Gildarts was looking at Bixlow in a curious way, trying to place him in a muddle of memories surrounding the guild. He knew there was something important about Bixlow he was supposed to recall… something about a laundry, or was it a bathroom? Then it hit him and his cheeks flushed.

"You're that kid, from that time." Gildarts said vaguely but Bixlow knew exactly what he was talking about, frozen he didn't know how to respond. Thankfully however Ever Green sighed loudly behind him.

"I still don't get it, Laxus." Ever said, completely ignoring the others. Laxus glared at her, his hand shot out, grasping the ground as he felt a small jolt in the craft they were aboard. Makarov took the hint and stood, pulling Gildarts along with him.

"I'm not explaining it to you again. I'm ran into Cana on a job and stuff happened. End of story." Laxus ground out, looking to Freed for help, but the man simply stared back with a smirk on his face, his sadistic side making a rare appearance; while Laxus wasn't in any real danger, the discomfort he was experiencing seemed like fair retribution for the weeks of babysitting what seemed to be a suicidal card mage.

"But that's just it, what could have possibly happened to make you want to date her?" Ever said indignantly, taking a seat where Gildarts was moments ago. Laxus would have growled but any change in his current state would inevitably lead to vomiting. Bixlow rolled his eyes, grunting to get her attention.

"Give it a rest already, can't you see the guys in pain?" Bixlow said, his babies chirping behind him. Ever huffed but didn't persist any longer, the four of them just soaking in each-others presence. Laxus saw Cana out of the corner of his eye, chatting to Hibiscus from Blue Pegasus, but couldn't manage enough strength to saunter over there. Why couldn't she just quit talking to guys like that? Why couldn't she talk to a guy like Natsu who couldn't work out the difference between a man and a woman if you paid him? No, she had to make a b-line for the guys that had 'on heat' written across their foreheads. Maybe Cana should have a message slung around her neck, Laxus thought to himself with a smirk, mine.

"You really shouldn't stir him up like that." Makarov chastised, glaring at Gildarts as they walked away from the quartet to find seating somewhere else. Gildarts gave Gramps a loaded look; it was obvious that Gramps knew about Cana's parentage the entire time, but his thoughts about their relationship was kept strictly to himself.

"You seem oddly ok with all of this, eh Gramps?" Gildarts posed, steering the conversation away from his resentment against Laxus, though he'd never admit the true reason behind his feelings. The Master sent him a heated glare, sitting upon a chair with a single companion which Gildarts soon occupied.

"Don't start with me boy." Gramps said, his tone dripping with irritation. Gildarts smirked, the old man was one of many secrets but this was one he wasn't going to let slip away.

"Come on, it must have been devastating to find out that Laxus had…" Gildarts paused, letting the sentence linger as Gramps continued his glare. "But then I guess you were thinking, at least it was someone from Fairy Tail and not some random you had no hold over, knowing you." Gildarts said, his gaze broadening to the horizon. "But then you'd have been ashamed-" Gildarts was cut off abruptly by Gramps furious tone.

"Enough!" Gramps snapped, not wanting to hear the rest of Gildarts speech, not wanting to think of how while Gildarts was right, he was also wrong in so many ways. To find out that Laxus had done this to himself and to Cana, the children he was supposed to protect from such atrocities, was more than Gildarts could comprehend. But in the end, they both had found a kindred spirit in the other.

That was the line Gramps repeated to himself late at night when he was closing up the Guild Hall and there was no-one else around to see his broken heart that had been finally starting to mend. But their love, that binding emotion that preserved the pair's sanity, was not worth the price they had to pay. One day soon their bond would be put to the test, but with all of their choices taken away, what will become of them? Simply the thought caused Gramps to shiver with the despair of the unknown, that foreboding haunting horror that would soon consume them. But will the cycle of pain that engulfed him and his lover ensnare this pair, or were they truly the bringers of the next generation, the one that would lead to a brighter future?