TEN YEARS LATER

"Get back here, you stupid bolts for brains!"

"Why don't you learn to run faster, smokey?!"

"Silas, I'm going to kill you! I told you to stop calling me that!"

I laughed as I picked up the pace, easily out-running Layla. She was a strong fighter, but not the fastest runner. It didn't help that I was nearly a foot taller than she was. "Silas, seriously," she huffed, coming to a stop. She bent over, breathing hard. "Let me catch my breath."

"You're the one who didn't want to take the train," I chuckled, leaning against a tree as I watched her. I could feel how tired she was, so I didn't press her to keep going. Although our bond was annoying most of the time, it sometimes came in handy.

"Why don't you have Aiden carry you?" I suggested.

The blue Exceed flew above her, grinning. "Want me to carry you the rest of the way, Layla?"

"No way," she huffed. "I'm not going to be outdone by him."

"You can't win every time," I smirked, ruffling her blonde hair. She wore it in a braid that hung all the way down her back. A few blonde locks had escaped around her face where she had been running, and my ruffling made them stick up.

She quickly fixed them, walking passed me. I frowned, feeling something strange coming through the bond.

"What'd I do?" I asked, following her.

"I told you not to do that!" She snapped.

"What?"

"Spy on me," she pouted.

"I wasn't," I shrugged.

"Whatever. Let's keep going. If we're late, they're going to kill us."

"I told you the train would be faster," I grumbled.

"Too late," she said, running again. "Come on!"

We had gone on a last-minute assignment for Fairy Tail, taking care of a demon outside of Magnolia. Unfortunately, it had taken longer than we thought, so we were about an hour behind schedule. We were supposed to meet everyone back at headquarters for a surprise party celebrating my parents' 10th anniversary.

"I see it!" Layla cheered, pointing ahead. The Fairy Tail flag could be seen above the trees, telling us we were almost home.

"Finally," I breathed once we got inside.

"Where have you two been?" Lucy snapped, smacking the both of us.

"The demon took longer than we—"

"I don't want to hear any excuses," she frowned at me. "I told you to wait until tomorrow, but you didn't listen."

"Yeah, yeah," I grumbled, crossing my arms. Although her blonde hair was greying, and there were wrinkles beginning to appear near her eyes and mouth, Lucy was still a fierce woman—one I avoided picking fights with. Especially since I was bonded to her daughter.

"Here they come!" Happy announced, silencing everyone.

Mom was laughing as the doors opened, and both she and dad gasped when we all jumped out, blowing horns and throwing confetti. "What's all this?" Mom asked.

"Happy anniversary, mom," I smiled, kissing her on the cheek. "The organization wanted to throw the two of you a party."

"Could'a warned me," dad frowned. I chuckled, knowing how he hated surprises. His black hair was streaked with grey, and so was mom's blue hair. Even after ten years of marriage, the two of them still looked at each other as if they were newlyweds though. While my youngest brother, Gale, thought it was disgusting, I admired their love, hoping one day I'd find someone I could look at the way dad looked at mom.

Lily, the second oldest, hugged mom tightly. Her blue hair was long like dad's, but she kept it back with a ribbon. Next was Darrick, who looked embarrassed when she kissed him on the cheek and ruffled his black hair. Gale, being only seven, stuck close to her side most of the time and arrived with them.

"Silas, wanna dance?" Layla asked, grabbing my hand.

"I hate dancing," I complained, following her anyways.

"You always say that, but you always dance with me," she giggled.

"Because you'd punch me otherwise," I grumbled.

She laughed, stealing the ribbon out of my short black hair before taking off towards the center of the room where everyone had gathered to dance. "Layla!" I fumed, chasing after her.

She stopped, handing me the ribbon and watching as I tied it back into my hair, using it to keep my bangs out of my face. "You're so cute," she giggled, then stopped once she realized what she had said. Her face turned several shades of red before settling on one that was darker than Erza's hair.

"Why're you so embarrassed, smokey?" I teased, patting her on the top of the head. "You used to call me cute all the time when we were little. You even told me you loved me," I chuckled.

"I-I was only six when I told you that!" She huffed.

"Gihi." I grabbed her hand, pulling her closer as I wrapped my other arm around her.

"W-What are you doing?" She asked, staring up at me, her face still adorably red.

"You wanted to dance, right?" I didn't quite meet her eyes, feeling a little embarrassed myself—though I tried to convince myself it was because of the effects of the bond.

She looked at our joined hands, and I sensed disappointment flooding through the bond as she held back a sigh.

I stopped dancing, causing her to look up at me. "What's wrong?" I asked.

She bristled in embarrassment, "I told you not to spy on me!"

"I can't help it when your emotions are practically screaming at me," I told her. "You might as well just come out and say it. What's wrong?"

She let go of my hands, taking a step back as she frowned down at the floor, her face growing an even darker shade of red. "I thought…I thought you were going to kiss me. Or at least say I was cute, too, or something," she mumbled, clearing her throat when she was done.

I could feel my face beginning to match hers. My throat seemed to go completely dry all of a sudden, and I tried swallowing several times before giving up. "Oh," I managed, rather pathetically.

"Forget it," she said, looking up at me with a false smile. "I know you didn't ask for this bond, and it's not like I expected you to feel the same."

"Layla—"

"I'm gonna go find Aunt Levy. I haven't given her my present yet," she said, rushing off before I could continue.

"You're about as good with women as I am." Dad was standing behind me, a sympathetic smile on his face.

"How was I supposed to know she was being serious all those times?!" I asked, feeling like an idiot. I'd known how I felt about Layla since I woke up and found out we had been bonded all those years ago. I always assumed it was just wishful thinking on my part that she would feel the same.

Dad sighed, giving me a hard shove in Layla's direction. "Don't just stand there feelin' sorry for yourself. You're the dumbass, so go fix it."

"Yeah," I nodded, running after Layla.

When I caught up to her, I grabbed her hand to keep her from running away again. "Layla—"

"Can I just be alone right now?" She snapped, turning on me, angrily.

Before she could say anything else, I grabbed her face and brought her lips to mine, kissing her firmly. When I pulled away, I knew there was a stupid grin on my face, but I didn't try to hide it. Her face was back to its color-changing, and she was stuttering something I couldn't understand.

"Sorry for being such a moron," I chuckled.

"Y-You—" She went silent, and I didn't need the bond to tell me she was deciding whether or not to kiss me again or punch me in the face. I was relieved when she picked the first one, wrapping her arms around my neck as she kissed me.

"Hey! Don't get any ideas, Redfox!" I heard Natsu ranting in the background as I pulled away to smile at Layla.

"So," I said, holding out my hand, "want to dance?"

"I'd love to," she giggled, taking my hand.

~Levy~

"They are so getting married in a few years," Lucy smirked, standing beside me as we watched our children dance.

"I'm still counting on a little blonde granddaughter," I giggled. It had taken them long enough to confess to each other, but I was happy they finally had. And it was even more special because it had been on Gajeel's and my anniversary. It's like an unconscious present from them to us, I thought to myself with a smile.

"Hey, Shrimp," Gajeel smiled, pulling me into his arms.

I laughed, leaning against his chest as we swayed slowly with the music. "I can't believe it has already been ten years," I sighed.

"You're even more beautiful now than you were back then," he chuckled.

"You're just saying that because it's our anniversary," I teased, poking him on the cheek.

He caught my hand, holding it to his face as he met my eyes. "I mean it, Shrimp. You grow more beautiful every day, and I thank God every morning that I get to wake up next to you."

I smiled, stretching to my tiptoes to kiss him softly. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too," he grinned. "Happy anniversary, Levy."

"Happy anniversary, Gajeel."