For the Generations to Follow

Chapter Twenty

"Uh oh, somebody missed his coffee this morning," Mirajane cooed delicately. She watched her broody guild master saunter through the doors just after dawn's break to join her. She squeaked in surprise when the dead weight of his mass dropping onto a stool in front of her shook the floorboards. "Rough night?"

"I don't want to talk about it," he groaned.

"Ah," Mira squeaked. "Well, it must have been." She reached up to her own collar and itched in the same area she encouraged him to consider. "It looks like your wife missed a spot."

Laxus mirrored her concern and noticed that his wife had left him with a love bite on the side of his neck. It was another indication that it was going to be a long day. Without too much effort, he lazily raised his hands and popped his collar to cover the subtle bruising. "There, fixed."

Mira smiled giddily and returned to the dishes she was catching up on from the night before. "That's odd. I thought you were supposed to have Alex with you this morning. Is Gajeel bringing him by when he comes in?"

"Neirah's picking him up," Laxus rumbled quietly. "She wanted to give me and the old man a bit of time to catch up before Alex was 'stealing him away'."

Mirajane's brow knotted over her playful smile. "Gee, she's really hard on you recently, isn't she?"

"Yea, that's what I said," he growled. "All I got was 'you're overreacting, stop being a moron'."

Mirajane snorted her disbelief delicately. "Neirah said that?"

Laxus sighed and dropped his cheek into his palm. "I dunno, I half listen…"

"Is everything ok?" she encouraged tenderly. He ignored her efforts as she reached out and rested the back of her hand against his brow. "You really do look more tired every day. I thought for sure after last night that you'd-" Mira squealed, flinching when his fist hit the bar top between them as he slowly rolled his gaze her way.

"She told you what she had planned for last night?"

Mira bowed her head with a look of defeat on her round face, her tone mousy as she rushed out her explanation. "She called me this morning after you left the house and asked me to keep an eye on things."

Laxus slowly shook his head. "If that brat would just come around once in a damn while, she could eye me herself."

Mira raised a finger like she was going to interrupt him but then bent it and surrendered her gentle response. "I… don't think she meant it that way."

"Well, I never know with you two anymore…"

"Oh, and just what's that supposed to mean?"

"Any word about when the old man might be rollin' in?"

Mira sighed and checked the notes she'd made the night before. "His train should be in early this afternoon. Do you want me to go meet him?"

"I'll go," Laxus rumbled certainly.

Mirajane watched an eager tenderness catch in Laxus' exhausted features as he looked out over the empty guild hall. They may have been the only ones in the large building at the time, but a wash of memories filled both sets of eyes with fond memories. Mirajane couldn't help but smile. "You miss him… don't you?"

Laxus' expression humbled tenderly as a small smile found the tired lines of his face. "Yea…"

Neirah hummed through her gentle smile, her long French braid swaying against her spine as she gripped a basket in her hands. She rocked from side to side as her gentle knock repeated. She knew that the Redfox family would already be awake with two toddlers to contend with, though she had to admit, when her brother answered the door with a screeching Lilian in his arms, sleep might have done them good.

"Ooo boy," she purred. "Rough night, Screwball?"

Gajeel glared back at her with a dim lack of amusement. "Lev?! Yer freaking friend's here."

Neirah knotted her face and puffed her cheeks out bitterly to his denial. "Love you too, Big Brother!"

"Don't mind him."

Neirah looked down to meet Pantherlily's calm smile, his arms folded over his furry chest.

"Lily wanted to stay up all night and play with Alex so he didn't get much sleep."

Neirah giggled softly as Pantherlily shut the door behind her and welcomed her into their home. "You seem to be in a fine mood though," she mused.

Pantherlily turned and winked at her over his wicked smirk as he flicked one of his earplugs in the air. "Remember when we were still a part of Infinity Dragon in '92? Well, your Edolas counterpart gave these to me to help me cope with all the thunderstorms near the Port of Lysar. She didn't have much use for them when she returned to Edolas."

"You sly kitty, you," she teased.

"Dad! DAAAD! Guess what!? Uncle Gajeel taught me how to play a guitar and-" Alex paused in the hall archway as soon as he saw his mother and Pantherlily locked in conversation. "W-wait… you're not Dad…"

Neirah wrinkled her nose, her hand hitching on her hip impatiently. "No, I'm Mom. Nice to meet you," she snorted in amusement. "Just what made you think your father was the one here to pick you up?"

"You smell like him…"

Pantherlily stilled awkwardly to the innocence of the youth announcing the similarities.

"Well that got awkward fast," Gajeel grumbled upon passing through the hall with a giggling Lilian in his arms.

"I guess he inherited some of the dragon in Shadow's blood," Pantherlily mused.

Neirah sighed and watched as the boys abandoned her and her son in the front hall. She slowly knelt and considered her genuinely disappointed son's features. "You can see your father tonight when he gets home," she gently assured him. "Your great grandpa's coming into town today. Your father has to go meet him."

"I could have gone too!" Alex defended heatedly.

"Alex, please don't raise your voice in someone else's home."

Alex turned his defiant pout to one side, his lower lip plumping his disapproval. "Just because you're not strong enough to be a wizard doesn't mean that I can't be one…" The livewire ignited to argue in a dissatisfied tone. "I could walk with Dad all day…"

"Alex," Neirah whimpered through her narrowly concealed heartache. It certainly wasn't the first time he'd been upset by her but it didn't get any easier as time went on. "Where is this coming from?"

"You always get left behind because you're not strong enough to go with Dad… Then I get left behind too." Alex turned away from his mother with a determined fist pump. "But I'm going to be just as strong as Daddy one day and then we'll go everywhere together no matter what."

Neirah's trembling azure gaze widened as she watched her boy turn to run through the house so that he could hide from her. She had told Laxus that morning that it hadn't hurt, but she had lied.

"Sorry, Shads!" Levy called. She rushed through the hall with her hair in a towel. "I just got out of the shower." Levy's gaze flickered with concern for a moment as her humble friend straightened. "Huh? Is everything ok?"

Neirah cleared her throat and replaced her smile. "Of course," she fibbed. "Sorry, I'm a little early. Daddy Dreyar had a rough night so believe it or not, he was actually up with me at dawn."

"Poor guy," Levy whimpered. She let her towel down and combed her fingers through the damp ends of her hair wavy. "Yesterday was brutal. Guild morale was pretty low too. We had a lot of new members who didn't even know the story and some of them were pretty freaked. Gajeel was pretty mad at them for what they did."

"That makes two of us," Neirah nearly growled. "But I think he'll come out of this better for it."

"That's good," Levy purred. "Hey, have you had a tea yet this morning?" She smiled as Neirah gently shook her head. "Right on, well I think I have some of your fancy stuff here from the last time you slept over," she announced happily. "Gajeel's just getting Lily down for a nap and then we're free to have a little girl chat."

Neirah laughed as the two entered the Redfox kitchen to the sound of guitar strings plucking and scratching from down the hall. "Oh goodie," she muttered sardonically. "Next thing I know, Gajeel's going to be on the stage performing for my four-year old's birthday and dragging Alex's reputation down with his."

"He's getting better!" Levy demanded uncertainly. She sighed through her hearty laugh as she poured the water over her guest's tea. "I think…"

"Levy, you're his wife. You're supposed to be on his side." Neirah picked up her cup and sipped it, no matter how hot the water. "I'm his bratty little sister. I'm supposed to be his worst nightmare incarnate."

Gajeel grunted as he passed through the kitchen and placed a hard kiss on the top of his wife's head. "I'll remember that when I teach yer kid how to shred," he rumbled darkly. He caught the toast that popped in the toaster and clamped it between his teeth. "Later Lev. She's sleepin' like an angel and Lil said he'd keep Alex company while you girls do your… well-" He flailed his arms and spoke through the slice of toasted bread between his teeth. "Whatever you girls do."

"Kay, thanks!" Levy mused affectionately. "I'll see you at lunchtime!"

"What? No kisses for your baby sister?"

"Bite me."

Neirah's impatient snort joined Levy's melodic laughter. "Congratulations, Levy. You have officially replaced me."

Levy laughed as the two women watched Gajeel start on his way towards the guild through the bay windows in their large kitchen. "I wouldn't feel too bad about it, Shads," Levy crooned. "I think he's still pretty put out that Laxus took his place."

Neirah feigned astonishment with a heavy gasp. "Sacrilege! I could never replace my big brother! Least of all with a-"

"With a big hulking brute like Laxus?"

Neirah humbled and smiled at her friend's synchronized chime as she sipped her tea again. "I fell pretty hard for that man, didn't I?"

"The floor's still shaking," Levy chimed supportively. "How was he this morning?" she casually diverted. "Laxus, I mean. He gets pretty stressed when Makarov comes to town to check up on things. And after that whole Sorcerer ordeal…"

"He had a bit of a meltdown this morning, but he seemed to bounce back ok before he stepped out the door. I think a good night's sleep helped. It's been a while since he's had one of those."

"I bet," Levy pried devilishly. "Are you guys trying for that little girl yet?"

Neirah rolled her eyes with a sly grin. "Not yet," she assured her quietly. "Soon though. He's really starting to shine through it. I hate to admit it, but Ako actually might've done me a favour by rehashing the past. I think he's finally starting to accept it."

"Well, I don't know if he'll ever come to terms with it entirely," Levy whispered sadly. "It was pretty scary for the rest of us."

"He feels really bad about it. He let his emotions get the better of him one time and then he shut them all out entirely. It's been a nightmare to try and get him to open up again."

"But you're making progress?"

"Lots," Neirah whispered contentedly. "It's so weird… I thought I loved him when I walked down that aisle. The way he smiled at me, I thought that was everything. To hold the strong hand of a brave man who cared about me, I thought that was love in its truest." She gently stirred her spoon in her tea to disturb the leaves at the bottom of her cup. "I guess I was just really naïve, really overwhelmed by everything. The fall of the Austalian Elitists, the realization that I was born a reptile…" Her smile chastened. "The thought of carrying that man's child. It was all so new for a freaky little cult kid like me."

"Uh oh, I don't like that…" Levy reached out and put her hand on top of her friend's. "Did you two have a fight?"

Neirah looked back at her and smiled. "The opposite actually," she assured. "These past few weeks, we've learned so much about one another. The other day-" She chuckled. "He actually surprised me with my favourite meal, drew me a bath and quizzed me about everything from… jeez, my favourite kind of shoes to my favourite colour."

Levy slammed her cup on the table and nearly choked through her smile. "What?! Get out!"

"Seriously! It was so cheesy!"

"And I thought mine was bad," Levy mused. "God, I never would have seen that coming out of Laxus."

"He is the king of cheesy," Neirah announced.

"Whoa no," Levy rebutted. "Gajeel has him beat by a landslide. The other night, after Lilian was in bed, I woke up to the sound of the tree hitting the window."

"He didn't…"

"I have no idea how the heck he got up there with his guitar, but he did! And his Exceed claimed that he had nothing to do with the whole fiasco," Levy proclaimed hysterically. "Then he started singing this song he wrote, but he was doing it with a freaking rose between his teeth- The neighbours complained, he fell out of the tree, and we were up until three a.m. with a pair of tweezers trying to get all the thorns out of his mouth."

Neirah threw her hands up in surrender. "You're right. The rightful king, he is." Neirah's cheeks flushed as she wrapped her hands around her mug. "Laxus doesn't go that far. He just… he remembers the little things. He always has. Well, except for when he met little me. But it's like ever since then, ever since he remembered the day we met, he's been trying really hard not to forget any little detail. I'm actually super jealous of his memory power."

Neirah sighed and looked out into the full rupture of spring shining through Levy's kitchen window. The cherries were starting to bloom. "I guess it just sticks out to a girl who had such a hard time remembering anything when she was growing up. With all the damage Karua did… my memory is weak, at best. But Laxus… He never forgets a birthday or an anniversary. He remembers the comments I made the first day of winter three years ago and he could probably tell you just how many stars were in the sky when I said it. He may be bulky and awkward… but he really tries. It's because his memory is so clear that he regrets so easily. It's so hard for him to let go… to trust..."

Levy's gaze dropped, her expression darkening with concern as the room grew silent. "Did you tell him…?"

Neirah solemnly shook her head. "Porlyusica made Mira and I promise not to say anything…" Neirah turned back to look out the window towards the gentle flow of petals rustling in the trees lining Levy's drive. "Whereas I'm still learning all these little quirks of my husband's… Master Makarov has long since understood them." Her heart sank as she turned away from the bright scene and slowly sipped her tea again. "It would just be another thing for him to worry about…"

Laxus watched the murky smoke billowing from the stack of the train thundering down the tracks into Magnolia Station. He hadn't been overly enthusiastic, so it might have been the reason why he didn't care if he was early. He wasn't exactly late either though; just ambiguously unenthused like Laxus tended to be.

If he'd seen his grandfather twice a year, that was pushing it. After his retirement, Makarov had been exactly what he'd announced the day he'd gifted Laxus the responsibilities of the guild; a fairy in the wind. He'd been all over the continent, aiding smaller magical communities in their strife. From what Laxus had heard Makarov had even been the inspiring hand to help add a couple more official guilds to the Fiore roster. He'd become a sage, of sorts, from what anyone back home could tell. He did his best to inspire all wizards to develop like Fairy Tail had.

The guild's high reputation was certainly helping the cause with their spectacular job completion and stellar performance during each year's Grand Magic Games. Most of the controversy highlighting Laxus' inheritance had started to fade and with it, Fairy Tail was sitting comfortably on the top of the magical community.

Quite often, Laxus would be approached by various guild members upon their return from travelling for completed jobs. They would mention that they had met with the guild's old master, and each time, they'd carry with them a more ridiculous message from the lips of his snarky grandfather. He may have turned up his nose at them when they were passed on by his messengers, but when he'd turned away, they'd always brought a smile to his face. To someone else, it sounded like a bunch of nonsense spouted by a senile old man. But his grandfather had never lacked intuition and intelligence. He was encrypting his encouragement.

A message…

Despite his footsteps being heavy, his heart was aflutter when his attention rose to the announcement over the loudspeakers assuring him that his grandfather's train had arrived. He'd made his way to the gate just as the old man stepped off the train with the aid of a walking cane about three times Makarov's height. Between the beard, the staff and the long white overcoat, he had started to take on the appearance of a sage, of sorts. But then, Laxus supposed, maybe it was another message. The thought filled him with the slightest of confidence. Even at his most stubborn, Laxus had to admit something undeniable. Makarov was a wise man who had seen much in his day. He could only conclude that Makarov's abandonment of the guild was because he had passed along all he had to share with his next of kin; leaving with confidence in his heir to share the knowledge with those in need of it. Laxus smiled at the thought.

No regrets.

Makarov sighed like stepping off the train was an effort, but it quickly cleared when he shot his gaze toward Laxus. "What are you doing just standing there?!" Makarov blasted. "Did I not teach you to help the elderly off trains!?"

Laxus groaned and diverted his gaze from the heated scene his grandfather was making. "Consider it a compliment," he rebuked.

Makarov raised his finger to gently scratch his moustache. "Ah yes, trains aren't really your thing, are they, my boy?"

"Geez, you're startin' early," Laxus snapped impatiently. His expression humbled when he watched his grandfather retrieve a small bag from the train to shoulder it. "That's it? No cartload of gifts to mask as spoiling my kid with?"

"Oh? You didn't like last year's magical poppers?"

"Don't play innocent with me, old man. I know full well you left him a note in the box that told him the best time to set those things off was after his parents were in bed."

Makarov raised his shoulder's sheepishly, a devilish beam on his face for his guilt. "And the shifty old coot who sold them to me seemed like such a nice fellow," he fibbed.

Laxus sighed and watched his grandfather struggle to shoulder the bag for a moment before he reached down and retrieved it from Makarov's weathered hands.

"Ah, so I did raise a gentleman," Makarov teased.

"My wife's been working on it," Laxus shot back edgily. "Don't think I haven't noticed the subliminal messaging coming her way too."

Makarov smiled compassionately as he looked back up at his grandson wearing the mark of a Wizard Saint that his grandfather had surrendered to him almost five years prior. "I taught you too well," he teased. "You're catching on to all of my schemes before they can fully take effect."

Laxus smiled back at him tenderly. "That's why the rest of those poppers are sittin' on an Alex-proof shelf until after you're asleep tonight."

Makarov started to walk alongside his grandson, grateful that the brute had courteously shortened his strides. "Four years old tomorrow, eh? How time flies…"

"You're tellin' me," Laxus agreed. "I wish I had've had a bit of warning before my life turned itself inside out."

"Well, we don't always expect the things life throws our way," Makarov reasoned. "In my case, the last thing I expected was that my grandson was going to marry the apocalypse and then bring a child into this world by her side."

Laxus sighed his exhaustion. "Don't let it eat at you too much. The only apocalypse she brings down is on my head when I don't fold the laundry properly."

Makarov emitted a soft chuckle as the two exited the train station into the spring-scented streets of Magnolia. "Yes, I must say, it came as a great surprise to me that Neirah decided to retire after Alex was born. She was such a promising young wizard. Now, even those who were privy to her battle with Acnologia question whether or not it actually happened. It all seems like a distant dream."

"More like a distant nightmare," Laxus corrected grimly. "I told her that I had my doubts, about the whole retirement thing. If she wanted to slow down, that's fine, but it really burns me up that our four-year-old still doesn't know that his mom's not only a wizard but a damn powerful Saint next to his old man."

"And the other Wizard Saints? What did they have to say on the matter?"

"Most of them supported her decision, I guess. They didn't force her to surrender her title," he informed. "I mean, in a way, I get it. This place was a nut house after the war. Even Natsu took off with his woman just to get some damn peace and quiet. I can understand why it might be stressful to face a crowd who can't see past the fact that she's not human. Some people don't even believe it was her who killed Acnologia. There's so much damn mystery around it all that people just make up their own version of the story. It's probably the only reason we've been able to keep a cover on it. The only people who still have a hard time swallowin' it are the ones who saw it with their own damn eyes…" His expression grew weighted with recollection. "Even most of our newer members… they have no idea…"

Makarov watched Laxus very carefully for a few quiet moments before turning away. "And you? What are your thoughts on the matter?"

"I think... I think she scared the hell outta herself. Ever since that day, she really didn't think she'd ever be able to change back. She was ready to walk away from all of us so that we would survive," he admitted solemnly. "I don't think she expected to survive it, but since she did, I don't think she really knows what she wants to do. She didn't plan that far ahead."

"You think she is afraid that if she continues to use her magic now that the seal is broken she might become one with a vision of what she was that day."

Laxus sighed heavily and looked down at his shuffling feet. "I just can't talk any sense into her," he muttered. "You know what she's like when she's set her mind to something."

"Yes, she topples empires and slays dragons," Makarov added friskily. "But you've always seemed to keep her grounded. I believe that's one of the few reasons she keeps you around."

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, old man," Laxus growled over his grandfather's playful snicker. He slowly shifted his gaze to where the old man's laughter morphed into a slow, haggard cough. Part of him wanted to joke, another wanted to worry. It concluded in an awkward silence extending between them.

After he'd caught his breath, Makarov was the one to break the tension. "And for the record, you might want to adjust your collar."

Laxus' cheeks coloured as he waited a moment before silently re-popping his collar to hide the love-bite on his neck.

'Cheeky old bastard…'