Parenthood

Chapter 25

Needless to say, Nathan's party was really just a code for drinking while not at the guildhall. Because, face it, what fun is it to drink in the boring old guild all day? The same place that people drank every day?

Oh, no. They'd much rather drink at Mirajane's house and have her serve them there. Because that's all she's good for. Right?

"Wrong," Mirajane groaned as she was, once again, asked to bring someone a beer. "This is my house."

But they didn't care. And she was too kind to ever say anything. Besides, Nathan was enjoying having all the guests. He got to show Natsu (who Laxus begrudgingly allowed in) all of his toys. He really liked the Salamander for some reason. Everyone figured it was because their mental age was about the same. Because it definitely wasn't genetic.

That was the point though, for Nathan to enjoy it. And Laxus was in his element, having all of the Thunder God Tribe fawn over him.

Err, having Freed fawn over him. Elfman and Evergreen were arguing out on the back porch over something or other and Bickslow had disappeared just as soon as he arrived, as well as Lisanna.

"I don't get it, Freed," Laxus complained to him as they stood in the kitchen, away from all the others. "Why Ever and Bickslow… What's so great about Lisanna and Elfman?"

"I would question that as well, Laxus," he said, bowing his head. "But considering you possess a Strauss as well, I think that you understand."

"I don't…possess anything. Shut up!"

"R-Right," Freed stuttered, glancing up at him. "I didn't mean… You are most certainly correct. It is only that, as you can tell, it is very odd for me. Considering that you all seem to have squired a Strauss sibling and I am left in the dust."

"Yeah, well, Ever and Elfman are probably breaking up soon. Take your crack at that."

"I think I'll pass."

"Good choice."

"Na'su," they heard from the other room. It was Nathan, of course, giggling over something the other man was doing. "Na'su."

"All the people in the dang guild," Laxus grumbled as his soon took to cheering. Mirajane, who was in there at that moment, once again getting someone a beer, only came to give Laxus a kiss, much to the displeasure of Freed.

"You know," she told them both, glancing at each in turn. "You could try and go enjoy the party with the rest of us."

"I can't," Laxus said. "I don't wanna."

"And I am unable to leave Laxus side," Freed told her. "Unlike the likes of Evergreen and-"

"I can hear you!" they all three heard then yelled from the back porch.

"Fine," Freed said, amending his previous remark. "Unlike the likes of Bickslow."

"Bickslow's definitely around," Mirajane told him. "I think he and Lisanna went to her bedroom to be alone."

Laxus blinked. "Are you…okay with that?"

"Mmmhmm. Remember? I'm becoming a new person."

"Yeah, sure."

That was only part of it though. The other part stemmed from the fact that Mirajane knew nothing was going on in there. How stupid would Lisanna and Bickslow be? Most everyone was in the house at that moment.

And she was right. Lisanna, in that moment, was actually just sitting on her bed as Bickslow went through her things.

"I don't like this game."

"You sure liked it when you were the one going through my shit," Bickslow challenged. "Lisanna."

"Lisanna," the babies sang as they fluttered around. They'd already been instructed by their papa that they weren't allowed to run into anything. "Lisanna."

"Yeah, but that was because I was the one getting to find things."

"And what'd you'd find?"

"A couple jewels and a packet of gum."

"Good girl," he said as he opened another drawer. "You're such a good girl that you didn't even take anything juicy."

"What else would I have taken?" Lisanna complained. "I wasn't being as rude as you and actually going through your drawers."

"But you had the chance."

"I was showing mercy."

"You forget who I am, kid? I show no mercy."

It had all started when Lisanna got up that morning and went out to get some breakfast (Mirajane had stayed the night at Laxus') only to run into Bickslow. He had bought a thing of donuts and offered her to come back to his place to share them. Once they were there, they had to find something to do.

So he invited a game.

Finders keepers. You got two things from the others place, whatever you wanted. You just had to find it first.

She'd been too nervous to actually take anything serious. He apparently wasn't though. And when he opened her underwear drawer, she turned a shade of pink that would rival Natsu's hair.

"Bickslow!"

"I want these. You wearing a pair of these right now?"

"Knock it off!"

"I'm kiddin', kid," he said, closing the drawer without even picking up a pair. "Sheesh."

That didn't stop the blush though as she watched him, waiting for him to move over to a safer territory. He was still going through her dresser tough when there was knock at the door.

"Come in," she called out, only to be welcomed by the sight of Natsu and Lucy. They apparently had been looking for her, as they both seemed happy to see her…until they noticed the guy in the room with her.

"Hey," Natsu said, bucking up immediately. "Are you trying to rob poor Lisanna? 'cause-"

"No, Natsu," Lisanna said, blushing as she got to her feet. "He only-"

"Say." Bickslow turned then to glance at them before at Lisanna. "Now that the blonde one's in your bedroom, does that mean that I get to have her?"

"W-What?" Lucy looked to Lisanna who was only glaring at Bickslow. His helmet was resting on her bed, meaning it was easy for him to wink at her.

"If you want Lucy," they heard then as Happy fluttered in. "It's gonna cost you, um- Hey, Natsu? What's a good price for Lucy?"

"Hmmm. Well, five fish sounds a bit pricey."

"So does four."

"You guys," she complained. "Knock-"

"Three's pretty steep too."

"And, I mean, who would give us two for her."

"So-"

"Cleary-'

"Lucy's worth nothing," they both decided just to make the blonde glare at them. And boy did Natsu and Happy have a good chuckle about that one.

"Awe, come on, Luce," Natsu complained as she only hit him in the arm before turning to walk off. "We were only kidding."

"Yeah," Happy said, quick to follow. "We'd try to sell you for a thousand fish if we could. It's just that no one would buy you. I mean, who would want a Lucy?"

"You're not helping, Hap," Natsu told him before looking to Lisanna. Winking at her, he said, "Your sister wanted us to tell you that it's time to cut the cake."

"Thanks," she whispered, but he was already rushing off after his own girlfriend. That left her with Bickslow who snickered.

"Come on, Lissy," he told her. "I could have had the blonde one and it'd have drove the pink one into your arms. Isn't that the point?"

She blinked. Then she frowned at him. "Oh, so what? You want Lucy too?"

"What?"

"Whatever, Bickslow." She headed out of the room then.

"Whatever, Papa," his babies agreed, turning to follow her. He didn't even spare them a glance though as he quickly moved to grab her hand and keep her in the room with him.

"Lissy-"

"No. I don't-"

"I don't… It was joke." He let her go then, but only because he knew that she wasn't going anywhere. She was staring at him, arms finding their way over her chest, folded. "Alright? You're my friend. Not them. You know that."

He reached out then to pat her on the cheek before turning to walk off and out of the room, his babies following. Lisanna was quick to trail him as well.

She wasn't…jealous of Lucy. She'd said that enough times that it was practically her mantra. But…the thought of Bickslow wanting her too…

What was it with her? It was like everyone thought that Lucy was so great. And fine, she was. She truly, honestly was. Body and soul. But they didn't know that. They just looked at her and decided, wow, Lucy. Great. I want her. Which totally wasn't fair.

Again, not that she envious or anything, but still.

She found the others all in the kitchen as Nathan was forced to listen to them sing him happy birthday. He was mostly wiggling in Mira's arms though, whining about wanting the cake. Not that he was hating being the center of attention. Oh, no, he was digging that. He just wanted a little nibble at that cake while he was at it.

Mirajane just made everything so complicated for him. No, Nathan, she'd say. You can't eat dirt. Or no, you can't lick the dog just because he licked you. And putting foreign object in your mouth to figure out exactly what they were? Forget about it.

But she was still Mira. So he followed most of her rules. Like when she told him, once he was finally given his cake, not to make too big of a mess. He tried hard not to. Honest. But…come on. It was frosting! Next to opening presents, cake was the best thing in the world.

He got so many cool gifts that night. Laxus helped him open all of 'em too, though he'd had more than a little to drink and spent most of the party wishing for it to end so he could go to bed.

And he did. As soon as it was over, he headed off to Mira's room to nap. Which left her to clean up.

"I don't think that you appreciate, Nathan, all that I do for you," Mirajane complained as he only spent time introducing all his new stuffed animals to his old ones, there in the middle of the living room floor, seemingly oblivious to Mirajane as she gathered up all the trash lain around.

"Mira," he complained, annoyed that she was, once again, bothering him. He loved her, she was his favorite person, but sometimes… He kinda liked how Laxus would just let him do his own thing. Eat whatever he wanted, break whatever he pleased, and if he got hurt in the process, it was a lesson to never do it again. "No. Shhh."

"You're just like Laxus. You both think that things just get done magically. As if I don't stay up at night, doing your clothes, planning your days, managing all our money, making sure that you'll both be okay for another day. But do you care? No."

Nathan start singing then, or at least attempting to, one of Mira's songs, getting over half the words wrong and the tune was totally off. He wanted to be like Mira when he got older. Be able to sing and cook and clean and just be great.

Oh, and sorta like Laxus. He wanted to be big and have cool designs on his body and burp and fart whenever he wanted. That would be nice.

But he wanted everything else of him he wanted to be just like Mirajane!

"Nathan, don't put that in your mouth!"

Other than her nagging.

He could do without that.

"That was a waste."

"Oh, Ever."

"It was," she said as she and Elfman made it to her apartment. "And you know, instead of wasting all this time on a birthday party that the kid won't even remember, they could work a little harder on, gee, getting her out off the house."

"What's up with you and this? Huh? You keep bringing it up," Elfman complained as he, per usual, took his shoes off right by the door. Ever was a stickler for those sorts of things. "Mira and Laxus are slowly moving her stuff over there. I mean, what difference does it make? The house is already paid off. Mira's just waiting to put it in my name. That's all."

"Uh-huh."

"What, Ever?"

She only went into the kitchen to get a glass of wine. All they'd had at the party was beer and that just wasn't up to her standards.

"You know what," she said. "You don't push this issue, Elfman, and you might lose your chance."

"My chance at what? That house ain't that special. And I was thinking about just letting Lisanna have it."

Ever was back in the living room then, wineglass in hand, staring at him hard. "What?"

"Why not?" he asked, glancing at her. She hadn't brought him a glass because, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make him like the stuff. He said that it smelled. Even the expensive brands. "I don't want to stay there anymore. I was only there to protect 'em and now they've both decided that they can do fine all alone, so-"

"Elfman, you're getting a house, one that's in moderate condition, for nothing. Literally, nothing. For free. And you're going to pass on that why?"

"What difference does it make if I got it for free, Ever?" he asked her. "I mean, I would never sell it. And even if I did, I'd give Mirajane all of the money I made off it. She's the one that-"

"Are you stupid?"

"Hey! I thought we agreed that you wouldn't call me-"

"Elfman," she hissed, coming closer to join him on the couch. He kept right on glaring at her though. "Lisanna doesn't need a house. You do."

"Why do I-"

"Because, idiot, you're not going to live with me, are you?"

"Well…if you're offering-"

"I'm not," she said. "So what? You're going to waste money on an apartment because you're upset that your sisters are, gee, growing up? Come on. You're not that stupid. You can make jewels off this."

"I just told you-"

"Mira has had her chance at the house. It's your turn. I mean, sheesh, you put time and effort into its upkeep too," she said before pausing to take a sip from her glass. After that, she merely said, "Why would you cheat yourself out of a good investment?"

"Then I'd have to pay property tax and-"

"And what?"

"I…I don't know." He took to glaring at the wall in front of them then. "I just don't want things to change, I guess. I like living with Mirajane and Lisanna. I love them. But they both want things to be different."

"They're just getting older, Elfman," she told him with a roll of her eyes. Ever was always down for some drama, but only on her schedule. "Mira wants to start a family. And Lisanna wants to just be free from everything for awhile. You didn't possibly think that we'd all stay the same as we were when we were kids, did you? Pretty soon, I bet, a lot of people are going to start leaving Fairy Tail. They-"

"Stop talking."

She gave his arm a slight shove. "You don't get to tell me to stop talking, Elfman."

"But-"

"Where do you think, Elf, all the people that we were around in Fairy Tail when we were kids went to? Huh?"

"W-Well-"

"It's a good guild," she told him. "And it's our home. For now. But you can't stay in the same place for all of eternity."

"What are you saying?"

"Just that I know Laxus. And I know that if Makarov dies and gives the guild to someone other than him, he'll probably take off. And your sister's just a barmaid now, really. Not to mention, she's really only ever wanted to be a singer. So…I mean, I don't want them to go anywhere, but-"

"Mira and Laxus aren't-"

"And then Lisanna can hardly stand being here as it is now," she said. "That's why she's always asking you to go on those long, far off jobs. She's said it before, Elf. You guys just don't listen to her."

"Oh, and you do?"

Ever shrugged, taking another sip. "She wants to travel. Being a mage is just something that's fun to her. I mean, I'd be surprise if she stays for another year, what with Mirajane moving out. She already feels like you guys are abandoning her."

"But we're not! And Mirajane explained it to her. She-"

"Oh, they've patched things up, fine, but that doesn't mean that the wounds aren't still there. If she felt that way once, she'll feel that way again."

He hated every single word in her last few sentences. And they got even worse when he started to contemplate what she was saying.

"Then…Then what about me?"

"You like Fairy Tail. This was all you ever wanted to be," Ever said. "A man or whatever. Right?"

"I wanna be with my sisters."

"Awe." She didn't mean for that one to sleep out. Not at all. But oh well. Sometimes, and she didn't know why, the way he cared so much about others made her feel…warm. Fuzzy.

And sick to her stomach.

"That's not an option though," she told him. "And you know that."

"Why can't we all just live together forever? I wouldn't fight with Laxus much, if Mirajane moved him in. And you could-"

"Ha, no. I'm never living with your sisters. Never. So get that out of your precious little brain right this second."

"I don't know why you guys are so against one another. I mean-"

"Elfman, it's not even about that. I…moderately can tolerate Lisanna. And I think that Mirajane's a snake, but Laxus…likes her, which means that I do too. Now."

He shook his head. "But-"

"Everyone grows up, Elfman. And that doesn't mean that you're not still their brother." Evergreen wasn't taking sympathy on him, not by any account, but…she did really love Elfman. Sort of. And seeing him so upset by something that she was intent on bringing up didn't make her feel so good about herself.

"Hey, look." She stood up then, reaching out with the hand that wasn't clutching her glass, to run it across his cheek until she got to his chin, which she tilted up. "Let me have another glass of wine and then, maybe, we can turn this night around, huh?"

"What do you-"

"Elfman."

He blinked. Then he got excited and jumped right up. "I'll go pour you another!"

"Good boy," she sighed before downing the rest of her drink and handing him the wineglass to accomplish his new task. So talking about his sisters had been a bust. There had to be some way to make him keep that damn house.

She just hadn't thought of it yet.

"I don't see what the big deal is."

"I'm not making a big deal," Lisanna complained as they walked along next to one another, the streets empty and her voice hollow. "You are."

"You haven't been the same since I said that thing about the stupid celestial wizard," Bickslow grumbled, kicking at the ground, held tilted down. "And I don't know why. So what? It was a joke. I'm not into her. I mean, I wouldn't not be into her if she came onto me-"

"You're so disgusting," she said, glancing over at him just to make a face. "Why are all guys so disgusting?"

"How is that disgusting?" he grumbled. "She's hot. If she was into me, then-"

"Then you'd be with her just because she liked you?"

"Yeah, Lisanna, that-"

"That's wrong, Bickslow. You should be with her because you like her. Or else you're just-"

"But you got mad at me when you thought that I liked her too!"

"Do you?"

"I don't… I guess," he said, wishing one of his babies would help him out, but they were all busy floating around, ignoring both him and Lisanna as they chased one another. "I mean-"

"That's my point. You don't like her. You wanna sleep with her."

"I never said-"

"Bickslow."

"Kid, you are annoying the fire out of me today," he grumbled. "So what if I do? Huh? I thought that you would like that."

"Why?"

"Because if I end up with the blonde, then you get the Salamander, yeah? I mean, you're the next choice for him, righ- Lisanna!"

She couldn't help it. She'd just slug him in the arm out of instinct. It wasn't like it hurt him anyhow.

"I'm not anyone's second fucking choice," Lisanna told him harshly. "Natsu is just… Shut up, Bickslo!"

"You're the one that wants to talk about this," he pointed out.

"No, I don't. You-"

"You left the house with me, kid, but wouldn't say anything to me," he said. "I'm only trying to figure out-"

"Because you like Lucy and it's-"

"Why can't I like Lucy? Huh? Is she some sort of monster or-"

"No," Lisanna sighed. "She's…great. And wonderful. And Natsu's really lucky to have her."

"Then what the hell are you-"

"But you don't know any of that," she told him. "You just know what she looks like, right? I mean, you don't really know Lucy."

"So? You just said that she was great and-"

"And I can say that," Lisanna said. "Because I really know her. But you just look at her and want her because of what she looks like. Therefore, your desire is invalid. You don't like Lucy. You just think she's hot."

"So?" Then, sneering, he glanced down at her. "I get it."

"Get what? There's nothing to-"

"You're totally jealous of the blonde one, ain't you?"

"Shut up, Bickslow."

"You are." Snickers. "You-"

"I said to shut up!"

"Kid," he said through his laughter. They were stopped then, there on the sidewalk, facing one another. "I get it, alright? You don't think that I get passed up for hotter guys all the time? Natsu traded you up for Lucy. And, according to you, she's a pretty great person, right? So what? Who cares? That just means that he loses out on you."

"You don't know what you're-"

"You gotta let go eventually, kid," he told her before shaking his head and continuing to walk. The babies had gone ahead without them and he didn't want to lose sight of them. "He doesn't want you right now. And if you sit around waiting for him to, you might miss out on something real great, huh? The Salamander is…strong. Fine. And funny. At times. But he's not all there is in the world."

She wanted to transform then and claw his eyes out. Instead, she found herself falling right back into step with him.

"And me," he said as they walked along. "I don't really want the blonde one. It was a joke. And I didn't think that it would hurt your feelings. But since I did, I apologize, okay? You're my friend. And you're turning out to be one of my very best friends."

She hated him so much right then, Lisanna did, but she wasn't sure if it was because he was coming off as pretentious or because…everything he had said was right.

"You're my friend too," she mumbled. He only grinned then, the shadow of his sallet hiding it.

"I know," he said. "Sometimes I think though that you forget that."

When she didn't answer that time, he only reached over to tap her twice on the top of the head with his fist.

"Lucy's too whiny for me anyhow," he said as she only stared at him. "Everything's drama. Constantly. Kinda like you, but different. You like yelling and fighting. She likes crying and sulking. See? I'd rather what we just did happen, where you get upset and yell at me and now you get to pout for awhile until you come around to me again as oppose to someone moping around and whining and telling me that there's nothing wrong."

"Like I care what you like."

"Awe, Lissy, you're breakin' my heart here, really."

"Bickslow-"

"I'm hungry," he announced then as he looked forwards again.

"We just left the party."

"And? A man can't get hungry whenever he pleases now? What is this? Some sort of dictatorship?"

"You-"

"I'm going out to eat. Me and the babies. Now you can join and go back to being our fun, amazing Lissy or you can be Mirajane and Elfman's bratty little sister, off to find her own adventure without us. Your choice, kid."

She only shoved him then, making him giggle. "You're so stupid."

"But the good kinda stupid, huh?"

She wouldn't answer him, but nodded slightly.

He was definitely the good kind.

"And hey, you still owe me," he said.

"Owe you what?"

"I didn't get to take nothin' from your room," he said. "That means-"

"Nope."

"What?"

"You had your chance and you blew it."

"What? No fair! Natsu and Lucy interrupted and then-"

"Rules are rules."

"There were no rules!"

"And whose fault is it that he didn't make any of them?"

He only growled, wagging a finger at her as she walked slightly ahead of him. "I was wrong about you, Lissy."

"What do you mean?"

"Here I was thinking you were a mercy giving, bleedin' heart, but you're just as cruel as me!"

"You're just a sore loser."

"Next time," he growled, quickly catching up with her. "I'm totally taking some of those frilly little panties."

"Bickslow!"

"Fair warning," he said, holding up his hands.

She only rolled her eyes though. "And I'm going to take one of your babies. I think I like…Pappa."

"Lisanna," they all cried as he only made a face at her.

"That's not-"

"Fair warning," she said, holding up her own hands then. He shook his head before reaching up to adjust his sallet.

"Fair warning."

I'm a little more in the mood for Elfman and Ever now than I am Lisanna and Bickslow. Another fair warning.