"So, you're the police officers here to investigate the robbery?" the old man behind the counter let out a deep sigh. "It's kind of a silly thing. Probably some teenage kids playing a prank. The register wasn't even touched."

"You're telling me you don't have surveillance cameras in here?" Laxus narrowed his eyes.

"No, sir. I never had the need," the old man sighed.

"I don't think this was a teenager," Erza mused, glancing at the list of stolen items once more. "Maybe if it was a dare, but these items specifically? It seems too big of a coincidence."

"What do you mean?" the old man frowned.

"We have reason to suspect that this case is connected to another recent situation the police are currently investigating," Gray responded.

"Can you tell me how you think the suspect broke in?" Laxus asked, handing his case file over to Natsu who rolled his eyes, but snatched the manilla folder away from the dragon slayer.

"Yes, I think they broke the lock on the back. Maybe they used some sort of magic, I'm not sure."

"Probably a simple magic," Erza said as they followed the old man out back. It was a simple double doors in the back of the store.

"This is where I take deliveries of the items we sell here in the store. The alley behind was pretty secluded. Once again, no video cameras in the narrow street, and there were plenty of dumpsters for complete cover in the shadows. I have no doubt in my mind that Ivan did this. Laxus narrowed his eyes, stepping out into the alley. He could almost see it now—his father sneaking around the corner of the little alley, and making his way to the door that he knew led into the old hardware shop. All to make a bomb that could have killed his own son and father. It was despicable. No other word described it.

"Have you seen anyone suspicious in your store recently, or wandering around the store, looking at it a lot but never going in—staking it out."

The old man shook his head, and then paused, as if just vaguely remember something. "Actually there was a weird thing, I mean… this doesn't happen very often. A girl came in. She looked around a little and then stopped at the counter and asked me if I could help her because she was lost. Of course, I gave her directions. I didn't really think much of it."

It wasn't necessarily connected, but it was something… It could be something.

"What did the girl look like?!" Natsu demanded. "Gray, write this down!"

"You write it down, fire-brain!" Gray snapped.

"I'll write it down!" Erza growled, pulling out her little notebook. Laxus rolled his eyes. How did I end up working with this lot? "Can you describe the girl, sir? It might be important to find her and ask her some questions. It could be a coincidence, but anything out of the ordinary could prove to be important to this case."

"Well…" the old man frowned, "She had light skin, she wasn't very tall. She was wearing dark pants and some sort of cropped… shirt?" He hesitated.

"What color was her hair? Her eyes? Any noticeable marks?" Laxus said, trying not to sound too impatient.

"Her hair!" The old man gasped. "Of course. That was the most noticeable thing about her…. Her hair was deep, deep red. And longer than her waist. Very long." Finally, something useful.

"We're going to call for two officers that will help sketch out an image of the girl you saw," Erza said, "So we can try and find her, okay?"

"Alright, whatever I can do to help." The old man nodded.

Long red hair… Laxus mused. It sounded… so familiar.

⁂

"There you are!" Hisui smiled, crossing the hall to take his hand in hers. "I was getting worried."

"Sorry, we were interviewing this old man, and then we had to take the sketch back to the station to run through the police files for any matching records." He groaned.

Hisui hesitated, cupping her cheek—still bruised from Ivan's hand. "Is this about—"

Laxus tensed and then rested his hand on her shoulder. "Don't think about him, shortcake, okay? Don't even think about him." She gently pulled him into her embrace. And he let out a sigh. "You said your father wanted to meet with us?"

"Yes," she nodded, letting out a shaky sigh. "Come with me." She led Laxus into the King's office.

"There you both are," Toma smiled, leaning back in his chair behind the huge desk at the end of the room. "My daughter and my future son-in-law." He paused, looking them both up and down—Hisui's arm in Laxus's. "Laxus Dreyar." Hisui felt her fiancé tense next to her. "I have never seen my daughter to happy. Marrying a princess of Fiore is a big occasion. I remember when I married Hisui's mother. The first step in your marriage preparations, of course, would be to announce to Fiore the new future Prince!"

"Prince." Laxus blanched. "I'm not sure that suits me."

She had always been more fond of 'Bear' and 'Detective,' but once or twice Hisui had called him her 'Prince Charming.' "I think it suits you," She smiled. Laxus's cheeks flushed.

"Usually," Toma said, clearing his throat, "We hold a big ball in celebration of your engagement. Everyone is invited to celebrate. Your grandfather," Toma said, glancing up at Laxus, "Probably remembers being part of the security team at the engagement ball for Hisui's mother and I."

"So," Hisui beamed, practically dancing, "When will we have our engagement ball."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," Toma sighed, "The fact is, you aren't having one."

Hisui felt the words like a slap to her face, "w… what?"

Laxus tensed once again at her side, "What do you mean?" He asked, steel eyes boring straight through Hisui's father.

"What I mean is, not yet," Toma frowned, "Hisui, Ivan Dreyar is obviously targeting members of Fairy Tail. If he was the one who set bombs off at the station – what do you think would happen if he learned about a very public, crowded engagement party? How manypeople could he kill by setting off bombs here?"

"Your father's right," Laxus whispered, "If something like that was planned, my father wouldn't hesitate."

"Once Ivan is caught, dear," Toma said, "We'll have the ball, and the wedding."

"Alright…" Hisui whispered, "I understand."

She and Laxus stepped out of her father's office and stood awkwardly in the hall for a moment. Hisui bit her lip and tried to hide her tears, but she could never hide anything from him.

"'Sui…" he breathed, "Honey—"

"What if you never catch him?"

"What?" He frowned, "No. Hisui. We're going to catching him. I swear."

"But what if you don't?! Ever? And we never can get married?!" She looked so distraught, her lower lip pouting, her green eyes wide with worry. Laxus reached down and lifted her up into his arms. She laughed a little, wrapping her legs around his waist and gently cupping his cheeks with her hands. The warmth in her smile was contagious. Laxus let out a breath, holding her close.

"Hisui Fiore," he whispered, "I'm going to marry you, even if we have to elope."

She laughed, her hands warm against his cheeks as she leaned forward to kiss him. "Let's elope."

"W-what? Now?!" He dropped his voice to a whisper.

"Why not?" She giggled.

Laxus offered her a mischievous grin, brushing his nose against hers, "I would marry you in a heartbeat," he said, "But your father would be very disappointed. You should at least give me a chance, shortcake. I'm gonna put Ivan back behind bars. I promise you."

She brushed her thumb over his lips, studying him. "Okay," she sighed, "I believe in you."

He nodded, turning his head to kiss her palm. She smiled.

"I love you—so much."

"I know," he grinned. "I won't pretend to understand it." She shook her head as he paused, "My Hisui," he murmured. "I'm the luckiest man alive."

⁂

Hisui leaned against her bedpost. It was late afternoon, almost dinnertime, but she wasn't hungry at all. This whole thing… on and off…. It was driving her crazy. Am I sick, or am I not? She wished her body would decide. At her bedside stand her phone pinged. She reached out with a shaking hand and grasped the little device. Evergreen? She frowned, unlocking her phone and tapping the message.

A picture of an ultrasound, and the text: It's a girl! Hisui's heart warmed. So Elfman and Ever are having a baby girl. …. Baby… girl…

She froze, pressing her hand to her middle. No…

She jumped to her feet, stumbling to the bathroom, another wave of nausea rolling over her and making her knees weak.

When she was done, she leaned back against the bathtub, hands shaking. When was the last time… the last… She tried to count back on the days, but she couldn't remember. For sure not…? Not last month?

She tried to let out a deep breath, trying to calm down. Could it be? Her and Laxus…?