Hisui hung limply, tied tight in Flare's hair. She could see Laxus through her eyelashes. One of her eyes was nearly swollen shut. Her heart was pounding, she felt sick to her stomach. Laxus's expression… was… it was something she had never seen before. A cold fury. Like if he could he would bring the whole world crashing down on Ivan Dreyar, and destroy him. For one moment, his steel eyes met Hisui's, and his expression shifted to absolute agony. She could see the guilt there, and she wanted to reach out and hold him. To cry out to him. This isn't your fault… this isn't your fault!

"Listen carefully, boy," Ivan was saying, and Laxus's gray eyes were drawn back to his father. "I've wanted this moment for years. You're going to take me to Lumen Histoire. And I will finally destroy the Legacy of the Fairy Tail Police Department… finally destroy my father…" He spat the word like it was a curse, and glanced back towards Hisui, raising his hand. She flinched. And Laxus balled his hands into fists.

"Don't touch her!"

"You'll take me to Lumen Histoire or I will kill her."

Laxus looked almost panicked, electricity pulsing at his fingertips, eyes wide with fear, "I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Don't LIE to me!" Ivan snapped, "Dear old pops would have shared it with you by now. Lumen Histoire! A treasure of incredible power! Tell me where it is," Ivan snarled, his cold fingers curled around Hisui's neck and struggled to pull away as his grip tightened. "Or I'll kill this one. I'll kill her, Laxus, you know I won't hesitate."

"Dad!" Laxus whispered, pleading, "Please! I… I don't know what Lumen Histoire is—"

"I'm giving you ten seconds to figure it out," Ivan snarled, "Or your girl gets it."

"Laxus was supposed to show up at the station hours ago," Evergreen said, dropping her purse on the table. "So we're going after him."

"Uhhh… Ever… I think you're forgetting two very important details here." Bixlow frowned from where he sat, shoveling cereal into his mouth. "One, we have no idea where the hell Laxus is. And two, you're pregnant!" He gestured to her baby bump.

Ever let out a huff, "Nothing's going to stop me from helping our friend."

"Fine, you can come," Freed said, "As long as you let me put some runes of protection around you…."

"Stop fussing! I'm not important right now!" Ever snapped.

"And you two are still forgetting, we have no idea where Laxus went."

"Uh… about that…" Freed said, reaching into the pocket of his uniform and pulling out his phone. "I actually do know where Laxus went."

"What do you mean…?" Ever asked. "You didn't say anything about that earlier—"

"That is… I will know where Laxus went." He tapped in his password and brought up maps.

"What are you doing?" Bixlow asked.

"I have Laxus's shared location."

"Of course," Ever rolled her eyes, "Like a stalker."

"Hey! You weren't complaining when we found out he was going out with Hisui. Besides, if I didn't have this we'd have no idea where he is right now."

"Where is he then?" Bixlow asked.

Freed frowned, blue eyes focused on the light of his phone. "In the warehouse district, by the docks…"

"That doesn't bode well at all," Evergreen groaned.

"Come on," Freed said, "He may need our help."

My phone's… in the patrol car… "You have to listen to me," he hissed, eyes never leaving his fiancee's. She was struggling to breathe. "I really don't know anything about a … Lumen History … or whatever you called it."

"Lumen Histoire! Don't lie to me, boy, and don't you dare play dumb…" Ivan's voice faded into background noise. You're really going to let this man take everything from you…

Laxus blinked. He could see… everything… Feel it… His mother's hands at his shoulders. "We're going to play, okay? We're going to play like we're… hiding a treasure." Her hand brushed through his hair, and she pressed a kiss to his forehead. There was shouting in the other room, the sound of a gunshot. His mother pulled him into a tight hug. He could hardly remember her… blonde hair, the smell of lavender. "You stay hiding here, Laxus, okay? It's going to be okay, honey. When the game is done, Mama will come get you." But Mama never came.

Was he going to stand by and watch his father kill the love of his life as well? He could feel his mother's presence still, as if she were guiding him. For you, mom… His heart ached. And for the future. He took a deep breath, things seemed to calm down. His father was yelling about something but he wasn't listening anymore. Everything but his pounding heart seemed far away. Breathe… He let go of anxiety, let the lightning surge through him. Move! And he was in action before his father could even cry out a command.

Laxus let out a roar, fists engulfed in his magic, swinging his arm up and slamming his knuckles into Ivan's chin. The older wizard stumbled backwards, numerous shikigami dolls withering and fluttering to the floor. "FLARE!" Ivan howled, blood dripping from his lips, but Flare was frozen.

"We've got your back, Laxus!" Bickslow bellowed from the other side of the room. His babies converging on Nullpudding and Kurohebi.

"Hope you don't mind we took the backdoor," Evergreen purred, hand on her hip. Freed stood behind the redhaired girl, sword pressed to her back.

"Release the princess, or you will taste a demon's wrath." He hissed. Flare hesitated.

"Flare!" Ivan snarled again, but Laxus advanced once more, electricity pulsing from his body, destroying more of Ivan's dolls.

This is for my family—for Fairy Tail. He knew he could count on Bix, Ever, and Freed to take care of the others. For… Gramps… For Mom…

"L-Laxus!" Ivan scrambled backwards, "I won't hesitate—Flare—!"

"You, shut the hell up," Laxus said, electricity pulsing through his veins, dancing across his skin. He reached out for his father.

"N-no!" Ivan hissed, "You wouldn't hit your father, Laxus! We're family!"

Laxus grabbed his father's collar, "You are not my family," he snarled, raising his fist above his father's face, "Fairy Tail is my family. Hisui is my family. And you tried to end both of those things. I will destroy anyone who hurts my family." Ivan was trembling, blood from Laxus's first blow still rolling down his chin. Laxus could hear sirens.

"Laxus." Freed said, reaching out and resting a hand, hesitantly, on the detective's shoulder. "It's over. The others are handcuffed—"

Laxus stared into the eyes of the old man he once called father. "Tsk." He spat, practically dropping the man to the floor of the warehouse, "I don't ever want to see your face again." He left the cuffing business to Freed, and was at Hisui's side in an instant. She was trying to stand on legs trembling so bad, when he reached her she almost collapsed. He caught her in his arms, sinking to the floor and holding her close. She didn't cry, just pressed her face to his chest, breathing in and out, trying to calm down.

"Sui," he whispered, brushing his fingers through her hair, "Sui, let me see you."

She gently pulled away, sitting up, her hands shaking. She was bruised. Bruised around the neck, bruised where Flare's hair had held her tight. He gently brushed her hair away from her face and leaned forward to tenderly kiss her forehead.

"I'm glad you're safe," he breathed, his heart felt like it was being crushed by a sudden weight, anguish twisting his gut in knots. "This is my fault."

"No," she whispered, her voice hoarse, her eyes filling with tears. She cupped his cheek gently, "Laxus, no. It's not. Your father did this, not you. Your father…"

He leaned forward, interrupting her to steal a kiss, she let out a soft sigh against him, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. He pulled her close. "I'm going to keep you safe," he murmured, before kissing her again. "From now on. I swear."

"Let's go home," she pleaded, cupping his cheek once more. He gently pulled her to her feet, but she swayed, stumbling and almost falling.

"Hisui!" He gasped, gently steadying her by taking her arm. "Are you alright?"

"My legs are shaking, that's all," she said, trying to wave it off.

"You're pretty badly bruised," Ever said from where she stood over Flare. "Maybe you need to be seen."

"I just need to rest—"

"I'm taking you to the hospital," Laxus said, lifting her up into his arms, bridal style.

"Laxus!" She protested. "I'm fine! I'm fine!"

"I'm taking you to the hospital," he insisted, worry hanging around him like a rain cloud. His heartbeat quickened. Everything's fine, right? Everything's fine.

"Everything's perfectly normal!" The doctor announced with a bright smile, tucking her clipboard under her arm with a happy sigh. "All blood tests are normal, and it appears like the damage is just external. For now, ice your wrist when you can, it is sprained, okay?" She paused, tucking her pencil behind her ear and sitting across from them. Hisui was in a hospital gown, Laxus's coat draped over her shoulders. He was holding her hand in both of his, seated by her bed in the emergency room. She was still trembling. But it had slowly calmed.

"It is a good thing you came in," the doctor said, setting her clipboard in her lap and leaning close to the bed. Hisui wasn't meeting her eyes. "Because I do want to talk about the baby."

The… what. Laxus stiffened. What is she talking about? He glanced over at his fiancée who was refusing to meet his gaze, her green eyes filled with tears, as she glanced up quickly at the doctor.

"B-baby? I… I really am…?!"

BABY?! He was panicking now. What the f—

The doctor noticed, her brown eyes flicking over to Laxus. "We're going to do an ultrasound since you're here. Just to make sure everything is in tip-top shape. But… it looks like you could use a moment…" she smiled a little. "I'll tell the nurses to give you a few minutes."

The room fell into silence. Hisui staring down at the hospital gown. Her little hand coming up and pressing against her middle. He felt like he couldn't breathe. What…?

"Laxus…" she whispered. "… I don't know what to say… so… please say something?" She finally met his eyes. Her green eyes were full of tears. He hated seeing her cry.

"Hisui…" he said, "You… you knew?"

She took a breath, and shook her head. "I've been sick… so I started to wonder. But I was really scared, Laxus! I couldn't ask anyone about it because can you imagine if word got out! The scandal it would cause! Last night I left the palace to come to you because… I needed you to know and I thought maybe we could talk about it… this isn't how I wanted either of us to find out—Laxus? Are you listening?" He was stunned. A father?! Me?! His heart skipped a beat, fear suffocating him. What if... What if I end up just as good a father as my own?! He couldn't be a father! He couldn't... but then he looked down at his fiancee and he realized that he had once said the same thing about being married. She looked scared too. Those green eyes locked with his steel gray. This woman changes everything... He remembered the day on the beach, he had poured his heart out to her. "You don't want to hear about some of the shit I've been through," he had scoffed.

"Yes," she replied, "I do. Because I am yours. And I want to make sure that this," and she had pressed a hand to his heart, "Is always protected."

"What the hell did I do to deserve you?"

"I have an answer to that question. You're my wonderful. Please never change."

Now, Laxus was faced with his everything. And it seemed like everything was changing in only an instant. But... with Hisui... he could do anything. With Hisui... he was strong. He rested his forehead against hers, pressing a hand to her middle. "I love you," he breathed, cupping her cheek with his free hand. "I love you, Hisui. Do you remember when I proposed to you?"

She nodded, closing her eyes, their foreheads still touching. "Yes."

"I told you I never imagined being a father until I met you."

"You did say that," she laughed through her tears, their noses brushing.

"Our kids are gonna be amazing," he said. "And… I guess I never imagined I'd be a father so soon, but… I'll do anything with you. Start any journey. So…"

"Are we doing this?" she said, pulling away to look him in the eyes.

He grinned, nodding once, "I'm scared as hell but… yeah, I guess we are."

"We're having a baby," she whispered, her eyes brimming with tears, "We're really…"

"Don't go cryin' on me again, shortcake," he said, but before he could continue she threw her arms around him and pulled him close, pressing kisses to his cheek and neck. He laughed, tears stinging his own eyes as well, wrapping his arms around his wife-to-be. Then he remembered the rest of their family—back at the station. He grinned, biting back tears. Gramps is gonna lose it again.