Lucy was happy when the guild came into view. Don't get her wrong, she had really enjoyed going on a mission with Laxus. It was fun and a totally new experience for her. It always surprised her when her and Laxus got along like they were great friends, which happened a lot during this mission. However, her emotions were all over the place when it came to him. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about him, mainly because she didn't quite know how he felt about her. She's noticed that when they weren't talking, he tended to stare at her. Like on the train ride back, she could feel him staring at her from her seat across from him, which caused her whole body to burn. When she looked at him though, he had his eyes closed with a small smirk on his face, the sneaky bastard. After being around him for so long, she really needed to clear her head, and she really needed to see her daughter. Just seeing her daughter made everything seem okay. Which was why she was a little relieved when she was in front of the guild doors.

A hand on the small of her back startled her slightly. "C'mon blondie, the doors aren't gonna open themselves." Laxus chuckled. "Unless someone flies through them."

Just his hand made her heat up. Her body had never reacted to anyone like this before; granted, she hadn't had that much contact with the opposite sex. Still, she couldn't deny the way her body responded to him. She shook her head with a smile. "Yeah, sorry."

He raised an eyebrow at her, but he chose to ignore her weird behavior and pushed the doors open himself, holding them for her as she walked by, before he released them.

"Mama!" Lucy grinned and crouched down to catch her daughter as she bounded up to her, picking her up and planting a kiss on her cheek. "I missed you, mama!"

"I missed you too, sweetie." Lucy smiled as she ran her fingers through her daughter's hair. This was exactly what she needed, she already felt so much better.

"Thor!" Lily cheered and reached out to the hulking man who chuckled and picked her up, ruffling her hair.

"Hey, squirt. Been causing any trouble?"

Lucy smiled at their interaction as the girl responded to him. "Romeo said that he's gonna beat me when he gets strong like Natsu."

"And why would he want to beat you?" Laxus raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

"Um... cuz I kinda zapped him when he took my cookie." Lily mumbled.

"Atta girl." Laxus chuckled and Lucy sighed.

"That wasn't very nice, Lily."

The little girl pouted at her mother. "But he was being mean."

"Just try not to fry anyone, sweetie. Okay?"

"Okay, mama." Lily said innocently as Laxus put her down and they made their way to the bar, Lily running back over to where Romeo was drawing with his dad.

"Welcome back, you guys." Mira smiled at them as they approached, it didn't quite reach her eyes. That was on big reason why Lucy's mind had been in turmoil over Laxus. She didn't want to hurt Mira by her thinking that she just waltzed in and ruined her relationship. Even thought Laxus said that she broke up with him, it still made her feel so guilty. She also couldn't tell if Laxus was just rebounding, which made her feel uneasy.

"Mind grabbing me a beer, Mira?" Laxus asked as he sat down on a stool.

"Sure thing, Laxus." The barmaid said, the turned to the blonde girl. "Anything for you, Lucy?"

"Oh, um... a strawberry smoothie would be great, if it's no trouble."

"No trouble at all." Mira smiled and went to the back.

"Look who's back."

Lucy turned to see Evergreen slide onto the stool next to her. "Hey, Ever." Lucy smiled. "Thank you so much for watching Lily."

"Oh, it was no trouble at all." Evergreen waved her hand in dismissal before she popped open her fan and waved it back and forth, smirking. "I heard from the grapevine that you had to save Laxus."

Lucy's jaw dropped while Laxus rolled his eyes. How the hell had that traveled so quickly? Bickslow cackled as he clapped Laxus on the back. "Yeah man, what happened?" Freed walked up to them to hear what had happened as well.

Mira came out with two drinks in her hands, giving the beer to Laxus and the smoothie to Lucy, smiling when they both thanked her. Laxus took a swig before he answered. "I got up to pee and stumbled into a magic circle trap." The old man must have told the whole goddamn guild, Laxus thought to himself as he downed half of his mug of beer.

So that's what happened, Lucy thought to herself. "You must be more careful, Laxus." Freed said.

Laxus grunted. "I was just tired and not paying attention."

"Thank you for saving him, Lucy." Mira smiled as she leaned her elbows on the bar.

Lucy just waved her hand. "I would never just leave someone like that." They all nodded their heads, they could understand that completely.

"Laxus!" Said man looked up to see the master standing next to Gildarts on the second floor. "Come up here, I need to see you." Sighing, Laxus downed the rest of his drink before he got up to see what the old man wanted. When he got up there, Gildarts laughed at the boy.

"Had to have a girl save you, huh?"

Laxus crossed his arms. "Shut up, old man."

"Now, now you too." The master chided as he led them into his office.

"Luce!" Natsu shouted as he bound up to Lucy, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "I heard you got awesome magic! You should fight me!"

"I don't know about that." She nervously scratched the back of her head.

"Anyone could fight you, squinty eyes." Gray said as flung his shirt over the bar. "She'd be better off fighting me."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Natsu angrily shouted as he butted heads with Gray. Everyone at the bar rolled their eyes.

"It means you suck, flametard!" Gray angrily shouted back.

Before Natsu could reply, a bright light flashed and Loke appeared, fixing his tie. "I could beat both of you without even having to use my master's magic."

Lucy facepalmed. "Not you too, Loke."

"Oh yeah?!"

"Bring it on!"

"Cut it out!" They both shrieked and hugged each other when the terrifying voice of Erza jumped in. Her arms were crossed and her glare would scare a demon.

"Y-Yes ma'am!"

"We're best friends!"

Lucy had to put a hand over her mouth to keep herself from busting out laughing, they looked so ridiculous. She was grateful that Erza stopped them though. However, her nerves stood a little on end when the redheaded warrior walked up to her.

"Lucy, I heard you fought well." Her expression drastically changed into a smile. "You should come with us on a job sometime."

"Oh, wow. Um, thank you." Lucy blushed. "I think I'm gonna stay here for a little while though."

Erza nodded. "Well, if you ever wish to join, just say the word."

"Will do." Lucy smiled.

"Might I say you are looking as radiant as the setting sun." Loke grabbed his master's hand.

Lucy sighed. "Go away, Loke."

"Oh how you wound me, princess." He put a hand over his heart as he disappeared.

Mira giggled. "I see he hasn't changed much."

"Was he always like that?" Lucy asked as she sipped her smoothie.

"Worse." Evergreen huffed. "He was an absolute playboy, always having five or six girls around him at all times."

"Of course he did." Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Hey, Lu!"

She looked over to see Levy waving at her from her little spot in the corner with Gajeel and she smiled. Grabbing her smoothie, she walked over and sat down next to the bluenette. "Hey, Levy."

"Lucy, I heard you had to save him." She leaned towards her with her head in her hands as her elbows rested on the table, sparkles in her eyes.

Lucy smiled and nodded. "He just stumbled into a rune trap, nothing major."

"Okay, but what happened?!" The girl giddily asked.

Lucy's eyes slid over to Gajeel for a second, only to see him staring back at her with a smirk. Asshole probably already knew anyways. She leaned towards Levy and spoke slowly. "He kissed me! And it was like a long one!"

"Gihi."

"Shut up, Gajeel!" Levy swatted his arms, which only made him grin, then turned back to Lucy. "Oh my god! What else?!"

"He keeps... teasing me."

"What do you mean?" Levy tilted her head.

Lucy grunted in frustration. "He just keeps staring and smirking at me. He'll whisper little things in my ear, but then he wont do anything!"

Levy giggle. "You seem frustrated, Lu."

"I am!" The blond groaned. "I'm about to force myself on him!"

"He's just having fun with ya."

They both looked over at Gajeel with raised eyebrows. "How would you know?" Levy challenge.

He shrugged. "Call it a hunch. Chill out, shrimp."

She puffed her cheeks out at him and turned back to Lucy. "Guys make no sense."

Lucy giggled at them. They seemed great for each other. She noticed Lily walking up to her out of the corner of her eyes and she smiled at her daughter as she approached. "Hey, sweetie."

"I'm hungry, mama." The little girl whined.

"Okay, let's go home then, shall we?" Lucy said as she stood up, picking Lily up in the process. "I'll see you guys later."

"Bye, Lu. Take care Lily."

The little girl gave the bluenette a small wave as her mom walked over to the bar. "Hey, Freed. We're gonna head to the house, okay?"

"I shall accompany you, miss Lucy." Freed said as he turned in his stool, but Lucy held out a hand stopping him.

"Please stay, we'll be just fine. Promise." She smiled.

Frees looked at her for a moment, he was still a little protective of them after the incident, but he knew she could also defend herself too. With a sigh, he relented. "Okay then, please be careful."

"Don't worry, we will be." Lucy smiled and Lily gave him a thumbs up.

"See ya, uncle Freed!" Lily waved.

He waved back at the little girl and turned back to the bar with a light blush on his cheeks. Mira giggled as she leaned on the bar across from him. "Uncle, huh? She's such a cutie."

"How come I'm not an uncle?" Bickslow sulked a few feet away.

Freed smirked. "Perhaps she likes me better.'

"That's a load of shit." Bickslow mumbled dejectedly.

"Now, now, Freed." Mira chided. "I'm sure she likes Bickslow too."

"And yet he is not an uncle." Freed said haughtily.

Mira sighed when Bickslow sniffled. "She just uses my babies as target practice." "Monster! Monster!" His babies chimed.

"Oh dear." She sweatdropped.

"You can be my uncle, Bicks." Cana winked as she hopped on the bar beside him.

His tongue lolled out. "Got some uncle issues?"

"I can if you want." She smirked making him cackle.

"You two are disgusting." Freed wrinkled his nose.

"Jealous?" Bickslow teased.

"As if."

When Laxus got home later that night, the house seemed quiet and barely lit. Stepping into the living room, he was surprised to see Lucy up, flipping through a book. He walked over to her. "Can I join you?"

She looked up at him in surprise and smiled. "Sure." She patted the seat beside her and he sat down with an oomph, making her bounce a little.

He looked over at the book she was holding and scrunched his eyebrows when he saw a picture of a young him an Mira. "What's that?"

"An old photo album I guess." She said as she flipped the page. "I found it in the bookcase." There was a picture of him and his team as teenagers and she couldn't help but giggle. "I guess you were always grumpy."

"I had lots of fun back then." He argued.

"You? Fun?" She smirked. "Sounds impossible."

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

She quietly chuckled at him as she turned the page and she pointed at the man standing behind Laxus. "Who's that?"

Laxus looked at the picture in shock. "That's... my dad." He had no clue they even fucking had that picture.

She looked at him. "What happened to him... if you dont mind me asking."

"He was an evil bastard." Laxus mumbled. "Gramps kicked him out for what he did to me."

Her eyes grew sympathetic. "What did he do?"

He breathed in through his nose and pointed at the large scar on his face. "He shoved a lightning lacrima into my eye, turning me into a dragonslayer."

Her eyes widened. "Oh my god. I'm so sorry."

Laxus just shook his head. "It was a long time ago."

She looked back down at the picture. "Parents."

He smirked, they sure had that in common. Speaking of parents... "Gramps is sending me to do something in a few days and it should only last about a week. I think it'd be best to tell Lily when I get back."

She looked at him and smiled. "Whenever you're ready, I'll be there beside you."

He reciprocated her smile and whispered, "thanks, blondie."

She gave his hand a squeeze before she flipped the page. "Oh my god, Erza's so tiny."

He chuckled. "And every bit as bossy."

They continued to flip through the photo album for a while, Laxus giving her small increments of background for each of them. It was nice to go down memory lane with her, and she enjoying learning more about him and his guild members.