For Kari (I hope this cheers you up) and Jason (fuck you for this AU. I revamped this whole chapter).

Also for Billie Eilish and her new song which got my ass moving again, love her music.

In-chapter song is linked for every site except Fanfiction. For fanfiction readers, it's called Sanctuary by Welshly Arms.

Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen – A Different Sort of Gift

"What are you reading?"

Silver and Gildarts straightened up and moved to cover whatever they were reading. I saw Gildarts' hand scoop up the magazine and hide it behind his back. "Nothing," they said together.

"Really?" I said skeptically, holding out my hand. "Give me."

The two moved apart to reveal the empty table.

I didn't move, just turned my glare on Gildarts. "I know you're holding it behind your back."

"No, I'm not," Gildarts said, as he passed it to Macao, who was walking by.

"You literally just gave it to Macao!" I said exasperatedly, as I turned my glare on Macao.

He froze, staring at me and my glare, and seemed stuck on making a decision. Suddenly, he turned and threw what he was holding at Wakaba. "Take it and run! She's onto us!"

"I was already on to you," I said, rolling my eyes and teleporting in front of Wakaba and swiped it out of his hand.

"Morons," I said, rolling my eyes before I looked at the cover.

I took a deep breath upon seeing it.

"FREED JUSTINE! YOU GET YOUR ASS HERE RIGHT. NOW."

There was an absolute stillness in the guild as my voice reverberated down it's halls. Outside, the people walking Magnolia's streets stopped near the open doors.

Nothing moved.

"FREED!"

Nothing.

"FREED, IF I HAVE TO YELL YOUR NAME, ONE MORE TIME-"

"I've arrived!" he squeaked, running into the room.

I held out the magazine to him. "What, is this?"

"N-nothing," he stammered. "Just a bit of fun, really-"

"Freed…" I said quietly stressing his name.

"Master okayed it!" Freed blurted.

"TRAITOR!" Makarov shouted.

I turned to Makarov. "Well?" I asked him.

"Well, what?" he asked nonchalantly.

I waved the magazine in the air. "Explain this!"

He shrugged. "It was another way to make money."

I looked at the cover. "Freed's Fanfictions," I stared at him. "You sell these?"

Makarov shrugged. "As a member of the guild you're more or less trademarked so Freed can make money off of it as long as a large portion goes to the guild."

I crossed my arms. "And where is mine and Laxus's portion, huh?"

"It's safe," Makarov said.

"Come on, Elle, give it back. It's Christmas!" Gildarts prompted.

It wasn't actually Christmas; not yet.

After what happened with Erza, we all trudged back into the guild around a week later. Thanks to Irene's suggestions, which helped when Erik was sorting through Erza's soul, we were able to figure out that it was called Space Dragon's Switch, and it could be used without having to roar, which I think Erza preferred. While her Requip Magic was still Castor Magic, she never really cast magic at people directly. Maybe with her Heaven's Wheel, but this Erza didn't have that yet. She was used to pulling out whatever weapon would suit her best in the fight, and then using that weapon as it's meant to, through melee. Using Castor Magic as a direct attack was very disorienting to her.

She wasn't the best, and Erza would probably go back to training soon, after the holidays, but she had enough control to safely come back to the city and guild without us worrying about her destroying Magnolia or the guild hall.

So we returned to the guild with two days to spare until Christmas.

And I come back, to find this.

"And people actually buy this…?" I demanded, before drifting off so I didn't say something insulting about Freed's writing skills just because I was mad.

Freed was nodding. "Oh yes," he said happily. "The magazine is usually smaller stories, and a few other things that people send in. Right now, I release a new chapter for my story with each magazine, and I'll publish the thing in a full book when I'm done. That's what I did for the first one."

My eyes narrowed. "The first one?"

"It was completed when Makarov and I came up with the idea," Freed explained. "They're really popular, actually. 'Freed's Fanfiction' is the company name we're using."

I looked at him, to Makarov, to the group of ridiculous fathers who lingered and wanted their fanfiction back. I opened the magazine and turned to what was advertised as 'The Newest Chapter'! "'Hit and Run'," I read aloud. "'An expert bank robber gets caught in a trap for another person and escapes by taking one of the customers hostage. Accidentally kidnapped by a bank robber, Laxus Dreyar is thrown-'"

My eyes shot up from the page angrily. "Why am I the bank robber?"

Freed shrugged, though I could tell he was still nervous. "You take shiny things."

"Damn," I muttered. I couldn't actually dispute that.

I returned to the magazine. "'-Laxus Dreyar is thrown into a world of crime and survival, and learns that things are not as they seem. His curiosity spiked, he joins top wanted criminal Eleanor Rigby-'"

"Really?" I asked, my eyes leaving the paper to glare at Freed. "'Top wanted criminal Eleanor Rigby'? I swear to God, Freed, if the council uses this as an excuse to detain me, I will be pissed as hell."

He paled, obviously not having considered that. "Well in the other ones you're an angel, and a child, and then a scientist, so they can't do it."

"I don't think that's how it works…" Macao muttered.

I pinched my forehead. "How many people read this?" I asked Freed. "Also, how many did you write?"

"The back," he said.

I flipped to the last view pages, which were mostly reviews and fanfiction requests in the form of letters. In a 'To the Editor' format, Freed had responded on the last few pages. There was also a list of smaller stories (one-shots, basically) that could be found in other issues, as well as several full, chapter length stories bound separately.

I rubbed my temples before sighing. "…Whatever, then."

"THANK YOU, ELLA-SAMA!" Freed cried, tears getting everywhere. Gildarts ran forward and took the magazine back. I raised an eyebrow at him, unable to do much of anything else with the way Freed was squeezing me.

"We didn't finish the newest chapter," Gildarts pouted.

"So…just ask Freed for the chapter before he sends it to be printed in the next issue?" I suggested, staring at them.

Half the guild paused.

"I swear to God," I muttered, shaking my head and pulling out of Freed's arms towards the training room. I shouted over my shoulder, "Gramps, Freed, you're the ones who will be telling Laxus, though."

The room was silent as I left it, and I easily imagined the others staring at Freed and Makarov as if they were planning their funerals. It was one thing for me to accept fanfiction – I couldn't exactly complain, considering I had written a few small one-shots in the past and read a shit-ton of fanfiction. But Laxus would not like fictional stories of us circulating around.

I was right.

Laxus did not appreciate the stories at all. He also did not appreciate the fact that in a world without powers, but us as adults, that it was considered 'believable' that of all the people I'd kidnap in a bank, it'd be him, and that he'd go along with it. Whether I had a gun or not.

He was very critical of the other stories too, claiming that he wouldn't do some of the things Freed depicted.

We all disagreed with him. Freed was generally very good at keeping us in character. And if we seemed to be acting different, there was usually an explanation he added somewhere along the line.

Laxus just felt like his depictions were usually better than himself, and the Freed was idealizing him and making him look bad in real life.

He's not, but he still doesn't like people reading about our relationship, even if such things didn't happen.

But Makarov had crossed all his Ts and dotted all his Is and put the paperwork through, so it was all technically legal. At least we got bonus money for Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, it had finally arrived.

It seems like it took forever.

This seemed like a really, really fucking long year. Losing Layla, getting Slayers, the twins and Amber, going to Alvarez, de-aging the people we took back with us, Erza getting powers; it was all a bit much.

And it only really happened in the last half of the year. Not much happened in the first six months.

Mystogan showed up again, after having disappeared sometime in late August, and was completely surprised at all the new people. I rolled my eyes at him. "What do you expect, you disappeared for a few months without warning! Part of the reason I tried to get you to join the guild is so you can come to us for help."

He nodded, looking a bit shameful and remorseful, and I gave him a hug before he was kidnapped and monopolized by Wendy.

Sho, Richard, Wally, and Sawyer were getting ready to leave on the 1st, and there was packing and crying involved as Christmas, and thus the New Year, approached. Laki and Max decided to spend Christmas with us, but were going to visit Max's family for the New Years. A few other people took after this as example, so Nab, Macao, and Enno would be leaving too, as well as Maggie, Rex, and Maxie.

But first, we had Christmas.

The guild was festive, and we had a gigantic tree outside that we decorated for all of Magnolia. There was a crisp, winter air, and we even got some snow this year, lightly dusting the rooftops.

"What're you smiling for?" Laxus asked, walking up next to me.

I took a deep breath. "I dunno. It's just…so surreal sometimes." My smile relaxed and I gave him a thoughtful look. "I've been here for five years. Five years…"

I've been dead, for five years.

He put an arm over my shoulders and pulled me into his side. "Come on," he said, walking with me towards the guild. "You're too melancholy for Christmas."

I raised an eyebrow at him, smiling. "Melancholy? Expanding your vocab a little?" I teased.

"Whatever," he said, and he was smiling too.

From the way he looked at me, I realized that he was smiling because he had cheered me up, and that made me smile even brighter.

"Yeah," I said, wrapping my arm around his waist and leaning into his side as we walked through the doors of the guild hall. "Let's go celebrate."

We entered and I noticed that most of the tables had been pushed to the side.

"What's that for?" I asked Ur, who was the closest.

"Dancing," she said. "Master suggested karaoke. Silver's going first."

"Didn't know Silver sang," I said.

Ur smiled. "He's been practicing. I think he wants to impress the kids." We followed her gaze as it drifted over to Gray, Lyon, and Ultear.

"That's so cute," I said, smiling.

"I think it's his way of trying to include Lyon more, since Lyon loves music and these bands so much," Ur commented.

I winced. "He's feeling self-conscious again?"

Ur shrugged, seemingly distant. "We're all self-conscious about whether people really love us at some point or another."

Wise words from a wise woman.

Well. Sometimes wise. She did practically try to kill herself, after all.

There was microphone feedback and we all looked towards the stage, where Silver was tapping the microphone. Behind him, Erigor, Macbeth, and Freed were playing instruments. Erigor looked extremely amused.

Silver cleared his throat. "If you asked me about where I'd be a few years ago, I would've thought that it would be a dark, dark place. And if it wasn't due to…a certain someone interfering," everyone looked at me, though he hadn't called me out specifically, "…I'd probably still be there. But you guys, all of you, gave me a home. And allowed me into the family, and to continue my own."

As if they realized he was talking about him, the twins babbled, Violet particularly trying to swing her arms around in the air in a way she shouldn't have physically been able to do (damn you, Mashima).

"And I want all of you to know how much that means to me."

Gildarts snorted from the bar. "Sap."

Mari smacked the back of his head. "You could learn to take a few lessons in romance from him."

There were some 'ooooooooooh's and laughs at that, and Silver smiled as the band started to play.

"When the darkness, don't let you sleep…" he started. "Imma hold you close…"

He actually had a sweet voice, too.

"And when space is all you need…I can let you go…When the spark in your eyes dies out….I can be your glow, bringing you hoooooomee….yeah. Bringing yoooooou….home."

I smiled. It was a good song choice, and something about singing at this time of year, with all of these people, seemed right.

"Let's dance," I told Laxus.

"You can't dance," he pointed out.

I rolled my eyes. "Just follow me on the dance floor and move with me."

"I see your hurt, I see your pain. All of your dirt…is washed in the rain! I've walked that road, I've felt that shame, No place is home; but times, they are changing….."

The two of us walked on the dancefloor, me leading Laxus by the hand. I noticed a few other people take note of us, thinking about joining us.

"Watch the kids?" I heard Zeref say quietly, and I saw Irene nod as she took Larcade and August so Zeref and Mavis could join us on the floor.

"This is our sanc-tu-ary! We can find shel-ter and peace. You are, you are, safe with me."

Laxus and I rocked on the floor, and quietly, I began to sing the words, too.

"This is our sanc-tu-ary! We can find shel-ter and peace. You are, you are, safe with me."

Most of us were on the floor now, other girls dragging their friends or crushes out with them. Erza dragged Jellal on the floor, and the rest of the dragons were pulled by their crushes. Wendy left the floor for five seconds to drag Mystogan over to join the rest of them.

"When the rain starts to take its toll; you can slow me down. 'Cause we both know-the worlds turned cold; And I-just need you now. Keep…holdinnng on. Keep holding….on."

By now, just about everyone was on the floor. Juvia and Gray were together, and Gray also still managed to keep ahold of his shirt. Wendy had left and returned to the floor, with Mystogan this time, and the Tower group that would leave soon was dragged onto the floor, too.

"You see my hurt, you see my pain. All of our dirt…is washed in the rain! You've walked that road, you felt that shame, No place is home; but times, they are changing….."

All of the kids were on the floor now, even the reluctant ones, and we all joined in on the chorus and making the background noise.

"This is our sanc-tu-ary! We can find shel-ter and peace. You are, you are, safe with me. This is our sanc-tu-ary! We can find shel-ter and peace. You are, you are, safe with me."

"Hooooold…on to me," I sang.

"We share this hurt, we share the pain. All of our dirt…is washed in the rain! We've walked that road, we felt that shame, Mmmh times, they are changing….."

At this point, we had stopped dancing in couples. Instead, we had grouped together, with our arms slung around each other's shoulders, swaying in rows in front of the stage.

"This is our sanc-tu-ary! We can find shel-ter and peace. You are, you are, safe with me. This is our sanc-tu-ary! We can find shel-ter and peace. You are, you are, safe with me."

"Hooooold…on to me," we sang. I noticed Laxus straightened, and turned to look behind him.

"You are, you are…safe with me," Silver sang.

"Hooooold…on to me," we sang, and I followed his gaze.

"'Cause this is our sanc-tu-ary!" he ended.

At the front doors to the guild, Jude Heartfilia cleared his throat.

Lucy, who had moved near me during the dance, swirled around. "…Daddy?"

"Hello, Lucy," Jude said quietly. "I've come to apologize. And wish you a Merry Christmas."

"DADDY!" Lucy cried, running forward and jumping into his arms.

"…If I'm still welcome?" Jude asked warily, looking around the guild, still holding Lucy to his chest.

"You may not wear a mark, but you are still a part of our family, Jude," Makarov said gently.

"Thank you," Jude said, and if there were tears in his eyes, no one mentioned it. "Merry Christmas."

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" we all shouted.

And that was that.