Chapter 14 Halo by Beyonce

"You need to calm down Emi. The more you think about it the more you're going to get pissed off." Evergreen called to the girl that was steps ahead of her. She wouldn't lie that it took everything she had to get her away from Laxus. For someone that acted meek before she knew how to stand her ground and use her weight.

Growling to herself she crossed her arms as she stared ahead of her. She had every right to be mad at him. She had every right to go after him for everything that he did.

"Emi wait up. Running in heels aren't the best."

"Well take them off them Evergreen." Emi shot back as she turned back to stare at the woman. It was harsh of her to be like that which made her regret it. Taking a breath and looking down she tried to calm down like she wanted her to.

She hated him for doing that. She wouldn't do that to him so why did he decide it was for the best? If it was to make her stronger then it might have had to opposite effect. Countless times she lost sleep because she could only dream about that day. Her appetite had suffered because of it too but she didn't bother to mention it to anyone. Like she needed anyone worrying about her wellbeing.

"I hope you realize that was a low ball that you did back there." Evergreen stated as she caught up to her. Fanning herself she watched the farmer's eyes narrow as if she was conflicted with herself. Maybe she was having a change of heart about the argument?

"I-I know but he had no right. He had no right at all to do what he did. Did he even bother to think about how I was going to feel about it?" Emi questioned as she looked up at her. Her grass green eyes watered up as the pain became obvious to the other woman.

A soft sigh escaped Evergreen as she came closer to her. Laxus never thought about the consequences a lot of times. It made her think back to when he tried to take over Fairy Tail. He was so obsessed with winning that he didn't see the bigger picture. He didn't bother to think about him getting beaten by Natsu and Gajeel. He was still bothered by doing that to the people that was family to him.

"He's thick skulled just like Master Makarov. You know that as well as us." Evergreen started as she stood in front of her. Placing a hand on her shoulder she squeezed it lightly. "But he was trying to help you get past it. You can't dwell in the past or else you'll be consumed by it. He was the same way when his own grandfather had to banish his father. We all have things that make us weak."

Looking away from her she gripped her forearm in an attempt to distract her. She heard a lot of things about his father and what kind of man he was. She barely remembered him, but she knew that her father never allowed her near him if they were in the guild. She never really understood why he was banished from the guild but never asked.

"So, Emi try to put yourself in his shoes for once. He has a lot of things that he doesn't like to bring up." She whispered as she watched her.

Slowly she nodded as she loosened her grip on her own arm. Now she couldn't help but feel like an idiot with how she acted in public. Her father would be scolding her for the embarrassment. He probably would even slap her upside the head for the lapse in judgment.

"Good. Now how about we get something to eat and drink while we wait for the boys." Evergreen chirped as she looked around for a small café. If it helped improve her mood, then she was all for it. Much like the rest of the group Evergreen didn't like to see her in such a downcast mood.

"Laxus! Calm down dude." Bixlow called to the storming man that was heading into the forest that was on one side of the village.

A growl escaped the raging lightning mage as he glared ahead of him. How dare she do that? His father was a touchy subject because of the pain he put him through but to bring up his mother. That was something no one did because he would fry them where they stood. His mother was someone he didn't get to know thanks to his father.

Freed looked at the back of the man as lightning came off him in waves. This was probably the worst he's seen him pissed besides during the battle of Fairy Tail. He couldn't blame him, but he had to rein in those emotions before he caused damage or hurt someone.

"Laxus!" Bixlow called out to him as his spirits floated by him. Looking at the green haired wizard he tried to get some idea to calm him down. He knew that once he got like this it was near impossible to get him to simmer down.

"Laxus you know she didn't mean it." Freed called as he took a couple steps closer to him. "She was hurting, and you know how emotions get in the way of thinking clearly."

A growl escaped Laxus as he whipped back to stare at the two. Were they sticking up for her? "She had no right to do what she did. What was that old man thinking? We can't keep an eye on her and help if she needs it. We need to train for the Grand Magic Games."

"He's trying to get her out of the shell that she forced herself into. Remember how she used to be. The emotionless, barely smiling person that we saw when we came back from Tenrou Island." Bixlow argued as he stood next to Freed. "She's changing. Can't you see that? She's changing in front of us."

A small nod came from the Écriture mage. It took a while for himself to realize that. Emi wasn't closing herself off from people anymore. She seemed more open and willing to talk. Even her choice of clothing represented that. Never had he seen her wear something so out of character or smile since he's noticed her. "Bixlow is right. Look at the Emi that we have now."

A sneer crossed his face as he tried to think about it. His anger was letting him though. "Why are you trying to piss me off even more?"

"Laxus just look at it from someone else's perspective." Freed reasoned.

Taking a small sip of her tea Emi looked at the table along with her small slice of cheesecake. Worry was starting to wear at her as she thought about how she acted toward Laxus. He probably hated her guts and wanted nothing to do with her now. She didn't blame him.

"So, Emi, you look a lot happier compared to the last time we saw you." Evergreen chimed as she leaned back in her seat. A small sly smile graced her face as she watched the young woman perk up. "You even seem stronger compared to last time. You've been training, haven't you?"

Looking down at the table again she felt her face heat up at the obvious. She didn't want it to be noticeable because she wanted to surprise everyone that went off to train. They were her family after all. "Is it that noticeable?"

"A little." She chuckled as she gripped her cup. "What made you decide to do it again? And to even take this job?"

Her mind swirled at the thoughts that raced through it. There were a lot of reasons why she decided to finally let go of the past. She wanted to make everyone proud and help get Fairy Tail back to how it used to be. She got tired of wallowing in the past and Laxus had a point. She wasn't going to admit that because it would go to his head.

"Is it to impress Laxus?" Evergreen said nonchalantly as she watched for a reaction. The one thing that hadn't changed for their farmer was she was easy to read.

A small squeak escaped her as she buried her face into her hands to hide her growing blush. "It-it isn't like that."

Evergreen rolled her eyes at the comment. That wasn't a great lie to tell. But with this new development she couldn't help but snicker to herself. It was only a matter of time because a lot of girls in the guild admitted over the years that Laxus was a wet dream to them.

"It isn't like that." Emi argued as she peeked at her through her fingers. "I don't like him in that way. I-I like Gildarts."

Setting down her cup she crossed her arms across her chest. That was obvious because Gildarts was in the same category as Laxus. But he was obviously old enough to be her father so there was no way he would let anything happen. "You sure? Laxus told us that you used to pester him growing up. We remember how you drove him nuts especially when he was going on jobs."

Lowering her gaze and dropping her hands from her red face Emi held her breath. Was Evergreen talking the truth? Did she actually like the lightning mage more than she thought? She thought of him as an older brother growing up so did that grow overtime? Besides, he had Mira so it wasn't like he would even give her a second glance?

"Even if that was the case." Emi started as she gripped her skirt tightly. Meeting Evergreen's gaze she tried to keep herself calm even when her heart was racing. "I have no chance. He rather have someone that has a body to die for. I don't have that. I don't have the boobs that everyone else has. I just don't look like some of the girls he's been with. I'm not beautiful."

Evergreen opened her mouth to retort but shut it quickly. If it meant she was going to get it off her chest and realize it sooner, then it would be for the better.

"He has Mira anyway. They're the power couple that everyone dreams to be. They're both so strong and it's obvious that's what he wants. Someone strong." Emi whispered as she lowered her head to rest it on the table.

She felt sick. The desire to throw up was there but she couldn't give in. It meant running from it all when she really wanted to. Running from her problems was what she did best but she was trying to change that. Gripping her skirt until her knuckles were white, she closed her eyes.

When she wanted it to be black all she saw were images of the man they were talking about. It was like her mind and heart were trying to tell her to give in the realization. She couldn't though because she wasn't like the girls he went after. She was too plain.

"They broke up Emilia. Laxus and Mira are no longer together." She stated calmly as she watched her body jump at the news. Obviously, no one bothered to tell her that.

"What? No. That can't be."

"It is. Mira broke up with him back on the island." She stated as she took a small bite of her muffin.

"I'm still not the type of girl he wants in his life." Emi argued as she looked at the street to watch people.

Taking a deep breath Laxus looked up at the sky to take in the setting sun. It was getting too late for them to do anything else. Dinner and setting down for the night were probably all they could do after they found Evergreen and Emi.

"Are you ready to head back Laxus?" Freed questioned as he watched for anything that would say otherwise.

A shrug escaped the lightning mage as he started his way back to the village. He felt stupid to say the least but wasn't about to admit it out loud. Never had he realized that she was changing finally. He could only see her as the shy girl that drove him nuts to the point, he had to get away from her. Or he would shock her slightly to remind her that he had power to use against her.

At the thought of the petite girl, he felt different. Different was odd because she was just someone that was part of his mismatched family. But was it changing especially now that Freed and Bixlow made him realize that she was no longer a little girl?

He never did notice the way her body filled out to the curves that she hid underneath baggy shirts. The baby fat was gone, and she honestly looked like her mother with a touch of her father. At least when he seen pictures of her mother made him think that. All those times he stayed at her place he never noticed anything different about her.

Until now.

And now here comes the fun part. Yay! I already have the chapter planned out for when they really realize their feelings so I hope you stay with me until then.