Circle of Life:

AN: Warning, major character death, but we all knew this had to happen eventually.

Farrah Lee-Dreyar: 14

Benedict Orlando: 14

Nashi Dragneel: 11

Storm Fullbuster: 11

Cato Dreyar: 11

Roman Fernandez: 10

Persephone and Koree Redfox: 10

Bianca Fullbuster: 9

Portia Orlando: 8

Lorelle Strauss: 8

Eva, Minette, and Von Fernandez: 7

Layla Dragneel: 7

Igneel Dragneel: 6

Meeko Fullbuster: 6

Vera Orlando: 3

Isla Conbolt: 3

July Dreyar: 1

Luna and Kyri Dragneel: 9 months

"Good morning, Mr. Dreyar," a hostess at the front of the restaraunt said brightly. "Here to see Yakima?"

"Yes," Makarov smiled. "Just popping in to say 'hi' to an old freind."

"I'll go get him, you wait here," the hostess smiled before slipping off."

Makarov shuffled his way to a seat and sat down, panting. Movement was getting harder. Still, he sighed in relief. This was his last stop on his little road trip. The kids about died when he wouldn't let any of them go with him. "You're too old to go it alone," they'd said. Ah, but that was the whole purpose of this trip. He was old, and he was running out of time. Quickly. So far all of his visits had been joyful, he and his many friends reminiscing over old times. Thus far no one had figured out that he'd come to say goodbye.

Makarov looked through his list and smiled as he nodded. All of them. He'd completed his list of his final gifts for his children. Even the two little ones who had yet to be born. He sighed as he put the list away. He'd love to stick around long enough to meet Gray and Juvia's fourth child, as well as Bixlow and Lisanna's first but he knew that might not be an option.

Yajima came out, smiling and embracing his old friend. The two talked and ate on the patio the whole afternoon, laughing at old adventures, marvelling at how much had changed since they were children and how much had stayed the same. It wasn't until Makarov stood to leave that he collapsed.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Porlyusica sighed as she walked into the main room of the Guild Hall. All eyes turned to stare at her as Laxus quickly ran up to her.

"Is he okay?"

"No," she answered plainly.

"What's wrong with him?" Laxus asked.

"He's old," Porlyusica sighed again. "He's lived longer than he probably should have. Stubborn fool. Still, all the stubborness in the world can't stop nature. His body is worn out, as all of ours will be someday."

"So…" Laxus stuttered. "...He's...dying?"

Porlyusica nodded. "I've left a bunch of potions in his room to help make things comfortable for him. It's all we can do."

She patted Laxus' shoulder before she left the guild hall in silence. It was as if the air had been sucked out of the guild hall.

"Should…" Storm finally broke the silence. "Should I try my cleanse spell?"

"No, baby," Juvia crooned as she caressed his face.

"But...I might…"

""C'mon, kiddo," Gray took his hand and led him outside.

As they left Gajeel slowly stood to his feet and numbly walked up the stairs, headed towards the roof.

"Happy," Carla whispered, all five of the kittens sniffling behind her. "Maybe we should go home?"

"Aye," Happy nodded slowly, heading towards the store but stopping in front of Natsu who held a sleeping Luna in one hand, and his face in the other.

"You okay?" Happy asked.

"Yeah," Natsu nodded, never looking up.

Happy didn't believe him but lead his family out anyways.

Erza took a deep breath and then ventured off to find a quiet corner of the guild hall. Once she thought she was alone she whisper "requip." A tiny dress that could no longer fit her appeared in her hands. It was the first set of clothes she'd gotten at Fairy Tail. The outfit Makarov had given her. She always kept it in her pocket dimension as a reminder of how far she'd come. Burying her face in the dress she softly cried.

A small but strong pair of arms encircled her neck. Erza smiled slightly as she set a hand over Roman's. Roman just sat behind her, leaning against her back, tears rolling down his own face.

"I don't want him to die either," he whispered.

"None of us do," Erza answered, wiping at her face. "But it's his time."

She turned and pulled Roman into her lap, letting him cry into her shoulder.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

A week passed. Makarov still laid sleeping in his bed. Everyone took turns sitting next to him incase he woke, but they knew he wouldn't. It was Laxus' turn this late, rainy night. He'd requested to stay the whole night, despitte the excitement that had occured down the he just knew, tonight would be the night. He'd already had a few scares but the old fart always started breathing again. It was getting harder, slower, more labored.

Laxus sighed as he took his grandfather's frail hand into his own. "I know what you're doing you old geizure," he said. "You're waiting until tomorrow so Gray and Juvia's baby doesn't have to have a birthday on the day you died. Heh," he shook his head. "Even at the end you are thinking about your children. As always."

Laxus closed his other hand over Makarov's. "It's a boy, by the way. They named him Juven after his mom," Laxus gave the frail hand a squeeze before adding, "Juven Makarov. Yeah, I know, Cato's already got the middle name Makarov, but you deserve all the namesakes you can get old man."

Laxus thought he could see a hint of a smile on the old master's face. He hoped Makarov could hear him, but wasn't super optimistic. Still, he continued.

"Ya know, Gramps. Mavis may have the first guild master, but you were the greatest. If I can be a fraction of the manyou are I'll be grateful. You took a bunch of beat up, broken down kids, self included, and made us a family. Fairy Tail is what it is today because of what you taught us kids. You were the best father to your children."

Laxus stopped only long enough to wipe at his eyes and clear his throat. "But we're grown now. We've got kids of our own," he patted the elderly man's hand. "We'll be okay. And after all you've done for us you deserve a good long rest."

The clock down the hall struck twelve. Laxus took in a shaky breath and kissed his grandfather's hand. "It's midnight, Gramps. Juven's first birthday is over."

Laxus squeezed his hand one last time.

"You can go now."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Kardia Cathedral was packed to the brim. A long line of people waited outside. Almost all of Fiore had come to bid Makarov Dreyar farewell. All of Fairy Tail sat in the pews, waiting for the visitation to end so the memorial could start. Not a dry eye was among them. Even tiny Juven cried from where he was swaddled in Gray's arms.

The real tears did not start until everyone got home and found a letter to each of them, hand written by Makarov.

Late that night Laxus read over his for the hundredth time as tears rolled down his cheeks. Wiping them away he set it aside, walked to his desk, and did something he thought he'd never do:

Ivan,

I know I've never written you but something has happened and I figure you shoul hear it from me.

Gramps is dead. He went peacefully in his sleep two nights ago.

He still loved you, though. All the way to the end.

I guess I should let you know something else, you have three grandkids.

Farrah, Cato, and July. The most perfect batch of rascals you'll ever meet.

Your son,

Laxus.

He sent the letter out the next morning.

It arrived at the jail later that afternoon. All the guards were perplexed when, for the second time that week, the harden criminal broke down in tears, holding two letters to his chest as he lay on a pile of crumled, tear stained papers.. Makarov had written Ivan everday while he'd been in jail, but Ivan never opened any of them until this last one. He wasn't sure why he had. Maybe it was the tone in the guard's voice as he passed the envelope to him. Or maybe he just felt something change. Whatever the reason he opened it and read:

"Ivan,

My dear boy,

If you are reading this it means I've passed on.

I have so many things I want to say, but mainly that I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't save you from this dark fate of yours. I'm sorry I couldn't have been a better father to you. I'm sorry we didn't get a second chance.

It's too late for you and I now, Ivan. But not for you and Laxus. He's such an amazing man, Ivan. He has a family of his own, a wonderful wife and three gorgeous children. You'd be so proud of him. He's everything niether of us could be.

Reach out to him, Ivan. Do your best to mend that bond. It's too late for me to mend my bond with you, but you and Laxus still have a chance.

I never stopped loving you,

Farewell my precious son,

Papa."

"But it is too late," Ivan had muttered when he'd first read it, letting the letter drop as he viciously ripped open the thousands he'd left untouched, sobbing over every single one, each ending in the same greeting;

"I never stopped loving you, Papa."

But it was too late.

Too late.

Makarov was dead, and Ivan as good as gone as far as Laxus was concerned.

It was too late.

Then today Laxus' letter arrived. And for the first time in years Ivan had some hope. As soon as the tears slowed he wrote Laxus back.

"Laxus,

My son,

I'm so sorry. At every turn I've failed you. I won't ask for your forgiveness. I don't deserve it. All I ask is for a picture of my grandchildren. I don't even deserve that, but please if you could find it in your heart to be merciful give me that.

Your father,

Ivan."

Laxus had the letter sitting on the bar as he glued and scribbled and cut. Porlyusica broke him out of his work to whisper in his ear. Laxus nodded, smiling, and stood to his feet.

"We have a new family member. Please help me in welcoming Vance Makarov Strauss."

Cheers and some tears erupted from the crowd as Laxus finished his project, boxed it up, and shipped it off.

The next day the guards were perplexed, again, by Ivan's tears.

He'd only asked for a picture, and got a whole photo album. It started with a picture of Laxus proposing to his wife, then their smiled and wiped at his face, his son's wife was so beautiful. Next came a picture of Laxus and his wife holding a young girl with the caption "Farrah's Adoption Finalized."

Next was a picture of Laxus rocking the little girl asleep. Then a picture of Laxus and his daughter sitting in a bed next to his wife, holding a small bundle in her arms, the caption red "Cato's Birth." Several pictures of holidays, birthdays, famil outings, and such followed.. There was even one of Laxus asleep in a blanket fort, both children nustled safely in his arms. His daughter was a beauty, and his son looked just like him! Finally came a picture of the whole family gathered around a hospital bed, the caption reading: "July's Birth."

Ivan gasped at the sight of a small old name sitting at the foot of the bed, smiling bright.

Makarov.

"Papa," Ivan whispered as more tears fell. "Thank you for looking after them, Papa."