UGHHHHHH! I finally finished writing this chapter! For such a simple chapter where I knew exactly what was going to happen it still took forever to finish. And I'm not even completely happy with it T.T

Thank you all for being patient with me. I hope you enjoy this. :)

"That's soo cutteee!"

Cana winced as several of the girls around her squealed at Mira's exclamation. Or rather at the little dress Mira held in her hands. Mira, Lisanna, Lucy, Wendy and Levy were all gathered around Cana and Juvia at the bar, the latter having just come back from an out-of-town mission. The little dress held up by Mira was one of many little outfits that the water mage had picked up for the twins while on said mission. Cana was pretty sure that by now she had enough clothes back at her house so that the twins would never have to wear the same thing twice...ever.

"And look at this one!" Mira said pulling a tiny little t-shirt and a pair of shorts out of the bag.

"Awww." The fairy girls' reaction was predictable and Cana fought the urge to roll her eyes. She was going to go crazy if they made her sit through this for another three and a half months. The first four hadn't been any better.

"Cana stop rolling your eyes!" Mira scolded lightly as she set aside the outfit. Cana sighed. She had thought no one was paying attention due to the tiny clothing being paraded in front of them.

"Aren't you excited Cana?" Levy asked.

"Yeah, a little I guess." Cana said, absentmindedly rubbing her stomach, "Still a little worried too."

"You and Laxus are going to make great parents." Lisanna said, patting the brunette on the hand.

"Juvia agrees." The blunette said nodding her head vigorously, "As long as Cana and Laxus love each other everything will work out wonderful."

Cana stared at the water mage sitting next to her, her jaw somewhere around her knees.

"L-love." She finally spluttered. Juvia beamed at her.

"How are you and Laxus doing?" Mira asked, her eyes sparkling mischievously. Cana swallowed hard as the girls all leaned in closer.

"We're fine. He's just as nervous as me." Cana said with a sweet smile. She had evaded the real question but she wasn't sure what the answer to that question was. Unfortunately Mirajane Strauss was nothing if not persistent, especially when it came to business her pretty little nose really shouldn't be in.

"Cana Alberona you know very well that was not what we were asking." Mira said pouting.

"C'mon Cana. You two are about to have twins, there has to be something going on." Levy said earnestly. Cana huffed and let her eyes drift around the guild hall. The dragon slayer in question wasn't present. Probably on another request. But that didn't bother Cana. Four months into her pregnancy and she was still trying to work her brain around all the things she had to do before she went into labor. Trying to work out any relationship, even just a basic friendship was near impossible. She didn't have enough time in a day to think about where she and Laxus stood with each other, if they stood anywhere at all.

"I don't know. I don't really think I see Laxus that way. Or that he even sees me that way."

"You've had sex." Lucy said with uncharacteristic bluntness.

"And we were drunk." Cana countered, "No one ever said sex was only done between people in love."

Cana sighed. Why did things have to be so complicated?

"He's different." She finally said after a moments silence, "He sort of reminds me of when we were younger."

"I don't really remember what he was like when we were younger." Lisanna confessed, "I never really paid any attention."

"He was nicer." Cana said rather bluntly, "He helps me pay for things I need, he's always at my check-ups with Porlyusica, and he usually checks up on me if he doesn't see me at the guild first."

"Aww that's so sweet." Lucy said. She was actually a little shocked. She didn't think that the often aloof dragon slayer would be so outwardly caring.

"Maybe you don't have to be in love." Wendy said thoughtfully. She had been awfully quiet during the whole conversation, "I think that you and Laxus will make great parents Cana-nee even if you're just friends."

Cana chuckled as she threw an arm around the younger mage.

"Thanks for the confidence boost Wendy. Now if you girls excuse me I should be getting home."

"Don't forget you're gifts." Juvia said cheerfully.

"Yes thank you Juvia." Cana said sweat-dropping. Really, what was she going to do with all these clothes?

"I'll see you all tomorrow."

"Bye Cana."

"Get home safe."

"Bye Cana-nee."

Cana cursed and cursed again. How could she be so stupid? Laxus warned her not to go anywhere alone and yet here she was walking home, near dark, alone...right into an ambush. Two people surrounded her on a narrow street not 4 blocks from her home. Even though it was only two, Cana felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and goosebumps rise on her arms. These two mages had some serious evil intent radiating off of them, coupled with the fact that the magic ability that Cana felt from them was pretty high. They were probably about as powerful as Mira or Erza, which meant she was in deep shit. If it had just been one and her magic hadn't been out of whack, she may have been able to hold her own until finding an escape route.

The mage in front of her took a half step closer. His (or her) features were completely shrouded in the depths of a dark grey cloak, his (or her) face in shadow.

"You have to come with us." He said (Yep, definitely a guy).

Cana snorted as she stuffed her hand into her purse.

"Yea right." She muttered. Porlyusica had warned her that she probably shouldn't be using her magic, but it didn't seem like she had much of a choice. Cana drew three cards from her bag, flinging her arm forward she quickly released her magic as the two would-be kidnappers sprang toward her.

"Summoned Lightning!" Green bolts of lightning shot out at the two men, as Cana jumped out of their way. Both sprang away from the lightning and Cana, much to her relief. Cana felt her magic level drop significantly and her legs buckled underneath her.

"Shit." While it seemed that she hadn't overdone it with her magic, the spell took a lot more magic from her then it should have. Cana wasn't going to be able to last long against these two.

Cana refocused on her opponents as she grabbed several cards whose ability wouldn't use as much magic...hopefully. She refocused just in time as she was able to watch the hooded one disappear into his own shadow. The other, a dirty blonde scrawny fellow, had whipped out two blades, a maniacal grin on his face, and immediately disappeared. Cana cursed to herself as he reappeared next to her and she just managed to dodge his swinging blade.

'Shadow and teleportation magic? Just my luck.' she thought to herself as she scrambled away from the man. She threw a handful of exploding cards at him but he simply disappeared again. Cana stopped, panting, as she realized she couldn't see either one of them.

"Shit." Cana gripped the exploding cards in her hand tighter. She was in deep trouble. They were clearly preparing to attack and Cana was in no shape to defend herself. Her two attacks had used up so much of her energy she was having trouble standing.

As Cana stood preparing what would probably be her final attack, two things happened simultaneously.

As the two kidnappers attacked, one from Cana's shadow and the other from beside her, two bolts of lightning struck down on them. Cana flinched even though the lightning hadn't touched her, but having two bolts of lightning striking right next to where you're standing deserves some sort of reaction. Cana couldn't tell if the lightning had struck home but it didn't really matter at the moment because she had an extremely pissed off lightning dragon slayer standing next to her.

"Do you enjoy making people worry?" Laxus growled as he yanked her closer to him.

"Sometimes." Cana said cheeky smirk as her eyes found the teleportation mage, "Just trying to keep everyone on their toes."

Laxus gave her another growl.

"There's another one by the way." Cana murmured to him putting a more serious face on. Only the teleprtation mage had made a reappearance. He stood across the street from them just staring at them.

"Yeah I saw." Laxus was studying him, his body tensed, "Don't use anymore magic. You look like you're going to pass out."

Cana didn't say anything, she simply gripped her cards tighter.

"What the hell do you two want?" Laxus called out to the dirty blonde. He gave them a maniacal grin and waved at them, knife in hand.

"Cana move back."

As Cana began stepping back the teleportation mage disappeared and reappeared in front of Laxus swinging his blade. But Laxus was ready for him and a lighning enhanced fist to the gut sent the dark mage flying. Cana was so busy watching that she didn't realize she was in trouble until she noticed the shadows swirling around her ankles.

"Shi-" Cana was cut off as the shadow enveloped her and she felt a strange pressure on her body. When the shadow receded she was across the street held by the hooded shadow user, looking at Laxus. Except Laxus wasn't there.

"Hands off." She heard him say somewhere behind her. In another second she felt the shadow mage release her and she immediately scrambled away from him turning around in time to see Laxus attack.

"Lightning Dragon's Heavenward Halberd!"

Cana squeaked as she ducked, the powerful attack not usually used for such a close ranged attack, stray lightning bolts striking several areas down the street.

"Cana are you okay?" Laxus called to her. The shadow mage lay unconscious at his feet.

Cana felt her legs finally give out and she sat down heavily.

"Yeah, still in one piece." She said tiredly. She watched as Laxus walked toward her, running a hand through his hair.

"C'mon." He said, grabbing her arm and pulling her up, "Let's get you home."

Cana tried to take a step forward but felt her legs buckle. Even when leaning against Laxus walking was difficult.

"Laxus I'm too tired to walk." She murmured against his chest. She felt him sigh and shift. Next thing she knew she was in his arms, bridal style.

"Laxus!"

"You can't walk right? We'll get back to your place faster."

Cana said nothing. He was right after all. She was in no condition to do much of anything. She settled her head against his chest listening to his heartbeat which was oddly calming. Her own heartbeat wsa racing after the surprise attack and Laxus' surprise rescue. How in the world had he known she was in danger? Cana didn't let the question dwell in her thoughts for long. Her mind was too tired to think.

"You're awfully calm, for just bailing me out of trouble." She said after a few minutes of silence.

"Yes and I'm extremely proud of myself." He said quietly. After another minute of silence he spoke again, "Cana I have news for you."

Cana didn't look up at him. She was too close to passing out. But she did nod her head against him, silently telling him that she was still listening.

"I have a feeling these attacks won't be stopping anytime soon." Laxus glanced down at the fastly fading brunette in his arms.

"I'll tell you the details tomorrow." He said, "But Cana I can't protect you if you aren't by my side. So please stop leaving." Laxus finished quietly. Cana was already asleep.

Aww Cana you missed Laxus' sort-of confession! How could you!? Now Laxus is going to have to do it all over again!

...My god I'm talking to my story... I think I need some help O.O

Please R&R