Parenthood

Chapter 6

"I have to go home."

Laxus about dropped his toast at those words.

"What? No. It's not dead or gone, so why-"

"I have to shower, Laxus," Mirajane told him. "I've been with you all yesterday. I-"

"Shower here."

"I don't have any clothes here."

"Put back on what you're wearing now."

"Ew, gross."

He blinked. Then he frowned. "Don't you only, like, ever wear the same thing?"

"Laxus-"

"What do you want me to say?" He went back to the plate in front of him as Mira stood before the kitchen table, Nathan in her arms. He was still rather sleepy looking though, as it was only, oh, seven in the morning. "You can't leave me with it. It might actually die. And for some reason, I don't think I'll do well in prison."

"I have to-"

"Take it with you," he said with a shrug. "To your house."

"I guess I could, but-"

"I got shit to do today anyways."

"Don't cures in front of-" She stopped herself, frowning then. "Wait, what do you have to do?"

Snort. "You're just he babysitter. What difference does it make to you?"

"Laxus-"

"I'm training."

"With your bodyguards? Because one of them is currently still passed out on your couch."

Grunt. He went back to his toast. "I'll deal with that later."

"Well…then I guess me and Nathan are going."

"Seen not heard, Mira."

Rolling her eyes, she went to go get the little boy ready to go as well as pack his diaper bag before heading out.

At home, she found everything quiet. Even Lisanna had already left for the guild, knowing that Mira usually got there before sunrise. Elf was still in bed though so Mira only went to lay Nathan down in her bed, surrounding him by pillows on the edges so he didn't fall off or something, before going into her adjoining bathroom to catch that shower.

"I'll be right in there," she told him before she walked off. He was already drifting off though, the stuffed dog that he'd seemed to take such a liking to under one arm. "Okay?"

Then she brushed some of his hair out of his face and took one last good look at him before heading off to grab a quick shower.

As a babysitter of one day, she had to say, it was actually rather exhausting. And that was coming from someone that practically had to babysit the entire guildhall. Or at least all the male members.

It felt nice to shower, anyhow, as it turned out. She hadn't realized how tense she had been until the warm water spraying down on her hit her flesh. It felt so nice. Just being around Laxus had made her apprehensive and reserved.

Could she really go back over there again?

After her shower, she found Nathan still sleeping, which was fine. He'd had a very busy past few days. Besides, that gave her a chance to check in with Elfman. Make him breakfast even, which she was just realizing sounded really, really good in that moment.

"Morning, Elf," she greeted some time later as he came walking into the kitchen in only a pair of pants.

Yawning out a, "Morning, sis," he went over to the fridge to get him some orange juice.

"Lisanna's working the guild for me today," she went on. "And I'm taking a job from Laxus to take care of his baby, so-"

"Wait, what?"

"Lisanna's at the guild today."

"Mira-"

"It pays triple what I usually make," she told him. "And extra for when I stay the night."

Elfman about dropped the carton of orange juice. "You stay the night?"

"I did last night, yes. Where did you think I was?"

"In bed," he told her. "I didn't know that you weren't here. Mirajane-"

"He needs a babysitter and I need the cash. Not to mention Lisanna's still bringing in my usual pay with her working, so we'll really have quadruple-"

"Why would you ever want to work with Laxus, Mira?"

"Not with. For. And he's really changed a lot."

He only stared at her. "Yeah, sometimes he's able to pull it together and save the guild, but I don't see that as him being an appropriate bedmate for you."

"Elfman!" She turned from the bacon she was frying to glare at him. "That's not what he is. And that's certainly not what he's paying me for. If it was, I'd charge at least five times as much-"

"Mira-"

"We need to get some stuff fixed around here, Elf. And you have springs shooting out from your mattress," she said. "What do you want me to do? Not make some extra money when the option presents itself to me? I mean, Lisanna only ever goofs off with Natsu and Lucy anymore and you never take jobs because you want to be around Ever as much as possible-"

"I'll take a thousand jobs, Mirajane, if you just don't-"

"I'm not marrying the guy, Elf. I'm just babysitting. For, like, a week. That's it." She gave him a soft smile. "He's finding a family to adopt the baby and then it'll all be over with."

"Yeah, but-"

"It'll be fine, Elf." Then she added, "I'll be fine. Really. This is all just so perfect, really, when you think about it."

"Perfect, huh?"

"Sure. I get to play with a cute little baby and rake in jewels beyond my wildest dreams and Laxus learns a valuable lesson in being a manwhore. It's not as much fun as it sounds."

Elfman only stared at her, not cracking a smile at all. "If he's a douche to you or something, I'll kill him. I really will."

"As nice as that sounds, Elf," she began as she went back to making breakfast, "he's sort of my employer now. Not to mention, I think I can take care of myself. In fact, I know I can."

"Still." The overly muscular man flexed. "If you need me-"

"I know you got my back, Elfman," she giggled. "And trust me, I got yours."

When she went to get Nathan up later, she found that he was still fast asleep. It was still early enough that she figured it was fine for a child and only took to sitting down on the bed next to him, taking a moment out to think.

She could go back to Laxus' apartment. That was probably the best thing to do. But then again, Nathan was as unfamiliar there as he was anywhere, so what difference did it make? And if Laxus wasn't home, why would he care?

Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.

Nathan waking up a little while later at least gave her an immediate command. She took him into the kitchen to heat up what she'd leftover for him from breakfast. He seemed to be in a slightly better mood than he usually was when he first woke up. He only asked for his mother a few times before taking to just eating.

"I'm gonna go meet with Ever," Elfman told her as he came into the kitchen to find her holding the child in her lap as he fed himself from his plate. "Alright?"

"Have fun," Mirajane said simply, glancing back at him. "And can you go to the guild at some point today? Check on Lisanna?"

'Sure thing, sis."

"And tell her if she needs anything, I'll either be here or at Laxus' apartment. And Freed or Bickslow can show her where that is. Same with you, huh?"

"Of course."

"But don't go over to his place unless you really, really need me. You know how grumpy he can get."

In the end, she didn't get back to Laxus house until a few hours later, only to find that he still wasn't around. Neither was Bickslow. Which was great because it gave Nathan a chance to play with all of his toys and Mirajane a chance to, well, snoop.

Not that that was what she thought she was doing. She thought of it as more of a way to…become more accustom. To her workspace, of course. That was important, after all. Right? To be familiar with your surroundings?

Not that there was many things of interest She didn't want to go through his drawers or anything, as she knew there'd be no explaining it if he found her in that sort of position. But she did rifle through some of his open mail on the coffee table as well as open the side table drawers.

Ugh. She was so bored.

She had, however, brought over her guitar with her, which really entertained Nate. More than just her usual singing, in fact. He seemed entranced by the way she was able to make sound with it. He even babbled at her, giggling as she sat in front of him on the ground, reaching out for her frequently.

She wondered briefly if that was how Laxus was as a child. The different moods the baby went through. She thought that maybe she'd get around to asking Master, but pushed it out of her mind just as quickly.

Laxus was the father, fine, but he didn't want it. And the sooner they got it all solved, got Nathan situated with another family, the better. Or if his mother returned. Which ever happened first.

She wasn't supposed to get attached. And she wasn't. It was just… She knew what that was like. When the people that were supposed to care about you didn't. Her mother and father, they'd loved her, fine, but after their deaths, her village should have cared for her. And they did. Until she sacrificed part of herself to take on a demon and save them. She'd never found it in herself to go back there, to show them how wrong they'd be about her. How wrong it was that they did that.

But it still bothered her at times.

Which was silly. Because she had Fairy Tail. She loved Fairy Tail. Every single member. Even the pervy old men (and the pervy young men). She had a family. She had people that, even after seven years, hadn't given up hope on her. That still loved her.

She was fine.

But still…

And she didn't want that for Nathan. She didn't want him to know about how his mother abandoned him and his father first denied him and then ditched him without even given him a chance. That wasn't something she wanted him to think about, something that might keep him up at night, the way her past did her.

"The sooner we find you a family," she sighed at one point as she sat her guitar to the side. "The better. And they'll never ever tell you, huh?"

Who would want to know something like that anyhow?

"Besides," she told him. "Being a Dreyar doesn't appear to be that much fun. They all hate each other. And are rather grouchy. No, you'll be better with just a normal, small family. Maybe…maybe one in a tiny village? Would you like that? Where you could help your dad tend to crops and your mother could sew all your clothes. Doesn't that sound nice?"

No, apparently not, as he went back to playing wit his toys.

"You can take all those with you," she giggled. "I'm sure there's nothing Laxus would ever want with them. After all this, I have a feeling he's never going to have kids. Not for a long time, at least."

When Laxus arrived home, he was drenched in sweat and immediately headed off to grab a shower. By that point, it was getting close to noon and Mira had to choose between giving Nathan his nap or feeding him.

Since Laxus was there, she figured a meal would be the best option and went ahead getting started on that. She took Nathan with her into the kitchen, letting him roll some of his toy cars around on the tile floor in there.

"I'm making lunch," she announced to Laxus when he finished with his shower and came in to investigate. "You hungry?"

Grunt. He only went to stare down at Nathan for a moment or two, the little boy taking to greeting him before going back to his toys.

"How was train-"

"Seen not heard, Mirajane."

She gave him a look over her shoulder. "You know, even though you're paying me, part of this is still a favor. From one mage to another. I'm just trying to be here for you."

"Yeah, well don't."

With that, he went over to the table, pulling something from his pocket while he was at it.

Curiosity got the better of her as she asked, "What's that?"

"Something Gramps gave me. Before he told me to take the kid to Porlyusica."

"What is it?"

"Just…" He shook his head, still looking down at the sheet of paper. "Something Ivan sent him. A letter. Not long after he got kicked out of Fairy Tail. It-"

Then he stopped, suddenly, as if he realized just in that moment who he was talking to, what he was talking about. Then he sent her a glare.

"How about you stop talking to me, Mira, and focus on the food, huh?" he grumbled. "Make things better for the both of us."

"Fine," she said with a shrug. "Just being friendly."

"Thought we just went over that?"

When she finished with his food, she took it over to the table to hand over the plate before going to gather Nathan up.

"He can feed himself," she found herself saying to the clearly uncaring Laxus. "But he can't reach the table. So he has to sit in my lap. Or yours, I guess, if you ever-"

"I won't."

Rolling her eyes, she only sat there, across from him, with his son in her lap as she also tried to eat her own lunch as well.

"He eats a lot," Mira told Laxus randomly. "In case you haven't noticed."

Snort.

"Kinda like you."

He made a face. "I eat because I burn so much off with my constant workouts. He's just gluttonous."

"No, I think he got it from you."

"Hardly."

"I saw his mom, Laxus," she told him. "Thin as a rail. He's got your appetite. One of a…a dragon."

He let out a slow huff. "You know, Mira, if you're only trying to annoy me, you can cut it out. I'm annoyed with you either way. You're always annoying."

"You don't have to be mean, Laxus. It's not going to drive me away. It's just like I told you," she said. "I'm not here for you. I'm here for him. And I'm going to stay here for him. So let's just try to make the most of it, huh?"

"And we could," he grumbled. "If you'd stop-"

"I like to talk, Laxus. If you want him taken care of by someone who doesn't, find someone else."

"For as much as I'm paying you, Mirajane, I bet I could find someone to do it."

"Fine, Laxus! Then do it. But I bet they won't make you food. Or actually try to be nice to him. I-"

"Do not start yelling at me, woman. I-"

"Then don't pick fights with me over nothing, man!"

That was enough to start Nathan on crying as he cuddled back towards Mirajane for protection.

"Great, Mira, you upset it."

"He's not an it!" She took to trying to comfort the boy, rubbing his back and kissing his head. At the sight of this, Laxus' angry demeanor faltered some. She hadn't even gotten him calmed down completely when he spoke.

"I'm going to start asking around tomorrow," he said. "I'll spend the whole day looking. And then we can be done wit this. It can be over."

She didn't even look up at him as she said, "Good, Laxus. Great even. The sooner, the better."

He blinked then before nodding his head. "The sooner, the better."

They avoided each other for most of the day. Even in that tiny apartment, they managed to stay clear of one another. Laxus just stayed in his room the whole time and Mirajane the living room. Nathan was happier that way, as from that point forth, he seemed a little fearful of Laxus. Mirajane was, after all, the only one that had been there for him the past few days and he clearly trusted her more than he did any of the other strangers around.

Laxus didn't leave his room for dinner and Mirajane didn't go to get him for it. Instead, she only fed herself and Nathan before bathing the little boy and putting him to bed. She sang him to sleep that night. It seemed to work better with her guitar.

She knew better than to go bother Laxus and ask if it was okay if she left for the night. He'd want her there the entire time. She just knew it. And since it was, oh, only six thirty she had some time to kill.

He'd left a book out at some point, on his coffee table, which she picked up and tried reading. But it bored her to no end. She didn't understand why someone like him, an S-Class wizard, would want to read fantasy novels, would want to travel, see Earth Land. Didn't he get enough of it from his job? Why would he want to do it in his free time too?

Laxus didn't come out of his room until late. And by that point, she was practically snoozing on the couch, the book having bored her to near death. No, seriously. Ugh. For someone that could shoot freaking lightening from his hands, you'd think the last thing he'd want to read about were fake, made up drivel about all sorts of mythical creatures.

He must have thought she was really asleep though, as she laid there he only went to turn out the lamp near the couch before going over to the playpen. In the darkness, she peeked open an eye and watched as he went to stand over the little boy, watching him sleep for awhile.

He didn't say anything, didn't make some sort of heartfelt connection with the child he didn't want or anything else overly dramatic (which Mirajane thrived on), but only stood there, staring. Watching. And after a few minutes, he turned to go into the kitchen.

Maybe he didn't hate Nathan as much as she thought. Maybe he just…

What if he was right? And them trying to push him towards taking care of Nathan was wrong? You couldn't force someone to be a good father. You couldn't force someone to be anything.

The soon, the better, she reminded herself as she turned on her side and truly did try to fall to sleep. The sooner, the better.