Parenthood

Chapter 24

It was the middle of the day when Mirajane found herself seated at her (soon to be former) kitchen table, finishing up icing Nathan's birthday cake. Evergreen was seated there as well, flipping through a magazine while waiting for her (not) boyfriend to finish his shower so they could go out to lunch.

The day had actually been quite peaceful for the both of them. That all came to an end though as the backdoor opened and in walked Lisanna, a bag over her shoulders and looking mighty tired for it to only be a little over noon.

Ever looked up at her entrance, but Mirajane was finishing icing the cake, and didn't glance up until she was almost out of the room.

"Mmmm, Lisanna," she said after she licked the knife she'd just finished using, the taste of frosting still lingering on her tongue as she said her next words. "When were you going to tell me that you were having sex with Bickslow?"

She stopped at the, Lisanna did, as Evergreen only widened her eyes and shut her magazine. She knew if she stayed around them long enough, some sort of drama would stir up. Everyone thought that the Strauss siblings were the most mild-mannered, behaved people of the entire guild, but she knew better. Ooh, she knew better.

"W-What are you-"

"I mean, I'm not saying that I want details," Mirajane said as she sat the knife on the table, glancing at her sister then. "But I thought that I would be the first to know. Tell me, have we really fallen that out of sync?"

She turned then, to stare over at them, stuttering as she said, "I-I haven't…we… Who told you?"

"Does it matter?" Standing then, she picked up the cake pan and headed over to set it on the counter. "I'm a little hurt, actually, that you didn't think-"

"We're not… We're just friends. I don't-"

"Once upon a time, you and Natsu were just friends too."

"And we still are! And always have been. We just-"

"Just, what, Lisanna?"

"I don't know why you're-"

"Where did he take you?" She turned to look back at her once more. "Lisanna? And where have you been before? With him? When you weren't telling me-"

"I don't have to tell you anything. I-"

"I'm not saying that you do." With a sigh, she went to take a seat at the table once more. "And I'm not saying that I want you to. But pretty soon, I'm going to be living with Laxus. And you're going to be here or…somewhere, and things are going to be different. Things are already different. And if you like it this way, fine. I don't… I'm not going to force you to be close to me, to still talk to me about things. But just know that I do care. A lot. Even if I'm with Laxus or taking care of Nate or just… I love you, Lisanna. Forever. So if you ever want to talk to me, you can. Promise. And I'm sorry I made you feel like I couldn't."

Ever glanced between them then, waiting for Lisanna to respond or storm off. Something. Instead, they were all just startled by a deeper cadence from the doorway of the kitchen.

"And you can go ahead and never tell me any of that," Elfman groused as he came further into the room. "Ever. Either of you. I'd rather not think about that. And camping, Lisanna? With some sick freak that turned Mirajane to stone once?"

Ever blushed at that as Mira looked very pointedly at her.

"Actually, Elfman," she said as she folded her arms over her chest. "I think that was another member of the Thunder-"

"We're going to be late for lunch." Ever jumped right up, taking her magazine with her as she went to grab Elfman's arm. He was staring at Lisanna though, who blushed.

"I didn't… You guys are all totally off," she said, looking back at Mirajane. "We didn't…sleep together."

"You went camping with an older guy without telling us, Lisanna," her sister said as Elfman continued to stare. "And by the way, those red eyes are a new look. Something we should get used to?"

"I-"

"You do reek of it," Ever told her softly. "I mean, honestly."

"We didn't…have sex though, so-"

"I'm confused," Elfman said, glancing over at Mirajane. "Why do your eyes get red after sex?"

Ever snickered while Mira rolled her eyes.

"You're grown, Lisanna," she said, turning to walk out of the room. "Do whatever you want. I just thought that we wouldn't drift apart like this. I-"

It was then, not even able to finish her next sentence, that she just stopped talking, all because Lisanna hard rushed past Elfman, who was being explained the drug reference from before by Ever, and over to her older sister. She only threw her arms around her from behind, pulling her to a stop.

"I didn't sleep with Bickslow," she whispered. "It's not even like that. We just… You guys are, like, planning for your futures and stuff without me. You're going to be with Laxus and Elfman's either gonna kill Ever or she's going to kill him or something-"

"Hey," Elfman complained

"Well," Ever sighed.

"-and it's just not fair," Lisanna sniffled. "What about me?"

"Lisanna." Mirajane wiggled out of her grasp before turning around to face her. She reached out to cup her cheek with one hand, smiling at her slightly. "You're always our little sister. You know that. Me and Elf would never leave you behind. Even if he does get murdered by Evergreen."

"Why do I have to be the one that dies?" Elfman griped

"Well." Ever patted his shoulder.

"We love you," Mira told her. "And I know that I've been a crap sister recently, but… I really do love Laxus. And Nathan. And my life's changing fast, but that doesn't mean that I'll ever leave you out of it."

"You don't even want to hangout anymore. No one does."

"Expect Bickslow," Mira finished for her. Lisanna only stared at her.

"We're friends."

"Mmmm." She kissed her head then before taking a step back. "You don't have to tell me now. I know that you weren't going to. I just… I wish that you would tell me, when you're going somewhere."

"I'm not a-"

"You're not," she agreed. "And I'm not Mom. I never will be. But… I lost you, Lisanna. Me and Elf both did. No matter how old you get, that's never going to go away. Just promise me that you won't take off for another week again without-"

"It was only supposed to be three days," she admitted. "But we just…"

"Got high and forgot, apparently."

"Ever." Mira made a face at her, but she just shrugged. The moment was lost and instead of a big blow up, the woman of stone was given a touching family moment.

It made her want to vomit.

No, vomiting was gross. It made her hungry.

"Let's go to lunch, El- Elfman!"

But it was too late. He was sobbing then, those big tears of his, as he rushed to go hug both his sisters. Ever knew too, had for a long time, that she could become whatever she wanted to him.

It didn't matter.

He'd always love them more.

Actually, she was pretty okay with that.

"I'm going to get lunch now," she said after a moment. "And you can either stay here, Elfman, or come with me like a real man. Either way, I don't really care."

He couldn't let go of his sister though as Mira only snuggled him back, Lisanna though was being squished and was trying desperately to break his grip.

"You better go," Mirajane giggled as she finally did break free off him, letting Lisanna loose too, who took to breathing deeply. "Before she starts plotting that murder of yours."

"I just love you guys so much," he said as he wiped at his eyes.

"We love you too," Lisanna told him, grinning. "But try not crushing us to death next time we see each other, huh?"

He ruffled her hair then, which she never rightly liked, before rushing off. Mirajane only waved and reminded him that the next day was Nathan's birthday party, at the house, and that he better be there. Then it was just the two of them again.

"I don't know if you've noticed," Mirajane said as she moved to wrap an arm around Lisanna's shoulders, who only stared up at her. "But it's kinda Nate's birthday tomorrow."

She wanted to roll her eyes, but it felt so nice, having her sister hold her again, so she only said, "Yeah, Mira, I've noticed."

"You almost missed it."

"Well, I didn't," she told her sister. "And where is Nathan anyhow?"

"Hmmm?"

"Isn't he normally, like, hanging off you constantly?"

"Mmmhmm," she agreed. "But I was making his cake and didn't want him to be around to see it, so I sent him home with Laxus."

"Oh."

"But now that I'm done with that, maybe," she began slowly, glancing down at Lisanna. "Maybe we could…talk some? About anything? It doesn't have to be-"

"I'd like that," Lisanna cut her off, smiling up at her sister. "I'd like it a lot, actually."

"Huh." Laxus stared at the book, taking in the picture depicted on it. "This is kinda strange here. Almost like bestiality or something. Not sure how this is a children's book, but apparently, this bookkeeper is in love with this…werewolf. Did not see it taking such turn."

Nathan, who was snuggled up in bed with his father, only reached out to pat the pages of the oversized book, grinning. "Daddy."

He called Laxus that sometimes, after Mirajane's insistence about it. But he made it sound more like 'doddy' or something and it was only randomly, him always bouncing back and forth between that and the man's name.

Mira told him that if he wanted Nathan to grow up and forget that there was ever a time when he hadn't wanted him, when he wasn't around, then he should start having him call him by something other than his name.

"This is kinda strange," Laxus mumbled as Nathan only tried to turn the page, not waiting for him to actually read the words on it. "I mean, I put up with some of the things in children's books, but I don't want you thinking it's okay to, like, have sex with a dog or something."

Nathan only whined until he changed the page. His father was still rather apprehensive about the whole thing though, until they got to the end.

"Oh. So he's human again. Huh. Still weird."

"New 'ook," Nathan announced.

"Yeah, we're probably gonna burn this one," Laxus sighed as he slipped out of bed, taking the picture book with him over to his bookcase. He had a little space there, for all of Nathan's children's book. "I think we've read all the others though, buddy."

"'ook."

"Alright, alright, you little brat," he grumbled. "Just so you know, Mira ain't here. You keep hounding me and you might get a little pop in the mouth, huh?"

That was a lie, of course, and Nathan just ignored him as he crawled across the bed and over to the edge.

"Down," he complained before just jumping down himself. Laxus was still glaring at the bookshelf though, looking for a children's book that wouldn't completely make him want to kill himself. Or that wasn't totally disgusting.

"Where you going, brat?" he grumbled as Nathan only patted him on the leg before toddling off, headed to the bathroom. "Your little potty's in the guest bathroom, kid. C'mere."

He was busy once again going over prop bathroom etiquette to Nathan (little boys were disgusting, he didn't remember being that disgusting), when he heard the front door open.

"Are you guys here?"

"In the bathroom," Laxus grumbled, Mira quickly coming to appear in the doorway.

"Did you use the potty like a big boy, Nate?" she asked excitedly, ready to praise him.

"Yes," Nathan said, grinning over at her as Laxus only shook his head.

"We almost made it."

So that took some time, getting Nate all clean again, before they were all able to settle down again.

"Hey, Mira?" Laxus asked as they headed to the living room, Nathan happily rushing over to the spot that he'd left some of his toys at, wanting Mirajane to follow.

"Hmmm?"

"Since when is it okay to have sex with animals?"

"…Are you drunk? Because-"

"No." He fell into the couch as Mira went to go play with their toddler. "I was reading him one of those children's books and… You should just read it. It's totally bonkers."

"I'll look into it," Mira said slowly, glancing at him before shaking her head. He was pretty crazy when he was left alone with Nate for awhile. She figured it was the lack of adult conversation. "Nate, do you know what tomorrow is?"

"Bir'day."

"Yep!" Mirajane giggled when he started clapping his hands. "You're so smart. You just love your birthday, don't you?"

"Yes." He went back to his toys. "Mira."

"Mmmm." She glanced back over at Laxus once more. "Guess who got home today."

"Your sister?"

"Mmmhmm."

"Where-"

"Apparently," Mirajane said as she let Nathan ram one of his toy cars into her leg. "Your little bodyguard spent the week getting my little sister high and taking her on magical hikes through a forest."

He bit his tongue. Literally.

"Mirajane-"

"Remember when I told you that you were responsible for-"

"I'm sure they were fine."

"Fine? Laxus-"

"So they did a little…whatever. Who cares? Lisanna's grown. She can-"

"For some reason, Laxus, and this might just be me being a tad crazy," she went on, "but for some reason, I don't like the idea of Lisanna being stoned with some guy that can force her to do anything that he wants."

"He wouldn't-"

"Why would I know that? Huh?"

"I'll talk to him, okay? I-"

"No, don't," Mira groaned. "Lisanna and I talked and she doesn't want me and Elf…you know. Babying her anymore."

"She says that constantly," he pointed out. "What's gonna make you suddenly-"

"I don't know, Laxus. I just… I don't ever want to lose her again. I can't."

That fell between them for a few moment before Nathan decided that he was being, once again, underappreciated and began demanding kisses and hugs from Mirajane. With a sigh, she leaned down to do so.

"If you want me to make Bickslow stop seeing her," Laxus said after just watching them for a minute (yes, a literal minute, as Nate needed tons of attention, practically constantly), "then I can. He'll do whatever I tell him to. And I'll make it to where it doesn't seem like it has anything to do with you."

"I don't want that either," Mira sighed as she let Nathan go. He only moved to climb into her lap. "I want… I don't know, Laxus. I really don't like her smoking with him though."

"You don't even let her drink."

"For good reason."

"Mirajane-"

"It's hard letting go."

"I know. I-"

"No, you don't," she grumbled as she only took to snuggling Nathan closer. He made her feel a little better. "You've never had this in your life. You only care about yourself."

"I-"

"I meant cared," she mumbled as Nathan turned his head up to give her a kiss as well. If he loved being loved by Mirajane, he also loved loving her. "You care about me and Nate now, fine, but… It's just not the same. I've been taking care of Lisanna since I was a kid. And now she suddenly just doesn't want me to? I mean…what happens when Nate gets like that?"

He only stared at her for a moment. "Uh, Mira? I really don't see that happening any time soon."

She smiled slightly as Nathan yawned, still snuggling up to her.

"Still. It will eventually."

"Yeah, but…I'll always want you to clean up after me and make me food and stuff. If that helps."

Rolling her eyes, Mira only said, "Yeah, Lax. That helps lots."

"And my laundry. 'cause…I did that thing again? Where all my white shirts are now tinted blue-"

"You have to separate-"

"Your words make no sense to me!"

With a sigh, she released Nathan who only slid out of her lap and went back to playing, all filled up on attention for the time being. With the two of them to take care of, maybe she wouldn't even miss taking care of Lisanna.

Maybe.

"Kid!" Bickslow opened his door wider to let her enter. "What are you doin' here? Me and the babies were in bed."

"I dunno," she said as she came further into the apartment. "I just got…bored."

"Me too." He let her in before shutting the door again. "Wish we'd stayed another day or something, out in the woods."

"Me too."

All the lights were out in his apartment and it was pretty dark. She could hear the babies in the bedroom, conversing with one another. Err, really just making noises. They did that a lot.

"I was gonna have a smoke and then pass out," Bickslow said as Lisanna followed him over to the couch, curious. He only pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket though. Noting her disappointed face, he said, "I told you that we went through all the shit I had on our trip. Give me a few days, huh? And I'll get us some more."

"I wasn't-"

"It was obvious."

"Whatever."

He snickered as he pulled a lighter out as well. "You wanna go out or something? I seriously was going to go to bed."

"I already slept," she said. "The second we got in."

"That was like, what? Four hours ago?"

"I guess I don't sleep that much."

"I'm beat," he said before taking a deep suck of his cigarette. He'd run out of them while they had been camping and clearly was glad to have some back. He had warned her that they were addictive, after all. "But if you wanna do something, we can."

"No. I shouldn't have come by. I just-"

"Lisanna!"

The babies had heard her voice, apparently, and were coming from the bedroom then, rushing over to the couch to greet her.

"Lisanna," they all sang, some landing in her lap, the others floating around their heads. "Lisanna."

"They missed you, huh? After only a few hours," he said as he blew his smoke away from her. "Kept complaining, thinking that you were coming over. And look! Now you have. Lissy missed you guys too, I think."

"A little," she admitted with a giggle. "It just felt weird when I laid down to go to bed. It was…quiet."

"The woods are a great place, huh?" He patted her on the head. "We can go there again, eventually. I'm probably going on some more jobs here, real soon."

"With Freed and Ever?"

"Yeah, probably."

"You think you'll be gone a lot?"

She got another pat on the head. She didn't hate it as much when he did it.

"Tell you what," he said as he got to his feet. "When I get back, we can go wherever you want. It's your turn to choose."

"I actually kinda came over to ask if you were going to Nathan's party tomorrow."

"Party, huh? For what?"

"His birthday, Bickslow."

"Shit." He glanced back at her, cigarette in one hand as he stared at her. "I didn't get him a gift. Did you?"

"I was going to go find something today."

"Put my name on it, huh? From the best uncle and aunt ever, yeah?" Then he continued on into his bedroom. "You gonna come in here or what?"

Slowly, she went to follow him. "What are you doing?"

"I told you," he grumbled as he laid out on his bed, pulling off his shirt first, though he left his jeans on. The room was so small that it practically took up all the space. "I'm going to sleep. Come lay down if you're staying."

She only stared at him for a second before shaking her head. "No. I should probably go. I'll see you tomorrow, huh? At the party?"

"Sure, kid. Till then."

After she took off, he and the babies slept for about an hour or so, but the sound of knocking once again woke them.

"This is some shit," he grumbled as he got out of bed, pulling his pack of smokes out once again. As he made it to the door though, he took to saying, "You know, kid, I'm just gonna have to make you a damn key if- Ah, boss. What-"

"I told you, Bickslow," Laxus growled as he opened the door, "that you could fuck the Strauss girl. I never said that you were allowed to get her high to do it."

"I- Hey!"

He only took to shoving the other man, slamming the apartment door behind him. "And taking her off on some stupid trip without mentioning it to anyone-"

"I thought she told her sister or something. Did she not?"

"No."

"Well, that ain't my fault," he grumbled. "I mean, she's not a kid. Not really. So-"

"Why would you ever give her-"

"She asked for it!"

"You're so stupid," Laxus growled, shoving him one more time before just walking around him and over to his mini-fridge. "So fucking- Where's all the beer?"

"There ain't anymore," he mumbled as he only took to rubbing at his chest. He really didn't like it when Laxus was mad at him. "And hey, I'm sorry about-"

"Why did you have to smoke with her? I mean, she's hangs out with Natsu and Lucy constantly. It's not like they're-"

"That's probably why she wanted to."

"You didn't have to-"

"Hey, I know," he grumbled as he went over to the couch to sit down. "Chick went through my whole supply in a week. She's an expensive one, Lissy is."

Laxus settled for grabbing a soda before going to sit down on the couch too. "Well, thanks to you I just got to spend the past hour listening to Mira come to terms with your relationship with Lisanna and then degrade it, all in the same breath."

"Hey, careful what words you throw around, man," Bickslow said as he took to focusing on his cigarette. "We ain't anything, but friends."

"You don't take women out into the woods for no reason."

"There was a reason," he said. "We're friends."

"So what? You two idiots sat around, got high, and let me guess, talked?"

"Exactly."

'"Bickslow-"

"I'm not sleeping with her," he said. "I'm not saying I wouldn't if the opportunity presented itself, but it hasn't."

"You had her all alone, away from everyone for a week and couldn't-"

"I don't think she's interested, boss."

"Why else would she hang around with you? I mean, it's not like you're that interesting."

"Words hurt," Bickslow told him as Laxus only rolled his eyes. "And besides, we have a pretty good time without sleepin' together."

"What do you do?"

"I dunno. She likes to complain about the rest of you a lot," he said. "And she likes when I take her places and throw all this bull around about things I don't understand. Like, this chick really thinks we weren't lost those last two days of our trip. Had her thinking I was taking some sort of detour out of the woods."

"You got lost with Mira's little sister?"

"But we got home, right? And she never knew any different, huh?" He shrugged. "Don't make any difference to me, I guess, what I do with her, but she's just not… I don't think she's ever been with anyone anyhow."

"What makes you say that?"

"I dunno. Just the way she talks," Bickslow said. "I think she's, like, saving it for the Salamander."

They both had a good laugh about that one, waking his babies, who came fluttering into the room to join in on the laughter. After sobering though, Laxus only shook his head.

"You do something to her though, Bickslow-"

"I know."

"No," he said. "You don't. Mira and Elfman are… Lisanna's been they're main focus for so long now that they're having a little trouble adjusting. And, well… Even if you guys are fucking or whatever, just don't screw her up too badly or nothing. I'd never hear the end of it."

"I get it."

"And get some more damn beer," Laxus grumbled as he only took to snickering again. "What do I look like? Drinking a damn soda? A kid?"

"Aye-aye, boss."

I was going to make the next chapter the last, but I think I'm going to extend it to thirty and end it there. Sound good?