Parenthood

Chapter 26

"What are you guys doing?"

"What does it look like?" Laxus grumbled, not even glancing over at Mirajane. "We're shaving."

"Are you?" Mira came further into the bathroom, mostly focused on Nathan, who was using his little stepstool Laxus had for him so he could wash his hands. At the moment though, he was staring into the mirror, right next to Laxus, who'd lathered up the child's face as well, running his finger down his cheek in the same way Laxus was running the razor down his own.

"Go away, Mira," Laxus said, still not looking at her. "We're in the bathroom right now."

"I'm just going to take a shower," she said, going to turn on the water and let it warm up. "Has Nate already had his bath?"

"Yeah," he told her. "I'm about to take him out though."

"Oh, Lax, I haven't made breakfast yet. He-"

"He'll eat on the way."

"On the way?"

"I'll get him a donut or some-"

"I was questioning where he would be going on the way to."

Grunt. Then, "He's going to go train with me."

"What? Laxus-"

"He's three years old. He knows to sit when I say sit, stand still when I tell him to, and not to get in the way."

"What could he possibly-"

"He's just going to watch me. Play in the forest some. Ivan took me with him all the time. And Gramps. When I was well."

"I don't know. He-"

"Mira, he wants to go."

"Do you, Nate?" Mirajane glanced back over at htem. "Do you wanna go train with Daddy?"

"Yes," he said as Laxus, finished shaving, took to patting his face dry with a towel. Then he turned and, after wetting the towel, washed Nathan's face clean, causing the little boy to giggle. "Laxus."

"Daddy," Mira corrected. "Remember?"

"Daddy," he agreed as Laxus only grunted. The water was warm then and, after quickly slipping out of Laxus' shirt, which she'd worn to bed, Mirajane quickly got into the shower.

"Mirajane. Bye-bye." Nathan headed right out of the bathroom then. "Go train. Choo choo."

"No, buddy," Laxus groaned, heading after him. "We're not riding a train. We're-"

"He thinks he's going somewhere fun," Mira called over the sound of the water. "That's why he wants to go."

"Choo choo."

"Explain it to him or he can't go."

"Nathan," Laxus groaned, heading after him. "Buddy, come here. We're not going anywhere, but the forest. You're gonna watch me workout, huh?"

"Go train." He'd left the bedroom and headed into his own. When Laxus found him, he was standing in front of his train set, pointing to it. "Now?"

"Not now. You know that I don't ride on the train," Laxus grumbled, coming over to him. "We're not going on the train."

"Big train."

"Nathan-"

"Choo choo."

"You're a little brat," Laxus grumbled before going over to him and snatching the child up. Nathan only giggled though, snuggling back against his father. "Now let me go get dressed and then we can head out, huh? Before Mira finishes her shower and tries to ruin some more of our fun."

Fun. Laxus didn't know what was wrong with him, but, well, he kinda wanted his son to be around him. To see him train. To know that he was the best mage to ever live. It was one thing when he said it, but it was a whole other to actually prove it.

"You're not with Mirajane today, kid," Laxus told his son later as they left the apartment building. "You're not a baby anymore. You're a big boy. And big boys don't whine or cry or want their mommies. Or in this case, their Mira. Alright?"

"Yes," Nathan said as he followed along. He had his little backpack on his shoulders, a few toys, a change of underwear (he was potty trained, but just in case), his sippy cup, and a sack lunch in there.

"No c'ust," Nathan told Laxus that morning as they stood in the kitchen, making his sandwich. "Laxus."

"I'm not cussing."

"No c'ust!"

"Cussed?"

"C'ust!"

"Crust," he groaned then, glancing down at the boy. "You don't want any crust, huh?"

"No c'ust."

"Alright, well, what else do you want in your lunch?"

"Cookie."

"Mirajane says that you can't have those. Me either. She baked 'em for-"

"Cookie, Laxus."

"Hmmm. Well…just taking two won't hurt. Which means taking five won't either!"

Sometimes having a kid was pretty great, Laxus would admit. Of course, that was just because Nathan was, like, from his DNA or whatever. All other little brats were just that. Little brats. Nate was amazing because of his paternity.

Duh.

"There's more rules too, of course," Laxus found himself saying then. "You have to hold hands out here. I know it's not…manly, but hey. You're still only three."

Though one hand was holding a big, chocolate covered donut with sprinkles, his other hand was securely grasped in his father's and he wasn't letting go for nothing.

Unless he saw a puppy. Or a kitty. Or something fun. Then he'd wiggle his way free and go follow it.

Duh.

"And when you gotta go potty, you just go," Laxus went on. "Pick a tree any tree, huh? And you don't gotta wash your hands."

"Yay."

"Yeah," Laxus agreed. "But don't tell Mirajane."

"Mira."

"She's real weird about that kinda stuff. And, uh, don't eat anything that didn't come in your lunch, alright? Like bugs or dirt. That's nasty."

"Nas'y."

"Gross."

"G'oss."

"And…uh… When I say to do something, you do it."

"Yes."

"I mean it, Nate. If Daddy says to stand still, you stand there and wait for me to say you can move again. Or if I tell you to sit somewhere and stay, you stay. And don't get in my way, okay?"

"Daddy. Love you."

Grunt. Then, because he really did like the kid, he grumbled out a, "Love you too."

Nathan only giggled though. Of course Laxus loved him. They were best buds! Totally different than him and Mirajane though.

Sigh. He really wished that Mira was there. She was his favorite person ever. Better than best buds. She was like...like…like how a mommy dog takes care of her baby puppies. And they love her and snuggle with her and sometimes she might yap at them, but it's okay, because she's still their mother.

Mira was like that. Sometimes she'd yell or scream or just be annoying (Laxus called it nagging), and he might even get mad or tired of her for a bit, but in the end, she was still Mirajane.

And there wasn't no one he loved more. No one.

It was only once they were out of town and almost to the forest that Laxus let go of Nathan's hand. The little boy, thinking this was an accident, reached up to grab it again, but Laxus only patted him on the head.

"We're here, kid. The forest. And I think that I can trust you not to run off in a forest, huh?"

"Laxus."

"We're going to go to a little clearing that I know, huh? And maybe later, Bickslow or Freed might join us."

"F'eed."

"Uh-huh. He pretty much worships me because, you know, I'm awesome."

"Laxus."

"You know, kid, you're pretty much my protégé here. So you better be taking notes, huh? When I die, you're going to take over for me. And I ain't gonna be a prick like Gramps. When it's my time to go, I'm gonna let you have your moment in the sun." Laxus reached down then and picked up Nathan before moving to set him on his shoulders. Nathan loved this and took to giggling. "You're my kid. And I know what that means. Gramps and Ivan are the ones that got it backwards. The greatest moment of my life will be when you surpass me."

"G'amps."

"But," Laxus said then as Nathan only patted out a beat on his head. "First you gotta get there. And I ain't making it easy on you."

That was fine. The longer it took the better. So long as Nathan got spend time with his father until then, he'd relish every minute of it.

"Hey, Evergreen," Mirajane greeted as she came into her house later that morning to find the woman sitting on the living room couch. "You waiting on Elf? I think he and Lisanna went on a-"

"Actually," Ever said as she got to her feet. "I was looking for you."

Mirajane frowned, shutting the door behind her before walking further into the house. "Me? What about? I-"

"Mirajane, something…bad has happened. Like really bad."

"Oh, no. Is it Nate? Or Laxus? Or-"

"No, Mira. It's…me."

Mirajane blinked as Ever got to her feet. Then she smiled. "You want my help changing, don't you?"

"Changing? What are you-"

"I've noticed, Ever," Mira said as she came closer, "the way that you've been acting recently. You're fighting your inner demons, so to speak. I went through this too. And it took Lisanna's death to…change me. And now I'm going to spread the wealth and help you! I have a few self-help books that really-"

"Mira," Ever groaned as the other woman skipped off, headed to her (soon to be former) bedroom to find the books. She just loved helping people. "It's not… Mira, I'm pregnant."

And there went that little bit of excitement as slowly, Mirajane came to a stop, there in the hall, before turning back around to look at Ever.

"You're what?"

"I… My only friends are Freed, Bickslow, and Laxus, really, and I don't think that they'd be any help in this, so I thought… I mean, you're the closest to another female friend that I have, really. And-"

"Have you told Elfman?"

"No. I mean, I thought that I was a few weeks ago, but I was…in denial, I guess and then all this stuff's been going on and I-"

"Are you sure that you're-"

"I am."

After a moment or two of staring, Mirajane came even closer. Then she hugged the other woman, who was just as rigid in that as she was in every other part of life.

"M-Mira-"

"This is so great! I told Laxus that I wanted someone else to end up with a baby and it being you and Elfman is so- Wait. Are you upset because…" She pulled abck some then to stare Ever in the face, though she kept her arms around her. "It is Elfman's…right?"

"Unfortunately."

"Yay!" More hugs. Ever wasn't so responsive. "I hope you have a girl. Or no! A boy. Or no! A girl. Or no-"

"Mirajane, I don't want to keep it."

She dropped her arms at that, this time taking a literal step back. "What do you mean?"

"You know." Ever's face was void then as she only stared at the other woman. "I want… You know, there's potions you can take that…"

"You're gonna kill your baby?"

"I'm not killing it. It's not even a baby. It's-"

"Ever, Elfman won't-"

"I don't want to tell Elfman."

Mira blinked. "But…it's Elfman's baby."

"It's not a bab-"

"Why did you tell me this?" The room got hot then as Mirajane blushed and turned quickly to walk away and into the kitchen. She needed a glass of water. "Ever, I can't… I have to tell Elfman. He's my brother. I-"

"You can't. Mirajane-"

"Why are you putting so much pressure on me?"

"On you? What about me?" Ever followed. "Mira, you don't think that I've thought about this? Laid awake thinking about this? I can't…have a baby. I never wanted to have one. Never. Not at all. I think that they're nasty and disgusting and it would ruin my figure-"

"Then why did you-"

"It was an accident. A really, really bad one."

"Aren't you one something though?" Mirajane's blush was so deep then that her whole body felt warm. "Or-"

"I was, but… I don't know, Mirajane. I'm out on jobs so much that I forget to take it when I'm supposed to and it's not like Elfman and I have sex that often. And when we do, we usually use-"

"Ew! Leave me out of this."

"Mirajane, I need you."

"And I want to be there for you, but…" She had her glass of water then, but her hands were shaking too much for her to actually get it up to her lips. "Why are you gonna get rid of it?"

"I just told you, Mira," Ever said. "I can't have a baby. I don't want one. I wish that I hadn't screwed up, but… This isn't going to work. I'm not even a good girlfriend. Or friend. And you want me to be a mother? That-"

"It's not like you'll be alone," Mirajane said then. "You know? I mean, there's me and Lisanna. And the boys will help you lots. Bickslow likes Nathan. And Freed would be as good to a kid from you as he is to one from Laxus. He-"

"I can't even go without drinking for three days," Ever told her. "I tried. Really hard. When I first thought I was. But then the next minute I was on two glasses of wine and-"

"I can't do alcoholism and pregnant at the same time. So separate them so we can tackle one issue at once."

"Mira-"

"I've never…felt that, Ever," Mirajane told her then. "I've always wanted a baby. And even when Nathan was given to me, I immediately felt maternal towards him. So I don't know what to tell you other than it's up to you. But I'm not keeping this a secret from Elf. You're gonna tell him or I will. It's not fair of you to do this to him. And if you both don't… Then that's between the two of you. You guys know that I love you no matter what. But he has to know."

"There's no way that Elfman will ever-"

"You made your bed," Mirajane told her. "Now you have to lie in it."

"Mira-"

"And as for drinking," she went on. "You really should try harder to stop. I think. I mean, I've never been pregnant, but-"

"I don't want-"

"Talk to Elfman. And you guys can come to a consensus together."

"I tried to talk to him when I first thought… But he won't even keep the damn house."

"What are you talking about?"

"When you leave, he wants to give it to Lisanna."

"Why?"

"I don't know. And then he thinks-"

"Did you tell him that you thought that you were-"

"No," Evergreen told her, crossing her arms over her chest. 'I didn't."

"Well, tell him. And then you guys can have this place," Mirajane said. "If you want it."

"He doesn't want it though. Aren't you listening? He doesn't want anything, but you and Lisanna. He's upset that you're both finding your own lives and he's-"

"He's going to be a father," Mirajane told her, finally calm enough to take a sip of her water. "That's going to give him something else to focus on. And believe me, he'll focus on it. And he'll forget all about me and Lisanna."

"But-"

"And really, Ever, I'm leaving the house soon and you can have it. It can be you and Elf's. And I'm sure if Lisanna finds out that you're pregnant, she'll want to leave too."

"Where would she-"

"I think for awhile now she's wanted to live on her own," Mira said with a shrug. "It's something we'll have to talk about, I guess."

Ever only sighed slightly, looking off. "I just really don't think I can do this."

"You know that Elf is more than committed to you," Mirajane told her. "He's devoted to you. He'd do anything in the world for you."

"Still."

"I know you think that you can't be one," Mira said. "But I know that there's no one more loyal than you. To Laxus, granted, but still. And you're a little mean sometimes, but you're protective over your team. I think that if you were a mother, you'd be the same way about your-"

"I really don't want to talk about this anymore."

"Okay." Mirajane still just stared at her though. "Well, if you do again, I'm here. But really, you should tell Elfman. I-"

"I get it, alright?"

"Okay, okay." Mira held up one hand before going to get more water. "Anyhow, Laxus and Nate are off on their own little adventure today, so I was going to move some more stuff over to his place while he's out. Did you wanna help? I mean, I won't make you carry anything too heavy, but-"

"Yeah, Mira," Ever cut her off before slowly smiling. "That sounds nice."

She couldn't fake a smile for once though as her head was swimming too much. Elfman and Ever were going to have a baby. Before her. Because as much as she loved Nathan, and she did, she still hadn't gotten the joy of being pregnant. Of being a complete and utter monster that got to eat whatever and be rude as she wanted.

She felt cheated.

Hmmm. Maybe she could use Ever's pregnancy to her advantage and get Laxus back on board with the baby thing. And by back she totally meant on it for the first time.

It was easier said than done.

Laxus was quite the exercise enthusiast or so Nathan discovered. He liked to do a lot of repetitive things. Like pushups. He went up and then he went down. He went up and then he went down. Ugh. Nathan liked other things.

Like dogs. He really wanted a dog.

"One, two, five," he sang as Laxus did his pushups. His father had asked him to help count and, well, Nathan was the best little counter ever! Mirajane said so, which meant it was true. He knew all his numbers up to ten.

He just didn't…know the order they went in. Which was okay. Mirajane said that they'd get there. Slowly, but surely.

"One," he repeated again. "Seven. Two. Four. One. Two. Kitty."

"Kitty?" Laxus grumbled as he kept count in his own head, mostly blocking Nathan out. "Where-"

"Kitty!"

"Nathan! That's not a cat. Come back here. That's a damn raccoon!"

So after that fiasco, Laxus made the little boy just sit there and play with his few toys he'd packed.

"You're not allowed to chase animals," he grumbled. "You understand?"

"Mira."

"No. Not Mira. Nothing about Mira. She's not here. Her rules aren't my rules. I'm Laxus. I'm Daddy. You do what Daddy says. And Daddy says that you're gonna sit here and play with your toys."

"Wan' Mira."

"No."

"I wan' Mira," Nathan complained. Mira would let him play with the kitty. She encouraged it. Like with Happy, Carla, and Lily. Only Nathan wanted his own kitty, but Laxus was too mean. Wouldn't let him go get it. Mean Laxus. Stupid Laxus. "Mira!"

"No crying."

Nathan stuck his tongue out at him, expecting the usual response. Laxus would yell and then he'd go away and let Nathan be alone for awhile. Instead, because Laxus was already all pumped from working out and then the kid had run off and…

It just happened.

Nathan started with his big tears when Laxus slapped him. It wasn't so much that it had hurt, as it had really just surprised him. Mira never hit him. Never. And no body else did either. Other than that once when Laxus spanked him and, well, he hadn't rightly liked that either.

"No," Laxus groaned. "Don't cry louder."

He couldn't help it. Why was Laxus not playing right? You don't hit. Mirajane told him that all the time. Like when Lisanna was being mean and wouldn't share her dinner, Nathan couldn't just go over and hit her. He tried before, but Mirajane always said no. No hits. Hitting was bad.

So why was it okay for Laxus?

"This is not what I envisioned," Laxus growled. "You're not allowed to come anywhere with me again. You stupid brat."

It wasn't fun anymore, being with Laxus. Nathan didn't Laxus. Laxus was horrible. He wanted Mirajane.

But Laxus only went back to working out, ignoring the little boy's tears. Part of him thought that maybe he should actually just spank him, not give him a little swat, but what if he cried even more? He remembered when he was a kid and Ivan would strike him, he knew to shut up immediately. He thought that was just instinctual. Was it not? Was it a learned behavior? Had he missed his shot?

Maybe. Now the kid didn't get that he was supposed to be quiet when Laxus hit him. Damn Mira and her rules.

Eventually though, Nathan was able to calm himself down, though he refused to ever like Laxus again. Never ever. It was only Mirajane for him from that point forth. She was the only one that loved him.

While he was actively ignoring his father, Nathan found his way to his feet and was planning on going to look for that kitty again when he tripped over a rock. Which usually wouldn't hurt him much. He fell all the time. But he'd fallen on a rock or something and managed to rip his pants as well as cut his knee.

Well, that just wasn't acceptable.

"Hey." Laxus was over to him in seconds. "Are you- Oh, no, you're bleeding."

And even though he was Mr. Rules, Mr. No Nonsense, he had to agree. Nathan being hurt just wasn't acceptable.

He carried Nathan the whole way home, cradled in his arms with his little backpack. About half way there, the pain had subsided and Nathan was more focused on the fact that hey, he still didn't Laxus and did not want the big meanie holding him, so that was what he was crying and whining about. But Laxus thought that he was crying because he was in so much pain and only held him closer.

When did he start caring about others anyhow?

"Oh," Mirajane said once they got home, quickly taking Nathan into her own arms and carrying him into the bathroom. "That is a pretty big gash. But I think that you're a little more worked up, Laxus, than-"

"Just get it to stop bleeding," he grumbled as he followed her deeper into the apartment. He noticed Ever though, seated on his couch, and frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"I-"

"Never mind." He continued on to the bathroom. "Mira, do you think that he-"

"Laxus, it's really not that bad. He got hurt worse that time that he tried to climb the dresser and fell down."

"Still. There's blood and-"

"Have you never been around when he gets a boo boo?"

"I am not calling it a-"

"You haven't, had you?" Mirajane sat Nathan down on the bathroom counter who had taken to sucking on his thumb the second he saw his caretaker. He knew that Mira would set him up alright. "Awe. This is kinda sweet."

"Is he gonna be okay?"

"Yes, Laxus. Of course."

"Well-"

"Here, Nate." Mirajane opened the mirror/medicine cabinet behind his head. "Which bandage do we want? The one with the puppies or the kitties or-"

"Red."

"Red? Well, lucky you, there's a red one right here that also has doggies on it. Say yay."

"Yay." He put his thumb right back in his mouth then as Mirajane also pulled out a tiny bottle of peroxide.

"This is gonna sting, baby. But after, you get a cookie, huh? I'll even let you have those ones that I baked for-"

"We might already have some of those," Laxus mumbled.

"Huh?"

"Just…make the kid better and we can talk about it later."

"Aren't you a lucky little boy," Mirajane told Nathan then as she pressed a washcloth to his wound, trying to clot the blood first. "Your daddy sure is worried about you."

"Daddy mean." His thumb came out to tell Mirajane that. He wanted her to know. He wanted them all to know. "No 'ike Laxus."

"Hey!"

"Why? Baby, I know that he was probably negligent which led to you getting hurt-"

"Mira," Laxus complained as she only giggled.

"-but he wouldn't let you get hurt on purpose," Mirajane reasoned. "You know that."

"No 'ike Laxus."

"Oh, baby."

Laxus was giving the kid a hard stare then. How dare he? Did he not get that he'd carried the little brat all the way from the clearing to home, worried sick that he would die?

A lot of his scenarios led to the kid dying, actually, but that was besides the point.

He was just a concerned father. Like whenever he would hit his head or when he'd run into something. He knew how those things worked. Little kids were fragile. And if his died, well…

He didn't want that.

Nathan whined some when Mirajane tended to the wound, but after she put a bandage on it, he was all better and ready for that cookie. Mirajane went and got him some new shorts though to wear first, since he'd ripped his other ones, before dropping him in Laxus' bed.

"So what's Ever doing here?" Laxus grumbled after they gave Nathan one of the cookies out of the lunch he hadn't eaten yet. They had moved into the bedroom then, where Nathan was getting snuggled up in his father's bed, figuring he'd gone through enough trauma that day. He was eating his cookie and then he was gonna take his nap. And maybe, if Laxus was lucky, when he got up, he'd feel like forgiving him.

It all depended on what Mirajane was making for dinner. Dinner was a big part of Nathan's life. Set the whole tone for the evening.

He and Laxus were alike in that manner.

"What?" Mirajane said. "Are Ever and I not allowed to be friends?"

Grunt. "I guess so," Laxus mumbled. "And hey, you sure the kid ain't gonna die of an infection? Or…that he might get delusional and start talking about how, I dunno, someone hit him in the mouth. Or-"

"Are you drunk?"

"Why do you always ask me that? It is not that frequent that I am drunk anymore. Especially not when I'm alone with the kid."

Mirajane only sighed, heading out of the room. "His cut was just long, Lax, but not deep. He's fine. He gets owies all the time. Daddy's just usually not there to freak out about them."

"I didn't freak out."

"Did too."

"I-"

"Read him a story and put him down for his nap. Then go take a shower. You stink."

"Mira-"

"Mira," Nathan called after he finished his cookie. "Mira?"

"Daddy's going to put you down for your nap. I'm talking to Ever, okay? You're fine."

No he wasn't. Not if he was stuck with Daddy. Bah! Laxus was mean.

"Looks like it's still you and me, kid."

"Wan' Mira."

"Mira doesn't want you."

"I heard that, Laxus," he heard Mira call from the other room. "And if you start telling him that about me, I'll have him turned against you faster than you can think, 'Wow, I really screwed up.'"

He wanted to argue back with her, but figured it wouldn't make the kid forgive him any faster. With a sigh, he went over to the bookcase to find him a picture book to read. If there was anything Nate liked, it was being read to.

When Laxus joined him on the bed, Nathan only took to scooting further away. Frowning, Laxus reached over and grabbed him, pulling the child close against his will.

"No! Laxus-"

"We're gonan snuggle and you're gonna sit here and look at these damn pictures. And then you're gonna beg for a kiss, I'mma turn you down, and then you're gonna take your nap. And then when you wake up, you're gonna tell Mirajane that you love Daddy and that Daddy is the best person in the world. Got it, brat?"

Nathan was poised to stick his tongue out at him, but remembering what happened last time, he settled for just slowly snuggling up to his father. He wouldn't ask for a kiss though. Or tell Mira that he loved Laxus. He loved Mira. Mira was the only one that cared about him.

It took three books for that attitude to shift. By the end of the third one, Nathan was giggling and snuggling up to his father, more because he was enjoying looking at all the pictures than anything else. But…anger was fleeting. Especially in a toddler. And though love might waver, it never really went away.

Because it was true. He and Laxus were best buds. And nothing could changed that.