Bells and Tales

Chapter 5

The party in the guildhall that night was loud and exuberant. And slightly more fancy than usual.

Not that Laxus cared. He drowned most of it out with the max volume on his Sound Pod, sitting far away from the others and ignoring everyone. He was paying for the damn thing. They could at least let him enjoy his waste of money in peace.

"Uh, Mira?" Lucy said as one point as she passed Laxus' table. "I think you should stop him."

And by that she meant, as Mira found out when she followed where the other woman was pointing, she meant the fact that her husband was trying to consume his steak by not cutting it up, but literally ripping pieces off it with his canines.

"This is why I cut your steak up for you, Laxus," Mira complained as she came over. "Honestly. Just let me-"

"I'm a man, damn it. And I can eat my steak-"

"I don't want you to choke."

"I won't choke!"

"Just let me-"

"Fine. Fine. If it's so important, fine."

"It is."

"I said fine!"

This was a hilarious scene to Natsu, who was with Lucy, and took to laughing loudly.

"This is great," he laughed, pointing at Laxus. "Ha! You gotta have your steak cut up like a little k-"

"Natsu, run." Lucy took his hand then as Laxus looked over at them, eyes showing off the rage he was feeling inside. Tugging him along, they ran through the crowded guildhall, both still giggling slightly at what they had witnessed.

They just so happened to pass Lisanna once more and called out their love of her as well as their congratulations. Not giving her a chance to respond though, they quickly left the hall to go be outside for awhile, far away from Laxus.

"Wonder what they did?" she mused as Elfman, who was next to her, only sobbed harder.

"Natsu is so manly."

"There, there," Ever sighed as she took to rubbing his back. Tugging on one of his hands slightly, she took him over to one of the tables. "How about you sit down, huh? This has been a big day for you, hasn't it?"

"The biggest," he cried. "Even worse than Mirajane getting married. It's just like when they both could do full body take-overs and I couldn't. Now even my baby sister is happily married?"

"Sorta happy," Ever corrected making Lisanna frown. She only shrugged though. "I can see it in your eyes, Lisanna. You'll thank me later for telling you."

"I never cheated on you, Mriajane," they heard then, from across the hall. It was Laxus of course, screaming at her as he turned red in the face. He was usually a silent killer type, but with Mirajane, everything in him always seemed to explode at once. Whether it was his lust, love, or lividness it didn't matter. It all came at once and usually left him flushed. "I don't give a damn what Ever said. Now cut my damn steak so I can eat!"

"I'm trying, Laxus, but it's hard when you're yelling at me!"

"Well I'm drunk and hungry and I almost died from choking on a piece of steak. So sorry if I-"

"You did?"

"Well…it got a little caught in my throat and-"

"You poor baby." They were quieter then as Mirajane immediately took to rubbing at his neck before going back to cutting up his steak. "Here. Did you need another beer? Or how about some water?"

"What I have is fine," he said stiffly, uncertain. "Mira."

"You just don't try it again, huh? Eating such big pieces? It only spells disaster."

Back across the hall though, Evergreen was having a harder time calming down her man, so the bride tried to step in, taking the seat next to him as Ever only stood behind him, resting her hands on his shoulders.

"Elf," Lisanna giggled. "Can't you just be happy for me today?"

"I am happy, Lisanna," he told her through tears. "So happy. You're so amazing! I love you."

"I love you too."

"But still. I'm never gonna get married or do any of this stuff because…because… I'm not good enough!"

Lisanna blinked, remembering those exact words only hours before coming out of an entirely different mouth.

The owner of that mouth in that moment was slapping him in the back of the head. Rather hard too.

"Ow, Ever," Elfman complained, one of the hands covering his eyes coming up to rub at the back of his head. "What is your-"

"Why would you say that, idiot?" she asked, coming to stand at his side then and glare down at him. Her glasses fell down her nose slightly, making her reach up to adjust them. "I mean, honestly?"

"What?" he asked. "Why else would you not say yes whenever I ask? And you know, hitting is not an acceptable-"

She hit him in the head again. Not going to stand for that, err, sit for that, Elfman got to his feet, glaring down at her.

"Woman," he complained, his tears drying up right before his sister and girlfriend's eyes. "You are not going to continue-"

"I want to marry you, idiot, so stop-"

"Hey!" Lisanna stood too then, glaring at Evergreen. "Seriously? I thought we went over-"

"You do?" Elfman blinked then, just staring at her. Ever only crossed her arms and looked off.

"Well," she said slowly. "It wouldn't be the worse thing in the world. Being married to you. And now that both Mira and Lisanna are married, it would be wrong for their not to be at least one Strauss woman in the family. I-"

"Oh no! Stop talking." Elfman looked panicked then before turning to walk away from them. "I have to… I'll be back!"

"Where are you going?" Evergreen glared after him. "Elfman-"

"I'll be back," he assured her as he disappeared into the crowd. Lisanna saw him leave through the doors not soon after.

"Nice," Lisanna hissed as Ever only rolled her eyes and went back to checking her nails out. "You know, I thought we agreed back in the bedroom this morning that you wouldn't do that."

"Do wh-"

"Get engaged to my brother on my wedding day! This is my day. Not-"

"Honestly, Lisanna, I'd think you'd be more concerned with that than me," she said, nodding over at the stage. Sure enough, Gajeel had somehow found his way up there, all set up in his usual musical costume. Some people around were already booing him in preparation and Levy, his girlfriend, was rushing up there to pull him away.

As Lisanna went off to deal with that, Evergreen took a good look around the reception. She had a feel she knew what Elfman went off to get and didn't bother herself much with it. She did have an odd feeling in her stomach though. A heavy one.

Was she really going to get married to the big oaf?

"Where's Lissy?"

She frowned as suddenly, next to her, were her two teammates. Bickslow was still decked out in his suit which he for some reason thought made him look super snazzy. He hadn't even taken off his tie or nothing. And his babies were floating around, much to the annoyance of Freed who seemed to have a problem with all the people gathered around, dancing.

"Levy's trying to keep her from murdering Gajeel," Evergreen said as Freed frowned at the couples all around them.

"To think that some would dress in such a reveal matter for a wedding," he remarked with a frown as he took in the low cut dress Erza was sporting. "Honestly."

Bickslow was reaching up though, running his hand up his Mohawk, as if to straighten it. "Speak for yourself. Left to only look now and I can't say I hate what I'm seeing."

"Don't be disgusting," Ever told him with an eye roll. "And besides, Freed, I'm shocked you're not over there helping Laxus."

The man froze then before glancing at his teammate's face. "Laxus?"

"Yeah. He and Mira have been fighting all day and now she's trying to choke him with steak or something." She shrugged. "I heard them yelling about it only a minute or so ago. They-"

"What?" And with that, he was off, rushing to the aid of his leader. Bickslow made a face at Ever for that one.

"Why'd you go and do that?"

"Do that?" his babies asked. "Why, Ever?"

"He was getting on my nerves. Careful before I send you off too."

"Hey, this is my wedding reception, huh? I can do whatever the hell I want." He was finished with his hair then and headed off. "Come on, babies. Let's find Mama."

"Mama," they all cried, rushing after him. "Mama!"

Needless to say, Ever was less than pleased with everyone around. That had more to do with her annoyance at how long it was taking Elfman to get back though.

Mirajane was over all of her animosity at that point however. In fact, when Freed got to his precious leader, it was to find he and his wife over at the bar, him leaning against it as she happily poured him shot after shot, rather tipsy at that point herself.

"Freed," Laxus greeted loudly as Mirajane giggled. He was beyond drunk and it showed.

"I came as soon as I could. Ever told me that you were…choking? On a piece of steak?" the green haired man said slowly, as if uncertain. Laxus only made a face at him before nodding at Mira to pour him another drink. After taking the shot down in one gulp, he addressed his follower.

"Already ate my steak. And it was damn good."

"Language," Mira prompted.

"It was darn good. Dang good. It was great!"

More giggles. Freed never rather liked that side of Laxus. That though had more to do with the fact that a few more shots and he'd change drastically. He was in a gray area in that moment, but pretty soon, he'd be that angry drunk that they all hated. He'd start insulting everyone and degrading them. He especially liked to say derogatory things to Freed about his personal life which usually only made him strive harder in the days afterwards to impress the man.

There was only one person, however, who impressed Laxus Dreyar and at the moment, she was getting him drunk as a sailor.

"I have to go up on stage now, Laxus."

"You're too cute to go anywhere with out me," he slurred as Mirajane just poured him one last shot before reaching out to pat him on the cheek. "I love you."

Giggles. Then she looked to Freed.

"Keep an eye on him for me, huh? Don't let him go anywhere or do anything." Mira winked at him as Freed only stared at his boss who, after that last shot, suddenly began to get a dark look in his eyes. That was more his annoyance that Mira was walking away though. "I'll just be over there, Laxus. Don't be too bad while I'm gone, huh?"

She rushed off then, to the stage, where she took over for Gajeel and began playing her own guitar. That calmed things over almost immediately. Laxus only took to glaring though.

"I want more food," he grumbled then before looking to Freed. "Get me more food."

"Mira said you should just sit here and-"

"Is Mirajane my master? No. I'm yours. So get to it!"

The things that Freed put up with…

Elfman was returning about that time though and was seeking out Evergreen. He ran into his sister and new brother-in-law, but they were busy drinking themselves and goofing off. He felt happy for them that they were so, well, happy. And even though he wasn't much of a man, at least Bickslow could keep her company.

And Elfman wasn't going nowhere. He'd always be Lisanna's protector. Bickslow was just a playmate.

"Laxus, Freed," he sighed as he made it over to the bar to them. Laxus had a plate loaded with some of the snacks around as Freed waited around for further instruction. "Have either of you seen-"

"Do you not hear," Laxus growled, mouth full of food, "my woman up on stage, singing? Be quiet! I'm listening to Mirajane!"

Freed only sighed before pointing, off further into the crowd. "She's over there, speaking with a few people."

"Thank you," he said, giving Laxus a sideway glance who was turned around in his seat so that he could see the stage. He was deluding himself into thinking that Mira was singing straight to him. He liked when she did, anyhow, when they were home alone and she'd play her guitar for him.

He really did love his little demon.

Except for when she was being annoying.

Ah, who was he kidding? Even then.

Bickslow felt about the same about his own wife (it still felt odd to even think of her that way, much less say it) as they joked around with Natsu and Lucy, who'd come back in when they felt safe. Happy was with them as well, dropping hints to the ever present Carla about them maybe being next in line for that marriage thing.

He was shot down every time, if not downright berated.

Wendy thought it was super cute though, giggling the whole time as Lisanna only found herself grinning, that stressed feeling that had consumed her the entire time not only dissipating, but rather being completely gone. It was finally over. It was all finally over.

For her at least, or so she was reminded as she heard Ever yelling then. It was a good yell though. A happy one. And Elfman was in tears, loud tears, as Ever took to looking over the ring that he had gone home to get, bringing attention to them. Lisanna wanted to be upset, but she just didn't have it in her. How could she when she already had everything she wanted from the day anyhow?

It wasn't until she was about to leave, her and Bickslow going to head off on their honeymoon that night, that she found herself with only Mirajane and Elfman, the latter crying and wrapping his arms tightly around her.

"Elf," Mira sighed as he literally lifted their younger sister off the ground, swinging her around with his exuberance. "She has a train to catch."

"And you squishing me," she gasped out.

He only dropped her to the ground, reaching up then to pat her on the head before taking to rubbing at his eyes.

"I just love you, Lisanna."

"I know," she giggled. "And when I get back, I can help Ever start planning your wedding, huh?"

That was the wrong thing to say though as it set him off into another round of tears. Eventually Ever came over to grab him and scold him lightly for being so emotional.

"I'm just an emotional man," he sobbed as she took him over to the bar to get something more to drink.

Then it was just Mira and Lisanna standing there and for a moment or two, the older sibling only staring at her.

"I never thought…" Then Mirajane giggled, but she was tearing up some.

"Mira-"

"It's just, you know, when we lost you…" Reaching up, she wiped at her eyes before moving to hold her arms out, Lisanna not even hesitating to throw hers around the woman. "I just love you so much, Lisanna."

"I know. I love you too."

"And this is just so…surreal to me. And to Bickslow? I never thought…" She only hugged her tighter. "Have fun."

"We will. You know that we're going to-"

"I meant with this, Lisanna." She didn't let her go, but did pull back a little to look at her. "All of this. Being married. Just have fun. Okay? No matter what. Laxus and I don't always… Some times it's really bad, but we're never not enjoying ourselves. We enjoy each other. You don't always have to love Bickslow. Just always like his company."

"I-"

"Even when you're tired of playing with toys in the bathtub."

She made a face then. "You guys just aren't going to let that go, are you?"

"Oh, Lisanna." She snuggled her close again. "Just be safe while you're gone, okay? I'll be here when you get back."

"Lisanna," they heard then, Bickslow calling out to her. "Let's go."

"Let's go, Mama," the babies agreed. "Let's go."

Mira didn't want to let her go then, but she had to. Before she left though, she did say one more thing to her.

"Oh, and I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?" she asked, glancing up at her older sister. Mira only nodded.

"For sticking up for me in the bedroom today. When Ever was all mad at me?" Mirajane shrugged slightly. "I still don't know what she was talking about. Maybe Laxus-"

"Oh, Mira, I only said that because I knew what he was talking about."

'What? When did I say-"

'You didn't," she said, giggling slightly. "I did."

"You what?"

"Laxus must have gotten you and I confused in his mind when he was drunk and whining about Evergreen."

"But why would you ever tell him that Ever didn't deserve to be on-"

"Sometimes she is really mean to Bickslow and Elf."

Mirajane only blinked before sighing and taking to pressing a kiss to Lisanna's head. They were over to Bickslow then, who just as quickly pulled her closer to him, grinning as his tongue fell from his mouth. She wasn't Mira's anymore. She was his. She was a married woman.

As happy as that made her though, Mira also felt a little sad as she watched them disappearing from the guildhall and then into the night, the babies trailing along behind. Lisanna would always be the baby of her family, but slowly, it didn't matter. They were all adults. They were all equals.

She had that numb feeling too, after the reception was over some time later and the guild had emptied out. Master had fallen asleep atop the bar, but Elfman only carried the tiny man off up the stairs to let him sleep off his stupor in the infirmary.

And Laxus was still there too, of course, passed out with his head rested against the bar as he slumped over on his stool. Ever was the only one that was sort of helping Mirajane clean up, but that was still only a little.

"Why don't we leave this for tomorrow?" Elfman complained as he came back to them. They were, as always for Mirajane, the last ones left.

"Because tomorrow we'll hate having to clean it up even more," his girlfriend, err, fiancée explained. "Or Mirajane will."

She was still humming though as she gathered trash and cleaned up spills.

"This was the most fun I've had in a long time," she told them all. Laxus stirred slightly at the sound of his wife's voice before settling out again. "I can't wait for you and Ever's wedding, Elf. It will be-"

"We're eloping," they both said then, suddenly, quickly. They hadn't even discussed it and stared at one another in shock for a moment before sharing a rather odd smile between the two of them.

"No fair," Mirajane complained. Then, with a shrug, she said, "That just means I have to get Levy and Gajeel to get married. That'll be a funny wedding. And then Erza and…and…Jellal sounds nice. Ooh, and Laxus and I can renew our vows. Then there's Gray and Juv-"

"We ain't renewing shit." Apparently Laxus was up, though his voice was heavily laced with drowsiness. "Demon."

"Then we can all start having babies!"

"Mira-"

"I think we'll pass," Ever said, speaking for her and Elfman both who only widened his eyes at all his sister was suggesting. "On the baby train, that is."

"Do whatever you want, but Laxus and I are-"

"Going home if you don't shut the hell up."

She only giggled. "And can you imagine when Lisanna and Bickslow have a baby?"

"They already have enough toys to accommodate a kid," Ever responded with hint of snarky undertones. Elfman only took to rubbing at his eyes, less for tears that time and more to keep the images out of his head.

"Please. The thoughts that go along with these things…you and Lisanna with men is still rather disgusting to me."

"Grow up," Ever told him as Mira only giggled some more.

"Today's been a long day," she commented then as Laxus finally got up, though he just as quickly collapsed back into his seat with a groan. That was fine though, as Mira wouldn't be finished cleaning up for a few more hours at the rate she was going. "And to think we almost didn't have this moment."

"It cost you some jewels though," Ever commented, glancing at the drunk Laxus. She was clearly making the remark just to rile him up. It didn't work though.

For once, he only grunted before saying, "So long as she's happy."

"Mira's always happy," Elfman said.

"It's true," his sister agreed.

"Not her," he grumbled. "Lisanna. She's happy. Who cares how much it cost? I- Mirajane!"

She'd launched herself at him then at his words, knocking him out of the stool. She only laid over him though, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"I love you, Laxus," she giggled as he tried to fight her off, but to no avail. He was far too drink. "And I love that you love my sister and my brother and-"

"Knock it off!"

"Guess Bickslow's right then, huh? About us all being family?" Elfman scratched his head as Ever only took to snorting before looking over her engagement ring one more time.

"I said I'm glad Lisanna's happy," Laxus grunted as he shoved Mira off finally. She only giggled before standing and reaching down to help him up. "I don't care nothing about that idiot."

"Yes, you do," she giggled as he only grunted before taking his seat once more. "You're brothers after all. Like you and Elf."

"We are not-"

"And me and Lisanna. Or, ooh! Now you're my sister too, Evergreen."

She blinked. Then she frowned. "I'll pass."

"Nope. Too late." More giggles. "This is just so great, isn't it? Aren't you all just so happy?"

Maybe that was the feeling in the pit of his stomach, Laxus though. Then, not a moment later, he found himself vomiting up all that alcohol and steak, much to the dismay of the other three in the room. And he only drunkenly smiled as the feeling disappeared.

Nope. He wasn't happy. Just intoxicated.

"Laxus!" Mira yelled as Ever and Elfman made their quick exist.

"Real men can hold their liquor," he told his new fiancée as they ditched their brother and sisterly responsibilities. Because, gross, vomit.

"The amount he just took in? I'm surprised he's not unconscious!"

Mirajane was left alone then as he did pass out about then, finally. And even though she was angry at him, she couldn't help, but smile slightly.

Finally, finally, she had a near complete family. And with Elf and Ever getting married soon enough, it'd be even more complete.

"Except for our baby," she told Laxus softly as she cleaned up around him. He was gone to the world then though and didn't have time to rebuke her request. "And that'll happen sooner than you know."

Then she only giggled to herself because even she could make herself laugh. Even with the huge mess in front of her and the hours that she knew she'd waste getting the guildhall ready for use again in the morning, she could only grin. Because Lisanna had died, been taken from their world, only to come back and be more than just happy. She was elated. Joyful. She was finally with someone that cared just as much for her as she did him.

And at the end of it all, wasn't that all that mattered?

That's it for this story. Got a little bit long in comparison to the other chapters of the story, but hey.