A/N

Hey guys not an update yet sorry, will be another one soon! I'd appreciate reviews and suggestions to whoever reads this whether you liked the story or not so I can decide whether or not to continue this or what I may do with it in the future. Thank you to the people that have read/favorited/followed my story so far! 3

Laxus sat at his desk, eyeing his paperwork as if it were a pit viper ready to strike him. He sighed as he sifted through reports, financial statements, and various other important documents, mentally noting what he would have to take to gramps so the old man could send it off to the council. Why the old man had him taking care of the guilds paper work was obvious he wanted to drink and do nothing. The old man used the excuse of 'you're going to take over the guild one day, you need to know how to do these things.' Laxus scoffed at that thought he had been doing the guilds paperwork for years now he could do it in his sleep. He knew every single person's file by heart and knew their strengths and weaknesses. Who teamed with who, and who would be good to work with a team should the original member not be present for whatever reason. As well as make a specific team for a specific mission. Which reminded him he had to set up a team for a tracking mission later.

A soft breeze floated through the open window, causing him to turn and look outside. It was a warm beautiful summer day. The wind carried with it the promise of rain. He didn't think it would last long as it was a fleeting scent telling him that it would probably be a quick summer rain. There had been plenty of rain this year, so everything was green and lush. Thankfully there hadn't been so much that it was unbearably muggy and hot like it was last year. The towns people could be heard as they scurried about their day. He let himself enjoy the breeze and sounds as his thoughts drifted. Unfortunately, his mind drifted somewhere it shouldn't, but often did, even after all this time. It drifted to sapphire blue hair and a fanged grin that could make the hardest heart melt. Tali…

It was a day very much like this one that his best friend had left him, but they had both known that she had to go. She was the only one that could travel the realms. It had scared him that she was supposedly the only one that could do it, but she had explained it to him. It wasn't that she was the only one that could do it. Anyone could travel the realms, however not many of them would survive. It would crush them literally. Organs smashed bones broken it was not a thought he wanted to think about. The thought scared him then and it scared him now. She was next to impossible to kill. There were only a few ways to do it and she had never told anyone not even him. It had been about ten years since he had seen her. What if she had died? What if the trip had killed her? What if she had been killed on her mission? What if she had been injured and tortured and was all alone? He couldn't get to her he couldn't protect her. Those thought caused a chill to run down his spine and he shuddered at where his thoughts had turned. Laxus firmly pushed those thoughts away the would not do him any good. Tali had promised to come back to him he would have to be patient and wait. It's not like he had a choice anyways.

His mind wouldn't let him leave thoughts of Tali alone though. His mind went back to the day she left.

Flashback

Laxus stood there with the rest of the guild. It was a sad day, much to sad for it to be such a beautiful summer day. It felt like the heavens should be pouring down on them. It should be a bone chilling rain the kind that happens in the winter, where you see your breath and feel your toes and fingers go numb. That was the way he felt right then, cold and numb. One of their own was leaving them even if she wasn't leaving forever. He remained passive as she made her way through each person saying her goodbyes. He knew he should feel something anything with what was happening, but he didn't. He felt like he was watching from the outside… That is until she got to him… She smiled softly at him. Somehow she was attuned to him, knowing what was going on inside of him. She always said she could scent his emotions. He had never really believed her until that moment. He saw the understanding in her eyes and felt the comfort in her power as it washed over him, and just like that he felt like he was slammed back into his body. All his emotions following him. He fought hard to remain impassive, and for the most part succeeded. He knew his eyes gave him away though.

He was scared for her. He was scared for himself too. She had become such an important part of his life. He would be lost without her. They had been together inseparable for a long time. He was scared and lost and he could see she was too even though she put on a brave face. She reached up and pulled him into a hug shocking him to his core. She had never hugged him. Her doing that almost broke his resolve as he shakily wrapped his arms around her hugging her back.

"I'll come back I promise." She whispered in his ear.

"Be safe." Was the only thing he could manage to say. His resolve was breaking with each minute that drew closer to her departure. He did not want to think about what was going to happen once she was gone.

She slowly let him go, then turned to the knights that had just shown up a few moments before. With one last look at him then the guild she walked to the knights. He watched as they disappeared in a swirl of sapphire blue light. It was her power he knew it better than he knew his own, as it washed over him. It was strong and comforting and he also knew as it lingered with him. That it was her way of reaffirming her promise that she would be back. He would hold her to that promise as long as he lived he would wait for her to return to him.

He stayed even after everyone else left. He didn't know how long it took for it to sink in that she was gone, but once it did it felt like he couldn't breathe. He gasped for breath and clutched his chest. He couldn't hold his emotions in check anymore. Something inside of him snapped. He was sure that somebody had ripped his heart out of his chest. He fell to his knees, she was gone really gone. This knowledge sent a stab of pain through his chest and he gasped again, and the tears that he had fought so hard to contain began to flow.

End flashback

Laxus growled then sighed he needed to do something anything to stop his thoughts. He usually did fairly well, but days like today they snuck up on him.

" Gramps, Laxus come here!" Came Mira's shrill scream causing Laxus to jump. He stood up resolutely pushing all thoughts of Tali aside. He made his way to the balcony, crossing his arms and waiting for Mira to say what she needed to say. While looking at Mira he realized that the eldest Strauss sibling was glowing with happiness. 'What has her so damn happy?' he wondered.

Mira lifted her arm a piece of paper firmly in hand and quiet calmly after her previous banshee scream stated "Tali is coming home."

Laxus froze, He knew his eyes had went wide and he was gaping but he didn't care her only cared about what she had just said 'Tali is coming back' That simple thought hit him hard and he couldn't stop the happiness that spread through his system. He heard gramps gasp and almost choke on his own breath, but didn't pay it any mind the old man would live. He had something else to think about right now. 'Tali his Tali was coming home.' He almost couldn't believe it after all this time she was coming home. He missed whatever Gramps and Mira had just been saying, but did have the presence of mind to ask, "What does the letter say?" He wanted to know what she had to say after so long of not contacting them. Though he honestly didn't know if she could contact them if she was in a different realm. Still he wanted to know.

Mira read the letter to them, and true to his nature he grew suspicious. It was vague and impersonal, with simple phrases that anyone would say, the only thing that even made it seem somewhat legitimate was the part about it being ten years since we had last heard from her. It was no secret that Tali had left ten years ago so that did not diminish his suspicion.

"How do we know it's her?" he asked through gritted teeth. If somebody thought to play some sort of sick joke he would find them and kill them. He knew fairies don't kill, but Tali was the one thing you didn't joke around about especially not with him around. His heart clenched at the thought of the letter being a fake. However as he watched Mira unfold the envelope he saw the paw print ' wow she must have really grown' he searched looking for confirmation that it was her. He found it in the middle pad he found the lightning bolt, his lightning bolt, it was Tali.

"It's really her." He whispered, the words came out before he could stop them.

"Yea, Laxus it's really me." A vaguely familiar female voice responded.

His head whipped to the doors, his eyes landed on the owner of the voice. Long sapphire hair, amber eyes that looked like they could see into the very soul, the same fanged smile, her tail though longer still wrapped around her hips in the same way. Everything else was different she had grown she was no longer looked like the child he had protected. She was a warrior now, even as she smiled at him he could still see she was on high alert, ever sense tuned into her surroundings. She was guarded and that saddened him slightly. That was never something he wanted to see from her. This should have been the one place that she was completely relaxed. Looking at her now he could see that it was second nature to her she likely didn't even realize that she was doing it. That saddened him too it should that she had been through a lot of bad things. Things that he fully intended on finding out.

At the same time though he was happy. He finally had Tali back, she had kept her promise and returned to him. He never knew he had doubted her until now. Yea, he had his thoughts about her getting injured and/or possibly killed, but he had thought that was just his imagination running away with him. Now he realized he had very seriously wondered if she would return at all. None of that mattered now though she was back and he was never going to let her leave him again.

She was a woman now that could not be denied. Everything from the top of her head to her booted feet said woman and the sheer amount of power coming off her said dangerous. Apart of him wanted to be weary of this Tali, she was not the childhood friend he had grown up with, but he could still see a lot of the old her within the one that stood below him. That's what made him happiest, to see that she hadn't changed so completely that he didn't recognize her.

Before he could process what, he was doing he, he was up and over the railing. Jumping from the second floor to the first landing in a crouch before practically jumping to his feet and walking towards Tali. She didn't step back like he thought she would, hell she didn't even tenses up. No, she ran towards him, his steps almost faltered upon seeing this. He didn't have time to thinking about it though as she leapt into him, her arms wrapped around his neck and legs around his waist. With no hesitation, his arms came up to wrap around her slender figure. His arms tightened around her as he nuzzled into her neck taking in her scent of lavender and chocolate. 'thank god her scent hadn't changed with time'. The scent was uniquely Tali and he loved it.

He felt her nuzzle into his neck taking in his scent as well, listening as she purred happily, he could feel the vibrations throughout his body. There was a lot of comfort in that simple purr. Further settling in his mind that this was Tali.

"I told you I would come back." Came the whispered words from the side of his neck.

His arms tightened around him even more. A silent promise to himself that he was not going to let her go again.

"I've missed you too, I'm glad your home." He whispered back not trusting his voice to say anything more. He wanted to tell her how much he missed her. How she invaded his thoughts more often than not. How much it had hurt when she left and how much joy he felt when he heard that she was coming home. How she was never leaving his side again, where she goes so will he. He had been giving a second chance with her and he would not let it go to waste. They had a long road ahead of them. Things were different know they were older, things have changed they weren't kids anymore. They were adult and they would have to learn each other all over again. This was a good thing he knew, and he couldn't wait to explore it.