Chapter II: Just for Funds

A/N: Before you read this chapter, I'm going to tell all of you right now that I'm practically writing Mavis blind. I have yet to get to any part in the manga/anime featuring her as the focal point so I know little about her personality other than the fact that she does behave childishly and recklessly. But I felt like her character would fit the position I had for the story so I threw her in. (We'll see if this is a bad idea or not.) And even if I butchered Mavis' character, I do hope you'll continue to support this story. In return I'll do some studying up on her to perfect her personality.

Who would have thought the guild would be in such disarray with the absence of one platinum haired barmaid. At first it started with Natsu and Happy, their stomachs a-rumbling as they waited for Mira's infamous hash brown and egg quiche to be served. When they waited for over half an hour, they began to moan and groan which led to some smart remarks from the half-naked Gray. As always, their simple bickering escalated into a full blown tussle which would later involve the other members of the guild, who too, were starving. Though fights like these were common in Fairy Tail, Makarov, who watched from his spot on the bar felt as if there was more aggression, as if the fools were trying to take their minds off their empty stomachs by pummeling each other with chairs, magic, and one another's bodies.

Just when he took what would be the fourth mug to the face, the guild's doors swung open and in walked his savior, his anchor weighing him down to sanity.

"Good morning Master," Mirajane greeted with a cheery voice as she entered the guild, Laxus trailing right behind her, "Sorry I'm late." Of course, with the raucous going on, hardly a soul noticed the two as they made their way in, the inanimate items flying through the sky missing them by just a hair. Like a practiced act, she made her way to her designated spot behind the bar and tied on her apron while she began preparing breakfast. "Sure is a lively morning," she called over her shoulder to Makarov as she began breaking the eggs.

Makarov nodded to her comment as he began calculating the damage repairs he would have to make. He winced as he heard another pillar crack as Natsu, (or was it Gajeel?) crashed into it. That would be another 50,000 jewel to add to the still growing bill. He groaned out loud which caught the attention of the blonde who had just decided to settle down across from him.

"Something wrong, Gramps," he asked, watching the chaos unfold around them.

"It's nothing Laxus," the old man sighed, pushing aside any unwanted thoughts to speak to his grandson. The young man appeared fresher today, alive and rejuvenated. Granted, he still wore that glum look on his face, but his golden eyes shined bright. "You seem chipper today, Laxus," Makarov stated, "I take it your mission went well?"

"Meh…" He mumbled back indifferently as his eyes strayed to the barmaid who was busily working at some oranges. He couldn't help but take note of the form fitting dress that donned her body. It was definitely different from the maroon dress he was accustomed to seeing her in, but the rest of the guild didn't seem to notice which was fine with him. Continuing to let his eyes follow those sinful curves of her rear and waist, he couldn't help but be reminded of their rather…lively morning.

~XxxxxxxxxxxX~

Mira, who after their shower together decided she was too sore to move, allowed Laxus to dress her. He had picked out a short qipao-style dress, adorned with roses to throw on her, but just as he had been slipping the dress over her, he heard her chuckle as she asked teasingly, "Don't you normally put the smallclothes on first before anything else?"

Granted, he would rather have her in her birthday suit, but to imagine all those idiots at the guild ogling her – he only had so much time in the day to give all of them a beating that would put them in an amnesiac coma. Grumbling, he headed over to their dresser and pulled open the bottom-most drawer which was nearly overflowing with undergarments of all kinds; silk, see-through, lace, you name it, she had it. Believe it or not, he was a stickler when it came to clothes and everything, yes, even the undies beneath, had to coordinate.

Mira, who was conscious of this perfectionist side to him, watched as he dug through the drawer, probably in search of something red to match the roses on the dress, and decided to pluck his strings. With legs swinging off the side of the bed she said, "How about the blue one in your hand there?"

Casting a quick glance at the panty held in his right hand, he shook his head, tossing it back into the drawer as he continued his search, oblivious to her intentions. "No?" She continued, "Well how about some orange ones? Or, I was thinking maybe the leopard ones – y'know the ones that match that shirt of yours." After a few more horrid suggestions from the still nude model settled upon his bed, Laxus, by now, had caught on.

"Woman," he threatened, "keep this up and you'll be wearing my handprint on that pretty little rear of yours." Granted, the suggestions stopped long enough for him to find a lacy, deep red thong, but her giggles never once ceased even as he slid them up her legs. Looking up at her from his kneeling position, he wondered how many men would die to be in the position he was in. He passed a small smirk up towards her before kissing the top of her left thigh. "You sure can be a pain in the ass when you want to be."

"I'm sorry Laxus," she replied with a soft smile on her lips, his lips tickling her, "But you're so fun to tease."

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled. "Now hurry up and slip the dress on. Or do you want them to wonder why you're running three hours late?"

When the outfit was finally on her, Laxus slipped some white heels on her slender feet. He took a step back to marvel at the beauty that was his girlfriend. She looked like she was ready for a photo shoot rather than a day at work but that's what she gets for letting him dress her. After his eyes finished traveling up her body, they fell on her face where he frowned.

Mirajane caught sight of the frown and cocked her head to the side. "What's wrong?"

He didn't answer her, but instead gently grabbed at her fringe which was covering her forehead and, just like how she normally did it, he tied it up. "There…" Satisfied, he straightened himself and began heading towards the door. "Let's go or the idiots will start to wonder."

When he didn't hear her following after him, he looked back over his shoulder at her. She had an innocent smile on her lips as she asked, "Actually, I was wondering if you could carry me to work today."

~XxxxxxxxxxxX~

Gazing at her now as she hustled to and fro, he scoffed. Her legs seemed to be working just fine now, weren't they? Unaware of how long he had been ogling her, he was startled back into reality by a platinum blonde little girl who had just, it seemed, magically appeared at the empty stool bar beside him. "Rubbernecking at Mira again I see." The mischievous voice said.

"M-Mavis," Makarov and Laxus both called out at once. "What are you doing here?"

Resting her head on the counter, the spirit watched Mirajane cook as she said, "It was getting so boring on the island." She had to exaggerate by suppressing a yawn. "You guys are so much more fun to be around." She motioned to the destruction surrounding them.

Although the excuse wasn't exactly the best one they've heard coming from the first master, the two men found the answer acceptable as her appearance was becoming more and more common within the guild ever since the Grand Magic Games. One second she was gone and the next she was settled right beside you, joining in on the laughs and chaos that was Fairy Tail. In all honesty, Laxus thought the guild felt evermore complete with her laughter mixed in with the noise, but he wasn't going to confess that anytime soon.

"Hmph," Makarov couldn't help but mutter, shifting his attention back to the rambunctious brats, "Easy for you to say. You're not the one paying for the damage…"

As Mavis passed him a goofy grin, Laxus noted the fatigue that coated his words. Dark bags, evidence of his lack of sleep, hung heavily beneath his eyes and it seemed his wrinkles had increased within the two weeks he had been away on mission. It seemed that whether you were a wizard or not, the passage of time would always affect you.

As if conscious of the concerned glance being passed his way, Makarov abruptly dismissed himself from their company. "Look at the time," he called out, feigning ecstasy, "Better get back to filing those reports, huh?"

With sharp golden eyes set on him the entire way, Makarov ascended the stairs to the second floor before disappearing from view behind one of the doors. When he was comfortably safe from the eyes of his grandson, the master breathed a sigh of relief before plopping down on the floor, rubbing his aching head with his palm. It was foolish to try to hide anything from Laxus especially now that he was Mr. I-care-about-my-family.

He enjoyed being the focus of Laxus' concern, but at the same time he felt as if it shouldn't be the young lad's responsibility to worry about him. Since the Dragonslayer matured, he wanted the boy to catch up on the fun he had missed out on. And, though Laxus had tried to hide it from him at first, it seemed being with Mirajane was the key to bringing the most smiles out of him. Avoid stressing him out, Makarov had decided, and let him enjoy his newfound relationship with his cute pin-up girl.

~XxxxxxxxxxxX~

It seemed Laxus wasn't the only one who had detected Makarov's weary demeanor. Mira had too watched the master head to his office and with a frown on her delicate features she whispered, "He's been awfully tired as of late, don't you think?"

"So you noticed too, huh," Laxus responded, turning his head away from the second floor back to her. She had a thoughtful look on her face as she held a platter of food on her palm. "What's on your mind," he asked, instinctively reaching for her free hand. Whenever they were in the comfort of their house, should they have a serious heart-to-heart moment, it was natural for Laxus to grab her hand. And although he yearned to do so now, he caught sight of the emerald green eyes watching him and immediately pulled away.

Of course it was no secret he and Mira were an item; heck it was Sorcerer Weekly's cover story for the past month and a half. Only thing was, no one dared to tease them about it for fear of releasing the demon and dragon. No "They're in looooove" coming from Happy, that was for sure. And for the highly oblivious (AKA Natsu), they were completely unaware of the relationship altogether as the two lovebirds kept their PDA to a minimum. In Mira's case it was to preserve modesty, especially since her younger siblings were always nearby. But for Laxus, his reasoning was to preserve his image; to keep the giant teddy bear within the walls of their house.

But Mavis on the other hand was unlike the other guild members. She had nothing to fear and would be more than happy to tease the new couple. Hence the mischievous smirk on her lips as she stared at Laxus, daring him to make a move. When she saw his hand retreat away, she gave a pout, crossing her arms as a child would. "You don't have to be shy around me," she said playfully, passing him a wink.

Laxus shot her a glare that although would silence most other people, only caused the young spirit to break out in giggles.

Mira, who seemed to be unaware of what was going on between the two, kept her mind on Makarov. "I've been helping him with the paperwork," she proceeded to explain to Laxus, "and I must say that this has to be the highest our debt has ever been." She said that as though she were almost proud… "But because of that, it seems the Magic Council is really getting on his case. Poor Master just can't seem to catch a break, can he," she added with a sweet smile.

It took a second for his mind to take in his words, but when they finally sunk in, he passed his girlfriend the sharpest of glares before commanding in a low voice, "Say that again."

Both Mirajane and Mavis stared back at him with confused looks on their faces. He kept his eyes set on Mira who had no idea what he meant. She scratched the top of her forehead as she passed him a pitiful smile. "Uh, say what again…?"

"Nevermind," he grumbled rising to his full height. When his full 6'5'' form was straightened out, he grabbed Mira by the hand and nearly pulling her over the counter, he said, "Just come with me." Fortunately, the platter of food she had in her hand survived as she was able to place it down on the bar before Laxus was dragging her off. Hopefully it would be enough to quell the guys' hunger at least until she came back from wherever they were going.

As Laxus dragged the oblivious barmaid out of the guild, Mavis, with a glint in her eyes, gave a smirk as she hopped off the barstool. "I have to see where this is headed," she snickered as she followed after the two lovers.

~XxxxxxxxxxxX~

After being led through Magnolia, the townsfolk chancing a glance at the renowned wizards of gossip, Mirajane eventually found herself in Fiore's harbor town, Hargeon. By now, Laxus had slowed his pace allowing her to catch up with his long strides and walk beside him. The salty scent of the ocean breeze blew across Mirajane's face and she let in a fresh breath of air. Up until now she didn't notice how great of a day it had been; the sun was shining, breeze was blowing, children were playing, and more importantly, she was with Laxus.

Although it was hardly one, Mirajane couldn't help but feel as if this were a date. Neither one of them were big daters, ironic considering she was the matchmaker of the guild, so every opportunity they got to be together like this, she was more than happy to refer to it as such.

"As much as I'm enjoying this walk," she said abruptly, disrupting the serenity between them, "are you going to tell me where we're going?" They had been walking for over an hour now and the suspense was beginning to get to her.

He motioned his head towards the building before them. "We're here."

Before them was a small building with a blue dome-shaped roof. The billboard sign that was nailed to it labeled it as Fiore's one-stop place to book a boat ride. Further intrigued, Mirajane followed Laxus inside where an older man was there to welcome them. "Welcome to the Pink Porpoise," he greeted cheerily, showing off his dentures, "Can I help you two with anything?"

Walking up towards the counter, Laxus took a look at the map displaying the many locations the Pink Porpoise departed to and nudged Mira who was still wondering what Laxus had up his sleeve. "Where do you think he'd like to go?" He asked as his eyes skimmed the many tropical islands listed before him.

Mira blinked in confusion. "He?"

"Gramps," Laxus clarified. "You know him better than I do."

Finally, Mira was able to put one and one together and when she got two, her eyes immediately began to sparkle as the hand holding his strengthened its grip. "Laxus…" She said sheepishly, "Are you…?" When he refused to make eye contact, a lovely smile lightened her features. "You're a good grandson, Laxus…"

Now beginning to blush, Laxus awkwardly rubbed the back of his head wishing that the old man in front of them would just disappear. "Hey," he tried to say convincingly, "this isn't just for him. We both know that if Master just drops dead from exhaustion then I'm going to be in charge of picking up after him. I'd rather spare myself from that."

He stole a glance down at his little lady and saw that her sweet smile had yet to leave her face. It didn't take a genius to tell him she wasn't convinced. Nonetheless, she decided to play along with his whole bad boy act. "So you're not looking forward to the day when I get to work by your side…?" It was the role she had designated to herself since her demonic powers had weakened that fateful day two years ago. She pledged herself to be the Fairy Tail Master's right hand, and seeing as how Makarov had made it this far without going completely crazy, Laxus had to admit that she did quite a fine job.

Feeling a pinch on her rear, she looked up at the culprit who simply grumbled incoherent mutterings. Why would he want her as his personal assistant when he already had her lying naked in his bed every other night, was the thought that ran through his mind. Although he didn't voice any of it, it seemed Mira got the gist as she kissed his shoulder, her height preventing her from getting anywhere near his cheek. She didn't mind his dirty thoughts, so long as she got to tease him in turn.

"Let's get to choosing then, shall we," she digressed, returning her attention back to the map.

After much deliberation, the couple finally decided on what would be Makarov's perfect vacation spot. It was a trip to the resort island, Pegras, which was the largest island in a group of collected isles separated by only a few hours of boating. Each little island featured its own specialty; a carnival on one, gourmet on the other, a hot spring on the next, it would be a new adventure for each day of the week. Hopefully by the end of his trip, Makarov would be refreshed and prepared to take on his pile of work.

When the Pink Porpoise owner handed them their ticket, Laxus tucked it in his shirt without a second glance and tossed the necessary Jewels onto the counter, Mirajane taking note of the hefty price. It seemed an awful lot for just one ticket, not to mention that it was for an elder.

As she stared at the coins, counting them up in her head, Laxus grimaced and asked, "What are you looking at?"

"Isn't this a bit much, Laxus?"

"What are you talking about," he responded, turning towards the exit of the little shop, "You seriously think I'm going to let Gramps head off to a paradise island for a week by himself and expect him to come back?" He looked over his shoulder at the platinum-haired beauty and whispered, "Besides, you need a break from work too, Mira…"

Before he could take anything back or tease her further, Mira was right beside him, her arm hooked through his. Not a word escaped her lips, but between people who love each other, sometimes words were unnecessary. Besides, the blush that stained her cheeks definitely told him what she was feeling.

Unable to hold back his smile, he whispered, "How do you think he'll react when he finds out about this?"

"You're wondering about how the Master's going to react? What about my reaction?" Her voice was glazed with lust and those big blue eyes reflected nothing but desire, causing Laxus to gulp. It took them around an hour to get here.

He feared whether he could make it that long…

~XxxxxxxxxxxX~

With her eyes glued to Laxus and Mirajane as they exited the Pink Porpoise, Mavis, who was practicing her espionage from a spot on a nearby roof, sighed dreamily as she watched the lovebirds walk off. "How cute," she said dreamily. "Off on their honeymoon, I see…" Seconds after she said so, a devious sneer replaced the childish grin she wore as she declared, "I'm going too!"

A/N: Sorry if it seems rushed. Usually when a chapter gets this long, I just want to get it over with and move on to the next one, especially when said chapter is just like an "introduction." Personally I just want to get to writing some Miraxus FLUFF. Thanks for reading!