Lucy POV

"Lucy?! Why didn't you say you made S-Class?!" Lisanna squealed.

I sighed and leaned against Laxus. "I had to prove I was strong enough to handle myself while I was looking for this big idiot." I poked Laxus' cheek and smiled at his uncomfortable expression. "Master had Gildarts test me to see if I was worthy in strength just as much I was in intelligence."

"As you can already see, she passed. She caught me off guard and managed to knock me out for a few minutes." Gildarts called from the bar next to Cana.

"Loke was the one who hit you, Gildarts."

"But it was by your command. You also wore me out with that explosion magic you used. That drain spell was a contributing factor as well. You are more than worthy of the S-Class title." He mused. "You know your limitations. That's also why I passed you. You may be strong, but in order to be your strongest you must also know your faults. You may be the holder of all the Zodiac Keys, now, Lucy, and but-"

"You have all the Zodiac Keys?!" Laxus spit his beer across the table. "You need to tell me all the things you know?" He stood up and pointed at me with a huge blush staining his cheeks. "We're partners now. I'll teach you my magic if you teach me yours!"

My cheeks grew hot along with his. "S-s-sure, Laxus!" I stuttered.

The guild's silence wasn't helping, either. Most of them were gaping at our exchange anyway.

"Oh, Laxus, when did you become such a softie?" Mira inquired.

"Sh-Shut up!" Laxus snapped while hugging my shoulders protectively. "Just get me a sake, woman!"

I snuggled into him, giggling at his embarrassment. He was too uptight around the guild. If only he would show them the softer side of him, he could be so much happier. But that would mean for him to change drastically. We wouldn't want that now would we?

"What are you giggling at, Luce?" He snapped playfully.

"You, of course. Your social skills are amusing." I elbowed him in his stomach lightly.

He growled and blushed, throwing me over his shoulder and carried me to the training yard at the back of the guild. He gently placed me back on the ground after making me shout my apologies to the world.

He sat down cross-legged on the ground in front of me and looked me dead in the eyes. "Teach me your magic."

I smiled and pulled my keys from my belt. I plucked out Plue's key and handed it to him. "Stand up and hold the key out in front of you and repeat after me. Open! Gate of the Canis Minor! Nikora!"

He stood in front of me and in his strongest voice he repeated my words. He almost dropped to his knees as Plue popped out of the gray smoke that appeared. "What the fuck is that?! That is not a dog!"

"Of course it is! And he's just adorable!" I pulled Plue into my lap and smiled at Laxus. "Do you feel the drain of your magic? That's because he's contracted to me." I turned to Plue. "Hey Plue, do you think we can alter our contract to where Laxus can summon you, too?"

The carrot-nosed dog nodded enthusiastically.

"Okay, Plue! Go on back!" I turned back to Laxus just as he disappeared. "Rest up, okay? That was my weakest spirit, Laxus. Though he may not be a fighting one, he's still really good company. I call him out all the time!" I smiled at him as his eyes widened in shock.

"Does he take a lot of magic?" He asked quietly.

"Nope! Very little at all! But now it should be easier on you, since you're contracted to him, too."

He looked me in the eyes. "Let me try again." He held the silver key out in front of him. "Open! Gate of the Canis Minor! Nikora!" He looked at me with a smile as Plue came out of gate once more. "I did! And there's like no drain to it!"

Plue danced around Laxus and me as I explained the difference between gold and silver keys, the types of spells in the spell book I found in the church where Mama wanted to be buried.

He looked at me and smiled softly. "Can I see the spell book?"

I nodded and pulled Virgo's key from my key ring. "Open! Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!"

"Punishment time, Princess?"

"No, no. Just the spell book please." Virgo nodded then disappeared and reappeared with book in tow.

I said my thanks and she disappeared once again. I flipped open to the one of many bookmarked pages. "Here's Star Shield. It was one of the more difficult ones I learned so far." I flipped the page again. "There's Constellation Explosion. It was surprisingly easy to learn. And here's shooting star, the spell I used against Natsu. That one was the hardest."

"What about the one you used against me? Stellar…"

"Oh? Stellar Touch? The Spirit King taught me that one. I only know, Drop, Lighting, and Shadows."

"Why lightning? I understand Drop and Shadows, but why Lightning?"

I blushed. "It was in case you needed help or you ran out of magic. I was looking for you after all!"

"Why not fire or air or iron or something?"

"Why would I help them? They ignored me! I'll forgive, but I will never forget what they did to me. Nor what Natsu said to you! Lisanna has my forgiveness, but she took almost everyone I cared about away from me."

"You listed off all your family members, your brothers and sisters, but I believe you forgot some people."

"Ah! Right well, my aunt is Porlyusica. My uncles are Gildarts and Nab. Master is definitely my father or grandfather. He gave me a home after all. I really love Fairy Tail, Laxus. I don't think I could picture my life without it, even after we've all been through."

He frowned at me. "Come on, Luce. You're still forgetting someone."

"Natsu is the stranger across the street." I smiled.

"Luce!" He whined and sat down, pulling me into his lap.

"Yukino is like my cousin!"

"Lucy!"

"Who else could I possibly be missing?" I smiled and laid my head on his shoulder.

"Your husband." He whispered in my ear.

Well I hope you liked that! I had to put that little FMA brotherhood moment in there! ("Equivalent exchange! I'll give you half of my life if you give me half of yours")

Other than that, leave me thoughts/ideas/hugs? in the reviews!

Love,

-SFL