Jason was just finishing up his shots with Jellal, AKA Mystogan, when Laxus gave Mira a look at the bar. She stood in a manner unusual for her – her elbows braced on the table with her arms crossed in front of her, her hip cocked out dangerously to the side. Her hair fell over her shoulder and nearly brushed the surface of the bar with her head tilted slightly to the side. A soft smile graced her lips, and Laxus found himself wondering what it was she was smiling about. "Enjoying the show?" he finally asked, breaking the silence at the bar while giving her a teasing look with narrowed eyes.

Mira's smile didn't falter as her gaze cut to him. "I don't know what you're talking about," she teased, pressing herself upright. "I'm just relieved everyone isn't drinking nearly so much today!" she exclaimed with a sigh and a smile.

"I'm surprised there's even anything left in the damn bar after yesterday," Laxus chided. Mira giggled and stood up. "Mira, when was the last time someone made you a drink?"

Her eyes widened, especially when he moved to come behind the bar. "E-excuse me?"

Erza heard Mira stutter and looked over her shoulder, but knew Mira could handle herself and quickly looked back at the clearly annoyed Jellal. If Jason doesn't wrap it up soon he's going to get a real taste of Heavenly Body Magic…

"When was the last time someone made you a drink?" he repeated, standing merely inches away from her so that he had to look down and she had to look up in order to see into the other's eyes.

"Uh," she clasped her hands behind her back and rocked on her feet. "It's been a while," she admitted, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink.

"Then sit down," he commanded. "Let me make you something."

Mira's brows drew together. "You don't have to do that, Laxus. Really."

He frowned, his brow furrowing even deeper than hers. "I'm not asking, She-Devil."

She smirked at the use of her old nickname before spinning on her toes, her hair flying out around her shoulders and hitting him on the arm as she moved around him. "Is it good?" she asked as she moved to the opposite side of the bar.

Laxus was already busy rummaging through bottles beneath the bar and above, moving glasses and bottles around noisily as he tried to find exactly what he was looking for. "I'll let you be the judge of that, but I think it's very good."

"Laxus is making drinks?" Erza asked, joining Mira at the bar with Jellal now at her side. "Give this poor man something," she commanded with a wicked smile.

His face falling into a glare, a dark aura surrounded Laxus. "I didn't say I was becoming bartender for the day," he argued.

"But you did kick out the bartender," Mira pointed out, smiling her usual sweet smile so that her eyes were practically closed.

His eyes narrowing, Laxus grunted and turned around, pulling down one of the heavier bottles from the top of the shelf and filling a rather large glass before handing it to Jellal. "Don't expect anything fancy from me."

Jellal took the offered glass without question. "I don't need fancy," he answered with a soft smile, hidden by Mystogan's mask. "Thank you."

"I will expect whatever you are making Mira," Erza interjected, smiling as she leaned her elbows on the counter. Laxus glared at her like he'd like to hit her with his lightning – he was debating doing it. Reading his gaze, she made her eyebrows jump as if to say, do it!

His eyes narrowing, Laxus instead turned back to the task at hand and completed his drinks in silence, making three of them before handing one to each of the girls and keeping one for himself. They were tall, in large martini glasses, and bright yellow – almost the color of his hair. When they looked close enough, small specks of candy could be seen floating in the liquor, and those small specks of candy sparked as though infused with lightning. "Is that what I think it is?" Mira asked, her eyes wide with excitement.

His smile one of the widest and truest Mira or Erza had ever seen, Laxus simply shrugged and said, "Try it and you'll see."

Erza and Mira took small sips at the same time, both of them sucking their cheeks in gently at the small shocks and pops that went off in their mouths when the little lemon candies hit their tongues. He had infused them with lightning! Not enough to hurt, but just enough to pleasantly tingle and cause audible popping to come from their mouths. "How did you do that?!" Mira exclaimed, her eyes sparkling before she took another drink. "This is amazing! I have to add this to the menu!"

Laxus held up his hands. "Hold on a minute! I didn't say you could go and steal my signature drink! I'm not willing to sit at the guild and help you make this every night."

Ever the practical one, Erza shrugged and suggested, "You could just make a batch that she could keep on hand so you wouldn't have to," before taking another drink.

Again, Laxus looked at her like he'd like to shock her and this time Jellal picked up on it. His eyes narrowed but neither man did a thing. "Thanks," Laxus grumbled.

"You've been holding out on us!" Mira admonished again, taking a healthier drink. Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink as the pops and sizzles went off in her mouth. Laxus watched her with a barely hidden smile.

Erza, who had been watching the two, slipped off her barstool and gently touched Jellal's arm, indicating he should follow her. She knew when they weren't wanted. He silently followed her, taking a sip of her drink as they made their way to the water. Mira looked after them for only a moment before sighing and turning back to the drink before her. She was now alone at the bar with Laxus. Not exactly how she had planned the afternoon…

"There you go with that face again."

Mira jerked, snapping her eyes up to Laxus'. "What?"

He nodded at her. "That face from last night. You're making it again."

Her mouth falling open for a moment, Mira stared at Laxus with wide eyes before she recovered. "I don't know what you're talking about, Laxus." As if to reassert her authority, she slid off her barstool and moved back around the bar. "Now get out of my bar before someone else decides to try to put you to work and gets shocked for it." She bumped him with her hip as she walked back, scarcely suppressing a smile even though her heart fluttered nervously in her chest.

"If you don't like it all you had to do was say so," he retorted, smiling as he refused to move. When she glared up at him, he made a show of taking a slow drink from his glass. The lightning from the lemon candies reacted with his lightning and sparks flew from his shoulders, reflecting back at him from Mira's eyes. "So?" he asked, his eyebrow raising as he smirked. "Does that mean you like it?"

It took Mira a moment to realize she was staring, and when she realized it, her cheeks instantly burned and her hands clenched into fists. "I-you-this-ugh!" she floundered.

His smile turned into a grin, the jagged, lightning-shaped scar crossing his right eye crinkling ruggedly. "Oh, really?" he teased. "That good, huh?"

A dark aura appeared around Mira. She wasn't used to being made to feel so uncomfortable and awkward and this was like a completely different Laxus compared to the sweet, kind man that had talked to her the night before – the man that had soothed her aching heart and held her in his arms. I'm such an idiot!

They stood there, neither moving nor speaking, just glaring at each other, until Lisanna skipped behind the bar. Her steps immediately faltered when she took in the mood of the two wizards before her. "Oh! I'm sorry!" she immediately apologized, bowing her head as heat rushed to her cheeks. "I'm just, eh, grabbing something."

Laxus and Mira looked at Lisanna with suddenly neutral expressions. "Hi, Lisanna!" Mira called, her face immediately melting into the sweet smile she was known for. She quickly turned her back on Laxus, flicking her hair and violently wishing it could hurt him somehow and suddenly clenching the martini glass in her hands in order to hide their trembling. "Can I help you find something?" Please let me help you find something!

Lisanna's bright blue eyes darted from her sister to the confused looking Laxus behind her. "Ummm," she thought, her eyes rapidly moving between the two. What's going on here? "No, I'm fine," she mumbled, frantically digging in the bag until she found the bottle of sunscreen she had been looking for. "See? Found it!" she exclaimed with too much enthusiasm, before running back onto the beach, heaving a heavy sigh of relief once she was away from the bar. What was that about?

"Wow, She-Devil," Laxus' deep voice rumbled from behind her.

"What?" she snapped.

"You even scare off your own siblings? That's a gift!"

Mira glared at him, a dark aura emanating from her as her eyes started to glow an angry red. "Laxus, you jerk!" she yelled, squeezing her eyes shut as she let out her frustration in her voice. The sound of her shout stilled the beach into silence, all eyes suddenly on the two behind the bar, Laxus clamping his hand over Mira's mouth just a moment too late.

"Damn it, Mira!" he hissed, his eyes flashing as he looked down at her, his hand still clamped over her mouth.

"What the hell is going on?" Elfman shouted from the beach.

"It's nothing!" Lisanna quickly answered, turning her bemused brother away from the spectacle before him before he got himself electrocuted.

"Let me go!" Mira ordered, but her mouth was covered and it came out as "Eh mm ooo!"

"Promise not to yell at me again?" he asked, his eyebrow rising as he squeezed her. His arms had wrapped around her when he clamped his hand over her mouth – the only thing he could do to get enough leverage.

When did his arms end up around me?! Mira nearly panicked, realizing her mistake now that it was too late. She briefly entertained the idea of biting him but quickly squashed it. Why the hostility? Instead, she nodded, and Laxus gently released her, his hand slipping around her waist as he withdrew, prolonging their contact without realizing that was what he was doing.

"What is the matter with you?" Mira spat, downing her drink in one gulp that made her shudder and sizzle.

Laxus watched her, seeing the lightning work its way across her shoulders as she shuddered. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, please. Don't try to pretend to be Natsu."

"Ha! Please." When he looked at her, he could see the joke was over. She was not laughing. Her bright blue eyes were hard and harsh, eying him with the ferocity she was known for. As he watched, the hardness in her eyes melted, shifting before him as her eyes wavered, the sadness from the night before returning and tugging at him. "Mira," he murmured as she looked away.

"You told me you would tell me later," she blurted, her cheeks darkening.

His mouth fell open. I what? "I don't remember saying any such thing."

She scoffed, tossing her hair angrily over her shoulder. It had been a long time since she'd let her emotions rule her so – not since her wild and rebellious teenage years when she really had earned the name 'She-Devil'. "You did," she answered curtly. "When we sparred on the beach for Jason."

Laxus ground his teeth together, knowing exactly what Mira was talking about but wishing she hadn't remembered. How had he been so stupid as to let something like that slip? Did he really think Mira would forget something like that? That she would let something like that go? This was Mirajane Strauss they were talking about! She did not forget! "Mira," he sighed.

She folded her arms across her chest and refused to look at him, her eyes hard as she looked out at the beach, where the others were engaged in a wild game of beach volleyball. Several places of scorched, frozen or wet sand marred the playing field, as well as holes dug by Virgo, and the players were covered in more than a few bruises – typical of any game involving members of Fairy Tail. "Forget it," she ground out.

He felt like he should say something, but knew he would only make it worse. Instead he stepped forward, pulling her to him by the hand until his arms could gently wrap around her, embracing her as he had done the previous night. Only this time, he dropped his cheek to the top of her head and sighed. "I've tried," he whispered, closing his eyes as she stiffened in his grasp. "I've tried but I can't forget or change they way I feel."

Her arms cautiously wrapped around his waist. "The way you feel?"

Nodding gently, Laxus opened his eyes, wary of any wandering eyes that might catch them in their moment. "Yes," he murmured.

Mira hesitated a moment before asking, "And how do you feel?"

His grip on her tightened. "I think you know that, Mira."

"Clearly I don't," she argued.

"When I betrayed Fairy Tail, it was all too easy for me to let my anger and resentment cloud my judgment. I didn't care who I hurt or why. But I cared if I hurt you, if I disappointed you. You were the only one that mattered to me then, and you still are."

She grew incredibly still in his arms before arguing with him. "That's not true. If you didn't care about the others in the guild, you wouldn't have done what you've done for them."

"True. But you are the most important to me. You always have been."

"Laxus," she gasped, her eyes growing wide as her heart jumped into her throat. "What are you saying?"

He didn't want to say it out loud. He hated having to say what he already said – he wasn't much for words. Rather than speak, he lifted his head from hers and cupped her chin in his hand, gently forcing her to look up at him. His eyes met hers a moment before he bent down, pressing his lips against hers. She once again stiffened in his grasp before melting into him, her lips submitting to his as he deepened the kiss. When he was sure she wouldn't run away, he released her chin, his hand sliding into her hair as her grip on his waist tightened. She returned the kiss just as fully as he gave it, but when a spark of lightning came between them, sending a jolt through her from the top of her head to the tip of her toes, Mira stepped back with a look of utter surprise on her face.

"Laxus?!" she whispered.

"Whoa!" Shocked, the two jumped and looked in the direction of the voice. Cana stood on the opposite side of the bar, holding onto an empty mug of beer and smiling wickedly. "Now I get it!"

"Cana!" Mira cried.

"Cana," Laxus threatened, lightning immediately coming to life between his shoulders and traveling down his arms to his fists.

Cana cocked her head to the side with a wry smile. "Oh, don't you worry. This guild is full of enough news right now." She held up her mug. "Just give me a refill and carry on!"

Her face blushing furiously, Mira stepped forward and refilled Cana's mug, too surprised to retaliate. She was almost just as shocked when Cana promptly disappeared as promised, no shouts of exclamation for what she had just seen coming from the direction she traveled.


Afternoon made its way into evening and the members of Fairy Tail continued to dominate their spot of the beach. Contrary to his word, Jellal had continued to stay, even after his initial "recovery drink" with Erza. "I thought you had to leave," she pointed out as she took a sip of her daiquiri from her spot beside him. They were relatively alone at the bar, the others too distracted in their own fun and games with each other to pay them much attention.

"Are you complaining that I stayed?" he asked, his eyes crinkling as he smirked beneath his mask.

Erza narrowed her eyes at him as she toyed with her fork, her half eaten strawberry cake still in front of her. They had spent the entire day together without touching each other and it was driving her mad… "Of course not!" she harshly replied.

Jellal swirled his beer in his mug, looking toward the hotel before taking a long drink. "Erza," he muttered, his voice the deep rumble that made her stomach flip. "What you said to Wendy earlier," he began, not able to look at her as he twirled his beer mug around on the counter.

Swallowing, Erza mimicked his nervous tick without realizing it, running her finger along the sugarcoated rim of her daiquiri glass before sticking her finger in her mouth. "Yeah," she breathed, feeling her face grow warm and suddenly wishing she had a mask to hide it like Jellal did. Her ears burned and she could swear her face must be as red as her hair.

She bit her lower lip as she fought for the right words to say, and looked at him with a raised eyebrow when he suddenly blurted, "I'm sorry I was so negligent!" His head was bowed in shame.

Although he was completely sincere, Erza found the apology so preposterous she burst out laughing, smacking her hand on her leg as she threw her head back. It was a full-belly laugh, a laugh she hadn't had in a long time, a laugh that brought tears to her eyes and left her struggling to breathe. Jellal stared at her in shock when she finally came to her senses, continuing to giggle as she wiped her eyes. "Of course you'd say that!"

"I'm serious!" he argued, his hazel eyes flaring as she made light of his concern.

"I know you are!" She continued to giggle, only vaguely aware of Mira's concerned gaze and Laxus' raised eyebrow. "And I love that about you, but I'm not the least bit concerned. Not at all."

Jellal was dumbstruck, and even though the mask covered his face, Erza could tell his mouth was gaping open in surprise. Her select choice of words was not lost on either of them. She had done so on purpose and he knew it. Despite his surprise, she could see the wheels turning in his eyes. He was trying to piece together exactly what she meant. "You're… not?"

All seriousness returning, Erza's gaze dropped to her hands, now clasped in her lap. They had turned on their stools so that they faced each other, and she could see Jellal's legs in her peripheral vision – his legs on either side of hers, his hands just barely in her line of sight. He meant so much to her, but she never told him that, never admitted it to him, and even now, it still felt wrong to burden him with such an admission. "No," she repeated, feeling the familiar stirrings in her heart. "I would not have it any other way."

Swallowing, Jellal carefully reached out for her hand, grasping hers carefully in his own. She sighed at the touch and he had to admit that he felt a weight lift from his shoulders at finally touching her as well, but he still felt nervous. Anyone from the beach could see what they were doing, but at least otherwise the bar blocked them from peering eyes. "Erza, do you realize what you are saying?" he whispered, reluctant to acknowledge the warmth that spread through him at her words. He had already given in to too much, had already experienced far more happiness than he was worth, than he deserved… He didn't want to believe her.

Erza felt tears stinging her eyes and hated herself for them. Why must I always cry at times like this?! "Of course I do," she retorted. When his eyes flashed in shock, she paused, biting her lower lip in an uncharacteristic show of angst, before adding, "I-is that s-such a bad thing?"

Jellal's face immediately softened at her concern and Erza watched as the tension visibly wound out of his shoulders as he heaved a sigh and dropped his gaze to their joined hands. His fingers traced hers, his touch gentle and caressing as the tension that had been in his shoulders was replaced with something else – something she couldn't quite place. He didn't even look around them before pulling down his Mystogan mask, his eyes open and clear when he finally raised them to hers once more. "Of course not," he finally answered, making her release the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. His fingers slipped between hers, his hand capturing hers within its strong grip. They were no longer on the beach, surrounded by Fairy Tail – they may as well have been on a deserted island, they were so focused on each other and only each other. "There's nothing I would love more," he murmured.

Her mouth fell open, her eyes wide in shock as she struggled to comprehend the meaning of his words. There was more to what he said, she knew that – they always seemed to speak in such riddles. Sometimes it was infuriating. "Jellal," she breathed, her heart in her throat and making it difficult for her to take a deep enough breath. Her chest heaved with the effort of breathing and tears stung her eyes. "What," she began, not even sure what she was trying to ask.

"Erza," he answered, his voice just as quiet and passionate as hers. His hazel eyes searched hers, and she could see the battle waging within them. What is he fighting for?

"Hey, Mystogan! It would be a shame for someone to see your face outside of Fairy Tail!" Laxus whispered harshly, his words invading their private moment.

"Shit," Jellal cursed, pulling his hand from Erza's to return the mask to his face. Erza sat back from him, appearing casual, but her eyes searched. Sure enough, they were no longer truly alone on the beach. Fans of the guild were approaching the others. "Thank you, Laxus," he added with a polite nod at the lightning dragon slayer. Laxus said nothing, just simply returned the nod.

The moment of panic over, Erza stared at Jellal with wide eyes brimming with unshed tears – tears she stubbornly refused to allow to fall. Her heart felt like it was being torn in a million directions at once, and she didn't know if she should be elated or terrified. "I need time," Jellal whispered, his eyes on his beer in front of him. "Time to get the magic council off my back, so that I can offer you the kind of life you deserve, Erza."

She gasped, the tears slipping from her eyes. Did he just? "Jellal?" she breathed, her voice so soft it was carried away on the breeze.

"Can you give me that?" he murmured, looking at her from the corner of his eye.

Erza closed her eyes and swallowed, sucking in a deep breath to still her rattled nerves. "Of course," she answered, bowing her head gently. He surprised her by pulling her into his arms, his lips pressed to hers gently but firmly. She didn't question it, just returned his kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck. It wasn't until she felt them falling, landing softly on the bed, that she realized he had teleported them back to the hotel room. "Jellal?" she asked in shock.

He pulled away, a soft smile gracing his lips, as he threw the mask across the room. "I don't want to hide during our last moments together."

She smiled cautiously, her insides quivering as her heart cautioned her against getting too comfortable. Tension radiated from him just as much as his love – he was going to be leaving soon. "You're leaving?"

His eyes searched her face carefully, as though committing it to memory. "I've already stayed longer than I should."

She sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck as he wrapped his around her shoulders, holding her close. "Will it take another country-wide event to bring you back to me?" she whispered, trying not to let an edge creep into her voice that she felt deep within her heart.

Jellal paused, his hand running up to her neck before pulling back so he could meet her eyes. "Do you think I would do that after," his cheeks darkened, his thoughts turning to their newfound intimacy. It wasn't because he didn't want to give that up, rather because he would never do anything to make Erza think she was being discarded after something so intimate, so precious.

"So all I needed to do all this time," she teased, twisting her hips beneath him.

"Erza," he chided, his voice deep.

She smiled, her heart light despite feeling heavy. Jellal was hers and she was his. He told her he'd be seeing her again and she believed him. He asked her to wait for him, and she would. She loved him with her entire being – she would wait for him forever if she had to. "Jellal," she breathed, her eyes drifting closed as she pulled him back down to her. His lips immediately descended on hers, her entire body sighing in relief, even as their kiss grew in intensity. Her lips moved against his as he deepened the kiss, his hands roaming just as hers started to. "Don't leave just yet," she breathed as he left her lips to kiss her neck.

"I'm not going anywhere," he whispered, moving further down as he worked at the ties of her bikini.

Gasping, Erza's back arched up as her fingers plunged into his hair. She'd never felt so complete, so whole, as she did when in his arms. She would make sure they spent as much time there as possible, and as their clothes were quickly thrown about the room, their pleased sighs and moans filling the silence, they made promises to each other that need not be spoken. Promises of their love – their enduring love that would transcend the obstacles before them.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this latest update! I'm sorry it's taken so long! As always, comments/reviews are always welcome! This story is definitely wrapping up, but as requested, there will be talk of once the photos come out!

The usual disclaimer, I do not own Fairy Tail or any of the characters. They all belong to Hiro Mashima.