[A/N]: Nope sorry not done for today. I never realized how short this fic is; it'll only be eleven chapters! D: Sadness! I'll get to work right away on another one, review and suggest some ships or fluff scenarios for me to write!

Cana's breath hitched painfully in her chest as she ran, and when she reached home she hurled herself under her blankets, shuddering with the force of keeping in tears.

She wouldn't, couldn't let it happen again, no way. Laxus wouldn't ever change, not ever and she knew that, she knew it━

"Stop," she whispered to her own tears. "Just stop, please."

Holy god, she needed something to drink, but even she was forced to admit that getting drunk would be a really bad idea in her present state.

Mirajane's voice came back to her. "It's time for a second chance".

"Oh my god, Mira." Cana sat up quickly, the realization of what she had told her friend crashing down on her. "Mirajane, oh my god," she repeated, horrified with herself. "What have I done?"

She hurled aside her blanket and rushed back out the door. Laxus was right about one thing━she couldn't push her closest friend away like that ever again. Oh, god, what if the damage was done? What if she lost her best friend because of some stupid petty argument?!

It was late enough that Mirajane should have been home from closing up the bar. Fervently wishing that Mira would forgive her, Cana slammed her fist on the door, again and again until it swung open. She blinked in shock and her fist hit Elfman's chest with a pathetic sound. Gazing up at him with desperation in her eyes, she pleaded, "Elf━please━where's Mirajane, I need to talk to her, I need to━"

"I'm sorry, man, but she's not home yet," Elfman rumbled, ruffling his hair in embarrassment. "It's late, Cana, can it wait until tomorrow?" Cana ignored the silhouette of Evergreen standing behind him, arms crossed impatiently. This wasn't time for an argument with the sour woman.

"No, no it can't I need to talk to her now━please, what route does she usually take home from work?"

Elfman told her, looking perplexed, and she raced along the streets, but Mirajane was nowhere to be found. Cana ran to Fairy Tail, desperate to find her friend and apologize.

To her relief, Cana found Mira locking up the guild. The key had only just turned when Cana turned the corner, crying, "Mirajane!"

Her face darkening, the barmaid looked up, but before she could say anything, Cana barreled into her, hugging her as tightly as she could. "I'm sorry, Mira, oh my god, I'm so sorry━"

Mirajane's arms encircled her friend without a second thought, never the one to hold grudges. "Cana, what happened?" she whispered. "What's going on?"

"I just━I was so angry━" Cana released the barmaid, her heart in her eyes. "I didn't mean it, any of it, I swear, I don't know what came over me━"

Mirajane took Cana's hands. "Cana, stop, please, I forgive you. Just tell me what happened. Are you okay?"

"Laxus━I ran into Laxus and we fought and I just realized that if I keep pushing you away I won't have anyone left━"

"Cana, please, calm down," her friend coaxed her softly. "I know it hurts, and I know how angry he can make you, but you won't ever push me away. Ever."

…

"Cana."

Her shoulders tensed, fingers clenching around a glass of wine, but she didn't turn around. Mirajane edged closer, as if to offer moral support.

"Cana, look at me!"

She glanced around, but it wasn't anger in her eyes anymore━it was hurt, fear. "What is it?"

"I'm sorry."

She didn't even look surprised, and he could hear some of the neighboring tables settle into silence in order to catch the gossip. Turning back to the bar, Cana took a long draught from her glass.

Looking around the guild, Laxus felt self-conscious for the first time in his life. "Cana, can I talk to you outside?" he asked quietly, leaning on the bar next to her.

Her eyes flickered up to him, and then to Mira. Something passed between them silently, and Cana stood. "Fine."

She walked out━walked, not sashayed, or sauntered, or in any way showed confidence in herself whatsoever━and after a short second, Laxus followed.

The guild was completely, utterly silent. As Laxus left, Mira's carrying voice reprimanded, "Leave it alone, people, this isn't idle gossip for you!"

The door swung shut, and he followed Cana around to the lake shore. Her unnerving silence unbroken, she finally turned to face him.

"Cana, we need to talk." She watched him with a flat expression, and nodded for him to continue. Laxus took a breath. "I'm sorry."

Cana inhaled slowly, meeting his eyes. "That's not good enough."

He bristled. "What the hell do you mean━"

"An apology isn't enough to get me back," she amended softly. "Don't give me that look, I know how you think. But holy shit, Laxus, I loved you so much. Do you have any idea how it felt when I found out about Evergreen? And you think 'I'm sorry' is enough?!"

The pain in her voice was unbearable. "Cana━"

"Don't. We were so happy, Laxus! Why did you do it? Don't," she repeated more strongly. "I know why. You were bored."

He started in alarm. "No! Never, I━"

"Not with me," she said softly. "With monogamy. You can't handle a one-woman relationship, and, frankly, it's a miracle we were together so long." She crossed her arms, hugging herself, looking cold in the middle of summer. She peered up at him. "Mira helped me talk it out, and I understand you, Laxus. That's why you were always off on a job before we got together, and why you couldn't focus on me when we were."

"I never realized━"

"That I'm so perceptive?" The corner of her mouth twitched sadly. "I can see past the bottom of my glass, Laxus. It just hurts less not to."

"Cana, I'm sorry," he said roughly, a lump rising in his throat. "I know, I know━it's not enough. It'll never be enough, not for a woman like you." Trying to swallow, he looked away.

"You're right," she said simply. Cana walked past him, back towards the guild. Her hand brushed his arm as she went and she whispered, "Thank you for trying."

That split second of contact brought everything back to him, every reason why he had loved her, everything that made her so irresistible, so perfect. He couldn't stop himself. He reached for her.

Hooking her around the waist, Laxus pulled her to him and kissed her.

[A/N]: This is like the terrifying moment in a TV show where everything is resolved, happy ending yay, but there's still fifteen minutes left. It's not over yet, my lovelies, believe me.