Author's Note: Hello! Here is Chapter 8. Enjoy!

Also, I do not own Fairy Tail

Chapter Eight - On the Eighth Day

"Thanks again, guys! Now I'm definitely gonna have the manliest gift at the party!"

Elfman Strauss was finally feeling good about the Christmas Gift exchange. He knew all along that he had to find the perfect gift for his Secret Santa giftee, but he had no idea where to start.

That is until he ran into the strange grandfather and his grandson along the streets of Crocus just moments ago. After helping the elderly shopkeeper retrieve his stolen fire crackers, Elfman was rewarded with an item of his choice, completely free of charge.

"Merry Christmas!" Now, Elfman leaves the small shop with a bag containing a very festive blank photo album that he will update with photos prior to the gift exchange.

We would like to share more information on Elfman's big find, but it appears that he just ran into some very familiar faces from before…

"Well there you guys are!" The large brute yelled over to his two sisters who were walking down the street. "I've been lookin' all over for ya! What, did you decide to ditch me back at that toy shop?"

"Oh…hey Elfman. Sorry about that, hehe…" Mirajane and her younger sister Lisanna looked rather embarrassed to be seen. They apparently didn't want to keep him from carrying out his earlier rampage, so they decided to get some shopping done by themselves.

Lisanna meanwhile hid her bag from her daunting brother. "Yea, we just thought we would let you blow off some steam while we went out to find our gifts."

Elfman would have remained angry, but his younger sister's nervousness was really throwing him off.

"Um, that's cool, no big deal…now that ya mention it, who are you guys shopping for again, anyway?"

Mira and Lisanna both giggled, and the older one spoke first. "Oh, you remember! I have Max!"

"Yea…" Lisanna on the other hand turned away from her two siblings in order to keep the group walking forward. "And I think it might be best if I just save mine for Christmas Eve. I wouldn't wanna…hey, is that who I think it is?"

The petite Takeover mage looked down the sidewalk to find a new group of Fairies walking through the streets of Crocus

Standing along the pavement was none other than the very intimidating Lightning Dragon Slayer of the Fairy Tail guild, Laxus Dreyar.

With him was none other than his three Thunder Legion partners, Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen, and they all appeared to be looking around the windows for a nice starting point to shop.

Mira smiled and showed a faint blush on her cheeks. "Oh well that's fun! The Thunder Legion decided to go shopping today, too!"

Elfman looked rather confused. "Uh, yea…this is gonna be awkward."

Lisanna turned and giggled. "Why? Is that gift you're holding meant for Ever…?"

Elfman roared with rage. "NO! Not at all!" He then stormed passed his two sisters and greeted the four thunder buddies as they made their way over.

"What are you guys doing in Crocus?!" Elfman shouted out to his guild mates, and none of them looked too impressed.

In fact, Laxus chose to keep his scornful expression held on his face. "Okay, I'm gonna give you one more chance to repeat that. This time I'd lose the attitude…"

Elfman froze up. "Agh, sorry just curious is all. We haven't seen anyone else from the guild until now."

"Laxus!" Evergreen stepped up to defend the male Takeover mage. "He was just asking a question!"

Laxus snapped down to Evergreen. "Geeze, I know that. What's your deal Evergreen?"

The green Fairy Mage went to answer, but not before Bickslow put his two cents in. "Ah, she's just defending her man! Can't say anything bad about Elfman or else Ever will hurt ya!"

Evergreen swung her large handbag over to smack him in the head, but not before his five wooden dolls stopped the blow.

"YEA! YEA! HURT YA!" The five dolls mocked the poor Evergreen, who now kept her mouth shut.

Mirajane and Lisanna finally made it over, and the latter spoke first. "So, are you guys all done with shopping?"

Freed Justine spoke up first. "Actually we haven't even started yet. We all have a general idea for what we want…well that is everyone except Laxus."

Evergreen snapped out of her state of embarrassment to grin up at the Lightning mage. "Yea, the big guy's kept his mouth shut all morning and afternoon."

"Tsk, why do you guys care anyway?" Laxus tried to turn away, but not before Mira smiled.

"Oh, I'm sure he has some idea for a gift…" Mira winked, knowing exactly which name Laxus had drawn from the first day. "He's just too shy to admit it."

Lisanna smiled. "Oh goodie! So Evergreen, who do you have for the holidays?"

"Oh, I'd rather not say…" Ever looked around and chose not to provide a full answer.

Lisanna thought about it and snapped her fingers. "Okay, I getcha…why don't you and I go shopping with just the two of us! We can meet everyone back at the train station at the end of the night!"

Before Evergreen could respond, Lisanna grabbed her arm and walked her off in the other direction.

Elfman looked completely puzzled as the two girls walked away. "Well, that was awkward..."

Although he was right, Mirajane failed to agree. "Yea…Hey Elfman, since we all have our gifts, why don't you try helping Bickslow and Freed out with their shopping?"

Elfman looked horrified at that suggesting, but Freed and Bickslow both started grinning.

Bicklsow wanted to keep his sarcasm on a roll, so he spoke first. "Why's that Mira, you wanna keep Laxus all to yourself?"

Laxus scowled over to his Spirit Mage friend, but before he replied Mira grabbed him by the arm and faked a blush.

"Well, what can I say? I haven't seen him in a while!" She tried to hide a laugh, since they just saw each other a few days ago.

Laxus looked puzzled, but chose to hide it. "Whatever."

"Very well." Freed nodded his head. "If Laxus wished to spend the evening with Mira, then we will let him. Come Bickslow, Elfman, we have shopping to do."

The awkward group of 3 Fairies all left on that note, leaving Laxus alone in the crowded streets with Mira by his side.

Mira finally had enough time to let out her giggle. "There…now you can tell me what you plan to get Freed."

As the entire group went their separate ways, Lisanna and Evergreen were looking around the large general store at the center of the main plaza.

Lisanna giggled as they walked around the room. "So, you ended up getting my sister in the gift exchange, huh? That explains a lot."

Evergreen smiled with sarcasm. "Yes, I know I have outstanding acting skills. Actually, to be completely honest I really didn't need too much help looking for a gift…but it is nice having some new company. Bickslow and those stupide 'babies' were getting on my nerves, and Laxus and Freed are a little too stern sometimes."

Lisanna smiled. "Yea, but those are the sorta quirks that makes Fairy Tail great."

Evergreen rolled her eyes. "Yes, I suppose you could say that…anyway, who did you end up getting in the gift exchange?"

Lisanna smiled. "Oh, I'm not supposed to tell anyone! That's the fun of it all being a secret!"

Evergreen snapped back. "Seriously, even after I told you about mine? Now, help me out here, I'm looking for a very elaborate cook book named Tastes of Ishgar."

"Oh that's so clever, Evergreen! And it sounds yummy, too!" Lisanna helped Evergreen thumb through the shelves for her item.

As the two girls kept up their search, Lisanna decided to ask a few cheeky questions. "So…were you happy to get Mira in the drawing?"

Ever kept looking as she shrugged. "I suppose so. I've always gotten along with your sister. This is a good way to repay the favor."

Lisanna continued. "That's good. Say, what if you received someone else…?"

Lisanna looked over to see Evergreen's face slowly change to a dark shade of red.

"…okay…" The angry Fairy continued. "…I understand why you volunteered to go with me, but please can we drop the whole 'Elfman thing'?"

Lisanna paused and tried to conceal her giggling. "Actually, I was going to say Laxus or Freed…"

Evergreen fell to the floor in pure embarrassment, but as she hit, Lisanna lifted her up.

"Awe! Cheer up! I'm actually happy you two talk more, even if it's not going anywhere."

Evergreen turned over to yell in Lisanna's face. "WHO SAY'S WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!?...Cough, I mean me too."

Lisanna reached up to find the cookbook Evergreen was looking for and handed it to her friend. "Awe, you guys really are the cutest."

Evergreen would have face-palmed, but she was now carrying the book. "Yes…whatever you say."

As those two were concluding their shopping, we find Freed, Bickslow and Elfman wondering inside a two-storied liquor store in the uptown portion of Crocus.

Freed was in the middle of sampling wines as he looks over to his friends. "Apologies, but I would like to see if these flavors are truly 'to die for', as the advertisement suggests. After all, since I'm responsible for buying a gift for Cana I should be prepared to buy the most elaborate wine possible."

Bickslow tried not to laugh. "Yea, good luck finding something super fancy. I'm sure she's had every bottle that's ever existed. But I see where you're going with it!"

Freed sent the shop's sommelier back to fetch more selections before he continued. "Yes, I suppose so. In any case. all I know is that Cana is a fan of wine, so it shall be my goal to buy her the greatest wine possible."

Elfman laughed and looked over to Bickslow. "So, who do you have to go shopping for? If you don't mind me asking, that is."

"Nah you're cool." Bickslow waved his hand. "I have to buy something for Master Mavis. Kinda funny since she's a ghost and my magic deals with ghosts. I figured we could hit up the magic store next and I could try to find a cool lacrima or gadget to get her. She's probably not that hard to shop for."

Elfman laughed. "No kidding. She spends all those days out alone on Tenrou. I suppose the holiday by itself is enough to make her happy."

Freed finally received his next sample before he added on. "Yes, well we'd ask you for your giftee's name, Elfman; but it appears you are trying to keep it a secret…We could tell you were hiding something back with the group, so we have decide to honor that."

Elfman gasped as Bickslow patted him on the back. "Yea, so you don't have to show us the dirty little gift you bought for Ever!"

Elfman yelled out with rage. "I never even said I got Ever's name!?" He then smacked himself in the face.

"Ugh, I shoulda just stayed with my sisters. At least I'm comfortable with their senses of humor…"

Hmm, so I gave the Strausses some extra chapter space, very nice. Mira and Laxus seem to enjoy their alone time...

Anyway Chapter 9 tomorrow!

(Also...holy sh*t...Star Wars...PM me for details, but...wow)