Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its characters.


Chapter 9 - Through Storms and Stars

Bickslow slowly pushed open the infirmary door, careful not to make a sound. Over the past week, their leader had been glued to Lucy's side, watching over her slumbering form.

For the first three days, no one had seen him leave the room, and it was anyone's guess whether he was even eating. The Raijinshuu had tried to coax him out, but Laxus barely spoke a word, and when food was brought to him, he only picked at the fruit bowl.

By the fourth day, Bickslow caught sight of Erza leaving the room, with a worn-out Laxus following behind her. They watched as the two of them took a seat at one of the corner tables, where Erza quietly called for Mira. A few minutes later, Mira emerged from the bar, hands full of food.

That was the first time in days that anyone saw Laxus eat.

After his meal, Erza called for his team. They knew - get Laxus home and ensure he got some real rest.

For the first time, the trio wanted to hug the usually intimidating Titania.

By the fifth day, Laxus was back in the infirmary, silently resuming his post beside Lucy's bed. He stayed the entire day, only stepping out for meals before retreating back to the room again.

Yesterday, he repeated the same routine. It was the most any of them had seen him leave Lucy's side since she had been brought back.

Now, as Bickslow tiptoed into the room, he spotted Laxus leaning against the wall, eyes closed, the fatigue still etched on his face. Bickslow approached quietly, trying not to disturb the resting occupants, and nudged his leader gently.

"Laxus," he whispered. "It's lunchtime. Let me keep an eye on Cosplayer for a bit."

Laxus's eyes opened slowly, his gaze immediately shifting to Lucy. His senses zeroed in on her - steady breathing, heartbeat strong. She was stable. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "I'll be back," he rasped, voice raw from exhaustion.

Whatever Erza had said to him had worked. They were all thankful for it, because at least now they could convince Laxus to take small breaks to look after himself.

"Why don't you go home for a bit, Boss? Get some proper rest." Bickslow pressed further, his tone unusually gentle.

Laxus shook his head, stubborn as ever. "I'm fine," he muttered, standing up and walking over to Lucy's bedside. He pulled the blanket higher over her, making sure she stayed warm. "Open the window for some fresh air, but keep the blankets tucked so she doesn't get cold."

"Got it, Boss." Bickslow watched him leave, silently promising Lucy that they'd all make sure she had everything she needed while their leader took the briefest of breaks.

Bickslow glanced at the peacefully sleeping blonde, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"I don't know what you did Cosplayer, but man… he's completely whipped."


The soft glow of the moonlight filtered through the guild's infirmary windows, casting a pale, silver hue across the room. Lucy blinked slowly, her eyes adjusting to the dim surroundings. Her body felt heavy, muscles aching from disuse, but there was something else - an unfamiliar warmth beside her.

She turned her head gingerly to the side and saw him. Laxus, fast asleep, sitting in a chair but leaning halfway onto the edge of the bed, his arms folded, and his head resting near her shoulder. His breathing was steady, and the calm expression on his face was a rare sight.

Her heart fluttered - how long had he been here?

She tried to speak, her voice barely a whisper. "Lax-" But all that came out was a weak cough, her throat dry as sandpaper.

Immediately, Laxus stirred, his keen senses kicking in. He bolted upright, his sharp eyes locking onto hers as she struggled to breathe through the coughing. "Lucy!" he growled, his voice tinged with both relief and alarm.

Without wasting a second, he moved with speed, grabbing the glass of liquid that came from Porlyusica from the bedside table. He brought it to her lips, his large hand supporting the back of her head as he helped her drink slowly. "Easy… slow sips." he instructed, his voice gravelly but gentle.

Lucy gratefully drank the liquid, albeit on the bitter side, but grateful nonetheless. After a few careful sips, she leaned back onto the pillow, exhaling softly. "Thanks…" she rasped, her voice still faint.

Laxus placed the glass back down and stared at her, his stormy eyes unreadable. "You're awake," he muttered, almost like he was convincing himself it was real.

She gave a weak smile. "Looks like it."

Something stirred in his chest.

His gaze softened as he took her in. Really took her in.

Her golden hair, slightly disheveled, framed her face in soft waves. Her cheeks were still pale, but the faint pink flush of life had begun to return. Her eyes, though tired, still sparkled with that quiet strength he had always admired. She looked fragile, delicate even, and yet there was something undeniably captivating about her.

He leaned back slightly, running a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the negative thoughts that had been creeping in for days now.

"Even like this…" he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Lucy blinked, her smile faltering for a moment. "What?"

Laxus clenched his jaw, not used to being vulnerable, but for reason, unable to hold back. His stormy gray eyes locked onto hers, filled with a raw emotion that caught her off-guard. "Even like this… you're still beautiful."

Lucy's eyes widened, her breath hitching.

For a moment, she wasn't sure if she had heard him right.

Laxus let out a breath, his steely gaze still on hers. "Scared the hell out of everyone, you know that?" His voice was low, but the intensity of his words was unmistakable.

Lucy gave a weak smile, deciding not to press the moment any further. "Sorry," she whispered softly.

Laxus scoffed, shaking his head slightly. "You better be," he said, his voice softening a bit. "That rain woman flooded my house."

Lucy blinked slowly, propping herself up on one elbow to face Laxus. "What did you do to Gray?" she asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

Laxus leaned back and crossed his arms with a nonchalant shrug. "Nothing."

"I'm pretty allergic to liars, you know."

"For the record, he'd be 6 feet under if it wasn't going to upset you."

Lucy let out a tired sigh, feeling the weight of exhaustion creep back in. She yawned, tucking herself under the blanket again, turning on her side to still face him. "It wasn't his fault," she muttered, her voice softer now as sleep pulled at her.

Laxus didn't respond, his gaze fixed on her. He could see her eyelids growing heavier, her breaths slowing as she teetered on the edge of sleep.

"Are you not going to take the other bed so you can sleep better?" she murmured, fighting to stay awake just a little longer.

He still said nothing, watching her as she drifted further into sleep.

With a faint, sleepy smile, she whispered, "Or, I can make space for you, if you'd like…"

Laxus sighed, biting back a remark. She was too close to sleep for him to tease her the way he wanted.

But then, an idea flickered in his mind.

He waited patiently until her breathing evened out.

Moving carefully, he shifted her just enough to make room for himself. Sliding onto the bed, he gently lifted her head to have it rest on his arm, pulling her closer to his chest. He tugged the blanket up to cover them both, his body relaxing for the first time in days.

This woman owed him a good night's sleep.


"Mira-nee, I think you've taken enough photos already…"

"Lisanna, we are never getting another chance like this."

Soft voices pulled him from slumber but he felt more rested than he had in days. His body felt relaxed, his mind unusually calm. Blinking sleepily, he allowed himself a rare moment of peace, enjoying the warmth of the blanket – and the soft body pressed up against him.

"Mira-nee, we should go…"

'That Mira…' he thought. He was not about to let a She-Demon ruin his first good morning in a while. "I can hear you," he called out, his voice low but loud enough for them to know.

There was a quiet giggle from behind him. "Thanks for the photos. We'll give you both some space now."

Hearing the door close, he shifted his gaze to the sleeping blonde beside him. Lucy was still sound asleep, her breathing deep and even. It took him a second to realize that sometime during the night, her arm had wrapped around his waist, and her leg… her leg had draped over his.

His breath hitched slightly, and he forced himself to focus, fighting down the explicit thoughts. 'Not now…' he chided himself.

But then she shifted, nuzzling unconsciously against his chest as if seeking more warmth. Her body moved closer, her face brushing against his shoulder, and Laxus felt every inch of her soft curves molding against him. He could just pin her down easily and –

As if on cue, Lucy stirred. She let out a small, sleepy sigh, her body stretching slightly against him. He could feel her beginning to wake up, her breathing changing as she slowly started to regain consciousness.

Laxus remained still, waiting, his heart beating just a little faster than he'd like to admit.

Watching Lucy wake up was erotic - a word he'd never thought he'd associate with something as simple as waking up.

Lucy blinked a few times, her eyes slowly fluttering open. She looked confused for a second, then glanced up and froze when she realized the position they were in.

"Laxus..?" she whispered, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Morning," he rumbled, his voice a little huskier than usual.

Her eyes widened a bit, taking in their proximity. She quickly retracted her arm and leg, a blush spreading across her cheeks. "Wha - how -" she stammered, not knowing how she got into this situation… again.

Laxus propped himself up on one elbow, a smug grin crossing his face as he looked at the flustered blonde beside him. "Really Blondie… I don't like it when my women are clingy but for you… I'll make an exception." His voice dipping, teasing.

Lucy's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. "Me?" she hissed in indignation. "You're the one in my bed!"

He leaned in just enough that their noses almost brushed. "Well… you invited me to your bed. Don't you remember?"

Laxus was just about to reach for Lucy, ready to toss in a few more teasing remarks, when his nose picked up the scent of Porlyusica together with her teammates. He pulled back slightly. "Get yourself together, Blondie. Porlyusica's on her way up to check you over. You've been out for a week."

He slipped off the bed and settled into the chair beside her, leaning back and crossing his arms as he made himself comfortable.

Lucy's eyes went wide. "A week?"

Before he could answer, the infirmary door swung open, and Natsu, Erza, and Wendy burst in, nearly bowling over the healer in their hurry. "Luce!" Natsu shouted, a huge grin on his face as he pulled her in for a tight hug. Erza and Wendy followed close behind.

"Glad to see you're okay now, Lucy-san." Wendy murmured.

Erza pulled back slightly, a rare softness in her gaze. "You got us all worried."

Tears pricked at Lucy's eyes, overwhelmed by the warmth of her friends. "Gomen, gomen…" she murmured softly, hugging each of them in turn.

Porlyusica cleared her throat, cutting through the moment. "You can all continue this reunion later. I need to check her first. Now, move."

As everyone stepped back, the room fell silent while Porlyusica went through her routine, examining Lucy carefully. "Did Laxus give you the medicine when you woke up?" she asked, her tone as brisk as ever.

"I did," Laxus confirmed. "She woke up in the middle of the night."

Porlyusica gave a brief nod, her hands glowing with a soft green light as they hovered over Lucy's abdomen. "There are still faint traces of that foreign magic, but the medicine should clear it up within 24 hours. Try not to use your magic in the meantime. I'll be back tomorrow to check on you."

Lucy opened her mouth to speak. "Can I –"

"And no, you will stay here until I say you can leave." Porlyusica cut her off firmly, already anticipating her question.

Lucy knew Porlyusica couldn't be budged. This was the same woman who slapped their guild master while he was half-dead. "HaiArigatou, Porlyusica-san."

Porlyusica snorted, but there was a softness in her gaze as she nodded. "Just take care of yourself, girl. You've got quite the crowd waiting on you."

As Porlyusica made her way to the door, she finally noticed Gray, who was standing near the doorway, his hands in his pockets. She smiled warmly at him. "Gray," she whispered, motioning for him to come closer. And when he did, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a warm hug. "It's not your fault, you know. I'd do it again in a heartbeat… for any of you."

Gray stayed quiet, but a faint smile tugged at his lips as he hugged her back. When they pulled away, Lucy's brow creased at the sight of a dark bruise on his temple. She reached a hand out, fingers hovering above it, about to ask -

"Don't say anything," Gray cut in gently, giving her a knowing look. "This is a well-deserved wake-up call."

He leaned in, pressing his forehead against Lucy's, his dark blue eyes locking with hers. "I swear I'll get stronger and protect you, Lucy…"

Lucy nodded, a weight lifting from her chest. "You'd better keep that promise, you know," she replied with a soft smile. "You just made a promise to a Celestial mage."

Gray just chuckled and flicked her forehead lightly. "Yeah yeah… I know, idiot."

"Well then," Erza's armor clinked softly as she moved. "We'll let you get some more rest, Lucy." She offered a reassuring smile before continuing. "We've asked Mira to bring your meals up here. And, in the meantime, we had Freed put up some runes to prevent any accidental magic use. It also means… you're grounded here for now," she added, a smirk on her features. "I'm sure you are aware that Loke and Virgo like to visit unannounced."

Lucy gave a sheepish smile. "Hai, Erza…" she murmured. 'It's just for a day, can't be that bad…'

"Laxus," Erza's gaze grew serious as she addressed him. "I'll leave her to you."

He nodded, his expression steady.

A memory surfaced in Lucy's mind, and she quickly called out. "Ah, Erza -"

But Erza simply lifted her hand with a knowing smile. "Laxus told me already, no need."

And she winked.

Lucy's eyes widened.

Natsu pulled her into another hug, showing his usual toothy smile. "Hurry up and get better, okay? We'll go on another job as soon as you're outta here!"

Lucy laughed, brightening. "You bet!"

When silence finally filled the room, she glanced over at Laxus who had been unusually silent the whole time. "Why didn't you go with them?"

"You heard Erza."

She raised an eyebrow, a hint of a challenge in her tone. "And here I thought you didn't listen to anyone."

Laxus gave her a look, amused. "I'd rather you not fall face-first than deal with that red-headed demon."

Lucy pouted at his comment. "Will not!"

Wanting to prove the Lightning Dragon Slayer wrong, she scooted off her bed and stood perfectly upright for a split-second… then her legs suddenly turned to jell-o.

She gasped, reaching out instinctively, and Laxus caught her in an instant, that annoying smirk already on his damned handsome face.

"I told yo–"

"Shut up!" she huffed, her cheeks flaming.

Right then, her stomach growled, and Laxus' low laugh filled the room as her cheeks flushed even more.

He stood up, making his way to the door. "I'll let Mira know to send some food asap, she must be cooking up a storm for her to take this long."

"Thank you, Laxus." she said softly, the sincerity in her voice making him pause.

He glanced back, a small smirk playing on his lips. "You owe me another date."

She raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "I thought you didn't do–"

"Making it clear this time," he interrupted, his tone gruff but teasing, "so you don't come up with some stupid shit."

Her laugh rang out, light and genuine.

He was fine as long as she was.


Bickslow watched the blonde in amusement.

Lucy Heartfilia was undeniably a petite and slim woman with a toned figure despite her delicate appearance. Given her refined upbringing, he'd half-expected her to be a picky eater. He never quite understood Happy's constant "fat jokes" when the woman clearly looked fit and incredibly hot.

Now, he's starting to understand the blue Exceed… maybe.

Thirty minutes ago, Mira had come in with more than enough food for the petite blonde: a colorful fruit bowl, a full plate of rice, eggs, bacon, and sausages, and another stacked with waffles and pancakes.

Now, all the plates were spotless.

The petite, refined blonde who seemed like she'd nibble at a salad had just devoured the feast without a second thought. Clearly, that week of sleep had built up quite the appetite.

"Didn't think you could put that much food away, Cosplayer." he teased, leaning against the backrest of the chair he was sitting on.

Lucy just laughed, patting her stomach with satisfaction. "I think Natsu's rubbing off on me."

"I hope not," Bickslow grinned, his totems happily floating around Lucy. "Heard from Boss that you're stuck here for a day. Don't want you to go haywire."

He could see that she was enjoying the presence of his totem babies. And for some reason that he couldn't fathom, he can tell that his babies genuinely liked Lucy Heartfilia. "A day isn't so bad," she responded, cooing at the youngest of his babies. "I've been on house arrest so many times, it's nothing new."

He also just remembered how awful her childhood was because of her shitty excuse of a father.

He was still a bit curious though…

"Because your team keeps leveling towns and mountains?" he asked as innocently as he could.

"My dad hated it when I kept popping in his office." She was now playing with Pappa, the oldest of all his souls. "So, he basically had me locked in my room for most days of the week so I don't run around the mansion."

Bickslow inwardly winced. "Sorry about that, Cosplayer." his eyes went straight to the door, silently praying that Laxus doesn't come in and finding the girl in a slightly downhearted state.

Lucy simply grinned at him, not a trace of sadness in her features - thank the Gods. "It's okay! And honestly, I was kind of happy that he did that." All of his babies were now sitting in a line in front of her, listening to her intently. "It was how I discovered I could use magic and got to summon my very first Zodiac spirit, Aquarius."

"Oooh, tell me more about that." Bickslow grinned, wanting to shift the conversation to a lighter topic.

And in an instant, Lucy turned a full 180 just to face him and he swore that she seemed to glow brighter. And at that moment, it dawned on him why Laxus was attracted to Lucy. She just had this certain je ne sais quoi - see, I remember all the nerdy shit that Freed says - about her. She just has this magnetic energy that makes people gravitate towards her.

Bickslow was used to reading people. It was a lot like reading into people's souls. But with Lucy, there was nothing hidden. Her soul was laid bare in front of him, as bright and warm as her magic itself.

For a fleeting moment, he felt a pang of something between admiration and protectiveness. But just as quickly, he brushed it aside, chuckling at himself. Laxus had been keeping watch over her since day one, and he could sense where that connection was leading them. Lucy and Laxus were on their way to finding something rare together. He was more than happy to watch their story unfold in its own time.

'I like Cosplayer, Bicks!'

Bickslow couldn't help but smile at the sudden confession of one of his babies. 'Me too, Poppo…'

"It sure is fun when your spirits get to be with you all the time, huh…" Lucy poked the nose of Pappa who seems to be enjoying the attention he's getting.

Bickslow understood Lucy's sentiment. He and Lucy had one common ground, and that revolved around handling spirits as a part of their magic. "It has its ups and downs," he opened his palm for Peppa to land on. "But, I wouldn't have them any other way."

He noticed his four totems stacked neatly on top of Lucy's head, and a grin tugged at his lips at the cute sight. "They seem to like you a lot, Cosplayer." he remarked, his gaze following Peppa as it flew over to join the stack.

With her delicate hands, she carefully lifted the little tower of totems from her head, nuzzling them gently with her nose. "Of course!" She cast a playful look his way. "I'm prettier, so… I win!"

Almost immediately, his totem babies began floating above her, as if in wholehearted agreement. Bickslow chuckled. "That… you are." Even Lucy's charm worked on his loyal totems.

A knock disrupted the light conversation between the two. "Lucy?" It was Mira. "Are you done with your food? I'm here to pick them up."

Before Lucy could respond, she saw Bickslow's totems group together to carry the tray full of empty plates. When Mira opened the door, she was a bit surprised to find a floating tray right in front of her. "Oh my…"

Mira took in the scene before her. It looked perfectly innocent - Bickslow seated on the chair beside Lucy's bed, the blonde mage sitting cross-legged, chatting with him as if making up for a week's worth of missed conversations. Nothing seemed amiss; just two friends catching up.

But Mira's mind was clearly racing, her eyes narrowing with that all-too-familiar spark.

And Lucy knew that look.

And she had no intention of becoming a subject of another one of Mira's matchmaking schemes.

"Mira, when's the last time you visited the storage room? I caught Natsu and Lisanna in there one time."

Mira's Satan Soul flared to life.

"NATSU!"

Lucy and Bickslow exchanged wide-eyed looks, then burst into laughter.

As their laughter subsided, Bickslow, still grinning, glanced over at Lucy who was wiping tears from her eyes. "You're evil, Cosplayer!"

Just then, the door creaked open, and Lucy and Bickslow quickly straightened their faces, fighting the urge to laugh. Surely Mira hadn't caught on that fast, right?

It was Laxus.

He eyed the blonde woman on the bed, still flushed and trying to suppress her giggles. "Natsu's pissing his pants right now because of Mira." he said, his voice dry.

Lucy and Bickslow exchanged amused glances, barely managing to keep their faces straight.

Laxus settled on the edge of Lucy's bed and raised a brow at her. "Did they actually get all cozy in the storage room?"

Lucy tilted her head, a playful gleam in her eyes. "I thought you guys knew. Evergreen was the one who caught them. She only told me because she assumed I knew about them."

"Damn," Bickslow said with a mischievous grin. "Natsu's gettin' it!" He shot Lucy a sly look. "What about you, Cos -"

He was promptly cut off by a pillow to the face… courtesy of Laxus.


Thanks to her and Laxus's team, one day went by in a flash. Now, finally back in her apartment, Lucy was soaking in the blissful heat of her bath. The steam curled around her, and Virgo was more than happy to help her wash her hair and scrub her back, making the experience all the more soothing.

After a relaxing soak, Lucy stepped out of her bathroom wrapped in nothing but a towel… only to find Laxus sitting on her bed, flipping through the manuscript of her book.

Her face turned red. "WHY ARE YOU IN MY ROOM?! And also… STOP READING THAT!" She snatched the papers right out of his hands, clutching it to her chest like it was her lifeline.

But he just smirked, that irritatingly charming look on his face.

"HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE?!"

Laxus blinked, feigning innocence. But Lucy isn't one to be fooled. "Through your window, of course."

And here she was thinking that Laxus would have some sort of decency in him to go through people's doors. "Oh I was hoping, you know, you'd go through this thing called A DOOR?!"

He shrugged. "I tried to, but you weren't answering."

"I WAS TAKING A BATH!"

"Natsu was right. The window's much faster."

Lucy wanted to cry.

"And besides, I'm pretty sure the entire guild already knows where you live and how to get in. You got yourself to blame for teaming up with that matchstick."

She glared, trying to keep her resolve even as he stood, tossing her one last smirk. "I'll swing by at 8. Dress comfy." he said, smoothly stepping onto her windowsill and jumping out to the streets of Magnolia.

Lucy blinked.

And blinked.

And blinked.

"LAXUS, USE THE DOOR!"


Author's Note:

Hi, hi~!

Hope y'all enjoyed this upload! As always, sending lots of love to those who left a review and to those who are following as well. *heart*

Let me know what you guys think. The next chapter will be the last so... see you!