This is my first shot at writing a Fan Fiction. I really love writing and this is a story just for fun really, to play around with some of my favorite characters. There will be other parings in this story like Nalu and a few other ships of mine. This one is going to be mainly centered around FreedXLaxus but there will be times it will branch off. This story is for fun only and nothing else, I do not own the characters in any shape or form. Lastly I really hope you enjoy!

The sun was setting in the town of Magnolia and guild was starting to quiet down. Natsu and Grey had just been pulled apart by Erza, who scolded and commanded them to behave the rest of the evening so for the most part, things were winding down.

Erza sat with the two boys, enjoying a slice of vanilla sponge cake, with white buttermilk icing and strawberries.

Lucy soon joined them with a tankard of sweet juice, made by Mira, who was now cleaning out a pitcher that had been in use all day, holding this or that going from table to table.

Cana and Levi sat at the bar, chatting happily about couples in the guild, and who should be with who, why and how they should get together, and when they thought it would happen. Currently they were talking about Lucy and Natsu, how they had been spending more time off of missions in each-others company, rather than apart.

Alzack was sitting at the end of the bar, cleaning out his gun and listening for his or Bisca's name. There was no harm in wanting to hear what others thought about you, right?

Freed watched over the railing of the second floor at everyone on the ground floor. It was interesting to see how everyone spent their time, especially when it was so calm. He could see Elfman, and Lisanna were talking in the corner, Romeo and Windy were practicing a few simple spells.

Everyone had their own way to relax and Freed supposed he was no different. It was very relaxing to see what everyone was up to, and it gave him the rare chance to space out, and stop planning what to do next.

He sat with Bixlow and Evergreen at their usual table. Freed could hear the trading of their voices back and forth, but didn't pay enough attention to understand what information was passed. Simple thoughts passed in and out of his mind not staying long enough to trouble him. For a moment he mauled over the idea of getting a mission even if he didn't really need the money. It never hurt to save up. Freed had opened his mouth to ask his team what they thought when he was interrupted.

"Hey, can you NOT be doing that? Like right now?" Bixlow asked, his babies swirling around his head and dancing over to freed.

He backed away from them, giving them an annoyed glance. "What am I doing?" he asked.

"You are tapping your finger." Bixlow pointed to Freed's hand, which was indeed repetitively knocking the table.

"Tap Tap! Tapping! Tap Tap Tapping!" A doll sang, twirling around Freed's face.

"Oh sorry. I didn't notice." He complied and pulled his hands off of the table to stop the tapping.

Bixlow nodded "Something bothering you? Or are you just your normal brand of quiet and weird?" Bixlow asked.

"Weird! Weird!" was repeated.

Freed shrugged. "If I have to chose between the two then I would have to say, normal."

"You know, when you stare out into no where like that, its almost like you're waiting for Laxus." Evergreen cooed and smiled, stirring her drink with a smirk.

Freed didn't so much as glance at her. "That's a strange thing to just assume." He brushed off.

"Is it? Because I remember how that little habit started. The staring off and spacing out? Yeah. I completely convinced that started about the time Laxus had drifted away from coming to the guild every night." She paused and glanced over to Freed, his face hidden by his layers of hair. "Like a little loyal pup, waiting for his master to come back."

That got him to blush a little.

"Its nothing like that." He insisted, looking towards the door.

He had broken his habit of waiting for Laxus a month after he had been expelled from the guild, and its true he had hoped their leader would make a return after he had been allowed back in. Sadly months had passed and they saw no sign at all of their leader.

"Trust me. I've stopped waiting on him. It's just nice to watch everyone so carefree and happy. You never know when someone or some thing will attack our guild hall again, or something of that nature." he insisted.

"You said stopped." Bixlow added. "That means you WERE waiting for him at one point, RIIIGHT?" He asked, a laugh mixing in with his voice as he did.

"That is not what I meant." Freed growled softly trying not to let his friend poke at his nerves.

"Riiight? Right?" His puppets sang.

He was going to yell at him to knock it off, but lost the heart to. What did it matter what they said? He didn't feel like destroying the calm atmosphere around the guild.

"Fine. You're right. I was hoping he would come back, but I would think the rest of the Thunder Legion would share that desire. Again, I suppose I'm wrong." he shrugged and looked down. A small sigh escaped his lips.

The night persisted on. Soon everyone was picked off, going home to sleep, or going out to find better entertainment. It was about one in the morning before Freed noticed how late it had gotten. Or at this point, how early it was.

He looked to Mira, who had been talking to him about the on goings of the guild. "I believe its time for me to start home."

She looked up and smiled. "Of course. This is the latest I think you have ever stayed without their being a reason to." She beamed happily.

"Most likely." He smirked and nodded, standing.

"I'll expect you in late tomorrow then?" Mira asked.

Freed nodded before she went back to cleaning up the last few tankards on the bar.

He walked past Natsu, who was snoring, asleep on the table. "Too much work and not enough sleep." Freed shook his head, and jiggled the pink haired wizards shoulder.

"Hua? What time is it? Five more minutes alright?" He mumbled.

"Come on Natsu. Head home before Mira has to kick you out. Most everyone is gone." Freed chuckled.

"Wha? What about Lucy? She was supposed to wake me up before she left!" Natsu asked shooting up.

"Don't ask me. She must have gotten to fed up with you and ditched you here." He shrugged starting to walk to the door.

"Ahh, again? Thanks Freed." Natsu called back, wrapping his scarf back around his neck, before rushing ahead of Freed and out the door.

Watching him go, Freed followed and reached for the handle.

Before he could open it, it started to creak towards him making Freed step back. He peered around the heavy wooden door to see who could be coming in so late.

He was met with a spiky head of hair and an all to familiar scar.

"L-Laxus?!" Freed stuttered stepping back, shocked thoroughly.

He walked in, passing Freed with ease. "Hey, Its been a while." Laxus called over his shoulder, as nonchalantly and carelessly as ever. He spoke as if it had only been a few hours since the two had seen each other.

"W-well YEAH! I'll say!" Freed followed behind him. "What...are you doing here?"

"Look, lets not make a big deal about this. I know you all want me to come back, for what reason I don't know, but I'm not back." He shot down most of Freed's hopes quickly.

"Hua? Wait? What? Why? Why are you here now? Why are you not back?" The mint haired mage asked trying to wrap his mind around it.

"I'm here now because Mira asked me to help her out with some odd jobs here and there, as well as take on a few of the jobs on the board no one wants. Besides I still have to eat, so I take a job now and again to take care of myself."

"Well...It sounds like you're doing a lot of work for the guild. Why don't you re-join if you're" he was cut off.

"Because Freed, what I asked you all to do before was across the line by a mile and a half. I haven't earned my place back in Fairy Tail yet so until I feel right about being in this guild hall I am just going to help out how ever I can."

Freed paused. What could he say to counter that?

They stopped in front of the job board, Laxus scanned over the jobs and the dates they were posted. It didn't look like anything was more than a week old, so that concluded his entire reason for being here.

"You came so late...so no one would see you, hua?" Freed asked quietly.

"Yeah that about explains why. I don't want you or any of the others getting everyone worked up." Laxus nodded, still looking the board over.

They paused, a comfortable silence between them.

"Alright." Freed sighed. "I won't tell anyone I saw you here tonight. I guess I should be going now, so good night." He turned to go, almost wishing he had left earlier.

"Freed wait." Laxus called.

"What is it?" He asked back, not troubling himself enough to turn around fully.

"Well...thanks for keeping this between us. I hope you're not to pissed at me, or what ever."

Freed shrugged. "It's not really that big of a problem for me. I just hope one day you'll see what happened wasn't what has to define who we are for the rest of our lives. We can rise above what happened."

"Maybe. I just feel like its going to take more time." Laxus agreed.

"I know when you are ready to come back, all of Fairy Tail will be happy to have you." Freed promised. "Especially the Thunder Legion."

"Yeah, you're right, as always." Laxus laughed and followed Freed out of the guild hall.

The pair walked down the dimly lit streets, not forcing conversation. It wasn't the easiest thing for them to start talking like everything was normal completely back to normal after he had been gone so long.

"Are you at least back in Magnolia?" Freed asked, not wanting to walk the entire way home without saying anything.

"Eh, yeah, but I never really left. I have a house here in the city." He explained.

"Oh? Yeah I remember now. We used to meet up there every now and again. I guess I had assumed you sold it." He mumbled offhandedly.

"Hmm? Oh no. I still need a place to crash and why not live in Magnolia right?"

Freed nodded, zoning out a bit. He wondered why of all nights he happened to stay out so late.

They both walked in silence for the rest of the walk, before long Freed stopped in front of a gate, leading to a gated apartment complex. "Well this is me. Night." he called.

Laxus looked over the buildings. "Really? You aren't that far from the Guild hall." He commented.

"Yeah, I kinda planned it that way." Freed chuckled rolling his eyes.

"Why the gates though?" He asked as Freed passed through one, and closed it up.

"If you haven't noticed, gates, walls and traps in general are kinda my thing." he smirked. A purple script surrounding Laxus.

"Hua? Freed! Let me out of here!" Laxus demanded, he pressed on one of the walls and tried to break free.

"No, I think I'll just go to bed." he let out a long dramatic yawn "Sure am getting tired. I might not even have enough magic energy to undo that spell." he smirked.

"Damn it Freed, if you weren't behind that gate I would-"

"Still be stuck, because of the script?" Freed chuckled.

Laxus growled.

"Oh fine." Freed smiled and twirled his finger. The spell dropped and Laxus stumbled out of the trap.

"Night." Freed called again.

Laxus paused. "Night" he called back.