Firsts

Chapter 15

As it turned out, Bickslow didn't get into much trouble for being late that day. Mainly because Laxus wasn't just late. He didn't show up at all. As he put it, after proposing to Mirajane, he deserved at least one day to just be alone with her.

Right. More like they got drunk too (probably why she actually had sex with him on the couch, still gross) and he just forgot. But whatever lie he wanted to use, it was whatever to Lisanna.

And besides, she had a very busy few weeks after that. Mira wanted to have the wedding as soon as possible. Which, of course, made everyone think she was rushing it because she didn't want Laxus to have a chance to back out, but if he heard you discussing that, he'd not only shut you down, but also slap you. Very hard. In the head. Lisanna would know. Her boyfriend got that treatment quite frequently.

"Mirajane and I want to get this over with for our own reason," was all he'd grumble and that was that.

It wasn't until Lisanna was home one day, in the kitchen, that she found out what that reason was. They were coming in and for some reason didn't think she'd be there (okay, so she'd spent the last week in full at Bickslow's, but so what) and were talking about that exact issue.

"-think we should wait, I dunno, probably two weeks after the honeymoon," Mira was saying.

"Would you know by then? If it was really when we found out?"

"Think so."

"Mira," Laxus was sighing as he led her into the house. "Why can't we just tell the truth? You're pregnant. Big deal. We're getting married and now it doesn't matter, huh?"

"I guess, but I just-"

"You're what?"

They both froze then at the sight of Lisanna peacefully trying to eat her toast only to be bombarded with that sort of news.

Of course they immediately went into all the reasons why no one could know. And, after Lisanna questioned her, yes, all that stuff Mira had told Lisanna before about them almost breaking up was true. They were fighting over commitment and their future. Mainly because Laxus didn't want to keep the baby and Mira did. It was that night though, that they got engaged, where she gave him an ultimatum. They got married or they broke up and she did the baby stuff alone.

Yeah, like that was going to happen.

"But Mira," Lisanna had reasoned after the shock wore off. "Everyone knows that Laxus and you have sex. Why wouldn't they?"

"Damn straight," Laxus grunted to which Mirajane rolled her eyes.

"Still," she said. "I want my baby to be…I don't know. It's not about what people think of me. I don't care. It's just about what they say about my baby. Our baby."

"If the demon wants to get married and then tell everybody, I don't care." He patted her on the head. "But you're gonna have a hard time, Mira, convincing everyone at the reception of why you don't wanna drink."

And that was that. Lisanna was brought into their web of lies and they just went on.

…But of course she still told Bickslow.

"A baby, huh?" he'd mumbled. "That's, like, crazy. Boss with a baby. Baby and boss. Huh."

"I know, right? I mean, I think Mirajane will be a good mother."

"The best."

"But Laxus?"

"Hmmm." Then, as they'd been snuggling on the couch, Bickslow only had to tilt his head down a little to look at her. "Hey, Lissy?"

"What?"

"You're, like, totally on something for that, right?" He only stared, as if terrified by the possibilities. "Right?"

"Shut up, Bickslow."

"Are-"

"Yes, stupid."

So there was that conversation.

All that had passed though and finally, finally, it was the day of Mirajane's wedding. Even though it hadn't been that long since they'd announced their engagement, actually only five weeks, it was still felt like an eternity to both the Strauss sisters. Although that might have had more to do with Elfman's incessant crying than anything else.

He cried constantly. About how Mira was going to be giving him the house and moving into a new place with Laxus very soon, staying in his apartment until that time. Or how he seemed fairly certain that Lisanna wouldn't be sticking around much longer either. Or about the fact that he'd asked Ever to move in with him when Mira moved out and she'd told him flat no. Then later, when she told him yes, he cried some more.

It was hopeless. It was all hopeless.

They spent days moving all of Mira's stuff to Laxus' place, only knowing that they'd be moving it into some new house that Laxus was going to be buying for her.

"Massive," he told her once when she and Lisanna were sitting around his apartment, resting after moving most of her stuff over. "This place is going to be a palace. Me, you, the baby, we'll live like kings. Swear."

Mira had only giggled as Lisanna smiled and asked, "Where are you gonna get your riches, King Dreyar?"

He'd only snorted as he stood behind the couch, resting his hands on Mira's shoulders which he was sort of massaging.

"I'm the strongest mage in all of Fiore," he told her simply. "I'm going to take tons of jobs before the kid gets here. Then I'mma buy it all sorts of cool things. He's going to be-"

"What if it's a girl?" Mira asked, tilting her head back to glance at him. He only leaned down to kiss hers.

"Then she's going to have everything that she wants. What difference does it make?" He let go of her to flex then. "I'm gonna make a whole legion of babies. They're gonna grow up to be the strongest team ever."

Mira blinked. "How many are you-"

"A thousand."

"Laxus-"

"Five. We're gonna have five kids. Right in succession. So I can lead them. Like an army."

"Are you drunk?" Mira asked him as Lisanna took to giggling.

"Just a little."

"Oh, Laxus."

"I'm thinking all boys," he said before patting Mira on the shoulder and heading off to his kitchen to get himself another beer. "But one or two girls would be fine. I guess. Just as long as it's not all girls."

"You do know I can't control this. It's all on you, really. Technically," she told him. "So if we have all girls-"

"We can't, Mira."

"Why not?"

"Because," he complained as he came back with a beer, bottle of water, and a soda. Lisanna frowned when she only got a soda. "I-"

"I'm old enough to drink too, you know," Lisanna complained. Laxus only gave Mira the water before popping the tab on his beer and moving to sit down on the couch with them, right in the center. Lisanna only stuck her tongue out at him.

"We can't have all girls," he began again "because then, Mira, who's going to fight?"

"What do you mean?"

"They can't," he told her. "They might…you know, get hurt. And then what? Huh? That's why we need-"

"You are not serious," Mira said as Lisanna resorted to pinching him for his offense. "That is so sexist, Laxus. You do realize-"

"Yes, I do know, Mira, that you're strong. Whatever. But that doesn't mean that they gotta be," he reasoned. "They're gonna learn magic, fine, of course, but I don't see why they'd ever have to get too good at it. Or something. They can just stay home. And be safe. And let the boys go do jobs."

Mira pinched him that time. "Behave."

"I'm trying to protect our imaginary children, okay?" He took another sip of his beer. "And if one of you pinches me again, you're going to get backhanded. Especially you, Lisanna."

She did it again, just to spite him. He only tapped her in the head though before wrapping an arm around Mirajane, who was of course giggling.

Maybe not everything was hopeless.

Again though, days had come to pass since then. And in that current moment, Lisanna was sitting up at the guild, preparing it for the reception that would be held there after the wedding.

"This is so hard," Natsu complained to her as he helped her set up. Err, rather, his girlfriend was helping while he was trying in vain to get them to give him some attention. "You guys are making food and we can't eat it?"

"The wedding is, like, in three hours, Natsu," Lucy sighed as he jumped around. "I'm sure you can wait that long."

"Hardly," he whined.

Bickslow, who was mostly doing nothing as well, checked the time on the clock before going over to Lisanna, who was behind the bar restocking it, to knock her gently in the head with his knuckles.

"You better get down to the church," he said simply. "Or we better, I guess."

"Yeah, you guys are both in the wedding," Lucy reasoned, glancing over at them. "Really, you should go down there. We have everything here."

"You sure?" Lisanna was hesitant, but Lucy only shrugged.

"Very. Besides, everyone else already ditched to go get ready. Go. Natsu and I will be there soon too. After we finish here and change."

"Change?' Natsu complained. "You were serious about that tux thing, Luce?"

"Very."

"Okay. See you guys there," Lisanna sighed as she and Bickslow headed for the door.

Behind her, she heard Natsu asked, "How come we don't get to be in the wedding, Luce?"

"Because Laxus hates us," was her answer.

"What? Nah."

"Yes."

"Not you," he reasoned.

"No, but his hatred of you is so immense that I'm out by association. So thanks a lot, Natsu."

The second they were out the door, the babies following, Bickslow found himself slipping his hand into Lisanna's.

"This is still so weird, huh?" she asked him as they headed towards the church. "Mira and Laxus getting married?"

He only shrugged. "We all knew it'd happen eventually."

"I guess so."

"Can't believe stupid Freed gets to be the best man though. That was bull. I could have planned a way better bachelor party."

"I know," she sighed. "You've told me."

"Oh, and I don't have to hear about how mad you are that she chose Erza to be her Maid of Honor?"

"Well that was a bigger betrayal than Laxus overlooking you," Lisanna told him. He only glanced down at her and grinned.

"How do you figure?"

"How do you figure?" his babies mimicked. "Lisanna?"

"Because I'm her sister," she said simply. "The one that she cherishes above all. And she hates Erza."

"Hated."

"No," Lisanna sighed. "Trust me. If it was Erza getting married, it'd very much so be hate."

He only winked at her. "If there was any reason to hate this whole thing, it'd be because I don't get to wear my helmet. Your sister has forbid it."

"Can you blame her?"

"Oh, what? So now suddenly helmets aren't wedding attire?"

She only squeezed his hand. "For the record, Bickslow, they're never going to be nor were they ever."

'Bet they were in medieval times," he grumbled. "Bet if a woman was marrying a damn knight, she'd want them all to know it. He'd come in his full suit of armor. Bet you."

"Well, you're not marrying Mira, Bickslow."

"No," he agreed. "I ain't."

"So I really don't think she cares if you're a knight or not."

"Not," his babies repeated making him frown. "Not."

"You know, you guys have gotten a little too chummy with Lissy here," he grumbled as she only giggled. "I mean, seriously."

When they arrived at the church, Bickslow immediately went off to find Laxus while Lisanna only headed to see her sister.

She was getting ready in one of the back rooms, Erza busy doing her make up. They seemed to be arguing though as the only other person in the room, Evergreen, looked on with boredom.

"-believe that I'm getting married and the great Erza Scarlet couldn't even get a date."

"I told you, Mira," she complained, trying to keep the contempt out of her voice as she spoke. "I have a date, but he shall not be getting here until the reception."

"My, my," Mira mocked. "Do tell me, what is it exactly that's holding Ichiya up?"

"For the last time," Erza growled. "It's not Ichiya!"

"Hey," Evergreen, who'd been looking over her nails, glanced over at them. "Do you want me to take over, Erza? I can do her make-"

"No, no," she said through clenched teeth. "Believe me, I've got this."

Lisanna only came closer, as if to make sure that Erza wasn't completely screwing her sister up just to spite her.

"Hi, Lisanna," Mirajane greeted when she noted her presence. "You really need to get into your dress."

She looked over the bridesmaids dresses that both Erza and Ever were sporting. Then she scratched at the back of her head.

"Uh, yeah, I was just about to get on that."

"Something wrong, Lisanna?" Erza glanced over at her and took in the look on her face. "Are you-"

"You know that she hates being in the church," Mira told her. "I mean, we did sort of hold her funeral here. She had a gravestone, after all."

"It's not that," she assured them as Ever only rolled her eyes. "It's just… I dunno. Everything's happening at once, I guess."

"Aw, Lisanna, are you sad that I'm getting married?"

"No," she told her sister. "Not really. It's just…different. And you won't be in the house anymore-"

"We're not kicking you out, Lisanna," Evergreen assured her. "If that's what you're afraid of. Besides, I don't think your brother would let me even if-"

"It's not that either," she assured the other woman. "And besides, I really don't think I can stay with you and Elf very long anyhow."

"Why not?"

Mira knew though. Even Erza knew, just from the look on her face. Lisanna didn't know how to put it though.

"You know," she said slowly. "You and, uh, big brother Elf fight a lot and-"

"What are trying to say-"

"N-Nothing," she said. "I just mean… I've never lived without you, Mirajane. Even in Edolas, I lived with that Mira and Elfman. This is all so… I dunno. Weird. Like the end of something or-"

"You can come live with Laxus and I, Lisanna," Mirajane offered. "When we get our new house. Okay? Would that-"

"I wouldn't want to do that either," she told her. "I mean, you guys are just starting out and-"

"Then where-"

"I'll probably just, I dunno, move into my own place," she said slowly. "I think."

No one said anything for a moment before Mirajane said slowly, "I dunno, Lisanna. That'd be a lot of-"

"I'd pay for it. I'm not asking you to-"

"I'd rather you just live with Elf or me, really."

"But-"

"Lisanna's an adult," Ever said then as Erza, finished with Mira, made an excuse to leave the room. She knew that family well and it was the last one whose drama she'd want to get caught up in. "She can do whatever she wants, Mira."

"That might be," Mirajane said slowly as she stood from the chair she was in. "But she's still my sister and I'm gong to look out for her. You're not ready, Lisanna, to live on your-"

"But if she thinks that she is-"

"What do you know, Evergreen? You're dating Elfman. Your opinion isn't valid in any conversation ever."

They were both surprised, Ever and Lisanna, by that little tidbit from Mirajane. Even she didn't seem to have meant to say it. After a moment, she only took to staring at her sister.

"The point is, Lisanna, that a lot is going on today, alright?" She only shrugged a little. "So how about we discuss this later? Okay?"

Discuss. Like Mirajane had some sort of say in it. Well, she didn't. Because Evergreen was right. Lisanna was an adult.

…Though Ever's motives behind supporting her were suspect. Lisanna figured she really just wanted her out of the house so that she and Elf could live alone. Which was fine. She respected that. Why should they have to live with her? Both Mirajane and Elfman were grown. They deserved to be out on their own.

By the same token, however, so did she.

"You have to admit, love him or hate him, Laxus does look rather nice in a suit."

"Bleck," Natsu said after that remark from his girlfriend. "Gross."

Lucy only shrugged as she sat at one of the tables in the guildhall. "Just saying."

Lisanna, who was sitting with them, only glanced at her newly crowned brother-in-law, who was over with the Thunder Legion, who were crying over him like usual, sad that he was going to be leaving the next morning on his honeymoon.

"He cleans up nice, I guess," she sighed making Natsu stick his tongue out further and Lucy nod in agreement. Pappa, who was seated in her lap, repeated the end of that, though it sounded hollow, as all his cohorts were over with their papa.

"The wedding was nice," Lucy went on, as if being retrospective. Happy, who was seated next to her with a plate of food, offered up his own compliments.

"Whoever made this fish sure knows how to cook," he added. Lisanna and Lucy both giggled at that as Natsu only went back to drinking.

It was while they were sitting there though that eventually Laxus found himself breaking away from the Thunder God Tribe to head over, first to Mirajane to whisper something to her, before slowly over to the table Lisanna was at.

"Scram," he said simply which was enough to get the buzzed Natsu and fearful Lucy and Happy to find a new table. Then he sat down, right next to Lisanna, and she was reminded of that time he came over to tell her that he knew about her and Bickslow. If only a little.

"Your sister said that you're moving out too," he said slowly. She only glanced at him.

"And?"

"You're gonna make this complicated, huh?" Reaching over, he patted her on the head, much to the dismay of Lisanna.

"Why do you have to do that? Huh? You always ruin my ha-"

"I want you to move in with me and your sister," he said. "I've already got a few places that-"

"What? No. Laxus-"

"Lisanna, just-"

"No," she repeated. "You and Mirajane are just getting married. You don't want me there to-"

"Don't tell me what I want."

"You know you don't," she went on. "Mirajane's putting you up to this, isn't she?"

"No," he said with a slight frown. "She's not, Lisanna."

"You-"

"Besides," he said, dropping his voice down lower then. "With the baby coming, we'll need someone around to help out. And you-"

"I'm not, Laxus," she told him. "Moving in, I mean. I'll help with the baby whenever. You know that. But I want… I want this, alright? To be on my own? I-"

"On your own where?"

They both glanced up as Bickslow came over to the table. Pappa immediately took to the air to greet the other wooden dolls who were just as happy to see him. They were all just so cute.

"Lisanna wants to move into her own place," Laxus said with a shrug as he slowly got to his feet. "If you're gonna fight me on it, kid, fine. Do it. But just know that you can come stay with us whenever, alright?"

She glanced up at him. "You love me, huh, big brother Lax-"

He knocked his knuckles gently against her head that time. Then, in a soft voice, he said, "Don't make me kill you."

With that, he was gone, leaving her and Bickslow alone. He only grinned though as she took to gigging.

"You got one crazy brother-in-law, Lissy," he snickered as, just as fast as one disappeared, the other one came over.

"Lisanna," Elfman was crying as he came to sit down with her. Tossing an arm over her shoulder, he said, "I just have…so many manly emotions running through me right now. I can't process them all."

She frowned as his tears dripped down onto her head. "There, there, Elf. Why don't you go find Ever and-"

"She told me that you want to leave me too."

"W-Well-"

"I can't take this!" he sobbed. "What did I do wrong, huh? That both you and Mirajane want to leave so badly?"

"It's not that," she assured him. "Just-"

"How am I supposed to handle all of this change?" he cried. "I've never been without Mirajane before. And you…for those two years you were…I can't…"

"Elf, we're not going anywhere serious," she told him. "We'll all still be right here in Magnolia. You know that."

"But," he sniffled. "Magnolia's so big."

"Oh, Elfman."

"And what if you're not, huh?" he went on. "I thought we'd all live in that house together and now that's gone. How long before you and Mirajane decide you want to leave Magnolia? Or worse, Fiore!"

"I really don't think-"

"Mira's always wanted to live in Joya. She's said that before. Or worse yet, the Pergrande Kingdom! Then I'll never see her." He was full on sobbing then, worse than Juvia would be in, oh, ten minutes when Gray rejected her offer for the fourth time to dance. Letting his sister go, he move to lay with his head down on the table and his arms folded around it, taking up most of the space. Bickslow looked to Lisanna for help, but she only shrugged.

"Elfman," she said slowly. "That won't happen."

"How do you know?" he cried. "You two are all I've ever had. And I lost you once. What's to say I won't lose Mirajane too? Huh? Huh? What if she goes to Joya and I can't get to her when she needs me? Or what if you go to Bellum or-"

"Bellum?" Bickslow asked. "You wanna live there?"

She glanced over at him. "Well, if I had to leave Fairy Tail or Magnolia, I've always thought I'd go ahead and leave Fiore too. See the-"

"Now you're leaving too," her brother cried out, bringing them back to their main focus. "How am I supposed to deal with this? Huh? Huh? What happened, Lisanna, to it being the three of us? It was always going to be the three of us! Since Mom and Dad died. And even more so when we got to Fairy Tail. Or when-"

"Elf," she groaned, moving to rest a hand on the back of his head. "Don't cry about it, alright? Huh? Look up. This might be the first time that we've all lived apart, yeah, but it had to happen. A lot of thing have been changing recently, huh?"

He sniffled. "Yeah."

"And a man, a real one at that, would face these changes head on."

He groaned. "Guess so."

"So stop crying, huh?"

"I'm just emotional."

"I know." She was stroking his hair then, softly. "But won't it be nice? To just be you and Ever in the house?"

"Yeah."

"And you can do whatever you want."

"Like what?"

"Like… You know how Mirajane won't let us wear socks and slide around on the kitchen floor? You can do that now! All the time!"

"Alright!"

"No." Evergreen, who was coming over to check on him, shook her head. "You can't."

He lifted his head to look as she sat down next to Bickslow. "But sometimes?"

"Elfman-"

Sniffles. "I just love my sisters."

"Yeah," she sighed loudly. "I've noticed."

Bickslow and Lisanna made their escape about then, her promising her brother that she'd never leave Fiore and, if she did ever did, she'd come and see him at least once a week.

…Yeah right.

After snagging a few beers, she and her boyfriend headed outside with his dolls, to be alone. The sun was setting by that time and it was actually very pretty outside.

"Mmmm," she said as they walked around for awhile before finding a spot, off from everyone, off by one of the corners of the gate surrounding the property. "You know, they're really killing me today."

"Who?"

"Both of them. Or all of them, I guess, now that I have Laxus to think about too."

He only snickered as they babies joined in. "I think you've had him to worry about for quite some time now, Lissy."

She only took a swig from her own beer, watching as her boyfriend looked up at the rising moon.

"You look really nice in your suit, Bickslow."

"You think so?"

"Mmmhmm," she said, nodding her head slightly. "Very, um, snazzy."

"Snazzy," he repeated prompting the babies to do the same. "I think I like that word."

"Do you now?"

He only nodded before taking a moment to look around. Then he found himself taking a step closer to her.

"So you're, uh, moving into your own place?" he asked. "Apartment?"

"I think so," she said. "I mean, I haven't given it much thought, but I'm going to start looking. I-"

"Well," he said slowly. "I've been thinking."

"Thinking?"

"Yeah. In the past few minutes."

She frowned. "Then you couldn't have put too much thought into whatever you're about to-"

"You wanna move in with me and the babies?" he blurted out before he lost his courage. Then Lisanna only stared at him, staring at his tattooed face. "'cause-"

"Bickslow," she said softly. "No."

The he just stood there as if in shock.

"No?"

Shaking her head slightly, she looked off. "I mean, not right now. This whole thing, since the beginning, has been about me being an adult. Growing up. And if I lived with you… I just want to be on my own. To take care of my own bills, worry about my own groceries, and just, you know, be by myself. Not that I don't love you, 'cause I do, but-"

"Wait, you do?"

She blinked before glancing back at his face, a blushing creeping up her own. "W-Well, yeah. I… I mean, you said it first, that night that Laxus proposed to Mirajane."

"I did?"

"Yeah, you-"

"Oh." He was still a little deflated, she could tell, no doubt disappointed in the fact that she didn't want to move in with him. Even the babies seemed a little melancholy then, floating close to Bickslow's head and not saying much.

"Wish you'd said something sooner," he said, scratching at his Mohawk then as he stared at her. "If I'dda known that you already knew that I loved ya, I wouldn't have been stressing so much."

"What do you mean?"

He only laughed slightly before moving to hug her. "You have no idea how many times, when we're saying goodbye or something, when I've been ready to say it. About to add it on to the end of my sentence and stopped. 'cause, you know, I didn't wanna freak you out or something. I ain't ever…loved someone before. Not like this."

Lisanna only took a deep breath then, resting her head against his chest. Letting it out slowly, she said, "Me too. I've never… You're my first too."

"In everything, huh?"

"Bickslow, don't ruin this."

His tongue fell out of his mouth then and, fearful he'd try to lick her or something, she took a step back.

"But I still don't wanna live with you," she told him quickly, as to bring the conversation back to where it had begun. "Alright? I'm just not… That's not something that I want right now. Okay?"

"That's fine, Lissy." He came closer and took her face in his hands. She thought it was cute, until he leaned in closer.

"Bickslow-"

"You're just so tasty," he said after licking her cheek.

"You're so weird."

"Only for you, kid." Then he rubbed his forehead against hers, grinning. The babies, noting the change, got excited again and started chanting her name. Except for Poppo who kept repeating meow over and over again. Maybe he was broken.

"The offer's always open, huh?" he whispered. "Whenever you want. We like having you stay with us. Don't we, babies?"

"Yes," they all agreed. "Lisanna. Naked Lisanna."

"Bickslow."

He only winked at her. "I've found I rather like you naked too."

"You-"

"Lisanna," they heard then and turned. "Here you are. And Bickslow too."

"Mirajane," she blushed as Bickslow quickly let her go, though his tongue still dangled from his mouth. "Hey."

She was coming over to them then, holding up the bushy front of her skirt so it wouldn't drag. When she was close enough though, she only moved to throw her arms around her sister.

"I was looking for you," she said simply. "We're about to do all those silly wedding things. Like the cake and the speeches and st-"

"Speeches? Freed said I can say some stuff, huh?" Bickslow looked to his girlfriend's sister who only shrugged.

"Just don't tick off Laxus, whatever you do. Please."

"Cool." He patted Lisanna on the head before rushing off, all of his babies following. "See you inside, Lissy."

They both watched him go before facing one another once more. Lisanna only grinned at her sister.

"You didn't have to come get me," she said as they made a much slower trek back to the hall. "Really."

"Of course I did," she said, keeping one arm around her sister. "I wouldn't do that stuff without you, Lisanna. I don't wanna do anything without you."

"Well-"

"And hey, Elfman said that you…that you told him you're moving out too?"

She sighed then, glancing at her sister. "I didn't mean to make this such a big deal on your wedding day. I mean, I know it's already all screwed up about-"

"What are you talking about? Today's been great." Then she paused. "Except for Elfman crying too much to walk me down the aisle and Master having to do it. Other than that-"

"I meant that, you know, you had to rush it," Lisanna said slowly. "I know that your wedding was always a big deal to you and that you weren't able to have your dream one today. So-"

"Oh, Lisanna, that's okay," she said, giggling. "I'm marrying someone that I want to be with. I love him too. What's better than that?"

"Well-"

"Besides, silly," she said, hugging her sister close then. "I still get to plan your wedding. And believe me, I don't care if you're pregnant, in a full body cast, or dying from a brain tumor; I am taking months to plan every little detail, down to the napkins. Okay?"

Then she kissed her head and Lisanna only giggled. Okay, so maybe sometimes it was nice to be taken care of. Especially from someone like Mirajane.

"So move wherever you want, Lisanna," Mira told her as they got closer to the guild. "I don't mind. Or care. Just know that if you need anything at all, Laxus and I-"

"Yeah, I know," she said with a sigh. "Trust me, I know."

It wasn't until they were actually in the hall once more that Mira let go of her sister. And that was because she saw that Erza's date had finally shown up.

"Jellal?" she asked, her jaw about hitting the floor as she saw the two of them awkwardly attempting to dance with one another. "She brought Jellal?"

"Well," Lisanna said slowly. "They do have a pretty unique how we first met story to tell at such occasions."

Mirajane let go of her sister before heading over to Erza, grabbing Laxus on the way. No way she was going to be outshined on her own wedding day. No way.

Lisanna only giggled though before going off to find her own friends. Natsu and Lucy were hanging out with Levy and the begrudging Gajeel who was complaining loudly when she showed up.

"I can't believe Laxus hired a band," he grumbled to them as Lisanna joined their group. "He knows that I would have played for free!"

"Yeah, Gajeel, I don't think he would have thought you were worth paying anyhow," Levy said as Lily, who was in her arms, snickered. He only frowned.

"You know, cat, you're mine, not hers, right?" he grumbled as Happy, who was resting atop Natsu's head, giggled into his palm, as to not let the Iron Dragon Slayer know he too was mocking him.

"Hey, Lisanna," Natsu greeted as the others only grinned at her. "I heard someone say something about cake a second ago-"

"I'm sure they'll cut it soon, Natsu," Lucy said, rolling her eyes as he only took to grinning. Lisanna giggled though, because Natsu was funny to her, always.

And she must have spent more time that night with her friends that she did her own boyfriend. Though, when it was all said and done and the party was over with Mirajane and Laxus heading back to his place only to leave in the morning for their trip, Lisanna couldn't help, but to feel a little sad.

"What's wrong, Lissy?" Bickslow asked after they got to his own apartment. "You look down."

"You look down," his dolls agreed as they circled around her, Pappa even coming to rest in one of her hands.

"I dunno," she sighed as she went to sit on the couch, not even worrying about her dress in that moment. Bickslow though had been waiting forever to get out of his suit and began to strip the second they were through the door. "It's just…over, huh?"

"What? The day? Pretty much." He only came to join her when he was down to his boxers. Ah. Finally free. "Unless you wanna do something."

She glanced at him before sighing and moving to stand. "Help me out of my dress, huh?"

"Hide your eyes, babies," he instructed which only got a big eye roll out of her.

Once she had hung the dress, Lisanna found herself in very little else. Only her undergarments and pendant. Usually that would have made her a bit bashful, but at the moment, she was too tired to care.

"You were saying something about things being over?" Bickslow prompted once they'd found themselves in his bed, the babies scattered around.

"Just…I dunno. Everything, I guess. It's the end of, like, my life with my big sister and big brother. Finally."

"Thought that's what you wanted?" He stretched out on the bed, as she only sat up, knees pulled to her chest, glancing at him randomly. "This whole time?"

"I did. I do. But still."

"Mmmm." He reached over to pat her on the back. "Remember when you wanted to, like, go out and sleep with every guy ever in existence just to get over the Salamander?"

"Shut up," she said as he only took to snickering. "You're so stupid."

Closing his eyes, he said, "You wanna know a secret?"

"Hmmm?"

"…I always thought you were kinda dorky," he said. "Even before you died. Or whatever."

"That's okay," she sighed. "I always thought you and Freed…you know."

"I know what?"

"Well," she said slowly. "You know how everyone always says that Freed has a thing for Laxus?"

"Yeah."

"Well…you are kinda obsessive about him-"

"You thought I was gay?"

"You guys are the ones that are always telling Laxus how amazing and awesome he is. And how committed you are to him. What other man tells-"

"Laxus is awesome," he told her.

"Oh brother."

"He is," Bickslow insisted. "He's just so-"

"And now you see my point."

"Shut up." He flicked her back that time. "Lissy."

"Mmmm." She closed her eyes, just resting there for a moment. "Hey, Bickslow?"

"What?"

"You think Elf and Ever really will, you know, be able to stay in that house together?"

"I dunno," he said. "But considering she's giving up her apartment, I think you better get a two bedroom one. Either that or a big couch."

"Why's that?"

"Something tells me Elfman's about to get kicked out a lot more often than when Laxus would stay over with Mirajane. And something else tells me Laxus ain't letting him into the new house either."

Giggling, she shifted then to lay down, careful not to lay on any of the babies.

"Hey, Bickslow?" she whispered as she settled against his chest.

"What?"

"I really do love you."

"Yeah, kid," he sighed as the babies all fell dormant. "I love you too."

About a month later had a finally openly pregnant Mirajane seated on Laxus' old couch, which had found a new home in the apartment of her younger sister, just watching as all the others went around carrying boxes and moving things in.

"You could help," Lisanna complined.

"Pregnant."

"You could at least-"

"Pregnant," Mirajane sang out as Laxus, who was carrying a heavy box over to the bedroom, nodded proudly.

"Hell yeah you are."

"I never got that," Evergreen said softly to Elfman, over in the kitchen as they put away the few plates and silverware that Lisanna had brought with her from their home.

"Got what?" he asked cautiously. In only a month of living together, the woman had already made him regret the decision a thousand times over. One little disagreement could send him into a world of hurt.

"Why men think it's, like, some badge of honor to get a woman pregnant," she complained. "Like, wow. You had sex. Big whoop."

He only shrugged. "We could try and find out if-"

"Elfman," she warned. They'd discussed that before and, as Ever put it, there was no way that a baby was ever, and she meant ever, running her figure. And she didn't do diapers. She just didn't.

Grinning, he only took to placing some glasses in the cabinet of the tiny kitchen. "He's your hero anyways, Laxus is. Aren't you proud of him?"

"For saving the guild countless times? Sure," she said. "But for having sex with your sister? Not really."

The front door was busting open again then and Bickslow came striding into the apartment, another box with him.

"You sure got enough stuff, kid," he complained to Lisanna who only gave him a look.

"I'm so sorry, Bickslow, that after living in one place since I was a teenager I've acquired a few things."

"Me too."

"Lisanna!" His babies, who had been with him, rushed over to greet her, making the woman giggle. Mirajane only went back to the box in front of her, which held a few books. She was supposed to be organizing them into stacks so they could easily be transferred to a bookshelf, but, hey, pregnant.

That was her excuse for everything. Only Laxus thought it was cute.

Then again, he was just happy to have a baby, as it was turning out. He had already taunted everyone else in the guild that he was going to be the first one with a protégé.

Most everyone else called it a spawn. Though considering it was from the she-devil and the Thunder God, that was probably actually a very fitting title.

Natsu'd already asked what'd they do if the baby turned out to actually be a demon and killed everyone. In fact, he'd asked many different times, phrased in a variety of ways. Each time he was either told to shut up or, if Laxus was around, beaten into submission. One or the other.

"You're place isn't that bad," Elfman told Lisanna at one point when they found themselves putting up the dishes as, according to Evergreen, she needed a break. Really she just went and sat next to Mirajane and did nothing for the rest of the day.

"Thanks."

"I, uh, was noticing though that it only had one bedroom-"

"Laxus' old couch is a pullout," she told him. "Trust me, Mira stayed over at his place that he knows just what you're going through.

"Right."

It wasn't until they were all finally gone, leaving only her and Bickslow, that things calmed down some. They were all going out to eat together and, though she could see he wanted to go, Bickslow declined.

"I'd rather be with you anyways, Lissy," he said.

"Aw," she'd giggled. "I finally beat out food."

Laxus and Mirajane both told her though that, even though she'd signed a lease and was stuck there for the next six months, if she wanted to break it at any time, they'd pay for it.

"And hey," Laxus'd whispered slyly to her at one point. "We can only afford to raise one kid right now. So you and doll boy keep your shop shut down for the time being."

"Laxus," she'd complained, though she shut right up as he slipped her a 10, 000 jewels and told her that he was only looking out for her.

"You didn't just give her money, did you?" Mira'd asked as they left. "Laxus-"

"No."

"You're lying. I saw you do it."

"…It was only a little, Mira. Man, you're really on my nerves today."

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

They weren't the only ones fighting when they left either. Elfman and Ever got into it before they even made it to the door, really, as she was annoyed with how much he was crying.

"Be a man, Elfman!"

"I am," he sobbed as he held onto Lisanna. "You don't know how hard this is for me, Ever!"

"And it's easy for me? To see that I'm with a little crying boy who-"

"I am a man!"

After they were gone, things almost seemed…quiet. Even with Bickslow around.

"So how you like it, Lissy?" he asked as they collapsed onto her couch to survey her new place. "It's all yours."

"I like it," she giggled.

"She likes it," the babies said as they came to rest on the couch too, Pappa of course in her lap. "Lisanna likes it."

"Your first apartment," he said as he kissed her head.

"Yeah," she sighed, leaning against him. "It is, isn't it?"

But the quietest that the place was, as she found out, was when Bickslow headed home that night. He was going to spend the night, but they had a job the next morning and they didn't exactly have the best track record when it came to being around each other during those times.

"Love you," he'd told her as the babies mimicked it as well, following him out of the door. "Lissy."

And when she laid in bed that night, the apartment was still and dark, she was alone. Completely alone. Her sister wasn't there, nor her brother, nor either of their annoying partners, much less her own. One would have thought that she'd be lonely or at least a little apprehensive, but she wasn't. Not in the slightest.

"My first night alone," she giggled as she snuggled up in bed. As an adult. Quickly, she added, "But only the first of many."

And it was.

Finished. Done. Think I covered everything too. I already have another Bickslow and Lisanna cooked up that I'll probably start soon, so don't worry. I'm not going anywhere.