Evergreen took a step back from Freed. Her arms falling heavy at her side. There was something dark in her eyes. Her entire stance was a lioness ready for a fight.

Bickslow looked at both his former teammates to try and figure out what would be the outcome. He wasn't going to lie. He had not been ready for any of what was about to happen. Even after five years there still was the sting of betrayal that was left behind from Laxus' and Ever's departure from the team.

"Laxus, we're not here to fight you. We just wanted to see how both of you are holding up." He said to try and defuse the situation.

All Laxus did was take a single step forward. The air around the former team members was charged with electricity. A sign that Laxus was ready to use force as a means to try and find a solution to the problem; whatever that was.

Freed acted quickly, pushing Evergreen behind him and rushing to Laxus' side.

Just like a mother soothing her child Freed reached out to try and touch Laxus. He was successful in that regard. He placed his hands on Laxus' naked chest, ignoring that tug of his body to close the gap between them.

"They aren't going to try anything Laxus." He said soothingly. With the pad of his right thumb, he was able to stroke a small part of Laxus' tattoo. The act something otherworldly.

Laxus was stunned to see Freed defending the people that he had not too long ago kicked out. He couldn't help the ball of jealousy that came with that thought. His instincts telling him to just take Freed far away and keep him to himself.

However, Laxus knew that he couldn't do that. He was going to need to try and comprehend that everything was changing around them. Even though it's wasn't changing back to what it was five years ago, he knew that things were changing for the better. It just scared the fuck out of him.

Something felt like it was crawling up his spine. A shiver overtook his body and for a moment he became nauseous. There was only one thing that he knew would be any help for what he was feeling.

"I need a drink…" He said in a low voice.

Ever's eyes widen with something that resembled shock, but the twitch in her lip showed clear disgust.

Bickslow just shook his head slowly in disappointment.

Freed didn't notice anything besides the sort of desperation that laced through Laxus' words. He made sure that he took a deep breath before he spoke. "Laxus now is not the time to be drinking. Maybe you can take a break…" Freed said.

Laxus looked down at Freed in shock. His stormy grey eyes were locked on Freed's own dark blues. There was something in Laxus that was starting to take effect. His body was growing cold and his palms were clammy and wet. His muscles were starting to ache and his heart was racing.

He had to take a drink right then or else he was going to implode. For once fear was making his body shiver.

"Freed, I can't do that…" Laxus said.

Evergreen heard that and at that moment everything started to fall apart. "So I was right! You are a drunk!" She exclaimed. The woman gave up her spot behind Freed to move forward and stare Laxus down.

Bickslow growled low in his throat moving to the woman and wrapping arms around her waist to keep her from doing anything too rash.

Laxus snapped out whatever trance he was in. His eyes locked on Ever for a long moment. The room grew with tension and Freed didn't know what to do if something were to happen between the two.

"You watch your mouth; you bitch…" Laxus threaten.

At those words, hell broke loose.

Evergreen screamed out a stream of curses lurching forward to do Mavis knows what to Laxus.

Bickslow acted quick and tightened his hold on the woman. "Evergreen, calm down!" He ordered in a harsh voice.

Freed was already pressing himself against Laxus hoping that with his entire weight he would be able to push the large man back. "You both have to stop fighting! This isn't helping anyone!" Freed screamed in desperation. He could feel his chest tightening along with a growing difficulty in breathing.

The entire room was high on adrenalin. No one was thinking right and that was just the scene to cause an outburst.

"I'm sorry Freed, but we have to go," Bickslow said. He looked at his Captain and saw a pure fear that was lighting up his dark blue eyes. In the back of his mind, he couldn't help but think that it might have been best for everyone if Freed hadn't shown up.

The Rune mage bit back his tongue and simply nodded at the taller man.

Evergreen was not going to have any of that, so she struggled against Bickslow still trying to get her way. "I'm not just going to leave Freed here with Laxus!" She snarled. Her body was pulled back and she could feel her feet begin to lift off the ground. She dug her nails into Bickslow's arm in an attempt to try and rid herself of him. "Bicks what the hell are you doing?"

"You are ruining everything. So just shut up." Bickslow growled in her ear.

The woman bit back a whimper as her body just went limp.

"You're supposed to be on my side." She whispered as Bickslow opened and walked out of the door. When they were finally outside Bickslow let go of Evergreen.

"I'm not on your side Ever. I'm on Freed's and right now he doesn't need us going at each other. He needs the Thunder Legion." With that said Bickslow turned and began to walk back to the guild.

With a heavy heart, he kept his eyes forward and didn't dare look back at Laxus' home or Evergreen's broken face. He knew what he did was wrong, but there had to be some person with reason in their voice. It felt different, he had always been able to be the one slacking off, the one with a more carefree attitude. Now he was forced to be the one that had to take things more seriously. His entire team was in shambles and he had to make sure that there was at least one person that was going to see everything with a clear head.

Evergreen stood in the middle of the street with a look of confusion on her face, then began to tread along behind Bixslow clearly defeated.

Freed let the silence wash over him and Laxus as the resounding slam of the front door still rung in both their ears.

Laxus was still stuck in place. Slowly he could feel as his body began to shut down. The pounding in his eyes making it hard to see. His body covering in chills and sweat that made the air around him feel that much colder. He started to feel the rise of acid in the back of his throat. His tongue feeling like led in his mouth.

Freed could tell that something was the matter with Laxus. It was the way that his hands began to tremble and there was a translucency to his skin. Worry seeded itself in his chest as he began to take stock of what had just happened the past few hours that might have warranted Laxus' reactions.

Then it hit him, it was the alcohol. Laxus' body was shutting down because it didn't have the liquor in its system.

Laxus blinked a few times and moved to lean heavily against the wall.

"What's happening?" He asked. His voice rough and wavering at the very end of his question.

Freed rushed forward in an instant. His hand came up and went to touch Laxus' face. He was hot to the touch. The feeling like it was burning Freed's skin.

"You have a fever!" Freed said with terror in his voice. He was quick to have Laxus fall on him instead of the wall. Pushing forward, Freed got Laxus stumbling down the hallway until they were able to reach his bedroom. With some difficulty Freed was able to get Laxus where he wanted him. On the bed, even if it was on top of the covers.

"Laxus, you're going through withdrawal. I need to go get a bowl of cold water and a rag, so you don't get too hot." Freed whispered in a panic.

After he was sure that Laxus wasn't going to fall off the mattress he rushed out of the room. Leaving a groaning Laxus.

Laxus' felt the world spinning around him. His body was cold and hot all at the same time. His heart was racing in his chest and it felt like it was going to explode through his ribs. Aches started to form all over his body that made him tense and tremble all at the same time. There was something terribly wrong with him. All he could think of was what Freed had said. It was something to do with withdrawals. What was he even thinking about? Laxus didn't have a problem with drinking. He was able to quit whenever he wanted, that day was just not it. He was stressed and was dealing with too many emotions at the same time. If only he was able to have a cold drink, then he would be able to think a bit clearer. That was it, that's what he needed. It was a drink.

Before he could even try and get up from the bed he heard the distant sound of his bedroom door opening. A familiar scent floated through the air and calmed his racing heart and spamming body.

There was a cold rag placed on his head that made him moan in relief.

"I…I just need…need another drink. Th…then I'll be fine." He tried to say.

Something that felt like cool lips were pressed against his cheek and a warm breath gushed over his ear moments later.
"Laxus, this needs to stop now. I'm back and I'm not letting you throw your life away. Not now that I've finally found you." Freed's voice pierced through the fog.

Tears welled up in Laxus' eyes as he felt the all-encompassing depression that had become his friend for the last four and a half years. With it came the anger, the betrayal, and the confusion.

"You…you didn't find me. You came back because you didn't know what else to do. You're not the man that I knew. You're not the man that I lost five years ago. You're a ghost sent back to haunt me because I was too much of a coward to see what was right in front of my eyes. I could have everything with you. Then you left, and my entire world fell apart. I didn't know that you meant that much to me until I had to face your fucking grave." Laxus couldn't take it anymore. His body was in pain, his head felt like it was being split in two. There was a fire raging in his core that was burning him from the inside out. Leaving goosebumps and a cold sweat that left him shaking like a child. His eyes welled up with tears that he was too weak to hide.

"Why did you leave me? Did I do something? Did I push you away? I didn't mean to hurt you Freed." Laxus sobbed. His hands tried to reach out for the ghost, but his body didn't hold his usual strength. His body betrayed him and left him immobile in his bed. "I'm not strong enough to go through this a second time. I can't morn you again, not when you're still breathing. Freed… Freed come back to me. Let me make it all right." Laxus begged.

All he got was cooling hands running up and down his arm. Lips being pressed against his temple as tears hit the side of his face.

Freed hung his head in guilt. "I don't know who I was to you, but I know that I care about you with every single fiber of my body. It doesn't matter if my mind doesn't remember, but my body and my heart do. Laxus, I am not a ghost come to haunt you. I came back because I knew that I was missing something. I was missing you and now I came back. It won't go back to what it used to be, but we can start where we left off." Freed said in a broken voice.

His own heart in pain for an entirely different reason. The way Laxus' body was shaking made him want to crawl into bed and hold him tight until he stopped. His skin had gotten a sickly color and Freed didn't know what to do besides using the rag to try and keep the fever from getting any higher.

"You're going to get through this. I know you can." Freed whispered in sweat-slicked skin.