Yes, this is multi-chaptered now! I went back and added/changed a few things to the first chapter, so read that before beginning on this!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

Mirajane marched down the block, keeping her gaze straight ahead and certain that Mard was still watching her. She only relaxed when she was out of sight of the man's home, though her heart still pounded in her ribcage.

'Why did I do that?' she wondered, her palms starting to perspire. 'Why did I hug him? That was so completely unprofessional –' Violently, Mirajane shook her head. 'No, Strauss! I mean… Mirajane! Stop thinking like that! You aren't a soldier anymore! You're a civilian, now! It's perfectly okay to hug a friend!'

Rubbing her temples, Mirajane sighed. What was wrong with her? She felt like she was utterly losing it. How was she going to explain this to her siblings, when she arrived home? There was no way to avoid their questions, and she couldn't possibly tell them the truth as to what she'd been up to the night previous.

Mostly because she had no idea herself. Aside from the fact that she'd ended up on a stranger's roof with a fire extinguisher firmly in her possession, Mirajane's night was more or less a black hole in her memories. She thought she might recall wishing her brother and sister well as they left to attend separate parties… but after that, nothing.

Until she suddenly came to on Mard's roof.

And what good luck it had been him, too! She didn't know what she would have done, had it been someone less… understanding. When she had confessed to him, over their tea, he'd simply nodded and accepted that explanation. Little more had been said on the topic – at that point he had handed over some earplugs for her to us, still in their package. Then he'd brought out pen and paper for communication – her with the earplugs, him with the fireworks constantly going off.

Now she realized that the earplugs must have originally been for his own use. And he had done without them the entire night while they talked. After finding her on his roof.

Then he had accepted her request to return tonight!

Mortification set in.

Maybe she shouldn't go. She still had the earplugs, after all. She could just put them in, and try to sleep through the night.

Mirajane shook her head. That was ridiculous. Mard struck her as the type to tell it how he saw it, regardless of what others around him thought. Probably why he had chosen a career outside of the military, now that she thought about it. They hadn't gone into depth over his military service, and he in turn had not pried into hers. Though it was clear to her from the way he held himself, and in the cadence of his speech and small movements that no matter how far removed you were from that life, it never completely left you.

Well… regardless of all that, she'd left the fire extinguisher behind.

Before long, her home came into view. It was a rather small house, with the paint chipping and one shutter perpetually hanging askew, but she loved it. Mirajane had painstakingly set aside her pay along with Elfman and Lisanna's earnings from their part-time jobs in order to afford a real house for them all to live in. It was home.

Mirajane reached for her keys, only to realize that she didn't have them. Checking her pockets, she didn't see her wallet, cellphone, or ID either. Trying the door anyway, she found it unlocked, and slipped inside. Once the door was gently shut behind her, she made certain to lock it. Then she crept over to the kitchen. She almost immediately spotted her keys on the counter.

Shaking her head at herself, she glanced underneath the kitchen sink, looking for the trash bin. Garbage pickup would be delayed a day due to the holiday, but she should still make sure it was out, she reasoned.

Then she frowned, staring at the other object she discovered down there. One that wasn't supposed to be there at all.

The fire extinguisher.

"That's odd," she muttered to herself.

"What's odd?" a voice asked behind her.

Squeaking, Mirajane jumped a little. Breathing heavily, she gripped the countertop as if it were the only thing keeping her upright. It was. "Lisanna! Don't sneak up on me!"

Confused, her younger sister stared at her with sky blue eyes the same as Mirajane's. "But I didn't. I was right here the whole time…"

"Lisanna."

The tone in Mirajane's voice brooked no argument, so Lisanna dropped it with an annoyed frown. "So, where were you all night, sis?"

Mirajane flinched again.

"Something wrong, Mira?" Lisanna asked, concerned now.

Her older sister offered her a smile full of serenity she did not feel. "I'm fine," she lied.

"No, you're not," Elfman rumbled, stepping into the kitchen as well. "What's going on?"

"I am perfectly okay," Mirajane insisted, opening the refrigerator door and peering within. "So what time did you two get home last night?"

"Don't try to change the subject!"

"What time, Lisanna?"

The younger girl grumbled a bit. "Two. But Elfman didn't show up until three!"

"Hey! Way to rat me out! So unmanly…"

Lisanna waved him off. "Now, about you, Mira!"

She shook her head. "I'm just a bit tired, you two. I didn't get any sleep last night."

"Ooooh," Lisanna cooed.

"Too much information, sis!" Elfman protested, flailing. "That's not manly!"

"I am not a man, silly!"

"But was there one involved?" pressed Lisanna.

"I met a friend last night, and we just talked." Mirajane pulled out some juice. "That's all."

Lisanna shook her head. "All night? I don't believe you!"

"I do!" Elfman hurriedly interjected, in a desperate bid to get the subject dropped.

"Really!" Mirajane insisted.

Not convinced in the slightest, Lisanna gave her sister a flat look. "Uh, huh." A moment later, her attention drifted to the countertop. "Oh? What's this paper?"

Mirajane nearly dropped the glass she was pulling from the cupboard. "Wait, Lisanna! That's – !"

"Mard Geer!" Lisanna crowed in triumph. "Is that the name of your new beau?"

Elfman clamped his gargantuan hands over his ears. "I can't hear anything! LALALALALALALA!"

"Lisanna, he's just a friend! And I only met him last night!"

"LALALALALALALALA!"

"For goodness' sake, Elfman, calm down!"

"Suuuuure… he's just a frieeeeeeend!" Lisanna laughed.

"Lisanna!" cried Mirajane. "Give that back!"

"No way!" her little sister responded, darting out of the kitchen and into the living area. "Oh, and he even left his number! Naughty, naughty, Mira!"

Mirajane abandoned her juice and glass on the kitchen counter in favor of pursuing her sister. "Get back here!"

"Nooooooo!" Standing on the couch, Lisanna held the scrap of paper high and read aloud, "It says, 'Ms. Mirajane,' oh my goodness that's so cute!" Letting out a squeal she continued, "And then it says…" She froze, suddenly, her face falling.

Mirajane easily snatched the note from her sister.

Seeing the ashen look on her younger sibling's face, Mirajane glanced at the note, reading it for the first time.

Ms. Mirajane,

I very much enjoyed our discussion last night.
If you want, I have a friend that may be able to assist with your problem with blackouts.
I've listed his contact information below.
Feel free to call either of us if you need anything.

Sincerely,

Mard Geer.

Then, a short ways down was written:

Zeref Dragneel.
Phone Number: XXX-XXX-XXXX
His office hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. But this is his cellphone. Tell him I referred you.

Mard

"Mira?" Lisanna asked hesitantly, climbing down the couch. "What is he talking about? Blackouts?"

Elfman entered the room as well. "Have you been having them again, sis?"

Mirajane bit her lip. She'd never stopped having them, was the real issue. But she'd never ended up in the sort of predicament she had last night, before.

"Was it the fireworks?" Lisanna's quiet question snapped Mirajane out of her stupor.

"…Yeah," she replied, feeling weaker than when she'd earned that Purple Heart sitting on the mantle.

Tears welled up in Lisanna's cerulean eyes. "I'm sorry I teased you, Mira." She reached out towards her sister, then remembered at the last second the new personal space rules Mirajane had established. "Respect the perimeter," she murmured. "Sorry, Mira."

Holding out her arms, Mirajane beckoned her sister forward. "It's okay, sweetie."

Needing no second prompting, Lisanna launched herself into her beloved older sister's embrace. "I'm sorry, Mira!" she repeated, over and over again, bawling.

Elfman soon joined them, tears and snot running down his face as he enfolded them with his large arms.

Mirajane stroked Lisanna's short hair. "Shush. It's alright. I promise."

"Respect the perimeter" is borrowed from a favorite show of mine: Haven.

Purple Hearts are awarded by the U.S. military for soldiers wounded in combat. This is why Mirajane is no longer in the service.

Let me know what you guys think.