Epilogue ** Four years later **

It was yet another beautiful day and the tavern was about to welcome many regular costumers for lunch. As usual, Mira was bearing a large smile, always ready to great those who were at the same time her most loyal costumers but also her friends, basically her family. After all, Laxus surprised her by naming his tavern the Fairy Tail in the honor of the group who helped them change their lives. Despite all the horror Ivan Dreyar had left in his wrath, Laxus had, in the very least, inherited a large amount of money at his sudden death. Much to Mira's pleasure, he soon shared his project to build an establishment with his heritage. And it was a marvelous idea, now being a sort of rallying point. Basically, every member of Fairy Tail had decided to choose their village after they could finally take a new home and start a real life without the constant worry. Most of them spent most of their time at the tavern. Their presence filled the young woman with happiness and, despite him sometimes hiding it, she knew Laxus felt the same.

The village itself was more wealthy and peaceful. The absence of that constant fear of the fallen or of being enrolled in the army against their will was already significant but the destruction of the wall had the most impact. Since its absence, relationships with the other kingdoms allowed, in only a few years, to restore most of the wealth from twenty years before.

Fairy Tail's door opened bringing Mira back from her thoughts. Quickly, the tavern filled with the people who, in what seemed like in another lifetime, we considered rebels. That didn't take Mira of guard a second and, experienced as she was, all had their right order in no time. Everything seemed under control, at least considering their energetic and customer base when a loud crash was heard. Raising her head towards the origin of the sound, Mira spotted without a surprise Natsu and Gray fighting.

"Not again" sighed Laxus, sitting at the bar until now, turning to the culprits.

"My, those two are incorrigible" said Mira, a hand on her cheek. "You should stop them if you don't want them to destroy your tavern" she said with a smile, not seeming worried in the very least despite her words.

At this, Laxus addressed her a smile he only reserved for her.

"It's also your tavern now, Mrs. Dreyar" he said without bothering to rise up and do a thing.

Despite the nonchalance of her husband, Mira could only smile when she was reminded of the name she had gained a couple of months before.

"But it's you they're afraid of!" Mentioned Mira, knowing very well she would win and that Laxus would be the one the separate them.

Sighing once more, the man was about to leave his seat when a chair crashed to the wall barely a few feet away from Mira.

"What kind of idiot throws objects near a pregnant woman!" he barked, lightning in his eyes as he walked to them, violently hitting Natsu and Gray's head.

Then, as Laxus walked back to his spot at the bar, Gray and Natsu crawling to their seat themselves, Mira turned once more to the last person inside. He had his head leaning to the counter, his eyes barely opened has his two blue-haired toddlers where pulling on his own long black hair.

"Hard night Gajeel?" Asked Mira who couldn't help but smile to the new dad's exhaustion.

"Humm.." Agreed Gajeel in a grumbling sound.

"The twins didn't sleep at all I can see?"

"Overall, both of them slept a fair amount of time" he said. "But as soon as one of them falls asleep, the other one thought it was a great idea to wake up" mumbled Gajeel.

"And where's Levy?"

"The shrimp needs to get some sleep" he said in a yawn. "I'll let her at least the first half of the day without those two fooling around".

To the sound of her father's voice, Lyvia, their little girl, started to happily chirp, extracting from the young dad a loving smile despite the dark circles under his eyes. As for Malcom, their son who seemingly had inherited Gajeel's energy and boldness, he was already trying to climb everything and anything.

"I could babysit if you want" offered Natsu taking Malcom in his arms, playing at throwing him in the air a little to high for Gajeel's taste before catching him.

"There's no way I'm entrusting my children to you, Salamander" he instantly said, taking back his son.

"Oh! Daddy Gajeel is protective I can see" snickered Laxus looking at the scene.

"Says the guy throwing a tantrum while his child isn't even born yet" mumbled Gray, rubbing his still sore head.

He almost gained himself another hit from that comment but was saved by Juvia who entered the conversation.

"Juvia can take care of the twins for Gajeel!" Offered Juvia with a bright smile.

This time, Gajeel considered the idea seriously and finally listened to his begging body knowing Lyvia and Malcom would be in good hands with his childhood friend. Handing her his kids, he listed the main things she had to know.

"Gajeel must not be worried" smiled Juvia.

"I'm not worried!" Barked Gajeel in vain, causing the laughs of the others, knowing very well it wasn't true.

Then he said goodbye to the kids before going back to Levy, ignoring Juvia's last comment saying something about practicing for her and Gray's future children.

***

"Elfman!" Called Evergreen. "I'm hungry, what are you doing?" She complained, walking with difficulty with as her enormous belly slowed her movements barely a couple of weeks before giving birth. However, she wasn't expecting to witness such a tender scene. Elfman was sitting on the floor just before the couch as their three-year-old was busy making Elfman an horrible hairdressing with multicolored hairclips. Her colossal husband didn't seem to mind the least and that only managed to enlarge Evergreen's smile. His simplicity and his indifference to other's judgment was part of why she fell in love with him.

"What a great job Ella" said Evergreen holding a laugh. "But I think Daddy needs to look at himself before leaving for Fairy Tail" she added.

She then handed Elfman a mirror whose eyes enlarged in surprise contemplating the disaster on his head. He somehow soon got back his relaxed demeanor.

"A real man lets his daughter take care of his hair!" he stated, trying to convince himself.

"Stop this manly nonsense this instant and come. I'm not the only one hungry" she added, lightly tapping on her large stomach.

"Yay!" Exclaimed the small girl, clapping her hands in joy. "We're going to the real man's restaurant of ant Mira and uncle Laxus!" she said, imitation her father's annoying expression, not knowing that "real man" wasn't a compliment you could use in any circumstances, much to her mother's desperation.

She was about to complain when a large arm circled her shoulders to guide her out of their house. Lifting her eyes, she could also see Ella, shitting on her father's shoulder, ready to go on an adventure.

"A real man loves his family like I love mine" said Elfman proudly, holding Evergreen against him.

A large smile appeared on Evergreen's lips. 'If that's the case then, I must be a real man' thought the woman.

***

Mira wiped her forehead as the last customer left after a long day.

"You don't think you should take a break during the rest of your pregnancy" Insisted Laxus while helping her to replace the freshly clean glasses.

"I already told you" reassured Mira. "As soon as I feel too tired, my sister will replace me."

Sighing at her stubbornness, he forced her to sit.

"I know you, Strauss..."

"You can't call me that anymore" she teased him.

However, Laxus's tone stayed serious.

"Mira, I know the number of things you can endure and how strong you are. But don't try to do too much like you always do..."

Mira could only smile to his careful attention. He had changed so much in the last years to become the man before her, a man that would become the father of her child. Seeing his worry for her today was only another reason confirming her he would be a good father.

"If it can make you happy, in three weeks, I can completely stop for a few months, as soon as my second trimester is completed" she consented.

"That would indeed make me happy".

"In that case, I'll contact Liz tomor..."

Her eyes widened in surprise, stopping suddenly her midsentence.

"Mira? What is..."

He was himself interrupted by Mirajane when she took his hand to place it on her stomach.

"He's moving!" She exclaimed, glad to feel her baby giving small hits for the first time.

Startled, Laxus realized more than ever that a child, his child, was growing inside her wound.

"I love you Mira" was the only thing he could manage to say.

Small tears took form in the corner of her eyes. Of course, it wasn't the first time Laxus told her he loved her, but it was so not like him to openly express his feelings out loud that Mira fully appreciated ever time he pronounced it. And he said it with so much sincerity...

"I love you too Laxus".

And here you go! I just love writing epilogues!

To those who followed this story from the beginning, thank you so much for bearing my slow pace! Another huge thank to those who commented this on this story and voted for the chapters!

Please let me know what you thought of it!

Love you all,

Lily xx