So that's it! It's with a mix of sadness and joy that I share with you the last official chapter of Moving on.

There was a gunshot. She heard a man's body hitting the ground. Mira couldn't dare to look. She simply couldn't deal with the fact the Laxus could possibly be the one who had fallen. Anyways, she would soon join him if she had failed. But the shot never came. She opened her eyes, those filling with tears as soon as she saw Laxus. He was there, his eyes locked with hers, his chest rising in a regular movement from his breathing. Laxus was alive. She ignored her protesting body and threw herself in his arms, clinging to him for life.

- Laxus...

- It's over, he whispered, a hand in her hair.

The words that were supposed to reassure her had a too shot effect. She stiffened in his arms, fully realising what just happened. Ivan...

She freed herself from the embrace, staggering to the unanimated body of her sister's murderer. Blood was flowing from an horrible wound in the center of his chest. She fell on her knees next to him. Despite her disgust for the man, she checked his pulse, but no beating could be felt under her fingers.

A shadow above her attracted her attention.

- Mira, he started.

- I'm sorry Laxus. I... I killed your father, I...

Now knelt beside her, he pulled her back in his arms, preventing her from saying more.

- You didn't kill my father. He was already dead to me.

- But...

- You didn't kill Ivan neither, he once more cut her off. You saved my life.

She stopped for a moment, thinking about the thoughtful words she would've never imagine Laxus saying. She remembered the hatred, the need for vengeance that had token over her in Hargeon in that warehouse where she almost lost herself. None of those feelings of violence were guiding Mira this time. Only remained the desperation to keep Laxus alive, to see him again, to feel his arms around her like they did at the moment.

She tightened her grip on him, then felt herself pulled up as Laxus helped her to stand. She finally let him go. A cold sensation took over her as soon as her contact with him was lost. She compensated that lack of heat by sliding her hand in his.

The sound of rushed steps attracted their attention. Gray was soon in sigh, the young man out of breath, only wearing his boxers, resting his hands against his thighs as he finally stopped.

- Mira! Laxus!

He didn't say anything else when he saw Ivan's body behind them.

- His he...

- Dead, yeah, let out Laxus.

Gray nodded and, after giving a questioning look to Laxus, silently making sure he was okay, he made a couple of steps closer to the unanimated body.

- I'll take care of it. Go take care of those wounds. You had way more than your fair share.

- Thank you Gray, whispered the young women, holding a little more Laxus's fingers between hers.

***

Gajeel couldn't bare to wait anymore. They may have confirmed that Levy would indeed make it through, he couldn't tolerate not having her next to him. The young woman was at the moment in surgery so they could remove the bullet from her shoulder.

- Everything's gonna be alright, Lucy tried to appease him, placing her hand on his arm. Don't worry.

- I'm not worried! He barked, proving the opposite.

- You're not fooling anyone, metal head, added Natsu.

Gajeel growled. Okay... he was worried. And if even flame brain could notice, it was obvious everyone knew. The idea enhanced ever more his bad mood. And why was it so long! He inwardly raged. He was there since forever.

Then other Fairy Tail members arrived at the hospital. He could see Mira and Laxus. They were visibly beaten up, but well alive. Then the first good news of the day came to him: Ivan was dead. A huge weight was taken off his shoulders. This fight for life was over. The only thing missing was...

- M. Redfox? Called a young nurse. Your girlfriend just woke up.

Part of him wanted to yell she was not his freaken girlfriend, but a bigger part of him registered the information as it was the most natural thing. In the end, he simply rushed to the way she was without any comment.

When he saw her, he had to fight the urge to hold in his arms that little heroine that just saved his life, the one that make him want to be a hero himself, as weird as the idea could be to him.

- Gajeel, let out faintly Levy, still numb by the sedation.

- How do you feel shrimp?

- Never felt that good, she said.

- Gihi! I don't even want to know about the bad times, he answered.

She smiled to him, fighting against her tiredness witch made her eyelids slowly closing.

- Please stay with me, she whispered barely awake.

- Told you that you wouldn't leave my side someday, he laughed once more.

- Idiot, managed to say Levy before falling asleep, painkillers being too strong to stay awake.

The young man couldn't help but smiling at the insult. No mater what was the situation, his shrimp stayed the same. His shrimp... since when was he thinking about her that way? Then the young woman's words came back to his mind. "I love you" she had told him. Red tinted his cheeks to the point he was glad no one was near to witness it. He wasn't used to the notion. Love was such a vague concept for the one that had no one important in his life for so long, but the idea slowly took place in his mind. Of course, it wasn't the first time he thought about it, especially since flame brain put these complex concepts in his mind, but the idea was becoming stronger. He wanted to see her safe, to keep her close... he needed it...

One day passed and Levy was finally discharged.

- I can walk on my own! She protested when he carried her in his arms.

- No way!

- My wound is in my shoulder, not my legs! For all I know you could be more injured than me!

- You were hurt because of me. No way you're walking, he stubbornly said.

- And all those times you were hurt protecting me? That doesn't count?

Gajeel stopped, looked at the young woman in his arms, then smiled.

- Gihi! Always defending your point!

- Always, she confirmed.

After a moment of hesitation, he finally set her on the ground. The hospital wasn't far from Levy's apartment and it only took them a few minutes to walk the remaining distance. The dwelling still wore traces of the carnage.

Deciding to postpone the reparations to the next day, they let themselves drop on the couch. A silence took place between the two. However, it wasn't one of the comfortable ones they always had until now. That one was tensed. And Gajeel knew why. He loved her. He loved Levy. And he had to tell her. Ah! Why using stupid words was so damn hard? After multiple minutes, he finally let out two:

- Me too.

It wasn't those he wanted to say, but these words still had their effect, Levy rising to him her gorgeous hazel eyes.

- You too what? She invited him to elaborate.

Why was she doing this to him? He mentally growled. By the look in her eyes, she had clearly guessed what he meant. Gajeel wanted to be mad, simply give up trying to say anything, but the girl in front of him seemed to erase all the frustration as it was growing in him. "Come on Redfox! Three words. You wouldn't let three little words stop you!" he reprimanded himself.

Levy got closer.

- Tell me Gajeel, she whispered only centimeters from his face.

He could feel her breath on his lips. "That girl is going to be the death of me!" He was himself caught in his own game: he was the one that couldn't leave her side.

- I... love you.

It barely took a second before Levy's mouth was on his. Then he felt on his cheeks something wet. Backing up, he realised she was crying.

- Why in hell are you crying! He lost his temper.

- It's nothing. I'm happy, that's all, she said drying her tears.

- That's a stupid reason to cry, he settled.

- Idiot, you don't understand a thing, she laughed before kissing him again.

This time, no one interrupted. No disaster, no threat, simply each other's presence. Then she fell asleep in his arms, her face cuddled against his chest. Gajeel passed a hand in her blue hair. A feeling of plenitude took over him. It was simply right. Never would he have imagined that accepting the most improbable offer ever would have also been the best decision he'd ever make.

The years he had passed on the streets seemed to be from another life. While he was slowly falling into slumber, his protecting arms around his shrimp, Gajeel told himself for the first time that he could, finally, move on.

***

Laxus let himself fall on the bed as soon as they were in Mira's apartment.

- Eum... Laxus, started the young woman, the bed's all pierced up.

Indeed, thanks to the assassins that tried to kill them in their sleep, her bed sieved by bullets now looked like a strainer. Obviously, the young man didn't care by the bed's state.

- No one's gonna fall through the holes, he said flatly. And it's not like we can sit somewhere else, he added pointing the living room that had been ravaged the day before.

- You have a point, she sighed, joining him into the bed.

Mira leaned on her side, face to him, using his arm as a pillow. Okay, the bed was not that bad, especially with her state of tiredness that took over her since the end of the events. They stayed this way for a moment.

- You're alright? She asked to his thoughtful look.

- Humm...

- What are you thinking about?

- Not much.

- You know you're not convincing anyone, right?

He emitted what seemed like an annoyed grow, but however spoke his mind.

- I was thinking that it's a good thing you were a pain, he said with a smile in the corner of his lips.

The girl lifted her eyes to the sky, smiling herself.

- Laxus Dreyar... modern day's poet, she laughed knowing very well it was his way to thank her for staying with him.

- I hate the idea but... I couldn't have done it on my own, he rephrased to Mira's surprise.

It was way more than what Mira was expecting from the young man. The idea of being the only one who could have access to that side of him heated her heart.

- Neither of us could've done it on his own, she corrected him stretching her arm to place her hand on Laxus's cheek.

Despite her encouraging words, Laxus's expression stayed serious.

- You wouldn't have been caught up in all that shit if you would've left me alone, he let out.

- I regret nothing, she said after a moment. That was an horrible experience, I wont try to deny it...

The young man's expression hardened even more to the memory of all the sufferance, physical as much as psychological, that had endured the young woman because of him.

- But, she continued with her gentle voice, I needed something to move on. You helped me to find that something Laxus.

She paused then added.

- And you know... you'd still be a stranger to me without all of that...

- Don't start imagining stuff, he said knowing very well his eyes were saying the opposite.

Attracted to one and other, they got closer to kiss. Passion could be felt and, soon enough, Mira started to slide her fingers under Laxus's shirt. It didn't take much more for Laxus to rise on his elbows and bend over her. Sadly, his broken ribs protested in pain against the movement and he had to lay once more on his back, letting out a curse. Mira emitted a little giggle to his annoyed expression. She rose herself on her forearms and delicately passed her hand on his chest where blueish marks could be seen.

- Give yourself a chance to recover, she said lightly before placing a kiss on his lips. We have all the time we want now.

Laxus thought about her words as she placed her head on his shoulder. All the time they wanted... Could he really finally take the time to stop? All his life, he had run after the image of a father that didn't deserve this much attention. All his life, he had avoided those who really cared about him. It was now time for another chapter of his life. The young woman in his arms was the starting point. They both had fought their demons, death itself, but today would be different. A few weeks ago, he had sworn that there would be change. Never would he have imagined that change would lead him that way.

A sincere smile was drawn on his face while Mira fell asleep against him. The young woman was right. He could now move on.

Here you go! I hope you liked the story as much as I liked writing it! I'm really glad I shared that story with you English readers :) and I've decided to translate my second French story : Les fantomes du passé.

I also wanted to thank you all for your support and your reads! I would also like to give a special thank to GabiieFarias1312, J-baby123 and Nurihime for your votes or/and comments :D I would also like to thank NerdyBook_Slayer, Hybridmoon13 and Thedarkone23 for adding my story to their reading list.

Have a nice day! Love you all!

Lily xx

** P.S! Even though it's technically over, I still have an epilogue in store for you :) **