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Catch the Thunder	By : Rhov Category: +. to F > Fairy Tail Views: 17785 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail is the property of Hiro Mashima. I make no money, I just do this for my own pleasure.

Chapter List
- 54
- 55
- 56
A/N: "One Day More" is the title of the first act finale in Les Misérables. Using titles of songs is legal under copyright protection.
Chapter 55
One Day More
Whenever Freed was not home, Laxus pulled out the theater tickets and looked at the date. He did a little prying online. Sure enough, that day was Freed's birthday.
How could they have been dating for this long, and he did not know Freed's birthday?
For that matter, did Freed know his? They never bothered to mention things like that.
Freed had a calendar hanging up in the kitchen. Although he kept times and dates in his phone, for some reason he really liked also using a paper calendar. He was meticulous about writing everything in it, and Laxus had teased him about this little old-fashion quirk. He looked at the calendar and flipped to the next month. Sure enough, Freed was so thorough, he even wrote in a reminder for his own birthday.
Laxus flipped through the calendar to see what future dates he had written in. There, he saw it.
Our anniversary.
Laxus smiled to himself. He remembered.
"I'll get you something good that day," he muttered to himself.
Yet he realized, Freed had not written in his birthday as well. Considering how fastidious he was with jotting in dates, that had to mean Freed truly did not know. Laxus grabbed up the pencil Freed used, hanging from the calendar by the string, and wrote in his birthday. At least then, Freed would not feel bad about having to ask when it was.
At his work, Freed was already getting presents on Friday, since his coworkers would not see him on his actual birthday on Sunday. He even got a gift basket delivered to his desk from his father. It was rather thoughtful of him, especially since his father included a bottle of Blue Label so Laxus would also have something. Freed knew his father was not petty enough to flirt with Laxus through gifts disguised as a birthday present for his own son, plus the basket contained Freed's favorite gin. The card attached said, 'Dear son, I'll be out of town on business on your birthday, so please have some drinks with your boyfriend on me. My apologies, and enjoy your special day. Proudly, your father.'
Oh well. It wasn't the first time he missed a birthday due to work.
When Freed came home with gifts loaded in his arms, Laxus rose from the couch looking confused.
"Ya win a company lottery or something?" he asked as he took some of the more precariously held gifts.
"No, it's … um … actually, it's my birthday on Sunday."
"Is that so?" he said, sounding mildly astonished. "Damn, I better get you something."
Freed flinched as he realized he never brought it up. "You didn't know, did you?"
"You never told me," he pointed out as he set the presents aside and emptied the rest of Freed's arms.
Freed dropped his head as Laxus set the gifts on the dining table. Of course Laxus didn't know! How could he have? Freed just did not want to make a big deal about it, but now he felt bad for not forewarning Laxus about such a big event.
Awkwardly, he muttered, "I don't want you to feel like you have to go out and get something. I just want a quiet day at home, just us, no parties, no cake, no trips to Europe. Just us."
Laxus jolted. "The fuck? Trips to Europe?"
He nodded with a slightly rolling of his eyes in annoyance. "Every other year since I turned twelve."
"Well, it won't be that much. We're going out, though."
"No, I don't want you to buy me anything."
"Shut up. It's already a done deal. Tickets to Les Mis, Sunday matinée."
Freed's mouth dropped. "T-tickets? What?"
Laxus smirked at him. "Did you really think I don't know my own boyfriend's birthday?"
Freed stuttered. He figured instantly, he was a public figure, of course Laxus could have looked it up somewhere. Still, now he felt bad since he did not know Laxus' birthday, and he felt like he couldn't ask now since it would be awkward.
"You like the theater, I like musicals, it ain't a trip to France but it's about the French, so close enough."
Freed folded his arms and pouted. "You didn't call my father to get them like last time, did you?"
"I haven't talked to him since the last time I was in that big-ass house of yours," he said honestly. "However, truth be told, he's the one who told me your birthday was coming up."
"O-oh. It's nice he let you know. The letter in the gift basket he gave me said that he'll be out of town that day."
Laxus knew very well that Llewellyn had set aside everything to be at the show. "Is that so?" he said casually.
"It's not big deal; he's missed birthdays before. Mom's still in Paris, Evergreen's back in college, Bickslow's out of rehab but I haven't even gotten a text from him … so, I don't mind a birthday with just you," he said flirtatiously.
"You should be happy your family was there for your birthdays all your life," Laxus pointed out. "I've spent my last five birthdays drinking alone.
Freed pouted. Hearing that made him want to throw the biggest birthday party ever for Laxus, although he knew a man like him would hate that.
Laxus poked through the gifts out of curiosity. "They don't sing that musical in French, do they?"
Freed chuckled. "You've never heard the soundtrack?"
"Only a few songs, but I heard it was originally in French."
"Well," Freed said with a smug smile, "looks like I get to introduce you to the beauty of Claude-Michel Schönberg and the English version of Les Misérables."
A storm rolled in on Sunday. To be honest, it was the sort of day Laxus would have preferred to stay at home snuggling with Freed. However he had promised Llewellyn that he would get there early enough for the family to have a small celebration before the show.
He rolled over in bed and saw Freed with his hair braided back, sleeping peacefully. He smoothed the cowlicks that were popping up again. Damn, he would never get used to how glorious Freed looked in the morning! Even with the rain tapping against the window and the gray sky darkening the room, Freed seemed to glow.
Laxus began to stroke Freed's face, but a hand shot up and grabbed his wrist. For a second, Freed's eyes were wide, startled, and his fingers almost bruised with their tense grip. Then he saw those electric blue eyes gazing down at him, and he relaxed.
"Sorry," whispered Laxus.
"Just startled me." Freed loosened the fierce hold, tugged Laxus' arm over, and kissed his knuckles. Then he rubbed his face up against Laxus' hand, feeling the rough skin against his cheek.
"Do you get cuter with age?" he asked in amusement. Laxus rolled over, hovered above Freed, and smiled at him with adoring eyes. "Happy birthday." Then he leaned down and gave Freed a long, sweet kiss. He would have loved to do much more, but they had a matinée to catch. "Shower with me," he ordered.
As much as he wanted to make sure they were early as he had promised, showering with Freed was never just about washing bodies. He kissed and sucked everywhere, worshiping this incredible man on a day that was all his. He listened to Freed's moans and savored every bit of pleasure he could give him. Then Freed knelt in front of him, and Laxus washed his hair as Freed gave back. The long hair ended up being pulled more than cleaned as Laxus lost control to Freed's eager mouth and hands.
When finally they were out, he realized a savory breakfast was out of the question. They needed to get going. He insisted on making breakfast while Freed got dressed, knowing that if Freed cooked, they would end up with a massive meal that would take too long to eat. Instead, he toasted up some frozen waffles, nuked some sausages, and scrambled eggs. Maybe it was not the fancy meal Freed could whip up with ease, but he still felt obliged to cook at least breakfast for his boyfriend.
At last they were both dressed, and it was a carsick trip to the theater through a torrential downpour. He somehow managed to text Llewellyn on the ride there to warn the family that they were on their way. Then it took him a few minutes simply sitting in the car to recover from almost throwing up.
Finally they got inside and dusted the rain off their coats. Laxus still did not show Freed which seats the tickets were for, and he was glad Freed did not think to ask. He had an excuse prepared, but it was better to keep this as a surprise.
"Dammit, the line for the wine is long again," he complained. "Hey, do you think we could sneak into that box your family always gets? They had some good shit in there."
"Laxus, language," he warned. "And no, we shouldn't just walk in there. That alcohol is for box seat patrons only. It's not free for just anyone."
"Oh, come on, your family donates all the wine to this place, right? I just want one glass."
Freed was ready to insist no, but he also did not want an argument on this day. "Be quiet about it."
"Great. You're coming with me."
"What? No!" His hand was yanked as Laxus marched off. "Laxus!" He tugged to escape, but there was no way he could break free from those powerful hands.
"They know you, Freed. If that senator or some other rich-ass person is in there, I need you around to talk to them." He pulled Freed by the hand up a staircase to the mezzanine level.
"Laxus! If we're caught…"
"What? They'll kick out the son of their biggest contributor? We'll be in and out before anyone even knows it."
Freed still tried to protest, but Laxus yanked him through the box room door.
"Surprise!"
Freed came to a halt as party poppers sprayed confetti at him and someone blew a kazoo.
"What—?"
"Yay! You brought your boy-toy!"
"Bickslow?" he cried out at the familiar voice. As the shimmering confetti fluttered down, he could finally see. "Mother! Father! Evergreen!"
Liberty ran up and hugged her son. "Happy birthday, dear."
"But … how … you were in Paris. And Father—"
"A good surprise, eh?" Llewellyn said with a proud chuckle. "I'm glad Laxus managed to keep it secret."
Freed turned to his boyfriend with a dropped mouth. "You were in on it?"
"Of course," said Liberty. "After all, he's … well, he's part of the family now, right?"
As if seeing his family there was not shocking enough, hearing his mother say those words made Freed almost collapse. He grabbed hold of Laxus' arm as he felt overwhelmed with happiness. He wanted to thank his mother, hug her, kiss her cheek, spin her around the room. Instead, all he could do was smile as tears gathered on his eyelids.
Evergreen clucked her tongue. "Sheesh, twenty-three and he's still a crybaby."
"First," Laxus said, "I want to give you my gift. You insisted that I not buy you anything, so I didn't. My gift is a little different, and far more meaningful. Is he here?" he asked the Justines.
A man who had been sitting in a lounge chair stood up. He was tiny, balding, with a thick mustache of pure white. However, when he smiled at Freed, he recognized the exact same eyes and smile.
Laxus walked over to the tiny man. "Freed, my grandfather. Gramps, my boyfriend, Freed Justine."
"So, you're Freed. The name's Makarov."
"Sir!" he breathed, feeling stunned. He suddenly grabbed Makarov's hand and shook it vigorously. "I've been wanting to meet you, sir."
Laxus explained, "I somehow managed to find the old geezer. I had to fly him up from Florida where he was flirting with the Cuban girls, but he made it here, and your dad got a ticket for him to watch the show as well."
"It was a shock to hear from him after all these years," Makarov admitted. "I thought I'd die with him still not talking to me. My dear boy, I'm so glad you got my grandson out of that wretched place…"
Laxus cleared his throat loudly. Not everyone amongst the Justines knew about his previous job as a strip dancer.
"Ah, the cake!" Llewellyn cut in, also not wanting that sordid bit of history to ruin the day. "It's been a pain keeping Bicklow out of it, but it's tradition that you have the first piece. We can't light a candle in the theater, but at least we can sing. Everyone ready?"
They sang, and Freed blushed as Evergreen pulled him by the shoulders over to a frosted cake. He had truly been surprised by all this. He had thought it would be a simple day with Laxus. He was actually almost annoyed realizing his family would be involved. However, meeting Laxus' grandfather more than made up for the intrusion of family on this special day.
They chatted with cake and wine and opened presents before the show. Makarov asked about Freed's work, and he told the young heir about how he moved to where it was warmer for retirement, although he claimed he did it for the girls more than for his arthritis. (He did not deny about flirting with Cuban girls, but instead insisted they were the best women in the world.)
Bickslow brought along his girlfriend, a nurse whom Freed had met briefly when his younger brother was in rehab. Lisanna was a petite teenager with bobbed white hair and breathtaking blue eyes. Freed honestly could not comprehend what she saw in his weird and lumbering brother, but if it kept Bickslow happy and sober, all the better.
Then the show began. Laxus sat between Makarov and Freed. Finding his grandfather had taken a bit of work, but he thought this was the best birthday gift he could offer. After all, Freed had said on more than one occasion, he wanted to meet Laxus' family.
He squeezed Freed's hand through some of the songs. Freed had talked about the general plot, although he did not want to spoil the ending. He had talked about how he read the actual novel by Victor Hugo in high school, and he got to see the show when it was on Broadway. Laxus was glad he was enjoying it. He also recognized Mira as singing the role of Eponine. Her voice truly was amazing, although it was strang to see the elegant woman in rags and a dirty face.
After the cast belted out One Day More, the crowd applauded and went on intermission. Their group retired to the gathering room behind the box seats.
"Wasn't Mira awesome?" Lisanna exclaimed. "I rarely get to see her actually perform."
"Oh?" asked Laxus. "You know her?"
The small girl nodded enthusiastically. "She's my big sister."
"No shit!" He caught himself too late. "Ah! I mean … no kidding."
Lisanna just chuckled at his crudeness. "I wish I had her talent."
Laxus paused as he put pieces together. "So wait … Evergreen, you're still dating Mira's brother, right?"
"Elfman, yes," the brunette said. "He couldn't make it today due to work."
"And you're Mira's sister," he said, to which Lisanna nodded proudly. Laxus looked back and forth to Bicklow and Evergreen. "You're dating siblings?"
The two looked at one another, obviously shocked as it suddenly dawned on them. Bickslow burst into laughs.
"Too bad you're dating Freed, then. We could have hooked him up with Mira and made it a sibling three-way."
Evergreen spit out her drink and looked positively horrified; however, Lisanna only lightly slapped his arm and chuckled as she admonished, "Oh Bickslow, that's awful."
Laxus left them and drifted over to Freed sitting on a couch with Makarov. He leaned over into his ear and whispered in a grating voice, "You are not hooking up with that singer."
He had been chatting with Makarov and had not heard their conversation. "What? Which singer?"
Laxus stomped away to the restroom. Somehow, Bickslow's words pissed him off. He knew Mira and Freed were old friends. Freed was gay, so there was no way he would hook up with her. Still, the idea of losing him to such a pretty woman ticked him off.
Freed watched Laxus leave, still confused by what he meant. Oh well, he had no plans on hooking up with anyone. Quite the contrary, in fact.
"Um, Mister Dreyar?" he said to the tiny old man.
"Please, just call me Makarov," he said, waving aside formalities.
"Can … can you walk with me?"
Makarov tipped his head, seeing the nervousness in Freed, and silently agreed. The two slipped out of the private box suite and into the main hallway. The crowd was either lined up for wine, the restroom, or milling about at the tables of merchandise. No one was around the box suites. Although the chatter drifted over to them, they were very much alone.
"I know we've just met, and I'm sure this seems sudden to you," Freed began. "Still, for me—for both of us—these past few months have been a dream come true. In ways I can't even begin to relate, Laxus has helped me come to grips with my life, and I hope I've made a positive change in his…"
"Freed," Makarov cut in. "You didn't see Laxus as a teen, and all those years up until now. When his mother died, he gave up on his future. Seeing him now, I can see it in his eyes and his smile, in every expression and every action—he's gotten back a part of his soul that shattered that day. You're right, I don't know you yet, but maybe I don't need to. Please, as a favor to this old man, keep looking after my grandson." He winked knowingly. "For as long as it takes, stay by his side."
Freed's heart raced. "Then, if I wanted to make this lifelong … what I mean is…" He cleared his throat and pushed aside the giddiness fluttering in his stomach. "Sir, do I have your blessing to marry Laxus?"
"I believe that's what I just gave you," he replied with a jolly chuckle. "If he wants the lifestyle you live, with all its extravagance and social restrictions, there's no way I could tell him no. No one can decide what someone else should do with their life. Now, I don't want to sound cruel, but I do actually fear that he may feel stifled in whatever ivory tower you offer him. Then again, he has you around, so perhaps that won't be as much of an issue. I charge you with protecting him, keeping him out of trouble, but also let him do what he needs in life. Don't chain him with propriety. Laxus is like a wild dragon, so let him fly freely."
"We've had issues with that, sir," he admitted, not wanting to get into details. "I think we've worked out the worst of it. It's … not been easy," he admitted, "but we keep struggling. We fight together, and that's how we win each battle that comes up."
Makarov patted Freed's arm. "Hearing that actually relieves a lot of my concerns. If it had been easy and blissful up until now, I'd worry that when trouble comes, you two wouldn't be able to handle it. A relationship that faces many challenges gets tempered through the blows of adversity."
"In that case, ours should be as hard as steel," Freed said with a distant smile as he thought about just how many challenges they had over the past few months.
"I was worried that I had not brought a birthday gift for you," said Makarov, "but perhaps this." He tugged on his finger and pulled off his wedding ring. "I've worn this for over fifty years. It's beaten up, scratched, but it lasted even after Death took my wife. Have it polished up and resized. It'll need to be much bigger to fit those massive fingers of his. Still, use the ring as a base to forge your own ring of commitment, and when the time is right, perhaps half a century of good luck stored in that gold will continue for another generation."
Freed could not move as he stared at the gold wedding band. His eyes burned, his vision blurred, and he felt hot tears dripping down.
"Sir, that … it's…"
Makarov took Freed's hand, placed the ring onto his palm, and closed his fingers over it. "Realize, it comes with some conditions. If you lose it, you owe me a million dollars," he said with a playful wink, "and if you change your mind, I want this back."
Freed's hand clenched around the ring, and he sniffled as a smile of determination flushed his cheeks. "I'm not changing my mind. It's been made up for a while now. I just don't think it's the right time, not yet. We have some personal issues to work out, and I feel we should date a little longer. Still, my heart is decided. I want Laxus in my life, for all my life. I learned a lesson from my father, though: never rush into what seems like a perfect deal. I'm going to take this slowly and seriously."
"Waiting is wise," Makarov said sagely. "Just don't wait for the wrong reasons, like a lack of confidence or struggling with commitment. Also, are you two going to adopt? Because I would really love to have great-grandbabies."
Freed sputtered out a laugh and began to wipe the tears aside. "We've actually mentioned it, but we didn't really decide anything. It's something for us to talk about. I guess we have a lot to discuss before we commit."
"Good. Talk. And convince him to adopt some kids."
Freed blushed at the old man's acceptance and eagerness. "Sir, I just want to say—and I hope this doesn't sound strange—but I'm really glad you're okay with this. He's your only grandson. Most people would probably feel like the family tree is coming to an end."
"There are other Dreyars out there," Makarov said lightly. "Passing on genes? Why is that important? Passing on a legacy, though! Now that is important to me. My son failed as a father and as a good man, so I tried to instill my legacy into Laxus. For a while, I feared I failed him too. Now, I see that something actually stuck. He just needed you to discover it. You'll build on that legacy, Freed. You'll help him become a man who will establish his own legacy. It won't be the one I set out for him, but I believe it'll be better, grander than owning some rowdy pub. If he can develop his own legacy and pass that on to a new generation, that's what counts. Bloodlines, genetics, family trees—they don't matter in the grander scheme of life. Family is much more than blood." He reached up, and his hand barely reached Freed's shoulder. "The child who inherits Laxus' legacy: that will be my great-grandchild. No matter who gave birth to the child, no matter how they look or how they love, that will be my family. Just as you are now a part of my family."
Fresh tears swelled up, and Freed wiped them away quickly. He sputtered out through sobs, "Th-thank you, sir."
"Seriously, stop calling me sir. You're making me feel like an old man."
Freed placed the ring deep into his pocket, and the two returned to the box suite. Freed tried to avoid the rest of the family as he calmed himself. When Laxus came up to him, Freed tried to turn away, but a large hand grabbed his chin and pulled him back.
"You've been crying," he whispered in concern.
"Your grandfather, he … he told me a funny story. I was laughing so hard, I cried. Um, I need to use the toilet before the show starts." He fled to the restroom to wash his face.
Laxus glanced over at Makarov, who was chatting with Liberty about France (telling war stories again, Laxus assumed).
Freed must have asked Makarov. He must have! So then why was he crying? Did he not get the blessing he was hoping for? Or was he crying because he got permission?
Laxus worried which it was. Even if he disapproved, Makarov would have handled it delicately. He never would have been so harsh as to make a person cry. Yet if Freed got a simple approval, that was not enough to make a man like him, so focused on propriety, to weep in public.
What the hell happened?
He felt like he couldn't even ask. This was a matter between the two of them. Laxus knew that bringing Makarov here would likely lead to Freed having a serious discussion with his grandfather, and he had been slightly avoiding Freed to make sure he had an opportunity to do it. Now it was between them.
It still made him worried.
He marched over to the restroom. It was tucked out of sight with a protective wall so guests did not have to see the inside of the room. He was completely out of sight of everyone else. As soon as the hand dryer stopped and Freed opened the door, Laxus shoved him right back inside with a hand over his mouth to hold back any gasp of surprise. Freed's eyes went wide instead as he was slammed against the wall and the door shut behind Laxus.
"Seriously, are you okay?"
Freed tried to open his mouth, but the hand was still covering it. He nodded instead.
"The old geezer didn't say anything cruel, right?"
He shook his head vigorously.
"Are you going to tell me why you're crying, then?"
To Laxus' surprise and relief, Freed blushed. He finally removed his hand, and he saw that Freed was smiling coyly.
"I won't tell you," Freed replied. "It's not bad, though. I'm fine. Better than fine."
"Then…?" He could not ask. Freed already said, he would not tell Laxus. "I guess bringing him here was a good birthday gift, eh?" That was a safer thing to say.
Freed's cheeks lit up with joy. "Better than you can imagine."
Laxus swore he was glowing again. He tipped Freed's chin up and gave him a kiss.
"You have another birthday gift from me, but not until tonight."
Freed smirked at that sensual hint. "A toy?"
"The biggest one yet."
"Big, huh?" he asked with a devilish purr to his words. "Will it fit me?"
"I've been wondering that," Laxus said cryptically.
Freed bit his lip, curious what it was. However, he knew Laxus would never tell him. No, he would torture him with hints and not fulfill his curiosity until the last moment possible.
Just then, they heard music start up, and the two hurried out of the restroom. Luckily, no one realized they had disappeared together, or at least no one mentioned it. They returned to their seats, and the show started up.
Laxus reached over and held Freed's hand. More than once, his thumb rubbed over the silver promise ring.
One day … more.
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!
The curtain closed. Freed leaped to his feet, applauding enthusiastically. Lisanna was the next on her feet, cheering Bravo! Slowly the others stood to give the cast a standing ovation. When Mira came out to take her bow, Lisanna and Bickslow both shouted as loudly as they could.
At last, it was all over, the final bows were taken, the lights went back on for the audience, and the orchestra played exiting music. The group retired to the suite for one last round of drinks.
"We could have an early dinner," Llewellyn suggested as he drank some sparkling water.
"A light one," Evergreen warned. "I'm meeting friends tonight."
"Yes, a dinner with the family would be charming," said Liberty.
"Oh." Makarov patted around to find his wallet. "I'll need to see if I've got cash. My pension check hasn't come through…"
Freed placed a hand on his shoulder. "My treat, sir."
"Thank you, m'boy," he said, sounding relieved to have even such a little financial burden cared for.
Laxus was glad to see his boyfriend getting along so well with his grandfather. "Might as well make it a dinner." He leaned into Freed's ear and said soft enough for no one else to hear. "Because when I get you home, you won't be heading out again for the rest of the night."
It took all of Freed's might not to react too strongly to those sweetly seductive words.
"We also have something to discuss with you, dear," Liberty said to Freed.
Llewellyn jolted over with a pinch to his brow. "Now, Liberty?" he asked in a sharp tone.
Her look at him was ice cold. "Yes, now, while I'm here, because I can't exactly trust you to do it properly."
Bickslow and Evergreen both turned away, upset to see their parents like this. Lisanna patted Bickslow's arm in comfort.
"So," the petite teen said in a forced chirpy tone, "where does everyone want to eat?"
It took some debate, listing nearby restaurants, until finally they settled on a place near the Magnolia Opera House. It was within walking distance, so they left as a group to stroll over there through the rain. Lisanna and Bickslow cuddled in close under their umbrella, Laxus kept an arm around Freed to make sure he did not get wet, Evergreen grumbled about her shoes getting ruined, while Makarov did not even bother with an umbrella, saying they were for wimps. He put on a wide-brimmed hat, and that was enough covering for him.
They were given a private dining room for their group. Whereas Evergreen only ordered a salad, most of the others ordered dinners. They ate a light first course of soup and chatted about idle things. Then the dinners came, and still the conversation was not worrisome as Freed had begun to fear, given his parents' brief exchange.
It was not until the desserts came out (Evergreen at least could not turn down ordering a cheesecake) that Liberty finally cleared her throat.
"Freed, dear, we have something rather serious to offer you."
"Offer?" he asked, setting down his cake fork and patting his lips clean.
"As you know," she said stiffly, "your father and I have been working out the financial side of our divorce."
"Oh boy," Evergreen muttered, already sensing an uncomfortable discussion approaching.
Llewellyn assured them all, "Both sides wanted to remain civil; however, certain issues were sparking conflicts between the lawyers."
The look Liberty gave her ex-husband showed it was hardly lawyers causing the conflicts. "The only thing we could fully agree upon was that our children should get enough to make sure you all can live in comfort. So when issues with property turned vile, to keep peace between the two of us it was decided that Freed would take over the house immediately, so that this bit of property does not enter into the divorce proceedings."
"What?" Freed said in numbed shock.
Delicately, Llewellyn explained, "You'll be the owner of the main house and property, as of now. In a way, it's your birthday present. Likewise, the summer cottage in New England will be placed under Evergreen's name, and the cabin in Colorado will be switched over to Bickslow. This makes handling the remaining properties much easier."
"I'm getting the summer cottage? Oh Daddy!" Evergreen exclaimed. "I love that house. The garden is my favorite place in the whole world."
"I know, sweetie," Llewellyn smiled endearingly at her. "But until the two of you," he said, pointing to Evergreen and Bickslow, "get your Bachelors degrees, the cottage and cabin will be in a trust."
Liberty muttered while picking at her tiramisu, "Perhaps that will be enough incentive to get Bickslow back into university."
Lisanna held onto Bickslow's arm. "I can take you with me when I apply. It would be nice if we could go to the same university together."
"Yeah, I guess it wouldn't be so bad," he said, not all that enthusiastic about going back to school.
Freed still had not moved, staring down at his birthday cake. Laxus saw the stunned, glazed look in his eyes. Under the table, he patted Freed's leg.
"I … like where I'm living now," mumbled Freed.
The family looked over.
"What was that?" asked Liberty.
"I like … where I'm living now," he said stronger. "It's a good place, it's close to work, and it's near bus lines for Laxus, since he can't drive."
"My dear," Liberty chuckled, "your boyfriend shouldn't need to use public transportation." She practically sneered out the words. "We have cars, a chauffeur…"
"I like where I am!" he shouted.
Laxus put a hand on his shoulder, truly thinking Freed might bolt up and storm off.
"Son," Llewellyn cut in, trying to be delicate. "The deed will be in your name. That's all. You don't actually have to live in the house."
Freed yanked aside, breaking from Laxus' comforting hand. He scowled as he looked down at the birthday cake that now seemed to mock him. "I knew the house would end up mine one day," he muttered. "I'm fine with it, really. It's not like I don't want to live there … someday … just … it's far sooner than I ever anticipated. I thought I'd have a chance to … to be on my own, make a life of my own choosing."
"You can still do that," Liberty assured him. "This is purely just to get the house out of the divorce paperwork."
The divorce! Dammit, he hated the thought that his parents were divorcing, and all of this was making it feel more real, more final.
"Dear." Liberty reached over and placed her delicate fingers over Freed's fisted hand. "Live your life freely, as you always have. Just know, when you're ready to settle down, you have a home waiting for you."
Freed smiled, thankful for his mother's words. His fist loosened, his hand rolled around, and he gave her fingers a thankful squeeze.
"I'll sign the paperwork," he muttered. "Thank you for keeping the house in the family and entrusting it to me. I will make sure it continues to be a seat of warmth and welcome to all of our family and friends. However, I would like to remain living where I am for a while."
"That works out just fine," Llewellyn assured him. "It gives me time to move into one of our other houses."
Laxus leaned into Freed's ear. "Other houses? How many houses do the Justines own?"
Freed glanced up at him with a sheepish smile. "You probably don't want to know."
"So," Lisanna said excitedly, "what is this cabin like?"
Evergreen whipped out her phone. "I have pictures from our last trip. You have got to see the picture of Bickslow stuck on the ski lift."
Bickslow bolted up. "Evergreen, don't you dare show her that."
Lisanna squealed. "Eee, I wanna see, I wanna see!"
They continued with dessert, although Freed barely tasted his cake.
It was not like he hated the idea of owning that house. He had dreams of spending Christmas there with Laxus, setting up a home, maybe a family. However, that was a wish for the far future. For now, he like their simple life together, the condo that was for just them, cooking together in the kitchen instead of cooks preparing their meals, watching television in their boxers and making out on the couch, without the worry of a maid peeking in on them. He liked the privacy they had.
He felt that if they lived in a house that huge, the distance between them might grow as well.
"So, you already have a house, eh?" Makarov said, chuckling softly. "It's nice to know my grandson has such a stable man in his life."
"Hey Freed," Laxus said, yanking him out of solemn reflection. "Can I show my Gramps the house, just a quick tour around while you're at work tomorrow?"
"Oh! Uh … I guess? Y-yes! If that's okay with you, Father," he added.
"I'll warn the staff. Please, have a lunch there as well, and I would like for him to take a few bottles of wine as a token. Spoil your grandfather on behalf of the Justine family," he said jovially. Llewellyn lifted his wine glass. "To family!"
The others cheered. Still, Freed looked lost as he sipped his wine.
Finally, they began to leave, giving final cheers of happy birthday to Freed. While Laxus used the restroom, Llewellyn came up to him.
"I'll bring the paperwork for the deed into work tomorrow. Join me on your lunch break. We'll meet the lawyer and finalize everything."
"Understood, sir," he said firmly. "I apologize if it shocked me."
He laughed and patted Freed's back. "I was just as stunned when that house was handed over to me. It's intimidating! Also," he said quieter, glancing around to make sure they were alone. "I hope you do realize, this house will be in your name, not joint with anyone else."
"Understood," he said, figuring that would be the case.
"And," he added even quieter, "I highly recommend it stays that way."
Freed arched an eyebrow.
"Take it as a lesson learned the hard way," he said with a glance over to Liberty. "You'll marry the right person one day, but I highly recommend you keep what you can in your name alone. As tempting as it is to share everything you have with the person you love, it's not always the wisest move from a practical standpoint. If I had taken my own father's advice on the matter, this divorce would have been over ages ago instead of being drawn out so painfully."
"I … will take that into serious consideration, should that time come in my life," Freed said cautiously.
"I'm sure you'll make the wise decision." Llewellyn patted his back once more and strolled off.
Freed honestly had not even thought about the legal side of owning property. If he and Laxus married, how much would they share? What would not be shared? So many decisions would need to be sorted out before they tied their lives together.
Liberty came up and gave Freed a hug. "I need to be off." She held his cheeks. "Now, you listen to your mother. Live freely! If you don't feel like being in that house, don't live there. Even if one day you wish to be rid of it, it's just a house. Make your own legacy."
Freed thought about what Makarov had said to him about Laxus carrying on a legacy and becoming his own legacy. It brought a smile to his face. "I will, Mother. I hope the divorce continues smoother after this."
"It should," she said with a look of weariness. "Goodness, once you're caged, it's hard to be free again. Be careful of that, dear. Really think long and hard before you leap into anything that binds you in legalities, both in business and in love."
"I understand," he said, knowing she meant to weigh the repercussions of marrying Laxus.
"That being said," she added quietly, "when you do marry, make it a marriage of equality."
Freed jolted up, stunned by her words.
Liberty tucked a lock of green hair behind her ear. "I felt overwhelmed when I married your father. I was blessed to have been born affluent, but suddenly I was the lady of a house. I had never even owned a condo, like what you're doing. Your father made sure everything—absolutely everything—was jointly signed. It was a minor gesture, and I'm sure he's regretting it now, but at the time, it really made me feel like I had some freedom. I was not just a bird being locked away in a cage. I owned half that cage, and we were like two lovebirds together. It was … a sweet gesture. We lived as equals. Our marriage lasted as long as it did because of that mutual respect. It's heartbreaking that it could not last forever, but for as long as it did, it was a dream, not an imprisonment. So when you marry one day, I recommend you don't be the owner of a cage that imprisons your partner, but be co-owners of everything in your life."
Her advice felt so much warmer than Llewellyn's jaded outlook. He was seeing relationships at their cold and bitter ending, whereas Liberty still recalled the fire at the beginning of love.
"Thank you, Mother," he said, blinking his eyes to keep from crying yet again.
"Oh, such a crybaby!" She hugged him and pulled him in close. "You really do take too much after me." She kissed the side of his cheek and whispered, "May any marriage you have never end."
He pulled back, mouth dropped at her words, and even propriety could not stop his tears from spilling over. "Mother!"
She smiled knowingly. Yes, she had just given her blessing.
"I still think he's a brute," she added.
Freed laughed. "Yeah, he is sometimes!" He grabbed her into a hug, burying his tears into her shoulder like he used to do as a kid. "Thank you," he muttered into her blouse.
"Live freely," she repeated, rubbing his back. "Let no one, not even me or your father, tell you what to do. If you love him … well, I would never dream of denying you happiness. I've been spoiling you since you were a child. I certainly won't stop that now that you're such an incredible young man. My precious boy!" she cooed, stroking his hair.
He hiccuped a sob, but heavy footsteps brought up his attention. Laxus had just entered, and he looked worried as he saw his boyfriend sobbing to his mother. What the hell happened while he was gone?
Freed smiled at him. First Makarov's blessing, then his mother's approval.
"This … is seriously the best birthday ever," he said, both to Liberty and to Laxus.
Laxus froze. Wait, best birthday? And Freed was hugging his mother, crying like earlier … then did that mean Liberty … did she approve? Did she grant her blessing? Her?
"Are you fucking serious?" Laxus muttered under his breath, and for a second he felt like maybe he might cry as well. He really had thought, of all the people in Freed's family, Liberty would be the only one to never approve of their relationship. If even she did…
There truly was nothing stopping him from proposing.
Only himself. He wanted to be certain.
They both realized it at the same time. Nothing stood in their way now except their own issues.
Freed's eyes met Laxus.
One day…
Liberty pulled back. "Well, I should go. I have an early flight."
"Leaving so soon?" Freed asked in disappointment.
"It took a lot of rearranging just to get this day off, and I'm missing a fashion show in Paris. I simply had to be here for my sweetie's birthday."
"I'm glad you came," Freed said, giving her another kiss on the cheek. "Have a safe flight."
"You stay safe as well, and don't let your father get you down. I would love to have you and Laxus visit me in Paris this summer. Oh, I'll be back for the garden party. It'll be the last one I'm hosting. The planning will fall to Evergreen and you next year. Please do keep on the tradition."
"I promised to keep it as a seat of warmth and welcome, as it always has been."
"Good. I'll see you in a few weeks, then." She looked past Freed's shoulder and waved lightly. "Take care of my boy, Laxus."
"I will, ma'am," he promised wholeheartedly.
Finally, they walked back to the Corvette. Freed sat behind the wheel and looked straight ahead as Laxus set up flute music to keep his stomach settled.
"Hell of a day," Laxus said lightly, although he glanced over, worried by Freed's blank gaze.
"Yes, quite the emotional roller coaster," he agreed. "Um, Laxus … I know you had something planned for tonight, but … can we just snuggle?" He had a sad, apologetic smile. "I'm not sure if I'm mentally up for anything rigorous now."
Laxus leaned over to the driver's seat and tugged Freed's cheek to make him look over. "Ya wanna know what my gift was?"
"Oh! You don't have to tell me—"
"It was me," he cut in. "I was your gift, and allowing you to do whatever you want with me. Maybe that's stupid and cliché, but I had no fucking clue what I could buy for a guy who has seriously everything. If you want snuggled, hell, that's my second favorite pastime."
Freed blushed and asked teasingly. "Only your second favorite?"
"Yeah. My favorite—" He leaned in close. "—is kissing you."
Their lips brushed together gently, and Freed melted into the tenderness. Maybe his mother still thought Laxus was a brute, but Freed knew the layers under that gruff exterior. He knew the gentle, caring, attentive man deep inside.
He rubbed his nose against Laxus'. "I guess we could add some kissing into the snuggles."
Laxus chuckled and gave him another kiss with their foreheads pressed together. "Now that sounds like a good birthday wish."
They kissed again, caressed each others cheeks, and had just started to slip out their tongues when there was a knock on the passenger side window. Freed leaped away with a yelp, and Laxus turned sharply to the noise.
"Gramps!" he bellowed.
Makarov waved awkwardly at them, realizing he had interrupted something. Still, he shouted through the window. "I missed my bus back to the hotel. Mind giving me a lift?"
Laxus practically ripped his seatbelt off. "Goddamn, are you serious, fucking senile old goat…"
Freed laughed bashfully as Laxus grumbled profanities, got out of the car, and folded back the passenger seat so Makarov could climb into the Corvette's nearly nonexistent backseat. Once everyone had settled into their seats, Freed started up the car and drove out of the parking structure. Before they even reached the main avenue, Laxus slumped against the window with a nauseous groan. He had forgotten to turn on the flute music.
Makarov clicked in tongue in disappointment. "Does that boy still get carsick? I thought he'd outgrow that."
Freed laughed as Laxus grumbled more profanity. He turned the music on, reached over, and patted Laxus' hand in comfort. Then his finger traced over the silver promise ring.
They were already promised to be faithful to one another.
One day … more.
Next Chapter: "Master of the House"
Freed to Makarov:
Hey, I just met you
And this is crazy,
But I'm fucking your grandson
So let me marry him maybe.
I know it don't look right,
This master and slave thing,
But I'm fucking your grandson
So let me marry him maybe.
Sorry, sorry. That song really did pop into my head while writing that scene though, haha! I even sang it in the audio recording: http://chirb.it/6mJdwf
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