Five Little Sacrifices

Chapter 38

Freed moved his head so he could look at the bartender with his visible eye.

"I'm listening..." he muttered.

"Well... For first, you two are both men and if the mating season is the only time when you can have kids together, why not take this opportunity? Obviously it's bothering you both that there's no guarantee when this opportunity might happen next time", the white haired mage explained.

"But I'm not sure if we're ready to have two kids."

"You're thinking too much", Mirajane said lowering her head next to Freed's, looking at him. "You're being wonderful parents for Felix, why wouldn't it go just as well with two kids?" she smiled warmly and Freed thought about it. "You're not alone, we all will help you two as much as we can. Of course in the end it's all up to you two what you decide, but I think you should reconsider this."

Finally Freed lifted his head, looking at his tea.

"It's already possible that we might have a kid", he said and Mirajane was surprised.

"Really?" she asked excitedly. "But... Shouldn't it be almost defnite if -"

"We don't know if the mating season had started when... You know", Freed muttered with a slight blush. He didn't really like to talk about sex so casually.

"Oh, I see... If you really do feel like that's the best solution, then of course we are all going to support you two", Mirajane said with a smile, though it was slightly sad. "I just really hope you and Laxus will feel better soon. And I hope things will go back to normal when the season is over."

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't they be back to normal?" Freed asked looking at the take over mage and Mirajane sighed when she understood that she had just managed to make things worse.

"Of course they will be back to normal", she assured.

"Don't lie to me, Mira", Freed frowned. "You meant something with that and I want to hear what it is."

"Fine, I will tell, but it's only my opinion and it doesn't mean that it will happen", Mirajane said putting her hands on her hips. "Are you sure there won't be any regrets after the mating season is over?"

"This is what we decided, so -"

"Yes it is, but I'm not asking that. Are you sure that when the season is over, you won't regret this decision? Or that Laxus won't regret it? I don't want to think that because of this season, you two end up separating because of this decision. You have to know -"

"I can't know that", Freed snapped. "Nor can Laxus. No one can. I might regret it, or I might not, but... I just don't know", he groaned rubbing his temples and it felt like his mind was crashing. How on earth could he know if he might regret it? How could he know if Laxus might regret it? Why wasn't there a book with simple rules about these kind of things?!

Mirajane was quick to move around the bar counter and she hugged the green haired man tightly.

"I didn't mean to add more pressure", she apologised. "I just... Just be sure, okay?"

"It's not like there is some way to make sure anything about this", Freed said just staring at his tea cup.

"I know, you hate it when you don't know what's coming."

Freed sighed deeply and he tried to calm his nerves and get a grip of himself.

"You know... Part of me almost hopes that someone else would make this decision for me", he murmured.

Mirajane pulled a bar stool closer so she could sit right next to him, not letting go since obviously Freed needed someone to listen him right now. They all had those days sometimes.