Bickslow POV

It's been seven weeks since I left with Evergreen and Elfman for a mission. Seven weeks. I hadn't seen the babies move or Freed smile in seven weeks. The train ride back has been hell. Not only have I been hearing rumors fly around that Freed already went into labor but there's also rumors in there about him dying.

I wasn't able to sit still the entire train ride home. I needed to be there with Freed when the babies were born, I just had to. It would give anything for this stupid train to move faster.

Finally after a three day trains ride the doors opened at Magnolia station. I jumped up without saying goodbye to Evergreen of Elfman and sprinted back to the guild. I was not missing a single moment from now till the babies were born! We had gotten double reward for finishing the job a week faster then expected.

As I ran into the guild I suddenly smelled the dark and gloomy air that was hanging. My heart dropped to my stomach as I face past everyone and immediately down to the apartments only to run face first into Mirajane. She pushed me off and went to attack before seeing it was only me.

"Bickslow..." She said with tears in her eyes. She was in her strongest Satan Soul form. What had happened while I was gone. I didn't care I needed to find Freed. I could smell him but I could also smell the hint of blood.

"Where's Freed!" I shouted as I tried to push past her. She pushed me back. I tried again and once again she forced me back. I was growling at this point my alpha willing to fight even a stronger alpha like Mirajane.

"He's not in there Bickslow....he's in a safe location." Mirajane said. That didn't make sense, why could I smell him and why was she guarding this area.

"Let me through!" I yelled finally getting past her as I stumbled into the apartment. The wall were coated in blood. I could smell it was Freed's blood and two scents that seemed all two familiar but I could figure out. Lastly I smelled Laxus's blood.

"He's dead....Laxus I mean" Mirajane said as I turned around. My heart felt like it had stopped beating. What had Laxus done to Freed and the babies.

"Laxus broke in attacked Freed in the middle of the night. The only reason Freed loved was because Gajeel and Natsu smelled blood and fought Laxus. Master Makarov felt the finishing blow and killed Laxus....he had no choice but it killed him...we couldn't bear to send word to you by messenger so we just waited patiently for you to come back." Mirajane explained.

I fell to my knees. Freed had been hurt by Laxus again. It was all my fault, I failed to protect him again! Where was he!

"Where's my mate...." I barked out in anger at myself and at Laxus. I wanted to bring him back and kill him all over again for the trauma he'd caused Freed.

"He's at your old house...he had a break down and wouldn't let us take him anywhere else..." she said and with that I ran out of the blood filled apartment.

I ran and ran as fast as I could. How could I be so stupid. Of course Laxus would wait till I was gone to attack him. He hurt and nearly killed Freed. What about the babies, Mirajane said nothing about my babies, were they okay!? We're they dead too!?

When the house came into view I made a mad dash for it. Natsu who was sitting outside with Gray and their son Igneel didn't even try to stop me. I ran straight up stairs to find Erza guarding the bedroom. She too just let me pass and horrors I found inside dropped me too my knees.

Freed's belly was twice the size it was last time I saw him but it was covered almost completely in bandages that had soaked with blood. Wendy was next to him healing him. The wounds looked fresh so the Laxus incident just have happened last night. I cried as I fell over Freed's unconscious body. I supported myself as my tears fell on his sleeping face. He had a black eye and his lip was bruised and bleeding still. His body was littered in bruises and only his boxers were on due to the extensive injuries.

I sobbed as I held back the fear that I had lost everything. I was so stupid, how could I have left him for seven weeks. He needed me and J wasn't there. This was all my fault.

"Bick...slow"

My name being called made me yank my eyes open and move back. Freed's eyes were barely open as he reached for my hand. I quickly enveloped his hands in mine.

"I-I'm here baby, I'm here" I said as tears poured down my face. Freed smiled a painful smile that just broke my heart further.

"You....came.....back" he got out before going into a cough fit. As Wendy finished healing him she helped him drink from a glass of water before putting it on the bedside table and leaving the two of us alone in the room.

"Of course I did, I couldn't stay away from my mate and babies too long now could I..." I said as I continued to cry. Freed moved his hand to my face.

"Bickslow....promise me....stay..." Freed rasped out as his hand fell from my face. I held both of his hands tightly as I nodded. He closed his eyes exhausted and soon fell asleep.

I cried and I still held his pale and bruised hands in mine. I had let this happen. I would never leave his side again but would that even be enough. He was broken again because his mate failed to protect him like he was supposed to. How was I any better then Laxus.

"Bickslow don't beat yourself up..." came the voice from behind me. I turned around to see Natsu. He walked over to me and came to his knees as I fell into his arms sobbing. I had done the same for him just a few months earlier.

"He never got the chance to brand him....Master killed him before he could." Natsu said as he patted my back. I was so happy for just that little bit of hope but I couldn't stop crying.

What was I going to do now. My world had been utterly destroyed.

TBC