Happy's Turn
Family.
That was one word that resounded heavily in Happy's mind.
He was thankful to the fact that he found it despite being an Exceed trapped in Earthland, devoid of his own kind. But when he saw the pink-haired Dragon Slayer holding him in his chubby arms as a child, he knew he had found it.
Family, that is.
As they grew up together, he never questioned why he was so different from other members of the guild. Why he was the only talking cat in the neighborhood or why he could fly.
When he asked Natsu, the Dragon Slayer always answered with a smile.
"Because you're my partner, Happy. That makes you special."
It had always been the two of them for several years. Always looking for dragons and strength and power.
Always searching, just the two of them. It was funny when they found another thing entirely during their travels.
"My name is Lucy Heartfillia."
At first, Happy didn't deem her superior from the category of "just another guild member". He didn't mind that she tagged along for the mission with Macao, but he found her weak and whiny during the trip.
She changed their minds once she decided to save Natsu from falling from that cliff.
Happy decided that she must've been crazy from hoping to carry his weight without thinking the whole thing through, but she was just the right kind of crazy for them.
It didn't take long for them to include her in their team.
After several missions together, Happy thought it was natural the way she transitioned from a team member to a part of his family. She might be loud and big, but she was also soft and kind to him. She always grumbled to him for caring more about fish than her wellbeing before giving him a plate of leftover fish she just "happened" to make too much of.
It was only natural she grew up to be not quite what they were looking for in the beginning, but enough for her presence to always be beside them. The threads weaved themselves to form an inescapable knot.
So, when Natsu and Lucy decided to add a fourth member to the family, Happy was not surprised.
"What took you so long?" He said in annoyance as he met Lucy's gaping mouth and Natsu's blank stare.
"I thought I was going to have to ask Cana to slip you something in your drink before you made me a little brother!"
As Natsu laughed and Lucy screeched indignantly, he couldn't help but smile.
He was with family after all.