Not So Sick

Exhaustion. Complete an utter exhaustion summed up Levy's feelings for the day. She felt like she had not slept in about a week and that was accurate. According to everyone, especially Lucy who was currently giving her the stare down from across the table, it showed. Her stomach flopped bringing an acid filled burp to her already down turned mouth.

"You look like crap Levy." Lucy frowned studying her blue haired friend.

Levy resisted banging her head on the table, "I'm fine Luc, I promise. I just finished a huge translation job and it took a lot out of me."

It was not a complete lie. She had finished a job but it had been easy money and not the burden weighing on her tired mind. Her stomach lurched again and Levy shakily took a sip of water praying it would help. That last thing she needed was to hurl all over the guild hall, but she had just sat down. Lucy would make it near impossible to bail without a good excuse and all the ones that came to her tired mind would cause more problems.

"You don't look fine Levy. Should I take you to see Polyusica while Wendy is out on a mission?"

"No," Levy said, inwardly hating how quickly that came out. She had already seen the woman and would have to wait for things to just work themselves out. What she needed was Gajeel home. This was partly his doing, she would not feel better until she could talk with him. "Really I'll be fine."

Lucy eyed her suspiciously, "You have the biggest bags I've ever seen on your face and I've seen you after a weeklong library bender Lev. You look like Natsu after a train ride, like you're going to lose it all over the table."

"I feel a little under the weather but really, I'm fine. I was hoping getting out and about would help. It's not." Levy grimaced pushing down another round of acid reflux. "Gajeel should be back today and I was hoping to greet him here."

She had been hoping to gauge his mood to prepare herself before returning home with him.

At the mention of his name Lucy's eyes brightened and a sly smile worked across her blonde friend's face, "So how are things with the metal head. You two still shacking it up."

Levy blushed uncontrollably, "Things are great. I know it's hard for everyone to see but he really is just a big, gruff teddy bear."

Lucy laughed brightly, "It's not hard to see, believe me. We all have seen the looks you guys give each other. That man adores you."

A small smile found its way to her lips. A pleasant, temporary reprieve from her rolling stomach. She loved him with all her heart. She had seen some of the scorching looks he gave her from the corner of her eye. It made her feel invincible. It also bolstered her a bit for her evening ahead.

"You're not pregnant are you Levy? "Lucy laughed jokingly, "I'm just kidding, I know there's a stomach bug going around."

Levy froze. Trying to slow the pounding of her heart, she willed a genuine laugh out of her mouth. It was awkward to her ears, "Yeah haha, that would be something."

Before Lucy could say anything a soft lilt met her ears," Who's pregnant?"

Levy sat in horror as someone else heard Mira's voice.

"Pregnant?!" Cana shouted "Who's pregnant, is it Levy?"

Lucy shrugged her shoulders apologetically as a roaring commotion ensued with shouts of pregnancy. This was her worst nightmare. She should have just stayed hidden under the nest of blankets on Gajeel's bed. How could she have thought meeting him at the guild hall to be a good idea? Her brain was just not working right though, the panic that filled half of it had clouded her better judgment.

"Wait-" She tried to speak up, it fell on deaf ears. Soon the entire guild hall was in an up roar and Levy felt tears prick at her eyes.

Lucy grabbed her hand, "Levy what's the matter? It's okay, once everyone calms we'll right it. This group of idiots jumps on anything, you know that."

Shaking her blue head she sniffed back the moisture, "You don't understand Lucy. I am. Gajeel doesn't know yet. I wanted to tell him at him later when he got home from his mission with Lily."

"Oh shit." Lucy sat back in her chair, "I was just joking before, I hadn't really thought… I didn't mean for everyone to-"

Levy waved a shaking hand, "I know Luc, it's okay."

Looking around to plan her escape route, Levy felt her stomach drop completely when the doors to the hall opened. Long, wild, black hair could be seen over the rumbling crowd. Complete silence filled the guild hall momentarily before everyone attacked Gajeel with back slaps and unwanted hugs.

She could see the confusion and frustration build as he fought his way over to the table she just wanted to melt into.

"Shorty what the hell is going on here?" Gajeel grabbed her up into his arms, eliciting a cheer from the onlooking crowd. "Is everyone drunker then usual or have I missed something?"

Looking over at Levy who nodded encouragement, "Lucy unintentionally spilled the beans on something she didn't even know about."

"Shrimp, I'm damn tired, tell me straight 'cause I don't follow."

Levy brushed her fingers across the cool cylindrical piercings on his face before burying hers in the crook of his neck. The feel and smell of his thick hair comforting her fears, "I'm pregnant. "

His entire body froze. She felt the tenseness in the muscular arms that held her tight. Peering through his hair, Lily must have heard her confession because his mouth dropped open briefly before he jumped up whooping in excitement like everyone else.

Strong arms pulled her away, putting her feet back on the ground. The hall went silent and Levy was forced to look up and meet Gajeel's piercing red eyes. She was shocked to see the moisture that had collected there and he gruffly bent down on his knees before her. Spanning his hand across her still flat stomach he swallowed thickly, betraying more emotion then she had ever seen from him, "Levy, I'm going to be a father?"

The tears flowed freely down her cheek as she let out a water laugh, any nausea previously felt gone at least for the moment, "Yes love." She ran a still shaky hand down his face, which he instantly nuzzled clenching her heart, "You're going to be a dad. I did not mean for you to find out like this, but… surprise."

Scooping her up with yelp, covered her mouth with his and kissed her with more passion then she had ever felt. The crowd around the went wild, and Gajeel lifted her up above him yelling, "We're having a kid!"

Levy could not think of a moment in time where she had seen the man who was known to be so gruff and unapproachable look so happy and sociable. Here was the mighty Black Steel, former Phantom Lord mage, shaking hands and tackling people with hugs. It made her heart burst knowing things would be more then okay. This child was going to grow up surrounded by so much love. It would mark a new generation of Fairy Tailers who didn't have to start life like so many of her guild brother and sisters, digging through the ashes of life until Makarov saved them. Unlike her, this baby would grow up the in arms of loving parents surrounded by a family who would do anything for them.

Small paws grabbed her for a hug, jolting Levy out of her reverie. Hugging Lily tight she choked back another happy sob when she saw the happy tears trailing down his fur.

"I am so happy for you two. If anyone deserves a happy ending it's you two."

Levy wiped her face with smile, "Don't you know this is just the beginning Lily. Now are you ready, because you're part of this family too, Uncle Lily."

Lily looked back a Gajeel who was still being passed around now with a pint in hand, "I am so ready for this next adventure. You guys know how to keep me on my toes. But never have I felt like such a part of a family before."

Tweaking a fuzzy ear, she grinned, "Good, because we wouldn't be one without you."

*I do not own any part of the Fairy Tail universe*