"Okay now you know the rules no peaking" Lucy told her now five year old daughter. Lucy had her hands over the young girl's eyes as she walked her to the back yard where her surprise was waiting. Vera was giggling with excitement. The rose haired girl was pushing her mother forward.

"Alright. Alright. Open your eyes" Lucy laughed. Vera opened her jade eyes and stared in awe at the egg that stood in the middle of the yard.

"AN EXCEED EGG" She squealed as she ran to the egg and hugged it with her pudgy arms. The egg was white and had golden swirls around it.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart" A deep masculine voice whispered in Vera's ear. She spun around to see her father grinning at her.

"Daddy!" She exclaimed and launched herself at Natsu. Natsu had been sent on a year long mission and found an orphaned Exceed egg on his journey home and decided to surprise his daughter with it for her birthday.

Lucy had joined the two in a tear filled hug. She missed her husband so much in that lonely year. It was the first mission that Lucy had not gone on. Vera even accompanied them on the lesser dangerous missions, she would need to learn the ins and outs of being a member of fairy tail. Makarov asked for Natsu's help in keeping the peace in the neighboring country of Quintos. There had been a dramatic decrease in the crime rate months after his arrival. He trained the soldiers and even was a prime adviser to the king. Funny huh? Hot-headed Nastu becoming an adviser. Though in that time he grew stronger, he missed his family and his guild dearly.

He kissed his daughter's hair and stood up. Vera held on to her father's hand as she ran to her exceed egg.

"Daddy?" She asked looking up at her father.

"What is it, baby?" He asked while bringing Lucy close. She put her head on his shoulder.

"Don't leave ever again" Vera said while clinging on to her father's leg. Nastu grimaced he didn't know if he could promise that. He looked to Lucy and she she shook her head. He knew this was a matter that they would discuss later.

There was a change in the air, something smelled off. Nastu sniffed the air, it was something dark. It a moment a dark shadow flew across the yard.

"Lucy, Vera, get back" Natsu ordered and pushed his family behind him. The dark cloaked figure chuckled and inhaled deeply. Only it's red eyes were noticeable and the were trained on Vera. Lucy held her daughter close.

"So much delicious power in one little girl. Tell me, may I have a taste?" It hisses and a snake shoots out towards Vera her green eyes growing wide. Before it meets its target Natsu grabs it and incinerates it.

"Listen here you won't go near my family. I'll see you in hell before that happens." Natsu fumes.

"Loke, Sagittarius, Virgo I summon thee" Lucy shouts with whip at hand.

"Virgo, take Vera to the guild" She pink haired spirit nods and quickly disappeared into a tunnel with Vera. Natsu launches himself headlong at the intruder but he vanishes in a puff of smoke leaving a single blush colored rose. Nastu was about to burn it but Lucy stopped his hand.

"No wait it could be a key into figuring out what's going on." Lucy explained her husband nodded but did not speak, he was seeing red.

"Loke can you search the perimeter and report back to me with anything you find anything? Sagittarius can you search the spirit world of anyone who knows of this?" Both men nodded at their beloved master.

Once they disappeared Lucy sank to her knees on the plush grass. Nastu joined her and brought her to his chest.

"He want's our baby" She sniffed petrified for her daughter. Natsu kissed her forehead and ran his hand through her smooth blond hair.

"He isn't going to get her. I promise" He glanced at thee exceed egg, it was supposed to be a joyous reunion.