Prologue
December 16th, Amaryllis, Heartfilia Konzern,
"Miss Heartfilia! Miss Heartfilia! You have mail," Lucy hadn't heard the door to the study open nor the maid until she spoke.
"Oh Spetto! It must be my offers for university," her face brightened as the elder woman handed her the envelopes. Shuffling through the three enclosed envelopes, a large smile appeared on the eighteen year olds face. Holding her breath, she placed the two other envelopes down. They clearly did not matter as much as the one she held in her hand, her spare hand hovered over the envelope knife.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Spetto asked, conflict flickering over the younger girls eyes.
"I'm… I'm afraid they didn't accept me," Lucy commented. "I probably wasn't good enough to even get in," she chewed on her bottom lip.
"What are you talking about dear? You passed high school with one of the highest scores in your year level," Spetto's hands rested on Lucy's shoulders. "Why on earth wouldn't you be good enough? And even if they do think that, they're the ones missing out," Spetto's words made Lucy smile again.
Taking a deep breath Lucy clutched the blunt knife, slicing open the envelope perfectly. The process of taking the piece of paper out - that very same paper which would determine her future - seemed like forever. Her eyes scanned over the paper promptly, letting out a sharp gasp when her eyes found the words she had been waiting to see for the past month.
The blonde shot out of her seat squealing, her arms wrapped around Spetto as she cried tears of joy onto the elder woman's shoulders. "I've been accepted," her words muffled.
"I told you," Spetto held her closer. "Of course The University of Magnolia would want someone as bright and as special as you," Spetto reassured the young woman she practically raised.
Lucy Heartfilia would always remember and cherish December the sixteenth as the day her life began.
December 16th, Magnolia Town, Magnolia Town Hospital
The maternity wing of the Magnolia Town Hospital had been eerily quiet, which only frustrated the rose haired male sitting in the waiting room to no end. His face had been covered by his hands as his elbows dug into his thighs, he was tired and worn out. His head lifted up once he felt a hand on his leg, his green eyes meeting bright blue ones. He winced slightly, feeling disappointment ooze out of her.
"How is she," he managed to whisper.
"Well… it's not every day you give birth to your boyfriend's child without said boyfriend being there," she replied. Her eyes softened as Natsu let out a deep sigh, placing his head into his hands.
"What about the baby, Mira? Is it a boy or girl? No one's talking to me," he stared at her from the corner of his eyes. "How was it?"
"She's happy Natsu, that's what you wanted to hear? Because she is, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy six hours ago. He weighs four kilos and is fifty five centimeters long," she answered his questions with ease. Placing a hand on his shoulders she continued, "She named him Kaisen."
"Just like we agreed."
Natsu sat back placing his hands in his laps, taking in everything Mirajane had told him. He was a father to a healthy baby boy, smiling to himself he stood up readying himself to see his child and girlfriend only to be pulled back into the chair.
"Also she is extremely pissed off with you," Mira smiled acutely at him.
"What?" he shouted.
"Natsu," a deep voice sternly called out to the young man. Quickly both Natsu and Mira fixed their gazes to the owner of the voice.
"Where in a hospital son, you shouldn't be shouting," the man walked up to the pair taking a seat next to Natsu.
"Mr Dragneel what a pleasure it is to see you," Mira sweetly said. "Lisanna said that she's also upset with you," the elder man's mouth hung open unsure of what to say.
Natsu turned and glared at his father, crossing his arms in the process. It was Igneel and Kaisen's fault, he concluded, because Kaisen wasn't supposed to be born for another two weeks. And it was his father who forced him to leave Lisanna for the national tour.
But he knew what Igneel would say to him in return, if he wanted to be the best of the best he had to sacrifice. And that it was his fault Lisanna fell pregnant anyway…
"Mr Natsu Dragneel," the Nurse standing by the reception called. "Would you like to see your son?"
Running a hand through his hair he stood up making his way to follow the nurse, Igneel gave him one last reassuring pat on the back telling him what he had been for the past nine months.
"We'll work it out together as a family," was the elder man's reply.
Natsu Dragneel would always remember the dread and excitement he felt on December the sixteenth, and the challenge he'd face from then on.
/TBC/