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Chapter 2
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"Good Evening Mr. Dragneel." A blonde-haired woman greeted with so much formality that Natsu felt she came here for business, if it wouldn't for her casual clothing and… bags?
"You're L-Lucy Heartfilia, right?" Natsu said, trying to pretend that he barely knows the person in front of him. But man, it was really hard to pretend and hold yourself from jumping in happiness when the woman of your dreams just appeared at your doorstep.
His heart was beating rapidly in his chest and his breath taken away from him the moment he saw her stunning brown eyes staring back. He can't believe that the girl he is in love with is in front of him and is actually talking to him!
'Stop acting like a love struck teenage boy, Natsu.' He thought as he tried to calm himself. But that's exactly what he feels, he really was love struck, just not a teenage boy.
"Yes. I'm glad you can still remember me even though it is just our second time meeting." Lucy stated.
'As if I could forget you. You were always present in my mind. And maybe it's just your second time to see me but this would be my hundredth time seeing you… or maybe more.' Natsu thought.
He nodded while inwardly commanding his heart to return to its normal pace. He asked her, "What did you come here for?"
He saw Lucy flinch and he immediately cursed himself "Crap! Did I sound rude? Or maybe I sounded like she is disturbing me?! She might leave!" He panicked.
He was about to ask the question again in a much nicer way but what he heard her say left his mouth hanging open and made his heart to stop abruptly.
"You're the father of my child, Mr. Dragneel." Lucy said with a serious face showing that she wasn't joking.
Natsu was stunned. He? He has a child with her? Is that why her belly was this big? When did they- Oh…
All his questions was being answered one by one as his memory flashed images of what occurred three months ago, rendering him speechless.
"Don't tell me you can't remember what happened 3 months ago." She added, since Natsu was still not responding.
Of course he remembers. How could he forget what happened the night when he slept with her...? That was the night when he slept with the woman he secretly loves. He perfectly remembers every detail of that night.
He might have a few glasses of alcohol but he still knows what he was doing. Lucy on the other hand was so drunk that she doesn't mind his advances on her. Eventually, he got her to sleep with him. That was why he wasn't expecting her to remember it.
What he did that night was wrong. He shouldn't have taken advantage of her while she was drunk… but he can't help it, he loves this girl for a long time now even though she doesn't know anything about it, so he let himself get carried away by his feelings...
Flashback:
It was Gajeel's birthday and they decided to celebrate it at Master's mansion. Gajeel only invited some friends and acquaintances for business purposes. There was nothing much in the party, just some alcoholic drinks and food. The guests just spent their time talking with each other or with Gajeel or Master. Some talked to him or with his siblings and that's all it took for Natsu to decide that this 'party' is boring. His back leaning onto one of the windows, his opinion changed when he saw Lucy with a petite blue-haired woman approach Gajeel. He didn't know Gajeel knows Lucy. To say that he was surprised is an understatement but he chose to push it aside for the mean time, he could subtly ask Gajeel later.
Natsu approached them and Gajeel introduced him to the two girls with a bored tone. But he didn't mind that, his attention fully on Lucy. He snapped out of his trance when the blue-haired woman introduced herself and so did Lucy. Lucy was friendly and nice, as he expected, and he didn't know why he made it this long before having the courage to talk to her. He had many chances then… but he let it all slip.
They went to the bar to get some drinks. Lucy was seated with Levy, Gajeel sat beside Levy and Natsu on Lucy's right. Natsu watched Lucy frown as she looked at her drink while mumbling, "I should not have come in this place. I don't know anyone in here. I don't even know why she insisted for me to come with her, only to be ignored after she found the love of her life..."
"I can keep you company if you want." Natsu said grabbing the chance to talk and spend time with her. He should act like a grown man now and pursue his love because he might end up all alone in life if he didn't. There was just one thing that he was holding him back... Lucy is already taken. Could he possibly win her heart from the man she's been dating for years already?
Lucy looked at Natsu, surprised that he heard her mumbling but then agreed with thoughts along the line of 'He seems nice.' and 'It is better than drowning myself with liquor.' They spent the whole night talking about their experiences, dreams, hobbies and love life. In which, both of them had to lie.
Natsu said that he'd never fell in love, just some feeble crushes, while Lucy said that her relationship with her boyfriend is going strong. He thought that tonight is not the night he will tell her what he feels for her, and he doesn't want to tell her things like 'He loves someone but he doesn't want to tell it to her.' while she on the other hand, doesn't like to admit what she is going through with her relationship right now.
After a while, the two girls became too drunk they could barely talk without slurring. Gajeel, sensing the two women can't handle themselves, suggested that the girls should stay at their place, knowing that both he and Natsu can't drive them home since they were quite drunk too. They can't risk driving under the influence of alcohol and definitely not when there were other people with them.
The two girls have no choice since they can barely walk and understand what the boys were saying. Both Natsu and Gajeel didn't expect them to have low alcohol tolerance. Natsu picked Lucy up and carried her into a room. And that's when everything broke loose…−
"Hello? Are you still there? And are you just going to let me stand out here? It's freezing." Lucy said waving a hand in front of Natsu's face. Natsu still cannot utter any words so he just gives way for her to enter his house and helps her with the bags.
"It is rude to stare like that at someone, you know?" Lucy said, noticing Natsu's stare which makes her feel uncomfortable.
"Three months ago? Doesn't that mean that you're now three months pregnant? Is it true that the child's really mine? Are you gonna stay here?" He asked non-stop, suddenly feeling happy because he can have a chance with Lucy.
'But...' Natsu didn't dare to finish that thought. Lucy is now with him and that's the only thing important.
"It is true. Why do you think I'm here for?" She said as she averted her eyes from Natsu's for fear that he might detect and question the guilt shown in hers.
"So you're gonna take responsibility or not? Just say so I could stop bothering you already." She quickly added.
"Of course I will." He grinned. Lucy swallowed a lump in her throat.
"This is too much. I can't do this after all"
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"No! Stop it Lucy! It's for your child. " She thought.
"Why have you suddenly turned silent?" he suddenly asked.
"Just wondering why you easily accepted me, a person you barely knew, here at your place." She sceptically said. Her resolve before going to Natsu's place is now slowly crumbling down.
"Why wouldn't I? You're carrying my child and to take responsibility, I should let you stay at a place where I can keep an eye for you and the baby's needs, right?" He answered, frowning a bit at what she told him.
"Y-yes. So… Where will I sleep?" she asked. She needed to change the topic since she can feel that she will apologize and take a leave any minute from now.
"In my room." He answered nonchalantly, watching her closely to see her reaction.
"W-what?!" She was bewildered from his answer, a noticeable blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Why? Wouldn't you like to sleep beside the father of your child?" He asked, hiding his smirk when he saw her cheeks redden.
"N-no... Why would I? If it's not much of a trouble for you, I would like to have my own room, please…? If that's possible..." Lucy said while looking around the house to hide her still-present blush.
Natsu sighed 'so much for pushing my luck' but he immediately perked up when he thought of something. He doesn't want to give up yet.
"What if I said no? Come on, that idea isn't bad. And besides, sleeping beside each other might help us get to know each other faster!" he said, praying for the heavens to help him convince her.
"I, ah…if that's the case, then I have to decline. I'll just rent an apartment around here. Feel free to visit us during your free time." Lucy turned around, grabbed her bags and started heading for the door.
Natsu felt panic rise inside him and he quickly got a hold of her wrist to prevent her from leaving him.
"Why? Don't you want to know me? I mean, you don't want us to be strangers in front of our child, right?" He asked after he went in front of her, his face displayed sadness he couldn't hide, from the thought of her wanting to keep a distance from him.
"W-well it's not like that. Of course, I want to know you but I think we could know each other without sharing the same bed…" She told him casually but with cheeks flaming red, betraying her of the embarrassment she feels and her eyes constantly darts around the place to avoid his.
Natsu laughed loud and forcefully to hide his disappointment. This caught Lucy's attention.
"I'm just kidding! Of course, I would not suggest anything that will make you uncomfortable." He said after his laughter died down. He watched with amusement as her mouth opened in shock then closed it immediately, her red cheeks puffed out.
He chuckled, humourless. "You can use the other room. But that room is filled with my clothes since I use it as my walk-in closet. You can sleep first at my room and I'll just stay in the couch for the night. I guess I can clean your soon-to-be room tomorrow and we can also buy some things for you and the baby." Natsu said as he remembered that tomorrow will be his day off.
"Thank you." Lucy said flashing a smile at him, instantly forgetting his embarrassing joke before.
Natsu smiled back but soon, his stomach grumbled. He completely forgot that he is hungry. 'Just look at what this girl can do to me.'
"I guess you're hungry. How about I make you a dinner as my thank you for letting me stay here?" Lucy giggled.
"No need for a thank you, but you could make a dinner if you like and if you still aren't tired." Natsu said, smiling at the thought that the girl he loves will cook for him.
Author's Notes:
I want to thank those who review/favorite/follow this story.
And for those who are asking if Natsu is the REAL father, I can't tell anything about it or rather I still don't know since it may depend on how the future chapters will go out. So please stay with me and the story until the end of this story :)
So what do you want? Natsu is the real father or not?
Don't forget to leave a review. Suggestions and comments will be welcomed too :D
