A/N: Fairy Tail does not belong to me. I claim nothing.


Work wasn't going as well as he hoped.

Igneel Dragion was thirty-six and a widower. He moved to Magnolia for a better life for himself and his son, moved for the better job. But then his boss went and pulled a total one-eighty. First, the man was mild-mannered and polite, a nice fellow. Now, he was some sort of demon. He was also pretty sure he was part of some cult.

Yes, he was making more than at his old job and he'd heard great things about the school district and there were a lot of kids on the street for Natsu, but something just wasn't working out. It was either his rapidly-becoming-stressful job or the fact that his son didn't seem happy. Maybe a combination of them both.

He was silent on the drive home, the radio on but low. He wasn't even thinking of dinner, despite him missing lunch that day—for the third day in a row. Mostly, he just wanted to sleep. He realized Natsu would be hungry, would he be alright with toast? Again?

Probably not…

He turned onto their street, passing the first few houses. In the first house on the right, a redhead stood at the gate, glowering across the street at the first house on the left, where a white-haired girl copied her stance, a sneer on her lips. It seemed like he passed the same scene every day, but he was sure they had better things to do than glare at each other every day.

Continuing on, he passed a house that now had a sign in the front yard proclaiming 'SOLD'. He wondered if there would be more kids Natsu's age. Slowing down as he neared the curve of their road, he offered a half-hearted wave to their neighbor, Mika. She was beaming and waving cheerfully, as always, but he didn't see her son out with her. He didn't worry much, pulling into their driveway and turning off the engine.

He sat there for a moment, mustering up the energy to greet his son. Honestly, if he knew how tiring this job was going to be, he would have stayed back Acalypha.

Realizing he spent long enough lingering in the front seat, he stepped out, stretching lightly before reaching for his messenger bag.

"Dad!" he looked up, expecting the familiar head of pink in the front window. He blinked as his son didn't smile back at him. "Dad! Dad, over here!" He looked to his left, wondering if he had missed Natsu making friends with Gray on his way in. Mika beamed at him, pointing across the street. "Daaaad!" Igneel complied, looking across the street. When nothing caught his eye, he shifted his gaze further down until he saw his son.

Standing on the bottom portion of a white-painted fence, his son waved at him, other arm clinging tight to the wood. Gray stood next to him, waving as well.

Igneel was drawing a blank as to why the boys were in that yard. It wasn't the Surge's house and he didn't see any other children there with them. If he remembered correctly, the house was owned by a young woman, but whether or not she had any children, he couldn't recall.

"Daaaad!" He set his bag back into the front seat and closed the door, shoving his hands in his pockets as he strolled down the street.

"Mika, hello."

"Hi, Igneel!" The woman was always chipper. "Nice day at work?" He made a face and she laughed. "Don't push yourself too hard!" He nodded as he passed her and crossed the street. The boys were practically trembling as they waited—patiently—for him to reach them.

"Hey, brat, whatcha doin' over here, huh?" He ruffled Natsu's hair and the boy grinned up at him.

"We were playing with Lucy! She's really cool!" He looked over at Gray, who nodded.

"Yeah! She plays tag and everything! She's kinda slow, but that's alright," the two snickered and Igneel raised a brow.

Not only had his son made friends with Gray(finally, it was about time) but the little girl who lived here? Interesting.

"Do I get to meet Lucy?"

"Sure! LUCY!" Natsu hollered back at the house. "MY DAD'S HERE!" Igneel could hear a voice from inside the house, but he couldn't make out the words. A moment passed and he watched as the blonde woman he had seen on occasion come out, letting the screen door slip shut behind her. The boys waved at her and Igneel plastered on a quick smile. "Dad, Dad, can I come over and play with Lucy tomorrow? She said it's alright, but we gotta ask you! Cause I'd be over here when you're at work!"

"Well, how about you let me and her mom talk about it, alright?" Both his son and Gray gave him a weird look, their brows furrowed in something he recognized as confusion. "Hi, hope my son hasn't been a bother. I'm Igneel," he introduced himself as the woman strode closer.

"It's nice to meet you. Natsu's been telling me all about you." She took his offered hand, smiling back at him.

"Dad, tell her I can come and play!" Natsu tugged on his shirt and the redhead glanced down at him.

"Ah, that's right. I was curious about that. I know you hardly know me, but if it's alright with you, I wouldn't mind watching Natsu for the summer." Igneel shifted his gaze from his son to the woman, blinking.

"What?"

"Essentially babysitting, I suppose. I—"

"I'm not a baby!" Natsu cut in defiantly, frowning. Beside him, Gray nodded, apparently not liking the term either. "Gray's mom said he could! I wanna come over and play with Lucy and help with the garden!"

"Natsu, let me talk to your father." The boy ducked down, inching himself behind the fence. Gray followed his lead, the two of them eyeing the blonde woman. "Thank you. As I was saying," she sent another smile towards the redhead. "He wandered over today and I've been watching him I guess. I don't mind, since I'd rather he be outside playing than inside watching TV all day."

Igneel had the distinct urge to blush. Not only was this (very pretty) woman offering to watch his son—truly a kind neighbor is he'd ever heard of one—but she just might have indirectly commented on his parenting style. Yes, he worked and no, he didn't have his son in a daycare center or summer program to keep him entertained all day. Was that wrong?

"—fun and I really don't mind." He blinked, realizing he had just tuned her out. Natsu was looking up at him, his eyes pleading, and Gray was looking up at him hopefully. And then there was Happy, the blue cat—

"Natsu, why is Happy out here?"

"I wanted Lucy to meet him!" Igneel raised a brow. "He hasn't done anything! He's just been playing with us!"

"Did you forget how he dug holes in my garden?" the woman questioned him. Natsu looked down, cheeks gaining a tint of red. "Hmm?"

"H-he just wanted to help… I'll fix it tomorrow! Promise!" The woman breathed out a sigh, but smile nonetheless. "Please, Dad?"

"I'm sorry, what's going on?"

"We're gonna come over to Lucy's and play! And have lunch! And snacks!" The two leaped off the fence to unlock the gate and rush outside. "Lucy said it was alright! She said we could come every day!" Igneel looked down at Natsu, the boy gripping his hands tight. "Please?"

"Well…" He shot a look over at the woman, who looked amused. "If it's alright with her mother, I don't see a problem." Both boys looked confused again and he heard a snort form the blonde. "What?"

The woman raised her hand to her mouth, hiding her smile. "No, no it's just—Sorry, I shouldn't have assumed." Igneel tilted his head lightly. She lowered her hand, grinning at him. "My name's Lucy Ashley. It's nice to meet you, Igneel."

Ah. Now he understood.

"So, let me see if I understand this." He straightened, brushing down his shirt in an effort to hide his embarrassment. They'd been there for a few weeks already and he didn't know the neighbors immediately around them? Not his best moment. "You're offering to watch Natsu during the summer for me?" She nodded and his son tugged on his hand. "How much will it be? Not that I don't appreciate it, I just… I'm not sure if that's something we can—"

"Very little, Mr. Dragion. I'm not doing this for money or a job. I have the time and I know very few of the kids hang out all together because of their age and how the street is." She meant how it curved. It wasn't straight so the parents couldn't see their kids at all times. "I've talked to Mika and she and Silver will talk about it over dinner. I know Natsu wants to make friends," his son looked away, maybe a little shy about his wish being declared, "And this way, it's someone watching them during the day. I'd like to think I'll keep them safer. Anything can happen—and I'm not saying that to convince you or anything."

There had to be a catch somewhere. He knew his son could make a huge mess and be a troublemaker, so what was the catch? He narrowed his eyes, lips pulling into a thin line as he tried to figure her out. She raised a brow at his questioningly look but said nothing. "You really don't want anything for your time?"

"I just ask for a little to pay for the cost of lunches."

"That's it?"

"Yes." He wasn't sure. It seemed too good to be true. "May I remind you that you do live across the street? It wouldn't be difficult for them to come over. I just wanted to get your approval, as I understand some parents are wary about the people in their children's lives." He supposed that made sense… "If you'd feel better not, I understand. You don't know me and I can hardly ask you to let me—"

"Alright."

"—watch your son wi—what?" He ruffled Natsu's hair and the boy cheered.

"I'll be over tomorrow Lucy!" the child declared. Gray grinned and the boys laughed.

"What time do you want the brat?" Igneel asked. Lucy blinked once before shaking her head.

"What time do you leave?"

"Eightish."

"He can come over whenever then. I'm usually up before eight." The boys pranced away, towards Gray's house, where they would pester his mother into letting the boy come over as well. "Before I forget, where do you work and can I have your number?"

Igneel's smile grew devilish. "You're moving a little fast there, Lucy. What's next? Dinner?" There was a moment while she blinked at him, lips parted slightly as she tried to work through his words.

And then she went red. "It's not like that! Honestly! I need to be able to contact you if something were to happen!" She crossed her arms tightly, turning her head to the side as she raised her chin. Igneel laughed, pulling a pen from his pocket. He took hold of her hand, uncapping the pen and writing on her skin. "Don't you have paper?"

"Nope. This is my work number," and he started scrawling another underneath it. "And this is my cell. Feel free to call whenever to set up that dinner date. I like Italian," he winked at her.

"As if!" She tugged her hand away, frowning at him and peering down at the numbers on her hand. "I feel like I should know this number… Where do you work?"

"Magnolia Insurance."

She grinned down at her hand. "Ah, so you work with Romy White?"

Igneel eyed her suspiciously. "You know my Boss?" She gave him a cheeky grin. "It seems I misjudged you, Ms. Ashley."

"Oh?"

"You are most definitely my type."

She blushed again, looking across the street to where Silver had just arrived home and was being bombarded by the boys. "How do you like it there? Is he tough?"

"It's a nice place, but he can be a little… hm, intense? Silver!" The dark haired neighbor raised a hand in greeting as both boys tugged at him. "So." Lucy glanced back at him. "Let's you and me leave Natsu at Silver's and head into town. I know this great place for—"

"A-and I'm stopping you there!" She waved her hands to cut him off before marching across the street. "Mika, Silver! Hi!"


"—just flirting! No shame, I tell you, Michelle!"

"Aww, I think he sounds sweet, Big Sis!" Lucy dropped her head, groaning as her cousin squealed. "I think you should go out with him! He sounds nice!"

"Did you hear nothing I just said?"

"Hmm, well, I am making dinner right now!" And Lucy realized that no, no she hadn't. Her cousin was a glutton and probably tuned her out as she prepared her dinner. She was also slightly airheaded. "So? Will you?"

"Will I what?"

"Go out with him! It's been awhile since you've dated anyone! Ooh, tell me what he looks like! Please?!" Lucy raised her head, gazing across her living room at the picture of her and her beloved younger cousin. The girl had a weird fascination with frilly dresses and bonnets so she looked more like a doll than the successful CEO of her father's company. While Lucy had run from that future, Michelle embraced it, thriving in it even…

Despite being a crybaby and constantly needing reassurance. The board of directors were more than happy to do that and succeeded for the most part. She was well-liked and popular, many commenting that she was a true lady—that might have been from her fashion sense though.

"Igneel? Well… Red hair—"

"HE'S A REDHEAD?! BIG SIS, GO OUT WITH HIM! GO OOUUUTT WIIITH HIIIIMM!" Lucy pulled the phone away from her ear to scowl down at it. She had forgotten. Not only was her cousin a fashion designer's nightmare, a glutton the likes of which the world had yet to experience, but she also had this thing for redheads.

"Michelle, breathe!" She heard the blonde do so, quite loudly. "And it's not more of an orange that you like. It's red. Like, red."

"Even better, Big Sis! Ohh, how exciting! When're you going out? Tell me! Tell me!"

"W-we aren't!"

"Aww, why not?" Lucy had to remind herself that if she raised her voice to her cousin, the girl would be inconsolable and even the board wouldn't be able to help her. They would then call her to come down and fix her—as she had to do when they couldn't make the girl happy—and that would take the rest of tomorrow afternoon as she would be required to take the girl out to eat and get dessert. A lot of dessert. Mostly cake. And maybe frozen yogurt.

Honestly, her cousin was more like a kid than a grown-up(successful!) woman of twenty-six.

"Michelle," Lucy began, taking a breath herself. "I only met him because I'll be watching his son over the summer."

"Oh. He's married. Never mind~" Lucy was in no mood to correct her. "How old's his son? What's his name? Is he cute?"

"His name's Natsu and he's seven."

"Awww~ Hey, Big Sis?" Lucy grabbed the remote, flicking on the TV. She pulled up the guide and went through the channels. How was it she had 300+ channels, but there was never anything that interested her? "Why're you watching his son? Do you need the money? You know, if you need a job I can—"

"No, I don't need the money, Michelle. It's not like that. Natsu just came over today—he was bored. And I couldn't just sit back, you know? He's at home all day while his dad's at work. I couldn't just let him sit alone in that house…" Lucy curled her knees to her chest, the phone cradled against her ear as she watched the love scene on the TV blankly. Her cousin was quiet, no doubt going back through their, admittedly lonely, childhood.

"…that's nice of you, Big Sis." Lucy hummed. "So you're gonna watch him all summer?"

"That's the plan. Him and Gray. Maybe the brother and sister that live down on the cul-du-sac. They're stranded down there and Laxus is older, so he won't play with them. I know they're both pretty quiet, but maybe their parents will see it as a learning experience? I just know if it's only the boys, they'll get bored and eventually start fighting with each other. Their personalities are too similar."

"Wow, you've really though this out, huh?" Lucy hadn't thought of that before, but she supposed she had.

Go big or go home, right?

"I guess." She clicked off the TV, leaning back on the couch. "They need friends. Kids shouldn't grow up alone."

"Speaking of kids…" Lucy frowned at her reflection in the TV. "There's this reeeaaally nice guy here at work and I know you haven't been dating in a while, but I think you'd really like him! He's your age and he's never been married. He mentioned he'd like to settle down and have a family, but he hasn't found the right girl yet!"

"Michelle."

"Hear me out, Big Sis! I want a niece! Or a nephew, either one! I wanna spoil them and be their favorite Auntie! And you're not that old! Most women wait until your age to have their first kid anyways!" Lucy wasn't sure if she should feel insulted or not, but went with not. Michelle never meant to intentionally hurt anyone and sometimes she didn't think before she spoke. "Please just give him a chance! He's really sweet!"

"Michelle, I'm just really not interested in dating anyone right now." Nor do I want to. "Besides, I'm fine with my life now. And shouldn't I adopt anyway? There are so many children out there that need a loving family and a home. Why have my own when I can feel the same pride in one that's already potty-trained and can read?" She smiled lightly, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. 3… 2… 1…

"T-THAT'S A HORRIBLE REASON TO ADOPT, BIG SIS! Yes, I admit that adopting is great and a wonderful thing to do, but don't you want to have a child that's the best parts of you and the man you love?! Think of how romantic it is, Big Sis~ Falling in-love and getting married and then the joy that you feel when you find out you're expecting! Oh! And shopping for the nursery, picking out clothes, painting the room, imagining what they'll look like when they're born and as they grow, seeing—"

"The back pain, the mood swings, the cravings, over-all sense of being uncomfortable," Lucy ticked off on her fingers. She heard Michelle huff. "Did I get them all? Oh, no wait. Cramps. Labor."

"Big Sis!"

"Fine. Set it up—coffee, Michelle! Only coffee!"Lucy had learned from experience to be very specific. The last time she let Michelle set it up, the younger blonde had sent them to drag bar. Turns out her date was secretly in the closet and proceeded to first question Lucy how she knew and then tearfully thank her for her support. While there was nothing wrong with that adventure, it had been a little weird for her in there and all the girls fawning over her clear skin. To this day, she was still friends with Gabriela, and the rest of the bar for that matter, but she'd just as well not relive that, thank you.

"Right-o, Big Sis! Coffee with Gildarts!"

Lucy blinked.

"Did you say Gildarts? Gildarts Kaligan?"

"Oh, you know him? That's even better!"

"Michelle, he lives on my street." They had a rule that if the prospective date lived in the same area and would thus knew where she lived, he was out. It was just safer all around if it didn't work out and it was revealed he was a whack-job—which was another hilarious set-up by her beloved little cousin.

"Oh. Darn, and here I thought he'd be perfect…" Why her cousin thought a player would be perfect for her was beyond her.

"Michelle, he has been married before. They divorced after two years because of all the travelling he had to do for work. And that was almost eight years ago now."

"Oh. Oh how sad…" Brilliant.

"Michelle, don't console him. He gets emotional about it and if he starts crying, you'll start crying and then the Board will call me and if I have to come down there, I will not buy you cake."

"B-but Big Sis! H-he was ma-ma-married! And it didn't work ou-out!" Too late. She was crying. "H-h-h-how saaad!" Her cousin was now wailing. Simply brilliant. She considered hanging up, but then she would cry even harder.

Lucy prepared herself for a long hour of soothing the girl and assuring her that sometimes people just didn't work out and yes, it was sad, but some people were better off. Take the couple around the corner. They were a blended family and they were very happy with each other and their respective children got along splendidly, better than most brothers and sisters did.

But Michelle would not swayed.


Knocking awoke her from the couch. She blinked open her eyes, sitting up and peering around her living room curiously. Another knock and her eyes went to the front door.

What time was it?

She grabbed her phone, clicking it on and narrowing her eyes at the time. 8:03.

Who was knocking on her door at eight in the morning?

"Coming~" she yawned, stretching her arms over her head and she padded towards the door. She glanced through the windows and merely saw a blob of dark gray and red.

Did she get a new postman?

"Ye—" she yawned again, eyes closing as she rubbed at them, "—yeah?"

"You tempt me, Lucy, but I really will be late for work." She opened her eyes, scowling at the smirking redhead before her.

"Igneel."

"Lucy!" A pink and blue blur raced past her. "Wow! Your house is huge! Imma explore!" A great clattering arose as he clamored up her stairs on all fours. She stared up at her steps for a long moment before she glanced back at the child's father, who was chuckling. She crossed her arms, remembering what she had changed into last night to relax while she spoke with her cousin.

"So, I'll be home around five-thirty. If you want, my offer is still open for dinner. Tonight might be tight, but I have no objections. Again, we can leave Natsu at Silver's and—" Lucy smiled pleasantly, pushing him away from her door and down her walk.

"Best get on the road, yes? Wouldn't want you to be late~ Good-bye Igneel~!" he went willingly, grinning at her from over his shoulder as she pushed him towards the gate. "Have a great day!"

"My, don't sound so excited." When they reached the gate, she gave him one final shove before clicking it closed behind him, turning sharp on her heel, and striding back into the house where she would get a quick shower and get dressed. "I'll see you tonight, my darling!" Her form went stiff and he snickered at the shiver that passed through her. "Don't miss me too much!"

Lucy turned her head very slowly, offering him a tight grin. "Oh, I'll try."

His day was starting off on a great note. His summer was about to get a lot better.


So. Lucy and Igneel. When I introduced him, I didn't intend to make him kinda flirty. But hey, I have other plans for Loke, so Igneel will be the flirt!

But seriously: I'm honestly considering putting the two together. Since I'm doing such a weird time (Lucy older and everyone else much younger) would that be weird? I mean, I'm gonna make it so that all the kids are pretty close with Lucy, like they are canonverse, but would it be weird if she got together with his dad? I mean, I already planned for her to be on like all their emergency contacts forms listed as like an aunt or something (schools are weird with who is acceptable as a contact) so a stepmom wouldn't be too far out. They'd still be like BFFs but she just has the additional title of mom tacked on there—but she would be totally cool about it.

This would be happening waaay down the line (I planned on doing this story up until they all like graduated HS/went into college because I just feel like Lucy helping them through HS would be great~) so no rush. Or would it happen before middle school…? Hmm…

But I will still build up the flirty Igneel thing because I like it. I've seen some really cute drawings of like Lucy meeting Igneel for the first time and he's all like 'She's perfect, when's the wedding and how many grandchildren are you planning on giving me?' so I felt it worked with the flippy-flopped ages.

Would it be too weird? I'm actually growing on the idea and if I could draw for anything, I'd sketch out the bit where he writes down his number!

So, chapter 2! Tell me what you think! I appreciate your thoughts~

Ciao~