Chapter 2

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Layla ran in front of her parents and stumbled every now and again on the uneven cobbled street, she hummed a sweet tune as she tried to see over the side of the bridge. Natsu let go of Lucy's hand and picked his daughter up and placed her so that she was sat on his shoulders. The small girl let out a squeal and grabbed two small handfuls of Natsu's pink hair.

Lucy slowed her pace so that Ryuu caught up with her. They walked side by side in silence. Lucy didn't understand why Ryuu had seemed to be so angry lately, wasn't this supposed to happen when he was a teenager? Or maybe he just got his Dad's slightly moody attributes? Had she done anything wrong? Lucy couldn't help but ask herself these questions.

"Looking forward to school?" She asked, smiling down at her son.

"Mmm." He replied while throwing his hands behind his head.

After walking for another few minutes, they reached the large canal that ran all the way through Magnolia. Walking along the side of the canal and up a small rise, they finally reached the large guild hall.

The large door slowly creaked open and a small dark haired girl popped her head around the corner. After realising who it is, a large toothy grin came across her face and she shouted,

"Aunt Lucy!" The nine year old opened her arms wide and grabbed Lucy around her thighs.

"Hello Asuka." Lucy said while bending over and hugged the girl back.

"Are Uncle Natsu, Layla and… Ryuu here too?" She asked. Lucy took note on how she paused before saying Ryuu's name and how Asuka's cheeks turned a delicate pink.

"We're here!" Layla shouted in a sing song tune.

"Hi Layla." Asuka said while waving and smiling sweetly then adding, "Hello Uncle Natsu."

"Hey, Asuka!" Natsu asked while putting Layla down.

The trio of Mother, daughter and Father walked into the large hall and was greeted by the usual rowdy bunch that had most probably been at the guild all night after consuming a fair amount of alcohol. Ryuu followed lazily behind and as he caught sight of the dark haired girl, his cheeks glowed a delicate pink.

"Hello Ryuu." Asuka said while pushing the wooden door shut. All she got back was a grunt while Ryuu raised his hand to his golden head to scratch the back of it. He walked through the familiar guild to join everyone outside. As he walked around the maze of tables to reach the bar where his parents stood, he heard shouting This always happened when Natsu and Gray were together and it was also common thing for their children to witness. In the large crowded hall, Natsu and Gray had their foreheads pressed together shouting names at each other. Layla was sat in the centre of the wooden bar with Happy. She had produced a dolls outfit from her backpack and unwillingly made Happy wear it- again -she also had tea cups and saucers placed in front of them. Ryuu watched as his sister happily chatted away without a care in the world to the blue cat with a rare smile on his face. His gaze finally went over to his Mum, she was happily sat at the bar talking with a certain scarlet haired beauty with a mug of steaming liquid placed within her hands.

"Ryuu!" Erza shouted over the hall and patted the wooden stool next to her. Ryuu sighed and walked over and sat next to his none-related aunt.

"How're you Ryuu?" Erza asked with a warm smile.

"I'm good." He answered, looking at his hands in front of him.

"Why the long face?" A new voice asked.

"I don't have a long face!" Ryuu replied while looking up to find Asuka holding out a glass of orange juice. He gingerly took the glass and sipped. Asuka walked around the trio at the bar and skipped the rest of the way to the table in which her parents were sat.

Ryuu's eyes followed the short girl over to when she sat down. Bisca noticed this and gave the boy a polite wave. Ryuu waved back, his cheeks darkening slightly. He turned back around, picked up the glass that he was previously given and gulped down the cold liquid.

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Ryuu jumped down from the stool and said,

"I'm going to school. Bye Mum."

"Okay, have a good day!" Lucy smiled at her son and held out her arms for a hug.

Ryuu looked past his Mother and scoured the hall for his Father's pink hair. He grunted and ducked under her open arms and towards where he had spotted Natsu and Gray fighting.

Once Ryuu was a fair distance away, Lucy's face dropped.

"I don't know what I've done? He's just been really moody lately. I mean, He's nine years old!" Lucy exclaimed while throwing her arms up in the air. Gray heard the slight raise voices and spotted the young blonde haired boy walking towards himself and Natsu.

He dropped Natsu from the scruff off his shirt.

"Hey! We're not finish-!" Natsu exclaimed but stopped himself when he saw his son walking over. "What's going on?" He asked while lowering himself down to Ryuu's level.

"Can we go to school now please?" Ryuu asked.

"Sure." Natsu replied and took his bag off him and walked over to where Lucy and Erza were sat. "I'm taking Ryuu to school."

The pink-haired man leant down and gave his wife a peck on the cheek and Layla a kiss on the top of her head.

"Can you talk to him... about.. erm boy stuff please?" Lucy blushed, "You know how he's been lately and I think that he needs a man to talk to."

Gray gave a scoff when Lucy said 'man' so she sent daggers his way, then turned back to Natsu with pleading eyes.

"Alright! I'll go and talk to him." Natsu picked up Ryuu's bag that he had set on the floor and walked out out of the guild hall.

Ryuu was stood in the morning sunlight with his hands deep in his pockets and slouched over. He clearly got his posture from his father, anyone could tell.

After Ryuu was born, Lucy had to go into a 'short' retirement from the guild. This 'short' retirement ended up being nine years long from the moment she had her son. Needless to say the whole guild was shocked that the only celestial spirit mage that they had, had to leave the guild. However - luckily for Lucy - she was able the keep her mark, therefore still officially being a member of Fairy Tail. Natsu still stayed a member full time. Nothing Lucy said could tear him away from the guild and not doing missions.

she understood though, he had been there long before she had so he clearly had a deeper connection with the place. It was hard for Lucy though, she had to leave Team Natsu behind with one less member. And Happy still complains - nine years later - that it's still not the same without her.

Natsu paused for a short while in the archway of the large door to collect his thoughts and think about what he was going to say to his son. He finally turned around and walked up towards the blond boy. As he reached him, the bag he was carrying slipped off his shoulder and clattered on the floor. Spilling it's content on the cobbled stones.

In a rush to pick all the books and paper up from the dirty floor. A certain book caught his eye. It was titled 'Fire Magic' and was bounded in a large leather bind.

"No wonder his bag was so heavy." Natsu thought as he picked the book up. "Why are you reading this?" He then asked aloud.

"Erm, I was just curious." He replied.

"If you want me to teach you about fire magic, all you have to do is ask. I know a little bit about it all since it's a little similar to dragon slayer magic." He gave his son a reassuring smile.

"Thanks Dad." Ryuu replied, returning the smile. He took the book and put it back in his bag.

"So, your Mum wanted me to talk to you…" Natsu finally said after a short while of walking in slience.

"Talk away." The small boy replied with

"Okay! Well… What's wrong? You've been moody lately." Natsu asked his son with concerned eyes.

"Dad, can you keep a secret?"

Natsu was caught off guard by his son's question. His expression turned from a caring Fathers concern to a contorted, red and wide eyed face of shock. Ryuu looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"Yes! Yes, of course!" Natsu said, straightening his back slightly and pulling his hands out of his pockets.

"Well… the other day at school… it was lunchtime and I was sat with Asuka outside eating out lunch and…" Ryuu's cheeks burned with embarrassment and Natsu's were going a similar colour, "Well… I told her that I had a crush on her!" He shouted out the last sentence.

Ryuu let out a massive sigh and slumped back into his chair.

Natsu thought "He's 9 years old and he has a crush! I didn't think I had to have this talk with him until he was at least 18 years old!" He started to panic and his palms started to sweat, he asked

"And what did Asuka say?"

"Nothing. That's why I'm angry." Ryuu replied matter-of-factly.

"Ryuu, don't ever tell your Mother that I told you this, but when it comes to woman, you've got to be an ass to them to get them to like you."

The boy was shocked at his Fathers words and said,

"So I have to be mean to her to get her to like me back?"

"Exactly!" Natsu exclaimed as his arms shot out to the side.

He didn't really understand his Father's statement, but appreciated his advice. He thought about the amount of times his Mum and Dad had argued about pointless stuff.

"Okay!" He replied. A new sense of confidence flowed through him.

"Now, shall we get you to school and are you going to be nice to your Mother now?"

"Yeah… I should say sorry."

"You should." Natsu patted his head.

After rounded the last street corner, Ryuu said his goodbyes to his Dad and ran off into the school courtyard. Smiling to himself, Natsu made his way back to the guild.

He walked back through the large doors and everyone was still sat at the wooden bar; however Layla was now sat on her mothers lap singing a nursery rhyme for everyone to hear. As soon as she had finished, everyone erupted in cheers and claps as she beamed a smile and turned a light shade of pink.

The day went on without anything interesting happening. Lucy and Layla were left with Bisca, Alzack and Asuka after Team Natsu went out to do a small mission just on the outskirts of town. They chatted and the two girls played together.

"Are you staying for dinner?" Mira-Jane asked Lucy when Ryuu had returned to the guild from his day at school. She look at her children who beamed smiled up at their mother.

"Sure." Lucy replied, "You know how much they love your cooking Mira."

The family stayed in the hall until the sun started to set. Mira-Jane brought out the hot meals and set them out on the small round mahogany table that the two children were sat at and without hesitation, they dug in without so much as a thank you.

After the dishes were taken away, Natsu returned with a sleeping Happy firmly on his shoulder. He complained about the mission and how hungry he now was.

"I'll make you some food when we get home, okay?" Lucy smiled at him as she gently kissed his lips.

Goodbyes were said to the last few people at the guild and the small family walked home in the dimly lit street.

Layla was asleep with her Father's arms and he shot a knowing glance down at Ryuu as he walked ahead. Leaving Mother and son behind to talk.

"Mum..?"

"Yes sweetie?" Lucy asked while turning her head to her son.

"I'm sorry for being moody earlier." Ryuu said while looking down at his feet.

"It's okay Ryuu." Lucy smiled back and wrapped her arm around her son's shoulders, "I do love you. No matter how moody you are."

Ryuu scrunched his nose up at her words and tried to wriggle out of her grip. Lucy only laughed a tightened her grip as the boy whined about not being able to breath.

Natsu turned around and smiled at his wife and son, he walked along next to Lucy and she wrapped her arm around his waist. They silently walked back to the small cottage.

As they reached the small door, Lucy slowly unlocked it and hit the light switch as they all walked in. Natsu took Layla into her and Ryuu's bedroom and placed her in the small bed/cot and undressed her and put her pink night dress on. He laid her down and kissed the top of her head. After pulling the sheets over her, he walked out the room and switched the light of.

Natsu walked into the small front room and said,

"Time for bed, buddy." And he ruffled his son's blonde hair and pulled him closer and kissed the top of his head. Ryuu grunted slightly and said in the direction on the kitchen,

"G'night Mum!"

"Sleep tight sweetie." Lucy called out while cleaning the surfaces down. Natsu made his way into his and his wife's bedroom and stripped down into his boxers while getting into bed. Lucy quickly tidied everything up in the kitchen and front room. She then popped into her children's room and kissed the two of them goodnight while pulling the covers up more.

She walked down the short hallway towards her room and quietly opened the creaking door and got dressed into her favourite pyjamas. She Carefully crawled into the bed next to the already sleeping Natsu and drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

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A/N: So my laptop broke guys. This is why everything is late and behind and I am so incredibly sorry!

I should hopefully getting a new one at the end of the month, so everything will be back on track! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please review and what not!

Thank you and sorry again!