Hah! I managed to finish this chapter while talking to Joy-chan (via pm, that is. Haha!)!

Kyaaaa! It's soooo nice talking to you, Joy-chan! *hugs*

Again, I'm sorry for the short chapter earlier.. I'm gonna make it up to you, guys. :D

Thank you so much to those who reviewed, alerted and favorited!

And even for those silent readers. XD

I'm overwhelmed, minna. Arigatou gozaimasu!

Now without further ado, I present to you, the second installment of Struggling. XD

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. :)

Chapter Two: Playing House

"Natsu, Lucy, you have a lot of explaining to do," Erza said suddenly appearing out of nowhere beside Gray.

Gray nodded still gawking. "I never thought that you had that relationship."

Juvia stepped out and stuck out her hand towards the horrified blonde. "Congratulations, Lucy-chan! If I already knew Lucy had already a boyfriend who's not Gray-sama I wouldn't have broken your pipes!"

"And you said, you're still inexperienced, huh? Well, look at that. You have twins! Way to go, Lucy!" Cana called out pumping her right fist in the air and the left hugging the barrel of beer.

"W-Wait! No, that's not what you think it is! I don't have a child!" Lucy panicked waving her hands wildly in front of them. Then she turned to Gray, "We don't have that relationship! Our relationship is pure platonic! Right, Natsu?"

"Y-Yeah."

Erza shook her head. "When did you did that? I mean – Oh!" She gave them a meaningful look as she remembered something. "I guess that time you did that. I can't believe I was too oblivious."

"What do you mean?" Lucy looked at her friend horrified as the guild started to whisper and murmur among themselves. "No! I told you, I never did that!"

From the background, Lucy heard Wendy whispered to Charle. "Charle, what is that they're talking about?"

"Natsu, would you mind a little help here?" Lucy growled, clearly frustrated at her suspicious guild mates. And here, the idiot did nothing but gape at them.

She turned to him to see his brows furrowed as if he was thinking. He looked at Lucy then at the kids then at the guild, then back to Lucy again. "Ne, Lucy, what do they mean by that?"

Lucy rolled her eyes. Trust Natsu to not understand mature things. "Just tell them we haven't slept together!"

"But we did slept together. What, you expect me to lie?"

By that, the girls (probably led by Mira and her sister Lisanna) just squealed with delight and jumped up and down. The other men almost choked on their spits and looked jealously at the oblivious pink-haired dragon slayer.

"You idiot, you don't understand what you're saying! You're giving them the wrong idea!" Lucy felt like pulling her hair out of frustration. Before she could continue any further, she was cut in when they all heard a cough from above.

They looked up to see a short man with balding hair standing on the ledge on the second floor. He was looking rather serious as if he was calculating what he was about to say.

"Lucy, Natsu, everyone. I hope you haven't forgotten the presence of our little visitors here," he motioned to the two kids who were looking afraid. "Before you argue within yourselves, please consider these kids' feelings."

Everyone looked away from each other considering their master's words. The look on the kids' faces show that they are confused and afraid at the sudden commotion that their guild is making. Indeed, their guild might not be suitable for kids or they might be traumatized what with all the ruckus they're doing even early in the morning.

"Natsu, Lucy, both of you, please come in my office."

The guild watched as Master Makarov hopped off the ledge and disappeared in one of the rooms, with the two called mages trudged upstairs following their master.

As soon as the two disappeared behind the door, Mira called out to the two kids and tried her charm on them. If there's anyone who could deal with kids, it's their barmaid Mira. "So, can you tell us your names?"

Mira's sunny smile seemed to calm the two a little. The blonde boy started to talk."My name is Ken and this is my twin sister Anne."

"Oh you both are so cute!" Mira clapped her hands with glee. The guild just stared at her as she interacted with the kids. "Then would you mind telling us your parents? Where are they?"

As expected of Mira. Everything was well-planned, the guild thought.

"They're upstairs. I don't know why they haven't recognized us though," the girl said flashing a cute hurt look.

Mira smiled at them, this time for real. "Don't worry, they'll recognize you after this. I'm sure."

Somewhere outside the guild, two hooded figures peeped at a corner looking at the big and might sign of Fairy Tail outside the gates.

"Do you think it's safe for them to be there?" The voice seemed to belong to a woman. She sounded worried and hearing that the noise had been replaced by silence, she presumed that the people in there already found the two kids.

"Nah, don't think too much," the hooded man beside her said. "This is Fairy Tail and I believe they can manage this."

Even with the hood, the woman knew the man is grinning, judging by the way his voice seemed to sound so excited and assured. "I know that but still.. I can't help but worry about those two."

"Who do you mean?" The man asked turning to her.

"Err.. Yeah. I'm worried about the kids. But I think I'm more worried about the other two."

"You mean the adults?"

"Adults? They're just teenagers! I don't know if they can handle this," the woman said exasperatedly.

"I'm sure they can!" The man replied.

"Idiot! Don't be too optimistic."

"Hey, don't be too pessimistic."

The woman crossed her arms. "Whatever."

"Relax. I'm sure they can always pull through," the man turned to her. She can imagine the warm grin he always gives her. At that said, she sighed. He was always the optimistic one. The man then rubbed his palms against each other. "I'm excited!"

The woman rolled her eyes and leaned on a tree nearby. Guess they have to be around for a while.

Lucy watched the ice cubes in her lemonade (that was served by a too enthusiastic Mira) bob up and down. The humidity was evident as countless droplets of water start to form around the well-cleaned glass.

"Ne, Mama. Are the ice cubes really that interesting?"

Flinching at the address as she's still not used to it, the blonde turned to the blonde boy sitting on the stool beside her by the bar. There was this certain creepy familiarity on the child's face which she can't put her finger on. The child's eager and smiling face somehow made her feel comforted and she can't help but give him a small smile. "Yes, it is."

She seemed to find it quite a little weird that a while ago, this very child had given her a look of pure hurt when she acted like she doesn't know them at all. Well, it's not like she's acting, coz she really doesn't know them. She was horrified when they announced that she is their mother. And the worse thing is, the father they are claiming is none other than the Salamander who is currently running around the guild with the little girl like he was enjoying himself. They had agreed to be called mother and father upon their master's request and just 'play along' with the kids. However, they were warned to be cautious and to not let their guard down. As much as the kids both look innocent enough to even harm anybody, still, looks can be deceiving especially in the world of mages.

Things can go downhill from here, Lucy thought glumly.

"Is something wrong, Mama? You seemed confused."

Lucy shot him a suspicious look. Is this really a four-year old kid? He seemed too mature for his age. She lowered face to have a better look and was quite shocked at how his eyes were as black as onyx that she seemed to be stuck there, lost in the… Wait. She turned to Natsu and thought of how those eyes looked exactly just like his. She already memorized those eyes since she always find herself looking at them and getting lost as well. Huh? Did she just think that?

"Mama?"

"Uh, yeah? No, nothing, I was just.. Well," she shrugged and then tried to think of changing the topic. "Ken-kun?"

"What is it, Mama? And you don't call me Ken-kun," Ken looked at the blonde in front of him slightly confused.

"Oh, is that so? Well, I'm just.. teasing you," she faked a smile.

"Mama, you really are a weirdo," the boy shook his head making Lucy gape at him again. Really, this is all getting weird.

Lucy thought for a while before saying the words to the boy. Then she said, "Ken, I'm about to ask you questions. Can you answer me honestly and don't ask why I'm asking?"

The boy's parents might have raised him well to be obedient, Lucy thought as she saw the kid nod his little head up and down eagerly. The look on her cute face just makes Lucy want to pinch his cheeks over and over again but decided that she has to control it or the boy might end up having swollen cheeks. She's afraid she might be sued for child abuse by their parents whoever they might be.

"Is Anne's hair color natural?"

The boy looked at the direction of his twin sister who was currently trying to pick a fight with Gray with the help of their idiot of a father. Even with a confused look that his mother is asking him questions she already knew, he still answered the question. "No, it isn't. She's blonde just like me and you. But Papa dyed her hair because he said he wants Anne's hair to be pink. He said it looks cute on her."

She indeed looked cute, Lucy mused. But the idea of dyeing your child's hair just because you want to is just too ridiculous for a parent. She guessed their parents might have a few loose screws in the head.

"You were mad at Papa because of it and you tried to remove the dye. But Anne refused coz she said it was what Papa wants. You see, she really likes Papa."

"And you don't?"

"No! I do, I really do. It's just that…" There was a faint tinge of red on his cheeks. "I just like Mama more. Sometimes, Papa is like an idiot."

Lucy burst out laughing that Ken just looked at her surprised at first and then smiled at the accomplishment he'd made by making his mother laugh. Then he turned to his father who was now brawling with a now-half-naked Gray and Anne watching eagerly at the sidelines. "See, he really is an idiot," Ken said bluntly.

Another guffaw came out of Lucy's mouth and she was forced to turn to Natsu to see what Ken was talking about. To think that a four-year-old child could call Natsu an idiot. Her laughter was however cut in when she saw the fight that was about to break between the dolt and the pervert. Heck, where is Erza when you needed her?

"Hey, you two, stop that!" Lucy hopped from her seat leaving the curious blonde boy behind and headed towards Gray and Natsu.

"No way! This blockhead just harassed my kid!" Natsu said glaring at Gray. "I'll show him that he's million years too early to date my cute daughter!"

"What are you talking about, Natsu?" Lucy stared at him incredulously. "You can't fight in front of the kids, you dimwit!" Then she turned to Gray. "And please, Gray, have some decency and put some clothes on!"

"Eeep!"

"No, Gray, let's finish this once and for all!"

"Walking away in a fight is unmanly!" Elfman puffed his chest.

"You can do it, Papa!" Anne called out pumping her little fist in the air.

Lucy looked around the guild as chorused cheers started to ring across the guild. She looked at Ken from across the bar who was looking interested and as if this is this just a normal occurrence that he always witnesses.

Really, even if she loves her guild, she still thinks their guild is just a little hopeless at times.

"That was fun!"

Lucy shot Natsu a bored look before looking up ahead and wished she's in her apartment already. She's almost beaten to a pulp, what with all her efforts to stop the ruckus in the guild since there are two kids younger than Romeo and Wendy already. They are now walking towards her apartment with Ken swinging her hand back and forth as he hopped happily beside her and Anne happily snoozing against Natsu's neck.

Master Makarov had already tried contacting people who might be aware of parents losing their twin children. So, for the meantime until their parents would claim them, Ken and Anne are both staying in Lucy's apartment. No way, she would allow the kids to stay in Natsu's so called house (for her it's more like a sty). Since the kids seemed to take her as their mother, she felt like she had a responsibility towards them. Also, she felt quite attached to the two especially to Ken.

"I'm tired," Lucy complained as she squeezed the little hand that was tugging her.

"Don't worry, Mama. I'll try to get bigger and taller fast. Bigger than Papa so that I can carry you home!" Ken smiled up to her.

She giggled. "You're so sweet, you know that? But you don't have to worry. Mama's fine. "

"Yeah, Ken, you don't have to worry. Since you're still too small and you might get squished, I can carry Mama for you! Your Papa's strong, see!" Natsu grinned at the little boy and was trying to show off his biceps.

Lucy felt a little heat rose up to her cheeks. "Tch," she muttered and rolled her eyes trying to hide her embarrassment. "I still can walk towards the apartment myself, so thanks but no thanks."

When they passed on a store just a few meters from her apartment, an elderly white haired woman and her friend sitting under one of the umbrella of the store, looked at the four of them and Lucy caught their whispered conversations as they were passing by.

"Ne, ne, don't you think they looked like a cute family?" The white haired woman nudged her friend.

"You're right! But don't you think they're too young?"

"Forget it, Nilda. Kids nowadays are too untamable to consider such things. It's just too rare to see a young yet happy couple these days. They're both lucky to have each other."

By those words, Lucy felt herself turning red all over that she started to walk briskly dragging the surprised little Ken with her. "W-We need to hurry. It's starting to get dark soon," she coughed awkwardly.

Natsu followed her pace. "But your apartment is already near. We might even get there in three minutes even without you walking hurriedly. You're acting all weird again, Lucy."

"Whatever," she mumbled. She hurriedly went inside her apartment together with Ken who was contented enough to be tagging along his mother.

Lucy tossed the keys on her table as soon as she went in while Ken tried to find a comfortable position on Lucy's bed.

"You can put Anne on the bed, Natsu," she said as she headed to her fridge. "Want some milk, Ken?" The boy nodded eagerly and she chuckled at his response.

"Hey, Lucy, won't you ask me for some food?"

"Why would I?" She asked him incredulously as she handed the glass of milk towards the smiling Ken.

"Well, since I'm your husband and all."

Lucy choked on her milk. "Sh-Shut up! You're not my husband and I'm not married!"

"But these kids say we are. Even the old ladies back on the store."

God, he heard it, Lucy cursed inwardly. Of course, he would. He has an extra sensitive sense of hearing.

"Mama? Papa?"

Anne rubbed her eyes and looked at the two adults in front of her. "Oh, we're here!" She suddenly exclaimed as her chocolate brown eyes roamed around the room.

"You want some milk, too?" Lucy smiled at the girl.

"Yes, Mama, please!"

The girl, Lucy noticed, is a little more cheerful than the boy who seems to be a little responsible and mature than the girl.

"Mama, could you read a story for us?" Anne asked, her large brown eyes focusing on what Lucy's doing. Lucy then handed her the glass and ruffling her already disheveled pig-tailed hair. "Okay, later. Before you go to bed."

"Yaaaay!" Both the kids chorused and Ken, who was already finished with his milk, jumped up and down on the bed, making the springs on the bed groan.

"Wooah!" Natsu mused looking at Ken as he jumped up and down. "That looks like fun! I wanna try that, too!"

"Yes, Papa, we'll do it together!" Anne's eyes lit up at the thought.

"No, Anne, Papa's too big and the bed might break," Ken told her sister as he still continued to jump unknowingly teasing Natsu to do the same.

"Geez, Natsu, even the kid knows you can't do that!" Lucy said exasperatedly. "Oh and you have to go! Happy might be looking for you. By the way, where's Happy? I haven't seen him around."

"What? Papa, you're going? You're not going to sleep here?" Anne asked panicking.

"Err.."

"Are you supposed to be sleeping with Mama, Papa? Where are you going?" Ken bombarded another question.

"Papa, please don't go!" Anne is in the verge of tears.

"Mama, please don't let Papa go." Even Ken begged to her.

Natsu looked at Lucy. Well, since the kids asked it, he has nothing to complain, right? He thought this would be an opportunity to raid Lucy's bed coz it's all so comfy. And he was quite attached to kids himself. The only problem is Lucy. Would she agree?

"But.." Lucy was torn.

"Lucy, the kids told you so," Natsu cooed, winking at the two kids.

Why, you little—Lucy thought, glaring at the grinning Natsu.

"Mama, please?"

She sighed defeated. "Okay, but-"

"Yaay! We're all sleeping on the same bed!"

"WHAT?"

The kids just grinned at her as both of them jumped up and down the bed. "What the effin-"

"Uh-uh, Lucy. You're manners. The kids might hear you," Natsu told her as if she was being lectured with good etiquette in front of the kids. He gave her a final smug look before turning towards the two kids and tackled them.

Lucy gaped at the three.

What have I gotten myself into?

Did I screw up?

Are you disappointed or satisfied? Please tell me, I'm dying to know. :)

Don't hesitate to point out errors. XD