Family is Everything

Disclaimer – I do not own Fairy Tail

Summary: Natsu accidentally claims Gray as his mate, leading to some unexpected consequences. Gratsu/MPREG

Chapter 3 – Surprises (Rated T)

Gray fidgeted nervously in the seat across from Erza. They were taking a train back to Magnolia with Erza glaring at him the whole way.

He'd been surprised when Erza had suddenly shown up out of the blue, taken out the dark guild singlehandedly that he was supposed to defeat, and clocked him over the head with her iron-clad fist after screaming, "What did you do to Natsu?!"

He hadn't been able to answer the question, of course, since Erza had accidentally—as she called it—knocked him out. He'd only woken a few minutes ago to find himself on a train heading for Magnolia.

"Um," started Gray nervously, "what's this all about?"

Erza's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You tell me."

"Erza, I really don't know what's going on."

"So you're telling me that you have no idea why Natsu ran away?"

Gray's head snapped up so fast, he heard his neck pop. "Natsu ran away? When? Why?"

Erza crossed her arms. "I have no idea. Gajeel came into the guild ready to tear the place apart looking for him. Apparently, Natsu took a job, and Wendy and Gajeel went to find him to bring him back."

"So…what does that have to do with me?" Gray was absolutely clueless. He and Natsu took separate jobs all the time.

"Gajeel may have mentioned that you did something to Natsu. He didn't say what it was, but he seemed to believe that it was enough to make Natsu run away," explained Erza.

An uneasy feeling washed over Gray. Now that she mentioned it, Natsu had seriously wanted to talk to him about something before he left for his mission, but he'd kept blowing him off. Is that why Natsu took off? Because of that?

"I'll ask again," said Erza, interrupting the ice mage's thoughts. "What did you do to Natsu?"

Gray shook his head. "I need to talk to Natsu first. As soon as we get back. Promise."

Somewhat appeased, Erza leaned back. If she wasn't provided with an adequate explanation, she was going to clobber two heads.

Gajeel was exhausted. He took a swig from his mug and set it on the bar counter of the guild. Rubbing his temples with his fingers, he tried to push back the impending headache that was forming there.

Taking care of Natsu was a pain in the ass. The fire mage was so worried about what Gray would think and feel about the situation—as they were calling it—that Natsu barely slept or ate. He just stayed in bed and cried.

Wendy had been constantly checking up on him over the past week ever since they got back, even if it was to make sure Natsu was eating something to nourish the baby. She came to the conclusion that the baby was fine, but Natsu was not; it seemed his magic was sustaining the life of the baby. However, if Natsu didn't improve his health soon, both their lives—his and the baby's—would be at risk.

"He's been away from his mate too long," Gajeel mumbled under his breath. Just when was that stupid ice mage getting back?

The doors of the guild bursting open answered his inner thoughts, for there stood a heaving Gray. He looked like he'd just run a marathon.

"Where's Natsu?" he demanded.

Gajeel rose from his place at the bar and walked over to the ice mage. "He's at home. Where you should be."

Gray turned his eyes toward the iron dragon-slayer. "What's going on with Natsu?" he asked hurriedly. "Erza said he ran away."

"Sure did," replied Gajeel. "It was a pain bringin' him back." He suddenly grabbed the front of Gray's shirt and yanked him forward. "Go to him and listen to what he has to say. And if ya even dare hurt him, I'll beat ya to a bloody pulp."

Gray smoothed down his shirt in confusion once Gajeel let him go. He'd never seen the iron mage act so protective…over anyone! Especially Natsu.

Just what the hell was going on!

Gray approached Natsu's house hesitantly. It appeared eerily quiet. Too quiet. Taking out his key, he unlocked the door and made his way inside, quickly finding Natsu's bedroom.

He smiled softly when he noticed the fire mage snuggled under the covers of his bed; however, that smile soon changed into a concerned frown when he saw the tear streaks on Natsu's face.

Crouching in front of the dragon-slayer, Gray gently stroked Natsu's hair, causing the latter to stir awake.

"G-Gray. You're b-back," stammered Natsu as he slowly sat up in the bed. He looked afraid, which unnerved Gray slightly.

"Hey," started Gray. "I was told you ran away. Care to explain that?"

Natsu swallowed hard and averted his eyes. "I…panicked."

"You panicked. About what?"

"The bite," Natsu whispered as he stared at his lap.

Gray tried to remain patient. "You've mentioned the bite before, but I still don't get it. Can you explain it to me?"

Natsu gave a shaky nod before taking a deep breath. "Dragons—and dragon-slayers—t-take one mate for life. This h-happens during a dragon's heat cycle. When dragons have sex during their heat cycle and bite…th-they've claimed their mate."

Gray stared blankly at Natsu for a few minutes, letting the information sink in. "Are you telling me that we're…that we're mates? For life?"

The dragon-slayer nodded, keeping his gaze in his lap.

"And you thought what? That I'd be upset about this?" Gray lifted Natsu's chin, surprised to still find fear in his eyes. "Natsu, listen to me. I'm not upset. I'm absolutely thrilled. I know I don't say this enough, but I love you. So much. I have ever since Master first walked through the guild doors with you. Out of anyone in the world I could have been mates with, I'm glad it's with you. I really love you, Natsu, and it would be an honor to spend the rest of my life with you."

Gray was ecstatic. His childhood crush, his adult lover, was now his forever mate. Life couldn't get any better than this.

"There's more," Natsu stated quietly, bringing his nervous hands to Gray's and pulling them away from his face.

"More?"

Natsu nodded again. "Please don't get mad at me," he whimpered.

The dragon-slayer's tone grounded him. He felt a sharp pang in his heart when he realized the fear he was seeing in Natsu's eyes was because of him. "Why are you…Natsu, are you afraid of me?"

Natsu inhaled shakily as if he was about to cry. "A l-little. P-Please don't get mad," he repeated.

Gray rose from the floor and sat on the bed next to Natsu, putting an arm around his waist. He kissed him lightly on the temple. "Natsu, there's nothing you could say that would make me mad at you."

Natsu refused to say more.

Gray tentatively reached out to stroke back Natsu's hair, but he moved away from his touch and sat up, avoiding eye contact. "Natsu, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong," he said desperately. He was really getting scared by his behavior. "Can you please tell me what's made you so upset? Upset enough to run away?"

Natsu seemed to be struggling with maintaining his composure when he finally looked Gray in the eyes. "I love you more than anything, Gray."

"And I love you, Natsu. You're my whole life," replied Gray lovingly.

Natsu glanced off to the side before focusing on him again. "And you'd love me—stay my mate—no matter what?" he asked uneasily.

Gray was unsure by what he meant, but answered anyway. "Yes. No matter what, I will always love you; I'll forever be your mate."

"And you won't get mad? Or angry?" he added softly.

"No. I won't get mad or angry. Now tell me what's going on," he begged.

Natsu's teary eyes met Gray's fearfully. "I'm pregnant!"

Gray was glad he was sitting down, because surely if he'd been standing, he would have collapsed from shock. He felt his mouth drop open. For the first time in his life, he was speechless. There were so many emotions running through him that he hardly knew how to identify them, much less give them the attention they deserved. Surprise, excitement, panic, and an overwhelming emotion he couldn't quite identify at all.

"You're pregnant?" Gray said, and his voice broke.

Natsu looked at him with anticipation.

"You're having…a baby."

Natsu nodded.

Suddenly, Gray stood up and started pacing. "You're having a baby," he repeated. "We're having a baby!" Gray looked down at Natsu and felt his eyes mist over. He pulled the fire mage into his arms, holding him close. "But…how?"

"Let's…call it a dragon-slayer thing," said Natsu. "But, yes. We're having a baby. You do want it…don't you?"

"Of course I want us to have a baby," he said hoarsely. "I never knew we'd be able to. I can't believe it!" Gray tilted his head back and laughed for joy, making Natsu smile. It was the first time he'd heard him laugh like that. Then he lifted Natsu's face and kissed him firmly on the mouth.

Then he realized Natsu was still on his feet, so he pushed him back down on the bed and then started to pace about the room as he started thinking.

"I'm…glad you want me to have the baby," said Natsu. "I was afraid you wouldn't want me to have it."

Gray halted in his tracks—and thoughts—as he stared at him in shock. "Why…would you think that?"

"I-I don't know," he replied, looking as if he were about to cry again. "When I found out, I was scared. Not just having a baby inside me, but what you'd think of me after finding out. I ran away because I'd convinced myself that you wouldn't even want me as a mate, let alone a baby. Plus, it's not like we've been in a relationship for very long."

Gray nodded his head in understanding as he sat back down on the bed next to him. "You don't ever have to worry about that. I'd love for you to have our children. It'll be as fun having them as it was making them," he said with a smirk.

Natsu blushed.

Gray crawled over to Natsu and gently pulled him into his lap. "I'm so happy, Natsu," he said, kissing him on the cheek.

"I am now, too," he laughed. "I'm so glad you want us."

"Of course I do. Um…if you don't mind me asking, how did you find out you were pregnant, anyway?" It was a logical question. He didn't know how long it took before a dragon-slayer realized they had conceived.

"It was only after I bit you that I realized what might have happened. I spoke with Gajeel. He believed I was in my heat cycle; that's why I bit you. He had Wendy gave me a check-up, and…well, you know the rest."

"Okay. Of course you'll have to rest from now on. No more running around with Lucy and the others, no more missions. Carrying a baby is probably a difficult thing, Natsu, and I'm not going to lose you because of our baby. Too many people lose their lives during childbirth. I've waited my whole life for you. I'm not giving you up that easily."

"Gr—!"

"You'll have to visit the guild less. We can't have our friends stressing you out. And the nursery! We'll have to prepare that soon, won't we? Maybe we can add onto your house! I can move out of my apartment and stay here!"

"Gray!"

He stopped rambling and looked at him. "Yes?" Whatever Natsu wanted, he would give to him promptly and willingly.

"We're going to be fine."

End Chapter