Minna~a!
Yahoo, the third installment of Struggling!
Sorry for the wait. :)
Again, THANK YOU for all of those who reviewed, alerted, favorited and read silently.. (uh.. parallelism? Gah, screw grammar!)
You guys just motivated me to continue writing this fic! And for that I'm soooo glad.
Really guys, what would I do without you. :D
Oh and special thanks to ShiningStellar, cocopops3000, and Isadora Li for encouraging me to continue writing! I'm so inspired.
Oh oh, and Angel-chan! Nice to meet you! Haaah.. I love making friends with all of you. .
And Joy-chaaaaan! (I know I've said this already but..)
It's soooooo nice fangirling with you on facebook! Haha! XD
And the movie! Kyaaaaa! I can't wait for the FT movie!
Oh and have you guys read the latest chapter in manga? Kyaaaa!
(Okay, I'll just shut the hell up already. x_x)
I can't really express how I'm so grateful with you guys, so.. (ugh, urusaii's getting all dramatic.)
Ah, whatever. So here it is!
The third chapter of.. Struggling!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. :)
(Do we really need to do this seeing that this is a fan fiction site? Haha! Oh well, it won't hurt anyway..)
Chapter 3: Newlyweds?
"And when Prince Charming was about to step inside the weird castle, he was stopped by the evil witch and waved her wand in the air. The prince was surprised to see the witched turn herself into a dragon to try to slay Sleeping Beauty's savior," Lucy paused to watch the kids' reaction after she'd read the climax of the story. On her right, Ken's eyes was glued at the picture of a white-bellied yet violet-scaled dragon roaring in front of the handsomely drawn prince on the fairy tale picture book she had bought a few weeks back. She didn't know she would use this book to something like this aside from getting a very important reference for a chapter on her novel.
It is about bedtime for the kids and she was reading them a story just as what she had promised a while ago. The kids somewhat calmed a little bit after the incident 'making-their-Papa-Natsu-to-stay-the-night' after Lucy agreed on their request. However, unbeknownst to the kids, Natsu and Lucy (more like Lucy, that is) made an agreement (a pact! As what she called it) that Natsu would leave the apartment the moment the twins start to snore. Being glared hard by the celestial mage is like looking to the pits of hell, so he agreed immediately without second thoughts. Darn. And he thought he might have the chance of sleeping on Lucy's comfy bed.
"Wow, that's pretty scary," Anne breathed in a small voice still not looking away from the picture book. She was situated on Lucy's left as three of them laid comfortably on her bed, the kids on either side of her.
"There's no need to be scary with dragons, Anne. Don't forget, your grandpapa is a dragon," Natsu answered for Lucy. He was lying on his belly on the bed, facing across Lucy and the kids watching them read a story together. He hadn't heard this story before so he was somewhat interested
"And don't forget that Acnologia attacked us, and he's a dragon, too," Lucy reminded him keeping her voice low.
Natsu sadly hung his head, "But that was a different case."
Lucy bit her tongue as guilt took over her. Sure, Igneel's a dragon, but he might be even more than human enough to adopt Natsu and raise him like his own offspring. "Yeah, I think so, too," she added hoping to make Natsu feel better. And it did, she thought triumphantly as he grinned back at her and urged her to go on. She let out a small cough and continued. "But Prince Charming was not even fazed by her transformation. Instead, he was even more determined to face it and save the princess that was in the castle."
"He sure is something. Brave and strong-willed," Natsu murmured. "Maybe that Prince Charming would consider joining Fairy Tail? And then we'll get a good fight. I'm itching to test this guy's ability."
"Natsu," Lucy deadpanned, "he's just a fiction character."
"So?"
"So, you can't even talk to fiction characters, nevermind challenging them for a battle."
"Whatever, I'm still recruiting him."
Lucy paused to look at him and his dead serious face. Then she said, "I wanna see you try." She then turned to the kids and wondered why they haven't complained at the constant interruption in the reading. A soft smile played on her lips as she turned to see the both of them already knocked out on the bed—dead to the world.
"Ah, they fell asleep," Natsu said.
"Aren't they adorable?" Lucy cooed as she pulled the blankets up to their chins to avoid them from getting cold.
"Lucy, you're drooling."
"Eh? No, I'm not!"
"Shh!" Natsu placed an index finger on his lips in a mock lecturing as Lucy's hands flew up to her own mouth to cover it. She slowly checked the kids and was relieved to see that they're still sleeping.
Lucy then shot a grinning Natsu a glare before she scrambled slowly to get out of the bed feeling the need to use the bathroom.
Geez, that moronic idiot! Lucy thought as she madly swung the bathroom door open and entered inside and closing the door. Her PMS is still controlling her mood and seriously, Natsu isn't helping one bit. After she was finished with her business, she opened the faucet to check, and was glad and relieved that at least, she did not pay for nothing to those plumbers. She swear, Juvia tries to do that again or anything funny that might cost her another round of money, and she'll be dead meat.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she mused at how tired she was that day. Trying to raise children, looking out for them and for the people around them is not an easy-peachy feat. She needs some rest. A lot of rest.
Reaching out for her toothbrush, she brushed her teeth with her eyes are about to close. After she finished brushing her teeth, she took one final look in the mirror and went out of the bathroom.
"Eh? Why are you still here, Natsu?" she asked when she emerged from the bathroom to see the dragon slayer peeping on the kids as they were sleeping.
"You're so mean, Lucy."
"Whatever," she waved her hands in the air, "Just get out already, I'm going to sleep."
"But I want to sleep here," Natsu whined giving her a puppy look.
Lucy has to roll her sleepy eyes. Great. She had finished dealing two kids in the morning, and now she's dealing an eighteen year old with a mind of a five year old kid with pink hair and bulging muscles. Wha-? What the hell is she thinking? She really is tired.
"No."
"Lucy, hidoi*."
Ugh! Lucy just shut her mouth up, not wanting to argue more. She just gave him a final look before turning to the bed. She paused however, when she looked at the position of the kids. Both of them are sprawled all over the bed that they take up everything, leaving no space for her to position to. She considered moving the kids and positioning them so she could get more space but she's afraid she might wake the kids up. Looking to her right, she saw her divan** she brought a month before when they bagged a lot of jewels on a mission. Calculating, she stared hard at the furniture and mentally noted the consequences of sleeping on the long sofa.
Just then, a cold gust of wind entered the room as Natsu opened the window to get out of the apartment. "I'm going." He was about to jump down when he felt a firm tug on his vest sending him toppling backward.
"Natsu, wait!" He heard Lucy say hastily as he landed on the floor with a dull thud, his butt breaking his fall.
"Ow! What's that for, Lucy?"
"Shhh! Sorry!" Lucy whispered harshly with an apologetic smile. She reached out her hand to help him pull up in a standing position. He grabbed it and stood up, almost making Lucy lose her balance.
"What's that for?" Natsu growled irritated, not minding if he just repeated his own words. He was rubbing his sore butt as he gave the celestial mage a scowl, the latter immediately closing the window.
"I'm sorry, Natsu, it's just that.." Lucy trailed as she slowly turn her head towards her divan, bit her lip and looked back at the scowling yet curious Natsu again. "I.. Could you stay the night?"
Natsu's eyes narrowed into slits. "You were dying to shoo me out a while ago."
"Eh.. It's because.." she pointed out to the bed, "See, I can't position myself there."
He eyed her. "Then sleep on the couch."
"I will. It's just that.."
Natsu raised his brows at her. She was now so hesitant and was looking at him like she had some request to ask. Hah, now the tables have turned!
"It's cold and I don't have any extra blankets anymore and.."
"You want me to warm you up?"
"Eh? No! I mean.. that's too.." Lucy bit her lip again, her cheeks dusting a shade of pink. She can't blurt out that the choice of his words seemed to connote a pervy meaning. Knowing Natsu, however, Lucy thought he might not even get what she means if she was to point out the pervy thought. "I just don't have a blanket," she finally stated out simply.
"I don't get it."
"Just sleep on the long sofa!"
"So, you mean I get to sleep here?"
She heaved a sigh. "Yes."
Bouncing with the balls on his feet, he grinned at her, "Finally!"
Lucy frowned. Does he really want to sleep here when he doesn't get to sleep on the bed? She wondered but quickly dismissed the thought as she hurried to the divan and looked for a comfortable position. Natsu followed suit and plopped down just beside her.
"Hey, hey, you stay on the other end. Don't go near me."
Natsu frowned at her.
"We don't have enough space," she deadpanned, feeling like an idiot for stating the obvious.
Sourly, Natsu moved to the other side and rested his head on the edge, serving it as a pillow. Lucy did the same and soon their feet touched since they're cramped in what little space the divan has to offer.
In any normal days, Lucy might have complained at the position and discomfort she was in but that night seems different. She feels like she's willing to sacrifice for the two toddlers currently snoring on the bed across her. Besides, she's too sleepy to complain and all she wants to do is get a good night's rest. She eerily felt comfortable though as she feels heat radiating from her personal human (?) heater, making her eyes starting to become heavy and soon enough, she fell into a deep sleep.
On the other side of the sofa however, a sly smile tugged on the dragon slayer's lips as he shut his eyes close thinking how smart he had been. The kids are one hell of a heavy sleeper that they hadn't even shown any signs of waking up when he positioned them to spread out on the bed.
Nice job, Natsu, he thought to himself. Nice job.
-line break—
It was probably the very comfortable feeling or it could have been the weird muffled voices she'd been hearing that Lucy lazily fluttered her lashes. Daylight stung her half-lidded eyes that she moaned disapprovingly and snuggled closer to whatever that's near her and felt the heat intensify. She heard another round of muffled snickers and wondered who the hell was making fun of whoever this early morning. When she snuggled close, she felt something tighten around her waist and something that's clamping and snaking around her head. She heard a soft moan and felt something warm on the backside of her neck. Unconsciously, she pulled her hand and reached out leaning something hard in front of her. Another round of giggles.
She clicked her tongue in irritation and, if possible, snuggled closer earning another squeeze on her waist. When, for the fourth time that she heard the muffled giggles, she shot her eyes irritatingly and tried to give those people a piece of her mind. Lucy was shocked and confused however as she was greeted by a tan something and looked down to see an arm snaking around her waist. She panicked and looked up to see a scarred neck, her lips accidentally grazing the thing that was in front of her face.
Lucy panicked even more as realization hit her that the 'thing' she'd been leaning and the 'thing' which her lips had grazed upon turned out to be Natsu's bare chest. She was snuggling on him and he was in turn securing her in a tight hug, locking her head on the crook of his neck and burying his face somewhere on the nape of her neck. Instantly, she felt heat radiating on her cheeks that she struggled to let go from Natsu's tight grip. The latter however refuse to budge and she raised her head in effort to call out for help.
She was horrified to see Anne and Ken sitting up on the bed, looking at them, giggling non-stop with their little hands covering their mouths in hopes of not making too much noise to wake them up. They were whispering something to each other and from the looks of it, Lucy knew they were referring to her and the still-sleeping idiot.
To think that the kids caught them in such a compromised position!
"Oh, seems like Lucy's awake."
Lucy looked up to see a blue ball of fur with white wings extending on either side of it, looking at them like he'd seen something sneaky. Happy flew towards the two giggling kids nudged them both on the elbow.
"Mama, Ohayou!" She was greeted by Anne's sunny grin, her pink hair sticking out of her head. There was a slight hint of malicious smile on her cute face that vanished as sudden as it appeared. Ken nudged her and cleared his throat, trying to compose himself.
"Get off of me!" Lucy shrieked and pushed Natsu with great force that the latter fell on the floor groaning.
"Geez, Lucy! You're going to give me a heart attack!" Natsu complained, his voice hoarse from just waking up and ruffled his head rather irritated.
How dare he say that? Lucy raged inwardly. "Are you saying this is all my fault?" she was staring down at him from the couch.
"I did not," Natsu muttered looking away from her. Then he turned to the bed and saw the two kids look at them with big surprised eyes. He saw that his blue exceed was sitting comfortably on Anne's lap. "Oh, Happy, you're here. Ohayou, children!" He flashed a toothy (and in his case, fanged) grin.
"Are you two fighting?" Ken asked, frowning a little. Anne just gave them a sad pouting face and was about in the verge of tears. Again.
Natsu just looked at them unable to say anything as he can't lie when they've already witnessed their bickering. "Err…"
"No, of course, not! Right, Natsu?" Lucy forced a smile.
"Lucy, it's not right to call Natsu, just 'Natsu' when he's your husband and father to these kids," Happy scolded her as he sat contentedly watching the scenes rolled on like some TV sitcom.
Her smile froze in place. Damn you, neko! Once the kids are out of sight, I'll definitely skin you alive! "But, Happy, that's his name. What I should call him then?"
"Papa!" Anne piped in, completely recovered and giving them that sunny smile again.
Ken nodded dramatically in agreement and Lucy wondered if this kid was in fact Erza's. "I agree. You have to call each other 'Mama' and 'Papa'. That's just appropriate." How old is this kid again?
"EH?" Lucy looked incredulously at the three on the bed.
"What's wrong, Lucy? It's not that hard to do. It's just like we're playing house," Natsu said using that 'I'm-so-smart-you-should-follow-me' tone again.
She glared hardly at him. How she should deal with this idiot, she doesn't know. How did she end up in this situation in the first place?
"C'mon, Mama, cook us some food!" Natsu said as he stood up brushing off.
A blush made its way across Lucy's cheeks and she felt her irritation flare up. "No, I'll just cook for the kids. Cook for your own!" She stood up and walked away hoping to hide her blushing face.
"Kids, Mama's getting all weird again," Natsu turned to the toddlers for help.
"Don't worry, Papa. Mama's just playing hard to get," Anne winked at Natsu.
Lucy immediately turned, her face now flushed in an alarming shade of red. "No, I'm not!"
"Yes, you are."
"Am not!"
"Yes you are. Right, Ken?" Anne nudged her twin grinning all the time. She was clearly enjoying this. She always loves how her mother blushes cutely and utterly denying everything that's been going on with her and their Papa.
Ken, on the other hand, bit his lip and chose not to respond. Seeing this, Lucy could take a hint. "Oh not you, too, Ken," Lucy said.
Anne just smiled at her, tilting her head to the side. "Teehee!"
Lucy just has to shake her head knowing that arguing with two cute kids is futile and turned to the door, "I'm going to make breakfast so you better behave here." Then she turned to the curious-looking Natsu, "Same goes for you, mister. If anything happens here, I hold you responsible." And she walked away and disappeared behind the door, probably heading to the kitchen.
"Do you think she'll cook breakfast for me?" Natsu asked the twins worriedly. Maybe he shouldn't have teased the stellar mage at all.
"Of course!" Anne cheered him up.
Ken nodded again. "Mama loves you, so she'll definitely cook for you, right?"
Oh, bliss.
-line break—
"Oh? You want some?"
"No, Anne. It's bad for your health."
Gray scowled at Natsu who was peering at the pink-haired girl, warning her like he was some good father. They were sitting on one of the guild's tables as Mira handed out orders around the guild. "It's not like she'll die from eating shaved ice with mango syrup!"
"Oh, yes she will," Natsu huffed, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Especially if it came from you."
"Say that again, Flame Breath?"
"Wanna have a go, Ice Box?"
At this, Anne giggled. "You both are cute!" She exclaimed not knowing that she's also one herself. "Papa, I'd like to try what Uncle Gray's eating. It looks.. weird but I think it's delicious enough that Uncle Gray is eating it."
"Here you go, Anne-chan," Gray offered the glass to the girl with a smile on his face. "Good thing you didn't inherit all the annoying genes of your father."
"No, Anne! You must not eat weird things!" Natsu waved his hands frantically.
"Tch," Gray muttered. "Says the man who ate Etherion and lightning. Not to mention other's powers." He was referring to the Zancrow's attack that Natsu ate to defeat him as what he heard from the others.
"Wow, Papa! You ate lightning? How does it taste?" Anne asked, admiration etched across her features. She had just munched a spoonful of the food and a liquid trailed down on the side of her lips.
Natsu wiped the liquid from Anne's chin and grinned at her. "Told you, you're Papa is great!"
"Bakka! Don't teach stupid antics to your daughter," Gray shook his head.
"Why, you—"
"Are you fighting?"
All three of them looked up to see a red headed mage clad in armor looking sternly at the two boys. She was wearing that serious look again with her hands on her hips.
"Aunt Erza!" Anne said in excitement.
When Erza heard the girl, she turned to her and her expression softened. "Hi, Anne-chan. Are the two here fighting?"
"Yes, they are!" Anne piped, obviously not knowing what the word 'lie' meant.
At that, Natsu and Gray both received a punch from both of Erza's fist. "Don't go fighting especially in front of a kid."
"H-hai!" Both mages chorused.
"Good. See you later, Anne-chan." Erza waved as she headed to the bar to order her favorite strawberry cake.
Anne in turn waved back at her with a sunny smile on her face. Then she turned to the two adult boys in front of her. "I hope that teaches you a lesson!"
"Natsu," Gray whispered. "You better train your daughter how to lie."
"I'll try later," Natsu whispered back.
Across the room, Lucy sat on the bar rubbing her chin as she does math in her mind. She was thinking of how much money does she need to sustain her and two other mouths for another week. Nevermind Natsu, she thought. He can survive on his own. "Hmmm…"
"Mama, is something bothering you?"
Lucy turned to see Ken looking at her with curious black eyes. She shook her head and smiled at him. He was always worrying, Lucy thought. "I'm fine, Ken."
"That's good to hear, Mama. You know, I was quite worried during breakfast," he replied. He was swaying his little feet back and forth.
Lucy remembered the fiasco earlier when they ate breakfast. She has to admit, she was still a little infuriated with Natsu when he tried to eat all the food, leaving only a piece of egg and bacon and two slices of bread each to Ken and Anne. She was left with nothing however, as Natsu said she could just cook some for herself again. If not for the kids looking at them, she would have grabbed her Fleuve d' Etoiles and choke him to death until she's satisfied. He should thank for the kids' presence, she thought darkly.
She then heard Ken squealed, "Aunt Erza!"
And they were engaged in a conversation about fighting and armors and stuff. Lucy watched as Erza was animatedly talking to Ken as she enjoyed her strawberry cake and Ken looked at her with an amazed pair of eyes.
Then she turned back to her dilemma. "What shall I do?"
"Ara, Lucy, why the long face?" Mirajane suddenly popped out of nowhere and flashed Lucy a sunny smile that could rival Anne's.
"Mira, I was thinking of going on a mission now that I need more money to sustain myself, Ken and Anne. Not to mention about my rent," Lucy whined slumping her head on the table. Good thing, Ken was busy talking to Erza that he didn't notice her whining mom.
"So go take a mission then," Mirajane still smiled. It's cute how Lucy seems to be acting like a real parent.
"But then there would be no one to take care of Ken and Anne as I'm planning to take Natsu on the mission. Not that he won't go with me anyway," Lucy replied not thinking of how those words sparked something in the barmaid.
"Are you sure about no one taking care of the kids, Lucy?"
"Huh?"
"There are a lot of us here who want to babysit those two, you know," Mirajane motioned for her to turn around. Lucy obliged and saw that Juvia, Lisanna and Bisca were already crowding Natsu, Gray and Anne's table. They were talking animatedly to Anne who seems so enjoyed talking to them. To her right, she saw Ken nodding frantically as Erza seemed to point out some techniques to her, with Cana peering at them and Levy standing beside Ken with a big smile on her face. "Don't worry," Mira said making Lucy turn to her again, "I'll take care of them," Mira winked.
"Waaah! Thank you, Mira!" Lucy cried and grabbed Mira's hands thanking her dramatically.
"No worries, Lucy," she just smiled as Lucy hopped from her seat and went to the mission board. She happily looked for a perfect job that does not require too much force but with a decent pay. Grabbing a mission, she hopped back to the bar and thought of signing it to Mira before telling Natsu. She doesn't want to have another round of bicker with the fire mage so she decided to take action first.
When she was nearing the bar however, she saw Mirajane rubbing her chin as if she was in thought. She was looking at Anne and then back at Ken and then back at Anne again. There was a knowing smile playing across her lips. For an unknown reason, Lucy felt a shiver run down her spine and quite regretted when she left the responsibility of Anne and Ken to Mira. It's not like she doesn't trust the woman's caring nature. It's just that she's too caring that she's willing to meddle with Lucy's so-called love life.
Swallowing a huge lump in her throat, Lucy proceeded to the bar and was greeted by the smiling Mira. "Are you gonna take this?"
"Y-Yes, please," Lucy hesitated. Maybe the mission could wait?
But it was too late. Mira had already signed it too eagerly. "This is going to be great!" She clapped her hands excitedly.
Again, Lucy bit her lip. "I hope so."
Please tell me what you think.. And again, don't hesitate to point out errors, if there's any. :)
And I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing it. Really, I was soo giddy when writing this. Especially the part where Lucy was scolded by Happy to call Natsu 'Papa'. Haha!
I don't honestly know where did that come from. XD