~xxoxx~

Unexpected Parenthood

by Shunrei Ryuzaki

Disclaimer applies.

Chapter 3: The Scarlet Twins

~xxoxx~

Erza's eyes flickered open in reaction to the sunlight filtering through her window. She heard a low snoring beside her and instantly remembered what had happened last night. Damn. It wasn't a dream. She was now a mother to this child. She looked down to the sleeping boy who lay on his side, a leg draped on her stomach, his bloody red hair dishevelled. He seemed to have all the time in the world to stay asleep comfortably. She then looked around her. Everything still looked the same. Morning sunlight was still streaming into the room. But somehow, everything felt different. She didn't like it. It was like the world had tilted.

She wondered where did the boy came from and why he was claiming that she was his mother. Indeed, he has the same hair color as her but other than that, there wasn't any distinct resemblance to her. Maybe he came from another world? Maybe he was the child of another Erza who was married to another Jellal? Hell, she didn't want to think about it anymore. The only thing she could do was to take care of the boy for awhile, find his missing sister and send them back to their real world. She will act as their mother for awhile. Really? Was it even possible for someone like her to show maternal love? Could she?

She silently left the sleeping boy and went to the bathroom to clean herself before packing her things for the three day vacation of the Team Natsu with the Strauss siblings and some of the Fairy Tail guild members were taking. Now, what would she do with the boy? Well, she had no choice but to let him tag along with them, right? She wondered where was his sister. Somehow, it bothered her which she found so weird. She was not their real mother. She was just a mage who was willing to help the lost boy.

She heard her stomach growled. She chuckled to herself. With her frustration about the boy last night, she forgot to eat her meal. Oh, well she'll deal with her hunger later 'cause she had to wake up first Raikou before anything else.

~xxoxx~

Her round brown eyes set upon that father and child. The child was sitting on her father's shoulders while eating an ice cream. They seemed very happy and enjoying the moment together. She absentmindedly sucked her thumb that gave her a more childish look. Yue claimed that she was already seven years old but Ultear and Meredy kept on teasing her as the 'dwarf girl' because of her unusual height comparable to a four years old child. She would pouted at them and bickering with them while Jellal will just smiled sheepishly on the sidelines.

Jellal noticed her stare. She must be envious of them. They were about to leave the last town before they reach Magnolia. They were in a hurry and Ultear didn't want anything to delay their journey. The plan was to bring the young girl to Erza, leave and continue their latest mission. At first, he thought Ultear didn't want the child hanging around with them since they were always in danger but as the time passed quickly he knew that she was corcerned with Yue too. She must know how does it feels like to be parted from her mother. Meredy got along well with Yue. They were both childish in their own way and both had enjoyed teasing Ultear together.

"Dwarf Girl, do you want some ice cream?" He heard Ultear asked Yue. She must've seen Yue's unusual stare to the father and child.

"Ne? Obaa-san is so talkative today." Yue seemed surprised when she heard the question. Her face flushed red and she turned her head to the opposite side not wanting to see her off guard. A vain popped again to Ultear's head. She clenched her fist and gritted her teeth to the blue haired little Erza.

"I am not that old!" she told the little girl emphasizing each word. Yue crossed her arms to her chest and chuckled.

"Old hag, buy me an ice cream!" Yue exclaimed then pointed a finger to the ice cream stand. Meredy giggled and clung to Ultear's arm.

"Meredy wants an ice cream too." Meredy told Ultear with puppy eyes.

"Tsk. Why do I let myself be victimized by these childish brats." Ultear thought. "What flavor do you want?" she asked.

"Vanilla!" Meredy replied while giggling in excitement.

"It-sigo." Yue whispered.

"Nani?" Meredy blinked.

"Ittt-siii-goo..."

"She said strawberry." Jellal interceded after seeing Yue's embarrassment. The way she said "Ichigo" was too childish as if she was baby talking.

Yue pulled gently on his robes and he stared down on her. Her face was still red and he didn't know if it was because of her slight fever or her embarassment. He smiled back at her and picked her up from the ground. Surprisingly, he made her sit on his shoulders, her tiny fists clenched in his unruly blue hair.

~xxoxx~

He was staring intently at Pantherlily. His round green eyes blinked as he squated in front of the frustrated exceed. Pantherlily also stared back at him as if mesmerized by the boy. He was like his prince the way he looked at him with innocent green eyes.

"Ka...ka..." he mumbled.

"Ka...?" Pantherlily repeated Raikou's redundant syllable.

"Kawaii!" Raikou blurted out before pulling Pantherlily and squeezed him into his arms. His cheeks brushing against his victim's face.

"Hey! That's my kitty!" Gajeel shouted which earned him a deadly glare from the redheaded boy.

A spark of electricity appeared beside Gajeel and before he could react he was beaten by a shock.

"Gajeel!" Levy called before running towards the dragon slayer.

"Raikou!" Erza shouted. She approached the young boy seeing sparks of electricity surrounding him.

"Lightning Magic?" she whispered. She looked down at him with disbelieving eyes before slapping him which surprises the other guild members.

"Erza!" Natsu and Gray exclaimed. Both of them stood from their seat and pulled the enraged Erza away from the boy.

Raikou was stunned in his place. He let go of Pantherlily who was panting so hard.

"What an insolent boy you are! You cannot be my child if you act something like that. I am not your mother! But if there's another Erza Scarlet who is your mother, she must be embarass by your attitude!" Erza yelled to Raikou.

Tears started to form to Raikou's eyes. He sobbed a little before running away leaving the Fairy Tail headquarters.

"Oh no." Lucy said worriedly.

Natsu and Gray released Erza and checked Gajeel's injuries.

"It isn't that bad but certainly that's comparable to Laxus' strike, ne?" Natsu said. Gajeel sat up on the floor with Levy's help.

"The boy has the potential." Gajeel replied.

"Erza?" Lucy called which turned the attention of the other mages to their Titania. They found her sulking on the darkest corner mumbling to herself.

"What kind of mother am I? I hit him. I hit him." she said.

"Mommy Erza is sad." Happy told Natsu.

"I think it would be better if we follow Raikou. Let's go, Happy." said Natsu.

"Aye, aye, Sir!"

~xxoxx~

The sun was about to set and that made the sky tainted with reddish orange color. Raikou wondered where Yue could be. He wished that she was in good condition. He remembered what had happened earlier, how his mother became disappointed in him. He felt guilty for what had he done.

"Rai!" he heard Happy's voice calling his name. Happy approached him on the highest branch of the tree behind the guild's headquarters.

"Happy. You too Natsu-nii?" he replied, surprised to see them.

"Hey, Rai-kun." Natsu called with a grin. "Are you okay?"

Raikou nodded before he leaped to the ground.

"Good. Because Mommy Erza is so worried about you." "I'm sorry. I should haven't done that. Okaa-sama is right." Raikou said with a sad face.

"I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm a bad mother." They heard Erza's voice behind them. Raikou lifted his face and cried once again. He ran towards Erza and she welcomed him in her open arms.

"Forgive me, Okaa-sama. Raikou is a mean boy." He said as he cried and sobbed in her bosom.

"Hush. It's okay, Rai. Just don't do it again, will you?" she asked while caressing his back.

"Hai, Okaa-sama." "Let's go back then." Natsu interceded and they walked back towards the headquarters. But before they reached their destination, three familiar mages appeared before them. The members of Crime Sorciere.

"Jellal?" Erza said surprised to see her childhood friend in Magnolia Town with a giant brown teddy bear clinging on his back.

"Otou-sama." Raikou said while he was still in his mother's arms. Two pair of green eyes met. Jellal gave him a confused look.

"Another one?"

~End of Chapter 3~

Next Chapter: Erza's Horrible Cooking.

~xxoxx~

A/n: I don't know when would I publish the next chapters. *sighs* The first two chapters were already edited by my amazing beta reader, Firehearted Shinobi.

Special Thanks:

mad31lina, BreatheExhale, Hinata3487, Izaura Ogennyn, Queen Quinn, Miss Scarecrow, Lil'chrome-chan, Lovely Miracle, Aimee Chamee, Darkchocol8807, Yuki Kusanagi, Inoyamakiori, Wendyvel, AkaiChouNoKoe, splitheart1120, Namida Usagi-cwan, and to my amazing betareader.

Guys! Thank you very much for supporting this story! Thanks for the very nice feedbacks. :)

I'll try to write longer updates.

Please also read and review my other Fairy Tail stories. Ohh...gtg... I need to finish writing the second chapter of my other Jerza fic. :)

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Love and Kisses,

Shunrei Rýuzaki