Chapter 4

Flashback six years prior

We find ourselves looking at the front of natsu's home as Lucy and him stand in-front.

"Are you sure you really have to go ?" I asked with pleading eyes as I hold his hand in mine.

"You know I'd stay if I was wasn't needed Luce but this is to protect our guild, our nakama, to protect you." he said lifting my chin to meet his warm eyes.

"Im more worried about you, your going off to face that monster and your more worried about my well being than yours!" I sighed feeling my stress rising "it's bad enough I can't go with you or gray or erza." I said as I rest my head in his chest allowing my body to mold up against his.

"I know Luce but you know why I can't take you or the team and it's not like I won't have someone to watch my back the rest of the seven are going as well so we'll be more than enough to handle that...that...that whatever it is." he said clenching his fist "but I promise you I'll come home to you," he said meeting my gaze "so we can continue our adventures." he leaned in catching my lips with his as I feel my heart swell within my chest.

"Aye!" happy said as he landed on the ground next to us "everyone's ready natsu." he said looking at us

"Thanks buddy we'll be heading out right now," he said turning to me once more "I'll try to keep in touch ok, I'll protect our nakama no matter what" he said his onyx eyes full of determination.

"That's what I'm scared of." I said hugging him one more time. similarly there we conversations and gestures just like ones happening now taking place with the rest of the other six. "please come back to me natsu." I said as once again tears fell from my eyes.

"I will Luce." he touched his forehead to mine as he turned to fly off to the guild with happy purched on his back.

"Natsu!" I call out grasping his hand before he turned.

"Yeah Luce?"

"I, I… I got something I want to tell you before you go." I said as my voice ran dry and words started to escape from me.

"Yeah? what is it Luce."his eyes full of sincerity

"I'm, I mean we we're…" I stammered as I couldn't muster the words "what's wrong with me just tell him! why is it so hard he loves you, he's your mate why are you struggling so much!" I fought with my inner voice.

"I know Luce." I looked up to see his determined eyes meeting mine.

"Huh?" I asked incredulously not knowing if he knew what I was gonna say.

"I said I know Luce." he said as he stepped closing the distance between us as his eyes fell to my abdomen I felt my heart skip as I followed his face and realized he knew what I wanted to say.

"Since when?" I choked out not wanting to meet his eyes.

"For the past few months now." he said casually "I'm a dragon slayer after all, that and I noticed the change in your scent so I knew something was different. I was just waiting for when you were ready to talk about it." he said lifting my gaze to meet his as I looked at his soft eyes and that toothy grin he had on.

"So your not mad?" I asked not knowing why I asked that.

"What!, why would I be mad Luce were gonna start a family." he said pausing to look at the space around us and happy "scratch that we're just getting a new addition to our family." he said with his trade mark grin as I gave one of my own deepening our embrace. Relief washing over my body I didn't know was so tense looking up I watched as his eyes fell to a more serious look "and it just means I have another future to protect as well." I felt tears tug at the end of my eyes for The who knows how many time today as I kiss him with as much conviction as I could muster to try and show how much those words mean to me, as we part I can't help but rest my head in his chest hearing his heart beat in my ear as he hold me close with on arm and the other stroking my hair in a calming rhythm.

"But I oughtta get going Luce I'm sure everyone's waiting for me." he said taking a step back as happy began to spread his wings.

"Ok." I said wiping the tear from my eyes "be safe and look after each other." I said looking at them "I expect you to come back to me in one piece." I said with as much unwavering confidence as I could muster right now.

"Yes ma'am!" he said with a toothy grin making me smile even in the midst of things "guess that's one of the many reasons that I love him and make him natsu. the way he can make you feel like everything will turn out ok in the end." as I smile as he takes into the air.

"I love you natsu!" I say as he ascends into the air.

"I love you too Luce!" he calls as he climbs higher into the air finally happy shoots across the sky at full speed leaving me to watch as they shrink in the distance.

"Come back home to us." I say holding my stomach as I watch as the sun set watching as he goes out of sight.

As I rushed past the clouds in the sea of orange and red hues of the setting sun I could see the guild come into few.

"You think we can win this natsu?" I hear over my shoulder as we near the guild.

"Sure we can happy, there's no option but to win and come home to our nakama." I said as I stared into the vast sky. we soon landed in the front of the guild as everyone exchanged looks of worry and hope that they'd make it home safe, as Mira clung to Laxus as he tried his best to sooth her crying he stepped back drapping his coat over her slender shoulders as he kissed her one last time before walking to meet the rest in the front.

Gajeel was doing his best to not show his fear as he clung to his family of 4 holding Levy and their twins in his arms as Lilly watched from the side lines "I'll be back before you know it shrimp." he said placing a hand on her head.

"You better." she sniffed away some tears as two one year olds cling to each of her arms.

"I have something worth protecting to come back to." he said as he bumped his head with his twins "I promise coming back I'll show you how to use some that magic of yours." he said earning a double hug from the twins "all right shrimps dad has to go kick some ass. be good and take care of ya mom ok?"

"We will papa." they said as they were handed back to levy as he walked to join laxus and natsu in the front.

"You sure you gotta go?" asked a worried Romeo holding on to Wendy's hand as his stare asked for unspoken plea to stay "they said it was fine you didn't have to go, they know it's dangerous." he added

"I'm sure" she said placing a loving hand on his cheek he nestled up again "I know plus they're gonna need my help knowing them." she giggled causing him to smile "this was our destiny." she said leaning on him.

"Then my destiny is standing where ever you're at." he said looking at her with a love yet stern manner.

"I love you" she said leaning in to his gaze.

"I love you too" he said clasping their lips together not wanting this moment to pass. But reluctantly they pulled away as she turned to join the rest of the slayers at the front.

Lastly was cobra who cane walking up with sting and rough close behind as they joined the group.

"Guess we're all here." he said joing the others

"Alright let get this done!" natsu said smashing a blazed fist to his palm.

"Aye!" they said as they all readied themselves to take off with there exceeds or snake in cobra's case as laxus just went his traditional means of transportation.

"We'll see you guys real soon!" he said with his cheesy smile as they took off onto the now ever growing dark sky.

"You better come back ash for brains!" gray yelled from the ground with juvia next to him as the rest of the guild joined in their shouts of farewells and better make it home safe.

A/n: sorry guys life's been busy, I honestly wish I could just do this all day. Write but life doesn't work that way but sorry again for the long wait hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you so much for all the love I've gotten on this fic I hope to be able to see it all the way threw so stay tuned.