After chasing a butt-naked three year old around the house for thirty minutes, Natsu finally caught Layla. "Alright little rascal. You need to get dressed."

"I want princess dress!" She demanded.

Natsu sighed. "Sure." As long as she was wearing clothes...

Layla took the dress from his hands and put it on herself. Or tried to at least. Her arm was through the hole for her head, and her head was currently trying to fit through an arm hole. Natsu sighed as he forced her limbs through the right holes.

"Alright. Now let's get your shoes on..."

Layla narrowed her eyes. "Why? I don't want shoes."

"Layla you have to wear shoes."

"Why?"

"Because they protect your feet."

"Why?"

"Because... they just do."

"Okay." She shrugged.

They stared at each other.

"Layla, aren't you going to put your shoes on?"

"No."

"Why not?" He gritted his teeth.

"Don't wanna."

Natsu took a deep breath. He could be childish and bicker with her all day. But he needed to be an adult. So that meant... compromise.

"If you put your shoes on I'll get you ice cream."

In other words... compromise meant defeat.

Layla just smiled sweetly, knowing she had him wrapped around her tiny fingers. She sat down immediately to put her shoes on. Or try to, anyways.

"Here Layla, let me help you." Natsu offered, trying to put her shoes on the right feet.

"No! I do it myself!" She huffed.

She stood up haughtily and stomped away. Her shoes were on the wrong feet, and she looked utterly ridiculous trying to walk sassily.

Natsu hid his guffaw. "Daddy! Ice cream!" She shouted.

He shook his head and stood up. So independent already. He adored her.

"Boys?! I tucked you in now stop bouncing on the bed! It's time to go to sleep!"

"But Dad! We're not tired!" Aidan dodged Natsu's hands.

Natsu groaned. "You know what? Fine. Go ahead. Run around and don't listen to your father. I'm going to bed."

With that Natsu turned around and went to his own bedroom, collapsing on the bed where Layla was already passed out.

Delighted that they had permission, Aidan and Nash jumped around some more, fighting with play swords. But soon enough, they grew tired from the physical activity and collapsed into their beds. They were dead asleep in exhaustion within minutes.

Natsu smirked in victory when he finally heard silence.

Natsu made a private call to his wife.

"Lucy, you need to come home!" Natsu begged.

Lucy laughed, holding her stomach. "Natsu... are you wearing my lipstick?"

"Layla got into your things okay? And she wanted to give me a makeover..."

Natsu had his hair into pigtails, held with sparkly pink hair ties. Bright blue eyeshadow covered his eyelids and then some. His cheeks were dotted pink and his lips smeared with red.

Lucy held a hand over her mouth, trying to spare him some embarrassment. But then again, it was so satisfying to poke fun at him...

"Ne, Natsu? Can you hold up your hands for me?"

Natsu glared at her, gritting his teeth together. "Do you delight in my pain Lucy? You want your husband to be demasculinized?"

"Show me!" Lucy giggled.

Sighing, Natsu held up his hands, showing Lucy the colorful and sparkly nail polish Layla had so liberally applied.

"Awwwee! You're so pretty!"

"Luuucee~"

Lucy giggled again, winking at him. "Being a good parent means sacrifice. In this case, sacrificing your dignity. I'm proud that you're such a good father..."

Natsu huffed, trying to cover the blush on his cheeks at her praise.

"You know I only have a few days left. I think we might get done early. So just hold on for a little bit more okay?"

He groaned. He was not a patient person and he did not like it when he was separated from Lucy. "I miss you."

Lucy smiled. "I miss you too. I love you."

A few short incidents before the reunion. The next chapter will be the last, thanks for reading! I've loved this story, and I hope you guys have enjoyed it too!

I LOVE reviews so if you'd like to drop one that'd be amazing!

-Joy