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
Author's Note: Please vote in my POLL on my profile page! So far, it's a three-way tie!
Chapter 7 – On Leave (Rated T)
"How come you guys aren't motion sick?" Gray asked as he stared at the other two dragon-slayers who sat opposite him and Natsu on the train which was headed back to Magnolia. He knew Natsu's reason, but not Sting and Rogue's.
A bright grin spread across Sting's face. "Yukino makes these motion sickness brownies. They do wonders for our equilibrium."
"I'm surprised you know such a complex word," Rogue stated in surprise.
"Hey! I know big words!"
"Do you know what they mean, or are you just repeating words other people have said?"
Sting huffed and crossed his arms, staring out the window looking annoyed. Rogue just rolled his eyes.
"Where are you guys going to stay?" asked Natsu.
Sting and Rogue's eyes widened in shock. They hadn't thought about that. They'd been too eager to stay with Natsu during his pregnancy.
"Um," started Sting.
"We hadn't thought that far ahead," said Rogue.
An idea suddenly hit Gray. "I haven't gotten rid of my apartment yet. What if you stay there? I'm moving into Natsu's house. And I plan on adding onto it, so paying rent for an apartment is out of the question."
"That's actually a good idea. What do you think, Sting?" asked Rogue.
"Perfect!" Sting replied with another grin.
"Look who we found," announced Gray as he entered Fairy Tail with Natsu, Sting, and Rogue.
"Sabertooth's Guild Master Sting and Rogue," greeted Makarov. "To what do we owe this visit?"
Sting wrapped his arms around Natsu and Rogue's shoulders and drew them to his sides, earning a growl from Gray. "We're gonna hang out here for the next eight months or so."
Makarov stared at him blankly.
"We're here to help out with Natsu's pregnancy," clarified Rogue.
"Oh!" replied Makarov, surprised. "Is it all right for you to be away from your guild, Master Sting?"
"Just call me Sting. I hate all that fancy stuff. And I can handle most things from here. If the guild needs me, I can go there for a bit before coming back. It's not a problem."
"Well, if that is your decision," replied Makarov. "I suppose I should say welcome to our humble abode. Do you have a place to stay?"
"We'll be residing in Gray's old residence," said Rogue. "Now, if you'll excuse us, I need to make sure Natsu eats something." The shadow dragon-slayer led Natsu to the bar where he gave Mira clear instructions on what to make Natsu.
Gray watched the two dragon-slayers for a moment before turning his attention to Sting. "I don't like it when you touch him."
"Who? Natsu?" replied Sting. Gray nodded. "Really? What about when Rogue does it?"
The ice mage frowned. That…didn't actually bother him. Why did Sting bother him?
"I understand you're confused, but until you figure it out for yourself, I'm not saying another word," he said as he headed over to where Rogue and Natsu sat. He took a seat next to the fire dragon-slayer.
"Stop provoking him," whispered Natsu, turning a sharp glare on Sting.
The white dragon-slayer just shrugged. "He needs a little push."
"Well, I want you to stop."
"He's already showing signs, Natsu. The sooner this happens, the better. You know I'm right."
Natsu sighed. "But…"
"It's for the best, Natsu."
"I hope you're right."
"This place isn't so bad," commented Sting as he entered Gray's apartment. "It's nice and cozy."
"I agree," replied Rogue as he set his bags down. "I can't wait to send for Lector and Frosch."
"I already spent half the morning moving my stuff out," said Gray. "The furniture and some of the other furnishings stay because they originally came with the place. I didn't have much to begin with, so it's still pretty clean."
"Well, I like it," replied Sting.
"There's only one bed, though. So someone will probably have to take the couch unless you buy another bed," added Gray.
Sting had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. "That really won't be a problem."
"All right," said the ice mage, unclear as to why Sting looked so amused. "I'll be heading home now. I need to make sure Natsu's all right."
"Sure thing," said Sting. "See you later, Gray."
"Bye, Gray," Rogue stated.
With that, the ice mage took his leave, shutting the door to the apartment behind him.
"So," began Sting as he approached Rogue, "how are you feeling about all this?"
Rogue wrapped his arms around Sting's neck, melting into his embrace. "I'm very happy for Natsu, and I want to help him through this."
"And?"
The shadow dragon-slayer looked up at Sting's startling blue eyes. "I didn't think it was possible to have children. Starting a family had always been something I'd dreamed about, but I'd let that dream dissipate when I fell in love with you. And I was all right with that because I knew I'd found the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with."
Sting kissed Rogue's forehead. "And now?"
"I want to have a baby with you," said Rogue, his voice cracking.
The white dragon-slayer smiled warmly at him. "I would love that. I would love that very much. We haven't committed to a mating bite yet. So are you asking that we become forever mates?"
Rogue nodded. "That's what I'm asking. Do you want this?"
"I would love nothing more than to become your mate. You have no idea how much I love you. It's been especially hard these past few weeks since you've been in heat."
The shadow dragon-slayer blushed. "Don't say things like that!"
"Why? It's normal for people like us," replied Sting with a laugh. "And I'm pretty sure you drilled Natsu for information. Don't think I didn't notice how closely you two were talking together."
"I did," said Rogue. "I wanted to know exactly how it occurred for Natsu."
"So that we could recreate the circumstances and get you knocked up?"
"Would you stop being so blunt?! It's embarrassing!"
"I don't think we've even gotten to the embarrassing part yet."
"Sting!"
The white dragon-slayer laughed. "I'm teasing. So what did Natsu have to say?"
"Well, he said he didn't realize he was in heat, so it must have been his first. Natsu claimed that he felt a little different, closer to Gray than he had been before. They had…"
"Come on. I know you can say the word."
"S-Sex," Rogue spat out with a blush. "During it, Natsu bit Gray. He went to Gajeel and Wendy the next day, and Wendy confirmed that he was pregnant."
"It sounds simple," said Sting. "Gray doesn't know what's going to happen to him, does he?"
Rogue shook his head. "Natsu wants to keep it from him for now."
"That's what I don't understand," replied Sting. "Why?"
"Gray hasn't bitten him back yet," said Rogue. "Natsu wants Gray to do it of his own volition, not because it's what's expected of him."
"I'm just afraid that Gray will resist his instincts too long and accidentally hurt Natsu," commented Sting. "I can already tell he's fighting it."
"Is that why you've been provoking him by getting so close to Natsu?"
"More or less. He's not threatened by you because he senses that you are not a dominant. He's threatened by me because he senses I am and haven't mated yet."
Rogue sighed. "You're going to get yourself seriously injured if you force him into snapping."
"I suppose, but it's better than the alternative."
Rogue had to agree to that. "I guess."
"Now," started Sting, "how about we tend to other matters?"
"Like what?"
Sting nuzzled Rogue's face with his. "Like finally becoming mates. I want to be with you, Rogue. I love you desperately."
Rogue's words got caught in his throat, so he nodded to indicate his compliance.
"Let's go find the bedroom."
When Gray arrived home, he found Natsu busying himself about the kitchen. "What're you up to?" he asked.
The dragon-slayer turned and gave a small smile. "I'm making tea. Mira and Rogue recommended a few options that are supposed to help with my morning sickness."
Gray stepped behind him and sniffed. "It smells awful."
"It tastes just as bad," Natsu replied with a grimace. "But surprisingly enough, it helps. I actually feel like I can eat something without throwing it back up."
"That's good. You want me to make you something?" asked Gray.
"You don't have to."
"I know, but I want to. Have a seat and relax. Let me take care of you for awhile."
Natsu finally conceded and took a seat at the kitchen table. He watched Gray go about making what looked like a stew on the stove. "I have to go on leave," he said, breaking the silence. "I can't go on missions anymore."
"I'm aware. And I know that's going to be hard for you," replied Gray as he stirred his concoction.
"It just worries me."
"What does?"
Natsu sighed. "Taking care of a baby is expensive. Are we really going to be okay? I mean, you're the only one who can go on missions, and I know we talked about adding onto the house. Can we really do all that?"
"We're going to be fine, Natsu," comforted Gray. "I have a bit of money saved up. I'll take what jobs I can that won't keep me away from you for long. But if it really worries you that much—and you're feeling up for it—maybe you can ask Master if there's something you can do for the guild that won't be too strenuous."
Natsu hummed in approval. "All right. I'll speak with Gramps tomorrow."
"I guess that's settled then," said Gray as he placed a steaming bowl of stew in front of Natsu. It smelled heavenly. "Now eat up."
Natsu eagerly picked up his spoon and devoured the meal in a matter of minutes. "That was good. You should cook more often."
"I wouldn't mind," replied Gray, wrapping an arm around Natsu's shoulders and kissing him on the cheek. But then he paused. He smelled something. He smelled Sting.
"What's wrong?" asked Natsu when he heard Gray growl.
The ice mage wasn't quite sure himself. "I smell him on you. I smell Sting."
Natsu hesitated when he noticed the feral look in Gray's eyes. "I'm sure you do. Both of us have been hanging around Sting and Rogue."
"But I don't like it," said Gray. "I don't like his smell on you."
The dragon-slayer reached out and stroked Gray's cheek. "It's fine."
"No, it's not. I don't want him near you," snapped the ice mage.
Shit, Natsu thought. His instincts are kicking in. Hard. "Gray, it really is okay. I'm your mate."
"My mate," stated Gray. His eyes flared, landing on Natsu's neck. He leaned forward and pulled the scarf from around the dragon-slayer while yanking him forward.
"Gray!"
"My mate!" Gray growled, pulling Natsu even closer. He sniffed along Natsu's neck and gave a tentative lick. A rumble came from deep within his throat before he bit down on the exposed flesh.
"Ah!" Natsu gasped. It hurt! It hurt so much! He tapped Gray to get him to ease up, but if anything, the ice mage just bit down harder.
When Gray finally let go, he seemed to regain control over his senses. "Oh, god! Natsu! I'm so sorry!"
The dragon-slayer placed a hand to his neck, which was bleeding a little bit. He just knew it was going to leave a bruise. "Gray, you don't need to apologize."
"But I hurt you! Why the hell did I do that?!"
"Gray," said Natsu, placing his hands on the ice mage's shoulders, "you were going to do this sooner or later."
"I don't understand."
"When I bit you, it meant we became mates. But our mating wasn't complete. You still needed to bite me. Since you were not a dragon-slayer, we had to wait for your…well, your instincts to kick in. It seems they finally kicked in. Although, I think Sting provoking you had something to do with it."
"You mean I was supposed to bite you back." Natsu nodded. "Why didn't you tell me I had to do that?"
"It needed to happen naturally," answered the fire mage. "Me biting you set things in motion, so we needed to wait for your instincts to do the rest."
"You keep mentioning my instincts. I'm not sure what you mean."
"Well, you felt threatened by Sting, didn't you?"
"Sort of," said Gray.
"That's because he's what's called a dominant. It's like a dragon version of an alpha. You felt threatened by him because you're also a dominant since you mated with me. You sensed an unmated dominant, that's why your instinct to bite me kicked in. Since I hadn't been bitten, you feared he'd bite me. But you never really had to worry about that to begin with."
"Huh? Why not?" Honestly, Gray was still trying to get over the fact that he had dragon instincts.
"Sting and Rogue are together. They haven't mated, though," Natsu replied with a laugh.
Gray blushed slightly. That explained why Sting had said having one bed wouldn't be a problem for them. "Oh. Well, I feel like an idiot."
"You are an idiot. But you're my idiot."
Gray looked at the bite mark on Natsu's neck. It was now turning a nasty shade of purple. "I really hurt you, didn't I? I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to do that."
"You were just following your instincts, Gray." And it seems you'll become quite an aggressive and protective dragon.
End Chapter
