How it all started part 4

The next day Natsu and Gray went out to get a couple beers and discuss what they were planning on the future.

"So I hear that you're going to be a daddy. Congratulations man." Natsu told Gray.

"Natsu this isn't exactly a good thing. I mean it is but...We're both eighteen and we just graduated and...And we haven't even told our parents yet."

"Oh... Sucks to be you man. So I gotta ask are you gonna marry her or not?"

"Marry her?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know...I mean... Should I?"

"Do you love her?"

"Yeah."

"Is it your kid she's carrying?"

"Yeah."

"Okay then you gotta marry her."

"But that's a big step. I don't know if I'm ready."

"Well you're not going to run out on her are you?"

"No but...Oh man I don't know what I'm going to do."

"If it's any consolation I've got problems too. Lucy's old man is trying to get rid of me."

"Tough break. I thought Mr. Heartfilia was actually starting to like you."

"Does Juvia's family like you?"

"Her mother loves me, her father likes me but he thinks that she could do better, but her sisters hate me."

"How much?"

"They once put rattle snakes in my bed."

"Ooooo."

"Yeah. I don't know how they're going to react when they find out that Juvia is pregnant. I don't even know if I should tell my parents. Should I tell them?"

"Considering that they now have a grandchild on the way yeah."

"Now?"

"Telling your parents bad news is like ripping off a bandage. You just gotta get it over with. Take my brother Zeref for example, when he told my parents that he and his girlfriend Mavis were eloping he just came out and said it."

"And they were cool with it?"

"No they kicked him out of the house and wouldn't talk to him for about a month. But that's beside the point, you just need to get it over with."

"You're right. I just need to tell them, but I hope that they'll be the understanding type."

One hour later...

"Son how could you be so stupid?!" His father Silver asked when Gray told him the news.

"In my defense I was drunk so I couldn't really make any smart decisions." Gray said.

"That's no excuse son! Oh I always knew this would happen! What with you constantly stripping all the time, even as a kid you couldn't keep your clothes on."

"Gray are you planning to keep it?" Mika asked him.

"Well Juvia says that she wants to keep it and that she understands if I don't want anything to do with it."

"Gray Fullbuster now don't you dare tell me that you're thinking of abandoning her and that baby."

"No Mom I'm going to help out with the baby I just don't know where to start."

"You could start by getting a job first." Silver told him. "A baby cost money and you're going to need lots of it and don't expect a hand out from your mother or me."

"Now Silver-" Mika said.

"Mika the boy is eighteen, he made this baby and now he's going to have to raise the money to take care of it on his own."

"But Silver you were just a little older than he was when we had him."

"Yeah and my father didn't help me, he told me the same thing I'm telling him! Now I'll help him get a job but he's not going to mooch off of us!"

"I wasn't going to mooch off of you!" Gray said. "And I don't expect you and Mom to give me any money but I have one request."

"Whatever it is the answer is no."

"Just here me out! Juvia's already got a job working at a diner and the pay sucks not to mention they don't tip her. So could you do me a favor and go to that diner for lunch and leave her some tips. Some good tips."

"Fine." Silver said.

"Great and don't worry about me being a moocher because I'm moving out tonight."

"Where will you stay?" Mika asked.

"Natsu's until I can afford an apartment and I don't need your help getting a job Dad! I can get it on my own!" Gray shouted going upstairs to his old room.

"Fine by me!" Silver shouted back.

Gray grabbed a suitcase and started to fill it with all his clothes and other belongings. An hour later his mother came upstairs carrying a plate with a sandwich.

"I thought that you would be hungry." She said.

"Where's Dad?"

"He told me to tell you that he went to a bar but he's actually going to the bank to set you up an account and deposit a thousand dollars into it."

"Seriously? What happened to no hand outs?"

"Oh you know your father. He may act all tough but deep down he's a real big softy. But he doesn't want you to know that. He wants you to get a job and make your own money."

"I will Mom."

"I know, you're a hard worker and a determined man just like him. And I hope my grandchild inherits all those wonderful qualities of yours. By the way I've been meaning to ask, do you plan on having this baby out of wedlock?"

"Oh Mom I don't know. I mean I love Juvia but we have the time or the money to get married right now besides part of me thinks that she'd be better off marrying Lyon. You know he already proposed to her."

"Don't be ridiculous, I've seen the way she looks at you. It's how I always look at your father. She'll never marry another man because she loves you and nobody else."

"I know but even if I was thinking of popping the question I can't afford a decent ring."

"Well this ring won't cost you a dime."

She placed a velvet box in his hand. Gray opened it, inside was an antique diamond ring.

"It was your grandmother's and before she died she requested that if you ever considered marriage that I offer you her engagement ring."

"Oh Mom...I can't take this."

"Yes you can and I'm sure that it would look even more beautiful on Juvia's finger. I'm not going to pressure you into anything dear but if you want the truth she's the kind of woman I always wanted you to marry."

The young man hugged his mother and she hugged him back.

"Thanks Mom."

Meanwhile Natsu and Lucy were on their way to a restaurant for a date. They had just finished dropping off Lucy's college application at the post office. She had applied for Sabertooth University, one of the most expensive and we'll educated colleges in Fiore.

"Oh Natsu I'm so nervous. What if they don't accept me?" She asked him.

"Then it's their loss babe because you're the smartest and most hard-working girl I know." He told her.

"You really mean that?"

"Of course I do."

"That's sweet but I have to get into that school. Just imagine all the career opportunities I could get just by going there? By the way Natsu what college are you applying for?"

"Actually I'm not applying to college."

"What? Why not?"

"Well for one thing my parents can't afford it and neither can I."

"Then what are you going to do for a living?"

"Well right now I work at the local bowling alley but I'm sure that I can get a better, more high paying job. It's not a problem that I'm not going to college is it?"

"No. Not at all." She smiled and kissed his nose. "Come on let's go eat."

"Great because I'm starving."