Chapter 10

Plan of Attack

(Laxus pov)

I sat in my dark office, thinking over the past few hours.

Before those Guild doors opened, my life had been great. Easy. I was a happy bachelor content with the way his life worked. The only thing that darkened my otherwise perfect life was the reputation of my Guild. For too long, Gramps has allowed the weaklings to run wild and bring shame to Fairy Tail. Before those doors opened, I had been working out the kinks of my upcoming takeover of Fairy Tail. I had walked into the Guild Hall, ready to kick back with my Team and enjoy a glass of whiskey.

Then Natsu opened his mouth.

Honestly, I only half-listened to the kid. The only reason I stopped was to berate him about talking shit.

But I could smell it. The scent I was surrounded by every single day, the scent I came to associate with me. It was coming from a little blonde boy standing frozen beside Match Dick. He smelt of Ozone, bourbon, and vanilla with an underlying hint of oranges. If his scent wasn't enough, the kid was a spitting image of me from my younger years. Same blue eyes and stubborn chin. The beast inside my head, the one I learned to trust and depend on, rattled in it's cage, roused by the child's scent. It examined the child, taking in the scent and appearance before confirming my darkest fear.

This was my kid.

I am a father.

The beast told me to open up to the kid and take him in, get to know him as my son. This boy is family. He was my son. My mind, however, was overtaken by the memories of my own father. All the times he beat me down and made me feel weak. The lacrima on my head, and the beast that came with it, was there because he couldn't stand to have a weak son.

I don't know how to raise a kid!

I rejected the kid and watched as his face crumbled. I felt a bit regretful for hurting my offspring, but it was for his own good. I couldn't be a dad.

Then my eyes landed on her. The mother of my child. The beast shook its cage, growling in desire for the sinuous blonde sitting at the bar. And I completely agreed with him. Her coffee brown eyes, man do I love coffee, were locked on the boy and screamed her worry for him. I racked my brain for the memory of her and cursed myself when I couldn't find it. I damned myself to hell for getting too drunk to remember a night with a woman like that. Part of me hoped that I could get her into bed again. The other, more dominant part shied away from laying with the woman that bore my child. I made a very stupid comment about my lack of memory of our night together. My son took exception to that and ran straight for me, his body covered in lightning. The boy even had my Magic! Of course I stopped him before he could do any damage, but mommy didn't like that.

After the boy ran off with tears in his eyes, the woman proceeded to knock me down to her level and tear into me. I learned that she was in fact not his mother, she would never fuck a man with an attitude like mine, and to stay away from her son.

The Dragon… I... didn't want to. If I was being completely honest, I wanted to be with my kid. I wanted to sit down and talk with him. Get to know him as a person. I wanted to take him out on missions and train him to be the best Mage he could be. I wanted to go home everyday to my son and the woman with the face of an angel and the sinful body of a sex Goddess. I wanted to be woken up in the middle of the night because my son had a nightmare and snuggle him between us.

As much as I was excited to find out I was a dad, there was those memories of my own parent that held me back. How in the hell can I take care of a kid? My dad certainly wouldn't be winning any 'best dad' awards. The only experience of parenting has come second hand from my dad. I won't let my son endure that. So how the fuck am I supposed to raise a kid? How the hell am I going to convince my son to let me into his life?

I shot up in my seat. Did I just think that? Did I truly want this? Though my mind raged against it, the beast and the rest of me was open to the idea.

I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. I couldn't pretend that none of this had ever happened. I'm a father now. I can't ignore that. But how do I go about being one? It would actually be better and safer for everyone if I avoided the boy and let him grow up under the Blonde's care.

Two taps on my door brought me out of my thoughts. I demanded they enter and Freed opened the door. My Team crept their way inside and took their usual spots in my office. Freed perched on the chair, Bickslow laid along the entire couch while Ever leaned against my desk. "What do you want?"

"We are… concerned for you, Laxus. We know this must be a lot to take in so suddenly. You must be feeling overwhelmed."

Bicks laughed at the Rune Mage. "I warned you, Laxus! Always pack a rubber and ask if the chick uses protection!"

Ever snapped at Bicks. "I, for one, think this is nice. Laxus has a son! Aren't any of you the least bit curious about the boy? Laxus, don't you want to meet him?"

I fell back into my chair. "It's best if we pretend this day never happened. I'll only bring that kid heartache and disappointment."

Ever opened her fan. "That's not true, Laxus. I think you'd be a great father."

"I agree, Laxus. You are selling yourself short. Besides, Lucy seems to be doing a good job. Why don't you ask her for advice on parenting?"

I snorted, "She would sooner nail my dick to the floor than offer advice on how to raise her children. Just leave it be, guys."

Freed exhaled slowly and got to his feet. At first, I thought he was going to leave, he stormed up to my desk and slammed his hand on the dark wood. "You can't ignore this, Laxus! Your son needs you, even if he doesn't know it yet! You have a rare opportunity, Laxus. Don't squander it!" After saying his piece, he left. All three of us were silent until Ever decided to take her leave as well.

"At least talk to him. You don't have to take over his care, but at least attempt to be a part of his life. A father that tries is better than one that doesn't care at all. Don't let your son suffer the way I did."

Bicks and I watched her slip into the hall, closing the door behind her. Bicks climbed to his feet and stretched his limbs. He totally shocked me when he opened his mouth. "You have a family now, Laxus. You've got a son with a mom that has a killer body. Don't waste what's been thrown into your lap."

Okay, it wasn't that shocking. He still threw in his usual perviness. "What am I supposed to do? Waltz up to the kid and say 'Hey, I know I made you cry yesterday, but I hope that you'll forget that and let me be your dad.'?"

Bicks slowly made his way to the door. "I don't know, man. Why don't you give it a few days to think about it and start with approaching Big Tits? She's his mother and she can persuade him to at least listen to you."

He left me to my thoughts. I pondered his advice and found no fault in it. I certainly wouldn't mind talking to that woman again, even if I'm being yelled at. It would take some social skills that I a severely lacked to talk her into letting me meet with my kid, Lukas, but I'm sure I could do it. I am Laxus Dreyar, after all. Right! I'll give them a few days to cool off then I'll corner her and sweet talk my way into her good graces!

(Lucy pov)

Lukas seemed rather apprehensive as we neared the Guild. I smoothed down his hair and led them inside and towards the request board. "Alrighty boys, pick a mission and let's get to it!"

Immediately, the two began to argue over monsters and bandits. Lukas wanted to go take down a monster or two and keep their fur as his prize. He actually had a monster pelt from a mission we had taken in Shirotsume and he took great pride in it, showing the pelt more love and care than most men showed to their girlfriends or wives. The mayor let him keep it, just happy that his cattle were safe once again. Titan, on the other hand, prefered beating up people that enjoyed hurting others. Titan loathed bullies and enjoyed giving them a dose of their own medicine. And overcoming a stronger Mage gave his ego a significant boost.

"Mom! There's a request from Akane! Something about a water monster that's terrorizing the beaches! Can we go?"

I read over the mission and perked up at the reward. A free room and all-expenses-paid passes to the resort's attractions such as the spa room and the water park. I pointed these things out to Titan and he became much more interested. We agreed on the mission and handed it to Mira. She signed us off and wished us luck. Before we could leave, we were stopped by an armored hand.

"Lucy! There you are! I have picked out a mission for us to take as our first official request as a Team!" I sweatdropped at her brusque declaration and pointed out that we already had a mission picked out. She looked over the request and brightened considerably. "Excellent choice, Lucy! We shall go on this one instead!"

My boys cheered at the thought of an S-Class Mage joining us, so I didn't voice any objection. Besides, with her with us meant my sons were better protected.

What could possibly go wrong?

A lot. A lot can go wrong.

Apparently, it was not a monster lurking in the crystalline waters. It was several.

A momma and her very nasty babies.

Aquarius had been sent back with a vicious snap of a water serpent's jaws, leaving me without my best Spirit for the job. I refused to allow my boys any closer than we already were, watching from the sidelines as Erza attacked the mother with all her might. I felt so damn useless it hurt. My new Teammate was going to die and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

"Momma! Momma! What about that new Spirit of yours? The one you got in Hargeon! Didn't you say it was a Water Spirit?"

My mood did a one-eighty and I kissed Titan on his adorable little face. "Thank you for reminding me! Stay here and protect each other!"

I started running for the water, dodging any attacks that came my way. Finally, I reached the ocean and pointed the Platinum Key towards the sky. "I am linked to the World of the Spirits! Heed my plea and pass through the gate! Open, Gate of the Northern Beast! Hydra!"

A large white Magic Circle appeared in the sky and my Magic drained faster than it ever had before. A flash of white in the sky and an earth-shaking roar signified the arrival of one of the Celestial Monsters. Hydra plummeted towards the earth and landed with the grace of a swan.

Hydra was very beautiful. He resembled a Dragon with his reptilian body and gleaming scales. He was all dark grays and pearlescent whites. Hydra had a serpentine body with slightly bulky torso and four legs with wicked talons. Two wings were neatly folded against the scales that seemed to carry a glow from within. A wickedly spiked tail, just as long as his neck, flicked in agitation. His magnificent head turned towards me, pinning me with silvery eyes. "I assume you want me to dispose of the problem before making our contract, correct?"

I nodded vigorously. "Erza needs my help!"

Hydra bowed hid head in understanding. "I will be back shortly. This won't take long." With that, Hydra sped towards the the monsters with speed a creature his size shouldn't possess. Streams of Lightning spewed from Hydra's maw, sending jolts of electricity into the water. The monsters spasmed and fell dead in an instant, jerking occasionally in the aftershocks. Erza re-quipped out of her Heaven's Wheel Armor and gawked at the beast making it's way towards me.

"One of your Spirits?"

"Yes. He's a friend."

Erza nodded dumbly. "Good to know."

Lukas and Titan joined me to witness our contract. "Greetings, Master. I…"

"Lucy." I interrupted. "Just Lucy, please. I hate the term 'Master'."

Hydra raised an eyebrow. "As you wish. Lucy, I am Hydra. I mainly use Lightning and Sky Magic, but my other heads can use various other Magics such as Water, Poison, Fire, Ice, Wind. Earth, Light, Darkness, Crash, and Metal. That is only the beginning. I am available every day but Saturday and Tuesday. Do not try to summon me in caves. It will not end well."

I wrote all of it down in a small notebook I carried in my pouch. "Thanks again, Hydra. I don't know I would have done without you."

"You probably would have been eaten alive and slowly digested over a period of months. Have a wonderful evening. Call me should you ever need my assistance again."

I waved goodbye as he faded back into the Celestial Realm. Erza, Titan, and Lukas stared in awe at the space where he use to be. I laughed nervously and pointed at the hotel. "So, shall we hit the sack and take a nap before going to the water park?"

Titan exploded into an excited ball of enthusiasm. "THAT WAS THE COOLEST SPIRIT EVER!"

I giggled and chatted with my sons and Erza about Hydra and other Spirits of the Celestial Realm. I rubbed my fingers along my Keys, sending them my love and appreciation. My heart warmed when the Keys heated under my skin.