Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's "Fairy Tail", but all original and a plots and characters are mine.

Summary

A collection of future Natsu/Lucy one-shots featuring the Dragneel children and the rest of Fairy Tail

Prompt Summary

I'm only a phone call away.

From Fairy Small to Fairy Big

by

Magnafeana

Sometimes, "Love" Isn't Strong Enough

Ages

Luke: 6

RIIIIIIING. RIIIIIIING.

Lucy groaned as her Compact rang. Tonight had been hard on her, and the mission was only half-over. She still had three more nests to clear out before she could report to the requester and return home. She turned in her temporary bed and toward her Compact. It was lit up, indicating she had a call coming in. Lucy groaned as she picked it up and accepted the call.

"Hello," she yawned.

There was a pause.

"Mommy?" came a quiet call.

Lucy rubbed her eyes. "Hey, baby," she said sleepily, trying to wake herself up.

"It's Luke, Mommy," Luke informed her in a whisper.

Lucy smiled. "I know, baby. But why are you up so late? And why are you whispering?"

"Because I don't want Daddy to wake up," Luke answered.

"Oh, don't tell me you're using his Compact," Lucy chuckled.

"Sorry, Mommy," Luke apologized.

"As long as you make sure to put it back, young man, I'm sure Daddy won't mind." Lucy was awake as she pulled herself up to a sitting position against the wall. "How was your day, Luke?"

"Nashi and Igneel fighted again," Luke told her.

"'Fought'," Lucy corrected gently. "And what over this time?"

"Igneel took Nashi's cookie." Luke sighed. "They fight a lot."

"They do," she agreed. "But that's why you're there. Did my big, strong boy stop their fighting?"

"Uh-huh," Luke confirmed. "Daddy looked real tired-ded today."

"Well, he must be tired from taking care of all you troublemakers," Lucy teased.

"Hey. I'm not a troublemaker."

"Yes, you are, but that's okay. You're my little handsome troublemaker," Lucy assured.

"I'm not handsome," Luke disagreed. "Auntie Cana told me I'm a 'lady-killer'."

Lucy ran a hand down her face. "She did, did she?" she yawned.

"Yeah." A heartbeat of silence. "Mommy?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Can you come home now?"

Lucy sighed. "I wish, baby, but Mommy still has some work to do on her job."

"Can't you do it later?" Luke asked.

"No, baby, I can't," Lucy said, half-amused and half-sad. "But I miss you too, Luke. I miss you and Daddy and Igneel and Nashi and Lu."

"But you miss me the most," Luke decided.

Lucy laughed. "Shouldn't I miss Daddy the most?"

"Daddy isn't a 'lady-killer' like me," Luke reasoned.

Lucy snorted. "He certainly isn't," she agreed.

"Since you miss me, can you come home now?" Luke wondered.

"Now, why do you want Mommy to come home so much? You were the one practically shoving me out the door when I was leaving," Lucy reminded jokingly.

"Because Daddy said the sooner you left, the sooner you came-ded home," Luke told her. "I want you home now."

Lucy frowned. "I'm sorry, baby, but I just can't yet," she explained. "But Mommy will come home as soon as she can, okay?"

Luke sniffed. "B-B-But I want M-M-Mommy to sleep w-w-with me now," he demanded.

Lucy's heart broke. "Don't cry, baby. What does Daddy say about tears?"

Luke sniffled. "I'm sorry," he cried.

"No, baby, don't be sorry," Lucy shushed. "I wish I could be there to wipe away your tears. Mommy misses you so much, baby. Mommy loves you so much."

"Nuh-uh."

"No? Why'd you say, 'no'?"

"Because I don't love Mommy."

Lucy pouted. "No? You don't love Mommy?"

"Daddy said he didn't love Mommy," Luke confessed.

Lucy's eyebrow twitched. "Oh, did he?" she growled lowly.

"Daddy said he can't love Mommy because love isn't strong enough," Luke said. "I can't love Mommy since I want a better word for it."

Lucy broke into a smile and her eyes watered. "Oh, you boys… You're going to be the death of me," she chuckled. "How about you climb back to bed, baby? I don't want you to be too tired for tomorrow."

"Will I see Mommy when I wake up?" Luke asked, eager.

"Not yet, baby," Lucy admitted sadly. "But if you're a good boy tomorrow, then you and I can go to Book Land and get you a new book. How's that sound?"

"Awesome," Luke grinned. "I can't wait for you to come home, Mommy."

Lucy laughed. "I can't wait to come home too, baby. Now, go to sleep, okay? And dream good dreams for Mommy."

"Okay. Mommy, you dream good dreams too," Luke said seriously.

"I will, I will," Lucy promised.

"Okay. Good night, Mommy," Luke wished. "For now, I guess I can say I love you."

"And I love you too," Lucy declared. "Good night, baby."

And Luke hung up the phone.

Lucy set down her Compact and looked up at the ceiling of her hotel room. She smiled to herself. "You know, Natsu, you were right. The word 'love' just isn't a strong enough word."