The sun had set at least an hour ago. Yet from within the guild of Fairy Tail, you would think that the day was still going strong. Laughter and cheers rang out through the entirety of Magnolia. They were, if possible, partying harder than ever. Everyone was overjoyed that Natsu had found his foster father.

Ironically, neither of the two people that they were celebrating the reunion of were present. Igneel was resting in the lake behind the guild, and Natsu was sitting next to his foster father's head. The pinkette ran his hand through his hair. He leaned back, uncrossing his legs to rest some of his weight on his hands. For once, the fiery boy's spirit was at rest. Everyone that he loved the most was with him. He was sure that his foster father would have some clue that would reunite the other Slayers with their dragons. Nobody was hurt, and everybody was happy.

Except Igneel.

Unbeknownst to his foster son, the dragon was in a state of emotional confusion. He had promised himself that he would tell Natsu who his parents were and how he had come into Igneel's care once he turned eighteen. Now, according to what he had learned already, Natsu was nineteen. He had also apparently been frozen in time for seven years. But that wasn't what was important. What was important was that Natsu was now an adult, even if he still acted like a child.

That was the problem. Natsu had matured physically, yes. He was a strong young man, with an amount of magical power that did Igneel proud. He had achieved Dragon Force not once, but twice. Some Dragon Slayers went their whole lives unable to enter Dragon Force. He'd defeated a God Slayer by devouring his flames. That could only be done by ridding yourself completely of your magical power, so that you had the capacity to devour them. That took an immense amount of courage. He'd even acquired the ability to use lightning in conjunction with his fire. It took Igneel a week to learn to properly control his first dual element of fire and earth.

Natsu's talent for magic was unquestionable, his courage even less so. Loyalty was a deep part of who he was, caring for his guildmates deeply. His son had even learned forgiveness, while keeping his tenacity intact. That must have been a hard lesson for him. Yet he'd learned it well.

There was actually very little that was keeping Igneel from telling him everything. But that little bit was all-important.

Natsu didn't appear to have matured emotionally. Not at all.

He bounced around like a child, constantly happy and excited. Not that being happy and excited was a bad thing, but Igneel honestly doubted that his foster son could be serious about the story. And this was something that he needed to be serious about. Either that, or he would take it seriously - and hate Igneel for not telling him. The fire dragon knew that the second way would be better for Natsu over time. That was what he ought to hope for.

But at the same time, the pinkette was the center of his universe. If Natsu were to hate him... Igneel didn't even want to consider that.

Still, Natsu had a right to know. He had a right to know who his birth parents were, and why he wasn't raised by them. He had a right to know that he wasn't abandoned, like he had probably assumed. But most of all, he had the right to know what wonderful people they were.

The conflicted dragon turned his head to gaze at the one who was the focus of his thoughts. Natsu's eyes were closed and there was a pleased smile on his face. He was the picture of contentment. How can I bring myself to take his innocence away? Igneel wondered in desperation. Right now, his world is a place of black and white. What will happen once I tell him about them? They were people that ought to be treated with honor. But history remembers them as some of the greatest criminals of all time. Introducing so many shades of gray to his world could be traumatizing to Natsu. It would certainly cause a drastic change in how he saw the world.

"Igneel?"

Hearing his name shook him out of his reverie. "What is it, Natsu?"

Natsu gazed at the guildhall with a smile on his face. "Family...You really can find it anywhere." His smile widened slightly. "I have everyone that I need right here." He tilted his head up at the slightly shocked dragon. "Makes me wonder why so many people care about bloodlines and such." The Fire Dragon Slayer mused. "I mean, just because somebody is related to you in a certain way doesn't mean that you can't treat them a different way. And some people, like us aren't related at all, but love each other like people who are related in a certain way are supposed to. So why do people care so much about being related?"

Igneel took a moment before he answered to collect himself. Sometimes his foster son's timing made him wonder if he had a latent ability for mind reading. "Well, people who are related are often very like each other. They care about being related because if the people that they are related to themselves are a certain way, they will often be or become that way. Also, ties of blood are places where extremely close relationships can begin. Being related doesn't matter in and of itself, what matters are the relationships that can come of it." He chose his words carefully, hoping to end the conversation there. For all his foster son's denseness, he also had an uncanny ability to ask penetrating questions.

"But there are people who are related who are nothing like each other. There's even a phrase that I've heard, the 'black sheep'. What about them?"

Igneel sighed. Somehow, he had known that he wouldn't be getting off that easily. "Well, there are exceptions to every rule. 'Black sheep' are sometimes not considered part of the family if they are different enough. People expect that people that are related to each other to be similar."

"That's stupid. Everyone is different." Natsu's tone was blunt.

"Very true. But they expect that people that are related will be less different from each other than somebody from a different family would be." Igneel used his most exasperated tone, hoping that his son would clue in and shut up.

"Then why do people talk about soul mates, but not look inside their own family? I mean, if people in your family are similar to you..." Natsu trailed off.

The fire dragon considered that for a while. It was a fair question, and it deserved a fair answer. "I suppose because the phrase is usually used in a romantic way, and people rarely think of, say, their sister as someone to fall in love with. Love them, sure. Fall in love, no."

"Can you have a soul mate in a not-romantic way?"

Igneel blinked. What? "I've never thought about it." He answered honestly. "But a soul mate is just someone who has qualities that complement or enhance yours, or both. So... I suppose..."

"Okay. Thanks, Dad."

"You're welcome, little pyro." Igneel lay his head back down. That had been an... enlightening conversation. Perhaps Natsu had grown up a little, to be able to ask a question like that. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will tell him.

Apparently, I am no longer allowed to berate myself for posting late.