Lucy was floating on a cloud of euphoric bliss as she tittered around her kitchen preparing breakfast, after her chat with Levy and her reconciliation with Natsu she was feeling positive. For once she woke without her nausea and was able to enjoy a restful morning cuddled up with Natsu.
Currently he was still passed out in her bed but she was sure the moment she put the bacon on, his nose would drag him in.
She glanced at the time and decided it was probably time to open the window, since it was a Saturday she was preparing a big breakfast which had become a bit of a tradition in her home and that normally included Happy who could never pass up grilled fish.
Lucy stepped back into the main room and glanced over at Natsu who was still snoring away quite happily, stretched out across her bed with a dorky grin on his face, she smiled endearingly before glancing down.
With a bright red face she picked the covers up off the floor where he'd kick them to and threw it over his exposed body, he gargled something unintelligible but otherwise remained asleep.
With a light hearted sigh she reached over and swung the window open for Happy.
On her way back to the kitchen she stopped at her writing desk and looked at the items of clothing on her chair, she fingered Natsu's scarf letting the material slip over her hand to drop back down against the chair. At some point Natsu was going to have to tell Igneel about the baby, the great behemoth had once joked about the possible chance of grandkids before she and Natsu had even gotten together... she wondered what he would think about it now?
Whatever his reaction, she envisioned it would comical, despite one being a dragon and the other a human Igneel and Natsu were surprisingly similar.
By the time she was back in the kitchen she heard the familiar flap of wings in the other room and then giggled when she heard his little voice.
"Natsu you lazy butt." Natsu response was a sleepy grunt and the shuffling of covers before Happy cried out in disgust and came flying into the kitchen. "Lucy I saw Natsu's naked butt."
"Oh, how terrifying that must have been for you." She hid her smile behind a mask of concern – personally thinking Natsu had a very, very nice behind – and placed a plate of grilled Kipper in front of Happy. "Hopefully this will make you feel better." Happy's face lit up in delight, his ear twitching as he prepared to pounce on his specially prepared breakfast.
His trauma obviously forgotten he picked up the fish and took a clean bite.
"Lucy really is the best." She smiled down at him and scratched him behind the ear before turning back to preparing the rest of the breakfast.
"Where were you last night anyway?" Lucy asked out of interest, as much as she loved the exceed she was mighty happy he hadn't been there last night.
"With Wendy and Charle, Natsu abandoned me to go hang out with Gray so I stayed with them at Fairy hills, you know I think Charle might accept a fish off me soon, it took her five seconds longer to say no this time."
"Really?" She sat down opposite Happy while she waited for her omelette to cook. "After so many years that's some progress... but I've been thinking and though I'm sure Charle would love your fish, she has a girls heart, next time why don't you try giving her some flowers, I'm sure she'd accept those." Lucy offered. Happy looked at her strangely, slowly chewing on his food as he thought it over.
"But Charle's a cat."
"Yes, yes but she likes girly things, I mean Lily likes kiwi's, so it's possible she prefers other things over fish." When he still didn't look convinced she changed tact. "She'll probably accept your fishes once you've wooed her with flowers."
"Really?"
"Probably, you never know unless you try."
"Ok... I'll try it." With a little nod of encouragement she got up to flip her omelette and that's when Natsu stumbled through the kitchen door, thankfully wearing some boxers. He scratched his belly and ruffled his hair, his mouth wide open as he yawned.
"I smell food." She figured, and she hadn't even started cooking the bacon yet.
"Sit down, it'll be ready soon."
Instead of sitting though he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, his hands resting on her abdomen in a sweet gesture, she turned her head to look at him and she was met by a tender smile and eyes that glowed with happiness. He swept in for a kiss before letting go and sitting at the table next to Happy.
"Morning Happy."
"Natsu, I'm gonna get Charle some flowers so she'll fall in love with me."
"Ooh... that'll do it, Lucy loves that kind of stuff."
"Girls are weird."
"Tell me about it."
As Lucy listened to their banter she allowed herself a smile, the blissful atmosphere so different than the last few days, though she was still apprehensive about what would happen next she was willing to take a different approach and take whatever the future held head on.
Of course they'd eventually have to tell people, though Levy already knew, but she was hoping they could wait until she was ready, if they could keep their relationship under wraps then this should be easy.
"Thank you for sending Levy over yesterday, it's just what I needed." Lucy said over her shoulder. Natsu scratched the back of his head bashfully.
"Ah she told you... s'kay, didn't want you to be alone while you were so upset."
"She knows." Lucy heated a little oil in the pan and placed the bacon in, she placed a cover over the top to stop the oil spitting over everything.
"That's cool... Gray knows." She was surprised to hear he had confided in Gray, though he could be secretive when he needed to be and she, like Natsu, trusted him to keep it to himself until she was ready to announce it.
"Was that before or after you guys fought?" Natsu laughed, reclining in his chair, bringing attention to the large bruise over his ribcage.
"Before." He shrugged. "I was totally winning before he played his trump card."
"Hey guys," Natsu and Lucy looked over at the blue Exceed who was staring at each of them in turn with confusion written all over his face, "what is it that Gary and Levy know?"
Both adults blinked uselessly at Happy before realisation dawned on them both simultaneously. They hadn't told Happy!
How could they have forgotten Happy, a core member of their team and family?
"Ah well you see..." Natsu looked up at Lucy who shrugged, she quickly returned to the food, dishing it out while Natsu floundered with a way to explain it to Happy. She shook her head and rolled her eyes as he rambled on about something related to the birds and the bees and took pity. She placed his plate of food in front of Natsu and sat down with her own before addressing Happy.
"Natsu and I are having a baby."
Silence filled the room as Happy stared at her then at Natsu then back to Lucy, she grew a bit alarmed when he started to grin, recognising the teasing glint in his rounded eyes.
"Oooh... Kids these days." He chuckled, taking another bite of his fish. Lucy tried to ignore the heat that travelled up to engulf her face while Natsu just smirked away, digging into his own food heartily. "When's it going to hatch?" Happy asked, both adults looked over at the Exceed, confusion written all over their faces.
"Hatch...?" Lucy mumbled her eyes narrowing in confusion, she turned to look at Natsu with a suspicious glare.
"Happy hatched from an egg." Natsu explained, he was laughing, finding it all so very amusing.
"Please tell me you know how babies are born." She asked, suddenly feeling quite faint. Natsu stopped laughing and threw her an offended look.
"Of course I do!" He defended. Lucy sagged in relief and looked back over to Happy who was glancing between the two of them with the unreadable expression of his.
"Humans aren't hatched from eggs," Lucy explained, "they're born from... uh well, they grow in the mother's body where they're safe and protected and then when they're grown enough and ready to they'll be born."
"Natsu, you told be babies were hatched from eggs." The Exceed pointed at Natsu accusingly, a dusting of pink coated Natsu's cheek as he glanced back at Lucy.
"I know how babies are born!"He reiterated, and then turned back to Happy with an embarrassed scowl. "And Happy I told you that when we were kids as if I knew what I was talking about," he seemed to shudder, as if recalling a pretty sour memory, "Erza sure changed that." He sunk down and started eating again and Lucy couldn't help but laugh. She could just imagine how Erza cleared up that kind misconception.
She imagined it was difficult for him though, not having had any parents to teach him otherwise, his one experience of new life was the birth of Happy, when he hatched from his egg, and then there was the fact he was raised by a dragon, a race that also hatched from eggs. Erza probably took pity when the rest of the guild let him believe babies were hatched from eggs.
"Is that why Evergreen is so fat now?" Happy clapped his paws together at the new found discovery. Lucy's smile dropped and she glared at Happy with a mixture of annoyance and gloom.
"Oi, oi, Happy you can't say that," Natsu looked around the room as if the walls had ears, "Max said it once and Elfman had to stop her from turning Max to stone, so she broke his broom clean in half instead." He turned to look at Lucy. "It was pretty scary right Lucy... Oi! Why are you crying?!" He shot up and came to her side while she sniffled, the reason for her tears were completely irrational.
"I'm going to get fat too." She mumbled. Any concern Natsu's face held dropped almost immediately as he went back to his seat and continued to eat.
"But you're already fat though so it won't be a problem." Happy stated casually. Natsu grimaced, pausing in his eating long enough to shake his head at Happy with a pitiful look.
"Happy... no." He sighed.
Lucy on the other hand stared down the cat with a menacing glare; she was used to his jibes about her weight, though she knew he was only teasing.
"After I went to the trouble of cooking you up some fish you say mean things like that, you ungrateful cat." She snapped before quickly settling back down and taking a deep breath. This was supposed to be her stress-free day, so she couldn't let what Happy said get to her, after all he was only teasing.
Happy, unfazed by her behaviour, took on a pensive look, his eyes flicked between herself and Natsu before settling them back onto his fish.
"If... you guys are having a baby will you have less time for me?"
Both Lucy and Natsu stopped eating to look up at Happy in surprise, shocked that he would even think that. Happy... before she could say anything to reassure him Natsu reached forwards and flicked the Exceed right between the eyes.
"Idiot," Natsu scolded, "as if that would happen." Natsu went back to eating but continued to talk between mouthfuls. "You, me and Lucy are a family, not just a team, and with a baby it'll make four of us, a new member, doesn't that sound like fun."
Lucy watched the interaction between them with a soft smile, she hadn't thought that Happy would ever feel that way but to see Natsu comfort him like was like seeing a father with his son, she supposed in a way that was their relationship and seeing it before her eyes put her at ease, Natsu would make a good dad.
"Besides..." Lucy added. "They're going to need a big brother to rely on." She leant her elbows on the table and tucked her hands under her chin. Beside Happy, Natsu nodded in agreement, grinning stupidly around his mouthful of food. Happy's eyes widened, a sparkle of excitement filling them, he picked up his fish and took a huge bite.
"I can teach him everything I know about fish." He announced, the biggest grin stretching across his glowing face.
"Well..."
"Yeah and we can take him fishing with us." Natsu joined in on Happy's enthusiasm, both of them with equal twinkles of excitement in their eyes. She kind of wanted to protest, argue that it might be a girl who had little interest in the topic of fishing but who was she to rain on their parade. She smiled, sat back and tucked into her omelette.
Natsu and Happy continued to share ideas of what to show the baby while Lucy watched on happily that was until a knocking at her door interrupted them.
"I'll get it." Natsu went to stand but Lucy was already at his side pushing him down.
"Dressed like that I don't think so." It would be her luck that her landlady would answer the door and she would not be impressed with a semi nude man answering the door. She tightened her robe and walked through the main room to get to the hall.
Erza had her hand raised to knock again when Lucy swung the door open, behind her stood Gray, for a moment their eyes met and Gray nodded in acknowledgement, Natsu had told her that he told Gray about her pregnancy and judging by the way he was acting she was fairly sure Erza didn't know, she smiled and nodded back before refocusing her attention on Erza.
"Hey guys what are you doing here?" She looked at the door then back at them with a cocked up brow. "And using the door?"
"Gray suggested we tried it... I'm not sure how I feel about the waiting though."
"Haha... sorry we were in the middle of breakfast." She stepped to the side, inviting them with a gesture of her hand but she sighed heavily when Gray dropped his shirt at the entrance, picking it up, she closed the door. She shoved the shirt into his hands; at least he had the courtesy to look a little ashamed.
"Natsu," She wandered back into the kitchen and sat back at the table to finish off her breakfast, Natsu, having his back to the door didn't see Erza or Gray. "Erza and Gray are here." The forkful of food heading towards Natsu's mouth stilled, his face paling, he seemed to swallow nervously as he slowly turned to face Erza.
"E-Erza... what are you doing here?" He stuttered. Why did he look and sound so afraid? Maybe he did something at the guild yesterday, she wouldn't be surprised. The red head looked over Natsu for the longest moment, the atmosphere weighing down on all of them. That was until Erza's stomach gurgled, instantly breaking the tension.
"That smell good, Lucy, I don't suppose you have..."
"Yes, yes I made plenty help yourself." Brightening up Erza grabbed herself a plate and ravaged what was left on the counter while Gray just helped himself to a mug of coffee. Natsu on the other hand seemed to sink into his chair, the life leaving his relieved body. Gray took a seat at the end of the table and Natsu leant over.
"You didn't tell her?" He whispered, quiet enough so that Erza didn't hear but just enough that Lucy could make it out.
"Not worth the risk, she would have beat me just for knowing about it." Gray pulled a face after taking a sip of his dark and unsweetened coffee, absent-mindedly Lucy nudged a small jug of milk his way while Natsu pushed a pot of sugar. Gray looked at us both oddly before thanking them with a bemused expression. So that was why Natsu was nervous. He was scared of how Erza would take their news, it was true that Erza's reactions were sometimes off kilter but despite her tough demeanour she was a maiden on the inside; she was sure after whatever her over the top reaction would be she'd be happy for them.
"So what brings you guys over?" Lucy looked over to Erza who had now seated next to her, her plate full of food. Erza pulled out a sheet of paper and slammed it down on the table with more force than necessary, Lucy grimaced, worried about the condition of her table when she heard the ominous creak of wood.
"I have selected a mission for us; it's a fairly simple one." Lucy knew the definition of simple coming from Erza so she thought it best to look over the request sheet before agreeing to anything. She reached for the sheet only for it to be yanked out from underneath her hand.
"Natsu what-"
"No missions for you, remember."
Ah. Of course, for a moment she'd almost forgotten. In which case what was she supposed to do about money, as much as Natsu said he'd help pay her rent, which she was still displeased with, how was she supposed to support herself, no money meant no food, she was prepared to give up expenditures on clothing, if she was no longer doing missions then she wouldn't need to replace her destroyed clothes. One worry of her mind.
But, she'd need money for daily necessities and, when the time came, baby things, after all babies weren't cheap.
She'd need furniture, nappies, bottles, a baby bath, baby wash and wipes... not to mention baby clothes and that didn't even scratch the surface. She couldn't depend on Natsu to bring in that much money, he'd forever be going on missions.
"But..." She was going to reason that if they did some easy mission then maybe... but the look Natsu was giving her shut her up, he was dead set on not letting her do any at all.
"Forgive me but I feel as if I've missed something." Gray stiffened and looked away, while Natsu looked as if an internal battle raged. Lucy on the other hand huffed in irritation, what was so hard about telling Erza, she was a core member of their team and one of their closest friends, they'd told Gray and Happy, it wasn't fair to keep Erza in the dark.
"Lucy can't go on mission because she's not feeling well." Natsu finally said. Lucy narrowed her eyes at Natsu who purposefully avoided her gaze.
"Oh," Erza turned to Lucy, concern clouding her eyes which only made Lucy feel guilty. "I hadn't realised, I thought you said you'd recovered from whatever it was that bothered you on our last mission, forgive me for not noticing."
"Ah, it's nothing really, just the doctor said I should take easy so I've been told to avoid using magic and from doing anything strenuous." Lucy explained, not really a lie but it heavily omitted the truth.
"I see, will you be ok for rent?"
"I'm taking care of it." Natsu answered for her.
"It's nice to see that you've taken to the role of lover so well." Erza smiled calmly at Natsu while she praised him, Gray snorted into his coffee and Lucy had to hide her face, afraid of the sudden warmth on her cheeks. "Then Natsu will you be coming with us?"
"Damn right I will but... can we make it tomorrow, I kind of wanted to spend the day with Lucy and Happy."
Erza took a moment to think it over while she finished off her food, setting down her cutlery on the now empty plate she nodded her head and smiled.
"I had a few errands to run today anyway so the mission can wait." Erza stood, her armour clinking as she moved, Lucy just couldn't fathom how she could be comfortable in all that metal but then again Erza was on a completely different level then her. Years of carrying around all that armour made her strong and protected a vulnerable heart. "Thank you for the food Lucy, I'm going to head out and take care of some things... Gray are you coming?" She aimed at Gray when he remained seated.
"Ah... I leave soon but there's something I wanted to talk to Natsu about." Gray said, avoiding the red heads penetrative gaze.
"... Very well, I'll see you all later.' She got to the door before stopping and turning her stern gaze onto Natsu and Gray, who both shivered in alarm. "Natsu, Gray, we leave at 9 sharp in the morning, be at the train station on time." And with one last flick of her hair she was gone.
The door slammed closed before anyone said anything at all.
"So why are we keeping this from Erza, she's going get suspicious when I keep refusing requests?" Lucy eyed the two men who fidgeted in their chairs.
"She'll do horrible things to me Luce, especially if she finds out it was kind of an accident." Natsu whined, tucking his head into his folded arms to hide his face.
"Well I don't like it." Lucy got up and carried all the plates to the sink. "Erza is an important member of this team and it's not fair that you all know and she doesn't, she'll be more mad when she realises she the last to know."
"Lucy's got a point, flame for brains, Erza hates being left out of the loop." Gray pointed out. Natsu only continued to groan into the table. Lucy chose only to roll her eyes while she filled the sink with scolding water.
"Then you tell her Gray... while I'm far away." Natsu sat up straight and threw Gray a pleading look.
"Hell no," came his immediate response, "besides it's not my news to share." Which was true, it had to be either herself or Natsu and if she relied on Natsu then Erza would never know until Lucy was sporting a baby belly.
"Dear Mavis, you're a wuss sometimes," Lucy sighed, exasperated. "She's hardly going to kill you because of this, she'd at least know that I very much need you alive... but if it makes you feel better I'll tell her though I'm sure she'll be happy for us."
"Yes Lucy should tell her, she never beats up Lucy but could you wait until I'm on a mission or something." Natsu pleaded, his head lowered in subjection.
"Geez if she's going to beat you up she'll do it whenever you get back, might as well just get it over and done with." Gray reminded him. There was a look of amusement in his eyes that made Lucy believe he was enjoying Natsu's predicament to some level.
"Easy for you to say, it's not you balls on the line." Natsu snapped.
"So instead you'll put your pregnant girlfriend in the line of danger so that you can protect your 'manliness', not that you have much of that." Natsu sat back down and looked over at Lucy, conflict weighing heavily in his obsidian eyes. Lucy wanted to protest that they were being silly, Erza would never hurt her but Natsu looked as if he honestly believed she would.
"It's ridiculous, Erza is one of our closest friends, she'll be happy for us!" Lucy reiterated, getting slightly annoyed that they such little faith in Erza.
"I'm sure she will but Natsu was reckless and it was unplanned, she'll beat him on principle." Gray warned, not all that concerned he was making Natsu paler.
"You two get in to fights all the time around her despite knowing she'll beat you up for it so what is so hard about getting beat up about this?"
"This is a serious, life changing thing, she gives us a knock round the back of the head for rough housing in the guild, imagine would she'd do over something like this." Natsu shook all over but he remained defiant, that was until Lucy glared at him.
"Or is it because you're ashamed that I..." She didn't finish the thought, she turned back to the dishes and took a deep breath, so much for her stress free day. She heard the sound of a chair scrape across the floor, then the heavy slap of bare feet against her laminated flooring before she was roughly pulled around to face a livid looking Natsu.
"Ashamed of what?" He growled, his glare making her tremble. She shook her head not wanting to say because she knew it was stupid. "Lucy?"
"... Of me, that you're having a baby with me." She dropped her head against his shoulder and he remained frozen with shock. "Just ignore me I'm being stupid I know, it's just you're so dead set against telling Erza about this 'accident' that I just... It's silly."
"Damn right it is, what would make you think I'm ashamed, I'm just scared that Erza will rip my family jewels off and make me eat them... honestly, you weirdo, you are the only person I've ever dreamed of having a family with." He rested his chin against the top of her head and brought her in for a hug. "I didn't mean to make it sound like it was a mistake, I don't think that for a second, I want you and want this baby, like we told Happy, we'll be a family and that's what I really want."
"Sorry," Lucy muttered against his chest, her words slightly muffled but he seemed to understand. "I was just being irrational." From behind them Gray laughed, his own chair scraping across the floor as he stood.
"Irrational behaviour and mood swings are part of the territory when it comes to pregnant woman, you know, so good luck dude." He slapped Natsu on the back and looked over his shoulder at Lucy. "And for what it's worth congratulations, not that I'm looking forwards to having a mini Natsu running around the guild any time soon, but I am happy for you two." Lucy smiled up at him, relieved yet another person wasn't judging her but supporting them instead.
"Thanks Gray." She said. He nodded his head in acknowledgement before turning to the door and walking out, a small wave over his shoulder, leaving just Lucy, Natsu and Happy.
"I could tell Erza." Happy offered but Natsu shook his head.
"No. I'll do it, during tomorrow's mission, I'll tell her and accept whatever she dishes out, I am a man after all."
She wanted to laugh at his expression, he looked like a man heading to war and she couldn't help but feel that he was seriously over-reacting. Lucy was ninety-nine percent sure that Erza would also support them but then there was that one percent of worry that Erza would be the one to scold her for their stupidity.
Eventually someone would look down on her and judge, right?