Pregnant headcanons are always so fun to work with

Natsu groaned as he got off the train, flopping down onto the cobblestone street as he tumbled out of the train car, breathing heavily as he took in all the fresh air he could. He'd never get used to taking the train...

But he made a sacrifice this time, anything to see Lucy quickly. He had left for a job advertised as a week-long job to find the mayor's kidnapped daughter, including a lot more stealth work and waiting than what he would have liked, taking almost over three months to complete. There was no way he could get a message to the guild either, going from the initial town and to a separate island where a dark guild had taken her. Which gave him terrible seasickness and took almost a week to navigate through the ocean while he was incapacitated, the trip back more comfortable with someone else able to direct the boat for him. And after his return, the village was so thankful that they threw him a large feast, one that Natsu may have indulged too much into and experienced a food coma for the following two weeks. The only option was to return home by train and hope his girlfriend wouldn't be too upset.

He had sheepishly broken one of Lucy's favorite vases, leaving with its shattered pieces turned to ash and a quest in his hands for money to replace the item. Natsu knew she never liked it when he left without a heads up, but she was in the shower, and he was scared she would yell again for being so careless. He turned to the option of running under cover of night, without a not and the assumption Mira would tell her he'd be gone. There were times when Lucy would go out and complete a job on her own, so was it so wrong if he decided to do the same?

Natsu trudged through the woods and into his own home, washing off the sweat produced by his turning stomach, changing clothes and dropping off luggage, so he was fresh and ready to greet everyone after. He was never nervous pulling open the guild doors before, gulping as the excitement of the guild died down, and silence viewed his entrance, Happy flying at maximum speed into his arms.

"Natsu! You're back!" He cried, burying his teary eyes against the bare chest of his adoptive parent, Natsu sighing and nuzzling against his head, apologizing for taking so much time to get home. He looked up to greet the eyes of the rest of his family, curious as to why they weren't bursting with the usual exciting party to welcome him home with. Erza and Gray, in particular, glaring the shit out of him, but when weren't they?

"Is everyone alright? Ya guys look a little stiff," He chuckled awkwardly as they mumbled with knowing looks.

"You run off for three months and think you have the right to ask that? You have a lot of questions to answer yourself." He quirked a brow at the malice lacing Erza's voice, stepping towards the redhead in efforts to get a clearer understanding.

"The job I took wasn't accurate with its time stamp, is that what's got you all upset?" Natsu squeaked as she pointed a sword and held it to his neck, hair practically whipping around in her dark aura. "I-I'm sorry! It was difficult to send a message home! C-C'mon, what's the big deal?!"

"Don't you know what's going on with Lu-chan?" Levy spoke up, stepping in to lower the metal weapon. His eyes became broad and serious, worry instantly running through his veins.

"What happened, is she okay? Is she hurt? She was just fine when I left." They looked to each other and back to him as Natsu's eyes darted around for the blonde, seemingly shocked that he had no idea what was going on.

"Tch, of course, flame brain has no idea," Gray shaking his head as he crossed his arms.

"Oh dear, you really don't know, do you?" Mira frowned as she walked around the bar, quick to lead Natsu back towards the open doors.

He demanded to know what she meant, the only answer anyone giving him being to find Lucy right away. His feet carried him a mile a minute to her door, his heart pounding as he found it unlocked, worst case that she was injured or under magic depletion, even a curse produced by a rogue element of Zeref could have corrupted her. He quickly made his way upstairs, rushing to her side as he saw her in bed, sighing as she seemed to be breathing normally and there was a lack of the familiar smell of blood.

"Why the hell was everyone worrying me if you were alright?" He groaned, falling to his knees, hand clasped around hers as he pressed it against his forehead. The fire was roaring in its place nearby, the girl still shivering even with its provided heat, Natsu grinning as he knew she could no longer live without his source to penetrate the cold in her bones. A purr rumbled through his chest, Natsu cozying to her warm scent that he hadn't realized he missed so much. Though it was a bit strange, laced with an unknown agent that he hadn't noticed before...was Lucy using a new shampoo? But she never changed scents when it came to soaps or lotions, to compensate for Natsu's overactive sense of smell. He brightened as she stirred, the celestial mage turning over so that she faced him, eyes tiredly blinking as they opened.

"Natsu...?" She mumbled as he nodded, the girl gasping and quick to sit up, her eyes wide as she pulled the blanket closer to her. "You're back..."

"Whaddaya mean, Luce?" He frowned at her reaction, abashed that she wouldn't quickly seek his comfort. "'Course I am! The job took a lot longer than I thought it would. I was supposed to be home in a week. Please don't be too mad, I did a real good job! Got lots of jewels to spoil you with!"

She stared at him with nervous eyes, her bottom lip quivering as tears began to well.

"You dummy," She sniffled, Natsu confused as she still refused to let him hold her. "You've been gone so long, I thought you were running away."

"Eh? From what? Is it what the guild wasn't tellin' me? An enemy? Did you get hurt fightin' them 'cuz you know I'd never-"

"I'm pregnant," Lucy cut him off as she tore away the blanket, tears padding down her cheeks, his eyes wide as he stared at the rounded part of her stomach against the lining of her nightgown.

"Y-You're," His eyes met hers quickly before he rushed forward, wrapping her I a tight hug but careful not to squeeze too hard. "Oh, my Mavis! Luce! You're pregnant!"

Her cries became vocal as he ebbed his way onto her bed, hand rubbing her back softly as he muttered strings of apologies into her ear, beginning to cry himself. She returned his hold, burying herself against the chest she kissed, filling her nose with the scent already fading from her pillows.

"I never meant to be gone so long," He groaned as their eyes met again. "I'm so sorry you thought I was runnin' away. I'd never do that to you, Lucy."

"Don't you ever go anywhere without telling me, are we clear?" She grumbled, Natsu nodding rapidly she pressed kisses under her puffy eyes.

They continued to hold each other through the night, Natsu refusing to let her go, cursing himself for having left the celestial mage on her own for so long. He raised her clothing to take in the sight of her full belly, ear up against it as he listened to the movement of their child, his heart clenching wildly at the sound.

"Have you gotten sick yet? Anything you don't like eating anymore? I'll get you something from the store if you're craving it." She giggled as he laid next to her, Natsu curled against her lower half, unable to part ways with his child.

"I only get motion sickness," His eyes lit up as her own rolled. "I don't like strong smelling fish, Happy's been staying with Wendy to eat them when he wants."

"And... I've tried fire chicken and fire pasta, even spicier foods, but nothing seems to be working. I can't figure out what they want." She sighed, hand absentmindedly rubbing her belly.

"The answers easy, fire of course! If they're anything like me, it's fire!" He grinned, Lucy blanching at the mention of his dangerous element.

"Natsu, there's no way I can eat fire, I'm not a dragon!" She exasperated as he sat up, flame ripe in his palm as he held it out for her.

"Just give it a taste! All you gotta do is breathe it in, it's easy!" Lucy whined as he kept his hand out for her, the blonde huffing and giving it a whiff, surprised by its strangely sweet scent.

"You can't be serious..." She frowned as her stomach growled for it, mouthwatering and Natsu's grin still ever so present. She wrapped her lips around the wisping top, sucking the flame down as if it were a forkful of noodles.

"That tastes so good," His girlfriend moaned, pulling his wrist to light more for her, Natsu cackling as she ate greedily.

I'd make this its own story but I don't plan to end it lmaooo