A/N: Unbetaed.

Yay, the first thing I write this year! Kind of. It's the first thing that I post.

Feedback welcomed.

Notes: Mpreg, AU-Modern setting

U - Unexpected

They'd agreed to meet at a small coffee shop, tucked between some large buildings and going unnoticed because of that. It was a small space, cosy and with a warm ambiance.

It was actually the place where they'd met, Natsu as a costumer and Gray as employee.

They'd hit it off like a house on fire.

And sometimes there was actual fire during their rows. But what can a person expect when the opposites attract? Smooth sailing surely not.

So, Gray was sitting at their customary table, having already ordered a tea, which Lucy had brought to him just moments before. They'd chatted for a little bit.

"And so, what brings you here, after so long?" The blonde cocked her hip slightly and waited for a reply, but not before teasing her friend. "You've been too busy, huh? With your hotshot job and hot boyfriend, don't have any more time for old friends?"

"Shaddap." Gray laughed as he mock-glared at the blonde. "I've been busy, yeah, but I'm here, right?"

"You sure are. But…" Lucy dramatically looked around, "…where is you other half? I wouldn't call him better but…"

"If he heard you…"

"Nah, he's way too cute to be a grouch. I think that Natsu left all the grouchiness for you to take."

"Ha. Ha. Ha." Gray said in a monotone. "I think that it would be better if you went back to work now. I don't think your boss appreciates that you're just chatting with the clients instead of, you know, working?"

"Smart-ass. Just because you no longer need to be here."

"I can lend you a hand anytime, if you ask nicely." Gray winked cheekily.

"Pffff. Poor Natsu." Lucy said in mock sadness. "He has a terrible boyfriend."

"Like you're all that better to Loke." Gray groused.

"Hey, I love my boyfriend, thank you very much. We have a lot of fun." She pointed a finger at Gray.

"I can imagine." Gray said, in a sing-song.

"Argh! I'm going back to work." The blonde turned around but then she turned to look at Gray once again. "Don't be a stranger, yeah? We're still here for you. Now, don't forget to pick up your damn phone and calling sometime, 'kay?" She punched Gray lightly in the shoulder before finally leaving.

Gray looked out the window and sighed.

"We'll see about that."

He looked down at his phone, checking the time, and started grumbling.

Natsu was ten minutes late.

However, one minute later, a familiar pink head was entering the coffee shop, in the usual bluster that so frequently seemed to surround him and then striding towards Gray.

"Sorry I'm late." Natsu said as he plopped on the seat in front of Gray, wiping his brow with his customary scarf. "Things were hectic and I couldn't leave at the time I'd planned."

"Oh, did things get a bit heated within the dream-team?" Gray wondered, words dripping with sarcasm.

"Shut up. Dream-team my ass. Gajeel was being a huge asshole, not accepting other people's input in his oh-so-perfect project." Natsu was fuming.

"Hm, I see…" Gray said noncommittally. When Natsu started ranting about Gajeel things could get heated too.

"And then Laxus, who's the project leader, sided with him. That fucking ass!" Natsu threw his hands up in exasperation. "Ugh, I need a drink."

"Hm, I think that you should drink something cool, to cool down that hot-head of yours."

"Hey, what are you calling me?" Natsu frowned at Gray. "Ah, the old man shouldn't have assigned Laxus as leader. He's doing a shoddy job. Ah," Natsu paused and glanced at Gray. "And how was your day?" he asked sheepishly after Gray's uninterested look during his rant.

"Thanks for asking," Gray said with a strangely polite expression, quite unusual to the way he usually behaved with Natsu. "It went well but, most importantly, I discovered something important." Gray said evenly.

Gray's composure was ringing oddly to Natsu.

"What was it? Was it whatever you've been under? The illness?" Natsu asked hurriedly.

"Huh, yeah, you could say that…" Gray exhaled and toyed with his necklace. Fidgeted. It was something that happened whenever Gray was stressed or worried or anxious.

"Spit it out then!" Natsu all but shouted, rousing the attention of both workers and customers.

"Lower your voice!" Gray hissed, glaring at Natsu.

"Okay, fine. But you have to tell me what is it. Like, fucking now!" Natsu hissed back, small sparks lighting around him.

"Sheesh. Calm down, dumbass. It's… hm, it's not bad?" he ended his affirmation in a slightly shaky question.

"Okay, ice brain, you're kind of scaring me. Tell me."

"Fine." Gray took a deep breath and looked straight into Natsu's eyes. "I'm pregnant."

"Huuuuh," Natsu stared blankly at him, blinking and a disbelieving expression falling over his face. "What?"

"Yeah, you heard it right, flame-head." Gray said with a sigh.

"Bu-but… how's that possible?" Natsu stuttered, still with the blank expression.

"Well, let's see… there are people who are fertile and then when a thing called sex occurs, they can get impregnated. You see, the penis…" Gray started rambling.

"Shh! I know how people get pregnant. But… I didn't know you were…" Natsu said uncertainly while looking at the tabletop, frowning.

"Yeah… well, surprise. I'm one of those people, apparently." Gray said with faux-happiness.

"So, you didn't know it either?" Natsu said, taken aback.

"I told you, things were a big rough at the age where you're tested and then, dunno, it slipped my mind, and my family's too. And even at work, with the routine medical exams, I never got to it." Gray huffed a sigh. "And so, what are we going to do now?"

"What do you mean?" Natsu gulped.

"Are you ready to be a dad?" Gray smiled slightly at the other's comical expression. "Hm, I take that as a no, then."

"Hey, calm down. I'm still…" Natsu flailed a little. "You're really vicious, did you know?"

"Me?" Gray deadpanned.

"Yes!" Natsu said with a huff. "You just come here and say that! You're the worse." Natsu lowered his head, hitting the table with a hollow thunk. Gray's hand went to the pink locks and he started petting Natsu.

"Hey, sorry for being oh so terrible." Gray said in a warm voice, so much that Natsu could almost hear the smile. "But, we do need to think about the future. What are we going to do then? You want me to abort?"

"Mhphffm." Was the muffled noise. "I had imagined a kid, but in the future. This is too sudden." Natsu mumbled. "But it's your decision. If you want the kid, we'll go for it. I'll be with you, whichever your decision might be."

"Thanks." Gray said, making Natsu raise his head. Gray interlaced his fingers with Natsu's hand that was resting on top of the table.

"So, does this mean that you want to marry? Because it's fine for me. I'm already thinking about the food for the party! So delicious!" Natsu started babbling earnestly.

Gray couldn't help but snort.

"Ahh, you're too much, Natsu. Let's think about it, calmly. There's time." Gray's thumb was rubbing gently circles into Natsu's skin.

"Awww, but the party…" Natsu pouted.

"You just want parties because of the food, don't you?" Gray asked in mock-surprise. "And you say I'm the villain."

"Vicious. I said vicious."

"Same difference, here." Gray rolled his eyes. "But, fine. Let's have a party." Gray raised his hand.

"Yessss!" Natsu whooped, standing with a jump.

"Your place or mine?" Gray asked nonchalantly.

"Huh… both?" Natsu said, after being slightly stumped.

"Oh, so now you're asking me to move in with you?" Gray teased. "My, so many changes."

"You started it!" Natsu yelled, pointing at Gray – who facepalmed.

"Why did I have to fall in love with such a moron?" He said in a mumble. That Natsu easily caught.

"Moron?" Natsu grumbled in outrage. "I'm no moron. You are!"

"And that's the kind of logic that our kid is going to get. Awesome…" Gray deadpanned.

"Shaddap." Natsu grinned wolfishly. "It's going to be awesome anyway." Natsu went to stand by Gray. He made Gray turn to face him, then cradled his face in his hands before leaning down to kiss Gray. "I can bet."

"You and me both. C'mon. Let's go home." Gray stood and grabbed Natsu's hand, starting to drag him towards the door. He gave a distracted wave towards Lucy – who was looking at them amusingly – and Erza – who had just emerged from the backdoor.

Natsu was walking slightly slower so he waved at them. Then, as they walked out the door, Natsu caught himself.

"Which home?" he wondered.

"Doesn't matter." Was the response.