"Welcome to the family,Lucy."

I swear I almost teared up. It had been so long since I had an actual fatherly figure in my life. And the warmth was overwhelming.

"I'm so glad I met you guys." I whispered,tears starting to stream down my face. I gripped onto his shirt tighter.

I saw Natsu smile warmly at me and he joined the embrace. Gripping me tightly. I was happy,warm,and felt welcomed.

Here,with my new family.

First Time

Chapter 25

Mr. Dragneel pushed Natsu off of him,grasped my shoulders and held me out at an arms length. His eyebrows crinkled as he stared at me intently. I was starting to get a bit uncomfortable under his gaze...

"Why would a pretty girl like you be with someone like him?" He said in confusion. "I just can't wrap my fingers around it."

"Your son is a very flattering man." I tried to say as politely and proper as possible.

"Flattering? You are talking about Natsu right?" He asked pointing a finger to Natsu. "Hey!" Natsu shouted in defense

I nodded my head. " Very much."

He placed a hand on his chin and lifted his eyebrow. "Your not a boy,are you? A cross dresser?"

I shook my head furiously. Was he serious? "I'm 100% female. Nothing more and nothing less."

"Hmmm." He pondered aloud. "Are you an alien of some sort?"

"No."

"Did he hypnotize you?"

"No."

"Brainwash?"

"No."

"Threaten you?"

"No"

"Blackmail you?"

"N-

"Dad,will you just stop with all the crazy questions?!" Natsu hollered. "Is it so hard for you to believe I have a girlfriend? Is it so hard for you to understand that Lucy's my girlfriend? What? Do you think she's to good for me or something?" Natsu rambled angrily.

"Whoaaa,no need for the pissy attitude." Mr. Dragneel said,holding up his hands in front of his face.

"Pissy?!" Natsu exclaimed. "I'm acting pissy? Well your just acting downright retarded!"

As I watched Natsu and his dad argue,I just had to wonder if Mr. Dragneel got Natsu angry on purpose. Was it a test or something? Maybe it was just a father and son thing. His dad did seem like the playful type,but I don't think Natsu really liked his teasing.

I can tell just by his tone of voice and his angry facial expression.

"Y'know what? Forget you." Natsu spat angrily at his dad. He stomped over towards me and grabbed my wrist roughly.

"Come on,Lucy. We're going upstairs."

I silently followed behind him,not sure what to say.

"Your about to have a tea party? Oooh,invite me! I can even bring Mr. Stuffums!" Natsu's dad yelled in a girlish voice as we went up the stairs.

Natsu stayed quiet as we walked into his room and he plopped onto the bed. I cautiously took a seat beside him.

He had his elbows on his knees,and his head was propped in his hands. "Natsu,whats wrong?" I asked in a small voice

"Its..It's nothing. He just..he just makes me so...so mad sometimes." He said in a low,quiet voice.

I placed my hand on his thigh and looked at him intently,signaling I was willing to listen. He took a deep breath.

"I mean,he...he doesn't see me as a man. And it's like no matter what I do, I'm also treated like a 5 year old or something. It's like,he never takes me seriously."

"Sure,when I was little,he was playful and teased me alot, but then it was actually fun. Now,it's just plain annoying. I mean,isn't when your children get older,your suppose to start treating them differently? Y'know, act more mature with them?"

"You heard what he just said. 'Are you having a tea party?' Come on now,what 17 year old boy has tea parties?"

"Actually I do know some boys that—" I stopped when I realized Natsu was glaring at me. "That's not really helping my case is it?"

I gave him an awkward smile."Natsu,he probably just doesn't want to see you grow up. I mean,you said they're hardly ever here because they're always traveling. He probably just wants to enjoy his laughs while he can."

Natsu sighed. "Yeah,you may be right."

We sat in silence for a while. "Thanks Lucy."

He reached over and gave me a hug. I smiled and wrapped my arms around him tightly. Inhaling his sweet scent. I'm just now thinking about it,but shouldn't a boy have like a odor or something? Natsu just smells so...sweet.

We pulled away and I intertwined my fingers with his. "Come on,we need to go back downstairs."

Natsu gave a nod of his head,and he stood up,then we walked down the stairs. Mr. Dragneel was sitting back on the couch,back to reading his newspaper. And surprisingly,Mrs. Dragneel was in the kitchen putting a chicken in the oven. I thought she would still be in her room,weeping on the loss of her best friend.

As soon as we hit the last step, her head shot up and a smile lined her features. "Oh,Lucy! Do you want some cookies?"

I smiled back. "If you don't mind."

She giggled. "What a polite young girl you are. There's no need to be so formal! We're all family here."

I walked up and took a seat at the table,Natsu sitting beside me. "I only thought it was natural to be polite to your elders..." I pondered aloud

She set a plate of chocolate chip cookies in front of me,my favorite kind if I may add. My eyes beamed in delight. "Wow,Mrs. Dragneel. Are all of these for me?" I asked in disbelief.

She laughed as she turned around and stirred the contents of the pots that were on the stove. "Sure. But don't forget to share some with the hunk beside you." She turned her head slightly and sent me a wink.

"Yeah,Lucy. Don't forget to share some with me." Natsu reminded. He reached his hand over and grabbed a cookie,biting off half of it,then stuffed the other half in his mouth.

"Natsu,you better spare what you can. We don't have an infinite amount,y'know!" I gave him a light bonk on the head.

"Aye,sir!"

I took a bite into one of the cookies,savoring its sweet,chocolaty taste. Memories instantly flooded into my head of the time me and Natsu shared the cookie kiss. Just remembering it made my face grow 10x hotter and I was almost positive I was blushing.

"What's wrong Lucy?" Somehow Natsu had gotten dangerously close to me and had whispered it into my ear.

"You wanna...kiss me again?" He breathed huskily. I swear,that sent waves and waves of shivers down my spine.

"God,yes." My mouth involuntarily spoke for me.

"Yes,what?" Mrs. Dragneel asked turning completely around to look at me. I froze,caught like a deer in headlights.

Think of an excuse,think of an excuse,think of something to say,think of a lie! My brain tried to process.

"Uh-uhh-"

"I had asked her if she wanted more cookies and she said yes." Natsu intervened. Luckily.

"Oh,why didnt you just say so?" She walked over and set another tray in front of us.

"Thank you,Mrs. Dragneel." She gave a wave of her hand. "Please,enough with the formality! My names Polyushka. God knows why my mother gave me the weirdest name in the world. But most people just call me Polly."

"So Lucy,you have my permission,just call me Polly!"

I looked down at the cookies. And got a little nervous,not used to calling grown ups by their first names,besides Jude of course. I would never call him my father.

"Uh,Polly,thanks for the cookies." I said awkwardly.

"No problem." she smiled and came to sit across from me. She propped her elbow on the table and rested her head in her hands.

"So..I was just wondering,when did you two start going out?" She asked out of the blue. I was a bit shocked by the question,so no answers came out.

"Bout three months ago." Natsu explained,smiling widely. A gentle smile grazed Polly's face. "Ha,is that so..."

I heard a sniffle and noticed she was crying. My eyebrows immediately creased with worry. "What's wrong?" Me and Natsu asked in unison.

"It's just...a bit overwhelming to see my son growing up so fast. I mean one moment I was tying his shoe laces on the first day of kindergarten and now look at him— he's become such a fine young man. And he's even got a girlfriend!"

She smiled warmly as she stared at Natsu who was slightly blushing. "It's just hard to see your children grow up,y'know?"

I nodded my head,even though I didn't really understand her pain. "Well,he's in good hands." I say. "I make sure to keep him in check and shower him with lots of love!"

I slung an arm around his shoulder and smiled brightly. I felt an arm snake around my waist and pull me closer.

"She sure does." Natsu agreed and planted a kiss on my cheek. I giggled surprised by the kiss.

"Eeeeeekk!" Polly squealed. "Aww,that's just so cute!"

I blushed. Gosh,why did we always kiss and stuff in front of his parents? It's just that...once I get in his arms,all sane thoughts float away replaced by him. Thoughts of Natsu.

I started shaking my head furiously as I held my already burning cheeks. I sound like some kind of lovesick pigeon!

"Lucy,their's no need to be so embarrassed! That's young love." Polly insisted.

She let out a breathy sigh and looked up at the ceiling. "Believe it or not,me and Igneel were once like that. Oh,just remembering the times we shared,it just makes my heart race so fast!"

Natsu scrunched up his face. "Eww,no one wants to hear about that!" I just sat there in confusion.

"Um,who is Igneel?"

"That would be me." A deep voice said behind me. I turned around to see Mr. Dragneel.

"Oh! That's you... I should have known." I said embarrassed. He laughed. "Yeah,you should have."

Then he turned to Natsu and slapped him on the back. "How's my favorite kid doing?"

Natsu just let out a huff. "Well,my backs kinda hurting for some very odd reason..."

Mr. Dragneel closed his eyes and let out a hearty laugh. "Haahhh,loving the humor son! Make sure to keep your ole pops happy,kay?"

"Yeah,yeah." Natsu said waving him off. Then we all glanced at each other and bursted out laughing.

Polly wiped a tear from her eye. "Its so refreshing to finally be back home. Designing is so much work,and puts so much stress on a person."

"Your a designer?" I asked

"Yep,a fashion designer to be exact."

"And I'm a news reporter." Mr. Dragneel commented.

Polly clasped her hands together and her eyes shined brightly. "Oh! I just thought of something!" She glanced over at me and Natsu. "When you two have children,can we name the girl Sophie? Oh,that's such a pretty name!"

"If you have a son,name him Racer. I want him to be fast and speedy just like his grandpa!" Mr. Dragneel exclaimed

My face darkened a million shades. Children? Me and Natsu? In a big house...with a loving husband, and sweet kids that look just like Natsu...hey,I'm kinda liking the sound of that.

"C-Children?" Natsu stuttered,a slight blush on his cheeks. Our eyes met for a split second and our heads shot down.

I heard a snicker erupt from the awkward silence. "Don't worry,Polly. They'll never make it that far. I mean look at em! They get embarrassed just thinking about kids!"

He then glanced at me. "Do you even have an idea how brats are made? That's right,you have s-"

"Igneel!" Polly hollered. Don't spoil their minds!

Mr. Dragneel just crossed his arms and turned his head the other way. "They're gonna have to find out one way or another..."

"Dad,all you think about is dirty things..." Natsu grumbled.

"Yeah,and all you think about is unicorns and lollipops! Thats why you'll never grow up Natsu. Be a man!" Igneel shouted.

Natsu let out a frustrated yell. "I am a man! Goddamnit! Do you wanna see what I got?! Huh,you wanna see what I got?!"

Mr. Dragneel scrunched up his face. "No thanks. I don't lean that way if you catch my drift."

Natsu scoffed. "That's what I thought."

"Please don't forget their are ladies over here." Polly intervened. I heard a timer go off and Polly hurried over to the oven.

"Oooh,looks like the chicken's ready! Lucy,you wanna stay for dinner?"

After we ate,I said my goodbye's,and Natsu walked me out. We walked down,the sidewalk creating small chat here and there. We reached the front door and I said my goodbye's. I put my key into the lock and just a I was about to turn,Natsu stopped me.

"Lucy...don't you think it's about time we...talked to your father about things? About us?

My breath hitched in my throat. "Why?"

He scratched the back of his head. " Don't you think we should have his consent on our relationship?"

I clenched my fists together tightly. "Natsu,he doesn't care about me! Why does he need to know?" I yelled

"I just—"

"No,I'm sorry Natsu. I—I'll think about it. See you tomorrow." And with that, I turned the key and pushed the door open,as soon as I got in I turned around and locked the door.

A noise got my attention,and I slowly turned around. As soon as my eyes landed on the figure, I swear my heart stopped and my eyes widened about 10 feet. I was frozen in the spot.

There stood...Jude Heartfilia.

And he did not look happy.

Authors Note: Whoooo! Yeah, 2 chapters in 1 week. I told you. I would make it,didn't I? Anyways,please

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