Hey, sorry it took me so long to update this story. For some reason I had a supper hard time writing this chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 25

Lucy groaned as she lay stuck between the wall and the couch. She still couldn't figure out how managed to fall and end up stuck where she was. There was no one here that could help her out with her predicament. Her stomach was too big for her to sit up without moving onto her side. The whole time she laid there her stomach started to cramp on and off. When the fifth one happened after another Twenty minutes she started to panic. She was only thirty three weeks along. After the second week of Natsu not returning she had a talk with Happy about what happened and told him that he was welcomed back home if he chose to. Happy decided to come back and he had apologized for how hurtful his words have been. Now more than ever Lucy wished that the annoying blue cat was here with her.

"Lucy!" she heard Lisanna yell banging on the front door. "Mira spilled everything about how it was your idea for the job and what to do with the room situation."

"Lisanna!" Lucy groaned through one of the cramps. "Help!"

Lucy heard Lisanna open the front door in a rush. She held her breath as her stomach started to cramp again. Her eyes were squeezed shut from pain, so she was surprised to see Lisanna looking down at her from the couch. Confusion was written between her creased brown as she looked down at Lucy.

"How did you get stuck there?"

"Obviously I fell. Now help me up," Lucy growled.

"Why so grumpy?"

"Because I think I'm in labor and my mate isn't here," Lucy said tears forming in her eyes.

"Oh my god!" Lisanna yelled moving to help Lucy up.

With her tired body Lucy was glad that Lisanna was strong enough to pull her up to her feet. Lucy's legs felt shaky at the thought that she was about to have her baby. She was so scared that she hardly noticed that Lisanna had run into her room. Lisanna came back out holding Lucy's labor bag. Grabbing Lucy's arm Lisanna helped her walk towards the door. In the entry way an out of breath Mira was standing there with a worried look on her face. Mira's worried look soon turned to one of excitement. Without saying a word Mira turned around and squealed running away.

"I hope she is getting stuff ready for you," Lisanna frowned watching her sister run away.

"Yeah, well Natsu better show up before I have the baby or else I'm going to have Erza kick his ass," Lucy growled.

Lucy knew that Lisanna could tell that she was scared. Never did she think that Natsu wouldn't be here for the birth of their child. She wasn't sure that she could do this by herself. Taking a deep breath Lucy bit her lip while she made her way through the forest to where the guild was. Lisanna had her arm wrapped around her guiding her through the path. They were about halfway through when Laxus came running up to them. Without a beat he picked Lucy up bridal style and started to run back to the guild.

"I saw Mira run into the guild squealing before going into the hospital room. I figured that it had to do with Lucy," Laxus said answer their confused faces. "Juvia went to go get Wendy."

Lucy couldn't concentrate on anything they said after that. Not only were the contractions painful, but she could feel her body start to heat up. She was starting to get uncomfortably hot and started to groan in pain. Laxus let out a hiss of pain as he picked up the pace. It was at that moment that Lucy realized that her body was becoming so hot that it was starting to burn his skin. Trying to get her breathing under control Lucy didn't notice that they were in the guild until she felt Laxus set her down on the bed. Turning on her side she moved into the fecal position. Tears started to streak down her face as her body started to heat up even more. She felt cool hands touch her face. Glancing up she saw that Wendy was looking down at her with a worried expression.

"Her body is becoming too hot for her to give birth safely," Wendy said glancing up at Mira and Lisanna who were in the room with them. "If Natsu was here he could try to control her body heat. It's always important to have the father here when the mate of a dragon slayer goes into labor. Where the hell is Natsu," Wendy ended up growling at the end shocking everyone in the room.

After getting her exposure under control Mira stepped up to Lucy and carefully brushed her blonde hair off her flushed cheeks and asked, "Wendy how bad is it."

"If we can't get her body temperature down so she can give birth we can lose them both," Wendy answered not looking up at anyone. "First we need to try and get someone to get in contact with Natsu and second we need to figure out a way to get her temperature down."

"Maybe Juvia can do something," Lisanna suggested.

Lucy was about to say something when a very powerful contraction swept through her body. A scream escaped her lips but before anyone could do anything the door to the room burst open. A blur of pink rushed by Lisanna before stopping in front of Lucy. A smile came to Lucy's lips when she saw whom it was. Natsu crashed his lips down to hers. Instantly the heat that felt like was burning her body disappeared. Finally able to think clearly Lucy noticed that tears were falling onto her face.

"I'm so sorry Lucy," Natsu cried restig his forehead against hers. "I never would have gone on that mission if I had known this would happen."

"It's okay," Lucy whispered "You're here now. But how did you know?"

"Something inside me told me," Natsu replied cupping her face. "Must have been the mate bond."

"Okay Natsu, we need to get Lucy ready for the birth," Wendy said trying to get Lucy to lie on her back.

Natsu nodded his head as he guided Lucy onto her back. While Mira disappeared to get hot water and Wendy went in search of a gown Natsu stared to unbutton her pants. Lisanna took that as her cue to leave and let Mira and Wendy help deliver the newest member of the guild. By the time Wendy returned Lucy had her pants and underwear off and with Natsu's help was taking her shirt off. Wendy handed her the gown and she clutched it to her chest while Natsu unclasped her bra. Natsu helped her put the gown on and gently laid her back down against the bed. Mira then came back in with the water and came back over to the bed. She then pressed a button that was on the side of the bed to raise it so that Lucy was sitting up. Lucy's eyes then landed on Wendy as she blushed before putting some gloves. Seeing Wendy blush and knowing what she was about to do Lucy blushed as well.

"Lucy, I need to check to see how dilated you are," Wendy said her blush deepening.

Lucy nodded her head and then hid her face into Natsu's chest. She couldn't help but flinch when she felt Wendy's fingers inside her to see how open her cervix was. Letting go of her breath Lucy couldn't help but smile. The once shy Wendy was gone and matured into a woman who has confidence to deliver babies on her own. She felt Natsu kiss the top of her head as she felt her body start to overheat again.

"Well it looks like you are at about nine centimeters Lucy," Wendy said taking her gloves off.

"Not much longer to go," Lucy said finding Natsu's hand and squeezing it.

"I love you," Nastu said squeezing her hand back.

Lucy was about to say it back when she felt another contraction. She squeezed Natsu's hand harder as the pain became worse. By the way Natsu bit his lip she could tell that it hurt him. A part of her felt bad that she had hurt him, but another part of her was proud that he knew better than to complain about the pain in his hand. Natsu brought their joined hand to his mouth and kissed her hand.

"Wait, why is my body overheating?" Lucy asked as confusion racked through her brain. "Levy didn't have any problems like this when she gave birth to the twins."

"It's because you've had a complicated pregnancy. It only happens when the mother almost loses the child. By making sure the father is there it helps insure that both the mother and child are safe, protected, and survive," Wendy said placing her hand on Lucy's belly.

Tears brimmed Lucy's eyes as she thought about the mission she took so idiotically. Natsu saw this and hugged her close while growling at Wendy. For once Wendy looked Natsu in the eye while he growled at her.

"I think I'm ready to push," Lucy said looking up at Wendy.

"Ready to bring the next member of Fairy Tail into the world," Wendy replied getting into position to catch the baby.

"You have no idea," Lucy replied.

. . . .

It felt like hours had passed by before Lucy's ears heard the sound of crying. Exhausted Lucy laid back and let her tears fall down her face. Looking at Natsu she saw the concern on his face. She brought one of her hands up to cup his face and smiled. Natsu returned the smile and kissed one of her tears knowing they were happy tears. When they heard someone clear their throat they saw that Mira was holding a tiny human being in her arms. Lucy reached her arms out and took her baby from her.

"Let me be the first to congratulate you on your baby boy," Mira said her own eyes spilling tears.

"Thank you," Lucy said looking at her baby boy.

She couldn't help but smile at the fact that he had her hair and eyes. Lucy wondered if he would completely take after her or if he would have Natsu's powers instead. When she felt Natsu pull them both closer she couldn't help but giggle.

"Looks like our next kid will have an older brother to protect them," Natsu said gently stroking their son's face with a finger.

"Already planning the next one?" Lucy laughed.

"Yup, I want a little girl to spoil," he replied.

The idea of having another child sounded good to her. She could just imagine their house being filled with their family made her heart flutter. The idea of seeing Natsu be all protective over their daughter made her smile. Lucy had no doubt that his protectiveness would rub off on their son and cause him to be a supper protective brother. Felling Natsu kiss her cheek brought her back to the present.

"So, what's his name?" Wendy asked after healing Lucy from any damage the pregnancy might have caused.

"I was thinking of James Iggy Dragoneel," Lucy said looking up at Natsu. "Iggy short for Igneel. That way when he gets in trouble it will roll off the tongue easier when we yell his name."

"I love it," Natsu said his eyes watering up. "Welcome to the world James."

"We'll give you some two some time with him by yourselves before people start demanding to meet the little guy," Mira told time.

"Thanks Mira, and thank you Wendy," Lucy said letting Natsu hold their son.