AN: Hello again everyone! :D After this chapter, I will be going back to my old schedule! So I will be posting Mondays and Thursdays! Hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 25
Natsu sighed as he felt his daily poke in his side, alerting him that his daughter was awake and demanding attention. Not bothering to fight his fate, the pinkette sat up and rubbed the crust away from his eyes. With a dopy smile, he faced his daughter, who was grinning smugly at him as if knowing he couldn't say no to her.
"Morning, Daddy!" Nashi exclaimed, jumping out of bed.
"Morning," the dragon slayer lazily replied. He yawned and stretched his tired body. After all the dancing from the prior night, his muscles were admittedly a bit worn out.
Natsu had to admit that the party was more fun than he expected. He had his first dance with Nashi, which he would cherish until the end of time. He also got to spend the whole time with Lucy. The two were quickly getting back to what they once were and it relieved him. Soon after that they could hopefully evolve into something more.
But for now, he would be patient.
"So what's the plan?" Natsu questioned as he poured them bowls of cereal. He wasn't much of a chef and he didn't have that much food, so cereal was an everyday breakfast.
"We need to have a princess marathon!" Nashi answered gleefully.
"Princess marathon?" the man repeated. "What are you talking about?"
"You know, the stories about princesses finding their true loves! Mama and I would watch them all the time!"
"Those stories sound so boring!" Natsu complained. "Are you sure you don't wanna just go to the guild and fight with Yuki?"
"I'm sure! Mama told me you never watched them!"
"She did, did she? How nice of her."
"She said you would love them!"
Natsu chuckled and chugged the leftover milk in his bowl. If watching boring princesses find love was what fathers did with their children, he was going to do it, no matter how much he despised sappy stuff like that.
After Nashi finished her cereal, the child dashed into their bedroom and retrieved her backpack. With careful and tiny hands, the girl pulled out a lacrima and settled it in front of the couch so they could watch comfortably. Natsu sighed as the lacrima lit up and showed a tower, inside of which was a girl with long golden hair that was unending.
"Do princesses not have scissors or something?" Natsu joked, to which Nashi promptly shushed him.
The story went on to tell of the princess waiting in her tower apparently trapped there by an evil witch until some random dude came and saved her by climbing up her hair. Natsu was interested watching the knight fighting the witch, but when it showed the couple kissing, he had to keep from gagging. It wasn't the kissing himself that disgusted him, it was the fact that the two just met and apparently thought they were in love.
"As if they're in love," Natsu thought, scoffing. "Lucy and I have known each other way longer than that. That ain't love."
When the story ended, Nashi released a content sigh and clapped her hands.
"Wasn't that interesting?" she asked her father.
Natsu shook his head and answered, "No way! They didn't even know each other and they were sucking each other's faces! Are you sure you should be watching this?"
"It's romantic!" the child argued. "Mama and I used to watch it together all the time!"
"I can see Lucy liking something as sappy as that. What's next?"
Nashi frowned but answered, "Beauty and the Beast. This one is one of my favorites!"
"Let's hope it's good."
Natsu had to contain a whole bunch of emotions during the next story. First it was unbelievably boring with some chick working in a bookstore of all places. As if that would be entertaining. Natsu struggled keeping himself awake. It did get interesting, however, when she ended up kidnapped by the beast. But then it just got plain weird when they starting falling in love. The only thing that made it somewhat bearable to watch was the fighting between Gaston and the beast.
"So you're telling me that she just fell in love with an animal?" Natsu questioned. "That's bestiality!"
"It's love!" Nashi countered. "He wasn't really an animal, he was just cursed!"
"She didn't know that. She just knew he was an animal."
"Love is love!"
"So if I go find a squirrel and marry it, it's okay?"
"No because you belong with-! Umm, let's watch the next one already!" Nashi suggested, releasing a heavy sigh of relief that Natsu didn't seem to catch her almost slip up. That would have just ruined her mission with the others and she couldn't risk that. Not when it was her family at risk.
"I thought these princesses were supposed to be role models," Natsu stated, crossing his arms.
"They are," Nashi replied, narrowing her eyes at her father.
"How? One sat in a tower her whole life not even trying to fight against the witch and just waiting for some random dude to save her. The other fell in love with an animal."
"Oh hush! You'll love this one for sure!"
Natsu sighed, not believing Nashi's words. So far the stories were the same. The princesses were weak and didn't do anything special. He could only imagine Erza's reaction if she watched with them.
To his upmost surprise, this story was much better than the last two. It had Natsu displaying an array of emotions. He complained when the matchmaker scolded the princess- who wasn't a princess apparently- and he was angry the parents even thought of going to a matchmaker. It reminded him of Lucy's old man when he tried to arrange her marriage.
Then he cheered and was on the edge of his seat when the protagonist cut her hair and snuck into the army. His excitement only increased watching her training evolve until she was the best among everyone. Then he cried rivers as the guy she was falling in love with found out she was a girl and abandoned her on a snowy mountain.
"What are they doing?" Natsu sobbed, hugging Nashi to his chest for comfort. "They can't just leave her there! They need help beating the Huns!"
"Just watch!" Nashi replied, giggling at her father's tears.
Soon enough, the girl ended up saving the day in an epic fight against the enemy's leader. Natsu cheered and clapped his hands together as the credits began to roll.
"That was amazing!" the dragon slayer exclaimed. "That should be your role model! You need more stories like this!"
Nashi giggled and replied, "I knew you would like that one! You just like the fighting parts! You don't like the romance!"
"That's because they knew each other for like a week and thought they were in love! That ain't love!"
"What is then?"
Natsu's cheeks quickly turned to match his hair while he crossed his arms and averted his gaze. Nashi stared at him expectantly, refusing to drop the matter.
"Don't you want to teach your only daughter about love so she doesn't end up like those princesses?" she deviously questioned, stifling a smirk.
Natsu swallowed thickly and nodded. There was no way he was going to let her daughter think that whatever was in those stories was love because it sure as hell wasn't. Not to him.
"Love is…" he began, wracking his brains for words to say. "I-I don't know."
"No, keep trying! Don't give up!" Nashi encouraged. "You have to teach me! This is like our new daddy-daughter lesson! You taught me my magic, now teach me this!"
Natsu nodded again and ducked his face into his scarf. "Love is when you've known the person for a while and you can't imagine being without them. But you would be if it was the best for them."
"Go on."
"Love is when you have the most fun possible and you're not afraid to be yourself around that person. It's when you're at your best, but you still make mistakes and yet you both come out on top of it all. That person is supposed to be your best friend, not some random dude you just met."
"Tell me more!"
Natsu sighed and continued, "I ain't good with words. Your mom is much better at this than me. You should ask her."
"But I'm asking you," Nashi replied, her eyes filled with desperation.
Not being able to turn his daughter down, the man continued, "I think it's like a good fight, the best battle you could ever imagine. Sometimes you take a few hard hits, but the exhilaration makes it worthwhile."
"You've been in love, haven't you?"
"What!? Me!? No way!"
"Don't lie! You have!"
Natsu mirrored Nashi's narrowed eyes before he felt his resolve chip away and he turned. The girl was reading him as if he was an open book. "Damn it, Lucy. Just had to give our child your smarts huh?"
Nashi grinned smugly and began walking to their bedroom to get ready to go to the guild. Before she closed the door behind her, she smirked at her father and stated, "It's obvious you're still in love too."
Meanwhile back in the guild, Lucy sipped her strawberry milkshake in content. After the party last night, the girl's muscles were a bit worn out, and lounging around was just what she needed. She idly chatted with Mira and Levy, discussing whatever thoughts crossed their minds.
"So when are you going to tell Natsu you love him?" Mira questioned with her signature cheery smile.
Lucy spat out her drink and choked. "Way to bring that up out of the blue."
Mira giggled and replied, "You should've known I was going to bring it up eventually! I've had my heart set on you two becoming a couple since the day you joined the guild!"
"You're crazy."
"And you're in denial."
Lucy sighed and shook her head. "I'm not in denial. Not anymore. I know how I feel now and I will tell Natsu eventually, I just need time."
Levy bit her bottom lip nervously as she recalled Nashi's plan. The child certainly wasn't planning on giving her fellow bookworm time. Sooner or later somebody was going to get hurt. Part of the blunette wanted to tell Lucy of Nashi's plan but knew that all of Team Gale, including her own daughter, would be furious with her and maybe never speak to her again.
Just then, the grand doors to the guild were thrown open as Natsu and Nashi entered. Natsu was carrying Nashi on his back while she steered him using his pink locks. The guild found it adorable how easily Nashi could get whatever she wanted from her father.
"Mama!" the child shouted. "Take me to Mama!"
"Alright, hold on tight!" Natsu instructed as he dashed towards his favorite blonde.
Nashi's bubbly laughter filled the building until they stopped just in front of Lucy, who smiled at the two. Watching them interact made her regret her decision of keeping Nashi a secret even more. To think that Natsu could've been by their sides the entire time pained her. Still, it was in the past and they had to move on.
"Hi, Nashi!" Lucy greeted as Natsu set the child on her lap.
"Mama! Let's have a picnic!" the child exclaimed, skipping their greeting.
The blonde arched a brow. "A picnic? Why do you want to have a picnic?"
"Because it's the perfect weather! Just you and me!"
Lucy narrowed her eyes at her daughter, who gave her a fanged grin. It was just like the other day in regards to the party. Nashi was hiding something. Still, if Lucy was going to get to the bottom of it, she had to play along. Besides, having a picnic with her daughter sounded fun.
"Alright, I'm down!" Lucy announced.
"I'll prepare you two a basket!" Mira chirped.
Nashi grinned as she outstretched her arms towards her father. "Let's go back home so that I can get dressed into something nicer!"
"But we just got here!" the dragon slayer whined.
"I wanna look good for my picnic with Mama! C'mon, Daddy! Bye, Mama! Meet me at the park!"
Natsu groaned as he let Nashi climb on his back once again. Giving Lucy a wave and a grin, he ran back out of the guild, their laughter fading away the farther they got. Lucy giggled at their antics before resuming her conversation with Mira and Levy, the former humming as she packed their basket.
"I should go get ready!" Lucy exclaimed as she headed for the doors. "If Nashi is dressing up, then I should too!"
Not being able to hold herself back anymore, Levy shot to her feet and called out, "Wait, Lu-chan! I have to tell you something!"
Lucy turned around with an apologetic smile and replied, "Sorry, Levy-chan! You'll have to tell me later! I need to get ready for this picnic!"
And with that, the blonde was gone, leaving Levy to worry to herself. There was nothing she could do now. Nashi's fate rested in their hands and she couldn't change that.
An hour later, Lucy smiled as she walked through Magnolia, carrying her basket filled with food. The sun's rays warmed her body and the birds chirped melodious tunes. It truly was a perfect day for a picnic. Perhaps she was wrong. Maybe Nashi did just want to spend time with her after all and didn't have an ulterior motive.
Lucy's grin grew as she arrived at the park. Scanning the peaceful place, the woman found that her daughter wasn't there yet. The blonde laid a blanket in front of a tree and sat against it, waiting for Nashi to show up. To her surprise, Natsu approached her a few minutes later. Nashi wasn't with him.
"Where's Nashi?" Lucy questioned as panic ensued in her. "Did something happen to her?"
"Nah," Natsu nonchalantly answered. "Well, I guess sorta. She's got a cold."
"A cold?" Lucy repeated skeptically.
The dragon slayer shrugged and replied, "That's what she said."
"Was she telling the truth?"
"Nah, but I didn't question her about it. I figured she was just being weird like her mom."
"Hey!"
Natsu snickered before sitting against the tree beside the blonde. "She told me I should take her place so that you wouldn't be waiting here for nothing."
Lucy arched a brow and questioned, "She did?"
"Yeah. She said we could spend the time talking and getting closer."
"Getting closer?"
"Yep," Natsu answered as he peered inside of the basket. His eyes lit up at the sight of his favorite meal from Fairy Tail, fire chicken.
Lucy raised a brow at the food. Natsu and Nashi had similar tastes in food, but Mira knew that Nashi's favorite food was macaroni and cheese. Why would she pack Natsu's favorite food instead of Nashi's?
"Unless Mira knew that Natsu would be taking Nashi's place," Lucy thought, cupping her chin in thought. "Which means that Nashi and Mira planned this…"
And just like that, an imaginary lightbulb lit up in Lucy's head.
"Oh no," the blonde groaned. "I know what this is about."
Natsu paused his eating to stare quizzically at the blonde. "What are you talking about?"
"All of this!" Lucy exclaimed hysterically. "The party and the picnic! It's so obvious now! How did I not see it before?"
"Uhh, Luce? Wanna fill me in here?"
Lucy's cheeks flushed pink as she nodded and faced the man beside her. "This is Nashi's attempt to… Umm… Well…"
"Spit it out, Lucy!" Natsu exclaimed.
"This is her attempt to get us together," Lucy answered, looking just about anywhere but the pinkette beside her.
Natsu choked on his saliva, his own cheeks turning rosy as well. "H-How do you know?"
"In every story I've read where a child has separated parents, they always have plans like this to get them together," Lucy answered, her voice shaky. "That must be why she was sneaking around the guild with Yuki and Gale and even Mira."
Once Natsu calmed down a bit, he stared up at the blue sky. Not a cloud was in sight. A gentle breeze blew through his hair while the sound of children's laughter filled his ears. It was a beautiful day.
"Well, we shouldn't just waste all this food," he began, smiling at the blonde. "And it's a nice day out, let's just have a picnic."
"B-But this is Nashi's plan!" Lucy protested, her face set ablaze.
Natsu shrugged and replied, "Let's just have a picnic because we want to then."
"But what about Nashi? Should we talk to her later and tell her that her plan is pointless?"
"If that's what you want to do."
"D-Do you want to?"
Natsu chuckled and stated, "I don't mind either way."
"B-But what if Nashi thinks that we're getting back together?" Lucy questioned.
"Back together?" Natsu questioned, smirking at the blonde. "I didn't know we were ever together in the first place."
Lucy stammered and covered her mortified face. When she found Nashi she was going to nag her into oblivion for this.
"Would it be a bad thing if we were?" Natsu questioned, bringing the blonde out of her embarrassed thoughts. His voice wasn't teasing anymore but completely serious. Lucy slowly removed her hands from her face to stare at him. He was serious.
"I-It wouldn't be bad," Lucy replied. Her stomach felt like a volcano erupted butterflies inside of it. "I wouldn't mind exactly…"
"You wouldn't?" Natsu asked. The way he looked at her was so intense, it felt like they were the only ones in the world. His eyes slowly became lidded. She could have sworn he was leaning closer.
"I wouldn't," the blonde breathed out. "Because the truth is… The truth is I-"
Lucy was cut short by the feeling of Natsu's lips against hers. His lips were like fire against hers and they molded together perfectly, as if they were made for each other. His hand travelled up to behind Lucy's head and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Their teeth brushed against each other until Natsu's tongue slipped inside the crevice of Lucy's mouth.
Fire erupted in the pit of Lucy's stomach as she let out a small moan. That seemed to fuel Natsu's desire more as he released a growl and pushed his lips harder against hers. Lucy's hands found the man's chest as she lightly pushed him away, ending their kiss. The two were panting and staring at each other through lidded eyes while their cheeks matched Natsu's hair.
"I love you," Natsu breathed out between pants. "I love you, Lucy Heartfilia."
Lucy's eyes widened and her breath hitched in her throat. "Y-You do?"
The man nodded and laid his forehead against hers. "Yeah, I do. I have for years."
"I-I never knew. I thought-"
Natsu chuckled and interrupted, "You thought I didn't like girls, I know."
Lucy blushed and looked away in embarrassment. "Can you blame me? You never talked to me about it!"
"You never talked to me either!"
"I made it more obvious than you!"
"No you didn't! Sheesh, I just confessed my love to you and you started an argument. Way to go, Lucy. You didn't even say it back," Natsu stated, smirking at the blonde.
"That's because you interrupted me!" Lucy countered. "I was going to say it!"
"I know but I couldn't let you say it first. Nothing is stopping you now though."
Lucy stared deeply into Natsu's eyes as a small smile graced her lips. "I-I love you too." The man grinned at her and leaned in for another kiss, only to be stopped by a gentle hand on his chest. He saw Lucy frowning at him.
"What's wrong? Did I do something bad?" Natsu asked frantically.
Lucy quickly shook her head and answered, "No! I-It's me. The truth is I plan on leaving Magnolia. Soon."
AN: The beginning of this chapter was inspired by DarkestLightOfHope, who wanted me to include Nashi and Natsu watching some Disney movies together. Btw, that is a bit what my next Nalu story is about lol. It's about Lucy being teleported into another world where the people from the classic fairytales have their happy endings taken away and she has to return them one by one before she can go home. Of course, the fairytale characters are fairy tail characters. I actually really like it. I think I'm gonna post it later. Not sure yet lol.
Anyways, this story is ending soonish! I think maybe seven-ten chapters left! Maybe more. Idk yet lol. Hope you all enjoyed! :D
CoSmO333: You got your wish! :D Lucy and Natsu confessed! :) But of course it can't be that easy! ;D
NashiFanGirl: Thank you so much! :D Nashi's plan partially worked! :D
HollyDragneel: She is six years old now! :D
Sinn of Envy: Thanks for the review! :D
Andy24amk: THANK YOU SO MUCH! :D Glad you liked it! :)
Deboo: Yay they confessed! :D And we'll see if Levy's worries are relevant or not!
Soul Eater Maka: I AM BACK NOW. Thank you for the review! :)
Fairytailnumber1Anime: THE NALU IS REAL THIS CHAPTER.
Lunahartz: HELLO AGAIN SIS. And oooh sharks? Interesting, though they do admittedly scare me lol. :')
Alexa60765: Thank you for another review! :D
BloodRedRubies: Her plan is going pretty well, especially with this chapter lol. :D And we'll have to see what happens next chapter! ;D
Nalulove: Haha they kissed, isn't that enough? :D Jk, we'll see! ;D
Guest: Thank you so much! :D And I see what you're saying about Levy, but she did try to tell Lucy this time! It was just too late. :') And idk how I feel about it tbh. I feel like a warning is really essential thing, which she did. Whether Levy told Lucy or not I think Nashi would've gotten hurt- unless her plan worked. But I do see what you're saying. I feel like if I was put in that position I would've just kept it to myself though tbh. :')
ThatOneFriend-3: Haha I know, poor Nashi! Hopefully things work out for her. :')
Annie: Oh yeah it's a slow burner haha! And same, I don't know what it's like to have divorced parents but this is how I imagine it would be for a child. And I wasn't surprised that she was her mom it was pretty obvious haha! And I thought her dad was the crazy dude, not the dragon? Tbh I don't like Erza's storyline in this arc. :') I feel like it's really random and farfetched. But I'm still excited to see how it plays out!
Strawberry r Kitty: Haha thank you so much! :D This story definitely has some sad moments. :')
Dragneel562: AHH THANK YOU SO MUCH! You're so kind. :')
Newbe: Thank you so much for reading this story! :) Guess you'll just have to see about Natsu and Lucy! ;D
Ligersrcool: Thank you for all those reviews from before! It seriously warms my heart when people review every chapter. :')
IndianaCombs: Thank you! :D But it looks like Levy may not be wrong! ;D
Sarara1.8: Thank you so much I'm glad you liked it! :D