Disclaimer: Fairy Tail and its characters belong to Hiro Mashima.
Four Years Old
"Hmm hmmmm, hmhm!" Lilia hummed to herself, legs dangling off the side of her little bench. The chairs in the guild were much too high for her, so she looked even more adorable with her toes dangling a foot above the ground! Her fingers, wrapped tightly around a sandwich, sunk into her food and stuffed it into her mouth. Aunny Mijane was such a good cook!
"Lilia really likes to be in the guild," Mirajane giggled, leaning on the counter and folding her hands together, "She always looks so happy!"
"I know, she talks about it at home sometimes," Levy turned to look at her little thing, "She says that everyone here is her best friend!" Lilia had Beef for a friend, but she had spent her entire life with the people at the guild. They loved her, and she loved them equally even though she wasn't a 'true' member yet. She was too young to make her own decisions, but in time she'd most certainly get her official guild stamp and be recognized as a real member of Fairy Tail! For now she just settled for honorary member, which, in her little vocabulary, was even MORE wonderful than being a regular member.
"But... I wonder which one is her favorite," Mira's eyes lit up, looking a little devilish. She wanted to be the favorite!
Levy looked just a little horrified, "Mira, you can't ask the baby those things!" She probably didn't even know what the concept of 'favorite' was.
"HEYYY!" Mira waved her arm, catching Lilia's attention, "Lilia, come over here!"
"Mmm?" the little girl squeaked, immediately forgetting about her lunch and jumping off of the stool, "Aunny Mijane!" she giggled, "Here I am!"
"Hello, dear," Mira leaned over to get a good look at Lilia below the counter, "I have a question for you!"
"Hmmm!?"
"Which guild member is your VERY favorite!"
Her eyes seemed to get a little wider, twinkling and staring up at Mira. That was a very difficult question for someone as small as her, but... she knew JUST how to answer. Her feet turned and she ran through the crowds at the guild, stopping in front of Gajeel and wrapping her arms around his middle, "Daddy is my favorite..."
"G-... guu... GUHUHU!" Gajeel's eyes watered, giving her a hug back, "GUHU!" she was so beautiful! And so adorable! And what was more, HE WAS HER FAVORITE! "Th-That's right, Peanut!" he blubbered, trying not to actually cry in front of the guild, "Ya lo-lo-love yer dad!"
Lilia pulled back enough to give him a sweet smile, starting to move away from him. "And... and!" she ran back across the guild and threw her arms around her mother's legs, nuzzling her knees, "Mommy is my favorite!"
"Oh, dear," Levy giggled, patting her head, "That's so sweet!"
"And!" she ran to the side and grabbed onto Lucy, "Aunny Lucy is my favorite!"
"Well... that's..."
"And!" she turned around and grabbed Natsu's leg, "Unky Nasu is my favorite!"
"And!" she squeezed Gray's arm, "Unky Gay is my favorite!"
"And!" she grabbed Juvia's waist, "Aunny Uvia is my favorite!"
"And!-"
"And!" Lilia squealed and grabbed Makarov, hugging him tightly in her little arms, "Gampy Marov is my favorite!"
"It sort of... loses its value, doesn't it," Lucy twitched, looking deflated.
After hugging each and every person in the guild and proclaiming them as her favorite, the baby went back to her lunch, seemingly pleased. Now everyone in the guild knew just who was her favorite, and that she loved them all!
"The innocence of children is so inspiring," Macao smiled inwardly, "I remember when Romeo was that age, he loved everything. Even the things that he hated. It teaches you a lot about what it means to be a good person. They don't know things like hatred or dislike at that age, or at least they don't know how to describe it. Everything gets a second chance."
"But... I feel sort of bad for Gajeel," Mira sighed, resting her cheek on her fist.
The poor man had retreated to the back of the guild, head slumped down, body facing the wall, shoulders drooped, moping quietly to himself. HE was supposed to be the favorite! Stupid Salamander! Stupid Stripper, and Bunny Girl, and Demon Lady!
"Look at him, he's trying so hard," Levy shook her head, hands folded on her lap. She knew what Gajeel REALLY wanted to do was cry like a baby, but he'd never do something like that in front of the guild. Apparently moping was okay, though.
Author's Note:
People are asking to see Lilia older :3 I am going to do that, but I'm still planning out some things. For now I will continue around this age until I can sort out my next few stories! But I feel as though this one is coming to a close soon...