Chapter Twenty-Six: Making waves
Natsu tied the laces of his running shoes, completing his outfit for that morning. A loose tank top and shorts adorned his toned body, his white scaled scarf wrapped around his head to keep his bangs out of his eyes.
His plan was to escape the house undetected, but that fell through when he almost ran into a large figure on his way to the door, his back straightening when he realized it was Gray's father.
Silver looked at Natsu's apparel, a dark brow raising when he saw Natsu's face. "Are you about to exercise? Or do you normally dress like that?"
Natsu swallowed, his throat feeling tight as he nodded. "Sometimes," he muttered, his heart pounding despite not starting his exercise yet. "But I'm about to go for a run."
He wanted to dismiss himself so he could breathe freely, but before he could do so, Silver smiled. "Care if I join?"
Knowing there was no way he could refuse, Natsu nodded. "Go ahead." He couldn't be rude to his boyfriend's dad, especially when he was trying to show Gray's family he was a good guy. He didn't want them to think he was stuck up, even if he preferred to run alone that morning.
After waking up in a strange room, Natsu was reminded of his stay at the Fullbuster's beach house. He wanted to relax with a light work out, but he guessed it wasn't the worst thing in the world if Silver joined him. He would just make sure he didn't say or do anything stupid along the way.
Natsu waited outside while Silver got dressed, the man emerging from the door a few minutes later. He wore sweats and a shirt, as well as some old shoes. He jerked a thumb towards the back of the house, pointing towards the ocean. "You ever run on the beach before?"
Natsu shook his head. "No... Should I?"
Silver nodded, gesturing for Natsu to follow him. "It's a great workout." The smile he gave reminded Natsu of Gray, but before he could think too much about it, Silver added, "Come on."
Once again, Natsu didn't refuse, following Gray's dad around the house. His jaw dropped when he saw the clear view of the beach, the gentle waves soaking the sand. They didn't get a chance to look at the beach last night since they arrived late, but seeing it now took Natsu's breath away.
However, that was nothing compared to running on the sand, Natsu struggling to breathe after they ran one mile. While Silver stuck to the dry sand, Natsu had to switch to wet sand after a few minutes, his lungs burning and his legs throbbing.
He didn't think running on sand would be that strenuous, but when he thought about it, he realized he should have known. The sand was unpredictable and sunk with every step. Running on pavement was a breeze compared to the sand, even when it was packed and wet.
They passed by people on their run, most of them swimming despite the early time. Natsu knew the water had to be cold, but they didn't seem to care as they splashed in the ocean. Natsu wondered if Gray or Lucy would want to go swimming later, a smile surfacing on his face as he thought about challenging Gray to a swimming contest.
Natsu managed to keep his footing when they slowed down, Silver setting their pace the entire way. He started walking when they approached a pier, his hands raising to lock his fingers behind his head. Natsu did the same, allowing his lungs to fill with precious air, swearing he could taste the salt in the wind.
When Silver started walking further away from the ocean, Natsu followed, regretting wearing his nice shoes as he trudged through the soft, dry sand. He knew his shoes were filling with the pesky substance. He just hoped it was easy to get rid of sand.
'This is what I get,' he thought as they walked up some wooden steps leading towards the start of the pier. 'Gray warned me not to bring these shoes. But did I listen? Nope. I'm sure as fuck not gonna tell him he was right though. Can't give him the satisfaction.'
Natsu felt his tank top cling to his sweaty body, the feeling welcomed despite his aching calves. He loved feeling his muscles working, growing stronger with every workout. Running a mile on the beach felt like running two miles on a sidewalk. He didn't mind letting his mind think he got a more intense session.
Silver led him down the pier, the creaking of the wood blending in with the waves from the ocean underneath them. Natsu kept his mouth shut as he looked around, seeing fishermen on the sides with multiple poles each. He wanted to go fishing now, but he didn't have anything to use at the moment. 'I can go fishing later. I probably wouldn't catch anything here anyways.'
"I like walking down here," Silver said, ripping Natsu away from his thoughts. "Nice little break before we run back."
Natsu nodded, not knowing what to say. He cupped the back of his sweaty neck, feeling his scarf brushing against his arm. "You were right," he started, offering a small smile when Silver looked at him. "Running on the sand was a great workout."
Silver grinned, his eyes returning to the front as they continued walking. "Yeah. I'd say you should try dry sand more, but it's better to get used to wet first."
Natsu didn't know what to do with that information, so he nodded. It wasn't as if he was going to spend that much time on a beach. Sure, they lived in Hargeon, but the coast was filled with more fisherman and boats than anything. It wasn't the best place to swim or run, the ocean reeking of fish.
The ocean they were at was different, the air and beach more clean. Natsu found himself smiling. Despite being nervous about meeting Gray's family, he was having a good time. He was glad he agreed to come on the trip.
They reached the end of the pier, every corner taken up by someone fishing. However, there was an upper area that Silver ventured to, Natsu following him one step at a time. He thought they were going to turn around and head back to the beach soon, but Silver sat on one of the benches, staring out into the ocean.
Natsu hesitated before taking a seat next to him, leaving a decent gap between them. He sat quietly, looking out at the waves. That serene sight lasted two minutes before Natsu's stomach twisted. He had to look down at the wood beneath his feet, not wanting to see someone riding around on a jet ski.
He was fine looking at the vehicle until he pictured himself riding one. That had been his downfall.
"You alright?" Silver asked, but Natsu shook his head. "What's wrong?"
Looking at the ground allowed Natsu's stomach to ease, but he wasn't ready to move his head yet. "Motion sickness," he mumbled, knowing he sounded ridiculous before he said it.
"Gray mentioned you had motion sickness," Silver started, his tone laced with confusion. "But he never said it was this bad."
"Probably, didn't want to, embarrass me," Natsu ground out, doing his best to work through his problem as quickly as possible.
"What's causing it?"
Natsu pointed towards the ocean, unsure if the jet ski was still in the same place. He doubted it, but he wasn't looking up to confirm his suspicions. Luckily for him, Silver understood what the problem was.
"Yikes. That's some bad illness if you're not even on the thing. You gonna be okay tonight on the boat?"
Natsu held back the urge to gag. He nodded, new sweat forming on his forehead. His scarf soaked it up, so only he noticed. "Yeah. I got some medication." He didn't take it that morning since he didn't think he would be around vehicles. Seeing cars drive by was tolerable, but once he imagined himself on that jet ski, it was game over for him.
"That's good," Silver said, patting Natsu on the back.
Natsu tensed, his body stiff until Silver took his hand off him. He didn't mind casual touching, but knowing it was Gray's dad made him wary. He didn't want the man thinking he was weak for not being able to stomach the sight of someone else riding a jet ski. The pat on the back was out of pity, something Natsu didn't want from anyone.
"How long have you had motion sickness?"
Natsu frowned at the pier, not having to think back to know the answer. "Pretty much all my life. At least as far back as I can remember."
"That jet ski's gone, by the way," Silver said, causing Natsu to perk up.
He hesitated before looking at the ocean, seeing it was indeed gone. "Thanks," he mumbled, hoping Gray's dad didn't think he was pathetic for not being able to handle something so simple.
"No need to thank me. I didn't do anything." Silver leaned back, his hands resting on his knees. "We've all got a quirk or two."
Natsu didn't think what he had counted as a quirk, but he let it go, enjoying the cool breeze that brushed by. Judging by the temperature and lack of clouds, Natsu figured it was going to be a nice day. He smiled, knowing him and his partners deserved a nice day on their vacation. They had both been working hard lately, so the time off was just what they needed.
"So," Silver started, gaining Natsu's attention. "Is motion sickness hereditary?"
'Why's he still going on about that?' Natsu furrowed his brows, realizing that was one of the main things Silver knew about him. He was probably sticking to safe topics since he didn't know what else to talk about.
Natsu shrugged, letting the conversation flow, even if he'd rather not talk about that particular subject. "I dunno."
"Does your mom or dad have it?"
Natsu shook his head, meeting Silver's gaze for a second before looking at the water again. The corner of his lip quirked up when he saw a seagull land on one of the fences surrounding the upper deck. If he wasn't in the middle of talking with Gray's dad, he would go try to pet it. "I'm adopted. I dunno if my birth parents had it or not."
"Oh. You didn't mention you were adopted last night." Silver paused, mulling over his thoughts. "What's that like?"
Natsu's chest warmed at the thought of his mom and dad. "It's... really great," he said, speaking more to himself than Silver. "They never made me feel like I wasn't part of their family." He closed his eyes, breathing in the salty air. "I never had to worry about if they wanted me or not. They were the same with my brother too."
"Was your brother adopted before or after you?"
Natsu's eyes opened as he looked at Silver. "Same time. He's my real brother." Without being prompted, Natsu told Silver a little about his family, mentioning how much older his brother was and when he got adopted. He skimmed over the part where his birth parents died, not wanting to get into a deep conversation with Gray's dad.
He lowered his voice when a few people came up to the upper deck, waiting until they left before raising his volume. Natsu talked about his parents' occupations and how supportive they had been when he decided to move to Hargeon.
"I wanted to try living on my own for a while," he explained, smiling because that decision led him to Lucy's place of business. If he hadn't moved, he wouldn't have met her or Gray. He couldn't imagine life without them now, the two feeling ingrained into his very being.
When Natsu stopped talking, he thought Silver would fill the silence between them. He did, but the question he asked made Natsu flinch, not expecting something like that.
"When do you think you're going to tell your folks about Gray and Lucy?"
Natsu didn't answer right away, letting the tension in his shoulders fade before he loosened his jaw. He wet his lips, wishing he had an answer to give. "I don't know..." He placed his hands beside him as he looked up, gazing at a lone cloud in the sky. "I wanna tell them, a lot, but—"
Guilt consumed him when he thought about telling his parents. He had been with Lucy and Gray for a while now, but he had said nothing about it. He didn't want to think about their reactions, knowing they'd be upset he kept something so important from them.
However, that wasn't the only reason he hadn't told his parents. There was another, bigger reason he kept his relationship a secret. It ate away at him, but he still couldn't bring himself to tell them the truth.
"But what?" Silver asked, shifting so his body faced Natsu. He kept his distance, something Natsu was thankful for.
"I..." He took a deep breath, scratching at his arm as he shook his head. "I haven't told them I'm... I'm bi." He whispered the last word, as if it would make a difference. It didn't, Silver still hearing his confession.
'I'm bi, right?' Natsu didn't want to put a label on himself, but that term best described him. He was sexually and romantically attracted to a man and a woman, even if the only man he had felt those things for was Gray. He didn't find himself fantasizing about other men or experiencing his heart racing like he did when he was with Gray.
He only wanted Gray, even if that left him confused on what his orientation was.
For a while, the two men remained quiet. Natsu assumed they were done talking, but after a few minutes, Silver cleared his throat so he could speak.
"What do you think will happen if you tell them."
Natsu wanted to correct Silver. It wasn't a matter of 'if', it was a matter of 'when'. However, he let it go, knowing that wasn't the real issue. "I'm... I'm worried they'll be... they'll be upset."
"Because you're interested in a man?"
"That," Natsu started, the warmth in his chest fading as a crushing weight took its place. "I dunno if they'll be okay with everything. I mean," he chuckled, but it lacked humor, "this isn't the typical relationship. Plus it's been going on for a while and I still haven't told them. I'm pretty sure my mom's gonna be pissed I kept something like this from her."
Natsu leaned back in the bench, crossing his arms over his chest. He felt his clammy skin from the dry sweat, but it didn't bother him. "My dad... I dunno how he'll take it." He didn't want to disappoint his dad, but he also didn't like hiding who he was or the people he loved.
Natsu's heart stung as he thought about Gray. He knew he loved Gray, but he wasn't ready to say it yet. He could feel it, that overwhelming rush of happiness that came when he saw Gray, the longing to be near him even when he just saw him. Part of him was scared to admit it to himself since that would cement everything.
If he loved Gray, he needed to tell his family. He didn't want to get any deeper in his relationship with Lucy and Gray until he told his parents at least, but he wasn't ready for that either.
Natsu was left in a constant back and forth, his fear and happiness pulling him in separate ways.
"I want to tell them," he whispered, forgetting for a moment who was around him. He let the sound of waves crashing in the ocean fill his mind, welcoming the break from his troubled thoughts.
"I was surprised when Gray told me he was bi," Silver said, causing Natsu to jolt. "I won't tell you how he told me. He can tell you that if he wants, but I can say it was a surprise."
Natsu's shoulders fell, wondering if Silver was trying to make him feel better. So far, it wasn't working. "It was?"
Silver nodded, his scar moving as he furrowed his brows. "He had only introduced us to his girlfriends. We assumed he was straight." He pressed his lips into a tight line, pausing before he sighed. "I didn't handle it well."
Natsu was positive this talk wasn't helping, but Silver continued, oblivious to Natsu's dropping heart.
"I ended up leaving for a few hours. I just needed time to think. To wrap my head around it." He looked at Natsu, his dark eyes piercing as he reached over, setting a hand on his shoulder. Natsu didn't tense that time, prepared for the contact.
Silver didn't let go, his voice firm as he said, "But I never stopped loving my son. Not even for a second. I was surprised, but I didn't think any less of him. And I told him that once I got back. I know I hurt him by leaving, and I regret that more than I can ever make up for."
Natsu listened to every word carefully, soaking them in. He wished he had known Gray back then, been a comforting presence to help him through that. He imagined it would be tough having his father just leave after announcing something so personal. Gray hadn't told Natsu about that incident, and Natsu wouldn't force him to either. But if he came to him and wanted to talk, Natsu knew for a fact he would listen and try to help in any way he could.
Naturally, his mind started to wander to his own situation. He knew his dad would be surprised too, but he didn't know if he could handle it if Igneel left after he told him he loved a man. Natsu didn't think he could bear that kind of rejection, even if Igneel did the same as Silver and apologized afterwards.
Natsu parted his lips, his throat feeling raw and his voice sounding rough as he asked, "Was there any way to confess something like that so it's easier to take?"
Silver's eyes grew distant as he looked down at the pier, his cheek twitching when he shook his head. "I'm not sure. Honestly, I think I would've reacted the same way no matter what, but that has nothing to do with Gray. That's my own problem. There's nothing wrong with being bi or gay or anything."
He took a deep breath, allowing himself a small pause. "Accepting Gray for who he was became a lot easier when I realized his sexual orientation didn't define him. As long as Gray was happy, I was happy. I wish I had taken the news better, but I can't change the past. I can't tell you what your old man'll say, but if he loves you like you say he does, I think he'll accept you too."
Silver gave Natsu's shoulder a squeeze, causing Natsu's eyes to widen. He had forgotten his hand was there, too focused on Silver's words. "I wish I could give you better advice. I really do. I hope your dad takes it better than I did. I don't think he'll stop caring for you though, no matter what."
Silver snorted as he let go of Natsu, turning in his seat so he could stare at the ocean. "Hell, Gray could come to me and say he killed someone. I'd be out there helpin' him bury the body. I love my son unconditionally, and I think your dad loves you the same way too."
Natsu swallowed down the rush of emotions that swelled in his chest. Fear and nausea fought with hope and love. He wanted his family to accept him and the people he loved, Lucy and Gray. He knew it was going to be tough for them at first, especially since he would be dropping three bombs on them at once.
He had been in a relationship for years.
He was dating two people.
One of those people was a man.
"Gray's preferences didn't change the fact that I loved him. That goes for his open marriage too. That," he chuckled, "that was a shocker too. I got over it a lot faster though because I knew how much I hurt Gray the first time." Silver's lips quirked up as he formed a smile. "I think accepting he was in a poly relationship was the fastest outta all of them.
Silver saw Natsu's eyes snap to him, his smile growing in response. "Yeah, I accept you as my son's partner. I did before I even met ya. I trust Gray. If he's with you, there's a good reason for it. You don't gotta worry about being nervous around me. I'm not gonna try to stop Gray from being happy. Plus, Lucy seems fond of ya too."
He laughed when Natsu blushed, the heat burning his cheeks. "So," Natsu started, voice soft as his heart pounded in his chest. "You're okay with me dating your son?"
Silver nodded, standing up to stretch his legs. "And my daughter-in-law. I gotta be honest, it's not something I would choose for myself, but if it makes Gray happy, I support it. 'Sides, you seem like a good guy. Just treat my kids with respect and I'll show you the same thing."
Natsu nodded, a smile surfacing on his face as he stood. "Of course, sir."
Silver shook his head as he chuckled. "No reason to call me sir. You can call me Silver."
Once again, Natsu nodded. "Oh, okay."
Silver stretched his arms, preparing for their run back to the house. "Sorry if I got a little too personal with you. I just wanted you to know I think your family'll take it well."
"I appreciate it," Natsu said. He wished he could say a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, but it hadn't. He felt better, but the guilt of keeping secrets from his family still burdened him. However, he didn't want to let that ruin the trip. Gray and Lucy deserved a nice vacation, and Natsu wanted to relax as well.
He was already worrying enough about getting Gray's family to like him. He could sort out his own family stuff later.
"Wanna head back? Everyone should be waking up to go swimming soon anyways?"
Natsu nodded, following Silver when he led him down to the main level of the pier. They walked back to the beach, Natsu sticking to the wet sand instead of the dry. While running, he thought over the conversation he had with Gray's dad. He hadn't expected something so personal, but he'd be lying if he said he wished it hadn't happened. Knowing Silver accepted Gray made Natsu hopeful his own family would accept him.
He just had to find the right time and place to break the news to them.
Natsu felt the sweat clinging to his body when they slowed down, his heart pumping into overdrive as he gasped for air. He experimented with running on the dry sand towards the end, feeling his legs burning from the workout. He knew it was only the beginning since he would be swimming soon, but he looked forward to it.
Before they entered the house, Natsu cleared his throat, catching Silver as he grabbed the doorknob. "Hey, uh," he cupped the side of his neck, feeling his sweaty skin and rapid pulse. "I um, I just wanted to say thanks for the talk. I really needed that."
Silver let go of the knob as he stepped closer, placing a hand on Natsu's shoulder. He patted him twice before letting his hand drop to his side. "No problem." He grinned, his smile reminding Natsu of Gray. "You mean a lot to my son. I want us to get to know each other. Okay?"
Natsu nodded, knowing he could do that much. "Yeah, okay."
The two walked into the air conditioned house after that, Natsu's skin tingling as he made his way to the room he was sharing with his partners. He saw one of them was missing, Lucy occupying the bed by herself. He smiled when he saw her messy hair and a bit of drool in the corner of her mouth. Despite her disheveled appearance, Natsu thought she looked peaceful.
He pulled off his sweaty clothes, letting his body air dry as he grabbed his muscle shirt and trunks to wear later. Deciding to use his beach towel now, Natsu dabbed at his skin, soaking up the remaining sweat. He would take a shower, but it seemed pointless if he was going to be swimming in the salty ocean soon.
Once dry, he climbed into bed. He couldn't resist cuddling up to Lucy, peppering her parted lips and cheek with soft kisses. She squirmed in her sleep, but she didn't wake, even after he started whispering in her ear.
"Luuuuuuuushi," he called, smiling as he kissed her neck, right under her ear. When she didn't wake, he made his way down, giving her tender neck light sucks.
She moaned, blood rushing to his cock from the womanly sound. He thought about waking her up with a special surprise, but he shut that idea down a second later. He hadn't gotten permission to eat her out the next morning, so he couldn't do it.
Every time he had woken her up with oral, they had discussed it the previous night. He wanted her consent beforehand, not wanting to touch her without her permission. The same went for Gray, even after he gave him a free pass to do it whenever he wanted.
Natsu switched it up, snuggling against her body as he nuzzled her neck. He made humming noises, smiling when she started moving. "Lucy," he whispered, kissing her neck. "Wake up. I'm bored."
Natsu didn't know if it was his talking or touching that did it, but Lucy woke up after another minute of messing with her. She blinked a few times, her eyes squinting as she adjusted to the light. "Natsu?"
"Morning sleepy head," he said, giving the tip of her nose a kiss. "How'd you sleep?"
"Pretty good," she whispered, trying to close her eyes before he blew at her face, making her eyes grow wide in confusion. She relaxed when she realized he was just fooling around, craving her attention. "What about you?"
"Good," he replied, feeling her trying to run a hand through his hair. She pulled off his scarf, frowning at the damp material.
"What is this?"
"Sweat," he said, laughing at her expression.
She feigned disgust, sticking her tongue out as she rolled away. He rolled with her, smiling like a fool when she wrapped her arms around him. She looked down, raising a brow at his nakedness, but decided not to comment. "Why are you sweaty?"
"I ran."
Lucy snorted, rolling her eyes. "We're on vacation and you still exercised?" She didn't let him answer, muttering, "Crazy," under her breath.
Natsu choose that time to hop up, giving her firm ass a slap before jumping away. He laughed when she yelped, her face turning red as she tried to get revenge, but he was already on the other side of the room, shrugging on his trunks. "Come on!" he urged, nodding towards the door. "Let's go bug Gray."
Lucy smiled, a soft chuckle escaping her as she fell back on the bed. "Fine. Just give me a minute, then we'll go bug Gray to your heart's content.
Natsu grinned, eagerly getting dressed so they could go find their other partner. He decided to keep quiet about his talk with Silver for now. He could tell Gray and Lucy about it later when they were back home.
'Home,' Natsu repeated in his mind, picturing the house he had spent so much time in over the last few years. He smiled, knowing Happy was wandering around the house, getting checked up on by Erza while they were gone since she now knew about their relationship. She was one of the people Natsu and Lucy both trusted to keep their secret, and after Gray gave them permission to tell, they did.
When Natsu thought of home, he pictured Lucy and Gray, remembering the good times he spent with them. His heart flooded with warmth, loving the life he had with his partners. He didn't want anyone else, knowing they meant the world to him.
He kissed Lucy once she finished getting dressed, reveling in the feeling of her lips against his. He was happy he decided to be a part of their lives, even if it wasn't the most tradition relationship he could've ended up in.
He didn't care, as long as he was happy with his two best friends.
Natsu and Lucy found Gray on the back porch. He was clad in only a pair of trunks, both of his partners taking a moment to appreciate the view before Gray was tackled into a hug. Natsu made sure to be extra annoying since no one else was around, pressing his nose against Gray's flushed cheek as he hummed.
"Mornin'," he said, smile growing when Gray chuckled.
"And where were you this morning?" Gray asked, setting his hands on Natsu's hips. He didn't try moving him off, but he didn't try to take the hug any further. Anyone could walk outside, so they had to be a little discreet.
However, knowing that Silver approved of their relationship gave Natsu a sense of belonging. He figured a hug wouldn't bother anyone, as long as the three didn't do anything past that.
"Went for a run," Natsu said, shifting so he was sitting next to Gray on the wooden patio. Lucy sat next to Gray's other side, giving him a softer hug before the two looked at Natsu.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Gray asked, placing one hand on the small of Natsu's back while the other wrapped around Lucy's shoulders, pulling her closer.
Natsu shrugged, leaning into Gray's touch. "You were sleeping. Figured you could use the break."
Nodding, Gray mumbled, "Yeah, makes sense." He took a deep breath of ocean air, a lazy grin on his face. "Still pretty tired."
"Too tired to swim?" Lucy asked with a pout, causing him to shake his head.
"Nah. I can do that."
Natsu looked towards the ocean. It was a short walk away, a set of wooden stairs and sandy beach separating them. He didn't want to think about how much the beach house cost Silver and Ur. The thought of money made Natsu uncomfortable, his stomach twisting as he wondered what would happen when he moved in with his partners. They hadn't discussed if they would all be sharing money, so far each taking turns paying for dates or other activities.
And by dates, Natsu meant outings where people probably thought they were a couple with a third wheel, until one of them kissed that third wheel. Natsu tried ignoring the stares they usually received, wanting to give his attention to Gray and Lucy since they made him happy, unlike the judgmental people who turned their noses up at their relationship.
They could go fuck themselves for all he cared.
It wasn't long before people joined them, starting with Lyon and his son. The little boy was wearing his swimsuit and water wings while his dad had multiple bags hanging off his body. Natsu could tell one was a diaper bag while the others carried various toys, the mesh material allowing Natsu to see they were mainly tools to make sandcastles.
Natsu thought Gray would remove his hand when his brother showed up, but he didn't. In fact, Gray started moving his hands in small circles against Natsu's back, sending a chill up his spine and a flush over his cheeks. He wanted to lean in and give Gray a kiss, but he resisted, unsure how Lyon would take it.
"Jeez, got enough stuff?" Gray asked, chuckling at Lyon's grumble.
"You'll see when you have kids. All this stuff is essential."
Gray pulled his hand away from Natsu's back to stand up and help his brother, not realizing Natsu was happy he stopped touching him. He didn't want Gray to know his body had tensed at the mention of kids in the future, the topic still bothering Natsu enough to pull an ill reaction out of him.
Natsu didn't know when Gray and Lucy were planning to have kids, or how that would affect their relationship. In a perfect world, Natsu would join their family and help raise the kid, but he knew life was far from perfect. His biggest fear was them etching him out of their lives so they could have their family to themselves, which only made Natsu's stomach twist with guilt.
He knew better, that doubting his partners was wrong. They were together, in it for the long haul. Sure, they hadn't discussed children, but that didn't automatically mean he wouldn't be part of their lives in the future.
'I need to talk to them about that,' he decided, figuring it would be better to discuss it when they were back home. He didn't want to take any focus away from Gray's family. 'I don't have anything to worry about. They're not gonna just dump me because they decide they want a kid.'
"Yeah right," Gray snorted, grabbing one of the bags of toys. "We got a while before that happens."
Lucy nodded, much to Natsu's relief. "At least a couple more years," she added, finally giving Natsu the time frame. They hadn't told him before when they planned on having kids, but at least he knew now. "We want to start trying when I'm around twenty-nine."
While Lyon said him and his wife were going to be trying for another in a few years, Natsu started doing the math in his head. Lucy had her twenty-seventh birthday a few days ago, meaning there would be at least two more years with just the three of them before they started expanding their family.
As Lyon and his son started making their way down the stairs, Gray leaned over, whispering in Natsu's ear, "We'll have an advantage though."
Natsu raised a brow, not saying a word, prompting Gray to continue. "We can split the bags, make it easier."
Blood rushed to Natsu's cheeks, making him as red as a tomato. He couldn't stop the stupid grin from spreading over his face, confirming what he already figured. They weren't going to leave him when they started having children. Natsu was still a part of their future.
He kept his tone even, not wanting Gray to know how flustered he was now. "Yeah, bet it's easier with three parents."
Gray nodded, making Natsu's heart beam. He definitely wanted to talk to them about it, but he would wait until the right time. There was no need to rush.
They had all the time in the world.
His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened, Ultear and Raven coming out, followed by Meredy and her daughter. They were dressed for a day at the beach, a huge tube of sunblock in Meredy's hand.
"Who needs some?" she asked, squirting out some for anyone who offered her a hand.
Natsu didn't bother with it since he didn't burn easily. His skin was naturally darker than most, his tan color coming from his birth father. He preferred it over what Zeref got, his pale complexion matching their birth mothers. In his opinion, he couldn't pull off fare skin, loving his sun-kissed tone.
He knew Lucy and Gray loved his tone as well, the two mentioning it on more than one occasion.
Natsu found he couldn't stop smiling, though he didn't want to stop. He listened in on the conversation, learning Silver and Ur would be out shortly, but they said to go ahead and get started without them.
Natsu's excitement doubled when they all headed to the beach, his legs pulsing with a delicious ache after his morning workout. He would feel sore tomorrow, but currently he felt great, ready to take on the world if he had to.
Luckily for him, he just had to conquer the ocean, those salty waves threatening to pull him further out to sea when he swam in. Lucy held back with Ur, the two setting up some beach chairs and towels while Natsu and Gray swarmed the waves.
Natsu accidentally breathed in water whenever he was pulled under by Gray. He laughed when he came up for air, doing his best to grab Gray to pull him against the waves. To most people, it looked like the two men were fighting, but that was how they played, challenging each other any way they could.
They cheered when Lucy joined them, Natsu not thinking about who was around them as he wrapped her in a hug before pulling her under. Lucy didn't laugh when she broke through the surface of the water, but she did try to get her revenge by splashing Natsu.
Gray joined his team, the two doing whatever they could to annoy Lucy before they had their fill of fun, deciding to swim without pestering one another.
The air was clean and the water felt great. Natsu shared a salty kiss with Lucy, then Gray, enjoying the differences in their lips and the feelings he got when with them.
He knew it was going to be a great day full of fun and laughter. The three of them grinned as they swam deeper into the ocean, unaware of the multiple pairs of eyes watching them, or the smiles they caused.
Thank you for all the support! I appreciate every fav/follow/review! Thank you to those who gave me feedback last time: Satyrykal, Azrakatz, GeminiS2, BukakkeGirl, KJacket, poodlekin500, Random-Gaurdian, nini, Guest, Guest, Guest, Guest, Guest, noah03, Lodemai04, misslovely144, xhope14x, Lizxcliff11, aspiringgeek, Masquerade360, veryinnocentusername, MorriganFae, xxdelightfullxx(x2), animeflower107(x2), AfReviewer(x12), and Animemama328! (I'm like 99% sure animeflower107 and AfReviewer are the same person, but on the off chance that I'm wrong, I separated them.) :)
Please let me know what you thought of this chapter? I hope I wrote Natsu and Silver's conversation well enough. I mean, they're not going to discuss every detail of their lives, but was it decent for their first real talk together? Let me know! Thank you for reading!
Up next, Chapter Twenty-Seven: Don't rock the boat (Seriously, Natsu has motion sickness, he doesn't need any extra rocking)