A/N: this chapter has given me writers block from HELL. It jumps a lot time wise, but it is always moving forward so I'm sorry if it seems a bit choppy but this is the turning point.


"I'm only 23 for another hour, give or take"

Gajeel was in pain. Again. He soon noticed when he started moving around after his coma that he would get muscle spasms at random times. Aargh. Fuck me. Gajeel curled into a ball on his bed, grasping his right calve, trying to massage the knot out. Then his hands cramped up from massaging, "Fuck!"

Metalicana pushed his head through the door, "That's what you get for drinking alcohol and dehydrating your body." He pushed his arm through and tossed a bottle at his son.

"Eat a bag of dicks old man." Gajeel grumbled at his father's retreating figure, although he still opened the sports drink and drank it greedily. Soon the cramps subsided and he was well enough to walk out of his room. Upon entering the living room, Gajeel was greeted with an intoxicating aroma of food. Mmmm. Bacon.

He sat at the oversized table in the dining room that was covered in the normal morning staples and began to serve himself a plate, ignoring the glare of his companion. It wasn't until Metallicana's third 'Ahem' that the younger Redfox looked up from his plate. "What?" He asked gruffly.

The way his father was looking at him, made Gajeel feel as if he had done something wrong enough to warrant his own lawyer. "Oh, nothing." Metalicana went back to his breakfest, picking up his coffee mug to take a drink out of it. Gajeel was about to continue devouring his breakfast when his father mumbled, " Just wondering if you're gonna take off again all day."

"I'm a fan of yours and I need a good mistake"

Red eyes flashed as the pair glared at one another. "What's it to ya? You haven't been this far up my ass since high school and we both know how that ended."

Metalicana merely smirked before responding, "Yeah. You beaten to a pulp and me getting what I wanted in the first place. A Valedictorian all-star athlete." Gajeel made a face before shoving his plate away from him, suddenly too overcome with disgust to eat. "Or are you referring to your graduation ceremony? Where you essentially flipped the bird in front of all the school administration before walking off the stage to deliver a sucker punch to your dear old dad?"

The younger Redfox's hands balled into tight fists and he could feel his nails dig into the palms of his hand. "And you fucking wonder why I can't stand being around you; stuck in this hell hole." Gajeel moved to stand up but a sharp pain shooting up the back of his leg brought him back down. "Fuck!"

"I'm not a sinner or preacher, all I have is slight of hand"

If he was paying attention, he would have noticed the harsh lines of Metalicana's face soften in worry as Gajeel gritted his teeth and bared the pain. "It's getting worse." Gajeel rocked in his chair while trying to sooth the cramp out and shot his father a 'No duh' glare. The elder hesitated before opening up the can of worms that has been the subject of their arguments for a while, "If you just take the pills-"

"No!" Gajeel stood slowly, making sure the cramp was gone, as he continued. "I already told you no narcotics. If Advil can't help me, then nothing can."

"Well, I think you're being a bit dramatic. The doctor says they'll do more help than damage."

"I do magic tricks for all the boys in the band"

"Yeah, sorry if I don't take the word of a doctor whose pockets are filled with drug money." Gajeel rolled his eyes and headed back to his room to get dressed for the day. "I'm not gonna risk the chance of addiction again. Besides Levy said there are other options besides pharmaceuticals and I plan on exhausting every one of them."

Metalicana shook his head at his son's retreating figure, before grabbing another sports drink from the fridge and heading towards his study. "I'm doing this for your own fucking good Gajeel." He opened his desk drawer and pulled a prescription bottle out. It rattled from whatever it contained as he opened both bottles up. "And you're gonna fucking thank me in the long run too." He crushed two pills into the drink before sealing everything up and shaking away his evidence.

"Baby could I be the rabbit in your hat?"

About thirty minutes later, the doorbell rang and Gajeel moved quickly so he could answer it. Jogging the last few steps to his door, he opened it wide to reveal a very tiny, very pregnant Levy who looked uncomfortable as she rested one hand on her belly and one hand on her back for support. "Babe?" Gajeel's face scrunched in confusion, "I thought I told you thank would meet you at the library?"

Levy's face had brightened at the sight of the tall man in front of her. She put her hands against his chest and pushed Gajeel in towards the house, "I know. I know, but I missed you and I was so excited to see you that I couldn't wait." The tiny woman walked past him, grabbing his hands and continued to pull him into his house. "Besides, I've gotta ask you something and I don't want to wait for you to get there to ask."

He let her pull him through the kitchen while grabbing the bottle left on the counter and continuing their journey into the hallway. By the time they had reached his room, Gajeel could tell that Levy was about to burst at the seams with excitement. "Okay Shrimp. Now tell me what's on your mind before the pressure inside you builds up pushed that baby out of ya. Gihihi." He laughed as he brought the bottle to his mouth.

Levy didn't even scowl at the comment he made as he drank his sports drink. She just clasped her hands together before spilling out her question. "Doyouwanttoknowthegenderofourbaby?"

"I'd swing if you hand me, hand me the bat"


"I'm on the road of least resistance"

There I said it. Levy gripped her hands together waiting for a response. She eyed Gajeel as he tried to decipher her quick question into separate words. "Can you say it any slower, Shrimp?"

A blush crept into her cheeks as she nodded, "I was just wondering,if- if you wanted to know our baby's gender?" Levy looked up at him through her eyelashes as realization set in his face.

A smiled cracked his confused scowl, "Hell yeah I do! Is it a girl? Nah, I bet you've got a boy kicking around in there." She let him move his hands over her belly, trying to get the baby to move. After the all too familiar bump was felt, his focus shifted back to Levy. "Well Shrimp? What are we having?"

"Well, I don't know yet. I had the technician put it on a DVD so I could watch it with you when you finally woke up." Levy cast him a sidelong glance because it was still a touchy subject.

"Look, Shorty. I've apologized for that and I'll keep apologizing until my face is blue or you forgive me." Gajeel put his near empty bottle down and grabbed her for a hug, " But can we please watch this video because I'm dying to know."

"I'd rather give up than give in to this"

Levy couldn't help but be a bit satisfied at the look genuine interest on Gajeel's face, knowing he was going to have to wait. Serves him right. "Well, the thing is..." Levy looked towards the ground as she felt his shoulders slump, not really happy that he will he be disappointed, "Mira and Lucy may have taken the DVD hostage and won't give it back until certain demands are met."

She heard him mutter "Damned She-Devil..." before sitting down with a slight wince, "What do those demands entail?"

Levy looked up in shock, "Wait, you're really gonna follow their rules? No midnight sneak to try and get the video back?"

Gajeel could only laugh at the last comment, "Lets just say that I've learned my lesson when it comes to Mira and her whims. Mavis help any poor soul that happens to be on the receiving end of one of her plans." He leaned back on his bed with his hands behind his head.

"I believe we were at one point last semester." Levy sat next to him on the bed.

"Pfft. And now you're pregnant and I was in a coma for two months. Need I explain any further?" she shook her head no, trying not burst into laughter at his nonsensical logic. "Good. Now what are their demands for the DVD?"

"So promise me only one thing, would you?"

Levy sat crossed legged to get comfortable before letting out a sigh and holding up four fingers. She pointed to the first one, "They want to throw me a baby shower/gender reveal party and they want full control over all decorations and games." She paused to see Gajeel roll his eyes in an 'of course they do' manner before pointing to the second finger. "Second, Lucy wants to be the kid's godmother and Mira cut in that if she isn't the godmther then Laxus has to be the godfather."

"Now wait a minute," Gajeel sat up to object, "They can't just choose that for themselves. It has to be our choice."

She just shrugged, "Makes the most logical sense to me. I didn't have many girl friends before college and I doubt you want Jet named Godfather." The look he gave her confirmed that. "Trust me, it's either Lucy and Laxus or Mira and Natsu."

"How did Flame Brain get in the running? I'd figure Jet before Natsu?!" Gajeel looked incredulous and her nonchalant way of going about this.

"Natsu has gotten a lot closer to me this past year, he would be a great uncle for our baby." Gajeel looked like he had a few choice words for that subject but let it die down with a 'whatever'. "Sooooo, Lucy and Laxus?" Levy arched a questioning eyebrow at him until he rolled his eyes and nodded. "Okay great! Third, they want to be the first to hold the baby-after us of course. And lastly," She took a breath and kept her focus on his reaction. "You have to take me on a date."

"Just don't ever make me promises"

Levy frowned as Gajeel barked out his laughter. What's so funny about dating me? He must have seen her hurt look because he quickly explained himself, "Sorry Shrimp, but don't you remember our last date?"

She did. Memories of nursing Jet's bruised nose resurfaced as she grimaced, "Yeah, well a lot has happened since then. We never got a chance for love to grow. It just went from awkward friendship with terrible sexual tension to wham-bam, thank you ma'am."

"Tch. Love has nothing to do with dating. Just know that I'd die for ya, nearly did, and I'd kill anyone that hurts you. Nothing can get between us and taking ya on a date ain't gonna change that." Gajeel grumbled.

Levy tried to settle the butterflies in her stomach, writing it off as gas, "Yeah, well it's kinda creepy that we've reached this level of our relationship without actually dating. I mean we've only had sex once and I'm still feeling the repercussions of it." She wrapped her arms around her belly unconsciously, "Its just not normal is all I'm trying to say."

"Man, Fuck normal." Gajeel sat up, taking a deep breath before looking into the tiny woman's eyes. "It would be my pleasure if you would do me the honor of going on a date with me." He held his hand out for her to take, but she merely blushed and shook her head.

"I feel like you're teasing me and not taking this seriously." She looked down to avoid his gaze.

"Of course I'm not taking this seriously. You're seven months pregnant with my child. I think we are past the point of dates." Levy could feel the tears welling up. Stupid pregnancy hormones. She felt Gajeel's warm hands on her face, trying to grab her attention. "But if it means that much to you, I will take you anywhere you want to go. So long as I'm with you I don't care if you wanna call it a date or whatever. I just want you."

"No promises"


"I've never done this before, promises, promises"

To say that Gajeel was beyond annoyance and was seriously creeping into a silent , violent rage would not be far fetched. He had been sitting on the couch in Levy's living room with the ever curious Juvia and most tiring Natsu on either side of him. For the past twenty minutes, Gajeel had been answering questions non-stop from both of them. He downed the last of the Gatorade that he brought with him as they continued their questions.

"What happened to all your piercings Gajeel-san?"

"Most of them closed up while I was uh-incapacitated."

"Where are you taking Levy? When will you be back?"

"Non of your goddammed business and whenever I fucking feel like."

"How come they took out Gajeel-san's piercings in the first place?"

"I don't know, so they wouldn't rust I suppose."

"You better fucking respect her boundaries. Don't think that you're entitled to any action just cuz she's carrying your kid."

"Fuck off flame brain. I'm more of a gentlemen than you'll ever be."

"Did they take off Gajeel-san's piercing in his special place as well?" Julia had whispered this last question into his ear so Natsu couldn't hear, but the blush that went across Gajeel's face was undeniable.

The raven haired male quickly stood to create some sort of separation from his two inquirers. "She told you about that?" Julia merely nodded, not knowing how her natural curiousity was making Gajeel uncomfortable.

"But I'm enjoying the illusion and the things my body says"

Suddenly the door to Levy's room opened up and Gajeel muttered a quick thank you to whatever deity got him out of that room the fastest. He picked up the bouquet of flowers he brought along with him and waited for his Shrimp to walk out. Lucy stepped out with a smug smirk on her face that only deepened to a full on smile when she laid eyes on the nervous brute in her living room. When she crossed the threshold of the doorway, Gajeel could feel the air being taken out of his lungs. She's so fucking beautiful.

Levy was wearing a simple orange summer dress that accentuated her baby bump with a halter top that made her usually small rack seem even bigger as her breasts had grown quite a bit over the last few months. She wore a matching headband that kept her short yet vivaciously curly hair tamed, with a jewel pattern on it. The make up she had on only made her eyes seem that much brighter and beautiful and the lip gloss covering her full lips made Gajeel want to devour her right then and there.

She blushed furiously at the way Gajeel was staring at her which made him think she was even more stunning than before. He watched her timidly look at him from beneath her eyelashes and he knew he should say something to break the growing silence but words escaped his mind. "Are those for me?" Levy asked shyly.

"Uh..." Speak Gajeel. Words are your friend. He looked down at his hand that was holding the bouquet. "Yeah." Oh great vocabulary skills there Gajeel.

While he was mentally berating himself, Lucy took the initiative and grabbed them out of his hands. "I'll put these in a vase so you two can go ahead and enjoy your night." With the peonies in one hand, the tall blonde used her other hand to shove Gajeel into Levy's path.

He stumbled a few steps before regaining his composure and held an arm out to her that she shyly took as he led them out of the dorm room. Gajeel grinned at her and with a quick wink he said, "Let's go have some fun."

"Now you see me, now you don't, oh how well you disappear"

Gajeel let Levy lean heavily on him as the couple made their way back to her room. Not wanting to over exert his pregnant girlfriend too much, they walked to the bowling alley about a block away from campus and played a few games before hitting the arcade inside. His favorite moment was when he had to help Levy put her regular shoes back on since she was too round and too tired to stretch herself. The blush that crept on her face was no doubt from the awkwardness of having to ask for help, but he kinda felt like Prince charming for once, instead of the evil, mean Dragon hiding the princess away.

"Did you have a good time Shrimp?" he rubbed her shoulder as they entered her building. Gajeel felt her head move in approval. "Gihi. Well I'm glad. I had a great time with you too."

When they entered the elevator to get to her floor, Levy turned to face him and wrap her arms around his neck. Gajeel bent his head so she wouldn't have to stretch herself too much to meet her lips with his own. With his hands at her waist, he deepened the kiss by slipping his tongue past her plump lips. A growl escaped from his throat as her fingers tangled into his long hair and he broke away to gather his breath. "I love you so much Shrimp."

Gajeel reveled in the blush that crept into her cheeks and the flustered look that came across her eyes, "I love you too Gajeel."

"What are you running from and may I interfere?"


"Baby could I be the rabbit in your hat?"

Levy felt as if she where on top of the world when she woke up the next morning. Her date with Gajeel had gone perfectly. As she stretched her back, her arms hit a solid form under her blankets.

With a mischevious smirk she turned as carefully as her big belly would allow and grabbed the edge of her comforter whispering "Gajeeeeeel" softly as she peeled back his cover.

"Go away" Levy tittered at the rough scratchy voice next to her as her boyfriend rolled over in an attempt to stay asleep a little longer.

"Aw, come on." she rubbed his shoulder to help wake him up, "we gotta get up and get started with today's festivities."

She saw one crimson eye pop open and stare into her, as if daring her to try and wake him. Not one to back down from a challenge, Levy went from rubbing soothingly to poking him on the side, all the while trying to hide the grin on her face.

"I'd swing if you hand me, hand me the bat"

"Gyah! I'm up. I'm up." Gajeel swung his legs over the edge of her bed and checked the time. "Shit. I was supposed to meet Lexus fifteen minutes ago at my place so he could pick up the platters." He slipped his pants on quickly before haphazardly throwing on his shirt from last night. "I'll see you later today Shrimp."

He bent down as she stretched up so they could meet for a parting kiss. "Mmmm." she sighed when they parted, "are you sure there is no time for round two?" Levy could feel the warmth pooling between her legs by just remembering the previous night. "I'm sure glad that not all your piercings have disappeared." She added with a knowing smile as Gajeel walked towards her door.

"Are you kidding me, Shorty?" He gave her a look of incredulity, "That was the first one I put back." Levy raised a quick eyebrow to that before he 'gihi'd and explained further, "Otherwise, my piss comes out in two streams. Makes it difficult to aim that shit."

Gajeel dipped out of her bedroom whilst leaving that lovely image in the young woman's mind. Stupid Gajeel, she thought laughing quietly to herself. Levy stretched out on her bed, trying to get a few more moments of peace before the crazy planning began. I can't believe we are finally going to learn what the gender is today. In the middle of her excitement, the baby decided to jump on her empty stomach.

"Oh, I'm sorry baby." She rubbed her belly as she spoke to her unborn child. "What was that, poptarts with peanut butter and whipped cream?" Bump. "Okay, but then its straight into the shower for us afterwards. How's that sound?" Bump. "I thought so too." She laughed lightly as she went walked to her kitchen to get her breakfast ready.

"Baby could I be the rabbit in your hat?"

Levy had just finished stepping out of her shower when she heard her text message ring go off in her bedroom. She unlocked her screen to read the message and couldn't stop the gleaming smile that broke across her face as she read who the sender was.

Hey Shorty. Laxus just left my place with the food. He said he was gonna meet up with Titania and that bloody she-devil at the bar to help decorate. So all is back on schedule.

Great! Remember, it starts at 3 so don't be late!

I wouldn't miss it for the world, Shrimp.

She threw the phone on her bed and began to figure out her outfit for the baby shower with new vigor. Today's got to be perfect.

"I'd swing if you hand me, hand me the bat"


"I'm on the road of least resistance"

As soon as Gajeel left her dorm, he quickly raced to his father's silver mustang. Unfortunately, as he stepped in, a leg cramp from hell had set in on his left leg, rendering him unable to drive the manual gear shift. "Fuck!"

While rubbing and massaging his legs, he heard his phone's ringer. He quickly answered the caller and without any preamble said, "I'm on my fucking way. Date ran late and now I'm stuck in traffic." A little white lie never hurt anyone, right?

A very irate voice responded, "well hurry the Fuck up. I'm not going in that house so long as my sperm donor is still shacking up with your beloved padre."

"You make it sound like their Fuck buddies or something." Gajeel paused a bit, "Well, now that I'm thinking about it. I'm pretty sure I saw Ivan walking pretty funny last week..." He let his sentence die off to get his point across.

"Fuck you, metal dick." Gajeel smirked at the obvious smile in Laxus' voice, "We both know that Metallicana is the catcher in that relationship."

"Yeah, yeah. Blondie, whatever helps you sleep at night. I'll be there in twenty," He pressed the end button and took a deep breath. The spasms in his leg had stopped so he quickly shifted I to gear and sped out of the parking lot.

"I'd rather give up than give in to this"

Gajeel had just closed the door on Laxus before sinking down onto the couch on the living room. He sent a few texts to Levy and then sank further into the cushions. For having just woken up an hour ago, Gajeel was feeling really tired. He raised his arm to cover his face and quickly pulled back. Why am I sweating?

There was a nauseating feeling in his gut that threatened to empty out his already bare stomach. I need something to eat maybe. He stood to go look in the fridge for some sustenance but a wave of dizziness forced him back down on the couch. What the Fuck is wrong with me?

"Gajeel?" He heard his father come out into the hallway and enter the living room, "Oh good you're back, does this mean I can use my car now?"

Instead of the usual witty comeback he always had prepared especially for Metallicana, Gajeel simply stood and took two steps towards his father before blacking out...


"So promise me only one thing, would you?"

Levy calmly walked up to the house she has come to hate, trying not to stress or worry. He's okay. There is a perfectly good explanation for all of this. He's not hurt, but he will be. She repeatedly kept going back and forth from anger to distress as she put her purse and the package she was carrying in one hand and used the other to push the doorbell.

It seemed to take eons for the familiar tall figure to answer the door. "Yes, Levy?"

She eyed Metallicana with pure hatred, "Is Gajeel here?"

The grandfather of her unborn child stepped aside for her to enter, "He's in his room." Levy did not like the look of smugness that came from the elder man as she passed by him quickly.

Walking down the familiar hallway she could hear music coming out of Gajeel's room and she hurried those last few steps and rushed into his room. "Gaje-" Whatever she was about to say was stunned into oblivion. She opened the door to see Gajeel laying on his bed, flipping through a magazine.

He looked up at her intrusion, "Oh, hey Shorty. What time is it?" He looked at the alarm clock on his desk but she answered him anyways.

"Its six pm, Gajeel. Where the Fuck were you?" This has got to be some sick joke. Levy was dumbfounded and just kept looking around his room as if waiting for the punchline so she could be in on it too.

"Really?" Gajeel feigned his surprise well, but Levy saw past it. Why Gajeel? Why now? "Sorry, time just slipped right by me today. How was the party?" He threw the magazine he was reading on his nightstand and picked up a small pill bottle next to it and shook some out for him to take.

"How was the party?! That is all you have to ask?" He shrugged his shoulders as he drank water to help down the pills and she dropped her purse and reached for the bottle, "These are narcotics."

"Yup."

"You missed the party our friends threw for us so you can stay at home and get high?"

"Well, when you put it that way..." A lazy grin spread over his face, but Levy wasn't fooled. He's hiding something.

"Just don't ever make me promises"

The tears pooled into Levy's eyes, I needed this to work out. She shoved the box into his hands, "I'm done Gajeel. I'm just done" Where is my happy ending? Bending over awkwardly so she could pick up her purse, Levy tried hiding the anguish on her face long enough to leave his room.

"Oh c'mon Levy! Its not like I wanted to miss the damn party. Besides isn't that a female thing anyways?" He ran an erratic hand through his hair. "We can watch that video anytime. Thats why you got on DVD right?"

Levy's eyes dried out completely at that point. He doesn't get it. "I don't give a fuck about the baby shower, Black Steel." She walked back up to him and opened the cake box to reveal a small round cake, halfway eaten. "That wasn't just our friends congratulating you on knocking me up. It was us, getting to finally know the gender of our child, together as a family."

The words now illegible on the white frosting, Levy took the cake out and turned it to face him. "I've waited 33 weeks to find out so you could be there with me when it happened and you were out -where? Mavis only knows- finding a fucking fix." Very calmly, she pushed the strawberry cake into his face and smeared it, getting pink all over his torso.

"Congratulations." She shook her hand free of the remaining crumbs before turning and walking towards the door. "It's a girl." Levy turned his door knob and left without another word.

"No promises"


A/N: sorry, I know I promised a baby shower, but that is coming in the next chapter I pinky swear! But now you know the gender! Also, the Gajeel but gets cleared up in the next chapter as well. Like I said earlier this is the turning point, the beginning of the end...the climax...you get my drift. I promise not to take two months to update again I love you guys. Thanks for reading!

SpecialShoutout: ThooseAlmighty~ gee thanks (°.*) btw, that's a winky face

RepeatingSimplePhrases~ yeah, I couldn't wait to put that Lily bit in, a nice spin on something we already know.

DemonicRuler~pfft. Dragonball was totally my anime gateway drug.

GilaMonster~ yes, he deserves so many slaps, I even caked him. And thank you! Unfortunately I've gotten away from Levy and the self healing in this chapter but I will be right back up on it by the end of this story.

Guest~stahp...you make me blush.

Musk Credit:

Incubus ~ Promises, Promises.