"I hate you." Bisca glared at Levy who was smiling, leaning back against Bix who was fairly surprised she was willing to considering he had just returned from a job and was filthy.
He'd come to the guild to find her talking with Bisca and Lisanna. "No, not even once so far, no morning sickness." Levy shook her head. She knew she was lucky, had no idea why, she'd always had a somewhat sensitive stomach but now, at 7 months into her pregnancy, her tummy huge, aside from some heartburn she felt fine.
Bickslows sister Xally had come to stay with them, to help look after Levy while Bickslow was away on jobs. The woman was a midwife and an accomplished healer, so Levy was very glad to have her there. Incredibly, Cristoff had come too, not to help with Levy, but after finding out several of the strongest members of the guild were off on an extended mission, he had come so Bickslow could take S-class missions. Cristoff, Bickslow, Evergreen and Elfman, sometimes with Natsu too, had been taking jobs as a temporary team.
Makarov had talked with Arman, who had been willing to uproot one of his other sons too, Kaleb, Master of his own Guild called White Sea and send him with Cristoff and Xally but Makarov felt that Xally, being a powerful light healer, and Cristoff being an S-class Lunar Dragon Slayer, was asking enough of the Pradesh family.
Arman insisted Xally would come regardless to help with Levy and Cristoff was there to help his brother get enough jobs done that money would not be a problem for the couple after the baby was born for a while, so Bickslow could stay home with his wife and child comfortably for the first few months. "So really, I sent Xally for Levy, Cristoff insisted on going to help his brother, Kaleb would be the only child I would send just to help you Makarov." Arman had said.
But Makarov had said no, for now. They knew that Nightmare had a team pass through Magnolia last month. Levys hair had been dyed purple by Xally and she hadn't been allowed out unless Xally and at least one other mage was with her but there was no indication any of the team had recognized her, and of course they didn't know Bickslow, who was always in some form of his work gear now when he wasn't at home.
He'd had a new set made in dark blue and silver, made of material similar to his work out clothes that breathed a hell of a lot better in the summer heat. Levy absolutely loved it because it hugged his body a lot more than his black and striped sets did.
The new silver gauntlets, bracers, greaves and pauldrons were lighter weight too, but durable, and he'd had Redus paint them so they kept with his skull theme, ignoring Evergreen and Levys pleas that he let them just look noble instead of strange.
"I gotta be me…you know you both love it." He'd grinned.
The pale grey over skirt that protected his legs was also made of a lighter material, still bore the alchemic symbols for souls though.
At the moment the set was torn in a couple places and filthy since he had just gotten back into town and had decided seeing Levy was more important to him than getting showered and putting on clean clothes on his priority list.
Cristoff sat on the edge of the table by his brothers elbow, long legs stretched out in front of him. His standard black jeans tucked into knee high black boots and a short sleeved wine colored t-shirt stretched over his body like a second skin had a couple of the women bumping into things as he leaned back on one arm while nursing a beer with his free hand.
"You should sit like a normal person." Bickslow gave his younger brother a disgusted look "Your ass is too damn close to my beer."
"I can't stretch my legs out crunched up on the bench, we did a lot of walking damn it, my legs are sore." He griped and Bix jabbed him in the thigh making him finally stand "Your sore because you didn't get any sleep because you had those twins in your damn room and were fucking them all night making it seriously hard for the person in the room next to yours to get any sleep you ass."
Cristoff laughed "First time you have ever chided me for my bedroom habits big brother, Levy really is taming you." Cristoff went over to the bar, he could sit on one of the tall stools and get his legs stretched out better there it seemed. Bickslow shook his head and heaved a sigh.
"Where did Dad go wrong?" He asked wistfully. He tried to keep a straight face but Levy just looking at him cracked it and he snickered.
"I don't think I've tamed any part of you." Levy smiled, Bix leaned in close to her, catching her and kissing her, his tongue sliding past her lips swiftly to deepen the kiss and she barely stopped a moan from escaping her. "I don't know about tame Kitten, but there isn't any part of me you don't own."
She smiled against his mouth "Well, I know a specific part I'd like to put to use, you've been gone three days."
Bix stood and swept her up into his arms, knowing she couldn't walk terribly fast right now so he carried her outside stepping onto the babies and flying her home where he could strip them both and make sure she got proper use of his parts.
Afterwards they shared a long bath and he rubbed her poor feet, that honestly had gotten a little swollen before pulling on comfortable pajamas and curling up on the couch to watch a movie. Cuddle time with her husband was at a premium lately with his siblings at the house but Levy couldn't complain. Xally was invaluable help and great company and Cristoff, well, he was Cristoff. He didn't come home every night but at least he never brought any of his conquests to the house and Levy was sure there were many.
She learned that teasing him about finding a mate was wicked fun and as his pregnant sister in law, she could get away with it on levels far beyond Bickslow and Xally. She had actually made the man blush a couple of times, Bickslow had been impressed.
The following day they assembled the Bassinette the baby would be in for the first month or two in their bedroom and Levy almost cried when she sat on their bed and looked at it, running her hand over her distended tummy and grimacing when she got kicked.
"Ha! My girl is going to be born a gymnast." Bix grinned, coming over to her and laying her back on the bed so he could curl around her and rest his hands over her belly, almost giggling when the baby moved.
Bickslow wasn't able to keep from looking and had also been unable to keep his excitement contained upon learning their baby was a girl. They were still trying to decide on a name for her but once word got out it was a girl, the gifts had all become pink.
Arman was the funniest of the bunch, so delighted he was having a granddaughter he had leased the house two doors down from theirs declaring he was taking some time off to be a proper Grandfather as soon as the baby was born, he planned to be there for the birth too.
After some serious cuddling that Levy couldn't seem to get enough of lately and Xally had come in and almost cried about the Bassinette like Levy had, Bickslow herded the two weepy women to the Guild hall smiling, sure being around the guild would lighten them both up for their baby crazed weepiness.
Rolling his eyes at finding Cristoff seated across from Natsu and Lisanna with a hopeful Laki perched on the table by his arm. The wood make mage had a massive crush on the man now, their tryst when he'd been down for the wedding followed by the week of the womens challenge where he had agreed to help her with all of the challenges thus putting himself into all sorts of romantic situations with her hadn't helped.
He'd said he wouldn't let himself get lured into her bed again but Bickslow knew Cristoff, the man was a playboy on a seriously high level, with literally dozens of womens families submitting marriage offers for him every single month, but under it all he was just like the rest of the Pradesh family, he had a soft warm heart and wouldn't hold out against Lakis wide hopeful eyes for long.
Bix had tried to tell Laki it just couldn't work, Cristoff was a lieutenant in his guild, a highly respected mage in Bosco with strong ties there he wouldn't break. She had laughed, insisting he shouldn't worry, she didn't care, it was all just about really good sex for her, she wasn't falling for him.
Uh huh, a simple look at the girls pretty lavender colored soul showed the navy blue that represented Cristoff clutched tight at the center. The girl wanted his brother, she was falling for him, and Bickslow was just too busy with his pregnant wife and getting ready for the baby to devote the time to preventing that train wreck from happening.
He'd thought about calling his father, asking him to recall Cristoff and send Kaleb but Gods, Kaleb was as terrible about women as Cristoff was, he might not nab Laki but Bickslow didn't doubt Kaleb would have someone falling for him pretty quick so maybe it was better to keep Cristoff and limit the damage to one wood make mage with a broken heart after the baby was born and Cristoff went home.
Levy took her seat near Evergreen and Mira immediately hurried over to see what Levy might want from the bar while Bickslow sat down beside Levy and let her lean on him as she quickly became a center of attention. Fairy Tail was very excited about the coming baby.
The afternoon passed nicely and Levy even caught a nap in the Masters office at his insistence. When she returned to her spot out in the Guild hall some board games were pulled out and once dinner was over everyone settled in for some relaxing fun.
"I haven't played this since I was a kid." Cristoff admitted, rolling the dice and moving his little silver piece on the board. "Hah! Strawberry Lane, I'll buy it! I'm so going to own Magnolia." He declared wickedly.
It was Natsu who snapped his head up suddenly, followed a moment later by Cristoff who bolted to his feet and then the lights all went out.
Levy tried a solid script light but it wouldn't take, and while they could still see a faint bit of the light from outside coming through the windows the lights in the practice area and such were also out.
Cristoff went to the window "All of Magnolia is dark." He announced. Levy frowned "But why wouldn't a light spell…" a sound came, something scratching, sniffing at the door and Natsu flew to it, holding it shut as something tried to shove it open, something that smelled…like death.
"Hellborn." Cristoff whispered. Bickslow tensed, yanking off his visor and Cristoff grabbed his arm "No…no you can't, not with these, demonic big brother…Holy shit how the fuck would one get into a city the size of Magnolia…"
"You know what that thing is?" Natsu demanded, it was bizzare, his fire was licking over his hands and up and down his arms but it generated no light.
"It's a Hellborn, a creature born in hell, they have to be summoned and it's a big fucking ceremony that requires a gathering of powerful…very dark wizards. It stops light, kills it, feeds on fear, suffering and pain and it's fucking immortal."
There were low murmurings at that and Cristoff moved swiftly to bar the larger set of doors on the front of the building while Bickslow hurried to the back past the offices to assure that door was secure.
"Anything with eyes can be turned to stone…" Evergreen said, starting to rise from Levys side. "It doesn't have eyes." Cristoff responded.
"You've fought one before or you wouldn't know so much about them, what do we need to do?" Natsu demanded.
"They are completely immune to fire, they're born of hellfire, the damn thing might even be able to burn you Natsu and it sure as hell could feed off of your magic. Only light works against them, any form of it and it has to be strong." Cristoff said. "Then I'll be needing to handle this, Fredus, I want suns, as many as you can get into the air, Cristoff, you've fought these before…" Master Makarov was coming out and was looking at the tall Dragon Slayer. Cristoff bowed "Yes Master, I have, Xally and I have both fought these before, our magics are very effective against them as is any form of holy magic." Cristoff replied.
"Our knight is not here, neither is my Sky Dragon Slayer or our Lightning Slayer who could all probably fight this. Jelall is here though." The heavenly body mage had already stood and moved to join the Master and the Dragon Slayer. "I'm betting I can do some damage too." Gildarts added, coming from his place toward the back of the hall.
"Bix, your magic wont work at all on this damn thing, you and Natsu and everyone else need to keep doors closed, it can not breach enchanted barriers and Levy can lay down runes at the doors to keep it back, anything holy…just keep it simple sis, you're not supposed to be using much magic." Cristoff said, smiling at Levy and giving Bickslow an apologetic look.
"You…know what most likely summoned this…" He said softly and Bickslows slow nod made Levy shift uncomfortably and tighten her grip on her husbands hand "Only you brother, only you can face one if that's the case…" Cristoff said softly, then turned at Makarovs call to head outside.
Levy turned to Bickslow "What did he mean?" She demanded, eyes wide. He drew a breath, on his knee beside her wrapping his arms around her and the precious life inside her. "It's possible a dark Seith called the thing out there…possible, not a certainty. It isn't a soul, but a Dark Seith can…sacrifice a lot of souls all at once…and summon things like that but Kitten, the odds are slim, if it is though…nobody but me could stand up to them, they would just possess anyone who tried." Levy clung to him then, if the master himself, Gildarts, Cristoff and Xally could not stand against something…the idea Bickslow might have to do it alone terrified her.
"You die…we die." She reminded him and felt him stiffen, they were bound, what he had done meant if he died, Levy and the baby would be pretty well doomed, she couldn't live without him, knew she couldn't and wouldn't even want to try, her soul would die if he did.
"Enough of that, if it's a Dark Seith we call the council, Duranbolt would have a Death Squad down here in nothing flat, if that's not already happening, not like there isn't a decent council presence here right now." He said brightly, wincing when he heard the fighting start outside.
"Ok, blowing it apart didn't work too well…" Gildarts acknowledged. The creature had slowed down, but the pieces were quickly flying back together. "Actually, it's not a bad thing…Xally, think you can get a circle under the biggest piece?" Cristoff asked, his sister nodded and raised her hands a circle of banishment appearing under the creature, spinning with light that burned the pieces going to it as they passed over the spinning runes and symbols.
"You, Heavenly Body magic…light, it's the only thing that works on it, if we can flood the fucker with enough light? Xally will have time to banish it, only way to beat one of these things. Gildarts, if it gets too close to putting itself back together…"
"I'll blow off some pieces." Gildarts smirked and the mages spread out.
Jellal called down every form of light he could watching as Cristoff generated a concentrated moonbeam then hit it with his unique roar that washed brilliant moonlight over the thing, it made horrific sounds, and some of the pieces that had been hurrying to it veered off and started toward them but Gildarts and the Master blew them away, protecting the three mages working to destroy the thing.
Reedus had little suns popping up all over the place and light was starting to grow in spite of the light killing abilities of the beast.
Cristoff was the first one it hit, a long whip-like appendage managed to snake out from the almost blinding light from Xallys growing banishment spell, it lanced right through the Dragon Slayer and he staggered but reached up with a clawed hand and wrenched the thing from his shoulder, snarling as touching the thing seared even his thickly scaled hand.
Jellal took one through his left thigh then but Gildarts was able to blow it apart and the Master reached forward and pulled the still writhing piece still stuck in the blue haired mage from his leg. "Almost…" Xally groaned, sweat was running down the womans usually serene face and her borther lunged, catching another appendage before it struck her and roaring in fury when it wrapped around him. Gildarts moved quickly, again blasting the piece free from the creature then he and Makarov struggled to pull the searing thing off the Dragon Slayer.
Cristoff let loose one last roar, washing Lunar light over the thing and Xally finished her spell, the creature sucked into spinning seal above it that then closed.
The remaining pieces of the beast stopped moving and started coming part, leaving smoldering, seething puddles of a noxious gelatinous ooze behind.
Xally rushed over to Cristoff who was leaning on Gildarts now, eyes moving quickly she pressed her hands to her brothers midsection and light washed over him, the strained look on his face relaxed once she had done the same with his shoulder then she turned to Jellal just as the lights of the city all started coming back on and the large lights all around outside the guild washed over them.
Cristoff turned toward the Guild Hall while Xally was healing Jellal "We need to make sure there are no others and that whoever brought that here isn't about to bring more." He called.
Natsu pulled the door open just as the Slayer reached it "Natsu, we need to see if we can hunt down the source…Bix?" He looked apologetically toward his older brother.
The man was wrapped around his beautiful wife, she was clinging to him eyes wide with fear, he must have told her what he might have to face…
Bix kissed Levy, so soft she almost cried "You die…we die…I love you Bix, be careful." She whispered and Bix nodded, pulling his visor down and grinning "Love you too…I always am kitten."
The men hurried off, Makarov getting on the com to the Rune Knights and getting a search under way. The creature hadn't been seen anywhere else in the city, but once it had manifested the lights had died.
Levy sat anxiously with Xally and Evergreen for almost two hours before the doors opened and Cristoff, Natsu, Gildarts. Jellal and Bickslow all came back in. The only ones who looked anything but annoyed were Jellal and Cristoff, whos shirt had been burned mostly off of him and still bore an ugly looking bruised spot on his shoulder. Jellal had lost one entire leg off his slacks and had a similar ugly looking bruise on his thigh.
Makarov informed them what little he had learned so far from the Rune Knights and the men reported finding nothing, anywhere, which was unsettling.
"I want all of you to stay here tonight, we don't know if there will be another attack. Mira, get the spare rooms all set up. I want guard shifts set up. Bickslow, you and Levy can have Laxus' office." Bickslow nodded, moving to help Levy climb the stairs to the second level.
The pull out bed in the office wasn't the most comfortable but Bickslow had slept on it before and it wasn't bad, he and Levy would have privacy and a bathroom close by since Levy tended to need one a lot these days.
She sat in Laxus' massive office chair while Bickslow set the bed up. "They'll be back wont they…it was Nightmare." She said quietly.
Bix sighed "Probably, it's something they would do, that they dropped it right outside the guild hall makes it pretty clear who it was meant for. It's a fucking good thing Xally knows how to banish those things…"
"Do you think your father will send Kaleb now?" Levy asked. Bix smiled at her "Dad would send the entire Boscan army if he knew what had happened. Yeah…when he finds out I'm betting Kaleb will probably arrive soon after no matter what the Master says. Kaleb can wreck those things by himself, he's the Guild Master of White Sea, when he finds out what happened to his new sister-in-laws guild and the threat to his unborn niece…my older brother is…protective."
Bickslow was snickering about it all but inside he was hoping Kaleb came, his older brother was a Holy Judgement mage, rare, similar to Gildarts really, he shattered things, but his magic was saturated with Holy light. If any more Hellborns showed up Kaleb could handle them by himself, and White Sea wasn't just a normal guild, they hunted dark magic users, dark mages would be a walk in the park for his brother, who he knew would not come alone.
He wanted, needed, Levy to be safe, and wasn't above calling in his family to make sure she was kept that way. If he and his brothers had to go hunt down what remained of Nightmare to make sure Levy and Fairy Tail were safe, then he was ready to do that.
One thing he was sure of, Nightmares guild master had to be found, it was something they should have taken care of before, not left to the Council. Once Levy was in bed he started to try to break away to go call his brother but then, seeing Levys look, he sat heavily on the bed.
"You're planning something." She said. He smiled at her, he'd done this, he'd woven her soul into his and vice versa, hiding anything from her now was impossible.
"Yes." He admitted, then moved and slid under the blankets beside her, propping himself up so he sat against the wall with her pressed up against him, his arm around her. He lifted the com lacrima and called Kaleb.
Levy had never seen Bickslows older brother, and when the man appeared on the small screen she almost rolled her eyes, Gods, every single Pradesh man was painfully handsome. Kaleb was no exception, Lavender eyes leveled on Bickslow as the man pushed shining white hair out of his way.
He smiled at Levy "This is my lovely new sister who is giving me a niece yes?" He asked. Bix nodded "Yes, and Kaleb, that dark guild Dad told you about that we helped undermine? It attacked us, dropped a Hellborn on our doorstep tonight."
Kalebs eyes narrowed "Guildmaster was never caught was he?" He asked.
"No." Bickslow replied. Kaleb nodded "Dad know about the attack?" He asked. "I'm betting either Xally or Cristoff will tell him." Bix answered.
Kaleb smiled "I'll make arrangements and be on my way before the night is out, I'm bringing my top team with me, we'll help Fairy Tail handle Nightmare, since your Rune Knights can't seem to do it any better than the ones here can." He chuckled.
"How soon?" Bix asked. Kaleb shrugged "Let your Master know me and my team will be there in two weeks. Even the way we travel we wont be able to be there quicker, not with 6 mages. Tell Cristoff I'm probably going to kick his ass when I get there too, I'm sure there will be a reason to."
Bickslow nodded "Kaleb…Thanks." He said. Kaleb grinned "Family is everything little brother. Fairy Tail is part of us all because it's part of you. See you soon."
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Cobra stretched, smiling when his leg slid against silky warm skin. The first three weeks at the Palace had been probably the best of his whole damn life. They had now been there for two months.
Safe within the Palace, with Ora as a constant guide, the team had uncovered incredible things within the ancient place. Freed had learned he could study until exhausted, soak in the pools for a couple hours and be perfectly fine for another massive reading/study fest. Laxus and Cana had gone to find the brood chambers, Gajeel and Lucy had started documenting the murals and special texts that were written into the walls.
Wendy was helping freed as were the exceeds and Cobra and Nola? At Oras gentle insistence, they had done nothing but consummate their bond the way a Dragon Slayers mating should be handled.
Nobody had protested though so now as his gaze swept over his mate, the mark on her neck was dark and vivid against her tanned skin. His name and the symbols of his magic, branding her forever as his and his alone.
Once the final bite was done, the mark set, it had been all about adjustment, letting the magic do its work.
Had anyone ever told him he would spend entire days having sex with a beautiful woman over and over and over he would have been tempted to kill them. He'd thought he couldn't, that the scars he carried ran too deep. It wasn't even a case of lust, he'd had those thoughts plenty, but knowing he couldn't act on them had always held him in check. The idea of someone touching him holding him, it had been repulsive.
Not anymore, now his appetite ran deep and was slow to sate. Fortunately, so did Nolas. His little mate was insatiable, especially once his clothes were off, she loved every inch of him, made him feel like he was the hottest thing alive. He knew he wasn't bad, enough women had always hit on him he was sure he held some appeal but having the gorgeous little Fox mage lusting after him had been a serious boost to his ego.
She loved him, he absolutely reveled in that because he sure as hell loved her. Ora insisted he was able to sire children. Though how that thing knew he couldn't be sure of and he wasn't willing to pin hopes on it.
He wasn't the only one with reason to believe children might not happen either. Nola admitted she wasn't sure, that Shade had done some pretty twisted shit to her and the methods he'd used to make sure she wouldn't get pregnant hadn't exactly been safe for her health.
After three weeks though, his constant need, the overwhelming mind numbing need to fuck the hell out of his mate had calmed down in him, well, down to his own natural apparently pretty high sex drive anyway.
He'd been repressed for too long, now that he wasn't being held back and had a willing beautiful woman who wanted him just as much as he wanted her, he might not feel overwhelmed with desire anymore, but it seemed to simmer under the surface a lot and Nola had no trouble at all getting it to come out. Something the wicked woman delighted in doing now.
He ran his hand up and down her back. She lay on her stomach, naked beside him, the covers down low enough the generous curve of her hips and swell of her sexy ass showed. She wriggled a little, and he saw what little of her face wasn't in the pillow she had her arms wrapped around smile.
"You're mine…" Cobra whispered. She raised up on her elbows, her long hair flipping over to the other side of her as she turned to face him smiling. "Always yours, proud to be yours. You, Poison Dragon, are mine." She returned with a cocky grin he had started seeing not too long ago, he fucking loved it too.
"Yes I am." He agreed.
"You hungry? Laxus said he and Cana should be back tonight from exploring the brood areas and I know Lucy and Gajeel are back. Ora stocked the kitchen really well too." She was smiling, rising up to sit back on her knees and he about lost his ability to think.
He reached out pulling her to him and she molded herself into his arms, her hot lips trailing over his neck and making him struggle to remember why he'd pulled her over in the first place.
"Yes, but one hunger at a time…" He smirked and she grinned, sliding over him and straddling him once she'd thrown the blankets off of him. She slid against him, Gods he hadn't meant for her to do anything at all, had planned to roll her onto her back and take her but she was so good at making his body just ignite.
She played over him, deliberately heating her kisses with her magic so they almost burned, her tongue licked over the contours of his body, her nails and sharp teeth sometimes making him gasp or growl at her until finally both of them were breathing hard and she slid back to settle over his hardened length.
Her head back, her hands sliding up her beautiful body and he watched as she took him in, as she massaged her ample breasts and started riding him at this pace she had learned drove him wild. Slowly rising up, then slamming back down, leaning backwards until his hands were sliding up her thighs, digging into her hips.
"Fu…Fuck…Nola" He moaned and she came forward then, eyes half lidded, hands sliding up into her hair and trailing farther back into it, causing her breasts to lift and move more when she did, the sight made his whole body burn.
He reached a point as she almost danced on top of him, that her teasing pace pushed him past his restraint and he grabbed her, flipping her to the bed and coming over the top of her in a fluid motion then grasping her firmly and taking up a hard fast pace, burying his face in her neck and running his tongue mercilessly over the mark on her neck.
He'd learned early on if he touched her there, especially kissed, licked or bit her, Dragon Lust flooded her and drove her high into her passion. She gasped out his name when he did it, meeting his thrusts with her own until finally they both lost all control and drove each other to their ends, laying panting raggedly and grinning at each other.
"Dinner now…' Nola said with a chuckle. "I can keep my hands off of you long enough for that.. long as we don't get into the spring…"
Laxus and Cana were back and sitting in the kitchen at the massive table there when Nola and Cobra came in, Ora was hovering over the table and Laxus looked stunned, with a weird half smile on his face, Cana looked stunned.
Cobras eyes widened as he caught the mess happening in their souls and Nola elbowed him. "What is it? Cana? Are you Ok?"
Cana looked at her but didn't say anything, just staring at her. Cobra leaned by Nola ear "Ora just told her she's pregnant." He whispered.
Nolas eyes flew wide, "That's wonderful!" She gasped and ran to hug Cana who was blinking and trying to gather her thoughts but Laxus finally came to, everything sinking in and the Lightning slayer was on his feet, sweeping the woman up into his arms.
"I have already set all modes to accommodate your condition. This is, after all, what the Palace was created for." Ora said.
"Accommodating modes have also been established for the Celestial Queen, though she is not as far along as you are Lady Cana."
Laxus stopped, letting Canas feet touch the floor and staring at Ora."Wait, isn't Lucy the "Celestial Queen…?"
"The Celestial Queen is the Mate of the Iron Dragon, the only one of the females to have claimed her mate and fully come into the Dragon Magics given to her." Ora said.
"Well that's good to know, I was wondering why you called me that." Lucy was just walking in, Gajeel not far behind her and Freed Wendy and the Exceeds filtered in through the other door.
She looked at Cana and the others and frowned slightly. "Why are you all looking at me like that?" She asked slowly.
"Ora, repeat what you said about Lucy please." Cobra said, the only one in the room who both knew what was happening and had the presence of mind to keep things moving.
"I had informed the Lightning Slayer his mate, Lady Cana is pregnant, 4 months into her pregnancy approximately, and all modes of the Palace have been adjusted to fit both her and the Celestial Queen who is about 3 months into her pregnancy with the Iron Slayers child." Ora replied.
Gajeel didn't take anywhere near as long as Laxus to react, pulling Lucy to him for a long kiss before his hand moved between them to slide over her belly. "Holy shit Bunny" he looked into her wide eyes, his own glistening with tears that wanted to fall.
"I'm…preganant?" Lucy breathed, smiling suddenly, cupping Gajeels face in her hands while he kissed her. "Yes young Queen, you are three months into your pregnancy." Ora confirmed "As I said, the care of pregnant Queens is the primary purpose of the Palace. There is no failure ever in the magic that tells me Lady Cana has 2 more months and will deliver twins, the Celestial Queen has 3 more months and will also be delivering twins. Multiple births are common in Dragon Slayer mates."
"Twins?!" Laxus and Gajeel both said in stunned unison.
"Wait, 6 months? Not 9?" Cana gaped, looking down she'd thought this extra weight had to do with how well Ora kept the kitchen stocked and how easy it was to get around within the Palace with all of the teleportation lacrimas.
"Average gestation time for a Dragon Slayer is 6 months, give or take a week or two." Ora replied "Accelerated gestation is due to the metabolism being accelerated."
"But no morning sickness, I didn't even know!" Lucy said, looking down at the faint roundness of her tummy in a whole new way.
"The Palace cares for you, gentle magics will ease discomfort and food is prepared to best suit your needs. When you are ready to give birth the Palace brood chambers will assure it is safe as they are flooded with powerful magic to assist in birth both for the mother and the babies." Ora stated.
Cobra was snickering at the stunned but happy expressions and the chaotic souls until Ora glided over and he watched a soft white mist run over Nola "Lady Nola will be delivering the children of the Poison Slayer in 4 months, again…twins."
Cobra stood staring, too shocked to move. No…it couldn't be…he and Nola both, their bodies had been through so much…He hadn't even hoped…
Nolas hands flew to her mouth, her golden eyes unable to hold back tears and as soon as she began to cry he was there, pulling her into his arms and pressing his forehead against hers. "Twins…" She breathed, Cobra closed his eye, tears trailing down his cheek "We're gonna be parents Foxy…"
Gajeel was no better off than Cobra, he hadn't ever doubted his ability to reproduce, he'd just never really thought it would ever happen, he'd told Lucy after they had mated it was ultimately her choice when she stopped birth control, he wanted children, but he wouldn't rush her.
She had clearly decided she was ready and he….he was going to be a fucking father!
Even Laxus was overwhelmed, as light as his attitude seemed, he loved Cana, and becoming a father had been one of his greatest life goals for a long time, one he'd honestly doubted he'd achieve. "Gramps is going to lose his fucking mind." He chuckled, kissing Cana over and over again as she laughed in his arms. "We should contact the guild, let everyone know, we were to do our weekly check in tonight anyway." Freed said, he was dabbing a white handkerchief at his eyes.
Lily was now on Gajeels shoulder, his little arms holding both Lucy and Gajeels heads while he held his own forehead against them.
Laxus agreed with Freed. On the wall was a large, old lacrima he had learned from Ora could interact with his little com lacrima and work to make the calls go through even though the com lacrima couldn't do it on its own.
Makarov appeared after just a few moments. "Laxus! I'm glad you are not late checking in…we need you to come home."
Laxus' smile fell "Why? What's happened?"
The group stood silently as Makarov described all that had happened in the last few days. Laxus was looking down at his hands and Makarov frowned "Laxus? Did you hear me? We need you back, when can you get home?"
"Gramps…Cana is pregnant with twins." He said softly. Makarovs eyes flew wide, a smile lighting up his face "I…she is? Twins?!"
Laxus smiled "Yeah Gramps, she's due in two months. If we left right now she would give birth somewhere in the mountains. It took us two months to get up here. We were…planning to leave next week but we just found out about this just a few minutes ago. The Palace spirit, Ora, told us. And Gramps, Lucy and Nola are both pregnant too, we can't start trekking down the mountains with them pregnant and how the fuck could we even do it with winter coming…the babies…how could we make the trek back down with 6 babies in the winter?" He said softly.
"SIX?! All three women are expecting twins?!" He gasped, smile now dazed. Laxus nodded "So what do we do Gramps?" He asked.
Makarov drew a slow breath. "I'm going to speak with Blue Pegasus' Master, perhaps the Christina could come to help bring you down, but if that wont work, well, I'll take Arman Pradesh' offer and have him send us some help. If I can arrange safe transport, I'll let you know, If not, I believe the best course of action is for you to remain where you are until the babies are born and winter has passed." He smiled at them then.
"I do not want any of you to feel badly about this, Fairy Tail will be fine, it's most important that you are safe. I wish I could send Levy and Bickslow up there now honestly to make sure they were out of harms way. We can lean on our friends though and get through this. I will call as soon as I know about the Christine, Cana? You take good care of my great grandbabies!" He grinned.
"Yes Master." She smiled.
The mood was dampened then when Makarov signed off and Ora hovered around them. "This stress will not do." Ora commented.
"We're worried about our home Ora, our family at home is in trouble." Lucy said quietly, standing in Gajeels arms, drinking in his soothing hands on her back and his warm breath against her neck.
"You should be here through your pregnancies, it is the safest place." Ora said firmly.
"We know that Ora, but our home is in trouble and while we are here, safe and comfortable, we could lose our home, our family without being there to help them fight." Lucy said.
"Our Tatsu is in danger." Freed said.
"The Tatsu? You must get home to the defend you Tatsu. I am capable of assisting since it is a Tatsu." Ora said.
Freed smiled, his countless hours in the library was paying off. "How?" Laxus asked.
"The teleportation lacrimas, please follow me." Ora said and started from the kitchen down the hall and to the library.
Inside the massive Library a large Lacrima hung over a sunken area full of cushions. A small spark flew from Ora and one of the bookshelves swiveled, when it did a map of Fiore came down with blue stars in certain places around the kingdom.
"What is this?" Laxus asked.
"This is a large teleportation lacrima. I can power it up to take one of you with a similar Lacrima that can be set up to establish a passage between your Tatsu home and the Palace. It can only be used by those with Dragon magic in them, though up to two people may hold the hands of a dragon slayer or dragon slayers mate and travel using the Lacrima portal. This way, you can remain safe here, but if needed, can go to your home within a matter of moments." Ora explained.
Laxus was grinning now "I know just where to set it up, and these blue stars are where you can teleport me right?"
"That is correct." Ora affirmed.
"Lets do this then." Laxus said firmly.
Ora started powering up the Lacrima while Laxus went and changed into better clothes, what he was wearing was right for the steady 78 degrees maintained in the Palace.
"I can teleport myself and the Lacrima right to the Guild from where it's dropping me, wont take but a few minutes for me to get there." He said when he came back.
"The Lacrima is ready Lightning Slayer." Ora said. The one he would be setting up was waiting for him and he picked it up, hefting it, it was heavy but not too bad.
"Ok, I showed you where I need to go, I'm ready." He winked at Cana and in a small flash, was gone.
Minutes passed, Cana sat in a chair by Freed watching as Ora drifted about the area of the lacrima.
"The Lightning Slayer is setting up the connecting Lacrima, establishing the necessary links now." Ora said.
More time passed, everyone had found seats and was waiting.
The Lacrima flashed and Laxus stood grinning, holding Levy and Bickslows hands.
Levy saw Lucy and squealed, not exactly rushing forward considering how large she was. "Ok, I swore I would bring Gramps, Ora?"
After an hour several Fairy Tail members had come to the Palace and gone back, Levy and Bickslow were going to stay but only because of the masters stern orders. Bickslow wasn't comfortable with not being in Magnolia but the portal was set up in such a way that Ora told them it could not be disrupted or damaged. Tucked down in the depths of the Guild Hall inside a chamber that also housed something the Master had seen hidden and shielded so not even his children could see or discover what it was.
There though the portal could function as a way to take people out of the guild hall if they were injured and bring in the men whos mates had to remain in the Palace if they were needed. Makarov laid down strict orders about its use and Freed set up a host of protective runes, including some he had recently learned in the Library to assure nobody would use it needlessly.
The Palace was a holy place, Fairy Tail wouldn't disrespect that. It would guard it.
Laxus watched hopefully as Ora sent white mists around Levy. She had no dragon magic at all within her, but both Gajeel and Laxus claimed her as kin so Ora was willing to work with her.
"7 months pregnant by the Soul Mage, due in 2 months with a female child. I am able to set the Palace to attend her." Ora finally said. Sometimes the worshippers who had lived at the Palace had children there, so the Dragons had added the ability for it to handle purely human pregnancies. Freed had told Laxus all about it, so he'd pressured Ora to put Levy under the Palaces supervision.
The most amazing reaction to the Palace came when Porlyusica was summoned to Fairy Tail by Makarov. The master knew the woman so very well, and had an idea how much it would mean to her, that, and having someone there besides Wendy to watch over the women was a job he hoped Porlyusica would take.
When she came through the portal she was still glaring at where Laxus' hand held hers but that faded with the first breath she took.
Dragon scent washed over her and her eyes went wide as she looked around the Library, she could feel this place humming, alive with Dragon magic beyond anything she had ever even imagined before.
She'd shaken free of Laxus' hand and walked past Makarov without seeing the smiling man. Her steps grew swifter as she went out into the hall and she was running before she got to the end of it, stopping and putting her hands over her mouth as she took in the massive central chamber, the lake sized hot spring, the massive sculptures of the founding Queens in flight that covered the massive expanse of the ceiling.
Before her, Ora manifested "Porlyusica, spirit of Grandeeney Draconian healer. Welcome to the Palace of the Dragon Queens."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
A/N Thank you to Kura, Moonbeam, you two actually have been hugely helpful with the coming chapters helping me to get some plot points honed that I was struggling to clarify. Mew, you're welcome, Cana isn't alone but she was second! I knew back around the fourth chapter of this Fic that this was going to happen like this, you helped with the order though.
Roses, Rya, J.D and everyone else supportive enough to review, thank you. Fate Decides would have ended at the Venus arc if not for your support. How long it lives and how far it goes really does rely on whether or not readers want to see more.
As ever, Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima, I am but a lowly fan who likes to engage in wicked fantasies and share them with fellow fans...DESNA