Chapter 38

The wind howled and roared, and it jostled the little travel cart on the windy road. The driver guided the little cart around large ruts in the path so he didn't break and axle. But it was becoming apparent that the weather was making the journey quite perilous. He worried about the group he was carrying in the backseat. He could barely make out the blonde whimpering and the bluenette's teeth chattering. He would have to find somewhere to stay the night before trekking closer to Mt. Hakobe.

The driver knew that he could not actually get them to the mountain itself. The jagged rocks were too perilous for the little cart and while his boar was quite strong he didn't have the flexibility in his piggy forearms to steer himself through the steeping terrain.

"Listen," he called back to the group. "This weather is getting dicey and hard to navigate. I know it's a tad out of the way but there is a small village nearby, between here and Oshibana. The inn there, well I know the owners, and they owe me. I could probably get us a discount for the rooms."

Gajeel looked at his wife. Levy had dug out layer upon layer of clothing from her travel sack and donned every single one, and still she shivered. He had held her tight and it had helped some, except her teeth still chattered. "How far is it?"

"The roads in that direction shouldn't be so treacherous. It probably would take 45 minutes normally. But with this wind...maybe an hour."

While Gajeel chewed over that information, Natsu stroked Lucy's hair. She was laying down with her head in his lap. She hadn't physically gotten sick but the rockiness of the trip was definitely taking it's toll. Natsu thought it would be nice to be the one to take care of her this time around, and up until this jog of the journey it was nice. But now she was so sick to her stomach he just wanted to get off this evil cart for awhile. He looked to Gajeel and nodded. "I think it's a good idea. I know Levy is freezing, perhaps she can get better gear in the village. But Lucy, she needs somewhere solid to rest."

"Okay, cart man, let's head that direction to the inn."

The large man still terrified him but he felt himself chuckle slightly at the guy calling him cart man. "The name is Geoffrey, or just Geoff."

Gajeel grunted but made no actual verbal confirmation that he had heard him.

Geoff hadn't been lying this path was a lot less bumpy. Lucy still felt like hammered crap but at least she could somewhat sit up. The minute she tried Natsu pulled her into his lap. He whispered a shushing sound and combed his fingers gently through her hair. "Just relax, Luce." Her body became a rag doll against him. Her body releasing the momentary tension and just cuddling into his body heat.

Lucy and Levy had both fell asleep for the remainder of the leg of the journey to this small village and inn. Both of the dragon slayers remained quiet just looking down at their mates. Both wondering how they got so lucky and marveling in their good fortune. It was forty minutes later when Erza said something that the girls began to stir. "It's going to be rather late when we get to this village. I hope the inn's kitchens are open."

Lucy made a mumbled protest about food. Natsu of course began to salivate. Gajeel watched Levy as she stretched. "Food, wow when did we last eat?" A loud grumbling roar filled the cart. Levy's face turned bright red.

Erza chuckled lightly. "Whoever thought the smallest one of us would have the loudest stomach?" Then all stomachs began to growl simultaneously, well all except for Lucy's who was still groaning at the mere mention of food.

About twenty five minutes later the cart was pulling into the small village of Blackthorn. The village seemed to center around one main road with small branching road off of it. The inn was at the far end so the five occupants were able to view the village as it rolled by. While it was small it obviously had a fair amount of stalls set up for tourism. Levy had justified that it must have been for those travelers who stopped on their way to their main destination.

"Oh, actually I forgot," Blackthorn had called from the front. "They just had festival not too long ago. There are probably still some tourists lingering behind and the local store owners have kept the stalls open in hopes to sell more of their wares."

"Hopefully, the inn will have the room to accommodate us then," Erza commented.

Geoffrey made a noncommittal sound and drove on. It was obvious to Levy that he was somewhat worried about the same thing. Luckily, while Blackthorn was a small village the inn was on the large side. It was the only one in Blackthorn and the owner had made sure to always be able to accommodate the large amount of tourists that come through specifically for their festival.

The owner that met them was a rotund woman with a kind face. Her name was Beatrice and Geoff explained that she co-owned the establishment with her husband. The two obviously knew each other because they joked with each other a few minutes before Geoff announced that they needed lodging for the night. "Well, you are in luck we have exactly four rooms left." Lucy smiled at her weakly and Beatrice clucked her tongue at her. "You poor dear, you look pale as a ghost."

"The trip made my stomach a bit sour."

"I already have some food still warm from supper time but I will prepare you a light broth and bread."

"Uh, actually, I hate to be demanding but...could you maybe make it a vegetable soup instead. I think I could use the nutrients."

Beatrice clucked her tongue again then her eyes widened momentarily. "Oh, you are pregnant aren't you?"

Lucy didn't really know how she figured that out but she nodded nonetheless. "Uh, how did you know?"

"Mostly a guess honestly but with how sick you look I wouldn't think anyone would want anything more substantial then broth and bread, maybe crackers."

Lucy looked at Natsu. "Do I really look that bad?"

One thing Natsu recently learned was that being pregnant had kind of made his wife paranoid. Not overly so, but when it came to how she looked...well she need reassurance in that factor so he made a noise of displeasure. "You always look beautiful, Luce. She only met you look weakened, which you do."

"You wanted the nutrients for you baby. That's wonderful, you will make a terrific mother I can already tell."

Beatrice teetered on as she made preparations for Lucy's soup. The others settled themselves with the feast she had leftover from supper a few hours earlier on. Lucy followed the owner into the kitchen. "Can I help in any way?"

The owner nodded at her. "There is a jar of vegetables on that shelf behind me. Can you grab it for me please?"

Lucy usually bought fresh produce but she understood that the time frame allotted to them would not be enough prepare fresh vegetable soup. "This is my base for vegetable soup, but then I add this," she held up another jar, "which is a mixture of both tomato and carrot juice. Even though it's not fresh it will still be tasty, trust me."

Beatrice kept giving Lucy helpful cooking tidbits while stirring the large pot. The amount of soup in the pot was definitely much more then Lucy could eat. Lucy began to think that the owner's name suited her perfectly. Beatrice seemed cheerful but also as busy as bee in anything she did.

OoO

A couple hours later after the group had all been fed Lucy cuddled with her husband in the large four poster bed. Somehow both the newlyweds ended up with honeymoon suites. She laid her head on his chest and clasped his hand in hers. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. "How are you feeling now, Luce?"

"Mm, better."

"You sound better. I know it's unavoidable but I hate when you are sick."

"Mm, well look forward to scraped knees, bumps, and bruises. I'm sure our little ones will be wild and full of life just like you, so injuries come with the territory."

Natsu chuckled and then both of them settled in the silence. It was only as the wind quieted against the windowpane and the room stilled around them that Natsu heard a curious sound. He listened to it carefully mentally tapping out the bump, bump repetition in his head. Then he push Lucy to her back. "What the...?"

"Shh, Luce."

While Lucy hated to be silenced she was more curious to what he was doing. It was when he rested his head against her chest then moved it lower to her belly that she began to get an inkling. "Do you hear the babies?"

"Mm, I think so."

"What does it sound like, Natsu?"

"Hard to put into words, but amazing is a start."

"Er, uh...and how many heartbeats do you hear?"

Natsu listened more carefully after a few minutes he made an inarticulate noise of frustration. "It's difficult to decipher, I definitely hear two but once in awhile one of the heartbeats seems louder then other."

Lucy couldn't decipher if that meant they were having only twins, or if that meant there was a third or more that may be echoing one of the others' heartbeats. She had hoped once he heard the babies it would help her plan their arrival but all it really left her with was more questions.

So those of you getting anxious about the babies, I hope this alleviated some of that anxiousness. Well, I guess I wouldn't mind more excitement about the babies also. :)

I know we are moving at a snail pace towards any fighting on either side, and I do apologize about that. I'll admit I find that fighting scenes are my weakness so I might be dragging my feet subconsciously in that regard.

I kind of made myself say "aww" a couple times during this chapter so hopefully it had the same effect for all of you.

Thanks to my reviewers, hopefully I PM'd a response to all of you if I forgot to it was merely an oversight and I apologize and will try my best to make it up to you in the future. Thank you: IshipClace12345678910, kurahieritr JIO, Vilandel, sabrina-luna-potter, Zachariah T. Kitchell, and AmericanOtakuMom. If I messed up any screennames I apologize.

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