Hi everyone!

I know. Feel free to beat me for not posting in so long. But…BixLu and MidLu week took a while to write, throw in Soulful Fugue chapter. I've been literally writing in all of my spare time.

But hopefully this makes up for the wait.

And can you believe this story made 1 yr old on the 6th? Time certainly flies and we aren't even finished. There are still...a bunch of chapters left guys have so made this story worth it!

The chapter song is Give Me A Sign by Breaking Benjamin. The you tube link is watch?v=UG-CfrpmPG8

So, onto the reading!

As usual, I don't own Fairy Tail or the song but the plot is all mine.

Chapter 38 – Give Me A Sign

"Dead star shine. Light up the sky"

Laxus pressed his palms against his knees. His chest heaved and sweat dripped from his forehead. He felt exhausted and there was that one little second guessing doubt that nagged at the back of his mind. He shouldn't have drowned himself in all of that alcohol. That had to be what this was. A couple of weeks spent deluding himself that the answer to his problems lay at the bottom of a bottle. And not across town, in another home, refusing to even talk to him. The only answer he'd found there was that whiskey brought him no closer to figuring out how to fix it then he'd been when it first happened. He missed her like hell and sure, the whiskey had dulled the pain but it apparently had dulled his reflexes and instincts. He felt out of shape, horribly so.

This mission had been Freed's idea. Take a job to get his mind off the issues. And in a way it helped. Focusing on something else other than the ache of separation had given him a little better clarity. Talks with the green haired mage had helped. Him and Lucy had pretty much been thrust into this situation without the benefit that the other couples had. They weren't given time to develop the crucial foundation that only came with time spent dating. Hell he hadn't even wanted commitment before her. He had been complacent with one night stands and occasional fuck buddies. Or so he had told himself. It wasn't until he had her that he finally could see what his life had been missing. It had been his own ignorance that had put their relationship on the fast track. He had just expected her to trust him instead of wooing her and proving he was hers. Words were a dime a dozen and what did he do when put to the test? Give up and lock himself in his home. No. Correction. House because home was where she was.

Proving himself to her would have to wait though. The minute he got home, he was going over to Gajeel's and dragging her ass back. Kicking and screaming if he had to. He'd show her that he wasn't going to just let them waste away. But first things first. They were almost done. Just find the guild master and take him out. They'd powered through the worst of it. Part of him had missed the adrenaline rush that came with combat. It had amplified his anger, enabling him to fry more bastards than he could count. But unlike any other mission before, he found himself fatigued. You need to slow it the fuck down. "Shut the hell up," he mumbled to himself. He needed to get this shit over and down with so he could get back and fix his relationship.

"Perhaps it would be best if we pulled back."

He reached up to rake a weary hand through his wet spikes as he glanced over at the green haired man who came to stand beside him. "No. We came all this way. We will finish the job and then head home."

"But Lax-"

"No Freed," he cut the man off with a growl. "We've been gone for a fucking week. We've gathered all the intel and it should only be him left."

The Rune Mage frowned, hesitance clearly disrupting his thoughts. "You look exhausted. We could call in the rune knights and let them finish this."

"And let them take all the damn credit?" Laxus sneered. "We started it and we're sure as hell going to fucking end it. At least I can say I finished something on a positive note."

Freed's hands came up in surrender, never being one to argue with the large dragon slayer. "As you wish. I located the leader just over the ridge in a clearing."

"I'm all out of breath, my walls are closing in"

The Lightning Dragon Slayer's brows furrowed. That seemed odd given they'd only seen the asshole a whole two times since they'd begun their investigation. From information they'd gathered, the guy was the paranoid schizophrenic type. He apparently had been thought a shut in before he'd disappeared from the village. "You mean to tell me he left his fucking safety net and ventured away from the cave?"

"I believe he may be awaiting our arrival," the Rune Mage replied flatly. "It is not as though he could not hear us coming."

Something about that seemed off but Laxus shoved his guessing to the back of his mind. "Then let's not keep him waiting."

They moved effortlessly, quiet, through the thick underbrush. He knew he could easily teleport there, hell he could have Freed take flight. But he wanted to sneak in. Rushing got a mage killed, taking away the element of surprise away only to give it to an opponent. A slow approach gave him time to assess the surroundings. To listen in on the things often overlooked by normal ears. To smell any foul play on the air that would otherwise go missed. As they neared what seemed to be an opening, a clearing of sorts, he spotted the weasley looking little fucker standing out in the center. It looked as though he was merely enjoying the early morning sun on his overly pale face. Arrogant shit for brains. His hand came up to block his friend's path, stopping them both. He cautiously sniffed at the air and frowned when it met with only the natural smells of the forest and moth balls.

"What is it?" Freed whispered.

Laxus bit the inside of his lip as he turned his head from side to side. His ears strained to pick up on any out of place sounds. "It seems it's only old and musty out there."

"Then perhaps this will be easier than we thought."

Laxus gave a disapproving hum of acceptance. He'd been around long enough to know sometimes things weren't as they seemed. His current situation was disastrous proof of that but now there was no evidence to say otherwise. "Yeah. Just be…cautious."

The green haired mage gave him a nod before they slowly made their way out into the clearing. The closer they drew, the more a nervous doubt settled into the pit of his stomach. He couldn't reason why. It wasn't like he'd ever been scared of a fight, definitely not this one. He'd taken down entire guilds before. One man would hardly be worth the effort. But still, there was something not quite right. It made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

"Days go by, give me a sign"

"Ah, I see you finally made it out to join me."

He couldn't help but sneer at the man's pompous demeanor. "Are you in that big a fucking rush to meet your maker?"

The man gave a snide grin as he pulled what seemed to be a small golden pipe from his pocket. "I could ask the same of you."

The high pitched sound that came out when the small man put to the device to his lips had Laxus covering his ears in agony. "What th-" His words were cut off by the ominous sound of wings and he looked up. His jaw dropped as he took in the size of the creature descending towards them. It was a creature he'd only ever seen in books, stuff of lore. It was said that the creature was believed to never have existed yet there he was, watching such a creature land before him. It had the body of a lion, the fur red in color. The large head was surrounded by a thick, course looking mane of red and black while the face and ears were that of a human. Piercing blue eyes, not so different than his own looked back at him, alight with intellect. The mouth was ferocious in appearance with its three rows of shark like teeth. The tail was very much like that of a scorpion, ending in a deadly looking stinger. Two large bat like wings jutted out from its spine, the spread of them in flight easily being the length of a train car. Protective plates ran the length of its back, tail and legs similar to that of a reptile but different with the large spikes that stuck out.

"I-is that…"

"Yeah. A Manticore," he finished for the Rune Mage. "And it's mine." The beast poised to strike, its hind quarters sat high in the air as it opened its mouth wide to let out the oddest of noises. Where he expected a roar, he got an almost melodious sound that was a mixture of pipes and trumpets. It was loud enough to make him wince at the piercing pain in his ears.

"Meet my pet," the man chuckled darkly as he raised a hand to brush at the slightly swayed back. "I will warn you. He hasn't been fed today."

"Then we shall make sure you are the first one he dines upon," Freed taunted as he reached up to brush his long bangs back and away from his right eye. "Dark Ecriture, Wings."

And just that fast, the fighting began. Laxus did not have time to watch his partner's back as the Manticore lept at him, the large tail lashing out towards him. He was easily able to duck and roll out of the way and lightning sparked over his skin as he channeled his magic. The beast swung at him with a large paw and howled in pain as he sent a lightning blast towards it. He charged towards the beast, his body morphing into lightning just long enough for the creature to lose sight of him. Trumpets and pipes heralded injury as he slammed into its ribcage, sending the odd lion scorpion creature flying across the field. The sound of metal meeting metal pulled his attention for the briefest of moments to see Freed parrying with the mage.

The two men grunted with blows before the rune mage pulled his sword across his own body. "Dark Ecriture, Absolute Shadow."

He could not help but grin smugly as the dark guild master's face fell when he took in the creepy, shadow like transformation that occurred just before Freed emerged. Cloaked in black armor and green hair protruding from the helmet, the sight was menacing. Forcing his attention away from the other fight, he turned to find the Manticore pulling itself from the pile of trees it had taken down in its fall. He reasoned that perhaps not feeding the beast had been to his advantage as he watched the creature stagger a little before charging again. "Time to end this," he mumbled as he channeled his magic to activate his dragon slayer magic.

"Come back to the end. The shepherd of the damned…"

His eyes trained on the quickly approaching beast, waiting until it was nearly upon him before raising a fist into the air. "Resounding through the air, the roar of thunder, plung-" His chant broke with a strangled cry and his vision tunneled. His magic deactivated, the scales fading and his lightning dying to a small flicker before extinguishing completely. Oh fuck, oh fuck no no no! Just a glance confirmed that the beast would be striking in mere seconds. He tried digging to the deepest part of himself, willing his magic to return but was only met by a faint spark from a single finger. His knees weakened and gave out, dropping him to the ground.

As if time had come to a crawl, he watched in slow motion as the manticore slid to a stop in front of him. The tail arched high behind it's almost prone body and Laxus felt the air rush from his lungs. Legend had it that the scorpion tail was deadly, the large bulb just under the stinger said to be filled with poisonous toxins meant to steal life. When his magic failed to reignite, Lucy's face appeared in front of his eyes and his heart cracked. Now he'd never get to make it right. His life was about to be snuffed out before he got a chance to tell her one last time that he loved her and the…Oh god no. FUCK! She'll die, the baby will di-

A blinding golden light blocked out the world around him, bringing his thoughts to a sudden halt. He brought a hand up to shield his eyes and for a brief moment, a sense of relief washed over him. But then pain exploded in his shoulder. His head slowly turned down to see red spreading down his shirt. Tears filled his eyes when he saw the manticore's tail stinger buried in his shoulder. "T-too late," he chuckled before breaking into a coughing fit.

"No no no!" Loke howled. "Regulus Impact!"

Laxus roared in pain as the stinger was ripped from his flesh when the beast was literally blasted back across the field. His body fell to the grass, the blades still wet from the morning dew. The sounds of battle around him faded as his eyes trained on the cerulean sky above him. It was clear without a single white puff in sight. Like it had been the morning after their mating. "Lucy…" His chest tightened at just the sound of her name on his lips. He'd brought this on her. If these were his last breaths, they'd be hers too. "It's how mating works, Lightning Rod. One of you dies and the other dies with you from grief crushing the heart." Gajeel's voice in his head made him whimper aloud as more tears fell down the sides of his face.

It had been what drove him to complete the mating process in the first place. When she had died for those few short minutes, he knew he couldn't live without her. But never once had he stopped to consider the tables being turned. It was him that was going to go first. And what would happen to the baby? He could only surmise that the baby would die with her. Freed had been right. They should have pulled back. Now, because of his own bull-headed stupidity, not only was his own life ending. He had signed the death warrant for his mate and their unborn child. This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen.

"Laxus!"

Freed's concerned face came sliding into view and he groaned as the man's body collided with his. "Th-the lacrima c-c-c" A coughing spell cut off his stuttered words and his mouth filled with a pungent metallic flavor. Blood.

"Do not talk Laxus," Freed worried. "Save your strength."

"F-Fuck my strength," he struggled to reply. His vision was beginning to tunnel horribly and he knew it wouldn't be long before the darkness claimed him. "The l-lacrima comm…wh-where is it?"

The Rune Mage's brow furrowed. "It is with our stuff back at the base camp."

"Go get it and call the guild for Wendy. I'll see to him."

"I can feel you falling away…"

Laxus' weary eyes turned to look up at the Lion Spirit as he knelt down next to him. He winced as the man leaned over to put pressure on the wound. "H-how? W-why"

"I force opened my gate," Loke growled. "And because Lucy's happiness is what matters most."

He grimaced as more pressure was applied to his shoulder, the pain stealing the breath from his lungs. "I…I f-fucked it up."

"Yeah. You did," The light spirit sighed. "And if you die… Virgo, I need you out here damn it!"

Another flash of light appeared just before a head full of pink hair came into view. His head rolled to the side as the Maid Spirit knelt beside him and pulled a bag next to her. "Laxus-san, I will tend to your wound," she stated plainly. "Big Brother is not very good with that."

Laxus let out a yelp as fingers probed the jagged opening and his eyes gave a roll. He could feel the sweat clamming his skin, making him colder than he already was. "L-Loke. F-find a wa-"

"No," Loke snarled to cut him off. "There's no way to break it and even if I could, I wouldn't."

"But wh-what if I Di-ahhhh! SON OF A BITCH!" He screamed as it felt like fire had been poured directly into his flesh.

"Sorry," Virgo blinked. "Alcohol to cleanse."

The Lion Spirit shot her a pointed look before looking back down at the Lightning Dragon Slayer. "You won't. You're going to go back home and fix this shit. You two are mates and like it or not, she chose your sorry ass so make it work."

Laxus blinked as warmth began to spread over his body and the people in front of him seemed to waiver. Fix it? Lord knew he wanted to. He really wanted to see her right then. He missed her face. The way she smiled, laughed, frowned...cried. Every detail was committed to memory and he knew that if he closed his eyes, he'd see her. But it wasn't a memory he wanted. He wanted to hear her voice, to tell her how sorry he was. To tell her he loved her with everything he was and that he never meant to bring this on her. He didn't want to go without her knowing that but his magic was drained and he could feel the comfort of darkness beckoning him over, preparing him for the journey over the River Styx. "I c-ca…" His words trailed off as his eyes gave a final roll and darkness consumed him.

"No longer the lost, no longer the same"

"So do you watch the fucking food channel to make your ass hungry or are you seriously fucking thinking about running Levy out of the kitchen?"

"Go fuck yourself Cobra," Gajeel growled. "I watch it because I fucking like it."

"Please don't take up cooking."

"Didn't I tell you to go fuck yourself? And why? Afraid I might poison your dumb ass?"

"You really are a damn good for nothing bucket of rust," Cobra snorted. "You can't poison me, Dipshit! Kill my taste buds maybe, but did you slip and knock the shit out of your head? Poison's my thing."

"I've got a better idea," Lucy groaned as she pushed herself up from the Poison Slayer's lap to sit between them. "Why don't you both shut the hell up? Levy and I don't really need to be witness to whose dick is bigger here."

The blunette snorted across the room. "No. No we don't," she chuckled as she walked over to drop a basket full of freshly dried laundry beside the empty chair and ottoman. "Thank you Lucy."

The two men grumbled unintelligible words in reply but thankfully did not argue much to her relief. Lucy shifted on the couch and laid her head against the solid arm of Gajeel, huffing when she found it no more comfortable than sitting up or laying in Cobra's lap had been. Miserable was an understatement when it came to how she was feeling. The nausea and fatigue wasn't abating like they said it would. Instead it was getting worse by the day and she was past questioning if she would make it through the entire pregnancy. If this kept up, she'd be lucky to make it out alive. Despite the growing little bump in her abdomen, she was losing weight everywhere else. She cringed every time she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Death warmed over probably looked better compared to the dark circles under her eyes. Her cheeks were no longer full and vibrant with color. Instead she looked something akin to ashen and even her muscle was beginning to deplete. Natsu couldn't complain about her weight now.

She couldn't help but wonder if Laxus was feeling the same way. Could he feel the rolling of her stomach and the pain that came with every retch over the toilet? Can he feel how much I miss him? Her chest tightened and she smoothed a bony hand over her abdomen. She missed him like hell. It still stung when she thought of what had happened but Aquarius was right. Running away wasn't the answer, not when she had him to lose. The fact that she hadn't heard from him in two weeks was probably an indicator that he was done. But then she'd asked for that. She asked for him to let her go only to realize that wasn't what she wanted at all. Not even in the slightest. She loved him. She loved her life with him and now they had an addition to their life on the way. I broke my pledge to him…

"And I can see you starting to break"

That ate her more than anything. She'd always prided herself on keeping her word. Even if she didn't have anything left, she would always have that. She had drilled that into his head when they'd first gotten together. She had knelt in front of him and pledged herself, her life to him. It was a scene that replayed itself in her head often but these days it only brought pain instead of pride and happiness.

"I accept the honor of being your mate. I give of myself to you and in return take you unto myself. I pledge to you the head of my table, the warmth of my bed and the comfort of my body. I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night and the eyes into which I smile in the morning. I pledge to you my life and my death for they will always be yours. I shall be a shield for your back and a weapon at your side, our souls made one in combat. I shall stand between you and all which would harm you or that which is ours. I am yours and shall honor you above all others with all that I am. I will never betray you and you will never walk alone for I will always be with you. You are my heart, my soul and my life. This is my vow to you, my mate, for this is a joining of equals. Together we shall walk as one until our last breath and be reunited on the other side. I willingly accept your mark and give you my own to wear with pride and only death shall ever steal it from me. It will be a beacon of unity, hope, love and commitment to those who share this life with us now and for the generations to come after."

It wasn't a question of meaning every single word. She did but she'd lost sight of that. Instead of doing what she did best, she'd condemned him in her own pain and refused him forgiveness or understanding. She'd given up in her own self-wallowing pity instead of fighting beside him, instead of fighting for him. What did that say for her? Not anything good. It made her worse than the trick that had been played. It made her unworthy of him, of the mark that ran over her shoulder and down her arm. Some beacon I turned out to be… She shifted again and groaned when her body ached with every movement, her stomach threatening to rid itself of her breakfast. It couldn't be too late and she needed to get the fuck over herself. She needed to get her ass off of the couch, get dressed and go see him. He was her heart, her soul, her life and she needed to fight. She needed to beg for his forgiveness and fix what she'd fucked up.

"I'm going to go get dressed," she stated as she pushed up from the sofa and paused when a moment of dizziness washed over her. Vertigo had become a thorn in her side over the last couple of weeks but that one was by far the worst. She reached a hand out for the Iron Dragon Slayer's shoulder and gave a small smile of appreciation when he gave her his hand to steady herself.

"You ok there, Bunny?" He questioned in concern.

"No, the hell she isn't and you're not going anywhere like that, Blondie."

"Just got up a little too fast is all," She grimaced as she pulled away to take a few trying steps. The spell seemed to want to hang on and it wreaked havoc on her already weakened gut. As much as she didn't want to admit it, the Poison slayer had a point. Even with help, she wasn't sure she'd be able to make it across town like that. Not if it didn't let up. "I'll just call and ask him to come here then."

"N-no!" Levy quickly responded. "Let Gaj call him. You know, with everything going on."

"I'll keep you alive. If you show me the way."

She made it as far as the hallway entry and paused in her step as another wave of vertigo hit, this one a hundred times worse than the last. She wanted to argue that it should be her that called but this was new. She reached out for the wall as her legs wobbled beneath her. "Y-yeah," she stuttered. A voice in the back of her head screamed that something was wrong as the world began spinning faster. Her vision blurred, the room around her going in and out of focus. "That…that would…" Her words trailed off as it felt like the wind had been knocked from her chest and her knees buckled. Pain ripped through her marked shoulder and it suddenly felt as though her skin was on fire where the streaks of lightning were stamped on her flesh. Arms came around her and she looked up to see Cobra's scowling face.

"Blondie, fuck!" The Poison Dragon slayer growled. "Rust bucket call the pipsqueak and tell her to get her ass back here right fucking now."

"Laxus," she whispered. "Where's Laxus? I-I need to see him r-right now."

The pain she could deal with but it was the sudden weight that parked itself on her chest that frightened her the most. Her mate's face flashed in front of her and sudden fear clawed at her with steely talons. The widening of that solitary amethyst eye gave life to panic. "E-Erik," she managed as she tried to push away from his embrace. She needed to get up, needed to get out the door but strong arms kept her pinned.

"He's…"Cobra started before he gave a quick glance across the room. "He's not home, Blondie. But we'll find him."

"Forever - and ever, the scars will remain…"

Her vision began to tunnel and the ache in her chest began to spread like a disease. She mentally called out to Loke, to Virgo. They could get to him but there came no response from either one. And that only raised the fear level more. He was hurt. That's what this had to be. The pain, the dizziness. Her eyes burned as tears welled up. "I-I need to go," she said as a rush of adrenaline spiked through her veins and she began to fight against the hold that imprisoned her. "Let…let me go, Erik. N-now!"

Every move she tried, he was always one step ahead of her and definitely had strength on his side. She'd kick a leg only to find it pinned beneath one of his.

"Blondie-"

When she slapped, he pinned her arms.

"Fucking wait a-"

When she scratched, his flesh shifted to scales.

"Goddamnit!"

When she tried to bite, her head was pulled back against his shoulder. "God…damn it…Erik," she huffed as she found her body fully pinned beneath his. On her side, she was not even sure how he could be behind and on top of her at the same time but he sure as hell was. Rivers of tears she didn't know she had left streamed down her face as images of Laxus flickered through her mind. Her heart felt like it was being crushed and the only real thought in her head was that she needed to see him. She needed to feel him breath, hear his voice. She needed to tell him she was sorry, to beg him to forgive her. A hand brushed her hair back from her face and a whimper slipped out.

"Blondie," Cobra whispered in her ear. "You need to calm the fuck down before you hurt the kiddo."

She trembled against him as sob after sob began to bubble up. "I-I need t-to see h-him, Erik," she sniveled. "Someth-"

Words and thoughts came to a screeching halt as everything inside of her went eerily still. The throbbing in her shoulder and the burning in her flesh faded as though it was never there. Leaving behind only darkness and that oppressive pressure on her heart. "No," she whispered. "No no no…Laxus!"

"Oh fu-Gajeel!" Cobra shouted as she began fighting against his hold. "Blondie! Come the fuck on, Little Sis-fuck! I need some fucking help here!"

Full on hysterics set in, stealing every sense of reason in her head. H-he can't be! Not like this, Mavis. Not like this! She gave no thought when the arm that held her head captive moved and she sank her teeth down into a scale covered arm. I have to get to him. The limbs that had her pinned gave way with a roaring howl of pain behind her but she paid no heed as she scrambled away. Please. Mom, Dad, please please don't let it be too late. She stumbled as she pushed herself up to stand and her feet propelled her towards the door. It felt like the floor beneath her had turned to quicksand as she pushed herself forward. Like the dream, oh god no. Please no. "Laxus!" She screamed as Gajeel stepped into view just before his arms clamped down around her and lifted her from her feet.

"I'm falling apart. Leave me here forever in the dark"

"Bunny!" The Iron Dragon Slayer roared. "You can't! He's not in town and you're fucking pregnant!"

"Let me go, Rust Bucket!" She shrieked as her fist pounded into his back to no avail. She couldn't feel him. At all. Nothing was there when she tried to reach out for him, just heavy darkness. It hammered against her, over and over again until she could barely breathe. She was suffocating, drowning. She reached out again for the door as it got further away.

"I gotta…he…need…" Words failed her as the fight abated, leaving her mentally and physically drained. Time seemed to slow to a crawl and the pressure on her heart blossomed into an agonizing, piercing pain. So…this is what he felt… Tears blurred her vision and she wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and block it all out. She felt the shift before a warm embrace cocooned her and gentle lips pressed against her head as she was pulled down into a lap.

"Come on Bunny," Gajeel whispered against her hair. "Breathe for me, deep breaths."

She didn't even realize she had been holding it until his words registered. The burning in her lungs exploded as she gasped for air. The world spun again as the light headed feeling returned with a vengeance. But she didn't try to fight it. What was the use if he was no longer there? The lids of her eyes grew heavy and her vision waned as she caught sight of The Iron Dragon Slayer's face. His lips moved but she didn't hear a single word. Only the rushing of water and the pounding of her own heart. That will end too…Her eyes rolled as the darkness closed in and she welcomed its presence.

"Daylight dies, blackout the sky"

Lucy jolted up with a deep gasp for air. Laxus… Her eyes darted around the room and first impression was as if her brain had been on an acid binge. The room tilted to one side and then the other before leveling out. It took her a few to come to grips with where she was. She'd expected Gajeel's living room, her bedroom or even her home with Laxus would be more familiar. But the stark white walls, the hospital beds. Her brain skipped a few beats before it finally clicked. She was in the infirmary at the guild. But why? She wasn't the one hurt, he was. She needed to get to where ever he was. He needed her. She threw the blanket and sheet covering her off and swung her legs over the side.

"And where do you think you're going?"

The familiar voice stopped her as her sock covered feet hit the ground. She turned to find the tall, pink-haired old woman eyeing her warily. "I…I have to go."

Porlyusica let out a huff and made her way across the room towards her bed. "No. You don't," she frowned. "Now get your good for nothing butt back in that bed."

"But I-"

"But nothing you smelly, human brat," The old woman growled as she placed a hand on her shoulder. "I don't understand? Is that what you were going to say?"

Lucy looked up at the woman, her mouth opening to argue only to quickly clamp shut. If looks could kill… She just knew this old bat had to have been a dragon in her past life. Her eyes were too keen and her senses too sharp to be a mere human. And she was pretty sure the woman filed her teeth down at night to keep them from looking like the jagged reptilian teeth they really were. "No…well…yes but you don't," She said cautiously. "Laxus, he needs me."

"Yes. He does," Porlyusica scowled. "He needs you to get your ass back in the bed and settle down before real damage is done."

"Real Damage?"

Her hand automatically went to the slight bulge in her abdomen, fear lacing through her. Cobra had been trying to warn her but she hadn't listened. She'd been too blinded by her need to get to her mate to give concern over herself or the welfare of their child. The pink haired woman physically coaxed her back onto the bed and righted the covers again.

"The big idiot is going to be fine," Porlyusica sighed as she took a seat on the end of the bed. "The little dragon is on her way there now. He lost a little blood and like a weakling, he passed out. But those two spirits of yours, they say he'll be ok. Just a flesh wound."

"Does anyone care? Is anybody there?"

She stared at the woman, confused as to just where he would have hurt himself. "Wendy's on her way where exactly?"

The older woman's face wrinkled up in aggravation as she stared at her until a light seemed to go off. "Oh, that's right. You two have been acting like ignorant jackasses, separating and putting those babies at risk. I swear, you pesky hu-"

"Wait," Lucy blinked, cutting her off. Surely she had heard that wrong. "Babies?"

Porlyusica glared at her for a moment before giving a tsk and rising from the bed. "Damn child," she mumbled under her breath. "I know I've taught her better than this."

Lucy was at a loss for words as she watched the woman move around the room. The words the woman uttered did nothing for the questions she had cluttering her brain. There were no babies. Just her own so how was her separation from Laxus putting others at risk? She watched the woman pull a machine from the wall and rolled it towards her bed. "Porly. I'm…I don't get it."

The pink haired woman gestured for her to lay back and pulled a wand looking device from the side of the machine. "Raise your sweater over your stomach," She ordered. "We don't have dragon hearing so we're going to have to use this."

She watched the woman press a few buttons and a strange image popped up on a screen that was on the device. She vaguely remembered seeing it once before when Levy had been pregnant but she was at a loss as to its use. The woman picked up a bottle and flipped it over her exposed stomach. She hissed as cold, gelatinous fluid hit her skin and she grimaced as the wand pressed into it to spread it seemingly all over the damn place.

"I'll admit," Porlyusica commented as she watched the screen and moved the wand around. "I was a little surprised when Wendy told me. This doesn't really run in the family from what I can remember."

That wasn't really any reassurance. She suddenly feared that the woman was going to tell her she was giving birth to an actual dragon. Given the prophecy and the way things were going, she really wouldn't be surprised. But how the fuck do you give birth to a damn dragon? Don't they come from an egg or something? She'd been there when Yukino had given birth. That girl's screams still echoed in her head and made her fear her own delivery. And that had only been a baby. How the hell did a human pass an egg big enough to hold a dragon baby? She shuddered at the thought. There was no way she was sitting on an egg. Lu, girlfriend. You really need to save the imagination for writing.

"Ah. There they are."

Lucy blinked away her thoughts and tilted her head to look at what the woman was referring to. The image looked strange, fuzzy almost. She had no clue what she was looking at as little markers were placed on the image. It looked like a kidney bean with something in it. Two little flutters of movement, two little… "Oh god. I am having a dragon egg," she barely breathed.

"Take this life, Empty inside…"

"Wha-No!" The older woman scoffed. "How did you get this far in life being so damn stupid?"

"But-"

"This," the woman cut in as she pointed at the screen. "This is a baby here and then another one is right here."

She stared at the screen, her jaw falling slack. There was no way. She could see them clearly now that they'd been pointed out. It was one thing to be told there was life growing inside of her body. But it was something entirely different to see it. In black and white. Literally. "That…t-two?"

"Yep," Porlyusica said flatly as she turned her head to look back at her. "They don't look like much right now but that's them."

"I…" Lucy had no words. Words had always been her thing but suddenly her brain ceased to function properly. Two, not one. Two. It baffled her. But more importantly, it astounded her to see their little bodies on the screen. They were so tiny, no bigger than the tip of her thumb on the screen. And weird. They didn't resemble anything close to a baby. An alien maybe, but definitely not a baby. "A-are they…should they look like that?"

The older woman snorted and nodded her head. "Yes, child. That is what they should look like," she chuckled (which was odd and eerie unto itself). "You're what? Four weeks so that is the same as twelve…yes. They are about three inches long, give or take a couple of centimeters oh! But wait."

She watched the woman press another button and suddenly the room was filled with rapid heartbeats. One followed the other as if they were creating their own drumline solo. It was the most beautiful thing she'd ever heard. And it broke her heart. She shouldn't be seeing this or hearing that without him there. Tears pricked at her eyes and she turned away to wipe at a drop that slid down her cheek. She didn't even know where he was or if he really was ok. She tried reaching down inside of herself to feel for him but that only brought on a wave of nausea and vertigo.

"You can't be doing that shit either."

She looked back to see Porlyusica hanging the wand back on the side of the monitor and frowned. The image of the two little lives were gone and silence fell heavily over the room. "D-do what?"

The elderly pinkette brought a wrinkled hand up to wipe at her face with a heavy sigh. "Use your magic, any of it."

"Hold on, what?" Lucy practically screamed. She wasn't allowed to use her magic? At all? That didn't sit well with her. She couldn't help but wonder what would happen if they were attacked again. She'd be defenseless.

"I'm already dead. I'll rise to fall again."

"I don't mean for the long run, Idiot." The older woman said with a roll of her eyes. "Hold your damn horses and remember you're mated. For those with a brain, you know the ones that don't go running off on their own but actually STAY with their mates, they don't have issues like this. But you, in all of your infinite stupidity believed a lie so no-"

"Just wait a damn minute there, you Old Bat," Lucy cut in. "It's not like I asked for this to happen and what would you have done in my place? You're so damn quick to pass judgement yet when have you ever gone through any of this?"

"You're wrong."

Her brows furrowed as she stared at the woman. The reply was so low she wasn't even sure she'd heard it or if it had been her imagination. "I'm wrong?"

Porlyusica pushed up from the bed without another word and rolled the machine back across the room where it had been. She turned with a lost look that Lucy had never seen the woman wear. "I've been there before."

"Been where?"

The older pinkette looked down at the clasped hands in front of her, her foot shuffling nervously against the worn wood floor. "Where you are, young and in love. Mavis, was I so in love," She laughed sadly. "But...someone beat me to it. I didn't get the chance you have because I didn't take it. I kept quiet, ran and when I realized how I felt, it was too late. He had already taken a wife and had a baby on the way."

Lucy started to ask but the pieces of the puzzle started to form in her head. The images it created slacked her jaw until she was full on gaping at the woman. "G-gramps?"

Tears filled the older woman's eyes but she raised a hand to wave her off. "It doesn't matter. What does is the fact that you have two slayer children growing inside of you. Right now you're weak and it will only get worse because of this...separation. You have to go back home, Lucy. If you don't, this will only get worse."

There were so many questions she wanted to ask. It did matter to her, it mattered greatly. This woman was one of the least understood because she kept everyone at arm's length. She'd just been privy to a personal moment and she wanted to know more about her. But she also knew that pushing would only make it worse. It would turn her back into the closed up, crotchety woman she portrayed to the world. She let out a heavy sigh. "How much worse?"

"The babies don't just feed on what you eat," Porlyusica shrugged. "Which given the looks of you isn't much and I know what you have has been coming back up. They depend on your magic as well to help balance them. Not being able to eat right, my guess is that they've been feeding on your magic storage and soon that will run out. We both know what happens when you deplete all your magic."

"I can feel you falling away…"

Lucy swallowed the knot that instantly formed in her throat and pressed a hand over her stomach. This was one more mistake that was all her fault. Too stubborn to see the truth of things, she'd not only placed herself in danger but the babies as well. "B-but how is going home going to fix that?"

The older woman studied her for a moment before moving back over to take a seat on the bed again. "Mates need to be near each other, not just for love but for strength. You are two parts of a whole. Without your mate around, it weakens you to the point of...well...the only word for it is heart sickness. It's what killed Marux. He denied himself his mate."

"Wait you knew?" Lucy gasped. That was definitely news given not one of them had ever heard his name or even a reference until this whole thing began. And this woman had known all along?

"Of course I did," Porlyusica smirked. "Benefit of being the quiet one on the outskirts. You see more than people think. But this could kill you without being pregnant. Given that you are, it's making it worse and I can't guarantee that you can keep this up much longer."

Lucy's eyes dropped to the blanket in her lap and she could only blink. That was no easier to hear than being told she had cancer and only had a week to live. It scared the hell out of her but what scared her more was the fact that she didn't know how or when she could make it right. The negative nelly that had been with her the last couple of weeks went straight for the jugular. What if he doesn't come back? What if he's already dead and you'll be soon following. She gave a shake of her head. She couldn't allow herself to think that way. The pressure that had been squeezing the life from her heart had abated. That had to mean something. She had to believe that meant he wasn't dead. But what if I'm too late anyway? What if he doesn't want me anymore? "How do I fix it?" She sniffled as she raised her head to peer at the woman through tear blurred eyes.

"I don't have that answer, Lucy," The elderly woman sighed as she reached over to place a hand on her leg. "But a lot of people have risked and sacrificed everything so that fate could happen, so that you and Laxus could have what you have. Don't waste that, it's too precious."

"No longer the lost, No longer the same…And I can see you starting to break."

The soft murmur of voices pulled him from his sleep and Laxus' eyes fluttered open. He wasn't dead but as bad as he hurt, he probably should be wishing he was. He also had no clue where he was or how he'd gotten there. Instead of a blue sky above him or even trees, he found himself staring up at a dark wood planked ceiling. It was oddly reminiscent of the room he and Freed had back at the inn. But there was no way that could be. They'd been miles from town, a good ten or fifteen if his calculations had been correct. Freed was strong, but seriously? He weighed a shit ton. He knew, he stepped on the scale weekly. Definitely not fucking dead… He reasoned this could not be what the afterlife entailed. Hell maybe but definitely not heaven. He shifted in attempt to push himself up only to groan and go deathly still. White, hot agony ripped through his shoulder, stealing his breath. Ok so don't move.

"Oh Laxus, you're awake."

He turned his head carefully to see Freed and Virgo coming towards him. He was definitely back at the inn. He opened his mouth to speak but paused. His tongue felt like a baseball bat, heavy and thick in his mouth. And his saliva glands, he was pretty sure they had been removed. Cottonmouth had to feel better than the parched, brittle sensation that dominated his oral cavity. "Water," he grimaced as he tried scraping his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He hoped the friction would somehow restore a little balance and spur fluid production.

"That is the effects of the little bit of poison left in your system," Virgo asserted. "You are most fortunate that you are a slayer and have grown a tolerance thanks to your dealings with the Poison Dragon Slayer."

Laxus only acknowledged the Maid's words with a hum as he sipped from the straw that Freed brought to his lips. Once he started, it was hard getting himself to stop. The cool liquid was like manna from the heavens. "How…how long have I been out?" He frowned when the straw was pulled from his mouth.

"You need to take it slow," Freed warned before setting the cup down on the bedside table. "It has been a day and Wendy should be here soon to tend to your wounds and any other side effects of the poison."

He relaxed against the pillows and started to nod when it registered that the Rune Mage had mentioned the youngest slayer. It triggered a cascade of recollection. The first and foremost being his previous desire to see his mate. "Lucy…she isn't coming with her is she?"

"No Laxus," The green haired mage said sympathetically. "She…well it would seem she did not take the news of your injury very well."

"I'll keep you alive, If you show me the way."

The Lightning Dragon Slayer's blood ran cold. "Is she…the baby…" Fear filled every cell of his body and he couldn't bring himself to ask. He'd done this. He had chosen to take a mission. He'd gone against his gut feeling and went into a fight he shouldn't have. It still confused him as to why his magic had failed when it never had before. I could…I could've died. He clearly recalled the way it had felt when her heart had stopped, for just the briefest of moments. He'd felt it and there was no denying that she had to have felt it too. That feeling of absolute despair, the vice that clutched at his heart…the overwhelming need to go with her. And they hadn't even been fully mated. Oh god what have I done?

"She and the baby are fine. For now," Freed frowned. "But according to Master, she went a little…mad on Gajeel and Cobra. Being as sick as she has been, it is n-"

"She's still sick?"

"Yes, Laxus-sama. Hime has been very ill," Virgo responded sadly. "Big Brother said it is weakening her."

Laxus blinked as he stared up at the ceiling. He'd known she was sick when she first found out. Everyone had assured him that was normal. "But…why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Tell you what?" Freed questioned. "You locked yourself up in your home and drank yourself into oblivion. You would not have listened had we tried."

"I woul-"

"No, Laxus!" Freed nearly yelled, effectively cutting him off for the first time. Ever. "You would not have. Cobra, Natsu, Sting. They all tried at various times over the course of that week to speak with you. They went to your home and was met with a drunk, obstinate Dragon Slayer."

He glared at his longtime friend before turning away. "You wouldn't fucking understand."

The Rune Mage lifted a thin hand to pinch the bridge of his own nose. "Laxus, We all understand. You are hurting. If I were in your shoes, a rift like this with Mira would devastate me. However, I would not simply roll over and allow her to walk away."

"Forever - and ever, the scars will remain…"

"Is that what you think I did?" Laxus roared only to groan in pain. He raised his good hand to press against the bandage wrapped over his shoulder. Wendy needs to get the hell here. "Just rolled over like a fucking dog and LET her walk out? I didn't have a fucking choice."

"I call, as you would say, bullshit," Freed sighed. "You have a choice as much as she does and when she rose up against you, you allowed her to walk. What does that show her?"

He felt his brain stutter a moment. The other mage never cursed. It wasn't part of the guy's vocabulary so the sound of it gave him room for pause. "That…that I fucking care enough to give her space."

"Wrong," Freed quickly rebutted. "You tell her you love her, yet your actions clearly tell her you are not willing to fight for her. While you, my friend, have had a very…thorough history with women, you still have a lot to learn when delving into the ways to handle them."

Did he just…did he just throw my past in my face? "What the hell does that even mean?"

The green haired man huffed in exasperation before waving a hand almost dismissively. "It means you are an overbearing oaf when you do not need to be, and a stumbling buffoon when you should be playing the part of the oaf."

"Freed…" Laxus growled in warning.

"Laxus," The Green haired man whined as if to mock him. "Women seek men who inherently speak to their need to be protected. That is not saying they are weak, not by any means. Mira, Lucy, Cana, most of the women in our guild can easily take care of themselves. But they seek men who they feel will protect them so that they can let that guard down." Freed paused and gave him a pointed look. "They want warriors, not pacifists. Warriors fight for what they believe in, they fight for a cause."

"Freed-san speaks the truth. He is very wise beyond his years," Virgo finally spoke. The corners of her lips twitched as though she wanted to smile, but it didn't quite happen before she turned a look of longing towards the green haired mage. "Do you like to punish?"

A deep blush stained Freed's cheeks as he stuttered, "I-I am afraid I do not understand the meaning of your question."

Laxus glanced between the two and gave a roll of his eyes. He knew all too well what the Maid Spirit was about. Nice or not, that woman was geared for a singular purpose. "She's into pain, she's always trying to get Static to punish her."

"Oh...OH. No, I am sorry but I am not into that and I have a girlfriend. B-but thank you. I think."

"Are you two fucking done there?" The Lightning Dragon Slayer groaned. "And Static's got a warrior. She has a fucking dragon slayer, how much more can she possibly fucking want?"

"And she is a princess who needs a dragon to fight FOR her," The Rune mage replied flatly. "You have abandoned the most important war to be had."

"God help me I've come undone. Out of the light of the sun."

Laxus stared at the ceiling, his fingers curling into his fist. If it weren't for the fact that his arm felt like it was ripped from the socket, he'd most likely punch the mage. He loved Lucy, more than life itself, and their entire relationship had been one huge struggle. There were problems at every turn. "Excuse me?" He growled. "I do fight for her, every fucking job. This whole damn time, with all of this shit going on. It's all been FOR her."

"No, that has been the war on your family," Freed smirked. "The most important fight will always be the one for her heart. While it was not your fault, her heart was injured. Instead of staying in the fight, you allowed her pain to dictate the outcome. You allowed her to walk out, and you have yet to go prove to her that her heart is yours by bringing her home."

He could only blink at the words. They were not so different than the things the mage had said over the course of the week. And he knew Freed was right. Hell, he'd planned on going home to do just that, but that was before. "It's not that easy, especially now…"

"Of course it is," Freed shrugged. "Go be the man I know you to be and simply drag her home. By her hair if you must."

"Yeah. Ok," Laxus responded noncommittally. He wasn't stupid. With what had just happened, waking up to know that someone or something had called in a serious miracle, it was past that point now. He couldn't go back. How could he bring her home when he'd just nearly killed not only himself, but her and the baby? Looking her in the eye seemed like an absolute impossibility now. She would hold only contempt for him, and she had every right. He'd endangered them all. He had once believed the only way to avoid ever being without her was by mating. Now it laid on him like a curse. If something happened to him, it would rob the world of the beauty that was her. He'd not just tied his fate to hers. Now, she could cease to exist if something happened to him. Where would that leave their child if he managed to keep them alive long enough for it to be born?

"Let me get the Lacrima," Freed said, cutting into his thoughts. "I am sure you would like to speak to her."

"No," He replied hastily before catching himself. As bad as he wanted nothing more than to hear her voice, to hear from her that she was ok. He just couldn't. Not right now. "I'm tired…I'll call her later."

"I can feel you falling away…"

Gajeel paused in front of the door, his hand hesitant to reach out for the handle. He could hear soft chattering inside and glanced back at the two men with him. Cobra looked at him expectantly while the tall Seith Mage looked as reticent as he felt. All of the men had basically been barred from her room since the day before. Lucy had refused to speak to anyone at first but then the women had been allowed entry in the evening. He knew why and could say he understood. They'd kept Laxus' mission a secret from her. But they had good reason, at least he believed so. But her wrath couldn't and wouldn't be avoided any longer. He was worried about her. The only information they'd been allowed was that she was ok. He needed to see for himself, his inner dragon all but demanded it.

"Go on, Asshole," The Poison Dragon Slayer prodded.

With a roll of his eyes, he turned the knob and slowly pushed the door open. He waited to hear the screeching voice of the cranky, musty, old battle axe telling them to take their smelly asses back downstairs. Instead, he poked his head in to find the women sitting around giggling. All but Lucy. She sat on the bed, silent with her head bowed. She seemed oblivious to the conversations around her and to the odd box that lay at the foot of her bed. His eyes followed her line of sight to the communication lacrima that her fingers clutched, her hold so tight that her knuckles were white. It shocked him to know that the whimper he heard was his own. The sound drew all eyes to him and he stumbled into the room when a shove was delivered to his back.

"Uh, Come on Ladies," Levy spoke when the room fell silent. "Let's give Lu a little break."

He gave his mate an appreciative nod and squeezed the fingers she slipped into his palm in passing. She was the only one that didn't look at him as though he were the scum of the earth when they passed. Erza, Laki, Yukino all gave him the look of death. Laki especially. He was pretty sure out of the three of them, she could and would find a way to slit his throat. And enjoy it. Lisanna, while her talking had slowly returned, she still looked out of it and paid him no mind. Flare eyed him and the other two males with him suspiciously. And Kinana, bless her heart, didn't look at any of them when she passed. He was prepared for full out anger like the first three, so he'd gladly take being ignored.

When the door closed behind the last of the ladies, he made his way over to the bed next to hers and took a seat. She hadn't acknowledged their presence by so much as a look but he could tell she was acutely aware of their presence. Her thin frame tensed just slightly when Cobra took a seat next to the box at the foot of the bed. Her silence screamed her anger at him, and the way her thumb brushed over the small lacrima com in her hand broke his heart. "Has he called yet, Bunny?"

"No."

Her response was so soft that he almost questioned hearing it at all. "Have…have you tried calling him?"

She let out a heavy sigh before she lifted her head, her usually bright coffee colored eyes steely in appearance. "Yes. I did. And before you ask, no. He was not awake yet when I called."

"No longer the lost, no longer the same…"

He felt himself flinch at the ice that clung to her words. If he didn't know any better, he'd swear that damn Ice Prick had given her lessons or at the very least, lent her his magic. It didn't take a rocket scientist, or the words that Bleach Breath was mouthing to him, to know she definitely ten kinds of pissed. And knowing it was directed at him, part of it anyway, gripped his heart like a vice. "Bunny, I-"

"I'd just stay quiet, Rust Bucket," Cobra mumbled from across the room.

"Stay the hell out of my head, Erik," she snapped without so much as a glance in his direction. "Why are you three here? Came up to not tell me where my mate is? Or perhaps to not tell me you knew he'd gone out?"

"Bun-"

"Blon-"

"Cosp-"

"No!" Lucy shouted to effectively cut all three of them off. "You guys should know better. Gaj...Erik, you two should definitely know better. What were any of you thinking letting him go and not telling me?"

He suddenly felt like a five year old child being scolded. It didn't feel good knowing he was on the receiving end of her wrath but they'd had their reasons. "We didn't fucking tell you because we thought it was for your own good!"

"For my own good?" She sarcastically laughed. "Really?"

Cobra cut in with a growl. "Blondie, just calm the hell down and let us explain."

"Yeah, Cosplayer," Bickslow pleaded. "You…you didn't see him. The state he was in, before he left. He needed something to get his mind off of all this…stuff."

"And my situation was any better?" She scoffed in reply as she glared a hole into his damn face with her eyes. "So he was drinking himself into fucking oblivion while I was worshiping the porcelain fucking gods at Gajeel's. Where's my trip to get my mind off of all this stuff?"

"Bunny, that isn't what we fucking meant."

Lucy let out a sigh and turned to him with imploring eyes. "No, I know exactly what you meant. I do. And thank you for thinking of his welfare when I couldn't, but did ANY of you stop to think about the bigger picture here?"

The Poison Dragon slayer gasped, a look of horror taking up residence on his face. "Oh fuck…"

"What? Not a pretty picture is it?"

Cobra frowned, clearly flinching in discomfort. "Blondie…I…"

Gajeel's gaze flickered back and forth between the two and growled in frustration. It annoyed him too no end that the little Bleach Brained Shit could hear thoughts. It gave him a one up and what was worse that it apparently wasn't anything good. "Would you two stop speaking in fucking code? Bix and I don't fucking speak Jedi mind shit."

"Speak for yourself," Bickslow chuckled uneasily. "Yoda taught me a shit tons of stuff."

"More like your drunk ass girlfriend needs to stop dropping acid in your fucking drinks," he spat back.

"Hey Assholes," Cobra growled. "I'd probably shut the fuck up because she's about two blinks away from going full fucking Kaiju on your asses."

"And I can see you starting to break."

His attention snapped to the seething Blonde on the bed. It was like a flashback to months before when her mate had been laying in the same bed she was in now. And the Pink Haired Flaming Asshole…

Natsu grinned and stood up to climb on top of the bed. "Well you see, when Luce gets angry and she activates Scary Lucy. This dark cloud comes down over her head and a creepy black aura starts to appear. Then her hair starts to raise up and fans out like snakes covered in fire." To emphasize his words, he brought his hands up to his head. Flames ignited on his fingers as he wiggled them about, making the flames dance.

"Ok this is just getting stupid Natsu. I do not look like that!"

The fire dragon slayer ignored her as continued on, his shoulders and back hunching over as his hands dropping in front of him like monster claws. "She grows like Laxus, her body towering over whoever she sees as her enemy. Then this shadow comes down, covering the top half of her face and all you can see are these red glowing eyes. Her mouth gets way bigger than it already is and her teeth like grow into these sharp, spiky things and I am pretty sure they could cut through metal! Then she starts stomping around just like a dragon and screeching just like one too! And the words come out like bright white bombs of light!" He jumped off the bed and stomped around, imitating the kaiju-like monster he'd created with his words. "I AM SCARY LUCY AND I WILL SMASH YOU ALL FOR DIGGING IN MY UNDERWEAR DRAWER!" Fire erupted from his mouth to add to his visual.

"Natsu Dragneel…"

"Sorry…," he breathed before giving a shake to his head to clear the image.

"Yeah," Bickslow whispered. "Sorry Lucy."

"I'll keep you alive, if you show me the way"

"What you…," Lucy started but paused. Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath before she started up again in a softer tone. "You boys didn't stop to think about the fact that number one, we're mated. Meaning we're tied to each other. Magic, emotions, strength. Because of our separation, which I fully take blame in, and this pregnancy…it's been draining us both. My magic containers are being drained almost constantly and I'm about on fucking empty because of the…well…" She seemed to struggle for a moment, looking at them all as if contemplating. "The babies. And you breathe one damn word of this before I've had a chance to tell Laxus, I will kill you all myself."

Gajeel's hung head snapped up, his eyes blinking. Did she just… "Wait. Babies? As in more than one?"

"That's generally what that means," she grimaced.

No one seemed to have words to say, the room falling silent for a few pregnant moment before the Seith Mage dared to break it. "So…you're having a litter?"

"No you stupid jackass," Cobra sneered. "She's having twins!"

The celestial mage threw the communication lacrima she'd been clutching in her hand at the Poison Dragon Slayer's head. It only missed him by a mere inch because he was fast enough to duck. "Let's scream that a little fucking louder, Pine-Sol. I don't think the other slayers down on the first floor were able to make out everything you said."

"S-sorry…" The maroon haired man pouted. "Wasn't thinking."

"Then shut the fuck up and let me finish," she growled.

"Yes, Ma'am."

The quick, submissive response that came was so off putting that Gajeel could not help but stare at the other slayer. The man didn't back down from anyone, ever. It only served as testimony to how much she was respected. And it wasn't just her. He knew they all greatly looked up to Lucy and Laxus. She was not just his sister, his kin. She was his Alpha and not because some age old prophecy said she was. It was because she'd more than earned it. "Go on, Bunny. Continue, please."

She gave a small nod of her head. "If I'm being drained, then so is he. Gaj, remember when Levy was missing and all it took for me to take you down to the mud was jump on you? Me. An itty-bitty drowned, muddy ass Bunny was able to take down a dragon in one blow."

"This scar, sure it's a reminder of my failure. But it's also a reminder of what I've gained. All of you are my family, you're mine and I'd gladly take a million scars in the pursuit of protecting what is mine."

Her words came back to haunt him. It was something he was hard pressed to forget. There were still times he woke in the middle of the night. Panting, sweating, heart racing until he spotted the small blunette in bed next to him. He hadn't realized it then. He'd attributed the exhaustion to the mental and physical stress of constantly searching. He'd never once questioned his magic or the possibility that it wasn't being on the go, it was the separation that had drained him. And the way she'd been returned… "Bunny. I…"

"I know and I forgive your lapse in judgement," She said, cutting him off. "But he could have been killed. I felt it, I knew just how close he came. I didn't need Loke to show up last night and tell me what had happened, or almost happened. And had he gone, that would have been the end of me and the babies."

"Give me a sign…There's something buried in the words"

Gajeel didn't bother to hold back the whimper that clawed up his throat. The sound echoed in the room and just a quick glance at the other slayer told him that he was not alone in his shame. The thought of her gone, the thought of him being to blame only trudged up memories. His eyes burned and he turned his head to hide the tears that blurred his vision. He'd beaten her, pushed her and then had been the reason she had already died once. They were truths that knifed his heart. She was his kin and he'd done that. All of it and could easily be blamed had something happened to Laxus. All because he hadn't pulled his head out of his own ass. He was so busy protecting her that he didn't stop to accept protecting her meant protecting Laxus as well. He didn't think about all of the shit his own dragon had taught him about when it came to having a mate. The responsibilities that came with it. And sadly, he was with his teacher the longest. He should know better.

"But that isn't the worst part in my book…"

Mournful, soft words had him wiping at his face before he dared to look back at her. His mouth opened to question but Bickslow beat him to the punch.

"Lucy…how…worse?"

She gave the Seith Mage a pained frown. "Bicks, I know you may not understand this. But they will. This is bigger than just Laxus and I. We were chosen to lead the Tatsu. We swore an oath to each other that this family came first. Even before ourselves and we'd protect it with our lives. We're meant to protect the next generation from falling into the wrong hands. Not just for the Tatsu's or the guild's sake but all of Earthland." Her eyes came to rest on Gajeel's and he found himself wanting to look away but couldn't. "A dragon can't fly if you cut off a wing. It can't move if its legs are ripped asunder…It can't fight if you remove the head. It dies and every other part with it. Had he… had…"

"We get it Blondie," Cobra whispered as he pushed up from his spot to crawl up next to her. "We lose everything if even one of us is taken out."

Gajeel struggled to find words that just would not come. Levy told him all the time that he usually didn't see past the here and now. And it was true. It was a bad habit that even after all these years of being away from the influences of Phantom Lord, he still hadn't broke. The smell of her tears burned his nose and he could practically feel her heartache as he watched her curl up against the Poison Dragon Slayer's side.

"Pride has to take a damn back seat when ya dealing with a mate or kin, ya Little Shit. Remember that. Throw it right out the damn window because it'll get you or the ones you love hurt. Or worse. I'm not raising a fucking idiot here. You kick the damn bucket before you're meant to and I'll raise your ass back up just to rip your head off," the ornery, metal mountain of a beast growled.

Gajeel blinked and curled his small, upper lip up into a sneer. "That don't make no fucking sense, Tin Ca-OW!" He reached up to rub at the back of his head. "What the fuck you hittin' me for?"

"Because you're a little fucking asshole who doesn't listen," the Metal Dragon roared as he curled his tail back around his large body. "Stop questioning the dumb crap and listen to what I'm sayin. I won't always fucking be right here and this shit's important."

The five year old boy gave a roll of his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I'm listening…Jerk."

"Give me a sign…Your tears are adding to the flood."

The memory warmed his chest to the point that it felt like fire, burning a hole in it. It wasn't a matter of listening. He'd listened to every word his father had told him. But like all children, he'd let them go right out the other ear with the thought that Metalicana would always be there. He pushed up from the bed he sat on and moved to crawl up on the other side of her, whimpering when her hand came up to cup his cheek as he nuzzled the side of her head. "I'm so sorry, Imouto," he whispered against her hair as he felt wet, salty drops of his own slide down his cheek.

The room fell into awkward but painful silence, the air thick enough to cut with a knife. It felt hauntingly familiar to the day he'd woken up so long ago to find the oversized, crusty ass dragon gone. It felt too close to the way he'd felt when he thought he'd lost his mate. He felt like he had when he'd been told his child had been ripped from his grasp before he'd ever gotten a chance to hold it. His chest ached and he felt alone despite the others in the room. The only difference was the people he feared losing this time weren't gone. Yet. One, he had trapped between his body and that of another slayer. The other was lying, unconscious, at an inn in some dinky little village where he couldn't help him. He couldn't risk losing anyone else because he didn't think he could handle the pain of it.

The bed shifted and he glanced up long enough to see Bickslow taking the spot that Cobra had vacated at the end of the bed. He didn't really care if he looked like a child in that moment. Instead he buried his face back into the mass of blonde locks and inhaled the soothing strawberries, cream and rain scent that was his sister's.

"Cosplayer…"

"Hmmm?"

"Um. What is this?"

Gajeel sighed and raised his head only to choke. The Seith Mage had taken to snooping and had lifted the latched lid of the case next to him. An odd assortment of glass tubes were neatly displayed against a deep purple, velvet inlay. Most were the strangest shapes and sizes. One looked like a rake, another like a wand with a small round, domed tip at the end, another was just a simple straight wand. But it was the one that was in Bickslow's hand that had him gasping for air. It looked way too similar to a glass dildo attached to a small machine thing.

"Oh..." Lucy said as she shifted to sit between the two slayers. "That…uh…was a gift from Laki."

"For what?" Cobra scoffed before he attempted to do a very failed impression of the woodmake mage. "Oh, Lucy's man isn't here so let's get her some…weird…kinky sex contraption?"

"Kinky," The Seith Mage chuckled. "This is definitely some kinky ass shit."

"It's NOT what it looks like, you perverts," Lucy frowned with a roll of her eyes. "It's a violet wand."

Gajeel knew exactly what it was and what it was intended for when she said the name. "Yeah. I've heard of it," he flatly commented as he shifted to sit up. "It's a kinky sex toy.

"Just give me a sign…there's something buried in the words."

"Well that isn't what she bought it for, Onii," she said before sticking her tongue out at him. "It emits little electrical pulses."

"Yeah, during sex," Cobra snickered.

"I promise you that thing can't come close to Laxus but-"

"Oh. We all remember the night the lights went out in Magnolia," Bickslow cackled.

"You guys are assholes," she moaned.

"And don't you fucking forget it," Gajeel smirked. "But you love us that way."

Lucy gave a sigh and glanced between the three men. "Do I have to?"

"I really don't see another fucking way around it, Toots," The Poison Dragon Slayer shrugged.

Gajeel's face scrunched up as he blatantly stared at Cobra as though he was officially a short train rider. Helmet and all. "First you call Kinana, Doll Face and now you calling Bunny, Toots. You need to lay the fuck off the old gangster movies."

"Only when you stop watching the fucking Food Network," Cobra shot back.

"You watch the cooking channel?"

"Yes, Bicks," Lucy sighed. "Constantly."

The Iron Dragon slayer threw up his hands and shook his head. There was nothing wrong with him watching the damn cooking channel. It had some really good programs on it. Ok, maybe not the one weird chick that was married but always cooking for the gay couple. She was just too dry and rich for his taste. Always using those big French words and shit… "Will you guys shut the fuck up about me liking to watch people cook?"

"Now that's kinky," Bickslow chuckled with a wag of his brows.

"Not like that, you stupid fuck," Gajeel sneered with a roll of his eyes.

"Ok, would you two shut the fuck up so Toots can finish?" Cobra groaned before looking at the Celestial Mage. "So really. What the fuck is that thing for?"

"Ya know how you eat…well…anything that would kill our asses and Gajeel eats iron?"

The maroon haired man gave a shrug. "Yeah, we eat our element."

"I'm mated with the Lightning Dragon Slayer…"

"But…you aren't a slayer," Bickslow cut in.

She chuckle and shook her head. "No, Bicks. I'm not. But I do carry his magic and…"

Gajeel wanted to slap himself in the head for being so damn stupid. Maybe all those hits to the damn head with his stupid fucking tail really did knock my brain loose. "And you're pregnant with two of his lightning bolts," he finished for her. "I get it. They're draining your shit and this will help stave some of the loss."

"Oh," The Seith Mage smiled. "So this is for the babies? Ha…you have babies like me now."

"Yeah," she chuckled before pointing a finger at him. "But I will be damned if they are wearing matching onesies next Christmas."

Gajeel shuddered at the horrifying image that came to mind. It was worse than some of the most fucked up awkward family photos he'd seen. But then an idea struck and he leaned against her with a wide grin on his face. "I don't know, Bunny. If it's girls, I vote rabbit ears for Easter."

Cobra, Lucy and Bickslow all stared at him as if he'd grown a third head before they all yelled in unison. "NO!"

"Forever - and ever, the scars will remain."

I know. They aren't back together yet. But…plot. Good news is she's having twins!

The beast in this chapter is truly called the Manticore. It's from Persian Mythology. Quite an interesting animal. wiki/Manticore Have a read if you'd like

I really have to thank everyone for the awesome reviews. I try to get back to each and every one of you but sometimes I get distracted with trying to write more for you guys. I do so appreciate them and adore each and every one!

But, now I must get back to writing some more! I promise it won't be another month and a half wait! I should be able to get back on a regular posting schedule, never more than 2 weeks!

Big hugs!

Princess Nana