"Keep em closed," Natsu said cheerfully as he gently led Lucy down the path to their new home. He had purposely set them just outside of the entrance to the forest wanting his mate to be surprised when she saw their new home.
"I am carrying a baby, this isn't very smart, what if I trip over a root?" Lucy laughed as she clutched Layla tighter to her chest as she could feel Igneel wiggle in his father's arms.
"It's okay Luce, we cleared a path to the house it's even paved and everything," Natsu said calmly as he quickly disintegrated a large stick that had fallen on the path before his mate got near it.
"Wow, going all out?" Lucy laughed as she felt her husband's magic expand and contract.
"You have no idea," the pink haired man said nervously as they continued onward. Not too long the house came in to view and Natsu placed as hand on Lucy's shoulder forcing her to stop, "okay open them."
"Natsu!" Lucy gapped in shock as she gazed at her new home.
The multistory building before seemed more like an apartment complex than a single family home. The mixed blue stone that wrapped around the bottom section contrasted beautifully with the dark wood of the top section and the wrap around porch. The small pond that she could see off to the side rippled slightly as the cattails along the edge danced in the slight breeze that filtered through the trees.
"What do you think," the pink haired man asked anxiously as he looked over at his wife.
"Is this it? Is this really our house?" Lucy asked in awe as she continued to stare at the building afraid that it would disappear. Despite its large size she could tell that this building would be more welcoming and feel like home, much more than the Hartfilia mansion ever did.
"Yep," Nastu said as he breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Oh let's go in," the blonde nearly shouted as she tried to contain her excitement.
"After you," the man said as he watched his wife quickly race across the stone pathway that lead straight to the few stairs on the porch, as she reached the door she turned around and shouted.
"Natsu come on," her happiness contagious as the dragon slayer broke out in a large grin and jogged up to the front door as she turned the handle.
"Lushi!" the blue haired cat cried out in joy as he quickly few down from his space and latched himself on to the blonde head of hair.
"Hello Happy," Lucy giggled out as she scratched the cat behind his ears.
"Let me see," the feline said happily as Natsu introduced him to the new additions to their family, "but I just wanted a brother, take the other back," Happy said firmly as he waved to Igneel.
"No way you stupid cat!" the celestial mage cried out in shock as she clutched Layla closer to her body.
"Happy you go near my daughter and you'll be sorry," Natsu growled out as he placed an arm over Lucy's shoulder.
"Ahhh Lushi turned Natsu against me," the cat cried out as he flew up to his loft.
"What's that?" the blonde asked as she looked up to the wooden platform that was braced between three pillars which covered at least half of the living room.
"Happy's area, so he can hid from the hatchlings if they get too rough," Natsu spoke quietly as he watched Lucy walk out of his arms as she took in the large empty space, the only interesting feature in the room was a massive black stone fireplace that took up half of the wall on the right.
"Nice big room," Lucy smiled happily as she spun around on the hard wood floor.
"Yeah I figured we could get new furniture since most of your stuff was broken and worn down anyways, but I knew you would want to pick it out," the fire dragon slayer said feeling proud that his mate looked ecstatic about the prospect of decorating. Moving forward he pointed to the left as he said "the kitchen is over here,"
"Natsu these are the latest appliances," Lucy asked in shock as she took in the shiny new pieces.
"Only the best for you," the pink haired man confirmed as Lucy looked at the room.
A large island filled the center of the room standing at her hip, the large open surface on top black granite. Both a wood burning oven and gas range were fitted between cabinets and counter space that ran along the far wall including a large sink and top of the line dish washer. And two extra-large fridges sat against the left side.
"Why do we have two fridges?" the blonde asked opening both finding them to be most empty.
"Well I want a big family," the pink haired man began as he watched Lucy narrow her eyes at him, "and even if we don't have one we have two more dragon slayers to feed," he said quickly watching as she paled slightly.
"Mavis," the blonde sighed in fear as she realized how much food she would have to make on a daily basis just to keep up with her husbands and two children's appetite. Let's hope one of them enjoys cooking as much as I do.
"Here is the pantry," Natsu said opening the two doors to the right of the fridges revealing a large area with build in shelves, happily Lucy spied the many items she had left from the house she had been staying at. Gently she placed her hands on her keys, sending a silent thank you to her spirits for bringing them here and putting them away.
"What's over here?" Lucy said motioning to the hallway under the landing which held only two doors; one was cracked open reveling a half bath while the other was closed tight.
"Oh go ahead and open it," he said as he grinned widely at her, turning the handle cautiously she looked in the once close doff room as she gasped in awe for the near hundredth time today.
"Natsu, you built me a library," she said in glee as she walked in to the room, shelves lined every wall several of which were completely blank, her pink sofa sat in the center and under the bay window was a cushioned bench.
"It's not as big as Levy's," the pink haired man said sheepishly as he thought about the massive room that Gajeel had built onto his house for his mate.
"I don't care it's wonderful, oh and you even moved my writing desk in here," Lucy squealed happily as she turned the corner around one shelf finding her desk tucked away in the far corner in front of a window, several boxes that she guessed contained the content of her desk sat around it waiting for her to unpack them and but put in their proper place.
"Yeah and pull that switch," Natsu said as Lucy did ask asked she felt a rush of magic and turned towards her husband in curiosity. She noticed that his lips were moving but she couldn't hear anything that his was saying.
"I can't hear you," the blonde said as she shook her head. Natsu pointed to the switched and widely mouthed pull it again, doing so she finally heard Igneel as he cooed in agitation.
"It activates a silence lacrima so that you can work in peace," Natsu said as he filled in the blanks as Igneel continued to fuss. "Time for your nap huh?" Natsu asked as he gently rocked the baby as he continued to fuss, looking down in her own arms she noticed that Layla had fallen asleep.
"Take me to the bedrooms," Lucy said as she rocked the little one in her own arms.
"They aren't all decorated," Natsu said quietly as he led the way out of the library and up the stairs.
"All? Natsu how many bedrooms did you build?" the blonde asked.
"Twelve, it would have been more but everyone convinced me to turn most of the third floor in to a play room for the hatchlings," Natsu boasted as he grinned at his mate who went slightly slack jawed at the thought of having such a large house again. Mavis who is going to clean everything, she panicked before she shook her head clearing the thought. I'll just make sure my children clean up after themselves.
"well that's something we can do," the celestial wizard spoke as she took in the view of the entire living room from the second floor landing she could see Happy snoring away on a small pillow, as visions of her two children tumbling around with their father in the living room filled her mind as she smiled at the happy thought.
"This is the nursery," the dragon slayer said as he opened the second door to the left.
"Oh," the blonde sighed in amazement as she looked at the nursery.
The walls were painted as soft gold and red as a strip of white separated the two colors. Along the strip were painted little stars, keys, and flames each seeming to jump right off of the walls. On the left wall was a door that she guessed connected to the master bedroom, a single crib set underneath the central window along the far wall. The other two reached to the floor but were easily covered but the curtains. A large rug sat in the center of the floor, and several dressers, bins filled with toys and a changing table lay littered over the wall. There was one object that was covered by a sheet of fabric that sat in the center of the room.
"I had Reedus do the painting, I didn't know we were having twins or else I would have gotten two cribs made," Natsu said quietly as Igneel had just stopped his whimpering as the pink haired man lowered his son in to the crib.
"They shared my womb they can share a crib for a few weeks," Lucy confirmed quietly as she placed Layla next to her brother as Natsu leaned over and filled the medium lacrima with his magic.
"I guess, but I need another mobile made," he said quietly as Lucy looked up and noticing for the first time noticing the dangling shapes.
"Oh it's beautiful," the mother sighed as she gently touched the dangling pieces.
"I had it made by the same guy who did your hair pieces," Natsu said as he gently led his mate to the door on the left wall.
"Were are we going?" the blonde asked anxiously as she looked back over her shoulder at her two sleeping children.
"To see the master bedroom," the dragon slayer purred as he wrapped an arm round his mate.
"But...but..." she tried to protest as her husband held her close.
"We can hear them since it's right next door and there are runes all over the place, anyone gets within ten feet of the house an alarm will set and no one is allowed in the house without being expressly invited," the pink haired man said softly as he gently lead his mate to the door.
"You thought of everything," the blonde chuckled happily.
"Hmm, close your eyes," Natsu playfully growled out.
"What?" Lucy looked at him in surprise.
"Come on Luce," he whined as his lower lip stuck out in a soft pout.
"Alright," she said quietly as she covered her eyes with her hands. Lucy felt Natsu usher her into the room stopping quickly felt Natsu let go of her as he took a step back.
"Okay open them," the pink haired man said excitedly as rocked back and forth anxious to see her reactions.
"Natsu," Lucy gapped in shock as she looked at the bedroom, the large bed was sitting on top of a small raised platform that took up half of the central floor space. Two doors were sitting along the back wall one was closed and the other was left ajar showing the large white tailed bathroom. The large tub looked ever so inviting as Natsu chuckled as he walked toward the closed door.
"The closet is through here," the pink haired man said as he opened the closed door, Lucy quickly walked across the room and peeked in only to stop as she looked as the neatly organized racks of clothes shoes and accessories.
"I don't recognize half of these clothes," she whispered in awe as she ran her hand over the expensive fabric of a row of gowns finding it was a mix of things she owned and stuff she had never laid eyes on.
"That's cause they are from my hoard," the pink haired man said with a chuckle as he leaned against the door way watching his mate stare at all of her options.
"What?" Lucy shouted in shock as she turned to look at her husband.
"I told you, we dragons collect things our mate likes. You love fashion almost as much as your spirits. Besides I love seeing you in pieces of my hoard," the son of Igneel said firmly as he wrapped his arms around his mate.
"I don't know what to say," the blonde said quietly as she tried to figure out just how many different outfits she could have.
"Don't say anything just press this button," Natsu said as he pointed to a small golden knot in the wood by the door.
Walking over Lucy did just that, as she did two panels at the end of the closet moved to reveal several rows of the most glittering jewel, silver, and, gold pieces that would rival even the crown jewels.
"Mavis, Natsu," Lucy said as she walked towards the display cases.
"I hope you like them," the pink haired man said quietly as he wrapped his arms around his studded mate.
"Like them... They... You jerk!" Lucy cried out as she elbowed her husband in the gut.
"Ow hey Luce what gives," the dragon slayer asked as he clutched his stomach in pain as he looked up to see her pacing.
"Do you know how many times I was late on my rent because I spent my money feeding you!" the blonde howled out in rage as Natsu winced at the volume of her screeching.
"Luce the Hatchlings," the pink haired man said quietly as he looked over his shoulder trying to hear if the twins had woken up.
"I thought you were always broke, you spent all this money on jewelry and you could have bought your own food this whole time!" The celestial wizard growled out as she continued her pacing.
"No I couldn't I had to buy this," Natsu said firmly stopping his mate dead in her tracks.
"Why!?" the blonde asked as she glared at her husband.
"Cause when I saw that mansion you grew up in I knew the clothes just weren't going to be enough!" the fire dragon slayer growled out in frustration remembering the utter and complete shock of finding out just how his mate had lived before he had found her.
"I hated living there," Lucy said quietly.
"Yeah because it reminded you of your mom and the fact that your dad was a jerk, but I know that you always like stuff like this," Natsu said as he gestured to the entire closet.
Looking around the blonde suddenly realized the every single new article of clothing was to top designers this closet had to be worth millions of Jewels and that never included the jewelry behind her.
"How?" the celestial wizard asked her voice suddenly horse.
"You drool at every window display we ever passed, especially the jeweler's," the pink haired man spoke quietly relived that their children were still asleep.
Looking behind her the blonde suddenly realized that there were several rows of jewels that she had seen before "wait those look familiar."
"They should they were your mother's," Natsu said smiling as he watched his mate's eyes widen in surprise as she turned to get a closer look at the stones.
"What?" Lucy gasped out as she reexamined the two rows, upon a second look she found the one piece that she remembered her mother wearing all the time.
"About a month and a half after the games ended I got a letter asking me to meet someone at the old manor. It was a lawyer from your father's estate. Apparently before he died he set up a will, stating that once you married you were to not only receive the deed to the land that the Hartfilia mansion is on but that there was a safe hidden in his office containing these, I have the deed in my hoard. But I figured you would want the opportunity to wear these," Natsu said quietly as he watched tears begin to well up in his wife's eyes as she continued to stare down at the jewels. "Luce are you okay?"
"I thought I would never see these again," the blonde said quietly as she gently ran her hand over her mother's jewels. When her father had told her what had happened to the railways Lucy was sure that her father had sold the priceless pieces in a desperate attempt to stay afloat, but as she gazed down at the sparkling jewels Lucy bit back tears as she realized her father valued them just as much as she had.
"Why?" the fire dragon asked.
"Not important do you still have the letter?" the celestial wizard said as she shook her head turning around to face her husband.
"Yeah," the pink haired man said quietly as he left the closet momentarily and retuned with as small white envelope.
Turning it over the blonde laughed lightly as she small seal of the Hartfilia family still remained in the wax. Gently she took out the letter and began to read.
My dearest Lucy,
By now I am most likely long gone. My lawyer was against this but I know you are still alive, so I want you to have your mother's jewels. I still remember the day I gave each and every piece of the collection to her but none of these beautiful stones has ever out shined you. I know I was never able to fully redeem myself in your eyes. And that my daughter is my biggest regret. I may not know the man you marry but I hope he is worthy of you. All I have ever wanted for you was a perfect life, but I guess that our ideas of such has always differed. You always had your mother's craving for adventure and I could never stand to lose you like I did her. I do not have any money to leave you and your husband but the house is yours to do with as you see fit.
With all my love,
Jude Hartfilia.
Tears flowed down the blonde's face as she finished the letter. Tucking the envelope next to her mother's jewels Lucy grasped ahold of Natsu's hand as she went to leave the closet. Natsu pressed the golden knot again causing the Jewels to disappear from sight.
"Luce?" he asked in concern as he felt his mate drag him towards the bed.
"I am tired Natsu, can we just go to sleep for a few hours?" the celestial wizard asked as she looked up to her husband pleading that he say yes.
Picking her up, Natsu carried his wife to the bed and laying her down on to her side. Walking around her crawled in and held her close as he watched her eyes drift shut, and not to long he followed her into sleep.
The gentle cry of a baby woke Lucy from her sleep; looking out the window she saw the sun was nearing evening. As quietly as possible she wiggled her way out of Natsu's grasp not wanting to wake him up. Making her way towards the nursey she opened the door to find her brother-in-law looking over the crib.
"Zeref what are you doing here?" the blonde asked as she picked up her crying daughter.
"I just want to be near my family," the dark haired man said quietly.
"That's fine with me but you need to talk to Natsu," Lucy said quietly as she carried her daughter over to the changing table.
"He's not ready," Zeref said quietly as he smiled down at Igneel as the little boy was just beginning to wake up.
"He's not or are you not?" Lucy asked as she quickly placed Layla back in the crib to change her brother.
"Lucy," Natsu's groggy voice filled the room as the blonde saw the ex-dark wizard pale as he slowly began to disappear.
"I will give you four months and then that's it," the blonde hissed as Zeref's slowly retreating form.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" the dragon slayer asked as he walked over to the crib and picked up the crying baby.
"Sorry I just got a little distracted the blonde said as she looked for a place where she could sit and nurse her children.
"Let's take them to the bed," Natsu said smiling as he rocked his daughter in his arms.
The blonde nodded her head as she followed her husband out of the room, looking over her shoulder she watched as Zeref kept his eyes on his brother's retreating form.
The battle field was filled with the tattered remained of hundreds as the silence filled the land. A great pool of blood lay in the center as the red liquid flowed to one point. Soon a figure rose from the puddle as she cried out in rage and pain. Breathing heavily she bent over gasping for air as she wiped the crimson liquid from her eyes as she hissed out, "Now let it be war upon you all,"
