Her teeth chattered as she made her way thought the dense forest, she had been traveling for ten months and was just now nearing her destination. The already long and difficult journey was delayed even more by trying to avoid rune knights, members of Fairy Tail, and even members of her own guild. Then again the fall down half a mountain side to avoid a group of rune knights didn't help any, she mused as she felt the tension in her right calf increase again. Hissing in pain she stopped momentarily she opening her pack to check its contents; the books were all still safely tucked inside. Sighing in relief she stood grabbing ahold of the branch she had been using as a cane for the last few months. Limping her way forward she just barely saw the lights of the city as she came over the hill.

"Finally Magnolia,"


Lucy sat on the porch of her home, her leg bouncing nervously as she clucked a crinkled envelope in her hands watching her children play on the grass in front of her. Igneel seemed to be testing his limits more and more as the little blonde baby crawled into the rune barrier that Lucy was using as a play pen. The little boy looked up in surprise as he continued to head butt the barrier in various spots, his annoyed cries filled the air as the blonde mother kept her main focus on her daughter.

"Somethings wrong," she said quietly as she bit her lip. Layla had her nose in the grass smelling deeply as she rolled her cheeks on the foliage. Sticking her tongue out she licked the blades groaning in disgust as she sat up crying, Lucy hadn't noticed it at first but last night it had become obvious.

"Come on you can do it," Natsu cheered as he sat in front of the little blonde baby, a ball in his hand. Not really paying attention Igneel threw the ball forward and Natsu caught it.

"Yeah you did it!" The pink haired man said as watched his son bonce excitedly on his butt as his father continued to cheer.

"Natsu be careful with them I think they are still a little young to play catch," Lucy called from the kitchen as she worked on cleaning the dishes from dinner.

"No their fine, Iggs is doing great," Natsu said as he gently tossed the ball to his son who caught it as his sister was sitting to the right rubbing her toys along her cheeks. Soon the fire dragon slayer looked over and decided that his daughter should join in on the fun.

"Hey my pretty Layla catch," Natsu said and once she turned her head to face her father he tossed the small rubber ball and it hit her directly in the face. The little girl never even reached out to try to catch the flying ball. Her surprised and upset cries started the blonde causing her to drop the plate that was in her hands.

"Natsu!" Lucy shouted as she marched to the living room just as her husband was picking up their daughter.

"Shh, it's alright daddy's sorry," he gently cooed as he looked up to find Lucy glaring at him.

The fight they had had after calming down the upset little babies was bad. But that didn't stop the worry that Lucy had been feeling about her daughter. Her son was perfect he hit every milestone exactly when he was supposed to if not a little early, just like Lexie, Wendy had guessed it was an advantage of being born a fourth generation dragon slayer, but Layla was behind especially when it came to her sight. She would ask were the blue ball was and Igneel would find it nearly every time while his sister would either just sit there or would end up playing with one of her other toys.

Her mother's letter had done nothing to reassure her. Every child is different, she said. That's what everyone said, hell even Natsu had told her the exact same thing the night before. But the issue still ate at Lucy. Looking down at the letter the last line stuck out at her, just relax and trust your instincts. Taking a deep breath she steeled her resolve, picking up her children she took them upstairs and began packing a few things for a few nights away.

Natsu had left that morning for a week long mission along with his brother; they had found some information about a possible sight for Dragon's Keeps headquarters and had gone to investigate. The blonde knew of a pediatric doctor in Crocus that specializes in children of wizards. She called the office and made an appointment for the next day as she quickly scribbled a note to Natsu if he was to come home early and left for the train station with the twins in tow.


Natsu growled as he made his way to the guild hall. I have to check something be gone no more than three days will let the guild know if I am away longer. The note had been left on the counter dated six days ago. The pink haired man thought he would get reamed for being home late from his job, the lead was a dead end but the brothers had decided to take a detour to pick up a few extra members that had been spotted not far from where they were, only to find his wife and children gone.

"Where is she?!" He snarled out as all action in the guild halted as he kicked down the doors.

"Who?" Mira asked holding her son as she placed a plate of food in front of Makarov.

"My Mate, she took my hatchings and left. I want to know where she is!" The pink haired man growled slamming the now crumpled note on to the bar.

"We though she was home," Cana shrugged as she downed the rest of her glass.

After the myriad of revelations a month ago Lucy and Natsu both had spent most of their time trying to sort through everything. It hadn't been odd at all to not see them for several days at a time.

"Well she's not there," the fire dragon slayer growled out as the guild's phone rang.

"Fairy Tail, Lucy!" Mira answered as she saw the face of their missing mage.

"Mira," the blonde's voice broke as she looked at the takeover mage.

"Luce where are you," Natsu asked quickly taking the lacrima from the takeover mage as the sight of his crying mate broke his heart as she clutched a file and kept looking down.

"Crocus, I...I..." The celestial mage began but barely got a word out as she heard the twins began to fuss.

"Luce are the hatchlings okay?" Natsu asked anxiously.

"Igneel...he's perfect," Luce said quietly.

"And Layla..." Natsu questioned as he watched his mate bite back another sob.

"I'll... I'll be home tomorrow," the celestial mage said quietly as she hung up.

"Happy!" Natsu called out in a panic, the exceed flying forward.

"Aye Sir," the cat said as he saluted as he flew forward to pick up Natsu knowing that the fire dragon slayer wasn't just going to sit around and wait for his mate to come home, at least not again.

"Natsu!" The voice of Hisui called out as she stepped through a shadow pushing the twin's stroller through though Igneel was the only one in his seat. In Layla's was Lucy's travel bag and the twins diaper bag.

"Hey Igg," the pink haired man said quietly as he picked up the giggling boy. Sniffing his son the pink haired dragon slayer found nothing amiss as Igneel's giggled and laughed.

"Where's Luce?" He asked just as Lucy was carried in to the guild by Rogue Layla laying on her mother's stomach cooing softly.

"We found her in the lobby of the Crocus Hospital," the princess explained as she gently picked up Layla.

The princess' consort set the blonde down on top of a table as Natsu placed their son on the floor and scooped up his mate.

"Luce?" Natsu asked as she held a single folder to her chest as the tears continued to fall.

"Luce you have to tell me what's wrong," Natsu said quietly panic surging through his voice watching his mate continue to sob as the blonde in his arms handed him the folder. The Pink haired man opened it up and squinting his eyes at the confusing words inside.

"There you are, you missed the twins checkup three days ago where were you?" Porlyusica growled in annoyance as she walked down the guild's stairs.

"Luce I don't understand what any of this doctor mumbo jumbo means," Natsu confessed as the pink haired healer came up behind him.

"Of course not you fool," she growled as she plucked the file from his hands. Not a minute later her scowl was replaced by a solemn expression. "I see," she said quietly as she took the pink haired baby from the princess.

"What's wrong Porly?" Makarov as the guild looked on in confusion.

"We will have to make special arrangements, I assume this is the number of the doctor I would like to speak with him about all of this," the old woman said firmly as Lucy nodded her head and continued to sob.

"Come on Luce your scaring me," Natsu said quietly as the blonde in his arms began to stop crying.

"Natsu," the blonde croaked as the guild turned to look at her.

"Yeah Luce?" the pink haired man said quietly as he waited for Lucy to continue.

The blonde bit her lip before she finally whispered, "Layla's blind,"