She couldn't sleep. It was far too hot. The windows were flung open, curtains blowing in the hot breeze of summer. She pulled at the straps of her tank top and shifted a little in bed, kicking off the sheets for the fifth time at least. She pressed her hands to her baby bump letting out a sigh. Beside her, her husband was fast asleep. He was warm to the touch, sweat on his brow. But Laxus was always hot. Whenever she was cold, she knew to hold onto him. He could always warm her. But on days like this, to curl up next to him would be almost suffocating.
She felt him shift a little, the sheets moving as he turned. Something was wrong… Laxus was a heavy sleeper. She could always tell when something was wrong when he moved. She waited, but he moved again, flinching away from her.
"Laxus," she mumbled, sleepiness making her feel heavy. She reached out, pressing her hand to his bare chest. "Laxus… you're dreaming… Wake up." He jerked away.
"Sui…! N-no…!"
She sat up, rubbing his chest, "Laxus… wake up…" and then shaking him gently.
He lurched forward, clutching his head, gray eyes blinking away sleep. "HISUI!"
"Laxus…" she reached out, steadying him. "I'm here, bear, I'm here…"
He glanced her up and down, recognition slowly dawning on his face, relief filling his eyes. "Hisui…" he choked, "You're… you're okay…"
She cupped his cheek and then he dropped his head against her shoulder, letting out a shuddering breath, clutching at her hip with one hand. "Sui… Sui…"
"It's okay…" she whispered, "I'm here."
It took several minutes, her rubbing his back, before he slowly pulled away to look her in the eyes again. "Do you want to talk about it?" Hisui whispered.
"The same one…" he whispered, "The same one as always." He pulled away fully and dropped back against the pillows with a groan. "I'm sorry for waking you, shortcake."
"I was already awake," she whispered, laying down next to him. "It's okay."
"Are you okay?" He frowned, reaching out and rubbing her shoulder.
"Too hot," she sighed, "And the baby keeps kicking my ribs."
Laxus frowned, pressing his hand to her baby bump, "Hey, you giving your Mama trouble?"
Hisui smiled, ruffling his hair. "You're a good father, Laxus."
"Tsk," he huffed, but he couldn't hide his smile. There was a moment of quiet before he whispered. "I love you… I love Yuri… and I love this little one too." She smiled, leaning over to press a kiss to his lips. "Try and get some sleep, Hisui. We have a long day tomorrow."
⁂
Laxus blinked awake to the sound of their door creaking open slowly. Who…? He rubbed sleep away from his eyes, glancing at his side where Hisui was fast asleep. The patter of little feet across the floor, and Laxus turned to see his son—with his mop of pale green hair—come sneaking around the edge of the bed.
"Yuri," he whispered, his voice hoarse from sleep. Big eyes glanced up at him and the four year old gave his father a bright smile.
"Daddy!" He gasped, rushing to the edge of the bed.
"Shh, shh, Mama is still sleeping…" Laxus whispered. Yuri giggled a little, as if it was a secret that he was awake. Laxus pulled his son up into his arms, ruffling his hair, pressing a kiss to his forehead. Yuri stifled a laugh, dropping against his father's chest and hugging him tight.
"We're gonna see Grandpa today, right? And Auntie Evergreen and Uncle Elfman, right?"
"Yes," Laxus nodded, "And all the others. Auntie Lisanna, Uncle Bickslow… Auntie Mira and Uncle Freed…."
"And June and Annalise!"
"Shh… Mama's sleeping," Laxus pressed a finger to his lips, "But yes, Annalise and Juniper as well."
"Yuri?" Hisui murmured, turning in bed.
"Mama!" Yuri dove into his mother's arms.
"Hi, baby," Hisui laughed a little, wrapping her firstborn in a hug, and pressing kisses to his cheeks.
"Come on! You're both awake!" Yuri said, scrambling out of his mother's embrace and off the bed, "We have to get ready to go! I wanna see grandpa."
"Alright, alright we're coming," Laxus groaned. But Yuri was already dashing out the door. Hisui laughed a little shaking her head.
"That one…" Laxus chuckled, "Can't ever slow down…"
"Reminds me of his father," Hisui giggled.
"Hey," Laxus huffed, meeting his wife's eyes. "I know how to take things slow," he smirked, raising and eyebrow and leaning close enough to just barely brush his lips against hers.
"Tsk," She giggled, pulling him into a kiss.
"Hisui…" he murmured, pressing gentle, slow kisses across her jaw. She let out a sigh, tracing her hand down his chest as his kisses against her neck grew hungrier and he found her lips again, pulling her closer. She tilted her head pushing him back onto his back, and straddling him. Kissing him again and again, cupping his cheek.
Laxus let out a soft breath. "Ah… Sui…"
The door slammed open, "Are you coming!?" Yuri huffed. Hisui sat up quickly, glancing towards her son, her cheeks turning pink.
"Y-yup! We're coming! We have to get dressed."
"You're so slowwww!" Yuri sighed, "I'm going to go find Papa!" He spun around racing for King Toma's office. Hisui groaned, dropping against Laxus's chest. He gently rubbed her thigh.
"Guess we shouldn't keep his highness Prince Yuri waiting."
Hisui shook her head with a laugh, "If we stay here much longer we'll be late anyways." She leaned over, and pressed another lingering kiss to Laxus's lips. He leaned into it as she tried to pull away.
"We'll finish this later," She smirked, tapping his nose.
He felt his cheeks grow warm, and his eyes widened before he smiled a little, "Hhh… You really do something to me."
"Don't I know it," she grinned.
⁂
"Hisui!" Evergreen laughed, waving, "Over here!"
"Finally," Bickslow snickered, "What took you all so long?" He put an arm over his girlfriend's shoulder. Lisanna smiled brightly.
"What he means is it's good to see you!"
"Hello!" Mirajane waved with her free hand. Her other arm was tightened around Freed's. In his arms was their four-month-old daughter, Annalise.
"Ah, everyone's here!" Hisui beamed.
"Not everyone!" Yuri protested, "Where's grandpa!?"
"Yuri!" Makarov appeared from the crowd, holding out his arms. Hisui loved how much Chief Makarov loved his great-grandson. She had ever seen the old man smile as much as he did when around the little boy, those Laxus swore to her that he remembered that smile from when he was a boy.
"Grandpa!" Yuri fell into his great-grandfather's arms.
"The parade's about to start, Juniper," Elfman was explaining to his daughter, who was perched on his shoulders. "A parade for the whole city. All our friends will be there. It's the manliest celebration—all of Fairy Tail!"
"Manliest!" June giggled. Evergreen rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide the smile on her lips.
"Next year I'll be in the parade," Laxus smiled, pulling his wife close to his hip. Hisui laughed. "You? On a float? And who's gonna help me with this one?" She pressed a hand to her swollen belly. Their second child would be arriving in less than a month, she hoped. Laxus rested his hand on hers.
"You're right." He glanced over to where his grandfather and used his magic to stand tall above everyone else so Yuri could see the parade. "Guess gramps can't watch two little ones. I'll be here for you, Hisui." He leaned over to press a kiss to her forehead. "Okay?"
She smiled up at him, tears filling her eyes, "I love you."
"I love you too… I love the life we've built. You… have given me so much happiness." He brushed his thumb across her jaw. "Thank you… for loving me."
A tear rolled down her cheek, "I wouldn't change a single thing. You have my heart, Laxus Dreyar."
He grinned, holding her close as the parade began. To the life we have together. He couldn't take his eyes off her, of the family they had build together, and all their friends, his heart filled with warmth... To many more years.
