Hello, everyone !
I'm back with the twenty-third chapter !
Enjoy !
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima !
This story belongs to me !
Three months later…
Lucy groggily sat up on the bed while softly rubbing her head. Her gesture woke Natsu and he also sat up.
"Are you feeling sick again?" Natsu asked as he placed his hand behind Lucy's neck and softly massaged it.
Lucy lightly nodded. "I must have been heat-stroked pretty badly."
"Shouldn't we go to the doctor, Luce?" Natsu asked in worry. "You've been feeling sick since a month ago."
"I'm fine." Lucy swatted her hand. "You know what summer did to me, Natsu."
"Yeah, but…" Natsu was still unconvinced.
Lucy turned her head to face him and smiled softly. "Did you remember I was feeling sick for three months because of the summer heat back in junior high?"
Natsu nodded and let out a small laugh. "You were so grumpy back then because it's almost Christmas and you're still feeling sick."
Lucy also laughed lightly. "I hate when this happens."
"I'll get you some medicine to ease your nausea." Natsu walked out of the bed and went out of the room.
Lucy massaged her scalp softly and groaned. "Why do I have to suffer like this after summer ends? Not fair."
Right on then, Lucy's stomach churned, and she dashed for the bathroom. When Natsu returned to their room, the sound of Lucy's throwing-up made him also ran to the bathroom after placing down Lucy's medicine.
"Luce." Natsu worriedly called as he knelt beside Lucy and massaged her back gently.
Lucy responded by throwing the insides of her stomach.
Natsu massaged her back patiently. This was the same pattern every year after summer, but Natsu would always worry about it. After Lucy had calmed down, Natsu stepped out of the bathroom and took Lucy's medicine then gave it to her.
"Just rest for today, I'll let the school know." Natsu said.
"I'm fine." Lucy croaked.
"Luce, you can't teach like this." Natsu retorted.
"It's okay, Natsu."
"Geez, stop being stubborn and listen to me for a chance." Natsu grumbled.
"I'm fine, Natsu. Really." Lucy managed a weak smile.
"But you're so pale." Natsu still tried to convince her the otherwise.
"I'm fine." Lucy insisted.
Natsu let out a small sigh. "Alright. But if you're starting to feel unwell just go straight to the infirmary, okay?"
Lucy nodded.
"Lu-chan, Natsu, good morning!" Levy ran up.
"Mornin', Lev." Natsu greeted back.
"Lu-chan, are you okay? Why do you look so pale?" Levy eyed her best friend in worry.
"I'm fine." Lucy let out a small smile.
"Did you suffer from too much heat-stroke?" Gray raised an eyebrow.
"The usual." Lucy shrugged.
"Shouldn't you just rest up today?" Levy asked in concern.
"I've been suggesting that ever since we woke up." Natsu scoffed. "She won't listen."
"You're having cold sweat too." Levy placed her hands on Lucy's cheeks.
"I'm fine, guys. Really. This is just the usual pattern." Lucy laughed.
"But don't force yourself too much." Gray said. "If you're not feeling well, just rest up at the infirmary."
"Okay, okay." Lucy let out a small sigh. "You guys worry too much every year."
"Because it isn't normal for someone to suffer from heat-stroke after summer ends, Lucy." Gray shrugged. "Instead of heat-stroke, you are supposed to battle a cold during winter."
Lucy fisted Gray's upper arm playfully. "I'm not on a friendly term with summer, you know that."
"While your husband is crazy about summer." Gray rolled his eyes. "But I agree with you Lucy. Winter is the best."
"What's so great about this spine-killing chilly weather?" Natsu scoffed.
"Well, what's so great about that spine-grilling hot weather?" Gray retorted. "We sweat a lot during summer and what's so great of having a sticky body every single day?"
"Eww!" Levy made a face at Gray. "If your body is sticky, then just frequently take a bath!"
"That's a serious lavish usage of water, Levy." Gray clicked his tongue. "That's why winter is the best. You saved up lots of water!"
"If Juvia hears about this, I don't think she want to live together with you." Levy scoffed back.
"Hey, that's a secret!" Gray hissed. "Don't you dare telling her that!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Why are we having this kind of conversation anyway?" Lucy lightly groaned and chuckled.
"By the way, I heard Mirajane is marrying Laxus once she is graduated." Gray said.
"Really?" Levy's eyes lit up. "Wow, talk about the perfect couple!"
"Oh, I heard about that too." Natsu said. "Laxus seems pretty chill about it though. He doesn't look like he's excited or something along that line."
"Nah, you know how poker face he is." Levy giggled.
Lucy was about to give her comment but held back because her stomach started to churn again. She started to feel nauseous once more, but Lucy held down her urge to throw up. The festival's preparation must have been taking its toll on her, that was why this time she was feeling worse than the previous years.
Not to mention Natsu didn't exactly give her a decent sleep during their monthversary vacation.
"I'll drop by the infirmary for a sec." Lucy said as she clutched her stomach and limped away.
"I'll company you!" Levy offered and ran up to Lucy.
The two of them then walked away, with Natsu stared at Lucy's back in worry. Gray stood an inch closer to him.
"Is she okay?" he whispered. "She looked worse this time."
"Maybe she's exhausted with the festival's preparation." Natsu whispered back. "And I guess it's because she's stressed."
"About? Lisanna?"
"I guess so." Natsu said. "But most of all, about that particular rule. Especially since there are more people that know now."
"Well, it can't be helped, can it?" Gray asked. "You can't exactly hide something as huge as a marriage from everyone for too long, can you? Sooner or later, you will be busted."
"Can't it wait until we're not bound with that one-year contract?" Natsu grumbled.
"Speaking of that contract, what will you do once it expires?" Gray asked in curiosity.
Natsu fell into a short silence. "…I don't know." he finally said. "I haven't talked about it with Lucy yet."
"Do you have any personal plan?"
"I'm ready to resign to keep my marriage if that's what you're asking." Natsu firmly said.
"And then what?" Gray asked as the two of them start walking towards the teachers' office. "You're teaching elsewhere? Isn't teaching here your dream?"
"Why bother keeping my dream if it means endangering my marriage?" Natsu asked back. "I won't sacrifice her for my dream."
"I know." Gray said. "But I'm just saying that you shouldn't give your dream up so easily either."
"I know." Natsu sighed. "Well, I don't have any personal plan for now. I'll just think of something when I talk about this with Lucy."
Gray patted Natsu's shoulder encouragingly. "Whatever decision you make, remember that I'll always have your back, dude."
"Yeah. Thanks, Gray." Natsu grinned.
"Lu-chan, Porlyusica-sensei isn't here." Levy said as she helped Lucy to sit down on a bed. "What medicine do you want to take?"
"Something to ease my nausea." Lucy weakly said.
"Okay, let me just ransacked the cabinet first." Levy said and went to the medicine cabinet.
Lucy let out a sigh. She softly rubbed her temples and inwardly grumbled. Come to think of it, wasn't this also the feeling she got when she was about to have her period? Nauseous, stomach doing its own weird stuff, and pretty much feeling sick all day long. Coupled that with the fact that she was probably exhausted and the after-effect of heat-stroke during summer. Well, no wonder she was feeling so horrible right now.
Lucy then blinked as her eyes darted off to the calendar sitting on Porlyusica's desk. She stared at it for a few seconds, her mind was internally counting. Hold on…
She's late.
Like, really late.
Lucy widened her eyes a bit. Judging from her usual cycle, she was supposed to have her period since two weeks ago. And did she have her period last month? As far as she could remember, she hadn't had it since two months ago.
Oh my god…, Lucy inwardly cursed. For someone who had their periods regularly, to suddenly not having any for three consecutive months…
"Levy-chan." Lucy croaked. "Forget the medicine. Can you find something else for me?"
"What is it, Lu-chan?"
Lucy gulped down nervously, her eyes were still plastered on the calendar. "A test pack."
"Test pack?" Levy asked in confusion. "Why would you need—oh my god."
"I—I just want to check." Lucy managed.
"O—okay." Levy ransacked Porlyusica's desk and found a box of it in the drawer. She nervously took one out and gave it to Lucy.
Lucy finally took her sight off of the calendar and stared at the test pack Levy handed to her. A somewhat cold atmosphere engulfed the two women.
"D—do you want me to help you to the bathroom?" Levy croaked.
Lucy gave a small nod. Levy helped her down from the bed and the two of them made their way to the bathroom. Levy then helped her to sit down on the toilet and after staring at Lucy in silence for a couple more seconds, she stepped out. She didn't fully close the door however, in case Lucy needed her.
Lucy stared at the test pack in silence before she took a deep breath and took the pack out of its package. She then started doing the test, feeling conflicted inwardly. She was half-hoping for it to turn negative, but at the same time, she was half-hoping it would turn positive.
To be honest, deep down, Lucy was ready to have a child with Natsu. That was her biggest dream. To have a child—blessed them, children—with the man she loved and built a happy family for the rest of her life. But Lucy also had some selfish thoughts. She wanted to enjoy her youth for a bit longer, she wanted to work and save up as much money as she could, she wanted to enjoy her marriage life privately a bit longer.
After a few minutes of waiting, Lucy took another deep breath before flipping the pack. Her breath hitched and she slumped to the floor upon seeing the result.
Two pink lines.
It was positive.
She was pregnant.
And judging from the last time she had her period, most likely it was three months old already.
Lucy gently placed her hands on her stomach absent-mindedly. She could feel a slight bump had formed. There was a baby inside of her. Her baby with Natsu.
"Lu-chan?" Levy peeked inside and gasped upon seeing a dumbfounded Lucy on the floor. She quickly went to her side. "Are you okay?"
Instead of answering, Lucy handed the test pack to Levy and a small smile formed on her face. Levy looked at it and her eyes widened. She looked at Lucy then at the test pack again and then at Lucy again, before a wide smile made its way to her lips and she threw herself to hug her best friend. "Lu-chan! You're pregnant!"
Lucy lightly chuckled as happy tears rolled down form her eyes. She hugged Levy back and sobbed quietly in her hold.
"Wait, we need to get you back to the bed." Levy wiped Lucy's tears away and helped her to stand up.
She then helped Lucy to step out from the bathroom and return to the bed. This time, Levy also sat on the bed and hugged Lucy once more.
"Oh, I'm so happy for you!" Levy squealed as her hand ran up and down on Lucy's back. "How far are you?"
"About three months I think." Lucy smiled.
"Three months?" Levy pulled herself to face Lucy. "So… Oh my gosh, during your monthversary?!"
"I guess." Lucy let out a choked chuckle.
"Didn't Natsu use any protection?" Levy asked.
"Well, I'm safe back then, so…" Lucy sheepishly grinned.
"Oh Lu-chan, you pervert!" Levy laughed. "But I'm so happy for you and Natsu! You two are going to be parents!"
Lucy nodded happily and the two of them hugged each other once more.
"Who are going to be parents?"
Lucy and Levy froze for a split second before turning their heads to the source of the voice. They turned into statues however upon seeing Makarov on the door.
Done !
Whew, finally this chapter is finished ! The final obstacle is finally here !
What do you think ?
Kindly leave your reviews and/or flames :D
P.S: The next chapter would be the finale !