Levy had insisted that Lucy lie down for a little while after she threw up her breakfast. Lucy, upon waking up after her short nap, had been dragged down to the kitchen by Levy who made her a cup of ginger tea to settle her stomach. Gajeel found them sitting at the kitchen table. He and Lily had just returned from a short job out of town.
"Hey, Shorty." Gajeel cooed, walking up to Levy to give her a kiss that lasted longer than an appropriate getting. Straightening, he greeted Lucy, "Yo. How've you been?"
Lucy gave him a small smile, "I've been better." Levy reached over and patted Lucy's hand in sympathy.
Gajeel took a sniff of the air, "Oi, how long have you lived with Salamander? A month?" He took another deep breath, "You sure are starting to smell like him. I almost thought he was here when I first walked in, which would have been weird."
Lucy turned bright red. Levy, oblivious to her friend's embarrassment, asked, "Why would it have been weird? They should be back soon, shouldn't they? Its been two weeks."
Gajeel shook his head, walking over to the cold box to grab a drink. Cracking the top off the bottle he took a swig before answering, "Me an' Lily just got back from the Guild. Mira was talking to Warren through telepathy. Sounds like the job is messier than they first anticipated."
"Oh no. Is everyone alright?" Levy's voice was filled with worry.
Shrugging, Gajeel continued, "Sounds like it, but I wasn't privy to the entire conversation." Taking another drink, he started walking out of the kitchen, "By any means, sounds like they will be gone the rest of the month. I gotta go help Lily with the bags, see yeah."
Lucy slumped over her cup. Another two weeks of not knowing what Natsu's note meant. Another two weeks of living in torment at what he would say to her when he got back. She took a sip of her ginger tea; the flavor was spicy and sweet. It was doing wonders for her upset stomach.
Levy frowned in pity, "I'm sorry, Lu-chan. This can't be easy for you."
Lucy tried to give her a smile, but it was more of a grimace, "At least Gajeel has confirmed it. I'm pregnant." She put her head in her hands, moaning.
Levy reached out and grabbed one of Lucy's hands, "That's not true. It could be that you living at Natsu's really makes you smell like him. Don't panic. When is your next appointment with Porlyusica?"
"Tomorrow." Lucy confirmed.
Smiling, Levy stood up from the table, "She can confirm for you then. Don't fret about it until you know for sure. Now, let me make you something to eat."
Lucy spent the better part of the afternoon with Levy. She hadn't thrown up again after the ginger tea and food that Levy made for her. They had gone back to organizing the baby's room, Levy trying her best to do everything in her power to distract Lucy from thinking to hard about her rapidly changing situation.
It was nearly evening now. Gajeel had offered to walk Lucy home, but she had declined, knowing that the city was relatively safe due to Fairy Tail's head quarters being nearby. She had stopped to pick up a few groceries on her way home, including the ginger tea that Levy had introduced her to. It had started snowing lightly, but the weather wasn't cold enough to allow it to stick, instead causing the pathways to be slick with cold water. As Lucy was walking past an alley, a figure came charging out, crashing into her.
Due to the slippery ground, both Lucy and the man who had run into her fell to the wet ground. "Oof." Lucy exclaimed as she landed hard on her butt. She knew immediately she would have a large bruise the next morning. As she struggled to her feet the man jumped to his and stood over her. She reached out her hand thinking he was trying to help her.
Pain shot through her as he smacked her hand away. The touch of his bare skin against hers sent a wave of extreme cold through her that was immediately shot through with one of heat coming from her lower belly. Lucy fell forward onto her hands and knees, gasping at the pain of the shift of temperature within her body. She shook as her body attempted to reject the contents of her stomach yet again.
"Stupid bitch." The harsh voice of the man pierced through the sickness. Lucy shrank back, worried that the man would strike her. She sat back on her haunches to get a better look at him, taking slow steadying breaths through her mouth to combat the nausea.
The man was very tall, nearly as tall as Bickslow, with wide shoulders. His height in combination with his thin frame made his limbs look lanky and unproportional to the rest of him. His grey eyes were sharp with anger as he looked down at her, causing Lucy to shake in fear. She had no way of protecting herself from him if he did choose to attack her.
"Watch where you're going!" He barked before stomping off down the street.
Lucy looked after him for a moment before rushing into the alley to throw up yet again. As her body heaved, Lucy began to cry, tears and spit falling from her face as she leaned against the wall with her hands to prevent herself from falling in her own puke. A comforting light shone briefly around Lucy, before gentle hands reached for her, holding her up as her body continued to bring up the meal she had had at Levy's.
"Lucy?" Loke's voice was soft and filled with concern, "What's going on? Are you hurt?"
Lucy let out a cry, collapsing into Loke's embrace as her body shook from the shock of the past few minutes. Loke pulled her out of the alley, away from the offensive smells, and into fresh air. He brushed away the loose hairs that were plastered to her face with sweat. He cooed softly as he held her, letting her regain her composure.
A few minutes later, Lucy pulled back, sniffing and wiping her nose on her sleeve. Loke stood with his hands on her shoulders, his face full of worry for his friend. When she saw his face, Lucy began crying again. "Loke!" She wailed as she threw her arms around him again.
Loke stroked her hair, "Let get you inside." He looked around them at the street they were standing in. Other than them, it was deserted.
Lucy peaked out from Loke's chest, realizing they were nearly on the opposite side of the city from her apartment, no doubt the reason why Loke hadn't made a move to take her inside. "I'm staying at Natsu's place."
Looking down at her, Loke questioned her with his eyes, but otherwise said nothing. Letting her go, he walked over to the bags she had dropped and picked them up before taking her hand and leading her back to Natsu's.
Lucy unlocked the door, letting Loke and herself into the house. The fireplace was dark, leaving only the moonlight to see by. Making her way over to the fireplace, Lucy placed kindling in a pile before striking a match. Once the fire had taken hold, she added a couple of logs. When she had finished getting the fire going, she turned to find the living room empty. Worry filled her for moment, thinking that Loke had been a figment of her imagination before she heard him in the kitchen.
When she walked into the room, Loke was setting the kettle of the stove. He didn't turn as he addressed her, "Why don't you get cleaned up. I'll make you something to eat."
"Okay." She whispered; her throat was raw from the multiple times she had thrown up that day. Once in the bathroom, Lucy removed her dirty clothes while she filled the sink with warm water. Using a cloth, she wiped her face and neck, the water reviving her and make her feel refreshed. She left her dirty clothes in a pile on the floor to deal with later and made her way past the kitchen quickly so Loke wouldn't see her in her half-undressed state. She still wore her underwear and bra as well as a tank top she had on as an undershirt. Changing into her pajamas, she made her way back to the kitchen, still afraid that Loke might suddenly disappear.
Loke was still in the kitchen when she entered. There was a hot cup of tea sitting on the counter with an open box of ginger tea next to it. Lucy picked it up and took a sip of the hot liquid as she watched Loke finish making her food.
"Come on." He said as he walked past her, carrying her plate, "Let's talk in the living room."
Lucy followed him, bringing her cup of tea. She set the cup on the coffee table as she took a seat on the couch, her legs tucked underneath her. Loke placed the plate of crackers topped with cheese and sausage on her leg, handing her a napkin as he took a seat on the other side of the couch. He didn't say anything for a minute as he watched her slowly nibble on a cracker and take another sip of tea.
"What happened, Lucy?" Loke started, his face serious, "I haven't sensed anything from you for awhile, and then suddenly out of the blue, I sensed that you needed help, but it was extremely faint. I came here on my own power. Why didn't you call for any of us? What's going on?"
Setting the plate down on the coffee table, the crackers half eaten, Lucy folded her hands in her lap, "Over a month ago, I had my magic sealed in an accident that occurred at my apartment. Since then, I haven't been able reach any of the zodiacs, no matter how hard I tried." She placed her hand over her stomach where the intense heat had flared after she her skin had brushed the man's, producing a freezing cold sensation, "But something happened tonight. I don't know what."
Loke looked her up and down, "I can sense your magic, though like I said, its extremely faint. It could be that I sense it only because I am in the same room as you." He reached over and picked up the plate with crackers, holding it out to Lucy, "Eat." He commanded.
Obliging his request, Lucy picked up another cracker and began nibbling on it. Loke huffed, annoyed at her slow pace of eating, and set the plate back down the table. "Where's Natsu? I want to give him a piece of my mind."
Swallowing her mouthful of dry cracker, Lucy replied, "He's not here. He was called out on a mission two weeks ago. He should've been back tomorrow, but something has held them up."
Loke pinched the bridge of his nose, "Damnit." He let out a sigh and sat back looking at Lucy, "I can't stay long, due to me relying on my own magic to keep me here. Maybe a couple of days before I'll have to go back to recharge. But I'll stay as long as I'm able."
Lucy shifted so she was kneeling on the couch and crawled over to Loke so she could hug him. "Thank you." She whispered. Tired from the events of the day, her eyes began to drift close.
"C'mon you." Loke said as he picked her up off the couch, "Let's get you in bed."
"You sleep on the cot." Lucy commanded as he crossed the threshold of the bedroom.
"You wound me, Lucy." Loke replied, laying her down on the bed and pulling the covers over her. Lucy was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The next morning, Lucy woke up to her stomach rolling again. In a repeat of the morning before, Lucy threw off the blankets and rushed down the hall to throw up in the bathroom.
As she passed the kitchen, Loke stuck his head out of the doorway, "Hey! Are you alright?" He asked as she charged past him. She heard him follow her into the bathroom as she heaved over the toilet. He gently pulled back her hair as she commenced her business.
When the nausea had finally passed, Lucy went to the sink to rinse her mouth. Loke leaned against the doorframe watching her through the mirror. "What's with you? Something tells me that puking your guts out is a new habit of yours."
"I don't want it to be." Lucy muttered as she dried her hands and face on a towel. She pushed past Loke to go into the kitchen. On the counter there was a cup of ginger tea already made for her. She greedily picked it up and chugged it down, the hot temperature barely bothering her.
Loke walked into the kitchen, rushing over to the stove to stir the eggs he was scrambling. There were sausages, already cooked, on a plate next to the stove. "Breakfast is ready, if you're up for it."
"Mmm, smells good." Lucy commented, getting another plate from the cupboard to split the sausages. Loke dished up the eggs, splitting them between the two plates. They carried their plates to the living room, each taking the spot they had sat in the night before and began eating.
"So, are you gonna spill? Or do I have to go to the guild gossip to find out what's happening with you?" Loke questioned as they ate.
Setting down her fork, Lucy reached for her tea to take another drink, "I'm pregnant. Apparently." She replied calmly.
Loke began coughing on the forkful of food he had just put into his mouth. "What? Whose?" He held up his hand, stopping Lucy from answering, "No wait. Do I want to know? Just the knowledge of someone other than me touching you is too depressing."
Lucy huffed, setting down her half empty plate on the coffee table, "Its Natsu's, stupid. Who else?"
Loke shrugged, reaching over to stab a sausage on Lucy's plate, "I don't know. You could've met someone else rather than wait for rocks-for-brains to take a hint."
"He does not have rocks for brains!" Lucy countered. She stood up from the couch, her hands clenched at her sides in annoyance, "I'm going to get dressed." She said as she stomped out of the living room.
"I was just teasing!" Loke called after her as she slammed the bedroom door closed.
Once dressed, Lucy re-entered the living room. She could hear Loke in the kitchen washing up. She walked over to stand in the doorway so she could talk to him without yelling. "I have an appointment to see Porlyusica."
"About the baby?" He asked casually as he dried a dish.
"No. She doesn't know. Though Levy suggested I ask her to confirm if I am truly pregnant." Lucy placed her hand over her lower belly, before shaking her head and addressing Loke again, "Its to check on the seal on my magic. To see if there is any change."
Placing the now dry dish in the cupboard, Loke hung up the towel he was using before wiping his hands on his pants. "Okay, well I'm ready. I'll come with you."
Lucy smiled as she led the way out the door. The snow had continued to fall during the night, leaving a light dusting of snow. Lucy tucked her chin into the collar of her jacket, shivering against the cold. Loke walked next to her, seemingly unfazed by the chill in the air. They walked in silence to Porlyusica's clearing in the forest.
Arriving at the front door, Lucy's lifted her hand to knock. They waited for a moment before Lucy heard Porlyusica call out from inside, "Come in."
Opening the door, a wave of warm air hit Lucy in the face. Shivering again at the sudden change of temperature, Lucy quickly closed the door behind her and Loke in order to keep the cold air out. Removing her coat, she hung it on the rack next to the door.
"Loke. Long time no see." Porlyusica said, she was busy trimming leaves off of plants on a table at the back of the small room, "To what do I owe this pleasure?" She asked, turning to raise her eyebrow.
Loke grinned, giving her a mock bow, "Why, I missed your lovely face, Porlyusica! Why else would I come?" He laid on the charm, his voice thick with the honeyed words he often used in attempts to seduce women.
"Hmph." Porlyusica set down the trimmers she was holding next to the potted plants. She walked over to Lucy and grabbed her hand, raising it between them to grasp it with her other hand. They stood in silence as Porlyusica closed her eyes and bowed her head over hers and Lucy's hand; Loke stood behind Lucy, watching them with curiosity.
Dropping Lucy's hand, Porlyusica turned to her worktable and began adding ingredients into a mortar and pestle, grinding them together. "Congratulations are in order. You seem to be with child."
Lucy blanched at having the news confirmed, "Th-thank you."
Porlyusica glanced at Lucy over her shoulder, giving her a once over, "I assume you at least know the father?"
Lucy blushed furiously, "Y-yes. Natsu."
Raising an eyebrow, Porlyusica didn't say a word as she turned back to her work. "I'm mixing up some anti-nausea medications, the same stuff I gave Levy when she first became pregnant with Gajeel's child."
"You can tell its Natsu's then?" Lucy asked, becoming more offended at the other woman's earlier question.
"Its not that I can tell who the father is, but that I can sense the child's magic already forming. Gajeel's child was much the same, maturing quickly in the beginning before it slowed down the speed of a normal pregnancy. The baby's quickly growing magic is reaping havoc on your own magic, but maybe you can't sense it because of the seal." Porlyusica hummed to herself as she finished grinding. She grabbed a vial half-filled with clear liquid and emptied the contents of the mortar into it. The liquid changed as the ground ingredients mixed with it, becoming a bright pink. The colour was familiar to Lucy. "This is the same stuff I made for you earlier, so same rules apply." Porlyusica said as she walked over to place the vial in Lucy's palm, "One drop to help with nausea. The more you take, the sleepier you'll be."
"Thank you." Lucy said, holding the vial close to her chest. "What about my magic? Do you think the seal will affect the baby?"
"Its more that the baby is affecting the seal." Porlyusica commented as she went back to trimming her plants.
"What? What does that mean?" Lucy demanded.
"It means, my dear girl, that the baby's magic, being that it stems from its father's fire magic, is melting the icy seal on your magic."