Okay while writing this I was thinking how did I come up with this story in the first place?
A dream?
A random thought?
No...
It happened to be a story I read that hasn't been updated since October 6, 2017...
So I'm assuming it's safe to say that they're not updating it anytime soon...
Now I edited it according to what ever my brain has decided but I found that when I reread it it was almost so close to the same wording...
Once again I hate my stupid brain for remembering the smallest fucking detail of every fucking thing on this planet that I read or see...
So I once again am writing my own version of the a story by...
Yup you guess it Cerberus Angel apparently I have thing for their stories...
Why I like their stories I have no freaking clue but again they haven't finished them and I get annoyed...
Then apparently my brain decides to work on it's own accord and start randomly writing a damn story that happens to be one of the ones that I want to see finished and know it never will be just by looking at the last update date...
So...
I'm sorry I'm doing this again!
I do not do this on purpose I swear!
The original story is Called Somewhere In Between By: Cerberus Angel...
Damn it why do I do this to myself!
Anyway as I have said before if they ask me to remove this I will but until then I hope you enjoy...
I Do NOT Own Fairy Tail Or It's Characters, Or apparently the storyline/plot (Who knew right?)
Lucy looked toward Mira and the others. "Who are they?" Lucy asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Their names are Seth and Zoey..." Freed spoke up instead of Mira.
The blonde mage looked that The Thunder Legion. "Where are their parents? Why are they here?" Lucy asked getting annoyed that they are trying to dodge her questions.
"In a manner of speaking their parents are here..." Freed said as he glanced at Bickslow and Evergreen for back up. "As for the why, we're still not sure..." Freed said as Bickslow shrugged.
"We're taking it 1 step at a time..." Evergreen said as she turned to Natsu who was now frowning.
"What's wrong?" Gray whispered to Natsu when he saw how serious the Dragon Slayer looked.
"They asked if Lucy was in pain…" Natsu said in a soft voice. Happy looked at Natsu worriedly and then at Lucy who still seemed confused. He heard what Natsu said and had a bad feeling.
"Can you guys please be more specific?" Lucy glowered. "I don't want to keep tricking them into believing I'm their mother... It will only complicate things once their mother shows up and they don't want to go with her..." Lucy said annoyance laced in her voice.
"That won't be an issue..." Mira said from behind the bar. Lucy took note of the look the barmaid shared with Evergreen.
"What aren't you telling me?" Lucy said through grit teeth.
"Lucy," Evergreen took a seat next to Lucy at the bar. "Do you see anything familiar about the children?" Evergreen asked softly.
"What do you mean familiar?" She felt a shiver go up her spine when she remembered Seth's eyes.
"Take a good look at them and tell me what you see..." Evergreen said in amusement. Lucy pulled away from the twins to take a good look at them.
The shade of blond hair they both had looked familiar. The boy's shape of eyebrows stood out to her the most. Then it was his brown doe-like eyes. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized why they looked so familiar to her. It was the same eyes that looked back at her whenever she looked at a mirror.
'They're my mother's eyes...' Lucy thought internally at the realization. Her eyes widening slightly.
She looked away from Seth and stared into Zoey's gray-ish doe-like eyes. She had only met one person with those piercing gray eyes. The calm before the storm she would refer to them as. Her mind went to the Lightning Dragon Slayer.
She felt like she couldn't breathe.
"Lucy..." Evergreen placed her hand on Lucy's back. "Take deep breaths..." Evergreen said calmly.
"I can't…" Lucy's voice cracked. 'What's going on here?' She screamed internally. Darkness ate away at the corners of her eyes and her eyes slid closed.
"Mama..." The twins called out when they felt their mother's hold on them loosen.
"Lucy!" Natsu moved forward to catch her even though Evergreen already had a hold on her. Lucy eyes snapped open to see Natsu hovering next to her and Evergreen cradling her close. She could feel Gray standing behind her, while Happy hovered above him looking down at Lucy with worried eyes.
"Wat's wong?" Zoey looked at Freed, while Seth couldn't take his eyes off his mother. His eyes glistening with tears again.
"Shh... It's okay..." Mira wrapped her arms around Seth and placed her cheek against his as they looked at Lucy who had just fainted for a few seconds.
"Miwa…" Seth's voice trembled. "Mama ain?" Seth asked worriedly.
"No... She's not in pain..." Mira told him with a gentle smile.
"Mama not urt..." Zoey asked as Freed reached for her.
"Your mother is just in shock..." Freed answered in a reassuring tone.
"Shok?" Zoey asked with a tilt of her head.
"Surprised..." Freed explained.
"Surpized?" Zoey asked seemingly still confused.
"So it's true…" Lucy sat up on the bench again. "Natsu…" Natsu didn't need her to phrase the question. He already knew what she was asking.
"They're yours..." Natsu answered plainly.
"And the father?" Lucy asked feeling like she already knew the answer but had to ask anyway.
"Laxus..." Natsu answered confirming her suspicions.
"Well... I guess that explains Seth's eyebrows and Zoey's eyes..." The words spilled out of Lucy's mouth on their own accord. She looked at Seth, who was now pouting and Mira, who was smiling sweetly at her.
Her gaze roamed to the Thunder Legion who surrounded Zoey protectively, but looked at her supportively. Then she looked at her team.
Natsu was grinning with Happy, Gray patted her head, Ezra smiled and Lucy knew that her team had her back no matter what.
'When did Erza even get here?' Lucy asked herself internally. She didn't realize that Erza was even there the whole time but stayed in the background to see how this all played out. No matter the outcome Erza would always be there to support her.
"Done freaking out?" Gray asked with a smirk.
"I didn't freak out..." Lucy elbowed him. "And even if I did I have every reason to... I never imagined myself being a mother at the age of eighteen..." Lucy said as she rubbed her temples. Her words had reassured the Thunder Legion.
"If it makes you feel any better Cosplayer, Laxus didn't plan on having kids for at least another decade..." Bickslow informed her.
"Really?" Lucy looked at them wide eyed.
This time it was Freed who nodded. Freed felt that this one time he'll step down from defending Laxus' honor and help Lucy feel better. After all, she will be the mother to Laxus' children.
Laxus, who was always careful and secretly felt unworthy of having his own family no matter how much a part of him desired it. Laxus who had doubts that anyone would ever want to settle down with him, but he would end up letting Lucy in.
Lucy felt like she was dreaming but knew she wasn't. She wasn't sure why none of this was really bothering her but she figure just to go with it. She couldn't help the laugh that spilled from her mouth.
A heartfelt laugh echoed throughout the guild. Her eyes glistened with glee. She will somehow show him how worthy he is to have one. Freed blinked back tears as he watched her laugh. In his arms and in Mira's was all the proof they needed.
The twins looked at their mother in awe. Her laughter was like music to them and brought them joy. It reassured them that there was nothing to worry about.
Makarov was trying to wrap his mind around what his grandson had just told him. "Do you now understand why I don't want you to get attached to them?" Laxus asked.
"I see your point, but it's just not possible..." Makarov placed his elbows on the table and laced his fingers together. "It doesn't matter where they came from... The fact that they are here now… They are part of our family Laxus... It's impossible not to get attached to them... You must know that..." Laxus glared at a spot above his grandfather's head. Of course he knew that because he already was. "You may be worrying over nothing Laxus... Who is to say that they don't belong here?" Makarov asked trying to ease his worry.
"Who is to say they won't go back?" Laxus countered sadly. It hurt to think that they would possibly end up leaving.
"From what you have told me about what Virgo said they were sent here for a reason..." Makarov sighed feeling his age. "I think we should take this one step at a time…" Makarov said smiling at his grandson.
"We?" Laxus asked in disbelief with a raised eyebrow.
"They are my great grandchildren and I don't plan on letting you go through this alone..." Makarov said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I'm not alone... I have the Thunder Legion..." Laxus said.
"And now you have me as well..." Makarov said as he climbed up onto the table. "Now show me the little brats..." Makarov asked with a huge grin.
"You better not call them that to their face..." Laxus warned with a low growl as he was getting up from the bench and began walking toward the stairs to head down to the bar where his children were.
'Already protective of them...' Makarov smiled affectionately at his grandson's retreating back. 'You may still be a better father than Ivan or I ever were yet...' Makarov hopped off the table and trailed after Laxus.
They could hear Lucy laughing from where they sat on the second floor. "It seems someone is having a good time..." Makarov mused. Laxus merely grunted as he led the way to the bar.
He noticed the amount of stares from the morning when he walked in with the twins had increased. The Lightning Mage raised an eyebrow that was silently asking 'what the hell were they looking at'. Those same stares looked to Lucy and then back at him.
'What the hell is going on?' Laxus thought internally. He made his way toward the bar where he saw the Thunder Legion and Team Natsu gathered.
He could see Zoey sitting on the top of the bar facing Lucy, but Seth was no were in sight. Although he did hear him. The twins seemed to be trying to hold a conversation with Lucy. All giggles and hand gestures. Although Zoey would pause to take a small bite from the strawberry Mira gave her.
Natsu glanced over his shoulder to see Laxus approaching, but remained uncharacteristically silent. When Laxus came to a stop beside him, the Fire Dragon Slayer bestowed upon him a knowing grin that set the older Dragon Slayer on edge. It wasn't helping that the Blue fur ball was trying not to laugh behind his paws.
"Papa!" Zoey called to him having seen him.
"Laxus..." Freed greeted him with a nod. Evergreen winked at him with a knowing smile. It reminded him of how Natsu looked at him. Bickslow simply shook his head with a grin.
His team knew something and they weren't telling him. Laxus decided to let the matter go for the time being. The little one had crawled over the bar toward him and had her arms up with her hands opening and closing.
"Up!" Zoey exclaimed. Her lips curled into a smile that would have melted any lesser man, but not him. He simply lifted her up in his arms and held her close to his chest. If he nuzzled her temple with the tip of his nose then it couldn't be helped.
"Papa! Zoe eet stwawbewwies!" Zoey exclaimed excitedly.
"You ate strawberries..." Laxus asked. She nodded. "Were they delicious?" Laxus asked trying to fight a smirk from appearing.
"Delish!" Zoey said with a huge grin.
"Papa wand stwawbewwie?" Laxus glanced toward Seth to see him holding up a strawberry to him. It was then he noticed for the first time that Seth was sitting on Lucy's lap.
He didn't notice how Mira, the Thunder Legion, and Team Natsu carefully watched him or more specifically the way he looked at Lucy. Seth looked comfortable sitting in her lap like it was second nature and Lucy, well Laxus couldn't begin to describe how she looked with her arms wrapped around Seth.
A warmth settled deep within his chest that slowly eased his doubts and fears. He allowed himself to have this one moment to take everything of her in. Her cheeks became rose colored and her heart skipped a beat. A smirk threatened to curl on his lips knowing that he caused that reaction.
"Papa!" Seth waved the strawberry in the air. Laxus gently grabbed Seth's wrist to keep it still and took a small bite from the fruit. "Delish?" Seth asked. He met Lucy's gaze as he licked his bottom lip to wipe some of the juice that landed there.
"It's delicious..." Laxus answered his eyes darkened as they were fixated on Lucy. Gray groaned causing Natsu to look at him.
"What's wrong?" Natsu asked clueless as ever. The Ice Mage shook his head not willing to explain to Natsu what was going on. It was bad enough seeing his sister figure getting hit on so bluntly. His brotherly instinct wanted to tell Laxus off, but then he couldn't because in a way Lucy and the Lightning Mage were unofficially together. They had two kids, but they weren't dating. This is all so fucking confusing! He wanted to bang his head against the bar.
Freed and Bickslow mentally cheered Laxus on, while Evergreen fanned herself. Mira pressed a hand against her mouth to keep from squealing at the development happening before her eyes.
Erza blushed as she watched with wide eyes. The heated look that Laxus directed at Lucy was in no way appropriate with children around. If anyone doubted the chemistry between them, it definitely went out the window with that one wipe of Laxus' tongue over his bottom lip.
"Mama eet stwawbewwies!" Seth held to her the same strawberry Laxus had bitten into.
"Mama?" Laxus looked at her and gulped.
"Surprise…" Lucy said just before taking a bite from the strawberry. He was once again distracted when her tongue peaked out to lick over her top lip.
"Mama like?" Seth asked with a hopeful smile.
"Yes I do..." She pressed a kiss to his temple. Laxus had to look away because he knew that he would get distracted by Lucy instead of being able to get answers from her. He turned to his team.
"Please don't tell me that she..." He still didn't want to believe it was Lucy. He was hoping that they were wrong.
"We found your baby mama..." Bickslow said trying not to chuckle.
"Bicks, I don't think that's a good way of phrasing it..." Freed glanced nervously at Evergreen who glared at their team mate.
"We found the mother of your children..." Freed said.
"No..." Laxus said still refusing to accept it. He shook his head in disbelief.
"You know how it takes two to tango in the sheets to make babies," Bickslow grinned. "Well we found your dance partner..." Bickslow cackled dodging Evergreen's fan.
"That's it!" Evergreen shrieked. Freed had to hold Evergreen back from beating Bickslow.
"Elfman! Some assistance please!" Freed yelled in a panic.
"Step aside!" Elfman said as he rushed over. "It takes a real man to handle a real woman!" Elfman exclaimed as he pulled Evergreen from Freed's arms.
"Elfman!" Evergreen thrashed around in his arms. "I swear if you value your life at all, you will put me down this instant!" Freed sighed in relief when Elfman carried Evergreen across the guildhall.
There was no longer a risk of her accidentally kicking, pulling, punching, or scratching from his furious team mate.
"What Bickslow was trying to say is that we found Seth and Zoey's mother..." Freed clarified.
"So..." Laxus swallowed the lump in his throat. "I kind of gathered that from his last three statements…" Laxus said in disbelief.
"Laxus?" Freed asked. Laxus hummed his reply. "Are you okay?" Freed asked concerned when Laxus continued to stare at the space over his shoulder.
"Are you sure it's her? You could be wrong... " Laxus asked with a gulp knowing they were right.
"Natsu caught Lucy's and your scent when he smelled the twins..." Laxus remained silent as he remembered the question Natsu asked him earlier that chose to ignore. "Seth has her eyes..." Laxus didn't have to look to see if what Freed said was true. He knew it was true. The same brown eyes he had been gazing into moments ago were the same ones he saw on the little boy.
"So it seems the mystery surrounding the mother has been solved..." Makarov who had stood in the background and had watched the scene unfold finally stepped forward with a smug look on his face.
"Master..." Freed inclined his head toward him.
"Gramps..." Laxus said warily.
"Is that her?" Makarov swallowed his smug look falling as he felt his throat go dry as he looked at the toddler in Laxus' arms. She had the Dreyar blonde hair and when she turned her eyes to him. The breath rushed out his lungs. 'She has Laxus' eyes...' Makarov internally noted. The smile she graced him with lit up her face like one of Lucy's smiles. He felt his heart soar.
"Gwamps!" His eyes misted with tears. He honestly thought that he might not ever have a chance to meet his great grandchildren. Laxus set Zoey on her feet and watched with a hint of pride as his daughter ran toward his grandfather. He gritted his teeth as tears streamed down his face when the child came to stand before him.
"No teaws gwamps..." Zoey wrapped her small arms around him. "Zoe here..." Makarov wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.
"My child…" he kissed the top of her head. "Oh my sweet sweet child..." Makarov chanted.
"I wand Gwamps woo!" Seth said. Makarov looked up to see Lucy setting his second great grandchild on his feet. The little boy ran to him and stumbled right into his sister before latching onto him.
"Gramps..." Laxus said as Makarov looked away from his great grandchildren to look at his grandson. "I would like to introduce you to your great grandchildren Zoey and Seth Dreyar..." As Laxus spoke those words it only made the tears of joy stream down harder. Even so he smiled through them. He untangled one of his arms and wrapped it around Seth.
Holding onto to each of them with one arm he lifted them off their feet and swung them side to side. "Welcome to the family my little ones!" Makarov cheered happily.
No one noticed the eyes in the shadows watching them.
At The Hospital
A loud boom sounded outside of the Magnolia Hospital. Cana pushed away from the wall she was leaning against. Her crossed arms fell to her side when she felt the air around her spark.
In a blink of an eye Laxus appeared in front of her. Lightning licked over his form making him appear all-mighty and threatening. His expression contorted in barely repressed rage and his gaze echoed with desperate worry.
"Where is she?" Laxus' voice hoarse.
"Porlyusica and Wendy are wi..." Cana began
"Where. Is. She." With each word Laxus growled his control was crumbling.
His gaze promised pain and had if it had been any other time Cana would have teased him to no end because it was rare nowadays to see Laxus so close to becoming unhinged. She knew that he would never actually lay a hand on her, but at this moment they weren't family or guild mates. He was a husband in desperate need to see his injured wife and Cana just happened to be the one keeping him from seeing her.
Cana knew that the Dragon Slayer was on the edge because under normal circumstances he should have been able to catch Lucy's scent easily.
'His senses are failing him under the pressure...' Cana mused internally but a low growl brought her back from her musings. "You can find her in there..." Cana used her thumb to point at the door next to her. Without another word he reached for the door and yanked it open.
Inside Lucy's Hospital Room
"Lucy…" The sight that greet Laxus knocked the wind out of him. Lucy laid there in the hospital bed, her complexion pale and her breathing was labored, red scratches littered her face and body. 'Damn it! I should have come sooner...' He had felt something off while on a job with the Thunder Legion.
Her body trembled as she struggled to turn her head towards him. Her eyes filled with unshed tears and all he could see was her. In three long strides he was beside her with her hand clasped in his.
"I'm sorry..." Tears streamed down her face. "I'm so sorry..." Lucy croaked her voice raspy.
"You don't have to apologize for anything..." He pressed his lips against her knuckles. "I just need you to focus on getting better okay? We don't want Seth and Zoey crying their lungs out when they see you here and we can't take you home tonight..." Laxus' words only made her cry harder. "Lucy, what's wrong?" He asked his voice panicked, not understanding why the mention of their children got such a reaction from her.
"I tried to protect them, but I couldn't! I wasn't strong enough..." It was then that Lucy pulled her hands from his and Wendy's did Laxus notice for the first time Wendy and Porlyusica's presence in the room.
He looked at the Sky Dragon Slayer confused and worried when Lucy curled into a ball and pulled the blanket over her head. She was trying to hide from them, from him. And he didn't understand why.
"What does she mean?" Laxus asked Wendy knowing the old healer wouldn't fill him in. His wife's words made him feel uneasy.
On his way back to Magnolia, Mira had contacted him through his communication lacrima and had told him about Lucy being attacked and was now suffering from magic depletion. He remembered that the Mira had wanted to tell him something else, but he cut the conversation short to get to Lucy sooner. Now he wished that he wasn't in such a rush.
Outside The Hospital Room
"Laxus just arrived..." Cana said in greeting as Rogue approached her. He leaned against the wall beside her.
"I caught his scent at the entrance..." Rogue said.
"Any new leads?" Cana asked.
Rogue shook his head. "Their scent just vanished... It stops in the middle of the forest... It's almost as if something just snatched them from thin air..." Rogue explained.
"Natsu said that whatever attacked Lucy smelled like death and something foul..." Cana mentioned.
"It smelled like Zeref and Acnologia to be precise..." Rogue said.
"How can that be?" Cana looked at him shocked. "We defeated them... They're gone..." Fear was laced in Cana's voice.
"Fragments... Whatever was left over from their magic..." Rogue said.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me..." Cana said through grit teeth.
"Whatever it was tracked the children because its scent also vanishes with theirs..." Rogue explained.
This caused Cana to worry, "So it can be that it took them?" Cana asked hoping that wasn't the case.
"Or it hitched a ride with whatever or whoever grabbed the twins..." Rogue offered. "What's the plan exactly?" Rogue asked.
"Natsu and Gajeel are retracing their steps one last time to see if they missed anything..." Cana said hopeful.
Rogue sighed. "They won't... They're not going to find anything new..." Rogue said with a sigh. "What about the others?" Rogue asked.
"They're still questioning the citizens... All they heard was that Lucy came running through town and disappeared into the forest..." Cana said as the back of Rogue's fingers brushed against hers.
"How's Lucy and Laxus holding up?" Rogue asked.
"Lucy is a mess and Laxus…" her fingertips slid over his palm, "Well I'm actually surprised he hasn't taken out the power grid yet..." Cana said with a sad laugh.
"It's only a matter of time before he does..." Rogue said as his fingers spread slightly to let her fingers slide between the slits.
"What are you thinking about?" Cana asked as her fingers curled and clasped his hand.
"It's about time we ask for help outside of Fairy Tail... We can't talk to Lucy's Spirits at the moment so we should contact the next closest thing..." Rogue hinted with a smirk.
"You're going to contact Yukino..." Cana asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Already did..." Rogue said giving her a small smile. He gave her hand a comfort squeeze. "She should be getting in contact with me soon..." Her shoulders fell in slight relief. There was hope that they would be getting answers soon.
The anguished filled roar that echoed from inside Lucy's room had Cana squeezing Rogue's hand for strength.
Inside Lucy's Hospital Room
"I need the both of you to get out now..." Laxus said through gritted teeth.
Porlyusica looked over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes on him. An argument ready to spill from her lips but wilted when she felt Wendy's hand on her arm.
"We should give them a moment..." Wendy's eyes filled with understanding and wisdom beyond her years.
"My first priority is my patient..." The Healer reprimanded her lightly.
"We have done all we can for Lucy... What she needs now is rest..." Wendy countered.
"Which she won't be getting because of her idiot of a husband..." She spat glaring at Laxus who was glaring back at her just as spitefully.
"You know that's not true..." Wendy began to gently lead her toward the door. "He will make sure she does..." Wendy said with a small smile.
"This isn't over..." Porlyusica hissed at Laxus when they walked passed him. "You have ten minutes before I come in to check on her again... She better be sleeping..." Porlyusica demanded.
Laxus bit his tongue to keep from snapping at her. The last thing he needed was to have his grandfather on his ass. He already had enough to worry about and would need all the allies he could get to set everything right again.
"Laxus..." He glanced at the door to see Wendy looking at him determined. "We will find them..." Wendy said in a reassuring tone.
"I know that..." Laxus said knowing there was no other option. He would search the world for them. He will have his revenge against those that would dare to harm and tear his family apart. His gaze landed on his wife. The door closed and they were alone. The only thing that could be heard were the sobs she was trying to hide in her pillow. "Lucy..." Laxus took a seat on the empty chair beside her bed. "I need you to look at me..." Laxus said in a voice was surprisingly soft.
"I can't..." Lucy whimpered refusing to look at him like a stubborn child.
"Yes you can..." Laxus' hand searched for hers over the blanket. "It's just that you won't..." Laxus pointed out.
"How can I?" She felt his warmth seep through the cloth and into her skin. "I wasn't able to protect them... It's because of me that they're missing... I wasn't strong enough." Lucy said in a defeated tone.
"That's bullshit and you know it..." Laxus growled. He hated that whoever had attacked her and their children had reduced her to this state. It had been so long since he had heard Lucy blame herself or think of herself as weak. "Whoever it was caught you off guard..." Laxus said trying to convince her it wasn't her fault.
"My attacker wasn't a person..." Lucy's voice trembled.
"What do you mean?" Laxus asked confused.
"It wasn't a person... It was something else..." Lucy explained.
"A demon?" Laxus asked.
She shook her head under the blanket. "No... It had the shape of a person, but it wasn't... I couldn't see any features except 1 red glowing eye... A darkness that had the shape of a man, but it smelled foul... When its attack hit me I felt it drain me..." Lucy squeezed her eyes shut trying not to remember the way it felt.
The coldness from the attack. The coldness that ate away at her warmth. The coldness that actually felt like it was burning her without the heat. How it made her body fall to the floor like a rag doll. How the darkness crept in the corners of her vision, her heart skipped beats, and her breathing became labored. How in that one moment she believed she was going to die and the only thing that kept her from giving into the darkness was the fact that whatever had attacked her wanted to get her children.
She had to stop it somehow, but even so her body refused to cooperate and she was only able to lay on the ground waiting for help to arrive while her babies were targeted. She remembered how Seth cried out to her when it first appeared. How both him and Zoey cried out for her when Virgo took them away. Tears slid down her face.
"I couldn't protect them and now they're gone..." Lucy cried.
"I'll find them..." Laxus said as his hold on her hand tightened. "And I'll find whatever is responsible for this... I will kill it for even thinking about taking Seth and Zoey from us and for making you cry..." Lucy felt his convictions in her bones from his words. She felt them course through her veins and brand her heart.
The Celestial Mage pulled the blanket down until she could see him. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the promise of revenge burn in his gray eyes. It breathed life into her and gave her strength.
"We will find the twins no matter what... Trust me I will not stop till I find them..." Laxus said. No one was allowed to tear apart what they made together. They both knew the pain of losing family. They would die first before letting someone or something take their family away from them again.
"We will kill this thing that's responsible..." This was the Lucy he was used to seeing. Determined and fierce. Fire burned in her gaze and he felt they could take on the world. Nothing will stop them from finding Seth and Zoey. He pressed his forehead against her temple. She sighed and her body relaxed at his close proximity.
Among all the chaos they found a hint of light, a heartbeat of peace before it disappeared with a knock at the door. Laxus bit back a growl when he felt Lucy go tense again. He caught the faint scents of Wendy, Porlyusica, Cana, and Rogue.
"Come in..." Laxus groaned. Wendy opened the door and smiled apologetically at them.
"I'm sorry, I wanted to give the both of you more time, but Rogue said it was urgent that he speak with Lucy as soon as possible..." Laxus helped Lucy sit up as he stacked the pillows against the headboard so she could lean back into them. Porlyusica gave Lucy a quick once over and took note of how the woman seemed in higher spirits. Perhaps Wendy had been right in letting them have their little moment.
"What is it, Rogue?" Lucy asked when the Shadow Dragon Slayer entered the room followed by Cana.
"Yukino wants to speak with you..." He handed her his communication lacrima. Lucy held the crystal gently in her hands and saw Yukino.
"Hi Lucy..." Yukino gave her a pained smile.
"Hey Yuki, Rogue said you wanted to speak with me..." Lucy stated.
"Rogue told me what happened... I spoke with Libra to see if she could gather any information from the other Spirits..." Yukino said.
"Was she able to?" Lucy asked anxiously.
"Yes she was... Horologium felt a shift in space-time..." Lucy felt a shiver go down her spine at Yukino's words.
"What does that mean?" Laxus looked at Rogue.
"Does this have something to do with the fact that Gajeel and Natsu can't find Seth and Zoey's scents anymore?" Laxus asked. Rogue nodded.
"Horologium said there was a disturbance in time itself..." Yukino added.
"A disturbance in time?" Laxus glanced at Lucy when she grabbed his hand. Lucy now understood why Natsu and Gajeel couldn't find the twins. Why their scent disappeared into thin air.
'Like they were snatched from thin air...' Lucy thought internally like she was reading Laxus' mind. "They are no longer in the present..." Lucy said through grit teeth. "They time traveled…" Laxus looked at her wide eyed. He remembered what she had told him about meeting Future Lucy. How the Eclipse Gate was used to travel to the past.
"How is that even possible? The Eclipse Gate was destroyed... Zeref and Acnologia are gone... How could they… Don't tell me this is part of their magic." Laxus asked with a low growl.
"It's not..." Yukino spoke up. "Someone else was responsible for it..." She explained.
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked. Laxus felt dread form in the pit of his stomach.
"Zeref?" Laxus asked hoping that wasn't the case.
"No," The silver haired woman shook her head. "The Celestial Spirit King told Libra that he didn't sense any dark magic behind the shift in space-time... He said that whoever or whatever was responsible seemed to be trying to protect Seth and Zoey, but it backfired..." Yukino explained.
"How so?" Laxus asked.
"Whatever attacked Lucy followed the twins..." Yukino said.
Laxus bit back a curse. 'How the hell can I protect them and bring them back home if I can't even reach them!?' Laxus internally growled. "Where did they go?" Laxus asked.
"Horologium and Crux were able to track them down... They're still in Magnolia, but 7 years in the past..." Yukino said.
"They went back in time..." Laxus and Lucy said together as they shared a look.
"How do we get them back?" Lucy hated the feeling of hopelessness that was seeping into her veins.
"Fortunately the Celestial Spirit King is willing to help out an old friend..." Yukino smiled encouragingly at her. "He's willing to send someone back in time to collect the twins and deal with the fragments that attacked you..." Yukino said.
"I'll g..." Lucy began.
"I'll go..." Laxus cut Lucy off and ignored the glare she shot him.
"Can only one person go?" Rogue asked as he stepped closer to the couple.
"He didn't exactly specify..." Yukino replied.
"I need you to ask him..." Rogue said.
"Right away!" The image of Yukino in the crystal faded.
"If 2 are allowed to go then I'm coming with you..." Lucy said in a determined tone.
"No you're not..." Laxus growled. "You still need to rest..." Laxus scolded.
"I can rest later..." Lucy said sounding like a spoiled child.
"You filthy humans have no sense of self-preservation!" Porlyusica yelled angrily from across the room. "That thing almost killed you and yet you are willing to jump right back in head first without giving yourself the chance to recuperate!" The old woman continued to scold Lucy.
"For my children there's nothing I wouldn't do..." Lucy growled in challenage.
"Then for your children's sake you should rest..." The Healer glared at her daring her to argue. "You don't want to leave them motherless... If you go with Laxus like this and you cross paths with that thing then that is the fate you will condemn them to..." Her words cut deeply into Lucy.
"You will remain here... Don't worry I got it from here..." Laxus said softly.
Her gaze narrowed on Laxus. "You saw what that thing did to your wife, don't carry any delusions that the same fate won't fall on you... Don't be careless..." The old healer said.
Laxus wasn't planning to. The fate of his family was on his shoulders and he wasn't going to gamble with it. He wasn't planning on leaving them any time soon.
"If I can't go then take Natsu..." Lucy trusted her best friend to help her husband in bringing the twins back and defeating her attacker.
"Lucy..." Cana looked at her close friend in disbelief. "No offense, but Natsu is a magnet for disaster... There is a chance he might destroy a good portion of Magnolia..." Cana reminded Lucy of her best friends tendencies.
"We all know that will become a fact..." Rogue said as he crossed his arms. "Laxus is going to travel to the past, he will need someone who will not only be discreet, cool under pressure, but can also hold their own ground... No one knows the repercussions of the twins' arrival in the past... The both of them will be going in blindly... He will need someone that won't throw caution to the wind..." Rogue explained.
"Gajeel would be a better partner for Laxus..." Rogue nodded at Wendy's input and glanced at Laxus.
"What do you think?" Rogue asked.
"I agree with Wendy..." The Lightning Slayer glanced at Lucy. "I don't want to draw attention..." The Celestial Mage couldn't argue. She knew how loud and destructive the Fire Dragon Slayer could become especially when his loved ones were at risk. Natsu would tear through Magnolia without hesitation to find Seth and Zoey, he loved them dearly.
"Take Gajeel, but the both of you better be careful..." Lucy said as the communication lacrima began to glow. Lucy swiped a thumb over the crystal and the image of Yukino appeared. "What did he say?" Lucy asked getting to the point.
"Laxus can take another person, but they must go now..." Yukino said in urgency.
"What?" Lucy said as a flash of celestial light shined in the room signaling Horologium's entrance.
"Hello Miss. Lucy... I'm here to take Mr. Laxus..." Horologium said.
"Right now? But Gajeel isn't here to go with him..." Lucy said in slight panic.
"I'm sorry Lucy, but the Celestial Spirit King wants him to go right now... The longer we wait the more of a risk the past being altered increases..." Horologium explained.
"Don't worry..." Laxus pressed his lips against his wife's temple. "I'll bring them back... You just make sure to rest... When I come back with the tykes I want to see you out of this bed..." He glanced at Cana and Wendy. "The both of you are in charge of telling the guild what's happening... Tell the Thunder Legion not to panic and to make sure Lucy follows Porlyusica's instructions..." Laxus ordered.
"Hey!" Lucy yelled offend at the accusation.
"Since Gajeel isn't here, Ryos you're coming with me..." Laxus said with a smirk knowing he hated that name. Rogue made a mental note to skin Gajeel alive for bringing back that name and making it stick.
Rogue turned to Cana. "Look after Frosch until I get back?" Rogue asked.
"Sure, but I make no promises that its innocence will still be intact..." Cana said in a teasing tone. He turned to face Wendy.
"Don't worry," Wendy smiled at him reassuringly. "I'll make sure Cana doesn't corrupt Frosch in your absence..." Wendy giggled.
"Thank you..." Rogue said with amusement.
"Hey," Cana shoved his shoulder. "Have a bit more faith in me..." Cana pouted.
"You know I do..." Rogue met her gaze. "That's why I'm leaving Frosch in your care..." The Card Mage shook her head and bit back an affectionate smile.
"Just come back safely. I don't need Sting coming up with more creative nicknames for me other than home wrecker..." Cana teased.
"You shouldn't listen to him..." Rogue said shaking his head.
"I don't..." Cana replied with a grin.
"He can be a spoiled brat at times..." Rogue commented.
"I wonder whose fault that is..." Cana teased with a raised eyebrow crossing her arms over her chest.
"Yukino and Lector's..." Rogue answered with a smirk.
"I think you might be forgetting someone..." Cana grinned.
"I have no idea what you're talking about..." Rogue smirked amused.
"Since the both of you are done flirting..." Laxus grabbed the back of Rogue's shirt and began tugging him toward Horologium. "I need to get my kids back from the past..." Laxus said.
"You better look after him, Laxus!" Cana called out after them.
"I promise not to leave your boy toy in past and to bring him back in one piece..." Laxus waved at them as he walked away.
"Laxus..." Lucy whispered only for his ears. The Dragon Slayer paused. She trusted him to bring back their little ones, but she also knew how far he was capable of going. "Make sure that you come back to me as well..." Laxus nodded as he continued walking to Horologium.
"Come back safely!" Wendy called out to them. A flash of bright light forced the occupants in the room to close their eyes. When Lucy opened her eyes Laxus and Rogue were no longer there. Her hands fisted the blanket. The hand he once held grew colder without his warmth.
'Please... Come back to me...' Lucy cried internally trying to will the tears that threatened to fill her eyes not to fall.
Okay yeah I would have never thought of pairing Rogue and Cana together granted but I could see it and I felt that I needed to keep some of the story the same but I altered a bit of it...
Like the eyes in the shadows of the guild...
That will be revealed in the next chapter of who or what it truly is...
^.^
I hope you enjoyed my version...