A/N: Hello everyone! I decided to surprise you with this chapter! As a thank you for all of the support I got with my fathers surgery! More notes at the end of this chapter! Enjoy!
Lucy groans with the morning light hitting her square in the face. With a groan she rolls over and tries to go back to sleep. However the light did its job and she can't go back to sleep. With a huff she sits up, blankets pooling at her waist and rubs the tiredness out of her eyes. She gives a large stretch and crawls off the bed. With the light steps of her feet so as to not disturb her son she begins making a fresh brew of coffee.
When the machine yells at her, signaling its completion she douses her coffee with vanilla creamer and dives a content sigh of approval.
She turns the t.v on and tunes in for the news, nothing but waether pops up and a house fire that was contained thanks to the firemen being able to be extinguished in no time. Lucy reaches for her phone, finding ways to distract herself and finds a missed call and a voicemail on her Home Screen.
None other than Natsu had made the call. With a smile she put her phone to her ear and listened to what he needed to call her for at 5 in the morning, almost two hours before she woke up.
"Hey Luce, I guess it's pretty early, huh? Well anyways I'm at the station for the next two days but wanted to know if you'd be willing to go out again. I know we just went on a date not that long ago but...I don't know I'd like to go on one again. Let me know what ya think. Sleep tight!"
With that she placed her phone in her lap and began to text.
'I'd love to, but unfortunately Levy will be working so I don't have anyone to watch Kade :('
Natsu replied almost immediately as the message went through. 'That's totally fine! Who said that he couldn't come with.'
'Are you sure? Having a three almost four year old isn't the most romantic thing I've heard of.'
'Luce, I can promise that he wouldn't be doing anything but adding to our date. I'm thinking of an arcade? Thoughts?'
'Kade hasn't been to one in a very long time. But I think he'd really enjoy spending some time with both of us.'
'Then it's settled. You, Me, and Kade at an arcade around noon in two days.'
Lucy smiled, practically hearing his voice through his texts.
'Sounds like a plan.'
'See you then Luce.'
'See you then.'
With a fluttering heart and a smile that was permanently glued to her face she began getting ready for the day, a plain baby blue tee and some jean shorts as the final decision for today's look. She had nowhere to be so Kade and her were going to have a picnic. Or so she planned.
Lucy began making a simple breakfast, with eggs and pancakes. A small patter of feet began making their appearance in the kitchen. A small voice yelled, "Are those pancakes?!"
"You guessed correctly bud, take a seat and they'll be right out."
A chair lightly scraping the hardwood floor could be heard and a scramble up the chair followed suit.
"Alight bud. Let's chow down!"
"Thank you mommy!"
After their breakfast Kade marches to his room, insisting that he's big enough to dress by himself. Attempt 1 yielded a backwards shirt and shoes on the wrong feet.
Lucy smiled, shaking her head, "Hun, I'm very proud of you for putting on your clothes, but can mommy help out just a bit?" Pinching her fingers ever so slightly to make her point known.
Kade gave a nod, "Okay."
With dressing out of the way, Lucy brushed his ever growing hair, the blonde locks reaching the tips of his ears. They then brushed their teeth, giving big smiles in the mirror and making silly faces afterwards, and left the house. Kade fastened his own buckles and asked, "What are we doing today?"
Lucy glanced at the rearview mirror, "We're going on a picnic!"
Kade smiled wide, his arms and legs kicking up in the air, "A picnic! A picnic!" he repeated.
With that Kade and Lucy made their way to a local park near their apartment. A wicker basket hanging in the crook of Lucy's elbow and a large blanket resting on top made their way to an empty spot on the grass near the play structure. Placing the basket on the ground Lucy and Kade began setting up for their picnic.
A smile never leaving Kades face, he eagerly helped his mom set up the snacks and drinks. With a proud smile Kade exclaimed, "All done!"
"Well done!" Lucy reached for a high five, "up top."
Kade jumped with all his might and smacked her open palm.
Kade and Lucy settled onto the blanket and began snacking on various things she packed that morning, from grapes and cheese to pretzels and fruit. She also packed juice and waters for the afternoon heat.
"Mom can I go play?" he pointed to the slide and other kids playing about.
"Sure, go ahead kiddo just be safe okay?"
"I will! I promise!"
Lucy giggled at her son's antics and pulled out a book to read. One full of fairy tail's and endless adventure. Keeping a slight eye on Kade as he seemed to mesh easily with the others around him. It seemed that he was becoming more adventurous with new people, having enrolled him in soccer and meeting Natsu, Kade has definitely come out of his shell.
Lucy began to read her current Novel, but a phone call interrupted her. Glancing at the screen she noticed the caller ID as none other than the man that takes root in her mind and refuses to leave. Holding the phone to her ear she greets him warmly, "Hey Natsu! I thought you were at the station today?"
"Hey'ya Luce," she can practically hear his smile, "I am but I have a spare moment, just wanted to hear your voice is all."
Well if that didn't make her blush she didn't know what could.
"O-oh, did you now."
"Mmhm, so what are you and Kade doing today?"
Brushing off the abrupt compliment that gave her butterflies, she was thankful for the change in conversation. "We're on a picnic. Decided it was a nice enough day and all."
Lucy faced the playground trying to spot Kades head amongst the children.
"What I would give to be there instead of here." muttered Natsu.
Lucy snickered, "Bad work day?"
"Any day is a bad day when I have to work with the popsicle." He gave an irritated huff.
"Popcicle?" she questioned.
"Oh yeah you remember meeting him at the arcade? Though I don't blame you if you forgot him. Wish I could. Names Gray."
"Oh. The guy with the dark hair?"
"That'd be him."
"I thought you guys were friends?"
Natsu gave an overdramatic gag, "Eww. He wishes."
The corners of Lucy's mouth went up a notch. "I see." she drawled.
"Is that sarcasm I hear?" He accused.
Lucy shook her head, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Uh-huh, okay. Just you wait for our date. I'm gonna wipe the floor with you."
"Is that so?"
"Yep! Won't even know what hit ya. Good luck keeping up princess."
"Oh you're so on! Loser pays for lunch?"
"Deal!"
"Alright Natsu, two days from now you'll be buying me and Kade some lunch. Hope you like Sushi." Lucy wore a winner's grin.
"And I hope you-" he stretched out the you for emphasis, "-like burgers cause me and Kade are going to be starving." He phrased with a competitive lit to his voice.
"We'll see. I have to go but I look forward to Friday."
"Me too Luce. Me too."
"Goodbye Natsu."
"Bye Lucy."
With that the line went dead. Now giving all her attention to Kade and his new found friends she noticed them playing tag. Kade squealing as the person it gave chase. However it didn't seem like Kade looked in front of him as he collided with a metal support pole.
Kade collapsed into a pile of tears. Lucy took that que to check on her boy. He was 3 after all. The kids began circling him, trying to make him feel better. There was one girl specifically that tried to distract him with her toy pistol. That's when she decided to hang back and watch the spectacle occur.
"Hey! Wanna see what my mamma showed me to make the pain go away?"
Kade gave a tearful nod.
"Watch this." The little girl fired the little pistol in the air, the rubber bullet then hit a juice box from quite a long distance. She blew off the pretend smoke coming from the mouth of the toy. "Mommy always says there's nothing better then doing a trick to make you feel better."
Kade gave a faint smile, "That was really cool." He said meekly as he scrubbed the tears from his eyes.
Kade inhaled deeply, then slowly exhaled the breaths through his mouth. Just like his mom showed him. He tentatively rose to his feet and searched for his mom. Not having to look far as his gaze set on his mom easily in the crowd full of three to five year olds. He trudged along towards his mom, casting a brave face he walked.
"You did great honey. I'm very proud of you." Lucy did a once over surveying the extent of the tumble, he had a red mark on his forehead that would remain for the rest of the day she was sure. "Does anywhere hurt?"
Kades lip began to quiver, still trying to be strong for his mom. Lucy was incredibly proud that someone his age calmed himself down, but she was sure he needed to cry. "Awwww. Come here baby." She said gently holding her arms wide for him to fall into.
Kade didn't resist as he sobbed into his mom's shirt. "It hurts really bad." he hiccuped.
"I bet buddy. That was quite the tumble." Lucy consoled her son as much as she could, rubbing his back and enveloping him in her arms. She gave him a tight squeeze.
"Do you want the magic hands?"
"Yes please."
"Alight here we go," she whispered, as she rubbed her hands together in a fast motion, then blew on them as if to breathe life into something he could not see.
Lucy gently placed her hands over his bump. Then gave his forehead a featherlight kiss.
"Feel better?" She lightly bumped her forehead against his.
Kade gave a meek nod.
"Alright, lets go back to the picnic and have some dessert." That seemed to perk him right up.
"We have dessert?!"
"We do."
Kade took hold of his mom's hand and dragged her towards their blanket. For dessert they had vanilla pudding with strawberries on top. One of Lucy's favorite things to eat.
With dessert eaten and the day passing by Lucy calls an end to their picnic and begins packing up. Kade helps, but it seems that the day is catching up to him, his movements slow moving and his energy way lower than normal. 'Poor guy had a long day.' She mused.
With the basket all packed and garbage thrown away, Lucy grabs Kade's hand and they head to the car, buckling Kade in and setting off for home. When they arrive Kade is passed out in his carseat. Head dropped down and a soft snore escaping him every known and then.
Carrying him and the now lighter basket inside she sets the basket on the kitchen counter and heads to Kade's room. Tucking him into his dragon comforter she figures hes going to be asleep for the rest of the night. With that thought in mind she makes herself a light dinner, not famished from snacking all day and heads for the couch.
Once on said couch she finds a cheezy show to tune in and out of and begins looking at preschools. She knows that daycare should be enough but maybe getting an earlier start to his education would be the best thing for him. Kade may have inherited her eyes and some of her smarts, but his father is the main contributor to that.
Just thinking about him made her skin crawl. How young and naive she was. She shakes the bad memory away, now was not the time to think about her baby daddy. 'If you could even call him that.'
Lucy just wanted to think of how she could afford preschool for the next semester, maybe if she took him out of daycare and switched him into preschool instead. Money is an issue but if she can start saving up now for her boy she would do it. They would do more stuff that was inexpensive, but what does money have to do with it. If she can create some happy memories going to the beach or having picnics than that's what they'd do.
As Lucy got caught up in her thoughts a preschool popped out to her, Bisca and Alzack's Preschool. Looking at the website she found that it was relatively close by, maybe three miles away from their home and on the way to work. It was almost as if it was a sign from Mavis herself. As she began looking into it a yawn escaped her lips, maybe it was time for her to go to sleep herself. She'd look into it more in the morning. Who knows maybe Natsu might know if they're a good school or not?
With that she turned off the T.V and wandered into Kade's room to kiss him good night. She kissed his forehead, where the bump was still present, though not as swollen now and whispered, "sweet dreams my little dragon. I love you." and left his room she kept his door slightly ajar just in case he had the occasional nightmare and wanted to sleep with her.
She tiptoes into her room, slid under the covers and nestled in. Sleep overtook her in minutes. The last thing on her mind was her little boy and the fun day they had together.
o0o
A/N: Okay everyone that's a wrap for this chapter! I wanted to say thank you for all the support! It really meant a lot to me with how easy going you all were and how kind everyone was with the delay! I know it's also a Thursday which is crazy but you guys definitely deserved an extra chapter! Speaking of which here's a sneak peak!
"Natsu Natsu! Look at that game! Can we play it?" Looking to where Kade was eagerly pointing there was a desert racing game with a large buff man with white hair yelling at the screen asking if they were man enough to play. The game itself didn't look bad to him but it did seem more on the realistic side vs. Guitar Hero.
Natsu stole a glance at Lucy, deciding if she was okay with it or not. With a slight tilt of her head she gave the okay.
"Alright but know I'm not going easy on you buddy!" Natsu said fully intent on putting up a fight but throwing it at the end.
"I'm fired up now!" He mimicked his idol.
With a soft smile Lucy trailed after her boys watching them grin ear to ear. Well if she didn't want to lose this she better join in.
"Bring the heat boys!" Lucy yelled as she chased after them.