(The reason the time between chapters is so long is because I only post writing I am proud of. The only part of the story I am geniunely proud of, and that I wish got more attention, was my rendition of Natsu vs Laxus. Anyway, please review.)

A smudge of pink registered in Levy's peripheral, drawing her keen attention away from the shelf lined with neatly organized books to scan the maze of towering bookshelves from her perch atop a ladder.

Scattered muted chatter of the other library patrons echoed off the intricately carved ornate bookcases, the atmosphere one of easy solitude. Gently nudging a text book back into its rightful place next to its older more decrepit brethren, Levy's forehead puckered in confusion as she continued her search for that pink.

Sticking out like a sore thumb among the library interior's color palette of gentle seaside hues, consisting of soft greys, blues, and browns, was one Natsu Dragneel. The dragon slayer stood across the spacious rectangular room in front of a collection of inky treasures, scanning their leather backs and the information they displayed with reserved interest.

"Levy, are you alright?" Pantherlily's concerned voice came hushed yet anxious, the black exceed now comfortably hovering in place next to her.

Sure to keep her weight properly dispersed atop the ladder, Levy hummed distantly, still distracted, "I-i'm fine. Could you help me get down sweetie?"

With a dutiful nod, the feline gently slid his paws under the blue haired woman's arms and lifted, still meandering in the air as if her weight didn't register with Pantherlily at all. Slowly falling back to solid ground, Pantherlily only let go once Levy had steadied herself.

Circling her, the warrior exceed voiced his worries, "Is the kid bothering you?"

"No Pantherlily, that won't happen for a few more months." Levy laughed softly, giving the space between his ears an appreciative affectionate scratch, "I already have Gajeel babying me, I don't need the only sense of reason I have around doing it too."

Tail curling nervously, Pantherlily placed his paw against her hand, "Can you really blame me? You humans and your reproduction cycle is beyond inefficient, and I don't have any experience with it. I'm doing what I feel is necessary." the black exceed remarked.

"And that's very sweet of you, but I'm not helpless… yet." Levy commented, lips upturned with mirth as she bent over to retrieve the small stack of collected books that sat next to the ladder. "Do you really want to help?"

Whiskers twitching, Pantherlily gave a serious 'yes'.

"Then can you look over there and make sure I'm not going crazy. Is that really Natsu?"

Swiveling in mid air, feathery angelic wings shifting upon his back, Pantherlily was taken aback by the familiar sight and magic signature.

Rubbing his eyes a few times for confirmation he wasn't dreaming, the black exceed muttered, "Huh, what do you know? It is him."

"What on Earthland is he doing in the library of all places?" Levy asked flummoxed, confusion scattering thoughts like the seeds of a flower during a strong wind.

Pantherlily landed on her petite shoulder, wings disappearing into nothingness with a flash of dim light, "Can't you see? Natsu is reading."

"I want you to say that to yourself, but slower." she quipped, to which the black exceed frowned in disapproval.

"He is a lot more intelligent than you give him credit for."

Levy backpedaled a bit, "I'm just saying he is not too much sharper than a soup spoon. I love the guy, but come on, this is Natsu we are talking about."

"Have you ever actually talked with him? I mean sat down with him, and just talked. Have you ever asked how he was doing? What his hobbies are? Anything?"

Frowning with an odd concoction of shame and indignation, Levy lowered her head and stuttered, "W-well, no. Not really. I mostly hear about him from Lucy and the other girls."

"You mean the ones that talk about him behind his back?" Pantherlily elaborated scathingly, folding his paws over his chest. "I was genuinely shocked that you have merely accepted the gossip about Natsu as truth."

"Okay, I get it, I'm a horrible person!" she hissed softly, ears burning red, "Can you get to the point!?"

The feline sighed, "I'm not trying to say you or any of the other girls are 'horrible people' for doing what people do. But don't you think you can give him some ounce of credit? Lord knows he needs it."

Levy relaxed, although still shuffled in place as the gears in her head resumed their tireless turning. She was someone who valued truth and logic, tides of emotion having soaked the script mage her entire life. But she could always escape, dry herself off with the knowledge and stories of books.

"Alright, what am I missing about him then?" she murmured begrudgingly, coughing into a closed fist under her chin.

Pantherlily tilted his head upwards a few degrees, whiskers tickling her ears as a result. Thoughtfully, he proposed, "What is the first word that comes to mind when you think about Natsu?"

"Warrior."

"Good, good." he nodded in approval, "Now, why that word specifically? Why is he the epitome of the term?"

Resting a hand on her hip, she gestured to the unaware dragonslayer, "Well look at him, everything about his appearance tells me he has been through more battles than almost anyone else in the guild, barring Gildarts and Makarov."

"There is it." Pantherlily alerted her that she had reached the end of his obstacle course of pondering. "Natsu is very experienced, and with that comes skill."

"How does talent relate to intelligence?"

"Ah, ah, ah, Natsu is not talented." the feline clarified as he wagged his finger, tail curling and uncurling like the coiling dance of an entranced cobra.

"Natsu is skilled, not talented. Mirajane, Erza, Laxus, they are talented. Their abilities come to them naturally. Natsu may have more teachability than others, but by and large, he has fought tooth and nail for his power."

Levy shifted her grip on her books, "Okay, point made. But right now all I am getting is correlation, not causation."

"Natsu is the most skilled hand to hand combatant in the guild, bar none. To be a master of something as sacred and honorable as the martial arts, once must be patient, perceptive, and intuitive." Pantherlily explained calmly, throwing a faux straight punch as demonstration.

"Like that time during the Grand Magic Games when he fought Sting and Rogue?" quick as ever, the script mage further interpolated the point, "He had figured out everything about their fighting style after just a brief scuffle."

"Precisely." Pantherlily confirmed, "There is much more factors and variables in a fight than you realize Levy, which may be because your combat experience is relatively limited."

She huffed, remarking with miffed hushness, "Quit the lip mister, I get the point already. He is a genius when it comes to fighting."

The black exceed grinned in delight, "Glad we cleared that up." he gently patted the back of her head, "Hey, look on the bright side, you admitted you were wrong and changed accordingly, that's a true show of character."

Easing, Levy's puckered forehead flattened as she returned the gesture, nuzzling her cheek against his before crooning appreciatively.

"Still begs the question though, why haven't we seen him in a while?"

Pantherlily's seasoned scrutinization kicked in, pulling him away from the affectionate touches of Levy to inspect Natsu up and down. He instantly caught lulled exhausted tension that made Natsu's shoulders slack.

Remembrance sparked in the back of his mind as he recalled what little he had been told by Gajeel about the pink haired man's situation.

Unfolding the glasses tucked into her collar, Levy slipped them on, "You know where he has been?"

"Resting."

"Are we talking about the same person here? It's Natsu, the guy has never seemed to run out of energy."

Expression now solemn, Pantherlily turned to her and prompted, "You really haven't noticed?"

"Noticed what?" her tone lost its humorous edge, "What exactly am I missing? Look, I have had enough of being proven wrong for one day, so please just tell me."

Taking a moment to properly formulate an explanation without violating anyone's privacy, Pantherlily eventually stated the obvious, "Everyone has been through a lot in the past years, especially him."

"Look at him Levy, I mean really take a moment to look at Natsu, just Natsu. Use that beautiful brain of yours and tell me what you see, what you notice."

Levy did as asked. Several moments of expectant silence followed, the script mage's expression gradually souring as detail after detail about Natsu's general appearance registered in her mind.

"He looks so… tired." she murmured softly, giving her head a half tilt.

There was no fire of interest in the black of his eyes, no eager momentum behind his movement. The quiet almost thoughtful expression plastered across his strong yet enervated visage was so unlike Natsu.

Pantherlily frowned, "He is Levy. The world and its people, us included, get to sleep at night now because rough men like him stay up at night ready to visit violence on those that wish to do us harm."

A shiver of anguish tingled the length of her spine as she ran her gaze along his many horrid scars, stomach churning upon seeing how the faint uncontrollable tremble of his hands made flipping through pages a much more onerous task for him.

Brewing maternal instinct, bolstered by the beginning stages of pregnancy, taking a hold of her legs and made them walk forward. Sliding past several patrons, Levy slowly eased her way towards the occupied Natsu.

The pink haired mage actually noticed them first, his nostrils flaring before recognition reared its head across his countenance.

Natsu's expression softened considerably as he offered his usual warm smile, "Oh, hey there Levy. Good to see you."

"I could say the same thing, the guild hasn't been the same without you around." she replied earnestly, gracefully brushing hair away from her eyes.

The dragon slayer's grin faltered for the briefest of moments, so fleeting in fact that the script mage's social radar nearly let it slip by undetected.

She thought that facial expressions were the pages to one's most sacred inner diary, something that she was adept at decrypting and analyzing. But Natsu, Natsu had become an indescribable puzzle that Levy couldn't even begin to understand, let alone piece together. There were entire pieces that were now missing, either stolen from him or burnt to ash in the blaze of conflict.

No amount of studying would ever allow her to comprehend him. Just from looking at him, she could tell.

"I'm sure everyone's just fine without me." he rasped quietly, closing the book in his hand before tucking it under his arm. "How are you doing? Everything coming along okay?"

Rubbing her belly fondly, that was beginning to show the first signs it was housing a new soul in its interior, Levy couldn't help but grin and gush like a schoolgirl.

"Yep, everything is just awesome." she sang melodiously, eyes shining with happiness, potential future memories of holding a child, her child, only making her expression glow brighter.

Natsu eased, her eagerness for parenthood rubbing off on him, infecting him with a rush of fond affection for his guildmate.

The dragon slayer scanned the shelf of books lingering a foot above Levy's head as he expressed, "That's great to hear. I'm really happy for you guys. The kid is more lucky than he'll ever know."

"You and Gajeel more than deserve this."

Flushing at the compliment, the script mage sheepishly swayed in place, admitting, "Well to be honest, I hope this inspires everyone else in the guild to settle down. Almost everyone has that special someone, so it's practically destined to happen."

"We will have a group of twirps scampering around the guild hall in no time." Pantherlily chuckled as he found a small lapse in a shelf to land on, leaping from Levy's tiny shoulder for more spacious ground.

Natsu said nothing, plucking a book from its slot to scan the cover.

"What? No plans of having a kid of your own with one 'Lucy Dragneel'?" the blue haired woman teased with a suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows, sliding closer to nudge his ribs.

Natsu glanced at her curiously, body freezing up as his conscious couldn't help but entertain the admittedly heavenly idea. Surprisingly enough, there was no flush of embarrassment.

The dragon slayer shrugged and offered an alarmingly blank answer, "I don't think so."

White hot alarm raced through Levy and Pantherlily, the short lived amiable atmosphere fading to make room for the palpable sense of baffled concern they both shared.

"W-what? Why?!"

The black exceed didn't bother scolding Levy for the rise in volume, prodding on his own, "But I thought that you-"

"Loved her?" Natsu finished for him, chest puffing with breath, "Yeah, I do. I love Lucy, and I will never stop loving her."

His canines clinked against each other behind closed lips as the dragon slayer put thoughts into words, "She deserves better, much better than I could ever hope of giving her. I'm not fit to be a partner. I can't give Lucy the happiness she deserves. I doubt I could give anyone that happiness."

"It's probably for the best that we stay as best friends."

Levy's heart broke, simply put.

There was no better feeling in the world then waking up in the arms of someone she was going to spend the rest of her life with, knowing that a child of her very own, one that would call her 'Mommy', was on its way. And with what she had observed, a majority of the guild was beginning to find their forever partners.

Soon, everybody was going to experience that bliss. Except Natsu.

In a world full of lovers, of affection and trust, one of the most compassionate men to ever walk the planet would willingly remain alone. All alone.

The family he had protected for all these years would soon create families of their own, but the Dragneel name would end with him.

Levy laid a gentle touch upon the ravaged surface of his bicep, eyes nearly watering "N-natsu, where is this coming from?"

He blinked owlishly, opening his mouth to speak before promptly snapping it shut, cautious silence on his part a forgien sight for both Levy and Pantherlily.

"It's just things I have noticed over the years, I guess."

At the frustratingly yet purposely vague reply, the script mage still didn't feel any better, her heart not even humoring the idea of gluing itself back together. All it took was a sliver of intuition to realize that these beliefs had been implanted in him, whether on purpose or not.

Levy said aloud just as she came to the realization, "We've done this to you."

"What?"

The script mage withered in shame, "Those terrible things, those awful things we have been saying about you for years, you've been listening to them. Haven't you? The gossip, the complaining, the insults, you were always listening."

Natsu's eyes widened in shock, nothing more than a croaking sound of weak denial coming from his lips.

Levy moaned softly in grief, shaking her head at herself.

There was always a part of her that felt nasty when listening to the way the girls of the guild talked about him, how their own guild master made it sound as if his mere existence was an unneeded complication, how his partner would come to complain about being around him. Yet she had never done anything about it, therefore contributing to it.

Even if they were merely venting, belief not placed behind those words, Natsu had no way of knowing that. Natsu had no idea how much the guild truly appreciated him, because no one ever bothered to pull him aside and tell him thanks.

Thanks for destroying your body so Fairy Tail could claim victory.

Thanks for swallowing your own pride and self confidence to accept help in a battle.

Thanks for selflessly sacrificing important parts of you so that we could sleep safely at night.

When Igneel perished in his earth shattering battle with Acnologia, no one offered their condolences.

The person Natsu had spent his entire adult life chasing, had not only been right under his nose the entire time, but then committed their own heroic act that led to their death.

Years of work, of pain, wasted in an instant.

Looking back on it now, no one had given a single damn.

"Your own friends, your own family, we took away your sense of self worth. You trusted us, you loved us, you protected us, and we… I have spat in your face."

"God, no wonder you left, you had every reason to. Yet we acted as if you were in the wrong, we blamed you for leaving, we practically held your own father's death over your head!" she placed a hand to her forehead as her voice wavered.

Natsu finally spoke, "Levy. Enough."

The script mage instantly shut her mouth as the dragon slayer exhaled wearily, "I don't want people to feel guilty. I don't want everyone to hang their heads in shame once they realize their mistakes."

"I can't stand the thought of the people I love experiencing that pain, because I know it better than most. So please, don't destroy yourself over this."

Levy gave a reluctant nod, but still voiced a reservation, "That doesn't change the fact we have done you a horrible disservice. We put an idea in you that doesn't belong."

Knowing what she was referring to, he shuffled in place awkwardly and swiveled his head in an errant direction.

Cupping his cheek and forcing him to look directly at her, Levy noticed how he went frigid under her light touch, how he almost seemed averse to the mere concept of physical contact that he didn't initiate.

"You deserve to be happy, just like everyone else. No one, not even us, gets to tell you otherwise." she gently soothed, her first go at using her motherly tone of voice proving to be somewhat effective. "Don't let us tell you that you're not enough."

Natsu's cheek twitched as the scar there, left by his own brother, stopped aching for just a moment as Levy stroked it.

"I am happy though. I got Fairy Tail." he confessed, the first sense of genuine certainty he had used in the entire conversation clear in his voice.

Withdrawing her hand, Levy exhaled in reluctant acceptance, "I knew you would say something like that."

Still, the idea of everyone growing old, watching their bloodline continue and beloved children become young adults, while Natsu didn't get to receive that privilege, it hurt her heart in ways that could not be put into understandable words.

"I don't mind being alone Levy, as long as Fairy Tail is happy."

"A-and the pain that comes with it?"

Natsu shrugged lazily, nonplussed, "I'm okay with pain."

The fact he didn't sound bothered even in the slightest dealt another ferocious blow to Levy's gut. But before she could break down, the script mage desperately hobbled together the next topic of conversation. She could bawl her eyes out at home.

"Hey, can you do me a favor then?" the expecting mother sniffled discreetly.

Natsu nodded obediently, ready to drop what he was doing in order to fulfill the given task.

"Be our godfather." she grinned wide, strained yet somehow still genuine.

Natsu choked on his own spit, the drastic alteration the course of conversation almost throwing him off the ship of exchange, "W-what?!"

Playfully pushing his shoulder, which had the same density as a steel wall, Levy chirped, continuing to force cheerfulness on herself, "Oh come on! Luce is going to be the godmother, only makes sense you be the godfather."

Seeing the as of late stoic and composed Natsu visibly freak much like he did in his younger years was enough to stir laughter in her belly. Genuine laughter that came flowing and free.

"H-hold on Levy, are you sure that's a good idea? I-i mean, me, o-of all people, you're gonna trust me with your kid!?"

"Of course." Levy confirmed, pushing her glasses up her nose, "I've seen how tender you are with Wendy. I know you'll be a great uncle. Besides, you're the only person Gajeel would tolerate for this job."

Running a nervous hand through his hair, he pressed the issue, "But what about Erza? She has probably claimed that position by now. If she finds out I was chosen instead of her, she will gut me!"

"All Erza would accomplish is breaking her strongest sword over your stomach." Pantherlily snorted dryly, to which Levy sent him a 'your not helping' leer.

Natsu sighed, softly smacking the back of a book against his forehead a few times before finally relenting wearily, managing a small smile, "Okay. Okay, okay, you win. I would be honored to do it."

Levy beamed, relieved, "Thanks Natsu, you're the best! If it's any solace, I'm super worried about being a good mom, so you're not the only nervous party present."

The dragon slayer took his turn at reassuring, "Hey, it's only scary because you don't know what you're doing, so go easy on yourself."

"Do you subscribe to that wisdom Natsu?" Pantherlily prompted, a pawed foot tapping against the wood of the shelf expectantly.

"..."

"Thought so." the script mage hummed a laugh at the exchange, reaching out to scoop Pantherlily up into her free arm.

The warrior exceed, who normally wasn't a fan of this sort of touchy treatment, had been tempered to enjoy it over years of Asuka and Wendy doing this exact thing.

"Look, I have to get back to the guild or else Gajeel will start to freak, but it's good to see you're doing okay." she informed softly, nodding towards the busting library entrance.

Mustering the courage to make direct eye contact with the empty space of Natsu's pupils, Levy expressed earnestly, "I understand you are working through some things, things I couldn't begin to understand, but can you promise to just drop by at the guild every once in a while?"

"I promise to hang around more. Matter of fact, me and Juvia just went on a job the other day."

"Oh, that's lovely!" she squeaked her approval, "You and Juvia? That's an odd combination for sure! What job did you take?"

"We helped a militia stage a coup of a local dictatorship."

"O-oh…."