'Today is going to be a good day.' Lucy thought. She couldn't wipe the smile off her face, not that she minded. So they drove to her house where an eager boy was waiting to see his mom and get ready for the second to last soccer match of the season.
"Mommy!" Kade screeched at the top of his lungs as he ran at Lucy. His eyes shone in the morning light as both Natsu and Lucy made their way inside. Natsu carried all the luggage inside as Lucy returned the hug.
"Hi Kade, did you miss me?" She crouched down to his level to fluff his beheaded hair. She smiled down at him, with all the love she could muster for her son and brought him in for a loving embrace once again.
"Mom," he squeaked "too tight."
Lucy released the small boy from her arms, and watched as Kade made his way over to Natsu. Hugging his legs tightly, she watched them both interact a moment when Levy made her way over to Lucy, giving the blonde a small side hug before raising her eyebrow in interest.
"So, would I want to know all the details? Or just most?" her tone teasing.
"I'd say most." Lucy responded with a blush coating her cheeks remembering what the two of them did last night and that morning. "Let's just say we slept really well."
"Mhmm."
"But the dinner was amazing. Natsu took me to this beautiful place where you could sit outside and look at the stars. Levy you should have seen it. It was amazing, the food, the service, all of it was wonderful."
"I'm really happy for you Lu. You deserved every bit of it."
Lucy looked back at Natsu swinging Kade through the air, the house full of laughs and happy squeals when she murmured to herself, "I think I'm starting to believe that."
Natsu drove Lucy to the game. His hand finding its rightful place upon her lap with her hand holding his. This had become their new normal sort of speak. Natsu picked them up and dropped them off where they would spend the rest of the day together. Pulling up to the sports center, Natsu turned to Kade in the back seat, dressed in their soccer uniform of red and white, "You ready little buddy?"
"Oh yeah!" came his immediate response.
They all got out of the car, Natsu unlatching Kade from his car seat and gently lifting him out of the car and onto the ground. Kade reached for Natsu's hand and Lucy grabbed Kade's pack full of water and snacks before meeting them at the front of the car where Kade reached out for both of their hands and together the three of them walked into the facility.
Lucy gave both her boys a kiss on the cheek for good luck before finding her spot next to Greendeeny on the benches.
"Someone is looking extra happy today." Greendenny greeted her.
Lucy met her gaze and smiled brightly at her. "What can I say? I'm having a good day today."
Greendeeny returned her smile and asked politely, "How was your guys' anniversary?"
"Absolutely amazing! I'm surprised he found a place like that on his own."
Greendeeny huffed slightly, hoping to contain most of her laughter. "Oh he didn't, trust me. He came to his father and I and asked if we knew anywhere that had a clear view of the stars."
Lucy just stared in awe of how considerate her boyfriend was.
"And now I understand why he wanted that view so badly. My son cares a great deal about you Lucy. You've changed him for the better, he seems happier now than he was when the incident happened." Greendeeny stopped short at the last sentence. Looking panicked she looked at Lucy then, "Please do not bring up the incident with Natsu, I didn't mean to say anything-"
Lucy raised a hand to silence whatever Greendeeny was about to say next, "You don't have to worry, he told me already."
"He… told you?"
Lucy nodded solemnly, "Yeah, remember that talk Natsu and I had a while ago? Where was Kade at your house? It was that talk."
The older woman looked shocked speechless. She took a deep breath then, seeming like a weight lifted off her shoulders then. "You have no idea how happy that makes me. As a mother, you only want to see your child grow up to be happy and carefree, you Lucy, have given that back to him. So thank you. Thank you for bringing my boy back home."
Lucy shook her head, "You have no idea how happy he has made me. He helped me out when I was new in town, and not only me but my son as well. We both love Natsu. He has done nothing but show us compassion and so much kindness. I only told him that I'm here to talk if he ever needs it."
"You've done more than that Lucy. From an outsider looking in you both have grown so much over the course of this year."
Lucy looked back at her boys, Natsu was cheering on her son with a proud look in his eyes, like how a father looks at a son when they accomplish their goals. "I guess we have."
With the heaviness dissipating from the air from the last conversation Lucy returned her attention to Kade who scored a goal for his team and cheered him on, Kade caught his mothers eyes and gave her a winning smile and an excited wave.
By the time the game was ending the score was 3-3, Kade's team was full of cheering, shouting, and most of all laughing. Some kids stumbled and fell but got back up, trying to reclaim the soccer ball from the opposing team. Kade, who now worked as an offense, managed to steal the ball from a kid about his size. A smirk sitting atop his lips that looked oddly familiar, Kade rushed down the field, his strides unbalanced but enthusiastic, the boy that originally had the ball before gave chase. Hot on his heels, Kade dashed through teammates, weaving to and fro before ultimately shooting the winning shot. The horn blared a telling sign that the ball did in fact make it into the net. But also served the dual purpose of calling the end to the game. Kade turned back to see his fellow teammates and friends cheering at him, bringing him in for a group hug containing giggles before everyone went to find their parents, Kade found Natsu first. Natsu screamed from across the field, "That's my boy!" the sound echoing through the enclosed stadium. A full fledged smile broke the surface of his mouth, Kade barreling through everyone before launching himself at Natsu.
Natsu had to take a step back from the impact, a small grunt escaping him. Lucy decided to make her way down to meet them. All the while watching Natsu throw her boy in the air with practiced ease. A smile of his own matching Kades. As Lucy got into earshot she heard Natsu praise him, "I'm so proud of you Kade. You did a great job." he said while he balanced him on his hip.
"You think so!"
"Oh I know so buddy, you were braver than a dragon out there!"
"A dragon?" He furrowed his brows.
"Yep! Just like the ones we read about, you were even braver than a fire dragon, the fiercest of all." He made a brave face to go with it.
"There's something more braver than a fire dragon." Kade proclaimed.
"What's that?" Natsu humored him.
"A mama dragon." Kade said using a deeper voice that caused Natsu to smile wider.
"Oh yeah! You never want to mess with a mama dragon."
"Just like my mom!" Kade pointed a small finger towards himself. "She's not scared of anything."
"Nope, your mom is the bravest person I know kiddo. Ain't no doubt about it."
"But Natsu, you're super brave too!"
"Am I?" Natsu tilted his head.
"Yeah! You're a firefighter so you save people! Plus when I'm scared or Mommy is scared you're always there to protect us!"
"I dunno about that one bud."
Kade didn't seem to hear him on a roll and not seeming to stop, then he gasped. Seeming to have found the words he was looking for he yelled with glee. "You're daddy dragon!"
At an instant both Natsu and Lucy looked at eachother locked in a standstill. Lucy was walking toward them but the smile on her face faltered. She was scared this day was coming. She just didn't know when it would happen.
Kade seemed oblivious to his mothers turmoil and bounced up and down in Natsu's arms. "Mommy! You're mama dragon, Natsu is daddy dragon, and I'm baby dragon!"
Lucy pushed through her spiraling thoughts, "Are you now?"
"Yeah! Yeah!" Natsu set Kade down. "One of the other kids said that daddy's protect their families, hold hands, and kiss their moms." He said the last statement with a sour look on his face. "And you and Natsu do that stuff all the time!"
This caused a blush to spread across both Natsu and Lucy's face and a rough cough to come out of Natsu.
"I see." Was all Lucy had to say with a plastered smile on her face.
Kade grabbed Natsu's hand then, "C'mon daddy! Let's go get our things. C'mon Mommy! Hurry up!" he shouted behind him as Natsu was dragged speechless by the four year old.
Natsu gave Lucy a look that urged her that they would talk about this later. She nodded at him and followed behind.
But what scared her the most was that despite the initial shock of it all, she wasn't bothered as much as she wanted to be when Kade called Natsu his father. She found that her stomach fluttered whenever she thought of it. Them as a complete family. But would they be moving too fast? They did just start dating not too long ago. And they've only known each other for a little more than a year. But at the same time.
Them as a family didn't seem that bad. In fact she rather liked entertaining the idea. But mind and heart have two different versions of what should happen. She only hoped that when they talked, she could be honest with herself and Natsu.
With that thought in mind, Lucy uneasily began taking measured strides to her car, upon where she saw Kade clinging to Natsu and laughing as they walked to the car. Natsu, blowing raspberries in his face that caused Kade to light up, and she took an image of this moment, because what was to come next would either make or break their relationship. And she could only hope that Natsu felt the same way as her.
Well would you look at that! I'm sorry for the delay. It was a friend's birthday. Now I know I've been kinda inconsistent with the updates and all but they're about to get a whole lot worse with my finals coming up this next month and me preparing for them. At the same time I'm sad to say that this fic will be drawing to a close in the next couple chapters. I'm hoping for at least 5 more chapters. Maybe more, maybe less. But what an honor it has been to take this fic, my first mind you, and be able to give it the ending it deserves! I'm so thankful for each and everyone of you and the journey we have all gone on together.
So without further ado, thank you to those that reviewed, and those that favorited the fic!
FairyTailxFanGirl, rao hyuga 18, Copperreign12, Ushindi, and MaraDragneel3113!