"Natsu…"
Lucy yawned as she sat at her desk, so tempted to go to sleep. But she couldn't. Although Natsu had urged her not to wait up, Lucy wanted to anyways.
She rubbed her stomach, where a six-month-developed baby took up residence.
"You miss Daddy, too, don't you, Layla?" Lucy asked their yet-unborn daughter, earning a small kick in response.
Happy was already sleeping. Natsu had demanded Lucy have someone with her while he was gone on jobs, putting up with Gray (mostly) to be his temporary mission partner while Lucy and Happy were unavailable. He'd rather know Lucy had help right in the house with her. Someone fast like Happy that would be able to quickly go get someone more qualified to help Lucy if something serious happened to her or Layla.
Lucy sighed as she rubbed her eyes again. It was getting so late, and she was so tired. And just before Lucy would've finally fallen asleep against her desk, succumbed to her exhaustion, she heard the front door open as her husband drowsily stumbled in.
Natsu leaned against the door after closing it behind him. He took long breaths into his nose, taking in the scent of his home. The scent of the fireplace Lucy had lit to keep her company, the scent of Happy, snoozing away on the sofa and mumbling something about fish in his slumber, and most importantly, the scent of Lucy. Lucy and the tiny baby growing inside of her.
The smell of his family so close just made him yearn for them stronger and compelled him to the bedroom.
He gave a soft smile to Lucy as she greeted him with a sweet kiss on his cheek.
"I thought I told you not to stay up…" he drowsily commented.
Lucy hummed. "I wanted to. Besides, it's hard to sleep without you in the bed."
"I was gone too long," he remarked as they crawled into bed, Natsu taking his wife into his arms, burying his nose in her hair. "I really missed you. Was starting to crave your scent…"
Lucy smiled. "I missed you, too. But the mission paid a lot. We'll need the money when Layla comes." Lucy felt him nod.
"Yeah," at the mention of their baby, Natsu reached his arms lower to cradle the bump. He was so happy to be back; right where he was supposed to be, holding his wife, in their bed, surrounded by her scent…
"Natsu? Something wrong? You're awfully quiet. For you, anyways. You haven't told me at all about the mission."
Natsu mumbled an apology. "Just… really exhausted. Haven't slept since the big fight. Lot more Vulcans in that forest than the guy had estimated. Really taxing, even for both Gray and I." Lucy hummed in reply. "The bed is always a thousand times more comfortable after I come home from a long mission," Natsu drawled tiredly.
Lucy smiled before letting out a yawn. "Well let's go to sleep, then. It's been a long week, I'm sure."
Natsu barely nodded before the sounds of his snores filled the room.