"Lucy, we're gonna be okay."
Natsu combed his fingers through Lucy's hair as she wept in his lap. Tears were falling from his own eyes, but he was trying to hold up at least a little. For her.
Lucy sobbed something that Natsu couldn't quite decipher before coughing a couple times, attempting to clear her throat. "She was- She was our- our daughter!" she finally choked out.
Natsu choked on his own tears as he replied, "I know, Luce."
"I just can't- I just can't believe- she died!"
"Neither- neither can I. I- can't stand the thought-"
Lucy felt his hands tense slightly in her hair, and she responded by clenching his scarf in her hands. He'd unwrapped it from his neck earlier and she'd been sobbing into it since it'd been confirmed.
Confirmed that their daughter, Layla, had been stillborn.
Lucy had been dizzy and sore. Layla'd stopped kicking a few nights ago. And then finally, the blood came.
They hadn't wanted to fear the worst, but after all the blood, they knew what had happened. And then Porlyusica had only been able to confirm their nightmare.
Lucy'd still had to deliver the baby. They'd just finished. It had been the most painful thing Lucy had ever gone through, emotionally. If she wasn't in Fairy Tail and being achingly taxed with every mission, it might've been the most painful thing physically, too.
"Natsu, I-" Natsu couldn't make out the rest. He wrapped his arms around her torso and squeezed her comfortingly.
"We'll get through this," he reassured, still choking on his own sobs.
"I don't know- don't know if I- if I'm strong enough…"
"You are strong, Luce. You have- you have to be. Because I- I don't know if I'm strong enough without you- you helping me."
He felt Lucy nod in his lap.
"We'll be strong- be strong for each other, then…"
Natsu leaned down to press a kiss to her hair. "Yeah, we'll- we'll get through this- together."
And this should be the last one for now ^_^
Thank you for reading!