"Mama, look at me!" Gale, only after double-checking that her mother was in fact watching her, performed her best cartwheel ever, legs only mostly bent as she flew through the air.
"Oh, good job, darling!" Levy smiled, offering her eldest daughter the applause she was seeking. Gale beamed, light blue hair sticking up wildly as she turned away, searching for the Exceed who had only recently made his escape.
Levy sighed as Gale scampered away through the park, disappearing immediately behind bushes. She wrapped her arm around Gajeel's, looking up at her husband. "Her hair looks just like yours."
"I don't know who yer insulting," Gajeel shot back, running a self-conscious hand through his black hair.
She laughed, tugging on a loose strand. "No insult at all. Just that your daughter looks a lot like you."
"And yet they both got yer blue hair."
"And your eyes."
"Think if we had another, it'd be the opposite?"
Levy punched him in the shoulder with a scowl, the Iron Dragon Slayer tilting his head back and laughing. "As much as I love you, we can barely handle the two we have now."
"You've already made me the babysitter," came Lily's voice. The Exceed stood in his humanoid form, almost two-year-old Lilian clinging to his shoulder and Gale hanging from his opposite elbow. Both knew the Exceed too well to be fooled by his taxed expression, yet Levy still rose to her feet, soft smile turned onto their dear friend.
"Thank you, Lily, really. I don't know what we'd do without you." Gently, Levy pulled her youngest off of the massive Exceed and settled the girl on her hip. Lilian giggled, wrapping her fingers around the thin strap of her mother's tank-top.
Lily nodded once, solemn even as Gale swung from his arm and attempted to climb even higher. "I fear these ruffians would have run amok."
"No need for those big words," Gajeel grumbled. He grabbed Gale by the ankles, the girl shrieking in retaliation and losing her grip on Lily's arm. The toddler thrashed and laughed as her father continued to hold her upside down, a faint smirk crossing his face.
Lily transformed back into his smaller size with a puff of air and giant sigh. "Gajeel, I would have thought that after so many years with Levy, you would be able to comprehend more than two syllable words."
Levy laughed at the affronted expression on her husband's face, the Dragon Slayer torn between punching his friend and continuing to interact with his daughter. He finally settled on the only option a mature adult would make; he stuck his tongue out at the Exceed.
Gale giggled, poking her dad in the stomach. "You're silly, Daddy."
"He is very silly, isn't he?" Levy rolled her eyes good-naturedly, bouncing Lilian on her hip.
"Down," she demanded, wriggling in her mother's arms. Levy pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head before setting the girl down, the toddler's arms wrapping around her mother's leg for support.
Lily hovered in the air between Levy and Gajeel, unable to hide his warm gaze as he looked down at the girls. Then he took a deep breath of the early spring air. "I must admit, it's unnaturally warm out for April."
"Duh, that's why we came to the park," Gajeel grumbled, swinging Gale so she was right-side up. Her incessant giggles carried on the wind, the same wind that brought familiar scents to the Dragon Slayer's attention. He scrunched his nose, turning his attention to the path. "Seems like we're not the only ones."
Levy's brow furrowed slightly, but she turned to follow her husband's line of sight. Then she broke into a smile, leaning down to ruffle Lilian's hair. "Look, Lia, look who it is."
Juvia waved, one arm around her own little girl and the other wrapped around Gray's waist. The twins ran around their feet, laughing and doing their best to trip up their parents.
"Hi, Gale!" Sylvia grinned, black hair pulled up high in pigtails and a wide grin revealing the new gap in her teeth. Storm waved as well, hand lost in the hem of Juvia's dress. Kaltain, barely over a year old, clung to Juvia's shoulder, bright blue eyes staring warily at the Redfoxs.
"Sylvia!" Gale poked Gajeel in the arm until he let her down, the large man grumbling the entire time. She shot off immediately, running on mostly stable legs to meet with the Fullbusters. Sylvia and Gale ran off in a game of tag, and Storm only followed after a gentle push from Juvia.
"Looks like we had the same idea," Levy said with a smile.
Juvia beamed, looking up at Gray with the biggest heart-eyes Gajeel had ever seen. And he'd known the woman for over a decade at this point. Then again, she'd never even attempted to hide how she felt about the ice punk. It was like all of her feelings had just continued to compact. "Oh, it was just too nice out to stay indoors. And the children always love when Cana brings them here."
"Seems like I'm not the only built-in babysitter," Lily muttered under his breath. With his hands now free, Gajeel swat at the Exceed, snarling halfheartedly.
"Will ya give it up? We don't have to keep housing ya."
"Funny, I thought those jobs we went on together meant that I got half the money, therefore I already pay for this house."
"Shut up?"
"Language, Gaj," Levy reminded him, nodding pointedly at the very impressionable toddler in her arms. He grumbled, Levy's words the only thing from sending his best friend a very familiar gesture. Neither of the mothers would have appreciated that.
Gray smirked at the exchange. He squeezed Juvia's waist once, pressing a light kiss above her ear. "I'll go keep an eye on them, yeah?"
Juvia hummed, leaning into his touch before he slipped away, hands behind his head as he slowly followed the pack of five year olds. Gajeel watched him go, as did Kaltain. The baby babbled out something nonsense, looking up at her mother while pointing at her father's back. "Dada," she said.
"That's right," Juvia murmured, face aglow in the afternoon light. "That is your Dada. And that's Levy. You know Levy."
Kaltain hid her face again, one blue eye peeking out at the Solid Script wizard. Soft black hair covered her head, not yet long enough to do anything but blow lightly in the wind.
Lilian waved, still holding onto Levy's leg for support. "Hi, Katy!" The toddler said, long ago having given up on pronouncing the youngest Fullbuster's name correctly. When the girl didn't wave back, still hiding in her mother's shoulder, Lilian looked up at Levy, brow furrowed. "Mama?"
Levy smiled, picking the girl up and placing her back on her hip. "Let's go find some flowers, huh? We can give them to Erza tonight."
Lilian beamed. "Erza baby."
"That's right, Erza is going to have a baby." Levy shifted her smile over her shoulder to hit the others. "Lily, wanna come?"
"I suppose I might as well." Lily soared on the gentle wind until he hovered by Levy's shoulder, and then the three set off further through the park.
Gajeel glanced at Juvia, the woman having turned to watch Gray play with the three toddlers. "Ya doing okay?"
Juvia blinked, attention returning to her old friend. "Of course, I am." She beamed, pressing kisses to the top of Kaltain's head until she giggled. "Gray's been back for two years now, and all three of my kids are happy and healthy. What could I possibly have to complain about?" Gajeel scoffed and shook his head, but Juvia caught the sparkle in his eyes. She smiled back. "And you?"
"Exhausted," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.
Juvia tipped her head back with a laugh. "Try having three, then you can complain."
"Nah, I'm good." Their conversation died as they watched their kids tackle Gray to the ground, the Ice-Make wizard laughing and pretending to suffer. Gajeel snorted. "Wendy and Romeo set a date yet?"
The Rain Woman nodded, expression shifting into something warmer. "Start of next month."
Gajeel attempted to hide the shock that shot briefly through his veins. "That's only three weeks away. Not a lot of time to plan."
Juvia shrugged. "I won't pretend to know. But I do know they want something small, likely just our guildmates and some of their other friends." She grinned, a mischievous thing. She'd been spending too much time with the ice punk. "Besides, I'm sure Erza and Jellal's will be far grander. Whenever that will be."
Gajeel snorted. "I'll never understand Titania."
"None of us ever will."
They trailed off into silence, watching Gray wrestle with the girls as Storm cheered them on. Gajeel shifted, crossing his arms and scanning the paths until he found the back of his wife, Lilian toddling a few steps ahead and Lily hovering at Levy's shoulder.
Without looking back at Juvia, Gajeel asked, "Are ya happy?"
Juvia smiled, tucking Kaltain closer and moving so she could rest her head against Gajeel's arm. "Yes. I am."
"Good." And as the spring breeze blew and the flowers sprouted, Gajeel couldn't remember a time where he'd been any happier either.
XXX
Levy couldn't remember why they hadn't waited longer in between their girls. She loved them dearly, but lord, three-year-old Lilian and five-year-old Gale were terrorizing the house. She and Gajeel were lucky if they managed to sleep until seven; Lily was lucky if he made it past six.
Yet today, Lily had claimed Happy and Carla required his help this weekend, and he would be unavailable. Levy shooed him out, telling the Exceed to stay away for as long as he needed. She would manage. Somehow.
As of now, Levy had Gale hanging off of her back, complaining about the scorching heat, and Lilian clung to her hand as she toddled on the dirt path, babbling about some story Lucy had told them when the Celestial Spirit wizard babysat three days ago. Now that she was seven months along, the blonde really didn't do much beyond work on her next novel and help out with the other children in the guildhall. Which was always appreciated when Gajeel was away on a job, like he had been for the past week.
"Why's it so hot out, Mama?" Gale whined, right into Levy's ear. Levy bit back a sigh, knowing it would do no good to show her exasperation. The girls didn't know any better.
"Because that's what happens in August, Gale. It's what happens every August."
"August is Elwin's birthday."
"That's right. And Max's birthday, and Gray's birthday. When's Lia's birthday, Gale? Do you remember?"
"My birthday is March 9."
"But what's Lia's birthday?"
"Dada's birthday was yesterweek."
"Not yesterweek, Lia, last week. And Daddy's birthday was three weeks ago. Remember what we did?"
"We eaten dinner, and, and, and we eaten cake and watched a movie."
"Good job. You liked that movie, didn't you?"
"Mama, Mama, I know Lia's birthday!"
"Oh yeah? What is it?"
"May uh, May-"
"May 18?"
"Yes! May 18!" Out of the corner of her eye, Levy caught Gale's beaming smile. The arms around Levy's neck tightened, however, and the Solid Script wizard couldn't take anymore.
"Gale, dear, how about you two go run and play, hm?" Without giving her eldest time to protest, Levy crouched, pulling Gale off her back with some difficulty before setting the girl on the ground.
"It's hot, Mama," Gale complained again. Levy bit back a sigh before an idea came to her. She grinned and traced shapes into the air.
"Solid Script: Water!" A glowing ball of light shot into the air before exploding into droplets of water sprinkling down on their heads.
Gale and Lilian shrieked with laughter, both girls pulling away from their mother's side and racing through the falling water. Levy sighed, rolling her shoulders and taking her first deep breath in what felt like days. Ever since Gajeel had left, probably. But they needed the money, and she'd sensed his need to go and fight and get out all his pent-up magic and energy. It would be her turn soon enough.
Another small form joined the girls, this one blond and nearly a head shorter than Lilian despite the mere months separating them. Levy smiled briefly before the memory of February crept back in, reminding her of the grief the little boy had been surrounded by.
The Solid Script mage cast her gaze around the park before settling on a familiar figure on a nearby bench. She swallowed down the memories before setting off, dirt path soft beneath her shoes.
With a groan, Levy slid herself onto the bench next to Mirajane, leaving just a few inches of space between their thighs. Neither woman spoke for long moments, instead watching their children play in the fading water droplets. Only after Levy cast the spell again did Mira move.
The Take-Over wizard slipped her hand into Levy's, their intertwined fingers resting gently on the rough plats of the bench beneath them. Levy squeezed her hand in return, daring a look over at the young woman. "Thank you," Mira murmured, eyes still locked on her son. Her other hand rested on her stomach, whether out of grief or habit, Levy couldn't tell.
"It's hot out," Levy said, willing to dance around the subject for as long as Mira needed to. "Gale would have kept complaining until either we went home or I did something drastic."
"Perhaps Gray or Juvia can occupy them all tomorrow," Mira mused, voice quiet and forced. She swallowed hard, squeezing Levy's hand so tight the blue-haired wizard wondered if it would crack. "It would be good for Xavier."
Levy turned on the bench so she faced the other woman, keeping her children in the corner of her eye. Gently, oh so gently, Levy closed her hand around Mira's wrist and slowly pulled the woman's hand from her stomach. Mira's hand shook, silver shining in her brilliant eyes.
"Mira, I know, believe me, I know, that these past six months have been sent from hell. I can't imagine-" Levy cut off, blinking tears away. "I don't want to imagine what it's been like. But I'm here for you. Laxus is here, your siblings, the entire guild. Tell us how to help you."
"Oh, I'm fine. Perfectly fine. It's a fact of life, after all." Mira rolled her shoulders, pretending like tears weren't dripping down her face. "I'm fine." Her voice broke. "I'm fine."
Levy brushed a hand over her friend's cheek, swiping at tears. "Just because you keep saying it doesn't mean it's true. Mira, it's okay to not be okay."
"Xavier needs his mother more than I need time to grieve something that happened six months ago."
"It's not just something that happened, Mira, you had a misc-"
"You think I don't know that?" Mira snapped.
Despite the conversation, Levy smiled. "That's the Mira I first met all those years ago." Levy squeezed her hand again, gaze so intense on Mira that the white-haired woman finally turned to face her. "I know it's your way to grieve, but you can't keep locking your sorrow up and pretending that you're okay. That's what you did with Lisanna, and it did you no good."
Mira's eyes widened and her mouth opened to retort, but Levy kept plowing forward. "No, it tore you apart more than if you had let the sorrow force apart the pieces of your self and stitch them back together. Listen to me; I don't care if it's today, tomorrow, next week, or next month, but you have to let it out soon. And while I think the best person to talk to this about would be Laxus, any of us, any of your guildmates would be willing to help you, to sit and listen and talk it through."
Mira sat in stunned silence, silver tracks widening along her cheeks. Levy rose, sensing the woman would need time alone with her thoughts. Levy hoped she had finally cleared a path through the fog that had settled over Mira's mind these past months.
Levy tucked a strand of hair behind Mira's ear, feeling beyond matronly for the older woman. "Do you want me to take Xavier for the day?"
Mira swallowed before shaking her head with a soft, hesitant smile. "You can barely handle the two you have already." Levy chuckled. Mira's face shifted once more. "Besides… I meant what I said. Xavier needs his mother." She tugged on Levy's wrist, unable to express anything more than that tight, tired smile. "Thank you, Levy. For pulling me out when I needed a hand."
"You've had to smack enough sense into the rest of us over the years. Figured I should return the favor." Mira squeezed Levy's wrist once more before letting it drop. She might have said more, but her eyes caught on something behind Levy's shoulder, gaze glittering and finally becoming warm again.
Levy was about to ask why when familiar arms wrapped around her waist, pressing her against a strong body. She all but melted, head tilting back to rest against his chest as she looked up at her husband. Gajeel grinned down at her, hair pushed back with a matching headband to her own.
"Look at us," she said, "matching without any idea."
"Yes, you're sickeningly cute without trying," Mira murmured, a faint, real smile gracing her face for the first time in months.
Levy winked at her friend before turning in the Iron Dragon Slayer's arms so she could properly hug him, her own arms barely able to wrap around his waist.
He kissed the top of her head before resting his cheek against her hair, turning to finding his daughters playing in the falling water, clothes soaked and skin already drying in the August heat.
"Jet and Droy have been begging to go on a job," Levy muttered into his chest. Every place their skin touched was sticky with sweat, yet she couldn't pull away. Not just yet. "I thought perhaps the end of the week."
"Whatever you want," he responded. "If I need to get out, I can think of several assholes at the guild who need a good pummeling."
Levy snorted, punching him lightly in the stomach. He laughed, kissing her head again before letting go of her waist, a soft breeze kissing their skin and twirling around Gajeel's hair.
"Go see your girls," Levy said. She tugged on a loose strand of his hair before breaking into a grin. "You know, your hair's gotten pretty long."
"Don't you dare suggest that," he shot back, glaring down at her, the effect lost on her when she met his laughing eyes. She pushed him away, still laughing, as their daughters heard the familiar boom of their father's chuckle and raced to reunite with him after several long days away.
XXX
Gajeel sighed, eliciting a chuckle from the Exceed hovering at his side. "There's too many kids," the Iron Dragon Slayer grumbled, crossing his arms and leaning his weight back into one leg. "No damn peace and quiet anymore."
"You know, peace and quiet is pretty redundant," Lily said in response, wings outstretched to hold his weight in the air.
Gajeel shot his friend a vulgar gesture, making sure to angle his body to hide the move from the rest of the park. "One of these days, you and me are gonna fight."
"Why haven't we yet? You scared of losing again?"
"Oi, I didn't lose that last fight. If anything, you did."
"I certainly did not."
"Yeah, well, who changed sides mid-battle? Cause I think it was you."
"I'm surprised you manage to think much at all."
"Yer asking for it now, smartass."
"I thought I was the smartass in your life." Gajeel turned his glower on his wife, finding it an effort to continue the wash of annoyance in his blood. But then Levy smiled, and he couldn't help but melt. He was able, however, to successfully pretend like he didn't hear Lily's snort from beside him. Although he repeated the same gesture from the moment before.
Levy smacked his arm, scowling. "If one of my daughters starts doing that, you'll be the one in trouble."
"If one of my daughters starts doing that," Gajeel drawled, smirking down at her, "I'll take her out for ice cream."
"You're impossible."
"And yet you love me."
"Oh, do I?" His smirk grew and Levy punched him again. And he laughed again before tucking her into his side. She grumbled even as she let him pull her closer.
"You two have one of the oddest relationships," Lily observed, arms folded across his chest. Levy just beamed up at him before returning her attention to the park in front of them.
Only about an hour after the Fantasia Parade, the park in Magnolia was now full of the Fairy Tail guild. Over a dozen small children raced through the fallen leaves, dry grass clinging to their wrinkled clothes. Gajeel tracked his own two terrors as they cackled and screamed and pretty much caused mayhem.
Gale dove into leaf piles with the twins, Sylvia shrieking with laughter and Storm laughing right along with them. The six-year-olds set the theme of the night, oldest of all their peers and therefore the leaders into the chaos. Nashi and Kaltain, despite being nearly three years younger, were right behind them. Pink and blue hair wove between the trees, stumbling and giggling as they trailed after Kaltain's siblings.
Lilian played tag with the Strauss children, Marigold, Xavier, and Elwin. Xavier, normally more reserved than Storm, now laughed and tackled his cousins even as they shrieked in protest. Lilian paused for a moment before waving frantically at her parents, toothy grin wide. Gajeel grinned back, arm tightening a fraction around Levy's waist as she returned the wave at her youngest.
Gajeel's attention was torn from his daughters as something small ran into his leg. He looked down just in time to see the red-haired toddler fall back on her butt, blinking in surprise as Lily swooped down to keep her from hitting her head against the ground. She made a small noise, and Gajeel knelt down in an instant, grinning and propping his elbows on his thighs.
"All good there, Rosy?" His voice light and soft to keep her from growing upset, he held out a hand, letting the two-year-old pull herself to her feet. She smiled, clinging to his arm even as she stood.
"All better."
"Gotta watch where you walk. Lucky I'm not a tree, huh?"
She giggled, clutching his arm tighter in response. He rose to his full height and she shrieked, the fear and delight banished when he deposited her in Levy's waiting embrace. "Hello there, dear thing." The Solid Script mage pressed a kiss to Rosemary's neck, again and again as the girl giggled and squirmed.
Jellal appeared in front of them, panting ever so slightly with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. I looked away for just a second, and she was halfway across the park by then."
"Just wait until Esmerelda starts walking too," Levy said as she handed the toddler over to her father. "Then you'll never get a moment of peace."
Jellal smiled down at his daughter, face open and full of the love that never seemed to be far from him anymore. "If they're anything like Erza as a child, they'll both be trouble makers."
"Where is Erza? I feel like I haven't seen her all day."
"Crime Sorciere came into town for the festival, as did Shô and Wally. She's been catching up with them." He chuckled, flattening a stray strand of Rosemary's red hair. She grumbled the whole time even as she clung to his jacket, legs swinging against his chest. "I don't think she came to bed until nearly two last night."
"It's good for her," Levy said with a smile, keeping an eye on Lilian as their game of tag grew a little too violent. "I remember how she was when she first joined Fairy Tail. She's always had a soft spot for those two, and Millianna." Levy turned her smile on the Heavenly Body wizard. "And you." She winked. "You should have seen her before they left for Benos. Every time you came around, she would get so… well, I'm surprised you two took as long as you did to get together."
Jellal flushed, returning his attention to the girl in his arms. "Well, you know." He didn't bother explaining, not when he didn't truly have the words to put the past into. Levy laughed, knowing exactly what the blue-haired wizard couldn't say. Then he cleared his throat, tightening his arm around Rosemary and nodding at the couple. "I should get back, see if she needs help with Emmy."
"Esmerelda is gonna be the real trouble maker out of them," Gajeel grumbled. "Haven't met a kid as energetic as her since Sylvia."
Jellal chuckled. "Natsu mentioned as much when he and Lucy last babysat her." Levy snorted, running a hand through her loose hair.
"Those two certainly make wonderful babysitters. If they didn't have their hands full with Nashi and Liddian, I would ask them to watch the girls for the night."
"Sometimes I think Gale likes them more than me." Gajeel crossed his arms, frowning at his daughter with nothing but affection in his dark eyes.
"Aw, poor baby." Levy pat Gajeel on the arm, holding back a giggle as he glared down at her. "Jellal, tell Erza she was beautiful in the parade."
"Of course." He dipped his head with a smile before turning, sending a wave over his shoulder. Against his chest, Rosemary gave her own little wave. Levy returned in kind, and Lily huffed, eyes sparkling as he watched the girl go.
"They seem to be managing well," the Exceed commented. "How long is he in town for?"
"Until his guild calls him out on a job again," Levy said. "He's been here since Emmy was born, so I'm sure it'll be soon. He doesn't tend to stay in one place for long."
"When's her birthday again? December?" Gajeel rolled his shoulders, following the blue-haired wizard as he returned to his wife of a year and a half.
Levy nodded, rubbing her hands together. "Yup. So he's been in Magnolia for about a year now." She turned her head slightly before breaking into a grin. "Oh, there's Lu! I'm gonna go say happy birthday."
"Her birthday's in April."
"Not her, Gaj, Liddian. His birthday was three days ago, and they just got back from vacation last night."
"Aren't they coming over for dinner tomorrow though? Say it then."
Levy pushed his shoulder playfully, throwing him a smile even as she started walking away and toward her best friend, the one-year-old blond boy giggling in Lucy's arms. Gajeel grumbled, much to Lily's delight.
"What, need your wife for support? Whatever shall you do without her on your arm?"
"Oi, fuck off." The vulgar gesture was repeated. Lily laughed deeply as Gajeel stalked off, pointedly in the opposite direction Levy had taken. He steered clear of Gray, the Demon Slayer balancing Gideon on his hip and Sylvia who now clung to his leg. Instead he moved toward Juvia, the Water Woman laughing from under the shade of a sakura tree. Wendy and Kinana sat by her side, Wendy's little girl sitting in Kinana's lap and giggling happily.
"Gajeel!" Juvia looked up with a grin, patting the soft dirt at her side. The Iron Dragon Slayer sat with a grunt, and he'd only been down for a second before Storm crawled into his lap, the child tired and sweaty from long hours running around.
Gajeel hesitated for a moment before placing a hand on the eldest Fullbuster's back, keeping him in place on his legs. He remembered the day the twins were born, remembered how it felt to hold Storm in his arms for the first time as Levy cried over Sylvia, remembered how his anger at Gray faded into awe and fierce protection. And yet, those memories were over six years old. Were their children truly growing so old?
"I can take him if you want," Juvia offered, biting down on a grin at how Gajeel's hand nearly covered the entirety of Storm's back, the child so at odds with the massive man.
Gajeel shrugged, glancing down at the boy on the verge of sleep. "Nah, 's fine. Sides, with four kids, I thought you'd know to take breaks when ya can get them."
Wendy giggled, taking her own daughter from Kinana. "I know how that feels, and I only have Krystal." She tucked the girl against her chest, Krystal's small hands wrapping around the once more long strands of Wendy's hair. She winced briefly before glancing over at Kinana, raising an eyebrow with a small smile. "Someone's looking for you. He's too embarrassed to come over here and actually say it though."
Kinana flushed even as she rolled her eyes. She pushed herself to her feet, dusting off her dress before glancing toward where the majority of Crime Sorciere still stood by Erza and Jellal. "One of these days." She let the threat drop as she moved off through the crowd, a pep already in her step.
Gajeel leaned against the tree with Juvia, Storm falling asleep in his lap. Wendy scooted along the dirt until she was on Gajeel's other side and she could rest her head against his shoulder. He grumbled even as he shifted down to make the angle easier for her.
"It's been a long day," Juvia sighed, following Wendy's lead on the Iron Dragon Slayer's other side. He huffed out a laugh.
"Don't ya fall asleep on me now."
"Me? I wouldn't dream of it."
"I remember ya when the twins were born. Couldn't keep ya awake."
"I get where she's coming from," Wendy said with a yawn. "I couldn't have survived without Romeo."
"Yer a child. Don't be complaining about being tired."
Wendy frowned up at him, a small pout on her lips. "I'm not a child anymore, Gajeel. I'm almost twenty-two. Which is three years older than Levy or Juvia were, and the same age as you." She stuck her tongue out before snuggling further against his side.
"Was I really so young?" Juvia mused, reaching out to run her fingers through Storm's black hair, the boy now fast asleep in her friend's arms.
"We both were," Gajeel said. "And now the kids are growing up too fast."
"Tell me about it." Juvia laughed.
And the three sat there underneath the sakura tree, children slumbering in their laps and guild full of life before them.
XXX
If Levy didn't know better, she would have thought Juvia was crying for the pure amount of snow falling from the sky. And of course, their small family was once more at the park, their girls unable to stay away for more than a few days at a time.
Bundled in her thickest winter coat, Levy stood under Gajeel's arm, the couple watching as their girls threw themselves into ever-growing piles of snow. Lily had disappeared nearly an hour ago, claiming the snow wasn't good for his wings, and Gajeel had been grumbling about it ever since. She would be getting an earful after the girls had been sent to bed, that was for sure.
"Mama, Mama!" Levy blinked, realizing her eldest now stood before her, soaking wet and beaming. "Come on, come play!"
"Yer gonna catch a cold," Gajeel muttered as he leaned down to adjust the seven-year-old's scarf, made for her by Evergreen a few weeks past. Gale squirmed out of the way before grabbing Levy's hand to pull her away.
"Come on, Mama." Levy hid her sigh in a laugh, letting her daughter lead her through the foot of snow toward Lilian. The toddler was in the process of making a snow angel, blue hair nearly hidden beneath the white flakes and her knit hat.
Evergreen had been very bored during her recent fight with the flu.
"Mama!" Lilian leapt up with a grin. Well, she tried to. Instead, she careened to the side, barely managing to catch herself before she landed face first in the snow bank. Her breath whooshed out before she giggled, rolling onto her back again and smiling up at her mother.
Levy laughed again, reaching down to help her daughter up. "Someone's having fun, huh?"
"Yes! I love the snow!" Now on her feet, Lilian spun around, melted water flying from her hair.
"Me too!" With a fierce grin, Gale shot her mom one last look before shooting forward, tackling her sister to the ground once more. Lilian shrieked, but Levy shook her head, recognizing the playful tones as the girls wrestled back and forth.
Rubbing her hands against her arms for a semblance of warmth, she called out. "Be careful, please. And Gale, remember-"
"No magic, I know. Wait, no!" And Gale went down in a flurry of snowflakes.
Still rubbing her arms, Levy stomped back to Gajeel, hoping that would help. "Where's Natsu when you need him?" She grumbled, tucking herself back under his arm.
"You could make yer own fire," Gajeel responded, wrapping both arms around her and pulling her tight against his chest. She sighed, pressing back into him as her hand slipped overtop of his.
"Yes, but the minute I use magic, Gale is going to want to copy it, and somehow she'll end up melting all the snow in the park."
"And somehow, I doubt you would mind very much."
"Well, maybe not, but it's no fair to the children." Levy bit back a giggle. "You know, as soon as Nashi starts learning, Lu might want to invest in better fire insurance."
"If that pink-haired punk is good for anything, it's stopping fires."
"Ah, but you've only known him the past ten years. You weren't there when he was constantly trying to prove how much better he was than Gray."
"Ya mean he doesn't still do that?"
"Well, I can't remember the last time their fights included magic. They've gotten much more mature in that aspect."
"Do you even hear yerself?"
Levy snorted, snuggling tighter into his warmth. His chin found a resting place on top of her head, and she could sense him grinning like an idiot. She stifled her exasperation; that was just what he wanted. Just like her husband to pick a fight.
Instead, she kept talking. "How much longer do you think we can let them play before it's reasonable to go home?"
"You're their mother. Just say the word and they have to listen."
"You and I both know they'll just whine and complain all night if they don't want to leave yet."
"They'll do that anyway." With that, Gajeel raised his voice, lifting his chin from her head. "Kiddos! Get ready to go soon!"
"But Daddy!" Lilian whined, cheeks flushed and arms crossed. "I don't wanna go!"
"Told you," Levy grumbled.
Gajeel just squeezed her tighter. "If we go now, I'll make hot chocolate before lunch."
"Yay! Okay, Daddy, I'm ready." And just like that, the girl was smiling happily again.
Levy elbowed her husband lightly in the stomach. "Bribery is not the way to go."
"It worked, didn't it?" Levy grunted in response, and Gajeel knew he won. "Besides, you know hot chocolate always turns into forts and movies, and that gives you all afternoon to curl up with that new book of yours."
"Mhm, how tempting."
"Fifty jewels says you finish it tonight."
"A hundred says I finish it before dinner."
"Oh, I'm not taking that bet."
"Why, scared you'll lose?"
"When it comes to you and yer books? Always."
Levy let her head rest against his chest as she looked up at him, hazel eyes sparkling in the winter light. Gajeel grinned down at her, dark hair springing out from under the brim of his hat. It matched Lilian's. It was a little too small. He wore it everywhere they went.
"Have I told you recently how much I love you?"
Levy hummed, squeezing the hands still resting against her navel. "You don't have to. I always know. I see it in your eyes, and your laugh, and your smile." At his sly expression, she narrowed her eyes. "No."
"What?"
"If you dare write a song about this, I swear I'm leaving you."
"Aw, come on. You love my songs."
"Nope, that's it. Seven years of marriage, down the drain."
"But what about the kids?"
"All yours. I'm getting with Cana."
"Shrimp, I love ya, but I don't think you could handle Cana."
"Don't make that such a challenge. Otherwise I might try."
"Yeah, yeah." He ducked to press a kiss to her cheek. She squirmed, giggling as his hands tightened around her waist and his lips pressed more and more kisses against her neck. She grabbed at his wrists, turning her head into his chest in an attempt to escape.
"Stop it," she gasped, sides aching as she laughed. "Stop, I can't breathe."
"Should've thought about that before you threatened divorce."
"Okay, okay, I still love you, I promise, I promise!"
Gajeel grinned against her neck, pressing on last kiss to the sliver of skin exposed beneath her scarf before finally pulling away. "Love you too, shrimp."
She smacked his arm. "Asshole."
His cocky smirk made her either want to punch him again or pull him down into a kiss. Though, to be fair, her feelings for him often circulated between the two.
"Girls, let's go!"
"Coming, Daddy!" Gale grabbed Lilian's arm and pulled her across the snow, the pair struggling to wade through mounds past their knees.
Sighing the sigh of the much put-upon, Gajeel let go of his wife and marched toward his daughters before sweeping them both up into his arms.
"Thank you, Daddy," Gale said primly before burying into his chest much like her mother only minutes before. Lilian giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"What a hero," Levy teased. Gajeel rolled his eyes at her in response. She slipped her hand through his free one as she turned her grin on him. "Need a hand?"
"You are actually the worst," he said.
Levy tipped her head back and laughed, fresh snow gracing her eyelashes and the pale column of her throat. She'd never looked so beautiful. "Alright, let's get home. That fireplace is calling my name."
Lilian nodded in agreement even as she hid a yawn against her dad's arm. Levy's smile softened. "Maybe a nap, too."
"No nap," Lilian whined.
"Not for you, Lils. Mama likes her naps."
"That she does," Levy added with a wink. She squeezed her husband's hand tighter as their small family started home through the snow, and Gajeel wondered how he had ever become so lucky that he could hold his entire world in his arms. Even if the girls were getting older, he would always have room for them. Part of him wished they would stay little forever. But then where was the fun in having children if he couldn't train them to be bigger menaces than Dragneel's kids?
And, well, watching them grow up was pretty cool too.
I am so, so sorry it's taken me like two months to write this chapter. First it was college getting in the way, then I sped read like twenty books because I'm psycho, then I got really into knitting again, and basically, I only started writing again like two days ago. I've had the worst case of not having any motivation to write even though I knew exactly what I wanted to write, so I'm glad everyone managed to hang on. Hopefully it won't take this long for the next chapter...
Anyway, I hinted at a shit ton of things in this one-shot. Each section takes place in a different year; April X798, August X799, October X800, and January X801. In the next several chapters I should explain some things better, but others won't get much of an explanation, such as all the children being born. Don't worry, they'll get their time to shine in Book Two, which I'm hoping to start publishing in August. I know, very far away, but I want to get like twenty chapters ahead since I'll likely be very busy next school year.
Well, hope you all enjoyed! Sorry it took so long! Until next time (which I'm hoping will be like a week and a half from now if everything goes accoridng to plan)(which it never does)!