Chapter 11

It was early Monday morning and Levy was already busy. She woke up early and went to the day care center to talk to the person in charge. The woman was named Milliana. She wore a cat ear head band and was smiling as she handed Levy an application. She explained that Levy had to fill the application just for security purposes. Milliana was excited to have another little one coming into her care.

Now she was headed to the dorm master's office to talk to him about having Kei moved into her dorm. She already ran it by Lucy who was excited about the idea. Levy knocked on the door to Master Makarov's office. She opened the door on his command. He was sitting cross legged on his desk with a mug of what she assumed was alcohol. He smiled welcomingly at her.

"Ah, Levy. What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" He asked, slurring slightly on his S's.

"Well, Master, I have a question. I ran into Bisca and Alzack Connell. They had their daughter with them. They said that there is a parent's program here and that you allow Asuka to stay in the Fairy Tail Dorm with them."

"Well yes. They are married and have a child. They have a two bedroom dorm. We don't turn away students because they are bettering themselves and their children."

"Master, I have a two year old son that I would like to have with me while I'm here. I have already Okayed it with my roommate and I have plenty of room in my room to put his toddler bed. Plus I have already sent in an application to the day care center. All I need now is your permission."

Master Makarov jumped from his desk and started to go through some papers in a drawer. She pulled out a piece of paper, signed his name, and stomped the Fairy Tail symbol on it before handing the paper to her. She just looked at it then looked back at the master confused. She read over it slowly and grinned brightly. She hugged the master, thanked him profusely, and then ran from the office. She was so happy. Her son was going to get to come stay and be with her every day. Nothing could make her happier.

Her father's words ran through her mind for the hundredth time since Saturday. She knew that Keitaro needed a father but who was going to want to date a woman with a kid? Not all men were like her father and loved another man's child. She wouldn't ask that of anyone. And there was no way in this world or the next that she would find his father on purpose and ask him to be a part of his life. She would have to die first.

The image of Gajeel holding Keitaro as he slept flashed in her mind. She smiled at the memory. They looked like a real family. It was so unreal how much Keitaro favored Gajeel. Their hair, their eyes, the way they grinned, even the way they laugh. At first Levy thought that Keitaro was just trying to mock Gajeel. That was until her dad pointed out the fact that Kei had had that laugh since he was smaller. She kicked herself for not realizing it sooner. The more she watched the two, the more it seemed like Kei was more Gajeel's son than her son. It kind of hurt her feelings.

Lost in her thoughts, she wasn't paying attention to where she was going and walked straight into someone's back. She fell to the ground with a yelp of pain. She looked up as a hand was stuck in her face. Accepting the assistants, she grabbed the hand and stood up. Sting was looking at her with an odd face; only he wasn't looking at her face. He was staring at the piece of paper in her hand. He took it from her and read it. His eyes went wide.

"Sorry about that, little fairy. Hope you're okay. What's this?" He asked, holding up her paper. She took it from him and stuffed it in her purse.

"It's a permission slip to bring my son to live here."

"Son? You have a kid?" He asked suddenly more interested. She nodded. "Do you have a picture of him? I bet he is just adorable."

She smiled at him and pulled out her phone. She loved to show his picture. Her phone lock screen was a picture of him grinning from ear to ear holding a large piece of paper that says 'I Love You, Mommy'. Her father sent it to her Saturday night after they made it home. He had spiked his hair out to look like Gajeel. She held her phone out to Sting for him to see. He grinned again and ran his hand through his hair.

"Cute kid. You and his dad must be proud."

"His father is not in the picture." Levy muttered.

"Oh? Why not? Did he knock you up and bail?"

"Um, kind of."

"Really? Why didn't you get an abortion?"

Levy stared at him in horror. "Because abortion is murder! No matter how you look at it!"

"What are two talking about?" Gajeel's voice asked from behind her. She was surprising grateful for his presence since she had been avoiding him since they made it back to the dorm.

"Gajeel! There you are! I was looking for you!" She lied and smiled brightly at him. He smirked.

"We were talking about her son."

"Keitaro? How is he, shrimp?"

"He's good. He's coming to live here! Look at what dad sent me!" She showed him the picture while she beamed. Gajeel gave a small smile.

"That's good. Maybe I could teach him a few things."

Levy laughed and held her hands behind her back. "I am very sure that he would love you. You are his new hero. I spoke to dad this morning and he said that it's been Gaj this and Gaj that!"

He grinned and ruffled her hair. "Of course! I'm awesome!"

"Uh, guys?" Sting said butting into their conversation.

"Hey, shrimp, why don't you go wait in the cafeteria for me? I need to talk to Sting."

"Sure! See you, Sting!" Levy walked away gratefully.

Gajeel turned and glared at Sting. "Stay away from her and her kid, Sting. I will make you pay if you talk to her again."

Sting held up his hands in surrender. "I haven't done anything to her. We were just talking, Gajeel."

Gajeel glared at Sting's retreating back. He growled and headed for the cafeteria. The shrimp had been avoiding him and his questions. Now it was time for him to get answers and she wouldn't get out of it this time. There were things that he needed to know. He needed to know the exact day that it happened. Gajeel knew that levy didn't want to talk about it but he just had to know.

He headed back to the cafeteria. The thought that Keitaro would be here soon made him nervous. Of course he was a great kid, but that wasn't what made him nervous. He walked into the cafeteria and immediately spotted Levy sitting next to bunnygirl, salamander, stripper, and the rain woman. He knew Juvia from his street gang days. She had been a run away from a foster home when one of the members found her. He promised her security but instead he decided to pimp her out. Gajeel stepped up and took over the girl's welfare.

Levy waved at him with a grin. She found a way to avoid him once again. He growled. Without giving a second thought, he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. She gasped and demanded that he put her down. He grunted and walked towards his dorm room. Levy finally gave up and let him carry her. She should have expected this. She promised him answers but has been avoiding him.

He kicked open his door, and went straight to his room. Gajeel tossed Levy on the bed and stood in front of the door with his arms crossed over his broad chest, blocking her escape route. She sighed and sat on the end of the bed with her hands in her lap. She looked down and steeled herself. With another sigh, she looked up.

"What do you want to know, Gajeel?"

"Why didn't you tell me? You told me what happened and some of what happened afterwards but never mentioned ya had a kid. I could see why ya thought it was me. That boy looks just like me! Look at picture on my table, shrimp."

Levy looked and spotted the picture he was talking about. She picked it up and stared at it. A gasp escaped her lips. That was the last family picture they took. It was taken on Rouge's third birthday. Rouge was sitting on his knees in a chair with a fist full of cake with their mother smiling behind him. Gajeel was sitting on their father's shoulders standing behind their mother. All their smiles were bright and genuine. Her eyes were glued to the boy in the front. Her hands began to shake.

"Kei… he looks like he belongs in your family. It's like I am looking at my son in your family picture. The boy in the front. Who is he?"

"That is my little brother, Rouge. That was his third birthday. My mom died two months later."

"Gajeel, they look identical."

"I know, shrimp. That's why I froze in the restaurant. It was like I was looking at my little brother again. The way his hair is, the way he was sitting; everything reminded me of Rouge. That is why I need to know. What day was ya attacked?"

"Two days before Thanksgiving. Why? What are you thinking?"

"Well, I could be wrong but I've been thinking. Three years ago, around Thanksgiving, my brother and that idiot Sting were gone all night. They didn't get in until the next morning. They were so drunk and high that they could barely stand. You said you cut one of them. The morning they came in, Sting was all bloody and had stitches above his eye."

"What are you saying? That Sting and your brother- Oh Mavis!"

"Yeah. I'm trying to tell you that I believe it was them and that Keitaro is my brother's son."

A/N: so there! sorry if it isn't that good! kinda got stuck there for a while!

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