Things calmed down and life moved on. We had contemplated what to do with Natsu's house once the fire damage was repaired. Though it was a beautiful house, Natsu wanted to make sure our home was ours, so he sold it before our "official" wedding, and when we returned from our honeymoon we began working with an architect to design the perfect home for us. Many, many compromises were made, but we settled into our home just before the one-year anniversary of our handfasting.

Several months later, while having monthly brunch with all of our friends, Levy and Gajeel announced that they were expecting their first child. Another two months after that, at my weekly brunch with the girls, we found out they were really expecting their first two children. It took more than a few minutes for our excited cheering to calm enough for Levy to share the video she recorded when she told Gajeel.

Gajeel had been called in for a work emergency, so he missed going to her appointment. Levy was discreetly recording when he came home. When he asked how the appointment went, and she had replied with a casual 'the babies are fine,' he seemed to think nothing of it. We could all plainly see as her choice of words sank in, and all of us laughed loud enough to draw attention to our table as we watched him pale considerably before collapsing to the floor. Levy made sure to send us the video so we could share with the guys, and I doubt Natsu will ever let him live it down.

More time passed. The baby shower was a huge success, with Levy and Gajeel receiving double everything, their home quickly becoming so overrun that Natsu and I volunteered to convert one of our guest rooms into storage space for some of the things they wouldn't need immediately. Well… I volunteered, Natsu griped.

Several weeks before Levy's due date, Gajeel got called out of town for one last large job before the babies were born. Two days before he was scheduled to arrive back in Magnolia, I received a frantic call from Levy at two AM. Groggy as I was when I answered the phone, the words 'I think the babies are coming' woke me up better than a triple-shot espresso.

Shaking so hard I could barely function, Natsu volunteered to drive, speeding through the quiet streets to pick up our friend. In under thirty minutes, I was leading Levy into the front doors of the hospital. Since Natsu had called ahead, someone was already waiting for us at the desk.

After the doctor confirmed that Levy was in labor, she was settled into a room to wait. With contractions too far apart to be close to delivery, we alternated resting and slowly walking the corridors. After the first hour, Natsu knocked on the door to let us know he had finally managed to get ahold of Gajeel, who would be doing his best to make it to the hospital before the twins arrived.

It was early afternoon when he finally arrived to relieve me from Levy's side. With my labor and delivery duties over, Natsu took me back home, only stopping for some fast food that we ate on the way. By silent agreement, we went straight into our bedroom, falling asleep easily as soon as we were cuddled into our bed.

It was close to midnight when we were awakened by another phone call - this time from Gajeel - letting us know the twins were born. Levy and the babies were all doing alright, though the little ones were going to be under close observation for a few days to make sure there were no underlying threats to their health. He also invited us to be the first visitors, asking us to come meet the babies sometimes mid-morning.

We stayed in bed longer than we probably should have. Natsu fussed constantly over how worn out I was, not only that morning, but weeks previously. After assuring him multiple times that I was just fine, and promising to see a doctor if it continued, I finally managed to coax him out of the house.

Though he did not say anything else on the subject, he continued to glance at me suspiciously on the way to the hospital. Instead of acknowledging his behavior, I took his right hand while he drove, smoothing circles over the back of it with my thumb. Even though we had been together for several years, some things still had not been brought up by either of us, but I knew I had to come clean about one more secret. But not at that moment. Not just yet, but soon.

I gave my husband a reassuring smile as we walked hand-in-hand into the hospital and towards the room where our friends had spent the night with their two new additions.

Natsu knocked softly at the closed door when we arrived, and it was opened seconds later by Gajeel, who looked even more tired than I was. Pulling my hand free from Natsu's grip, I made my way to Levy and sat in the chair next to where she lay in bed, two tightly-swaddled bundles cradled in her arms. It didn't look like she had gotten much sleep, but the smile on her face and the love in her eyes lit up the room.

"Lucy," Gajeel addressed me gruffly as he took one of the tiny bundles from Ley's arms. "This is our son, Khepri." With far more care than I had ever witnessed from him, Gajeel set the baby into my arms, making sure I was holding him just right before reaching for the second baby.

"He's so precious," I whispered, running the back of one finger down his soft, chubby cheek and admiring the silky wisps of blue hair on his head.

"Natsu, this is our daughter, Ombra." Ombra was settled into Natsu's arms in the same way her brother was settled into mine.

Silence filled the room as I split my attention between the infant I was holding and my husband. The look on Natsu's face melted my heart as he stared at the dark-haired baby cradled securely in his arms.

We only stayed a little while, since a nurse came in to check up on Levy and the babies. After saying our goodbyes and promising to visit every day until the new family was discharged, we left as we arrived.

An awestruck expression stayed on Natsu's face as we made our way to our car, and he had barely spoken since the moment Gajeel handed him his daughter. Having grown used to the peaceful quiet, I was momentarily startled to be spun around, my back pressed to the car door I had been reaching for.

"Natsu?"

Instead of an answer, I received a tender kiss. It was not demanding, as I had expected from the look in his eyes, but it lasted long enough to leave us both a little breathless when he finally pulled away, resting his forehead against mine as we calmed our breathing.

"Lucy." His voice was unsteady, and when he opened his eyes to look into mine, I saw conflict within them. "I want one."

"I do, too," I told him. His eyes lit up, and I could not stop the next words coming from my mouth. "Though, I don't think Levy and Gajeel would appreciate us stealing one of their babies."

"No," he huffed at me. "Well, maybe as a last resort. But… I mean, I know we haven't really talked about it… ever… and I don't even know if you would want children. Hell, I didn't even know that I wanted children. And, I mean, it's perfectly okay for you to say no, I'm not trying to pressure you or anything, but. I do. Lucy, I want us to have a family. Well, we are a family, but I want to have kids, you know, with you… Shit, no, please don't cry."

But I could not stop the tears. Natsu wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight.

"I… I want that, too, Natsu."

"Really?" Though my face was pressed against his chest as I tried to calm my tears, I could hear his smile in his tone.

"Yes, but, do you think we could wait a little longer?"

Pulling back slightly, he cupped my face in both of his hands so he could look me in the eyes. "We can wait as long as you want."

"Not too long, just seven months or so."

"Is something happening in the next seven months that I don't know about?" Natsu's elation turned to confusion, and it appeared he was wracking his brain for some upcoming event that he may have forgotten.

I took his hands in mine, pulling them off my face until they rested between us. This was not how I had planned this at all - not that I had a plan - but this seemed like the perfect opportunity to share the one thing I had been keeping from Natsu.

"Yeah, something will be happening in seven months, though I don't really know the exact date." Moving his hands again, I placed them on my still-flat abdomen. I bit my bottom lip as I looked up to gauge Natsu's reaction.

Confusion crossed his features before he looked down at his hands. His eyes flicked up to my face for a moment before glancing down again. When his eyes met mine again, they were glossy with unshed tears.

"Really?" he asked, his voice and eyes filled with hope.

"Yeah, really," I told him, the first tears spilling from my own eyes as I was swept into Natsu's arms.

I do not know if I had ever been so filled with love and hope for the future, but I do know that this was only the beginning.

This is it, Lovelies, the end of Service Call. This journey began in June of 2020, sitting at my desk with a composition notebook and a fuck-ton of sharpened #2 pencils. Thank you so much for all the love and positive comments I have received from you all! They help me survive the darkness of my mind and continue writing.

Though this is the end of this particular story, I do have several other works that have been plaguing my mind for months, so you'll be hearing from me again.

There MIGHT be a companion one-shot coming out around Valentines Day (if I can find the will to write something a little spicier).

Thank you again for reading, commenting, kudos, and all other love you've given!

TTFN