A/N: Oh My Gosh! I am soooo sorry for this chapter taking so long! last Saturday my laptop died so I had to let it charge, then I had to pack to come home since I had been staying at my mom's, then when I got home I had a ton of housework to get done and of course my husband decided he wanted to spend time with me that didn't involve my laptop (gihi), then last Wednesday I got sick! but I am all better now and I finished this chapter at like 3 this morning... well I have rambled enough! on to chapter 12!

Chapter 12

It had been a week since Gajeel told Levy his suspicion involving Rouge and Keitaro. Since then, she has basically been glued to Gajeel's side. He picked her up from her room and escorted her where she needed to go then he would take her back. Two days ago, on Saturday, her dad brought Keitaro and his things to her. He was excited and took an instant liking to his 'Auntie Lushie'. He didn't really care for Uncle Natsu, much to Gajeel's extreme pleasure. He tried to get Keitaro to call Natsu, salamander but it just came out as 'saladmanner' which made him laugh harder.

All her new friends were warned about the similarity between Gajeel and Keitaro the night before he arrived. They were all confused until Gajeel explained the situation to them. Of course they all decided they would be either Aunt or Uncle to the little boy. All except Gajeel. He told Keitaro to call him Gaj and nothing more. He was the only one who had a real connection to the kid but refused to be called uncle.

Right now, Levy was dressing Keitaro and getting him ready for his first day of day care. Her first class started at ten so she planned on taking him to breakfast before dropping him off. That was if he would put his shirt on. He was running around the room in shorts and his hair a mess, with his blanket held behind him claiming he was a dragon. She giggled and sat back. Dressing him had been a difficult process from the day he was born. He was just a little wiggle worm.

"Okay, you mighty dragon! It's time to get dressed! Are you hungry?"

"Mighty dragon want pancakes!" He yelled in his little kid voice. She just laughed.

"Pancakes with lots of syrup! Now let's get your shirt and shoes on!"

"Yay!"

Keitaro sat on his bed with his arms raised. Levy smiled down at him before slipping the shirt over his head. Once the shirt was on him, she bent down and started to put on his socks and shoes. He patted her head, making her look up at him. A sad look was on his face. Her heart clenched.

"What's the matter, baby boy?"

"Mommy, is Grandpa sad that I'm not there? He cried when he hugged me."

"Oh, honey, Grandpa isn't sad. Those were happy tears."

"But you said that you cry when you're sad."

"I know I did but not all tears are sad ones. People cry for all kinds of reasons like they are hurt, or sad, or happy, or because their mommy tickled them too much. Everyone cries for something different. Grandpa cried because he was going to miss us but was happy for us."

"Gaj don't cry!" Keitaro announced. The hero worship written all over his face.

"I'm sure that even Gajeel cries."

"Nuh uh! Gaj is strong. He says that Uncle Natsu cries like a baby!"

"Honey, why don't you call Gajeel 'uncle'? I bet he would like that." Levy had noticed that every time her son called Natsu or Gray 'uncle', Gajeel's face would fall slightly. She believed he was jealous.

"No, he don't like it, Mommy. He said not to call him 'uncle'."

"Oh."

Levy let the subject drop and they headed for the school cafeteria. Once they entered, Keitaro clutched her hand tighter and scooted closer to her side. She smiled down at him as they walked to the buffet line. Grabbing a tray, she began to put food on it. She put two plates of pancakes, two glasses of milk, and two apples on the plate. As she grabbed a handful of syrup packages, Keitaro let go of her hand with a squeal. Her eyes widened and she spun around.

Gajeel stood there with Keitaro on his shoulders. Both of them smiled brightly at her. She smiled and grabbed another plate of pancakes, milk, and another apple. She carried the tray to a table with Gajeel following with Keitaro. They sat down and Levy began to pour syrup on the pancakes. Keitaro dug in as soon as they were in front of him. Gajeel smirked as she put a forkful in her mouth.

"I use to not eat pancakes. I never liked them until I got pregnant with little man. Pancakes were all I really craved more than a few days. I guess I will always like them now."

"Pancakes are the bestest!" Keitaro claimed with a mouth full of pancakes.

"Don't talk with ya mouth full of food, kid." Gajeel said after eating the last bite of his food. "Finish all ya food and I'll take ya and your mom to get ice cream this afternoon."

Keitaro nodded and went back to eating. Levy smiled at him, stealing a glance a Gajeel. Gajeel was staring at her. She bit her lip and looked away. A blush covered her face. She looked at her phone and sighed. Standing up, she began to clean up their mess. Once Keitaro finished eating, they began to make their way to the daycare center. Gajeel followed since his first class wasn't for another hour.

"Hello! This must be Keitaro. My name is Milliana but you can call me Miss Millie. Why don't you run along inside and play?" The day care supervisor said in a cheerful voice as she squatted in front of Keitaro. He grinned then looked up at his mom.

"Go on, honey. Mommy will come pick you up after she is done with school." Levy bent down to give a kiss on the cheek. He giggled then kissed her cheek.

"Love you, Mommy!" He took off running inside. Levy smiled at him then looked back at the supervisor who was staring behind her.

"No one is to pick up the kid except for the two of us. I do not care who they are. This is for his safety." Gajeel told her in a voice that demanded complete obedience.

She gulped in fear and nodded. "Noted. I will put in his file, Mr.-"

"Gajeel Redfox."

She nodded and said goodbye as she went back inside with the kids. Levy looked up at Gajeel. He was staring off at the school building. She sighed and began to walk to the classroom. Gajeel grabbed her arm softly, making her stop and look back at him.

"I hope ya ain't mad for telling the woman that I could pick up the kid."

"No. I'm glad you did." Levy smiled at him. "Gajeel?"

"What, shrimp?"

"Why did you tell Keitaro not to call you 'uncle'? If you're right about your brother being his father, then you are his uncle."

"Gajeel-"

"No, shrimp. I am not and will not be his uncle no matter whose blood he has. I ain't got a problem with just being Gaj to him."

Gajeel walked away from her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued to walk to class. She entered and found a seat in the back that she claimed as her own. Taking out a notebook, she wrote the date in the top corner. She sighed and stared at the front of the room, waiting on the professor to start the class. Her mind began to wonder to what Gajeel had said. She didn't understand. It wasn't her fault that Keitaro was possibly his blood nephew and it certainly wasn't her son's fault.

In every class, all they had done was discuss what was to be expected for the next year. Levy was bored to tears when her final class was over at four-thirty. She smiled to herself as she walked to the daycare to pick up her son. She planned to take him to get some ice cream before heading back to their room. Pizza was planned for supper for Lucy, Keitaro, and Levy. After settling her book bag firmly on her shoulder, she entered the building. Her eyes scanned the room and instantly spotted her son playing with Asuka Connell.

Keitaro spotted her and waved. He grabbed Asuka's hand and dragged her with him. His little arms wrapped around her thighs. She bent down to the kid's level and hugged him back.

"Mommy, I got a friend!"

"I see that, honey."

"Hi, Miss Levy!" Asuka cried cheerfully. Levy smiled in response.

"Hi, Asuka, sweetie. It's nice to see you again. Thank you for being nice to my Keitaro."

"He's my friend now!"

"Asuka, are you bothering people again?" A man with short spiked black hair asked.

"Daddy!" The little girl screamed happily before running over to the man.

"Hello, Alzack. We met last week."

"I remember. Is this your son?"

"Yes. Keitaro, this is Mr. Alzack, Asuka's daddy."

"What's a daddy?" Keitaro looked up at her with round questioning eyes. Her heart stopped. He was too young for these questions.

"Uh, well-"

"A daddy is someone who loves you very much and someone that you look up to and want to be like when you grow up. He protects you and keeps you safe. A daddy makes sure you know the rules and make sure you finish your veggies."

"My daddy takes me for ice cream and lets me ride on his shoulders so I'm tall!" Asuka added.

Keitaro looked thoughtful for a moment before a grin broke out across his face. He spun around and looked up at his mom with large eyes. Her throat closed up as the many questions he would ask came to her mind. She did not want to have this conversation in public with a bunch of other kids around. This was a conversation that she shouldn't have had to have with him until he was older. However, here she was, about to tell him that he didn't have a daddy and make him feel different.

"That means my daddy is Gaj!"

Levy's eyes widen as Alzack laughed. "Uh, honey, let's go get some ice cream, okay. It was nice to see you guys again. Take care!"

Levy's face burned as she held Keitaro's hand on the way to the campus store. She was grateful for Alzack's explanation to Keitaro but the first thought that came to his mind, made her nervous. Now she had to explain to him that Gajeel was not his daddy and that he did not have one. This was most possibly going to be the hardest thing she would ever have to do. She didn't want to do this. Not now! He was only two! She could already see the look of confusion on his face. This was breaking her heart.

After she paid for their ice cream, they headed back to the dorm. She sighed and took a deep breath. She had to tell him. Looking down at him, she smiled. He was stuffing his face with his orange push pop while he jumped over all of the cracks. She pulled him to a nearby bench and sat him down. Using a napkin, she wiped his mouth.

"Keitaro, baby, we need to talk." Levy said softly. "Do you know how Mr. Alzack explained what a daddy was?"

"Uh huh! He said daddies take care of you and protect you and don't let nothing bad happen to you. Asuka said her daddy gets her ice cream and lets her ride on his shoulders!"

"Yes, honey. Grandpa is my daddy."

"Gaj is my daddy!"

"No, Keitaro. Gajeel is not your daddy."

"Yes he is. He didn't let me fall and he lets me ride on his shoulders."

"Baby, you do not have a daddy."

Keitaro's eyes grew wide and his cheeks puffed out. He went to respond when a grin spread across his face. She turned her head and saw Gajeel walking up to them. He was dressed in a pair of white cargo pants, a black vest with metal studs around the collar and sleeves, and a pair of combat boots. He was covered in grease and his hair was tied back. A smirk was planted firmly on his face. Keitaro ran over to him and tugged on his hand.

"What is it, kid?"

"Gaj, are you my daddy?"

Read and Review! I hope this chapter is enjoyable!