"speaking"
"thinking"
On with the story
Natsu was now in the hospital room while a doctor was checking on the little girl
Checking on her pulse, body temperature, and eyesight. The doctor was checking every single part of her
"how is she, doctor?" Natsu asked as a nurse came and carried the little girl before passing her to Natsu who place her on his lap
"her body's immune system is very weak and I would say that her stomach as well" the doctor said while looking at some notes on his desk "you said that you fed her stew?"
"yeah, but she puked it out" Natsu replied as the doctor writes it down on his notes
"Mr. Dragneel, that little girl is not just having digestive problem but her body has so many bacteria, viruses, and dangerous chemicals in her" the doctor stated surprising Natsu "it's nearly a miracle that she is still alive"
"can she be saved?" Natsu asked as the doctor sighs while scratching his head
"we can give her some antibiotics to counter the bacteria and the viruses. But for the chemicals and her digestive problems.." the doctor said as he scratches his chin "….it's a bit tricky and difficult"
"please, doctor. Anything that might ease her pain" Natsu said as the doctor looks to him before nodding
"for now, we need to take her blood to test and see what dangers is in her" the doctor said as a nurse came while holding a syringe
The little girl saw the syringe as she started crying and screaming
"it's okay! It's okay! It's not going to hurt!" the nurse said smiling while trying to calm her down but the little girl soon retaliates by crying louder before magic blades appeared out of nowhere
"magic blades!?" the doctor exclaimed as the magic blades pointed towards the nurse but Natsu swings his hand and destroyed them all
All the magic swords turns into dust particles as no one was harmed
"are you alright?" Natsu asked the nurse who was on the floor as she nodded to him
"unbelievable…" the doctor said in surprise "to think such a little girl as has such magic power…"
The child cried to Natsu as her tears soaked his clothes
Natsu patted her back as he hugs her close
"please, let me do it" Natsu said holding a hand out to the nurse "she's too scared now"
"a-alright" the nurse said as she gives the syringe to Natsu
The child cried to Natsu as he patted her back a few times while holding the syringe
"there there, it's alright" Natsu said whispering to the child "alright, it's going to hurt a bit but I promise that it won't hurt anymore, alright?"
He rubs alcohol on her arm before he place the syringe near her skin and inserts it
The child cried and screamed at Natsu as he pulled the syringe, sucking out her blood into it
"there" Natsu said as he gives the syringe to the nurse before he rubs his hand around her arm, making the small wound on her disappear "it's alright, it's alright. don't cry"
Natsu patted her back a few times as to calm her down from getting the syringe
"we'll contact you as soon as we can" the doctor said as the nurse takes the blood sample away
"appreciate it, doctor" Natsu said nodding as he carried the child up in his arms, patting her back a few more times
"can we have a name?" the doctor asked holding up a pen
"a name?" Natsu said as he never asked what's the child's own name "that's right…"
Natsu's eyes glowed a bit as he looks into the child's memories but all he saw was nothing but hands and a flash of light
"what has she gone through?" Natsu thought before looking to the doctor "her name is…uh….Meredy, right. Her name is Meredy Dragneel"
"understood" the doctor said as he writes down the name Meredy Dragneel on the form
10 minutes later, Natsu went out with the now named Meredy in his arms as the man got out while carrying a small medicine bag
He quickly made his way to a hot rod red car as Dan was inside in the driver's seat
"how did it go, Big boss?" Dan asked Natsu who got into the back seat
"she's sick" Natsu said closing the back door "very sick"
"she must be through bad, huh?" Dan asked looking at Meredy who was asleep in Natsu's arm "it's so sad seeing such a young little girl like her abandoned in the street"
"yeah…" Natsu said patting Meredy's back "…just like me in the past…"
"well then, where should we go now, big boss?" Dan asked as he inserts the car key and turns it to activate the car's engine
"back home, we need to get her settled down to sleep" Natsu replied "the doctor stated that she needs lots of rest"
"alrighty" Dan said as he gets out of the parking lot before driving out of the hospital
The car drives out as it went into the street
Natsu's phone ring as he picks it up to answer it
"hello?" Natsu said as it was Macao on the call "yeah?..what?...nothing, huh?...are you sure?...then, that means…alright…thanks anyway"
Natsu place his phone away as he sighs
"what's wrong, Big boss?" Dan asked while looking at the mirror view before back to the road
"officer Macao and the others checked on any reports of a child missing like her but they came none nor did they find any info on her" Natsu replied "she's a stray"
"a stray…that's sad.." Dan said frowning while he drives "what kind of crazy people would abandon her? It's just damn wrong"
"yeah" Natsu said before he sees a flashback of him being one "…I know exactly how it feels…"
"so, what will happen to her now, big boss?" Dan asked "is she going to an orphanage now?"
"it's the most logical thing to do" Natsu said as he looks at Meredy who sleeps peacefully
"should we go and check any orphanage on the way?" Dan asked "there are some nearby right now"
"yeah, we should" Natsu said as Dan turns the wheel and they drives into a corner
2 hours of driving soon passed as the car arrived at Natsu's home, parking by
"damnit" Dan groans in annoyance "I can't believe that no orphanage is taking any orphans in. it's called an orphanage for crying out loud!"
The two had been driving around town, visiting all the orphanage as they tried asking them to take care of Meredy but not one was able to take her in resulting to the situation now
"be quiet, Dan" Natsu said getting out of the car with Meredy "don't use such language near a child"
"sorry, big boss" Dan said getting out of the car as well "I'm just frustrated that no orphanage is taking any orphans in"
"I know how you feel" Natsu said as he went to his house with Dan following
Meredy was placed on Natsu's bed as the man covers the blanket over her, letting her sleep
Natsu went out of his room as he closed the lights and windows so that she can sleep more peacefully
He sighs as he leans against the door while rubbing his hand on his face
"what should we do now, big boss?" Dan asked Natsu while standing by "there's no orphanage that is willing to take her in"
"I know" Natsu said as he sighs again before pocketing his hands into his pants "there's no helping it then…I'll take her in"
"eh? What did you just say, big boss?" Dan asked confused "I thought you said that you wanted to take her in"
"that's what I said" Natsu said as he heads downstairs
"but big boss!" Dan exclaimed before he shuts his mouth and then continued in a lower tone "you're still in school and you have the show gig to do!"
"I know" Natsu said "I'll handle it all"
"but managing a child, school, and show biz at the same time!" Dan said following Natsu down the stairs
"it's hard, I know. But I've dealt with harder things than this" Natsu said as he sighs a bit "and it's the right thing to do…Igneel would've done the same thing to her"
Dan looks at Natsu before shaking his head with a sigh
"if that's what big boss wants, then I'll comply" Dan said sighing again before smiling "the big boss becoming a dad. It's weird"
"yeah…it does" Natsu said looking at his hand "it feels really weird…"
The day soon turned to the afternoon as the clouds just floats in the sky with the sun
Natsu was in a phone call in his house while Meredy was playing around with Happy, Hyrus, Ash, and North
"thank you..yes….yes…thank you…truly appreciate it…I owe you…alright..and thank you again" Natsu said on the phone as he had called Macao and Wakaba, asking them for a way to signed Meredy as his adopted child and they did it easily by pulling a few strings of their connection "that part is done"
Natsu's phone ring again as it was Éclair
"hello? What's wrong Éclair?" Natsu asked on the phone before his jaws dropped when he heard what she talked on the phone as he face palms "I'm really sorry….yeah, I forgot…but I have a very good reason….yeah…I, uh….i kinda adopted a daughter…..yeah…it's not a joke…I know…I know….i'm sorry…but she was all alone in the rain and she was literally trying to eat garbage food…yeah….Meredy, I named her Meredy Dragneel…I know…I know…alright…yeah it'd be better if you come with the others so that there won't be any weird misunderstanding…"
The call was hanged up as Natsu let out a tired sigh before facepalming
"I can't believe I forgot about the date…" Natsu said as he had promised to go on a date with Éclair today but had forgotten because of taking care of Meredy "..it was a good thing that it was Éclair not Mira and Kamika…"
Natsu sat down on his couch as he leans against it tiredly before taking a look at Meredy who plays with Happy and North, the child getting her face rubbed in fluffy fur
He smiled a bit as seeing her reminds him of Wendy a bit
Natsu's phone ring again as he picks it up
"hello?..yes doctor…" Natsu said as it was the doctor from the hospital that called him "yes…yes…what?...malnutrition…what do you mean by that?...what?...you can't be serious…really?...alright…I understand…thank you"
Natsu sighs as he looks at Meredy who got licked on the face by North
"Igneel, I don't know how you do this parenting thing but I can guess that it was hard as hell" Natsu said as he type a few buttons on his phone and he was searching for 'Wet Nurses' on the map
A few hours later, Éclair, Lucy, Erza, Kagura, Mira, Cana, Ikaruga, and Ultear arrived at Natsu's home while Kamika, and Irene could not as they had a busy schedule to attend to
"she's so young…" Lucy said as Meredy sleeps while laying her head on Éclair's lap "..how can any mother just abandon her?"
"the world ain't fair" Ultear said as she looks sadly to the child "being abandoned in such a young age with no mother nor father…I can tell what she had been through"
"but it's a good thing that Natsu had taken her in" Erza stated with a smile
"yeah, who knows what would've happened to her if he didn't" Kagura stated in agreement
"she is truly blessed" Éclair said smiling as she caresses Meredy's head "she is truly blessed to have Natsu as her adopted father"
"which begs the question" Ikaruga said as she looks around "where is Natsu-han?"
"over there" Cana said pointing to the kitchen where Natsu was in a phone call with someone and he seems distressed
"I wonder what's wrong with him?" Mira said seeing how Natsu was acting on his phone call
Meredy soon suddenly coughs harshly as the child got into a coughing fit
"what's wrong with her?" Lucy asked worried as Éclair carried Meredy up and patted her back but the child's coughing didn't stop
Natsu soon came in as he heard the coughing
"let me" Natsu said as Éclair passes Meredy to Natsu who carried her up "where are those medicine?"
Natsu went to the kitchen while carrying Meredy who still coughs nonstop
A few seconds soon passed as Meredy stopped coughing after taking her medicine
Natsu went back to the living room as he sighs before taking a seat
"is she alright?" Erza asked as the girls looks at Meredy who was sat on Natsu's lap while the man covered her in a small blanket
"she'll be fine, it's just her sickness kicking in. that's all" Natsu said patting Meredy's back as the child slowly went back to sleep
Natsu's phone soon rings again as the man sighs yet again before gently passing Meredy to Ultear who was beside him
"call me if she suddenly coughs or puke" Natsu said as he answers the call on his phone "I'll be back in a moment"
Natsu went away as he converses with his caller
"who is he calling?" Ultear said while carrying Meredy in her arms
"probably Dan or some music busines guy" Cana said while drinking her bottle of beer "he gets their calls the most often after all"
"probably" Kagura said before turning her attention to Meredy "but it'll be challenging, wouldn't it?"
"what will?" Erza asked Kagura
"being a father to a child, being a student in school, and being a music idol in the music business while getting surrounded by fan girls daily. This is going to be challenging for Natsu to balance" Kagura explained as everyone sees where she is going
"she's right" Lucy said "having an already busy schedule and adding being a father is just too much stress"
"but this is Natsu-han," Ikaruga stated "I am sure that he will know how to deal with such schedule"
"sure hope so" Mira said "I mean, he can do it, right?"
"we just have to believe and pray in him" Éclair stated before looking to Meredy "for both of them"
"right" Lucy said with a smile before Natsu came in
"do any of you guys know any Wet Nurses?" he said, surprising them all
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" they exclaimed before they shut their mouths, realizing that they have a sleeping child
3 minutes of explanation later
"so that's what it was all about" Lucy said frowning "I can't believe how sick she is"
Natsu had explained to the girls that Meredy's immune system and digestive system are so weak that she can't digest solid food nor tablet medicine at all, nor will she be able to counteract against any sickness, she might conceive
"that's why she needs a wet nurse, huh?" Mira said crossing her arms as Natsu nodded
"the doctor said that the only way for her to get nutrients is by milk and that's breastmilk" Natsu stated with a sigh "and I'm having a hard time trying to find one wet nurse in Magnolia"
"how about the hospital?" Kagura asked "there might be on there"
"Dan already went and checked. There was no wet nurse available at the moment" Natsu stated "Meredy needs the nutrient as fast as she can if she is to get better"
"this is a bit troubling" Ikaruga said while cupping her chin "how about your mother, Erza-han? Could she not do it?"
"are you seriously asking me that question?" Erza said with a deadpanned face and a sweatdrop
"what about Ultear? She can give her milk, right?" Éclair said as everyone looks to her then to Ultear
"me?" Ultear said carrying Meredy while pointing at herself
"you're the only one of us here who can actually give her milk, right?" Cana said pointing at Ultear herself "you're the only logical choice"
"you all can't be serious here" Ultear said before Natsu holds her hand and kneels down to her
"please…" Natsu said as Ultear looks to him before to Meredy who is still sleeping then back to him
"alright, I'll do it" Ultear said as Natsu smiled before kissing her lips and gives her a loving smile
Ultear stands up as Natsu leads her to his room where she would breastfeed Meredy privately
Sitting on his bed, Ultear lifts her shirt up before taking her bra off
She cradled Meredy as she positions her near her breast
"Meredy…Meredy..it's time for milk.." Natsu whispered while gently shaking his adopted daughter
Meredy groggily opens her eyes as she sees Ultear's breast
"come on…time for milk…" Natsu whispered as he smiles to her
Unconsciously, Meredy leans forward and opens her mouth before sucking on Ultear's breast
Ultear blushed a bit as she felt weird to be breastfeeding a child but at the same time, it felt so natural for her
Meredy suckles on Ultear's breast as she drinks her milk while having a peaceful face
Ultear's lips soon formed a smile as she watched Meredy drinks her milk happily
"it's strange…" Ultear whispered "I only met her just for an hour or so…yet I feel like she's truly my own daughter…it's so strange.."
"no, it's not" Natsu said as he kisses her cheeks before smiling "it is perfect for you who will become a mother to our future kids"
Ultear smiled back to Natsu before she looks to Meredy who keeps on suckling her milk
She soon started humming a lullaby as she gently pats Meredy's back, lulling the child to sleep while she suckles her breastmilk
That's a wrap!
Bye bye
