Disclaimer: Wonderful world of Fairytail is owned by the amazing Hiro Mashima-Sensei!

A/N: So here we are again, my love of HiLu has overtaken me to input yet another stage into their epic romance! I would say sorry but I'm really not haha. Although on a more serious topic, I will mention, this story will be covering some pretty upsetting topics in places, like miscarriage, so I do apologize if this upsets you and I hope I can write about it in a way that isn't too upsetting over all but highlights the grief that many women and couples experience daily.


"Are you feeling okay, Lucy?" My red haired friend asked, concern plastered all over her face. I must look as bad as I felt for the great Titania to be getting concerned about my well being. You normally had to be battered and broken before she'd notice something was wrong, though she had been getting better at it lately. Maybe Jellal's observation had been rubbing off on her, finally.

"I'm fine, really." I reassured her even though I felt far from fine. I actually felt horrific but there was no way I was going to admit that out loud, if I did I was sure the awful feeling in the pit of my stomach would just get worse. "It's probably just something I ate earlier not sitting right."

"Well if you say so," She sighed, not looking fully convinced. "But maybe you should get Polyusica or Wendy to look you over. Just to be safe."

"There's no need really, Erza." I sweat dropped shaking my hands in protest. I really didn't want to bother either of them over an upset stomach, plus I had plans for this evening I didn't want to ruin. "Anyway, aren't they both busy with that outbreak in Crocus?"

"I do believe that is correct." She sighed, again a frown on her face. "But you've been looking slightly off for a week now, and I'm worried you could be really ill."

"Don't worry really, I'll be fine. I'm sure it's just a small tummy bug or a case of mild food poisoning." I reassured the requip mage once more, as I felt a surge of love for the woman I saw as a sister wash over me, and pulled her into a big hug. I also had to choke back tears that seemed to spring forth from no where, with the magnitude of my feelings for everyone in this guild I called home. They really were the best!

"What was that, flame brain!" Gajeel roared, interrupting our moment and causing Erza and myself to break apart.

"You heard me, scrap for brains." Natsu shot back. Oh god what were they arguing about now?

"Gale is totally cuter than Lina." The iron slayer snarled, advancing on my team mate with intent to pummel.

"You wish," The fire dragon goaded his cocky grin spreading over his face. "My Lina is way cuter." And with that the pair of them were at each other like a pair of dogs, you'd think they would have matured by becoming fathers...

"ENOUGH!" Erza bellowed in my ear, before standing up and heading over to quell the violence, hopefully before the hall got destroyed again.

"oofff." I winced rubbing my ear. Erza really had a set of pipes on her.

"Why are daddy and uncle fighting?" I felt a small hand tug at my skirt to grab my attention. Looking down I saw a small black head of hair staring at her warring family.

"Because they're silly billies." I chuckled and picked my favourite niece, Harumi, up onto my lap. I couldn't believe how big she'd gotten, it was almost like every time I saw her she had sprouted another 5 inches.

"Mummy calls them 'baka's'." The young girl looked up at me with her lovely hazel brown eyes. She looked so much like her mother at times, while also resembling Gajeel in smaller ways, genetics really were a strange thing. It made me wonder what my own children would look like one day...I shook my head and pushed the thought out of my head, I did not want to make myself feel even worse than I already did.

Hibiki and I had tried for a long time to get pregnant and then when it had happened I'd suffered a miscarriage that had left us both broken for a long time. Then when the next pregnancy had happened, I had been unaware of it at the time, so had gone on a mission, which had gone awry, and resulted in another tragic lose. Both Hibiki and I had been distraught at this and it had nearly broken us apart, with me so lost in my own grief, blaming myself for losing our child that I'd pushed him away and ignored his own suffering, it had been his baby too. So once we'd reemerged from the pit of our despair and patched things between us back up, we'd decided to wait for a while before trying again as we were both too afraid of experiencing another tragedy. But I would be lying if I said seeing everyone in the guild have their own kids didn't sting just a little bit. I was truly happy for them though but at the same time a little bit jealous, so I'd decided to bury those ugly feelings away and just focus on enjoying watching my little nephews and nieces at the guild grow. Even if I never became a mother, I could still be the best aunt in Earth Land.

"Does she now." I stopped my inner musings and turned my attention back to the little girl on my knees. Dwelling on the past never solved anything, anyway.

"Though, I've heard her call them way worse things." She chuckled darkly, excited at what she felt was a trump card she could hold over her mothers head. She was so adorable even when she was being sneaky! Eeek I loved her so much!

"I bet she does." I smiled, and tussled her hair. "Speaking of, where is your mom?"

"She's at home." Harumi's face saddened a little bit at this.

"Gajeel mentioned that Gale was teething last night so poor Levy didn't sleep at all." I turned my head to see Mira with a tray laden-ed with drinks and food on it. As the food smell wafted past I felt my stomach clench again and all the earlier nausea hit me again like a tone of bricks. Oh no...

"Poor Levy." I responded, while doing my best to keep my stomach contents, exactly that, contents.

"Stupid Gale, always takes mummy away from me." Harumi huffed and jumped off my lap about to stomp away. Now now couldn't have discord between the girls brewing now. Pushing the waves of nausea from my mind, I reach back toward the young girl and grabbed her before she could escape.

"What's this I hear. I thought you loved being a big sister?" I questioned turning the girl to face me. I remembered the day she's bounced into the guild hall last year beaming and telling everyone who would listen that she was going to have a baby brother or sister and how happy she was about it. I even remember just a few weeks back how she's doted on her new sister and been helping Levy do everything that Gale had needed.

"Not anymore!" She pouted. "I hate it, I wish Gale would go away!"

From above her head, I saw that Gajeel had disentangled himself and was heading our way but froze when he heard his oldest daughters words. Must come as a shock to him, but I suppose adjusting to having two kids can be a handful in and of itself.

"Why's that?" I nudged with a gentle tone. It would be best to get her to fully explain herself and make her feel heard before giving any advice.

"Cause, she's always taking mummy and daddy away from me." She stared down at her lap, trying to hide the fact tears had sprung to her eyes. "They are always so tired after looking after her, and never have time for me."

Ah yes classic sibling jealously, especially when you've been an only child for so long. Mira mentioned something like this happening when her and Freed had had baby number two. How had they worked it out again...ah ha that was it!

"Do you want to know a secret." I whispered to gain her attention. I knew Harumi very well at this point and the girl had an inherent curiosity that couldn't be sated... so much like her mom.

"Yes." She nodded eagerly, wiping her eyes. It broke my heart to see her so upset like this, hopefully my plan would help her with seeing her new family member in a new light.

"Promise not to tell a soul, not even your dad?" I winked here so that Gajeel could see I was trying to help. I saw him smirk a little, which meant he caught my drift. Though Harumi thought the wink was for her, so all was good so far she hadn't caught on to my ploy.

"Super duper pinkie promise." She beamed nodding her head a thousand miles a minute. Maybe I was getting her a little to hyper...Oh well wasn't that what auntie's were for.

"Well." I made a show of looking around to make it look like I was worried someone else would over hear us. "I used to be jealous of you."

"ME." She squeaked and her mouth fell open in surprise. "But why?" She seemed genuinely puzzled by this revelation. Yes she's taken the bait, but I had to admit it took all my will power A. not to puke as my stomach was churning worse and worse with each passing second and B. not to laugh at her reaction as it was so frigging adorable.

"Yes, you." I nodded solemnly, selling the act as much as I could. "Because you made my friends super tired and they had no time for me anymore."

"But...But..." She stammered, obviously thrown by my 'confession'. "I was a baby...I couldn't help it."

She'd said exactly what I'd been hoping for so I didn't need to say any thing else, I merely raised my eyebrow at her and waited for her to realise what she'd just said.

"Oh." Her eyes started to sparkle with realization. Knew it wouldn't take her long, she was a super smart cookie after all. "Gale's just a baby too."

"Indeed she is." I nodded and gave the small girl a warm smile. "And babies are a lot of work in the beginning, as they can't do anything for themselves."

"But she'll be like me soon, right?" She asked. "A big girl who can take care of herself?"

"Before you know it." I giggled at how confident she sounded. She really was amazingly grown up for her age. "Then it'll be your parents who are jealous as you'll never have time for them."

"I can't wait now." She grinned bouncing around on my lap. That was not good for the queasiness. "Then I can teach her my Iron make magic and we can play together and maybe form our own wizard team."

"Of course you can." Her excitement was contagious and it made me smile so hard it felt like my face would break. "But maybe first you can help make sure she grows up big and strong, like you."

"Like a big sister should." She once again started nodding her head up and down furiously. "I have to find daddy and see if we can go back to mummy."

"Okay then." I let her off my knee and watched as she started to head away to find her father. Even though he was standing barely 10 feet behind her.

"Oh, Auntie Lucy." She called before she'd gotten to far, with a really worried expression on her face.

"Yes?" I responded wondering what had caused her to look so upset once more.

"Your not still..." She shifted her weight nervously and clenched her tiny fists together. "You know...Jealous... of me... are you?"

"Heavens, no." I burst out laughing at this I couldn't help it, she'd taken me so seriously it warmed my heart. And made me feel a little bad for deceiving her in the first place. "How about you have a sleepover with me and uncle Hibiki this weekend, so I can prove how not jealous of you I am any more."

"Really?!" Her face light right back up again.

"Of course, only if your mom and dad agree though." I responded giving her a thumbs up and smiling as she ran at full speed to try and find her father again.

"Thanks for that, bunny girl. I didn't realise she felt that way."

"Any time Black Steel. It's what Aunties are for." I grinned and turned to face my guild mate. He honestly looked so tired I felt sorry for him, the teething must be worse that he had let on to Mira. It was no wonder Harumi had been so upset. "We can take Gale too if you need the rest?"

"You don't look like you can look after yaself let alone two kids." Gajeel muttered giving me a once over. Geez I couldn't look that bad could I?

"It's just a stomach bug, I'll be grand by the weekend." I smiled reassuringly. "Mean you look pretty awful yourself. So let me help you guys out."

"If ya want." He grumbled, before standing up as Harumi was heading back this way. "Thanks."

"I'll grab them at 6 on Friday?"

"I'll let Levy know." He tossed me a small grin before scoping his daughter up into his arms.

"Oh Hey, Harumi-chan." I spoke up to the giggling girl. "Do you mind if Gale-chan comes as well on our sleep over? Just so mom and dad can get some energy back?" I didn't want to blind side her on Friday as she originally thought it was just going to be her coming to visit. That might make her resentful of her baby sister even more.

"Hmmmm." She scrunched her face up as if she was thinking really hard. "Okay, but will you read me a bed time story to just me no Gale."

"Of course." I assured her. Over our many sleepovers, we had come to the agreement that no matter what, bed time was just for us girls to enjoy a book before she settled down. "But how about you read her a book before we settle her down over the weekend?"

The resounding shriek of agreement was deafening and I didn't have heightened hearing, that must have killed poor Gajeel's ear. I chuckled once more at how easily excited the young girl got and watched on as she got carried off by her dad. As I was enjoying the view of everybody in the guild going about their daily business, my stomach clenched again but this time I knew I couldn't keep it from erupting, so I shot up out of my seat and dashed off to the ladies room. Only just managing to make it into a stall before it erupted in all it's nasty glory. If there was something worse than feeling sick, it was actually being sick. Truly the worst sensation in the entire world!

"Are you ok in there?" The gentle voice of Lisanna wafted through the curtain. I tried to respond be as soon as I took a breath to speak the burning lava decided to once again exit my body with extreme force. I flushed and then slumped to the floor again afterwards and rested my head back against the wall, utterly defeated.

"Can I come in?" Lisanna's voice again drifted to my ears once more. Instead of responding and risking aggravating my beast (as I was calling my stomach right now) I merely pushed back the curtain and let the youngest take over sibling enter the stall with me. She was one of my closest friends in the guild, aside from Levy, Erza and Cana, oh and Mira-Jane too. She'd also helped me through my second miscarriage as she herself had experienced one not long before, and I'd done my best to try and help her through her own one as I'd had some experience by that point in time. But it is not an experience I would wish on my worst enemy let alone a dear friend, they are so devastating and heart breaking. All the members of the guild had done their best to try and console us threw them but none of them knew what it felt like and so they struggled with what to say or do to help.

"Stomach bug?" The white haired woman brushed my hair out of my face, and as she did I felt another wave incoming so bent forward and once again vomited into the toilet bowl. This was a really nasty pest of a bug, I'd give it that. I noticed after the violent retching had subsided again, that Lisanna was holding my hair back for me and rubbing my back.

"Than...kyu..." I croaked as I returned to my earlier position against the wall. The cold tiles were soothing to my aching body, even if it did cause me to shiver ever so slightly.

"Can I get you anything?" Her concern was greatly appreciated and if I could of moved in that moment I would of hugged her.

My mom was the first thing that came to mind whenever people asked me that. I always wished for when I got sick but seeing as that wasn't an option, and hadn't been in nearly...well let's just say far too many years. I decided I'd ask for the one person who managed to put me at ease, almost as easily as she used too. I knew I was being a bit selfish, I should just tough it out and maybe sleep it off in the infirmary up stairs but for some reason, today, this particular sickness, I wanted him here to hold my hair and soothe me until I could bare heading home. I knew we'd decided to spend today at our respective guilds before meeting up in the evening for our anniversary date...but it looked that those plans were going to be put on hold. Stupid stomach how dare you ruin my romantic evening.

"Hi...bi...ki." I managed to stutter out, before returning to hugging the bowl. Maybe he shouldn't see me like this...

"I'll be right back." And with that she exited the stall and the restroom swiftly. Guess he would see me in this state now, well unless he didn't come for some reason.

The lack of anyone else around allowed me to let a few tears slip, no matter how old you got, being ill always made you feel like a child again. I really did miss my mom in these moments!

I don't know how long I stayed on the floor, or how many more instances of volcanic eruption there were before I finally started to feel a small bit better but I was guessing it was far too long as I had started to feel extremely cold and shivery. I cursed myself for not bringing a jacket with me.

"Sweetheart?" I heard his voice call out from the entrance to the ladies room. I desperately want to call out to him, for him to rush in to my side, but I knew he was being cautious by not just rushing in. He probably didn't want to be rude too any other occupants who might be using the facilities. Though I was pretty sure I was the only one in here right now.

"Here." I tried my hardest to muster enough strength so he would be able to hear my voice. It was extremely sore after everything so it was way more difficult than it seemed. I heard some muffled mumbling by the doorway and figured someone was telling him if it was safe to enter or not. Obviously they decided it was as just a second later my wonderful husband was by my side pulling me into his arms.

"My poor sweetheart." He cooed gently rubbing my back, as I let my head fall onto his shoulder. For some reason I burst out into tears, as I clung to him for what ever reason just him being here and coming when I needed him, even though I knew he'd be there for me through rain or shine had caused a wave of emotion that could not be contained.

"I'm...Sorry." I whimpered out between gulps of air as my tears finally subsided.

"Whatever for?" He seemed genuinely confused by my apology. Maybe he had forgotten about this evening after all.

"Our anniversary date," I mumbled, reaching for some toilet paper to blow my nose and some to wipe my tear stains away with.

"Don't be sorry." He replied pushing my hair behind my ear, he always did this when I cried. I think it was his way to calm me, but I'd never asked so didn't know why he did it. "You health is much more important than any dinner arrangements."

"But.." I started to object, as I'd had really big plans for the evening that were now going up in smoke, but he put up a hand to silence me.

"No, ifs, buts, or coconuts." He chided me playfully, taking his jacket off and draping it over my shoulders. He must have noticed how cold I was, he really was so thoughtful.

"Yes sir." I half smiled at him, to show I wouldn't protest anymore. I could also rearranged our evening for another time he was right. Like always .

"Do you think you can head home soon? I can always use teleport if you don't think you can handle the train." He asked, looking at me extremely worried.

"Umm." I took a second to evaluate the condition of the beast. It seemed to be settled for the moment, and I doubted I had much left in the system to purge any way even if it did wake up. I didn't want to risk getting sick on the train so going with the teleport magic seemed a good idea. Hibiki had learned it a few years ago from Mest, to boost his abilities in battle to help out his team. I had to say it was a very helpful skill, especially now. "Teleport please."

"But of course my lady." He bowed his head to me and offered me his hand to help me up. I wish I could say it was a graceful standing up, but I would be lying, my legs were like jelly from being on the floor so long and I had 0 physically strength left. But once I was up Hibiki wrapped his arm around me and took most of my weight so that I wouldn't fall and in the blink of an eye I was being sat on our bed in our bedroom.

"What about everyone at the guild." I muttered ashamed that I hadn't said goodbye but also kind of glad no one but Lisanna had seen how bad I'd gotten. Hibiki didn't count he swore to love me in sickness and in health so, ya know he had to deal.

"Don't worry, I told Lisanna I'd most likely be teleporting you home so she agreed to say bye to everyone for you." He reassured me, as he laid me down and tuck the blanket over me. I was right to have asked for him, he really was amazing! And this reminded me of that time all those years ago when he'd cared for me after I'd gotten banged up on that fateful mission.

"I love you." I sighed feeling the pull of sleep tugging at me as he kissed the top of my head. All those eruptions had really tuckered me out.

"And I you." He breathed onto my forehead just before I passed out.