Chapter 4

"You know, now that I think about it, you didn't do a great job covering that up" he teased hard. "Oh shut up, I was in a hurry and I was trying my best. It wasn't exactly something small I could cover" "Heeehee. Guess I really did over do myself didn't I?" he said gleefully raising an eyebrow at her as she lightly rolled her eyes. "Yes master, you did" she said humored. "You know that's only if we're in bed…my love slave" he said quietly so Layla wouldn't hear. "Whose master mommy" Layla asked causing their hair to stand on end as they fumbled for words. "Uhhh, hey Layla. Bbbbaby girl, let's pretend you didn't hear that okay?" Natsu asked trying to reason with her. "Why?" They closed their eyes cringing. "Nice job Luce!" he said under his breath but quiet enough she could hear it. "I'm sorry!. I didn't think she was listening" she replied quietly. "She's five. Course she's listening or have you forgotten how many freaking times we've cussed or how many bad words you have used in front of her hmmm?" he said accusingly. "Oh, shut it" she told him annoyed. "Why daddy?" she asked again. "Uhhh, well because those are only supposed to words for mommy and I to use okay?" she nodded. "when we're alone!" he said quietly through gritted teeth to Lucy who just huffed at him as they were on the way home.

Getting home, Lucy opened the door for Layla as she to the front door waiting for them. Natsu got out and looked over the car at Lucy. "Sorry" she apologized. "Me too" "I didn't think about it before I said it" "It's alright Luce. we figured it out. It's all over" he said trying to relax her. "Okay" she answered with a smile as her and Natsu went to the door and unlocked it as Layla darted through the house to her room. "I'm gonna play!" she yelled to them. "Okay!" they answered. "What do you want to do now?" she asked. "Let's just enjoy the peace we got right now. That bastard won't stay down long" he said with a hint of anger. "Alright, do you want to watch something together?" "I'd love too" he answered as they went and sat as Natsu put his feet up and Lucy laid between his legs putting her head on his chest as he laid an arm down over her. He rubbed her head as he said "I love you" "I love you too Natsu"

They picked a movie that had them both dying with laughter as it ended and their faces were bright red with laughter. "Wow, been a while since we laughed like that" said Natsu. "I know right" said Lucy. "Whhhew but I'm not complaining" "Me either" "When do you want to get the gifts and stuff out of the car?" she asked. "Not yet. Knowing her, she'll come right when we're unloading shit and then we're screwed. It's best we wait till after she goes to bed" he suggested to her. "Good idea" she said as she sighed lightly putting her head back down on Natsu's chest. She reached her hand back behind his head pushing it forward as he bent his head forward giving her a passionate kiss as he cupped her cheek in his hand. His tongue asked for entrance as they kissed for a few minutes enjoying each other. Releasing from it , Natsu said "what was that for?" "Because I wanted too. You have done so much for me Natsu and even know you are still doing so much" He began to lightly run his hand over her arm tracing her scars as he saw her get a saddened look on her face. Grabbing her chin, he said " these scars change nothing about your beauty Lucy. You are absolutely beautiful, and scars are not going to change that and as for what I've done. I do it because I love you and I wanted too..but I'll always take your kisses" She let out a small laugh as he let her chin up. "Better go check on Layla" she said as Natsu stopped her from getting up confusing her as he held a hand up halting her from talking. "Layla!, you alright baby girl?" he yelled up the stairs. "I'm good daddy!" she answered. Motioning his hands toward her room he said "see she's fine" "Okay okay" "Relax baby" he urged as he started rubbing her shoulders. "Oh my god that feels so good" she said pleasure as she tipped her head back enjoying the sensations he was sending through her body. "Ha, even without meaning too, I still turn you on" he said amused. "Your hands are ammmmmaziing" she moaned not paying attention to what he said. He rolled his eyes as he just enjoyed making her smile. He kept going until he saw she was getting so relaxed she was drifting to sleep. "Thanks for that" she said as she sat up. "Your welcome Luce" They spend the rest of the day at their house enjoying the rare peace that they were getting.

Over the next few days , Natsu and Lucy were trying hard not to spoil anything about Layla's birthday as she saw them running around when Wendy was teaching her. The day of the party , the two of them were on their phones for majority of the morning. They finally stopped and relaxed that afternoon as they slumped on to the couch with Layla between them. Turning her head left and right to look at them, she asked "are you guys okay mommy?" "We're good baby" she answered exhausted. "Daddy?" "Your mom's right, we're good sweetheart" he told her as he felt him falling to the side of the couch but didn't care to stop himself as he closed his eyes and started snoring. Layla started picking at him as she laughed."No , no Layla, Let daddy sleep" said Lucy as she pulled Layla off him. "What now mommy?" "Wanna take a nap with daddy?" Layla nodded her head happily as she and Lucy quietly crawled over to Natsu. Layla laid in the crook of Natsu's arm as Lucy laid herself on his chest and put his arm over her. Her and Layla reached their hands for each other setting them on Natsu's stomach as they smiled and closed their eyes.

He woke himself a little while later as he saw them snuggling against him. Softly he kissed the tops of their heads . He smiled seeing their hands together on his stomach. He put a hand over them enclosing them in his fingers as he thought "my girls" and went back to sleep. They all woke up a couple hours later as they rubbed their eyes and sat up. "Okay, what's next!" said Layla hyped up. "Easy there you weirdo" said Natsu. "Hey Layla, you know what tomorrow is?" asked Lucy grabbing her attention as Layla scratched her head thinking. "What is it mommy?" "It's your birthday baby girl!" Lucy said excited as Layla jumped off the couch. "Yay!, my birthday! AND DADDY WILL BE THERE THIS TIME" Laughing softly, Natsu looked at her and said "Yes Layla. I'll be there and for every one after that" Elated , she threw her arms around Natsu's neck as he wrapped his around her. She snuggled her face into his neck as she looked at him feeling nothing but love.

Lucy's heart filled with happiness as she watched them. "Despite all the birthdays he missed, she doesn't reflect or hold it against him. I am so proud of you baby girl" she thought beaming with pride for Layla and her peaceful, forgiving nature. After three minutes, Natsu coming back to reality looked over at Lucy as she held her hand up to stop him from saying anything. She shook her head and said "you were enjoying your daughter. Nothing wrong with that. No one could ever replace you in her heart Natsu. Not even when we were in Europe. She always felt something was missing. The guys tried" she said gently as she lightly ran her hand through Layla's silky hair as her cheeks blushed making Lucy's cheeks blush as she said "they tried but she only wanted one thing and she finally got it. Her father's love. Squeezing her for a second, he loosened as he said to Lucy "she has all the love I have to give. You both do" "Right back at ya" she said happily as she clapped her hands together and stood up. "Time to make dinner" she announced as she walked to the kitchen as Natsu and Layla turned their heads watching her. "Who wants to help me?" she asked grinning as Natsu and Layla both said "me!" They jumped off the couch and ran to the kitchen. They all had fun as Natsu and Lucy cooked and Layla handed them things they allowed her to grab. After a while, they had her sit down as she watched them. "Baby, you don't have to sit there, you can go play" said Lucy. "It's okay mommy. I like watching you two" "Why?" "Because I like seeing you and daddy smile at each other. Their faces turned pink as they looked at each other. "Mommies and daddies are supposed to love each other" "Right baby girl and do you know how much we love each other?" he asked for the fun of it.

She put her arms out to the side and stretched them as far as they would go and said in a squeaky cute voice " this much!" "And you?" She kept her arms out as she yelled "you love me and mommy more then anything!" Coming over to the counter, he grabbed the back of her head gently as he closed his eyes giving her a warm kiss on her forehead. He stayed there for a few minutes as a single tear dripped down on Layla's head as he took a deep breath and stepped back. "That's right Layla. Never forget that" he said quietly, his voice cracking. "Are you okay daddy?" she asked genuine. "Yeah, fine baby girl" he said quickly as he walked out of the kitchen and headed for the stairway. "You good out here Luce? he asked barely keeping It together. "I'm good Natsu, go" she said kindly as he ran up. "Mommy, is daddy sad, did I say something bad?" she asked looking guiltily. Quickly Lucy walked over and took Layla to the couch and sat her on her lap as she looked at Lucy. She smiled and said "no Layla, you did absolutely nothing wrong baby girl. Daddy is just really happy and didn't want to scare you" "It takes a lot to make daddy cry huh?" surmised Layla. "Yes it does. Daddy is a tough shell to crack. Do you feel any better?" Lucy asked. "yes" she answered as Lucy hugged her to her chest as Layla wrapped her arms around Lucy's stomach. Natsu came back down a minute later.

"What's that smell?" he asked alarmed as Lucy's eyes went big. "THE TURKEY!" they both screamed as Lucy rapidly put Layla on the floor as her and Natsu rushed to the kitchen. "Stay back Layla" said Natsu as he opened the over door as smoke came at them making them cough. "Jeeze, I leave for two minutes and you try to burn the house down" he said jokingly through his coughs as he waved the smoke away in front of him. "Well..cough , cough, how was I supposed to know the turkey would burn" she snapped as she stepped back letting Natsu take the turkey out and set it down. "How bad is it?" she asked. "Well..doesn't look like all of it's toast but forget the legs, those are done for" "Alright, well dinner is done, come on Layla" she called as Layla came and Natsu plopped her on a seat . He cut the turkey away from the burnt pieces and handed them out with green beans and mashed potatoes. "This is yummy" said Layla as she put green beans in her mouth. "Glad you like it Layla" said Lucy. "Thank you too Natsu for helping" "No problem"

Once they were done and everything was put away. They all planted themselves in front of the tv and watched a movie. It was late when the movie was over as Lucy said "time for bed sleepyhead" to the sleepy Layla who almost fell off the couch as Natsu caught her before her head hit the floor. "Yup, definitely sleep time for you little dragon" he said as he slumped her over his shoulder and motioned for Lucy to follow. Turning off the tv and lights. Once she locked everything, she went to the patient Natsu and followed him up the stairs as they went into Layla's bedroom. He gently laid her down as him and Lucy each grabbed a side and covered Layla up with her blanket then knelt down giving her a kiss and a hug. "I love you" she said sweetly with a big smile on her face. "Love you too Layla" they cooed as Lucy flipped her switch as Natsu put his hand around her waist as they walked to their bedroom. Once they were undressed and cuddled up with each other, he noticed Lucy looking at him with a longing look. "You want to know why I went upstairs don't you?" she silently nodded her head.

He sighed as he said "Missing her first five birthdays will be something I will never be able to get back and I have to live with that. But that doesn't matter to her Luce. All she cares about is me being here for this one and I can't …I can't put into words how much that means to me. I had to come upstairs because If I had stayed down there, I would have turned into a puddle" " You're the birthday gift she always wanted Natsu. Now that she has you, she'll be happy with anything. She loves you more then anything in this world" Holding Lucy tight, he said "me too" She laid her hand gently on his chest as he grabbed her fingers and put his through his. "let's get some sleep Luce. we got a big day tomorrow" She nodded as she snuggled into him as they closed their eyes ready for the big day they had planned for Layla.