You Are my Sunshine:
He hated this. He hated this so much. He must have forgotten about this part in the past four years since Nashi's birth, but now he remembered loud and clear. Natsu mildly acknowledged the numbness in his fingers as Lucy clamped on his hand. But most, if not all, of his attention was focused on his laboring wife.
Lucy let out a small gasp as she leaned back against him. They were both lying on their sides, as it was the position most comfortable for her (same as with Nashi.) Natsu lay behind her, letting her squeeze one of his hands as he rubbed her back with the other. She groaned loudly, hand clamping down on his again as another contraction came. Natsu cringed, gritting his teeth. Oh, how he hated this! Watching her suffer like this and not being able to do anything about it. Especially considering that it was kinda his fault she was in this situation.
"Oh…." Lucy moaned, tensing up as she tightened her grip on his hand and clutched the pillow under her head with the other.
"You're alright," he whispered, gently pulling her hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear.
Lucy didn't respond but instead took deep, steady breaths in and out. She was a lot calmer this time around than she had been with Nashi, probably because she knew what to expect.
If anything that would have made him more nervous! Just the very idea of going through this kind of pain once was bad enough! Twice? No, thank you! But Lucy was doing it, and doing it voluntarily. She had wanted to have another baby. So did he, but, man, he wished they could have babies without having to put Lucy through this! He leaned forward and pressed a small kiss against her cheek, a small, pathetic apology for what his actions were currently putting her through.
"AUGH!" Lucy shouted, sending a shudder through his body.
"Alright, alright, let's have a look," Porlyusica grumbled. She lifted the blanket, frowning. "Dunno why you're on your side again, it just makes this whole thing harder."
"For you, maybe, but you ain't pushing a baby out so you don't matter!" Natsu snapped. Porlyusica wasn't blind (not yet, anyway). She could see how much Lucy was suffering, and yet she still thought it was okay to nag her?
"You're ready," Porlyusica said. "Dad, you know what to do, hop to it."
Natsu sat up, hooking his arm under Lucy's leg to hold it up for her.
"N...Natsu…?" Lucy asked faintly through deep breaths.
"Yes?" he turned to her, slipping his hand out of hers for a little while to stroke her cheek.
"I'm scared," she whispered.
His heart broke. She was so calm on the outside, but looking into her eyes she could tell she was terrified. She was dreading what was about to become, probably more than she dreaded death at the moment.
Man, I hate this! He thought as he took her hand back in his, stroking her guild mark with his thumb, forcing himself to smile comfortingly at her.
"It's going to be okay, Luce. You're gonna do great!"
"It hurts," she whimpered.
"I know," he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "But it'll be over soon."
"Yeah?" she asked, eyes begging for his words to be true.
He nodded. "Yeah. And then we'll have another baby."
Lucy smiled slightly just before a contraction hit and she hissed, closing her eyes.
"Alright, go," Porlyusica said.
Lucy rolled her chin to her chest as she pushed. Natsu didn't even mind the pain and numbness in his hand as she clamped down on it. Natsu watched her, brow furrowed in worry. He knew she'd be okay. She'd done this once before and rocked it! She'd be fine. Still, there was always a chance something could go wrong. Just look at the Fernandez'. Yes, Erza and all the babies made it in the end. But, holy smokes, were those babies sick and tiny! Minette and Eva had made it home, but Von was still under magic treatment a few rooms over.
Lucy's contraction ended and she relaxed against the bed, gasping for breath. Natsu ran his thumb over the curve of her knee.
"Natsu…" Her voice was so weak, breathless, tired.
"Yes?" he asked softly, ready to give her anything he could to help her get through this.
"...thirsty…"
Natsu released her hand, taking an ice chip out of the cup on the table next to them and pressing it to her lips.
"There ya go," he said as she began sucking on the ice. He stroked her cheek, trying his best to soothe her. "Need more?"
She shook her head.
"Okay," he took her hand back in his. It was coated in sweat, and her knuckles were read from squeezing onto him.
Lucy took in a deep breath and began pushing again. He could feel every part of her body tensing with the contraction as she let out a loud moan. His brow furrowed as he cringed internally at the gutteral cry of pain she let out. Natsu thought back to Nashi's brith to try and remember what he did that helped her. He quickly recalled Porlyusica telling him then that talking to Lucy helped distract her from the pain.
A high-pitched groan, almost a scream, escaped through her teeth.
"Atta girl, you got it," he encouraged, running his thumb over the curve of her knee again, hoping that could somehow comfort her. She gave a small whimper before taking two deep breaths and began pushing again.
"There you go, that's my girl!" Despite being worried about her safety and regretful for the pain she was going through he couldn't help but smile in pride at her. Not once did she complain. Not once did she give up. She kept pushing forward without whining once. She laid back down to catch her breath. Natsu tried, yet again, to reach for the rag, but she caught him off guard again, only resting long enough to catch her breath, and then going back at it.
"Holy smokes, you're incredible!" he beamed as she used his arm to pull herself up a bit. Natsu blinked, this was new. She didn't do this with Nashi.
"Don't just sit there, help her!" Porlyusica shouted.
Natsu let go of her and slipped his arm under hers and to her shoulder to help hold her up, though he still wasn't sure what was going on.
"Whatcha doing, Luce?" he asked. Had she lost it? He would have if he was going through this much pain.
"Just…" she panted. "...just felt right…"
"The baby's in a bit of an odd position," Porlyusica said.
Natsu snapped his head towards the old healer, worried. What did she mean by odd position. "Are they gonna be okay?"
"They'll be fine, but holding herself up a bit will help. Let gravity do some of the work."
"Oh," Natsu turned back to his wife, repositioning his arm around her so he had better leverage on her, making it easier for him to keep her up. Lucy floundered with her hands a bit, first setting them on Natsu's shoulder, then pulling away, then clinging to the sheet of the bed, though that threw her off balance again. Then reaching for him again, pulling away, ringing them together.
"You can hold onto me, it's fine," Natsu assured her. Lucy hissed as another contraction hit, putting on arm around his neck and clinging to the front of his shirt with the other.
"There ya go," she gave her a small boost too make it easier for her to hold onto him. "Don't worry, I aint' goin' nowhere," he promised as she got as comfortable as she could. He gave her a small peck on the forehead before she began pushing again. He had to admit this was a bit awkward. Holding her leg up with one arm, slipping the other around her shoulders, practically folding her in half as she clung to him. Still, if this was what it was going to take to make this easier on her, so be it. Her fingernails dug through his shirt and into the skin of his chest. He was sure he was going to have marks there the next day, but he didn't care.
"C'mon, Lucy, you can do it," he said, nuzzling his face against hers. "You've got this. You're rocking it!"
She wasn't taking any time to rest, she just kep pushing along. He furrowed his brow in worry. She was going to wear herself out.
"Take a break if you need to, Luce."
She shook her head "no" and kept going.
"Luce-"
She let out a loud shout that vibrated the whole room.
"You're almost there," Porlyusica called.
Lucy rolled her chin up to her chest, pulling herself further up by clinging to Natsu's shoulders. She pushed one last time, then collapsed back in his arms. She nearly knocked him over. He hadn't been ready for her to go limp like that. In fact it scared him a little bit.
"Lucy?" he asked. Worried. Had she passed out? Had her body shut down?
She was panting fiercly, eyes closed, face sweat-drenched, body relaxed. She seemed to be okay, but why had she just stopped like that?
A baby's cry filled the air. Natsu's heart skipped a beat. She did it! In almost no time at all, she'd done it! Again! He carefully, gently lay Lucy back on the mattress, staring at her. He cheeks were flushed, she was drenched in sweat, but breathing heavily, but she was beautiful. Better than beautiful, she was amazing. Even still, the minute he had laid her back on the mattress, he turned and looked towards the foot of the bed, eager to see his new baby.
Blond hair.
That was the first thing he noticed.
Golden blond hair just like Lucy.
The second thing he noticed was how tiny the baby was. She was smaller than Nashi had been. She also wasn't kicking and swatting at the air, nor were her cries ear-piercing shrieks. She drew her arms and legs close to her body, recoiling from the cold, crying softly. She almost sounded like a kitten mewing. She wasn't angrily fighting at the massive change she'd gone through like her big sister had. She was instead curling into a tiny ball and whimpering, shy and unsure.
"So sweet," he whispered. His heart began to ache, and the corners of his eyes stung. "Aw, c'mon, I thought I was going to be better at holding it together second time around," he mumbled as he wiped his face on the back of his hand.
"Na...Natsu?" Lucy asked as she propped herself up on her elbows.
"She's beautiful, Lucy," Natsu said, beaming ear to ear. "Beautiful just like her mome and sister."
"Here you go, another girl," Porlyusica said as she placed the baby again Lucy's chest. "Good luck you two!"
Lucy gasped as she stared at the little girl, who whimpered and mewed as she snuggled closer to her mother. Natsu slipped his arm around her shoulder, lying down next to her, putting his hand on the back of the baby's head. He let out a small gasp as he examined her tiny, adorable, face. He could see bits of himself, and Lucy, even Nashi in her, and yet she was very different from all of them.
"Huh," he whispered to himself as he took her tiny hands in his. Counting her tiny fingers to make sure all ten were there. How could he and Lucy make two children that were so different? This new baby wasn't fighting against the change, or curiously looking about her like Nashi had. Instead she was nuzzled close against Lucy's chest, relaxed and restful. Still, she was just as beautiful as Nashi.
Lucy kissed the top of her head, smoothing down the golden hair that was ientical to hers. The babe squirmed slightly, and adorable little yawn escaping her mouth.
His heart began to ache, no, burn. He actually felt himself place a hand against his chest at the pang that went through him. It was the same influx of love he'd felt when Nashi had been born, only double. He'd always known that he'd love this new little one as much as he loved Nashi. He had the minute he found out Lucy was pregnant. What he hadn't expected was his love for both of his little girls to double upon the arrival of this adorable angel.
Without him even realizing it tears began rolling down his cheeks.
"You're crying again?" Lucy asked with a small chuckle.
"Am I?" Natsu put a hand to his face. "Aw, c'mon," he wiped his eyes on his arm.
Lucy giggled as tears began brimming at the corners of her eyes. "See what you've done to Daddy, Layla?" she asked as she stroked the baby's cheek. "You made Daddy cry."
Natsu laughed slightly as he ran a hand over Layla's hair.
"Aw, she didn't mean to, did you, Layla?" he grinned, kissing her cheek. "You didn't mean to. You're just too sweet for Daddy to handle, that's all." He kissed her face again.
A clock down the hall stuck one.
One A.M.!? Natsu thought. It had been early afternoon when Lucy had gone into labor! So this labor actually had been longer than Nashi's. The pushing part just didn't take as long as it did last time. Natsu turned and looked at his wife.
She was utterly exhausted. He could tell. Her eyes were droopy, dark circles underlining them. Natsu brushed her hair aside with his nose, his hand still on Layla's head, and kissed her just below the ear.
"You're amazing," he whispered.
"So are you," Lucy smiled as she turned to them.
"No," Natsu shook his head before pecking her lightly on the lips. "You are a rockstar! Thank you." He pecked her lips again. "Thank you, so much!"
"For what?"
"For what? As if one little angel wasn't enough, you've given me two! What do you think 'what for?'"
Lucy smiled softly. "I'll have as many children as you want."
Natsu's smile brightened as he arched an eyebrow. "I'm so glad you're the woman, because no way I'd be so ready to volunteer to go through that all over again!"
Lucy laughed at him as she turned and looked back to Layla, who was still as relaxed and sweet as she had been before. Lucy gently traced her face with her finger.
"As painful as giving birth is, it's worth it in the end."
Natsu set his hand under her chin, turned her face towards him and gave her a good, long, passionate kiss.
"I love you," he whispered once they parted.
"I love you, too," she whispered back. "You want to hold her?"
Natsu nodded and gently took the baby into the crook of his arm.
"Hey, there, Layla," he crooned.
Layla grunted and squirmed at the sudden change in environment, softly whimpering as she tried to get comfortable in this new bed she'd been placed in.
"Oh, sh, sh, sh," Natsu whispered. "It's okay, you're alright. I've got you."
He beamed as she rubbed a tiny hand over her chubby cheeks.
"I'm your Daddy, Layla."
She grunted and squirmed some more, her whimpers were not as loud, but still there.
"Yeah, I'm your Daddy."
Her whimpers got louder again. He set his thumb against her palm, smiling as she curled her tiny fingers around it.
"Sh. I'm gonna take care of you and protect you. You don't have to cry."
Layla rubbed a hand across her face again and slowly opened her eyes. He gasped as he stared into a set of onyx colored orbs that looked identical to his. He broke into a wide grin.
"Hey, Luce, look! She's got my-"
He turned towards his wife, only to find she had nodded off to sleep. He chuckled softly as he smiled in sympathy.
"Now look what you did, you've worn Mommy out."
Layla stared up at him, letting out a small coo of curiosity. Natsu looked about the room. Porlyusica wouldn't come in for another few hours to check in on them. It was 1 A.M. No one was going to come knocking anytime to meet the newcomer. He had his new daughter all to himself. He smiled for probably the thousandeth time that day as he stood and walked to a rocking chair in the corner of the room. He stared lovingly at his new daughter, running a hand over her hair as he rocked the chair back and forth. Layla just stared back at him, sucking on the back of her hand, not making a sound and hardly moving.
"What's that face for?" Natsu chuckled, stroking her cheek. "You look like your thinking about something deep."
She just sucked quietly at her hand, big, onyx eyes gazing at him.
"Are ya? Whatcha thinking about so hard?"
She blinked up at him, but never made a sound.
"Not much of a talker, are you sweetie?" Natsu asked as he tucked the blanket closer around her. "That's okay. Me, your Mommy, and your big sister all love to chat, so maybe we need a quiet one around the house to keep us out of trouble."
Layla stretched her arms and let out a big yawn.
"Tired?" Natsu nuzzled his nose against hers. "You should be. You've had a long day, haven't you, my little Layla?"
She grasped onto his face with her tiny hands. He smiled, then burst into giggles as she latched onto his nose with her tiny, gummy, mouth.
"That's not food, you silly," he said as he kissed her cheek.
She yawned again. Natsu leaned back in the rocking chair, pumping it back and forth slowly with his foot as he began humming softly to her, singing the same song he'd sung to Nashi countless times:
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away…"