Happy Easter:, pt. 1

AN: Hey guys….I'm back...so, if you didn't guess from the length and lower quality of the last chapter I have been a little under the weather, to put it mildly. To put it bluntly, I have had the cold from Hades for the past ten days and have felt like death! But, I'm slowly on the mend now and I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. So, I apologize for the last chapter being sketchy as well as having to cut this one in half. I am getting better, but I'm still pretty tired so I'll have to finish this up and post the second part of this hopefully tomorrow (even though it's already a day late, lol). As usual you guys are awesome! You have given this Fairy Tail series of mine much more attention and credit than I have ever dreamed. So as a half thank you, half apology for the unexpected hiatus and dip in quality to you guys, I have a special announcement.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Coming soon will be a new full length story to this series. And, though I won't tell you the whole plot, I will tell you that it will be a Grand Magic Games story! Yes, Nashi and the rest of the birthday gang will be competing in the Grand Magic Games soon! You guys have been asking for this since forever and I'm gonna give it to you. So look out for that, now onto the Easter celebrations.

Farrah Lee-Dreyar: 15

Benedict Orlando: 15

Nashi Dragneel: 12

Storm Fullbuster: 12

Cato Dreyar: 12

Roman Fernandez: 11

Persephone and Koree Redfox: 11

Bianca Fullbuster: 10

Portia Orlando: 9

Lorelle Strauss: 9

Eva, Minette, and Von Fernandez: 8

Layla Dragneel: 8

Igneel Dragneel: 7

Meeko Fullbuster: 7

Vera Orlando: 4

Isla Conbolt: 4

July Dreyar: 2

Luna and Kyri Dragneel: 1

Juven Fullbuster: 4 months

Vance Strauss: 3 1/2 months

Reina stifled a yawn as she brushed Vera's hair into a ponytail and put a daisy clip in her hair. Vera hummed happily as she played with the skirt of the new dress. Though money was not nearly as tight as it used to be for the Orlando's, Reina still occasionally found it hard to make ends meet. Still, she'd managed to scrape together enough money to get all three of her children new outfits for Easter. Vera has a yellow sun dress with daisies on it. Portia had a long, flowy, yellow skirt and white blouse. Benedict had khaki pants, a white shirt, and a yellow tie. As for Reina herself, she was wearing one of her older, but nicer dresses, but still they all looked nice for the Easter party at the guild hall.

After she had finished getting Vera ready Reina called for the older two to come to the door so they could get going. Portia came skipping down the hall, her platinum blond hair pushed back in a lacey headband. Reina asked her to turn so she could get a good look at her, and then nodded in approval at the sight. Benedict showed up last, tugging lightly at his tie.

"Not sure I tied this-"

He stopped at hearing his mother gasp. He looked up in confusion which only deepened when he saw tears in his mother's eyes.

"M-Mom?" he asked.

"Oh, you look so grown up," Reina exclaimed as she set her hands on her son's shoulders.

"Benny's handsome!" Vera cheered.

Benedict blushed and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Thanks, guys."

Reina took a deep breath. "Alright, emotional Mommy moment over, let's go."

She led her children out the door and they headed to the guild hall. The smell of spring flowers mixed with the aroma of pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, gravy, and biscuits cooking. The only ones here were the Dreyars and the Strauss', both clans. Reina had agreed to come slightly earlier to help get everything ready. It was the least she could do after all the Dreyars had done for her and her family.

"Hello, everyone. Oh!" Reina crooned as she walked towards Lisanna, who was holding a sleeping Vance in one arm, who was dressed in a white rabbit onesie. "How adorable."

"Yeah, I've got my own little Easter bunny," Lisanna giggled as she stroked her son's lavender hair, a combination of both hers and Bixlow's color. Vance yawned and opened his eyes, bright, vibrant green, same as his father. He smiled and held his arms up towards Benedict, who was peaking over Reina's shoulder.

"Oh, you see your buddy?" Lisanna asked as she passed Vance to Benedict, who smiled and set the little baby against his shoulder, the ears of his onesie hood falling in his face. Vance grunted and beat at the ears with his tiny hands until Benedict moved them out of the way. Lisanna smiled as she patted her son's back.

"You're so good with the little ones, Benedict," she complimented the teenager.

"Eh, I try," Benedict shrugged.

"You'll be a great daddy one day," Lisanna told him.

Benedict blushed slightly. "Ergh...not anytime soon, please."

"Of course not, silly!" Lisanna giggled. "I almost feel bad asking you to look after him while I finish getting these centerpieces ready."

"I don't mind," Benedict said as he gently bounced Vance against his shoulder.

"Benny!" a tiny voice called. Benedict turned to find July running towards him. Benedict bent down and set July on his hip before walking to a nearby table and sitting down with the two boys. Vera soon joined them and the four got into a game of peek-a-boo. Portia and Lorelle helped Lisanna set up the centerpieces of pastel colored lilies, white ribbons, and tiny ceramic bunnies. Reina, Mirajane, Evergreen, and Farrah worked to cook breakfast in the kitchen. Laxus, Cato, Elfman, Bixlow, and Freed decorated the walls and bannisters with the same lillies and ribbons as the centerpieces.

Benedict continued playing peek-a-boo with Vance and July. Vera sat next to him and tried copying him.

"Hey, Benedict!" a merry voice called. Benedict turned and saw Farrah coming out of the kitchen, a tray stacked full of bacon in her hands. She set the tray down and took off her apron, using it to swat Lorelle's hand away from the food.

"Not yet!" she scolded as she patted her hair back into the bun tied up on the top of her head.

"Please, for your favorite cousin?" Lorelle begged.

"You know Vance is my favorite," Farrah joked, causing Lorelle to gasp in horror as Farrah waltzed over to Vance, still propped up against Benedict's shoulder.

"Who's a little cutie?" she asked as she rubbed her nose against his. Benedict could only stare at Farrah. She wore an off the shoulder red blouse and an a-line white skirt decorated with red roses.

"You...erm...look nice," Benedict blushed.

Farrah beamed and playfully slugged him in the shoulder. "Thanks, you clean up nice yourself."

"Meh," Benedict shrugged as the rest of the food was brought out.

Pretty soon the rest of the guild began to file in. And the room was packed with happy, laughing, and talking wizards.

"Aw!" Mirajane squealed as the Dragneels walked in, all five kids in matching outfits. The girls wore dresses with peach skirts, cream tops, and a seafoam green collar. Igneel wore peach shorts, a white shirt, and a seafoam green bow tie.

"You all look so cute!" Mirajane crooned.

"I look like a fruit salad," Igneel grumbled causing all the adults to laugh.

"Hi, Igneel," Portia waved as she skipped to her friend's side. "I like your bow tie."

"Thanks," Igneel smiled.

"It looks too tight."

"Shut it, Ice Brain!" Igneel shouted at Meeko as he walked in with the rest of his family. The Fullbuster kids were not matching. Storm wore a sky blue shirt and dark blue slacks. Bianca wore a white dress. Meeko wore a gray and white plaid shirt and khaki shorts. Juven, to everyone's delight, wore a yellow chick onesie.

"Oh, look, look, look!" Lisanna cheered as she ran to Juvia's side, holding Vance.

"Oh, my goodness!" Juvia crooned as the two mothers held their babies out side by side for comparison. "We'll have to get a picture of them later!"

"Yes!"

The Redfoxes and the Fernandezes all came in next, all of their kids dressed in different outfits of all colors. The Conbolts were some of the last to arrive, Isla looking like a little princess as she skipped along behind her parents.

"Alright!" Laxus called once everyone had arrived. "Breakfast is served! After breakfast we've got...how many, babe?"

"Three," Mirajane answered.

"Three Easter Egg hunts. One for little kids, one of big kids and teens, and one for the adults. So stand by for those!"

Everyone busied to fix their plates and eat the breakfast that had been made.

Nearly all of the children sat at one table as they ate and chatted with one another.

"Alright," Mirajane called as she approached the kids table. "Who here is ten or older?"

Benedict, Farrah, Nashi, Storm, Cato, Roman, Koree, Persephone, and Bianca raised their hands.

"Alright, here are the eggs and prizes for the little kid hunt. I'm going to ask you to fill them for me," Mirajane set a rather large bag full of striped and polka-dot plastic eggs and candy and prizes. "Stripes are for kid-kids, polka dots are for the itty-bitties."

"Okay, will do Mama," Farrah smiled.

"Thank you. The rest of you," Mirajane turned to Portia, Lorelle, Eva, Minette, Von, Layla, Igneel, and Meeko. "Here are the eggs for the big kid hunt."

She set a pot full of hard boiled eggs. She reached into her pocket and pulled out some white crayons.

"I'll be back with the dye, you kids start coloring."

Each of the younger kids reached in and grabbed an egg to draw crazy designs on. Mirajane quickly returned with three bowls of dye.

"Now make sure you keep up with how many of each color you dye. There should be 20 blue, 20 red, and 20 yellow."

"Okay!" Igneel said eagerly as he all but threw his egg into the red dye.

"Igneel! You're gonna break 'em!" Layla whined.

"Yeesh, starbutt, why are you always so wild?" Meeko grumbled.

"I'm not wild! I'm rab-unk-tte-ous!"

"Rambunctious," Layla corrected.

"Whatever," Igneel grumbled as he went back to coloring with the white crayon on another egg.

The older children at the other end of the table began stuffing the plastic eggs full of candy and toys. All but Bianca. She sat awkwardly looking from the "little" kids to the "big" kids. She'd always hung out with Layla, Eva, Minette, and Portia. They were her group. Her fellow "Hot Mess Queens." She, however, being the oldest of the group was the first to cross over from "little kid" to "big kid."

And she wasn't sure what to do now.

Sure, she could hang out with Storm if she wanted. But he was just her boring big brother. She hung out with him all the time. She lived with him!

And it wasn't that she didn't know or had never hung out with the other big kids before. She'd grown up with them!

It was just…

...weird being a big kid now. In a lot of ways she still felt like a little kid. She still wanted to color and dye eggs rather than fill them. She still wanted to go hunt them with her basket. She wasn't sure she'd like all the big kid games.

"You okay, Bianca?"

Bianca jumped at the sound of Storm's voice.

"Oh, erm, yeah. Just still tired I guess," Bianca answered.

Storm frowned at his sister. "You sure?"

Bianca rolled her eyes. "I'm fine."

"Okay," Storm answered, clearly not convinced, but choosing not to press the issue as he went to get another glass of orange juice.

"You're a horrible liar, you know that, right?" Roman, who was seated next to Bianca, whispered.

"I said I'm fine!"

"I know what you said. But I also know you're lying."

"No, I'm not."

"Lying again."

"So, what? You've just added lie detecting to your already ridiculous magic lineup?" Bianca asked.

"Would you believe me if I said 'yes?'"

"No."

"Then no. And how do I have a ridiculous magic lineup?" Roman asked.

"You can use three different types while the rest of us can only use one!"

"Oh," Roman shrugged. "Well, I don't know why you're feeling bad, but you can be on my team for our hunt."

"Oh, um, thanks," Bianca said as she picked up an egg and began filling it with candy.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Alright, little kids, go!" Laxus cheered as he opened the doors for the little ones. "Remember, polka dots are for the itty-bitties!"

Natsu and Lucy were some of the last out the door, each holding a twin by the hand. The polka-dotted eggs were all hidden in low, easy to find places. Vera quickly found a pink one and held it high above her head.

"Look, Mama, I got one!" she cheered.

"I see," Reina smiled.

Vera kept walking about and eventually found three more, cheering each time she did.

"Aw, I can't find any!" Isla whined, rubbing at her eyes.

"Oh, keep looking, sweetie, you'll find some," Wendy encouraged as she set a hand on her daughter's head.

"Hewe," July called as he toddled to Isla's side, holding out an egg he'd found. "Hewe! Take one o' mines."

"Aw," Wendy crooned as Isla took the egg from July, smiling as she put it in her basket.

"Kyri, honey, wait up," Lucy called as she chased after the eager new walker running as fast as her little legs would take her. Natsu chuckled after them as he held Luna by the hands to help her walk. She hadn't quite gotten a hang of this walking thing like her sister had, but she was getting close as she carefully put one foot in front of the other while clinging to her Daddy's hands.

"Hey, Luna, look," Natsu said as he gently led her to a patch of grass and set her down.

"Look, there an egg," he said as he sat on the ground next to her and pointed the blue egg out.

"Ah!" Luna cried in excitement as she picked it up.

"Here, you wanna put it in your basket?" Natsu asked as he held the basket out to her.

Luna didn't put the egg in the basket, though, but kept playing with it…

...inevitably causing it to open a spill all the sugary contents all over her. She jumped and dropped the egg, eyes wide with shock. The she cried, covering her eyes with her tiny hands.

"Aw, c'mere," Natsu crooned as he pulled her into his arms. "You're alright. Big bad candy's not gonna hurt you."

"Igneel, you better not fall out and break another bone!" Lucy shouted from where she was still chasing Kyri.

"I won't," Igneel promised from the tree tops he'd climbed to to look for eggs. And he was finding them, quite a few actually. He smiled as he tossed two more into his basket and jumped to another tree to continue his search.

"Hey, Lorelle, I actually found that one first," a shy voice called.

"Well, too bad you're too slow!" Lorelle countered as she put the egg in her basket. "You're never going to get eggs moving like that, Portia. Just like you couldn't get a nice dress!"

Portia cringed at the insult, but Lorelle wasn't done.

"I guess poor girls don't get Easter eggs either."

Portia sighed as she hugged herself, looking down at the measly three eggs she'd found. Lorelle had a point. She was always behind all the other kids. She could have at least left her dress out of it this time! Her Mama worked hard to buy her this stuff. She sighed as she trudged along through the yard, not really looking for eggs anymore.

"Thunk!"

Portia looked up and found an egg lying in the middle of the path through the trees in front of her. Portia looked about, but saw no one who could have dropped it, so she picked it up.

"Thunk!" another one dropped down from the tree tops a few feet in front of her. Portia smiled as she raced to it and picked it up. Another one dropped a few feet in front of her again. She ran and picked it up. Then it happened again. And again. And again. Portia giggled as her basket began to fill.

"Hey, no fair! Igneel's giving Portia all his!" Lorelle complained.

THWACK!

"Ouch!" Lorelle shouted as an egg hit her in the head. "I'm telling!"

She stormed off as the egg rolled to Portia's feet. She giggled, picked it up, then craned her head back to look up into the treetops. Igneel sat perched on a branch, arms crossed in a huff.

"Thanks, Igneel!" Portia called as she waved to him.

Igneel smiled at her. "Don't mention it!"