Birthday Party:
AN: So, how'd you guys let me get away without a birthday one-shot for the Birthday Gang? I mean, seriously…
Also, fluffy baby flashbacks!
July 7th. A date that used to baffle and confuse everyone, was now a day of celebration and joy. For it was on this day that not one, not two, not three, or four, or five, but six of their little ones had been born.
For twelve years they'd enjoyed the massive, joint birthday parties. In the past they'd been held at the guildhall, but this year it was being held at the Dragneel's new house.
"Cannonball!" Nashi shouted as she jumped into the deep end of her family's new pool.
"You call that a cannonball?" Koree asked as she took two steps back, then charged towards the pool, covering herself in iron scales before jumping into the water with a loud:
"IRONBALL!"
SPLASH!
"Yikes!" Layla and Igneel cried as they were washed away by the massive wave Koree created. Layla nearly fell off her shooting star shaped floaty, and Igneel did a flip underwater before popping his head back up, coughing and choking as he shouted.
"Give us a warning next time, you jerk!" he shouted, waving a fist over his head.
Koree only laughed, pointing a teasing finger in Igneel's direction.
"Now you know why I waited to get into the pool," Persephone muttered as she calmly climbed down the steps, shooting her sister a look of disgust. So far the Redfoxes had been the only ones to arrive, showing up a bit early.
"Aw, c'mon Sephy, live a little, will ya?" Koree smiled.
"Koree…" The young girl's smile immediately faltered at the sound of her mother's voice.
"Yes?" she asked shyly.
"Tone it down a little bit, there are babies here," Levy scolded from where she stood in the doorway of the sunroom, pointing to Kyri and Luna splashing in a blow-up kiddie pool next to the big pool.
"But they're not in here with us!" Koree protested.
"But they might want to climb in there later, so be careful," Levy replied.
As if on cue, Kyri stood up and pointed at the big pool, and one person in particular.
"Nasa!" she called. "Me splashy!"
"See?" Levy said as Nashi swam to the side of the pool, climbed out of the water, and walked to the kiddie pool. She picked Kyri up, only to have Luna begin to whine, raising her tiny arms above her head.
"Me?" she asked.
"I can't carry both of you," Nashi said.
"Here," Layla called as she paddled to the side of the pool, still lying on her floaty. "Put Luna on here with me," she suggested.
Nashi set Kyri back down, much to the toddler's disappointment, scooped Luna up, and plopped her onto the floatie with Layla. Luna smiled and giggled as Layla wrapped one arm around her and paddled away. Nashi picked Kyri back up and then slipped back into the water. Kyri giggled and smacked the surface of the water, splashing water on herself and Nashi.
"Hey!" Nashi scolded, only making Kyri laugh even more.
"Get her, Kyri!" Igneel cheered, now floating on his back, grinning evilly as he passed by Nashi. Nashi just frowned back at him, eyes narrow.
"You know I could boil you if I wanted to," she threatened.
"But you won't," Igneel replied.
The back door opened and everyone turned to find the Fullbusters walking out.
"Hey guys," Storm smiled, waving to his friends.
"Hey, Storm!" Nashi smiled back.
"Stormy! Get in here!" Koree cheered.
"Didn't I tell you to stop calling me that?" Storm grumbled as he jumped into the pool with his friends.
"Here I-" Meeko began running towards the pool, but Igneel popped his head above the water to stop him.
"Don't cannonball right now, Ice Brain!" Igneel shouted. "There are babies in here!"
"Aren't they supposed to be in the baby pool?" Meeko asked, pointing to the blow up pool next to him.
"Hey, this is Kyri and Luna's house so if they wanna get in the big kid pool then they can!" Igneel shouted.
"Hey, no need to get serious with me!" Meeko screamed.
"Would you two knock it off," Bianca asked, whacking Meeko on the back of the head, and kicking Igneel in the face. "It's a party, afterall. Try to be nice to each other for once."
"No way!" both boys shouted.
"Then try not to talk to each other, at least," Bianca grumbled, slipping into the water.
All the mothers smiled from where they were watching inside the sun room.
Well, almost all of them.
"Juvia?" Lucy asked when she noticed Juvia sitting on a couch, hands folded in her lap, head hung.
"Are you alright?" Lucy wondered out loud.
"I...I…" Juvia whimpered before bursting into tears. "MY BABY BOY IS THIRTEEN! HE'S A TEENAGER! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! TIME HAS GONE BY TOO FAST! I NEED IT TO STOP!"
Juvia continued sobbing, thinking back to that day. She'd had no idea she was even pregnant until she went into labor. Yet when Storm finally came she found she wasn't afraid, but rather overjoyed. She'd always wanted to be a mother, to have her own, darling, adorable children to dote on. And that day her dream had finally come true. Storm was a bigger blessing than she could have ever dreamed of.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"No...no...ach!"
Juvia slowly opened her eyes, awakening at the sound of someone fussing and muttering. She sat up, cringing as her stomach cramped. What was wrong with-
-Oh, that's right. She was a mother now! Juvia turned and looked in the bed next to her. Since she didn't know she was pregnant she and Gray didn't have anything ready for a baby. So she'd placed Storm in the bed next to her to sleep. He was still there, wrapped in a blanket. However, it was not the same blanket as before, nor was he wearing the same outfit as earlier.
Fairy Tail had several emergency baby blankets and onesies stored away, just in case someone came across an abandoned or orphaned infant in a job, so she and Gray had been able to use some of those for their son, just a plain white onesie and blanket. Now, however, he was dressed in gray and black striped onesie with a matching hat, and wrapped in a fluffy blue blanket.
How had…
"Dang it!"
Juvia whirled around to find Gray sitting cross-legged on the floor of her recovery room back at the guild hall, bits and pieces of what looked like it was supposed to be a crib scattered around him. He gritted his teeth as he gripped a paper in his hand.
"These instructions are useless!" he complained. "And half of these pieces don't even look like they fit together!"
"Gray?" Juvia asked, noticing a pile of shopping bags and boxes behind him.
"Ah!" Gray jumped, tossing the paper in the air. "Oh, heh, hey, Juvia! I...I didn't wake you, did I?" he asked, rubbing at the back of his neck.
"It's alright," Juvia smiled. "But...what are you doing?"
"Oh, I, uh, went on a little shopping trip while you and Storm were asleep," Gray answered.
"A little?" Juvia gasped, still staring at the mountain of baby things behind him. "It looks like you bought out the whole store."
"That...might not be too far from the truth," Gray muttered, blushing.
"Really!?" Juvia exclaimed.
"I panicked, okay!" Gray replied. "We didn't have anything!"
A whimper came from the bed. Juvia turned to find Storm awakening, squirming and whimpering.
"Oh, did we wake you, darling?" Juvia asked as she scooped him into her arms.
"Is he okay?" Gray asked standing, and moving towards the bed.
Storm calmed down once Juvia helped him. Juvia smiled, her insides turning to mush.
"He's fine!" she answered. "He just wanted some Mommy snuggles, didn't you darling."
Storm cooed quietly, staring up at his mother.
"That's good," Gray sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed, setting a hand on the back of Storm's head. Storm turned and looked at his father, cooing again.
"Hey, little guy," Gray smiled, stroking the baby's cheek.
"So, why'd you change his outfit?" Juvia asked, pointing to the fluffy blanket surrounding their son.
"Uh," Gray looked away from his wife, rubbing at his wife. "No reason, I just thought he'd look cute in it…"
"Oh! You big softie!" Juvia crooned.
"Don't go saying that around the guys, okay?"
"You're right though, he does look adorable!" Juvia smiled, kissing Storm's cheek. "He's the most precious little bundle that ever was!"
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"He was such an adorable little baby, and now he's a big boy!"
Lucy jumped, surprised by the rather loud outburst, but she felt her bottom lip quivering as well. "I know, I can't. It's been thirteen years since Nashi was born."
Lucy clutched a hand to her chest as she thought back to that day thirteen years ago. About the day she first laid eyes on Nashi. She was so tiny back then, but already strong. And already smiling. Just one tiny but bright smile was all it took to clam Lucy's heart and fill it with hope and joy. Until then the only person who could do that to her was Natsu, but he'd passed that trait on to their daughter, along with many other things: his courage, his loyalty, his tenacity…
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"...my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray…"
Lucy awakened to a sweet, clear voice. As her eyes opened she found Natsu sitting in a rocking chair next to her bed, singing softly to their tiny daughter who laid curled up in his arms. The little girl grinned up at him, cooing merrily.
"You singing back to me baby?" Natsu asked, leaning down and rubbing his nose against hers. Nashi giggled, setting a hand on either side of his face as she babbled to him.
Lucy smiled as she watched the two, smiling at each other with identical grins. Well, almost. Of course Natsu's smile was always brilliant, and always made her heart soar. However, this smile she was seeing on her husband's face now was different. This wasn't a regular smile, it was one she'd only seen a few times, including their wedding day. But it was here now.
Nashi cooed loudly, clapping as her father keeps singing to her.
Lucy smiled. The two had only met a few hours ago but they were already inseparable. Nashi was as big of a Daddy's girl as a little one could be.
And Natsu?
He had taken to fatherhood like a fish to water. He was doting on their daughter as much as possible. Natsu rubbed his nose against the baby's again and then kissed her forehead. Nashi giggled and waved her arms around, accidentally bopping Natsu on the nose.
"Oof," Natsu said, surprised by the tiny smack.
Nashi seemed to notice and began to whimper.
"Oh, it's okay," Natsu assured her. "It's okay, that didn't hurt."
Nashi stared back up at him, no longer crying, but a curious look on her face.
"Don't worry, you'll get stronger soon," Natsu smiled. "You'll probably be more powerful than me one day. You'll have all the fire power. A regular firecracker!"
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Lucy smiled as she watched Nashi lifting Kyri over her head as her little sister smiled down at her. Natsu had been right. She had gotten stronger.
She wiped at her face before turning back to her friends.
"You still have one more year before your girls are teenagers Levy, enjoy it," Lucy said as she rubbed at her eyes.
"Oh, I plan to, but still," Levy replied with a hand on her chest. "It's hard to believe they're already twelve."
She smiled softly as she thought back to that day...
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
She'd spent hours in agony trying to bring her babies into the world. Of course for the nine months she'd been pregnant she didn't know she'd been carrying twins. She thought she'd just had one baby growing inside her. So imagine her shock when, after hearing the announcement that she'd given birth to a girl, her body continued to push.
What's wrong with me? She'd thought. Why do I keep pushing? The baby is already here! Wait!
She'd gasped loudly as it occurred to her that she hadn't heard a cry. Why isn't my baby crying? Is something wrong with her? Please tell me she's okay!
And then, finally, she heard it. A baby crying. And the pain and pushing went away. Whatever it was that was plaguing her or her baby has passed and they were going to be okay. She collapsed against the bed, eyes closed as she gasped for breath. She'd never been so exhausted and so relieved at the same time.
Thank goodness! We'll be okay. I did it.
Then she heard something else. A loud crying noise that sounded like-
"Gajeel?" she gasped as she opened her eyes to turn to him. Then she let out a loud shriek. "Wait, are those two babies!?"
"Yup," Porlyusica answered as she packed her supplies. "You've got twin girls."
Oh, well, I guess that makes sense, then, Levy thought. That explains why I kept pushing after-WAIT!
"But, wiat, I only heard one baby crying!" Levy exclaimed. "Is something wrong with the other one?"
"No. Nothing wrong. They're both healthy," Porlyusica said. "The first one's just being stubborn."
Levy sighed in relief. Her babies were okay! Wait, babies! She had twins! TWINS!
"Levy, look!" Gajeel cried, hot, fat tears running down his cheeks as he leaned down so that Levy could see the two babies in his arms.
Levy gasped at the sight of the tiny little girls in her husband's arms.
"Look at 'em!" Gajeel said. "Have you ever seen anything so perfect? We did good, Lev! We did good!"
One of the babies was still crying, rubbing at her face with tiny, clumsy, hands. The other was quiet, but frowning deeply. Levy giggled as her eyes began stinging from unshed tears.
"I've never seen such a tiny baby with such a big frown before," she said, running a hand over the frowning baby's head. "She reminds me of you, hon."
Gajeel sniffled, rubbing his nose against the baby's. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Alright, give 'em to me! I'm the one who went through labor!" Levy whined.
"Okay, fine," Gajeel relented, handing the babies to his wife.
Levy cuddled them close, kissing the tops of their heads. Twin girls.
She suddenly giggled. "Well, I guess this makes things easier."
"What easier?" Gajeel asked.
"I've always had two girl names picked out, but I could never decide on them," Levy said. "I always to named my daughter after an old legend-"
"Of course," Gajeel rolled his eyes, though there was a smile on his face.
Levy sighed before continuing. "I wanted to name them after the legend of a girl who became the goddess of spring and the underworld, so that they know that there's no limit to what they can do, they can be feminine and powerful at the same time. But the girl in the legend had two different names: Koree and Persephone. And I could never decide between them. But now I don't have to."
"Hm," Gajeel smiled, snuggling closer to his wife. "Great names, shrimp. PErfect names for our little rugrats."
The baby who had been frowning looked up at Gajeel and smiled.
"Lookee there," Gajeel smiled, setting a hand behind her head. "You're not a complete grump, are you Persephone?"
"Persephone?" Levy asked.
"Yeah, look at her," Gajeel said, gesturing to the baby girl. "She totally looks like a Persephone."
Levy smiled, then turned to the other baby. "I guess that makes you Koree, huh? Oh!"
Levy gasped and then laughed when she saw the other baby chewing on her foot.
"Oh, you silly little girl," Levy giggled as she kissed Koree's head.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Levy smiled at her two girls playing in the water with their friends. "Yeah, it's hard to believe they're so grown up already. And that today we'll be…"
"Yeah, I remember when Farrah turned thirteen," a soft voice came from behind them.
"Mirajane, hey, you snuck in on us!" Lucy said as she stood to greet the Dreyars.
As the adults met and chatted Cato, July, and Farrah made their way outside to play with their friends.
"Mirajane!" Juvia sobbed. "How are you not dissolving into tears right now? Our little babies are growing up!"
"Well, like I said, I've already been through this with Farrah. Still, it's hard to believe that Cato's already a teenager…"
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"Remember to be very gentle," Mirajane said as she set Cato in Farrah's arms.
"I will be," Farrah promised.
Mirajane smiled and pulled Farrah into her lap, setting her arms under her daughter's to help support her son.
Her heart soared as she looked down at her two children in her arms. She'd always wanted to be a mother, to have a little girl and boy she could call her own. And now she did.
"Cato's really cute, isn't he, Mama?" Farrah asked.
"He sure is," Mirajane replied.
"You think he's gonna be a Lightning Dragon Slayer like me and Papa, or a Take-Over wizards like you?" Farrah asked.
"I don't know," Mirajane smiled. "But whatever he picks it will be his choice."
She set her chin on top of Farrah's head as she smiled at her baby son. She was excited to watch her son grow, to see who he'd become. She was excited to watch how he'd change the world for the better. How he'd make their guild stronger.
There was so much potential for her little boy. He had the whole world ahead of him.
She felt the mattress shift behind her. Turning around she smiled to find Laxus sitting behind her. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
Laxus smiled as he wrapped his arms around his family. His wife, his daughter, and his son. He hadn't really thought much of having a family in the past. It really wasn't until he and Mirajane started dating that he thought about marrying and having children. He wasn't sure if it was because he was a big jerk before, or if he thought he wasn't worthy of such happiness.
Whatever the case, he was here now.
"Looking out for your little brother, Farrah?" he asked. "Making sure to keep him safe, aren't you?"
"Yeah!" Farrah cheered.
Cato stirred slightly, opening his eyes and smiling up at his big sister. It wasn't a very big smile, just a lazy grin, laid back. Cato was already proving to have a rather cool and calm personality. That would serve him well as he grew older.
"Yeah," Laxus said, stroking Cato's cheek. "You're really gonna be something when you're older aren't you?"
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Mirajane smiled as she watched her children jumping into the pool and playing with their friends.
Cato was still the cool, collected one of the bunch, as evident by the fact that he was now trying to calmly break up a fight between Meeko and Igneel.
Sadly his level head had their limits because neither of the young boys were receptive to his words and began wrestling, only stopping when Bianca whacked both of them on the back up the head.
Mirajane chuckled. All of their children had grown quite a bit in the past thirteen years, and she'd enjoyed every second of it.
"I hope we're not too late," a voice called.
"Erza!" Lucy smiled as she went to greet the Fernandezes. "Actually, you're right on time."
"Good to know," Erza smiled.
"POOL TIME!" Minette cheered as she ran out the door.
"Minette, no running near the pool!" Erza snapped.
Minette, of course, did not listen, and tripped over the patio edge. She was about to face plant onto the pavement when Roman caught up to her, holding his arm out to catch her.
"You're always getting yourself hurt," Roman sighed as he set his sister back on her feet. "Try and be more careful, would you?"
Erza smiled as she watched Roman usher his siblings to the pool. He'd grown quite a bit in the past twelve years.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Erza rolled back her head and screamed. In all the battles she'd fought she'd never known a pain like this. Still, she kept pushing, doing whatever she had to do to bring her baby into the world.
"Erza…" Jellal whispered. He'd never heard her scream like that. Was she going to be alright? Was having a baby such a good idea after all.
"And here we go," Porlyusica called, holding up a baby. " A little-HEY!"
Erza didn't even give Porlyusica enough time to announce the gender before she snatched the baby into her arms.
"Are you crazy?" Porylusica asked.
Erza ignored her, cradling the baby to her chest as tears rolled down her cheek. "It's a boy!" she gasped.
"It's a boy!" she cried. She held the crying baby even closer, rocking him back and forth. "It's a boy!" she cried again. "It's a boy, we have a little boy!"
Jellal only stared, wide-eyed. "A boy?"
The baby cried some more, reaching out with his tiny hands, eventually finding his mother's long, scarlet hair.
"We have a little boy," Erza cried. "Our little boy."
"Let me get a good look at him, darn you!" Porlyusica shouted as she tried to pry the baby from Erza.
There was no taking the baby back from Erza though. Erza kept rocking the baby back and forth, kissing the top of his head, running her hand over his purple hair.
Purple.
Jellal gasped as he reached out and set his hand on the top of the baby's head, stroking his hair. It was purple. A mixture of his and Erza's colors. He couldn't get a good look at his face, because the baby was still snuggled closely against Erza's chest as she rocked him and kissed him all over.
Porlyusica finally relented, checking the baby over, cleaning him, and cutting the cord while he was still in his mother's arms. Erza took the honor of wrapping him in the blanket herself. The tears kept flowing down her cheeks as she tucked the corners of the blanket in.
"Our little boy," she whispered again. "He's perfect. Jellal, look at him."
Jellal leaned down, anxious to get his first look at his son's face. There were bits of him in there, most certainly, but bits of Erza as well. Just like his hair, the little boy was a perfect mixture of both of them.
The boy squirmed and rubbed at his face as he opened his eyes for the first time. They were a warm brown, just like Erza's. The boy looked up, focusing right on his father as he let out a little coo.
Jellal gasped, his bottom lip quivered as tears began to roll down his cheeks. He rubbed at his face with his sleeve.
"Jellal?" Erza asked. "Do you want to hold him?"
Jellal nodded and held his arms out. Erza set the little boy in his hands.
Jellal had been carrying a huge weight the past few months. Being a father had been his greatest dream and greatest fear all at once. He longed to have a little one to care for and raise. But, with his past, would he just be passing his burdens on to a new, innocent soul. But now, looking down at this precious boy, all those fears had melted away and he was only left with joy.
Jellal choked a back sob as he leaned forward and placed his forehead against the baby's. The baby cooed, reaching up and placed one hand against Jellal's face. Jellal's smile widened as his tears continued to fall.
"Jellal?" Erza asked, a hushed voice. She'd never seen her husband this emotional before. "Jellal, are you-"
"Roman," Jellal whispered.
"Huh?" Erza asked.
"It means 'one of strength,'" Jellal said. "I want him to grow up to be strong, so that nothing will ever break him."
Like I was, after the Tower of Heaven, Jellal thought, but didn't say out loud.
He continued smiling at his son. This boy would be stronger than him, better than him. This boy was going to make this world better.
"Roman," Erza smiled, nodding as she watched Jellal continue to rock their son. "Our son."
"You were right," Jellal said, kissing the tip of the boy's nose. "He's perfect."
Erza smiled as she stared at her husband and son, her eye's inevitably focusing on the baby in Jellal's arms. Roman had already stopped crying, and was just cooing softly as he explored the world around him.
"Hm," Erza sighed. "Aren't newborns supposed to cry a lot? He only cried a little at the beginning, and now he's eagerly looking about and learning. Such a brave little boy."
"Indeed," Jellal smiled.
"Our little warrior," Erza declared.
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Erza smiled proudly as she watched Roman play in the pool with the other children. He was still such a brave boy. He was still her little warrior.
Which is why, even though she knew she shouldn't be worried about what was to come, she still felt a twinge of nervousness in her gut.
"So, do we want to tell them now, or later?" Mirajane asked.
"Later," Lucy said. "Gotta build it up, you know?"
"Yes," Erza smiled with a nod. "They've waited a long time with this. We should give it the grandeur it deserves."
"Right," Levy agreed.
"I can't believe my baby's all grown up!" Juvia cried.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"Three, two, one, begin!" the children cheered as Nashi, sitting on top of Storm's shoulders, and Koree, sitting on top of Roman's grabbed onto each others wrists and tried to grapple the other girl from her perch.
"Kick her butt, Nashi!" Igneel shouted.
"Knock her off, Koree!" Persephone yelled.
Koree grinned as she changed her arms into iron, hoping the extra strength would be enough to knock Nashi from her spot. Rather than show fear, though, Nashi only grinned all the wider. She let go of Koree's hands, grabbed her shoulder, and gave her upper body a quick twist, tossing Koree into the water.
"Whoa!" all of the children gasped.
"Hey, my turn!" Cato asked. "Oh...um...Roman, you think you can hold me?"
"Sure," Roman shrugged. "Hop on."
"Really!?" Meeko shrieked. "But Cato's like, so much taller and bigger than Roman."
"Doesn't matter," Minette said smugly. "My big brother is super strong! Lifting Cato will be a cinch!"
"No way!" Meeko shouted.
Yet, Roman still lifted Cato onto his shoulders, not that it mattered, because Nashi soon threw him as well.
"Alright, hop off, I want a go at you!" Storm said and shrugged Nashi off her shoulder.
"Hey!" Nashi shouted as she plopped into the water.
"Here, hop on my shoulders," Cato offered.
"You better not throw it off just because I beat you," Nashi warned, eyes narrowed.
"No worries," Cato promised as he helped Nashi into the spot.
Nashi and Storm locked hands, each trying to knock the other off their perch. In the end, though, it was Nashi, once again, who came out victorious.
"No!" Meeko whined as Minette laughed at his lamentations.
"Okay," Roman said, grabbing onto Storm's shoulder. "My turn."
"Gimme all you got!" Nashi cheered. Her back to back victories had given her confidence.
Too much confidence.
Because within a few seconds Roman had toppled her from her perch.
"Aw, yeah, my brother is still the coolest!" Minette cheered.
"Shut up and quit bragging!" Meeko shouted, shoving Minette into the pool.
"Hey!" Minette shouted as she splashed into the water.
"Jerk, don't go hitting girls!" Von shouted as he pushed Meeko into the water with Minette.
"Wow, Von, I didn't know you had that in you," Layla said.
"Oh, well, uh…" Von stuttered, feeling his face growing hot. "I just don't like bullies, that's all!" he declared, turning away so Layla couldn't see his blush.
"Aw, Vonnie!" Eva cheered as she ran to him and threw her arms around him. "You're such a good guy!"
"You're not helping," Von muttered.
"Hey!" Koree shouted, still in the water, as she jumped onto Cato's shoulders. "Roman, let's-AUGH!"
Koree sputtered as she fell into the water with one swift move from Roman.
"Idiot," Persephone sighed, rolling her eyes as more and more children began filing in.
"Portia!" Layla, Bianca, Minette, and Eva called as the Orlandos walked towards the pool.
"Hey, guys!" Portia called as she ran to her friends.
Farrah smiled, then frowned when she noticed that Benedict had not joined his sisters at the pool. Climbing out of the water, she wrapped herself in a towel and wandered back into the house to look for her boyfriend.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Benedict sat alone in the living room.
A swim party. Just perfect!
"Aw, and here I thought you'd outgrown your lonewolf character," a warm voice called from behind him.
"Oh, Farrah!" Benedict said as his girlfriend came to sit on the couch next to him. "Hey, I thought you were out playing with the others."
"Yeah, which is where you should be, you stick in the mud," Farrah said, bumping Benedict with her shoulder. "What's wrong? A pool party too kiddie for Mr. Cool and Brooding?"
"No, it's not that," Benedict said, hanging his head. "It's just…"
Benedict set a hand over the collar of his shirt, eyes becoming cloudy as he frowned.
"Benedict?" Farrah asked.
"It's my scars," Benedict admitted. "I...there haven't been many people who I've let see them. Well, besides the ones on my neck. I can't really hide those."
Benedict set a hand over the scars around his fairy tail mark on his neck.
"But the ones on my chest, back, arms, and thighs? I've only ever let a few people see those. My mom, my sisters, a few doctors and healers and...you."
Farrah gasped.
"Remember when we snuck away that one day a few years back? When we went to the hot springs to swim? I was able to jump into the water and swim with you without giving the fact that you'd see my scars."
"Really?" Farrah gasped.
"Yeah, it's just...I'm always worried that someone will treat me differently when they see my scars. That they might think I'm broken or something. But I never had to worry about that with you. Even when we first met, when you saw my neck scars, you thought that they made me look stronger. You always saw me just...for me. Not my scars, not my past, just me. You have a great way of just taking people as they truly are. It's one of the reasons I fell in love with you."
Farrah hung her head, trying to hide her blush.
"But not everyone is as great as you," Benedict said. "And I don't want to be judged because of my scars. That's all."
"I don't think you'll have to worry about that here," Farrah said, setting a hand on Benedict's shoulder. "All the guys here are pretty chill, you know? I don't think they'll judge you for your scars. Well, except for that new Sanjay, but I don't think you'll have to worry about him."
"Wait, he's here?" Benedict asked.
"No, not yet, he'll be here later though," Farrah said. "That's his punishment. He has to clean up after every Fairy Tail party for the next year all by himself!"
"What!? But we always go all out! Just cleaning up after one party takes hours with a team. All by himself? That might take him a whole day!"
"Well, it's his own fault for being a butt!" Farrah said. "But, yeah, he might be the only one you'd have to worry about. But he won't be here until towards the end, so he might not even get a look at your scars. Even if he does see them, as much trouble as he's in, he'd be stupid to say anything. And if he does-"
Farrah conjured a lightning bolt in her fist. "I'll handle him!"
Benedict smiled. "Thanks, Babe."
"So, are you going to go swimming or not?"
Benedict sighed. "Yeah...maybe...I don't know…"
"Well, you could at least get changed into your swimsuit. I can always change your mind later."
"Yeah, I guess," Benedict said, standing up to go change.
Farrah waited patiently on the couch for Benedict to come back. He soon returned, dressed in royal blue swim trunks. Farrah gasped at the sight of him.
"Yeah, kinda bad, huh?" Benedict said, rubbing at the back of his neck.
"No, it's not that," Farrah siad, her face growing red. "It's just...you look really nice."
"Oh," Benedict answered, his face growing hot.
"But, yeah, now that you mention it," Farrah said, standing to her feet and walking to him. "I don't remember them being this bad."
There were red splotches all over his torso, his upper arms, his back, and the thighs peeking out from under his swim trunks.
"Your dad...he was really trying to kill you wasn't he?" Farrah all but whispered.
"Yeah...he really went wild that night…"
"You're so strong, Benedict," Farrah said. "Not just anyone could have come out of that and still be standing strong. Someone would be stupid to be to think of you as broken or weak."
Benedict smiled. "Thanks."
"Come on, let's go," Farrah said, taking his hand and leading him outside.
Benedict held his breath, waiting for some gasps or sideways glances, but no one seemed to give his scars a second thought. Benedict smiled as he climbed into the water. Even after spending years in Fairy Tail he was still having to get used to being truly accepted by the group.
"Hm," Farrah hummed as she nudged Benedict in the shoulder. "Look at that babe."
She said, pointing to where Roman was still seated on Storm's shoulders, having just taken out Igneel from his perch on Nashi's shoulders.
"Let's show them how it's done," Farrah said.
Benedict smiled and then helped her onto his shoulders.
Within a few seconds, Roman had toppled into the water.
"Yup, she's still the strongest," all the kids said in unison as Roman sputtered and coughed.
"Alright kids!" Lucy called loudly. "Time for cake!"
All of the kids climbed out of the pool and to the outdoor table set up in the backyard. There was a three tiered cake in the middle of the table, with white icing and covered in colorful sprinkles, and with six candles stuck in them: a gray 12 for Koree, a green 12 for Persephone, a black 12 for Roman, a purple 13 for Cato, and blue 13 for Storm, and a pink 13 for Nashi.
"Happy birthday for you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday Koree, Persephone, Roman, Cato, Storm, and Nashi! Happy birthday for you!"
The six children blew out each of their candles. After the cake had been cut and the children had had their fill of sweets, the parents of the birthday kids all began to approach their children.
"And now for the gifts!" Mirajane called. "We'll go first!"
All the parents went to their kids and held out…
"Oh, envelopes. Great," Koree said in a disappointed voice.
"Open it, Koree," Gajeel said as he set the envelope in his daughter's hand, Levy passing one to Persephone.
All of the members of the Birthday Gang opened their letters, and one by one their eyes grew wide.
"No WWWWAAAA AYYYYYYYYY!" Koree shouted.
"Is...is this for real?" Roman asked.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Storm exclaimed.
"Wait, Mom, Dad, you're not playing around, right?" Persephone said.
"I'm not dreaming, right?" Cato asked.
"Is this...a job request?" Nashi asked.
"Yup!" Natsu said, setting his arm around his daughter. "You kids are going on your first jobs!"
"Yeah!" all of the birthday gang cheered.
"Wait, how come I didn't get a job request for my twelfth or thirteenth birthday!?" Farrah asked.
"Because you and Benedict stole your first job," Laxus answered.
"Oh, right," both teenagers said.
"But while we're on the topic," Laxus said. "You kids won't be going on your job alone. And you won't be going as a team at first. You'll be going with one of your parents for your first job. Koree, since you're an iron dragon slayer like your dad, you'll be going on a job with him. Persephone, you'll be going on a job with your mom, same as you Roman, and you Storm. Nashi, you'll be going with your dad. Cato, as much as I'd like to go with you on your first job, I've got to stay here and take care of the guild, so you'll be going with your mom."
"Alright, this is going to be awesome!" Cato cheered.
This is it! Nashi thought as she stared at the job request in her hand. Now we're going to be real wizards!
AN: So, yeah, the next few one-shots will be about the birthday gang's first jobs. Tell me what kind of jobs you'd like to see them go on!
(P.S., this is totally random and just for my curiosity, but who's your favorite character of the current kids (not the next-next gen, obviously, we haven't really met them yet .) And what's your favorite ship?)