Safe Place:
Creek…
A stream of light fell over Natsu and Lucy's bed. Lucy grumbled as she opened one eye, watching hers and Natsu's bedroom door slowly open. The pitter-patter of tiny feet echoed through the silence of the night, scuffling from the entrance to Natsu's side of the bed. A small grunt of effort led to a fluffy stuffed bear flying up from somewhere next to the bed and landing on sleeping Natsu's face. He grunted slightly, shaking his head to rid it of the toy, but he didn't open his eyes.
Another tiny grunt of effort came as two tiny hands grabbed onto the blanket as Kyri climbed her way to her parents' bed, plopping down behind her father, who had his back face to her as he slumbered on his side. Even in the dark, Lucy could tell she'd been crying. The poor thing must have had a nightmare. Kyri climbed over Natsu's side, tumbling to the mattress in front of him. She sat up, rubbed at her watery eyes, sniffling.
Lucy blinked and began to sit up to ask Kyri what was wrong. Before she could, though, Natsu crinkled his nose, stirring slightly. Without opening his eyes, he reached his arm out, feeling around the mattress for whichever child was crying. Kyri noticed and quickly wiped at her face with her sleeve. She quickly crawled towards his arm. Natsu's hand finally landed on Kyri's head. He gently drew her to him, cuddling her close to his chest. Kyri snatched her teddy bear from where it had fallen on Natsu's pillow and snuggled close to her Daddy as he covered her in the blankets and set his hand on her back, holding her close.
"Don't wowwy, Bubsy," Kyri whispered to her teddy bear. "We safe now."
Lucy settled back down as she watched Kyri fall back to sleep in her father's arm.
"We safe now."
That's what Kyri had said before she drifted off to sleep. This was all she needed to be comforted from her nightmare. She just needed her Daddy to hold her.
Lucy smiled. She could relate. There was not a place in the world that felt safer to her than Natsu's arms. It didn't matter what was going on around her the minute he engulfed her in his embrace; it would all disappear and lull her into peace. The minute she felt his arms go around her, she would instantly. She knew that as long as he had a hold on her nothing would happen to her. As long as he was there, he'd never let harm come to her.
And that wasn't just true for her, but her children. As a baby, the only person Nashi wanted to hold her was Natsu. Even now that she was older when she had her anxiety problems the only place she could fully let go and express what she was thinking was Natsu's arms. Whenever the lights went out, Layla would rush to her father's side so he could hold her and light a small flame to chase the shadows away. Igneel, of course, would never admit he was afraid, but whenever things got tense, Lucy would notice him inching closer to Natsu. Luna always begged for Natsu to carry her whenever they went somewhere new, which was a little too busy for her shy little soul. When Kyri had colic as a baby it was Natsu held her and comforted her.
And now that she'd had a nightmare she had run to her Daddy again.
Lucy's smile widened as she watched her sleeping husband and daughter. Natsu had always prided himself as the protector of his family. But he was also the comforter, the encourager, the provider, whatever his family needed.
Lucy reached over and ran her fingers through Natsu's hair. Marrying him was easily the best decision she'd ever made. She couldn't even imagine having a family with anyone else. She could imagine anyone else being her children's father. Of all the fantastic adventures she'd been on getting to raise kids alongside Natsu was the greatest.
Lucy sat up briefly, kissing Natsu's forehead.
"I love you," she whispered.
She laid back down, setting her hand on Kyri's back as she fell back to sleep.