A/N: Hey guys, sorry this is such a short chapter. Also sorry that it took so long to finish an 1,200 word chapter. I didn't really know how to end it. But I hope you like it!
"Natsu, look!" Lucy called from Layla's bedroom as she got the baby dressed and ready to go. "Her onesie fits her now!" Lucy didn't bother waiting for Natsu to come see, instead going to him. With a wide smile on her face, she showed him Layla, wearing the 'baby dragon' onesie that Lucy had used to announce her pregnancy to Natsu in the first place. "See? It's not too big anymore!"
Natsu grinned. "She's our growing baby!"
"Yes she is!" Lucy directed to Layla in a baby voice. "You're getting bigger! Are you getting bigger?" Lucy laughed as she began playing with her little girl while Natsu watched with a fond and loving smile.
"Kinda neat that it fits her the day she was supposed to be born," Natsu commented. Yes, today was the thirtieth, Layla's due date. It was the day she was originally supposed to be shown the world for the first time. Of course, Natsu and Lucy both couldn't be happier that she'd arrived early. They'd been able to meet their precious baby girl that much sooner, not to mention Lucy had been sick of being pregnant.
Lucy suddenly gasped as she felt a surge of her magic burst through her. "Loke-" she gasped out, recognizing his magical signature. Before Natsu could voice his concern, Loke popped into the room in front of them, obviously nervous.
"Lucy, we know it's the thirtieth now in the human realm and that's your due date, right!? How are you!? Do you need to go to the hospital yet!?" and then Loke realized what he was looking at. "You- that's a baby!" Loke was wide-eyed as he pointed at Layla. Natsu and Lucy laughed.
"Yes, this is a baby. Layla Atlas Dragneel," Lucy told him. "I'm sorry you haven't met her yet! She was born two weeks ago, but we've just been so busy-"
"That strain we felt just a bit ago!" Loke suddenly realized. "That must've been your labor!"
Lucy nodded as she went to approach Loke. "Would you like to meet her?" she asked. Loke simply stared at the baby as he attempted to register that this was not only a child, but Lucy's child. Lucy smiled and handed Layla over, adjusting Loke's arms around the baby.
"She's..." Loke finally reacted in the form of a small smile. "She's precious, Lucy. Sure to be a beauty," he smirked.
Natsu smacked him at the comment. "Stop trying to flirt with her," he demanded with a glare.
Loke and Lucy just rolled their eyes at Natsu.
It turned out that it would not, in fact, be safe for Layla to enter the spirit realm, which Lucy could easily figure. It was barely safe for grown adults such as she and Natsu to visit, so of course a newborn infant would not be able to go.
Lucy was saddened by the fact that Aquarius would not be able to meet Layla yet, and, although she would never admit it, so was Aquarius. She couldn't wait until the time came that she would be able to meet the granddaughter and daughter of her admittedly beloved previous masters. Aquarius couldn't help but wonder how the baby would turn out. Would she have any of the grace and poise of her namesake? Or would she inherit the spunky and adventurous personality of her mother?
One by one, Lucy made sure to let each of her spirits meet the baby. Of course, it had been drawn out across a couple of days, per Natsu and Loke's insistence. The new mother was already constantly tired from taking care of Layla and they both refused to let her collapse after using too much energy summoning her spirits.
Layla had taken an instant liking to Plue and Aries especially. Plue had immediately loved the baby, as well, liking to play with her and dance for her to try and make her smile, but Aries had been wary at first. "Oh no, Lucy, I can't hold her! I'm sorry! I might drop her and I could never do that! I'm sorry!" Lucy had smiled as she helped Aries hold Layla the right way anyways.
"See, she likes you!" Lucy had insisted as she watched her daughter coo with happiness as she played with a bit of the wool on Aries' wrist. After getting over her nerves, Aries couldn't help but smile and love the girl, as well.
Layla had not been fond of Taurus or Scorpio. They were both a bit scary-looking to the infant. Neither of them had been particularly affected, either, just giving the usual. "Oh, she's so cute..." and then not knowing what else to do or say, but they had both vowed to always protect the baby.
Horologium had been a bit indifferent as well, and hadn't stayed very long before Layla started crying, to which he announced "It's time... for a diaper change," before disappearing.
Crux had announced that Layla had a great amount of innate magic power before falling asleep.
Virgo had offered her help watching Layla if Natsu and Lucy ever needed it. "If she ever cries while I am taking care of her," she had started. "Then you must punish me."
Cancer had been gushing from the moment he saw her in his own special way. By the time he left, Lucy and Natsu both felt like they'd heard the word "baby" far too many times.
Sagittarius also vowed to protect the baby with all his might, even picking out the arrow with which he would "bring to justice" anyone who dared harm her.
Capricorn had been like a proud father meeting his first grandchild. He had happily played with the child and even offered to change her diaper. He made sure Natsu and Lucy were aware that he was always available to call.
Gemini had been eager to meet the baby, but perhaps part of the reason was because of their mischievous nature. Lucy made them promise not to play any pranks using their transformation magic until Layla was a bit older.
And finally, Lyra had whined that Lucy hadn't called her in so long, as usual, forgetting again that her contract claimed that she was to be called merely three days a month. After insisting that she stay for tea and snacks when Layla had fallen asleep during the visit (isn't the host supposed to insist, not the guest?), she demanded to be called the next time the baby needed a lullaby. When Layla had been startled awake a few moments later by what Natsu had figured out was a bird pecking on her window (why a bird was pecking on her window, Natsu didn't know), Lyra got her chance to help, lulling Layla quickly into sound sleep again with a song.
Lucy was so happy to finally introduce the new member of her family to her spirits. Of course, she was still tired even though Natsu made sure she limited herself. It went without saying, but Natsu had pretty much taken care of Layla after the last night of summoning. Lucy had made sure there was enough milk in the fridge, that Natsu and Layla had both gotten a good night kiss from her, and then gone to bed just past seven. But she went to sleep smiling and happy. She couldn't wait to do even more with her family.
A/N: I know the whole writing thing is "show don't tell", but I didn't think enough of the spirits had important enough reactions to Layla to be able to write out all of the meetings.
Also, Lyra's ended up being long compared to some other more important spirits. Don't ask me how that happened. Maybe it's just because I have a strange amount of love for Lyra. I wish she could be used more in the show. Also I wish Lucy was enough of a strategist to use more spirits than just Loke and Aquarius. There's so many ways she could use a bunch of the spirits that we never see, but Lucy is definitely not a strategist ;-; Mavis would've been great as a Celestial wizard, would she not have been?
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