A/N: Nothing much to say here at the beginning, but I feel weird not having a note here, so enjoy the chapter!
Lucy watched with a smile as Erza and Mirajane gawked over and played with the two-month old Layla. The baby was adored by the guild and Mira and Erza especially loved to play with her any chance they got.
Layla had started really smiling about a week ago, and Lucy and Natsu would never forget the first time they saw it. The family had been sitting on the couch after just finishing breakfast. They had been planning on heading to the guild, maybe look for a job for Natsu, but right then Lucy was reading a book to Layla while Natsu listened and came in to voice the assortment of creatures, including a dwarf, goblins, and a fierce dragon, of course.
"The little girl approached the bridge, this time prepared for the troll's trickery. 'I'm back!' she called, not stepping on the planks yet. The troll's gruff voice boomed out,"
"'So you still think you can outwit me!? We'll have to see about that!'"
Lucy had laughed again at Natsu's ridiculous and overexaggerated voice for the troll before continuing her narration. "'Come on out and face me!' the child challenged. 'It will be no fun to beat you if I cannot see you!' The beast grumbled, but jumped out from his spot under- Natsu look!" Lucy interrupted herself as she'd noticed the expression on her child's face. At her shout, Natsu had noticed it, too - a grin. "Natsu, she's smiling!"
"Yeah, I see it!" Natsu grinned, too, feeling overwhelming joy at the sight of his daughter's adorable, toothless smile. "Keep reading so she keeps smiling!"
"Right! Okay... The beast jumped out from his spot underneath the bridge..."
Needless to say, they'd spent the rest of the day trying to keep her beautiful smile on her face.
The infant had a grin on her face even now, prompted by the silly faces some of her honorary aunts were making. "A couple of fangs, and that grin would look exactly like her father's," Levy commented to her friend.
"Yes, I noticed. Natsu's absolutely ecstatic about it," Lucy laughed. "But I wanted to ask you... Layla's here, Juvia's four months along... What about you? Have you and Gajeel talked about a baby yet?"
Levy sighed thoughtfully. "I think we're gonna wait, for now. We both definitely want kids in the future and we wouldn't be opposed to it or upset if I got pregnant now, but neither of us are too crazy about having them at the moment. And besides, I don't think the guild can handle having three little guys at once!"
Lucy laughed. "Yes, that might be true, although it's managed to survive our husbands! Mostly..." Levy laughed along with her, nodding in agreement.
"Hello, girls!" Juvia greeted the group, approaching from the entrance to the hall.
"Juvia, hi!" Lucy replied as the others gave their own greetings back.
"Are you feeling better? We haven't seen you in a while," Mira asked.
"I am, actually! I haven't been feeling so drained these last couple of days and I can even use my magic again!" Juvia punctuated her excitement by forming a sphere of water in her hand.
"That's great, Juvia!" Erza said. "I'm glad things are getting better for you." About a week ago, Juvia's condition had suddenly gotten worse, the woman lacking the energy to even get out of bed, being a bit feverish, and feeling like every bit of magic in her body had disappeared. Porlyusica had been gone, though, and Wendy, without the guidance of her mentor, had been unable to discover what issue was causing the extreme fatigue. She'd done a couple spells to relieve the fever and exhaustion, but she hadn't known how to fix anything. Today was Porlyusica's first day back home after her trip to retrieve rare herbs from across the country, though, so the couple were going to make sure to see her today.
"Gray and I just came by to say 'hi', but let me see Layla!" Juvia held out her arms towards Mira, who was currently holding the baby. "Oh, you've gotten so big since I saw you last! And you're smiling! Lucy, she's so precious! I can't wait until Gold is here! I have a feeling Gold is gonna be a little boy. We'll know for sure in just another two weeks! Oh, and we picked out our middle name, too! In just five months, we'll be welcoming Gold Nami Fullbuster into the world! I already have some of the decorations for the nursery bought!..." the rest of the girls listened and smiled as Juvia chattered ecstatically about the baby. They'd ended up theming the nursery, something Natsu and Lucy hadn't really done beyond the dragon plush and a lamp Lucy had found shaped like a castle. Juvia had a bunch of ocean-type decorations that she either wanted to buy or had already bought. Gray was also planning on, once they bought the crib, affixing seashells to it, of course making sure Gold wouldn't be in any sort of danger of choking or getting hurt on them. Juvia had already gone a tad overboard on buying stuffed animals for the unborn baby, having a whale, dolphin, shark, and four different types of fish already. A mobile had been bought as well, one featuring jellyfish of different colors. They'd also gotten the sheet for the baby's bed, a bright aqua color with clownfish and blue tangs used to pattern it. Juvia was sheepish as she admitted that she'd probably spent more money than she should've right now on nursery decor, but she was just so excited and eager!
Lucy and the girls had just laughed in reply to that. "Aw, Juvia, you're making me want to buy new stuff for Layla's room! I should get a bunch more fairy tale decorations!"
"Ooh, let me go shopping with you to pick stuff out!" Mira insisted, followed by Erza and the others agreeing.
"Hey Juvia!" Gray called as he walked over to the group. "We should get going now. Apparently Wendy's on a job, so it'll just be us and Porlyusica this time." Gray took her hand and helped her from her chair. "You ready?"
"Yes, I was just telling the girls about all the nursery stuff I found! Let's stop at the thrift store again after the appointment and find more!"
Gray rolled his eyes. "Perhaps, but I don't want you to overexert yourself. You may be feeling better now, but..."
"Yes Darling, I understand. Goodbye, girls!" Juvia waved as they headed out.
"Bye, guys!" Mira called back. "Let us know how Gold's doing!"
"We will!"
The doors to the guild slammed open.
It wasn't exactly an abnormality, but everyone in the guild could feel a sudden chill come in with the man who'd been responsible for the loud entry.
"Gray?" Lucy questioned, currently bouncing Layla in her arms but sensing something was off with her friend. "How'd..." Gray walked past her without acknowledging her. He walked quickly and with a purpose as he hung his head so his bangs covered his eyes, making it impossible to see them. When Natsu's attention had been dragged from his arm wrestle with Gajeel, though, the dragon slayer noticed the tightly clenched jaw and distinct smell of salt coming from his rival and friend. A shared look with Gajeel told him they had figured out the same thing. Gray was trying not to cry.
Natsu got up and reached a hand towards his ice-using rival's shoulder. "Gray, what-" Gray pushed past Natsu and ignored him, making it to the request board. Without even looking, he grabbed a random flyer and turned again, continuously ignoring his surroundings.
"I demand you speak, Gray," Erza insisted. When he didn't acknowledge even her, the alleged 'Monster', as he'd called her, no one, especially not Erza, knew how to react, and the man was gone before someone else could voice their concern.
Gray had been in the guild for less than a minute, but the hush that sat over the closest of his friends took much longer. They could tell; something was horribly wrong.
A/N: So... yeah... Don't murder me, please? And don't worry, I'm already working on the next chapter, part of which I had written back when I was stuck on I think the fifth or sixth chapter of the story, so I just have to do a little more and it'll be done.
Thank you for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting!