Revenge is sweet, but by pillow it's a treat
Rated M: for Swearing like a sailor (bad words duh lol)
This was supposed to be a purely funny one but my muse thought it would be hilarious to mess with me and it ended up like this.
Disclaimer: I will never own anything of Fairy Tail except the immense pleasure of poking the characters with cattle prods.
(More fun then a barrel of drunk Cana's let me tell you!)
Special thanks goes out to my two lovely Ladies: leoslady4ever and LittleRincessNana for helping me with the ending and kicking me in the butt to write again.
Grumbling, an irritated blonde fought with the sheet that had managed to yet again twist around her body and totally trap her within it's clingy confines. The air blowing through the open window barely managed to ruffle the curtains as Lucy managed to finally shove off the strangling piece of fabric with a growl and flopped back on her bed, groaning as she felt the sweat trickling between her slightly swollen breasts. It was a sweltering night and she'd gotten one of Laxus' old shirts to use as a nighty as most of her regular clothes didn't fit her rounded body anymore. She winced as a strong jab hit her stomach and her hand went down to the prominent bulge to sooth the life within. She was sure the little darling could feel her agitation and did its best to take out its frustration on how she was feeling however she couldn't say having her stomach repeatedly pummeled from the inside felt very calming, so she did her best to take deep breaths and tried not to think on the things that were driving her up the wall. But it was a losing battle seeing as how she had nothing else to take her attention away from the monotony of staring at the walls, not able to get comfortable enough to sleep. Glancing to the side she noted with a frown that the spot where her mate should be was empty yet again and she could feel her eyebrow start to twitch as her temper rose along with the sweltering heat of the room. Kicking off the cotton sheet from around, what she assumed was her now swollen feet, (because she hadn't seen her feet in a good few months) her mind went back over all the things that had gone wrong lately. Which did nothing to lighten her mood.
Laxus had started disappearing a lot more recently and that worried her and aggravated her to no ends. It didn't help things that when he was around he was so damn exhausted the most she could get out of him was an "I love you" and a peck on the lips before he fell face first onto their bed and was dead to the world. Lucy had no idea what the big lug was doing when he was away from the house since she'd been placed on bed rest for the last 4 months of her pregnancy, but she was getting tired of being kept in the dark. Her doctor had been apprehensive about her continuing any of her usual activities and she had conceded that all the things her team put her through wouldn't be very conducive to her well being, but not being able to even go to the guild, the one place where she'd felt welcomed so warmly and completely, the one place where her family was, tore at her heart. But from the insistence of her family, Laxus and her doctor she relented and was surprised that in turn her beloved family came to her instead, always making sure she wouldn't feel alone especially when her mate was away. But while they tried to be there for her day and night she knew they couldn't always be there 24/7 and pushed them out her door when they wanted to stay longer. They had their own lives to lead and while she loved having the help and having someone near, her temper was getting shorter and shorter the bigger she grew and couldn't stand to be around their antics anymore than necessary. The only ones she couldn't push away were Levy and Gajeel, surprisingly. The Iron dragon had practically proclaimed her as his little sis and when Laxus wasn't around she'd turn around and find him there instead. While the gesture was sweet and all nothing could compare to having the big lug around, but it was something she was grateful to none the less.
The reason for her bed rest was simply because of how big she had gotten over the few months she'd been pregnant, but when Porlyusica came for a visit to check in on her she was informed by the gruff woman that carrying a dragon slayers child came with certain drawbacks, one being that the child would be slightly bigger than a normal baby seeing as how it would be carrying large amounts of the fathers magic as it grew inside her. But because they were lacking in knowledge she insisted on taking over Lucy's care to ensure both her and the babies safe delivery. She had also been informed of the typical male reactions she would encounter within her mate as she progressed further, meaning increased testosterone and protective tendencies that came from the dragon part of his instincts to take care of his mate. Lucy had to admit that the few first months she'd been pregnant she definitely saw a more aggressive Laxus alright, especially when Natsu had the bright idea of popping into her window for old times sake to congratulate the happy couple and found himself on the business end of a painful bolt in the ass as he was sent right back out the way he came, sailing over rooftops with a yell. He hovered over her like a mother hen, refusing to let her do too much but after Levy started coming over to keep her company with Gajeel in toe, and sometimes Cana, when she wasn't at the guild drinking, he had started disappearing for days on end and that's when the frustrations really started.
It was subtle at first and had she not been engrossed with the backaches, mood swings and weird cravings, she would've seen what was going on around her and possibly nipped it in the bud. But like most everything in this life, things never went the way she wanted. It all started innocently enough with small things. Continually staying out late, coming in at weird hours of the early morning covered in dirt, bruises and sweat only to fall face first onto their bed with a grunt. While she grumbled and yelled at his dead to the world snore as she wrestled him out of his dirty, stinky clothes. Most nights she was exhausted to the point of sleeping so deeply nothing short of a bomb going off around her would wake her but since she'd gotten pregnant her schedule wasn't what is used to be and more often than not she would need to get up and visit the bathroom courtesy of the infant using it as a trampoline. So when she did managed to roll out of bed only to find him not beside her, that of course made her mood deteriorate further and further especially when he was so tight lipped about where he was all the time. In the dark recesses of her mind she'd had a brief thought that maybe he was seeing someone else since she wasn't able to fulfill that aspect of their life at that moment but when she'd finally brought the subject up to Levy, who of course shot that down abruptly, but it was what Gajeel said who had walked in from the kitchen with a beer that answered all her questions.
"What kind of shit do you have rolling around in that head of yours now, Bunny?" He paused in the doorway to twist open a beer she assumed had been hidden in the back of the fridge since she was sure she'd cleared them all out, quirking his eyebrow as he studied her silently.
Levy frowned. "Gaj, you know it's not polite to listen into our conversations, I've told you time and time aga..."
"Not now Shrimp." He interrupted her and Lucy could see Levy's face turning red and so could he, but she could see he was determined and risked his girlfriend's wrath anyways.
Hearing his serious tone Levy nodded, and went into the kitchen to give them a bit of privacy leaving a perplexed blonde who was taken aback at the turn of events and her eyes widened as Gajeel took Levy's seat next to her on the sofa, regarding her with an open and searching look.
"Why would you think he would be stepping out on you Bunny?" His gentle tone had her gaping for a few minutes until he tilted his head at her continued silence and reached out a finger to poke her in her side softly. After a loud snort slipped out, she slapped his hand away with a scowl and rubbed the spot. "What else should I think when he's not around anymore, coming in at all hours of the morning and now not coming home for days on end?"
He snorted, leaning forward. "So, I take it the idiot didn't tell you what he's been up to then?"
"No. Why? What's he been doing?" She narrowed her eyes.
Gajeel eyed her for a minute before shaking his head. "That's not for me to say Bunny Girl. It's up to him to tell you what he's doing." He paused as she was about to protest and held up his hand to stop her. "But I will say this. What he's doing is for you and the babies good. It's part of his instincts as a Dragon Slayer and there is no way he would ever, ever, see another woman Bunny, period. So get those stupid thoughts out of your blonde head. Part of what happens when we mate is that we cannot cheat, not that we would ever want to in the first place. When we choose a mate, it's forever. It's ingrained so deeply inside of us to be faithful and loyal but also to be able to provide for our mates and offspring that we aren't capable of doing what you're thinking about." He finished and watched her facial expressions as she thought over what he said carefully.
Lucy knew he was dancing around saying what she wanted to know, but she wasn't stupid and in his own weird way Gajeel had helped destroy those corrosive doubts she'd had circulating in her heart. As Levy and Gajeel left for the night Gajeel hammered his comments home.
"You get yer butt to bed and don't think anymore of those stupid ass ideas Bunny. That lightening rod is totally devoted to you and the little dragon growing inside you, so just be content to know that he's doing his damnedest to make things as easy for you and the baby as can be and leave it at that."
Lucy bit her lip as she thought back over the conversation. She knew she could trust Gajeel's words and he would never lie to her, not about something as important as that, but that still didn't answer her questions about what the hell he was doing! Her thoughts were interrupted as her tummy gave a gurgle signaling she hadn't eaten in a while and suddenly she remembered the conversation she'd had with Laxus on his way out the door that morning.
Bending down Laxus' strong arms banded around his mate as much as he could since she had gotten so round and kissed her softly as he headed out, his hand brushing across her swollen belly briefly.
"Is there anything I can bring home to you Blondie?"
Lucy chewed her lip for a minute before her face lit up. "Yeah! I've been super hungry for those garlic pickles, ya know the ones with the small peppers mixed in the jar… oh and some raspberry cotton candy."
He paused with an arched brow. "Garlic pickles and cotton candy? Are you sure?"
The look he was giving her irked her and her eyebrow twitched as she crossed her arms under her breasts. "Yeah, I'm sure."
He swallowed hard and backed up with a nod as he turned to go not wanting to get his ass chewed again.
"Don't forget!"
A tingling in her abdomen signaled another trip to the bathroom, so she rocked to her side and shoved herself up as much as she could before grabbing onto the bed post and heaving herself to her feet. It was such a major deal trying to move anymore that Lucy was thankful she didn't have too far to go to get anything. She swayed for a minute until she steadied and slowly waddled to the bathroom attached to their room to do her business.
A good 15 minutes later Lucy waddled her way back out of the bathroom grumbling.
"Stupid low toilet." As a hand went to knead her lower back she paused seeing the half naked form collapsed on the bed. She supposed she should be grateful that he'd at least remembered to take off his shoes as she kicked aside a pair of jeans and shirt on her way to her side of the bed. Carefully lowering herself to the mattress she shifted slightly in order to study her comatose bed partner. His spiky blond hair was in its usual disarray, his muscular arms wrapped around his pillow like a lifeline, his face relaxed in sleep was turned towards her as rumbling snores blew past his lips. Her gaze swept up the contours of his back, appreciated the view only to frown as she spotted a few bruises dotted here and there, some old as they were yellowed and some new. She scooted closer running her fingers across the skin wondering again what on earth he was doing. Her stomach took that moment to remind her that she had yet to get any food with a loud gurgle and a swift kick from the baby. She poked him in the side a few times, frowning when all he did was grunt and move slightly.
"Dammit, I'm hungry for those pickles." Lucy hissed as she looked around not seeing any jars in sight, her temper started to flare as she spotted a throw pillow she'd been using to prop herself up sitting against the headboard. Grabbing it she smacked him on the back of the head hard enough to ring his bell and almost laughed at his startled, dazed look as he popped up looking around in confusion.
"What...wha...the fuck was that?" He zeroed in on his mate sitting beside him with a pillow in her hand.
"Where's my pickles?" Lucy asked, a sweet smile on her face but he could see it never reached her eyes, which made him wary.
He pushed himself up more and shook his head to clear his sleep deprived brain. "Uhhhh..."
Her hands clutched the pillow tighter as her smile turned slightly feral. "My pickles Laxus, where are they?"
His face paled as her tone darkened and he swallowed hard. "P-pickles?" Vaguely something prickled in the back of his mind at that word, but he couldn't place it over the weariness saturating his entire body.
She nodded, leaning in closer. "Mhmm, pickles. Ya know those green kinda squishy things that crunch when you bite into them. They come in big jars floating in dill juice, sometimes whole, sometimes sliced. Those things."
His eyes widened as he suddenly remembered their little conversation that morning. 'Shit, I totally forgot to stop by the damn store.'
"Er… I um..."
"Yes?"
"I… uhhh... forgot... to uhhh get...them." He cringed back slightly.
A very uncomfortable silence filled the air as he watched her absorb his words, wondering if perhaps he should be moving away before she exploded.
"You forgot?"
"Uhh, yeah."
She tilted her head, that creepy smile of hers fading a bit. "You mean to tell me you forgot to get me the one thing I asked you for?"
"...Yeah."
Her knuckles turned white as she squeezed the pillow in her hands, her head bowed down, hiding her eyes from him. "Ya know I didn't complain when you started missing dinners, did I?"
"No."
"Did I bitch when you stopped being there to help me get in and out of the tub now that I'm as big as a house?"
"No..."
"And wasn't I understanding when you said that you had 'things' to take care of and started spending more time outside of the house without you ever telling me what those 'things' were?"
"Yes, but..."
"Do you have a clue how hard it is to move around this goddamned house, by myself and try to clean, by myself, and try to even get up from the sofa without help?"
"But.."
"You know I've tried to be patient, I've even tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, but since you're clearly not going to tell me what the fuck you're doing spending so much time away from the house and forgetting about me and this baby in the process. And I know I shouldn't need to remind you that YOU put inside of me in the first place, but this IS THE LAST FUCKING STRAW LAXUS DREYAR!
He winced as her voiced raised about five octaves and he was sure the neighbors had their ears perked now.
Before he could even attempt to respond she flung herself at him with a mighty war cry and fearful that she'd hurt herself and the baby, he wrapped his arms around her as the first hits of that damn beaded pillow smacked him across the face. He landed on his back on the floor with a grunt and tried to calm the hysterical woman on top of him beating him to death with a pillow. She was blubbering so much it was hard to make out some of her words, but she was damn sure getting her point across nonetheless.
"I can't believe you! The one fucking thing I ask you to get for me and you couldn't even take ten minutes out of your damn day to get it?! What the hell was so important that you couldn't do this one thing for me? I've been stuck here cooped up in this house worried sick that you've been seeing someone else, some hussy who could give you what I can't and you come home barely speaking one word to me before passing out?!"
Laxus was stunned, no, more like flabbergasted she'd even think along those lines in the first place, but he knew those thoughts wouldn't even be there if it wasn't for him. 'Dammit, I fucked up big time.'
"Blondie...Lucy...Luuu..." He shouted, desperately trying to get her to listen.
He tried to grab the offending pillow many times but every time she evaded his attempts. But her sobbing was too much, all he could do was hold onto her and try to calm her down through their bond. He could feel how confused and distraught she was through the link and knew he'd deserved every blow from that beaded, fluffy nightmare she wielded with the accuracy of a brick. After about ten minutes she was finally starting to slow down, her hits not really having the rage behind them like they were in the beginning and he took that moment to grab her wrists, wrapping his arms around her, trapping her against his body as she struggled and hissed, bucking against him. He knew from the screaming and beating he'd received that he'd fucked up and he'd fucked up royally, but if she kept this up she would not only hurt herself but the baby too and he couldn't help but feel an immense wave of guilt that had he not been so secretive about everything and actually told her what he was doing instead of trying to make it into one big surprise she wouldn't have been put through all this.
'Fuck, I'm an idiot.'
"Dammit, Laxus, let me go!"
"No, not until I tell you what I should've told you a while ago."
She grunted as she once again pulled at the hands holding her arms. "Maybe I don't want to listen now. Why should I?"
"Baby, please." He whined softly.
"Let me go.." She croaked.
His eyes narrowed as she stared up at him with that fire that he usually loved to stoke, but now all it did was make his heart ache knowing he'd put the hurt that was behind the fire in those beautiful brown orbs. "If I let you go, you're just gonna run away from me and refuse to listen."
A bitter laugh bubbled up from her throat. "See, that comment right there is proof you haven't been around enough."
"What do you mean?"
"If you were around you would already know that I would not be able to get my fat ass up, let alone walk briskly, without some major help." She muttered.
"Don't..." Lucy paused at the hurt in his voice and looked up. His eyes were hidden away from her.
"Don't talk about yourself like that. Ever… you're the most beautiful, fiery, compassionate woman I've ever met and Mavis knows I don't deserve you, no after all the shit I've pulled, but dammit, seeing your belly grow and knowing that it's my child inside of you stuns me beyond belief. Never in a million years did I even think I would ever have a chance at someone as wonderful as you, let alone having a family. Other women don't interest me anymore Blondie. They don't turn my head or keep me fascinated with every breath, every word that comes out of their mouths. No one else can make me feel like I am where I belong and then turn around only to terrify me with their temper, only you."
His arms loosened as her face relaxed with his admission and propped herself up watching his face as he sat up cradling her in his lap.
"Then where have you been? What have you been up to and why wouldn't you tell me what was going on?" She whispered.
A finger nudged her chin up when it started to droop. "I guess I just wanted it to be a surprise, that's all."
"What..."
With a sigh, his other hand settled between them to absently rub at her tummy gently. "The truth is I've been taking on any and all missions I could find with decent pay."
"How come?"
"I wanted us to have some free time after the baby was born, to not have to worry about money and paying the bills or buying all the things we are going to need. To just be able to be together as a family for a while before we had to return to our normal bat shit crazy lives."
"You… you did that, for us?" A few tears squeezed from her red, swollen eyes trailing down her flushes cheeks and he brushed them off with an embarrassed smile.
"Yeah, but that's not all."
"It's not? What else have you been doing?" She asked, tilting her head.
He scratched the back of his head and looked to the side and she giggled as the cutest blush spread across his cheeks. "W-well I was also busy gathering materials.." He mumbled.
"Materials? For what?"
He coughed. "For the baby crib, and high chair and the bassinet uhh thing."
"Materials?... oh!" Her eyes widened. "You mean you were gonna make all those? With your hands?"
He nodded and waited to see her reaction.
Lucy bit her lip, feeling another sob welling up before she flung her arms around his neck and started bawling again.
"Lucy, baby please don't cry anymore. You know I can't stand to see you cry."
"I-I can't help it!' She hiccuped. "Here I am, being so paranoid and selfish thinking you're just messing around and instead you're doing some of the sweetest and most thoughtful things you can just to help make things easier for me and the baby! I'm sorry I ever doubted you, oh god I feel so horrible! Please forgive me!"
Laxus rubbed her back with a tired sigh and nuzzled her neck. "No, I'm sorry Lucy. I never should've kept all this from you, I just never thought you'd think all those things."
"We both acted stupid." She whispered as she leaned back enough to stare into his eyes. "How about next time instead of staying quiet and blowing up we talk instead?"
A smirk crossed his face as he brushed his lips across hers. "What, and miss another epic battle with the beaded fluffy nightmare? Not on your life!"
Lucy snorted, eyeing all the tiny scratches on his face. "Yeah well, there was more than one reason I went for that one. Now let's get those cleaned up." She went to push off of him but found his arms banding around her again.
He grinned wider and kissed her nose. "Nah. I think I'll wear these battle scars proudly and I'm in no hurry to move, not when I had something so lovely literally fall in my lap."
With a sigh she slumped against him, not caring how hot the night was anymore or how sweaty she still was. They were content where they were. They sat there for a few minutes until a gurgle rumbled out again. "Hey Laxus?"
"Yeah Baby?"
"Don't think I'm gonna forget about those damn pickles."
Laxus studied her for a minute and nodded. He wasted no time standing up, making sure to gently place her back on the bed as he scrambled to find his clothes.
Lucy watched from the bed confused. "Wait, just where the hell are you going now? It's one in the morning!"
"I'm going to get pickles so you don't murder me in my sleep woman!" He yelled rushing out the door.
Mmm pickles. I will never get tired of those damn things.
(¯`·._.•NIchiki •._.·´¯)