Gajeel woke up feeling refreshed. He was so glad that hellish nightmare was over. Sitting up, he breathed in his surroundings. Lily hadn't been there recently, for maybe about a week or so. He smiled as the tangy scent of metal filled his nostrils. It was a great nostalgic feeling. But then he frowned. Gajeel caught a whiff of a vanilla-like scent. It was a mouth watering aroma, but he didn't remember buying anything of the sort, so this meant that someone had entered his home.

Gajeel peeled the blankets back to find he was naked. He was somewhat surprised at the bareness, but then he had thought that sleeping in the nude wasn't that uncommon for him. Shrugging it off, he leapt out of bed and found a pair of his briefs lying on the ground. They didn't seem dirty and he wasn't going to smell them to check. Pulling on the ebony checkered boxers, he opened the door and was taken aback at the smell of food from downstairs.

Gajeel's brow furrowed and he descended. He tensed up, ready to fight. Rounding the edge of the stairs, his scarlet eyes bulged in shock. What was Lucy doing in his kitchen?

Her chocolate brown eyes flitted up to the man in the archway. Lucy gazed hungrily at his muscles and she longed to feel her way up his body again, but that could wait, there were more pressing matters at hand.

Smiling, Lucy motioned towards the table. "Morning Gajeel. I was just cooking breakfast. Sit down, it seems we have quite a bit to talk about," Gajeel slowly nodded, taking a minute to process what she had said. Taking a seat, Lucy brought over plates of food for the both of them.

"I hear you're quite the cook, Bunny Girl," Gajeel remarked quietly as he picked up the utensils that were already set on the table. They began to eat in silence.

After finishing breakfast, Lucy brought the plates and such to the sink, before returning to her seat. Gajeel broke the silence, "So, why are you in my house?" He questioned, a perplexed look on his face. "I can't really remember much, but I do know I saw you.." Gajeel stopped, and his heart began to pound. "L- Last night, i- in..." He cursed under his breath. "Oh shit, I am so sorry Lucy. I fucked up real bad." Gajeel looked panicked, he was fretting about their.. activities.. last night.

"Gajeel, I would like to know why." Gajeel stopped his muttering and looked over at her.

"Huh?" He asked, his scarlet eyes staring at her intensely.

Lucy looked away from him, "Why? Why did you have sex with me?" Lucy looked back up, her eyes were watering. Gajeel could smell the salt and he frowned.

"Look, Lucy. Don't cry. I can explain," he announced, gaining her full attention. "Here," Gajeel whispered. He got up, and moments later he returned with a box of tissues. Setting them on the table, he sat back down. "Lucy, have you ever heard of Dragon Slayers being in Heat?"

Lucy nodded, "I recall Natsu talking to me about it briefly. He didn't, however, talk like it was all that serious. Does that have something to do with this?"

Gajeel also nodded, "Every year, there is a time period where us Dragon Slayers go through a season known as Heat. Heat times can vary depending on the Slayer. For me, it generally lasts about a week, to maybe two weeks. I know Wendy's is very short, however, she recently started getting them because she is of age. I'm not sure how long Natsu's is for, but I've suspected possibly two and a half weeks. Anyways, when you came over and I saw you, I had to release all of my pent up sexual frustration. I usually stay erect most of the day, do you know how painful that is? I have to constantly jack off until it goes away, only for it to come back five minutes later! I can hardly eat and it's so hard to fall asleep!" Gajeel paused, his fists were clenched and he was fuming. Lucy reached over and placed her hands over one of his balled ones. He looked at her with a questioning gaze, but she just shook her head, urging him onwards. "Sorry. I got upset," he whispered, slowly unfurling his fists. She held his hand, slowly tracing circles around his palm.

"Anyways, we go through Heat every year until we find a mate. When we do find a mate, the mate will let us unleash our Heat but only to be suppressed by the mate, so our 'Have sex with anyone you deem an acceptable candidate' will be more of a, 'Have sex with your mate'. Long story short, and since you came here I saw you and my instinct immediately reacted to you, and so I took you then and there. Look Lucy, I didn't mean for this to happen. I'm so sorry. I didn't-" Gajeel then stopped. His gaze focused on a Lucy who was looking downwards, so he couldn't see her eyes. But he could smell salt again. Using his free hand, he cupped her chin so she could look at him.

"Lucy, what's wrong?" He asked. A bout of fresh tears spilled down her face, and Lucy began to sob incoherent letters and words. Gajeel stood, and scooped her up from her seat on the chair, and brought them over to sit on the couch. Lucy clutched his shirt, and he embraced her in a hug.

They sat like that for awhile. Ten, fifteen, maybe twenty five minutes. After she had been able to calm down, and recollect her thoughts, Lucy looked up at Gajeel. "So, Gajeel," she paused trying to find the right words. "You were just going to have sex with anyone, no matter who walked in your house?" Gajeel's eyes widened, and he could smell another onslaught of tears if he didn't explain things to her.

"No no no, Lucy. That wouldn't have happened," Gajeel whispered to her calmly, and Lucy had a puzzled look on her face. "It may be mating season, and my sex drive may be over the top, but I can't have sex with anyone I don't find would fit my needs and interests as a mate. If Cana, Levy, or even Erza had come into my house and seen me like that, I wouldn't have had the sense to fuck them crazy. I already had a thing for you, which caused my instincts to choose you. Got that?" As he finished, Lucy nodded, a small smile on her face. But soon after thinking for a moment, she frowned once more.

"So what's going to happen to us now?" She asked, concern etched into her features.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I think this would be a good time to start a relationship," Gajeel decided. "So, Lucy, would you like to go out with me?"

Giggling, Lucy smiled and replied, "Hell yes!" And she wrapped her arms around him once more. Gajeel smiled and pulled away.

"You look better with a smile."

Lucy put her hand in his hand and then said, "So do you."

The new couple, soon peeled themselves off the couch after an hour or so of just talking. Gajeel was the first to take a shower, whilst Lucy wanted to tidy up the place a little.

Gajeel exited the bathroom, towel around his waist, his hair tied back, and another towel around his shoulders. He had begun to call to Lucy that he was finished, when he saw her race up stairs, and zoom into the bathroom. She shut and locked the door, and Gajeel could hear the sound of the toilet lid slamming open, and then her upheaving. He could hear and smell vomit as it left her throat and into the toilet. Walking back over to the door, he placed a hand on it. "Bunny Girl, is everything alright?" He asked, concern in his voice.

After a minute, he heard a shaky voice reply, "Y- Yea -h. I'll, I'll b-e okay." Softened whimpers were heard on the other side of the door. The sound of the toilet flushing, and the faucet running were also heard, and then a soft click of the lock. Lucy opened the door, and Gajeel guided her slowly over from the bathroom and into his room so they could sit on the bed.

He put his hand on her back and began to rub. "Is everything okay?"

She nodded, and leaned into him. "I just haven't felt that in awhile, throwing up. It must have been something I ate yesterday." Gajeel nodded and and stood.

"You stay here and get some rest, okay?" He said, and picked her up and tucked her into his bed.

"You know, this is so out of character for you. I never would have thought Gajeel could be so compassionate and caring," Lucy smiled.

"Of course I can be, Bunny Girl, but only for those I'm compassionate for and care about," Gajeel smirked. "Now get your pretty ass to sleep, I'm sure you're exhausted."

She rolled her eyes, and laughed, "So my ass is pretty now, huh?"

"It's always been pretty, Bunny Girl. Just like you." And with that, Gajeel left the room, and Lucy fell asleep.

Panther Lily had just parted from the guild and was on his way back to his home. He didn't want to use up to much energy, seeing as he had just come back from a mission with Happy, Lily decided to walk home. It took him a bit longer than it would have if he had flown, but that was okay, there was no hurry. Reaching the front door, Panther Lily took his pack off, and searched it for a key. Scowling, he searched twice more, but to no avail. "Well damn, I forgot my key," Lily cursed. He jumped up at knocked on the door.

Panther Lily could hear footsteps from upstairs scurry around, and then make their way down. They were a bit lighter instep then how Gajeel would normally be walking, but it didn't matter. There was a click, and the door opened to reveal.. "Lucy?" Lily wondered aloud, looking up curiously at her. She was dressed in an overly large black shirt, which Lily thought to be Gajeel's. "Lucy, what are you doing here?" He asked, picking his pack up from the ground.

She smiled sheepishly, "You live here, don't you? Come inside and I can explain." Panther Lily nodded, he stepped inside and Lucy closed the door.

They both took a seat at the kitchen table, and Lucy explained the events that took place from yesterday until now. "Well, congratulations Lucy, I would have never expected a relationship like this to blossom between the two of you," Panther Lily proclaimed with a smile of approval.

Lucy blushed, "Well, I'm glad that it

happened." She laughed, and Lily's grin widened.

"Where is Gajeel, by the way?" Lily asked.

"Since I was asleep, he left me a note saying he was going for a walk, might stop by the guild, and would be back around dinner time," Lucy replied, recalling what he had written.

Lily nodded. "Sleeping in the middle of the day?" he questioned her.

Lucy shook her and waved her hand, "I just felt a little sick and threw up earlier." Lily raised an eyebrow and Lucy denied it again, "No, I'm alright Lily, honest!" He had a sinking suspicion about her sickness, but she tried to change the subject. "So, how about I make a snack and we can talk about your mission, hmm?" Lucy asked, getting up.

Lily turned his head and grunted. "Only if it's fish," he mumbled.

Gajeel stopped in front of the guild doors, contemplating whether to go in or not. Scratching the back of his head, he decided to head in. He opened the doors and was greeted by excited chatter among the guild. He made his way to the bar instead of his table in the corner of the guild. Gajeel was greeted by few, to which he acknowledged with a grunt and a nod. Taking a seat on one of the many stools, he waited for Mira to make his way over to him.

"Hello Gajeel!" Mira greeted with cheerful smile. Gajeel nodded. "What can I get you today?" She asked, relaxing her posture.

"Just some iron scraps," he stated, rather than asking.

"Sure thing," she replied, and went off to get his order.

It was at this point, that he began to notice his surroundings. There were quite a few mages at the guild. Well, it was summer time, and he supposed that most people would want to take a holiday, or at least an easy job with a good reward or something like a week's rest at an inn. He turned his head to Mira as she set the plate of iron in front of him. "Thanks," he murmured, and began to eat. He expected Mirajane to attend to someone else, but she didn't. She just stood there and watched him eat.

"Can I help you Demon Woman?" He growled menacingly. Gajeel did NOT liked to be watched, especially when he ate.

She shrugged, "Just wondering how things with Lucy are going." He bit his tongue. What the hell? He thought.

Leaning in, he whispered angrily, "How the hell do you know about that?" She giggled.

"Who do you think sent her over there?" Gajeel gave her a disbelieving look, and when her smile didn't falter, he buried his head into his hands.

Without looking up, he muttered, "Thanks."

She waved a hand, "No big deal. Just thought you could both use it." Gajeel lifted his head and raised a studded, nonexistent eyebrow.

"You're telling me I don't owe you one?" he questioned disbelievingly. With a nod of approval, he glowered at her. "Bullshit," he uttered.

She sighed, "Alright, you got me," Mira responded with a smile.

"So what do you want?" Gajeel demanded. Her eyes glimmered, with an evil twinkle following suit. All so suddenly, Gajeel wasn't so sure he should have asked.

"To help name the baby," Mira exclaimed loudly, gaining the attention of several people.

"What? Gajeel's having a child?" Mage 1 asked, confused as to why he would have a child.

"Impossible. He's not responsible enough," Mage 2 replied.

"Maybe he finally scored a home run with Levy?" Mage 3 added.

Gajeel turned and scowled at them, "Holy shit, I will rip your heads off and hang them around the guild if you don't shut the hell up." At the sound of his voice, his guild mates stood up moved across the guild hall, muttering their apologies as they left.

Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to Mira. "What are you talking about Demon Woman? She won't be having any children as far as I'm aware," he grumbled.

Mira just shrugged and turned away. "Well, if it turns out she is going to, I'm going to help name it!" She chuckled and walked away. Gajeel picked up his plate of scraps and moved elsewhere. This was going to be a long day.