-Family-
Chapter 3: Reassuring Persuasion
It took about an hour of waiting for Natsu to become conscious again.
(Natsu's POV)
When I came to, I could see gramps and Mira trying to calm a still pissed Gray. I didn't even realize that I fainted. All I knew was that Gray told me that he was pregnant and then everything else around me went black. I didn't mean to faint; I could only guess that it probably shocked me to the core for this to happen.
Now that I'm calmer, when I think about all this, it makes me really happy. I mean, we're going to be a bigger family now, and just anticipating it is making me excited.
I thank the Heavens that we were blessed with this, but I'll have to admit that it'll take some time getting used to.
However, no matter what happens, I'll always be there for Gray. I vowed to stay by his side through the good and the bad, in sickness and in health, until death we part... No not even death will part us!
Now I was here to deal with my enraged wife. Although, I don't think that they've realized that I'm awake for they start to talk now.
"Gray, take it easy." gramps assured.
"Yeah, Gray! Maybe Natsu was just so happy that he fainted about it!" Mira said happily.
Gray sighed, rustling his hair.
"... Well... It didn't look that way." muttering unpleasantly.
"You never know unless you ask and straighten things out, right?" Mira states with a smile plastered on her face.
Gramps then ask.
"What were so worried about?"
Gray was only silent for moments until he sighs again to respond.
"I wasn't sure what he'd do when he finds out about it. I guess I'm a bit insecure in whether he'll treat me differently such as distancing himself or stay with me... I didn't know what to do or what I'm doing at this matter."
He takes another breathes and starts again.
"I just don't know... If he'll accept-"
"That's nonsense! Of course he will!" Makarov interrupted with a lot of certainty.
"...Well even if he does accept. Then how are we going to take care of the baby? We're both males after all." Gray pointed out.
"Maybe your motherly instincts will kick in." I interrupted, moving into a sitting position on the couch.
"So you're finally awake huh." Gray said just a bit still pissed, just a bit.
"... Well, I admit that I was shocked that you were pregnant-" I try, but was shortly interrupted by Gray who said "I knew it." in which I then continued with a firmer voice.
"Wait, let me finish. I was shocked, but it's not like I would just throw you away and not love you anymore."
"..." Gray was quiet for that was what where I think he's insecurities were coming from.
I sighed.
"Look, in my opinion. I think that this is a gift for us because now, we don't need to adopt. Plus, this child, our child, is going to be a part of our family now. We made this child together and we'll raise it together... I won't leave you Gray, I swore on it."
Gray looked at me, moved at what I said. Gramps and Mira knew that it was best to leave us alone right now as I see them leave quietly.
"Oh Natsu... I'm sorry about earlier." Gray said solemnly.
"No biggie! I know you didn't mean to. I still love you anyway!" I assure him that it was all right.
(End POV)
'I must be the luckiest person in the world, to have such an amazing and awesome husband.' Gray thought as Natsu made him sit on his lap and cuddled; his back against Natsu's chest to rest.
They enjoyed the comforting silence. Then after awhile, Natsu began.
"Hey Gray, since I'm only hearing this, for how long have you been pregnant?"
Gray shrugged.
"A month and a half I suppose."
"Whoa! That long?" Natsu exclaimed.
"Well, I only found out two weeks ago, so it's not really that long." Gray states nonchalantly.
He sighed and continued.
"How am I going to work in the guild now? Plus, how am I going to give birth?"
Natsu looked down at him as though it was a stupid question, in which the other had to look up.
"What are you talking about? You're not going to do any job in the guild. You're pregnant! You shouldn't risk harming your body! Don't get me wrong. I'm not treating you like a princess, but I worry for your safety since you're carrying a new member of our family... It's just best to take precautions, clear?"
Gray frowned for he didn't get to retort because it was already answered and that Natsu clearly said it was best to take precaution for you'll never know, which is of course correct. However, how are they going to manage financially? That would mean Natsu will have to work harder to obtain cash. Gray was about to say something, but Natsu already started.
"As to how you're going to give birth... You got me there, I don't know how, but I think that everything will go by fine. So don't worry about it yet." giving out bright smile.
Gray could only give back a small nod to that, but still spoke the main problem.
"How are you going to provide the money? It's not like there's two of you. Plus, whenever we go to missions, it was to help Lucy with her debts. Since she doesn't know about this, are you planning to keep on going to quests?"
Natsu thought for a moment.
"... Well then, why don't we just tell the whole guild then?" he said, smiling brightly as though it was the most brilliant plan ever.
Gray exclaimed.
"He'll no! I don't want people to think like I'm some sort of-"
"They won't. They're family Gray." Natsu interrupts sternly in which Gray stopped.
Natsu sighed as he caresses Gray's hair.
"Gray, it will be fine... Trust me, alright?" Gray gave a small nod.
"Alright, then let's-" Natsu was interrupted by Gray's "Wait!"
"What?" he questions.
"... Can we wait just a bit longer? I don't think I'm ready yet..."
Natsu nodded in understanding, and then said.
"How about until the Magnolia Festival?"
"2 weeks from now?" Gray questioned.
"Yeah, that should be enough time right?" smiling again.
Gray only nodded slowly.
"I guess."
They took in another comfortable silence, until Natsu started again.
"Hey Gray?"
"Hmm?" he responded tiredly.
"..." thinking on whether he should ask or not.
"What is it?" the other asks impatiently.
"... That is my kid right?"
There was some silence, until Gray elbowed him, making Natsu groan.
"I-I was kidding!" Natsu said clutching his stomach.
"Not funny." Gray states slightly pissed now.
"Sorry." Natsu apologized.
"How could you even ask that?" Gray exclaimed; anger was visible in his tone.
"... It slipped." was all Natsu could say, in which Gray stood up to face Natsu and gave him another hit; on the head this time, receiving another pained groan from Natsu.
"If it wasn't for the fact that I love you, I would've murdered you by now!"
Natsu laughed lightly.
"Sorry, sorry. I love you too Gray." hugging Gray's waist and looked up at him, smiling one of his best smiles.
Gray couldn't help, but forgive and smile back at Natsu.
-2 weeks later- The Magnolia Festival
Upon their arrival at the guild, they've been instantly been greeted by the gang being Lucy, Erza, Happy along with Wendy and Juvia.
"Hey Gray! I haven't seen you for a long time." Lucy greeted along with an
"It's been a while" from Erza, a
"Long time no see Gray!" from Happy,
"Good to see you again!" from Wendy and finally an
"I've missed you so much Gray-sama!" from of course, Juvia.
"It's good to see everyone too!" Gray responded with Natsu beside him.
Juvia shamelessly cling herself to Gray and whined.
"Gray-sama!"
This just slightly caught on Natsu's nerves. Even when married, Gray is still being constantly hit on by women and some men. Being the husband, of course he wouldn't let them go near Gray, and even if they do, he would give out an aura saying 'He's mine!' or 'Hands off!'. Right now however, Juvia was pushing it.
Honest to god was she abscessed with Gray, even now. It had been hard for Natsu because he would be targeted to be destroyed or hurt by Juvia. Luckily, Gray noticed and warned Juvia that if he was hurt, then she would be dealing with him now. It was a tough relationship since there was a lot of interference from people to tear them apart... A lot!
Though Gray being kind to women, he was oblivious to their main goal, until he was told, took a hint or he went by his instincts. Really, Natsu had it tough.
"What's wrong Juvia?" Gray asked, completely oblivious to her advances in the touching.
"Gray-sama, I haven't seen you in a long time. What happened?" Juvia whined, gripping more firmly.
"Well, the thing is-" before Gray could say so, Natsu pulled Gray out of Juvia's grip and said.
"We're going to have another member in the family!" earning a glare from Juvia in which he glared back as he embraced Gray protectively.
Gray could only blink at the action and questioned.
"What's wrong Natsu?"
There was an unseen spark war between Natsu and Juvia after Natsu had answered.
"There's nothing Gray. I just wanted to embrace you."
In which Gray only replied an unsure.
"Oh, okay." as he only felt some uncomfortable force happening.
"... You mean." One of the girls interrupted.
"Yeah, that's right! We're going to have a kid in the family now." Natsu cheered, now out of the war with Juvia... for now.
"Oh! Congratulations!" from Lucy, Erza, Wendy and Happy as Juvia gaped in shock screaming in her head. 'A kid?'
"So you guys are ready to adopt a kid huh." Erza states logically.
"... No we're not adopting." Gray responded with a pause.
"Huh? Then how are you going to get a child then? Though if you were a woman then it... would be... easy... Omg! Are you planning to get a sex change or something?" Lucy suddenly came to such an assumption in which a "Hell no!" was exclaimed by the couple, appalled with the idea.
"Oh, then how then?" Wendy questioned innocently.
"Well, you see... I-I'm pregnant..." Gray stated with slight hesitation.
Silence filled the air, until a "What!" was exclaimed with great shock from all of them.
"Are you serious?" Erza asked seriously, not finding it funny if it were a joke.
"Yeah he is." Natsu answered seriously too.
Erza then came up to Natsu.
"If I find that you're treating him wrongly in anything whatsoever, I will mutilate you!"
"I understand, Erza." Natsu gulped for Erza was really scary with her threats.
Happy interrupted them to ask.
"Are you really serious, Natsu?"
"Yes, I'm sure Happy. Don't worry so much." Natsu reassured, patting his blue friend.
'Natsu is going to be a father now! Wow!' was all Happy thought, proud of his best friend.
Then a "Wow! Congratulations!" from Lucy, Wendy and Happy was exclaimed cheerfully.
"Thank you." Gray stated with a smile as Natsu was smirking at Juvia who was giving him a glare for 'tainting' 'her' Gray-sama.
Yet another war between Natsu and Juvia starts again, but it came to an abrupt stop when Lyon, Hibiki and Loki came in. Instantly, Natsu went on protective mode on Gray because he knew that these three had a thing for Gray. Gray on the other hand didn't and so he walked up to them, especially to Lyon who was like a brother to him and greeted him.
"Lyon! It's been a long time, what are you doing here?"
"Well, I came to check up on you... That Natsu guy isn't giving you trouble is he?" Lyon stated the last part darkly.
"Natsu? No he hasn't. In fact, he's been taking good care of me. So I'm fine." Gray answered until his attention was caught by Hibiki who held his hand and a rose appears in front of him.
"This is for you, Gray." in which Gray was reluctant to accept and gave an "Uh... Thanks?" for the sudden action.
An even more sudden action was when Loki placed an arm around Gray and led him to a table to sit. This earned the other a "Hey!" from Natsu, Juvia, Hibiki and Lyon.
"Hey Gray, it's been a long time. How have you been?" Loki asked ignoring them.
"Oh, I'm doing fine." Gray answered back; again he was a bit hesitant.
Everyone knew that Gray can't tell if he was being hit on or people who had their eyes on him. He was simply and innocently oblivious to all this unless it was really, as in really obvious. This scared Natsu greatly and needed to protect Gray quickly. He swiftly ran to the table unnoticed and instantly sat beside Gray to interrupt their conversation.
"Well how about you Loki? How've you been?"
Loki gave him a fake smile.
"Oh, I've been doing great!" he then grabbed Gray's hand to put a brief kiss on it and added.
"Although, now it became much better now that I'm with you." looking into Gray's eyes.
Gray could only blink a few times, unconsciously retrieving his hand and then stared at him.
"You... do know that I'm married right?"
Loki blinked.
"Why of course I do. I was there after all." he didn't realize that he was putting fire into oil.
"Then why are you hitting on me? In front of my husband at that." he asked darkly.
He was not one in going to affairs or be caught with another man or woman. He was simply a loyal lover, true to the other. Sure there may be doubts here and there, but the love he has for the other will never fade no matter what. That's how true Gray was and Natsu could never be happier to have him by his side for all eternity.
Loki stuttered, now scared.
"W-w-well, I-I was-"
"I am happily married if you must know." he interrupted with a menacingly cold glare.
The rose he was holding turned into ice and then he gripped it hard causing it to crumble into tiny little pieces. Loki was now scared of what might happen to him, so he ran for his life. Gray wasn't just going to let him go that easily and summoned ice hammers to fall on him.
As this scene occurred, Erza, Wendy, Lucy and Happy muttered in unison to themselves.
"Gray sure is popular." and the rest of the guys, including Natsu all thought.
'He slipped up.'
They decided not to interfere with it and just watched from a table. Natsu only sighed and yet gave a small smile. He didn't have to worry about Gray being taken away from him for their love was too great for that to ever happen. Although, Natsu still has to protect Gray from some of them either way. He was an overprotective husband of course... he just wish that nothing too great of a danger would happen to them.
Lyon was keen in observing and asked Natsu.
"What happened to Gray?" which earned him a "huh?"
He elaborated.
"I mean, Gray is much slower than before and he seems to be tired from every time he summons up his magic."
Natsu then remembered that Gray was pregnant; he was so caught up with the competition that he forgot about it. Instantly, he stood up and walked towards Gray. He then embraced Gray for him to stop and dragged him to sit beside him. Gray was confused, until Natsu states with a serious and firm tone.
"You shouldn't use magic in your condition. It's not healthy to waste your energy."
Gray only nodded in understanding, but this wasn't unnoticed by Lyon who caught up with the word 'condition' and immediately asked in concern.
"What condition? What's wrong with him?" all attention aimed at Natsu.
"I swear if you did something bad to him, then I'll-"
"Wait, Lyon. Take it easy, it's nothing bad." Gray interrupted quickly, calming Lyon even just a tiny bit.
"Alright, then what is it?" asked impatiently by Lyon who was still glaring at Natsu.
Natsu ignored the glare and stated after taking a deep breath.
"Gray is... pregnant."
"..." was their response to the people who still didn't know at their table.
"Can you guys seriously stop being all shock from this? It's only making Gray nervous you know."
Everyone took into consideration at what Natsu said, and quickly apologized to Gray.
"Sorry. It's just so..." Lyon couldn't find the right word to describe it.
"Unusual? I know." Gray finished for him.
"But it's not like we'll hate you or anything. In fact, because you're pregnant, you're probably going to be treated as any pregnant women should be treated."
Gray sighed exasperated.
"I know that. I wish you guys wouldn't, but it can't be helped."
"Are you going to let the rest of the guild members know?" Loki asks as he was now okay from being killed by Gray.
"... I'm tired though." Gray mumbled as he looks to Natsu and added.
"Can you do it for me?"
Natsu nodded.
"When do you want it?"
"I guess now is okay. I'm 2 months pregnant after all." Gray answered and then asked anyone if he could have something cool to drink.
Wendy volunteered and left to get a glass of water as Natsu nodded before going to stand up on an empty table to announce the news. Gray's face flushed at his husband's actions.
'Seriously? So embarrassing."
Natsu shouted.
"Hey, everyone. Listen up!" instantly getting everyone's attention.
"Oh Natsu, what's up?" Macao asked, and was then followed by Levy.
"Is this important, Natsu?"
Natsu nodded as he smiled.
"Gray and I are finally going to have a kid of our own!"
"Ooooh! Congratulations!" they all cheered and exclaimed.
Lucy stated to Natsu as she sweat dropped at the scene.
"Um, Natsu. I don't think they'll get the message that Gray's pregnant from that."
"Really?" Natsu asked, scratching his head.
Everyone that knew did an anime fall with the exception of Gray who sighed as he took another sip from his glass.
"Ok. I'll just say it then." He turned back to the rest of the guild members and was about to yell out that Gray is pregnant, but he instantly asked with a question.
"When are you planning to adopt?" Levy asked, in which Natsu thought was a good opportunity to let out the truth in a subtle manner.
Even though it wasn't really his style, but for Gray, he'd do it.
"We're not adopting."
"Eh? Then how are you getting a child? Giving birth to one?" Cana exclaims.
"Actually, yes we are! Well, Gray is." Natsu answered back, getting some silence in return.
A loud "WHAT?" could've made anyone deaf in an instant as the all of the guild members screamed.
Natsu spouted angrily.
"Pipe down will you! You're all going to give Gray a headache."
"I already have one." Gray mumbled under his breath as he rested his head on the table.
Now that the rest of the guild knew, Gray didn't need to hide anything anymore. He felt relief wash over him and smiled at the thought. They all congratulated him and were planning to have a party in his honour, but Makarov had told all of them that they still needed to prepare for the festival. They could have the party afterwards, but right now, everyone should be busy making the preparations. Everyone grumbled and whined, but agreed nonetheless and promised Gray that they would still have a party for him. Gray smiled and was glad that he joined this guild.
He made a motion for Natsu to get down from the table and come over to sit beside him. Natsu saw this and did so, now sitting beside Gray. He began to caress raven hair locks before asking.
"Relieved?"
Gray nodded in a hum.
"Mh-hmh."
Natsu kissed the other's forehead.
"Good. Now rest, you must be tired."
Gray looked up at him sleepily.
"I am, but I'm still going to help the others set up for the festival."
"Alright, but you're not allowed to use too much of your energy. Deal?"
Gray pouted, but didn't retort back with defiance.
"Alright, fine."
Natsu smiled.
"Now rest."
Though this has been sweet and all, what they all didn't know was that someone has been watching them. Someone powerful was watching them in the shadows by the pillar, giving out a dark aura. Natsu noticed something felt wrong and quickly turned his head towards the pillar. He saw a faint figure instantly vanish. He thought that he may have been imagining things because of his overprotective nature, but oh how wrong he was going to be.
Finally chapter 3 is up. With the exams coming up and ISUs and studying and my birthday that might be cancelled and tests too... It's hectic I tell ya! It'll probably take a while again to update because I'm simply too busy T^T
I don't want to be busy... sigh...Well, on with the usual! Ideas and comments are welcome! ~ =^w^=
[...I just realize that I cut off Wendy here on the first try, so now it's edited! I tried to make Happy say "Aye!" but I failed because it didn't seem to fit the scene... =^~^=]
Plus! Thank you guys so much for your comments for this story! I really appreciate it!
I try really hard to be in the mood to write and come up with things! So I'll try hard again for the next chapter! Onward!
{Added Note: This is edited again. The next chapter will be on edit too. I'm not making that much big of a change, but it will probably somehow affect how the mood of the story will flow... I think.}