A/N: I own nothing this is just for fun.

Levy craned her neck up looking into the eyes of the one and only Metallicana. The iron dragon met and held Levy's gaze before lowering his head to the ground so that he was eye level with the short solid script mage. The great dragon opened his maw so that his raspy voice could be let loose "You are either a brave one or foolish to stare down my gaze child. What gives you such confidence?" Levy blushed slightly at the question. She hesitated, looking over her shoulder into the eyes of the iron dragon slayer who had claimed her heart. Turning back to face Metallicana she once again met his gaze "I am both a fix of brave and foolish some would say. The thing that gives me confidence is that you helped raise the man that has claimed my heart. When you left you hurt Gajeel in ways that were hard to mend with him. He led a dark life until he joined fairy tail. Watching him become the caring man he is today; even though he still puts up the tuff guy act is what made me fall for him."

Metallicana was surprised to say the least. This small woman who still looked like a child was forward and brave. The dragon lifted his gazed to glare at his son as Gajeel lost it and began to laugh wholeheartedly "Gihihhi gihihi old man you should see yer face!" Gajeel was holding his sides when his father's tail smacked him upside his head. "Quite, brat. At least the blue haired one was respectful and honest" Metallicana's retort died in his throat as he heard a sweet chiming laugh. Looking down once more he saw that Levy's hand was pressed against her mouth as a quite laugh was suppressed. Metallicana finally noticed a mark on the bluenette where her shoulder and neck met. The dragon's eye widened once more. Metallicana took a gentle sniff of the air around him; he was shocked to find that not only had his son found a mate he had claimed her as well. The dragon lifted his head; eyes narrow "Brat, you have some explaining to do." Both mages went stiff and the iron dragon's tone. Gajeel walked up to stand behind Levy his arm around her shoulders. Gajeel eyes turned hard "This Shrimp here is Levy. As you can tell she is my mate. While she may be small; she is the smartest person I know. I mean she reads almost non-stop, plus she is really good with languages. She had put up with me for a while now. She may not look like an equal but in reality she surpasses me."

Levy had a look of shock on her face as well as a small blush. Metallicana threw back his head and let out a familiar "Gihihi". "Brat I could tell all that, but it was worth it seeing that look in your eyes. They are no longer haunted or dead. Your eyes, my son, are finally alive and warm. I approve of this 'Shrimp'." With that the Iron dragon leaned down and licked Gajeel from toe to head making the slayer's hair stand on end. Levy laughed once again. "Oi! What was that fore you old man" Gajeel shouted as he tried to smooth down his hair so that it was no longer strait up. Levy offered a formal bow to the great dragon "Thank you aged wise one." She said in a rough sounding draconic.

Once more Metallicana was shocked by his hatchling's small mate. Dipping his head low Metallicana bowed to Levy replying back in common tongue "Well met little one. It is refreshing to hear someone speak the old languages." Gajeel stepped up to Metallicana "Oi, Pops you gonna hang around here for a bit?" Metallicana looked over to his son. "Brat of course I am going to be around for a while again. I missed so much of your life. I do not want to miss anymore, especially now that you have the blue one to keep you in line. I do not want to miss the next few years. This cave will be my nest. Make sure you and the blue one visit often." Gajeel nodded at his father before looking over his shoulder to his mate noticing that she seemed to be fighting sleep. It made sense to him; his poor mate had been fighting a dark guild at his side earlier today. It was afterwards that Gajeel had caught the scent of his missing father before grabbing Levy's hand and taking off. Now the poor script mage was suppressing yawn after yawn. Gajeel walked back over to his mate before picking Levy up in a bridal carry so she could rest her head just under his chin and sleep. "We will back sometime soon Pops. Shrimp here has had a long day." Gajeel said as Levy began to drift off in his arms. Metallicana nodded in understanding. "Bring your fighting partner next time as well" was the soft reply of the iron dragon. Gajeel nodded with a smirk across his face. Poor Lily had been training with Erza that day and had not gone on the mission with him and Levy. "We will be back soon Pops. Levy and I have to have a long talk with the guild." The iron dragon nodded has he moved back into his cave.

~Two Weeks Later~

Levy, Gajeel, and Pantherlily were making the trek up the side of the mountain that Metallicana now claimed as his. The iron dragon could track the progress of the small group as they made their way up the mountain side. He was glad to see his son and mate again. He laughed at the banter between the three companions. Gajeel was complain that Levy had brought some books with her while Pantherlily told Gajeel to think of it as training which only lead Gajeel to say that the Shrimp should carry her own books. Metallicana shook his head the wind was in his favor and he could smell something interesting coming from the group. The iron dragon knew that he would have to wait until the trio had reached him to be sure, but he was confident that Gajeel would be eating his words later today. Metallicana chuckled as he waited for the group to reach him.

Levy was looking forward to talking with Metallicana again. The iron dragon had certainly left an impression on her, plus Gajeel seemed more at ease knowing where his father was. Pantherlily was looking forward to meeting the great dragon. Levy was worried that the iron dragon would not be able to linger long with his son. The only other dragon that was hanging around besides Metallicana was Wendy's mother. The sky dragon had already warned both Gajeel and Wendy that she and Metallicana were here on borrowed time. Levy hoped that it would be for a while yet before Metallicana left once again. She wanted to have a chance to learn about Gajeel from his father as well as learn true draconic from the iron dragon. Looking up near the summit Levy could now make out the cave and clearing where Metallicana was residing. A smile spread across her face as she turned to look at her mate and husband.

The trio reached the cave and clearing just before lunch they saw that Metallicana was outside the cave and waiting for them. Levy walked up to the iron dragon before once again formally bowing and speaking in clearer draconic than last time "Greetings wise father." Metallicana looked at the small bluenentte pride shining in his eyes. He lowered his head as a bow before speaking in common tongue "Greetings little one this wise one sees you." Gajeel walked up to his farther "Oi, Pops this here is Lily. He is my fighting partner." Metallicana looked over the small exceed before turning to Gajeel "Brat why do you keep showing me tiny beings?" There was a poof causing Metallicana to turn back where Pantherlilly had stood. Now Lily was in his battle form with his large sword resting across his right shoulder. "Believe me, Sir. Gajeel trusts the people that would shock you the most." Metallicana nodded "It seems I have spoken to soon." Gajeel chuckled at his father's shocked expression. Metallicana was not usually so animate with his expression, but Gajeel could not blame him. Levy was currently setting up the small lunch that the trio had brought with them. For Lily and Gajeel Levy had packed sandwiches piled high with six different meats, three cheeses, and some vegetables. Gajeel's sandwich also had iron bits scattered throughout. Levy had made herself a light salad; she has been feeling off for the past week. Any time she ate anything heavy her stomach became unsettled. Levy was not sure why, but she decided it would be better to eat a salad than risk becoming ill while visiting Metallicana.

Levy called to Lily and Gajeel that lunch was ready. As Gajeel walked over to Levy he raised his pierced eyebrow at her salad. "Is that all you are gonna eat, Shrimp?" Levy rolled her eyes "Yes Gajeel you know that anytime I eat anything heavy I have not been feeling well." A look of worry crossed Gajeel's face; he knew that last week before he and Lily had gone a mission Levy had not been feeling well, but he had not been back long before the trio's day trip to visit the Iron Dragon so he was unaware of his mate's persistent condition. "Wish you woulda said something a few days ago we could have asked Wendy to look ya over." Gajeel shot his father a look clearly asking if the Iron Dragon could smell what wrong with his mate. The Iron dragon gave a small almost non-existent nod of his head. Gajeel ate his lunch quietly as he pondered what could be wrong with his mate. Gajeel's nose was not much help to him right now either. Lily was quietly watching the others as he munched on his sandwich. Just as he was finishing his sandwich Levy wrote a solid script 'Kiwi' for the small exceed. Lily nodded his thanks to the blue haired mage, but then frowned as he realized that Levy was mainly just pushing her salad back and forth not really eating it. Gajeel and Metallicana noticed as well. "Shrimp since you are not feeling well why don't you and Lily head back to the town; I want to ask Pops a few things. I will head back shortly." Gajeel suggested to his mate. Levy gave a weak nod "Okay. Sorry for the short visit Metallicana I really was looking forward to it as well." Metallicana nodded his head in understanding; he did not want Gajeel to lose his mate, not when he had just found her. "It is okay little one; head on home and rest."

Gajeel watched Lily and Levy walk out of the clearing heading back towards the town at the base of the mountain. "Alright Pops, what did you notice that I did not?" Gajeel glared at his father darning him to try and withhold the information about Levy. Metallicana sighed; he did not want to be the one to reveal the new, but even the poor script mage was in the dark of her condition and that did not bode well. "Brat I really don't want to be the one to tell ya this. I think your mate should, but not even she is aware of her state." Gajeel stiffened fearing the worst; he could not lose Levy plain and simple if he lost her then he would go crazy and no one would be able to stop him in his grief. His voice cracked "What is it?" Metallicana sighed before a grin much like Gajeel's spilt his face "Your mate is gonna have her own hatchling." Gajeel froze stiff as a rock "Shrimp is pregnant? I'm gonna have a kid?" The iron dragon nodded as he watched his son carefully not sure what his son would do. Suddenly Gajeel leaped up while letting out a loud cheer. Without thinking the slayer hugged Metallicana's leg "Thanks Pops I gotta go catch up to Shrimp and Lily. We will be back before the kid is born when Levy is feeling better. So don't you dare take off before then." Gajeel said as he sprinted off after his mate and partner, Metallicana could only chuckle at his son's antics and enthusiasm.

~Four months Later~

Metallicana was once again listening as his son and mate made the journey up his temporary mountain home. The Iron dragon knew his time here was short and that this would be the most likely last time he would see his son and mate for a long while. It made the Iron dragon sad that he would not get to meet his son's offspring but he also knew it could not be helped. As the duo emerged from the brush at the edge of his clearing he chuckled as Gajeel doted on his mate; much to his mate's annoyance. "Be careful of this twig here." Gajeel's voice was low and concerned. "I see it Gajeel. I am being careful please stop hovering over me so much." Levy did not snap but the Iron dragon could tell that she was close to her breaking point. He decided to help the small blue mage out "Gajeel get over here and leave your mate be before she bites your head off." Gajeel shot his father a glare as he walked over leaving Levy's side. Levy walked slowly over to the Dragon but before she could bow Metallicana told her "Sit child. You do not have to be formal when greeting me." Levy nodded before sitting down on a blanket that Gajeel had brought with them. "How are you doing Metallicana?" The small solid script mage asked as her hand ran over the growing bump on her belly. "I am doing well. It pleases me to see that you are doing better than the last time we met." Levy smiled "I have been doing fine other than dealing with your overprotective son. This is the first time I have been anywhere other than home or the guild hall since he found out." Metallicana chuckled at the news that his son was being protective of his mate; it did not surprise him at all.

Gajeel's face had turned serious "Oi. Pops Wendy's mom left about a month ago. I have a funny feeling that you are fixing to leave again as well." Metallicana sighed he knew his son was observant but sometimes it was really annoying to the iron dragon. "Yes I have to leave next week. I was allowed to stay as long as I have because I wanted to see you and the little one again before I left." Both Gajeel and Levy look sad at the news of Metallicana's soon departure. Levy began to sniffle then fully cried as Gajeel moved to hold her in his arms. Metallicana's heart went out to his son and mate he wished he could spend more time with them, but he was still grateful to have met Gajeel's mate and see the being of his son's family. Levy was the one who asked with her broken voice "Will we ever get to see you again?" Metallicana was silent for a moment "I honestly do not know child." Levy nodded solemnly in understanding. The rest of the visit was spent making the most of the time they group had left. Gajeel decided it was time to leave when he caught Levy fighting to stay awake. With a final hug from a teary Levy and one last full body lick for Gajeel the couple said goodbye to Metallicana with the promise to always help each other no matter how rough life got for them.