Chapter Twenty-One
Twin Turmoil
-3 weeks later-
"Mom!"
"Hello Mother. How was your day?"
'Still gotta get use to that.' Fuyu thought as she walked into the cabin that was owned by Master Bob of Blue Pegasus. She smiled at Sting and Rouge but then tilted her head in confusion.
"Why are there exceed eggs in my house?" Yep she learned about them from Mystogan. Today was the last time she saw him. But that was a diffrent story for a another time.
"You know what they are, Mother?" Rouge questioned, surprise etched into his red eyes. Fuyu nodded and started walking towards her room. "Cmon kiddos. Follow me."
"That's an exceed. His name is Happy."
Fuyu had the two boys on either side of her while they looked in a scrapbook. All of the people surrounding Fuyu in all of the pictures looked lively and carefree. Like the picture they were looking at now was of a boy with spiky pink hair and of Fuyu when her hair was shorter and she had a rounder face. In between the two was a small blue cat who was...flying?
"So exceeds are flying...cats." Rouge finalized and Fuyu laughed with a nod.
"Who's that, Ma?" Sting pointed at Natsu and Fuyu smiled softly. "That's my little brother, Natsu Dragneel. He's a Dragon Slayer as well. He's the Fire Dragon Slayer. Im water by the way. Boy did we get into some fights back in the day. I remember one time we fought so hard, part of the ceiling in the guild took two months to be fixed." Fuyu chuckled at the memory and they urged her to keep showing pictures. She turned pages and introduced the kids to new people that they have never ever dreamed of meeting. Like the Titania, she called her older sister. She also explained that Erza Scarlet and Natsu werent her real siblings, they were just that close.
Then they got to the page with the Raijinshuu Tribe. Sting said that Rouge and Fried might be long lost brothers because of their serious looks. Rouge rolled his eyes and Fuyu giggled. Looking lovingly of the old picture, her finger gently traced the outlines of the people.
She remembered that day clearly. It was one of the happiest yet simpler moments of her entire exsistance.
-Flashback-
"It doesnt have to be a photo shoot but I want a picture of us all together!"
Fifteen year old Fuyu growled as Bixlow and Laxus continued to play on the X-Box.
"Man even in the video game world I can kick your ass!" Laxus called over to Bixlow as the mask man let out a yell of anger. "You see my controller aint workin man! See look!" He pressed a button to demonstrate, and in fact his controller wasnt working, but Laxus just laughed it off. "Naw, it was working two seconds ago when you had the upperhand. Where yo game at, bitch? Where ya game at?"
Evergreen and Fried chuckled as Fried read a book and Evergreen painted her toes and looked over a magazine. Fuyu smiled then and stomped over in front of the tv. Laxus and Bixlow immediately turned to look on the side of her.
"Would you get your ass away from the screen. I cant see nothing!" Laxus demanded and Bixlow agreed with a grunt. Fuyu just kept smiling and summoned a ball of water directly over the gaming system. Laxus and Bixlow froze in terror.
"That's not the only thing you wont see if we dont take this damn family photo. Now!" She seemed to roar the last word and it scared the bejeesuz out of everyone. Even the powerful lightning mage felt a little shaken. It was as if Fuyu had Mira's power as the "She-Devil".
-End of Flashback-
After putting Rouge and Sting to bed, Fuyu yawned and picked up one exceed egg. She deposited that one next to Sting's bed and went back to the living room. She was about to pick up another when a hand tugged on her skirt.
"I would have gotten them both there with no problem at all, Mother."
Fuyu smiled softly and kissed her 'son' on the cheek. Rouge blushed but picked up the remaining two eggs with his shadows. Fuyu smiled and followed as he put the egg he picked next to his bed and then walk to Fuyu's new room and deposited her egg in the corner. "Thanks baby." Rouge just smiled softly and muttered a quick goodnight.
Fuyu sighed and went to her room. Closing the door and locking it she called Gramps for her weekly check in. A few seconds where the communication lacrima stirred and the Makarov popped up. "Good evening, child. How are you?" Fuyu nodded with a peaceful smile and waved. "Im doing well. Appearently im the mother of two boys now along with a baby on the way." The confusion was plain set on the Master's face and Fuyu went to explaining about the incident with the homeless boys and how they all grew closer in over a week. An affectionate gleam entered her eyes when she talked about them. Makarov shook his head with a warm smile. He knew out of her and Erza, she would be the motherly type. Now that Lissana was back though, it was obvious Fuyu would go to her with children advice. Lissana was just that warm.
In the other room Sting and Rouge sat on the floor and held their giant 'exceed' eggs.
"She really likes us?" Sting murmured, not quite believing. Rouge hesintantly nodded. "I...think so." He replied, remembering the goodnight kiss on the cheek and how weird but...natural and good it felt. To be loved. Ever since Skiadrum passed, he forgot what it was liked to be cared for. To be worried for. He had to admit it was a strange yet good feeling.
Sting on the other hand was in turmoil. He had grown to love Fuyu to quickly as a motherly type figure simply because he never had one. His mom was a drunk and his dad dead, so honestly other than Wesslogia he was lacking in the parent department. What if she up and went crazy like his mother did? What if she up and DIED like Wesslogia, his dad, did. He didnt think he could handle it.
Seconds later the door reopened. They hadnt even notice she had stopped talking to whoever she was talking to. Rouge chalked up that she was talking to her grandfather because she adressed the voice as 'Jii-Chan'.
"What are you two still doing awake? Its 11:42. And why the long faces?" They looked up at Fuyu who looked worried. "Nothin wrong Ma. Just cant sleep is all." Sting reassured and Rouge nodded. She chuckled and despite looking weak, picked the preteens up and slid them into bed. "I know the perfect remedy for insomnia! Sit tight boys." After about two minutes she came back in, a cup of steaming chamomille tea for Rouge and hot choclate for Sting. "Dont drink yet!" She demanded then exited to go to her room. Coming back in she had a plate with two cookies and a guitar in her hand. Shutting the door behind her she sat in the chair in the corner and threw a cookie to each boy. "Now you may drink." She murmured with a soft smile, tuning her guitar. They laughed and began to drink and eat as she suddenly started singing:
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Uh oh, uh oh
Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh,
And life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life, oh well
I've had just enough time.
Sting sat his cup on the nightstand. Her voice was so light an airy. It made him calm from his sudden panic attack not so long ago. No he could tell this parent would stay for as long as he needed her. With that thought he drifted off to sleep. A soft smile lit the blonde Light Slayer's face. Yea, he liked his new mommy.
And I'll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger,
I've never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holdin' my hand,
There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever,
Who would have thought forever could be severed by...
...the sharp knife of a short life, oh well?
I've had just enough time
Fuyu played her guitar lightly, keeping it carefree even though the song was tragic. Rouge was fighting sleep, not wanting the nightmares of Skiadrum to come back. He was guilty and he knew it.
Fuyu, seeing that one was asleep, stood and sat on Rouge's bed. Scooting so that he was leaning on her arm she continued:
So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts, oh, no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'
Unconciously he nuzzled closer to her and she sat the guitar to the side. Singing softly now she repeated the chorus and Rouge fell asleep. He's been trying to get closer to her than Sting but she loved them both. But she had a feeling Rouge would be the Mama's boy. Kissing both him and Sting goodnight, she grabbed the cups, plate and guitar and left the room.