Author's note: I put up a poll for the special sneak peek at the end of the chapter. I have 2 votes for The Perfect Bride already and one for Gift of the Dragon God. I will close the vote after chapter 9 has been posted. Might want to hurry. :3

Chapter 8

Discovery

(Laxus pov)

Just who in the hell does he think he is?

I called Gajeel to ask for advice on how to handle mates and he bit my head off for reasons known only to him. My ire had cooled and now I'm just curious. What in the hell was he talking about?

The train came to a stop and I rushed to leave the metal deathtrap.

I restrained myself from kissing the ground. Like all Dragon Slayers, I loathed trains and all other forms of transportation. Unfortunately, trains were necessary for traveling vast distances in a short amount of time. I could easily use my Lightning to teleport me to any mission, but then I'd have to wait for my Team. I learned early on to always have back up on an S-class mission, any mission to be honest. Never trust secondhand information. You never know what you'll face on a mission. One time, before I earned my S-class rank, I went on a mission by myself and discovered too late that the disappearing children was the work of a powerful Dark Guild. I was only able to take down most of the lower vermin. If Gildarts hadn't stumbled upon me when he did, I would have died at the hands of the Guild Master. The Dark Guild was destroyed and Gildarts left me all the reward money, telling me to always have someone at my back.

Cobra tossed his dignity aside and fell to the ground, hugging the dirty concrete and crying over solid ground. Freed, Bix, and Ever had quickly gotten used to him and didn't bat an eyelash at his strange behavior. I, however, would not allow anyone on my Team to look so pathetic. I shifted my weight to my left leg and kicked his raised posterior. "Get the hell off the ground, Bleach Boy."

After finding him chugging a bottle of bleach, that was his new nickname. Like Natsu ate fire and Gajeel ate metal, Cobra ate anything poisonous to humans. In the woods, he grabbed a venomous snake preparing to strike Ever and squeezed the venom from its fangs, chugging it down like fucking fire whiskey. As long as he was strong enough to hold his own on a mission, I didn't care how he got his power ups. However, he is no longer allowed to cook meals for my Team.

"It's a subconscious thing, okay! I said I was sorry!"

I shrugged. "Whatever. Let's get to the Guild." I stepped over his prone form and made my way through the familiar streets to my home, Fairy Tail. My Team was free to do as they pleased. Freed would take my bags to my house, at his insistence, and check the wards he put up. Bix would go home and polish his dolls. Ever would drop off her bag at Fairy Hills and check her favorite shops to see the new stocks.

Cobra decided to follow me. We weaved through the weekend shoppers. Friday was one of my favorite days, but I could do without the crowded streets. Cobra winced or chuckled every once in awhile. Probably because of that hearing ability of his. Honestly, I would hate hearing everyone's thoughts. It must get annoying.

"It does."

"Stop that!"

"Can't help it. Your thoughts are much louder than others."

I growled and observed my surroundings. Realizing what street we were on, I began to slow. When I was reinstated into Fairy Tail, I began taking this route to the Guild. At first, I told myself that I needed the exercise as it was a bit out of the way. It wasn't until I accepted my feelings that I admitted to walking this way to check in on Lucy's apartment. I woke up early every morning to open the doors with Gramps and Mira. When I came upon Lucy's apartment, I'd stop and listen as she either slept peacefully or chewed out Natsu and Happy for sneaking into her bed again. One time, I had to stand by as she cried out in her sleep. It sounded like a really bad nightmare, and I couldn't do anything to help her without arousing questions. I stood by the canal until she woke up.

I tried to sniff her out, but there were too many people on the street.

"She's not home."

I turned to my companion, who was sipping what smelled like nightshade tea through a straw. "How do you know?"

He jerked his head to the closed window. "No thoughts coming from the room that smells like her. It smells like she hasn't been here for awhile."

I glared at him. "How in the hell can you pick that up? I can't smell shit around these people."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I lived in the wild. I trained myself to home in on a single scent covered by many others. It helps with tracking prey. Lucy hasn't been here for a few weeks. Over a month if I had to guess."

I looked back up at the window. 'Why hasn't she come home? Where is she?'

"I don't know." My hand shot out and smacked him on the head. I figured out the best way to defeat him is to not think. I smirked at his hiss of pain and began rubbing the offended spot. Then he froze. "Someone wants to talk to you about Lucy."

"Who?" I was on high alert. If it was a member of a Dark Guild come to taunt me about kidnapping one of our own, I'd beat him half to death and then go after the rest of his buddies.

Cobra gestured to the alley between Lucy's home and the shop next door. "It smells like the blue haired chick. Uh… Juvia? She seems worried about Lucy."

I looped towards the shaded alley, eager for any news on my mate. Just as he'd said, Juvia was hiding in the shadows. "Juvia? Cobra said you wanted to talk to me."

She nodded and peeked out on the street. Cobra remained by the canal, keeping an eye out for our Guild members. "Juvia must apologize. Gajeel figured out that something was off and made Juvia tell him where Lucy is hiding."

"Hiding? Why would she be hiding?"

"Lucy said you two got into a fight. Lucy got mad at Laxus, so Lucy decided to go somewhere to think. Well, and to birth the baby. Gajeel called Juvia last week to give Juvia and update on Lucy…"

I was questioning her sanity when I remembered our little white lie. Lucy and I claimed to be together to get Juvia off her back. I said she was carrying my kid and to keep it a secret.

"... so Juvia thinks that Laxus and Lucy must make up. Lucy needs Laxus."

I shook my head. "I'm sorry. What was that?"

Juvia laughed humorlessly. "Laxus must be worried sick. Juvia said that Lucy is carrying twins! Juvia thinks that Laxus should go join Lucy. With Mavis using that time barrier, Lucy must be ready to pop any day now."

'Pop any day?' "What?"

"Wendy is with Lucy and Gajeel said Lucy is huge. Juvia is worried that Lucy won't survive, but then Juvia remembered that a member of Fairy Tail cannot die on Tenrou. Lucy picked a good place to give birth."

'Give birth? What the hell does she…' And then it hit me. It hit me like a bolt of lightning. Lucy is truly pregnant. My mate is pregnant and I'm not with her. I couldn't seem to wrap my head around it. We only had sex once, and that was the night I marked her as my own. I recalled the embarrassing lesson Gajeel gave me about mates and pregnancy. As a Dragon Slayer, I knew well about my inner beast. It had been moaning and banging inside its cage in my head for weeks. Gajeel said my inner beast would only impregnant its mate. All others were unworthy in its eyes. Gajeel said it wasn't impossible to conceive a child on the night of the mating, but the female had to be in heat or very fertile.

Juvia's snapped her fingers in my face. "Laxus! Juvia thinks Laxus should go to Lucy. Lucy will need Laxus when the labor begins."

A hand slapped onto my shoulder. Cobra whispered behind me, "Go to her, Laxus. Lucy needs you."

I didn't need further encouragement. Lightning encased my body to teleport me to Tenrou Island. My beast roared its excitement. I felt stupid. I've always trusted my instincts and I ignored them over probably the most important person in my life. I prayed to every deity listening that Lucy, and my kids, would be okay.

(Juvia pov)

Fairy Tail's newest member stood at the entrance of the alleyway. "Come on. Juvia. I'll walk you home."

"No no! Juvia is fine! Juvia is going to the Guild. Juvia needs to go on another mission so Juvia can avoid Mira."

The Dragon Slayer arched an eyebrow. "Alright. Want me to walk you there?"

"No. Juvia is okay walking alone."

He shrugged and offered me a wave. "Later, Rain Woman." With that, he disappeared into the shopping horde.

I crept out of the alley and rushed for the Guild. Even though Juvia is a member of Fairy Tail, she still… I still find myself wary of people.

I don't mean to be, but I cannot seem to let go of the old habits I acquired during my time with Phantom Lord. My time with Fairy Tail has made me a more open and caring person, but there are still leftover feelings of suspicion. Do they really love Juvia? Do they really accept Juvia for who she is or are they just pretending? J… I would think these thoughts and then… Lucy is there. Her kind smile and bright eyes could not hide something sinister. There is no way Lucy would ever do anything to hurt Juvia.

J…. I had heard of her past life. The girls would gossip, whenever Lucy was away, of her old life as an heiress. Mira would tell us that her father was a cold man that saw our dear Lucy as nothing but a tool. Cana whispered about how Lucy's father was prepared to sell his own daughter to a man twice her age to better his own business. I had always felt bad for Lucy. I grew up in an orphanage, so I didn't know what it felt like to have a family. But to have a father… and for him to treat her in such a way….It's as if he didn't care about her at all! He would have handed her to a man he hardly knew to make more money! What kind of person does that? If I had a child… with my Gray… I would never force them into a marriage they did not want!

My face relaxed into a soft grin.

Lucy no longer has to worry about her father and unwanted marriages. She has Laxus now. And did they make a cute couple!

Lucy by herself is very approachable. A little too approachable. Everyone and their mothers know about all the times Lucy has been kidnapped or assaulted. On many of Juvia's investigation (stalking) of Gray and his Team, Juvia has lost count of how many men have made provocative comments towards Lucy. Juv… I do not know if Lucy is ignorant of the lustful stares that follow her every movement if she chooses to ignore them. All I know is that Lucy is a very attractive woman and men notice that.

By himself, Laxus is very intimidating. I admit it. Laxus scares me. I am both terrified and in awe of him. When he walked down the street, people shied away. Men looked in envy and women gaped in lust. The truly brave would approach him for a date. But only when he appeared relaxed. The second his eyes darkened in annoyance, everyone around him took off. He exuded confidence and danger, and he knows it.

When they stand together, that night after our win at the GMG, they looked so perfect. Lucy looked so small and fragile in his arms. Holding her, Laxus was no longer the God among men. When he held her, he was a man in love. His eyes glowed with an inner light I had never seen there before. His face and form were more relaxed, knowing that he held the reason for his existence in his hands. I look back on that night and I wonder how I was the only one to see them. How had no one seen the love these two Mages radiated just by touching. Call it what you will: wishful thinking, a rose-colored view. The point is that I can see just how well Laxus and Lucy fit together. They are two halves of a whole. They complete the other, providing strength where one is weak.

How come no one else saw how he held her so gently?

How come I don't have a love like that?

I climbed up the familiar steps and opened the doors to the Fairy Tail Guild Hall. There was an explosion of cheers to welcome me home before everyone went back to their business. I nodded to those who greeted me as I made my way to the request board. Just a few mere feet from my target, a curvy body blocked my path.

"Juvia! Welcome back!"

'Shit!' "Hello Mira. It is good to see you as well. Now if you excuse Juvia…"

Her blue eyes flashed. "What's the rush, Juvia? I just want to talk!"

'Shit! Shit! Shit!' "Well, Juvia needs to go on another mission."

Fairy Tail's bartender looped an arm around my shoulders. "Come now, Juvia! You just got back from a mission yesterday! You really need to sit and relax!"

"B-b-but…"

Mira pushed me into the bar. "Oh, Juvia. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were avoiding me. I wonder what Lucy would have to say about such behavior."

'Not good! People are looking over!' "I wouldn't really know, so why don't I…"

"Looks like I'm not going to get a straight answer the easy way." The air in the room grew heavy as Mira's aura swelled and darkened. A crack appeared on her cheek and crawled up past her right eye. Her pink dress wasn't replaced with one of three battle armor, but that made her all the more terrifying in Juvia's opinion. Mira's eyes pinned Juvia to the bar. Juvia is much too scared to move. "Where is Lucy?"

Juvia shuddered at her high, cheery voice. Juvia would much rather prefer Mira's Satan Soul to this horrifying mix right here. "Juvia doesn't…"

Mira's fist came down on the bar, splintering the polished wood. If anyone wasn't focused on us, they certainly were now. "Don't lie to me, Juvia! Two months ago, you returned home alone after leaving on a mission with Lucy! You've been acting strange since then and I don't like it! Tell me where Lucy is NOW!"

"Juvia cannot tell…. Juvia is sworn to secrecy."

"If Juvia doesn't tell Mira, than Mira will hurt Juvia!"

"LUCY IS ON TENROU PREPARING TO GIVE BIRTH TO HERS AND LAXUS' BABIES! LAXUS AND LUCY HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR MONTHS BEFORE THE TENROU INCIDENT! THEY'VE KEPT THEIR RELATIONSHIP A SECRET SO MAKAROV WOULDN'T PUNISH LUCY! PLEASE DON'T HURT JUVIA!"

Outside the Guild Hall, citizens of Magnolia looked at the building in concern. The last time the Guild had been so silent was when its key members had disappeared.

Everyone inside the third Guild Hall was stunned into silence. Lucy, the Light of Fairy Tail, their little ray of sunshine, their Lucy, is pregnant. And not only is she pregnant, but she is ready to give birth to Laxus' children. Laxus: the Thunder God, the S-Class Mage, the man that raised the Thunder Palace in an attempt to take over as Guild Master… was the father of Lucy's children.

Laxus had impregnated Fairy Tail's sweet Celestial Mage.

Lucy is preparing to have Laxus' children.

A movement in the crowd was the only warning.

Erza Scarlet equipped into her Lightning Empress Armor. "I'm going to KILL HIM!"

The shocked silence was replaced with enraged chaos. None were louder than Erza and Gray. Erza was screaming about how she was going to tear Laxus apart for soiling their dearest Lucy. The air around Gray was frigid as he spat threat after threat to the absent Lightning Dragon Slayer. Mira was screaming about babies, hugging me close to her chest. I used this opportunity to cry. I silently apologized to Lucy for failing to keep her secret. I apologized for being weak.

"SILENCE!"

The crowd fell silent and focused on the current Master of Fairy Tail. The Wizard Saint deactivated his Magic and stood proud on the second floor railing.

Erza lowered her staff. "Master…"

"Why has got you all so worked up? Is there a reason for all this anger?"

Gray clenched his fist. "Laxus got Lucy pregnant! How are you not angry?"

"I am. I am angry and hurt, but not for the reasons you think. I am not angry that my Grandson took Lucy as his own. I am angry because they have kept this from me. I am hurt that they have kept their own children a secret from me. I am hurt that they would feel as if they had to keep their love secret from their own family in fear of rejection. It cuts me deeply that instead of showing support, my children get angry."

I looked over my Guildmates, their heads hung in shame. Levy crawled up onto a table and towered over the crowd. "Makarov is right! So what if Lucy is with Laxus! They are in love with each other and we should be supporting them!"

Lisanna joined her. "Laxus and Lucy are together. There is nothing we can do to change it, so we might as well cheer them on!"

Macao crossed his arms and leaned against their table. "And now that they're having kids, they're going to need a lot of help from the rest of us."

My pocket vibrated. I pulled out my communication lacrima and snuck away from the crowd. I poured a bit of Magic into the small crystal orb. Gajeel's face appeared.

"Gajeel! is Lucy alright?" I whispered into the crystal.

He shook his head. "Her water broke. Mavis estimates the kids will greet the world in less than 24 hours." He looked away from the camera. "Gotta go, Juvia."

"Wait!"

The lacrima cleared. I was too late. I pocketed the crystal and returned to the main Hall. The members of Fairy Tail were cheering about something or another. I rushed past them and up the stairs. "Master! I got a call from Gajeel. Lucy's water broke!"

His eyes widened and gleamed with joy. He whistled for the Guild's attention. "Listen up, brats! I've just been informed that Lucy's water has broken!"

Cana slammed her mug down. "Well what are we still doing here? Those two ditzy blondes need us now more than ever!"

The Guild cheered wildly.

Makarov smiled down a his children. "Jet! Go fetch Porlyusica and meet us at the station! We might need her!"

"On it!" The Speed Mage tore out of the Guild.

Makarov jumped off the railing and landed on the bar. "To the train station!"

The members of Fairy Tail released a ground shaking cheer and raced after their Master.

(Gajeel pov)

It certainly was an interesting week. Mavis would pop in on me every so often to give her report on Lucy. Inside that little barrier of hers, already 13 weeks have passed for Lucy. Mavis estimated that the babies would be coming in just a few short hours. Natsu was out running patrol around the island. I could have done fine on my own, but the little idiot decided to leave the barrier while it was still active. I found out secondhand that leaving a time-speeding barrier causes severe nausea. Natsu spent an hour throwing up and another hour lying still. Every move he made had him puking all over again. I took sick pleasure in kicking his legs and arms and watching him empty his guts of food and bile. After the nausea passed, he moved to rejoin Lucy. Mavis told him that entering the active barrier would be even worse than leaving it.

Not wishing for another round of up chuck, Natsu volunteered to help me protect Lucy from the outside. Since Happy was still inside and keeping Lucy company, I also rubbed the fact that I had my exceed companion in his face. Lily and I would scour the island from the air while Natsu had to trek through the vegetation and climb the rocky hills. Lily and I would always finish early and move his stuff around the camp. Lily and I would bite our lips to keep from laughing as Natsu scratched his head like an idiot, wondering why his stuff wasn't where he put it. The moron claimed that his shit was moving by itself.

Messing with Fire Breath has become my new hobby.

A few days into our forced companionship, Lily and I noticed a few odd things about Natsu. One; the way he stared at the barrier was creepy as shit. The possessive look in his eyes scared me. Two; one night, Lily and I were talking about Lucy and her two growing tikes when Lily asked me who the father was. Natsu shot up from his bed roll and stalked off into the trees. Curious, I followed him in my Shadow form. I maintained a healthy distance as he obliterated a portion of the forest, muttering under his breath about teaching Laxus a lesson and how stupid he was for touching his Lucy. I knew Salamander had an addiction to Lucy. I could never figure out why. I first thought that he hung all over her because he was taught nothing about personal space. I thought he was always saving her because she was his friend and he'd do the same for anyone else. Thinking back to that night, I started realizing he was obsessed with Fairy Tail's Celestial Princess. And it scared me.

I was broken out of my reverie by the ghost of the first Master. "Hello, Gajeel."

"Hey. How's Bunny?"

"Her water broke. I estimate that she will be in labor by early tomorrow morning."

I spat the water I had just sipped from my canister. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly." Mavis looked around the camp, noting Lily and Natsu's sleeping forms. The dawn had yet to rise and I was going to be awake for it seeing as I had morning watch. "I'm going to take down the barrier so you and Natsu can help Wendy. When Lucy goes into labor, I'll need you and Natsu to patrol the tent and chase off any predators attracted by her screaming and the scent of blood."

I nodded, "Lucy will never be safer than she is now."

"Good. I'll drop the barrier now if you want to say anything to her." She vanished along with the barrier. What used to be the wild sounds of nature was interrupted by a woman's heavy breathing and a young girl's soothing voice.

I entered the tent, overwhelmed by Lucy's scent of strawberries and crisp night air with just a hint of blood. As my nose became acclimated to my new environment, I detected Wendy's mountain air and orchid scent coating everything. I walked to the back room where the breathy whimpers originated. I stepped through the door to find Lucy curled in pain.

"Hey Bunny. Ready to pop out those kids?"

She choked out a laugh. "I am so ready to get them out of me! I can't wait to see my feet again!"

I chuckled, "I can't wait to see my new niece and nephew."

Lucy smiled up at me. "What? Looking forward to playing with someone as immature as you? Don't you have Natsu for that?"

"Gihee! Nah, I just wanna spoil them! I'll be the best uncle ever!"

Lucy winced in pain again. "As long as they don't come home repeating those swear words you're so fond of, I don't care what you do to have fun with them. Except candy! I don't want you pouring sugar down their throats. If that happens, you get to tuck them into bed."

Wendy giggled. "I can't wait to dress them up in cute little outfits! Do you think one of them will be a Celestial Mage like you?"

Lucy relaxed into her bed. "I hope so. As long as they're happy, I wouldn't care if one was a Perfume Mage and the other a Memory Make."

All three of us shuddered at the mention of the Perfume Mage of Blue Pegasus. Rufus of Sabertooth wasn't that bad, but he could be a real dick. "Yeah, let's hope that doesn't happen." I coughed. "Well, I'm gonna get Fire Freak to help me keep the beasties away from camp."

Lucy and Wendy beamed at me. "Good luck, Gajeel!"

I waved and made my way out. I stopped in the door frame and addressed Lucy. "Stay strong, Bunny." I didn't leave until she nodded.

Mavis is right. The blood and screams of a woman in labor will attract unwanted attention. Me, Lily, and Match Dick are the only defense Lucy has. One slip up, one mistake, one sneaky bastard could be the end of Lucy kids. A marked Fairy can't die on Tenrou, but they can feel pain. And Lucy's kids don't have a Guild mark. I swore to protect Lucy to the best of my ability and beyond.

As long as I still breathe, no harm shall come to Lucy or her heirs.

Four hours later, Natsu and I had begun our patrols when Mavis appeared beside me. "Wendy says that her... opening has dilated and the contractions are becoming frequent and evenly spaced. I won't be much longer."

"What the… I thought you said it would happen tomorrow!"

Her smile didn't slip. "When I told you her water broke, another day or so passed for Lucy. The barrier was still up. Why do you think she was breathing heavily when you visited her?"

I took a deep breath. "Thanks for letting me know. I'll tell Lily and Match Dick when they get back."

Mavis nodded and vanished. I pulled out my communications lacrima and contacted Juvia. When she answered, I could detect muted chattering in the background. I guessed she was in the Guild. I told her that Lucy was ready to pop when I noticed a streak of lightning in the sky. "Gotta go, Juvia." I cut the flow of Magic and got to my feet. I took my place in front of the tent and waited for the S-Class Mage to hit the ground so I could beat him into it. Not a few seconds later, the loud crack of thunder announced the presence of a powerful Mage. The lightning struck the ground and faded, leaving the towering form of Laxus Dreyar. The determination in his storm grey eyes both annoyed and scared me. The annoyance was consumed by total fear when his eyes landed on me and flickered to a slitted orange.

This is not Laxus Dreyar, S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail.

This was no longer Laxus, friends of Freed, Evergreen, and Bickslow.

This wasn't even a man.

No.

This is a Dragon Slayer eager to reunite with his pregnant Mate and will destroy anything that gets in his way.

I am currently blocking his path.

The only warning of the attack was a loud growl.

Another bites the dust! I love Queen. Hope you guys loved this. Who is fucking excited about Laxus' arrival? And just in time for the delivery! Let me tell you guys, I was bouncing in my seat while writing this chapter. No kidding! I was bouncing and giggling like a loony. I'm sure it'll be worse when I write the actual birth and Lucy reuniting with the Guild.

I have gotten a few questions about the story options, mostly for The Perfect Bride. To answer your question, FTfan20,I am leaning towards Laxus. If you want, I can make one of the options a GaLu story. There aren't enough of those. I am open to suggestions. Seriously, though, I need them. You have an idea, throw it at me. I'll dedicate the entire story to you and love you forever.

The poll for the sneak peek is up. Vote away, my lovelies! When Night Falls is pretty cool. Who wants to guess what Lucy dirty little secret is?

-SPN :3