Chapter 3: Fear and Consequences

We had been gone for two months. The mission we had been requested for was on an island just outside of Fiore. We ended up having to destroy a dark guild and stop them from doing some sort of ritual. The biggest thing though was that our employers had been the magic council, and I'm certain we all know just how much they hate Fairy Tail. Maybe they only hate us so much because we always end up bailing them out of tight spots.

Part way through our mission I had started having problems with my magic and ended up having to rely on my whip to fight. At first we all believed that it was the magic of one of the mages from the dark guild interfering with my own. Actually the rest of the team still believes that, but after missing something the last couple months I know it's something else. It ended up making me remember that we hadn't used any protection that night, and I'm pretty sure that I'm now caring the great grandchild of Master Makarov and the child of Laxus. Being on a mission though made it so that I couldn't check and I was somewhat afraid of checking and confirming what I feared.

Not wanting to dwell on what I would do I fought with my team allowing them to believe it was the effect of the dark mage's magic. If I told them I believed I might be pregnant they wouldn't let me fight, and I didn't need Erza trying to hunt down the father, or trying to drag his name out of me. So instead I just fought with my whip and took out quite a few of the members that way. Even after we had taken them all out though we needed another two weeks to dispel the magic circle that they had been using for their ritual, I think the only reason our team was requested was due to the fact that part of the reward was a strange ruby colored key.

Lisanna worked quite well with our team with her various take-overs, and I could see that Erza and Gray agreed with my idea to add her to both teams. Plus she kept Natsu's destruction to a minimum making it so we got our full reward again. Then again it could have just been because the island the dark guild had been using was uninhabited other than them, and so it didn't really matter if we destroyed anything or not.

The ruby key though was strange. I had never once heard of a ruby colored key, and since I couldn't really summon Crux to ask what it was I couldn't contract it. Not that I would have been able to with my magic on the fritz anyway. So I was clueless to whose key I had found at the moment.

The reward was 6 million jewels meaning each of us got a million. That meant I had at least a year's rent with some to spare, although two months would be used right away, but I wasn't sure if I should start looking for a new apartment or not so I couldn't use the spare money for shopping. My current apartment was fine with just me, but if I confirmed that I was pregnant that meant I would have to find a two bedroom apartment, so that my child could have a room of his or her own. I also didn't know how I was going to do jobs once I started showing more, or after my baby was born.

At the moment we were being given a ride off the island to Hargeon by the Rune Knights who were going to drop us off on the way to put the prisoners behind bars. They hadn't brought them to jail sooner because they needed them there just in case we were unable to dispel the magic circle. Natsu had a private cabin with a window, so that we didn't have to watch him throwing up any more. Lisanna was in with him probably soothing his hair back for him and trying to lull him to sleep.

The best thing about this job though was that I was finally able to convince Erza and Gray that I didn't have feelings for Natsu. Being on an island alone with our team for two months, although the Rune Knights were close by, and so was the dark guild, had finally let them see that I was truly happy for the new couple. Apparently they realized I was too happy for them and that it was impossible for me to have feelings for Natsu and be as happy for them as I was. Happy had even stopped saying his punch line and rolling his tongue at me, since Natsu was with Lisanna, and he knew for a fact that I would never feel that way for Gray.

Finally the port of Hargeon came into view and I felt a flicker of dread. Now that we were close to the town I had no reason to not either see a doctor or get a test done. I was afraid though of what would end up happening. It's not like I could tell Laxus that he is going to be a father because he didn't even remember us sleeping together. Plus as far as Laxus knew I only felt friendship for him, and the rest of the guild still believed that we got on each other's nerves. How was I supposed to tell him that I had slept with him when he was drunk, even if he had started it, and that we hadn't used protection leading to me getting pregnant? For all I know he might end up thinking I was purposely trying to trap him. There is no way I can tell Laxus that he's going to be a father and ruin our friendship.

For a moment I wondered if it would be better if I left the guild, but then realized that would make me look guilty. If I left and they found out later on that I left because I was pregnant they might end up thinking I left because the baby was Natsu's since most of them were too stubborn to realize that Natsu and I would never get together, especially now that he and Lisanna are together. No leaving would make me look guilty, and besides Fairy Tail is my family if I am going to have a child I know they will support me. Even if they end up being mad at me because I won't reveal who the father is.

Maybe it's wrong that I don't want to tell Laxus the truth, but it's better for him this way. I could never be the type of girl who he will end up falling for and wanting to marry, and if Master found out Laxus was the father he would force us to get married. I couldn't take away Laxus's chance at finding his soul mate. Just because he was imbedded with the lacrima and not taught by a real dragon didn't mean he wouldn't have a mate like the rest of the dragon slayers. Lisanna was Natsu's, Levy was Gajeel's, Romeo was Wendy's, and if I was right then Yukino was Sting's. If Laxus was married with a child and then found his mate he wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Laxus would be too honorable to ask for a divorce and even if I asked for one he would probably refuse.

The more I thought about it the more I knew that it was best for him to not tell him anything. Plus it was best for me. I might have feelings for Laxus, but it would kill me if I was forced to marry him and see him turn bitter towards me. Plus I could never put a child of mine threw knowing that their father doesn't love them. I had a terrible childhood after my mother died because my father couldn't coup with her loss, and I just couldn't take the risk that Laxus would resent our child for bringing us together like that.

"Lucy are you alright?" Erza asked sneaking up from behind me and almost making me tumble off of the boat before I grasped onto the railing.

Putting as bright of a smile on my face as I could I turned to face her. "I'm fine just can't wait to be home. These long missions make me think back to when we lost seven years, and it makes it so that I don't really like going away from the guild for too long." It was the truth, but a lie at the same time since it wasn't what I had been thinking about at all.

"Yes I get that way too sometimes. It makes my skin itch just thinking about how the S-Class trials are coming up again. Master postponed them last year since we were still recovering from the time loss, but I am certain he will do them again this year," Erza replied smiling down at me as she looked out towards the port.

Thinking about the S-Class exams I blanched worried about if I would be a competitor or not. I'll need to confirm my pregnancy as soon as possible because there was no way I will compete if I am pregnant. My mom had a few miscarriages and it could be a family thing, so I wasn't going to risk my future child's life by competing in a competition that could end up with me taking a hit in the stomach and damaging if not killing my baby.

As I thought about it I realized it would be suspicious without an accurate excuse so I decided to use my magic as a means of escape. "I think I'm going to tell Master when we get back that I'm not going to compete this year even as a partner," when Erza went to interrupt I held up my hand to stop her, "we don't know how long my magic will be on the fritz so it's safer for me not to."

"Hmm that is true. Maybe you should see Porlyusica when we get back she might be able to figure out what sort of spell they used," Erza told me her face oddly serious. "Until you are healed it might also be better for you to not go on any missions for a while, we don't need to worry about you if your magic acts up well we are on a job."

I looked at Erza in relief glad that she was stating the things I knew I had to do. I never agreed that it was the dark mages who had hit me with a spell, but I wasn't going to tell her it wasn't a spell at all. Plus I had told her with my magic on the fritz it was safer if I really was pregnant it would be on the fritz until I gave birth. She had also given me a really good idea no one knew if a dragon slayer had ever had kids, so who knew if there magic could have bad side effects when pregnant. Besides my baby would technically be Porlyusica's great-grandchild although I think I'm the only one who knows that she is Ivan's mother.

"Thank you Erza, seeing Porlyusica is probably the best thing to do," I told her giving her a one armed hug. How disappointed would Erza be with me when she found out I was pregnant? Maybe I haven't confirmed my condition yet, but I knew without a doubt that I had to be pregnant even if two months was a little early to be experiencing magic glitches. If I wasn't pregnant then the magic glitches would mean something a lot worse, and I can't let my mind wonder there right now.

A few hours later I was back home in Magnolia having left my team behind. Erza and I had decided it would be best not to tell them where I was going because we didn't want to worry them prematurely. So she had headed to the guild to give our mission report to Master, and I had headed to Laxus's place since after that finding Porlyusica's place was a cinch. I was certain that he had to visit her often considering that the trail to her place always seemed well kept even in the winter time I had seen the foot prints leading from the edge of the forest to the heart of it where her cabin was.

"Back from your mission Lucy," a deep voice said just as a pair of arms encircled my waist making me jump before I recognized the voice as Laxus's.

Turning towards him I felt that familiar jolt of awareness and lust course through me, but tampered it down before he would be able to feel or smell it. I wondered if it was too early for a dragon slayer to smell pregnancy at two months, and would they be able to smell the father was well? Who knows I might not even be able to hide the truth from Laxus if they were able to smell the father from the fetus.

"Yeah there have been some problems though, so I have to go see Porlyusica," I told him.

Although I wished I hadn't when I saw that worried look cross on his face. It was odd seeing Laxus look so concerned sure we had become good friends in the last year, but I had never actually seen him worried or concerned for me. "What's wrong, what did they do to you on your mission?" he asked his voice going rough as he began to look me over trying to find any noticeable damage. A small part of me hoped that he was so concerned because he felt something more for me then friendship, but I pushed that back down and smiled at him trying to show him that I would be fine.

"My magic is just glitching out a bit, so Erza suggested I see Porlyusica to see what's wrong," I told him trying to make it sound like it was no big deal even though my whole life was about to change.

"Do you want me to go with you?" he asked looking like he was about to pick me up and carry me all the way to his grandmother's house.

Feeling terrified of Laxus hearing her confirm that I was pregnant I vehemently started to shake my head, "no, no it's fine. The effects will probably wear off quickly and the woods near her house are pretty safe," seeing Laxus look like he was about to protest I put my hand up to stop him, "I'll come see you after I'm done with her, so that you know I'm fine. Ok?"

"Fine, but if you don't you will be in big trouble Lucy," as he said that his eyes seemed to spark with his inner lightning. If it had been during the Fantasia incident that I saw that look it would have scared me, but now it made me feel warm knowing he cared so much about me.

"I wouldn't expect anything less," I told him with a smirk. "See you soon."

Waving at him I continued on the way to Porlyusica wondering if she would get mad at me for bringing my concerns to her. After all everyone knew how much she hated being bugged, and that she proclaimed to hate humans. I really think that she just hates the conflict and trouble that we tend to get into, and that she doesn't want to let herself close to anyone in case she loses them. Which is probably why most people had never put together her relationship with the Master although I'm unsure if they are still together even though they clearly care about each other a lot.

Really the walk to Porlyusica's didn't take too long, but I hesitated outside of her cabin. I was afraid of having her confirm it, or that she would make me tell her everything and tell Laxus the truth. Worse though I was afraid that she might tell the entire guild before I was ready, or just the Master that I was pregnant. Should I really trust her with who the father is when I don't know if she will keep it between the two of us? Then again with her own secrets maybe she would be more likely to understand why I don't want anyone to know.

"What do you want girl!" Porlyusica's rough voice broke out from in the woods. There was a basket filled with herbs in her hand meaning she had probably been collecting ingredients for her salves and the like. Sometimes it was hard for me to remember that she was originally from Edolas, and therefore wasn't born with magic like the rest of the mages.

Looking at her I just wanted to bolt, but knew if I did that next time Erza would escort me here to make sure I didn't chicken out. That is if Laxus wouldn't make me come back first considering that I am supposed to go to his place after this.

The usual glare was on the stern woman's face, and I had always been a little skittish around her. Something about her made me feel like she could just look inside to my very soul and discover all my secrets. Including the ones that I had buried deep down and hidden from the world for years, another reason I hated getting healed. I was worried one day that it would show up in my blood or magic, and that I would succumb to it just like my mother had afraid that the thing that had killed my mother would end up killing me as well in the end. The secret she had kept from me until her dying breath because she was praying that I would never fall victim to it.

"I need your help," I told her after what felt like hours. Being afraid wouldn't do me any good after all. Besides if anyone can help me with both my current situation and if it every awakens it would be her with her vast knowledge of healing.

With a glare she looked over me and then turned away with a huff, "nothing looks wrong with you. What could you possibly need my help with?"

Even though the woods in this area were safe from monsters I was afraid of eavesdroppers. That Laxus or someone from the guild would stumble upon us and hear what I had to say. After all it is hard to keep a secret from Fairy Tail, and the more people who know the more likely it is to come out. Truthfully I had been surprised that until the Phantom Lord incident that no one had realized what my real name was.

"Can we please talk inside?" I asked her. Maybe it was because my face was pale, or maybe because I sounded desperate but the old woman sighed and opened the door gesturing for me to come in.

Her cabin was as tiny as ever, but it also had a homey feeling to it that made it feel safe and comforting. Even if she was a grouchy old woman she could put people at ease when she's healing them.

"Now what do you want that you couldn't get from the little Sky Dragon?" she asked her rough tone softening slightly as she talked about Wendy. Even if she wasn't the dragon that had raised Wendy she still seemed to have that bond with her. I wondered if it was fate considering that relationships between our Edolas counterparts seemed mirrored in some ways even if they were vastly different in other situations.

Taking a deep breath for the first time I voiced my concern out loud, "I think I might be pregnant."

Glaring at me Porlyusica raised an eyebrow at me knowing that it wouldn't be likely that I would come to her if it was as simple as that. After all I could have gone to anyone else to confirm my pregnancy. Even if I didn't want to tell her who the father was I knew if I didn't that she would turn me away. A normal pregnancy could be dealt with by anyone and it was obvious that she wouldn't want to watch over anyone going through it unless if there were expected complications.

"If I am the father is Laxus and I'm unsure what possible ramifications that could mean since he is a dragon slayer, even if he is only one because of a lacrima."

"I didn't know you and the brat had that sort of relationship?"

"We don't it was just a onetime thing when we had both had a little too much to drink," I admitted without actually telling her that I was drunk. Maybe it is purposely misleading her, but I don't need her thinking that I am in love with her grandson.

"Hmm," she looked at me with a calculating gaze. "Get on the bed, and tell me why you believe you are pregnant."

Hearing her say that had me sighing in relief. Maybe I was hesitant to come in, but at the same time I was afraid of her turning me away, and that I would have to go to another healer old enough to understand pregnancy. The problem with that would be that after my appointment the healer or someone who accidentally overheard would probably sell the story to Sorcerer Weekly. It's strange that at one time I actually wanted the magazine to pay attention to me, but now I wish that they wouldn't ever write a word about me.

Thinking about the reasons I told her everything. How I had missed my last two periods, but hadn't thought anything of it at the time until my magic started glitching out. I explained to her how my team believed that it was just the magic from one of the mages we went against acting up, but that something had me feeling like it wasn't. Then I blushingly admitted to her that neither Laxus or I had used protection that night.

Me having never needed any on hand because I hadn't done anything like that, and Laxus not having any at his house because he never brought girls there. I sort of wished that I had never said either thing though because by the look she was giving me I was certain that she now believed that there was something more between us. Even if I had told her that it was just a drunken mistake. Yet she never actually voiced out that she knew that there was more then I was telling her.

After I had explained all of that she had taken a bit of my blood and then went off into a corner of the room. Leaving me panicking as I waited for her to confirm my suspicions, not telling her why I wasn't thinking it could be anything else. Because if it was something other than me being pregnant it could mean that I didn't have much time left. After all at the end my mother couldn't control her magic either.

It wasn't until I had worked myself into a panic that she had turned back to me holding the vial that she had taken my blood in. Instead of being the red color it was, it had changed to a dark purple color with flecks of gold in it making me wonder if it was confirming that I was pregnant, or that that was finally showing up in my blood. Holding my breath I waited for her to either give me my death sentence or confirm the new life within me.

"You're pregnant. You were right coming to me. At this early you shouldn't be experiencing magic glitches, no missions for you or S-Class exam until after the child is born or you could end up losing it. I want you to keep a journal mark down anything strange, food cravings, being extra emotional, magic surges, and stuff like that. If you feel any pain at all come to me immediately or if it is too severe send someone to get me, do not under any circumstances ignore it!" she told me everything with a stern look on her face. Yet there was also a soft look since she knew that I was carrying her great grandchild.

"Now get out, I hate the smell of humans," she said with a dismissive hand.

Turning away I stumbled out of her cabin. I knew it would happen, but it was still shocking to learn that there was a life growing within me. With almost a scared hesitancy I placed a hand on my stomach wondering how long it would be until I would be able to feel my child move. Would I even be a good mother? Heavens knows that I didn't really have a good parental figure well growing up, and I hadn't the first clue what to do with a baby. The youngest person I had ever been around was Asuka, and I wasn't even around when she was born thanks to the seven years on Tenroujima.

As I made my way back to Laxus's house I wondered what I should tell him. How I should explain to everyone why I couldn't go on missions for a while and it wasn't like I could give them an accurate timeframe without them getting suspicious. Since telling them that I would be fine in seven months might make the more intuitive members of the guild figure out. Plus it's not like I can hide it for ever since I had already vetoed the idea of leaving the guild.

Maybe for now I should just tell him that it doesn't seem to be life threatening and that Porlyusica promised to keep an eye on me. That way he wouldn't worry too much and I wouldn't have to worry about having overbearing protectors. It's not like I would be lying to them, even if they would be a little disappointed when they learned that I had kept my pregnancy from them for a short time. I'm just not ready for anyone else to know, especially when I don't know what to do myself at this point in time.

The more I walked the more tired I ended up becoming making me remember that I hadn't really slept well on the ship because I had been worrying about my magic, and then worrying about my epiphany. Maybe I could get Laxus to walk me home, or even just crash in one of his spare rooms. There was no way I trusted myself walking home alone when I felt like I could fall over at any second.

"Woah Lucy you ok?" that familiar voice asked just as I started to pitch forward. Looking up at Laxus through sleepy eyes I did have to admit that my older guild mate was quite attractive, and that I had deeper feelings for him. Yet I had been holding guys at bay afraid of something happening to them, or getting my heart broken. Having watched my father deal with a broken heart had been eye opening, and I was afraid to risk my own. Not to mention I was always afraid of passing that onto future children.

"Yeah just tired," I said with a yawn, "didn't sleep much on the ship."

"Come on let's get you to bed, and you can tell me how everything went when you wake up," he said gently. For a moment it felt like the world disappeared from under my feet, but then I realized that Laxus had just picked me up to carry me into his house. Snuggling in to him I enjoyed how he was warm, but not an overheated furnace like Natsu, he was the perfect temperature to be comfortable in.

I could hear Laxus saying something to me, but I was already more than half asleep so I had no idea what it was. Oh well if it was really important he would tell me again in the morning. Or maybe I wasn't even meant to hear whatever he had whispered.