A/N: I am most definitely sorry for the delay of the story. As usual, I am very busy even though I'm still just a student. God, If I could have a single dollar for every second of being a student everyday, I think I'll be filthy rich. Anyways, I hope y'all have a happy vacation because I ain't getting any. I will be having a trimester this time around and thinking about it brings me tears. Goodbye, bed TT_TT.

Okay, enough of the drama. I am happy that even though I wasn't able to update as much as before, I am still getting support. I love you, guys. You are the best. Back on track, this chapter is mostly a fluffy-ish kind of chapter but I hope it's still enjoyable.

P.S. Calling all fellow Zutarians and Korroh (Korra/Iroh II) fans out there, I am writing a fanfic about them. It is called The Lost Book: Equinox (I'm basically following the pattern of books and elements...yeah, yeah, I already know that equinox isn't an element but so is Balance, Spirit, etc...) Please do support it. Thanks!

anthonymasen0620: Thank you very much for the love. And I will be sure to keep what I'm doing. Thank you!

Lalu fan(this is most likely an anonymous): And here it is! :D


Chapter 4

It was after a while that those three little monsters finally took some damn sleep. About time. And Laxus finally found the precious time for Mrs. Lucy Dreyar. God, he loves those children—it was his genes that made them for crying out loud!—but there were times that he just want to put them in a sack because, seriously, those kids were the greatest cockblocker that his testosterone ever encountered. Sheesh! And he still needed to make Lucy forget that fetish thing that Lucia's been spouting or he'll never get any lovin' from his wife. And that ain't good for a healthy man he was.

"They're growing so fast." He looked up and saw Lucy stroking their children's hair. Luke and Lucas were sitting by her right side and Lucia at the left. Lucy was smiling gently, her eyes soft upon the kids. Laxus couldn't help but gave a light smirk too. Lucy never ceased to surprise him every single damn time, even if what she does and what she says were basically like a broken record playing again and again in his mind. He stood up from his seat and joined his family, lounging himself beside his daughter and throwing his arms behind Lucy's shoulder.

"I guess." He trailed off, watching as the three children snooze their way. Lucy was right. They really were growing up. He never even noticed that time has quickly passed and that his small babies before were now already six year olds. Their cheekbones were slowly sticking its way in their plump cheeks. They were getting taller and taller. He could still remember the day he'd first laid his eyes upon the three or how their kitten-like size fit snuggly against his arms and chest when he first cradled them.

Oh, how proud he was that day, six years ago. He'd barged in that medicine-reeking room where Lucy was transferred after her delivery to make sure she was alright. She'd practically given birth to not one, not two, but three, bouncing babies. She was unconscious then and obviously tired when he approached her laid form in the white bed. He gently stroked her hair and whispered that she was his pride and that their family will have three more additional members. That was when three nurses came in, holding each infant. They congratulated him and the voices woke Lucy up. Her eyes snapped open and demanded that the three should be near her or else there's hell to pay. He chuckled at her antics and the attendants scampered quickly. He looked at her, amused that she's still kicking despite the fact that she was obviously fatigued. She just gestured for him to come closer in which his legs unconsciously did. He kissed her in the forehead, emotion swelling in his chest that he could swear would burst. He took and cradled each baby in his arms, cooing. Lucy giggled at him, probably on how a grown man was making weird baby noises.

Lucy sniffled, snapping Laxus from the memory lane and bringing him back into the present. It seemed like he wasn't the only one lost in memories here. He looked at her, worried that this woman might bawl her eyes out and woke the children and therefore, ruining their Daddy and Mommy Time. Thankfully, she didn't. He shrugged, crossed his arms and closed his eyes, trying to drift himself into sleep but he suddenly jumped when something brushed against his hands. He looked down and saw a hand over his. He raised an eyebrow at the sudden contact. She just smiled and held his hand tighter. And he too, held hers.

"We're growing older. Day by day…" She trailed off out of the blue, chuckling softly so as not to wake the three monsters from their deep slumber. He looked at her, puzzled. How this twenty-six year old woman, despite her vanity was able to claim that she's getting older was beyond him. Actually, all women never even claimed they aged a day even though they were wrinkled old hags, always proclaiming as young as they could ever be or spouting that bullshit that they will always be a pure maiden at heart. One fact still remained though. This woman never ceased being amazing through and through the years. And for him, she will be the only woman who'll never age a day.

"And, darling, I will be loving you 'til we're 70."

"And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at 23."

Laxus silently sang, looking at the wooden ceiling of the carriage, averting his eyes away from her in blushing embarrassment.

Lucy looked at him with a mix of surprise and amusement. That song. It was that song that he sang when they first fought as a married couple. She could still remember that day years ago. Her lips broke into a grin at that silly yet funny first memory of being a married woman.

"Can you still remember that song?" Laxus squeezed her hands tighter. He was still looking upwards. Lucy smiled. He will never change, does he? He was still the twenty-three year old man she met when she officially joined Fairy Tail. The cocky, muscle-brained, perverted, egotistic, proud man who practically demanded for her to be his woman in exchange for helping to fight the Phantom Lord.

"Our song? You betcha!" She agreed.


August 25, Year X795

Indeed, it was a beautiful day. There were chirping birds in the sky, the morning was bright and the new Dreyar family was living peacefully as their staff members took on their own vacations and therefore, the family of five was alone in their mansion. It has been months since they finally completed the relocation of all their belongings from Lucy's apartment and Laxus' flat from Magnolia Town to the formerly known Heartfilia and currently known Dreyar Konzern. It was bitter work and it damn cost a whole lot of hellish nightmare called money-wasting and document-signing to finally take the full ownership of this castle.

Why, oh why did her father decided to have a freaking town and a mountain as the most suitable place for a residence. Didn't he think how tiresome it would be to clean this place or the fact that some could actually get lost in this place? Obviously, Jude didn't. Well, there's always there staff member whom she loved so dear but…why on Earthland did she decided to start being a merciful saint and give them a vacation? Why, of all times, when she just gave birth to three bouncing babies did she have the epiphany to be a full-fledged idiot? Okay, calm down…it's just the hormones. Yeah, that must be it, Lucy officially hated her hormones.

And the stupid washing machine…

Just who the hell on their demented, goddamned mind would be so stupid as to put the children's diaper in the freaking washing machine! A washing machine! Granted, she could still let it slide…but no, the idiotic sap just had to put a poo-stained diaper in this metal contraption and now, the clothes were swirling in a puddle of brown, smelly goo.

She heard a whistling. A casual, light and carefree whistle.

"Laxus." She hissed and snapped her neck at the exit near the laundry area.

And casually so, her husband strode towards the washing machine, carrying a basket full of dirty clothes they have all used the past week. He moved closer and threw all the laundry in the washing machine and pressed a button. Now, clothes of different colors were in a mass of overloaded heap. Something in Lucy ticked. She could swear she heard it.

"Move." He ordered and pushed all the contents inwards to let them soak in the water. Lucy didn't budge as she stared in horror that those clothes were hers. Her brassiere and panties were drowned in that deadly liquid and her clothes, her prized clothes that she always wash with her hands so as not to damage it were now just…just…

She can't even finish her thought as Laxus dumped another batch of clothes inside, still ignoring her. Something vaguely similar to her patience finally snapped and she can't contain it anymore.

"Just what the hell are you doing?" She said in a low, venomous voice.

"Isn't it obvious? Washing." Laxus threw her a questioning look as if saying duh.

"That." Lucy pointed a finger on the overloaded cloths. "…isn't called washing. That. Is called dumping." She glared at him.

"Huh?" Laxus raised his voice. True enough, Lucy was still scared every time his tone took an octave higher. But not this time. Not when the world matters the most.

"Are you a freaking deaf! Are Dragon Slayers deaf?!" She shouted, threw her arms up in the air in frustration. And that was when everything went personal.

"What," He scoffed. "So, now Celestial Spirit mages are always right. Nobody informed me!"

"That's because you are an idiot!" She took a step towards him as if to defend her territory, which in this case were her clothes soaked in that monstrous mess. "Who on their right mind would throw all clothes in the washing machine at the same time?! And what the hell's wrong with you, putting a diaper in there?! A used diaper!"

"Well, I'm sorry for helping!" He shouted, sarcastically, stepping towards her. He was threatening but she will not be fazed. Not now. Not when her Heart Kreuz collection was in the brink of putridity.

"Well, you might as well not help at all!" She took a brave step closer.

"Well, you might as well marry another man!" Laxus closed the remaining distance between them and that was when he realized that he dealt the final blow. Lucy's features shifted to that of a broken one, her lips stuttering and her shoulders rose in surprise. Her eyes watered and before he could regain himself, she ran inside.

Great.

Now, he had to woo Lucy, adding to the fact that there's still laundry left to do.

Where's Mrs. Spetto when you need her?

Lucy Heartfilia, in all of her years, was a crybaby.

She picked a damn fight and now she lost. What humiliation she felt and what an immature she had become. She's supposed to be the caring, nurturing and understanding part of this household and yet she was the first to lose her patience. And now, she was crying. She stopped herself from running and recomposed herself by wiping all the tears in her cheeks.

'Laxus will woo me any second now but for the meantime, I'll see to those three.' She mentally reassured herself and made her merry way towards the nursery room. They were still asleep when she got there. Thank Mavis! She could swear that her voice reached the peak of the mountain near their residence.

A second passed.

A minute.

An hour.

An hour turned into two.

Two hours turned into—for God's sake, just where the hell was that idiot?! It's already dark.

It's already dark…That thought echoed within the confines of her mind.

Dark…

Dark…

Dark…

'Don't tell me he ran off to be with someone els—oh he better not be cajoling with that Chico Girl or I'll swea…' A feeling of dread crept in within her. What if he really did? She did push him aside. She recounted everything she said. Deaf. Idiot. Don't help at all. And he said that she should marry another man. Uh-oh. That mere thought had her sitting up from the bed she had waited for hours. She ran towards the door but before she creak open the knob, she cast a glance at their children. Good, they were still asleep. Exiting, she made a mad dash throughout the corridors without as much as making sounds. Great, now she's a ninja too.

'A jealous woman does better research than the Magic Council.' Ah, Lucy could practically hear Mirajane's proverbs on femininity. Yeah, yeah, you're right now, Mirajane-san.

She opened the rooms, searched the kitchen and dining area, passed the halls and the lounges. She practically memorized every nook and cranny of this fortress and she found none. Not his hair nor hide, not even his colossal shadow. Where was he? She panicked, fidgeted and jumped in place.

'He…he…he doesn't love me anymore.' That was what she came in conclusion. That sudden thought had her gasping for air and bawling her eyes out. She trudged to wherever her feet may take her. She can't face her children. Not like this. God, she's an idiot. She's a freaking idiot for trading Laxus for her Heart Kreuz collection. Why would she do that? Now, her sons and daughter will grow without a father. Her heart sank. How can she repair this?

Then she smelled something flowery.

Her eyes snapped open. Laxus was here. So, that why he was late! He brought me flowers to woo her…wait. Her head snapped in different direction in her frantic search for that man. There were no Laxuses around. And then did she realize that that flowery scent came from the detergent soap. Blasted soap! Mrs. Spetto just came back earlier than expected. She sighed in disappointment.

"Oi! Why are you sighing there, Bug Eyes?!" Now, she's hearing him. God, she's gone loony. Assuming was one thing but hearing things? Oh, no. That was fifty shades of stupidity, Lucy. She turned away, fully intending on sleeping the whole night with her babies to find comfort. She must have been thoroughly exhausted to hear Laxus' voic—"I said Why are you sighing there, Bug Eyes?!" It was a shout now. She should quickly take her rest now, seriously.

Something clanged at her head.

"Hey! Watch it!" She rubbed the sore spot on her head and glared at Mrs. Spetto for hitting her. She glared down, seriously that old woman was short. But she didn't found any apron but black pants. Oh, my God! There's a freaking burglar in the house. She backed away, trying to find her keys. They were left at the nursery room. Shit.

'Okay, I can still fight. Laxus taught me hand-to-hand combat.' She readied herself for the impact, eyeing her opponent. He was bare-chested and he's large. Oh, shit! It's not just a burglar but a rapist. Oh, Laxus might have cheated on her but there was no way she will let other men ravage her body.

She looked at him eye-to-eye. His eyebrow raised in question. He was blonde and there were soap suds on his face and arms. He was…he was…he was Laxus.

"What are you doing?" He asked, a guffaw was obviously trying to escape his lips, Lucy could bet on it.

"Laxus!" In that moment, her voice broke and hugged him. "I'm sowwy…" came her muffled voice. She hugged him tighter, not bothering the dampness that began to spread in her cloths. "I'm sorry for overreacting."

Laxus could barely believe what just happened. Here he was, trying to wash their clothes because seriously this girl just ran off, leaving him to deal with this heap and now, she was this. A crying mess. Women. He sighed and rested his palms over her head as she hugged him tighter.

"I'm sorry too." He leaned down and whispered in her ear. He said some things he didn't mean and she was right, the clothes have really gone destructive with its unworldly smell.

"What are you doing anyway?" It was after a while that Lucy remembered to be a lady and recompose herself when she noticed that her garments as of the moment were soaked with suds clinging on the cloth.

"Washing clothes." He said simply, walking back towards the rows and rows of cloths hanging in the wires. The white and colored were separated, with tees, pants, dresses and coats were arranged in the first rows. His and hers rule was established, with Laxus' in the left side and hers on the right. The children's baby clothes were joined in the following rows, disregarding whose bib was this or whose mittens were this. And the blankets and others were in the last row.

"How did y-?" Lucy was beyond astonished but before she could sing her praises, Laxus put a finger on her lips. It tasted like soap. She tried to retaliate and start another verbal war but he put his Sound Pod on her ears. "Wha-?" She tried again.

"Shush" He shushed her as he clicked a button.

When your legs don't work like they used to before
And I can't sweep you off of your feet
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love?
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?

And, darling, I will be loving you 'til we're 70
And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at 23
And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Well, me—I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am

So honey now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
That maybe we found love right where we are

When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades
And the crowds don't remember my name
When my hands don't play the strings the same way
I know you will still love me the same

'Cause honey your soul could never grow old, it's evergreen
And, baby, your smile's forever in my mind and memory
I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe it's all part of a plan
Well, I'll just keep on making the same mistakes
Hoping that you'll understand

But, baby, now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
Thinking out loud
That maybe we found love right where we are

So, baby, now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Oh, darling, place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
That maybe we found love right where we are
Oh, baby, we found love right where we are
And we found love right where we are


"Yeah. Those were the days." Lucy sighed in contentment, smiling at Laxus. He inched closer from his seat, carefully avoiding Lucia in her sleep and kissed Lucy in her lips. A chaste kiss. Because seriously, they can't have a make-up session even if their audience was asleep.

"I love you. Forever." He whispered huskily.

"I love you too. For always." Lucy smiled and planted a kiss on his lips.