A New Beginning

by Smash1992

When recently widowed and single mother Lucy Heartfilia moves back to her hometown in southern Fiore she wasn't hoping for much more than a simple new beginning for her and her son. But small-town Magnolia has never been simple, so it's no surprise when things take an unexpected turn for the young mother in the form of the town's local vet. Or is he the mechanic?

11. Chapter 11: A New Baby

Disclaimer: All rights of Fairy Tail go to Hiro Mashima. I do not own this.

Chapter 11: A New Baby

Haru tried not to fidget in the big chair he sat in with Reiki, he really did, but the witch's house was just so cool. All around there were plants hanging from the high ceiling beams or shoved onto the long table in the corner in big pots and bottles filled with different types of dirt and leaves that clanked together overhead. Some plants were as big as Haru! The whole place looked like a garden and Haru couldn't help giggling as soon as they'd walked in because who would put a garden in a house? The rest of the walls were full of overflowing bookshelves and big windows that made the whole place very light and airy. There was even a window on the ceiling!

The coolest part was the high table in the center of the room that had lots of bottles and small bowls full of spices and other magic things that Haru really wanted to look at. The whole place smelled like flowers and spice and wood and a little bit of something else that Haru didn't know but he liked it anyway.

Warm, he decided. It smells warm.

The witch's house was small too. Smaller than Haru's new house and stuck under a huge tree outside with its roots hanging over the roof and a few that had managed to creep in between the walls. She definitely was a powerful witch to make her tiny house hold so much stuff. There weren't many chairs though, only the big leather one that reminded Haru of his grandpa's chair at home and the two wood ones by a desk stuffed with papers in the corner, but they looked like they would break if Haru sat on them.

The witch had taken one look at Haru and Reiki when they'd walked into her home and pointed to the big chair and said, "Sit."

They'd hurried into the chair and shoved each other a little to get in before settling back with the three small pillows already stuffed in the chair. Haru had leaned closer to Reiki but his best friend didn't seem to mind cause he just pressed his shoulder to Haru's and did his best to sit up straight in the big, cramped chair. Lily had walked after them and laid down next to their bags and Haru's dragon head and Reiki's knight helmet at their feet and Haru figured that if Lily was okay then maybe they weren't in trouble.

The witch had put some green slimy, goo on Reiki's elbow then gave them both some warm tea and told them to wait there while she went into another room. That was a while ago and Haru was starting to get bored.

Haru sipped the tea as he looked around the room again, trying to see if he could spot anything really magic-ish. He'd seen some really blue mushrooms outside by the front door but the witch had snapped at him not to drag his feet when he'd tried to look at them and he didn't her to, like, turn him into a frog. Haru thought she was maybe a good witch but she was still a witch.

Beside him Reiki sighed. "Stop moving, Haru. There's not a lot of room and you're gonna spill your tea."

"Does that jar look like it has eyeballs in it?" Haru asked, ignoring his best friend and pointed to a fat jar hanging from the ceiling.

Reiki sighed but looked up. "No. It looks like teeth, now sit still and drink your tea."

Haru frowned but drank his tea. It was sweet and reminded Haru of berries. He turned in the chair and peeked over the high arm to look at the plants along the far table. One plant actually moved and snapped its toothy jaws closed over a fly that landed on it. Haru gasped and was just about to tell Reiki when the witch walked back in from the other room and moved over to pour herself a cup of tea from the pot on the stove.

She didn't say anything for a while and Haru and Reiki only sat and stared at her. Well, Haru stared. Reiki kept taking polite sips from his tea and looking at the books nearby. It wasn't too long before Haru started to squirm in his seat again. He shifted around and tried to focus on something cool in the house but the witch was right there and Haru really wanted to ask her some questions.

"Umm…excuse me?" Haru asked and the old lady turned to glance over at him with a raised eyebrow. "Uh…I don't know your name…" he mumbled.

The witch snorted. "Speak up, boy! If you have a question ask clearly."

"W-what's your name? Uh…mam," He said again, louder this time.

"Porlyusica. And you are Haru Heartfilia and Reiki Fernandes."

Both boys blinked and looked up at her with wide eyes. "You know our names?" Reiki asked in awe.

Porlyusica snorted. "Of course. I've already called my grandson and he told me your parents will be here shortly. All the better as you two are in my way," she hissed and walked over to the tall table.

"You have a family?" Haru gasped. He'd thought all witches lived alone with a crow or maybe a cat for company.

"Haru!" Reiki snapped and elbowed his side, hard. "That's rude! And you can't be mean to someone when you're their guest."

Haru ducked his head, looking at the tea in his hands. "Sorry. I just meant I've never heard of a witch having a family before…"

The witch snorted and Haru peeked up at her. She was adding some gray powder to a bowl with white flower petals and some red berries in it. "A witch. Never in my day…" she murmured before turning to look at the two boys with a stern frown but amused eyes. "I'm not a witch, boy. I'm the best natural healer in this tiny town and you should listen to your friend about manners." She huffed and turned back to her bowl, crushing the different things together into a mushy paste. "I'll have to have a talk with your parents. Calling someone a witch? Ha!"

Haru squirmed in the chair and tried to hide a little between the pillows and Reiki. So this lady wasn't a witch but that didn't mean she wasn't cool. Or that the jar above didn't have eyeballs in it…

"Umm…Mrs. Porlyusica? Are those eyeballs in that jar?"

The lady frowned and turned to look back at him but the amusement was still in her eyes. She glanced up at the jar and sighed. "Of course not. Those are star berries. They help your hearing get better. I use them in an ear infection tonic that I make but there are accounts where they can help a deaf person hear again. Though it isn't by much."

Haru gasped. Those sounded a lot cooler than eyeballs. Porlyusica turned back to her bowl and kept mixing while adding a splash of water and more powder, this time a blue kind. "What are you making?" Haru asked.

Porlyusica glanced at him over her shoulder. "You are quite nosy. I hate nosy people." She huffed and turned back to her bowl. "It's a healing paste I need to give to someone. It will help them recover and gain their energy back quicker than any pills some ignorant doctor gives them."

"How do you use it?" Haru asked and Reiki gave him a pointed look.

"You rube it on your face, like a clay mask. Now hush! I need to concentrate."

Haru sighed and settled back in his chair a little, sipping on his tea and watching the old lady closely. She was focused on her paste thing and wasn't facing them but Haru was sure she was still watching them. Haru frowned and glanced around the house.

"Soooo…why do you live in a tree if you're not a witch?"

Porlyusica sighed and glanced over at him and Reiki and narrowed her eyes.

Natsu sighed as he hung up his cell from talking with his grandma. He'd been right thinking Haru and Reiki would likely run into her and Natsu had never been more relieved to have Porlyusica nagging in his ear. Really, he was just glad she'd let him and Gajeel install the landline two years back. She'd always lived far into the woods on a small plot of land that had been in their family since Magnolia was founded, and since his grandma didn't have much reason to head into town she'd never bothered with a phone.

It wasn't until two years ago when Igneel had an accident that Porlyusica finally let her grandsons "clutter up her house with such a horrible device", as she'd put it. Though she'd complained about the whole process Natsu knew she'd taken care to call his mother every night to keep tabs on her family and Porlyusica would still call him every now and then too. Mostly to berate him on working too hard or to nag him to eat more celery (and Natsu refused to admit his diet would take a sharp turn to the health department after those calls).

He shuddered at the thought of his grandma dragging Haru and Reiki through the forest by the ear while lecturing them on "proper behavior" the whole way back to the nearest payphone in the park. She'd done that enough to him and Gajeel when they were kids and Natsu knew it was never a good way to end the day. At least Haru and Reiki would only be dragged to her house by the ear.

Of course, she could be just as nice to the boys as she was to Wendy and Emma. Fussing over them in her own way and making them tea and cookies, despite acting put out by it all. Natsu smiled to himself. It would be just like Haru to wiggle his way into Porlyusica's good graces. Kid was impossible not to like and Reiki was just so polite and well-mannered his grandma was likely to be impressed, even if only a little. Though Natsu had seen Reiki start to come out of his shell a bit more around Haru as of late. Kid actually called him Natsu once, but then looked so shocked and disturbed he'd called him Mr. Dragneel for the rest of the week.

Still, small steps.

"What did your grandmother say about Haru and Reiki? That was her right? Did she find them? Are they alright?" Lucy babbled close behind him. She hadn't let go of his arm since they'd all started through the woods and no doubt had been listening in on his call.

"Yeah, she found 'em. Had a few choice words to say to me about them being in her favorite meadow though. Said they tore up some perfectly good flowers. Ruckus, I think was the word she used?" He turned and gave Lucy a big grin. "But they're fine. Reiki got a scrape on his arm but my grandma's the best natural healer in all of Fiore so he's in good hands."

"Reiki is hurt?" Erza demanded just in front of them. She and Jellal followed close behind Gajeel, too close from how much Gajeel was ranting under his breath. After Emma managed to explain what she and the boys had planned through her tears, Levy had been pissed and nearly threated Gajeel to track the boys down himself. He was the best tracker in Fiore and honestly, the boys weren't that hard to follow, but that didn't stop Erza from insisting she oversee Gajeel and the tracking anyway. Jellal had done his best to keep both Erza and Gajeel calm but Natsu could see his cousin's hands clench into a fist every time Erza asked if he was sure a footprint was from the boys and not some animal.

Natsu waved Erza off. "Just a small scrape, Erza. Nothin' he hasn't gotten from fallin' off his bike." At Erza's slight pout Natsu smirked. "Gran's already put a healing paste on it. Kid won't get another infection for at least a year."

Erza gave him a small smile before turning and resuming her hovering over Gajeel. Natsu felt his smile fall as soon as she looked away and he focused on watching where he was going. Even with Gajeel's large frame clearing a path Hakobe Forest was filled with vines and upturned roots. People were warned not to leave the regulated trails for just that reason. Natsu wasn't gonna point out how lucky the boys were to not have gotten a sprained ankle. Or worse.

Beside him, Lucy gripped his arm tighter as she stumbled over a root, nearly taking Natsu down too. He turned and put an arm around her shoulders to help steady her. "Careful, Luce," he chuckled.

She sighed and made a show of watching the ground while linking their arms a little better. "Thanks, Natsu. For all of this, I mean. I know I'm not always…the calmest in situations like this… But with you here I just…I feel so much better. So, thank you." She gave him a soft smile and Natsu nearly stumbled himself.

He smiled and gave her arm a slight squeeze but quickly focused back on the forest floor. He'd been awfully quiet since they started their trek into the woods but he couldn't help but feel like this was mostly his fault. If he hadn't talked up his dragon story so much Haru probably wouldn't have wandered off with Reiki. If he'd been responsible and not blown up a child's imagination too much then Haru would be okay. At the least Natsu should have said something about the dragon only talking to him or that the forest was enchanted to only let him walk off trail. Something. At least then Haru would have insisted on going dragon hunting with him, and Natsu would have been more than happy to go for a walk with the boys.

Worst of all was thinking about what he'd tell Lucy, because he certainly had to tell her. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Despite the slight crease in her brow she had a fierce look of determination in her eye and her shoulders where squared as she marched over the uneven ground. She looked strong and ready to charge through a wall of fire to get her son back. Yeah…telling her this was his fault would not be easy.

They were at the river now, the roar of the rushing water was almost deafening as Gajeel pushed through a patch of dense bushes, only pausing to hold the thicker branches back at the last moment for the rest of them to step out at the river's edge. Lucy gasped and her hand tightened around Natsu's arm. "I didn't realize the river would be so full, or fast. Thank Mavis they didn't fall in," she sighed, and shared a relieved glance with Erza.

"Reiki knows not to get too close to the river this time of year," Jellal said. "And as it appears this was where Lily caught up to them I doubt he'd let the boys within ten feet of the water anyway." He pointed down to the overlapping footprints of both of the boys and Lily.

Gajeel grunted as he already started walking down the beach. "Well, in any case, we should get goin'. Gran's a bit much to deal with even in her best moods. Doubt she's too please the kids bothered her."

"She can't be that bad. Right?" Lucy looked up at Natsu and he shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Well, I mean, she tends to nag a lot-"

Gajeel snorted. "Yeah, nag. She once ripped the screen door off dad's house cause it swung back and hit her ass. Then yelled at him about not fixin' it right and made me install a new door." He turned and gave Lucy a dark grin. "That was thanksgivin' too."

"Well, I doubt she ripped off her own door in front of the boys," Natsu muttered. Beside him, Lucy looked both amused and horrified, a common feeling most people had when meeting his grandma for the first time.

"Is that the bridge?" Erza asked. "It looks nearly rotten!"

Jellal turned and raised an eyebrow at Natsu. "You let your grandma walk over this?"

Natsu frowned and jabbed a finger at him. "First of all, nobody "lets Gran" do anything. Second, she hasn't used this bridge in years since the east road was finally paved. And third, she'd make me and Gajeel fix the damn thing so I'll be damned if I remind her about it!"

Lucy laughed beside him and even Erza chuckled. They hurried over to the bridge, carefully crossing over the slick boards one at a time. Despite his earlier protests, Natsu made a mental note to come back and replace most of the boards later. His grandma hardly used this bridge anymore, sticking to the roads farther south when she did head into town, but it was quite unsafe. Natsu felt a little awed at Haru's good luck as he slipped twice himself.

The walk from the river to his grandma's house wasn't far and Natsu found his mind drifting to how he'd talk to Lucy later. Of course he knew deep down that Lucy would understand that he hadn't meant any harm but maybe she wouldn't trust him with Haru anymore. Wouldn't trust him at all. Maybe…

"Natsu." Lucy gave his arm a slight shake, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was only then that he realized she'd been saying something to him. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"What? Oh, yeah I'm fine. Sorry. What were ya sayin'?"

She paused and bit her lip for a moment, looking him over. "I asked if you would still be willing to drive us to Onibus. I mean, I'd understand if you changed your mind-"

"Of course!" He said, a little too quickly and a lot too loudly, based on Jellal's glance over at them. And when had he and Lucy fallen so far behind? He cleared his throat and made sure to lower his voice. "Yeah, that's no problem. Did you still want to swing by Sting's place and get those bags?"

Lucy eyed him closely. "No. I don't think we'll have time for that anymore. I don't want to miss my little nephew's birth… Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," he said with a small smile. "Just…I'm sorry about what happened. I mean, there were so many of us there. We should've kept a better eye on them while you were helping Yukino."

Lucy smiled softly and gave his arm another squeeze. "You were worried about Yukino. So was I, and everyone else for that matter!" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "The boys snuck off when we were all distracted. Emma said that was what they'd planned to do from the beginning. Besides, if this is anyone's fault it's mine."

Natsu was about to ask her what she meant by that when Gajeel shoved open the small gate that lined their grandma's property and started up the path with Erza hot on his heels. He hadn't realized they were so close. Lucy sped up her pace, nearly dragging Natsu up to the patio.

He and Lucy had barely reached the steps when the door flew open and Porlyusica stood there, eyes narrowed, lips twisted into a deep scowl and Natsu thought he saw one of her eyebrows twitching. Which was definitely not good.

"Hey, Gran," he said, slipping forward to give his grandma a quick kiss on the cheek. She at least kissed his cheek back so maybe she wasn't as pissed as he'd thought. "Sorry to bother you like this. I hope the boys weren't too much trouble." And fuck if that didn't sound like what Levy said when she dropped Emma off at his parent's house.

Porlyusica sniffed and turned sharply on her heel but motioned for them to follow. Natsu leaned over to Lucy and quickly whispered, "Wipe your feet, Luce," before hurrying after the old woman. She was already ranting about the boys, Natsu's poor manners over the phone and flowers that had weak stems. Because that was the real issue here.

"-and to be called a witch, of all things! I have never had two children act so poorly in all my days. See, this is why I live out here. To stay away from people like you, but apparently I can't even have some peace in my own home! Unbelievable. To insist someone must be a witch simply because they know more about real medicine is just unthinkable."

"Of course, Gran," Natsu sighed.

"The boys called her a witch?" Lucy whispered to him. Natsu only shrugged.

"Mrs. Marvell," Erza said, easily sliding up to the old woman's side. "I am so sorry for any disturbance Reiki and Haru may have caused. But I really do want to thank you for bringing them back here and looking after them for us."

Porlyusica clicked her tongue as she led them from the doorway to the main room of the house. "Of course I brought them back here! What was I to do, leave them in my good meadow trampling perfectly good flowers? It was maddening."

Despite his grandma's frown, when they walked into the main room Haru and Reiki were sitting in the large plush chair together with more pillows than they needed, big cups of tea and they each had a large cookie that Natsu knew his grandma only gave out to those she deemed acceptable company. Both boys looked up and if it was possible shrank further into the pillows around them.

Lucy and Erza stormed across the room, leaning into the boys' space and demanding if they were okay and if they were hurt. Beside him, Jellal sighed and turned to Porlyusica to thank her again for helping the boys. Porlyusica huffed and seemed reluctant to admit that they weren't as bad as Natsu and Gajeel before launching into another triad but Natsu wasn't listening. He watched as Lucy drew Haru away from Reiki and Erza, quietly but firmly leaving the house. Natsu took one small step after them but hesitated. He wondered if now would be a good time to talk to Lucy but knew that this was a moment for a mother and her son.

Lucy guided Haru around the house beneath the large tree. She wanted to cry and scream and hold Haru tight against her chest and tell him that she was sorry. That his father wasn't coming back and at the same time she didn't want to crush that small bit of hope and wonder Haru had found again. More than anything Lucy wished her husband was still alive. That they'd never gone to that play. They'd never parked down the street and walked the few blocks to the theater. That her husband had never pushed that woman out of the way…

"Mom…? I'm...I...me and Reiki were just looking for the dragon. To get that wish. I-I didn't…it was a secret and I-I…I'm sorry mom," Haru sniffed, tears welling up in his wide eyes despite the terrified look on his face. It was only then that Lucy realized she was crying.

Wiping the tears quickly from her face, Lucy took a deep breath and knelt down in front of her son. "Haru. Sweetie. Do you remember what I told you before about what happened to daddy?"

Haru lowered his eyes and gave a shaky nod. "Y-you said...that...that he was d-dead. That he died in an a-accident."

"That's right. And you remember how I told you what that meant? That dad-" she broke off as her voice hitched over a soft sob. "That daddy wasn't alive anymore and he wouldn't be with us. Do you remember that?"

Haru nodded, looking so small and his tears were dragging slow tracks over his cheeks. Lucy reached up and cupped his cheek, wiping away the few tears there. "Sweetheart. Do you understand what that means?"

Haru was twisting his shirt so tightly Lucy thought it might rip but he gave a small shrug and murmured, "I guess… But, you said he would still be with us." Haru gripped his shirt over his heart and Lucy closed her eyes to stop another wave of tears. "That he loves us and will watch us from the stars. Like grandma and grandpa."

"Yes. Yes, I did say that, and I do believe it's true, Haru. Your dad is always with us because he loves us and we love him. That will never change even though he's…he's dead." More than anything, Lucy wanted Haru to understand that losing his father didn't mean they no longer loved each other. Lucy had never been very religious one way or the other, but she did believe that even if a person's life ended their love never did. Love was magic, after all, and if anything could overcome death or continue on past it, it was love.

Haru looked up at her then, his dark eyes shining with tears and his lower lip wobbled. "But he can come back, right? I-If he's in the stars t-then he can…he can come home. Like the astronauts you wrote about."

"Haru-"

"He can come back, right mommy? The dragon can use magic and bring him back…"

Lucy shook her head and didn't bother to stop the few tears that fell down her cheeks. "Haru, he can't come back."

"Why?" he sobbed and Lucy was sure her heart was breaking. Haru sounded so small and shattered and Lucy couldn't stand to watch him loose his love of life again. Not after he'd found it bit by bit in Magnolia.

"He can't come back, b-because…because when someone dies they are gone from this world, Haru. No one can bring daddy back. Daddy died and while he is still with us in our hearts and memories he cannot come back to us." Haru stared up at her looking so lost and scared and sad and Lucy was struggling with how to explain this to him in a way he'd understand but not simply take away all his hope and love. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath trying to steady herself. "Haru, do you remember what I said about magic at the lake?"

He paused and gave a small nod.

"Your dad will always be with you, Haru. It's his love that lives on, Haru." She reached out and cupped his cheek, lifting his head so he was looking at her again. "That's the magic, Haru. That even when someone dies they can still love you and you can still love them."

"Do you still love daddy?" he whispered.

"I will always love daddy, Haru. That will never change. And you can love him too."

Haru looked at her for a moment before letting out a small sob. Lucy pulled him close and held him tight as he buried his face in her hair and cried. Lucy took in a shuttering breath and rubbed his back, hoping she had made the right decision. "Do you understand, Haru?" she asked.

"Daddy's not…d-daddy's gone and he won't come back. B-but…but he still loves me."

"He does Haru. He loves you so much. Don't ever think your dad doesn't love you, okay?"

Haru gave a slight nod and clutched Lucy's neck tighter. "I'll never have a dad again, right mom?"

Lucy opened her mouth to protest but stopped. Something like that would mean Lucy dating again and eventually marrying, and while she'd gone on a few dates with several men back in Crocus she wasn't sure she or Haru were ready for anything serious. At the very least Lucy wanted to wait to have this conversation when the answer was a bit more solid than 'maybe someday?'. For a brief moment Lucy found herself thinking of what her and Haru's future could be with another man in their lives and maybe more siblings for Haru to love. The thought of holding a baby with strawberry blond hair came to mind and when Lucy thought of the man at her side with Haru sitting proudly on his shoulders she thought of a bright grin, a booming laugh and dark eyes with flecks of green.

A flash of pink hair beside her stopped her from having to answer but when Lucy looked up expecting to see Natsu (hoping to see him, really) it was Porlyusica standing over them instead. Her lips were pressed into a grim line but her eyes were soft and kind. Lucy wrapped her arms tighter around Haru before picking him up. He sniffled and held onto her tighter while Lucy rubbed his back.

Porlyusica held a small pouch in her hands and held it out to Lucy. "I made you both tea."

"Oh. Thank you."

Porlyusica nodded as Lucy took the thermos. Her gaze flicked to Haru and Lucy noticed how soft her expression went for a moment before she turned back to Lucy with a frown. "It's my own blend. It will calm you both down and give you some energy back and will help you sleep tonight."

Lucy nodded. "Thank you. For the tea and helping Haru. I really do appreciate it and if there's anything I can do to repay you please just ask."

The old woman pursed her lips and huffed. "Come back Saturday and I'll have a special blend of tea for you. Don't be late," she snapped.

Before Lucy could ask what time she was supposed to be there Porlyusica turned sharply on her heel and strode back to her house. She passed by Natsu as he made his way over to them, pausing for a moment to exchange a quick kiss on each other's cheek. Natsu looked over at Lucy and hesitated for a moment before walking over. He had Haru's bag slung over one shoulder and was carrying his dragon head along with a jar of some sort of gray paste.

"Hey, Luce. We're ready to head back whenever you are."

Lucy nodded. "Of course. Thanks."

Haru peeked up at Natsu and gave a small, "Hi Natsu."

Natsu smiled down at him. "Hey little man. You okay?"

Haru shrugged before burying his face back in Lucy's shoulder and remaining quiet for the walk back to the park. Once they arrived back at the parking lot everyone said a quick, if somewhat somber goodbye, before hurrying to their cars to meet up at the hospital. Jellal insisted he'd take Yukino's van since Lucy wasn't in much of a state to drive and Lucy could only nod in a silent thanks.

"You're still coming?" Lucy asked Erza and Levy.

"Of course," Erza said. "Might as well given half the town's probably waiting there."

"That and there's a bet on whether the baby will look more like Yukino or Sting." She smirked and Lucy felt a bit of her stress fade at the comfort of being with her two closest friends. "I'm betting he'll have Yukino's silver hair and dark eyes."

Lucy raised an eyebrow at them. "You bet on my nephew's looks?"

Erza sighed and tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Gambling is an unfortunate side-affect to spending so much time at Fairy Tail."

Lucy tried to smile but Erza simply looked at her like she understood and Levy placed a hand on her shoulder before they hurried off to their cars. Natsu had already packed away their bags in his truck and was waiting patiently in the driver's seat. Despite Natsu's truck having a back seat, Lucy opted to sit up front with Haru in-between her and Natsu. Haru buried his face in her side while she ran her fingers through his hair. Natsu turned the radio on but kept it low. Something to fill the silence but not too loud that Lucy or Haru couldn't calm down.

They were about half way to Onibus when Natsu said, "Hey, did I ever tell you about the time I made some girls puke at the movie theater?"

Lucy and Haru both looked over at him like he'd gone insane. "Uh...no," Haru said.

Natsu grinned. "Ho boy, it's a good one. Ya wanna hear it?"

"Is it gross?" Haru asked.

"A little."

"...Okay."

Lucy soon found herself smiling and even Haru had sat up a bit more against her side as he smiled and giggled at Natsu's story. Apparently, by saying he made a group of girls throw up Natsu meant literally that. The local movie theater in Magnolia was an old theater club that had been repurposed years back but it still looked very much like an old opera house. Especially in the main theater room. It still had box seats that looked over the main seating area below, which was exactly what a fifteen year old Natsu Dragneel was counting on when he planned his little prank. That and for a rather gorey movie to be showing.

All he'd needed to do was sit in the box seat, wait for an exceptionally bloody scene and then give a loud and dramatic heave as he tipped a can of chunky vegetable soup into the seats below.

"There were a group of girls about my age below me, and they all threw up when that soup hit em."

"That's aweful," Lucy said.

"That's great," Haru said.

Natsu gave him a mischevious grin. "Yeah. But it did get me banned from the theater. Haven't been allowed back in since."

Lucy watched him as he talked, his eyes flicking from the road to her and Haru, and she felt a surge of warmth for the man at her side. How he was able to brighten their mood, even a little, by simply telling a story. He seemed to always know what they needed and Lucy had never been more thankful for a silly story about boys being boys.

The drive to the hospital went faster than Lucy expected. By the time Natsu was pulling into the visitor parking lot Haru had stopped crying all together but he still looked sad and a little tired. Lucy felt like she'd been through the emotional ringer herself, not really the best way to witness her nephew's birth but what could you do?

Lucy slid out of the truck and turned to get Haru who already had his arms raised, ready to be carried in. Lucy sighed when Haru immediately buried his face in her hair. She hoped he'd be a bit happier when he met the new baby. This was supposed to be a happy day after all. They hurried inside where Natsu bypassed the front receptionist to head down the hall where several elevators were. He pressed the up arrow to open the first elevator and when they stepped inside he hit level three.

"You certainly know your way around here?" Lucy said, raising an eyebrow.

Natsu shrugged and scratched at his cheek. "Well, mom would have to rush people here for all kinds of stuff, and she'd usually have to drag me and Wendy along when we were kids. She's the best small town doctor ever but accidents do happen and mom doesn't have an operating table, so, yeah..." He looked at her and smirked. "Most of the people mom had to bring here were pregnant women anyway. Drive's so long most mothers wanted her with them in case something happened on the way there, ya know?"

Lucy smiled and felt herself relax. She'd tried to text Sting on the way over but got no response. Natsu had called his sister and she assured them that Yukino was fine and was already in a private room with Sting and Grandeeney. She said the baby wasn't likely to arrive for a little while, since it was Yukino's first pregnancy, and that if they hurried they could be there when she had the baby. Still, it was nice to know her sister-in-law had been in good hands.

As soon as the elevator doors opened to the third floor Lucy was overwhelmed by the loud rumble of many people excitedly talking together. Lucy stepped out into the lobby and couldn't stop her gasp of surprise. Almost half the town was waiting amoung the chairs and stiff couches. Both baseball teams were there and Lucy spotted nearly the whole staff form Sabretooth along with many others. "I knew a lot of people said they would come but I didn't think there wold be this many," she said.

Natsu shrugged. "Sting and Yukino are a big part of the Magnolian family. Same thing happened when Erza had Reiki. People care about them and want to welcome the baby into Magnolia."

"Lucy!" Rouge hurried over to them from the crowd. He'd pulled his long hair back into a small bun but already strands were falling loose like he'd run his hands through it several times. Something he only did when he was worried.

"Rouge! What's wrong? Is Yukino and Sting okay?"

"They're fine. Yukino had her baby about an hour ago."

Lucy's eyes widened. "What? She was only in labor for an hour?!" She heaved a sigh. "Figures," she mumbled. Of course Yukino woulnd't be in labor for long. Perfect woman had been the definition of the "glowing mother-to-be" with her shapely hips and never-swollen ankles. Lucy wouldn't be surprised if she hadn't even had one hair out of place after giving birth. While I had to sweat out nearly twenty-four hours of labor, she thought.

"Well, technically it's been almost three hours," Rouge said, then his brow creased with worry. "Everything went fine and the baby's perfectly healthy, but I guess Yukino almost passed out right after delivering the baby."

"What?" Lucy gasped, one hand automatically reaching over to Natsu's.

"She's fine now," Rouge assured her. "The doctor's said it was a hemorrhage but it wasn't too severe. She only had a hard time recovering since her labor was so fast."

Lucy sighed and closed her eyes. "How's Sting?"

Rouge pausedand glanced at Haru before lowering his voice. "He's okay now. The doctor's rushed him out of the room before he really got a chance to see the baby or Yukino. Once they had her bleeding under control and she was stable they told him she needed to rest for a bit."

Lucy sighed. Evedently her and Haru weren't the only ones to have an emotional rollar coster today. "Where is he now?" she asked.

Rouge jerked his chin down the hall. "Memorizing his son's face, probably. With Yukino resting the nurses took the baby to the nursery. Sting's there now."

Lucy smiled. "I'll go see him, then." She turned to Natsu, "Natsu, would you-"

"I'll watch him, Luce. Won't let him outta my sight," he said, nodding to Haru.

Lucy gave Natsu a grateful smile. "Thanks." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, clearing her head. She had to check on her brother and make sure he was okay after his son's birth. She could come back to her and Haru's baggage later, really sit down and talk with him, but now her brother needed her. And if she was honest, Lucy needed to be with Sting for a bit too. He was her person, after all, and she knew he'd take one look at her and know what she needed, even if she wasn't so sure what that was herself.

Slowly, she kneeled down and put Haru on the ground before her. He blinked up at her curiously but his hands were still twisting his shirt. Not as hard, Lucy was glad to see, but enough to show how frazzled he still was.

"Haru, sweetie. I need to go talk to Uncle Sting. And I need you to stay with Natsu." She gave him a pointed look and Haru gave a meek nod.

"Okay, mom."

She smiled and kissed his forehead. "If you need me for anything, Haru, tell Natsu and he'll take you to me, okay?"

"Okay."

Lucy pressed her lips together. She wasn't sure what else to say to her son. She'd explained on the drive that Yukino was going to have her baby and Haru would have a little cousin, and while he'd been a little excited and had asked a few questions it was nothing like the usual high level of curiosity he typically showed. For the past month he'd been asking Yukino and Lucy every question he could think of about the baby. This was nothing like that.

"Alright, then." She pulled him into a tight hug and kissed his hair. "I love you, Haru. So very much."

"I love you too, mom," he whispered.

She held him for a bit longer, letting him cling to her until he was ready to pull back. He turned to Natsu, and just like on the night Plue had her puppies, Haru raised his arms and reached for Natsu to pick him up. The man smiled softly and scooped Haru up, rubbing soothing circles on his back while Haru laid his head on Natsu's shoulder.

For a brief moment Lucy could only stare at them as her mind flashed back to her earlier thoughts about having another partner in the future. Knowing that was a thought she'd have to come back to later, she gave Haru one last kiss to his cheek, gave Natsu's arm a squeeze before following Rouge down the hall to the nursery.

Sting was in love. There was no other way to describe this feeling he'd had since he'd seen his beautiful son. And Mavis, was their son beautiful. He had Yukino's pale skin and from the small patch of hair on his head he had her silver hair too. His eyes were a light blue like all newborns and Sting couldn't wait to see if they darkened to a deep blue like his or switched to a warm brown like Yukino's. A part of Sting hoped his son at least had his eyes, though if he looked like a carbon copy of Yukino, Sting wouldn't complain.

He had barely gotten a glimpse of his son when he first came out before he was swallowed up in the sea of nurses quickly fussing over him. But that short glimpse was all he needed to know he would never love anyone as fiercly as his boy. Sting had grinned wide, chest swelling and breath catching, and all he could focus on was the sound of his son's cries before he turned to Yukino, ready to kiss her and tell her she was so incredible and strong and how much he loved her, only to turn and watch her eyes flutter closed as she slumped back into the pillows unconscious.

Everything seemed to blur then. Sting could barely remember Grandeeney guiding him out of the room to sit down while the doctor shouted orders and a nurse hurried their son from the room. He'd felt numb until his panic started to rise and by then Yukino was off to another room and he didn't know where his son was. At that point all he'd wanted was to talk to his sister. She'd know what to say. But Lucy wasn't at the hospital and Sting couldn't find his phone to call her. It hadn't occured to him to ask for someone else's phone. Rouge had sat with him while Grandeeney went off to find out what was happening and Sting's mind was fuzzy and his chest cold.

"A hemorrhage," she'd said.

Sting had read about them in the pregnancy books he had. Yukino had lost too much blood and passed out, likely because she'd had the baby so fast. But thankfully she hadn't needed surgery, just some fluids and blood transfusions. Grandeeney assured him Yukino would be fine but he still felt the treamors in his fingers that had started when he'd last seen her. That was about an hour ago. At least, he thought it was.

The doctor had told him Yukino was doing fine but she needed time to rest and he'd have to wait to see her. He'd gone to the nursery after and hadn't left his post since.

"Your mom's amazing," he said, pressing a hand to the nursery window and staring down at his son. He was wrapped up tight in a blue and white blanket that left only his little face and one teeny tiny finger curled over the top of the blanket visable.

He was so small. Did people even realize how small a baby was when it was born? And Yuki had been past due!

"Amazing," he murmured, thinking of his wife.

"There you are," Lucy murmured and Sting nearly sagged with relief at hearing his sister's voice. She slid up next to him and looped her arm through his. He took her free hand and held it tight, trying to stop the treamors he still felt. If she noticed she didn't say anything.

"So, which one's yours?" she finally asked.

"You're late," he huffed, but really couldn't be mad. Not while looking at his son.

Lucy sighed and leaned against his side, letting him lean against her as well. "I know. I'm sorry. Something happened..."

Sting paused and glanced over at her. Her lips were pursed and her brow creased but it was the puffy red spots under her eyes that told him she'd been crying. He turned a little more towards her. "What happened? Are you okay? How's Haru?"

"He's okay. He's with Natsu."

"Natsu huh?"

"Yes. And don't start getting weird."

"I don't get weird," Sting scoffed.

Lucy rolled her eyes and nudged his ribs. "You do. Whenever I mention Natsu you act weird."

Sting frowned. "Do not," he mumbled.

Lucy snickered and nudged his ribs again. "So, which one is yours?" she asked again.

"Second row, fourth one from the right," he said.

Lucy smiled and squeezed his hand. "I should've known. He looks just like Yukino."

Sting smiled at that. They were quiet for a while, just watching his son blink around at the room with his big, beautiful eyes before Lucy's phone vibrated.

"Something wrong?" he asked as she looked over the text and gave a quick reply.

Lucy shook her head, a soft smile pulling at her lips. "No. Natsu just wanted to know if he could take Haru out to the gardens for a bit. I told him that's fine. He needs the fresh air."

"Natsu?"

"No, you dingus. Haru. He's...we had a rough day. It's why we were late."

Sting nodded, waiting for Lucy to tell him what was really wrong when she was ready. He didn't have to wait long before she gave him a sad smile, her eyes never leaving the nursing room. "I had to tell Haru his father wasn't ever coming back. Again. He...he thought he could wish him back from a dragon. Thought that for a while, actually, but today he ran away during the game to find the dragon and get that wish. Natsu's grandma found him and Reiki in the woods and they were okay, but it terrified me more than anything."

She closed her eyes and sucked in a shakey breath and Sting knew she was trying to hold back her tears for his benefit. "I should've talked to him about this long before now."

He turned and pulled her into a tight hug. "Don't you dare blame yourself. Not for any of it."

She gave a weak chuckle and leaned closer to his chest. "Eucliffe...I...things only got this bad because I was too scared to tell Haru the truth. I-I should of-"

"You didn't want to crush his hopes and dreams, sis. That doesn't make you a bad parent. It makes you a concerned one who doesn't know what to do in a shitty situation."

She sighed and gave his middle a tight squeeze. "Sometimes I feel like I'm letting him believe a truth so much it becomes a lie. I know magic is real, that it's our love and his love that's still there and always will be, but then Haru looks up at the stars and says that's where his dad is, like he's just off on a business trip and will come home any day now and I just... I nod and say yes because it sounds better than the truth."

Sting pulled her closer. He wanted to tell Lucy she was wrong. That she was doing the best she could and everything she did was always for Haru. She was trying, and Sting wasn't sure if there was anything else she could do. It was a fine line to walk not to take away someone's hopes but not grow them out of proportion either. Especially when that person was a child, so easily swayed one way or the other. But he knew she wasn't ready to hear any of that. Not now.

"I miss him so much, Eucliffe," she sobbed. "I thought coming home would make it easier to think of him without feeling like I was missing a part of me but I just feel so confused." She took a shakey breath. "I don't know what I should do."

Sting dropped his cheek against the top of her head. His first thought was that this was Natsu's fault. Maybe if he wasn't so...involved in Lucy and Haru's life things wouldn't be so hard for her. But he knew this was bigger than Natsu. That this was something Lucy had been carrying on her shoulders for months.

He looked over her head at his son and stared at his big eyes.

"Remember that first week after mom died?" he whispered into her hair. "It was awful. Dad had locked himself in his office and was just drinking everything and I wouldn't talk at all. I thought we were broken. That dad would never be the same and our family was gone. I was so scared. And then one day you walked into my room and made me go out to the garden and we just sat under the willow and you read me a story. I can't even remember what it was now but that didn't matter. What mattered was that you were there. You were smiling at me like we could still be happy together and you were so brave that it made me feel brave too."

He pulled back and looked down at his sister. She'd always been his hero and Sting was sure that would never change.

"That's what you do, sis. You hope and believe in people and magic and it makes everyone around you feel stronger because they learn to see it too. I know you're worried about Haru but I also know he'll be okay because he has you."

Lucy sniffed and bit her lip. "Only a dad for a few hours and already dealing out advice. Who knew a baby was all you needed to grow up?"

Sting rolled his eyes but felt a knot in his chest loosen. He never did like to see Lucy feel so small. "Harhar."

He turned back to the window, leaving his arm slung over Lucy's shoulder while she leaned into his side. They stood there for a while just watching the baby before Sting whispered, "Yukino started to hemorrhage after she had the baby." Lucy glanced at him from the corner of her eye but she waited for him to continue. Just like he waited for her. "S-she...she passed out from loosing so much blood. I thought I was gonna lose her..."

"You didn't."

He took a deep breath and nodded. "I didn't." He swallowed and clutched her hand tightly in his. "I don't know what I'd do without her, Lucy. She's everything and for a moment I just felt, I don't know, lost I suppose." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I need her, sis. I couldn't raise our kid on my own. I don't know how I'd do it."

I don't know how you do it. He didn't say it but he knew Lucy understood what he meant. Knew she understood that he thought she was stronger because she could do something that he couldn't. That their dad couldn't.

She turned her head and kissed his temple. "You wouldn't be alone, stupid. I'd be there for you like you've been here for me."

"Always," he promised.

Lucy smiled and dropped her head on his shoulder. "Always."

They were quiet again, just looking at the baby and holding each other up. Yukino was everything but Lucy had always been Sting's person. The one who always supported him through everything and was always there to pull him up when he fell and push him along when he was too stubborn to move. He'd needed her when they were kids and he needed her now.

"What's his name?" she asked.

Sting grinned and felt his chest swell with pride even as he slumped against Lucy's side. "Weiss Agria Heartfillia. It means white. Yuki liked it."

Lucy grinned. "Weiss Agria Heartfillia. I love it."

Me too, he thought.

A few minutes later, when a nurse walked over to them and told him Yukino was awake and asking for him he realized the trembling in his hands had stopped.

Natsu stood in the waiting room surrounded by his family and friends, and half of Magnolia besides, with Haru in his arms. His mom had rushed over to greet him, followed closely by his sister and dad. He'd leaned down to let her kiss his cheek, her eyes briefly flicking to Haru in question but Natsu quietly muttered he'd tell her later and she'd thankfully dropped it. His father pressed a cup of lukewarm tea into his free hand and though it tasted old and weak Natsu was greatful all the same. They led him over to a seat and Natsu sat down with a relieved sigh.

His mom told him the details of what happened to Yukino. Nothing serious but many poeple were rattled all the same. Sting in particular. His dad showed up with a juice box a moment later for Haru and the kid finally raised his head from Natsu's scarf. He took it with a murmured thanks and sipped it slowly as he huddled against Natsu's chest. They sat there together for a while before Natsu remembered the paste his grandma gave him that was still in his pocket.

"Here, ma. Gran made it for Yukino."

"Oh, good. I know she'll need this." She gave his arm a squeeze. "I'll be right back. Better let the nurses know how to use this."

She stood and hurried off. After a few more minutes of people rushing up to talk about what had happened Haru burried his face into Natsu's scarf and hadn't come out since. That was when Natsu decided they needed to get away from the crowd.

He knew the hospital had a small garden in the center courtyard and it seemed the perfect place to let Haru relax without too many people crowding around. Haru didn't look up on the elevator down or the walk through the halls to the courtyard's enterance. The courtyard wasn't very big, about an acre or two, but there were a few paths and at this time of year the flowers were in full bloom. Natsu paused at the old gumball machine set up to give out bird seed along the main path before he sat on one of the few benches around the center of the garden.

"Hey, little man. You wanna feed some birds?"

Haru shook his head, still clinging to Natsu's shoulders.

"No? Well, I do. And I think I've got some seeds here..." He tossed out a few seeds and several birds fluttered down from the trees at their feet. "Oh, look!" he fake whispered. "A robin. And a finch. Several sparrows, not too surprisin' there. And a bluejay." He let out a low whistle and shook his head. "Quite the sight."

As he listed off some of the birds Haru slowly peeked out from Natsu's scarf and shifted to see the birds better. "Can I feed them?" he whispered.

"Sure thing, kiddo."

Haru tossed a small handful that instantly had more birds swooping down. "What are those called?" he asked, pointing to the new arrivals.

"Well, that black one is a red winged black bird. See the red patches on his wings? The blue and white ones with the yellow belly are called a blue tit bird," Haru snickered at that and Natsu chuckled as well, "and that gold one is a goldfinch. Not very creative names."

Haru dropped his head against Natsu's shoulder as he tossed some more seed to the birds. "How do you know their names?"

"Well," Natsu sighed, "I have a big book at home that has every type of bird in it. Even the ones in Alvarez." He looked down at Haru and grinned. "Plus, me and my dad used to go bird watchin' when I about your age. He used to tell me about all the different birds we saw. What they were called. Where they migrated to. What they liked to eat best. It was fun."

Haru looked down, shifting the bird seed around in his palm. "Me and my dad used to collect leaves together. We put them in a big book." Haru curled in on himself a little as he spoke. "I'd get to pick out one leaf from the park and dad would help me press it and then he'd write where we'd found it and what tree it was from." He bit his lip and twisted his shirt with one hand. "...I haven't gotten a new leaf since he died."

He mumbled the last part and Natsu felt a twinge in his chest. He eyed the boy for a moment, watching as Haru tugged hard at his shirt while tossing the rest of the bird seed to the ground. Natsu sighed and placed a hand over Haru's to stop him from twisting his shirt anymore.

"You wanna know a secret about me, Haru?"

The boy peeked up at him and blinked. "A-a secret?"

"Well, the town knows, so it's a big secret, but it's something I only really talk about with my friends." Natsu winked and ruffled Haru's hair. "You wanna hear it?"

Haru nodded, already perking up.

"I was adopted. My old mom and dad who had me in the hospital died when I was really young and then my new mom and dad got me and brought me home to be in their family." Natsu gave Haru a serious look. "I'm not ashamed of it, and I'm really proud of both of my parents and who they helped me become, understand?"

Haru nodded and frowned. "You have two moms and two dads?"

"I like to think I do. You already met my new mom and dad-"

"Pops and Grandeeney."

"That'd be the ones!" he grinned. "Even if they weren't my first parents they're still my mom and dad and they were the ones who raised me and taught me so much. I can't remember my old parents before they died, but I've seen pictures of them and I know they loved me a lot."

"What were they like? Was your old dad funny like pops?"

Natsu chuckled. He wasn't sure why his dad had Haru call him pops. He'd only ever had Emma call him that. Most people just called him by his name, though there were still some who called him Chief from his time as a fireman. Natsu shook his head as he thought of Haru's question. "Maybe. In a lot of the pictures I have of him he's laughing, or smiling really big. My old mom used to be a veterinarian, like me, ya know?"

Haru shook his head, eyes wide.

"Yeah. Kinda the reason I went to vet school. I'd always loved animals and if I could also share that piece of myself with my old mom then all the better."

Haru bit his lip and looked down at his lap. "Mom says that even though my dad is gone he still loves me, cause love never dies or goes away, and that he's up in the stars with my grandma and grandpa." He peeked up at Natsu, "Is that where your old parents are?"

Natsu hummed and settled back on the bench a little more. "Yeah. I think that might be true. I actually think I'm pretty lucky. Most people only get one mom and one dad but sometimes they get another and I think that's great." Natsu grinned, "It's like a bonus!"

Haru smiled slightly, his fingers loosening around his shirt. "I had a friend back in Crocus who's mom and dad got div...divorced," he said, frowning at the word. "Her mom got married to another lady and then she had two moms and one dad." He looked up at Natsu, "Is that what being adopted is like?"

"Kind of," Natsu said, scratching his neck. "It dependes on what happened to the old parents. If they're...still around." Natsu wasn't sure if he should really try to explain that some kids were up for adoption cause their birth parents didn't want them, whatever the reason was. That seemed a bit too much to talk about with a seven year old, and given the last time Natsu talked with Haru for a while the kid ran away he was definately gonna tread lightly.

Haru mulled that over for a bit as he watched the birds. Most had flown back to the branches leaving only some sparrows and a bluejay to pick at the last bits of seed. "Soooooo...does that mean that...maybe I could...get another dad. Someday. Like you did?"

Natsu sighed. "That kinda depends more on your mom, little man," he said.

Haru lowered his eyes and nodded. "Right..."

Natsu bit his lip before wrapping an arm around Haru. "You know the great thing about dads? They can be anyone. They can be your first dad or a second one. A grandpa or an uncle that teaches you how to be a good person. They can even be a friend sometimes."

Haru blinked and looked up but Natsu was smiling as he watched the birds. He hadn't ever heard of a dad not being a dad before. But his mom had always told him that a family was more than just a mom, dad and kids. A family could be big or small, relatives or from different places. That was why love was magic. It could be anything.

"See, what makes a dad different, what makes him so special, is that he's someone you can look up to. Someone who you want to be like, and that can be anyone really. Getting a second dad is kinda more up to your mom but you can still have someone who acts like a dad to you. Who inspires you."

Haru's eyes widened even as the sun peeked out from the clouds and shone brightly on Natsu's face. He looked like he was glowing...

"Even if you don't get a second dad, Haru, you can still have someone to look up to." He turned and grinned down at him and Haru felt his breath catch as he stared up at Natsu. "You can still have a hero. Because that's what a dad really is. He's your own hero. You just have to look for one a little bit now." He winked and ruffled Haru's hair. "But that's kinda your thing, ain't it? Lookin' for hidden treasures."

Haru sat there in awe as he looked up at Natsu's kind eyes and big smile. Maybe Haru didn't need to look for his dad. Maybe...he could find a new one instead of his dragon. Maybe...

They sat on the bench for a little longer until Natsu's phone rang and he said it was Haru's mom. He put it on speaker and Haru mumbled a soft hello as he played with the ends of Natsu's scarf. His mom said his new nephew was with his aunt and uncle and that they wanted Haru to come meet him. Natsu had given a loud, "Aye sir," and shoved his phone back into his pocket. He moved to stand with Haru still in his arms but Haru kicked his feet a little.

"I can walk," he said.

"Yeah? Well in that case, move your butt. We got a baby to see!"

Haru grinned as he followed Natsu from the garden. At the edge of the path he paused and looked down at the ground. There were leaves all over but there was one that stood out to him the most. Haru bent down and carefully picked it up. It was a deep red with seven points like a big star. Haru turned it over in his hands, looking it over to make sure it was perfect. A red star, he thought. His mom said red stars happened just before a big explosion that made a bunch of new stars and planets. It was like the end of one thing and the start of something else.

"Perfect," he whispered.

He hurried after Natsu and, holding the leaf in one hand, reached out and took Natsu's hand beside him.

Natsu drove Lucy and Haru back home late that evening. By the time they entered Magnolia it was just starting to get dark and Haru was passed out on Lucy's lap. They hadn't talked much on the ride home, only a few whispered converstations about how Yukino and Weiss were and when they could come home. Natsu knew he should've brought up his story to Haru already but he'd kept putting it off. Thinking he'd wait for Lucy to see the baby and be with her family. He'd wait for Haru to fall asleep. He'd wait to drop her off at her house. He'd wait. And wait.

He let out a deep breath as he pulled up in her drive and parked his truck. Beside him Lucy shifted Haru in her arms but made no move to get out.

"Thank you for driving us home. And tell Gajeel I really appreciate him taking Yukino's van up to Onibus."

Natsu shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's fine. Just figured you wouldn't want to drive home alone."

Lucy smiled. "Yeah..."

She looked at him a little longer, not saying anything and Natsu almost wanted to laugh that Lucy seemed to be waiting for him now, too. He cleared his throat and opened his door. "So, I'll...uh, get the door for you."

He rounded the front of the truck and opened the passenger door just as Lucy carefully unclipped Haru's seat belt and tucked him closer to her chest. "Want me to get him?" he asked.

"It's fine," she said, voice soft as Haru pressed closer to her. "I don't think he'd let go of me for long anyway." She glanced down at her son. "He'll probably want to sleep with me tonight."

Natsu hummed and held out a hand for her to hold as she slid from the truck, looking her over. There were bags under her eyes and still some red splotches on her cheekbones dispite the fact she hadn't cried for several hours, but she still looked fierce. Just as she had when marching through the forest after Haru. She held her son close to her chest as she walked up the drive, tall and strong and Natsu felt a burst of pride and awe flare in his chest.

Lucy was amazing.

He grabbed her purse from the dash and Haru's bag from the back seat and quickly followed after her. Lucy was already walking up the stairs. "I'm going to try to put him to bed. If you'd like, you could make some tea. Your grandma gave me some. It's in my bag."

"Sure thing."

He watched her walk upstairs a moment longer before heading down the hall to the kitchen. He filled the kettle and turned on the stove before grabbing two cups from the cupboard and moving to the pantry to get some honey. He was just opening the draw to get a spoon when he realized how weird it was for him to know where everything was in Lucy's kitchen. He'd been over several times before but it took him three months to know where the silverware was in his last girlfriend's appartment.

He shook his head, "You're being rediculous."

"I won't argue with that but what exactly are you talking about?"

He looked over his shoulder as Lucy walked in and sat at the table. "Nothin'. How's Haru?"

"He's alright. Curled up in my bed with his pillow asleep." She took a deep breath. "He just needs time."

Natsu nodded and sat down next to her while waiting for the water to heat. "And what about you? How're you doin'?"

She gave him a weak smile. "I'll be okay. Things just need to settle down for a bit so I can catch my breath, you know?"

Natsu nodded. "Yeah. I get it." He took a deep breath and rubbed his neck. "Look, Luce. There's something-"

The kettle whistled and Natsu snapped his mouth shut. Lucy sighed and moved to stand but Natsu leaped to his feet. "I'll get it! You sit."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Alright."

Natsu busied himself with making the tea, adding a spoonful of honey to his own before taking the two mugs back to the table. Lucy took hers with a greatful sigh. She held the warm mug close to her chin and closed her eyes to take a deep breath of the rising steam.

"What flavor is this anyway?" she asked.

Natsu took a long sip from his mug, smacking his lips at the taste. "Blackberry. There's a hint of mint too, but Gran knows how to blend it." He looked up at Lucy and grinned. "I swear, if she hadn't become a natural healer she could've started her own tea line. Blackberry and mint. Cinnamon and vanilla. Rosemary and pine-"

"She has pine flavored tea?" Lucy wrinkled her nose at the thought and Natsu couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah. I know it sounds grose, especially with rosemary, but it's actually not bad. Helps with a sore throat too. I always have a tin of it during winter."

Lucy smiled. "I'll have to ask her about it when I see her again." She took a sip of her own tea and gave a pleased hum. "So, what was it you wanted to tell me?" she asked, tapping her finger against the rim of her cup as she took another sip.

"O-oh. Well, uh," he shifted in his chair and leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the table. "Listen, Lucy. You know I'd never do anythin' to hurt you or Haru, right? You both mean a lot to me. You're my friend and Haru's, well, Haru's my friend too. You know that right?"

Lucy frowned and nodded. "Yes...I know that. You're my friend too."

Natsu nodded.

"Is...is something wrong?" Lucy asked.

Natsu scratched his cheek. "No, I mean, not really. It's about what happened earlier today. With Haru runnin' off." Lucy sat her cup aside and nodded for him to continue. "I think I gave him the idea to run off. Well, maybe not to run off but to go lookin' for the dragon for sure."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Um...Natsu. Haru's been after that dragon before we even met you. I told him about it the day we arrived in town." She lowered her eyes and started twisting her fingers together. Natsu blinked at the familiar gesture before Lucy murmured, "I didn't have the heart to tell him that no dragon could bring his father back so I let him go on believing it was true. I-I know I should've put a stop to this before today but-" She closed her eyes and sighed. "That's not important now. What happened happened and I don't blame you for the story you told him about that dragon saving you."

Natsu shook his head. "No, that's not what I'm talking about. See, at the park he asked me about the dragon and I kinda told him some silly story about it livin' in a big cave in the forest and how it liked water. I'm betting that's why he and Reiki went towards the river. Point is, I shouldn't have told him that story, and I didn't mean to, I don't know, add fuel to the fire. I guess..."

He trailed off and stared down at the grain in the table. Lucy was quiet for a while before she picked up her mug and took a long drink. "I think that hardest thing to do is to try to explain death to a child," she said at last.

Natsu looked up at her but Lucy was looking out the window. He knew she was talking about her husband and that in itself was a big deal. Lucy hadn't talked about her previous husband before. Natsu hadn't even been sure if he'd passed or left her and Haru before today. He waited for Lucy to go on, knowing if she wanted to talk about this with him now she'd do it when she was ready.

"I don't know if it's easier if you believe in an afterlife or not. I mean, either way you have to tell a little boy his father's gone and he can't be with him anymore. I've tried to make it as bearable as possible but today..." She sighed and took a deep breath. "Today I had to be very blunt. I couldn't risk Haru thinking otherwise and running off again. What if he'd gotten hurt? Or Reiki? I couldn't risk that happening again and I had to do something very hard today."

She shook her head and finally looked at him. "But so did you. You're a good man, Natsu. Someone that I know Haru admirers and I know you had the best intentions with what you did. Hell, I'm sure what you said wasn't even that bad. Haru just takes an idea and runs with it. Won't stop. Won't even walk the first steps. Just runs." She gave him a soft smile and Natsu smiled too. "He's like his father in that way, I suppose."

Natsu reached out and took her hand. For brief moment he was reminded of when he'd first held her hand right here in her kitchen. It was only a few days ago but it felt like something had changed between them. Or maybe in him.

"I get it, Luce. This shit sucks."

She tossed her head back and laughed before covering her mouth with her hand. Natsu felt a warm feeling in his chest at the fact she hadn't let go of his hand. "Yeah. That it does. But we'll get through it," she said, brown eyes glittering as she looked at him and for a moment Natsu wasn't sure if she meant just her and Haru or her, Haru and himself.

A small part of him hoped for the later and maybe that was why he moved his hand from just sitting over hers to actually holding it. Letting his thumb stroke over her knuckles. "I had a talk with Haru at the hospital today," he added.

Lucy blinked at their hands briefly before taking her mug and taking a sip. "Oh. And he didn't run off after?"

Natsu grinned. "Nah. This talk didn't have any dragons to chase."

"Good."

"I talked to him about what makes a dad so special. Nothin' too deep, or anything. Just how they can be different people and how you could have more than one. I think he understood. At the very least I don't think he'll start lookin' for a dragon again but for a new hero instead." He took a deep breath. "I told him I was adopted and how I have two parents, each one different but how they all loved me and how they were so important in my life."

He glanced up at Lucy and she was looking at him with warm eyes and a soft smile. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and Natsu felt his neck heat even as he smiled back.

"Thank you, Natsu," she said, and he knew that was all she'd say about it unless he brought it up again.

He felt his shoulders relax and sighed in relief. He had trusted Lucy not to make much of a fuss over him being adopted (she didn't seem like someone who placed a standard on what made a family) but it was still nice to know she wouldn't look at him any different. It got tiresome explaining his family to others when they tried to make it bigger than what it was to him.

Family was family no matter how it looked, and having someone accept that wasn't as common place as Natsu would've liked.

Natsu paused and bit his lip, a sudden thought coming to him. Lucy was still holding his hand, her own thumb softly pressing on the knuckles on his fingers to a slow rythem he didn't know but he liked it anyway. He took a long gulp from his tea, letting it warm his stomach which had suddenly decided to twist into knots. "I still feel a bit bad about what happened. Let me make it up to you and Haru."

Lucy cocked her head and looked at him curiously. "Make it up to us?"

He smiled. "Have dinner with me next Sunday. I don't work and I'll grill some hotdogs, make my famous chilli and you and Haru can just relax on the porch. It'll be good, yeah?"

Lucy chuckled. "I don't think that will work. After his stunt today Haru's gonna be grounded for a week at least."

"Next next Sunday, then."

Lucy smirked and shook her head. "Anyone ever told you you're a bit stubborn."

"A few. Mostly it's hardheaded."

She smiled. "Well, at least I can handle that," she said, and Natsu's heart flipped.

Haru was board. Really, really board.

He'd already sat in his room and read through every book he had, placed his dinosaurs on the shelf in the corner so they looked like a scene from a movie three different times and made a fort on his bed from his pillows and blankets. There wasn't anything else to do. His mom said he had to stay in the house but he couldn't watch tv or play with the puppies all day so he'd stayed in his room mostly. He still had all his toys but Haru was board playing with them for the fourth day in a row.

He groaned and flopped back on his pillow and looked up at the light shining through his pale blue blanket. If he squinted his eyes it almost looked like the sky and the sun. He looked out the window he'd made in his fort that looked out his real window at the tree outside. He wanted to go outside. He had his window open and could smell the grass and dirt from the garden and wanted to try looking for more treasures. Or maybe just play a game. Something.

He rolled over on his side and pulled his tin box over to his chest. He'd already taken out the fairy soldiers and sat them against the fort's door to guard it from any sprites. He didn't want them stealing his treasures (they'd already gotten his green super-bouncy ball and Haru had to keep the blue one in his tin box now so they wouldn't take that one either).

He had his stethoscope around his neck and the witch's hair pin was stuck through his sheet keeping the door closed. Haru sat up and looked into the tin box. The snake skin was still there and so were the pretty rocks he'd found but there was also the leaf he'd taken from the hospital.

Haru carefully pulled it out and held the red star leaf over his head. It caught the light and glowed like a real star and Haru smiled. He remembered what Natsu had told him about how a dad could be anyone. How they were really someone's hero and Haru could have more than one hero. The Ten Wizard Saints had ten heros and each one was different, after all, so it made sense.

He smiled. Natsu was right. His dad would always be Haru's hero but he could have another too. And Haru was starting to think he may have found one...

Haru jumped when there was a knock at his door. "Haru. Can I come in?"

"Uh...one second, mom!" he called.

He sat up and carefully put his red star leaf back in his tin box with the snake skin and rocks. He shut the lid and slid the box under his green pillow. "Okay, you can come in now."

He flipped up the flap that covered the other window that looked over his room. His mom walked in with a plate and a cup with his favorite bendy straw in it. "I brought you lunch. Peanut butter and banana, some chips and juice."

Haru grinned and reached trough the window to take it. He sat the plate carefully on his lap and took a bite of the sandwich. His mom had cut it in four squares, just how he liked it.

"Mom. I'm boooaarddd," he groaned.

His mom laughed. "You're still grounded for two more days. I think you'll make it."

Haru frowned and took a sip from his straw. "Yeah, but there's nothing to doooooo." He peeked up at her and smiled. "Can't I be grounded outside?"

She shook her head. "Not this time. But I'll tell you what. Tomorrow when we go visit Sting and Yukino and the baby we can take a walk around your uncle's pond for a bit. Okay?"

Haru frowned, puffing out his bottom lip. His uncle's pond was small. And his mom never let him do anything fun like feed Lector or try to catch the fat frog that liked to sit on the big rock. At least seeing the baby would be fun. At the hospital Haru had felt too bad to hold Weiss, his stomach was twisted in knots and his eyes had itched from crying, but maybe tomorrow he could try to hold Weiss then. Maybe show him the secret treasures Haru had found.

But not the red star leaf. That secret was only for him.

"Okay..."

His mom smiled and leaned down so she could look through the window at him. "You can't go on an adventure every day, Haru. Some days you gotta sit inside and do boaring things."

"Why?" he asked.

"Because it makes your mom feel better." Haru frowned and took another sip of his juice. They had already talked about why was grounded and why what he did was wrong. Haru felt bad about making him mom feel so scared and sad. He'd just wanted to help...

"Now, I'll be downstairs if you need me," she said. "Do you want the door open or closed?"

"Closed, please," he mumbled.

His mom nodded and kissed two fingers before tapping them to his cheek. Haru smiled and leaned his head out the window as she walked away. "Mom?"

She turned at his door, "Yes?"

"Can we play a game later? Maybe that card game you showed me before?"

She nodded. "Sure, Haru."

Haru nodded and bit his lip before asking, "Can we play it outside?"

His mom raised and eyebrow. "Well see," she said but her lips twitched and Haru grinned as she closed the door behind her.

Haru shuffled back on his bed and picked up oneof his books. He looked through the pictures in his mythical creatures book as he ate his lunch, makinng sure to read the part about witches really well cause he still thought Porlyusica was one. He put his plate and cup on the window sill and had just gotten to the part about shadow world creatures when a huge wasp flew through his window and right past his nose.

"Ahhhh!" Haru jumped back against his pillows and accidentally kicked his book away. The wasp flew over his head, smacking into the roof of his fort and Haru kicked at it but instead of flying back outside it went through his fort window into his room.

"Oh no!" he cried and sat up to flip down the flap over the window. Haru turned and looked over at his fairy soldiers. "We're under attack warriors! Is it the sprites? Did you see him?"

One of the soldiers was lying down on the book, his small thorn sword pointing at a picture of a vampire.

"Oh, of course!" Haru gasped, snatching his book up and looking over the picture. "He turned himself into a bat so he could go out in the sun. That's smart. We never saw it coming." He lifted the corner of the flap up and peeked out. The vampire was flying around his dinosaurs before it landed on the head of the apatosaurus. Haru shut the flap and turned back to his soldiers.

"He's going after the villagers, we need to save them." He shut his book and put in back with the pile in the corner of his fort and placed one soldier on top. "Guard the Royal Library, the rest of you get ready to fight!"

Haru's head snapped down to one soldier with a pebble battle axe. "What do you mean we can't fight a vampire? We have to!"

The soldier tipped forward and fell over.

"Garlic, huh? Well, lucky for you, your with a dragon hunter and I'm always prepared." Haru pulled out his tin box and got out his blue super-bouncy ball. "See. Garlic."

Haru shuffled forward to his fort window on his knees and while holding the super-bouncy garlic ball in one hand carefully grabbed the flap with the other. He paused and took a deep breath. "Ready...aaaaaaannndd...NOW!"

He threw open the flap and spotted the vampire in the corner of his room on the wood. Haru aimed and threw his super-bouncy garlic ball as hard as he could. It smacked into the corner with a loud bang that made the vampire buzz around the ceiling, then flung across the room to the other wall, hit that, then went up and hit the ceiling, then the floor, then Haru's shelf with all the dinosaurs on it, knocking a t-rex and an iguanodon to the floor before bouncing across the floor and then rolling under his desk.

Haru peeked up over the edge of his fort window and saw the vampire still flying very fast around the room. "Darn. Missed him," he mumbled.

"Haru!" his mom yelled. "No super-bouncy balls!"

"Sorry!" he yelled, sitting up a little. "Gah!"

He dropped down to his bed and threw his green pillow over his head as the vampire flew through his fort and back outside. "We won!" he cried, but just to be safe he lowered his window so it was only open a crack. "See, men. I told you we could do it," he said to his soldiers. There was a thud behind him as four more dinosaurs fell off the self. "Oops..."

Haru crawled out of his fort and slid to the floor. Beating a vampire was fun but now he'd have to set up his dinosaurs again. He sat down on the floor and started picking them up. That was when he noticed the way part of the wooden wall was popped off. It was right where he'd thrown his super-bouncy ball and the part that was hanging off wasn't that big. It kind of looked like...

"...A door!" he gasped.

Shoving his dinosaurs away, Haru reached out and tugged at the plank of wood until it came off and he sat it to the side. The hole wasn't that big. It was only about half as tall as the other doors in the house but it was thin too. It kinda reminded Haru of the attic door at Reiki's, only this was on the wall and no one could see it when the door was closed. Or maybe the doggie door his friend back in Crocus had. It was on the kitchen door but no one could see it when they were outside, only when they were inside.

Haru's eyes widened. Secret doors always had something really cool behind them in games but Haru hadn't ever found one in real life before. He wondered where it went. He glanced over at Horologium sitting on his desk then looked back at the secret door.

"Grandma's hidden treasures..." he whispered.

Haru jumped up and ran over to his nightstand and got the big flashlight he always kept in the drawer. It used to be his dads and he had used it to look under Haru's bed for boggarts sometimes. Haru shoved on his shoes and went back to the secret door. He croutched down in front of it and flicked on the light to look inside. There was a ladder nailed right into the wood. It was really narrow and Haru was sure even his mom would have a hard time climbing them. But he could fit.

"Woah..."

Haru leaned his head in and turned the light up to the ceiling. The ladder didn't go that far but it looked like it went up to maybe an attic. But it wasn't like Reiki's. It was dark and Haru could hear the house groan with the wind over his head and it smelled like old wood and rain that had been sitting in puddles for a while.

He flicked the light around and saw something sparkle just behind the ladder. Haru narrowed his eyes and tried to see what it was. It looked like a small glass bottle but there was some kind of jewel haning from it too. Or maybe it was a little blue spoon. Haru gasped and leaned forward, trying to see more.

He'd found it! His grandma's hidden treasures! All along they'd been hiding in his own room and he never knew. Haru sat back on his heels and looked over his shoulder, biting his lip. Maybe he couldn't have an adventure outside but he could have one inside.

Turning back to the secret door, Haru squared his shoulders and slowly crawled inside.