~PREVIOUSLY ON THE LAST CHAPTER~

"That's it; you're staying inside within my watch!" Natsu shouted grabbing her and turning around to stomp towards the castle. Lucy just whined like a little girl, waving goodbye to her friends who just stood there, watching.

God – those two are so weird.

Natsu ran down the hall, turning right to slide inside the kitchen, quickly standing up as he ignored the cooks and others that were staring at him as if he was crazy. He grabbed a bottle of juice and some chips as he dashed out of the kitchen, running back upstairs to his room where his pregnant fiancé was. This baby was being one hell of a pain in the ass. Natsu ran into the room and stood in front of the bed, breathing as if he just ran a marathon.

"I – I got the . . ." Natsu paused as he sucked in a large amount of oxygen, "Your juice and chips."

"Thank you!" Lucy smiled widely as she reached for the things in Natsu's hand while the big bump on her stomach prevented her from moving around a lot. She basically sat around all day long since she was always out of breath when she even moved around for more than 10 minutes. She sometimes goes out to the garden with Natsu or walk around town for some fresh air, Natsu never leaving her side unless he needed to.

She was currently 3 months pregnant and the bump looked too big to be considered 3 months old. Maybe it was because Lucy ate a lot or maybe they could be having twins but either way, Lucy was happy.

"Anything else?"

"Yes, come sit next to me." Natsu grinned to this as he went to the other side of the bed and lied down next to her, his breathing going back to its normal rate. All he did today was run around granting Lucy's wishes and this was the first time he was about to lie down without her screaming or whining at him to get her something. Maybe this baby thing wasn't such a good idea.

"Hey Natsu, what do you think the baby would be like?" Lucy asked snapping Natsu back into reality; looking at her he starting to think, lying on his side to stare at the bump. "Err . . . tiny?"

"Well of course, but I mean how the baby might look like."

"I don't care, as long as the baby is born healthy and safe, I don't really mind." Natsu grinned as he wrapped his arms around her stomach and snuggled against her bump.

Lucy couldn't help smile and popped a chip into her mouth, chewing the salty piece of junk food. "I hope it's a girl."

"Why a girl?"

"So I could dress her up in pretty clothes."

"Well I want a boy!"

"Why is that?"

"So I could teach him all the cool things and he'll look up to his awesome father!" Natsu shouted as he stood up on the bed, posing into a heroic pose. Lucy giggled and smiled at the idiotic person who she claims she loves.

"I hope the baby looks like you." Natsu said after a while of silence and sitting back down to look at her with eyes filled with love. He really did love her and he would give anything up to make her happy.

Lucy looked at him with curious eyes, stuffing her face with the chips Natsu had given her. "Why is that?"

"Cause, then she'll be beautiful."

"What if it's a he?"

"Then I hope he has your eyes so I could look at him and he would remind me of you." Lucy felt a blush crawling up her neck and she looked away from him, feeling bashful. He could be so sweet sometimes.

Natsu grinned and lied back down, wrapping his arms around the bump and her again, pressing his ear against the bump.

He always did this to her, lie down with her for hours and hold her and the baby close, cooing and kissing at it for hours till he finally falls asleep with Lucy.

He was just so happy he was going to be a parent and the woman he loves is bearing his child which he was grateful for. He promised he was going to keep her forever and that's what he's planning to do. Keep her forever.

"Ow!" Natsu suddenly shouted as he pulled away from Lucy and looked at her while rubbing the side of his face. Lucy looked at him startled and confused, thinking what in the world is wrong with him. He just suddenly screamed when it was all so comfortable and silent and almost scared the living daylights out of her. "Lucy!"

"What? What did I do?"

"You just hit me!"

"No I didn't,"

"Yes you did! You just smacked the side of my head that was on your tummy-"Natsu started to scream but stop when he felt another kick on his palm which was still on the baby bump. Natsu's eyes went wide and he looked at Lucy and back at the bump, back and forth till Lucy finally caught on.

"The baby kicked?" She asked, her eyes twinkling a bit. The baby kicked!

Natsu had a huge grin on his face and he moved his hand to the side a bit, positioning his hand in another way. Soon, he felt the hit on his child and he laughed, enjoying the moment.

His own child was alive and moving inside his soon-to-be wife. It was kicking.

"Lucy, he's kicking, he's alive! He hears my voice, I think he likes it!" Natsu started to talk real fast and loud, excited about the baby's kick. He was laughing and grinning like an idiot, keeping his hand on her stomach while his eyes were dancing with pride and happiness.

Lucy looked at him, her eyes softening and a small smile on her lips. She watched as Natsu screamed and cheered, hugging her bump while cooing at it once more – she loved this side of him. He was so fatherly and loving; he was like a whole new person.

The baby kicked once again and Natsu laughed, jumping up and down on the spot. "Lucy, he kicked again!"

"I know, calm down Natsu." Lucy laughed a bit, rubbing her stomach while Natsu grabbed her hand and gave it a light squeeze. He was so happy. "Thank you." Natsu beamed, grinning lovingly. He was happy – too happy to be correct. He felt his child kicking and he sees his beautiful fiancé happy.

He was proud, oh so proud.

~X~

"I wish you two the best of lucks!" Mirajane squealed, squeezing Lucy into a tight hug alarming the pink-haired male. He tried pulling the white-haired woman off his precious Lucy but Mirajane's strong grip was impossible to rip off.

"Mira!" Natsu shrieked, looking at Lucy choking over how tight Mirajane was hugging her. He was afraid her tight grip would hurt Lucy and the baby, and if any one of them got hurt, he'll be devastated.

"Oh Natsu, stop worrying. Lucy and the child are okay – what is the baby's name by the way?" Mirajane pulled back slightly to look into her brown eyes which stared right back at her blue ones.

Lucy has only met Mirajane about 3 weeks ago and she already acts like they've know each other forever which was a great thing. Lucy admired Mirajane for her beauty and kindness; she wishes she was like her. But the thing Natsu always say is, "You're the best in my eyes, don't compare yourself to others!" And so, Lucy doesn't do it in front of him.

"Err; we haven't picked a name out yet."

"Well hurry up, I can't wait to see what cute name you and Natsu choose!" Mirajane shouted looking at Natsu back to Lucy. She was excited to see her nephew or niece, Mirajane had a thing for when kids call her, "Auntie." Or "Sissy." It just made her all hyped up and crazy.

"Well, we don't know if it's a girl or boy yet so, calm down." Natsu said coldly as he pulled Lucy to his side, grabbing her by the waists and hand so Mirajane won't take her away from him again. He's turned to this overprotective guy since day one when he found out Lucy was pregnant. It was annoying but cute. It shows that he actually cares.

"If it's a girl name it Mira!"

"No, we're not calling her Mira."

"Oh Natsu, stop being so cold." Mirajane said dramatically as she pouted slightly earning a snort from Natsu who looked away from her. Mirajane was famous for her modeling and acting skills and her scary side. She may look like an angel on the outside but in the inside he's a demon.

"We'll think about it, Mira. Where are Lisanna and Elfman?"

"Oh Lisanna is at home while Elfman is at the gym. You know them, not much of an outdoor person." Mirajane winked looking at Lucy with a bright smile. Her younger brother and sister meant everything to her since they were the only family they had left in the world; she cares for them as much as she cares for her friends.

"Tell them hi from me."

"Oh me too,"

"Will do. But now I need to go and get going with my grocery shopping. Take care of yourself, eat well, sleep well, and don't go doing stupid things, okay?" Mirajane said as if she was teaching Lucy some manners.

Mirajane was also the protective type. Along with Natsu and Erza who watch over her as if she was some precious jewel somebody was going to steal, they watch over her daily.

"Bye Mirajane, I have Natsu to watch over me for that." Lucy giggled along with Mira whole earning a glare and an, "Hey!" from Natsu.

"Bye." Mirajane smiled and put her sunglasses back on with her hat, walking down the road. Oh how Lucy envied her. "Let's get going, we still haven't finished our exercise." Natsu said as he pulled on her hand, dragging her along with him.

Urgh, how bad Lucy hated walking with this 8 pound lump on attached to her stomach. It was bad enough she needed to give birth and go through the agonizing pain for almost 8 hours but carrying this heavy bump around for 9 month was not on her bucket list.

Moments later, Lucy and Natsu was walking down the park way holding hands. It was a beautiful day today and they were trying to enjoy it as much as they can. They had to take many breaks since Lucy always got so tired and out of breath but other than that, they walked for almost 2 hours now.

"Natsu, let's sit down for a bit." Lucy said as she pointed towards a bench receiving a nod from Natsu who took her over towards the bench. They sat down on the bench and both rested, watching people walk by and the fountain water flow. "Isn't that the fountain where I dropped you in couple months ago?"

"Oh shut up Natsu."

"Hey, ice cream! You want some?"

"Yes please!" Lucy shouted, clapping her hands together and grinning widely. Whenever somebody talks about food or if she sees food, she gets all excited and hungry. Maybe it was because of the child she was carrying but either way, Lucy had never ever eaten that much in her whole life. She eats more than Natsu and it scared both of them.

"I'll be gone for 2 minutes, you better be safe by the time I come back. I'll be right there, so scream if you're in trouble or something." Natsu stood in front of her pointing at the small ice cream stand couple of feet away and looking back at his fiancé who nodded and rolled her eyes. It wasn't as if he was leaving far away from her, just a couple feet away and he's becoming all over-protective again. "Yes sir."

"Good, now I'll be back." Natsu gave her a sweet peck on the lips before leaving to go buy some ice cream. She wasn't left alone like this since months – she could feel the freedom.

As Lucy watched Natsu walk up to the ice cream stand, she saw him turn around every 5 seconds. He was becoming so annoying. Lucy watched him continuously and when he didn't turn around she felt two pairs of hands covering her eyes.

Lucy couldn't see anything and her mind went blank, feeling a bit scared. "Guess who?" A deep voice said scaring Lucy even more. "A – A pedophile?"

"I am not that old!" He protested earning a small smile from Lucy. "Gray, stop playing with Lucy. Natsu is going to kill you." Lucy heard another voice come from behind her, a female voice. "Oh come on Erza! You killed my fun!" Gray shouted, pulling his hand back to look at her and grin. "Hey, Lucy."

"Gray, Erza!"

"Hey Lucy, how're you feeling? Where's that pink-haired bastard? I thought I told him never to leave your side!" Erza shouted in fury, looking around to find Natsu who she assumed abandoned her all alone. She finally found Natsu and started to make her way over to Natsu but Lucy stopped her before she killed her one and only love, "Erza no!"

"What do you mean by no? What if you had gotten hurt?"

"I asked him to get me some ice cream, leave him alone. He did nothing wrong - I actually like being away from him for the first time in months."

"Told you Flame-head was annoying." Gray chuckled as he sat next to Lucy and swung an arm around her shoulders. He smiled at her making Lucy smile back. She once had a crush on this guy, but it disappeared once Natsu claimed her as his and made her fall in love with him.

"Hey, ice-brain! Get your hands off my woman!" Natsu's roared as he came running towards them. He held two ice cream cones in his hands, one strawberry and one chocolate.

He made his way over to where they were all at and received a smack in the head from Erza, and a smirk from Gray. "How dare you leave Lucy all alone?"

"I – I didn't! I was just there; I swear I was going to come back." Natsu looked at Erza with wide eyes; looking like a deer in front of a car that's about to get hit. He handed Lucy her strawberry ice cream and shoved Gray off his seat and sat down, wrapping his arm around Lucy this time. "Now, this is better."

"Hey, did you just shove me off that bench?"

"What else did you think I did?" Natsu snorted as he licked the chocolate ice cream earning a glare from Gray. "Don't you two fight in front of a pregnant lady." Erza hissed at the two bickering men while Lucy giggled, watching the three. She always did enjoy it when Gray and Natsu looked so scared while Erza looked all so mighty. It was hilarious.

"So what are you guys doing at the park?"

"Yeah and why are you two always together?" Natsu asked, eyeing Gray and Erza suspiciously. Were they possibly-? "Are you two together?" Lucy asked, her eyes widening and a wide smile appearing on her lips. She had to admit – they did look like a cute couple.

"Not really." Gray said nonchalantly, standing up on his two feet. "I have Juvia."

"That crazy water woman?"

"She's not that crazy. . ."

"Well she's crazy for you so she must be stupid to fall for somebody like you."

"Why you –", "Ahem." Erza shot Natsu and Gray a deadly glare telling them if they don't stop she was going to go drown them in that fountain over there. They shut their mouths and looked away from each other, acting as if nothing has happened.

"And I'm working on Gellard so don't think stupid thoughts, Natsu."

"Aye." Lucy sighed and looked at Erza; seeing the small blush on her cheeks she frowned. She's been trying to get Gellard to be her boyfriend for the past year but no progress has been held between them. Possibly she could help her. She wanted them to be happy, like they were. She could just imagine Erza being so cute and motherly with her child.

"Don't look at me like, I'll kill you!"

Well, maybe.