~PREVIOUSLY ON THE LAST CHAPTER~

"Oops, guess I need to start over – 1." He really was the cutest thing.

"So, sexy, why not tell me about yourself?" The big blonde haired male smirked, leaning against the table looking at the pregnant blonde.

What Lucy heard, this guy's name was Laxus. Rogue and Sting had disappeared somewhere out to go look around and Natsu was forced to go get some things for his 'guest' and Lucy so he left just few minutes to go grabs some snacks. He threatened Laxus that if he tries to do anything to Lucy, he'll personally rip his throat out.

Lucy turned to look around herself, to see if he was talking to somebody else but when she noticed they were the only ones in the room, she sighed. "And why should I?" Lucy asked, keeping her distance from this man. She heard Laxus was dangerous and he was pissing her off the more he flirted with her. Can't people see she's engaged with Natsu? "Why, shouldn't I know something about my future cousin? She might be my wife someday too."

"Go fuck yourself; I'm not in the mood to be flirted with."

"Oh my, such language for a beautiful lady." Lucy glared at him, wanting to slap him hard across his face but she worried about what Laxus will do to her and her child. Maybe she'll just get Natsu to do it for her. "Giving me the silent treatment now?"

"Stop talking, leave me alone."

"I can't leave a pregnant lady by herself, y'know. And I'm actually surprised that idiot got somebody like you. He even got you knocked up with his baby."

"I love Natsu a lot, thank you very much."

"You can love me more." Lucy's palm twitched as she felt like she was going to punch him across the face. Where was Natsu now?

"Come on pretty lady, how about a one night stand with me?" Okay, Lucy was officially pissed off. How could she say this guy looked handsome and somewhat hot? He was an asshole.

"You're an asshole; go find somebody else to be your whore!" Lucy shouted before standing up to walk away. She was so done with him and all this anger is not good for Nashi.

As Lucy rounded the corner, she bumped into Natsu who gasped, grabbing the spoons that fell and bottle of juice. He sighed in relief and looked at Lucy with wide eyes. Seeing that she was angry, he set the things down and grabbed her face in his large hands. "What'd that bastard do?"

"He's asking me to have one night stands with him! What a jerk!"

"Bastard! I'll teach him about now flirting with my girl," Natsu growled, glaring at the place Lucy exited from. He knew he shouldn't have left her alone with Laxus. "Leave him alone, I don't want you getting hurt or angry. Hold it in for our Nashi," Natsu smiled at Lucy and planted a sweet kiss on her lips, pulling back to grin at her. "Just 3 more months, Lucy. 3 more months till our Nashi's birthday."

"3 more months till I go through hell. Do you even know how it feels like to give birth?"

"Like hell, I'm guessing?"

"Yes! Mama even told me she felt like she was going to die, what am I going to do?"

"You'll go through it because you're strong. I'll be there with you, don't worry." Lucy pouted making Natsu kiss her once again, capturing her lips with his. Lucy couldn't help but smile and laugh as Natsu constantly kept kissing her lips over and over again.

"You know, the hallways isn't a place to make-out," Sting said, making Natsu and Lucy both stop and look at him. Rogue was by his side while Sting was smirking at them.

Lucy heard a lot about Sting and Rogue; Sting was hated for pissing Natsu off a lot. She also heard from Grandine they played together a lot but as they grew up, all they did was argue and fight. Rogue's father married Sting's mother making them step-brothers only at the age of 14, and starting from that year, Sting and Natsu hated each other.

"What do you want?" Natsu sneered, looking at the blonde as he wrapped a protective arm around his pregnant fiancé who looked at the two step-brothers.

They don't look as bad as they seem. "We were just on our way to the living room but happen to stop and see you two sucking face,"

"Sting, leave the two alone."

"Come on, Rogue. I'm just having some fun," Sting said as he looked at Rogue back at the couple. Oh how Natsu's angry face pleased him. "Why you little –", "Natsu, relax." Lucy said as she stopped him before going any further. She really wanted the answer to why they started hating each other. She'll ask Natsu later but she really wanted to know Sting's story first. "Sting-Kun, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure."

"No way! Lucy, you're 6 months pregnant and if I'm not by your side, I am not letting you go. Especially if it's with that asshole,"

"Natsu, we're just going to go talk. Want to come with, Rogue-Kun?"

"Whatever,"

"See Natsu? They're family, they won't hurt me." Natsu uneasily looked at his fiancé's face, looking back at Sting and Rogue who stared right back, Sting looking a bit amused. He knew Sting, he knew Sting would do anything to make him pissed off and if he finds out Sting tries doing something to Lucy, he'll burst and even kill Sting.

Natsu finally sighed in defeat and gave in. "Fine, Rogue look after her," Natsu said as he looked at the black-haired male. He nodded, knowing that he rather trust his fiancé to him than Sting. "And Sting, if you do something to Lucy –". "Yeah, yeah, I'll bury you alive." Sting mimicked Natsu's voice, making Lucy giggle a bit. "Go to Laxus or something, bond with your cousins for a while." Lucy whispered giving Natsu's lips one last kiss she walked over to Sting and Rogue, the trio leaving for the garden again.

Natsu stood there for a while, thinking what in the hell was he thinking to let Sting take his precious Lucy. He hated Sting – hell he didn't trust the guy – but Rogue, he trusted Rogue. Rogue wasn't as bad as Sting but he still followed through whatever that guy wanted him to do and it pissed him off just a tad bit.

Natsu sighed and grabbed the things to go back towards the room where Laxus and his family were, all talking to each other.

Lucy better be fine, or else he'll be digging some graves tonight.

Lucy followed the stone pathway of the garden, taking careful steps one after the other, trying to think of a way to ask him. She felt the two step-brothers following her from behind and she knew they were staring at her back. She just needed to ask without making it too awkward.

"Uh, hey, blondie?" Lucy turned around to look at Sting, his attitude changing just a slight bit. He seemed more playful and laidback just a few minutes ago. "Lucy," Lucy said to tell him her name. "Yeah, I got that, why'd you bring us here? I was planning on pissing that idiot pink-tard out." Yep, his personality has changed too. "Why is that?"

"Why is what?"

"Why does your attitude and personality change when you're not with Natsu?"

"Cause I obviously hate the guy?" Sting said, snorting just a bit as he faced the blonde. Damn, he's like a diva. Lucy saw past through his mask, she knew Sting didn't actually hate Natsu, and Natsu didn't either. "No you don't,"

"What do you mean by I don't? You don't know me,"

"I can tell quiet a lot by your change of attitude and facial expressions. Tell me, Sting-Kun, why'd you start 'hating' Natsu?" By the look on Sting's face, Lucy knew he was dumbfounded. He actually thought Lucy wouldn't see through his mask.

Sting actually admired Natsu a lot. He looked up to Natsu but got so jealous of how great he was, Sting vowed that he'll be his rival and surpass him.

After Rogue became his step-brother, Sting had found out Rogue was actually pretty jealous of Gajeel and so, that's how this hatred bloomed. But of course he wouldn't tell Lucy that, she'll just tell Natsu and make him think he was weak. "Like I'll tell you anything."

"Why not? Afraid of some girl?"

"Blondie, you're really pulling' my strings here,"

"Then just tell me why you hate him so much!"

"I don't have a reason why I should!"

"I can keep a secret, just tell me, damn it."

"I think certain people should mind their business and don't snoop into other people's lives." Lucy felt the sudden urge to just grab the chair and smash it again his head, but she needed to be calm and collected. She didn't want Sting to be afraid of her now, or angry.

"What's so bad on telling me anyways?" Lucy huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're his soon-to-be-wife; soon, I'll hate you too." Lucy gawked at him, trying to see if he was lying but his face showed no humor. He'll hate her just because she'll be married to Natsu? What kind of stupid reason was that?

"Gah, I'm wasting time talking to you, I'm going back inside. Come on, Rogue," Sting turned around along with Rogue who gave her a slight worried glance then both walking away.

Lucy quickly started to think what she should say that'll get him to talk or stop. "Natsu doesn't hate you!" Lucy quickly blurted out, covering her lips as she cursed to herself.

Natsu was going to kill her. But luckily, that did the trick because Sting had stopped walking.

Whenever Natsu talks about Sting, Lucy always saw the looks of sadness and disgust on his face; Natsu didn't hate Sting, he just dislikes Sting since he always tries to pick fights with him first. But Lucy that's what Lucy thinks. She will ask Natsu about that later, she needed to deal with this Diva first. "Natsu doesn't hate you," Lucy repeated again, walking closer towards the two males. Sting turned around, facing Lucy again along with Rogue. "What do you mean, Natsu-San despise me."

"Natsu doesn't, he acts like it, but he doesn't."

"And how might you know this?"

"Remember, I'm his wife," Lucy gave Sting a small smile making Sting Tsk, the corner of his lip twitching just a bit to form a smile. Lucy actually wasn't that bad as he thought she'll be.

"Why don't you enlighten us then?" Rogue said, talking for the first as since he's been out here with them. Lucy nodded and sat down on the seat, pointing at the other two chairs by the garden. The two glanced at each other before sitting down in front of Lucy, who smiled happily.

She was happy they were giving her a chance.

~X~

Lucy was lying on a bench, staring up at the night sky as the stars twinkled. The others were probably inside in their rooms and or sleeping since it was way past 10PM now. Natsu was somewhere inside their room doing something and so, she was alone for now.

She stared up at the sky, looking at all the celestial characters and pretty stars. She always was a big fan of stars, anything to do with the sky. She would stay outside and stare at the sky for hours and hours, doing nothing but staring and identifying.

After she had that talk with Sting and Rogue, he confessed everything to her and she was happy that ever Rogue confessed also. She didn't exactly know what Gajeel's feelings were since the only person he ever loved was Levy so, she'll have to as Levy about him. She was even surprised Sting hugged her and thanked her, even apologizing for being so rude to her in the beginning.

Maybe this was going to be the start of their friendship.

He trusts her now and now she had to talk to Natsu, all he needed to was to come outside like he always does and sit with her for a couple hours or so.

After a couple minutes or so, Natsu finally came out, grinning a bit. "Hey," He cooed, closing the balcony's door and sitting next to her, holding her hand in his large warm ones. Lucy smiled and looked at Natsu back at the stars. She could see the celestial characters right now.

One day, she'll teach her daughter about it also.

"Natsu?"

"Yeah?"

"Tell me why you started hating Sting," Natsu looked at Lucy, surprised. He stared at her for a while to see if she was joking or anything but she just stared right back at him, waiting for an answer. "He pisses me off," He confessed, running a hand through his pink locks. Lucy saw the frustration on his face and smiled a bit. "But you don't hate him, right?"

"I don't hate him . . . I just dislike him for picking fights with me all the time."

"But you and Gray do it all the time, what's the difference when you do it with Sting?"

"Sting's Family and Gray's a rival . . . it's different since Sting and I were basically best friends when we were younger. After Sting and I started hating on each other, that was when I realized Gray was there." Natsu sighed once more, leaning again the bench with Lucy who just nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.

She was so happy that all the boys were warming up to her – expect Laxus – and trusting her with secrets. "Does that mean if Sting doesn't pick fights with you, you two will become besties again?"

"I don't know, why are you asking all these questions, weirdo?"

"I'm not a weirdo!" Lucy protested earning a laugh from Natsu. He pulled her into his arms and wrapped one of his arms around her stomach and the other on her shoulders. Lucy sighed and listened to his heartbeat, his warmth coating her shivering figure. She knew Natsu didn't hate Sting, she just knew it.

"We won't be besties, but I'm sure something will work out between us. Hopefully." Natsu muttered, the last part, looking away from Lucy who glanced at him. She had a sly smile on her lips as she giggled, excited to tell Sting about this tomorrow morning. He'll be delighted. "I knew you, you love Sting don't you?"

"No, I love you."

"No! I know, but as a family member now, like you love Wendy and Grandine, right?" Natsu pursed his lips, sitting up as he tried thinking of what to say. Does he? Does he love Sting and his other family members as family? Not a lot, but he does have a small bit of affection for them. "Err, I guess. But not as much as you."

"I know, I know. And does this mean that you two will be talking tomorrow? Not arguing?"

"I don't know, depends on what he says first,"

"You should talk to him first." Natsu shook his head and lied back down, looking up at the starry night sky. Confessing all this to Lucy was a bit weird for him, but Lucy was his fiancée, he can tell her anything. "Why'd you sudden ask about Sting, anyways?"

"Maybe because I think he's hot."

"What the – Lucy!"

"I'm just kidding! I'm worried about both of you that is why I'm asking." Natsu eyed Lucy suspiciously trying to see what she really meant but gave him. Lucy was stubborn, and he was too, but he knew he couldn't win Lucy any day. Especially when she's pregnant and has violent mood swings.

"Hey, what did you talk about Sting and Rogue earlier today, anyways?" Natsu suddenly asked, making Lucy tense a bit. Natsu felt her tense and immediately thought it was something about him. "Me?"

"No, no, we were talking about the weather."

"Luce, I'm not that dumb – what were you talking about?"

"How sexy you are."

"I know I am, but seriously, what -?"

"Oh, a shooting star!" Lucy quickly shouted, trying to ignore the pink-haired male who kept asking about what she and Sting were talking about. Natsu gave up and sighed, looking up at the sky again. He knows a thing or two about them, Lucy often mentions it time to time as they lie down and stare up in the sky. Maybe he'll bring Nashi and then the three of them could do it. "Do you think Nashi would be like me or you?"

"I think both of us, a little bit of you and a little bit of me."

"I hope she looks like you, and then she'll be beautiful," Lucy couldn't help but blush and look away, Natsu chuckling just a bit when he saw her.

The two of them still couldn't believe they hated each other just a month ago. Just like Sting and he was, but they hated each other for years now, constantly fighting and arguing. She hopes everything turns out fine.

Lucy snuggled into Natsu's arm, her eyelids growing heavier. It was a beautiful night and eventful day, maybe tomorrow would be better.

All Lucy remember next was being carried to the bed and hearing a soft goodnight from Natsu, then everything going back.