Three months later
Three months had passed since Emma was born and much had happened Nashi was kidnaped as were the twins, this made Gajeel's protective instincts go off the charts. He rarely let Emma out of his sights or be alone with anyone who wasn't him, Levy, or someone from the guild. Levy tried to tell him he was overreacting but Gajeel would hear none of it.
However he was forced to give in when Levy said it was time for them to go out on a job. Gajeel kept trying to claim it was too soon and that Emma needed him, which was true but it was clear that he needed some time away from her.
They needed money so it was time for them to work and luckily there was one other thing that made Gajeel comfortable with leaving his daughter. They got Pantherlily to be their babysitter, he already lived with them and was excellent with Emma so it was a done deal.
It was the morning they were supposed to leave and Gajeel was enjoying his daughter for as long a he could. They had taken a job taking down a monster that was terrorizing a town worth 800,000 jewel and would be gone most of the day so Gajeel was worried as usual.
"Who's daddy's girl yeah who is it!" Gajeel asked in a silly voice as he held Emma.
Emma simply giggled and reached for her daddy loving all his affection. Gajeel continued to baby talk and be silly with his daughter until Levy came up behind him.
"Alright it's time to go, are you having fun with daddy sweetie?" Levy asked in a silly voice.
Emma giggled more all the while Gajeel pouting over having to leave. They both went to the door Gajeel clutching Emma not wanting to leave his little girl.
"Alright Lily I've left milk in the fridge and everything you'll need should be in her nursery do you have any questions?"
"No I'm sure I'll be more than capable to take care of her."
"Good, goodbye sweetheart mommy and daddy will be back be good for uncle Lily." Levy said as she placed a kiss on Emma's head.
Gajeel then looked at his daughter and kissed her head.
"Can you please promise me you'll be in your big form while you hold her?"
"Of course."
The currently flying exceed before them then changed to his very tall muscular form and held his arms out.
Gajeel reluctantly gave his daughter up to Lily and then put his arms down, now feeling very empty.
With that the couple turned around said goodbye one more time and left.
After a few seconds Emma began to realize her parents weren't coming back causing her to wail loudly. At first Pantherlily didn't quite know what to do nervous to be alone with Gajeel's daughter, knowing he would be destroyed if anything happened to his precious jewel.
Then he calmed down a bit and rocked her till she fell back asleep happy he got her to calm down. From there everything went quite smoothly you could pretty much say he was the perfect babysitter. He was attentive, playful, surprisingly nurturing, and overall very sweet with Emma, though a few times when he was in his small form she would pull at his tail.
Emma grew quite fond of her exceed sitter and even seemed to develop some of his habits such as nodded by in approval when she like something.
It soon started to get close to dinner and just before Lily was going to start giving Emma her six o'clock meal the door bursted open.
"Emma Daddy's home!" Gajeel yelled excitedly.
As soon as Emma heard her father's voice she giggled madly happy for her parents to be back. Not too shortly after she was in her father's strong and protective arms and quickly started to snuggle into him. Gajeel was absolutely thrilled he had his daughter back and safe, but then Levy came over and took her.
Though Gajeel was more than happy to have Levy take their daughter knowing she was very safe there to, not to mention she was also her mother.
"So Gajeel how did it go?"
"It went well we managed to not destroy to much so we kept all our reward money, how about you how did it go?"
"It went great I think she likes me, but she did pull on my tail a few times."
"Good, I just want to thank you Lily for doing this. You were the only one I felt comfortable leaving Emma with."
"It was a pleasure, just know I'm willing to do it anytime."
The rest of the evening went as usual Levy fed Emma and then her and Gajeel both put her to bed making sure she was nice and comfortable. Though that night after they closed the door Lily came in with his bed and slept next to her crib, feeling a now rather protective connection to the little girl not willing to let anyone harm her in any shape way or form.
You would think that this child would have nothing to worry her pretty little head about with a dragon for a father and a guard cat at her crib, but unfortunately that couldn't keep evil from coming out from the shadows.