Chapter 2

Lucy's POV

I woke up the next morning feeling sore down there. How can I not be? We made love for … umm… I already lost count. I can't exactly recall how many times we had done that – you know what I mean people. Reaching the side of the bed while my eyes still remained close, I only feel an empty space beside me. Where is Pim?

Opening my right eye to look if my judgement was right and it is. Seeing his part of the bed where he slept last night vacant and empty left me wondering where he had gone to. I trudge on getting up. The pain is stinging my body from last night.

My cheeks immediately turned red just by remembering what had happened between him and me, or should I say US. We made love as if it was our last day on earth. I can't control Natsu's pace, he grizzly moved as he pleased.

I searched for something to wear knowing that what I wore last night got torn to shreds when Natsu forcefully ripped it apart. After changing, I walked slowly down the stairs and into the living room. Not even hearing a single tinge of sound nor a smell of food. Where could my husband be? It is still so early! I know that he wakes at an un-humanly pace due to his work but being awake at this hour during a vacation? How could he do that?

Due to me searching for him, I ended up looking around the house which I hadn't done yet the moment I got here. It's really clean, the house is made out of quartz after all so it's no wonder that it looked so white from the outside and even in the inside. The interior is not to be messed with, a spiral quartz stairs that led up to the second floor, a blue and white accented furniture for a living room decoration, with a white sofa, navy blue stalls and a glass coffee table, where all are facing a flat screen TV. The kitchen has a metallic vibe to it plus a sailor accent for a taste of the salty seafood. Knowing how clean it looks, the caretaker of Natsu's private island sure kept the place spick and span. Just like a typical vacation house for a family.

When I couldn't find Natsu anywhere in the vicinity, I decided to just walk out and searched for him near the beach.

The wind kissed my skin and the sun greeted me with its gentle rays. Waves looked lovely for the moment it looked like it is glistening under the sunlight of the early morning. I walked in a pace where I enjoyed the ocean breeze, letting my hair be taken away and my white chiffon skirt fluttering in the gentle strokes of the morning wind. Beach's sand always feels nice under my feet so I took of my sandals and enjoyed my stroll. The place really is beautiful. It feels like heaven in a paradise. How could that even happen?

Now I want my own private island! I'll just buy my own when we return. I'll ask Natsu later if he knows any seller that would want me to buy their island. I'd prefer for it to be near here, that way we could just visit this place when we go there riding our yacht. Yup! That would be perfect. Instantly falling in love with this place really makes my heart flutter. It's not extravagant unlike those million-dollar islands, it's just simple with its own carefree vibe. The way it made me feel safe and at peace, I just love it.

I reached the shore when I heard voices talking.

And there, I saw Natsu sitting on the sand while talking to a female child and a male one.

"Big Brother, are you staying with someone here?" the female child asked whilst sitting Indian style in front of Natsu. She looks adorable wearing her faded blue dress and her twin tails that flowed with the wind. She looks to be around six, maybe.

Silently watching the three while standing not too far away from them but just enough for me to hear their conversation and for them not see me. Not wanting to surprise or break a conversation that just started, that would be rude of me.

"My wife." I can't help but smile when he answered the little girl's question. Indescribable happiness is what I'm feeling right now when he said that. A tinge and a hint of possessiveness can be heard within his voice.

"Really?" her innocent hazel eyes grew bigger. "Where is she? Is she nice big brother?"

"Of course she is, big brother's wife couldn't be bad." The little boy replied to the little girl. I, on the other hand, remained silent listening to their adorable conversation.

Natsu held his chin up, pretending to think. "Yes. She's very nice but she's afraid of divulging it." Both of them eyed Natsu weirdly. "Divulging?" they both asked him. "She's afraid to show how kind she really is."

"Why is she afraid?" Natsu looked at the boy who asked the question. Sighing, he watched the waved pass and gone while a smile was painted on his lips. "She wanted people to be scared of her, because rejection is what frightens her the most."

"I don't understand it big brother!" the little girl whined while vigorously rummaging her head. "Make it simple, please?" she asked sweetly to Natsu matching with puppy-eyes.

"Mika, Mika, Mika. Because of your lack of interest in school, look what it brought you. You couldn't even understand what big brother is saying!" teased the boy to the girl which Mika only stuck her tongue out in disapproval. "Why? Are you even listening at school Niero?!" is what Mika's big comeback to her brother. I didn't even realize it myself that I'm unconsciously smiling towards their little antics. So playful.

"Of course! Mother said that I have to go to school so that when we grow bigger, we could find a nice job and be rich!" Niero said proudly to his sister, smacking his chest with a boastful attitude.

"Are you even going to grow, Niero? You're just going to grow OLD and not BIG!" Mika said loudly which cause my husband to laugh.

"And why is that?" is Niero's great comeback.

"Mother also said that, for a boy to grow, he has to be…" Mika eyed her brother with a playful aura with her eyebrows dancing indicating something. "You're just afraid to do that. You big baby!"

"Mika…" Natsu said in a warning voice. "That's not right, you shouldn't treat your brother that way. Niero is older than you, you shouldn't be fighting."

"But big brother, Niero is also bad! He always makes fun of me!" Mika reported to natsu. "You're just too idiotic!" is what her brother had said to her.

"No, both of you are siblings. You shouldn't fight one another but instead be the other's greatest ally. When the world is against you, you always have each other's back. Both of you are lucky to have each other which the others don't."

Because of what Natsu had said, I feel jealous for some reason. Why don't I have a sibling? My dad can support us even if the house is flooding with kids. But still, I think it is also best that I'm the only child. So that he can only do harm to me. I'm just a sufferer of what he is doing.

Both turned silent.

Moments passed until…

"Sorry Niero!" "Sorry Mika!" both said at the same time when they lift their heads up, returning the smile that had been put on my lips. Natsu messed Niero's hair earning a grumble from the boy.

"But big brother, is your wife pretty? What is her name?" Mika playfully said to Natsu. "Her name is Lucy and yes, she's beautiful inside and out." Natsu said with a gentle smile grazed on his lips. "Really? I want to meet her, I want to see how beautiful she really is!" excitement filled Mika's voice as she said those words.

"She's so beautiful Mika. Too beautiful to even put into words. There are a lot of boys that groveled just to be with her but instead, she settled with me. I can say that I'm the luckiest rascal in the world."

"Rascal?" Mika said her expression with confusion.

"Nothing." Natsu, what the hell are you teaching these children.

"What is that big brother?" Mika moved beside Natsu, bugging him to tell her what it really meant. "Rascal is…" a prolonged paused made the kids eyed Natsu, waiting for him to continue. "…like this!" with that, Mika suddenly ran away from Natsu, while the latter was trying so hard to scare off the kids.

"EEEEEEEKKKK!" screamed Mika.

"WAAAAAAAAAH!" screamed Niero.

"I'm the great lord Dragneel and I'll eat you alive!" with a raging voice, Natsu said while running after the children, pretending to be some sort of monster on the loose for blood. Both the kids looked happy though even if they are running away from the monster that is chasing them which the direction they had gone to is conveniently mine.

The two stopped when they saw me standing on their path. Their features looked of that a surprise one and an amaze one.

"ROAAARRR! You can't escape from me! Get ready to be eaten alive!" Natsu screamed when he swept Mika off of her feet which causes the girl to shriek for her dear life. But after her sudden high pitched vocal had stopped, her attention averted to me again while Niero looked as though he had seen a ghost that nailed him on the spot.

Seeing her wife for the very first time in that morning, Natsu's features had brighten up when he saw me standing there. "Good morning Pim!" he greeted and brought Mika down to her height. His steps were huge when he walked closer to me, after that he gave me a soft hug. "Have you been standing there for a while?"

"You could say that." I said with a smile while my other arm hugged his waist. And then, he gave me a chaste kiss. Even though it was fast, it still was sweet. "Children, this is you big sister, Lucy. Say hi to her." Natsu said as he introduced me to the young ones.

Their smiles were not as big as the ones when they were talking to Natsu but it still served as a smile for me. "H-hi." Both greeted me with a shy tone.

I smiled at them and moved closer to the two. "Hey kids. Can you both tell me your names?"

"My names is Mika, Mika Avalez." Mika's shyness feels like it had drifted off when I gently smiled at her. "And this is my big brother, Niero Avalez." Was her introduction of her older brother. I saw how cutely Niero elbowed Mika on the side and said, "AMB." He said in a low whisper. Mika then suddenly eyed me and then back to her brother. "Big sister looks nice to me! And besides, big brother won't pick a bad wife you know, duh!" Mika said as if it was the obvious thing to both of them.

My forehead creased when I heard what Niero had said. "AMB?" both of the siblings' gazes had landed on me when I asked that and then both explained to me what it meant. "AMB, also known as Ambivalent." I felt my eye twitch when Mika explained it to me. Where the hell did they learn this?

"Mika!" don't spread your corny jokes to people! Niero said with a frown.

Natsu and I both laugh at the kids' antics towards each other. I stood up and grabbed both of their hands. "Have you guys eaten already?" I felt their heads shook in disapproval so that means it's a no, in science. "Did you kids know that your big brother can cook delicious food? That is why he'll be cooking for us now!" excited about this, I invited the kids for breakfast to bond with them more. As I said that, I looked at Natsu over my shoulder to see him smiling at us which made me return the gesture. Mika looks excited as she jumped all the way inside the house.

Natsu's POV

Smiling at the figures walking in front of me, I'm just happy that she's breaking the wall around her. Slowly showing her appreciation for things and for other people. She's not the usual Lucy Heartfilia that I fell in love with, her ice cold demeanor and hard gaze that I had grown to love is slowly fading. She's becoming the new Lucy Heartfilia, a loving and warm hearted person. Even if she doesn't change, I will always love her, even more than it should be.

What I said to the kids earlier, I mean it. I know deep down, Lucy is a nice person. Afraid that someone would reject her again, that is why she's shutting down doors. But now that I am here, I'll make her feel that she's not alone. She'll be loved and adored by people that trampled her. She'll be loved by me without a doubt.

The plan of taking revenge on the old Lucy Heartfilia? Nah. Not happening. That was just my ego talking. I had already forgotten why I have to take revenge on her, just for my ego? Psh. An ego can be boosted and can be deflated once in a while. Immature of me to say the least, thinking of getting my revenge just to save my idiotic ego.

Lucy doesn't deserve that from me.

Seeing her getting drag by the kids inside the house whilst letting the twerps get the better of her is a refreshing sight. Laughter was heard until their eyes landed on me. "Big brother! The one who gets left behind is as ugly as a pufferfish!" Mika said with excitement. "Huh! Pufferfish eh!" I took the challenge and chased after her which didn't give her enough time for the reason that I already swept her off of her feet and made her shriek again. "Who's the pufferfish now!" I tickled her sides that caused her to have tears streaming down her face from laughing too hard.

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" she said, vigorously shaking just for me to stop. The moment we had entered inside the house, our butts landed first on the couch.

"What food do you want kids?" I asked. All of us were out of breathe so it took them a while to reply to my question.

"Fried chicken!" Both of them said. "Okay! Fried chicken it is!" and with that, I stood up and made my way to the kitchen. "Pim, I'll just cook the food, stay with the kids okay?" Lucy nodded at me when I said that.

Starting to prepare the food for us to eat, I started to hear voices talking. Questions bombarded my wife from the kids but Mika was the one who asked so much of it but Lucy still remained composed and answered their questions with a smile.

These kids eagerly talked to Lucy like a friend that got separated for years of not seeing each other. Knowing these twerps, they grew up on this island because their parents are my trusted caretakers. A small part of this island, located a small village where families lived their lives.

Mika was just an infant when I met her parents in Magnolia. They are from the village behind mount Hakobe that no one knows about. They sold their land and tried their luck on the city but nothing prevailed from their plans. Even if they wanted to go back to the village where they first laid eyes on the world, sadly they can't for their land was already sold.

And that is where my idea of taking them in took place. I had grown to love these kids like my real siblings that is why I am happy that they like Lucy and Lucy likes them.

And hopefully, Lucy could make everyone like her. Especially her father, Jude Heartfilia. He is still her father no matter what. And now that both of us are married, I will make her into a Queen that knows how to forgive.

A/N: Chapter 2! Thank you for reading guys! You wonderful people! :D Stay tuned for more to come!