Let me start out with a disclaimer. I have no experience with giving birth, and I don't have anyone I can ask about this type of birth, so I got all my information from the internet.
Chapter Twenty-Two: Complications
"You have got to be kidding me," Lucy groaned from her seat on the couch. Natsu had just walked in from his day at work, ready to greet his wife until he heard her displeased tone.
"Lucy?" He asked, coming around the corner to see Lucy with her phone to her ear and a paper in her hand.
"He has no right!" She glared down at the paper with a hatred he hadn't seen in her eyes for some time now.
Natsu decided not to interrupt her. She was a tad bit... emotional lately. That was the best way he could describe her rapid mood swings. Being thirty-four weeks pregnant was taking a toll on Lucy's behavior.
Natsu slipped into the kitchen, already grabbing a tub of strawberry ice cream and a spoon for Lucy to eat when she was done with her phone call. It was his attempt to smooth over her mood before he spent time with her. He didn't want to accidentally catch her wrath caused by someone else.
"Whatever!" Lucy called from the other room. "It's not like it'll matter anyways!"
Natsu raised a brow, but said nothing as he scooped the ice cream into a bowl. He almost chuckled at himself. Who knew he would ever be scared of his pregnant wife?
It wasn't that he felt she would actually take her anger out on him, but he didn't want her to be in a sour mood when he hung out with her. He rather liked Lucy when she was in a good mood, so he wanted to keep her that way, even if it meant bribing her with a cold dessert.
She deserved the sweet treat anyway. It'd been months since she last cut herself. Her recovery was going great. She still attended counseling, just like he still attended AA meetings despite not taking a drop of alcohol since he quit.
Lucy was hanging up the phone as Natsu walked back into the living room. Before she could say anything she was greeted by a bowl of ice cream and a soft kiss to the temple. "Hey Luce. I'm home."
Her angry glare softened when she saw the hopeful look in his eyes. She already knew she was struggling with her emotions, so she did her best to keep herself calm when she was around Natsu. He didn't deserve the aftermath of her phone call. She accepted his bribe, digging in to soothe her newest frustration.
Natsu sat beside her, letting her eat her ice cream as he glanced down at the paper in her lap. His brows furrowed when he realized what it was. It was a letter from a lawyer's office stating Jackal was ready to file a 'Complaint to Establish Paternity' once Lucy's baby was born.
A growl tore from Natsu's throat when he thought of that bastard even knowing about Lucy's pregnancy. Before he could ask, Lucy said, "His father found out from my father. Apparently he left out a picture of the ultrasound we sent him and Mr. Tartaros found it. Now Jackal is trying to claim he's the dad." The longer Lucy talked the lower and darker her voice became.
The grip on her spoon tightened until her knuckles turned white. "It's just... It's just..." It sounded like she was about to blow a gasket, but out of nowhere she broke out into tears, "it's not f-fair!"
She dropped the bowl of ice cream and her spoon to the coffee table, then covered her face with her hands as she sobbed. Natsu cringed. He hated seeing Lucy cry, even more so when it was caused by her jerk of an ex-husband.
Natsu slowly wrapped his arms around her, testing the waters before putting any pressure on her. She didn't hesitate to lean into his embrace, hands coming down so she could press her face into his scarf.
"I-I don't w-want t-to lose h-him!" Lucy cried, hands twisting into Natsu's shirt. "Wh-why is this h-happening?"
Natsu closed his eyes, resting his chin on her head. "I don't know, but he won't get our son." That much Natsu was confident of. There was no way Jackal would ever get custody of Mason. He would be in prison for years. The soonest Jackal could get out prison, Mason would already be four years old. No judge would take him away from Lucy and himself.
Lucy's body racked with sobs as Natsu tried to console her. She pressed herself against him, trying to get as close as she could to seek out the comfort his presence provided.
"I won't let anyone take away our son," Natsu vowed, not only to her but himself as well. He wouldn't allow it. He didn't care if Jackal turned out to be the father, because he would never be more than a sperm donor. The best case scenario for Jackal was visitations, but that wasn't likely with his record of abuse and rape. Who knew what he'd do to Mason if he lost his temper around the boy.
Natsu growled at the thought. There was no way Jackal would ever lay eyes on their son. He'd fight tooth and nail to do everything in his power to make sure of it.
While Natsu was spiraling into anger, Lucy's mood was changing again. She pushed his scarf out of the way so she could place a kiss to his neck. Natsu immediately jerked, confused over the sudden change of mood. "Luce?"
"Shhh," she whispered before kissing him again, this time with her mouth open. That growl he emitted was enough to bring out some lecherous thoughts she had towards her husband, and she wanted to show him how much he affected her. She knew most of it was due to her hormones, but she didn't care. She didn't want to think about Jackal or a test, she just wanted to get lost in the feeling of arousal with Natsu. "I just want you..."
Natsu felt her hands wander to his pants. She released his button, then worked on the zipper. "Lucy, I don't think that's what you really want to do."
Despite his words, Lucy continued. Her tongue came out to swipe over his pulse point, feeling how quickly his heart was beating now that she was teasing him. "But it is," she assured, pants now unzipped and fingers reaching into his boxers.
She grasped his half-hard cock, giving it a soft stroke to elicit a moan from her husband. "I want to thank you for being so helpful these past few months..." She breathed against his skin, sending chills through his body. "Will you let me pleasure you?"
Natsu felt his nerves jolt at her words, his resolve crumbling instantly. He dropped his head back, letting it rest on the couch as he said, "Y-yes. Do whatever you want." He was completely at her mercy. In the back of his mind he knew they would need to discuss this situation with the paternity test later, but for now he enjoyed the feeling of Lucy's mouth on his neck and her hands on his growing cock.
Lucy sucked at his flesh as her fingers tightened on his arousal. Four more pumps was all it took for his erection to stand proudly against his body. The air around them seemed thin when she started stroking him. Pre-cum leaked from the head, so she dragged the pad of her finger against the tip before smearing it around the sensitive skin.
Natsu moaned, eyes screwed shut as he let her do whatever she wanted to his body. His hands were still around her, but his grip was loose as he surrendered to her will.
Lucy bit at his neck, causing his cock to surge in her hand. Biting was his weakness, and she knew it. She sucked harder on his tanned skin, making sure anyone who saw her mark would know he belonged to her. Natsu only groaned, breath coming out in huffs as she slid her hand over his throbbing cock.
One of Natsu's other weakness was dirty talk, especially if it was her initiating it, so she said, "I want to fuck you, Natsu..."
Natsu hissed when she sped up her hand, his cock leaking from his desire to fulfill her wish. Before he knew it Lucy was ripping herself away from his body so she could remove her pants. They were loose with no buttons or zippers, so she just had to pull them down. Natsu helped, leaning forward to help her get out of the offending material. Next to go was her panties, sliding them down her long legs until she stepped out of them.
Natsu shifted on the couch as he pulled his pants and boxers down to his ankles. When he leaned back in his seat he saw Lucy turning around. She slowly sat down as he held onto the base of his cock to ease into her.
Wet heat surrounded his cock in an instant. The moan that slipped past his parted lips was nothing compared to the whimper Lucy released. She was so sensitive, his cock easily satisfying the pulsing in her core as she sank onto him.
She remained there for a moment, letting herself simply enjoy the feeling of his cock spread her wide as Natsu placed searing kisses on her neck. Lucy whimpered when his hand came around, running between her thigh and her baby bump to reach his intended goal, her clit.
Natsu rubbed at the bundle of nerves, causing her to automatically clamp around his dick. She was so much more responsive than she used to be, and for that Natsu was grateful. For a while he thought it would be awkward making love to Lucy while she was pregnant, and admittedly there were sometimes it gets a little weird, but they worked around it until both of them were comfortable.
"Naa-ahhh!" Lucy mewled when he lightly pinched at her little nub. She leaned back, pressing against his firm chest. While she was focused on his ministrations she didn't notice his other hand slipping under her shirt to make its way to her breasts. "F-fuck!"
Natsu grinned as his fingers worked to please his wife. He ignored the paper sitting beside him, trying to mock him and all he was doing for his family. Jackal was out of his mind to think their son would belong to him. DNA meant nothing when it came to real love, and Natsu wouldn't let that bastard's feeble attempt at riling them up affect their lives.
"Do you like that, Luce?" Natsu asked just as his hips bucked, making a short thrust into her already dripping core.
"God yes!" She didn't try to conceal her response. Lucy arched her back, letting his devilish tongue lap at her neck while his fingers teased her clit and a nipple.
Lucy placed her hands on the couch, then started moving on her own accord. Her pussy squeezed him with every thrust, causing Natsu to moan and sweat as he got close to his release. Her being this horny was a double-edged sword. The sex was amazing, but it always ended too soon because he wasn't used to how strongly she reacted. Even after months he still couldn't get over how pleasurable it was fucking her in this condition.
Their pace increased until Lucy came undone on his cock, massaging the shaft with her inner walls. Natsu groaned, Lucy cried out, and then he released. He felt a little embarrassed climaxing so soon, but he couldn't help it. Lucy's body felt amazing, and she knew it. He could tell by the small smirk she tried to hide on her face and the flash in her eyes when she glanced at him. She knew exactly what she did to his body, and she looked damn proud of it.
The two cleaned up, Lucy heading to the master bathroom to grab a wet wipe while Natsu jumped in the shower. He needed one after getting off work anyway, so he figured he might as well get it out of the way.
Twenty minutes later the newlyweds were back on the couch, this time with their clothes on and feet propped up on the coffee table. Natsu's feet were up since he had a bad habit of it, and Lucy's were up because she was hit with another round of Braxton Hicks contractions.
After a glass of water and a bit of relaxing, they subsided. When she was better, Natsu grabbed the paper Jackal's new lawyer sent and placed it face down on the coffee table. "No matter what, he's our son. No one can change that, and you shouldn't let this stress you out. If he gets a court-ordered DNA test then so be it. It won't change a thing."
Lucy felt the tears welling up in her eyes, but she refused to shed them over this issue. "You're right... I'm just scared."
"No reason to be," Natsu shifted, allowing Lucy to lean back on the couch while he grabbed her feet to give her a foot massage. It always worked to calm her down. "I'm sticking around no matter what, and no one's gonna take Mason away from us. You and I are gonna be awesome parents," Natsu grinned, his sharp white teeth gleaming, "and that's all that matters!"
Lucy giggled, then rubbed at her eyes. "You're right," she whispered, allowing her fears to float to the back of her mind for now. In the mean time she focused on the way Natsu massaged her feet, working out the aches associated with pregnancy.
Natsu took a short break to turn the tv on, letting them watch it while he continued his massage. It wasn't long before Lucy was laughing along with him as an especially funny part came on, lulling them both into a state of bliss.
While they were thinking their biggest problem was Jackal and his stupid paternity test, they had no idea just what troubles really awaited them.
Natsu got home from work early April 17th. It was a Monday, but more importantly it was when Lucy was having another appointment to see if her little 'issue' was taken care of.
About a few months ago the doctor noticed Lucy's placenta wasn't shifting the way it should be. It was supposed to move upwards, but it was still underneath the baby. That resulted in her having 'placenta previa'. At first the doctor said it would be fine, and sometimes it takes a while longer to migrate further from her cervix, but as the due date drew near Lucy began to worry.
Today they would be finding out if it had moved yet, and if it hadn't they'd find out what their options were. Natsu had just enough time to catch a quick shower before it was time to go. Natsu drove since Lucy's belly got in the way of her driving. With his motion sickness pill popped and Lucy buckled up, they headed to the hospital.
Natsu distracted Lucy's worried thoughts by telling her about his time at work. Apparently Gildarts was getting a promotion, which would leave his position available. Natsu was proud to say he was getting a personal recommendation from Gildarts to take his place, but he wouldn't get his hopes up.
Still, Lucy was just as proud of him to hear that news. "I hope you get it," she said softly, hand on her belly as she felt for the baby to kick. It was hit or miss. Some days Mason would be wild, others he would be completely docile in her belly. Today was the latter, but she didn't let that trouble her.
They pulled into the hospital parking lot, then Natsu got the door for Lucy so she could climb out of the car. He made a comment about how adorable she looked waddling down the sidewalk, so she gave him a playful push and told him to zip it. He could tell she wasn't mad though, based on the smile she tried to hide behind her hand.
With an arm around her, they headed inside to check in. Ten minutes later Lucy was waddling to the examination room with Natsu right behind her. Unfortunately for them they received some slightly upsetting news.
"You're placenta is still covering your cervix."
"So," Lucy furrowed her brows, "what does that mean?"
The doctor looked between Natsu and Lucy, then said, "You'll be put on 'pelvic rest'," he looked at Natsu for this part, "that means no intercourse."
Natsu nodded. He could wait if it meant Lucy and the baby would be safe. The doctor turned back to Lucy, "and no vaginal exams for the rest of your pregnancy. When it comes time to deliver you'll need a c-section, otherwise you may bleed profusely when the cervix dilates."
Lucy pressed her thighs together. She definitely didn't want that. A c-section didn't sound all that bad. She already had a lot of scars on her body. At least this one would be from something good.
"You're estimated at thirty-four weeks," the doctor said as he looked over his notes, "just to be safe we're going to be giving you corticosteroids to speed up your baby's lung development. It will also fight off any other complications in case he ends up being premature. That's one of the risks of placenta previa."
Lucy felt the air leave her lungs, but before she could panic, she felt Natsu hold her hand. "Will he be alright?"
The doctor nodded. "As long as there's no bleeding the baby should be fine. This is just a precautionary measure. As long as Lucy and the baby continue to do well, she won't need to deliver right away, but we will need to schedule a c-section when you're at thirty-seven weeks. Otherwise the risks of heavy bleeding increase after that window. You may possibly need a blood transfusion if it gets bad enough, but I think Lucy should be fine if she takes it easy."
Natsu nodded, smiling when he looked at his wife. "She's pretty tough. I think she can handle it."
Lucy felt her lips curve into a smile. Her heart was pounding quickly, but Natsu's confidence helped her gain the courage needed to be strong. "Okay. Let's do this."
The c-section was scheduled for Friday, May 5th. She would be right around her thirty-seven week mark. If she could make it to then their baby would be born 'early term', but the need for special care was reduced compared to being born earlier. Plus with the single course of corticosteroids their baby was likely to be more developed than he would be if there was no additional medications involved.
Natsu and Lucy headed back to the house, Lucy with a hand on her belly, smiling because Mason was finally kicking that day, and Natsu with a grin on his face because Lucy looked relaxed despite the news about her condition.
Still, they decided to stay positive for Mason's sake. Stress wasn't good for the baby, so Natsu did everything he could to make sure Lucy was comfortable and out of harm's way.
They went about their normal lives, with only a few changes -like no sex and making sure Lucy was more careful with her body. It wasn't that hard considering the reward was a healthy baby boy, making both of them work as a team to get through it.
Before either of them knew it, it was already the beginning of May. Lucy's scheduled c-section was in less than a week, and they were ready to bring Mason into the world.
Well, as ready as they could be.
No matter how many baby books they read or documentaries Lucy forced them to watch, they would never truly be ready for how difficult it was raising a child. That's why they had Juvia and Gray giving them advice recently. They'd been through the baby thing twice -and Juvia was currently pregnant with their third one now, so they had the experience Natsu and Lucy needed.
They went to bed Tuesday night with no fears in mind. They kissed, cuddled, then fell asleep in each other's arms like always. Natsu was already in a deep sleep when he heard the scream. It was followed by his body shaking from a force grabbing onto his arm.
"N-Natsu! Wake up!"
Natsu's eyes snapped open. He immediately sat up, recognizing Lucy's screams. It'd been over two months since she last woke up screaming in the middle of the night, but that did nothing to calm himself down as he searched for his wife.
The light was already turned on. Lucy sat up beside him, but her face was contorted in pain. Her eyes were flooded with tears, her mouth twisted as she screamed something, but he couldn't hear anything she said once he saw that red color.
Blood.
Blood stained the sheets, as well as her hands and clothing. He looked down, seeing it was accumulating from between her legs. Natsu didn't think about it. He just acted.
Natsu rushed out of bed, wrapping a blanket around Lucy as he picked her up. He was careful to not crush her belly as he carried her to the front door. When he reached the door, he set her down as he fumbled with the keys handing on the hook.
"I'll be right back!" Natsu wasn't sure if he said it or not, his mind already zoning in and out as panic set in. He had no idea what he was supposed to do, so he went with the only thing running through his mind.
'Get Lucy to the hospital.'
When the front door and backseat door to their car was opened he went back to grab Lucy. He brought her to the car, then gently put her in the backseat to give her room to lay down. The blankets were started to get bloody too, but he couldn't let that distract him.
He closed the door, barely remembering to lock it before he ran to the car. In less than thirty seconds he was reversing out of their driveway and speeding towards the hospital. They weren't that far away from it, and it was so late at night there was hardly any traffic. Natsu was just glad he wasn't pulled over on his way to the hospital. He didn't know if he'd be able to stop.
Natsu pulled into the emergency drop-off. As much as he wanted to stay with her at all times, he knew he had to deal with the car or else it would get towed. He helped a nurse place Lucy in a wheelchair before he drove a little too quickly to a parking spot.
On his way to the emergency room he realized he just drove that far without needing any medication. He guessed the shock was enough to keep him from getting sick, but now that he saw the drops of blood on the ground where he dropped Lucy off he could feel his stomach churning.
'Please let her be alright.'
Tears streamed down his face by the time he entered the building. A nurse was already waiting for him by the desk, ready to escort him to the operating room. The nurse asked him questions, which he answered to the best of his ability given his shocked state of mind.
"L-Lucy Heartfilia... Sh-she's eight a-and a half months pregnant... Umm, placenta something... Uhh," Natsu racked his brain as they rushed down a hall.
"Placenta previa?" The nurse asked as they rounded a corner.
"Yes!" Natsu stumbled a bit, only now realizing he was barefooted and shirtless. The only thing covering his body was his pajama pants, but that was the least of his worries. "Where's Lucy?"
"She's right in here," the nurse opened a door, then told him to scrub up.
With shaky hands Natsu did as he was told. When the nurse deemed him clean enough he was put in some blue scrubs, as well as a surgical mask, hat, gloves, and some plastic over his bare feet. Normally the dad would be allowed to wear these over his normal clothing, but since Natsu only had his pajama pants on he was forced to use them as his only clothing.
When Natsu was allowed to go into the room Lucy was in he had to hold back his gasp. Lucy was already in a bed, a sheet was being hung between her face and her belly, while a nurse was hooking her up with a breathing tube for her nose.
Natsu quickly went to her side, grabbing her hand and gaining her attention. She looked panicked, but slowly that faded as more tears filled her eyes.
"Hey," Natsu said as calmly as he could, "it's okay. You made it. Everything will be fine now." He remembered reading the dad was supposed to act as the support system for the mom. That meant he had to do everything he could to keep her calm.
Natsu stole a peek over the curtain to see they hadn't made the incision yet. He saw them preparing their utensils to use for the operation, as well as Lucy's doctor entering. A wave of relief hit him once he saw their doctor's face. Well, part of his face seeing as most of it was covered by the surgical mask.
The doctor quickly went to Natsu, asking, "Have you two changed any plans about after care since we last spoke?"
Natsu shook his head, glad the doctor already knew their wishes. It would make things easier since he wouldn't have to answer constant questions while he was supposed to be comforting Lucy.
"Very well. We will begin soon."
Soon was right. In less than two minutes the doctor was making the incision. Lucy was numbed up so she didn't feel any pain, however she did feel pressure, and it was enough to freak her out. Natsu stayed close to her face, whispering how strong she was and how proud he was of her. "You're doing great," Natsu smiled, only realizing a little too late she couldn't see his mouth.
Despite his calm demeanor, Natsu was freaking out himself. Whenever he would look at the ground he saw blood dripping. He remembered reading that a little blood was okay, but it still scared him. He hoped everything worked out.
Natsu pressed his forehead against hers, feeling the sweat coating her skin. "I love you Lucy. You're doing so awesome," Natsu hoped his words were comforting her.
Lucy looked like she was about to say something, but stopped when they both heard crying. Their eyes widened, more tears surfacing as they realized that crying was from their son.
"You did it, Luce," Natsu felt his chest tighten the longer he heard those cries. He never thought he'd be so effected, but he was. "You got through it!"
"We're removing the placenta now," their doctor said behind the curtain.
Natsu kept his forehead pressed to Lucy's. "Do you want me to stay here or check on Mason?"
Lucy weakly said, "Mason."
Natsu nodded, understanding her wants. He stood up, avoiding looking at her open belly, and peering over the curtain where he saw some nurses cleaning off a baby.
He gulped, hands shaky and heart thrumming as he walked over to the area. A nurse saw him approaching and moved out of the way so he could see the baby. The crying didn't stop as they wiped his skin off and gave him a few shots. Natsu's eyes landed on the baby's face, seeing it scrunched up as it squirmed away from their touches.
All the preparing they did didn't prepare Natsu for this moment. He didn't know what he was supposed to do. Does he wait until their done? Does he take a picture? 'Don't have a camera...' Natsu thought, realizing he had virtually nothing to his name right now.
A nurse swaddled the little boy when they were done with their tests, then told Natsu to follow her. Natsu freaked out for a moment, not wanting to be separated from Lucy but also not wanting to be separated from Mason.
The nurse seemed to sense his distress. "Your wife is being stitched up right now."
It was then Natsu remembered it took about forty-five minutes to get stitched up, not counting whatever they had to do to fix her excess bleeding between her legs.
"Now, if you'll follow me," the nurse said, the baby in her arms. She started walking, so Natsu started following. He had no idea Lucy was already closing her eyes, thankful their baby was born without serious complications. She was prepared for Natsu leaving, even if she didn't like the idea. It was better for at least one of them to be with the baby.
Natsu was brought to another room. There was a bed where the nurse pointed at. "Go ahead and take off your shirt."
Natsu raised a brow. "Why?"
"Your doctor said your wife wanted skin to skin contact. Since she's busy at the moment you get to do it. Now, take off your shirt and lay down." The baby continued to cry, little lungs gasping as he screamed.
Hesitantly, Natsu took the shirt, mask, and hat off before laying down in the bed. The baby was brought over to him where he was unwrapped from the blanket so his skin could be in direct contact with Natsu's skin. He kept crying, though it stopped for a moment as the baby squirmed against the warm surface of Natsu's chest.
"You'll stay in here while your wife gets stitched up," the nurse said, placing the blanket over the baby's body to keep his back warm.
Natsu slowly raised his hands up. "Can... can I touch him?"
"Of course," the nurse smiled. "It's encouraged."
He nodded, then looked back down at the crying baby. He looked so fragile, Natsu was worried he may accidentally hurt him. Still, if it was encouraged... His warm hands gently rested on either side of the baby, feeling just how small and frail he really was. Natsu tried to remember when he held Gray's newborn babies, but this felt so different.
Natsu's thumb ran carefully over the baby's cheek, feeling just how soft he really was. The baby's cries softened as it got stimulation. Natsu couldn't stop the tears that flowed when that happened. He swallowed thickly, his other hand barely rubbing on the baby's back. Mason stopped crying then, his squirming ending as well.
Natsu's watery smile widened as he looked down at his baby boy. Mason had yet to open his eyes, but that was normal for a newborn. Natsu just enjoyed the peaceful lull that seemed to take over the recovery room.
Natsu completely forgot there was a nurse in the room, ready to check the baby's vitals in a little bit. He was too busy focusing on Mason's face. "You're perfect," he whispered, applying the tiniest bit of pressure to simulate a hug. "I love you, Mason."
His little boy was perfect. Everything from his pale skin, to his light blond hair. Mason was healthy, beautiful, and more precious than Natsu could have ever imagined. "I love you," he said again, feeling his heart fill with a warmth he'd never felt before. The love he felt for this little boy was completely different from what he felt for Lucy. He couldn't even describe it... It was just different, but so pure. He felt like he would give anything for this boy, even his life if he had to.
"I promise I'll protect you," Natsu vowed, thumb continuing to trace over his little boy's soft cheek. "I'll teach you all kinds of things, and so will Lucy." Natsu's vision blurred when he said his wife's name out loud. He really wanted her to be here for this moment, but he knew she had to get fixed up first.
"I pr-promise we'll be the best parents. I promise I'll do everything I can t-to give you a gr-great l-life," Natsu felt himself getting choked up, but he didn't mind.
Mason deserved the very best, and Natsu intended on making that happen.
10 Hours Later
Currently, Natsu was sitting in a chair, holding his baby boy. Lucy was fast asleep in the hospital bed next to him. She had a long day. Her recovery took longer than usual due to the bleeding she did before the c-section, but now she was feeling better. She said she was just glad they didn't have to do a blood transfusion or a hysterectomy, which were possibilities given her status.
It was two in the afternoon. Nurses and doctors came in every so often to check on baby Mason. The doctor said he was healthy considering he was born a few weeks early, easing Natsu and Lucy's worries about having a premature baby.
Their friends and family shuffled in and out throughout the day. Natsu finally made a call to his dad a few hours after Mason was born, then called his boss to say he wouldn't be in to work that day... Or the next few weeks while Lucy recovered. Luckily his father brought him a change of clothes, as well as swung by their house to grab their baby bag they packed for Mason.
Right now it was just Natsu, Lucy, and Mason in the room. He enjoyed the peace and quiet after the hectic morning. Natsu smiled at his baby. Mason Igneel Dragneel, born May 3rd at 3:54 AM, 6lb 8oz, 19.25 inches. He was beautiful. He had a head of blond hair, but that didn't matter to Natsu, because he was perfect and healthy. Most importantly, Mason was his son, biological or not.
Natsu couldn't see his eyes, because Mason had been sleeping most of the day. Natsu was told newborns sleep a lot, so he didn't worry. The baby was wrapped in a fuzzy blue blanket, with a matching blue cap on his head. Natsu decided that his second favorite color would be blue, first being red of course.
His baby boy yawned, then tucked his chin. Natsu planted a soft kiss on Mason's forehead, thinking there couldn't be anything more amazing than him. He swore in that moment to love, protect, and cherish his son forever. Mason was now his everything, along with Lucy.
Natsu planted another kiss to his son's forehead, hoping it would form a love thought. He had a silly theory about it. When he kissed a forehead, he was planting a seed. After planting one it would take root, and grow into a love thought, letting the person know you loved them. Of course he would never tell anyone about his silly theory. It was a little embarrassing, but he was fine with thinking about it.
Lucy let out a groggy sound as she woke up. She blinked, taking in the sight of Natsu holding Mason in the chair beside her. His warm smile was infectious. "Hey Luce. You sleep well?" He kept his voice quiet, not wanting to wake his son.
She closed her eyes, nodding as she said, "Yeah." When she opened her eyes again, Natsu was stretching out one of his hands towards her while keeping the other secured around the baby.
Lucy grasped his hand, "I'm so happy."
Natsu couldn't help but agree. "Me too." Their eyes softened as they looked down at their son. This little baby was theirs, to cherish, raise, protect, and love for the rest of their lives.
Natsu looked back at Lucy. "We did good," he said, not a doubt in his mind.
"We did," she nodded. "Do you want to sit up here with me?"
Natsu grinned. "Can I?"
"Sure."
Lucy carefully scooted out of the way. She had to be mindful of her stitches. She hurt, but it was bearable if it meant being closer to the two most important men in her life. Well... Man and little man... Regardless of their titles, they were her everything.
Natsu slowly rose to his feet, then handed Mason over to his mother. She was the only one Natsu wasn't reluctant to hand him over to. Everyone else Natsu had to force himself to let go of his son.
With Mason cradled in her arms, Natsu slipped onto the hospital bed. It would be a while until a nurse would be back to check on them, so they could enjoy the closeness while it lasted.
Being together like that, surrounded by nothing but love, everything just felt right. This was what was missing from Natsu's life for so long. Sure he had family, but he wanted his own family, with Lucy.
And now he got it, and he couldn't be happier.
"I love you both," Natsu whispered as he snuggled closer to Lucy. "I'm so glad things worked out like this."
Lucy pressed a kiss to Natsu's temple. "I love you two, too."
Natsu chucked. "Ha... Tutu." That earned a small giggle from Lucy. "I think we make a pretty awesome team."
"I'm inclined to agree," Lucy propped their son up so Natsu could bring a hand closer and stroke a thumb over his cheek. "You know it's going to be hard when we take him home..."
"Oh I know," Natsu already anticipated the late nights, the crying, the dirty diapers, the feedings... It was going to be rough. "I'm ready!"
Mason squirmed in Lucy's arms from Natsu's voice. "Oops," he carefully brushed his fingers over his son's blond hair to get him to calm down. It seemed to work, the baby settling back in his mother's arms.
Lucy looked to Natsu, "I'm surprised."
"Surprised?" Natsu asked, raising a brow.
Lucy giggled. "I thought for sure you'd say, 'I'm all fired up now'."
Natsu's chest vibrated as he held back a laugh. "My bad," he said, leaning in to give Lucy a kiss to her cheek. "I'm all fired up now!"
Mason squirmed again, this time his mouth opening and closing a few times. "Looks like someone's hungry," Natsu commented before shifting a little away to give Lucy room.
Natsu helped untie her hospital gown while she moved Mason closer to her nipple to feed him. He latched on easily, much to Lucy's relief. She read sometimes it didn't work out the first time, but Mason seemed to be getting the hang of it.
While Lucy fed their son, Natsu rested his head on her shoulder. He couldn't help but think everything worked out in the end. All their struggles, their hardships, their loneliness, all led up to this.
As Lucy hummed to Mason, Natsu mumbled, "Everything's perfectly imperfect."
But they didn't mind. It was the right match for them.
Thank you for your continued support. Everyone who favorited/followed this, I appreciate it. Also thank you for the people who reviewed: silver light of dawn, BloodRedRubies, SmirkedySmirk, katiekat2001, sarara1.8, Celestial-Aphrodite, Tenma360Warrior, Abdltf, Soul-of-glass, ShanaHollows, Guest, CelestialSpiritQueen, PrincessSarahDragneel, The Crystal Rose, FlameDragonHime, FairyTailLover04, kcoll8512, guest, enchantedbeauty1, sthokatrina, amariisgr8t(x2), YukiMC, Matt427, Jellal Frenandes, kcoll8512(x2), Ashnmarley, turtle3334, Undertheskys, Animemama328, Crimsonlink310(x3), Fairytail-FMA-fan(x3), Guest, and Sydneste!
Up next, Chapter Twenty-Three: Perfectly Imperfect (Epilogue- Part One)
This has been a crazy ride so far. Let me know what you thought of this chapter. :)