Another chapter for you to enjoy.
Chapter 13
I wasn't jealous
Natsu hollered as he charged towards the swimming pool, clutching his fiery red swim shorts as he threw himself into the pool, creating a gigantic splash as he disappeared under the water.
Nashi frowned instantly, her face twisting by the sudden rain of water that sprinkled around her.
She cupped her hands in front of her, twiddling away at her fingertips as she watched her friends and guild members swim around the pool, with enjoyment written across their faces.
Nashi tittered around the edge of the pool, building up the courage to jump in but cowering out just at the last minute. She sighed, finally in defeat before tiptoeing back to the sunbed where her mother was positioned.
Lucy was lounging, enjoying the heat and catching a tan. She was dressed in a pretty blue bikini, after despising the colour red and refusing to wear anything that would relate to the annoying fire wizard.
She was perched upright, with her book in hand as she read away, enjoying how the words would play out the scene in her head, until she was quickly interrupted by Nashi's presence.
The mother perked her brow suddenly, watching as the little pink haired toddler strolled up to the sunbed and sat down beside her.
Nashi pulled at her armbands as they rubbed under her armpits. She attempted to take them off as a sign of defiance, only for Lucy stare down at her with concern.
"What's the matter sweetie?" She asked, monitoring the child's smallish tantrum.
"I don't wanna swim" the girl mumbled, yanking at the air filled plastic on her little arms.
"Why not? Its fun" Lucy encouraged. She placed her book down to the side and leaned up, looking over at the swimming pool. "Did you want me to help you get in?" She wondered, watching the small girl pout.
"...um...yeah"
"Ok..."
Lucy rose up from her sunbed, grasping the child's hand as they walked over to the pool. Their eyes shone across at the playful guild members on the other side, splashing and chasing each other.
Natsu had instantly clocked them, watching eagerly as Lucy released her daughter's hand and sat to the edge of the pool, letting her legs dangling into the water. She tapped the edge of pool for her to sit beside her.
He frowned, watching as Nashi's face pulled with worry. Something that didn't sit right with him.
"Natsu" Lisanna splashed him playfully, attempting to get his attention, but it seemed he was in a trance.
He ignored the playful pitters of water being splashed at him from the other guild members and without even thinking, started to swim across to the other side.
"Come on Nashi, just dangle your legs in the water first..." Lucy kicked her legs in the water. "Like this... see"
"But Mommy... it's cold" the little girl whispered.
"It won't be when you get in, once you start swimming around you'll warm up" the mother told her gently. "Just sit here and dangle your legs in the water like this...ok?" Lucy watched as Nashi slowly followed her instructions, kneeling down to the edge of the pool, she placed one leg in, a shivered by the chilly water casing it. She pulled it back out again, trembling.
"You almost did it sweetie, just try again"
Lucy kicked her legs once more, smiling as Nashi repeated the same process again, this time she placed both legs into the water and kicked them, creating bubbles in the water from the friction. She grinned.
"I did it Mommy, look!"
"You sure did! See, already your half way there"
As Lucy kicked her legs in the water, she grunted feeling two warm hands reach her calves before Natsu rose up from the water to greet her. He grinned widely.
"Did I scare ya?" He asked, pulling his fanged smirk.
Lucy huffed at him.
"No, I could see you coming" she stated bluntly. Natsu's smile dropped as he turned behind him at the trail of heated bubbles. "You're that hot headed, you heated half the pool up coming this direction" she snorted, folding her arms over her chest.
"Well at least now it wont be cold, eh Nashi?" Natsu muttered, glancing over to his daughter.
"Bet its warm now!"
Nashi nodded quickly, kicking her legs in the water. She smiled. It was warmer that was for sure.
"Do you wanna go in now?" Her mother asked. Nashi shook her head, biting her bottom lip.
Natsu frowned lightly, realising his hands were still gripping onto Lucy's calves. He stared for a moment, carelessly ignoring that his hands quickly moved up to her thighs. Without even thinking, his muscles flexed and he pulled Lucy up, causing her to lunge forward and crash into him, in the water.
There was a small splash, along with Lucy's squeal before she was dipped under water with the dragon slayer. They rose to the top, with Natsu chuckling away to himself along with Nashi who also found it rather amusing.
Lucy fluttered to the surface, coughing up the water in her lungs before splashing him in the face.
"Idiot, what do you think your doing?" She growled. Natsu smirked at her, enjoying the blush that had steamed across her cheeks.
"Teaching Nash that the water isnt scary" he chuckled back. "See, Mommy's in the water now!"
Nashi giggled, watching her parents flap their hands at each other. Wanting to join in the fun, the little girl kicked her legs excitedly, splashing water over at them both.
"Me too! Daddy, me too!" She exclaimed cheerfully, with her arms now out wide. Lucy grumbled, swimming back a bit for Natsu to take lead. He swam over to the child, holding her legs as they kicked in front of him.
"You ready?" He asked, eyeing her bright brown orbs. She nodded, expecting to be thrown into the water the same way as her mother, but instead she gaped as he held her up and gently lowered her into the water's surface. She slapped her arms against the water creating a small splash. Once she was dunked in, she kicked her legs about, amazed by how she was floating on top.
Natsu kept his arm out for her to hold onto as she began to pump her legs out in the water, using them to swim around. Realising her floats on her arms could keep her above water without him, his arm pulled away from her grip, which then allowed her to circle hers and perform a light doggy paddle.
"Mommy! Daddy! Look!" She swam forward, blinking by the splashes of water hitting her face. But she didn't care, she was enjoying the new experience.
"Look at you, a pro!" Natsu cheered, pumping his arm into the air. "See if you can swim to me" he rested into the water, pushing himself a far bit while watching Lucy from the corner of his eye. The blonde had decided to get out of the pool, feeling as so she was no longer needed.
"That's far..." Nashi whispered, eyes trailing over at him.
"Nah, you can do it" he waited for her, urging the child to come towards him with his arms extended out. "Swim to me"
Nashi's facial expression poised for determination. She bit her teeth together and began to kick her legs drastically, creating a wave of splashes from her behind. Her little arms dug forward, scooting across the water in drabs before reaching his arms.
"Told ya" the father smirked. Nashi beamed at him, excitement blooming her expression as she turned round to face her mother. It dropped slowly.
Lucy had placed a cover on, tying it around her waist and collected up her book and towel. Her face turned slightly as her view landed on the two pink haired companions.
"I have to go and get ready for work, Natsu...do you mind watching Nashi till I get back?" She crushed her belongings to her chest, bending down to the pool's edge. Nashi sighed disappointedly.
"Work? Now?" Natsu wondered, frowning at her. "It's the middle of the day"
"Well I do need to pay for my bills...how else am I planning to live?" She said softly, catching her daughter's sadness. "I'm sorry Nashi, but Daddy can play with you today"
She rose up from her knees, ignoring Natsu's dark frown. Releasing his daughter, he swam to the edge and climbed up harshly, rushing over to catch up with her. With a grip of her upper arm, he pulled her back.
"Ow" Lucy hissed slightly by the sudden tug, turning her head round to face him. Annoyed and frustrated, she yanked her arm away from his grip. "What?"
"You shouldn't need to work, the money that you gave me back, just use that" he told her firmly.
"Natsu, I'm not having this discussion with you now" she grumbled. "I'm scheduled to work today, I need to work..."
"No you don't, I said before you can take my reward money, or we can go on a mission" he said simply.
"What about Nashi?" She wondered, staring at him.
"We'll take her with us"
Lucy scoffed at his answer, shaking her head.
"No Natsu, I'm not taking our daughter on a job"
"I'll protect her" he advised smugly.
"You can barely protect yourself at times, the answer is no" she stepped away from him. "Just let me go to work and do what I need to do, okay?" She growled. "Jeez"
She began to walk away from him, while Natsu rolled his eyes at her stubbornness. He tilted his head back, watching Nashi in the pool play with Gray's son Ren. They splashed each other innocently, one chasing the other around the perimeter of the pool.
He wanted to grumble under his breath, but watching his daughter play around happily stopped him from doing so. He pulled himself back into the water, dunking his head under the surface before swimming over to the two children.
He may as well enjoy spending time with Nashi while he had the chance.
Xxx
He sat on the sunbed Lucy had sat on, a towel over his shoulders and a cool ale in his hand, curtesy of Mira. He sipped it causally, watching the guild members mingling around the pool.
Evergreen was sat on the edge, her legs in the water with her husband Elfman caged between them in the water. They seemed to be in full conversation with Freed and Lisanna who were floating in the pool near them. A few laughs were exchanged here and there.
Juvia was sat on the steps of the pool, silently admiring the sun reflecting from the water. Or that's what she expected people to believe. Actual fact, the water mage was observing her son from a far, who was dunking in and out of the water with his father.
Natsu snorted, shaking his head before turning to Wakaba and Macao on the nearby sunbeds. Both lounging with a newspaper and a cigarette in hand.
"Oi Natsu, when's Lucy coming back?" Wakaba asked, calling over to the fire mage. Natsu frowned by his question, a full shrug on his shoulders. "Oh, that's a shame" the smoke wizard mumbled.
"Why?" Natsu asked, wondering as they lifted their papers to their eyes.
"Not much to look at round the pool these days" Macao whispered, shaking his head with disappointment.
Natsu's brow lifted.
"And what's that mean?" He asked stubbornly.
"He means Lucy's the entertainment" Wakaba sniggered, nudging his pal's side. Macao chirped at the gesture, pushing him back playfully before puffing a cigar in his mouth. "A bit of eye candy always makes the day go sweeter"
Macao laughed at Wakaba's comment, tilting his head over to Natsu. The fire mage grunted at their comments, his nose scrunched with displeasure.
"Perverts" he chanted distastefully.
"Can you blame us?" Macao chuckled. "She turned into one hot mama" he panted lightly, fanning his blush with his paper. "I envy you my boy"
"Dam right, not only did you manage to shovel your way in, you planted the seed too" Wakaba sniggered. "You master gardener, you" he wagged his finger over at him, his grin growing wider while Natsu's face scrunched.
"Again, perverts"
"He...deflowered her!" Wakaba laughed harder, receiving a playful smack from Macao who was also laughing at their joke.
"Wak, you are funny!" The man chortled.
Natsu rolled his eyes at the two males, knowing full well what they were insinuating.
Though he didn't deny anything either. Lucy, although she was slightly older now- didn't look like she had aged at all, let alone given birth to a child. Her figure was still slim and curvy, her skin still creamy and light to touch, even her eyes- they were so full of wonder and hope. And her lips...
He shook his head, getting the thought from his head. Though the memory still burned brightly. The feel of them against his and the soft moans that escaped them on that one drunken night.
He gulped, a lump forming in his throat and a heated line rushing across his cheeks.
"Pervert" he breathed. "Stop that" he whacked the side of his head, tumbling slightly over the sunbed before repositioning himself.
Nashi watched as she came up to her father, judging him silently. Who was he talking to? Why did he just hit himself? There was just him, sat there mumbling away to himself like he was in some endless battle of words.
"Daddy?" She looked up to him, startling the father from his daze.
"Huh? Yes poppet?" He eyed her quickly, as if using her to focus on to prevent him from drifting back into his unwanted conversation with himself.
"Are you ok?" She asked, brows tensing.
"Fine, perfectly fine. Are you?" He didn't seem convincing, as he lightly scratched the back of his head nervously, while avoiding the low chuckles from the two men nearby.
Nashi blushed delicately, nodding slowly before looking down to her toes.
"Um, no" she whispered anixiously.
"No?" The father repeated. "Why no? What's up?"
There was silence quickly, before the girl's hands gripped the bottom of her swimsuit, blushing deeper red.
"I..." she gulped, eyes now bulging as she looked at him. "I needa go potty!"
"You what?" The stunned dragon slayer croaked out. By his reaction, the little girl's bottom lip rolled up into her mouth, as if she was about to cry of embarrassment.
"I need to go wee wee" she whispered, eyes now forcing up to his. Natsu's eyes widened with surprise.
"Ok, then...go toilet?" He wondered, staring at her with a puzzled expression. This made her frown.
"I need you to come with me"
"Me?" He gulped, adjusting himself on the sunbed from the sudden toilet talk. Why did he have to go with her? He panicked, watching the girl struggle to hold herself.
Natsu's eyes quickly wondered around the pool. Where was Levy or Mira when you needed them.
"Ugh, fine...come on!" He got up quickly, pulling the girl up into his arms, and rested her on his hip. He charged across the pool, back into the guild hall, nervously hoping that Mira was around the bar.
He had never had to take a child to the bathroom before, he wasn't sure what to even do? Did she require a special seat? Did he have to hold her up over the bowl?
He flushed crimson thinking of it.
This was definitely a mother's job. He couldn't go in the female toilets with her. It was indecent, what if he walked in one a female guild member?
"Natsu?" Mira pulled him from his thoughts, as she stood beside him with a worried smile. "You look like you've seen a ghost, are you ok?" Her soft eyes looked to the reddened child in his grasp.
"Mira! Nashi needs to go potty!" He quickly held the child out of her frantically.
The she-demon snorted at him, her eyes gesturing the tray of drinks and food she was escorting.
"I'm a bit occupied. Besides, you can take her" her worried smile faded into a pleasing one. "Just take her into the mens with you"
"What?!"
"Daddy!" Nashi whined in his arms.
"Nashi knows what to do, just take her into one of the cubicles and sit her down. It's not difficult" Mira muttered at him. "Sorry, I need to rush..." she turned her back to him, carefully carrying her tray of food across the room.
Natsu sighed in defeat, now holding Nashi under his arm as he charged into the mens bathroom. He set her down first, eagerly checking out each stall to make sure they were empty before calling her over to the last one.
Wobbling, Nashi followed him to the toilet and murmured to herself as she attempted to shuffle out of her swimming costume. Natsu groaned, as he pulled down her armbands and slid down the swimsuit, moaning to himself how tight it was against the little girl's frame.
Once it was off, Natsu held his eyes closed. Now knowing that his daughter was indecent from the waist down.
Of course he had changed her into her pyjamas before, but back then Nashi was wearing underwear, on this unfortunate occasion, the child was not.
"Daddy... can't reach!" With another low grumble, Natsu guided his hands under her armpits and lifted her up, all with his eyes firmly shut. He sat her down on the toilet seat and once he was given the all clear, he turned his back and opened his eyes again, leaving the stall and waiting beside it.
The girl giggled softly as she sang a sweet tune to mask the sound of the trickling liquid escaping her, though that didn't fool Natsu and his hearing.
He crossed his arms over his chest and sighed low, listening to his daughter's mumbling noise of random words. Was it even a song? He doubted it.
"Hey, are you done yet?" He asked, tapping the door she was shielded by.
"No!"
"Then what are you doing?" He turned, opening the stall door slightly only to panic as she let out a squeal. "Ok, ok!" He stepped back in fear, hands up with defence. "What's taken you so long? I thought you was only peeing?!" He grumbled.
"Yes!" The girl said back to him.
Natsu rolled his eyes, waiting a few more seconds before hearing the flush. He sighed. "Ok, get dressed and then wash your hands" he demanded, now positioning himself against the wall.
"Uh huh" he heard a bit of squeaking, which he assumed came from the wet fabric rubbing against her skin as she placed it back on, but after a few more seconds passed the noise stopped and a low girlish groan echoed through the bathroom stalls.
"What's wrong now?" He asked leaning into the door.
"I need help"
"Help? With what?" Concern flushed the dragon slayer once more. "Can I come in?" He placed his hand to the door waiting for her to reply. "Do I need to close my eyes?"
"No" the girl whisperer back to him. He frowned. Was that a reply to his first or second question exactly?
"Ok, I'm coming in" he pushed the door lightly, peering round it to catch Nashi tangled in her suit. "What are you doing?" He studied her quickly, now leaning down to her level.
It was clear the girl had put her leg in the wrong hole, and her head in the arm hole causing her to look disjointed. Her arm was outstretched in the air above her, her head clamped to the side and both legs not even where they were supposed to be in the costume.
"You haven't put it on right" he stated bluntly. "Ugh" he grabbed her arm and attempting to pull it through the loop once more, groaning as he stepped back. "No that's not right either!"
The girl struggled in her position, another groan escaping her lips while Natsu mimicked his own.
"Why did Lucy buy you this silly thing!" He muttered, pulling her arms out of the suit completely. "Here, take the whole thing off! It's the wrong way round!"
"Mommy said it looked nice on me" Nashi told him sweetly. She did as she was told, scooting the suit down so it fell to her ankles.
This made Natsu's eyes force close by the sudden realisation that Nashi was once again naked.
"Daddy, you have to open your eyes"
"Ugh, do I have to?" He whined softly.
"To help me, yes!" She giggled at him as he flickered his eyes open, shyly looking away from her as he took the suit and flapped it in front of him.
He held up the straps and nodded, placing it in front of her and guiding her legs into the right holes.
Once she shuffled it up to her belly button, she placed her arms into the straps and smiled.
"Yay! All done" ignoring Natsu's traumatic expression, she passed him quickly and ran to the sink to wash her hands. "Daddy, soap please!"
Natsu slowly crawled out from the stall, weakly picking up the child and hovering her over the sink. He held her there as she turned on the tap, added soap and washed them thoroughly.
Once she was done, she peered up at her father who carried her across to dryer and waited for her hands to be dry. Truth to be told, he could of dried them himself. But suppose the learning curb was for her to it herself. Besides, he was hoping this was toilet trip was a once in a lifetime trip.
As they left, he saw Mira's mischievous grin from the other side of the room. He chose to ignore her as he was escorted back outside with his daughter.
Xxx
The hours grew fast and by the time he knew it, he was sat at the bench indoors with Nashi eating Mira's spag bowl. His cheek rested in his hand as he watched the small girl in front of him slurp up the spaghetti, enjoying her meal.
He wasn't exactly sure when Lucy was returning, but as the time approached the evening he was certain that the little girl needed to have dinner by now, and here he was lightly stabbing at his food while she devoured hers.
"Don't you like it Natsu?" Lisanna asked as she peered over at him from a nearby table.
"Sure" he looked over to her, smiling as he rolled it up into his fork and shoved it in his mouth. The shape-shifting mage rolled her eyes at him.
"Are you waiting for Lucy to come back?" She asked politely, eyeing the small child on his table.
"Yeah"
"I guess you need to wait for Lucy to come back so she can take her home?" Lisanna wondered. Natsu nodded.
"Not like I can take her back to mine..." he shrugged causally, feeling the daughter jolt warningly by his comment. After all, she did burn it down.
"Are you making progress on it?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, Gajeel and Levy have been helping me out. I've called in a few favors from a few people too. My house should be back up in no time!" He said proudly. "With an additional room added so Nashi here can stay"
"That's a good idea. You guys can have sleepovers then"
"Sure can!" He paused, getting a scent of his mate nearby. His head turned to the door gradually, awaiting as she opened the door to enter.
Lisanna cocked her brow as she watched the interaction carefully. Lucy stepped into the hall, smiling widely as she greeted the pair over at the table.
"Spooky" Lisanna whispered, frowning.
"What's that Lisanna?" Lucy asked, turning to face her friend.
"It was like he knew you were coming" Lisanna shook her head lightly, waving her hand at Lucy causally. "Never mind, ignore me"
The blonde faced Natsu with a frown, who quickly looked away from her stare.
"Thanks for looking after her, sorry...I was a bit late back" she nervously grazed her arm with her hand, shifting as she stood beside her daughter.
"I gathered"
"Thanks for feeding her though"
"My job isn't it?" He tried to smile, but something seemed off. Her scent seemed off slightly. Like something or someone had been attached to it. It put him off.
"Ok, well I'll take Nashi now" she held out her hand for her daughter to take. "See you later, and thanks"
"Was you really working?" Natsu thought out loud. He paused, realising it came out louder than expected. The mother stopped suddenly.
"Um, yeah why?" She turned to him, frowning by his question.
"Hmm, you smell different" Lucy took this with offence, her brows furrowed at him.
"Excuse me?"
"That's why I asked if you were working?" He asked again.
"I was working, thank you very much! And if you don't believe me, you can go to my workplace and ask!" She shook her head angrily. "In fact, why do I need to prove anything to you anyway?" She scoffed, her hand now tightening her daughter's grip. "Come on Nashi, we're going home..."
Natsu rolled his eyes at her, receiving a stare at Lisanna.
"What?"
"Wondering what that was all about?" She questioned lightly.
"She smelt different, that's all" he shrugged his shoulders at her. "That's why I asked"
"Well, what did she smell like?" The confused mage wondered.
"Like...she'd been near a guy" he heard himself lowly growl, causing Lisanna to sigh at him.
"You know there's guys that work there too right? At Lucy's workplace?" The woman muttered. "Honestly Natsu, you're so silly" she shook her head disappointedly. "There was no need to get jealous"
Natsu let out of puff of hot air, rolling his eyes further.
"I wasn't jealous" he pouted, avoiding her stare.
"Hmm, yeah your right. Definitely didn't seem that way" she giggled sarcastically at him. "Just give her time Natsu"
"I don't know what you mean" he stabbed at his remaining drabs of food, placing into his mouth.
"We all know you like her" he choked on his food suddenly, warming his cheeks by her comment.
"No-oof, I don't!" He muffled with the food in his mouth. He swallowed hard. "We're friends" he mouthed. "Best friends"
"Keep telling yourself that Natsu" the girl giggled sweetly at her friend, clamping her hands together on the table.
