With slow cautious steps and a trembling figure, Lucy made sure to walk as slowly as she could. The warm hand on her back helped a bit as she remembered that she was back at home and safe but that small voice in the back of her head kept screaming as if she was in danger.
She squeezed her eyes shut, taking in a shaky breath before exhaling. Natsu's soft encouraging words filled her head and she could only inhale deeply before exhaling once more, her knees feeling less shaky. She opened her eyes up once more and she could see she was right at the door, the fresh air hitting her in the face where her hair danced wildly. She could see the small table they had fixed up, teacups and a tray of snacks laid out for them. The empty chairs and the ever growing flowers that her mother had planted showing an array of colors.
Lucy usually really liked the changing of seasons, especially from spring to summer as the petals fell and the air grew humid.
But this time it was different.
She could only imagine blood. So much blood. And gunpowder. And stained yellow teeth that smell like stale coffee. And agun pointed at her.
It's been almost two months since her kidnapping and she had yet to wash those wounds off. The constant nightmares, the screams that filled the air, the sobs that tired her out, and the pain that came with every face she saw. The same pitiful feeling and looks that everyone gave her. Her parents. Her friends. Her maids. Even the goddamn security guards once in a while would as they watched her tremble just trying to walk out her room.
It was getting old.
Natsu had stayed by her side the entire time, refusing to let her be alone a single moment of the day. Occasionally when she would slip into sleep would he leave but he would always return with the same support and the determination to set her free.
She could say this showed her a side of Natsu she didn't think was possible but she had fallen madly in love with her husband.
He had been nothing but kind, understanding, and compassionate that her pregnancy brain and her weak heart had depended on him in more ways than one.
He would whisper sweet encouraging words to her when she needed it the most and distract her from her sour thoughts. The vivid nightmares. The fear that consumed her.
He helped her get dressed and washed at times, sitting in the lukewarm bath while washing her hair and running a sponge through her body as she cried sometimes. He would brush her hair and talk about random stuff he heard from his friends or what his mother did to piss him off.
They would watch endless, countless amounts of movies and she found herself stuck in a loop of horror and misery.
His patience ran high and she didn't know how he didn't just want to yell at her. Tell her off for how ridiculous she was acting and how long it's been since she's been rescued but he never did.
He kissed her tears away, rubbed her belly and spoke softly to their daughter, and painted a beautiful photo of them going on many fun adventures she wished for.
Some days she caught herself wondering if this would be her life forever. Imprisoned to her thoughts and fears as she would have to be that mom stuck inside of her home, deadly afraid of what was to happen. Afraid her own daughter may go through what she did or even worse. It made her want to create some underground world where it was just her, Natsu, and Nasha forever. In the safety of her space and the contentment that nobody was to ever harm either one of them.
And it scared her shitless to think that she would be some batshit crazy doomsday prepper and that's really forced her to get up and start living again.
But it was truly a battle as her emotions and mind betrayed her as she trembled and cried just trying to take a stroll in her own goddamn house.
She was constantly in fear, looking over her shoulder and stiffening when she would hear a car drive up. Or when something loud were to crash.
Natsu had a field day with that as she has never seen him so angry and upset.
There was one too many dishes on a tray and the entire thing came tumbling down causing a loud crash to erupt and Lucy had gone into survival mode where she screamed and curled up, body shaking like a leaf.
She didn't come out of her bedroom for two weeks because of that and eventually she came back out to tiptoe around the home.
Sometimes she would just lay there with him, tucked away in the safety of his strong arms and listen to him breath in and out. The steady heartbeat would lull her to sleep at times and she was grateful she would wake again to be in his arms and not in that dirty warehouse where he choked her till she couldn't breath and hold that cold hard metal against her—
Lucy let out a choked gasp and Natsu had squeezed her hand, ripping her out of that nightmare once more.
"I started in Nasha's crib," He said, distracting her from her thoughts. This had her looking at him, her eyes wide. He looked flustered, almost embarrassed about it but his eyes were casted down as he watched her step. "Gajeel has been yelling at me nonstop and I keep messing up but I should have it done by the time she's here. Do you have a preferred color?"
Lucy blinked stupidly at his question, the weight of her swollen belly suddenly a lot more noticeable as she turned down to look at it.
She was about six and a half months, going on seven in on her pregnancy, dangerously close to her due date. It scared the hell out of her knowing she had to push a watermelon out of her but the idea of not being pregnant any longer brought her some sense of relief.
"Um," she felt her cheeks grow hot as they continued to take baby steps. "I'm not really sure. Pink? Maybe a pale yellow? Purple doesn't sound too bad, either."
The corners of Natsu's lips curved up and he finally looked up to look at her. She felt her heart skip a beat at the warm smile he gave and she flinched when he brought his hand up to tuck her hair behind her ear.
"We can look into those together," he murmured, smiling lovingly at his wife. "And maybe we can look more into decor and clothes? I know we got a lot from the shower but I actually saw this super cute shirt with tiny stars on them and I thought of you."
It was now her turn to smile as she looked at him, her heart warming at the simple gesture.
To think she would be in this position… she truly did have to thank her parents for bringing her soulmate to her.
"And guess what?"
"What?"
"You made it!"
She was blinking stupidly at him again, wondering what he was talking about until she looked around. She could see she was in the garden and they were right at the table where three empty chairs were laid, the place where she stood looking so far away from where she previously stood inside the home.
She didn't know when or how she even got there, her eyes wide as she tried her best to now gawk at the scene.
Natsu must have kept her distracted enough to coax her out of the house, his wide grin being the best thing she had seen in a long time.
Tears welled in her ears and she felt the warmth of his love and care wash over her.
She truly now knew that with Natsu by her side, she could accomplish anything and she was wrapped around him in an instant, her body pressed against him as much as possible with the melon strapped to her.
"See? I told you that you could do it," his words were spoken with pure joy. "Just needed to take some baby steps."
Lucy could only laugh, tears streaming down her face.
And for once, they weren't tears from fear or sadness but in happiness because Natsu was right. Baby steps were the way to go.
He guided her by her hand to one of the chairs, carefully helping her sit down as she had grown far too big. Once she was seated, he came to the chair on the other side of the table and faced her, his happiness shining bright in the nice spring afternoon.
"The weather is so nice! It's starting to get warmer each day," he sighed, stretching his arms above his head. "Now it's not going to be just me and you with summer birthdays. We'll have Nasha to celebrate with."
Her heart was warm at his thoughts and she smiled at his grinning face.
"What's with the third chair? Is my mother coming to join us?"
"No," he shook his head, reaching for the tea pot. "I asked Cana and Levy to come by."
Lucy looked up at him in surprise, her eyes going from the tea he poured to his face.
"I figured you might want some girl time. I know you haven't seen or talked to them in a while and they… Well, they really miss you. So I asked them to come by."
Lucy fell silent, the lump in her throat growing as she thought about her best friends.
She's seen them once since she had been returned home and to say that reunion was… difficult.
Cana blamed herself for everything, claiming she shouldn't have let her wander by herself that late at night. Or the fact that she should have called and checked up on her when she never showed.
Lucy didn't say anything at the time, still shocked and stunned at her words and all she could do was cry.
She didn't blame Cana for any of it. She told Natsu that and Natsu told her he already knew. He told her that he told Cana that she didn't think so either but Cana felt responsible and had drowned her sorrows in barrels of alcohol.
She's never seen Cana so distraught in her life, even after she had found out her father was Gildarts Clive. The drinking part though was completely normal since that girl always pounded down drinks as if it was her lifeline.
Levy was just in tears, grateful she was home and safe. She was in hysterics which created too much stress on either parties so they had parted ways much too soon.
That was nearly two months ago and she had yet to see or hear from them.
Not like she was checking. She didn't remember the last time she had been on her phone. She didn't want to talk to anyone or receive their pity so she had been confined to her own room for weeks, now.
Till today.
"I know I should have asked," he slid over the tea cup towards her, silence filling the air. He left the extra two cups empty, not wanting the tea to grow too cold for the two. "But I know you might have rejected the idea because of how things were the last time you saw them," his lips pressed into a tight line, eyes watching her expression. "And I think it might help."
"When… when will they be here?"
"Soon." He offered a slight smile. "Anyways, besides that," he quickly changed the subject at the way his wife's mood had shifted. "Guess what?"
Letting a soft sigh, Lucy fiddled with her rings on her finger, a nervous habit she had picked up on. "What?"
"Our house is ready." He smiled wider, looking quite proud of himself. This surprised her, her eyes finding his once more as she stared at him. "I had made sure to install a camera in each and every room, besides the obvious of course, and my parents have also hired their best men to watch over us. We have top of the notch security that will notify us whenever there is an issue and I can even show you around. I had replaced our old fence with new, taller fences and even had Laxus come and put in an emergency lock on our windows and doors. And there's more."
"More?" She echoed and he looked like a kid in a candy shop, excited to explode.
"I'll show you later." All was said and she frowned slightly at the idea of having to wait. "But Luce," he reached over to place a comforting hand on top of hers, covering the large rock on her hand. "I know you're afraid to leave here and I am understanding of that. I really am." There was sincerity in his eyes and she felt like the air was taken from her. "But I would really like for us to… move on."
Move on.
The words echoed in her head and she was in an array of emotions.
"You've done so well in recovering in the past couple weeks," he praised, a slight smile to his lips. "And I know it's going to be hard to leave but I think once you see the place and see how hard I worked to make it a safe space for not just you but for Nasha and me, I think you'd love it."
Her bottom lip wobbled at the declaration he announced and felt the same pang of emotions strike her body.
Move on.
Oh how so badly she just wanted to move on.
Move on from this nightmare.
Move on from being afraid of every loud noise and moving car.
Move on from waking up screaming and crying.
Move on from the sad reality of being afraid.
"Thank you," was all she could say, her eyes blurring with tears. "I appreciate you more than you know."
He stood from his seat and came around to her, crouching down in front of her as he brought her hands to hold in his, kissing the sparkly engagement ring and matching wedding band. He smiled warmly at her, leaning into her where he bumped into her belly. He wrapped his arms around them and basked in the warmth of his wife and unborn child.
"I love you both," he whispered back. "More than you know."
The sound of soft footsteps approaching them had them separating, heads turning to see the said girls arriving shyly.
"I guess that's my cue to go," Natsu stood back up, his knees cracking as if he was centuries old. "I'll be nearby," he assured at the worried expression that decorated her face. "Just right there," he pointed at the doorway just a couple feet away from where they stood.
Lucy turned to look at where he had pointed at and turned back to him, her eyebrows pinched as she chewed on her bottom lip.
The idea of being separated from Natsu scared her but the fact that her two friends were waiting to speak with her scared her even more. She didn't know how she could face her two best friends who had been so heartbroken with one blaming themselves for her whole kidnapping and other burying herself into work to forget about it. She cried about it for two whole days and she still felt that same tightness in her chest whenever she thought of how hard Cana wailed.
That broke her heart.
"Hey, Lucy, how are you feeling?" Levy's voice brought her back and she noticed Natsu had slipped away with her being trapped in the gardens with the two. "How's the baby?"
Lucy swallowed thickly and looked down at her swollen stomach, hands automatically coming to wrap around as if it was some kind of security ball.
"W—we're fine," her voice came out raspy. She cleared her throat and she looked at Cana who had her head hung and Levy who offered a pained smile. "Come sit." Lucy motioned for the empty chairs and the two obliged.
She waited for them to get comfortable as she awkwardly fidgeted in her seat, hands pressed reassuringly against her stomach.
A silence had passed while Levy went to pour tea for her and Cana, soft cries of the birds who flew above and the spring breeze bringing some kind of tension to the air. The clatter of the glass dishes were heard before Levy was sipping at her tea, trying to comfort herself in the deafening silence.
"You've gotten pretty big." Levy said, trying to make conversation as Cana and Lucy stayed quiet. "Are you excited?"
Lucy chewed on her bottom lip as she thought of her answer. Of course she was excited to finally give birth and bring her baby girl into the world but the idea of having to give birth was terrifying to say the least. Especially when she had to think about bringing her child into a cruel world like this one where she could easily be taken and or sold into slavery.
A shiver ran down her spine and she swallowed thickly, reaching for her own teacup with shaky hands.
"Nervous." She admitted after a minute and she offered a pinched smile. "Natsu says the house is all ready." Her voice didn't match the enthusiasm she wanted.
Levy perked up at this and Cana's eyebrow shot up as she finally raised her head to look at the blonde.
"How exciting! I know you guys have been looking forward to the house."
"Yeah… it's just a matter of moving now." Lucy said, setting her teacup down. "How are you guys? Is the wine business going well? The library?" She looked at Levy before her eyes landed on Cana.
Cana seemed distraught, eyes casted down immediately as her brown eyes found hers.
Levy was first to speak, noticing the thick tension. "Library is doing well! I was thinking about opening one up in Stella, actually. My parents are there right now on another business trip and they called to tell me about a spot."
Lucy nodded, looking at Cana who stared down at the tea and snacks on the table.
She didn't remember the last time she had a moment like this with either girl. They've always been thicker than thieves, fooling around on the playground to giggling about their latest crush on the streets. The weirdness surrounding them was suffocating and Lucy desperately wished Natsu could come and whisk her away from this.
So absorbed into her thoughts, she didn't even see Levy nudge Cana into conversation.
The brunette looked sour, eyebrows pinched as she sat up straighter. She cleared her throat which caught the attention of the mother-to-be and Cana swallowed the bile that threatened to pour out.
"Lucy," she started, making sure she had her attention. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for everything I have put you through."
Lucy opened her mouth to speak but Cana shook her head, silencing her.
"I know you don't blame me. Natsu already talked to me about it but I just can't help but feel it is my fault that what happened to you happened because I was so careless." She continued, her voice strained as if she was holding back tears. "I don't deserve to be one of your close friends and I don't deserve to be a part of yours or Nasha's life after what I did. I can't risk something like that again and it would kill me if anything were to ever happen to Nasha. I think it's best if we just cut ties so you could have a peace of mind."
"Cana!" Levy's voice sliced through the thickness of her words, disbelief present on her face.
Lucy also had a look of disbelief flash across her own face and she blinked stupidly at her friend who still refused to look her in the eye.
Levy was trying to keep everyone together, chastising Cana in her apology and declaration while Lucy processed her words.
"But… I don't want to lose you." Was all she could say, her voice barely a whisper while her bottom lip wobbled. Cana and Levy turned to look at her and their eyes widened at the tears that spilled from her eyes. "Cana, I love you. I don't blame you at all." She cried, the sadness she felt inside her chest pouring out of her. "What happened isn't your fault and never would be. It's mine. I was being selfish and careless and I should have done it properly. I don't want you to think I hate you or blame you for what happened and I would be devastated if Nasha didn't get to have her aunt Cana in her life."
The words she had been trying to say to her brunette friend finally came tumbling out, unspoken emotions flaring into the air.
She felt her heart break at the idea of Cana not ever being in her life and Nasha's. The three of them had been inseparable since they were just little girls attending private school and to think they had made it this far for Cana to break apart their pact…
"Please don't leave me," Lucy begged, forgetting about her pride and dignity. "I need you. I need both of you." She made sure to look at Levy's teary eyes before looking back at Cana. "Please."
Levy was first to be on her feet, coming over to cradling the crying woman as tears spilled from her own eyes. Cana couldn't help but come over as well, holding the delicate woman.
Pain and sorrow pierce through the trio and it had turned into a cry fest shortly after, salty tears spilling across their cheeks to bring a flush to their skin. It was as if they were trying to mend and fix the cracks across the surface of their friendship and they held onto one another like they were each other's lifeline.
"I'm sorry, Lucy!" Cana cried, holding onto her tighter. "I really am!"
"I'm sorry, too, Cana!"
"I'm sorry three, guys!" Levy wailed and the three were sobbing for a minute before it was turning into fits of giggles.
Forcing a serious situation into laughter was something they had always done. Nothing lasts when it comes to them and Lucy was feeling so much lighter by the time her tears had dried and she had a wide smile on her lips.
It was almost as if someone had flipped the next page for her, the sun shining bright and her heart feeling so much warmer. Her body relaxed in the hold of the women and soon they had found their respected seats once more, the air feeling so much lighter than before.
They continued on their conversation, switching to the latest news and gossip while they got in their routine of tea time.
Lucy didn't remember the last time she felt so light and happy. It has been a while and for once, she didn't think about those terrors that plague her dreams and thoughts. She didn't think about how scared she was and how much she wanted to run and hide. She could only think about her two best friends who laughed along with her and ate delicious snacks while she heard about their daily lives.
A small yip had her turning in her seat, the trio looking to see a small white pup running right to them and a frantic looking Natsu chasing behind.
Lucy's eyes widened as this adorable white dog came right to her, barking and wagging its tail happily. Levy cooed at the dog with her hand out to get a sniff while Cana watched with wide eyes, her own hand moving to get a feel.
"Sorry, guys! Didn't mean to interrupt." Natsu finally caught up, scooping up the small dog in his arms while it wiggled around. "I was trying to be sneaky and surprise my wife but it seems as if this dog had other plans." He wagged his finger in front of the puppy's face where it tried to nip at his fingers.
"Aww, he is so cute!" Levy squealed in delight, either referring to Natsu or the dog while the two were occupied surrounding Natsu to get a pet or two in.
"He is cute." Cana murmured, scratching the back of its ear while it whined.
"Surprise?" Lucy echoed, still looking as shocked as ever as she watched her husband fiddle with the squirming pup in his arms. "Is that for me?"
"Well, since it was spoiled," a smirk started to curl up his lips as he held out the small dog to her. "Surprise!"
Lucy almost went cross-eyed as he thrusted the dog in her line of vision, the excited pup barking right at her while he tried to kick out of Natsu's grasp.
"You got me a dog?" She asked in disbelief as the said dog licked at her salty cheek, a soft giggle escaping her lips.
"Yeah! A guard dog!" He said proudly but the way the puppy twisted to nip at his hands to let him go was very unconvincing and cute. He dropped the dog to the ground and it was sprinting away, running in circles and yapping loudly. "Well, a guard puppy right now." He grinned sheepishly as the said dog came circling back to Lucy, pawing at the ends of her dress.
Lucy smiled softly at the way the pup whined and she scooped down to pick him up, the small puppy being placed between her chest. The puppy seemed content with the spot, curling up against her large mounds and swollen belly as the warmth wrapped around its small fluffy body.
"I haven't named him, I figured you could!" Natsu said while he watched his wife cradle the pup. "I got him so you could feel a bit better about being home and stuff." He scratched the back of his head in nervousness, his eyes meeting her own as she lifted her head up. "They said he'll probably grow up to eighty pounds. That way he could watch over you and Nasha. His breed is very protective and also very smart."
Lucy felt like she was falling in love with her husband all over again as she stared up at him in awe.
She knew he wasn't the biggest fan of dogs—they always used to have fights in whether or not they would get a dog or a cat (or even both but Natsu always said no) but for him to step out of his comfort zone and get her her own guard dog made her stomach flutter with a million butterflies.
Or it could just be Nasha kicking again but she decided that the warmth swelling inside of her was because she was utterly in love with her husband.
"Oh, Natsu," she cooed, tears pricking her eyes once more. "Thank you so much. I love you!"
Natsu blushed when he heard the words come out of her mouth, especially with the way Cana and Levy looked at him. He scowled and turned his head away, head tucking into his scarf as he felt bashful.
"Of course," he cleared his throat, fighting against the feel of his heart beating. "So, you have a name for him?"
"You know, he kind of looks like that doll you used to have." Levy said, catching the attention of everyone while the puppy tried to nip at her dangling finger.
Cana snapped her finger, pointing at the bluenette. "I know exactly what you're talking about! That weird snowman looking one that Lucy swore was a dog!"
"It was a dog!" Lucy cried out, making the puppy jolt at her sudden change. "Just because he had a carrot nose didn't mean he wasn't a dog!"
"What?" Natsu furrowed his brows as he looked at Levy and Cana for help but the two girls just sighed and rolled their eyes, exchanging deadpan looks.
"Anyways, yes, he kind of does," Lucy huffed, turning her attention to the squirming dog in her arms. "And for that, I shall call you: Plue." She wiggled her fingers in his face as he playfully opened his mouth, trying to snag at her finger.
"Plue," Natsu tested the name out, his tongue rolling. "Plue. Like blue but with a P?"
"Don't ask why," Levy waved her hand in front of her, dismissing his question.
"Lucy couldn't for the life of her say blue for the longest. She had a lisp when she was a kid," Cana leaned over to whisper at Natsu and he blinked stupidly, shocked to hear such information about his wife.
"Hey!" Lucy flushed crimson, embarrassed to have Natsu find out a secret of hers. "I was just a kid!"
"Normal kids can say blue just fine."
"Well maybe I just liked the name Plue!"
"Blue you mean." Natsu joined in on the bantering and Cana and Levy were laughing while Lucy gawked at her smirking husband.
Natsu didn't know how refreshing it would feel to see his wife joking around and laughing like she had always been but seeing her shine made his insides turn to mush.
He could finally see the light peeking out of the darkness of her trauma and he was so relieved to see her shining again.
Lucy wasn't sure how to feel about leaving the safety of her parent's house. She practically grew up in this home and to think she had to move ship was worrying enough. On top of her being too close to birth and all the nightmares that plagued her mind, she was short circuiting at the stress.
Of course she wanted to get on with her life and finally move into a home with Natsu, especially after he spent so much time and effort getting the home ready.
Natsu, surprisingly enough, was patient enough for her to slowly come out of her bubble. He was nothing but kind and understanding when he spoke about their finished home and she wanted nothing more than to move on but it was so much easier said than done.
Leaving the confined area she grew accustomed to over the many years she had lived there including her horrible experience with Jose was scary.
Scary enough that she didn't dare to think about what could happen to her or Nasha or even Natsu as they lived in such a large home away from everyone else. And Plue was only a puppy so what could he possibly do?
But the fact that she had less than ten weeks before Nasha was to arrive was even scarier. Was she going to be bound to her parent's house for the rest of her life? Bound to the post traumatic stress she had gone through?
Lucy could only watch as her maids helped pack her belongings and lug them away into the car. The blonde sat patiently on the decorative sofa in her foyer, hands brushing lightly against the white coat of Plue who laid on in her warm arms.
The small pup was a ball of energy she was constantly fighting to keep up with. Natsu helped a lot and so did everyone else when she couldn't, especially since she wasn't able to bend comfortably with the weight of her watermelon on her gut. It was nice to have the space so Plue could explore and run away, wasting his energy on useless beads of grass or butterflies that fluttered around her garden. He was also yipping and nipping at every single thing that it was hard to be mad at when he would chew on a shoelace or slipper.
Natsu had been training the dog to the best he could, finding out that Plue wasn't much of a listener as he continued to chew on anything he could sink his teeth into.
Days after she had tea time with the girls and Natsu had dropped this entire surprise on her like a huge load of brick, Lucy was in constant reminder that she had to leave. Maybe not had to since she doubted anyone would force her to leave if she truly didn't but for the sake of her sanity and baby's life, she needed to finally move to her own home.
Her mother would never allow her to depart from the Heartfillia residence if she were to bring Nasha into the world and spoil her with her presence.
Lucy rubbed her large swollen belly in nervousness, her bottom lip chewed between her teeth.
She could do this! She was only moving right down the street. Nothing to worry about. Her mother and father were on one side of the street and Natsu's parents were on the other. They had support and security and even protection with Plue around. Though, she didn't know what the harmless cutie could do or how big he would even grow. Would he be able to protect her and her family? Would she be fine in that house compared to her home now? Is she truly safe from the hands of anyone greedy and corrupt enough to pull a kidnapping again?
"We're right down the street, Lucy." Her mother's voice came into play and she didn't even realize her mother had sat down beside her, petting the sleeping pup in her arms. Her chocolate eyes landed on the pale face of her beautiful mother and the corners of her eyes wrinkled with the way she smiled. "I know you're worried about leaving. It's normal. Most kids get scared to move out on their own."
Lucy wouldn't per say that was the main reason why she was feeling so anxious. She hadn't left the house in nearly two and a half months besides the safety of her backyard but even that took her weeks to come into.
"Natsu worked very hard to get this house together for you and I think once you see the place, you wouldn't want to leave."
"I'm terrified of leaving, mama." Lucy confessed, a sigh flying out of her lips. "And not just because it's my childhood home," her head followed one of the maids carrying out her suitcases. "I'm terrified of leaving because what if it happens again?"
"It won't." Layla laid a hand on top of her own that rested on top of her bump. "That will never happen to you, Lucy. I promise. We all do."
"But you don't know that," she whimpered slightly and she looked away from her mother's brokenhearted expression. "It's not anyone's fault but mine. It's just… scary. I'm scared."
"I know, baby," her mother cooed, rubbing her hand over the swell of her belly. "I am, too."
They shared a knowing look between one another and Lucy knew she could trust her mom.
She's come such a long way from crying and shaking at the foot of her bed to making it around her home and eventually outside. She's been practicing taking a step out her front door for days now and she had become comfortable enough that she could stand at the entrance till she decided she had enough.
But she had been mentally and physically preparing for this day and she was going to do it! She had to. For her sake and for her family's sake.
Looking to see behind her mother's figure, Lucy watched her husband making his way to them with a bright smile to his face.
She was embarrassed to say how much Natsu affected her, especially during her weakest times but she appreciated this man down to the core. He was the perfect man for her and nothing but sweet so naturally, she would fall for him as hard as she could.
"You ready, Luce? I figured you and I can head over there first so I can show you around. The movers should be done in the next thirty and will meet us."
Lucy looked over at her mother with wide eyes, uncertainty and fear flashing through her face. Layla merely smiled, tucking the strain behind her daughter's ear as she stroked alongside her face.
"Capricorn and Taurus are going to follow you. There are already men at the premise who are doing a deep sweep and stalking around in case of any trouble. You got this."
Lucy could only swallow hard, looking from her mom to her husband who smiled so brightly at her. He extended a hand out to her and waited for her to make her decision, the younger blonde biting down on her bottom lip while her heart began to race.
She kept repeating in her head that she could do this because she could. Physically at least. It was the mental battle that exhausted her to the core.
"This would be so much easier if you could knock me out and whisk me away." Lucy tried to joke, a small nervous smile curving on her lips.
Her mother did not like the joke at all, her dark glare pointed in her direction while Natsu looked a bit amused. His amusement quickly fell when his mother-in-law turned to look at him and he cleared his throat, guiding Lucy up to her feet. The small pup was up at the sudden movement, the young dog yapping around in circles as he rushed out the front door.
"What a horrible thing to say, Mrs. Dragneel." Natsu said that had her giggling slightly.
"Sorry," Lucy didn't feel sorry at all as she grinned wider, the slight chortle from her husband making it better. "Um, so, now?"
"Yes, now." Natsu chuckled, holding onto her hand as she stood in front of him. His hand subconsciously pressed against her belly, feeling the warmth of their child caress his palm. "You ready?"
"No," Lucy confessed, a slight smile on her wobbly lips. "But let's try."
"You could keep your eyes closed the whole way." Layla suggested, following the couple out to the front door where Lucy's heart pounded the closer they approached.
"Yeah! And I'll let you know when we're there."
"Maybe," she murmured, unsure she wanted to be taken somewhere without knowing how to get there. "We—we're fine, right?"
"More than fine," Natsu assured as her steps started to slow, his hand tugging on hers. "We're safe, Lucy. Safe from anyone and anything. We have Capricorn and Taurus following us and like your mom said, there's guys on the premises so we'd have someone around at all times."
Even with everything everyone was saying to make her feel better, she did not. Her heart raced too fast and she began to sweat, hands becoming slick and warm and legs becoming wobbly.
She could do this! She's been trying real hard for the last couple weeks and she was not going to make it to this point and not even walk out the front door.
Everyone assured her that she was safe and there's people around in broad daylight so she doubted someone would even try now. She's even tried to come to the front door to push her boundaries and while she's only ever stepped foot on her welcome mat, she still found herself shaking like a leaf.
The warmth Natsu provided was enough for her to feel relaxed, his hand gripping hers tightly and his other on the small of her back, fingers pressed into her skin to hold her up. Her mother was very close to her side, providing reassurance and assistance if needed as Lucy had become accustomed to walking with her back bent to accommodate her growing body.
She was out of breath by the time she had made it to the front door, her free hand coming to rub her belly while she took in a breath.
"You okay?" Natsu asked, coming into her line of vision with furrowed brows making her smile.
"Yes," she let out a sigh. "I've just never been this big before so it's hard to walk sometimes."
"Soon," he promised, hand coming to rub against her swell to smile. "And I promise I'll do the majority of the carrying to help relieve some of that stress."
Layla giggled along with Lucy, the two women finding the golden retriever of a man adorable. He was growing into such a dad, they wouldn't be surprised if Natsu was a fierce competitor for his own daughter's love.
"Mama and papa will meet you over there along with Natsu's parents." Layla said as they stood at the entrance, her own hand coming over to give her shoulder a squeeze. "And then maybe we could go get some dinner? Somewhere you have been wanting to go for a very long time?"
Lucy offered a flat smile, trying to keep up the pace but it was becoming a little overwhelming for her.
"Want me to carry you to the car?"
"I don't think you could, considering my size."
"Don't underestimate me and my strength, Luce," Natsu took that as a challenge as he bent down to scoop her up in his arms, princess style. He staggered a bit but he adjusted his footing, planting them down solid to hold her in his arms while she yelped. "See?"
"Put me down, Natsu! I didn't mean for you to do it!" Her eyes widened as she realized she would be forced to get into the car and or dropped with her growing baby. "Natsu!"
"Too late now." He had a smug smirk on his face. The only way for him to get this moving at a decent speed would be forcibly putting Lucy in the car. And honestly, he missed having her in his arms. Now he had both of his girls in his arms and his grip had never been tighter. "Close your eyes, baby."
Lucy squeezed them shut, unable to face the reality of having to be outside her childhood home. She nuzzled her face between the crook of Natsu's neck and allowed him to take her to the car, her fingers curling around his clothing to fist them tight.
She could hear the birds chirp and the breeze of the summer days that were rapidly approaching. The distant sounds of cars and people filling her ears along with the rapid thumps of her heart.
Her breathing turned ragged and her knuckles had turned white with how hard she was grabbing at his clothes but then the sound of a car door opening and the scent of the interior wafted through her nose. Her body became still as Natsu adjusted her, turning her body as she had been set down on a soft spot. She turned her head to look she was in the car with Natsu buckling her up, a thick lump forced back down in her throat.
"See? Fast and efficient." He smiled so warmly it made tears prickle in the corner of her eyes. "I promised you that you'll be safe." He murmured, running his fingers against her belly while her seatbelt clicked into place. "And I'm going to keep it."
Her heart swelled at the sight of him taking care of her so delicately, her palm moving to land on top of his. The two smiled at one another, sparks and swarm of hearts floating around them as they both felt the love swirl around. He leaned down to brush his lips against hers as she reached for him, a gentle smack of their lips to form warm smiles on their faces.
"I'll see you over there, Lucy," Layla waved at the blonde, switching with Natsu to now stand beside her in the passenger seat. "We are so proud of you. We're right here." She reached over to squeeze her hand, offering a wide smile.
Lucy only squeezed her hand right back, a nod to her head as she gulped.
Natsu came over to the driver side to buckle himself in, fiddling with his usual mirror and AC.
"Wait, what's bout Plue? He's supposed to come with us!" Lucy suddenly looked around to see her precious baby wasn't in the car with them and only her husband who gave her a flat look. "We can't leave him!"
"Lucy, Plue is going to stay back for the time being until you get things settled. He is still yours," Layla patted her hand to bring her frantic attention back to her. "I promise he's yours."
Lucy looked like she was about to burst into tears with how her emotions were skyrocketing. She fought off the heaviness she felt as best as she could but the sting of tears pricked the corner of her eyes. Fat tears rolled down her face and her bottom lip pushed outwards into a pout and she could see Natsu and Layla cringe at the way she started to sniffle and cry.
She blamed Nasha for this one, too. And maybe the fact that she had fallen in love with this pup and he was now her child, too.
"Mama will bring him with us, okay?" Layla was immediately doing damage control, her eyes flickering over to meet Natsu's deadpan stare.
"You promise?" She asked, voice wobbly and cheeks staining red with her tears.
Layla giggled, a smile curling up while she watched Natsu shake his head with a smile to his own lips. "Yes, honey, mama promises."
The worry about Plue being left the house lingered but her tears stopped so she felt a bit better about it.
"I'm sorry, it's—"
"The baby, we know." Layla and Natsu said at the same time, brushing it off like it was nothing. Especially since they knew how much Lucy loved to cry over the simplest things or start growling at someone for eyeing her last slice of pizza.
Lucy felt her cheeks grow hot with embarrassment and she frowned, pressing her hands to her cheeks to cool them off. Her mother just giggled and closed the door so the couple could be on their way and Natsu gave her a reassuring pat on her thigh before his hand moved up to her stomach, rubbing large circles around it.
"She ain't even born yet and she's givin' me a hell." He said while he waved one last time to his mother-in-law before shifting the car into drive.
"Try carrying her for nine months." Lucy tried to keep herself distracted from the fact she was in a car and about to leave her home. Her hands shook as she placed them on her belly.
"I would if I could." Natsu gave her a look that she knew he would if he really could. "Now, are you ready?"
"No." Lucy admitted and Natsu gave her a pinched smile. "But it's okay."
Turning in his seat to face her, he gave her a look of pure sincerity and confidence. "Nothing bad will ever happen to you again, Luce. I swear on my life that."
"I know," her voice grew hush, eyes meeting his own. "I know."
He gave her hand a light squeeze and she returned the gesture, smiles mirroring one another till Natsu adjusted back into his seat and shifted the gears in the car. Once the car was moving, Lucy felt her breath hitch and she was back to squeezing Natsu's hand in a death grip that had him still wincing at. He didn't say anything as he drove as slow as he could, eyes flicking back and forth to his wife and road.
"C—can you go slower?"
"Lucy, I'm not even pressing the gas pedal. We're just rolling down the hill."
"Really?" Her eyes widened and her grip got even stronger making him yelp. "Sorry."
"You wanna close your eyes for the ride? Or lie down?" He suggested and Lucy bit down on her bottom lip, her head shaking back and forth. "What can I do?"
"I—I don't know," she looked around her to make sure nobody was around to steal her away again. She could see the black sedan behind her, Capricorn and Taurus close on their tail. It made her feel a bit better at the idea and her shoulders relaxed just a bit, her eyes scanning the area of her estate.
Natsu let out a sigh as he leaned back against his seat, the car now parked with his palm pressed against his face to drag it down.
Lucy looked at him with wide, teary eyes, worried she may have upset him.
"Natsu, I—"
"Lucy," he cut her off, hand held up in front of her so she didn't ramble like she always did. "I'm not mad. I'm not upset. I'm fine." He said first, turning his head to look at his teary eyed wife. "I'm just trying to figure out how to make it to our house without triggering a panic attack or you ending up crying."
Lucy was silent, staring down at her lap she could barely see through her baby bump and she nervously fidgeted in her spot, finger twirling her ring around.
"You could knock me out—"
"Shut up, Lucy," Natsu rolled his eyes, his words coming out a bit harsher than intended. "I'm not going to knock out my pregnant wife to take her fifteen minutes down the street."
"I'm just trying to help," she whimpered and Natsu turned to look at her, a tired sad look in his eyes while tears spilled from her already swollen eyes. "I'm sorry I'm such a problem."
"Lucy, baby," he sighed, leaning in towards her to grab her hands in his. She looked up at him with teary eyes, sniffling through the tears. "You're not a problem so stop saying that you are. You went through something very traumatizing and you're still healing from it and nobody, especially me, isn't going to blame you or force you to do anything you aren't comfortable with. So if that means you don't think you could make it to the house today then we won't." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and offered a smile her way, wiping the tears that fell. "Okay?"
"But that's the thing, Natsu," her voice wobbled. "I do. I do want to. I do want to go to our home. You worked so hard to get it nice and ready for us that it would be such a waste to not."
"Then what do you propose we do?"
"I don't know!" Her wailing came back full force and Natsu was back to sighing and running his hand down his face to massage out the tension.
Natsu most definitely would only stick to one kid. How the hell is he supposed to go through another nine months of this?
"Alright, hold on," Natsu unbuckled himself from his seat, leaving Lucy no room to speak as he quickly hopped out of the car. The blonde Dragneel watched her husband slam the car door shut and then run to the car behind them, her eyes watching him through the rear view as he knocked on the window for Capricorn to roll the window down. They spoke about something she had no idea about since she couldn't read lips or hear but then Natsu came back jogging towards her and hopped right back in his seat. "Alright, Luce, this is what's going to happen. I'm going to park the car and then we're going to ride with Cap and Taurus to our place."
"Huh? Why?" She asked while Natsu began to move the car, not bothering to buckle himself back up.
"Because then I can hold you and comfort you on the way. I can't do that when I have to focus on driving."
Lucy didn't know why she started to cry again but Natsu only seemed to sigh a lot more often and rub her belly as a comfort for her or him, she didn't know.
By the time Natsu was parked back in his original spot up the hill, Taurus and Capricorn were already ready and parked for the couple. Natsu made sure to be gentle and calm during the whole thing, jogging over to his wife's side to open the door and help her out. Lucy's entire face was red and swollen by the time she had come back out the car and she tried her best to avoid eye contact with her two security men who respectfully kept their gaze away.
Natsu helped Lucy get into her seat comfortably first, buckling her in and ensuring she was safe before he was getting in right next to her, the doors slamming shut behind him. He was quick to slide his arm around her and tuck her into his chest, the blonde instantly melting into his arms.
"See? Better, right?"
"Yes," she agreed, cheek pressed against his warm chest. "Yes, it is."
The tinted windows also helped as her two security men hopped back into the car. Natsu allowed them to proceed and he tucked her head under his chin, shielding her away from the view as much as possible while he rubbed a comforting hand up and down her back. The other one rubbed her belly, equally warming.
"What do you want for dinner?" Natsu asked, trying to keep her distracted long enough that they would actually make it out the gate this time around. "Anything you've been craving?"
"I would really love a waffle cone."
Natsu laughed at her cute pout and he kissed the top of her head, fingers guiding through her golden locks. "I'll get you a waffle cone, baby."
"With two scoops of ice cream?"
"I'll get you three."
The cute squeal she gave made even Taurus and Capricorn smile as Natsu caught their eye in the rear view mirror. He was glad they at least got past the gates and he let out a soft sigh of relief, his hands continuing to rub against her body.
"But no thoughts on dinner?"
"I could go for something warm," Lucy hummed, her own hands cradling her swell. "I'm in the mood for some hot pot or soup."
"How do you go from an ice cream cone to hot pot?"
Lucy shrugged. "Ask the baby."
Natsu chuckled and shifted in his seat. "Okay," he leaned in towards her belly and rubbed large circles. "How do you go from an ice cream cone to hot pot, Nasha?" He got a kick in response and he beamed, looking up at his giggling wife. "She kicked!"
"She always kicks."
"Not lately," he returned his gaze back to her stomach and cooed. "You hear daddy's voice? I'm right here my sweet girl. I won't let anything happen to you or mama."
Lucy felt her cheeks flush at his actions as she was suddenly very aware of her two security guards sitting up front. She could see the curve of their lips from her seat and the embarrassment came into full swing. But it really stopped once she noticed they were not in her driveway and away from home, her eyes widening at the sight of the foliage passing by.
"Hey Lucy," Natsu quickly caught her attention, yanking on her hair which had her yelping.
She turned to glare at him, hand swatting at his hand that still held onto her hair. "What was that for?!"
"I just wanted to tell you you're pretty." He grinned at her and she scowled, flushing even deeper as she crossed her arms and grumbled under her breath. "And how I think hot pot sounds great! Nasha tells me she definitely wants it. And three fat scoops on a waffle cone!"
The rest of the ride Natsu continued to bother Lucy so her attention was focused on him and not the road so she didn't freak. There were a couple of times he would catch her looking away and he would yank her hair to pull her down into a kiss. It was honestly a lot more tiring than it seemed considering he's been nervous the entire time.
He's worked really hard to ensure this home was nearly perfect by the time they move in and the day had finally presented itself for him to bring his wife home. But with everything that has happened, he wasn't sure how things would go. He didn't have much time in between to check the house or even see how they were fixing up the place. He was preoccupied with his unstable wife and child so he really hoped the place looked as good as he envisioned it as.
Finally coming to a gated home, they drove up the long driveway up to a polished, large building.
Lucy was in awe at the many flowers that were planted up her driveway and in front of the place. She was grateful that Capricorn and Taurus waited till the gates were closed to continue their drive up and she felt more at ease with Natsu's arms around her.
Natsu had fixed up the home in just a couple months where she could clearly see the difference from the first time he had brought her over. There was a flesh layer of paint, fresh flowers and plants planted everywhere, driveway was freshly paved, and even the lightbulbs looked brighter.
Natsu pointed out all the cameras around the place and explained the importance of each and every one of them. He even went as far as creating an invisible fence that kept animals away with a high-pitch sound and or alerted their security team if there ever was a threat nearby. There's also new locks on each and every window and doorway including high-tech motion sensored cameras.
Lucy felt so much better about the situation as they finally parked and Natsu helped her out of the car. She waddled beside him while he excitedly spoke about what was new and what was safe, hand tightly wrapped around her.
Capricorn and Taurus stood nearby, allowing the couple space but ensuring their safety.
"Wow, Natsu, I love the place already," Lucy cooed while he took her down each and every empty room. "The color works very well with the home."
"Thanks, I really tried. This was the fourth color we finally decided to go for." Natsu sighed in relief as he watched his wife look around in awe. "Come on, I want to show you the bedrooms."
Carefully watching Lucy's feet to make sure she didn't accidentally trip or miss a step, Natsu was as patient as ever while guiding her up the stairs. His heart pounded wildly just like the first time he's ever brought Lucy to their home and he was over the moon to have finally brought his loving wife to their home.
Coming to their main bedroom, Natsu gently nudged the doors open for Lucy to gasp as soon as she saw the interior.
The room attached to their bedroom was decorated in all sorts of girly baby decorations. Natsu had painted the walls a soft pale yellow that Lucy had picked out and there were adorable glow-in-the-dark stars snickered on the ceiling. A rocking chair in the corner that could be used once Nasha is born, a plush pink rug underneath the all white wooden crib. He had purchased a nice white dresser that had a baby changing station attached to the side pushed up beside the crib, dressers filled with the clothing their mother's had gifted them including all the baby shower gifts.
Lucy approached the nicely crafted crib and she ran her fingers against the wood, a soft smile on her face.
"You won't believe how long it took us to build this because Gajeel kept raging," Natsu laughed as he placed a hand on the crib. "But, it's done! Sturdy, too, I checked." He gave her a thumbs up making Lucy giggle.
Lucy touched the adorable cat crib mobile that hung above the crib that lightly tinkled. She turned around to take in the bedroom where their baby girl would be in when she arrived and the hotness stung against her orbs.
Her heart soared with joy and love while taking in the sight of Natsu's work.
She turned towards him with tears in her eyes and Natsu's smile dropped, his eyes widening.
"What—"
"Thank you so much!" Lucy cut off his question with a cry, tears spilling from her already swollen eyes. "I love this and you more than you'll know."
Natsu let out a sigh of relief and came to wrap his arms around his crying wife, immune to the tears she so easily gave with her emotions being scrambled. He rubbed her back and cooed at her, planting soft kisses against her tear-stained cheeks.
While Natsu spoke about the future, Lucy found herself finding it very comforting and exciting.
Finally their lives are moving forward and getting on track. Finally she could leave their home and make it to her new one in one piece. Finally did she have someone that loved her as much as she loved him.
And finally, now she was moving on.