"Don't worry Mom, I got this. Besides, two of them can practically take care of themselves so it shouldn't be too hard," Nasha said as she pushed her parents out the door. "Go enjoy your date night."
"Are you sure, we can hire a babysitter if you want to enjoy some alone time," Lucy suggested, her voice filled with concern.
"No need, Mom," Nasha reassured her with a confident smile. "I'm responsible and can take care of Iggy and the girls. Besides, I've got plenty of activities planned to keep them entertained."
Natsu placed a hand on Lucy's shoulder, giving her a comforting look. "You heard her, Luce. She's got everything under control. Let's go before we miss our reservation."
Lucy hesitated for a moment, glancing back at Nasha. "Alright, but call us if you need anything, okay?"
Nasha nodded, practically pushing them out the door. "Got it! Have fun and don't worry about a thing." Once her parents had finally left, Nasha let out a sigh of relief. Finally, she got to prove just how responsible she could be.
"I'll go get the emergency kit ready for when we inevitably need it," Igneel said pushing himself off the couch.
"Shut up, we won't need it. Now I'm going to make dinner, keep an eye on Star and Narumi for me," Nasha instructed, heading towards the kitchen.
Star, the youngest of the group, was busy coloring on the floor, her concentration absolute while Narumi was absorbed in a book. Igneel rolled his eyes but complied, making his way to the living room to keep an eye on them.
Nasha was already starting on dinner, humming a tune as she pulled out pots and pans. The kitchen filled with the aroma of simmering ingredients as she prepared a meal that she hoped would keep her siblings happy and satisfied. As she stirred the vegetables a crash came from the living room. Nasha's heart skipped a beat as she rushed out of the kitchen. She found Igneel standing amidst a toppled stack of toys, with Star looking wide-eyed and Narumi clutching her book.
"What happened?" Nasha asked, her tone more concerned than scolding.
Igneel looked sheepish. "I was trying to help Star clean up her mess, and I guess I knocked over some stuff by accident."
Star's lower lip trembled, and she blinked up at Nasha with big, watery eyes. "I'm sorry, Nasha. I didn't mean to make a mess."
Nasha's expression softened as she knelt beside her younger sister. "It's okay, Star. Accidents happen. Let's just clean this up together." She gave Igneel a nod of thanks and began picking up the scattered toys.
Narumi, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, closed her book and joined in. "I'll help too," she said quietly, setting the book aside.
Once everything was cleaned up Star dragged Nasha over to see her coloring. "Look, I colored Daddy slaying a dragon!" Star exclaimed, holding up her masterpiece with a proud grin.
Nasha smiled, admiring the colorful drawing. "Wow, Star! That's amazing. You're getting so good at this."
Star beamed at the praise, her earlier upset forgotten. "Thanks, Nasha! I'm going to color one of you next!"
"Can't wait to see it," Nasha replied warmly, giving her a gentle pat on the head. She then collapsed onto the couch almost falling asleep until Narumi commented on the burning smell coming from the kitchen.
"Ahh shit, I forgot about dinner. Maybe it's still salvageable." Nasha leaped off the couch and dashed to the kitchen, her heart racing. The smell of burning food grew stronger as she approached. Throwing open the oven door, she was met with a cloud of smoke and the sight of charred vegetables.
"Great," she muttered, grabbing a towel to wave the smoke away. She turned off the oven and pulled out the blackened tray, placing it on the counter with a sigh. "So much for a perfect dinner."
Igneel poked his head into the kitchen, eyebrows raised. "Need any help?"
Nasha looked around the kitchen, then back at her siblings who were peeking from the doorway. She forced a smile. "Nope, all good here. Uhh, what do you guys think of having cereal for dinner?"
Star's face lit up. "Cereal for dinner? That sounds fun!"
Narumi giggled, her previous quiet demeanor brightening at the idea. "It's like having breakfast at night. I like it."
Igneel shrugged, a playful grin on his face. "As long as it's the chocolate kind."
Nasha chuckled, relieved by their positive reactions. "Alright, cereal it is. But don't tell Mom and Dad, okay? This'll be our little secret."
Star and Narumi nodded eagerly, while Igneel gave her a thumbs up. Nasha quickly gathered bowls and the various cereal boxes from the pantry, setting them up on the kitchen table.
The kitchen was soon filled with the clinking of spoons and cheerful chatter as the siblings enjoyed their unconventional dinner. Nasha felt a warm sense of accomplishment despite the hiccups along the way.
After dinner, they gathered in the living room for a movie night, with Star cuddling close to Nasha and Narumi leaning against Igneel. The animated film kept them all entertained, and by the time it ended, the younger ones were starting to doze off.
Nasha carried Star to her bed, tucking her in with a gentle kiss on the forehead. Narumi followed, sleepy-eyed, and Igneel helped her settle in before heading to his own room.
As Nasha finally sat down on the couch, a feeling of pride washed over her. She had managed to keep everything under control, and her siblings were happy. She could hear her parents' words of encouragement echoing in her mind, and she knew she had proven herself tonight.
And then there was a bright-eyed, very much not asleep Star standing at her feet. Nasha suppressed a sigh, giving Star a gentle smile. "What's up, Star? Can't sleep?"
Star shook her head, her eyes wide with curiosity. "I want to hear a story, Nasha. Please?"
Nasha glanced at the clock. It was already past bedtime, but she could see the eager anticipation in Star's eyes. "Alright, one quick story. But then you have to promise to go to sleep, okay?"
Star nodded vigorously, climbing onto the couch beside Nasha. "Promise!"
Nasha thought for a moment, thinking of a good story. Usually, bedtime stories were told by their dad and he would tell them about one of the adventures he went on when he was younger. Nasha finally settled on telling Star about the time their parents had taken an S-class job.
Nasha settled comfortably beside Star, wrapping an arm around her little sister. "Alright, let's see… Did Dad ever tell you about the time he and Mom took on an S-Class job to save a village from a curse that had been placed upon them?"
Star's eyes widened with excitement. "No! Tell me, tell me!"
Nasha began, her voice soft and soothing. She told Star everything, from the part where their dad knocked out Gray and made him come along to the part about the frozen demon (she couldn't remember its name).
Nasha continued, weaving a tale with as much detail as she could remember. "…and that's how they met Lyon. He was a bad guy though and didn't like Uncle Gray." Nasha paused, noticing Star's eyes growing heavy as she continued with the story. "So, after a long battle and a lot of teamwork, Mom and Dad managed to save the village. They even made some new friends along the way."
Star, snuggled close to Nasha, yawned and murmured, "That's so cool. I hope I can be strong like them someday."
Nasha smiled, brushing a lock of hair away from Star's face. "I know you will be. You're already brave and strong, just like Mom and Dad."
Star's eyelids grew heavy, and her breathing soon became slow and steady. Nasha gently lifted her little sister, tucking her in with the care only an older sibling could provide. She placed a light kiss on Star's forehead and quietly left the room, ensuring that her siblings were comfortable and asleep.
As Nasha returned to the living room, she dropped face-first onto the couch and fell asleep within minutes not even caring about the state of the house.
Later that evening Natsu kicked open the door, carrying Lucy bridal style. The two of them were laughing and smiling, clearly having enjoyed their night out.
Natsu gently set Lucy down on the couch and looked around the room, taking in the scene of scattered cereal boxes and empty bowls. "Looks like someone had an adventurous evening," he remarked with a grin.
Lucy, still glowing from their date, looked around and then at Natsu. "I hope everything went smoothly."
Natsu walked over to the living room where Nasha lay sprawled on the couch, completely passed out. He smiled, seeing his daughter's peaceful face and the remnants of their makeshift dinner. "I think Nasha did a great job. Everything looks just fine."
Lucy, relieved, crouched beside Nasha and gently brushed a stray hair from her face. "She really did. I'm proud of her."
Natsu nodded, his gaze softening as he watched his daughter sleep. "She's growing up so fast."
"A little too fast if you ask me," Lucy replied, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. She looked around at the cozy mess that was the living room, her eyes reflecting both pride and amusement. "But she's handling it all so well."
Natsu wrapped an arm around Lucy's shoulders, pulling her close. "She's definitely proven herself tonight. Let's leave her be. She deserves her rest after all this."
They both stood quietly for a moment, watching the peaceful scene of Nasha sleeping on the couch. Lucy sighed contentedly, leaning into Natsu. Despite all the chaos that had filled her life she wouldn't trade her family for the world.