Hi all, welcome back to the story. Quick update before I do the disclaimer and get into the story as usual. Unless I get to take my laptop with me in two weeks, the next chapter won't be out until sometime in May at the earliest. You see, because things at work have been really busy (and are expected to get even busier next week), my wife has decided we will be taking a two and a half week vacation starting on the 8th of next month. So unless I take my laptop with me, I won't be able to write even with all the free time I'll have while on vacation. I just wanted to give you all a heads up since it seems like I am unintentionally doing an update a month right now. Anyway, on to the disclaimer and then the story.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fairy Tail. I do not own these characters. I do not own the story idea, at least not entirely. Then again, someone else may have had the same ideas I did. Eh, how about I don't own anything in this story. Is that a good enough disclaimer?

Chapter 10.

Expositions (Part 1.)

Cana and Gildarts both stared at Natsu, stunned at his response to the Crash mage's taunt about 'making an honest woman' out of his daughter. Selene just rolled her eyes as she gently took Koharu from the brunette mage. This was between them, and given the topic, it was best that someone keep the little girl occupied so she doesn't interrupt them.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Gildarts finally managed to speak.

"If you think I'm saying that I intend to marry Cana and want you there for the wedding, then yes. If you think I'm saying that one day I'd like to have some kids of my own, then also yes. Honestly, that's been my goal since shortly after we got together. I just haven't proposed or anything like that because I didn't want her to panic and feel rushed."

Selene snorted to herself as she listened in while playing with Koharu. 'I know he's head over heels for her, but that's the nature of how a dragon feels for their mate. But does he not realize she's the same, despite being human?' With a shake of her head, she ignored the thoughts roaming around her mind and focused on entertaining her adoptive great granddaughter.

"It's not like I'd say no. I mean yeah it feels rushed, but it also just feels right. Remember that doctor back when we adopted Koharu? He said that our magics were reaching out to each other. It wasn't just a one way thing."

Cana said after a moment.

"Right. But at the time I brushed that off. I mean it didn't happen until after I'd used one of the more helpful aspects of being a dragon slayer to help you recover. I thought it was just remnants of my magic reaching out for me."

"Explain."

Gildarts cut in, feeling a bit put out at not knowing exactly what they were talking about. So Natsu gave him a recap of how he helped Cana heal, including the fact that despite the fact he didn't actively channel his magic to do it (cauterizing the large gash before healing didn't count), his magic was still involved in the process that healed her wound from the wyvern she'd fought.

"So you healed her, and the two of you start getting closer because of it. Then a doctor points out that your magics are reaching out to each other as if you were bonding, and you thought it was just the echos of your magic?"

Natsu nodded to the orange haired mans question. He really did feel like they were closer than before because his magic forced it.

"Natsu, have you ever known me to do anything I didn't want to?"

Cana inquired as she looked him dead in the eye.

"Well no, but there is a chance that my magic overwhelmed you and forced you to feel this way. I mean it really hasn't been that long since we agreed to date. If you count today, it's quite literally only been 14 days. I was planning to give it a month before starting the topic with you, so that any residual magic of mine would have faded."

Natsu responded as he sheepishly scratched the back of his head. Gildarts rolled his eyes before he spoke up.

"Or the more likely scenario, the traces of your magic didn't create these feelings of hers, and instead just amplified them."

"That's even worse. At least if my magic had caused the feelings, after spending so much time together, there's a chance that it would have become natural rather than fake. But amplified? She could have only liked me as a brother figure, but my magic forced her to see me as a potential lover instead."

The pink haired man retorted a bit harshly. After blinking at what he said, the brunette reached forward and smacked him upside the head before speaking.

"Not likely. Because I know I've always felt more comfortable with you than Gray and I do see him as a brother. No, if your magic has affected me and my feelings, then it only amplified how aware of my thoughts and feelings I am, not the depth of them."

"Oh."

Natsu retorted, eyes wide as if he had just realized that was a possibility. Gildarts chuckled as he shook his head at the sight.

"Kid, I know you hide your brain from the world, but I also know you aren't so oblivious as to not notice just how unique your relationship is in the first place."

"Huh?"

Natsu and Cana commented in unison, making Gildarts realize that they really hadn't noticed.

"Even from what I've seen just since you've walked in I could tell that your relationship is special. You've been together for 14 days you said, yet the two of are so in tune with each other. I've heard from the others in the guild how the two of you act so natural with each other that it's almost more like you've been together for so long and are only just now acting like it."

Though she didn't really feel she had any place in the discussion Selene had to chime in as she absentmindedly tickled Koharu's stomach.

"Yes. Just from watching them today I would say that they fit together so naturally and seamlessly that they haven't noticed the changes."

Gildarts just nodded his head. Given how the two young mages were stunned by the silver haired woman's words, he had to agree. Then he sighed.

"Look. I know you wanted to give it time, but I don't think you really need to. Not to mention I'm starting to think you're the only man I'd ever trust my daughter with. So I approve, not that you really need my approval."

Natsu shook his head at that as he looked towards the Crash mage as if he'd grown another head.

"Are you saying I have your permission to ask Cana to marry me, and are you telling me to ask her already?"

Cana glared at her father, feeling a bit put out that he'd dictate when Natsu should ask her to marry him. Of course she knew it was tradition to ask the girls father for permission to marry, but she didn't think that applied to when the man would ask the question.

"That's exactly what I'm saying kid; no, not kid, you aren't really a kid anymore, Natsu."

"I appreciate the vote of confidence, but there are still things I need to tell her before I can ask that question. After all, as a dragon slayer I still have to do things according to draconic traditions and cultures as well."

The reminder that he had promised to talk to her tonight when it was just the two of them had Cana look to him questioningly. How much of dragon culture, tradition, and instinct did he have to explain to her?

Catching the look in her eyes Natsu nodded his head ever so slightly as he rolled his eyes towards her despite still facing Gildarts.

"Grandmother had a point earlier when she said I needed to share more than the basics with you. So yes, part of the talk tonight will include the traditions for a dragons marriage. We don't have to do anything yet, but she's right that I owe it to you to explain in full detail."

Satisfied that Natsu was taking things seriously with his daughter, Gildarts nodded.

"Now then… Shouldn't you let the temperature fall back down to normal again, so we can tell the guild about Cana being my daughter?"

His words caused Natsu to roll his eyes. Years ago he had told Cana that when Gildarts found out he'd be very happy to know and would want to share the news with the world. Cana was smiling, happy to hear that he actually acknowledge their relationship and wanted others to know. But Koharu was starting to get a bit fussy even with Selene playing with her.

"If you want to tell them and have a party, I say go for it. Especially since it's tradition for the guild to party after big announcements. But Koharu's getting antsy again, so I think we'd best head home for now."

The Cards mage commented, already planning to head home and let Koharu take another nap. She would have reached out and taken her daughter from Selene, but the dragoness already had the little one in her carrier and was moving towards the door the moment Cana had retrieved the diaper bag that was on the floor next to her seat.

"You know, she's taken to the role of grandmother surprisingly quick in regards to Koharu."

She muttered to Natsu as they moved to follow. Gildarts had stood as well, but he waved them after her.

"Go ahead and go home. You need to look after Koharu, and prevent Selene from spoiling her too much. I'll be around for a few days as I try to decide which job to take next, so we'll have more time to bond as family."

He told them before moving towards the stage, going through with Cana's suggestion of telling the guild about their relationship. With a mirthful shake of their heads, the duo left the guild and returned home with Koharu and Selene.

- XXxxXxXxxXX-

The dragoness had stayed with them for a few hours as she attempted to get to know her new family better, but after diner she left, saying she'd be around but didn't want to crowd them. So once Koharu was laid in her crib for the night, the two settled in on the couch in the living room to talk.

Cana stared at Natsu as he put together what he wanted and needed to say in his head first. She figured it would take him a few minutes to get sorted on everything and gave him the time to do so, but she didn't want to risk not catching anything so her full attention was on him.

Finally after a few moments of pure silence he started to speak.

"It's going to take more than just tonight to go over everything about dragon culture and traditions, but I think the important stuff sounds like a good place to start."

The brunette offered him a nod, both as an agreement at it being a good place to start, and as a gesture for him to continue.

"Right well relationships. I've told you in the past that when we fall in love, it's for life. But what I didn't exactly mention is that our choice isn't exactly a conscious decision."

"You said something about knowing who your 'mate' is by how you react to them."

"Exactly. We don't quite get to choose, because our mates are selected by our magic. Dragons are far and away more magical than humans, and I don't mean in terms of magical power. One of the side effects of that however is somewhat of a double edged blade. Magics that would affect the mind don't normally work on a dragon, because not only do you have to overpower their personality, you quite literally have to subdue their magic as well. This is because even if you managed to destroy the vast majority of a dragon's body but not harm their soul, they could simply revert their heart and soul into magic, and reform themselves after a decently lengthy bit of rest."

"So is your magic an imprint of your personality or is it the other way around?"

Cana wondered as she leaned in a bit closer, intrigued by what she was learning. Natsu for his part smiled softly, glad to see that she wanted to know more, as it meant he had her full attention for what he needed to tell her… When he got that far at least.

"Personality is an imprint of our magic. Anyway, this matters because our magic actively seeks out the best possible partner. I'm not sure how exactly, but this is one aspect that transfers over to dragon slayers as well as dragons."

"So your magic picked me to be your lover. But because your conscious is created by your personality, there's a bit of a disconnect between your mind and your magic. So you don't actively pick the best partner so much as realize it when you finally notice that your magic treats someone different from everyone else."

"Yeah. When it happens between two dragons or two slayers, their magics merge a bit, increasing their power. If our mate is a non-dragon or slayer things are a bit different."

Cana tilted her head at that.

"How so?"

Taking a deep breath, Natsu resisted the urge to flinch away in case he made her angry with his words.

"Because dragons are more magical in many ways, we have a completely different lifespan. A dragon will never die from old age you see. Slayers, I'm not sure of, but just before I met gramps I had run into an older dragon slayer. He claimed to be about two hundred and thirty six years old. I'd have learned more but he had been poisoned and died before I could ask further… Anyways! When we mate with a non-dragon or slayer, so long as they consent, we can give them a boost. Because we constantly grow stronger, it doesn't weaken us, but by giving them a boost of magic we can increase both their power and their lifespan to be closer to our own. Our mates also become a lot healthier in the sense of it being even harder to become ill."

It took a few seconds for his words to sink in, and when they did the brunette was staring at him wide eyed.

"I didn't tell you before because as you heard earlier, I wasn't sure if we were bonding because of my magic affecting you or not. I mean you have to consent for me to gift you a bit of my magic, and if you did and then we found out it was my magic that caused our connection in the first place you'd have been stuck with me."

"I understand holding off on mentioning it. But since you've brought it up, what exactly does gifting a bit of your magic to me entail? Also what do you mean I'd have been stuck with you?"

Sheepishly rubbing the back of his head Natsu slowly responded.

"Well, the process of gifting a portion of our magic to another involves using portion of magic being gifted, to create a magical tattoo somewhere on our mates body. But it can only be done under certain conditions..."

Towards the end he trailed off, not quite wanting to risk being hit for being a pervert. After all, the ritual to mark your mate and gift them a piece of your magic could only be done during sexual intercourse, and once finished the magic involved would prevent them from being able to have sex with anyone else.

Though she didn't know the details in full, Cana felt she had a good enough idea of what Natsu was leaving out that she narrowed her eyes as she looked at him.

"Do I look like the kind of woman that would sleep around?"

"N-no. But I didn't want to even bring the matter up until I was sure you were as serious about our relationship as I am."

He responded to her question before wincing when she raised a hand. He expected to be hit, but instead found her leaning in and wrapping herself around him.

"You are far too noble for your own good Natsu. Maybe not today. But someday, and probably someday soon, I'd be more than willing to be your lover in the truest sense of the word."

Then without warning she gave him a soft kiss on the lips before pulling away. The pink haired man knew it was her way of showing him that she was okay with what he'd told her.

"Anything else?"

At her question, Natsu tilted his head. There were many topics he could and probably should share with her, but given the time he didn't think he could go too far into detail before they went to bed for the night.

"Well… I should probably explain a bit a bout dragon lifestyles since it might help explain things in regards to the others and how they interact with you."

"Yeah. That sounds somewhat important." Cana mumbled as she readjusted herself so that they could sit and talk while cuddling, having missed having him close while he was gone on the escort mission with the other slayers.

"Okay, so typically dragons, and to a lesser extent dragon slayers, are territorial. Our mates, and our children, at least until they decide to leave and find their own place in the world, are the only ones we willingly and easily accept into our territory. Which is why Gajeel and I clashed so much back when he first joined the guild."

"We figured it was something dragon slayer related. Though we weren't sure since it ended when Wendy joined and neither of you two acted like that with her."

"Our fights stopped because of her. When three or more dragons or slayers join together they form a den. You could compare a dragon den to a pack of wolves. Rather than being solitary and fighting over everything, we agree to share and work together for all of us. As for why we didn't fight with her before establishing the den, it's because of the age difference. Gajeel and I are close enough in age, but she isn't. I'm not sure exactly how different the age needs to be, but when there's a gap like this, the older dragon or slayer instinctively acts as an older sibling rather than an enemy."

"So you and Gajeel are allies, but Wendy is more of a younger sister?"

Cana inquired, though she thought it actually described the relationship between the three slayers pretty well.

"According to the rules we established when we agreed to form a den all three of us are siblings. Wendy and I both wanted the den to feel like a family, as it would help balance out any negative feelings from being abandoned by our dragon parents. Though in accordance with dragon tradition we did have to have a contest of strength to determine the alpha. If we're ever attacked like what Phantom Lord did, unless I say otherwise, they'll follow my orders over gramps. If I'm not in the area when it happens or I'm already busy, they'd listen to you in my place since you're my mate."

"What about if others join?"

Natsu closed his eyes as he leaned his head back.

"There are several different things that will happen when newcomers join a dragon den. First, they challenge the alpha for the role and win. They become the new alpha obviously. Second they challenge the alpha and lose. In that situation they lay down and bow their head so their nose touches the ground to show acceptance or they tilt their head up and look down their nose at the alpha and declare they'd rather be killed. If that happens the alpha either kills them, or smashes rebel's head on the floor before declaring them 'Unerwünscht', which means unwanted. It's basically exiling them."

"What happens if they don't want to challenge the alpha in the first place?"

That made Natsu smile as he opened his eyes once more.

"In that instance, when they are inducted into the den, they will scrunch down and make themselves look as small as possible while bowing their head to the alpha. By making themselves seem as meek as possible they show that they have no desire to be the leader."

Cana nodded at the answer, before speaking "if Selene sticks around do you think she'd join your den?"

Though she couldn't finish her sentence without yawning. Chuckling, Natsu shifted in place so he could wrap his arms around her in a princess carry before standing from his seat on the couch. As he carried her up to their room he answered her.

"She'll join the den yes. I'm not completely certain yet, but I've a feeling she'll show no desire to be the alpha, leaving me uncontested during the traditional introduction ceremony."

It wasn't until he set her down on the bed that she realized the most important question she should be asking about the den and how their bonds work.

"If I'm accepted into the den as your mate, then what about Koharu?"

"She's already part of the den by virtue of being my daughter, even if it isn't by blood. As a den, if we're ever attacked, Wendy and Gajeel will fight first. The alpha of the den is usually the one with the children because they are the last line of defense."

Sleepily she nodded at that as she got into her nightgown. Of course she yawned once more, as she slide into bed.

"That brings us to the next quote unquote 'big' topic. But we can talk about that in the morning. I don't think either of us will get through the talk before conking out."

Natsu said as he put his arms around her and rolled onto his side to spoon with her.

- XXxxXxXxxXX-

The next morning as they sat at the breakfast table enjoying their meal Natsu looked towards his mate with a smile.

"Do you remember my last comment before we went to bed last night?"

Cana chewed on her bacon as she thought about his question. She remembered him saying something, but she wasn't completely sure on the words. However she knew it had something to do with the den he and the slayers had made.

"Vaguely at least. Why, were you wanting to continue the talk?"

"Yeah. It's not quite as important as what being my mate means for you, but it's still rather important."

He answered with a nod before finishing off the orange juice he had grabbed for his drink.

"Well, lay it on me then."

"As grandmother told you yesterday, dragons have very strong instincts to protect and treasure children. It's so ingrained in them that they will do so for any child no matter the race. There are actual reasons that these instincts developed, but I won't go into that right now."

When she nodded that it was a good idea he smiled and continued.

"What that means for you and Koharu is actually quite simple. Remember how I said if we were attacked Gajeel and Wendy would follow my orders instead of gramps'? Well, if I weren't to give them any orders, their instincts would demand that they protect the children of the den. They would fight tooth and nail to protect Koharu, and you by extension. In fact they would literally guarantee they died before the attacker could even so much as touch either of you."

"Any particular reason aside from the instincts demanding the children be protected?"

"A mix of tradition and dragon culture that came about because of said instincts really. Dragon culture says life is precious. So say you come across a dragon and it's hoard. If it looks like you might actually kill the dragon, it'll flee. Live to fight another day and all that, not to mention the hoard can always be recovered later on. But if you come across their den and there are children present, they will fight until they die, just to keep you from getting anywhere near the children."

"I see. And uh, since you mentioned hoards again, I know you said you'd make your hoard here, but do the other members of your den keep their hoards in separate locations?"

Natsu shook his head before answer.

"Nope. Usually the hoards would be combined into a treasure trove that we would work together to protect. We've already decided to do that, but because of the current locations of their hoards, Gajeel and Wendy haven't been able to bring much of their treasure to Magnolia yet. They've been busy with jobs and getting settled in properly."

"What about your grandmother? She's from Guiltina right? How would she go about getting her hoard here?"

"Dragons can't use magic they weren't born with. But they can see the flow of magic in others. So really all we'd have to do is have someone with Teleportation magic use it in front of her, and she could create her own version of the spell with her magic. Unless she's already done that, which really wouldn't surprise me."

"Would that even work over such a large distance?"

Natsu looked up towards the ceiling as he carefully thought about if it would work for his grandmother or not. Based on what he could feel of her power he wasn't sure just how far she could travel with teleportation. He knew she kept most of her power sealed so as to prevent Acnologia from trying to fight her. But at the same time, he knew it took massive amounts of power to teleport anyway.

"Without knowing her full strength, I can't say for sure. But my gut says she probably could do it."

Cana rolled her eyes at that, before standing up from her seat. Natsu had made their breakfast so she'd do the dishes while he went and woke Koharu up for her morning bottle.

"Right well, I think we're done with the lessons on dragon culture and traditions for now. I've got to let all of this sink in."

Natsu laughed softly as he walked out of the kitchen slash dinning room and made his way towards Koharu's nursery. He was happy that Cana had taken everything in stride. After all there was a large burden on his shoulders to prepare for the Trial of Dragons and becoming a full fledged dragon, that without her support he wouldn't be able to handle it.

"I think I understand you now Igneel. The greatest strength in the world comes from having your family to support and believe in you" he muttered to himself, clenching his fists and vowing that he would let nothing stop him from completing the Trial of Dragons when the time came.

Yeah, I know it's shorter than the other chapters. But I wanted to get the chapter out already. I don't have a standard length for a chapter anyway. Again as stated above, there is a chance that the next chapter won't be out until some time in May. Just a heads up. And now for the translation (despite the fact I did it in the chapter).

German: Unerwünscht.

English: Unwanted.