#nalu pregnancy

[imnothereokuwu]

Bio-child Happy revisit!

Why? Because nobody else would draw it, I'm taking things into my own hands. 😤

Btw it's a revisit because I have done this before, it's just not posted here pfffttt.

By now you must have realized that I'm a creature of pure self indulgence :D. Good. I don't want anyone having their expectations crushed when I draw what I want when I want, consider this a warning :).

Anyways bxbdiakanshd they so cuteeeeeeeee *sob*

[madmanwonder]

Ask

What if Lucy took one for Natsu?

Pregnancy Test Meme

Pregnancy Test Result: Positive

Lucy: *Smirking* In your face! I'm going to be mother of his children and not you two~!

[bumblebeehug]

guysssss i might actually finish nalu week from 2023 this year!!! who would've thought!!! not me!!!!!!

[ermbehindyou]

honestly considering how we barely knew that gajeel and levy were together beyond subtle hints before the pregnancy reveal, that only makes it more possible to me that nalu becoming canon is truly going to be out of fucking nowhere.

[laramcelino]

My head is wrapped on Nalu baby's soo...

Headcanons about the children of the canon couples in Fairy Tail ✨✨

or at least the ones closer to canon, I'm watching your teasing Mashima

Nalu

Get angry with me all you can, but they don't have a lot of children, oddly enough Nasha is one of the few in the guild who were planned.

Natsu is totally a girls daddy, it's the vibe.

They have Nasha after getting married, she is the spitting personality of Natsu, but learned to like books like Lucy.

They had some false alarms and when it really happened the pregnancy was hard for Lucy and the baby.

They got scared to try again, and Lucy was brokenhearted because she knew Natsu would want more despite him constantly saying that Nasha would be more than enough.

After at least two years they end up adopting a baby boy they rescued on a mission.

The boy is almost as chaotic as Nasha, but is more calculating than his impulsive sister.

The two fight a lot, Lucy is the rigid parent who makes them stop, Natsu is the one wrapped around their fingers, and gets scolded together.

Despite fighting, the kids are very close, play together all the time and protect each other a lot.

When the kids are sad and wanna talk about it they go to Lucy, when they just wanna be held they go to Natsu.

Both times when the kids arrived the spirits were very eager to meet then but waited, except for Aquarius, she used her own energy, and brought gifts, but she also said they were very ugly.

Even though Natsu and Lucy don't have other kids, they would be parental figures to any lonely children who come across their life, and are the favorite uncle and aunt for most of the guild kids.

Gruvia

They have three at max, none planned as Gray was insecure about being a parent.

Gray cried at every single birth.

Juvia is a boys mother and is very jealous of all her kids.

Gray is the parent who puts then on tracks, and so he receives all the hate.

Greige was born months before Nasha, and has the shy nature of his mother .

The middle child is a girl, and if they have a third one would be a boy.

The girl is the princess of the house and is very spoiled, she has Gray infinite devotion.

Gajevy

Those two have at least five. None was planned.

As in the twin trouble novel Asuka seems to be at her mid/late teens, and the twins look six at most, I believe they are not the firsts but the second to born (I couldn't read the full novel to know more).

The first one is a girl, definitely born to defy Gajeel in every possible way, going further enough to ask Natsu some Dragon slayer tricks.

The twins are much more level headed than the firstborn, but Yajee is more impulsive than Jutla.

The fourth and fifth kids are the mischief ones, doing mess and troubling Levy, they also have different magic from their parents.

The fourth and fifth are closer to Natsu and Lucy's boy due to age closeness. When the three are quiet for too long it means they are making some trouble.

Both Gajeel and Levy are good at controlling their kids, but Gajeel does it by being strict and Levy does by tricking the kids, it works better with the more hot-headed ones.

All their kids know that Gajeel is soft-hearted about them getting hurt, so if they do trouble they come crying for him first, because if Levy learns she will be angry, and an angry Levy is a scary one.

Jerza

They only have one child

They are both scared of having children, cus of their bad childhood, Jellal never interacted much with kids and Erza tends to scare them.

Both are very protective.

Their son was an accident that happened on their honey moon.

Was a happy accident though.

He is very smart and takes after Jellal more, being closer to Erza on the aspect of being a good leader.

He is closer to age to the oldest of Gajeel and Levy, so the duo control the kids brawls in the guild hall.

The boy is also very independent from a young age, and Jellal is always scared of not being present enough for him.

Erza tries to be subtle but she loves to say how proud she is of her boy.

As Erza gets older she takes after Makarov when she becomes the master and develops a kind of motherly feeling to the younger generations of the guild, so subtlety she gets a lot of kids.

CobraxKinana

Have only one boy, who very fiercely loves Fairy Tail.

They have him some years after their wedding, the kid would be closer to the twins age.

Cobra didn't want kids, as they make much noise, but accepts because of Kinana, so he would be one of few planned ones.

She is a very dedicated mother, and the type who only stopped working when was due to labor, and returned very early on too.

Kinana would come to work with the baby wrapped in cloth like a kangaroo and it was the sweetest sight at the guild.

Elfgreen

They have two, I don't care gender.

In a very cartoonist way one is the spitting image and personality of Elfman, and the other of Evergreen.

Evergreen loves to brag about how awesome and handsome her kids are.

She also likes to dress up then, uncle Bixlow likes too.

Elfman engages in any stupid ideas the kids have.

Both kids are scared of Laxus, and he got offended by it.

Mira spoils her nephews/nices a lot, but none the parents have the guts to ask her to stop, so anytime the kids wants something and the parents don't give, they run to aunty Mira.

As the kids grew Elfman and Ever become the type of parents that the kids ask them to grow up.

Bonus:

Characters I believe would be a single parent, either by adoption, having a child without contacting or knowing the father, or the child simply appears years later (like Cana to Gildarts).

Cana: adopted.

Bixlow: simply appeared, no one questions who the mom is, just how the kid will survive .

Laki: def don't know the father.

Lyon: appeared.

Kagura: adopted two girls from Mermaid Heel.

Hibiki: adopted, but everyone suspects the blood relation.

[moxiepoxart]

Nalu Week! Family pt 1 (all head canons below (so you don’t have to read my handwriting))

Natsu

Usually Cooks

Lucy ties his hair and they sometimes wear matching accessories.

Wears Alvarez-styled clothes nowadays

A bit more relaxed

Took to parenting the the worst (surprisingly) his kids are growing and he struggles with change

Desperately wants a closer relationship with Nashi

Still a natural with kids though

Lucy

Has several successful book series

Pregnancy was terrible to her health but she endures despite her family and spirits worries.

Can now summon 5+ spirits at once

Does everything to hide her aging and can be insecure about her appearance

Took to parenting like a duck to water despite her anxiety (her spirits are a huge support)

Is currently trying out shorter hairstyles

Lucy won’t let her kids get guild tattoos until they’re 16 and she will die on this hill

Happy

Best Uncle

Enabler

Started going gray and pretends to have ailments he doesn’t have to get sympathy and more fish.

Eats so much fish

Is closest to Eleanor

Nashi (the trial child)

Middle name is Iris

Has Natsu’s hair that won’t obey the hairbrush

Wants long hair but finds it too hard to maintain

Is a 4th gen dragon slayer

Is incredibly anxious about hurting loved ones with her explosive power

Inherited her anxiety from Lucy

Butts heads with Natsu cause he doesn’t understand it

She trains with Erza (Natsu tries to hide his hurt, struggles with his daughter changing)

Adores Erza

Natsu bombarded her with his hobbies at a young age (fishing, brawling and getting dirty)

Is a tomboy but still total mommy’s girl

Oblivious to Griege’s crush

Her jacket is from Alzack and Bisca

Eleanor (the black sheep) (get it? From the Beatles song?)

Middle name is Layla

Takes after her paternal grandmother, but no one knows this and draws on the obvious similarities to Zeref

She is uncomfortable with this comparison (If Natsu overhears any comments it’s on site)

Insists on carrying Happy everywhere (will get into fights with her brother over it)

Sleeps with Happy

Is friends with everyone but doesn’t have many she’s close to

Goes to Lucy with her problems (another mommy’s girl)

Loves the Strauss siblings (especially Mira and Lisanna)

Not sure what magic she wants to learn

Always asks Lucy to summon Aries to go play

Haru (the accident)

Celestial Wizard

Middle name is Igneel

Has Zeref’s cowlick

Is in a cat phase rn (used to be a dragon phase and Natsu is gutted it’s over)

“Loke is the coolest zodiac!”

Sunglasses are a gift from Loke (Natsu hates it)

Wearing cat ears (Happy loves it)

His leopard print shirt is a gift from Laxus (Lucy hates it)

Is a Natsu clone

Endless energy

Hyper-fixates

Loves to read

“Did you know…”

Tries to follow Natsu on missions

Asks Happy to fly him everywhere (gets into fights with his sister about it)

[itssokiee]

Fairy tail high school trope - except it’s giving more so Euphoria.

Featuring: Nalu

Main Story: Generational trauma

Lucy hides her trauma of abusive father and dead mother because she doesn’t want people to think she’s spoiled

Natsu hides his his home life - his drunk dad Igneel (I’m so sorry Igneel 😭) constantly rages and Natsu and his older brother Zeref have to pick up the slack for their kinship cousin, Wendy.

Similar to original story: best friends to lovers.

Featuring: Jerza

Main story: Purity culture, purity shame teen pregnancy

Used to be childhood friends now bitter rivals until starting fwb

Super conservative families and internal guilt

Similar to original story: childhood friends, who grew to resent, then love again

Featuring: Gruvia

Main story: drama and tea

More light hearted. They’re on the swim team and the whole team constantly has drama

Love triangles

Similar to original story: unrequited into requited

Featuring Zervis

Main story: mental health and substance abuse

Story about using drugs to self medicate

I always though curse of ankseram was depression/bipolar coded

Mavis is popular and at the top of her class, Zeref is emo boy with sus friends

Featuring Gale

Going to include just waiting to develop

I have the next chapter written. Lmk if anyone’s interested

[fairydares]

Gruvia Fan Content Prompt Idea List

well, some people seemed interested when i said i'd make a post with a list of Gruvia fan content prompts, so I'm making it! I'll warn you, though: I don't really like the way ideas are shared on typical prompt lists so mine might not be to you guys' tastes:

AU where Juvia joined Fairy Tail first and was the one to inspire Gray to join the guild. Some of you might recognize this as a previous post of mine, where the idea is more fleshed out, but I don't mind at all if anyone else takes it as a prompt and uses the idea to write their own story.

Gruvia-centric Stone Age Omake fic. There's tons for Nalu but only one I found that's Gruvia, Learning to Love by starryfairyjedi, which is excellent but the author hasn't finished it quite yet.

Pregnancy fic. ik ik, another unoriginal idea. There are tons of these, but I think that's true for a reason. A scenario where Juvia accidentally gets pregnant forces Gray to commit in a way he avoids throughout the series. Plus also that guy just has a ton of untapped worry-wort dad potential. It's tragic, really.

Forced to live together. Who doesn't love these kinds of fics? As for why Gray and Juvia have to live together...maybe Fairy Hills got destroyed during Alvarez or by another Dark Guild, and when Gajeel offered to let Juvia stay with him, Gray stepped in to offer up his own place in a moment of irrational jealousy. There's a lot of potential for humor with Juvia's various Gray paraphernalia, plus it would be a chance for them to address feelings about their previous cohabitation.

Playing off the last one: AU where Juvia's an informant targeted by the mafia and Gray is the FBI agent tasked with protecting her. Therefore, they are forced to live together in a safe house.

Grease-esque AU. Juvia could be one of those rollerskating waitresses and Gray and Natsu could be race car drivers/rivals. Sides of other pairings would work well with this one, like if Lucy and Erza were also waitresses.

Juvia meets Edo-Greige somehow. This would be so cute! How would she wind up meeting him? Well...i don't know, lol. It'd be interesting if she wound up in Edolas accidentally and Gray had to go rescue her. In the meantime, she could interact with Edo Gray and Juvia, also...that's a moment we never really got to see in the series.

Juvia and Lyon wind up paired for a mission and Gray follows them out of jealousy.

Assassin AU where Gray's the assassin and Juvia's the target. Good potential for a steamy fight scene and ultimate cuteness when Gray refuses to kill her.

Pirate and Mermaid AU. a lot of fics have elements of this dynamic but i don't think i've seen one that's really Gruvia-centric and about the love story. would make a great oneshot or short multichapter fic imo.

Juvia's a nymph who cares all alone for her forest since the other nymphs died, until one day, an Ice Demon Slayer, injured in battle, drifts into her forest via river on a slab of wood. The forest urges her to kill him, but Juvia is unable to kill the first man she's ever seen. While she nurses him back to health, they fall in love. Lots of potential for romance/humor with the whole "Juvia's never been around people, especially men, and doesn't get personal space" thing, a bit like the Stone Age Omake idea.

MHA/BNHA AU where they meet as heroes-in-training or young pro heroes in the field.

Fake Dating. Kind of a sucker for these, ngl. Would be even better (in my personal opinion) if it was an AU so this was how they met.

UFC/MMA AU. Few different potential ideas with this one. Could be Juvia falling in love with Gray from the audience while he fights Natsu, a mixed-gender version of the UFC where Gray and Juvia fight each other, or Gray gets a crush from the audience watching Juvia fight someone (I'd personally love to read this one).

Gray and Juvia meet as kids. Would be really cute if little Gray comforted Juvia about her rain.

Robin Hood AU. The Fairy Tail ethos goes well with Robin Hood's. You could have it where Juvia serves as a knight for King John (/Jose?) but abandons the kingdom for Robin Hood's cause when she meets Gray.

If I think of more, I'll add to this list or maybe make another one! Feel free to use any of these/apply them to any ship. I'd love if you lmk you used one of them or tagged me or whatever, but if you're not comfortable with that you don't have to. I may use my own prompts one day, too, especially the Stone Age Omake ones, the nymph one, and the Edo Greige one. I'm totally fine with us having written the same idea if you are.

See also this set of romantic prompt lists. Actually, just see their master post of prompts, literally my favorite blog for this sort of thing.

[ao3feed-nalu]

The Arrogant Bride: A Tale of Love and Redemption

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/NV0JwKP

by dragneelb1tch7

Natsu Dragneel is silently in love with a girl named Lucille Ashely Heartfilia. Love, at first sight, makes him loyal. But the proud and arrogant nature of the girl makes Natsu never as great as the plague keeps the dream of having her. Lucille seems to forget life is like a wheel spinning, a time when that arrogance and pride will smack itself. Praying when the turmoil manifests itself, the love of this man named Natsu has not been extinguished yet for her.

“HEY NATSU listened carefully! You're just a villager! Do you believe you can marry me, the daughter of a wealthy man? Take a look at yourself! You're not worthy of being with me! Do I have to bring a mirror for you to look at your disgusting self? You're way out of my league! So you’d better go to your farm and watch your goats because that's where you belong!”

Words: 2098, Chapters: 1/35, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Inspired by the Novel

Fandoms: Fairy Tail

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death, No Archive Warnings Apply, Rape/Non-Con

Categories: F/M

Characters: Natsu Dragneel, Lucy Heartfilia

Relationships: Natsu Dragneel/Lucy Heartfilia, Natsu Dragneel & Lucy Heartfilia

Additional Tags: Nalu - Freeform, Married Natsu Dragneel/Lucy Heartfilia, Natsu Dragneel/Lucy Heartfilia Fluff, I’m obsessed with NaLu, Natsu Dragneel Needs a Hug, Protective Natsu Dragneel, Natsu madly in love with Lucy, BAMF Lucy Heartfilia, Natsu is loyal to fault, Lucy is rude AF, But she's still my girl, Lucy Dragneel, Nashi Dragneel - Freeform, Forced marriage? I think?, BOTH ARE OC AS AF BUT IDGAF, Minor other characters-relationships or whatsoever, Maybe...sex? IDK yet, Drunk Sex, Unplanned Pregnancy, They probably would have a lot of children LOL

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/NV0JwKP

[katana-no-neko]

62 and/or 17. Nalu, of course. 😊

17. Your bed after traveling

This took a while, but I hope you like it :)

“Natsu…”

Lucy yawned as she sat at her desk, so tempted to go to sleep. But she couldn’t. Although Natsu had urged her not to wait up, Lucy wanted to anyways.

She rubbed her stomach, where a six-month-developed baby took up residence.

“You miss Daddy, too, don’t you, Layla?” Lucy asked their yet-unborn daughter, earning a small kick in response.

Happy was already sleeping. Natsu had demanded Lucy have someone with her while he was gone on jobs, putting up with Gray (mostly) to be his temporary mission partner while Lucy and Happy were unavailable. He’d rather know Lucy had help right in the house with her. Someone fast like Happy that would be able to quickly go get someone more qualified to help Lucy if something serious happened to her or Layla.

Lucy sighed as she rubbed her eyes again. It was getting so late, and she was so tired. And just before Lucy would’ve finally fallen asleep against her desk, succumbed to her exhaustion, she heard the front door open as her husband drowsily stumbled in.

Natsu leaned against the door after closing it behind him. He took long breaths into his nose, taking in the scent of his home. The scent of the fireplace Lucy had lit to keep her company, the scent of Happy, snoozing away on the sofa and mumbling something about fish in his slumber, and most importantly, the scent of Lucy. Lucy and the tiny baby growing inside of her.

The smell of his family so close just made him yearn for them stronger and compelled him to the bedroom.

He gave a soft smile to Lucy as she greeted him with a sweet kiss on his cheek.

“I thought I told you not to stay up…” he drowsily commented.

Lucy hummed. “I wanted to. Besides, it’s hard to sleep without you in the bed.”

“I was gone too long,” he remarked as they crawled into bed, Natsu taking his wife into his arms, burying his nose in her hair. “I really missed you. Was starting to crave your scent…”

Lucy smiled. “I missed you, too. But the mission paid a lot. We’ll need the money when Layla comes.” Lucy felt him nod.

“Yeah,” at the mention of their baby, Natsu reached his arms lower to cradle the bump. He was so happy to be back; right where he was supposed to be, holding his wife, in their bed, surrounded by her scent…

“Natsu? Something wrong? You’re awfully quiet. For you, anyways. You haven’t told me at all about the mission.”

Natsu mumbled an apology. “Just… really exhausted. Haven’t slept since the big fight. Lot more Vulcans in that forest than the guy had estimated. Really taxing, even for both Gray and I.” Lucy hummed in reply. “The bed is always a thousand times more comfortable after I come home from a long mission,” Natsu drawled tiredly.

Lucy smiled before letting out a yawn. “Well let’s go to sleep, then. It’s been a long week, I’m sure.”

Natsu barely nodded before the sounds of his snores filled the room.

[dragonwithapenoffire]

My Heart or My People: Chapter 7

(This chapter includes a rape scene, so please be careful if you could be effected by this). 

I am sat on my bed, or is it someone else’s, and the castle is silent. The sun has firmly set, the sky a deep blue, and I can see a few stars through my window twinkling in the distance.

The door to the room opens abruptly and a man I do not know strides in and grins a large toothy grin at me before slamming the door behind him, shaking a few of the picture frames on the wall. His beard and hair are greasy, his stomach round and protruding. His royal clothes are slightly stained from a night of gorging himself on a feast fit for the King he is soon to become, and it’s a mix of drunkenness and desire I see brewing in his eyes.

I look down to avoid his gaze and that’s when I notice the wedding dress I am wearing. White for the purity he was promised. It hugs me tight in areas a man would find joy at gazing upon, and flounces out at my hips as if I am sat on a cloud. Long silk gloves run up my arms and galant sparkling jewellery adorns my neck, pulling the gaze to my large chest.

His hungry gaze rakes over me as he takes slow, purposeful steps toward the bed, his eyes occasionally catching and lingering on certain parts of me. In all this silk and tule, I have never felt more naked.

I shuffle back slightly as he stops before me, but he reaches under my skirts to my legs and pulls me closer to him. His breath is thick in my face and I smell the heady stench of alcohol as it begins to stick to my skin.

He reaches behind me to my back and starts fiddling with the fastenings of my dress, in a few quick movements he has it undone and rips the bodice right off of my shocked body. I want to move my arms and cover myself from his gaze but I am stuck, frozen in fear as he begins to do the same to the skirts. He stands me up, swapping places with me, and lets my voluptuous skirts puddle around my ankles. He takes one of my hands to steady me as I step out of the skirts, before kicking them to the other side of the room.

I stand before him, frozen like a statue, as his gaze yet again rakes over me. A cold shiver goes down my spin and I feel my throat constricting. I am now in a simple silk underdress, matching the gloves still on my hands, with pieces of lace adorning the edges. On my legs, longs socks stop just below where a lacy garter has been placed on my thigh, and white heals are still on my feet. In another circumstance I might of enjoyed to wear something like this in front of my husband. But not with this man. His lecherous gaze still does not stray from my body, and his attention snags on that garter, then just a bit higher.

“Take those shoes off” he orders me and like a good pet wife, I obey him. “Now come here”. I walk towards him, a robot to his commands and stop just in front of him. He grabs my waist and pulls me on top of me, until I am sat on his lap, straddling him. Until I can feel exactly how happy he is. Only more coldness blooms within me. He puts his face near my neck and takes a long deliberate sniff, his hands dangerously high on my thighs.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been with one so young and pure like you.” His eyes move to my breasts again, “we’re going to have fun you and I.” And without warning, he flips me onto the bed. I am still and in shock as he begins to hover above me. His gaze, yet again, raking over my body. It goes to the garter and he smirks. My blood runs cold.

He brings his greasy head, to my smooth thigh and takes the garter in his teeth, before pulling it down my leg and off at my foot.

My blood is hammering in my skull, and I begin shaking with fear. I feel like at any moment, my lungs could give out and I could stop breathing.

He takes the garter in his hands before saying “This is what I’m going to do to your maidenhead.” And snaps the thin elastic.

I have no response to that, I just begin shaking even more. He laughs, a loud, ugly laugh. I can see all of his teeth, most of them rotten, and his saliva coats my face. I am too scared to wipe it off.

He reaches down to his breeches and unties the lacing. I think I’ve stopped breathing all together. I’m not ready for this. Somebody help me.

He takes great pleasure in reaching up between my thighs and tearing the flimsy piece of white lace which was my underwear, before thrusting into me. Pain splinters around me, and I am sure I go unconscious for several seconds. When I awaken, his sweat is dripping all over me and he is thrusting, again and again and again. It hurts so much, that that spot between my thighs has gone numb. I no longer feel like I am in my body anymore. I look to the side, anywhere to not look at him, and gaze back out at the stars through the window. And begin to count them. One. Two. Three. Four. Anything to not look at him. Twenty. Twenty one. Twenty two. And with every count, wishing that this would all be over. Fifty four. Fifty five. And then, as if my prays have been answered, he stills. Relief begins to blossom in my chest until I feel a hot liquid between my legs. I swallow in disgust, and try not to let it show on my face, but it must of because he begins to chuckle before removing himself from me and flopping down on the bed.

I look back out at the stars. I will never be able to look at them with the wanderlust I once did, and tears begin to fall down my face.

Within a few minutes he is snoring and I race to my bathroom. I do as good a job as I can wiping the liquid that has begun to drip down my thighs away, before nausea overwhelms me and I fall to the floor puking.

                                                          •••

I wake up needing to puke, and rush out of my bed, just making it in time to the bathroom, before last nights dinner comes back to haunt me. I don’t know if this is morning sickness or because of the dream I just had. Coldness licks up my spine.

When I finally finish, I notice Natsu is at my side, rubbing my back, with a look of harsh concern written all over his face.

“I’m fine, don’t worry, it’s just because of the baby.”

“You were crying in your sleep. And screaming no, nO, NO. I tried to wake you up, but it was as if you were trapped in your head. It was horrifying to watch Luce.”

“Natsu. You once said you would do anything to stay by my side.” He nodded, not sure where this was going. “Well, I want you to do it. I want you to steal me away like a dragon. I’ve decided I want you, and this baby. I don’t care about duty anymore. I don’t care about the risks. I want you, and this family, and I’m going to take it.”

Shock flashes on Natsu’s face, before tears start to fall. “I thought you’d never ask.” He said, a huge grin spreading on his face.

[i-write-fanfics-to-procrastinate]

Nalu Fluff Week Day Five: Adventure

It was quiet. So quiet compared to only seconds ago. And yet, she could hardly remember it. She had been screaming... something? Something... I'm not having these babies now. That's what it had been. Babies don't wait.

Only now the pale light of dawn was seeping in between the curtains, and Mirajane and Porlyusica were still cleaning up. Lucy, on the otherhand, was starstruck. In her arms were two children she had sworn would not be born until their father returned from his last job—and here they were.

“Are you feeling alright?” Porlyusica pressed a hand to Lucy's forehead, and offered her a small smile. “Hmm. You look much better than you did an hour ago.”

“I... wanted them to wait for their father,” Lucy whispered. “Natsu's going to be so disappointed.”

“Babies don't wait for anyone,” Porlyusica said again. Mira shook her head with a little laugh.

“Can you believe it? Little Natsu is a father?”

“I could say the same about you,” Porlyusica raised an eyebrow. “I remember when you all first joined the guild. It's strange to think that you all are starting to have children.” She looked down at the twins with something like fondness, and then returned to cleaning.

“We'll stay with you until Natsu gets back. We sent Gray after him, but it will take them a little bit to get home from where Natsu's job was.”

“Still as headstrong and stupid as ever,” Porlyusica huffed, “Going out when his wife was this far along.”

“I wasn't due for another month,” Lucy whispered.

“Twins often make their appearance earlier than expected.”

Lucy's attention was drawn back to her children. They were perfect in every, simple way: a boy and a girl. Both of them had wide eyes, and chubby cheeks. When they had arrived their little faces were scrunched up and red from screaming. Their lungs were strong, their heartbeats just right. Their hair was already darling. Lucy had only just met them, but she loved running her fingers across the tops of their heads. Their hair was so light and fluffy, and stuck out in little tufts across their heads. The boy, sleeping soundly in her left arm against her breast, had orange tufted hair. The girl, in her right arm, had her father's pink, though a slightly lighter shade.

And the thought kept coming back, like she was still unable to process it: they were hers. Natsu and I, made them.

Seconds later, pounding feet on stairs. Mira hummed,

“That ought to be Natsu now. I'll meet him in the hall,” and she slipped out of the door.

“Alright,” Porlyusica brushed her hands down her apron, and took one last glance at the twins. “I'll be visiting you again tomorrow. It's important to stay rested and warm.”

“Thank you, Porlyusica.”

The old woman huffed, “Don't thank me. It's what anyone would do,” and then she too was gone. Lucy was alone with her miracles, if only for a second before a familiar face appeared in the doorway, and she was never more relieved.

“Natsu,” she whispered, leaning back against the pillows behind her back. “Oh, Natsu. I told them to wait but they wouldn't listen.” The dragon slayer's face was as white as a sheet, and his eyes were frozen on the two bundles in Lucy's arms.

“I... I missed it,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

“No,” Lucy shook her head. “Come here.” Natsu shuffled across the floor, and then climbed up onto his side of the double bed, staring down at the twins in awe. There were stars in his eyes, and slowly his lips turned up in a brilliant smile.

“Lucy,” he whispered, unable to put words to the feeling.

“You didn't miss anything, Natsu,” Lucy said, as their son began to fuss. “The adventure's just begun.” Natsu reached out a shaking hand and gently brushed his finger's against their son's cheek.

“Shhh...”

“Here,” Lucy smiled, and as best she could passed him into his father's arms. “Our son.” Natsu's strong hands cradled their fragile firstborn, and Lucy saw wonder in the new father's eyes.

“Igneel,” he whispered, “His name is Igneel.”

“I thought so,” Lucy nodded, “It suits him, I think. And this is our daughter.” And suddenly her arms were free, and Natsu was holding his children close to his chest, his head bowed, his eyes misted over with tears of joy.

“Layla.”

“Layla Dragneel,” Lucy repeated. “Igneel and Layla.”

“They're perfect,” Natsu breathed, pressing a kiss to each of his children's foreheads.

“I know,” Lucy laughed, pulling her husband in for her own kiss, “Of course they are. We made them.”

[petri808]

OHMYGODDD JUST SAW YOUR LATEST POST I LOVE IT ANGST WITH A HAPPY ENDING IS JUST CHEF'S KISS. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE 42, 49 and 13 FOR NALU PLEASEEE CAN'T WAIT TO READ ITT

😳 Ya’ll really love angst huh? Lol okay, sure let’s see what I can come up with. 😊 “You can’t keep pretending it didn’t happen, cause guess what? It did!” + “I’m pregnant” + “Im too sober for this”

Lucy’s knees weakened and sent her crumbling to the bathroom floor. Why was this happening to her?! She’d just finished college and was about to start her paid internship with a local newspaper. ‘What am I gonna do?’ Lucy gripped to the stick in her hand as the tears trickled down her face. This could derail her future before it even started— all because of one slip-up. How was she going to tell Natsu… Not knowing who else to talk to, Lucy turned to her best friend Levy McGarden. She texted the woman and drove over to her friends apartment in dread.

“Oh, Lu…” Levy hugged her friend tightly before pulling her into the small apartment. She sat Lucy down on the couch, then made them both some tea. “How you feeling?” Levy asked as she handed the cup over.

“How do you think I’m feeling?!” Lucy groaned. “I feel like I’m in a nightmare.”

“Are you sure the results are correct? You know those home pregnancy tests can be wrong.”

“I don’t know, I mean I followed the instructions and it didn’t give an error sign.” Lucy pulled the stick from her pocket. “See?” She showed it to her friend. “Two lines.”

“Oh— yeah, looks like it,” Levy agreed.

Lucy pocketed the test once again and hung her head. Both hands cradled the warm cup, just holding it without a desire to drink from it. “Just thinking about this is making me sick. Maybe I can just pretend it’s not true.”

“Lu, that’s ridiculous. I’m pretty sure the growing bump on your stomach will make that difficult.”

“Ugh! I know!” Lucy shrieked. “Lie to me or something… Levy, I-I don’t think I can deal with this!”

“Well, you have to. And how am I supposed to lie about this?!”

“I don’t know, tell me this is a dream. Just a bad dream that I’m gonna wake up from. The test was wrong, something! Maybe it’s just a fiction story I’m working on cause I just don’t wanna think about it right now.”

“I’m sorry, but you can’t keep pretending it didn’t happen, cause guess what? It did! Lucy you have to face reality.”

“What am I gonna do Levy? I can’t be having a baby!”

“Well first things first, you need to tell Natsu— I’m assuming it’s Natsu.”

“Of course, it’s Natsu! I haven’t slept with anyone else.”

“Well you need to tell him. He deserves to know.”

“I know…”

“Natsu’s a stand up guy, I know he’s going to do the right thing.”

Lucy sighed, “that’s not what I worry about. I mean having kids is something that’s crossed my mind… just not anytime soon. We’re not even married yet. Ugh! I’m such an idiot.”

“Sometimes these things happen.” Levy placed her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Can’t go back to the past, so now all you can do is figure out the now. Do you have any idea when it happened?”

“My guess is my graduation party, cause that was the last time we had sex. I barely even remember it cause I was so drunk,” Lucy whimpered, then started to sob. “We’re usually careful but… yeah, it had to be that.”

“Come here,” Levy pulled her friend into a hug. “You’re gonna be okay. Whatever happens, you’re gonna be okay.”

The women spent a couple more hours chatting, flipping between random topics, but often coming back to this one. Lucy struggled to even wrap her mind around the reality that this is real. That she was going to have a child, when she was barely an adult herself and all the factors involved only compounded her dilemma. Her new job isn’t going to afford a child. Natsu had a decent job, but even combined it would be a struggle. They’d have to find a place together, a two bedroom house or apartment. What about the medical expenses, and the baby supplies— babies are expensive! Where was the money going to come from?

When Lucy noticed the time and realized Natsu would be coming home from work within the hour, she thanked her friend for the support and bid her goodbye. Even though she had calmed down a little, she wasn’t ready, didn’t know what or how she was going to break the news to him. So, after arriving home, Lucy tried to distract herself by cooking dinner. It didn’t really work, but at least a meal was made. Her life until now had been going well in that she had a boyfriend who treated her right, supported her while she finished her degree, even pushed her to follow her dreams of writing. And now that her degree was finished, Lucy was on her way after landing the paid internship. If she passed the internship, they would offer her a permanent position at the newspaper.

But now all of that felt like it was slipping through her fingers. All her hard work for nothing because juggling a small child and going to work… Maternity leave is not paid, so they’ll have to rely on just one income for a time, then daycare is quite expensive. Sure, there are programs that she could apply for to help or family, but that’s not the point— the point is, they are sorely not ready to become parents.

“I’m home!” Natsu called out as he entered the apartment. “Something smells good!”

“Welcome home, Natsu.” Lucy called out from the kitchen. “It’s almost done.”

Natsu detected a change in his girlfriend’s tone. Usually when he gets home, she’s in a happier mood— but not today. He threw his keys onto the kitchen island and walked up, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Everything okay?”

Whatever words she’d planned to say were thrown out the window as tears pooled instantly in Lucy’s eyes. “Natsu, it’s…”the words stumbled out, “um… I-I’m pregnant.”

“P-Preg…nant?!” Natsu took a step back in shock, his trembling hand moving to cover his mouth. “Oh, wow— I’m too sober for this,” he mumbled.

“Pregnant,” she repeated as the sobs broke free. “And alcohol is what got us into this mess!” Lucy snapped and sobbed louder.

“Oh, h-hey now, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that,” Natsu pulled her into his arms. “Don’t cry baby, please don’t cry, I hate seeing you cry.”

“Natsu, I’m pregnant, did you hear me?! Pregnant! I can’t be pregnant!”

“Shh… I hear you,” he gently coaxed Lucy to the couch and had her sit down, then sat beside her, cradling her close. “True, it’s not the best time… but we can make it work.”

“You don’t understand, I’m not ready, Natsu. I don’t think I could handle it…” all the reasons refreshing in her mind. “I have no experience with with kids. What if we screw up? It’s just…” Lucy sighed. “I think… I’m too overwhelmed right now.”

“Okay, well— they make those things now, the, um, end pregnancy stuff.”

“I don’t know…”

“Lucy, I’ll support whatever decision you make.”

“You say that now, but later you’ll probably resent me for… kil— doing that,” she mumbled.

“I don’t know that so neither can you. All I do know is that yes it might hurt— but you’re the important thing right now, and if you say you’re not ready, then I have to accept it. Kids are never easy, I doubt all the preparation in the world can really make a difference. But Lucy,” he took her hand and held it to his chest. “As long as I’ve known you, whatever you choose to do you’re great at it.”

“Really?” She looked up with hope filling her eyes for the first time all day.

Natsu smiled. “And who better to start a family with?” He cupped her cheeks and kissed her. “Then a smart, sassy, beautiful woman like you.”

Lucy’s eyes flooded with tears. “You really think we can make it work?”

He nodded. “As long as it’s something we really want, then yeah.”

After a momentary pause, Lucy let out a long stabilizing exhale. “Okay. I’ll call my doctor and make an appointment tomorrow to check.”

“Really? Y-You sure? Because I don’t want you to feel like I’m trying to coax you into this.”

“No, I-I’m pretty— sure. Things sometimes happen for a reason, right? Maybe it’s meant to be.”

Natsu pulled her in for another longer kiss. “Guess I better hurry up and marry you then,” he chuckled.

She snorted a laugh. “I guess so mister!”

He pulled her close again, hugging her to his chest. “I love you so much baby.”

��Mmm, I love you too.”

“My own baby momma,” he teased.

Lucy slapped his chest with a giggling shriek. “Don��t you dare call me that!”

“Oh,” he grinned, “I’m totally getting t-shirts made.”

[moeruhoshi]

Young Pregnancy AU

Lucy took deep and heavy breaths as she sat by herself in the bathroom, staring down at the third positive test she’d taken.

“Cana...” She said shakily into her phone, “I need you to come over, right now,”

“What’s going on, Lu?” Cana groaned as she pulled herself through her window, stumbling onto the bed and by the blonde who sat curled in her comforter. “It has to be serious if ya didn’t let me in through the front, you’re just lucky I’ve had experience scaling walls,” The brunette went on as she pulled herself up, her chatter faltering at the sight of Lucy’s tears. “Hey, really...what’s going on?”

“I’m pregnant, Cana,” She pushed out, throat groaning with hoarseness, as she shoved the tests towards her.

“Oh geez...” She said slowly as she stared at the sticks, eyes filled with worry as they turned to her friend. “How late are you?”

“Eight weeks, I just thought my cycle irregular, it’s happened before so I wasn’t worried,” She sighed and sniffled. “But I’ve been getting sick more often, so I figured I should be safe and check...what the hell am I going to do? My dad will throw me out as soon as he knows, and we’re still in school! And what am I supposed to tell Natsu? I can’t give him news like this, he’ll be so upset with me,”

“Hey, hey, slow down! One worry at a time, okay? If anything, you know Gildarts wouldn’t let you end up on the street, you’d come live with me. Not that I doubt Natsu wouldn’t take you home with him. You should know better, he’d be thrilled! And do anything to take care of you two,” Cana began as she laid Lucy in her lap, threading her fingers through her hair. “We’re two months away from graduating, you won’t even be showing. You can always take your first year off and take care of your kid, get a scholarship with all your smarts, and make a living like you always planned to. Adapting to the situation is the best thing you can do for yourself, so stop freakin’ out. All of us’ll be there for you two, too; babysitting, hospital bills, groceries and diapers, the works. You’re stupid if you think you’re in this alone, feel better now?”

“Entirely,” Lucy mumbled from her place pressed against Cana’s stomach. “You always know how to calm me down,”

“Well no shit, I know how amazing I am,” She scoffed and laughed as she folded over and hugged the blonde. “...so when are we telling everyone else?”

“Not sure, but I have to tell Natsu first, or well, second,”

“Hehe, yeah, I always knew you liked me more than that pyro. I get the honor of namin’ the lil’ squirt too, don’t I?”

“You’re the stupid one if you think that,”

Lucy felt her stomach twisting as she took the following weekend to go visit her boyfriend, his condo two trains away from her neighborhood.

She had time to decide what to say, to think to stop off at his favorite bakery for some snacks if he took the news as something unsettling, and to lose the doubtful feeling swooshing around in her brain.

Natsu loved her so much, she knew that well enough. She could practically see just how happy he’d get, jumping up and down and swinging her around; she’d make sure to set down the cakes in advance.

But she could only think about his situation. He worked to provide for himself, lucky enough that his parents left him the home he currently occupied, otherwise he’d be staying with Gray right about now.

He had school to pay for and work always kept him so busy, she didn’t want to overload him with even more to worry about.

Feeling a buzz in her pocket as she walked into his building, Lucy looked down to her phone to see a text from Cana.

‘Calm the fuck down’

‘How did you know I was already psyching myself out?’

‘The cards don’t lie, just go for it! Everything is going to be okay!’

Yeah, everything’s going to be okay...

She took deep breaths as she rode the elevator higher and higher, legs practically moving like jelly as she reached his floor.

“Luce! Took ya long enough, I’ve been waiting all morning for you!” Natsu greeted her with his wide grin, wrapping his arms tightly around the girl as he practically dragged her inside.

“I stopped by Yajima’s to get us some snacks,” She choked through, heaving as he let her go to observe the bag in her hand.

“Nice! Nothin’ better than his chili chocolate cake, I’ll go make us some tea,” He said, taking the bag and deeper into his home as she slipped off her shoes. She made sure to bow to the small alter of his parents in the hall, smiling as she lit their insense.

“You don’t have work today do you?” Lucy asked as she sat on his couch, relieved as he shook his head.

“Nope, not until tomorrow night? Wanna stay over?” She stifled a laugh as he gave her a salacious look, setting down the tea and plated cakes as he took a seat next to her.

“Sure, if you don’t mind,” Lucy giggled as he nuzzled his head into the crook of her neck, pecking light kisses against her skin as he guffawed.

“‘Course I don’t mind! There’s nothin’ better I could ask for,” She sighed as he held her, suddenly feeling an onslaught of emotion as he wrapped her in his warmth. “One of the old ladies next door gave me a bunch of vegetables so we can make somethin’ nice for dinner.”

“...Natsu, we need to talk,” Lucy sniffled and wiped at her tears, the pink haired boy not at all delighted to be hearing that phrase.

“It’s not your dad, is it? I know he doesn’t like me all that much but that’s no reason to—“

“Dumbass, I’m not breaking up with you,” She groaned and slapped his arm before he could continue to spiral. “Really, I just need to talk to you,”

“Geez, what is it, Luce? Don’t scare me with your cryin’ like that,” He pouted and wiped away her tears, settling a hand over hers in reassurance.

“I...I’m...Natsu, I’m...”

“Hey, calm down,” Natsu shifted himself to take her in his arms again as her chest rose with panic, able to feel her body shaking through his. “You’re okay, it’s okay, Luce.”

His heart dropped as he felt her begin to cry again, overwhelmed by whatever the hell was going on that made her this upset.

“You don’t have to say it if it scares ya too much, I’m not gonna force you to say anything, just please tell me you’re not sick,”

“I’m fine,” She hiccuped, tightening her arms around his midsection. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think it’d be so hard to say it. I feel like it’ll change everything if I tell you and I don’t know if I’m ready,”

“Change is bound to happen, ya know that. It did when we started dating, when your mom and my parents...when I had to start working, things just happen, and we learn to live with the changes left behind, hm? It might be hard at first or some time in the future, but we’ll get through it together, we always do,”

“Yeah...yeah, you’re right,” Her teary eyes stared up into the onyx ones showering her with love and reassurance, his lips tasting the saltiness of her tears as the two shared a chaste and lasting kiss. “I love you, Natsu.”

“I love ya too, Luce.”

“I’m pregnant,” She breathed, pulling herself away to walk and grab a tissue from in the kitchen. Natsu was still, as she entirely expected him to be, eyes wide and unmoving as he took in the news.

“I’m about eight weeks late,” She began to speak, sitting next to him again as she reached and sipped from her tea cup. “I don’t have a bump yet, but I took a couple of tests and—“

“I love you so fucking much! So much! I’ll love you and our baby till the day I die, promise!” Lucy squealed as Natsu glomped her with another hug, showering her cheeks with kiss upon kiss, refusing to let her go for even a moment.

“You’re crying, you know,” Lucy laughed as she could hear his quiet sobs through the flurry of kisses.

“I’m so happy,” He mumbled against her cheek, rolling them around so that Lucy now sat in his lap. “So happy,”

“I’m glad,” She smiled, thumbs wiping away at his tears. “We’re about to start a family, how weird does that sound?”

“Not weird at all, you’ve been my family since the day I met you,” He said, kissing the center of her palm as a free hand wandered to caress her belly.

“You’re gonna be my wife, that’s super hot,” Lucy rolled her eyes and slapped his chest, Natsu snickering as he leaned against her bosom. “Lucy Dragneel,”

“You mean Natsu Heartfilia,” She scoffed, wrapping her arms around his head softly. “I hope we have a girl.”

“A boy! A little Igneel, but Layla is a cute name too,”

“I was thinking Nancy, or maybe Ryuu?”

“Ryuu! Ryuu works both ways, ne? Dad would’ve liked that too,”

“Think we can invite the others over for dinner tonight? I don’t want to put off telling them,” Lucy asked, threading her fingers through his hair.

“Tell ‘em not to be over for a couple more hours,” His voice was muffled against her chest, his hands snaking their way underneath her shirt. “I gotta thank the mother of my child for havin’ my baby after all,”

“I think I like the sound of that a little too much,” She moaned as his lips pressed hotly upon her revealed chest, Natsu smirking as he lifted her in his arms.

“Might go ahead ‘n see if I can give ya another one while we’re at it.”

[dreams0601]

Cravings

Fairytail belongs to Hiro Mashima

pg13 A short married pregnant Nalu fluff

Lucy’s swollen ankles were perched on the brown little coffee table and her swollen belly held a bowl of popcorn for her husband to come back to. Best thing about being pregnant is you can use your belly to hold stuff. Second best thing about being pregnant is you can send your husband out for any cravings. She smiled wickedly at that thought sense he should be back soon with the huge jar of Nutella and pancakes from IHop. Mouthwatering at the thought of it. She defiantly had gained more weight than she should have with being pregnant. She didn’t worry about it too much sense Natsu couldn’t keep his hands off her and she would have plenty of time to lose it before going back on missions.

Only a few more minutes of the thought of food Natsu came walking through the door with a to go bag from IHop balanced on his head a couple grocery bags in one hand and the key that unlocked the door in other. He was sweating from probably running everywhere which had Lucy feeling bad for, but the craving never stopped. He set her bags in front of her and took the rest to the kitchen to put them away. He did so quickly trying to get back to their movie night. Coming back to the couch he grabbed her feet from the table to sit them in his lap. Lucy was already stuffing her face full of Nutella pancakes. His hand coming up quickly to tuck her hair behind her ear, so it didn’t get Nutella in it. She had already left some on the corner of her mouth. His face came close to hers, his tongue flicking out to licking the mess she left. Cheeks warming at the action and quickly going south. He smirked at the response and his mind falling instantly to the gutter wanting to taste the hazelnut chocolate spread on her lips.  

“So, do I even get a thank you for all my hard work?” his voice coming out gruff. His face was still close. His salmon hair falling in to his eyes now that the gel was wearing from the long day. Lucy turned her head tilting it slightly to press her lips against his in thank you. Making sure not to end it quickly so he would get the full length of gratitude. One hand drawing hearts with her finger on chest over his heart. His lips were rough as they sucked her bottom lip asking for entrance to deepen their kiss. She couldn’t help accepting the offer to bring things further as her mind started to fog over. Thighs squeezing together as his hand slowly skimmed up her thigh to draw shapes right under the hem of her cotton shorts. His other hand sliding in to long blonde hair massaging her scalp with warm tender fingers. Moaning softly at all his attention and then breaking from his lips to catch her breath. Sucking in cool air in to her lung as she panted. That didn’t stop his advances as he just moved to her neck leaving open mouth kiss and small love bites. Her hand slid slowly down his chest letting her nails scrape against his hard muscles. He always enjoyed a little pain and the red marks that came with it. She smirked pulling away from his advances her body coming to be unbearably hot from his high body temperature. She was starting to sweat from him getting riled up. He growled softly and she laughed at his antics.

“I think we should bring this in to the room before Happy gets back from the guild sense you haven’t been able to keep your hands off me sense I’ve gotten pregnant.” As she brought her feet off his lap to comfortably lean against his chest and look at him from under her lashes. He gave her a crooked grin as he quickly moves to get up. Then helped her off the couch and proceeded to pick her to get to the room even faster.  

[mamabearcat]

The Not So Good Very Bad Day

A little bit of NaLu pregnancy fluff, inspired by the beautiful sketch done by @theweiszguy Everything in this fic pretty much happened to me while I was pregnant (but thankfully not all on the same day!)

"Hey Luce, I got that garlic bread that you wanted to go with dinner", called out Natsu, as he shut the front door behind him. He walked into the kitchen with the grocery bags, plonking them onto the bench next to the sink. It looked like Lucy had already made a start on dinner; a rich Bolognese sauce was simmering on the stove, and the spaghetti was bubbling in a pot of salted water. He turned on the oven and put the foil wrapped garlic bread in; dinner looked like it would be ready any minute.

"Luce?" called out Natsu, wondering where his wife had got to as he put groceries away in the fridge and pantry. He had his answer a few seconds later as he heard the toilet flush, and he grinned, realising he should have known where she would be. Lucy's constant visits to the bathroom now that she was eight and a half months pregnant were a running joke between them, one that she was getting mightily tired of.

He peered around the corner of the kitchen to look down the hallway with a little trepidation, wondering which Lucy would greet him tonight. Over the last two weeks, her mood swings were getting a little… difficult. Not that he was complaining too much. At least he wasn't the one that was going to have to push a baby out anytime soon. Nevertheless, he smiled in relief when Lucy looked happy to see him, although she also looked exhausted. She was already changed into her pj's – a black singlet top that used to be his and a pair of boxers with the waistband pushed down below her baby bump. One more day of work, and she'd be on maternity leave.

Lucy waddled over to Natsu to give him a squeezy hug, well, the best approximation she could with her baby bump in the way. "I'm so glad to see you", she sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. Natsu rubbed her lower back with his strong fingers, and she groaned in relief, making him chuckle.

He kissed the top of her head in greeting. "Did something bad happen at work today?" he asked, continuing to knead her sore muscles.

"Not really", Lucy said. "I'm just so tired Natsu. The lift broke down and I had to walk down three flights of stairs for a meeting, and then back up again. At least it was fixed by the time I left to go home."

She gave him a small affectionate peck on the lips and moved over to the pasta. "Why don't you go wash your hands while I plate this up. Should only be a minute or two before its ready."

Natsu wandered down the hallway of their small apartment to the bathroom, quickly washing and drying his hands. As he walked back past what used to be the spare bedroom, he couldn't help but stop to lean on the door frame and look, like he did now every time he walked past this door. Even though he had seen the ultrasound images, felt the baby move in Lucy's tummy, talked to and read the baby stories as Lucy giggled at him, read all the 'dad' chapters in Lucy's pregnancy books and attended every information class at the hospital, this room… this is what made it finally feel real for him.

The once beige walls were painted a pale blue, and cheerful yellow gingham curtains decorated the window. A white chest of drawers was filled with little baby onesies and singlets, and a blue pram was pushed into the corner. Nappies were stacked on the wooden change table, sharing the space with creams and baby wipes. A plastic baby bath stored underneath, a bright yellow rubber duck sitting proudly in its centre.

Lucy had painted a mural on one of the walls – a red dragon flying in a night sky, filled with silver stars and a smiling moon. A big cardboard box that contained the pieces of the wooden cradle leaned up against the wall opposite him. That was his job for this weekend; to put it together and set it up in their bedroom, ready to be used by their son or daughter when they brought him or her home.

A sudden squeal and crash had Natsu sprinting back to the kitchen. Lucy was sitting on the kitchen floor sobbing, with the upturned pasta pot and water spilled over the floor. He dragged her backwards away from the spreading water and sat her down on one of the kitchen chairs, examining her anxiously.

"Fuck Luce, are you okay? Did you burn yourself?" He turned her hands over, checking for burns, patting her pyjamas to see if they were wet anywhere, and then stooped down to check her legs and bare feet. When he couldn't find any injuries, he cupped Lucy's face in his hands, trying to wipe away her tears with his thumbs as they continued to fall. "Tell me, what's wrong? You're worrying me."

Lucy's face contorted as she tried to get words out through her sobs. "Can't do anything right", she finally managed, trying to get a hold of her emotions. "So stupid and clumsy… dropped the pot. It just fell out of my hands."

"Hey", Natsu crooned, still stroking her face. "It's just pasta Luce, it's not worth all these tears. I can just make more. Please don't cry." He put his arms around her shoulders and rocked back and forth, and Lucy buried her face in his shoulder, still crying. When her sobs started to calm down, Natsu pulled back a little so he could reach the box of tissues on the table. He dried her eyes and handed her another tissue, so she could blow her nose.

While Lucy sat on the chair, gradually becoming calmer, he began to clean up. Not wanting to risk her slipping on the wet floor, he stripped off his black t-shirt, and mopped up the water, wringing it into the sink, then scooped up all the pasta in his hands and put it into the bin. After putting the empty pot in the sink, he turned off the oven and stove and served the chunky mince Bolognese sauce into two bowls, adding a few hunks of garlic bread and a fork to each. He carried them into the lounge room and placed them on the coffee table and came back for his girl.

"Do you wanna tell me what's really wrong Luce?", he asked, helping her get to her feet. She leaned on him as they walked into the lounge room, still sniffling. Natsu sat down on the sofa, stretched out lengthways, and helped Lucy sit down so she was cradled in between his legs, her back resting against his bare chest. He reached out and started rubbing her stomach in circles. "Tell me, baby girl, I can't help if I don't know what's going on."

Lucy sighed, still hiccupping a little. "Nothing's really wrong", she said. "Just a lot of little somethings that all built up. It started when I got dressed for work this morning. My feet were all swollen and none of my shoes fit. I had to wear my slippers to work."

Natsu tried very hard not to, but a small snort of laughter escaped. Lucy hit him on the arm. "Fine", she grumbled, "you can laugh, everyone one else at work did too." That stopped his laughter, and he began rubbing small circles again, kissing her neck gently in apology.

"What else happened Luce?"

"Well, I already told you that the lift was out. I had to walk downstairs for a meeting, and when I got there, I realised that the folder I needed was still on my desk, and I had to walk all the way up there again and back down, and then I was late." Natsu murmured sympathetically.

"Then because I was late, by the time I had lunch they'd run out of all the sandwiches I like in the café downstairs. All they had left was curried egg, but I was so hungry I bought it and it gave me horrible heartburn all afternoon. But that wasn't the worst part." Natsu hugged her tighter, racking his brain for comforting phrases to say after Lucy revealed what might have made her so upset.

"I was talking to the new sales manager about who he'd need to contact for that big conference next month, when Levy popped in with the twins to say hi to everyone who hadn't got to see them when she was in hospital." Although Lucy smiled at the thought of Levy and her one-month old twins, Natsu sensed that she was about to reveal something that had really upset her.

"They weren't even in my office, they were out in the tea room. I was trying to wrap up the meeting so that I could go see them when Jonah started crying. Crying really loudly." Lucy covered her face with her hands.

"Hey, c'mon, it can't be that bad…" began Natsu.

"My boobs leaked Natsu. I was wearing a white shirt, and my boobs leaked. The front of my shirt was covered in two big wet patches. And Jason just kept staring at them. He didn't look away and I didn't know what to do! I was so embarrassed! So I pretended I had another meeting and went and hid in the bathroom for half an hour."

"Creepy bastard", growled Natsu. "Remind me to punch him for ya if I see him at the office Christmas party."

Lucy giggled, but it was a worn-out tired giggle. "I'm so sorry Natsu. I know at the moment I'm not always the nicest person to be around, but I'm just so exhausted. I can't sleep properly because I can't get comfy, and when I finally do, I have to get up to go to the toilet, or those stupid Braxton Hicks contractions start up. I keep forgetting stuff and dropping things. I don't even know what my feet look like anymore."

While she was talking, Natsu kept on rubbing her stomach. He drew up her singlet top, so it revealed the pale skin stretched tight over her bump. The baby wasn't kicking so much anymore, because the midwife had informed them that he or she had pretty much run out of stretching room, but every now and then Lucy's stomach would move, and Natsu's hand would reach out to rub and press on her skin where the baby was. When she had finished speaking, he dropped a loving kiss to the top of her head.

"Luce, you know what I think? I think today was your last day at work. It was a shitty day, and I don't think you need to go back there tomorrow. I think tomorrow we're both gonna call in sick, and I'm gonna pamper my princess while I still can, before we're both too busy running around after a newborn for stuff like that. What do ya say?"

"Natsu, that sounds so tempting, but…"

"But nothin. I'll even call the midwives at the hospital to see if we can get a medical certificate for ya to mail to them. You've already done all the hand over stuff Luce. I'll call Gajeel tonight and let him know – all the appointments we have booked in for tomorrow are smaller tattoos, he can handle it."

Lucy sighed. "Okay". Suddenly she felt like a huge weight had been lifted off he shoulders. She placed her hands over his on her belly, and they both smiled as the baby bumped a small knee, or perhaps an elbow, into their joined hands.

"Thankyou Natsu. I don't know what I'd do without you." Natsu kissed the top of her head again, and then laughed as Lucy's stomach growled loudly.

"Right back at ya, baby girl." He helped Lucy sit upright on the sofa and reached over to the coffee table for a bowl of Bolognese and garlic bread with a fork stuck in the middle of it. "Here ya go madame, fine dining at its very best."

Lucy began to shovel in forkfuls of the savoury mince into her mouth, suddenly realising how hungry she was. "So Natsu, what sort of pampering were you thinking of?"

"Well, I thought I could give you a foot massage or a back massage", began Natsu, stuffing a piece of garlic bread in his mouth. "Maybe we could watch a movie together on the sofa." His green eyes took on a greedy glint. "If you were feeling up to it, perhaps I could give you a 'Natsu Special' massage, with all the trimmings."

Lucy grinned at him. "Is that massage for you, or for me?"

"Both of us", winked Natsu, leaning across to give her a loving kiss. Lucy started kissing him back, but then couldn't stifle a yawn. "But tonight princess, it's off to bed early for you. I got lots of pampering I wanna do, and I can't do it if you're asleep."

He bent down to kiss her belly too. "Listen Junior, stop treatin' your Mumma so rough. She's the only one you got, so you gotta take care of her. Try not to tap-dance on her bladder tonight, so she can get a good nights sleep, okay?" He kissed her stomach one more time, then got to his feet, holding his hands out to Lucy. "Bedtime Luce."

Lucy grumbled, but Natsu helped her to her feet, and gently pushed her down the hallway to their bedroom. He grabbled the extra pillows, and after she got herself settled on her side, he stuffed one between her knees, and one under her bump. He knelt down next to the bed to gently stroke her forehead as she yawned again.

As her eyes drifted closed, he realised that their nights like this, with just the two of them here in their home would be coming to an end in just a few weeks, maybe even just a few days. It both excited and terrified him.

He stood for a few moments, watching Lucy sleep, her hands curled protectively over her rounded belly filled with their child. He realised that he wouldn't want it any other way.