Chapter 9 - Surprise

NATSU POV

"It's been 4 years Natsu. If Lucy wanted to be found, we would have found her by now. We should give up." Happy huffs, as he flies to keep up.

I stop dead in my tracks. "Happy!" I say irritated. I take a deep breath. "You know I can't do that. If I give up now, I just wouldn't be me. You of all should know this." I say calmly, but clenching my fists.

FLASH BACK

========================

The second I punched down the guild doors and set off on my journey to find and bring Lucy back. In all my rage I can hear a voice shouting and running towards me with purpose. My body was still engulfed by my flames. My heart pounding, as what felt like 2000mph.

"Natsu! Stop!" It was Ezra running out in front of me.

"Get out of my way Erza." I grimace. Ignoring Erza, still walking, focusing on the path ahead.

Suddenly Erza cups my face in her hands, stopping me, and bringing my gaze to focus on her, looking me dead in the eyes. That was when I notice the tears trailing down her face. Which immediately extinguishes my flames. "I know you want to find Lucy. But Master is right, you left her Natsu." Erza yells, trying to make me see sense.

I sigh.  "Erza I know. I was the one that broke up with her. But I had my reason for doing it." I try to explain, without giving much away. "Maybe Lucy had a reason as well. I don't like it, but I understand why she did." Erza trying to hold in her tears.

Suddenly I get a strange inkling like Erza knows more then she was letting on. Which is a shock to me, considering, I'm rather slow at picking up on things like this. I remove Erza's hands from my face, as right now, she has my full attention.

I lean in close, causing Erza to shuffle back a tad. "Why does it feel like you know why Lucy left the guild." I stared at Erza. But she quickly diverted her eyes from mine. "Why did she leave Erza!" I demand. My flames, urging to flare up again.

"Please Natsu just leave Lucy be" She begs. "Not until you tell me" I say getting frustrated.

I know Erza and she has a strong sense of responsibility, but she also can't keep a secret.

"What about Lisanna? Aren't you in love with her?" Erza finds a way to derail the conversation. "What does Lisanna have to do with this?" I say confused.

"Natsu" Happy whispers.

"Everything" Erza fires back.

"You left Lucy for Lisanna, now your leaving Lisanna to look for Lucy. How do you think Lisanna will feel and what about Lucy? You're just going to bring Lucy back, but parade around in front of her with Lisanna. Stop being selfish Natsu!" Erza shouting, making me take a second to think about how this will affect the both of them.

I look down. Everything Erza said is true. I am being selfish. But Lucy.. I can't, I just can't.  "I know right now, it doesn't make sense to you or anyone else. But I can't leave things the way they are with Lucy. I need to talk t her, I need to see if this is really what she wants" I argue.

"Natsu! I don't like this anymore than you do. The night you broke up with Lucy and Loke punched you. Loke told me to check on Lucy, so I did, and I saw a completely different side to Lucy. You shattered her, you destroyed her, broke her down, she was weak and vulnerable. The strong headed, loud and bubbly Lucy, was a pathetic mess. Just like when you promised you would never let anyone make me cry. I promised myself, that no matter what I will never allow myself to see Lucy like that ever again. But I failed." Erza argued back.

As I looked over all the emotions on Erza's face. I knew just how hard she was trying to persuade me in giving up on this search. It was killing her pride as well. The almighty Erza hated groveling.  

"You wont believe me when I say this. But.....I still love Lucy, Erza... I made a big mistake.... When I broke up with Lucy, it wasn't because I loved Lisanna. It's was because in the long run I knew deep down that I will end up hurting Lucy....And telling Lucy that I was in love with Lisanna was the only lie I knew Lucy would believe. But I never expected it would cause her to leave us, the only family she had, knowing that I was the reason she had to give all that up." I explained, gritting my teeth together. 

Unexpectedly Erza looked over my shoulder, to Happy.

"Happy is it okay if I talk to Natsu alone for a second." Erza says softly.

"Aye." Happy agrees. Happy flies off, leaving me and Erza alone. I couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

"Erza?" I say, making her snap her gaze back to me.

"Natsu. There is another reason why I think Lucy left, and for the record I really think your an idiot." Erza sniffles.

"What is it Erza?" I demand. My heart which was already pounding fast, was speeding up.

For a minute or so Erza, didn't speak a  word, which was getting on my nerves. My impatience was building and I felt like I wanted to scream at her. But just when I was about to open my mouth. Erza spoke 3 words. 

"Lucy was.... pregnant." Erza muttered. Those 3 words hit me like a ton of bricks "Pregnant?" I stutter. She begins to sob again. I grab ahold of Erza. "Lucy was pregnant?" I say once again, shaking her. Erza just nods.

Everything around me was silent, dropping my hands to my side. Ezra's voice ringing in my ears, repeating over and over again in my head like a broken record. I collapsed to my knees, my whole body felt heavy. I was in shock.

"Those 3 days I told you I was going to do a solo mission. I was actually at the hospital with Lucy and Loke. The doctors tried to save the baby, but it was too late Natsu.  I'm sorry I never told you sooner. I promised Lucy. But after what you told me, you deserved to know. So please if you are going to look for her, please bring her back." Erza sobs, as she explains.

My rage was now at it's peak. Clenching my fist, I punch the ground in front of me, causing a tiny crater to form around me."So that explains Loke's second appearance." My voice shaking. "Why didn't she tell me." I wince.

"You were going to have a baby girl." Erza mutters, hugging me.

END FLASH BACK

As I remember the past, I single tear trails down my face. "Natsu?" Happy pouts.

"Happy" I say, wiping away my single tear. "I was going to be a dad.. Happy!.. I abandoned the mother of my child and let her suffer on her own. I should have been the one to look after her, not Loke or Ezra...Me!" I grimace.

=============================================

LUCY POV

I had just finished, taking the laundry off the line, I pick up the basket full of washing and make my way inside. I plonk the basket down the living room and begin to fold. After 10 minutes or so, I had finally finished  and put the washing away. 

That's when I realize that it was oddly quiet. I wonder where Laxus was? I raise my arm just enough for me to take a glimpse at my watch. "3:00pm" Then I smiled. ohhh it's that time already.

"I guess I better get dinner ready before they get home, It will take them at least a hour." I mutter to myself, as I make my way into the kitchen.

=========================

TIME SKIP

=========================

2 hours passed and there was still no sign of them. I was starting to get worried, dinner was sitting on the table and the sun was starting to set. I begin to pace back and forth. I know I shouldn't be worried, I knew Laxus was more then capable.

All of a sudden I hear the rattling of a door knob, I quickly rush over to the front door. As it opened it made a creaking sound.

"Mummy!" A sweet little voice comes bursting in from behind the door.