Chapter 12

Levy got up as soon as Natsu and Lucy walked over. She grabbed the blonde by the hand and dragged her by to the bar.

Mira and Juvia approached the two. All three women looked at Lucy expectantly.

"What?"

They rolled their eyes at the blonde.

"Tell us what happened." Mira instructed sounding eager, Levy and Juvia nodded along.

Lucy shouldn't have expected more from her friends. Of course they'd want to know all that happened. She's surprised they didn't follow her and Natsu to the park just to hear a bit of their conversation.

"All we did was talk."

"Obviously. We want to know what you talked about, stop holding out on us Lu-Chan."

Lucy rolled her eyes, "I don't know what you guys want to know but we just spoke about what Lisanna did and I apologized for leaving." Lucy shrugged at the last part of her statement.

"There's more than that."

"Juvia, I don't know what's giving you that idea but no there isn't."

"Lu-chan, we know you well enough to know when you're lying."

Lucy sighed in defeat but signaled for the girls to lean in. She hoped that the noise in the guild won't allow the many dragon slayers to hear what she's about to say.

"He said....that he still loves me" She whispered.

Lucy expected them to squeal as they normally would but instead their faces remained stoic. "We already knew that, what we wanted to know is if you guys were back together."

"Oh, no we're not together."

The girls looked disappointed, Mira especially.

"I'm just not ready for that, everything is just happening so fast. Just a week ago I thought he'd want nothing to do with me, now I'm finding out that the last five years have been a lie." Lucy continued.

The girls were saddened upon hearing how she felt, they hadn't considered how Lucy would feel. In their heads they thought everything would just go back to how it was.

Before the girls could say anything else Luke and Nashi ran up to them. They wrapped their arms around their mother, lightening the mood significantly.

Luke looked up at his mother. "Mama, emmi-chan wants know if we're going back home." He said.

This caught everyone's attention. Natsu who was across the guild perked up waiting to hear what Lucy has to say. Lucy could feel eyes on her, specifically Natsu's. She could feel his heated gaze at the back of her neck. She felt pressured and honestly she hadn't even thought about what she'd do now.

She no longer has any reason to hide. She could just come back to her family who missed her dearly. And Natsu's here too.

Her mind became clouded and she knew that she needed some time to think but she had to give her babies the answer they wanted.

"Well it is summer so I guess we won't be leaving anytime soon."

The twins seemed satisfied with that answer and ran back to their friends with glee, the rest of the guild seemed satisfied too. Natsu, however, didn't seem to be. She still felt his burning gaze, she knew he wanted her to say something else; something more permanent. She just couldn't though.

She sat a few minutes longer with her friends before excusing herself. She headed for the library in hopes of avoiding Natsu's stare and have some time to think.

Not being able to stand not having Lucy in his line of sight, Natsu followed after her closing the library door behind him.

"They're gonna bang in the library."

"CANA!!"

"What? He's been staring at her like she's piece of meat and he looked hungry, if you know what I mean." The drunkard defended with a wink.

The rest of the guild just shook their heads.

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Lucy walked at a fast pace to the fartherest table in the library, all the way at the back. Natsu walked calmly behind her. Lucy had no idea she was being followed.

She seated herself and sighed.

Natsu plopped himself right beside her, effectively startling her.

"Natsu, you scared me. What are you doing in here?"

Natsu didn't answer and just stared at her, making her sigh once more.

"I just wanted to be alone for a bit so can you go?" Natsu's presence had strangely calmed Lucy down a bit, she had an urge to just be wrapped up in his arms but she really wanted some time to herself.

She still needed to process everything and what she's going to do going forward.

"Are you really planning on leaving again?" Natsu asked, ignoring Lucy's request.

She looked away from him. "I don't know." She answered.

"You can't leave."

"Natsu, I haven't lived here in years. I don't have a house or an apartment here. We already made a life somewhere else, it's what the kids know. It's what I know."

"The twins love it here. I'm finally in their lives. The guild is their family."

"And I know all that. I see the way they act with you and everyone else. I see how happy and comfortable they are but I don't even have a place to stay for even the summer. We can't just keep staying in an Inn." Lucy ranted on.

"Just stay with me."

Natsu's suggestion left Lucy dumbfounded.  "Natsu, last time I checked you lived in a one bedroom cottage."

"You have a few days left in the Inn right? I'll figure something out by then."

She doesn't know why but she nodded. "Fine, but just to be clear. This doesn't mean we're back together. We would just be strictly co-parenting."

Natsu laughed and shook his head. He stood up and held his hand out to her. "I can hear Luke and Nashi looking for us. Are you ready to go back out?"

She hesitated but placed her hand in his. She immediately noted the warmth she's missed all these years. Her body relaxed as Natsu led the way out of the library. All her thoughts had gone quiet, her mind was at peace.

This lasted until they were with everyone else and Natsu reluctantly let go of her. Neither of them wanted to let go of each other, something Lucy wouldn't admit but Natsu would.

They both went their seperate ways, back to their own friend groups.

"Damn, they still got that sexual tension following them around. Guess they didn't bang it out after all."

"CANA!!!"

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Natsu and Lucy walked back to the Inn. It was almost 11pm. The twins had played until they fell asleep, that's when all the adults decided it was time to call it a night. Luke and Nashi were now fast asleep in Natsu's arms (who insisted on carrying them both since Lucy was tired as well).

Lucy opened their room door and let Natsu in. He laid them down on the bed gently.

"I wish they hadn't fallen asleep yet, I wanted to give them a bath or at least change their dirty clothes." She sighed and began to try to change Nashi into her pajamas.

Wanting to help Natsu did the same with Luke, which Lucy was thankful for. Natsu tucked the twins in bed afterwards while Lucy went to the bathroom to get ready for bed herself.

Natsu stood at the foot of their bed, just admiring them. He stood there for quite a while until Lucy came out of the bathroom. His gaze shifted to her.

"Thank you for carrying them for me, they've gotten so big I doubt I could carry them both on my own." She laughed softly breaking the silence that loomed around them.

Natsu smiled at her. "I'm their father, it's my job to carry them." He said.

They stood there just staring at each other until Lucy yawned.

"I guess that's my cue to leave." Natsu joked kissing his kids on their foreheads.

He felt like being bold so he kissed Lucy on her forehead as well before saying goodnight and leaving.

Lucy stood still, her body flooded with warmth before it disappeared. The room felt cold with Natsu gone all of a sudden. She shook her head and sighed. She turned the lights off and crawled into her bed.

She looked over at her children before closing her eyes. She tossed and turned for a good while before falling asleep.

Natsu, now perched up in a tree across from the inn for a second night, stared at their room window. He remained there till morning when he disappeared to a different part of town before heading home and showering.

He went back to the Inn at nine when he knew Lucy and the twins would be awake already. They walked to the guild just as they had the day before.

Upon entering the chaos they call home they all separated. The twins ran to play with their friends, Natsu joined the ongoing brawl and Lucy went to the bar where Mira and the rest of the girls were.

"Mornings girls." She greeted as she seated herself.

They greeted her back warmly.

"Hey Mira, could I get some breakfast for the twins and Natsu, I don't think Natsu's eaten yet." She said.

The girls looked at each other and grinned. They found it cute that Lucy wanted to make sure Natsu ate. They had a feeling their ship Nalu would be sailing once again pretty soon.

"Of course Lucy, and what will you be having?" Mira asked already knowing what Natsu and the twins would want.

Lucy shook her head, "I'm not very hungry at the moment." she responded concerning her friends a bit.

Nonetheless Mira went to the kitchen to prepare the meals opting not to force Lucy to get something.

Lucy looked around the guild. "Where's master?" She asked her friends.

"He should be up in his office."

Lucy jumped off her stool and made her way upstairs. She knocked on Master's office door but received no answer.

She opened the door gently, instead of seeing the old fashioned decor of the office she was greeted by mountains of papers.

She stepped inside side stepping the piles, being careful not to step on them. "Master?"

Lucy found the old man passed out at his desk. She shook him gently, waking the old man.

"Oh, Lucy dear, it's you."

"Master, are you okay? How long have you been in here? What's with all the papers?"

The old man looked around the room before banging his head on the desk, spooking Lucy a bit.

"All these damn kids do is give me more work. These are all paperwork and bills for damages that the guild has to pay for. The council keeps sending mountains of paperwork. This is all from the last few months." the old man groaned holding his head in his hands.

Lucy looked at the old man with pity. "I could help you." She suggested.

Makarov looked up at her with stars in his eyes. "Really child?"

Lucy nodded, "It's just paperwork, should be easy. You should get some rest master."

Said man hopped off his chair and went into the small room at the back of his office and fell right asleep.

Lucy looked at the mountains of papers wondering where to start first. She decided to begin by organizing everything, separating bills from letters and notices.

She did that for about two hours. By then she was only halfway through everything. She decided to leave the last half for another time.

She started with the bills first, lodging them into the expense account the guild has. She'd been doing that for a good while now and it seemed like the pile wouldn't go down.

There were more bills than everything else so it was to be expected. It was kinda concerning the amount of damages the guild causes on a daily basis. She completely understands why Master is always complaining now.

On top of that she has to call the towns who sent these bills to inform them that it's been handled.

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Natsu had been wondering where Lucy was for a good while now. After Mira gave him and the kids breakfast he'd noticed her absence.

He could still feel her in the guildhall so he didn't worry much. Now it's been almost three hours and there's still no sign of her.

He left his spot at his table and approached the bar. "Yo Mira, have you seen Lucy?" He asked.

"I think she went to see the Master but now that I think about it she's been up there for quite some time. And she hasn't eaten yet either." Mira spoke with concern.

Natsu grew worried upon hearing that. He asked Mira to make Lucy something to eat and waited until it was done. He grabbed the plate and a drink before heading up the stairs.

He opened the door to Master's office and walked in. He saw Lucy sitting at the desk going through documents with her gale reading glasses.

She didn't notice when he came in. "Luce."

She looked up and smiled him. "Hi." she said before turning back to the papers.

"Whatcha doing?"

"Master was swamped with paperwork so I decided to help him out."

"I brought you some food, I know you didn't eat this morning."

"Thanks but I'm not really hungry."

"I'm not leaving here until I see you eat." He said placing the plate and drink on the desk and seating himself on the chair in front of her.

Lucy looked at the food before looking back at Natsu who was just staring at her patiently. She sighed softly as she set aside the documents and brought the plate closer to her.

Natsu stayed and watched her, making sure she ate everything. When she was done he took the dirty plate and went back downstairs.

"Is she okay?" Mira questioned as Natsu handed her the dirty plate.

Natsu nodded. "She's just helping gramps with some paperwork." He replied.

"Oh dear, she's going to be up there for quite some time then." Mira giggled.

She was proven to be right. Lucy hadn't left the office for the entire day. Around 7 in the evening, Natsu brought her dinner. He wanted her to take a break till tomorrow but Lucy insisted that she had the energy to continue.

A few hours later Lucy fell asleep at the desk. Natsu came to check on her and found her sleeping soundly. He smiled upon seeing her.

He picked her up bridal style and carried her downstairs. She snuggled into his chest, sighing contentedly.

While it was really late, the guild was still as lively as ever. All the children had taken naps throughout the day so they were still bursting with energy. Natsu was now very thankful for that, he wouldn't need to carry them.

"Luke! Nashi! It's time to go!" He shouted across the guildhall. Lucy hadn't budged at the loud noises.

Luke and Nashi said goodbye to their friends before running to where their parents were.

"Mommy is very sleepy so I can't carry you guys tonight, is that okay?"

The two of them nodded. They walked beside Natsu, holding on to his pant leg.

When they got to the Inn, Natsu tucked Lucy in before getting his children ready for bed.

"Daddy are you gonna go? Please don't go." Luke and Nashi pleaded.

"Wasn't planning on leaving. I gotta stay here and watch you rugrats while mommy sleeps."

The twins beamed at that. They dragged him into their bed telling him that they wanted to watch a movie. He happily obliged. Halfway through the movie all three of them fell asleep.

The next morning Lucy woke up confused. She wondered how she got back to the inn. She looked beside her and saw Natsu sprawled out on the other bed, fast asleep with Luke and Nashi in his arms.

Her eyes widened a bit. She got up to get a better look at them and awed at how cute and peaceful they looked. She looked for her portable lacrima and snapped a picture wanting to save this memory.

She decided to let them sleep for a little while longer and headed to the bathroom to shower and get ready.

Half hour later and Lucy felt clean and refreshed.

She came out of the bathroom already dressed. She woke up Natsu and their kids gently. The three of them got up reluctantly.

"You guys have to leave the Inn today right?" Natsu asked.

Lucy nodded, "And I still haven't found us a place yet." she sighed.

"I told you I'd handle it so don't worry about that." Natsu told her easing her mind a bit.

She knew that he would handle it but she couldn't help but be skeptical.

A couple of minutes later the four of them walked to the guild. Once they got there Natsu told them he had something to handle and he would be back in a few hours.

"Can we come?" Luke asked.

"Please daddy?" Nashi pleaded.

"I wish you could but then that'd ruin the surprise I got for you guys" Natsu answered hoping to deter them.

The mention of a surprise didn't phase the twins. They just wanted to spend more time their father.

Their eyes filled with tears, alarming both Lucy and Natsu.

"Okay fine, you can come with me. I think I'll need your help with something anyway."

Both of them perked up instantly.

"Only Luke and Nashi can come though." Natsu finished, setting his sights on Lucy.

"So you're all just gonna abandon mommy?" Lucy pouted feigning sadness.

The twins giggled at this.

"We're sorry mommy."

Lucy kissed their cheeks and hugged them, telling them to be safe before walking into the guild. She wondered what Natsu was up to.

'He was so adamant that I stay here, I wonder what he's doing. Maybe I should follow them? Nah all three of them would sniff me out from a mile away.' She thought sighing as the guild doors closed behind her.