Chapter 40

Natsu's P.O.V.

Over the next few days, our house had been filled with our friends: Blue Pegasus and Lamia Scale, along with Yukina, Sting, Rogue, Frosche, and Lector had all been staying in town to see how Lucy's been doing. Gajeel and Levy, along with Tomoya, had been by Lucy while she laid in bed, regaining her strength. Like, currently, for instance. Ichiya, Nichiya, Ren, Hibiki, Eve, and Master Bob currently were milling around outside, hanging out with others from Lamia Scale and Fairy Tail, and the mentioned people of Saber Tooth. Flare had shown up, and was, with Jenny of Blue Pegasus, inside the cottage talking about how Lucy and I should start decorating the nursery. Lucy'd laughed weakly.

"We don't even know what the gender is. I highly doubt a little boy will appreciate ribbons-"

"Well, it could be a little girl-" Jenny interrupted Lucy, and I interrupted her. Coming to kneel before the bed, I placed my hand to Lucy's stomach.

"No way! I have a strong feeling that this is a little boy." Lucy raised her eyebrows.

"And if it isn't? What if it is a girl? Are you gonna love it any less-"

"No, no, no, no, no. That's not what I meant." Gajeel had burst out laughing immediately. Levy covered her mouth with her hand, chuckling softly while rocking Tomoya back and forth. Huffing out a breath, Lucy yawned, and stretched out. Levy laid down beside her, Gajeel taking Tomoya from her and motioning for me to sit beside him.

"What?" I asked, as I complied. He motioned for me to hold out my hands. I did so, and he handed me Tomoya. I shrieked, but held fast, not wanting to risk dropping the little boy.

"WHY DID YOU- I DON'T KNOW HOW TO-" I made several noises of protest, but slowly fixed my arms to where I was cradling him. I was amazed at how something so small, so fragile, could even exist. A few moments later, Gajeel took him back, grinning at me.

"You had to learn how to hold a baby and get over the nerves eventually. A dragon slayer mate's pregnancy can take up to nine months, and down to three. It all depends how strong your baby is. The stronger, the longer." I listened intently as he explained something, furrowing my eyebrows. I thought about the lengthy amount of time that Levy was pregnant.

"How long did it take Levy to have Tomoya-"

"Seven months."

"Is that good?"

"For normal babies, it wouldn't be. But for a dragon slayer child, yes. Healthy." I let out a sigh of relief. That was then, though. Now I currently sat at home in bed with Lucy laying in my arms. I hummed 'my girl' to her softly, while rubbing her still flat stomach. She laughed a little and moved up so that her head was in the crook of my shoulder and neck.

"You do realize that I'm probably not but like....two weeks along, right?"

"Your point?" I asked a question to answer a question.

"If you're trying to feel the baby, you're gonna have to wait for a bit."

"Can't I just rub my pregnant wife's flat stomach without questions?"

"Pft. Are you insane? Mad? Bonkers? That simply isn't done." We had a small laugh over that little remark, and somehow we were making out a moment later. I wrapped my arms around her waist, and moved to where she was laying down, me on top of her. I pressed kisses gently to her neck and shoulders, moving my hands to the hem of her shirt... And Lucy pushed me away. I made a whining sound in the back of my ground.

"Why'd ya push me away, Luce?" I complained. "It's a little too late to worry about protection, don't you think?" She slapped my arms and fixed her shirt.

"We're not...you know..." I frowned.

"Why? It doesn't hurt the baby."

"I don't wanna."

"But I do." We went back and forth until I came to a realization, and understanding: I was not going to be having sexual intercourse until she had the baby. Maybe a while after. Lucy liked this understanding.

"It would feel dirty. After all, I have our baby inside of me." I grinned. I loved it when she said 'our baby'. I moved down until I could press my lips to her stomach, kissing it softly. She giggled. I stood, putting a hand in her hair and kissing her passionately. Then, I reached for her hands. She gave them to me, and I pulled her to her feet.

"What-"

"I say we fix dinner, and call Erza, Gray and Juvia over." I hated myself for mentioning anything. Her eyes immediately cast down to the floor, but not before flashing with pain.

"Luce....they really are sorry. They were just scared. If they weren't, if I didn't believe they were sincere, I would've kicked their asses by now." she moved her eyes back up to me, a small smile playing on her lips. I waited for her answer.

"Oh, alright." She said after a moment. "Invite them over. I cannot avoid them forever." I grinned, pecking her lips, and watched as Lucy rushed into the kitchen and started jerking out the stuff we'd need for the meal we were making.

"I'll be back shortly," I called over my shoulder as I opened the front door.

"Get Happy, too." I heard her call back. I walked down the small path, nearly running straight into Happy. I didn't have time to react as he screeched and launched himself at me, holding onto me tightly.

"NATSU!!"

"HAPPY!!" I cried back. "I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH."

"AYEE!!" We spent several minutes catching up, before I explained to him that some 'rumors' he'd heard about Lucy were true.

"Yes, she's pregnant." I told him, grinning. His eyes widened, and Happy pummeled my chest with his paws angrily.

"I AM TO BE GODFATHER AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME FIRST?! HOW DARE YOU-"

"It isn't like that," I insisted, and though I really didn't want to explain how every one came to know before he did, I spoke. I told him everything: About the honeymoon, about Lucy and I deciding to try for a baby (which he giggled like a MANIAC during T^T), about Juvia and Gray showing up. About Lucy giving herself up to Slade, who told her she was pregnant and tried to kill the baby. Happy had practically growled when I said that, threatening to castrate Slade with his bare paws. Finally, I told him how the baby healed Lucy.

"Oh, but we can talk more later! Are you still living at home with Luce and I?" I asked. He nodded.

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." I smiled at this and hugged him one last time before I gestured towards the house.

"Lucy just sent me out to get you. Go on up there and keep her company while I get Erza, Gray, and Juvia?" I asked him. Happy didn't hesitate to fly up the path and into the house, where I could hear the faint sound of them reuniting. Laughing, I continued walking towards the guild, where I figured I'd find the three. There was just one problem: was making amends with them risking upsetting Lucy?