12

Chapter 12 – Homebuilding, Season, Time

"Alright, Mr. Dragneel, just sign here and you'll officially be the owner of the plot." The Magnolia Town Clerk smiled at the teen. Natsu grinned as he signed his name on the deed. Behind the pinkette Makarov proudly looked on. Another of his brats was growing up into a fine young man.

Natsu, as Makarov had predicted, took his share of the Ten Million Jewel from the Magic Council to buy the land that he and his girlfriends frequented. It was a lovely area, surrounded by the forest and with a large, mostly level field to build on. Nearby streams could provide water and Natsu already had some ideas for his home. The Dragon Slayer was looking forward to building!

With the deed signed and the land now officially his Natsu practically tore out of the Clerk's Office to race to the Guild. Makarov chuckled as he followed along sedately behind the rushing teen. It seemed like it might be time; it would be that time of the years again soon. He was blessed to have so many candidates to choose from. Erza, Mira, Natsu, Cana, all of them had the potential. The Trials this year were sure to be exciting to say the least.

-Fairy Tail Guild-

"Lisanna, Cana, Erza, Mira!" Natsu called out as he kicked open the doors to the Guild. He rushed in and found his girlfriends' looking at him with various expressions, though all appeared happy or amused.

"Did you buy it, Natsu?" Lisanna asked with a grin. Natsu grinned back at her and held up the deed to the land. All four girls congratulated Natsu on his purchase as the Magma Dragon Slayer laughed.

"So, when are you going to start building?" Cana questioned curiously.

"After I get a plan for the house down. Shouldn't take too long, I just need your ideas." Natsu smiled at her.

"Our ideas?" Erza tilted her head. "It'll be your home, Natsu, why do you need our ideas?"

"You're going to live there too, right?" Natsu inquired as he looked back at her blankly.

"L-L-Live th-there?" Erza's face quickly matched her hair as she furiously blushed at Natsu's suggestion.

"Oh my~" Mira giggled even though her cheeks were a warm red as well.

"Rushing a bit, aren't you Natsu?" Cana's face was almost as dark as Erza's and the brunette was twirling a lock of her hair around her right index finger. Clearly she was happy, but also embarrassed at Natsu's forwardness.

"Okay…" Lisanna agreed even as she covered her blushing cheeks with her hands. The white-haired girl had sparkles in her eyes at the thought of moving in with her boyfriend.

"It doesn't have to be right away," Natsu blinked a few times at the reactions of his girlfriends. "You can move in after it's done, or whenever you feel like it."

All of the girls exhaled softly, barring Lisanna who still looked eager, and smiled warmly at their boyfriend. Natsu smiled back at them. He loved seeing them all happy like this! It made him feel warm in a way no fire or even his own lava could. It was warmth from inside his heart.

Over the course of the next couple of days, Natsu and the girls worked out various ideas and a general layout that they liked. Reedus had chuckled as he'd been asked to come to the field to draw up the basic concept of the house and some rough blueprints for them to follow. For the next several days afterwards Natsu took no jobs at all. Cana, Mira, Lisanna, and Erza all spent more time at the site of the future house than they did at the Guild Hall. Natsu could often be seen running into Magnolia to buy things; often leaving with some large bag of building materials thrown over his shoulder.

Cana had already made what she called a 'Hot Spring Pool' with her Crash Magic demonstration a while back. All of the girls loved the idea of having a private hot spring at home, so Natsu happily built the house around the idea. He and Erza used Earth Dragon Slayer Magic to move rock and dirt and form a solid foundation. Mira formed the frame with her Forest Dragon Slayer Magic. Lisanna and Cana found a large-ish stream and with Natsu and Erza's assistance, created a pipe underground to bring water to the home. The family happily built their future home together. While Erza and Natsu moved rock and soil to make walls along Mira's wooden frame; Cana and Lisanna would bring in bales of straw to act as insulation between two thick, compressed, walls of stone and dirt.

Once the walls were done, the family moved onto the roof. Starting with the wooden frame Mira made, the Forest Dragon Slayer then 'grew' the roof. The wood grew and fused together under Mira's Magic. When she was done there was a solid wooden roof over their future home. Gables were made on each end of the house, just under the roof overhang. This would let air flow and prevent the home from becoming too hot in the summer. Tarring and shingling the roof came next. It would protect the wood and prevent decay and leaks for many years to come.

Finally came the inside, and the family brought the home of their dreams to life. There was a large hearth in the big living room, with the kitchen open next to it. They had nice wooden cabinets and solid rock countertops. Natsu had bought a large double sink made of metal and a faucet. There was a stove that could be wood-fired or run on a Fire Lacrima. Finally they built a large round table for the whole family to have meals together.

Stairs to the second floor were made of wood, courtesy of Mira's Magic. Then window frames were made and windows were bought from town and installed. A large shower area was made just off the large hole that would become the hot spring. Since none of them had plumbing skills they had to hire a plumber from Magnolia. The man was a professional and easily made use of the underground pipe bringing in water from the stream. A few days of work and a fairly hefty bill later; their future home now had running water in the kitchen, the two bathrooms, and to the shower area just off the soon-to-be hot spring.

Near the end of their building Natsu had let the girls go to shop for furniture, drapery, bedding, and other essentials while he prepared a surprise for them. Opening up a small hatch on the stone floor of the hot spring area; Natsu smiled as he withdrew a fairly large, basketball-sized, Lacrima from within. Focusing his Magma Magic into the orb the opaque crystal began to change. First it gained an orange hue, then it darkened further, Natsu focused more of his Magic into the Lacrima until the sphere looked like crystallized magma in his hands. Like someone had captured moving magma flow into a crystal ball. Satisfied that the Lacrima was fully charged for a good, long while; Natsu placed it back into the hatch and shut it. With a grin Natsu turned the handle on the wall closest to the hatch and heard the telltale sound of water being released from a pipe.

It took a few seconds but the Magma Dragon Slayer cheered when hot water began to pour into the empty pool. The Lacrima would heat the water just like geothermal heat did for natural hot springs. The drain on the other end of the spring would let the water naturally cycle itself out over time as it constantly flowed. He'd taken the idea he'd seen used on his very first Quest, way back when, and applied the same concept. The water that constantly flowed into the spring came from upstream. The water that flowed out of the spring would then flow through another underground pipe that emptied out downstream. No water technically 'left' the natural cycle this way and Natsu felt that was better than altering the landscape to suit their needs.

The hot spring was filled and ready to use for the first time when the girls returned. Surrounding the spring was a thick earthen wall for privacy. Erza had made it herself and was satisfied that no one would be able to make any peepholes from outside. Though there was no separation on the inside at all. This was their private hot spring and only Natsu would be joining them in it! So that was fine. If they invited girls from the Guild over they'd let Natsu know in advance.

Needless to say all four girls had been ecstatic when they returned with their purchases to find a smiling Natsu who quickly showed them the completed spring. The pinkette had helped them set aside their purchases and encouraged them to enjoy themselves with the new towels and robes they'd bought.

"Thank you, Natsu!" Lisanna had happily thrown her arms around his neck and kissed him. The two separated after a few moments of kissing with grins on their faces.

"My turn to thank him." Mira giggled as she pulled Natsu to her lips. The elder Strauss sister happily pressing herself close to Natsu to show her appreciation of his surprise. The two almost had to be pulled apart as Mira was very reluctant to let him go.

"Thank you, Natsu." Erza smiled warmly as their lips met and his arms pulled her close. The red-haired young woman moaned happily as the kiss continued. Pulling back a bit later to gaze at each other softly; the couple only separated when Cana playfully nudged Erza's side.

"Hey now, I still need to thank him too~" Cana teased before Natsu's hand gently cupped her cheek and pulled her into a kiss. The brunette let out an eager moan as they kissed, her arms winding around Natsu's shoulders to pull them closer together. Natsu was the one to pull back this time; but that was only to prevent himself from getting 'too' into the kiss. They were all getting to the age where intimacy was almost always on their minds after all. Gildarts might not be too pleased with Natsu if he and Cana took that final step so soon.

"Enjoy your soak, girls." Natsu hugged them all and left them with a kiss on top of their heads. The girls were all smiles and giggles as they pulled out the new towels and robes they'd bought and headed for the showers. Scrubbing themselves clean the four girls were quickly soaking in the spring with content sighs.

"Mmm~ this is the best~" Cana sighed as she lounged against the edge of the spring.

"I'm so glad our current place is so close~" Mira hummed happily as she leaned over the edge a bit and used her arms as a pillow.

"This is wonderful~" Erza stretched and relaxed next to Cana.

"Ha~ I love Natsu so much~" Lisanna mumbled out with a sigh of relaxation.

"He's wonderful~" Erza agreed with closed eyes and a grin.

"We should probably talk about 'it' while we have the privacy." Cana spoke up with a giggle. Erza, Mira, and Lisanna all squeaked, embarrassed.

"Cana, how lewd…" Erza accused the Booze Dragon Slayer. Though her eyes were focused and a grin was tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Let her speak." Mira giggled as she held up her hand out of the water.

"I don't mind…" Lisanna smiled bashfully. She was the youngest of the group at fourteen, but she was old enough to have 'those' kinds of feelings and desires.

"Look, we're all sixteen, except Lisanna," Cana began as they relaxed and enjoyed their soak. "Natsu's fifteen now and we all love each other. So we should start thinking about our first times."

"I agree," Mira spoke up with a saucy grin. "We should consider how to approach Natsu about this when we're each ready. Now that Natsu has a home of his own, we have a place to be alone with him. Like after a date maybe~?" The elder Strauss sister wiggled her eyebrows playfully.

"Mira~" Erza shivered as she was obviously imagining the scenario in her mind.

"What~? Does Erza like that idea~?" Mira teased the redhead with a giggle.

"I do~" Lisanna hugged herself, her eyes closed as she vividly imagined staying the night at Natsu's house.

"Anyway…" Cana rolled her eyes at her 'sisters'. "We need to make it clear to Natsu when we're ready. After all, he may not be ready when we are; so we need to be respectful if he declines the first time."

"Yes, you're right." Erza agreed with a nod. Just because they were ready to take that step didn't mean Natsu would be.

"Well, it's not like we have to rush it or anything." Lisanna smiled softly. "We can wait until the moment feels right; for us and for Natsu too."

"That's my sweet little sister~" Mira cooed as she pulled Lisanna into a side hug. Lisanna happily leaned into her sister's embrace.

"She speaks the truth." Cana agreed with a smile at the younger sister. "So…when should we invite him to take a soak with us~?" The brunette questioned with a teasing purr.

"Cana!" Erza sputtered and the 'sisters' all laughed together. Getting out of the spring and toweling off, the teens put on their new bathrobes and entered the house. It was time for a conversation with their boyfriend.

"Hey girls, enjoy your soak?" Natsu asked as he lay on the thick rug the girls had purchased and brought back home. The furniture would be delivered over the next few days so this was the softest thing in the house at the moment.

"It was great~" Mira groaned pleasantly as she stretched.

"We do have something to talk about though, Natsu." Erza smiled at her boyfriend.

"What's that?" Natsu asked curiously.

"It has to do with our first times." Cana answered and Natsu's face changed.

"Are you feeling different?" Natsu asked looking between Erza, Mira, and Cana specifically.

"Different?" Mira blinked.

"It would be way late for it, but you're all sixteen now." Natsu breathed out as he patted the rug to indicate they should sit down. All four girls sat in a circle with Natsu.

"What's going on, Natsu?" Lisanna questioned the pinkette. He was acting a bit differently now.

"It's something that Igneel and Anna taught me about before I left the nest." Natsu began and all four girls leaned in slightly. "They taught me about relationships, romantic ones like ours, and Mating. Both the physical aspect of intercourse and what the term means for Dragons."

"It means something different for Dragons?" Erza blinked at the new information.

"For Dragons there is the act of mating; which is purely for procreation." Natsu replied as he ran his hand through his pink locks. "In this scenario a male and a female get together and mate. The male either leaves right after or will be run off by the female after the egg hatches."

"That sounds pretty lizard-like." Mira commented and Natsu agreed with her.

"When it comes to taking a Mate; then the situation changes," Natsu continued. "Taking a Mate involves a Mating Display, usually a show of power from both the male and the female. If either finds the other's power insufficient, then the Mating doesn't happen."

"So when they do find each other's power sufficient, then what?" Cana leaned forward a bit.

"Then they mate and mark each other, they become Mates and the male and female stay together to raise their child." Natsu smiled and all four girls smiled back brightly. They much preferred this path. "This always occurs during the 'Mating Season' for Dragons. It's usually between the middle of spring and the early summer. Igneel said that some external factors like the weather or ecosystem can push it back or make it come early sometimes. But the thing that remains consistent is that it only affects Dragons that are sexually mature. For Dragons that doesn't just mean puberty, or the Dragon equivalent anyway; but it means the age at which a female Dragon can successfully produce a viable egg. For Dragons this can take well over a century of life. For Dragon Slayers it's supposed to be around sixteen years old." The pinkette looked at Cana, Mira, and Erza who all had pink cheeks.

"So this 'Season' happens every year?" Erza questioned with wide eyes.

"Yeah, from sixteen to whenever the libido dies down. That's how Anna explained it." Natsu nodded to his red-haired girlfriend.

"Then why are we all thinking about it?" Lisanna questioned with rosy cheeks. "I'm only fourteen right now."

"Humans are able to have these feelings and desires before the 'Season' starts to affect them. The 'Season' only heightens desire and the instinctual urge to procreate. Igneel told me without the 'Season' many Dragons probably wouldn't bother mating much at all." Natsu shrugged; he couldn't explain it any better than it had been explained to him.

"So, come next spring or early summer the three of us are going to want to jump you constantly?" Mira teased and Natsu blushed slightly.

"Sort of, you can ignore it, or we can stay apart to cool the urge. It's not like we're forced to do anything. We'll just have a stronger desire to do so." Natsu explained to his girlfriends.

"What if we do give in to it?" Lisanna asked with sparkles in her blue eyes.

"Then we would probably barely separate for a few days." Natsu scratched his cheek with a lopsided grin. "During that time we'd be in a lower inhibition state and our libido would have almost free rein."

"So just primal, animal heat for a few days then?" Cana chuckled and Natsu shrugged.

"Basically, a lot of sex and not much else aside from the necessities." Natsu informed them. "It might be better to have our first times outside the 'Season' so that we're actually making love; rather than giving into primal instinct and rutting or fucking, I guess." Naturally all four girls had rather fierce blushes at this point. Though Natsu noticed the approving looks they were giving him. He assumed for his suggestion that their first times should be love making instead of fucking.

"Well…I'm ok with progressing our relationship a bit further if you three are." Mira looked at her 'sisters', especially Lisanna.

"I'd like that." Lisanna smiled warmly at Natsu.

"I agree…" Erza gave Natsu her own smile.

"I don't mind at all~" Cana grinned with half-lidded eyes at her boyfriend.

"What about you Natsu?" Mira asked with a teasing lilt; her hands reaching up to the edge of her bathrobe.

"As long as you four are okay with it." Natsu looked each of them in the eye. His gaze showed nothing but love and acceptance of whatever they chose. It was a bit of a surprise for the older girls when Lisanna was the first to pull the top of her bathrobe open. Her breasts bouncing from the movement and Natsu's gaze transfixed on the newly exposed flesh.

"Go ahead, Natsu~" Lisanna welcomed her boyfriend's gaze. "You can touch me~"

"Lisanna, you're so forward~" Mira playfully teased her little sister. She pulled the top of her robe open and let her girls bounce free. Natsu's gaze moved to her breasts and Mira welcomed his gaze with a purr.

"Shall we?" Cana giggled to Erza and the redhead smiled cutely as she nodded. They both pulled open the tops of their robes and let their own breasts free. Natsu's gaze shifted to their boobs as if he was trying to memorize each of the girl's bare tits. Natsu, to be fair, tossed off his vest and let his girlfriends' look over his torso. They got to see a lot of it every day with Natsu more often than not wearing only a vest. But this situation just made it far more intimate.

"Come here, Natsu~" Erza beckoned him towards the four girls with a 'come hither' motion. Natsu crawled across the rug and was quickly 'captured' by Lisanna. The girl smiled at him as she gently took his hands and placed them on her breasts.

"Touch me, Natsu~" Lisanna let out a cute moan as his warm hands touched her chest.

"Lisanna." Natsu breathed out as he began to caress and gently squeeze Lisanna's supple boobs. "You're beautiful~" Lisanna couldn't help herself; she leaned forward and captured Natsu's lips in a kiss. The two carefully began to explore Second Base together. Mira, Erza, and Cana all shared a knowing smile with each other as Lisanna and Natsu explored the newest aspect of their relationship.

"Natsu~" Lisanna panted after they finally released each other several moments later. "Mmm~ play with the others too~" The girl said with a dazed smile.

"Let's play, Natsu~" Cana giggled as she took his right hand and placed it on her breast. Being two years older her breasts were larger than Lisanna's by a bit. Natsu happily brought his hands to them and began to explore. Cana moaned softly as the pinkette's hands roamed and played with her tits. When he leaned forward to catch her lips the brunette moaned into the kiss and deepened it. It quickly progressed to French Kissing as Cana's tongue met his and her hands trailed up and down Natsu's exposed body.

"Natsu!" Erza gasped when Cana had separated from Natsu and then almost pushed him on top of her! The pinkette's lips met hers in a deep, passionate kiss and Erza wrapped her arms around his neck as she opened her mouth. She moaned hotly as their tongues wrestled and his hand played with her breasts. They were so warm, she loved this! The closeness, the passion, the heat, and the pleasure~ it was all so good! Erza gasped when they pulled their lips away from each other's. She kissed his jaw as he played with her nipples, drawing a lewd moan from her lips. "Natsu~ Ah~ don't tease them~" The redhead moaned into his neck before kissing it too.

"My turn~" Mira blew into Natsu's ear with a purr. Natsu turned to the platinum-haired beauty with a smile and captured her lips. Mira moaned and practically crawled into Natsu's lap to deepen their kiss. His warm hands found her tits and began to explore them to find out what Mira liked. The girl proved to be a more aggressive lover as he kissed her way down his neck and then bit him. Natsu jolted at the bite and grabbed Mira's ass. He hauled the elder Strauss sister up higher, forcing her to release his neck, before he captured a nipple in his mouth. "Natsu~!" Mira moaned loudly as her boyfriend's tongue and lips lavished attention on her left nipple.

"No fair~" Lisanna giggled as she pressed herself against Natsu's bare back. "You didn't do that to my breasts~" Natsu pulled away from Mira's tit to turn his head and kiss Lisanna. The younger sister moaned into their kiss while Mira panted as Natsu's hands happily groped her butt.

For the next several minutes Natsu and the girls indulged in the new aspect of their relationship. It was only when they heard the small Happy call out for fish that they realized that they'd forgotten the flying cat was in the house! The four girls hurried to make themselves decent as Happy flew down from the second floor where he'd been napping. The five teens took the opportunity that the small, blue cat presented to breathe and calm down a bit.

"Hungry, buddy?" Natsu grinned at the flying cat.

"Aye!" Happy called out with an adorable mewl. The five teens couldn't help but smile at the cute kitten. Lisanna happily took him into her arms and the family made their way into the kitchen to cook the first dinner in the home. All of them felt a sense of 'togetherness' as they cooked and ate. The house felt warmer and all of them smiled warmly at each other.

Over the following years many 'firsts' would take place in this home. For what else could this place now be called but their home? It was where their hearts were after all.

-End Chapter-