10 Chapter 10

Lucy's POV

We reach the guild and Natsu looks at me so intently, 'Are you ready my queen?' He asked taking my hand. I have the bag with our precious eggs in them closed and held close to my side.

'Yeah just a little nervous,' I respond. We are using our minds I'm pretty sure we are both nervous so I smile. 'Let's go in fairy tail style!'

He grins and we kick the door open together and walk in. "We're back!" we yell out together.

The guild hall goes completely quite as everyone just stared at us for a minute and then the the guild roars out, "LUCY!" and come running towards us. Natsu and I quickly go into Dragon Force and fly above them so they don't crush us or more importantly our eggs.

"QUITE YOU BRATS! There's an announcement!" Master yells out getting everyone's attention. He motions for Natsu and I to come to him and we do. "As you can see Lucy is awake now!" The whole guild cheers again and Master looks at us, "are you ready?" he asked quietly we nod our heads with big happy smiles at the ready. I have the bag held close to me lightly smoothing the wrinkled material. "Natsu and Lucy have an important announcement to make and I expect you all to listen carefully! Master sits down on the railing giving us the spotlight.

Natsu looks at me, 'Ready?' he asked.

'Together,' I respond.

We both take a deep breath and yell at the same time, "We're having triplets!" The entire guild is silent before the deafening roar that followed.

"WHAT!" "REALLY?" "ALREADY!" and an assortment of other comments as well including, "Congratulations," "OH MY MAVIS" and the like Natsu pulls me closer and kisses me sweetly on the lips. The racket that was our guild could be heard all over Magnolia.

When we finally felt it was safe enough to finally come down from the top landing. "Alright you brats let's party!" we hear Master yell. Starting the commotion all over again.

'Our family,' I hear Natsu in my thoughts. 'They really are something else.' I laugh out loud and nod in agreement leaning my head against his shoulder content to spend forever just like this.

I'm still so very tired I close my eyes until I hear Levy calling out to me. I guess I had fallen asleep at some point because I was sitting across Natsu's lap my head still in his shoulder when I blinked my eyes open. Natsu must have prevented me from falling he already had his arms around me he probably just scooped me up.

"What?" I say looking at Natsu and then to Levy and back again. 'I haven't told them about the eggs yet. I was waiting for you,' I hear Natsu's calming voice in my head before refocusing on Levy.

"I said how far along are you? How do you know your having triplets already?" she asked. I pointed at Natsu in response.

"Hahaha, yeah three perfect beautiful heartbeats!" he said disregarding the question of how far along I was. Which I preferred; pregnant for 14 months comes with a lot of questions that I didn't care to answer; even though I knew I would have to and soon.

"Oh my goodness! I'm so happy for you two!" Levy squealed hurting both of our ears. She apologized as soon as she realized what she did though.

"Well it didn't take you long to have kids that's for sure, damn then all at once!" Grey exclaimed. "Your going to have your hands full flame brain." We smiled at that.  If only he knew we probably would have never said anything about Natsu knocking me up.

"Juvia thinks so too, Juvia hopes to have kids one day soon!" Juvia says. "Love riv- Lucy is very lucky!" Natsu had started to growl but low enough that no one but I had noticed before she corrected herself.

Erza walked up to us at this point. "It feels like you two have been avoiding me for months," She glared but neither of us even flinched.

"Nah, just bad timing I guess." I laugh out loud and Natsu holds me lightly with the bag that now rested on my lap against my stomach. I know everyone can hear him purring he had been since we made the announcement.

Wendy and Gajeel are in a booth nearby and I wave for them to join us. I smile really big, 'Are you ready?' I ask Natsu so no one can hear.

'YES!' he responded.

"So do you want to see them?" I ask all our close friends. Erza and Grey had been taking a drink at that moment and as such spit it out after choking on it. Levy and Juvia both screamed, "What!?!" and Wendy and Gajeel both smiled and laughed a little at the others. Natsu and I were laughing extremely hard at their reactions and Mira had been walking over and had heard me. She had dropped her thankfully empty tray at the question, before running the rest of the way.

"She asked if you want to see them; so do you," Natsu asked them now while I was trying so hard stop laughing.

"How?" All but Wendy and Gajeel ask.

"Oh yes please I've always wanted to see them!" Wendy exclaims careful not to say eggs, smart girl. I wink at her.

"Your leaving shrimp in suspense you know?" Gajeel gihi-ed.

Laxus walks over seeing Mira and the rest acting crazier than normal, "Does this mean your making another crazy announcement?" he asked.

Natsu and I continue to laugh and nod our heads. When we finally calm down enough I look at them again and ask again, "So do you want to see them?" This time there is no joking around and I'm very serious Natsu wraps his arms around me protectively somehow managing to keep the bag within his arms too.

"Yes!" They all sit staring at us. Natsu leans over and kisses me in the lips and we both open the bag together. No one says a word as we slowly pull out one egg at a time, keeping them within our arms. We do not plan to let anyone but Master touch them for quite a while yet.

Everyone eyes go huge and all of their mouths drop open excluding Wendy and Gajeel. "Oh my goodness their beautiful! Wendy exclaimed.

"You did good Salamander, Bunny-girl," Gajeel nodded approvingly.

"Wait, dragon slayers lay fucking eggs!" Grey stupidly shouted earning a snarl not only from Natsu and I but Wendy and Gajeel also.

"You got a problem with that Stripper," Gajeel growls real low his arms sharpening to blades as he speaks. Natsu has his arms around me silently moving me further away as I clutch the bag, my eggs now safely inside again, close to me all our teeth are bared and even Wendy looks ready to to beat the shit out of him.

"No, I'm just shocked is all." Grey defended Erza and Juvia nodded still not over their own shock.

"Lu-Chan can I get a closer look please?" Levy asked. "I promise I won't touch them!" she adds. I smile of course Levy would already know about the eggs or at the very least she was open to the idea.

I open the bag again now that the 'threat' was delt with and pull them out again. Natsu resumed purring and started to blow a light flame on them, as do I. I can feel their hunger. Everyone including Gajeel and Wendy watch in aww as we tend to our eggs. I had upped the heat to a blue fire and Natsu saw this and matched me. We gently held our babies with the blue fire engulfing them seemingly roasting our own children as our friends watch.

We finally stop, and I curl my arms around them. "I'm sorry they were hungry," I tell Levy and the rest of our friends. I feel weak and slightly light headed, I'm starving.

I hear Natsu chuckle and reach into his blue backpack and pulls it a small jar of pickles and a small container of whipped topping handing them to me and taking the eggs allowing me to eat. I was so happy I gave Natsu a deep kiss right then and there before opening them and taking a dill pickle spears which have become my favorite and using it to scoop a huge dollop of whipped cream before taking a loud bite.

Wendy and Gajeel join everyone else this time with the grossed out faces. "I know gross get over it; I'm still eating it." I say between bites.

Natsu's POV

"No, I'm just shocked is all." Grey defended himself. I'm still on guard though the stupid ice princess had really gotten under my skin.

"Lu-Chan can I get a closer look please?" I hear Levy ask. "I promise I won't touch them!" she adds. I smile a little. Of course Levy was head over heels in love with Gajeel. She had probably been researching the whole thing ever since she found out about Lucy and me.

I start purring again and when Lucy brings out the eggs I start to blow a low flame on them. Lucy turns hers to a blue fire so I match her.

"I'm sorry they were hungry," I hear Lucy apologise for withholding our babies. I chuckled a little Lucy is about to pass out from hunger, I pull out her favorite craving food and take our eggs from her. She gives me an incredible kiss worth saving the world world for. I would have liked more but she had already started eating the gross concoction.

"I know gross get over it; I'm still eating it." I hear her say between bites.

I laugh so hard that everyone else finally joins in. I gently put the eggs away after letting Levy see each one turning them about so she could see them all. I was purring again. When wasn't I purring anymore? Unless fucking ice princess was pissing me off that is.

I left the bag open occasionally blowing a short flame evenly over them as we talked with our friends.

"So do you know their genders already?" Grey asked, everyone went quite and tension filled the air. "Fuck did I say something stupid again?"

"This broke the tension and Lucy and I started to laugh again. "Sometimes ice princess I don't know if I want to punch you or hug you," I tell him.

Everyone else seemed a little awkward about it but Lucy and I continued to laugh. Until finally I look over at Mira, "Is there anyway we can get a bunch of food? Absolutely no strawberries!" I ask her. She looks confused but nods her head and answers "Of course!" before leaving. "The answer by the way is no," I call out to her. She turned around smiling her acknowledgement before hurrying with our order so she can rejoin.

I look at Grey, "No we don't know yet, any day now though." My purring was getting louder and I blew another flame on our babies this time starting out with red hot flames. Lucy didn't correct me so I continued.

"Does this mean your kids will be in the wedding?" Juvia asked.

I flinch a little, "Uh, well..." I don't really know how to answer that and Lucy had fallen asleep again after eating.

"It doesn't work like that," I finally answer. "They can be there as eggs, but dragon eggs take a long time to hatch."

"How long?" Grey this time, damn it can't they tell it's making me uncomfortable.

"Stop, Your making him uncomfortable, let's wait until Lucy wakes up before asking more questions, a short break if you will," Erza states nonchalantly.

Thank you Erza's! I beam at her when I feel an extremely dangerous aura behind me before I can say anything. I look over my shoulder and see Lucy is literally on fire while she is sleeping.

"It's okay Luce! I'm not going anywhere!" I shout pulling her back carefully against me before she catches the whole guild hall on fire. Her fire goes out the moment I pull her against my body. I let out a sigh of relief as I cuddle her and our eggs there in the booth. She left a slight char mark on the bench.

"Why did Lu-Chan catch in fire?"asked Levy.

"And why does she keep falling asleep Mira asked arriving with a huge platter of food. I double check and make sure there are no strawberries before gently shaking Lucy's shoulder to wake her.

I wait to answer until I see Lucy is starting to blink her eyes open and sees all the food in front of her. "Thanks for the food," she sleepily begins eating.

I look at our friends again Lucy is barely awake she will pass out again once the food is gone. I sigh out loud. "Where to start?" I mumble loud enough for everyone to hear. Even Laxus is paying close attention. I don't think he cares so much about Lucy or me but since he is a second generation dragon slayer he is probably curious.

"So humans typically take 9 months right?" I ask, everyone nods. "Well dragon slayers take 14 months," I wait until their shock and surprise relaxes and give my babies a little fire. I'm well passed hungry but I know that Lucy is starving. I haven't touched anything at all. If she leaves a little I'll eat on it otherwise I'll order separately.

I sigh out loud again, "When a dragon find their one mate, we only get one, there are no second chances or whatever. We mate for life," I say looking at Laxus I'm pretty sure everyone else heard from Levy and Grey because none of them bat an eye.

"We leave a mark on each other; most are invisible to the naked eye." I begin and I see both Gajeel and Wendy stiffen which everyone else notices.

"Then why can we see yours? Is there a reason?" Grey asked.

I smiled and looked at Gajeel, his eyes go big as he waited. "Gajeel why don't you tell them? You don't have to of course." I say grinning. I look closely at my friends, I want to remember their reactions forever and plus Lucy had finished eating everything and fallen back to sleep this time using my lap as a pillow. I run my fingers through her hair gently as I waited.

"Sure," he huffs. I again watch my friends and they are almost holding their breaths in anticipation. This is going to be good I think to myself.

"The reason we can see Salamander's and Bunny-girl's marks," he hesitates when he sees me glare at him. "I mean Lucy's mark is because they are our king and queen."

Nothing not even a cough could be heard somehow the whole guild had gone quite. They had at some point or another started listening in on us. Not a single reaction. I waited for the shock to wear away and just smiled at my friends.

"WHAT!?!?!?!?!?" The whole guild at once. Lucy is still in a deep sleep she must have entered a light hibernation after eating hopefully she will wake up tonight.

I waited for the whole guild to calm down and blew some green fire on my eggs while I waited which many hadn't realized I had with me. I wonder what made my fire green? I gently turn it blue and then back down to red before bothering to listen to my friends again.

"Your the King?" Laxus and Mira shouted at me hurting my ears. I glared at them and released a short column of white fire in the air careful not to catch anything on fire. They finally all shut up.

"Yes, I'm the King and Lucy is now the Queen." I say calmly. "Igneel, my dad, was the Fire Dragon King so when he died that would have made me king. But not until I took a mate. It meant nothing until I did."

"Why?" Mira asked confused.

"Do you know who has all the real power?" I ask her. She shook her head no. "The Queen does, without a queen a King means nothing. They are powerless." I look down at my mate who had started to shiver. I frown and take off my scarf giving it to her. Which seemed to relieve her a little. I gently lit my hand ablaze and held it near her giving her a little warmth. This seemed to do the most good, after a while I stopped and looked at my friends again. "If I would have been a female instead of a male, then it wouldn't have mattered I would have had my title immediately. As is I was content to live as just another dragon slayer until Lucy desided to show any interest at all." I smile at the thought. "Then she did."

Grey looked at me meaningfully, "That one morning?" Was all he said and I nodded. I gave him a look that said another word would land him in hot fire forget hot water.

"Yeah," I gently combed through Lucy's hair with my fingers. 'Are you listening my queen?' I ask her with my thoughts. 'Yeah, I'm just so tired.' I heard her respond.

"That's okay you rest, I'll carry you home whenever your ready." I say out loud, confusing our friends even Gajeel and Wendy.

I love the feel of running my fingers through Lucy's hair. The way her hair moved to my touch, the smoothness, the way light played with her hair when it moved. I sigh out loud. "I love you Luce." I see her content smile flash across her face.

"Wait, so your telling me that you are an actual King? Not a joke you have actual power in what dragons or dragon slayers do?" Mira asked me, I'm a little surprised she was so verbal with her thoughts.

"To some extent, my queen however her words are law and no one can go against them."I respond. I look at Levy now, "It's why Gajeel hid from you when Lucy just motioned for him to be quite. A Queens command is unbreakable."

Natsu's POV

Gajeel slowly nodded rubbing the back of his neck with his hand trying not to look at anyone, but we were surrounded. Our little booth had the whole guild clustered around it. I grin a little at the sight, Levy was currently right next to him and if anyone pushed a little bit she would be in his lap. I start thinking about the fact that I know he wants to take a mate, in particular Levy.

Both Lucy and I agree to the match but she is the maid of honor and the wedding is next week. We still need to do so much. I have tried to answer any and all questions for both Levy and Grey while Lucy was asleep and I think I did really well. Lucy has her dress fitting tomorrow afternoon and they will do any last minute needed altercations then. My tux fitting is at about the same time so we can spend more time together. I have also remembered to pay for everything I could in advance so that we wouldn't get any bills after.

"Hey flame brain! Are you in there?" Grey is yelling as he waves his hands in my face.

I shook myself a little, "What? Sorry just thinking."

"We were asking you how long ago you got her pregnant?" Grey asked bluntly.

Erza pulled out a sword and had it aimed at Grey. "I think you need to rephrase that," her voice was deadly calm her eyes dark. The look still sent a shiver down my spine even though I know that I am way stronger than her now.

Grey put this hands up in defeat. "I mean about how far along are they?" his voice is barely a whisper.

I chuckle a little bit. 'Should I tell them my queen?' I look down at Lucy my fingers still running through her hair.

'I guess it's okay now but don't let them go crazy about it!' She answers me.

"Well the thing about dragon slayers is that when we mate, the males, always impregnate the female the first time. So when I asked Lucy to be my mate..." I left the statement unfinished. They can either get the gist or remain ignorant.

Levy went very white like all the blood drained from her face. Looks like she didn't know; I wonder how Lucy knew and she didn't? Grey and Erza were also changing colors. Grey turned blue weirdly enough and Erza's face matched her own damn hair. I'm trying very hard not to laugh out right and it is so hard to keep a straight face. I send Lucy the image and I can hear her laughter in my head but she remained still, breathing deeply.

Most of the guild had gone quite, most either a little pale or blushing lightly, but no one was as extreme as Levy, Erza, or Grey. Seriously how did Grey turn blue? I mean I know his body temp is pretty damn cold compared to everyone else's but this is kind of crazy.

"Grey how are you blue? I can still hear your heartbeat so I know your alive and I see you breathing. What gives?" I decided to just ask him.

"Ice demon slayer, remember?" Was all he uttered. I just nod my head, I guess that makes some sense, maybe.

"Salamander," Gajeel cuts off like he isn't sure if he should talk.

I glare at him, "What?"

"I've been wanting to talk to you about something for a while now, maybe..."

"If it's what I think it is then it will have to wait until after the wedding next week," He looked shocked, like he didn't expect me to know what it was. He nodded his head in submission.

"It's time for us to go home," I say looking at the clock. "Gajeel why don't you meet me there and we can talk about it?" This got him to smile a little and he nodded his head a little in thanks.

After giving our babies a little more fire before hitting the road, I never did get to order any food for myself; but Mira seemed to know that I was hungry, "Not until you eat your food!" I looked at her like she was crazy.

"I didn't order..." I begin and Mira sets down a platter just like the first one that Lucy ate. "Are you an angel? Thanks for the food!" Everyone laughs a little leaving us alone. I ate everything heartily. I can't believe I was so hungry. 'It's because you fed the babies your fire.' I hear Lucy say. 'Your not just feeding them your fire your also feeding them anything you have eaten, it's how you make your fire. If you get to tired your fire will turn green and you might hibernate soon afterwards.' I hear her continue.

'Shoot my fire was green earlier!' I tell her.

'Did it stay green or could you turn it back to normal?' she asked me.

'Normal, why?' I respond.

'If you could get it back to normal then it was just a warning. No more fire from you tonight and maybe order a second helping of food if you think you can still eat.' She tells me.

I smile and get Mira's attention and motion that I want another helping while I finish my food off. Everyone had left except for Gajeel who just raised an eyebrow at me but kept silent. I finish both helpings and pick up my mate and babies and gently carry them home. I decide to fly so that it would be quicker and I wouldn't have to worry about people bumping into us. Gajeel just slowly walks to our place, silent.

'He is going to ask you know that right?' I ask Lucy.

'I know, and I want them together but don't they get a month long honeymoon like we did?" She asks me.

I sigh out loud before answering her, 'Pretty much, each type takes a different amount of time. Fire takes a month sometimes more, I honestly don't know about iron though.' I tell her.

I lay her down in our room. Thankfully even with the red stones in the room she could talk to me even if I was in the basement with the mind link. Maybe because there is no actual sound? So I tuck her in after changing her clothes and I take the bag with our eggs and gently put them in the bassinet, leaving the bag itself hung up on the wall. 'Should I light the kindling?' I ask her.

'Yeah I will call for you if it needs to be put out before you get back.' she tells me. I smile and flick my fingers lighting the padding of the bassinet so that they could be safe.

I hear someone knock on the door. I sigh out loud it was time for a very personal conversation. On one hand I'm glad that the red stones don't keep sound out, on the other it kind of pissed me off. Time to talk to Gajeel.

I give my mate a quick kiss on the forehead and answer the door. I let Gajeel in and lead him to the living room motioning for him to sit down on the couch while I took the chair. I'm patient and wait for him to speak. I don't want to rush him, I think it was probably about time Gajeel and I 'bonded'. After all Grey and I did already.

"Salamander, I've been wanting to ask you about something for a while now." Gajeel begins and I just nod my head indicating him to continue. He seems to feel a little more at ease and he lets out a sigh. "Can I ask Levy to be my mate?" I see him wince like he expected to be punched or something. I stay quiet, I stay quiet for a long time.

Gajeel finally seemed to get the courage to look at me and he sees me just sitting there. I have leaned back in my comfy chair and I had one of my ankles over my other knee, my hands were together and I was frowning at him. He did not take this as a good sign and I could see him almost deflate.

"When?" I ask him finally cutting the silence.

Gajeel started, like he didn't expect a question just a no. "What?"

"I asked when, when do you want to take her to be your mate?" I repeat myself.

"I..." He seems truly flustered.

"How long is your honeymoon period?" I ask instead. I have been staying calm throughout and he knows it. In fact he seems to be preparing for death like I'm about to execute him.

"One week long, I just want to ask her." his voice is dry I have a hard time understanding him; but I finally do.

'The wedding is next week what do you think, Lucy?' I send the thought to her leaving Gajeel in suspense.

'It's was supposed to be a month and we were gone for 6 weeks; tell him he can ask but he cannot do it until after the wedding.' she instructs me.

I smile a little before I ask, "Why did you pick Levy?" I can't figure out if he is about to explode or if he will feint at my question.

"She is my everything, I can't say why she just is." Gajeel says a little sheepishly. I can hear Lucy applauding him in my head.

"What if she says no?" I ask next.

"I... I will walk away." he responded his words so quiet it was hard for me to hear.

"Gajeel." I start sighing out and I put my foot down and lean my arms against my knees. I look him straight in the eyes, "What if she says yes?"

"I..." Nothing else came from him. His eyes were wide his breathing hitched a little and I saw as hope seemed to enter his thoughts for the first time.

"Gajeel, Levy is Lucy's best friend." I start I hate that I have to lecture him but unfortunately I must. "If you did anything to hurt her, Lucy would tear you to pieces. I mean it don't take this lightly." I see him stare at me his mouth has dropped open a little. "Lucy would do anything and everything to make your life a living hell if anything happened to Levy. I need to know can you really have to consequences."

He stares silent for a while, I get up and make a little coffee for Gajeel and tea for myself. I come back and hand him the mug and I sit down again. I see so many emotions flicker across his face.

"I have a suggestion," he looks up at me expectantly. "Ask Levy on a date, a normal human date first. Then come back to me with your answer and I will give you mine." Gajeel had downed his coffee even though it was scalding hot.

"What if she said no?" he asked.

"Then what do you expect her to say to you asking her to be your mate?" I pushed. "If you love her give her a little time. She turned white tonight after finding out that dragon slayers impregnate the first time. She might need a little time to just digest that information."

"How did Lucy take it?" he asked.

I raise an eyebrow at him, "She already knew, I don't know for how long either."

"I see," he looked so gloomy I sent the image to Lucy.

'Arg tell him that she likes him a lot and not to give up before trying.' I hear Lucy sigh out. If it's possible I think she is getting grouchy even while she is sleeping.

"I know for a fact that she likes you, a lot. That isn't the issue here," I tell him. "The issue is that you are hoping she says no so that you can punish yourself for what you did to her, what started a guild war." my voice was steady and the shock on his face was a little much but I continue. "Trust me when I say that she doesn't hold it against you."

"But she should! She should hate me, she should never want to see me again, she should..." He interrupted me before he just broke down and covered his face. I don't think he is crying though.

Enough is enough, I wave to the kitchen and Levy steps out.