GrayLu Week 2016 Bonus

Prompt: Fly

It's still September! And I've really wanted to write the epilogue to my overarching story for GrayLu Week 2016. So here it is, along with the prompt "Fly".

NOTE: The other two bonus prompts "T-shirt" and "Vintage" were originally also here as stand-alone chapters 8 and 9. However, it was pointed out to me that generally only one version of a story should be on Fanfiction. So I left the stand-alone stories as separate stories and deleted (former) chapters 8 and 9.

This is the True Chapter 8 of the "story" Graylu Week 2016 as whole.

Thank you for reading and for all your support here and on Tumblr! All reviews, comments (PMs here), Favourites and Follows (author and story) are greatly appreciated always.

\(^u^)/

Chapter 8 – Special Delivery
Fairy Tail University, Epilogue

[I]

The baby was due in late May, which meant that if all went well, Lucy wouldn't be too tired for end of year exams in April. Gray Fullbuster, dad-to-be, still shook his head occasionally over the fact that Lucy claimed that the baby had been conceived during those strange few days when they had both acquired their old-style Fairy Tail Guild marks, well over a year ago. After all… the normal gestation period for a human baby was nine months. Still, she seemed very certain about it, and he was open-minded enough to go with it.

They had already discussed logistics, and especially money. As Lucy had said when she first told him about the pregnancy, they would work things out. They had also received an unexpected legacy that would help significantly. Apparently, the woman who had taken them in – and who had told Lucy about her unusual pregnancy – had sold Fairy Tail House shortly after they had stayed there and left them all of the proceeds from the sale. It amounted to a substantial legacy and for a while they had been worried about the implications. Specifically, what had they done to deserve such a gift? It surprised neither of them when their benefactor couldn't be found.

[II]

It was Christmas of third year, their first holiday season together. They had moved into the small but well-proportioned two-bedroom apartment after their second year. Gray had wondered about the expense of the second bedroom until Lucy had told him about the pregnancy – four months after they had moved in. It was one reason that he kept an open mind.

He was just touching up the frost decorations on their large front windows when Lucy arrived back from an afternoon out with friends. He had seen her coming up the walk to the building and had been downstairs to let her through the security door before she could fumble for her keys.

"Welcome back, Luce. How was the hot chocolate and gossip?"

Gray bent down to kiss the pretty blond woman standing on the front step, indifferent to whoever might see them. He had become a great deal less shy about demonstrations of affection once they had returned from their strange adventure. It was as if he felt a degree of certainty about the two of them that precluded embarrassment. It had stood him in good stead two months before, when they had announced Lucy's pregnancy.

Lucy pretended to pout at the question, but her large, dark brown eyes were sparkling and her return kiss was as warm as ever. They walked up the stairs to their second-floor apartment hand-in-hand.

"The hot chocolate was good, but the gossip was even better. And I stuck to cream instead of brandy in my hot chocolate, don't worry."

"I wasn't worried about what you would do – it's what Cana would do… I mean, she's powerful and all, but she drinks an awful lot for somebody who's only just finished her doctorate. She's lucky she got to stay on as a post-graduate; usually they make people go elsewhere."

"I kept an eye on Cana. And I know you're right. But anyway… it looks like there might be something between Levy and Gajeel, wouldn't that be crazy? I mean, she's the world's biggest bookworm and he looks like a thug…"

"He is a thug," muttered Gray, who still didn't trust the newest transfer student to Fairy Tail University.

"Maybe," Lucy agreed peaceably, as they walked into their apartment and Gray locked the door behind them. "But Levy doesn't think so."

Gray helped her off with her jacket and took her gloves. Not that it was really all that cold out, especially for Gray, but he liked to be careful with Lucy's health.

"Gray… I feel fine, I am fine. Stop fussing." Lucy was grinning at him. "I'm pregnant, not ill or hurt. I felt lousy for a while, but that's not really unusual. I'm not even showing…"

"Yes, you are."

"Well, you see me with a lot fewer clothes on!"

"I should hope so…" Gray finally cracked a smile. "Okay, I'll try to stop worrying but it's difficult, so no promises."

With typical cheerfulness, Lucy kissed him again, stretched briefly and then sank gratefully into one corner of their big couch, tucking up her feet and still talking.

"I do understand, Ice Prince, I really do – hey! That looks great!" She smiled excitedly at the half-complete frost decorations.

"Thank you, dear, but you know how I feel about that nickname… seriously…"

Ignoring him, Lucy smiled brightly and settled back further, putting her feet into his lap when he sat down next to her.

"Yes, you do seriously amazing decorations." Lucy giggled and then sighed as Gray gave up the battle over the hated nickname and rubbed her feet. "Oh that is nice… You know, I can't believe we almost didn't get together last year. This is so much better."

She did get tired a lot more easily these days, Gray thought, noticing that her eyes were closing. He hoped that was normal. He was discovering that he was less and less worried about how they were going to cope with a baby and school and money, and more worried about how Lucy would do with the pregnancy. He told himself that this was perfectly normal – his fretting – but he knew that he was more worried than most guys because of the strange conditions under which this baby was conceived. If the kid had been conceived last fall, which was still a little hard to believe.

Once Lucy was asleep, Gray idly finished his design on the windows – from the couch – and then carried his sleeping girlfriend to bed for a nap. He'd wake her up later in time for dinner.

He wavered a moment once he had her tucked in. It would be so easy to climb into bed with her. But he had papers to mark. They had both taken on extra work – like marking first year assignments – in order to supplement their income as much as possible. Lucy hadn't yet noticed that he had started doing some of her grading for her, so that she could get more rest.

An hour later, Lucy padded up behind him and dropped a kiss on his head. When he tried to get up, she just shook her head at him, holding him down in his seat at the table with a light hand on his shoulder.

"Either you decided to goof off and started on your stack of papers late – or you did half of mine again first. I'm betting on the second one…"

He smiled up at her a little sheepishly, running a hand through his already disheveled hair.

"I thought you hadn't noticed."

"Hah. I know. Which is why tonight I'll cook, finish up the chores and then do whatever marking we've got left, okay? One thing I found out this afternoon… why didn't you tell me that you've stopped going out with the other guys?"

"Just tired – a little – that's all. And you know me – when I'm tired, Natsu totally gets on my nerves and then we break things."

"Uh-huh. Well, you're going out tonight, so try not to break anything. It's a Christmas party for the senior teams, which includes Team Natsu. Which you didn't tell me about."

Gray scowled.

"Not my thing, Luce."

"Liar. You may not be as… outgoing… as Natsu can be—"

"For which you should be grateful—"

"—but you've been working too hard and not seeing your friends. And what about me?"

"I knew you'd be feeling too tired tonight anyway, Lucy, and I really don't feel like going if you're not there."

"You don't like leaving me on my own."

"That too."

"Well, you're going."

Gray got what Lucy called his "NatLax look", which was her shorthand for saying that he looked as stubborn as Natsu planning to fight Laxus, again – even with the near certainty of losing, again. Not surprisingly, the Ice Make mage hated "NatLax" more than "Ice Prince".

Two hours later, Gray had bathed, eaten, been kissed by his devoted mate… and was heading into the Christmas party at the Senior Teams Practice Club. He'd put up a good fight until Lucy had threatened to have Erza come and get him. But he'd made Lucy promise to send one of her spirits – other than Loke, he'd specified – if she ran into any difficulty. As if she wouldn't anyway.

[III]

A couple of the older graduate students had helped Gray back to his place sometime long after midnight. Ironically, after all the fretting – worrying – he'd done that afternoon, Gray had let Cana slip something into one of his drinks. Or something. All he knew was that he'd had a surprisingly good time, despite missing Lucy. He'd chatted and played pool with some guys he hadn't really seen in a while, and had eventually had way too much to drink. He'd have to find his clothes tomorrow.

With slurred thanks to his benefactors, he used the key on his necklace to unlock the front door (a brilliant notion of Lucy's, that one), and then made his way carefully up the two flights of stairs. He was surprised to see Happy – Natsu's blue, winged, talking cat – in front of the door to the apartment.

"Wass'up, Happy?" He focussed a moment longer on the valiant – and sometimes irritatingly sarcastic – creature. "An'why'r'you… white?"

"Typical. Males of any species are idiots. Especially that blue male cat you call 'Happy'."

"Huh?" Gray leaned against the wall beside his door, puzzled.

Just then, the door opened and Lucy peered out. She was wearing a long nightgown, in deference to the cool weather, but it still managed to look sexy to Gray, whose eyes were drawn at once to the soft, white skin below her collar bones.

Lucy smothered a yawn, and then stared at the white cat, which was standing upright with its arms – forelegs? – crossed.

"Um, Gray? I thought I heard your voice. I'd just gotten up to go to the bathroom… Um – excuse me, but who are you?"

Gray became even more confused.

"You know who I am, Luce! You jus' called me 'Gray', right?"

"Not you, imbecile. Why you males choose to destroy what few brain cells you have with alcohol is beyond me."

Given that Cana spent half her time either drunk or near-drunk these days, Gray felt that this was unfair, but he couldn't seem to get the words out.

"Won't you please come in," Lucy said politely – to the cat. She eyed Gray with some amusement. "You too, Ice Prince."

"Awwww, Luce…"

Gray refused to go to bed while there was a strange… cat… in the apartment, so Lucy tucked him into the big overstuffed chair that he preferred when they weren't cuddling. She also gave him a large glass of water to sip. The white cat – who probably wasn't Happy – took the other end of the couch from Lucy.

"I see that you have not had your kittens yet, Ms. Heartfilia,"the white cat said conversationally.

"N-no. Would you please introduce yourself?"

"Oh, yes – of course. You just look like somebody I know very well… I am Charla. I'm here to deliver a package to your kittens."

"Well, um, that's very kind of you but… from whom? And what is it?"

The white cat looked dubiously at Gray, but then sighed and reached into a messenger bag that Lucy hadn't noticed it was carrying. The cat was dressed in an attractive dark pink outfit with a matching pink bow on its tail, and the bag was similarly adorned.

It rose and came over to Lucy.

"These are for the children born of two times, Ms. Heartfilia. In thanks for what you and your mate did for us without even knowing the danger or the cost."

The white cat bowed stiffly, but not mockingly. In Lucy's hands were now two largish eggs that looked nothing like chicken eggs – or anything like other regular eggs.

"Keep them secret, keep them safe. Remember – these are for the kittens, not you!"

"T-thank you… Charla. But what are they?"

The white cat suddenly grinned. "You'll find out. But we wanted the children of Lucy-sama to be able to fly."

Gray was feeling slighted. Fortunately, all that came out was a wordless growl.

"I must be off now," the strange white cat said firmly. "Remember, keep the eggs warm, safe and near you if possible!"

"Um… alright. But I still have lots of more questions."

"Don't worry, there will be two when it matters. I don't really understand time theory myself though. Look after them for both of you – that is, look after the kittens and the eggs for the sake of both the Lucy-samas. All clear now?"

"No."

Gray's reply was mostly inarticulate and definitely louder. It incorporated bad language.

The white cat ignored both of them. Then it unfolded white wings and wafted itself up toward the ceiling.

"Goodbye! Thank you for your help with the Fairy Heart!"

Then it just faded from view, leaving just a grin. A moment later, the grin was gone.

"I feel either more sober or more drunk. Did that really happen?"

"Of course it did," Lucy sighed. "This is us. I'll let everyone know tomorrow that we're expecting twins."

"But we're not!"

"Not yet. But in May, we're expecting twins."

Gray just buried his head in his hands. "… I was just feeling more relaxed, too…"

"Come to bed, Gray. I'll just put these somewhere safe – and secret – and then we'll see if you're too drunk to try for another kid."

"Lucy?"

"Yes?" Lucy turned in the doorway, face controlled but eyes dancing merrily.

"That's not how it works!"

Lucy shrugged.

"Who knows? Anyway, I'm very curious about these eggs. We'll keep a close eye on them, okay?"

Gray gave up. He got himself out of the chair and over to his mate.

Eventually they – that is, Lucy – got the eggs stowed away. Sometime later, they determined that Gray wasn't too drunk after all.

[IV]

Gray's slight surprise was nothing to that of the doctor, who arrived in the room ready to deliver one baby and ended up with two. The second baby, a boy, was just as healthy as his older sister, whose cap of golden blond hair and huge blue eyes had already enchanted the young attendant doctor who had cleaned her up. The boy had midnight blue hair and big greyish-blue eyes that the younger doctor said would probably end up hazel or even brown.

"But…" The older doctor, who had attended Lucy throughout, was still bewildered, "we checked at every visit. I'll swear that there was only one. Even the MRI showed only one!"

"Oh well," Lucy said quietly, nuzzling her son's fuzzy head. She was very tired, but very content. For some reason, the strangeness didn't bother her the way it frustrated Gray.

"… You know…" Gray was holding his daughter in rapt delight. "This isn't so bad at all. And did you notice?"

Lucy grinned. "Of course."

The babies both had perfect, tiny Fairy Tail marks on their right forearms, just above the wrist.

[V]

On a beautiful summer's day at the end of a particularly golden summer, the eggs finally hatched. The eggs had grown considerably since the twins were born. Lucy had made a point of taking the babies and the eggs out every day that she and Gray could manage. The eggs bathed in the hot summer sun and the little ones were kept comfortable by the magic of their doting father.

To nobody's surprise but his own, Gray seemed to be a natural as a parent. He was fiercely protective of Lucy and the children, but he also smiled more these days. Of course, the parents benefited a great deal from the assistance of Lucy's celestial spirit, Virgo, not to mention from the help of several close friends. Watching Erza with the tiny babies was especially amusing and touching. Gray didn't let Natsu hold them at all, until Lucy ordered him to lighten up.

Despite being only two and a half months old, Auria and Argent were both drawn to "their" eggs, and their parents had quickly learned to keep the babies and the eggs in visual proximity when possible. It saved a lot of tears and frustration.

The day the eggs hatched, there were only the four of them, sitting or lying out on a blanket out in a sunny field redolent with the smell of sweet summer grasses baking under the clear skies. The babies had been staring at the eggs for several minutes before the first cracks appeared, something that their parents hadn't noticed. A sharp cracking sound made both Gray and Lucy look up in a hurry, though.

Over the next several minutes, the two large eggs – now each about thirty centimeters long – rocked and cracked and did all the fascinating thing that hatching eggs do. When the first egg split, Auria cooed and held out welcoming, pudgy little hands. A very small bright blue kitten staggered over to the girl and snuggled up to her. A moment later, a snow-white kitten tumbled out of the second egg and rolled into a furry heap beside Argent, who gurgled enthusiastically.

"They look just like Happy and… do you suppose they fly, too?" Gray glanced hopefully at Lucy.

"Of course," Lucy replied as calmly as she could with a giant grin on her face.

[VI]

The Heartfilia-Fullbuster twins were special for many reasons. In fact, their parents had to protect them from over-enthusiastic medical and magical investigators. However, they became best known on high-quality video-lacrima across the globe for the images of them soaring across the skies carried by their adorable winged cats, Ice and Snow.

A/Note: And now I'm really done! It bothered me that I never covered the bonus prompt "Fly". And I really wanted to complete my overarching story.

If you haven't already, please see the two stand-alone GrayLu stories: Clothing Optional (for "T-shirt") and All Shook Up (for "Vintage").

You may also decide to give Hakuouki (the anime or PS3/Vita game) a chance after reading the first few chapters of my Hakuouki story Teachings of Demons. :)

Thank you for reading! Please come back sometime and check for other stories! All Favourites, Follows and reviews very much appreciated. \(^u^)~