I know what you're thinking:"Snow, you're starting another story? But you have so many posted already!" I know! I know! But I was itching to post this story because it's been glaring at me from my desktop for awhile now. I was getting tired of it's dirty looks! Forgive me!

If it's any corrilation, I am working on the next chapter for Goodbye, Returning Home, and A Dragon's Powers! Forgive me yet?

Well maybe this story will help...

Gajeel POV

"Hurry up, Princess, or I'll leave you behind." I said gruffly. I looked over my shoulder and into the darkness of night to see her right behind me.

"Gajeel," she whined. "Slow down. I need to save my energy to beat up Fairy scum." She rested her head on my shoulder as we walked.

I smirked. "Yer too excited about this, y'know? Though, I gotta say I am, too. Fairy Scum's going down." I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. I let out my signature laugh and slowed down for her. "By the way, Atlas, you ready to fight that wannabe fire dragon slayer?"

"Oh, yeah! I'll show 'im who's the better dragon slayer!" Her face was full of excitement, but suddenly fell. I raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you think master will be proud of us?"

I let out a small sigh and looked ahead of us, frowning slightly. "Lu, why do you want his approval of you? We agreed we wouldn't get into guild politics." I paused. "And yes. He will be he's fond of you, y'know. You and Juvia both. Although that man's power hungry. He just wants powerful wizards in his guild. At least we're on his good side."

We looked up to find a rowdy guild hall, whose lights were beacons in the night. The noise had filled our ears long before the building had come into sight. She moved from my grasp and readied herself to launch into the building. I followed her lead and on the silent count to three, we launched through the guild doors. I recognized Titania immediately. Along with Laxus Dreyar.

"Hey Atlas, you gonna start or what?" I called over my shoulder as I launched myself at Titania. She defended herself against my attack easily, but I didn't have my heart in it yet. My arm turned into a pillar of Iron as her back hit mine, as it always did. We looked over our shoulders and gave a smile to each other. We were just about to launch another attack again until a giant hand came down on us, pinning us to the floor.

"Why do you disturb my guild hall?" The master of Fairy Tail stood in front of us and glared down at us.

I squirmed just enough to make my guild mark of Phantom Lord to be seen. "Fairy Scum, listen up, Phantom's coming. And you won't like how this ends. Might as well surrender here, because you ain't winning." I grabbed her hand and morphed into my shadow form. We stayed in that form until we were out of the guild hall and well on our way down the main street. I released my focus and smiled evilly. The guild hall exploded behind us, catching fire as the flames made contact with the wood. Iron pillars burst forth as shadows consumed over the building. There was the sound of distinct slurping of fire as the flames disappeared, instantly telling me Salamander had eaten her Hellfire Flames.

I smelled the Salamander charging toward us. I let out another laugh as I saw him approach us. I was about to attack when she stuck her hand out in front of me. "This is my fight, Gajeel."

"Gihi. Alright, Princess. Go for it." I smacked her butt forward and she turned to glare at me. "What?"

"Later," She said sternly. She looked at the Salamander and lit her fists on fire. "So we finally meet, Natsu Dragneel. It's a shame we meet on such terms since it'll be your end." She launched at him. "Hellfire punch of the Hellfire Dragon!"

Salamander caught her fist. "Who the hell are you?"

"Lucy Atlas, remember it well, it'll be the cause of your demise." She let out a prideful laugh and kicked him in the gut, managing to knock the wind out of him. I smirked at her enthusiasm. She continued her onslaught as I watched the Salamander take each hit. I frowned, realizing he was letting her get her anger out. I pulled her back and shoved her behind me.

"What the hell you smirking about, Salamander?" I growled. I figured out he remembered her.

"Well my cousin's here, why wouldn't I be happy? Besides Igneel said she'd be mine." He let a feral grin take over his features and laughed.

I touched the back of my neck and growled. "Can't you tell when a woman's taken?" I attacked him, knocking him off his feet.

"Lucy's my mate. It's your fault she doesn't act like a female."

I growled loudly at him, feeling my muscles tense at his words. "Listen well, Salamander. I ain't gon say this twice. Atlas's my mate. Marked and all. Just like I am hers. And so what she ain't the definition of a female dragon, she's perfect the way she is. You have no idea what we've been through."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "We'll see about that." He turned back to run back to his guild as we ran past the station, walking back to our guild hall. Our instructions were to wound Fairy Tail and strike when they try to recover. I heard a small whimper next to me and a sudden warm hand entangling their fingers with my own. I looked over to see Lucy blinking back tears.

I pulled her hand to my lips and nipped at her fingertips. "What's wrong?"

"Am I not female enough to be a dragon? Like I'm too boyish?" She asked so quietly I almost didn't catch it.

I nipped her ring finger and smiled, something only she's seen. "I don't want ya any different, Lu. I love ya the way ya are, tough like iron and one hell of a spitfire attitude. I wouldn't change ya for the world."

She gave me an honest smile and nipped my fingertips. "Thanks, Gaj. I love you, too."

I pressed my lips to hers and felt her smile against them before melting in my arms. I broke

he kiss and nibbled on her ear. "My mate." I said affectionately in her ear.

We traveled until sunrise without problem and then set up an area for a rest and a food break. We leaned against a large tree and I felt her head droop to my shoulder, sound asleep. I decided to watch her sleep, like I had done since we were children.

I first met her in a market town a week after our dragons had disappeared. She was begging for food and money. I remembered looking at her with disgust in my eyes. Our eyes locked and I stopped in front of her. Her eyes held the same kind of loss mine did. She told me that her father had disappeared a week previous and she was looking for him. I told her my story, leaving out the fact that Metalicana was a dragon, though she did the same with Atlas Flame. She told me how she had a cousin somewhere in Fiore. I also remember I felt a sense of likeliness with her. She gave me a look in her eyes that screamed pity and helplessness. I was just going to leave her by herself at first, then she told me who exactly Atlas was. A Dragon. I recalled how the words had echoed in my mind and shocked me to the core. She was a dragon slayer. Just like me! Metalicana told me that female dragons are rare and are often fought over. Yet, I didn't even have to fight for her, at least not other males. It took a long time to win her over.

She stirred next to me, eyes fluttering open. "You didn't have to stay up. You need your rest, too."

I grinned down at her. "I'll be fine, babe. Besides, we're wanted by Fairies. That's risky business. You need your rest, anyway, Lu. You can't push yourself so hard like you did in your fight with Salamander."

She pouted at me. "Well, I'm sorry, Gajeel. It's not my fault I can't keep up with you."

"Well if you would quit being so stubborn and let me carry you back, we wouldn't have to rest like we do. It's fine though. Sorry, that sounded rude."

"It's fine, Gaj. I feel like I need to support myself on my own strength."

I hugged her tightly. "You're my mate, we share the burden equally. It was destiny after all."

"Such the romantic, aren't you?" She scoffed.

I frowned at her. "Well maybe I should just stop, eh?" I was joking, of course, but that was enough to make her upset. I cringed at how quickly the tears built up in her eyes. "I was kidding, Lu! I'm sorry!" With watery eyes she turned away from me and began walking the way home, more like storming, in my opinion. She ignored me every time I called out to her, jerked way the hand I tried to hold, and walked faster as I tried to step in front of her. She was definitely upset with me.

"Gajeel, why do you treat me so, I don't know, childishly?" She asked with an unsteady voice. "Why don't you spar with me anymore? Am I not food enough anymore

"Because you're delicate like a little flower, you're something worth protecting. I don't want to see you scuffed up, let alone hurt. I made a promise to you that I'd protect you when we were children remember?" I took her hand in mine, my eyes being the only thing showing my desperation to have her happy.

"Okay." She said after a moment. I wanted nothing more than to hug her and apologize to her for my attitude towards her vulnerability. Even her lack of eye contact told me she was still upset. I took her hand in mine and forced her to look at me.

"Tell me what's wrong, Lu? What's buggin' you?" I asked her.

She frowned. "What did Natsu mean by 'we'll see about that'? Is there a way to break our bond?" Her eyes held so much worry it scared me. Did she really not want to be separated from me when she could be doing so much better than the guy I am? She could be with a guy who walks in the light like Salamander or Dreyar, so why him?

"I chose you because I owed you, and now that I've gotten to be so close to you, someone so closed off from the world, I want to stand by you, show you all of your good qualities. I want to complete you, just like you do for me."

I gave her a small smile. I watched as it began to snow, growing heavier by the minute. A smile, brighter than the summer sun, appeared on her face.

"Look, Gajeel! It's snowing!" She squealed. "Isn't it beautiful?"

"Heh, yeah, Bunny Girl." I laughed, recalling the memory she dance in the bunny suit on stage for me.

She pouted and turned to me. "You should be thanking me for that, Gajeel."

I leaned closer to her. "Oh baby, I am. I have you and my son for my company and that's all I need." I laid a hand on her stomach, knowing that our kid was right there protected by my iron scales and her hellfire flames. "And this one, too." I pressed my lips against hers and held her close.

She giggle at my affections before melting in my embrace. We eventually separated at the sound of a twig snapping. My senses were alert. I found the source of the twig snapping to be our first child, Rogue. He had Lucy's heart-shaped face, but my eyes and hair. I'm not sure whose personality he got but it's a quiet one for sure.

Lucy bent down and opened her arms to him. "Come on, Rogue. Mommy's here." She cooed. The boy came running to his mother, tears in his eyes.

"Mama, you left me alone. Mama… Papa…" He cried.

"Look, son, we left you with Juvia and Totomaru. Didn't they look after you?" I asked softly, kneeling down to his level.

"They did, but I got lonely and bored so I snuck out to fine Mama and you, Papa. I wanted to see Fairy Tail go down in Mama's flames. I'm sorry, Papa." He looked down at his feet.

I ruffled the mop of hair on his head. "We ain't mad at you, kiddo. You have Papa's secondary magic and Mama's primary. You'll be fine, okay? I personally think we should let you start going on missions by yourself."

"Gajeel!" Lucy hissed. "We talked about this! We swore we wouldn't do this until he was thirteen. He's only five. Plus he hasn't finished his training with me yet."

I let out a light chuckle. "Lu, I promise you he'll be fine. I believe you know this too. He's ready."

"He's five!" Lucy shouted, holding Rogue closer to her. "He wasn't abandoned like we were, we didn't have anything left to lose! We had no family, no friends, no reason to live then, then we met each other."

"Mama…" Rogue cringed. "Too tight."

Lucy released her tight hold on our son. "Sorry, honey." She gave me a small smile. "Gajeel, can we go home?"

I nodded and lifted Rogue onto my back, his arms wrapping around my neck. I took Lucy's hand in my and sniffed the air, checking for any threats. I was a man, the man of my family. The only one to protect them. I caught a whiff of smoke and metal, along with a scent of new snowfall. My muscles tensed. I waited. I watched as three figures entered the small clearing where we were. Titania, Salamander, and the ice mage approached us with anger radiating off of them.

"You, you came and destroyed our guild hall, you beat up one of our own, you slandered the Fairy Tail name. Under what pretense gave you those rights?" Titania said, requiping into her Heaven's Wheel armour. She pointed her sword at us, making me stand protectively in front of my family. Rogue's grip around my neck loosened and he took a fighting stance next to me. I wanted to push him behind Lucy so bad. He might be able to take on the ice mage but I don't think he can handle holding off any attacks sent at Lucy or himself.

"It's a shame, really. The Paired Dragons of Phantom Lord failed to destroy Fairy Tail." This ice mage laughed darkly.

I wanted nothing more than to knock that stupid smirk off his face. "Shut up. We only do as our guild master tells us, same as you. We'll be on our way home." Lucy growled as she held Rogue close to her. Rogue let out a slightly high pitched growl as well.

"I won't let you touch my Mama! Shadow Dragon's Slash!"

He launched himself at the ice mage, knocking him in the cheek and pushing him back a few feet. Inwardly, I smiled in pride, both in protecting his mother and in knocking the ice mage on his butt. Outwardly, I growled at my son, warning him to back off. He returned to my side, resuming his battle stance.

"You runt! I'm freeze your hands together!" The ice mage seethed, clenching his fist at my son.

"This is my kid you're talking to, punk." I spat. "We only did as we were told, just like you would have. That's our reasoning."

Titania bit the inside of her lip, as though she were contemplating something. She exquiped out of her armour and walked toward Lucy. Stopping a foot away from here she extended her hand towards Lucy. "I won't fight a family following their master's orders, however, that does not excuse the actions you have taken toward us this night do not excuse you from our wrath." She paused. "I refuse to fight a pregnant woman anyway."

I watched as the ice mage's and Salamander's jaws dropped and eyes widened. "SHE'S WHAT?!"

Lucy smiled softly, placing a hand on her stomach. "I'm carrying my second child." She said with fondness. I stood between her and Titania.

"Get going, Lu. I'll meet you back at the guild. Rogue, protect your mother."

"But-"

"I said GO!" I yelled, glaring Titania down.

Sensing the urgency in my voice, she kissed my cheek before grabbing Rogue's hand and turning to head to the Phantom Lord Branch just outside Hargeon. "Come home soon, Gaj." She breathed. I had barely heard it, but the words made my heart soar. I smirked.

"Tell me really why you came after us."

"Our master asked us to let you go, and tell you that you have done nothing to break Fairy Tail's spirit. You can't win if you lack the strength to do so. You cannot beat those who are stronger just like the strong devour the weak." Salamander smirked as though he had won. "I was going to refuse to fight you, but that look says you want to fight, and who am I to deny a fan a fight?"

I snarled at him. "I'm defending my family, not picking a fight with some kid. Are you truly that arrogant? Never mind, I don't care. I'm going home." I turned around and smelt the faint trail of Lucy's melting iron scent. I walked forward three steps before Titania clapped an armoured hand on my shoulder.

"If you want to start over and be where you would be welcomed, you can come to Fairy Tail."

"I'm only in a guild because it supports my family, that's all I need. I have that now so I'm not leaving it." I shrugged her hand off me and began my trek to the guild, following Lucy's scent and leaving them in my wake.

Was I right? Do you forgive me?

Let me know what you guys think of my new GaLu!

"Bad times are just times that are bad." - Katrina, Animal Crossing, Copyright to Nintendo. (You guys always make my day better.)

-SFL

Also, to my reviewers, thanks for te support. It means alot. I'm serious about that. I hope I make you guys laugh, cry, angry, and experience a wide variety of emotions when you read my stories. I guess I was given a gift, so I'm gonna use it to make people happy.

So thanks to everyone.