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"Yes, love indeed is light from heaven; A spark of that immortal fire with angels shared, by Allah given to lift from earth our low desire."

-Lord Byron

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Ignite

Chapter 21: Hearth

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He never knew when his birthday was. Birthdays weren't really something celebrated in dragon culture (living for centuries kinda made the whole thing more tedious than fun). Since Natsu didn't really remember anything before Igneel, well, there you go.

But Fairy Tail loved a good party, and they were about as skilled in the art of celebration as they were destruction. So every year, on the anniversary of him finding the guild, Natsu had a birthday. Whether he wanted it or not (though if he was being completely honest he did, in fact, look forward to it).

His eyes scanned the guild, searching for familiar blonde hair. The party was in full swing. Cana was draped over the bar top, slurring her words as she held out her mug for Mira to fill. Gajeel looked like he was one drink away from standing on the table and singing. He'd seen Juvia dragging Gray to one of the back rooms only a few minutes ago (he made a mental note to avoid the storage closet at all costs for the rest of the night).

He knew where just about everyone was, except for his wife.

From behind, Gildarts clapped him on the shoulder. "Birthday boy! You're looking way too sober!"

Natsu flinched. Old man reeked of alcohol worse than his daughter. "Have you seen Lucy?"

"Hm? Oh. Think I mighta seen her go upstairs with Levy." He waggled his eyebrows, his grin twisting into something downright lewd. "Just avoid the storage closet. I hear it's occupied."

Natsu refrained from punching him in the face, but only because it wasn't something he hadn't heard a freaking million times before. Got caught making out in there one damn time and now they'll never let him hear the end of it. Four years later and they still wouldn't let it drop. "Whatever, old man, just try not to slip on your own vomit tonight. You'll take the whole place down."

Somewhere from the other end of the guild, he heard (a very drunk) Elfman yell, "Vomit like a man!"

Cana, still at the bar (shocking), waved her empty mug in the air and cheered, "Yeah! More drinks, all 'round."

The rest of the guild - Gildarts included - joined in. Suddenly everyone was rushing to fill up and top off their glasses. From behind the bar Mira smiled, looking all too happy to watch everyone else drink themselves to their doom. Natsu took the opportunity to sneak up the stairs while everyone was distracted. He knew damn well that he would be roped into another drink if he dared to stay long enough. That was kind of the only downside to the whole having a birthday business – everyone was way too invested in getting him hammered. He had plans, damn it. Plans that hinged on not getting blackout drunk and finding his wife so he could convince her to go home already.

Picking out Lucy's muffled voice from the chaos downstairs was difficult, but he was able to follow it up to one of the rooms at the end of the hall. The door was only partially closed, and he carefully pushed it open before peeking inside. When he saw the bundle in Lucy's arms he was glad he had refrained from shouting for her.

Lucy looked up at him, her hair braided loosely and hanging over her shoulder. Her smile was soft, with the tiniest hint of sheepishness. "Sorry," she murmured. "I got distracted."

He grinned, peering around the yellow fabric swaddling the tiny child in her arms. The baby was sleeping soundly, her tiny hand clasping Lucy's finger as she slumbered. There wasn't much hair yet on the newborn's head, but the fuzz that was there was dark. Perhaps one of only a few features the little girl had inherited from her father. With her little upturned nose, Natsu thought she looked just like her mother. Only other thing the metal head could lay claim to was the dark crimson eyes hiding behind the little one's lids. "Can see that."

On the other side of the room, Levy didn't even pause as she lined the bassinet by the bed with a fresh sheet. "It's my fault, I asked if she would mind helping while I set up." She huffed, putting her hands on her hips and shaking her head. "I just have to grab the monitor lacrima from downstairs, if you don't mind waiting a bit longer?"

Nastu chuckled, watching as Lucy's thumb rubbed soothingly across the baby's dimpled knuckles. Longing stirred - deep and instinctual. When Levy and Gajeel announced they were expecting, the desire for his own child grew with the swelling of the tiny woman's stomach. Now that the baby was here, he could feel the wish quietly humming over his heart. "Nah, it's fine." He leaned forward, taking in the downy scent and grinning. "We got this. Right, Luce?"

There was a wistful little smile playing at the corners of Lucy's mouth as she gently stroked the baby's cheek with her free hand, one that he was certain matched his own. She was going to be an amazing mom.

Someday.

When she was ready.

Lucy glanced up at him, a shy warmth to her gaze. "You bet. Take your time, Levy. We aren't in any rush."

Well, that wasn't entirely true. Natsu was more than eager to get home, but some things were worth waiting for. Besides, he'd take the chance to admire Lucy in this sort of maternal setting any day.

Levy sighed, seeming relieved. "Thanks, I'll be right back!"

As the door closed behind the petite mother, Lucy shook her head with a little frown. "Poor Levy. Ruby kept her up most of last night. I'm not sure she ever got the chance to catch up."

Natsu blinked down at her, noting the concerned pull of her brow. Now that she mentioned it, Levy had looked particularly tired. "Why didn't she stay home and get some sleep?"

Lucy shrugged, adjusting the bundle in her arms. "I think she just didn't want to miss out. It's the first party since Ruby was born, you know?"

He frowned, head tilting in thought. Ruby was only born a little over two weeks ago, and already he could see how her arrival was affecting her parents. Gajeel didn't look nearly as tired as his wife, but Natsu had caught him letting loose more than one long, drawn out yawn. The little family had been relatively absent from the guild lately, instead tucking themselves away in the privacy of their home as they settled into their new routines. When they did stop by the guild it was typically for short, periodic visits. Pretty soon Gajeel would be taking jobs again, and Natsu wondered how Levy would fair without the extra set of hands. "There'll be more," he muttered, looking at the door. "Not like Fairy Tail is in short supply of them."

Lucy shrugged, eyes falling back to the sleeping child. "I'm sure she knows. I think she was just missing everyone. A party is a good excuse." She grinned up at him. "Do you want to hold her?"

He totally did. Only, that would mean leaving Lucy's arms empty and he wasn't quite ready to. "Nah," he says softly, giving her a grin. "She looks pretty comfy." He didn't tell her how the sight of her, with a newborn tucked so tenderly in her arms, filled his veins with warm anticipation. Judging by the knowing smile lighting her eyes, he didn't really need to.

When they finally made it home, Lucy all but dragged him to the bedroom, and he couldn't help the goofy grin that spread across his face. He kinda wished someone would have told him years ago that one of the best parts about having a birthday was the birthday sex – he would have started celebrating way sooner.

He flopped back onto the mattress, his body bouncing off the springs, but he was more concerned with why Lucy was rummaging through her nightstand instead of joining him. "Oi, whatcha looking for?" His blood was already humming through his veins, simmering for her touch.

She sent him a teasing glare, but he could see the sly amusement brightening her eyes. "Just be patient will you?" Finally her hands must have found what she was looking for because she shut the drawer and held up ...

A piece of black cloth?

He frowned, eyeing the long strip of fabric skeptically. What the hell was so exciting about that? "Uh, that's nice... Can we get naked now?"

Lightly, she smacked his arm and rolled her eyes. "You're suppose to wear it, you dork. It's a blindfold."

Blindfold? He really didn't like the sound of that. He sat up and gripped her hips, pulling her in so that she stood between his knees. His right hand snuck under her shirt, stroking the soft skin of her stomach. "I think I like the idea of seeing you naked better," he growled, a possessive gleam darkening his eyes.

Yeah. Naked and begging for him. How should he take her? She always let him choose on his birthday. Maybe up against her desk, right in front of that big mirror she had on the wall so he could watch her tits bounce and her expression change every time he thrust into her.

His stomach tightened and his mouth watered. Yeah. That would definitely work.

Lucy smiled. "It's only temporary. I have a surprise for you and I don't want you to peek."

He blinked, under her shirt his hand stilled just under her breast. A "surprise" usually meant new lingerie. A "surprise" on his birthday usually meant really, really hot lingerie. Last year she bought a tiny black number that had snaps on the crotch. She raised an eyebrow at him, an amused (knowing) smile curling the corners of her lips. "Well?"

Yeah, ok. He could handle waiting a few more minutes. "But do I have to wear the blindfold?" he whined, still eyeing the black fabric with distaste. Watching the bathroom door open and seeing her framed in doorway in her newest outfit was one of his favorite parts.

"Yup," she quipped, looking entirely too amused. When he pouted she kissed his lips softly before bringing her mouth to hover over his ear. "You'll like it, Natsu. Trust me." She nipped his earlobe and he growled, forcing himself to release his grip on her hips before he freaking lost it.

"Fine," he grumbled, holding his hand out. "Give me the damn thing."

She gave him a little peck on the cheek and he could feel her smile. "Let me."

The fabric covered his eyes and his entire world went dark as she tied a knot behind his head. He could feel her breasts brush against his face and he smirked, giving her a light nip through her shirt and feeling rather proud of the sharp intake of breath that it resulted it. Her hands moved from the back of his scalp and drifted down to the front of his chest. It took him a few seconds to realize she was fumbling with his buttons. He helped her, starting to undo the bottom ones as she worked on the top.

Her breathy laugh filled his ears. "Eager are we?" Her hands pushed his shirt off his shoulders and he could hear it hit the floor.

"I've been waiting all fucking day for this," he murmured truthfully. As her hands unwound the scarf at his neck, he went to blindly undo his belt but her soft hands stopped him.

"Not yet," she said, running her hands over his chest and making him shiver. "Lay back on the bed."

"I thought the blindfold was so I wouldn't peek?" he grumbled, but did as he was told. His head hit the pillow and his fingers began drumming impatiently on his stomach. Suddenly he felt her hot breath against the scar on his neck and he inhaled sharply. Little minx - she knew that spot drove him crazy.

"It is, but I have to set the scene." Her lips brushed teasingly against his pulse and he groaned. Before his hands could find her and teach her a lesson about tempting his willpower, she stepped out of his blind reach with a giggle. "Now stay just like that, ok? I'll tell you when you can look."

His head dropped back onto the pillow with a soft thud. Anticipation was building in his chest and lighting his blood on fire. He prayed to whatever god would listen that she would be quick because self control was not one of his strong points – especially when it came to her. He didn't get what this was all about. He'd be more than happy to just take her against the desk like he planned, but Lucy seemed excited about it, so he'd try his best to follow her instructions.

Even though he could hear her changing not five feet away from him.

His hands clenched impatiently at his sides, but just as he was about to tell (beg) her to hurry up, he felt a shift of weight on the mattress.

He felt his pulse pick up. Something... something about this felt strangely familiar...

He heard her voice from the foot of the bed. "You can take it off now, Natsu."

She really didn't need to tell him twice. He ripped the stupid thing off his face, ready to chuck it at the wall, when his entire body froze at the sight of her.

She was in some new lingerie all right, but it wasn't the skimpy little scraps of nothing that he had expected. It was baby pink, all lace and bows, and it did fucking fantastic things for her breasts. But it was seeing his old, open front vest hanging off her shoulders that made his breath hitch in his throat.

This... this was his dream.

"Luce..." He was speechless. In his chest he felt his heart swell with emotion. Fuck, he loved this woman. Only she would think of doing this for him – of literally making his dreams come true.

She smiled at him, a coy tilt of her lips, and started to crawl up his body, stopping only when she was straddling his hips. "I told you you'd like it."

He reached up and caressed her cheek, his eyes drinking her in like she was the only wonder in the entire world. As far as he was concerned, she was. "Do you even realize how fucking amazing you are?" he murmured.

She leaned into his touch, smiling down at him with so much love. She took his breath away...

Especially when she rolled her hips like that.

Fuck.

He growled, quickly reminded of the aching hard on he was sporting. Gripping her hips, he thrust up against her, and the little cry that escaped her lips was sweet like honey. "We're sleeping in tomorrow," he ground out, hand reaching up to squeeze one of her breasts.

She hummed her approval, her head rolling back and her back arching. "Good thing I canceled all our plans then."

Did he already mention that she was freaking amazing? He didn't think he could say it enough.

He sat up, desperate to taste her skin on his tongue. He was just starting to kiss down her neck (leaving possessive hickeys in his wake) when her hands threaded through his hair. "Natsu?" she breathed, her thighs giving the slightest tremble as he pinched her nipple through the fabric of her bra. "I think my bracelet might be outdated -" She moaned as he ground against her. "W-what do you think?"

He pulled the strap of her bra down, exposing her creamy breast to his hungry eyes. What was she saying again? Something about her bracelet? He gave her collar bone a light nip before giving a soothing lick. "Yeah, it's great." He held her breast in his palm, watching the tip harden as he brushed his thumb against it. "Real nice," he murmured.

"You're not," she panted, arching into his hand, "paying attention." When his only response was to pull her other strap down she roughly pinched his side, making him jump.

"Oi! What was that for?!" he yelled, startled.

She glared down at him, but it wasn't nearly as fierce with lust clouding her eyes. "The bracelet, Natsu."

"What about it? I said it was nice!" He went to grab her breast again but she slapped his hand away. He growled. "The hell, Luce?!"

"I want to know if you think it would look better off," she hissed through gritted teeth.

Why the hell was he supposed to care about that? Women were so weird. He groaned, falling back onto the pillow and fisting his hands in his hair in frustration. "Damn it, if you want it off then take it off!" His eyes dragged down to her chest, admiring how hot she looked with her bra halfway skewed. "You're not suppose to give your husband blue balls on his birthday," he grumbled. "It's cruel."

"I need to be sure that you're ready too!" When he looked up at her in confusion she shoved her wrist in front of his face, her expression serious. "This bracelet, Natsu. I am asking you if you want to take this bracelet off."

He looked from her face to the delicate gold chain encircling her wrist. It was the same one she wore everyday. The one Cana gave -

He blinked. "Uh, isn't that the one that's-"

She gave him a look - the one that told him to just shut up and think for a second. It took him a good five before he finally understood. When he did he felt his heart stutter hopefully in his chest, his eyes shooting up to hers. "Luce?" If she was anyone else he would have been embarrassed by how pitifully hopeful he sounded.

She smiled down at him, her earlier frustration only a mere shadow in the face of her soft smile. "Well? What's it going to be, Birthday Boy?"

He kissed her, his fingers threading through the fine hair at the base of her skull and tilting her head so he could thoroughly devour her. His other hand fumbled with the golden clasp at her wrist and he felt her smile against his mouth.

"You know," he said, smirking against her skin, "In my dream you begged me for kids."

She huffed. "Yeah, well, real Lucy doesn't beg."

He chuckled. "You did two nights ago when I had you bent over the -"

She slapped her hand over his mouth, eyebrow raised. "Do I need to take back your gifts?"

He nipped at her palm, teeth dragging gently across her flesh before kissing the inside of her wrist.

Nearly a year later, he begins to make a habit of sleeping with his ear to Lucy's stomach – their child's heartbeat the lullaby he never knew existed.

The End

AN: Well folks, that's it. The end. I'm not entirely satisfied with this last chapter, but after staring at it forever I realized that I probably never will be. It's time to let it, and this story, go. Thank you to everyone who has stuck it out for the long haul - I know it took us a while to get here, but I hope the journey made it worth the wait. A huge and final thank you to madartiste for all her help for the majority of this fic. There would have been a mountain of errors without her.

You likely won't be seeing any new chapter fics from me, but I may pop in every now and then to drop a one shot or drabble. Most of my time and energy is going towards rewriting To the Flame into an original work these days. I hope to be able to submit it for publishing before the end of the year (keep your fingers crossed for me). If you are at all interested in its progress, you can find regular updates on my profile.

Lastly, thank you to all of you who have taken the time to review. It is your enthusiasm that has encouraged me to keep writing, and it is your kindness that has pushed me to see this story to its end.