Hello, everyone !

I'm back with the twenty-fourth chapter !

Thank you so much for reading this fic for five years *all because of my troublesome writer's block :')* Thank you so much for your reviews, your flames, your favs, and your follows :D

I hope you enjoy reading this final chapter *bows*

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima !

This story belongs to me !

Lucy was sure she was frozen in time. She stared at Makarov who was standing at the door in silence. Even Levy just sat frozen there.

Makarov stared back at Lucy for a few more seconds before walking towards her on the bed. He reached out his hand to her. "Give me that."

Lucy instinctively handed the test-pack to Makarov. The principal stared at it then looked back at Lucy. "So, you're pregnant."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

Lucy nervously gulped down as her brain started to work once more. "Y—yes, Principal."

"It's Natsu's child." Makarov repeated.

Lucy gulped down again as sweat started to wet her forehead. "Y—yes."

Makarov glanced at Levy. "And I assume you are aware why Lucy is pregnant with Natsu's child, Levy."

This time, it was Levy's turn to gulp down nervously. Makarov's stare wasn't anything menacing, but his aura was definitely intimidating. "Y—yes, Principal."

"As far as I recall, Gray is another close friend of you two?"

"Y—yes."

"I assume he's aware of the reason as well?"

"Y—yes." Levy fidgeted.

"Very well." Makarov placed the test pack on the bed and folded his arms behind his back. He then walked towards the infirmary phone and dialed a number. He then spoke to the phone. "Please inform Gray and Natsu to go to the infirmary. Along with Erza and Jellal as well."

He then placed the receiver back and the three of them waited in an awkward silence. Lucy's stomach chose to churn at that moment, though.

"UMPH!"

"Lu-chan!" Levy broke out from her freeze and immediately massaged Lucy's back softly. "Do you want to go to the bathroom?"

Lucy gave a small nod and Levy gently took her. The moment she reached the bathroom, she threw up immediately. Makarov stared at the half-opened door in silence.

Not long after, Natsu and Gray appeared on the infirmary's door. Erza and Jellal also appeared behind them.

"Principal!" The four of them blinked in confusion and bowed down politely.

"Come inside and please lock the door." Makarov instructed.

They obeyed and Jellal locked the door. Just then, the sound of Lucy throwing up echoed from the bathroom and Natsu's ears perked. He was about to rush into the bathroom but stopped immediately as his rationality took a hold of him.

He couldn't do anything risky since Makarov was here.

"Uncle—no, I mean, Principal—, what is it?" Jellal asked.

Instead of answering, Makarov took the test pack and handed it over to Natsu. He received in confusion and looked down at it. Two pink lines were shown, but Natsu's brain was still processing the meaning of it.

Erza peeked from Natsu's shoulders and gasped upon seeing it. "Whose…?"

"It's Lucy's." Makarov answered and Erza's face hardened in surprise.

"Lucy?" Natsu blinked. "What… What is this…?"

"It's a test pack, Natsu." Gray whispered in disbelieve. If it belonged to Lucy and it showed two lines, then…

"She's pregnant." Makarov said.

"Y—yes?" Natsu blinked again. Had he heard it right? Lucy… His wife… She was… Pregnant?

"Hold up," Jellal looked like he was also having a hard time of processing the information. "Principal, are you saying… Our Lucy-sensei is pregnant?"

"Yes. That is her test pack result." Makarov answered.

Natsu slowly looked at the half-opened bathroom door and unconsciously gripped the test pack in his hand. The reason why Lucy was feeling sick for the past three months wasn't because she was suffering from heat-stroke like she was used to, but it was because she was pregnant. There was a baby inside her…

Their baby. Their child.

"And I've been informed that it is your child, Natsu." Makarov said.

Natsu unconsciously nodded. "My child…"

"Natsu, look at me." Makarov firmly called, bringing Natsu's attention back to him. Makarov was stunned to see the glint in Natsu's eyes and took a few seconds longer to regain his composure. "I'm sure there's a rule in this school that prohibit teachers from forming a relationship with their colleagues."

"We're not in a relationship." Natsu said. His tone suggested that he answered it out of subconscious, but it sounded so firm.

Well, Natsu's mind was indeed on somewhere else right at the moment. All he could think about right now is the fact that Lucy was pregnant with his child.

Makarov blinked. "Yes?"

"We're married." Natsu answered. "Lucy is my wife."

That stunned Makarov even more. He stood frozen, his eyes were widened in disbelieve. But Natsu couldn't care less about that. He turned his attention back to the half-opened bathroom door and dashed towards it.

"Luce."

"Oh, Natsu." Levy greeted.

"Is this," Natsu lifted the test pack in his hand. "is this… really yours?"

"Congratulations, Natsu!" Levy couldn't hold back her squeal. She took the liberty of answering because Lucy was still throwing up.

"Oh my god…" Natsu muttered. "You're pregnant, Luce… We're going to be parents…"

"No one is going to be parents before I say so!" Makarov's angry voice boomed.

Natsu froze at the door and Levy froze beside Lucy. Even Lucy stopped throwing up.

"Natsu and Lucy, come here." Makarov called. The anger in his voice dissipated although it wasn't exactly a friendly tone either.

Levy helped Lucy to stand up and brought her to sit down on the bed again. Natsu followed and sat down beside his wife. Levy took her place beside Gray and stood behind their best friends, while Erza and Jellal stood no far from them.

"So…" Makarov stared intently at the two people who were sitting in front of him. "You two are married."

"Yes, Principal." Natsu answered firmly. There's no backing out now. And he wouldn't back out now.

Makarov stared at Natsu and Lucy straightly. But just like him, both of them were firmly looking back at the principal. "And since when are the two of you married?"

"Two months before graduation." Natsu answered.

"So, the faculty committee isn't aware of your relationship back then?"

"No, Principal." Natsu said.

"And the two of you are aware of this?" Makarov turned his head to look at both his nephew and his fiancée who were standing not far from his side.

"I deeply apologize, Principal." Erza bowed down.

"And why didn't you inform me about this the second you knew?" Makarov asked.

"I told her not to." Jellal answered. "Because they are still bound by our one-year contract, we cannot just fire them. That is why I and Erza told them to keep their marriage a secret until their contract expires."

Makarov fell into a silence and no one dared to open their mouths to say anything. Lucy closed her eyes and let out a small sigh. Well, maybe this time, she would be fired. Or the both of them would be fired. Or everyone who were present in the infirmary right now would be fired.

Contrary to Lucy's worry, Makarov instead broke into laughter.

Lucy opened her eyes and blinked in confusion. Natsu and Gray gaped at the headmaster while Erza, Levy, and Jellal stared at him dumbfoundedly.

"You stupid brats!" Makarov said, although there were no longer anger in his voice. Instead, his voice sounded cheerful and pleasant. "You should have told me from the start! Why would I fire them?"

"EH?!" All of them widened their eyes.

"But Principal, the rule…!" Erza asked in confusion.

"The rule clearly said that no teachers could form a relationship with their colleagues." Makarov said. "It doesn't prohibit any formed relationship, does it? Let alone a marriage."

"Yes?" Erza blinked in utter confusion.

"Neither one of them broke the rule, Erza." Makarov let out a gentle and a fatherly smile. "They didn't start their relationship after they became teachers here. The rule cannot prohibit any kind of relationships that happened before they were accepted as teachers here."

"But, the faculty committee…?"

"My dear Erza, that lies at the fault of the faculty committee, doesn't it?" Makarov winked. "They have graduated legally from the teaching college—great work at hiding your marriage, you two—so, we can't complain about that either."

"Principal…!" Another pool of happy tears was formed in Lucy's eyes.

"So… We're pardoned?" Natsu asked.

"I don't see any reason for you to be pardoned, though." Makarov laughed. "Since the two of you didn't break any rules."

"Principal, thank you very much!" Lucy smiled in gratitude.

"Although, I have something to reprimand of you two." Makarov smiled. "In accordance to your secret marriage from the principal, Lucy Heart—I mean, Lucy Dragneel. You should use your husband's surname from now on, dear. Anyway, I put you into house arrest for a month."

"H—house arrest?!" Lucy squeaked.

"Well, clearly you're having a really bad morning sickness, aren't you? Use the following month to get plenty of rest and return to the school after New Year vacation is over." Makarov said. "As for you, Natsu Dragneel, I will give you an extra burden for our school's upcoming winter festival. You will be placed in the event and the equipment committee, so work your ass off."

"Roger that, principal!" Natsu grinned.

"And one more thing. If the two of you become useless because of your marriage feud, I'll fire you immediately. Make sure you don't drag your personal problems into your working environment. Understand?"

"Yes, Principal!"

"Good." Makarov nodded in satisfactory. "I'll give you another bonus today. You two may leave early and go to the hospital to check on Lucy's pregnancy. Your classes today would be self-studying period."

"Thank you so much, Principal!" Lucy cried happily.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Natsu and Lucy." Makarov grinned. "And most of all, congratulations for becoming parents! I know you two will be a splendid one!"

Natsu helped Lucy sat down on their bed, smiles wouldn't leave their faces. They had just returned from the hospital and for the first time ever, they saw their baby in Lucy's womb. It was still tiny, but they could hear its strong heartbeat. It was still tiny, but it showed them that it was there. It was alive.

"Come here." Lucy softly said as she scooted over on their bed.

Natsu slipped into the blanket, bringing Lucy's body into his. Lucy cuddled into Natsu's chest and let out a content sigh. They stayed silent like that for a few more moments as Natsu placed butterfly kisses on top of Lucy's head.

"I can't believe this is happening…" Lucy muttered.

"Guess I was way too excited during our monthversary." Natsu chuckled.

Lucy placed her hands on her tummy, absent-mindedly rubbing it. "I'm not complaining, though. Although, I have to admit that this sort of ruined my plan."

"Whaddaya mean?"

"I was thinking of resigning after our one-year contract expires." Lucy chuckled.

Natsu blinked. "Why didn't I know that?"

"Duh. It's my personal secret. Only Lisanna knows it." Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Hey!"

"I'm fine with teaching elsewhere besides Fairy Tail High." Lucy admitted. "I don't want you to resign, Natsu, because I knew it's your dream to be a teacher there."

Natsu pinched the tip of Lucy's nose lightly. "Bad girl. You've been keeping secrets from me?"

Lucy chuckled. "A girl got to have one or two personal secrets, don't you think? But, I honestly didn't think our headmaster would be as cool as that. To think it's okay for us to stay even with our marriage."

"Isn't it a good thing?" Natsu chuckled lightly. "I'm getting tired of hiding our marriage, anyway. It feels good to brag about 'you are mine' to the world."

"I thought you're enjoying all those sneaking around we did." Lucy scoffed.

"I did." Natsu admitted. "It has its own personal thrill, you know? But honestly, I didn't mean to hide our relationship from the beginning. It's just—ugh—no one actually thinks you're mine when I treated you as my girl."

Lucy laughed. "Maybe they think it's a normal thing for a pair of childhood friends who knew each other since babies."

"But I didn't treat Levy that way!" Natsu complained. "And well, I don't care either because I don't need their recognition. You're my girl, who cares what other people say."

Lucy softly nodded her head. "I agree. So… Basically, the only secret we're keeping is our marriage, huh?"

"All because of that stupid rule." Natsu grumbled. "But I'm glad we're not breaking any rules. Seeing you everyday at home and at school is the best mood-booster for me."

"I think I'm gonna cry." Lucy sniffled jokingly. Natsu wasn't a romantic type person, but he did know how to be a romantic in the most proper moment.

Natsu sighed and hugged his wife, placing his hands over hers. "Thank you, Luce."

"Hm? For what?"

"For everything." Natsu said. "For choosing me to be your partner in life and for loving me. And now… For bearing my child. Our child."

Lucy's breath choked and she couldn't stop her happy tears from rolling down. "Thank you too, Natsu."

The two of them stayed that way for the rest of the day, basking themselves in each other's warmth. They had supportive friends around them. They managed to keep their job. And now, they were about to have a growing family.

Life is perfect.

Done !

FINALLY, AFTER 5 YEARS :'D

I'm so, so, happy for finishing this story ! Thank you so much for supporting me by reading this story ! I cannot have finished this without your help and your support :D

See you on the next fic !