AN: I am so sorry for the wait. I was having so much trouble with the chapter until I realized I didn't have to go into detail on the mission. Please enjoy and let me know what you think. :3

Chapter 22

Violet Moon

(Lucy pov)

It was almost sad how quickly Laxus and Gajeel tore the obstacles apart. We left the twitching trio behind and continued up the mountain. I called forth Orion just to speed things along.

To say Orion and my Dragon Slayers didn't get along was like calling a hurricane a brief drizzle. Laxus and Gajeel loathed the Spirit the very moment he appeared at my call. Of course that might have something to do with how he arrived, but it's not like I told him sweep me off my feet and profess his undying need to have me as his own. The two Dragon Slayers reacted about as well as I expected. Orion wore a smug grin as we hiked towards the temple despite the two looming Mages behind him growling like wild dogs. The Spirit vanished in a cloud of golden dust just before Laxus could strike him down with a lightning pumped fist.

Thankfully, it appeared that Orion had steered us true and found my sons.

Lukas and Titan cried at the sight of me. "Mom!"

My arms were full and my middle was being constricted by two tiny Dragon Slayers in training, and all was right in the world again. Two more, larger bodies flanked the three of us and joined in the hug fest. Lukas hand looked tiny when wrapped around his father's neck. Titan was clutching Gajeel's hair tightly as they reunited. I rained plenty of kisses upon my children's heads, and maybe the arms of their father's as they might have been in the way.

A rumble of the ground cut our reunion short as a Natsu snow ball came rolling towards us. Deep, intimidating growls vibrated the thick chests behind me. The distinctive crackle of Laxus' lightning was the only warning before the snowball was hit with a series of lightning bolts in rapid succession. The snowball burst and left Natsu with no defense against the Mage's rage.

Natsu collapsed with a sizzle and a grunt when the waves of yellow fury stopped. "WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING?!"

"Laxus! Please calm down." I placed a gentle hand on a bicep that was thicker than my head. He exhaled through his nose, but stepped back. I released Lukas and Titan into their sire's care. "NATSU, YOU SON OF A BITCH! WHAT IN THE FLYING FUCK WERE YOU THINKING TAKING MY BABIES ON AN S-CLASS MISSION?!"

I proceeded to tear the pink haired boy a new asshole to shit from, inventing new insults as to better communicate my absolute wrath at the sheer audacity of his actions. By the time I was through, Natsu was cowering in the dirt with no hope of rescue from the pillars of indignation behind me. His only chance to defend himself was a stuttered, "They wanted to go on a mission…"

Titan, the little sweetheart that he is, stepped up and looked up at me with shiny, maroon eyes. "We just wanted to make our parents proud."

My heart warmed and I ran my fingers through his mop of black hair. "Honey, I'm already proud of you. Neither of you have to prove yourselves to me. Especially not by throwing yourselves into danger."

"I promised that I'd take you on an S-Class mission when I thought you were ready. Not only are you not ready, I'm more disappointed that your first mission was with the flaming moron." Laxus stood with his arms crossed over his chest as he looked down at a crestfallen Lukas.

Gajeel laid a firm hand on his son's shoulder. "I'm glad you're safe. Absolutely pissed that you disobeyed orders and went on your first S-Class with Matchdick, but at least you're still in one piece."

"Natsu, however…" Lucy slapped the back of Laxus' head before he could elaborate on how he would rend the Fire Dragon Slayer into tiny bits.

The blonde leaned down and kissed her boys on their heads. "I'm glad we found you before some crazy mage could. Now I can safely escort you and the dead men walking to the boats while your daddies wrap things up here."

Lukas and Titan began wailing at the unfairness of it all and that they should be allowed to see the mission through. Still Taurus and Virgo helped me cart them and their kidnappers off to wait in the town while Laxus and Gajeel investigated the temple they had just escaped. Gray tried to insist they would need his help against his old brother in training, but I was adamant that he remains on the sidelines.

The town was attacked later by that same pink haired loon from earlier and her giant pet mouse. We were barely able to evacuate the townspeople without getting melted by the acid being airdropped. Thankfully, Lukas was able to pelt the bitch with enough lightning to strike her down from the sky though it weakened him to do so. He spent the next fourteen hours slumbering away in my sleeping bag, cuddled up with his brother, as I watched over them.

Laxus and Gajeel returned for the dynamic dumbasses, saying they could use the cannon fodder to better focus on taking down the giant demon encased in an Ice Shield cast by his mentor. Seeing as Gray had the most information on it, he was the best candidate to assist in bringing it down.

Not that it was necessary in the end. Being encased for so long must have weakened the beast exponentially as it died not even a minute after being released from its prison by the white haired asshole that was Gray's past acquaintance. The same boy and his associates got his ass handed to him by the older Dragon Slayers for being an idiot with minor help from me. He did put my kids in danger, after all.

The mission was completed when Laxus chucked a lightning riddled metal spear that Gajeel crafted that destroyed the purple shield made by the Moon Drip spell and finally set sail for home.

It wasn't until we had returned home and rested up to tear into Natsu and Gray for taking an S-Class mission without permission.

"YOU IMPERTINENT LITTLE CRETINS! CAN YOU COMPREHEND THE AMOUNT OF DANGER YOU WERE IN?" Every syllable out of my mouth was emphasized with a smack to Natsu and Gray's heads. "AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, YOU PULLED MY CHILDREN INTO IT!" I cared very little for the apologies that fell from their mouths like drool.

The Guild was quiet as they looked on in horror at the verbal and physical abuse bring dealt to two of the youngest powerhouses in Fairy Tail. Makarov simply sat on the bar, drinking his ale, and calmly waited for his turn. Though he appeared cool and collected, even I could sense the raging storm beneath his quiet demeanor.

Laxus and Gajeel finally showed up and got their pound of flesh. At least until Makarov put a stop to it. He hopped off the bar and though his footsteps were light, it felt like a hurricane was drawing dangerously near. "I'm disappointed in you two. Not only did you break one of the biggest rules of the Guild you endangered children in doing so."

Gray raised his hand. "To be fair, I tried to stop them…"

"You were tasked with bringing them back only to participate in the mission. Don't think that you can talk your way out of trouble." Makarov cut him off with the hardest glare I'd ever seen. The Ice Mage bowed his head in shame and Master continued on. "Usually, the punishment for stealing an S-Class mission would be months of suspension, but endangering a minor would result in expulsion from the Guild."

The whole building seemed to gasp in astonishment. I had heard the story about Ivan Dreyar. He was the Master's own son, and the only Fairy Tail member that was banished from the Guild. Fairy Tail was like a family and Makarov didn't like turning away family, but Ivan had done something supposedly so horrible and illegal that Makarov couldn't turn a blind eye.

To be honest with myself, I didn't want Natsu and Gray expelled from the Guild. Sure, what they did was stupid and poorly planned, but we were able to save them before they got themselves killed. "Master…"

He held up a hand. "What's done is done, Lucy. And while I will not be excommunicating them from the Guild," everyone released a simultaneous sigh of relief. "I cannot let this go unpunished. Seeing a Laxus was the one that took over the mission and rescued his own son, I think I'll let him handle your punishments."

The boys gulped in terror as Laxus stood over them exuding a palpable aura of malicious rage and wearing a smile that could only be described as spine-chilling.

Makarov wasn't finished, turning to my children. "As for you two, your punishment will be handled by Lucy. I know you were aware of the rule you had broken and the danger you were in. Don't think that your age will protect you from the consequences of your actions."

Lukas and Titan opened their mouths to protest, but I shut it down quickly. "You're lucky you're not being thrown out. S-Class missions are no joke. You both could have been killed! I'm just glad that demon had been killed by the initial Ice Shield casting and isn't roaming the coast causing chaos!"

No one was expelled from the Guild, but Natsu and Gray were now suspended. They would not be allowed on missions for the next six months. They would earn money by acting as staff for the Hall, performing bar service or clean up when commanded. Any damage they deal to the building would extend their suspension depending on the amount of damage. A broken chair would only extend their punishment by a week. Anything larger would add a month. If anyone got hurt or their fights occurred outside the hall then their timer would start over no matter how far they are into their suspension.

My sons were hereby grounded and offering their service to volunteer work around the town. Their training had been regulated to physical exercises for as long as Natsu and Gray were regulated to the Guild Hall. There would be no day trips, no family missions. They didn't even visit their father's homes. The boys stayed with me with Laxus and Gajeel swinging by to visit.

It hurt when they gave me the silent treatment or glared at me, but they need to understand that every action has consequences.

Three months into suspension and everyone had gone a little crazy. Natsu and Gray wanted to get away from each other and Laxus was ready to strangle them both. Lukas and Titan were griping about continuing their magic training. I was running low on funds and I needed to go on a mission. It was nice with Laxus and Gajeel pitching in to help raise our boys, but it wouldn't feel right using the money they gave me for my personal needs.

I was sitting in the Guild Hall considering bringing an early end to their grounding when the doors flew open and a woman stepped inside.

She was tall, thin, and sported exaggerated curves that were most definitely fake. Her hair was bleached white with neon green streaks, styled into a choppy bob. Spray tanned skin was on display with very little left to the imagination. It was obvious that she wore no undergarments and was completely fine in doing so. She toddled in on sky high heels that would surely be the death of her one day. A manicured and heavily jeweled hand lifted a pair of pricey sunglasses off her face and revealed shrewd and cunning blue-gray eyes.

The moment those eyes landed on Lukas they glowed in recognition and hunger. A smile I knew all too well spread across her face and she through out her arms as if to embrace him. "Lukas baby! I'm so glad I found you!"

I saw Laxus stiffen from the corner of my eye as Gajeel moved to step in front of Lukas. "Can I help you, lady?"

The stranger huffed and placed her hands on her plump hips. "You can help by getting out of my way."

Gajeel smirked dangerously, his grin belying a need for violence. "Uh, no. I'm not in the habit of letting crazy bitches handle children."

"Oh, you silly goose." She giggled into her hand in a way I'd seen many heiresses do in distasteful company. "Seeing as how I carried that boy for nine months I think I'm entitled to handle him anyway I please."

My heart stuttered in my chest.

The woman caught my eye and her mouth twisted into a mockery of a friendly grin. "Hi, I'm Tanya. I'm Lukas' mother."