One month post wedding

Things were supposed to change after couples got married. At least, that's what Macao and Wakaba told Lily as he looked for a job to take while Levy and Gajeel were off on their honeymoon.

"Don't worry there buddy, within a month they'll take their hands off each other. Ya just gotta hold off until then."

Lily didn't know whether it was bad for him to hope that his best friend's relationship started to stale, but the amount of nights that he had to spend at another guild member's house in order to get any semblance of sleep was just getting ridiculous now. Added to that the fact that more and more guild members were getting into relationships, and it was difficult to find one that didn't mind harboring him for the night. He assumed that after an entire month of having no one but each other to keep them company the two love birds would be able to stay apart for more than an hour, or at least tire themselves out, so the first time he got back to the house after they had returned he felt safe entering in the front door. He pushed the wood open with his back, his arms carrying enough groceries to last all three of them for a week, and almost ran into where Gajeel had propped Levy against the wall, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist.

Levy screamed as Gajeel pulled away, desperately tugging her skirt down to cover herself. Lily sighed. This wasn't anywhere near the first time this had happened. He simply walked through to the kitchen, left the groceries on the side and left through the back door.

"I'll be back to make food in an hour. Consider this fair warning."

Three months post wedding

Lily was sat at the bar at the guild, a glass of strong liquor in one hand as his head was rested on the other. Mira walked over to him, leaning on her elbows on the counter as she prepared to offer her advice. That's why she had come over, of course. To offer Lily advice. Not to get gossip, not at all.

"What's the matter, Pantherlily?"

Her voice was sweet enough to disguise her true intentions, and Lily almost fell for it. Almost. He took a sip out of his drink, before facing the takeover mage. At this point, he was far too drunk and far too angry to worry about the information he was about to give her.

"I walked into the garden earlier, and let's just say I discovered why Levy asked Droy to put all those twenty foot trees around the perimeter. They were fucking on the lawn. On the lawn, Mira."

The takeover mage only just managed to suppress her laughter, covering her mouth with her hand in a gesture she hoped Lily would think was just her trying to come up with a solution. Her plan didn't work. Lily knew exactly what she was doing.

"They're young and in love, Lily. I know it must be hard living with them, but it won't be long until they calm down and you'll have your house back again. You're free to come and live with me and Freed for a while if you want?"

Lily looked over at the rune mage, who didn't even attempt to hide his grimace at the suggestion. He wondered if Mira could feel the scowl that Freed was currently boring into the back of her head. The exceed sighed, finishing off his drink before standing up and heading out of the guild.

"Thanks for the suggestion, Mira, but I think I'll just go and stay with the exceeds for a while. Like you said, I don't think this can last for long."

Six months post wedding

Lily lay in his bed, desperately trying to cover his ears to block out the noise coming from the room next to him. He had thought that Levy's announcement that she was expecting would slow down the constant screaming that he heard at night, but obviously not. Erza had been joking around with Levy about the benefits of having sex while pregnant, but Lily had assumed it was just that. Joking.

As soon as it was ridiculously apparent that he wasn't getting any sleep that night if he stayed there he opened up his window and jumped out, unfurling his wings as he flew away from the house.

Freed opened the door in a tank top and pajama bottoms, rubbing his eyes as he spotted the exceed stood on his porch. He sighed as he pulled the door fully open, allowing it to hit the wall as he stepped back and invited the exceed inside. Yet again he was cursing his girlfriend for extending the invitation three months ago, but he couldn't get too angry. The exceed made his way into the house without saying a word, heading towards the sofa as Freed turned around and made his way back up to his own bed. Unbeknownst to the other, both men hoped that this informal arrangement would end sooner rather than later.

Fifteen months post wedding

Lily, like always, was the first one awake when one of the twins cried. This time it was Shutora, and he made his way through the hallway to the twins room. Grabbing a bottle from the fridge inside the door he shook it absentmindedly, activating a rune to heat it slightly before heading to pick up the young girl and cradle her in his arms. She was contented almost immediately, her screaming stopping as she ate and Lily chuckled. She was just like her father, placated by food. It wasn't long before Lily heard the door open, and turned to see Gajeel resting against the door frame. The Dragon Slayer had just managed to pull his boxers on, and he went to check on his son to make sure he hadn't awoken.

"I'm sorry, Lil'. For makin' ya put up with this. I love havin' ya here but, d'ya think ya might wanna stay somewhere else until the brats are a little older?"

Lily smirked, looking down at the now sleeping face of the baby in his arms. In the three months since the twins had arrived, Levy and Gajeel had been far too exhausted to interrupt his sleep with any funny business in the night.

"Don't worry about it, Gajeel. I think the twins and I will get on just fine…"

A/N - And that's it for this Gajevy Love Week! A massive thanks goes out to Gajeelswoman, who beta'd for me, and Kmmcm who is my wonderful blind tester for everything I do. I love both of you to the moon and back. Check out both of their work on Tumblr!

If you've enjoyed these chapters, be sure to check out my two more long form fics, Iron and Paper (a Gajevy Fic) and Soul Squared (A Bixanna fic). I've also participated in the previous two Gajevy Love Weeks, and have a couple of one-shots if that's more your thing.

See you for the next love week!