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In their Seasons, dragons only aim for one thing: find a mate to bear his offspring. The dragon will not fully rest until his mate has conceived his heir.

Makarov frowned at the tiny bits of information written in the extremely tiny encyclopedia he had found in the archives of the guild. It gave him no further information than he already knew. It infuriated him. Gajeel told him everything he knew about this "Season". For male dragons to find their mates and have their children. He doubts even Natsu knew this bit of his dragon magic's origin.

Even if this was the Season working its "magic", it doesn't change what Natsu has done. Or the horrible outcome of it.

A soft knock on the office door gained his attention.

"Master?" It was a tiny voice, and Makarov recognized the voice instantly.

"You may enter."

The door creaked open, Happy slowly prodded inside. The little green bag on his back was full, a fish head poked out from the flap. Happy stared at Makarov for a short minute before coming to his desk.

"Happy? How can I help you? I see you've gone fishing again", Makarov closed the encyclopedia had been reading, keeping his eyes trained on the Exceed carefully.

"I heard something happened to Lucy, and I wanted to give her lots of fish to help cheer her up, but when I got to her apartment, I learned that she moved somewhere else." Happy was crestfallen and nearly deflated with strong disappointment. "I know you know where she is." The blue cat climbed onto the chair in front of the desk before climbing onto the desk itself.

Makarov's frown rose into a small--small--smile. He saw the pure and genuine distress the cat held for his friend.

"Forgive me if she's worrying you, Happy, " Makarov patted the cat's head lightly, "It's quite complicated to tell, and I can't really say anything."

"Is she okay?"

"Yes, Happy."

"Can you take me to her?"

"I..." Makarov hesitated. He didn't know how to...no. Happy is Lucy's friend, he should at least have the comfort knowing she's all right and safe. "It's not really my place to decide, but yes, I can take you to her."

"Yay!" Happy cheered happily.

~

"Careful with that!" I rush to Midnight, just before the take-out boxes slipped from his hands.

"It's food, it can be replaced." The goth boy scoffed rudely.

"Do you want to go all the back to the restaurant and get more food?" I snapped with a stern glare. "I didn't think so," I added with a huff after receiving no answer from him.

"I feel like you're on your period or something."

"I'm pregnant, stupid!"

"Is that what you wanna call it?"

"Would you two shut the fuck up?!" Cobra growled menacingly, glaring at the both of us in annoyance.

"The point is, food should never be wasted. It's essential to our survival!" Okay, I'll admit, I probably got a little too dramatic with the food, but now that I'm having an unplanned bundle, I must keep my food safe at all times! I've recently noticed my appetite has become tremendous and almost terrifying. I kept it down, or at least attempted, so far.

"You know what is essential to our survival?" Midnight dragged on.

"You shutting up?" I smugly smirk.

A vein bulged from the goth boy's forehead, "You think you're hot stuff, don'tcha?"

I would've answered easily, but it came quickly, like a jump scare, it just jumped up into my throat. The bile in my throat. The churning of my stomach. The irresistible need to barf then and there. I shoved the food packages into Midnight's arms and hurried into one of the nearby bathrooms.

~A few moments later~ (I know you can imagine the narrator person from Spongebob Squarepants)

"Ugghh..." I groan painfully, pulling the lever that flushes the now dirty water down.

I get to my feet in stagger and robotically turn to open my stall. As I step out of the stall, a woman exited another stall at the same time. I ignored her for the time sake and walked to the sinks. I turn the faucet on, cup my hands and rinse my mouth out.

"Is it your first?"

I'm suddenly asked by the woman. At first, a cold chill of acknowledgment washed over me, and then it melted into brief anxiety. I spit the water out and turn the faucet off.

"What?" I don't even know why I said it. I heard her loud and clear.

The woman was middle-aged, her puffy hair was teal and there were some hints of whitening strands. Her violet-colored floral dress tightened as she washed her hands in a different sink.

"I'm sorry for suddenly asking, " She chuckled, dabbing her fingers dry with a paper towel, "And I certainly don't mean to make you uncomfortable. I was asking if this is your first child."

Oh. Oh. Right, of course. She must be a mother to know if another woman is pregnant.

I flush of every color, "Is it noticeable?" I bite my lip nervously.

"Don't worry, Hun, " She chuckles, "It's just the way you carry yourself. I could tell right off the bat. I was the same way when I was pregnant."

There's a way pregnant people carry themselves? Huh, I didn't know that. I mean, I guess it's reasonable since there's rice-sized life currently growing in my uterus, it's no biggie. (See the sarcasm?)

"Yeah, " She sighed happily, "My baby boy is mage at Sabertooth! I can't be more proud of him, " She paused hesitantly, "Well, I suppose I can be, but he doesn't like me eulogizing him in front of his pals."

Her son is in Sabertooth?

"Oh! I'm sorry, Dear! Here I am and we don't even know each other's names!" She smacks her hands to her cheeks, eyebrows knitting together furiously before outstretching a hand toward me, "Hello, I am Cora Nanagear." She smiles humbly at me.

Nanagear? Isn't that the name of...? It struck me hard when I realized it. My jaw hinges open so wide, it popped.

"Yo-you're O-Orga's...mom?" I squint at the woman, trying to compare the complete bulky man (due to my best memory) to her.

"Hm? You know my baby boy?" She brightly smiles, "I'm so happy he's making friends! Especially ones as pretty as you!" She gasped dramatically, "Are you a special lady friend? He always hangs around a good-lookin' gal, are you one?" She gasps again. "Are you...dating my boy?" Her eyes flickered to my stomach before averting to my eyes. "Is this my grandbaby?"

"hAh!?!" I yelp just before the woman tackles me into a giant bear hug. "Whoa, whoa, WHOA! Ma'am!" I grab her shoulders and peel myself away, "I'm sorry, but I'm not in any kind of relationship with your son." I nod to emphasize my words, "And I'm not pregnant with his kid. If you haven't gotten the memo, our guilds are kinda hating on each other." I fan my right hand above my chest, showing off my guild mark.

The woman paled and deflated, "Oh. I'm sorry, Dear."

My heart clenched painfully at her sad and crestfallen deflate. What was I supposed to say? Or act? I've never experienced this situation before (obviously) and I'm kind of panicking.

"No, no. Don't be, um, " I fumble with my words, "Uh, uh, I tell you what, Mrs. Nanagear, since I'm new at this whole 'mother-to-be' thing, I could use tips from someone who's been through this before." Half lie, a half truth. I just wanted to make her feel better, and it seemed to work.

"Really? I don't want to impose."

"You're okay, really. I don't I'll be learning anything from the guys I'm living with." This was true. I doubt either Cobra or Midnight had any recognition about babies or how to handle them, or even how to handle a pregnant lady in general.

She smiles, "All right, then, Dear. Here's my address, just come find me whenever you need advice or help about something." She dug into her handbag, which she magically pulled from thin air, and pulled out a card.

I take the slip of paper and she gave me a 'farewell' (which was a quick squeeze on my shoulder) and paddled out of the bathroom. I glance at the card. The address was more close to the Sabertooth guild. I frown. If I do go to her, I'd have to drag Midnight and Cobra along with me. Anyway, I read the blue sparkly, cursive name at the top: Cora Nanagear.

I want to refuse to believe someone as rude as Orga is actually that sweet woman's son! He must get it from his father or something.

~A minute or two later~

"Finally! Do all women take so long in the bathroom?" Midnight grunted out, pushing himself off a lamp post.

I roll my eyes at that one comment, "Let's get home already. It's getting darker." I'll just leave out meeting Orga's mother, they probably wouldn't care anyway.

The sky was fading from orange to a clean dark blue. Stars twinkled across the color like flicks of white paint on a black canvas. The moon wasn't out, which made the upcoming nighttime bland.

Cobra was more than eager to get back to the apartment, "Yeah. The night is when weirdos come out."

"Speaking about yourself?" Midnight said.

"Says the guy who wears lipstick and braids his hair."

I snort at Cobra's retort.

"Touche." Midnight seemed content with it, smirking fondly and almost with approval.

As we began to walk, people close their shops for the night, some keep open. I could guess bars; they do get pretty busy during the night.

"Aha! Found you, bastard!" Fastened footsteps paddled across the cobblestone ground, somewhere behind us.

"Watch out!"