"Get out, stupid humans!!"

Irritation growled out rather harshly. Who...?

"Now, now, Porlyusica, I'm technically not human!" Loke?

"I don't care, you stupid spirit! Out, out, OUT!"

It was until I heard a door slam did I actually stir awake completely. Opening my eyes, I make contact with a wooden ceiling. It was familiar, but I couldn't place my finger on it...wait. Porlyuscia? Loke? Damn. I really need to learn how to not be slow, her name was said seconds ago.

"You're awake, " The pink-haired woman said, cognizant. "How do you feel?"

I pull myself up into a sitting position, being weighed down by serious fatigue. "Weak." I nimbly answer her.

"I would assume so, " Porlyusica said, coming up to me with a vial of green liquid, "Summoning two Celestial Spirits will weaken your magic as well as physically." She gave me the vial, "Take this, it will help with regaining your magic and strength."

I take the vial from her outstretched hand, bringing it to my face, barely catching a whiff of the rancid aroma steaming out of it. My face scrunches up in disgust, "Ewe."

"It may smell unpleasant, but it'll help. Just drink it." The older woman sat on a wooden stool nearby. "I was rather...puzzled seeing those youngsters banging on my door, asking for my help with you unconscious. Their explanations were so jumbled and damned annoying."

I pinch my nose, tilting my head back to just enough to gulp down the serum. The taste was just as rancid as the smell and I almost barfed it back up, but I forced it back down.

"Yuck!" I blew out a big breath, handing the vial back to Porlyusica.

"Tell me, do you feel any discomfort, abdominal pain, fever, headache, pressure, nausea, or mild aches?" She listed, observing me and my slug-like movements.

"Uh, " I wrack my brain, focusing on my body for any pain of the sorts, "Now that you mention it, I guess I feel a little sick, but I think it's because of that medicine you gave me." I run my hands through my hair as it lay on my shoulders.

"That's good, " She sighed before jumping to her feet, "What the hell were you thinking?! Summoning two Zodiacs? Do have a death wish, Girl?!" She balled her fists at her sides.

I stare at her, surprised at her outburst, "It's okay, Porlyusica, I've summoned two before--"

"I'm not sure you understand the consequences of using magic summon while with child, " The woman cut me off, "Your child feeds off your magic, for the time being, it is tied to it. By summoning your spirits, you are risking your baby's life."

"What?" My voice immediately cracks. My heart sinks with guilt.

"And because of this, I'm grounding you."

"Grounding me? From what?" I spew in confusion, the information she gave still sinking in, but ever so slowly.

"You will not use magic until I deem the child safe!" Porlyusica says, narrowing her eyes at me.

"I can't just not use magic! It's apart of me! How will I protect myself if those guys come back?"

"Did I stutter?"

"No, but--"

"I believe your friends will protect you. I've grounded you already. And I'll inform Makarov and that Lion of this as well. If I so much as hear you've used magic, I'll take your keys until you've carried out your pregnancy." The woman was rather blunt and harsh about saying her thoughts.

"But, I can't just...why? If I use magic, I'm endangering my baby?"

"Affirmative." The old woman nodded firmly.

I bite my inner lip.

"Could I..." I begin reluctantly, "Could I ask you to do one of those ultra things to see my baby?"

"Don't be foolish, Girl." I flinch at the woman's bark of annoyance. "I am in not equipped with such tools. If you want to have an ultrasound, you must dock an appointment with a maternity clinic."

"Oh."

We were silent for a minute. It was too long. It felt like hours until Porlyusica spoke again, but not before heaving out a deep sigh.

"Listen, child, I cannot do everything for you, medically. I practice magical healing, not the training of an OBG/YN." She said.

"I understand." I didn't. I really didn't. Porlyusica knew what I had gone through. She was the one I came crawling to hours after...I gulp even thinking about it. She helped me, and I suppose I feel attached because she was the only one who helped me.

"Why are you crying?"

Crying? I find myself patting my cheeks, which both were indeed splashed with running tears. It was then, did I let myself break down.

"I...I'm so-so-sorry!" I hiccup rather painfully, balling my hands up, rubbing at my eyes. "I-I-I didn't mean...to cause you...tr-trouble!"

"Humans are so troublesome!" Porlyusica grumbled.

"S-sorry!"

"Don't apologize!" She hissed.

"Sorry!"

"I said don't apologize, girl!"

"S--"

"Don't finish that." Porlyusica glared at me lightly. Her shoulders slump in defeat. "Look, I can't imagine what is going on in your mind right now. I know it's hard to accept something that will change your life forever, but, know you aren't alone in this change, " The old woman sits up straight like a board, "You have friends. Those friends are outside and waiting for you. Some of those friends are waiting for an explanation they're willing to wait for."

Through my watery eyes, I glance at the door, seeing familiar hair colors hobble through the small window.

They're here...? All of them?

~

~

This was stupid! What was he gonna do now?

Natsu sat at the bar, his plate dirty of his meal. His cup of fire whiskey sat empty centimeters away from the empty porcelain. He subconsciously glared at the empty glass, wishing it were full again, overflowing with the nervous relaxing alcohol.

His fiancee and her bridesmaids had gone wedding dress shopping, and they're not back. He couldn't go on missions, no one but Mira or Master was allowed to authorize the jobs he'd wanted to take. And even if one of them were here, he couldn't go along with his plans, Happy and Gray were gone. Hell, he didn't know where the Stripper went. He sure in hell didn't know where his cat was. He disappeared around the afternoon yesterday, not that he was keeping track or anything. It was boring! Boring to not be around his friends or future wife!

For some reason, Natsu was in an aggressive mood, he couldn't control his snaps and sneers he gave his fellow guildmates. He couldn't apologize because they quickly scattered in fear. It's not something he could explain....it was like he was automatically agitated. Itching for something, and because he couldn't detect what that something was, he belittled everything around, lashed out with irritation.

Clenching his teeth, the pink-haired man felt it again. That ugly flare that possessed him nearly over a month ago. It rumbled within his chest, growling, clawing with it's desperate and prolonging bellow of need.

No, no, no! This couldn't be happening again! Natsu panicked quickly rising from his seat, hopping back on his heels, reeling back, spinning around, and hurrying out of the guild; leaving any guild members that witnessed his sudden jump in a confused haze.

His shoes stomped the cobble paths as he ran as if he were chasing bandits. His heart pounded fiercely, sweat coated his arms like oil, terror in his eyes like prey about to be eaten by a vicious predator.

"Hey, are you okay, buddy?" An older shopkeep shakily asked the dragon slayer.

The mage turned to the man, suddenly giving an assuring grin, "I'm fine! I just..." It hit him. "I'm just on my way to a friends house! I forgot my medicine in her cabinet again!" Natsu lied, cursing himself as he ruffled his hair with a hand.

"You be sure to take care of yourself now!" The shopkeeper scolded lightly before scuttling back into his little shop.

Damn, that was close! Too close! Natsu thought warily, heading off through the streets of a familiar and faint scent, but it was still as lovely and delicious when Lucy was near him.

~

"Luce?" Natsu hopped through the window that was never locked for some reason.

As quickly as he leaned into the apartment he visited so many times in the past, he realized the furniture changed. Lucy's favorite recliner was gone and replaced with an old, ripping leather one. Her cream-colored sofa was gone, too. Instead, a long and scruffy looking couch sat. The scents in this apartment were different now. He didn't leave the cardboard boxes near the front door and chimney.

Did Lucy move or get new roommates?

A sweet smell wafted into Natsu's nostrils. Was that...cookies? Natsu's stomach rumbled with sudden hunger.

"Hey, Honey?" A woman's voice called from where the kitchen was.

Natsu froze as the voice reached his ears, as well as his blood. That wasn't Lucy! The woman didn't even sound remotely close to Lucy!

"I'm giving Airi a bath, Ko!" A man's voice called from where the bathroom was.

Shit! Natsu cursed, the woman suddenly sauntering into the living room, somehow missing that Natsu stood near the open window. He stayed as still as he could be at the moment.

"Oh, my baby!" The woman entered the bathroom with a big smile.

"She looks like my grandma, Cane, how can you not see that?"

"I can't! Your grandmother is a stingy old bag."

A gasp rang out, "How can you say that?"

"She hates me, Ko."

"She's dead."

"Well, I feel like she hates me."

An exasperated sigh escaped the woman, "Men are such babies."

"Is dinner done?"

A baby cooed out with a squealing giggle.

"Yes, the soup is settling right now, I'll prepare a bowl for you--"

Suddenly, the woman came out of the bathroom, freezing, now spotting Natsu standing there like a creeper who just came through her window. A short, panicked scream escapes her before she hauls herself into a protective stance.

"Who're you?! What're you doing in our home?!" The mother shouted, suddenly pulling out a knife out of seemingly thin air.

Natsu didn't say anything, but instead, he quickly jumped out of the open window, grabbing the window frame, flipping his body up into the air and onto the small roof.

"Ko, what happened?! Are you okay?"

Natsu heard the man's voice concerned voice wail.

"I am. Who was that?"

"Who?"

"There was a man here!"

Natsu peered a little over the roof just as a blob of brown hair sticks out of the window, frantically looking at the bottom of the window, out at the street, even up at the sky.

"A man?"

"If you ask me a single worded question again, I'm gonna---"

SLAM!

The window shut rather harshly, and soon after, Natsu heard a loud click on the frame, indicating that the woman locked the opening.

The pink-haired mage plopped on a smaller and closed-off chimney. Lucy wasn't here. Her scent was washed over by these new people.

Fury fueled through his veins. Fists clenched until the veins in his arms popped out to visibility. He jolted to his feet, throwing his head back as he roared:

"WHERE IS SHE???!!!"