As always, the inner ruins of ancient tombs remained dim with crystal light. It had become more hectic within the last months.

"Argh!" A shout rings through the stone foundation angrily.

Taft and Grimm fight the urge to grimace as they watch Evanora release her rage on the unfortunate souls of their dedicated follows. The person flails across the room almost unconscious, grunting rather loudly as he crashes into the floor, rolling back roughly, which causes his mask to come flying off.

Time ticked forward slowly, but quickly. They hadn't captured the girl even though time was counting down to the date. Her child was the key and time was running out.

Evanora felt very agitated and apprehensive. Frustrated and mildly undone. Her nerves were shot. Power flowed through her heatedly, emitting off her body like the rays from the sun. Her hair curled from the stripes of violet lightning zapping the outline of the strands.

Her fingers cradling an increasing ball of her lightning energy, it not only illuminating immensely but the power shifted like winds.

"M-M-Milady, wa-wait!" The man was rather young, terror visibly reflecting within his wide eyes. His hands flying in front of him to protect himself from the oncoming attack. Painfully wailing as the lightning smoldering his fingers to his shoulders, his shirt, and cloak all burned to a crisp, his skin charred black.

The lightning did not stop at the man's shoulders, it went beyond, wrapping around his torso, face, abdomen, and legs.

Evanora callously glowers at the withering, thrashing male while he screams and shrieks in terrible pain. Her red lips tighten satisfyingly spying her victim struggling to breathe, gasping like a madman until his life disappeared.

"Clean this filth up!" Evanora roars, glaring at another of the Followers.

They hold in their terrified squeaks, hurrying to do as their Lady asked before they became her next victim.

"Mother, " Ivory appeared, draped in her dark cloak and pulling her hood away from her face.

"Ah, wonderful to see you, my daughter, " Evanora calmly turned, returning to her throne. "What is your disclosure?"

Ivory nodded, turning to her mother, bowing to her knees, "I have caught wind of the Heartfilia girl, she plans to leave for Magnolia by the week's end." Ivory reported, lowering her head.

"Magnolia? Do pray tell, child." Evanora's eyebrows knitted together furiously.

"She is planning to visit her guild, Fairy Tail."

"Fairy Tail?" Evanora repeated in temporary confusion before it blossomed within her. "Ah, yes. That rambunctious league of ragtag mages."

"That is them, yes." Ivory looks up at Evanora with uncertainty.

"I say, it has been a long while since I have heard of that guild. Tell me, " Evanora leaned forward, crossing her right leg over her left. "Is Precht Gaebolg still the guild master?"

She had heard of this man before. From the stories that floated around Earthland for the last few decades. Apparently, he had given the title of guild master to another and ran off like a duck. It was a rumor, of course. Humans loved to twist the truth with mild exaggeration.

"N-no, Mother. The guild master currently is Makarov Dreyar. He is one of the Ten Wizard Saints. His underlings are quite powerful as well. Not to remind you of the Dragneel boy--" Ivory trailed off being silenced by Evanora dismissing her words with the flick of her wrist.

"It really is quite astonishing how a Heartfilia can surround herself with powerful allies and protectors." Evanora had to think. Taking the girl would be more difficult than she originally thought.

"Mother?"

Evanora caressed her chin with her fingers. She supposes it could be done with the assistance of Grimm's shadow magic and the cloaking magic of her daughter. The half-breed would make a delightful distraction if he wasn't killed first. His character was such a riot he most likely wouldn't last five minutes against

"The tapestry?" Evanora made eye contact with Ivory, who stilled upon hearing the short question.

"All that we are missing is the comfort, Mother."

Evanora scoffs in dull amusement, "There is no comfort in childbirth, daughter of mine. See to it that you get someone with delivery expertise. I don't want our little Heartfilia straining and hemorrhaging. She is a crucial piece within our plans."

"Yes, Mother."

! !

~

The worst about mornings is having extra weight on you and barely able to make to the bathroom to empty any food from last night's dinner.

Hunched over the toilet bowl as bile rises up my throat. I clutch the porcelain bowl as the acid hangs in my esophagus. I gasp pitifully, sucking in the cool, still air. The coolness stings the upcoming acid reflex as I shift myself onto my bottom.

I clumsily snatch the hand towel laying on the sink. I brought the cloth to my mouth, wiping my lips with a hasty grunt. I blow out tired sighs. Thinking this morning sickness was over was the worst mistake I've probably ever made in the past month.

I don't about you, but the bathroom floor felt very nice right now.

"You alright, Blondie?" Cobra's leaked into my ears, almost inaudible.

I say nothing, reaching up, fingers hooking the handle that flushes the toilet. What a way to start the day. Heh. That rhymed well. I tug my fringes behind my ears in dismay as I watch whatever I had tossed up flush down the commode hole thingy.

"No, " I finally answer. "But you can help me up." I reach out with my left hand toward the maroon-haired man. My retching must have woken him up. With his advanced hearing, he probably was awakened when I nearly fell out of my bed in a hurry to the bathroom.

He hand clamped around mine. His biceps flex as he helps me to my feet. That was very nice. Mama likes some eye-candy. I flush with embarrassment barely catching sight of Cobra peeling back a sly smirk.

"Shut up, " I slap him lightly on the arm. "And stop reading my mind."

"It's hard not to, Blondie, " Cobra chuckled amusingly.

I quickly notice he didn't even bother to correct me. I decided to just shrug it off. He's probably being lenient on me because it's early. He probably didn't make a fuss about it, I assume.

I turn toward the sink, gripping the faucet on. It instantly spewing water in the bowl. I grab my toothbrush and toothpaste. I waste no time brushing my teeth and tongue. I spit out the bile and paste, teetering over, I wash my toothbrush out and scooping water into my mouth, swishing the water around in my mouth and then spitting it out. I shut the faucet off after rinsing my mouth out. I wipe my mouth and chin with my sleeves.

Now that my mouth felt cleaner, I turn around.

I brush past Cobra and into the narrow hallway and make my way to the kitchen. I needed water or tea or something! Maybe some heartburn medicine. Or an ice pack. Or a foot massager. Who knows? Maybe some food. Ugh. My stomach churned just thinking about food. And not in a good way.

I catch a glimpse of the clock calmly ticking on the wall, and with the morning sun breaking through the curtains behind the couch. It was barely even eight AM. Sigh. Clearing my throat, I open up the cabinets, scanning the cupboards tiredly.

"What are you doin' ?" Cobra enters the kitchen seconds later.

I bring out the ground coffee beans. For some reason, my carvings rear their ugly heads. They cry out for this, which is caffeine. And I'm one hundred percent obligating to drink it. I honestly kept this stuff around because I learned Midnight and Cobra had a thing for coffee, especially since they survived on it through their years in prison.

"You're not supposed to have caffeine, " He continues while he watches me prepare the coffee maker and the water. "Oi. I know you can hear me."

I sigh loudly. "Yes, unfortunately." I pour the grounded mix into a filter and turn the coffee maker on.

"Aren't you a comedian?" Cobra grunts sarcastically.

"Look, " I turn around to face Cobra, suddenly coming face to face with his chest, my nose brushing against his tank top. "Wh--oh--uh..." I slip around him. "I just need substance. Not food, not water. I need something sweet."

"Then suck on a popsicle."

"We don't have any, " I grumble lowly. "Would you bug off? I'm just trying to appease my child."

Cobra chortles. "Appeasing. Right."

He suddenly hands me a water bottle. Where he got it, probably from the fridge, but I didn't hear him open the fridge. The bottle was relatively cold and my fingertips froze with the temperature. And then gives me a pill. It looks like the prenatal pills Cora gave me. Aw. How sweet. He's making sure I take my meds. But the coffee...

"Meanie..." I mutter childishly. I open the bottle and take a swig of it, downing the pill.

The cold liquid runs down my throat, easing away the acidic aftertaste.

"You'll thank me later."

I doubt it.

!

"Good morning, Lucy!" Yukino entered through the door with a bright smile plastered on her face.

Sting, Rogue, and their Exceeds followed closely behind her. They didn't seem as energetic as Yukino, well, Frosch would have been if he weren't napping in his dragon slayer's arms.

"Good morning, " I nod my greeting. "How's it going?"

"Oh, it's going, alright!" Yukino bounced toward me. "You ready for the appointment?"

Oh shit. My heart flared with a sudden memory. I did have an appointment today, didn't I? I completely forgot!

"Oh, goodness! No, I completely forgot! Uh, uh! I'll go get dressed!" I hurry past the bodies of friends and toward my room.

"Lucy Heartifilia."

Hearing my name being called, I look up from the magazine in my hands. It's my turn, I guess.

I plop the magazine on the coffee table, heaving myself up. Yukino had already beaten me as she hopped to her own feet and helped me up. She was kind about it and very patient.

"Finally!" Happy cheered perching himself atop my head.

"You guys stay here, " Yukino told Sting and the others. "We'll be back."

"Hah? Hey, isn't it a bad idea to leave us behind? Remember what happened last time?" Midnight quirked an eyebrow in annoyed confusion.

I wince at how harsh his words crashed against me. I subconsciously rub my bump with a grimace. Unfortunately.

"But, we can't all go back there! It'll be too crowded." Yukino frowned. "And it's not up to me. Lucy?"

I froze as all eyes focused on me. "E-er...we-well...I-I...Rogue?" I look at Rogue helplessly.

I don't know why I looked at him. I guess it was because he was level headed and smart and calmer than Sting or the Exceeds.

"I think Sting should go with you. We wouldn't want him starting a fight with these guys again." Rogue smiled politely at me.

That seemed like a reasonable reason.

"Yahoo!" Sting jumped up excitedly, Lector pounding his tiny little paws in the air.

"Quiet down! There are people around!" I scold with a light glare as we receive disturbed looks from other patients in the waiting room.

"Right, " Sting rubbed the back of his neck. "Let's get going!"

!

"Hello again, Miss Lucy-oh my goodness!" The frizzy, teal-haired woman gasps in surprise upon seeing me.

"Um, hi, " I quickly am beat down by my lowering self-esteem. "Yukino told me she informed you of what happened. I know it's a shock."

"O-oh, she did!" Cora bursts. She burns red as she realizes she's shouted. "Oh, dear. I apologize for staring. It is just, um..." She trailed off.

"Cora-san?" Yukino said, seemingly snapping the older woman from her shock.

"Oh! R-right! We should get you on a scale and do some blood work. Afterward, we will take a look at your baby, yes?" Cora nodded with a smile.

I nod in response. My heart raced

I was lead to a step-on scale. Happy is snatched by Yukino. Good thing she took him, otherwise, the scale would have been weighted down more than I was originally was. It would've made me feel fat.

"Is this what normally happens in places like this?" Lector asks in curiosity.

"Yes, Lector-san, " Yukino answered for me.

"One hundred and fifty-two pounds." Cora read off. She scribbled my devastating weight down. "Healthy weight. You should be proud." She flashed me a motherly smile.

It was good, right? I was a good weight. I should be good for blood work, aside from the stress.

"Let's get you tucked in for blood work, yes?"

!

After my blood was taken, Cora sent the vial off to the 'lab', as she called it. My heart pounded with what felt like anxiety. I pick at the bandaid that had been taped over my needle puncture wound. My arm awkwardly draped over my belly. Although I don't I was that big, I sure felt like it.

"Stop worrying, Lucy, " Yukino said from the chair next to me, squeezing her hand on my shoulder in comfort. "It's going to be okay."

"But what if something is wrong? Or what if my baby isn't as healthy as we believe?" I gnaw on the inside of my lip.

"Hey, chin up!" Sting blurts encouragingly. "Stop worrying, it'll be okay, like Yukino said."

I anxiously nod with a long, deep breathe. The flush of cold asphyxiation flowed through my veins. Oh, man. So nerve-wracking. I twiddle my thumbs and chew on my lip. Cora had been gone for at least ten minutes.

Was something wrong? Did I have something that could endanger my child? Did they find something abnormal in my blood? What was it?

"You're doing it again, Lucy." Yukino distracts me from my deep dread.

"O-oh...am I? Sorry." I was not at all sorry. I was very nervous and anxious. Trying to make myself calm down was futile and probably making it worse.

Just then, the door opens, revealing Cora and her equipment to do the ultrasound.

"Sorry, guys! The lab was held up! I hope you weren't waiting too long!" Cora blinded me with a kind smile.

"Not at all, Cora-san," Yukino said. "But, is everything okay?"

Cora nodded. "Of course, but uh, " She paused as she set up the equipment and then turned to me. "Your blood pressure seems to be raging high. Are you dealing with anything that indicated unusual stress?"

"E-er..." I glance back at Yukino. "O-oh, um...you could say...I'm trying to figure it out."

"The stress, or what to do about the baby?" Cora offered another smile, powering the TV lacrima and wand.

"I guess both, " I look at the fluffy-haired woman. "Your head would roll if you knew what was going on." I chuckle lightly.

"Then, I won't ask you, " Cora said thoughtfully. "Are you ready to see your baby-e-er...again?"

I shakily nod. Cora seemed very considerate. I doubt Yukino told her of how the baby was conceived, and I hope she hadn't because it wouldn't be her business to tell. I trust Yukino with my life, but what had happened-shit. I'm doing it again.

"You are rather big for being twenty-one weeks, " Cora motioned for me to pull up my shirt. "Ever think you might be having twins?"

My heart jumped into my throat. Now that was a very scary thought. I haven't thought about if I was carrying two children. It scared me to the very core. And I don't know why.

"Uh...hehe..." I gulp nervously, pulling my shirt up to under my bust. "No?"

Cora laughs half-heartedly. "Don't worry, Miss Lucy, I'm sure whatever is cooking up in your tum will be a blessing from Heaven." That did not ease my nerves one bit. She joked about me having twins, but I'm taking it seriously. My mind is screaming with anxiety.

The gel was cold against my abdomen, especially when Cora spread it for us to get a clear look at the lacrima screen. It was hard to see since the pulsating photo was black and white, but I could make out the shape of the baby.

DO NOT SPOIL PLEASE.

"Whoa!" Sting bursts out along with Happy and Lector as they see the fetus and hear the heartbeat steadily.

I take Yukino's hand and squeeze it tightly. This was my baby. It was so precious. So small, yet so big. Just then, I immediately wanted to hold them in my arms and kiss their forehead and sing them song my own mother used to hum to me as a kid. I feel a tear slip from my left eye.

"Eh? Lushie? You okay?" Happy looked at me with concerned eyes.

I give him a quivering smile and wipe my eyes, "Yes, Happy. I'm fine."

"Its heartbeat is very strong and healthy, " Cora said, adjusting the wand and view of the baby. "Good news is you're not having twins." She joked lightly.

I breathe out in relief. "Thank goodness."

"Oh, yes, " Cora began. "You're not having twins, but you are going to have a-"

I cut her off quickly and I don't know why I did it, "Please don't tell me!"

I guess it's the fact that I would want to be more surprised when I give birth-the thought chilled me to the bone-rather than lose all the surprise now.

"HAH?!" Sting bursts out in disbelief. "But, Lucy! You can't be serious!" His jaw dropped ajar.

"I am serious, Sting. I don't want to know my baby's gender." I say with a straight face.

"Why not?" Yukino pitched in, but she was calmer than Sting's reaction.

"I...I just don't." I shrug with no reason.

"But-"

"Now, now, " Cora silences Sting with a tight smile. "There doesn't have to be a reason a woman wishes to not know her baby's sex. Don't pressure her with her decision."

"O-Okay." Sting sighed in defeat and disappointment.

Cora winks at me as if she were my wing woman. She must have had previous patients who had gone through the same ordeal.

"Thank you, " I mouth to her.

I receive a firm nod.

"Well, you're all set. I'll print out some photos of the sonogram for you, " Cora hands me a few napkins from the counter near her so I could wipe the gel from my stomach. "You can either stay in here or go back into the waiting room."

She detaches the equipment and wipes the wand clean of the gel and places it in its proper holder.

"I'll be back in a few seconds." She nods before leaving us in the room.

I'm wiping my stomach off when Happy pounces on my head. He nuzzles into my crown and purs. It was so unlike him to actually pur like a cat. I lift my shirt down and adjust it.

"Sorry to spoil your fun, Sting." I look at the dragon slayer.