Before I could even realize it, Thursday was here. Heart racing with a million emotions. Excitement, fear, anxiety, anxiousness, maybe some anger? I don't know what I have to be anger at, but I think it's the reason my friends hadn't come searching for me. Although, the thought was beaten down when I remembered Makarov had to use "necessary" bluffs to keep the arousal of suspicion and worry.

I doubt anyone worried about me. After all, if they had been, they would have tried to find me a long time ago.

"You comin', Blondie?" Cobra's gruff voice seeped into my ears.

I peer at him from over my shoulder. He was rather impatient, wasn't he?

"Impatient, no. Aggravated, yes." He crossed his arms over his black muscle shirt.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Princess, " I turn to him with a shoulder bag I was stuffed with a few magazines, a favorite book, our tickets, my sonogram photos, a few pantyliners, snacks (saltines and gummy fruits--ultimatum of Yukino), and water and even a bottle of reflex relief pills. "Some of us don't want to be bored while sitting hours on the train."

"Whatever, " Cobra huffed, narrowing his eye at me. "Just hurry. If we take any longer, we'll miss the train you so heavily packed for."

"Wha--! I did not pack that heavy! It's just some e--"

"I don't care! Let's go." Cobra left my bedroom doorway, disappearing in the hallway.

I groan aloud, clutching my bag strap and adjusting it to my shoulder, waddling from my room and shutting the lights off. These guys are so impatient!

In the living room, Cobra, Midnight, Happy, and Yukino await. My fellow Celestial Mage wanted to be there and see me off before she went to 'midwife training', as she is so hellbent on becoming. I keep telling her the baby will be born in a hospital.

"Let's go", I say, not even bothering to ask if they were ready or not. It'd be completely useless to ask and then receive a dead-ended sarcastic answer.

"Finally!"

!

It was rather chilly this morning. Good thing I brought a jacket with me. (P.S. it's Rogue's jacket. I keep forgetting to go maternity coat shopping).

"Are you sure you don't want me to come along? I can get a ticket, " Yukino didn't want to leave me, or vice versa.

"Yes, I'm sure, Yukino. I'll be fine. I have Cobra and Midnight with me. They're all the protection I need, " I separate from her embrace. "I promise to call through lacrima when we get there, okay?"

Yukino frowned dejectedly, hesitatingly saying, "O-okay, but what if something happens?"

"Yukino, nothing will happen." I try to reassure her. I go to speak again, but a shrilling voice cuts me off.

"Last call for Magnolia!" The conductor shouts.

I look back at the train as it shrieks its whistle. Oh crap! "Listen, I'll talk to you later!" I hurry toward the train, seeing Cobra, Midnight, and Happy just got on the train.

I barely make it on the train when the doors close. I huff out a fatigued breath. Ah! I'm getting too lazy to be running. I pat my palm just under my breasts and blow out just as the train jerks on the tracks and picks up on speed.

"Pardon me, Miss, " A security guard of the train appeared (with this crazy violet hair that stuck out like quills beneath his hat) before me with a stern, clenched jaw. "Ticket, please."

Oh. Right. I nod, digging into my bag, and bringing out the ticket, and flashing the guard with it. "Here."

He takes it, examining the slip before swiftly handing it back. "Apologies, Miss. Enjoy the trip."

"Thanks, " I brush past him, my eyes immediately scanning the compartments for Happy and the guys.

"Miss?" The guard suddenly grabs my shoulder. Ugh, what now? I am tired, my feet hurt, and I need to sit down before I faint.

"Listen, Sir, I need to find my friends--"

"Don't think we haven't had this problem before."

What? The heck was this guy talking about? Problem? What problem? Has he never seen a pregnant lady before?

"I beg your pardon?" My eyebrows furiously knitting together in mild confusion.

"You young women try to get past us, sneaking food on the train pretending you're havin' a kid."

I blink at him. Was he stupid? I face him, ready to give him an earful of a lecture. Clearly, this guy can't tell the difference between real and pretend.

"I'm not sneaking anything, Sir. I'm in my second trimester, " I plant one hand on my belly and the other on my hip. "Don't stand there and tell me I'm a scam!"

"We'll have to see about that, Miss."

Before I could do anything, the man grabbed me by my left bicep, causing me to drop my bag. It landed with a loud 'thud'. I try to yank my arm back, but the man gripped his large fingers around my flesh roughly.

His other hand flies to my stomach. I yelp out with wide eyes, my free arm flying up, I smack the man away from me. I pant shallowly while glaring down at the recuperating man, I hold my bump protectively.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" I shout, gaining quite a few gasps and eyes on us.

"What's wrong with me? I should ask you the same question! You just attacked a guard!" The man retaliated hostilely with a growl.

"If I recall, it's you who attacked me! You can't just grab a pregnant woman and expect her not to fight! You should be fired!" I sneer at him hatefully.

Okay, okay, I probably shouldn't have hit him, but you'd do the same if you felt your baby was being endangered. Even if it were a simple misunderstanding.

"What's going on here, Conrad?" The conductor of the train, or at least I think he was, entered the car. My guess is he probably heard all the commotion.

"Sir, this woman is a fraud." He accused as he childishly pointed a finger at me.

"Excuse me? How am I a fraud? I'm only trying to travel to Magnolia to visit my family." I retort, forcing myself to say my sentence calmly.

Great. I'm supposed to be relaxing, but what do I get? Some guy who's thinking I'm a fraud for being pregnant. Damn, what's going on in the world these days?

"Forgive us, Miss, I'm sure Conrad meant no harm." The conductor turned toward me with an apologetic bow.

"Meant no harm? He tried to grab my baby! Yeah, I'd call that 'no harm'. All because he thought I was sneaking food onto the train. I mean, seriously? That is petty shit. I can tell you now, I will report this." I rant out angrily.

"Indeed it is, " The conductor glowers darkly at the guard, giving me a tight smile. "Pardon me, Miss. Go and have a seat. I promise this matter will be dealt with immediately."

I 'hmph', crouching down the gather my bag, but quickly finding myself barely on balance.

"Oh! Here, Miss, " The conductor swooped down and retrieved my bag for me. "Forgive for the turbulence we've caused."

I take my bag and flash a tight smile. "I'll forgive you. Your lackey needs to be taught some manners."

"It seems so, Miss, " He said with a nod. "Enjoy your ride."

With that, I return to the aisle of compartments. Curious faces peer from the sliding doors until I made direct eye contact.

"Lushie!" Happy pops out from one compartment in particular. The cat nearly scared the honey out of me.

"Oh, Happy! This is where you were hiding!" I grab the feline and hug him into my chest with a playful giggle.

"What was all the commotion?" Midnight twiddled with his braid with his thumb and index finger.

I wave his question off flicking my wrist and I enter the compartment. I softly shut the door behind me. Ticked that someone had the audacity to accuse me of something so petty and then nearly potentially putting my baby in danger, I became livid once again. I carefully sit on the booth seat, sliding my bag off my shoulder.

"These freaking people..." I grumble under my breath. "You know, if it weren't for this petition thing, I'd have you go all out and cut some throats."

Midnight suddenly pauses his twiddling and Cobra grins ecstatically.

"That sounds like fun, " Cobra was excited to commit murder again. "I'd gladly kill for ya, Blondie!" He held his hand up, his nails growing into sharp claws.

"N-no! We don't kill for fun anymore! Only if necessary and if the situation is dire and there is no other way to escape it!" I quickly say waving my palms into the air, face twisting into a slight panic.

"Tch. Aren't you a boring little Fairy?" Midnight becomes disinterested and averts his gaze out the window.

"I'm not boring, I'm just—"

"A killjoy?" Cobra puffed.

"Soft?"

"A coward?"

"Whoa, whoa! Hold it! I am not any of those things!" I snap before going silent and realize they were right...uh! Only a little bit, though! "I'm just cautious. Careful. Thoughtful. For the right reasons, of course. I know if I was put in prison, it'd be for the right reasons, not from killing for the hell of it." I look at Cobra.

He looks at me as if he didn't know why I had turned my attention onto him.

"What?"

I laugh. "Nevermind." I shake my head ready to let it go.

"Wowie!" Happy yelps as he is the target of the baby suddenly kicking.

"Sorry, Happy, " I barely manage to catch the cat who flies off of my stomach in fright. "Calm down, would you? It's okay! It's just the baby, yeah?"

"It's alive!" Happy exclaimed dramatically, which caused me to deadpan.

"Yeah, that's kind of the point. It'd be devastating if it weren't." I quirk my eyebrows.

"It's weiiiirrrrrdddd!" Happy cried rather loudly, sprouting his wings flying in a circle.

"Sh!" I try to get the Exceed to silence his dramatic wails.

"Oi, " Cobra snatched the cat from the air by the tail. "Shut it. You're annoying."

Happy whimpered as he hung upside down. He just swung around like a chain in a raft. It was rather comical. Then, Cobra tossed Happy at the empty seat next to me. The cat bounced on the back of the seat and then finally on the actual seat part of the cushion.

I - sort of - feel sorry for Happy. He knew why I had to leave. I never really explained to him the "why". I didn't want to ruin his poor mind.

A ghostly smile tugged my lips as I look down at the Exceed. He's just an innocent soul that is burdened with my secrets. I couldn't tell if he was confused or if he was trying to be jolly for my sake. It makes it worse because Happy hasn't known but a few years. His dragon slayer, they practically grew up together. It's rather surprising Happy would choose to be by me rather than by his side.

For a second, cold electricity shocked my body. I knew I should be over this by now, but I can't help it. If I even say or think of his name, I feel like he would appear and hurt me again. Incredible as it was, I was stupified, stunned.

I breathe in deep and then exhaling.

I wish I didn't have to hide.