DA KIDLETS because i miss them so

[celestial_wizard]

Now that the weather was warmer, the kids were no longer so restless (not that they could be too restless with Natsu around to play with) and were eager to go out and on adventures of their own, both with their older sis/bro/not parents and without. Regine was kept busy helping to tend the guild in their absence, though occasionally she got dragged off by the children for adventures, on days that Natsu and Lucy had work to do.

Although lately there'd been a lot of jobs, so Lucy, at least, hadn't had time to spend with the kids quite so much. Which was why she had suggested taking the kids to the beach for fun, sun, fishing, and whatever else they wanted to do. Good plan, yes? Yes! Nev'd been up since the crack of dawn, full of excitement, and vigor, like a tiny fire-less Natsu. Justyne, on the other hand, had slept in a little more. Lucy just had to put a few final touches on her appearance - since her hair had gotten much longer in the last few months. "Twenty jewels say that Neveren will be knocking on the door in five minutes." She called over to Natsu with a grin.

Comments

[celestial_wizard]

Thank goodness for vagueness. She still felt her cheeks warm again, knowing the less subtle meaning of that statement. As she wasn't holding onto Nev's hand anymore, she slipped her arm around Natsu's waist instead. "I could get Herb." She grinned.

[explodewiththerage]

"Yeah you could. But I'm pretty sure he's more likely to lick your face in the morning than I am~" He'd gotten really good at winning these miniature contests of wit and teasing. Maybe he learned a few things from the bratlings.

[celestial_wizard]

"I wonder about that," Lucy scoffed, grinning at the banter. Deciding to change the subject before the kids wondered what they were talking about, she quickened her steps, "We're right behind you Nev, you can stop looking at us like that." She giggled at the impatient boy. Justyne was already scouting the road a few feet ahead of her brother, gathering rocks for skipping, with Herb bounding off the trail. Who knew what he was chasing this time?

[explodewiththerage]

"Well I know I'm right." He'd be licking other parts on her in the morning if it was up to him. But that was neither here nor there. He spotted Nev checking on them. Nev's excitement to get to the beach could not be any more obvious really not that Natsu had a problem with that.

[celestial_wizard]

It was probably a good thing he didn't voice that particularly thought to her, or she'd be sputtering and unable to phrase a response back to him until they -got- to the beach.

"You -think- you're right," she corrected, play-arguing for the sake of it. It wouldn't be long before they could catch sight of the beach, from the salty air, and Justyne and Nev were heading back towards them at that point. "Natsu~!" Justyne smiled, "When we get to the beach, will you do more of your fireworks like last time? We can stay that long right?"

[explodewiththerage]

He'd have plenty other opportunities to frazzle her mind. She would get a free pass this time since they were out with the kids and everything. Speaking of kids, Justyne running up to him shifted his focus away.

"Hmmm I guess I can if Lucy says we can stay that long." Oh yes putting her on the spot.

[celestial_wizard]

He ... did not just pull a 'Go ask your mother' on her. She stared at him in surprise for a moment, suddenly glancing away again to stifle a laugh. "You are unbelievable-" she muttered at him. To Justyne, she smiled, "We really should be getting ready to head back around then - but before we leave, Natsu can show off with a few fireworks over the ocean, sure."

[explodewiththerage]

Oh yes. Oh yes he did and he was completely shameless about it. It was a perfectly valid tactic to put LUcy on the spot. Not like either of them could ever say no to these kids.

"That settles it then. Make sure to figure out what shape the fireworks should be~"

[celestial_wizard]

Justyne looked momentarily disappointed, but she brightened again. She could take the compromise as it was. "Aww - Okay. Nev we get fireworks again!" She called over to her brother, the two whooping happily and running for the beach as it was in sight.

Lucy elbowed Natsu, "I can't believe you did that," she grinned, trotting after the kids. Putting her on the spot like that. He was going to get dunked in the water so many times he'd become a water dragon for that~!

[explodewiththerage]

Natus laughed again seeing the two kids celebrate their little victory over mommy Lucy who would never completely say no to their wishes. He knew she'd still allow them many things despite protesting at first.

"Well you are the leader aren't you?" Yep he totally made that up on the spot to make it easier to shove those responsibilities on her.

[celestial_wizard]

What the... "When did I become the leader?" She had a sneaking suspicion he was just saying that so he wouldn't have to decide things. Cheater. ... dangit why didn't she think of that...?

NEXT TIME.

[explodewiththerage]

"Well you always say how you're the voice of reason outside of Regina around these parts so naturally that role fits you~" When did he get so good at turning words and actions from the past against her? Someone had to have been tutoring him.

[celestial_wizard]

She scowled at him. "Ohhh... you're going to get it." She promised with a mock growl. He was SO going to get it, she was going to get the kids to gang up on him and dunk him.

THIS WAS NOW WAR.

She really did want to know who was teaching him to banter with her like this, but she was impressed. "Fine, if I'm the leader -" she broke into a run after the children, "Follow the leader~!" ZOOM!

Justyne and Neveren looked surprised at Lucy breaking into a run like that, but they laughed, scrambling after her. "First one to the beach gets the best spot!"

[explodewiththerage]

"I look forward to it~" Natsu called her claim before she suddenly burst forward. Oh so that was the game she wanted to play was it. Natsu quickly burst into a sprint after the new leader of this little outing. So much so he was kicking up a huge dust and sound cloud behind him as he slowly caught up to Lucy.

[celestial_wizard]

She giggled, "I thought the name of the game was follow the leader, not catch up to the leader," she teased. She knew for a fact she wouldn't be able to out pace him, but she didn't have to.
Once she caught up with Justyne, she snagged the girl's hand, "Come on Justyne! You and me, we'll find the best spot and defend it from those two." Sand forts!

[explodewiththerage]

"A leader always has to be on their guard to make sure they stay the leader tho~" Natsu answered with a cackle as he kicked up an even bigger dust cloud behind him. That was until Lucy decided to recruit Justyne to her side. Oh so that was the name of the game eh.

"Second in command Nev. We're not gonna let the princesses steal our thunder are we?!" He asked with a grin. They'd made the greatest sand fort EVER.

[celestial_wizard]

One of many. Lucy laughed at his response, "I'll remember that~!!" Stay on her guard, that was the name of the game all right. Justyne was grinning, picking out a spot by a large rock near the water. Nice vantage point. Lucy dropped one of the bags of water balloons for the boys, before hurrying over to get to her spot.

Neveren grinned up at Natsu excitedly at the question, "Yeah!" ... wait. " I mean, No, Natsu sir!" He laughed, starting to scoop and push sand together to start the fort~! Heck YEAH it 'd be the greatest sand fort ever, what did GIRLS know about building forts?

[explodewiththerage]

"As if you don't challenge me whenever I'm in charge." Natsu called back, sticking his tongue out before he slid to a halt and started helping Nev out to build the first wall. Natsu was going all out though so behind the wall as it grew he began blowing some fire on the construction to dry it off and make it a bit sturdier.

[celestial_wizard]

Oh so mature -- they were totally not mature, because Lucy was sticking her tongue out at him right back, much to the kid's eternal amusement. Neveren was gleeful when Natsu started making the sandy construction sturdier, excitedly gathering more dirt and there was really no rhyme or reason to the walls he was making.

He'd never be an architect. But the fort they were making was going to have a LOT of walls. Justyne, when she caught sight of Natsu using his power, looked momentarily dejected, because... well, she didn't think about something like that. Darn boys were going to win~!

Lucy tapped Justyne on the head gently, "Don't worry, I've got a trick up my sleeve too," she assured the girl, patting the keys at her side with a grin. Natsu wasn't the only one who could use his power creatively - Lucy just had to think a little ahead for hers.

[explodewiththerage]

Sometimes it was rather hard to distinguish who the kids really were what with the silly banter between Lucy and Natsu. Not that there was any incentive to change that what with how entertainingly silly they could be during their exchanges.

"That's perfect Nev. Keep adding everything you can find. Hell even some seashells should work nice too." Since they could provide armor in certain parts of their patchwork wall. While he did direct Nev in that regard, Natsu was also building a noticeable tower to the right of the wall. One big enough to house him suspiciously enough. He wasn't thinking of how much of a target that little side project would be

[celestial_wizard]

They weren't that much older than the kids too, for that matter. So there was that as well. Herb was busying himself checking on both kids, wondering why they were being silly, digging holes. That was HIS job. Lucy and Justyne were busy giggling, chatting about their PLAN. Well Natsu could easily hear them, and Lucy knew that, which is why she turned to Justyne.

"Okay, so we'll communicate our plan by writing it in the sand here, so certain troublemaking Dragonslayers can't hear us." Deliberately emphasising 'troublemaking' because she knew he'd hear it, of course. Compared to Neveren and Natsu's fort, theirs was a lot less stable, just water and sand holding it together. At least what the boys could see if it; Lucy was getting some of the spirits involve for the shenanigans too after all.

[explodewiththerage]

"I heard that princess!" Natsu called out from his fort and start digging holes into the tower from which he could stick his arms out and intercept any projectile that might come flying towards their fort if it came to that. Yes Natsu would literally be the defense turret.

[celestial_wizard]

Lucy's only response was to laugh, slinging an arm around Justyne's shoulders. "See, sometimes him being able to hear things so well is convenient. We won't have to yell for him to hear us say, 'He's a big goofball and some silly boys for isn't going to beat our defense~!'

"But Lucy, I'm not sure-" Justyne paused, shushed by the older girl. The two went quiet, presumably scribbling something in the sand, giggling, and then Justyne peeked out from around her fort. "Waa, it's really nice over there. Lucy, how are we going to win this one?"

Lucy was thoughtful a moment, before scribbling 'Capture the brother' in the sand. "We'll go for this. The Dark Dragon over there won't have any choice but to surrender then~!" MWA HA HA HA.

Neveren, meanwhile, was trying to coax the puppy over to his side of the fort. They could totally arm a puppy cannon and knock down Lucy and Justyne's fort! (Not an actual cannon of course...)

[explodewiththerage]

"Muahahahaha if you want to surrender now's your last chance. Nev make sure to grab Herb and make him swear loyalty to the dragon crown!" Natsu laughed as he kept his eyes to the sky and then in front of him in case Lucy decided to start the war.

[celestial_wizard]

"Fairy Tail Mages don't know the meaning of the word 'Surrender'!" Lucy called back so Nev could hear her too. Justyne gasped, playing into the act, "Oh no, Lucy they've captured Herb~!"

"Don't worry Justyne, we'll save him! Quick now, we'll do this - and this - and ... yeah just like that..." Lucy giggled, leaning out from behind the fort. "Don't even for a second think that you'll have your way! Herb! Stay strong! Don't give in to the Dark Side!"

Neveren, thoroughly amused by this, called back, "We're the good guys! You girls are the bad ones!" Because cooties. Oh wait, they're supposed to be princesses. "I mean -- You... um..." Shoot he's not good at the creative thing like his sister and Lucy are. "You turned against the crown so you're...traitors!" He glanced at Natsu for approval.

Herb was just excited to be part of the fun, getting bellyrubs from Neveren and wiggling around until Nev got him to sit still behind the fort. "Ha! He's sworn loyalty to the dragon crown now, Natsu!"