midnightstar | (no subject)

"Oh, and are you taking credit for that?" She smiled. He should, he encouraged her every step of the way. Well, there were rough patches when she had been selfish and a little whiny at first - but even those moments were few and far between. Though thinking of that, Lucy couldn't help but think back to Luna, the daughter from the... future? Alternate world? She never did clarify that... she glanced at Natsu out of the corner of her eye, but before she could say anything, a newly recovered Mira approached with Regine, clutching the other woman's arm excitedly, "Sorry about the delay you two~!" Ah, they're so cute she can't handle iit. "And Regine knows so many of our usual recipes. Even new ones - she promised to teach me."

Lucy grinned, "I'm glad she's a help for you. Where's Master Makarov?"

Mira put a finger to her lips, "Actually, the Master was called away just recently, with Gildarts. They'll be back in a week or so. They'll be so glad to see you - together!" eeee!

"Well I am your partner~ You take credit for how I've changed after all~" And he had though in more subtle ways than Lucy herself. Still there was no wonder the two of them had gotten better through each other.

"Oh? The council giving us some lip again even after everything that's happened?" That seemed to be the standard whenver Makarov was away from the guild.

Lucy grinned, though she quieted, settling into leaning against him when Mira spoke. The white haired wizard shook her head, "Not exactly 'lip'... they wanted a full report from Makarov and Gildarts both. Although knowing them," she sighed a little, "I'm sure they'll try to find some reason to put blame on us." Ah well. You'd think they had more important things to do - but they always seemed to like picking on the distructive Light guild.

Mira surveyed the table, then the couple again, "Anyway, eat your fill. If you need seconds, just call on us - I'm going to finish showing Regine around." A few seconds later, a set of children, giggling and worn out from playing, wandered in, following their noses to the smell of delicious food. Immediately they beelined over to the table, and Mirajane and Regine went to fetch more bowls for the kids and even little Herb.

"You'd think saving their asses from the empire would get them to back off for once." Natsu grumbled with annoyance. Oh well it wasn't like they weren't used to that kind of treatment. So it didn't matter really. They would keep being Fairy Tail no matter what.

"Will do!" Natsu answered eagerly before turning his eyes up as the kids ran right back in wiht Herb on their tails.

"Hahaha you guys look like you had fun~"

Lucy chuckled softly, patting him on the shoulder. There there. More importantly, food! "Oh I'm starving," Lucy grinned, pulling away from Natsu enough to turn her attention to the food. Though she grinned when the kids came in for munchies, "Worked up an appetite?"

"Uh-huh! It's gonna be my turn to be a dragon next!" Azusa chirped with a grin, "And Justine's gonna be my princess~!"

Lucy perked, "Ah, really? Why a princess?"

Azusa nodded, beaming, "Because dragons always have princesses." She glanced at Natsu as if to confirm this, though Nev, already digging into his food when it's brought over, casually adds, "Justine's not pretty or graceful as a princess thou-OW!" He grimaced as his sister kicked him. But he brightened again. "Lucy you want to be the Princess?"

Lucy paused, glanced at Justine, then grinned, "I think I'll sit this one out," she told the younger boy. "Your sister will be a fine princess." Besides, she wanted to chill with Natsu for a bit before they get mobbed again.

Wow Nev there are some things you just didn't say out loud like that. But then again Natsu was not really one to talk about such matters either.

"Asuka isn't wrong but this princess is already taken~" Natsu said pulling Lucy closer to his side when she ended up saying no more or less.

Yep. JUST like Natsu. Lucy glanced up from her plate to give Natsu a soft smile, shifting to move closer and lean into him affectionately when he pulled her closer.

"Awwww.." Asuka pouts a little, then pauses, scratching her head. "Will you play with us after you finish eating? Pleeeeeeeeease?" Big eyes. The big eyes tripled by Three, because Justine and Nev immediately join in on the chorus.

Lucy blanches at the lethal attack, "Uh..!" She glanced up at Natsu, mouthing a silent 'h e l p', even though they meant for both of the adults to play. "M.. maybe -one- game..."

She was asking him for help when Natsu was also weak to thsoe big watery doe eyes the kids were hitting him and Lucy with.

"I...guess we can play a round after we eat up"

ONE of them has to be firm Natsu! Don't make her be the bad guy! ... even though she probably will be. Ah well. She giggled at Natsu's response, and the children all gleefully whooped at the agreement, and prospect of playing with their favorite people.

Justine and Asuka naturally ate at a normal rate - Nev ate like a ravenous velociraptor, and had to be scolded several times by Regine while Lucy kept her gaze down on her plate. NOPE, not giving you ANY help kiddo.

But how could she resist that genuine cheer coming from the little ones? Lucy was never cold hearted and Natsu knew that all too well. SO she could pretend all she wanted, the only one being fooled was maybe herself.

"Man I missed this. Even if you've gotten way better at cooking." Natsu hummed in delight, looking over to Lucy.

Lucy grinned, "Well there's something to be said for 'home cooking'. And not having to cook yourself." So now if she didn't feel like cooking they didn't have to go and see what Regine made, they could just swing by the guild.

Although she was wondering where they would put Regine and the kids up. Fairy Hills was a bit too pricey for them right now, and her apartment was definitely too small.

"Yeah that's true." Natsu certainly didn't mind either option even if he was leaning slightly more towards Lucy's cooking.

As for housing there was a very simple answer really. Natsu could move in with Lucy and Regine and the kids could have his and Happy's cozy little abode.

A perfect plan! Although as for Natsu and Lucy, hopefully they won't get too many noise complaints. She doesn't want to get kicked out of her apartment!

... though if they find a nice affordable house... *cough* "You still want me to do all the cooking though, don't you?" She teased.

Well noise complaints could be....prevented somewhat. With a bit of creativity. That was Lucy's forte was it not?

"Is there any guy out there who would stop eating food from heaven if they had a choice?" Natsu asked, seriously despite the absurdity of the notion itself.

Oh sure, leave it all up to her~! ... but yeah, it was her forte. She certainly can't count on him to figure something out - he likes the noises she makes way too much.

She laughs, "Listen to you," Having polished off her own meal, she was free to lean against him more, "You don't have to keep complimenting my cooking." But she's glad he does. It wasn't even complimentary to be complimentary, but simple opinion. She glanced over at the kids, both girls having paused their eating to stare at Nev as he gnawed on a bit of meat, with a mix of revulsion and awe.

"Nev, really! Sensible bites, you're going to choke!" Lucy scolded. Which is exactly what reaction he was going for, since he glanced at his sister, Asuka, then Lucy with a shameless Natsu-esque grin.

"Heehee."

Lucy put a hand to her forehead. "Good grief.."

Wrong. He absolutely loves the noises she makes~

"I'm just being honest here~" Natsu insisted with a shrug of his shoulders. The atmosphere around the table was so cozy and warm that Natsu could not help but bask in it even as Nev showcased just how much he took after Natsu even when eating~ He was so proud of the little guy.

She sits corrected. She also shot Natsu a bemused look at his proud expression, "You know, you don't have to encourage him." She teased.

Fortunately Nev settled to eat properly, animatedly chattering with Asuka and Justine both. Lucy leaned against Natsu nice and cozy, chuckling softly, "If I didn't know they were both from that Genessia place," she motioned at the siblings, and then glanced over to Mira and Regine, both who were laughing over some of the other members of the guild trying to impress the newcomer, "I'd swear they were here from the very beginning."

Always knew they'd fit in. After all Fairy Tail is a home to everyone who wants to come here. No matter from where they came." Not to mention the children and their caretaker had been within Natsu and Lucy's influence for so long it was little wonder they'd rubbed off on them to the point that they would fall right into their places in the big rowdy family that was their guild.

Shortly after Asuka's finished her meal, Justine polished her own off, and glanced over at at each other. "Okay, let's go play! Come on Lucy~! Natsu you can be Nev's horse like you did for me!"

".. Pfft." Lucy covered her mouth with a hand, delicately avoiding Natsu's face as she got to her feet. But she might be able to avoid his gaze, she can't quite stifle the soft snickers.

"Wait what?" Natsu asked with a perplexed tilt of his head. He then turned to Nev. Was he intending to take Asuka up on her request.

Nev did not look like he wanted to ride Natsu like a pony, from the look on his face. Lucy was absolutely not helping the matter, grinning behind her hand, whereas Asuka clarified her suggestion. "Nev's supposed to be the knight who has to rescue the Princess, and Knights have noble steeds! Natsu you have to be the noble steed." Nod nod.

Nev eyed Natsu again, speculatively. HRRRRM. There's something ... unmanly about getting a horsey ride...

Natsu on the other hand was already on the job as he got an idea and leaned to Nev.

"Who wants to be a snooty normal knight? Instead how about being a dragon knight? One that rids on the dragon's shoulders like a brother instead of on his back like an animal~!"

Now THAT was an idea that Nev clearly liked much better, and a wide grin crossed his face, "Yeah yeah! I don't wanna be some dumb knight or prince or whatever."

Lucy choked back a laugh, gently ushering Justine and Asuka out to the backyard, "Well if Justine is the Princess, then what am I?"

Asuka didn't even hesitate for a second, "The Queen!"

"I can live with that." Lucy grinned, shooting a look over at Natsu. She was already HIS Queen, at least.

"Hehehe now lets go catch ourselves some princesses and their queen~" Natsu said quickly lifting Nev up on his shoulders and chasing down the three girls out the door.

"Ready or not here we come RAWR!"

It might not have been exactly what Asuka had thought of but she had to admit, this was WAY more fun. "Run Justine~!" She giggled, taking a defensive stance and aiming with her little gun. "I'll protect you!" *pop!* goes her pop gun. Fiendish dragon and knight, you shall not have the princesses~!

Lucy nabs Justine's hand, grinning, "Come princess, we have to find a safe place for you so the kingdom can thrive if something happens to me~!" Like being captured by a knight and his eeeeeeeebil dragon onoes. Lucy is also .. utterly, utterly hamming it up.