Chapter Text
Eight hours. Eight whole excruciatingly long hours. That was how long Lucy had been in the guild infirmary, and she was still in there even after an additional 20 minutes had passed, and he knew because he was actually counting the minutes and the hours on the clock.
Nine months, Natsu waited with her… and he never thought he’d have to wait just a few hours more. Throughout everything, the morning sickness, the cravings, the mood swings, the swollen ankles, and even the early contractions, he had been there with her every step of the way. However, the fact that he had to sit outside and wait in the main hall… that was more painful to him than anything else. Every now and then, the silence would be broken by the sound of his wife’s screams, and it was enough to make him want to run to the door and break it down.
He wanted to be in there with her. Hold her, comfort her, and tell her that everything would be okay, but Porlyusica wouldn’t let him. She chased him with her broom and expressly told him to wait outside until Lucy was ready. The only reassurance he had was that Wendy was in there, too.
Even so, his protective instincts were in overdrive. Ever since that night that he marked her as his own, it was like Lucy’s pain was his pain. Maybe not at the same level, but he could sense that she was in agony… and he was fighting everything in his being that was telling him to kick down that door, snatch her up, and take her back to their house, Porlyusica be damned.
Natsu growled, raking his nails so hard against the table’s surface that he left long marks in the wood. Every hair on his body was standing on end and his breath was coming out in hot smoke and embers. How much longer would he have to wait while Lucy suffered?
Just as he was prepared to stand up and march into that damned infirmary, a hand reached out and grabbed him by the wrist.
“Don’t even think about it.”
Natsu looked back to see his younger adopted sister, who looked at him with sympathetic eyes. Beside her was her boyfriend, Roscoe, who looked just as concerned as she was, along with his Exceed partner, Denny, and Blue Fang was lying on the floor, quietly snoozing. Happy sat on the table next to Carla, both of them holding each other’s paws as the former stared worriedly at his best friend. Gray was also sitting at a different booth with Juvia by his side, her hands over her enlarged belly.
Erza was sitting next to her husband, Jellal, who held their 2-year-old son Jules on his lap. The toddler sucked on his fingers, innocently blinking his eyes as he looked at his honorary uncle. Gajeel and Levy were sitting with the twins, Yaje and Jutla, who both watched with curiosity. Mirajane was sitting with Laxus, who had his arm over her shoulders, while Elfman held Evergreen on his lap. Lisanna was sitting between Bixlow and Freed, all of them looking just as concerned as the others.
Even Elektra was worried as she sat at the bar with her adopted daughter, Alexis. Gildarts sat with her, giving Natsu a look that told him “Take it easy”.
Soon, as Natsu’s eyes fell on his entire guild family, he heaved a quiet sigh as he sat back down.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“We understand, Natsu,” said Macao. “How do you think I felt when Romeo was born?”
“And I was losing my mind when Bisca was in labor,” Alzack added while he held Asuka in his lap. “She was in the hospital for almost 14 hours!”
“And don’t even get me started on when Erza was in labor,” said Wakaba.
“Not my finest time,” Erza pointed out.
“At least you only had to give to one kid,” said Levy. “I had two, and Yaje didn’t wanna come out for another hour!”
“I guess he just liked it too much in there,” Gajeel quipped as he glanced at his wife with a smirk.
“He cried more than Jutla did,” Panther Lily added.
“And just think,” Gray added, “in more month, I gotta deal with it when Juvia gives birth to our kid.”
“I know you’ll be there, though, Gray,” said Juvia.
“I don’t think I even want kids,” Cana shrugged as she took a swig of her flask.
“Are you guys trying to make a point or are you trying to scare me?” asked Natsu.
“I think what we’re all trying to say,” Mirajane began, “is not to worry too much about Lucy. She’s tough as nails, you know!”
“Mira’s right,” Erza nodded. “Lucy’s definitely been through much worse than this.”
“And just think!” Lisanna added. “Soon, we’ll have a new member of our family!”
“Aye!” Happy agreed. “It’ll be great!”
Hearing that did cause Natsu to smile in gratitude. It did seem to give him some much-needed reassurance. Lucy was certainly strong, even if she didn’t believe that she was. He wouldn’t have married her, otherwise.
“Thanks, guys,” Natsu said.
“It’s no problem, big bro,” Haru said. “We’re all here for each other. You know that, right?”
“Yeah,” Natsu replied.
“Natsu?”
Upon hearing his name, the Salamander turned to see Wendy entering the main hall with a warm smile upon her face.
“You can come in, now,” she said, causing Natsu’s eyes to go wide. Suddenly, it was like his whole body locked up, frozen in place. Gray chuckled before he stood up and placed his arm over his shoulder.
“Come on, bonehead,” he said. “Let’s go see your wife and kid.”
“Uh… y-yeah,” Natsu replied, and after a moment, his legs finally began to move forward, even as they were shaking. Happy giggled before he flew behind his best friend and gave him a little push, just to help him along.
“Let’s just hope that the kid’s not as ugly as you are,” Gray quipped.
“Ah, shut up,” Natsu snarked with a grin, causing them both to laugh as they followed Wendy. Soon, they entered the infirmary, where they saw Lucy lying on one of the beds. She looked so exhausted, her face drenched in sweat and her hair splayed out in different directions. Her face was flush and her chest was heaving up and down as she took in deep breaths.
“Here you are, Lucy,” Porlyusica said as she handed the Celestial Spirit Wizard a bundle, which she carefully took into her arms. The smile she had on her face when she looked at the infant inside was… indescribable. Before she knew it, her eyes welled up with tears as she held the newborn.
“Hello, sweetie,” she whispered. “Oh… you are so beautiful…!” She sniffed and sobbed softly as she beheld her child. “Oh… I wish your grandma and grandpa were here to see you.”
“Luce?”
Lucy looked up to see Natsu walk over and sit beside her, and the moment he did, his eyes widened in awe as he saw the newborn’s face.
“Say hello to your new daughter, Natsu,” Lucy said.
Natsu didn’t speak. How could he? There were no words to describe what he was feeling, right now. He could feel his chest just swell up, like his heart was going to burst. Not in a painful way, but in a way that made him feel such joy. It was the feeling he felt when he first told Lucy he loved her… and now, here he was, looking at his newborn daughter.
“Well?” Gray asked. “You gonna hold her, Flamehead?”
“Huh?” Natsu muttered as he was snapped back to reality. “Oh! Uh… y-yeah.”
“Don’t be nervous, Natsu,” Happy said. “You got this!”
Taking a deep breath, Natsu held out his hands, allowing Lucy to carefully hand their daughter over to him. Natsu bit his lip as he cradled his little one, tenderly supporting her head as he looked at her and marvelled at her features. She was this just cute, chubby little things with pink cheeks and he could make out this little bit of pink hair that was growing out of the top of her head.
Natsu let out a shuddering breath, trying to choke back his tears. His daughter… his and Lucy’s daughter… she was here. She was here and she was so beautiful.
Before he could even stop it, a mixture of a sob and a laugh escaped from him. He couldn’t believe that he and Lucy had made something so amazing… so special.
Then, as if he couldn’t love the infant enough, she opened her eyes, just a bit, and that’s when Natsu gasped silently.
“Luce…!” he whispered. “Lucy, she has your eyes…!”
Lucy chuckled softly as she gently stroked the back of her finger against her daughter’s cheeks.
“Oh… isn’t she beautiful, Natsu?” Lucy asked.
“She’s perfect,” Natsu replied, his eyes still swimming with tears. “I just wish Igneel could see this.”
“So… what’s her name?” Happy asked, causing Natsu and Lucy to look at the little blue Exceed, then back at their daughter before they smiled.
“Happy… do you want to choose her name?” aksed Lucy.
“Me?” Happy asked in surprise. “Really?”
“Yeah, little buddy,” Natsu said. “What do you think we should call our little girl?”
Happy put a paw to his chin in deep thought before his eyes lit up and he beamed.
“I know!” he exclaimed. “Nashi!”
“Nashi?” Natsu and Lucy both repeated with amused grin.
“Aye!” Happy nodded. “It’s Natsu’s name and Lucy’s name put together! Nashi!”
Natsu and Lucy both blinked in surprise before they smiled.
“Nashi,” Natsu repeated. “It’s perfect for her.”
“Nashi Ashley Dragneel,” Lucy added.
Happy smiled warmly at the sight of the new parents, and meanwhile, Gray, Wendy, and Porlyusica decided that it was time to let the family rest, so they quietly walked out. They could all come see the baby tomorrow.
Soon, Lucy took Nashi back into her arms while Natsu rested his torso on top of the bed, watching the baby sleep. Happy was laying near Lucy’s legs, watching the newborn with adoration. It was like the whole day suddenly caught up with them all, and they couldn’t help but feel so tired yet so happy.
It was a new beginning… for all of them.