........

Ugh....where was I?

I flutter my eyes open. I thought I'd find myself looking up at a hospital ceiling. I was wrong...for a brief moment. It was strange...I don't recognize this place.

I was in a beautiful garden. The flattened cobblestone walkway had little clumps of dandelions and tulips and maybe a stray rose here and there. I look around once more before deciding to walk forward, which there was a grand water fountain. A beautifully carved statue held her urn, in which the urn spilled crystal blue water into four-point. I approach the fountain, examining the details of the glass-like edges of the pool.

"Haha! Catch me, Momma!" A little girl's giggling seeps into my ears.

Suddenly, a head of golden hair rushes past me. Her doll dress disheveled and dirty, possibly from playing in the flowers and mud. Her giant, beaming smile held no care for the dangers in the world. She continued to giggle as a much older woman, maybe around twenty-nine. Even in her beautiful gown, she still managed to rush and grab the tiny child into her arms.

The little girl squeals, erupting into high-pitched giggles. She wiggles vigorously in her mother's arms.

"Now, now, my Starling, " The woman's playful voice seeped out, "Your papa wanted us to sit for a portrait today! You're all messy and look at this! You've got dirt on your nose!"

As she turned, giggling softly, the mother tapped her child's nose with her index finger before she wiped the spot away with a part of her ruffled sleeve. Her body is facing me, I can see her face now. Her blonde hair is held back by a ruffled band, two long fringes frame her heart-shaped face. Her kind doe-eyes are sparkling with life and love.

I nearly gasp, my eyes widening, my jaw hanging, teetering on my joint. I press my lips together, they quiver as that nasty lump grow painfully within my throat.

"M....Mom?" I croak.

As if she could hear me, she looks right at me. She's still for a second before a smile blossoms across her beautiful face.

"You've grown up, my Starling! You're so beautiful now. Do you remember? Playing in this very garden?" She glances off, peering at flowers and bushes and then the fountain. "This is where you first summoned Aquarius."

How could I have not recognized her nickname for me? My eyes grow hot.

"Mom!" I cry, letting my tears loose, rushing toward her, my arms open wide.

Suddenly, she disappears and I'm greeted with black fog and cold. My tears of happiness dry and I become confused and angry. Where'd my mother go? And the garden? Where'd everything go...?

Suddenly, another figure appears, lighting up, chasing away the darkness. The figure was a woman. She looked like mom, but she didn't wear mom's pink gown. She was dressed in an elegant red dress, a keyhole blouse, and a white and black high-collar robe. Her face was worn and tired, but yet she held a kind smile, but it wasn't an assuring smile. It was more of an undermined smile, I guess. She knew me somehow, I sensed. I felt like I knew her, but where have I seen her before?

"It's only the beginning for you, my descendant. I pray for you and your child's survival."

"What? What do you mean?" I scrunch my face in confusion. "Wait, who are you?"

She says nothing, but instead, she turns around and begins to walk away.

"Wha---hey! Who are you?! HEY! WAIT!!" I try to run after her, pain shocks through me suddenly.

"WAIT!" I gasp awake.

I find myself staring at a wooden ceiling. I was on a bed with a thin blanket over my body. The room was filled with medical potions and this weird stench. A fierce chill runs down my limbs. And then I feel this uncomfortable weight within my stomach. I shift up, look down at my feet, or tried to. I grunt, struggling to even pull myself up.

My belly, it was bulging. My baby...? No, I couldn't be...I'm only a few months...I'm not even to the point of barely showing, but I was showing. And not just a small bump. I looked like....well...like a balloon was stuck in my shirt. I press my hands on my abdomen only to feel these kicks...oh! Ouch, my bladder...

Wait...kicks?

"Ah!" I gasp, nearly rolling off the bed I lie on. My heart nearly jumps into my throat.

"Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa! Lucy!" Hands suddenly firmly grip my shoulders, pushing me back down. "Lucy, calm down! You're okay!"

"Dorin...bolt?" My eyebrows smash together with mild confusion.

He chuckles softly. "How are you doing?" His eye rakes to my stomach and then quickly back to my face.

"Seriously?" I grunt. "Where am I? What happened to me? Why am I so...so pregnant?"

Dorinbolt moves away from me to sit on a nearby stool. "Well, to brief it up, you were attacked...again. This time, by very dangerous people. They used some type of forbidden age manipulation spell on your baby, which will explain the discomfort and large-ness...and we brought you to Porlyusica since this was very magic related."

"An age what? Porlyusica? Wait, how long have I been out?" I look around, finally realizing my surroundings were familiar.

"An age manipulation spell. The council signed it forbidden because of the many deaths it has caused. You're one of the lucky few who survive. And to answer that second question, you've been unconscious for a good ten hours. It's noon." Dorinbolt rests his elbows on his knees.

I say nothing, blinking, and twiddling with my thumbs, which lay atop my belly. This has happened so fast...I'm supposed to be thirteen weeks, but I guess now I'm...around uh...what? Twenty-three weeks? I try to stifle my upcoming tears of overwhelming inner anguish.

"I know this is the wrong time to even ask...but, are you okay?" Dorinbolt places a warm hand on mine, smiling a comforting smile that flared something in me.

I sniffle loudly. "No, I'm pregnant! I've been attacked twice! And I don't know what's going on! I want to speak with someone who is of any help!" I cry into my hands, the tears just follow like broken dams.

"I don't know what you're going through, " Dorinbolt begins almost quietly, but then he takes my wrist away from my face, making sure I see him clearly. "You're a strong woman. You'll get through this, and maybe before you were alone, but this time, you've got the rest of us to help you."

I stare at him silently. "I want Makarov. I want to talk to Makarov." I decide firmly.

Dorinbolt sighs after a long period of silence. "I...I can see what I can do."

He heaves himself from the stool, pats my hair, and leaves. As he makes his way to the door, the door suddenly swings open, barely hitting Dorinbolt.

"Ack!" The man stumbles back.

"Move it, you piece of human trash!!"

Aha. I was beginning to wonder where she was. I watch Porlyusica haul a big basket of various plants and fruits into the room. Her entrance wasn't the only thing that got our attention. Yukino, followed by Sting, and then Midnight, and then Cobra; they all carried something in their arms.

"If it weren't for that girl, I'd have thrown of you disgusting human filth to the mountain creatures!" Porlyusica shouts, her nose scrunching with distaste.

I watch with amusement as the men stiffen with the hateful threat. Yukino placed the sack of whatever onto the floor. She huffs slightly before looking over at me.

"You're awake!" She smiles brightly, rushing over to me.

"Yeah..." I try to sit up some more, but it literally felt impossible with the foreign weight holding me down.

"You shouldn't be moving, you insolent girl, " Porlyusica barks, harshly dropping the baskets onto the tables, causing anything and everything on the surface to rattle or fall over. "That spell triggered a tremendous amount of magical setback, and it drained nearly every ounce of your strength. You should be resting right now."

"Well, I'm not on my feet, so I guess I'm technically...resting..." I hunker down as I receive Porlyusica's warning glare.

"Hiya, Momma!" Sting trots over to my bedside with a big grin. "How are you feeling today?" He plops on the foot of the bed, causing me to jolt rather roughly.

I groan, slapping my hands against the bed, trying to still myself. I'm still in a lot of discomfort, and I'd rather not be jolted or shoved or moved. I give Sting a stink-eye glare.

He grins at me sheepishly, "Sorry." He ruffles his hair.

I roll my eyes. "Anyway, " I look at my pink-haired doctor. "When am I free to go?"

Porlyusica snorts. "Heh. By the looks of it, you can leave whenever you want, but I'd like to run more tests, if not experiment. It'd be best if you stayed. I extracted a decent quantity of smoke particles from your lungs. Not to mention your magic levels were completely unsteady. I don't feel as much magic emitting from your body, but it's still enough to attract unwanted attention. I suspect you've power-tapped."

"Wait, smoke particles? Was I in an environment that was polluted with smoke or something?" I looked around. I didn't say anything about the mention of power-tapping. I knew what it was, and it didn't seem like my biggest problem right now.

"You're a dummy, blondie." Midnight comments, which is weird, his insults toward me are more harsh and sneer-ish.

"What?" I look at him with my lip curled.

"She doesn't know. It's okay, " Yukino flagged him down. She sat on the stool near the left side of the bed, looking at me. "Well, um, how do I put this a way that you won't freak out? Um...Lucy...your baby kinda...set...the...hospital on fire."

"Come again?" My eyebrows shoot up incredulously. Did I hear her right? My baby set the hospital on fire?

"Those people didn't only fast forward your pregnancy, they also kind of increased the magic your baby has. And it burst, unable to be controlled, so you burnt the hospital down...er, well half of it. It kind of helps that the spell also healed most of your injuries!" Yukino explains with a nervous laugh.

I guess what she said was true. I no longer had that itchy pain of a dislocated shoulder, and I could move it easily. It's like it never was dislocated. That, I'm grateful for. But...

"This isn't funny. Please tell me I'm still dreaming." I let myself fall back.

"If you're still dreaming, I'm honored you'd dream of me~" Sting teased lightheartedly.

"Alright, alright..." I grunt, lifting myself up again. I wince, suddenly having a sharp pain in my kidney. "Ow, ow, ow!"

"You okay?"

"Just get me some food." I glared at him. I don't know why I glared at Sting so rudely. I had this sudden anger burst through me, no. It was more of agitation and discomfort.

Snorts erupt from both Midnight and Cobra. They clearly found it amusing. Just when I was about to move again (I was aiming to get out of bed), it was like a covered knife jabbed outward.

"Ouch..." My hand flies to the now sore spot. I'm more angry at the fact that my body was never given a chance to set with my newly grown baby. The best way to describe is that I'm in extreme discomfort. It was like I was on my period, but with the weight of a melon-sized fetus and no blood.

"So...you still want food or pain meds?" Sting said, teasingly.

I glare at him through squinted eyelids. "If you don't shut up, I'll make sure you won't be able to eat."

With that did he silence. Sting got off the bed, sliding away quickly with this wavering expression. Was he seriously afraid?

"Anyway, don't you think you lot should be on your way?" Porlusica hissed out at the others.

Oh, right. How could I forget she was in the room? Or even forget we were at her house. I kept my laugh in.

"But, what about Lucy?" Yukino asks, looking at the woman.

"What about her? She can leave with you." Porlusica said nonchalantly. "It isn't my job to babysit her."

That her is me. She was talking as if I weren't here. I kind of had this feeling of neglect. It was just there. It's the same feeling as if you were being ignored...

"I'd take her to a doctor once you've gotten back into the city, but she's in the clear, " Porlyusica turned toward me, the creases in her forehead deepened. "But if anything is to happen, don't hesitate on coming to me."

"I...um...alright...?" I was confused. Didn't she want to keep me? And run tests, or whatever she called them?

"Oh! I just remembered!" Yukino bursts suddenly, whipping out my key pouch from her belt. "Your keys!"

I gasp, snatching my keys from her. I hold them to my chest with a smile creeping up onto my face. I thought I'd lose them...they'd be scattered around.

"How's your neck?" I'm suddenly asked.

"My neck?" I reply, frowning.

"Yeah...you were bitten, remember?"

Oh. Yeah...I guess I was. Everything happened so quickly, I can't seem to grasp it. Being attacked by the...*sigh* father of my baby and then those weirdos, I can't take a break and comprehend. I hold my hand to the right side of my neck, rubbing my thumb over the now healed puncture scars. The skin dipped slightly.

"I'm still confused as to why he'd bite me. You'd think by ripping my arm out of its socket was enough as it is." I sarcastic grunt.

"Maybe he's got kinks?" Midnight suddenly chimed in. His comment was unnecessary. Very.

"Or he's just a psycho!" I bark out.

"Blondie, I'm a psycho. He's not a psycho, just crazy." Midnight fingered that stupid braid of his as he countered my counter.

"Anyway, " I say inhaling deeply. "Can we go home? I'd like to sleep for a few days."

"Yeah, sure." Yukino chuckled along with Sting. "Wait, don't you a change of clothes before we go?" She looks at my outfit.

In which, I may add, was a tight fit, due to my stomach. "That's a good idea..." I say.

"Okay, then. Guys out." Yukino sternly glanced at the men in the cottage.

"What for?"

"What for what? I said out. Now. Lucy is going to change." Yukino turned to Cobra.

Cobra was about to open his mouth again, but then Sting beat him to it.

"Don't argue. She's as stubborn as a mule, " Sting walked around the bed and to the door. "We'll just wait outside."

After the door closed, Yukino pulled out one of her keys.

"What're you doing?" I asked, scooting over the side of the bed, letting my legs dangle and feet touch the floor.

"I'm going to ask Libra to get Virgo for you." She merely said.

"Virgo? Well, I can just summon her myself--"

"Don't you even think about summoning a Zodiac, Girl." Porlyusica bit harshly.

I flinch at the roughness of her tone, but I say nothing. Well, if I still can't summon my spirits, then how am I supposed to do....OH.

"Then what about transferring my contracts to you? Or at least until my pregnancy is over?" I suggest.

"What?" Yukino gaps at me. "Is that even possible? Wait no! I can't do that to you. They're your spirits. I know you, you love them as much as I love my spirits, I won't do it." She protested.

"I know and...and I'd wouldn't trade them for even the world...but I can't summon them, and they're sitting ducks right now..." I trail off a little, my voice betraying me by cracking. "I know it's hard for me to ask and it's sudden, but please. Take my friends and protect them."

I shakily hand Yukino my key pouch.

"But, you...I will. I'll protect them with my life. I swear it." Yukino vows with a determined smile.

"Thank you."

~

~

The group walked in silence. Ever since that night before, everyone has been silent. It was an itchy silence. The only sound was the civilians chatting up and selling from their booths. It was after their client decided to hire another pair of willing mages, that they retreated from Crocus and into Hargeon.

Lisanna confessed to Erza, Carla explained her vision. Wendy was still confused. Erza wanted to confront Natsu badly, but Lisanna begged her to bite her tongue.

Gray was as quiet as can be. He was just wondering why everyone else was so...well quiet. Natsu usually was going on and on about how this and that, and he normally tries to pick meaningless fights with him. Natsu was acting so...un-Natsu-like, it was rather disturbing and weird.

"Ah..." A grumble rolled out within someone's stomach. That someone was Wendy. The bluenette blushed a healthy pink, embarrassed that her stomach managed to growl so loud and caused the older mages to look at her.

"Are you hungry, Wendy?" Erza looked at the young girl.

"Y-yeah...I forgot to eat this morning." She meekly admitted, holding her stomach.

"Well, we're in luck! There's 8-Island!" Lisanna pointed at the said restaurant with a bubbly smile.

"Really? We can go there?" Wendy brightened up.

"Of course! We'll eat lunch and head back to Fairy Tail." Erza said with a smile. Her eyes melted into twinkling stars as she thought of eating strawberry cake.

Lisanna laughs lightly as the redhead seemed to walk faster now.

"Wadduya say, Lisa? Wanna give Yajima the ol' slippero and tell 'em we're engaged? We all know he forgets everything unless it's food. We'll dine for free!" Natsu curled an arm around his fiance's shoulders with a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

The woman tensed, grimacing at his touch. "I'd rather not play an old man's mind that way." She nudged his arm from her shoulders and picked up her pace.

The dragon slayer looked after her in confusion. "Lisanna? Lisanna, wait!" He hurried after her, seizing her arm, causing her to spin around. Her eyes a cold ocean.

"What?" She snaps uneasily.

"What do you mean 'what?' You've been avoiding me, not talking to me since yesterday! You act like you're scared of me! What'd I do? What'd I do to make you this way?" Natsu refused to let her go when Lisanna tried to yank her arm back.

"Natsu, Lisanna, everything alright?" Gray looks at them, stopping just in case Natsu did something drastic.

"We're fine, Gray. We'll meet up with at the restaurant." Lisanna built her backbone. She was going to give Natsu a piece of her mind. She was going to let him have it.

Gray reluctantly left the couple there. He was unsure of leaving Lisanna with Natsu. He's noticed that Natsu has been having more anger outbursts lately and he didn't want anything to happen to Lisanna.

Lisanna drags Natsu off near toward a secluded alleyway. She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. "I need to know something, Natsu. Be honest with me."

"..." Natsu stared intensely down at her.

Lisanna closes her eyes, breathing in deeply. Just do it, girl! "I...You...where..." Damn! She had so much confidence just a minute ago! Where'd her confidence go?