Trail of a Fairy

22. Family

Natsu knew that Nashi had gone out at night. Mira told him as soon as he reached the guild. And Alexander told him how happy Nashi was.

"Nashi not sad!" Was what he said, but Natsu still could do nothing but sigh as he watched his son meander over to his friends. It was the day after he turned twelve, but he was so sullen.

"Really, I don't know how to do it. Lucy was always the better one with emotions."

Across the table, Gajeel snickered. "Now you finally said it! It only took you well over a decade!"

Ivan - sitting in his dad's lap - smacked the table. He grabbed for the bowl of yogurt ahead of him, but it was just a few inches too far. Rolling his eyes, Natsu pushed the bowl over to the boy. Ivan received it with a wide smile. He wasted no time grabbing the spoon and spreading it all over his face; getting very little in his actual mouth.

"Gajeel, I hope you brought napkins."

"Ugh." Gajeel groaned, reaching for the backpack beside him. "Levy just had to remind me every three seconds about the napkins. Even the callouses on my ears know I can't forget them."

He quickly wiped the yogurt off. "But flamer, don't bother yourself with Nashi's slump. He'll fix it eventually."

Natsu groaned, and looked at Gajeel. His hair had started to grow back a bit, but not much. Levy had probably convinced him to grow it out again. Natsu chuckled at that.

"You know Levy talks Nayeli out of her slumps, right?"

Gajeel blinked once. Twice. Holding Ivan still, he groaned. "Aw man, now I can't claim ignorance. I really don't understand how girl's brains work."

Standing up, Natsu chuckled. "None of us really do, metal head."

As Natsu headed out of the guild, he waved a small goodbye to his friend. Slump, huh? He groaned, and let his feet carry him where they would. Lost in thought, Natsu watched his feet on the cobblestone path.

Slumps. Lucy had those some days... But I'm sure those had more to do with her monthlies. Nashi's not going through that.

Groaning, Natsu pulled at his face. He mumbled various words under his breath, but none really did anything for him. As he was pulling his face some more, he stopped. There was a shop next to him; and in the windows he saw his reflection. It had been a long time since he had looked at himself carefully.

His hair was neatly cut, although not neatly styled. It poked up in various ways as it did in his youth. Even some of his scarf were starting to fade away. Natsu ran a hand over the scar on his chin. It was finally smoothing out. Guess I won't cut myself on that with my razor anymore... Natsu looked at his vest. Mira had patched it up nicely. There were some places where it looked like it had never been torn. But Natsu knew. Despite their fading, Natsu could see the scars on his skin underneath the patched vest.

With a sigh, Natsu turned away from the glass. No sense in looking like I did if I don't feel like I did. He slumped a bit, but followed his feet further. As he watched the pathways fade from cobblestone to grass, Natsu finally decided he should look up. And what he saw pained him.

The Sakura tree was still there. It's roots had sunk a little deeper into the ground, and its petals were a little lighter. Natsu walked up to the tree and gently placed his hand on its bark. Closing his eyes, Natsu could still see her.

"I want you to be my family."

And there she stood. The rainbow petals illuminating her face. Her face that was such an expression. Her forehead was gently creased, and her hands covered her lips; lips that were slightly parted. Natsu saw the small shine in the corners of her eyes. A few strands if her golden hair fell over her face, catching the rainbows from the trees. She was beautiful. And she was quiet.

Natsu felt his stomach tighten, and his throat go dry. He remembered thinking one word. Dammit.

"Lucy, I want to marry you." Natsu felt the tightness in his chest fade. It was, as if, for once, Igneel had come back. His family was back; his family was there.

As soon as he said it, he saw the change in her face. There were no more shines in her eyes. She was fully crying. She blinked the tears away. And Natsu looked at her in expectation. The butterflies were back in his stomach, and he couldn't stop himself from letting his worries roll.

"Yes. Yes, Natsu," She cried. "I want to be your family."

Family. That word stuck in Natsu's mind. No matter what he did, he couldn't shake it. It weighed heavily on him, and Natsu almost collapsed under it.

Family.

"Natsu!" Gray had shouted into the rain. "She's gone. Don't make Nashi lose both parents in the same day."

"When did you last look at your son, Natsu?" Happy had pushed. "When did you last talk to him?"

"Nashi's your family. Not me. Not even the guild." Happy's eyes had started to tear. "He's the only one who really is your family, Natsu. And you've completely looked the other way."

"Dad," Nashi had shivered. And the tears never stopped. "I need my dad back."

Natsu shivered. He hugged himself tightly. All of those words echoed in his mind. He couldn't get rid of them. They wouldn't give up. And all he felt was the whirlwind of voices in his head. Nashi's especially. His crying voice - when did he last show his tears to his dad? When was the last time Natsu actually asked how his son was doing? A he heard was Nashi's cries echoing through his head.

And the fear. The fear in his voice wouldn't go away. And it reminded Natsu of Lucy. He could do nothing else but clutch his stomach as it emptied by the tree.

Wiping his face, Natsu cussed. And cussed again. Family. When was the last time I acted as Nashi's family?