Trail of a Fairy

20. Twelve

Nashi sat expectantly by his bedroom door. He didn't get up or leave his room; that would come later. But he shivered in excitement. He heard the small shuffles of his dad across the hall. As those shuffles came closer, Nashi pressed his ear against the door. He could just barely hear it.

His dad was whispering ever so quietly. So quietly that Nashi couldn't pick it up. But someone responded.

"What are you wasting time for, flamer?" Gray hissed. Nashi could imagine Juvia nodding her head in agreement. Natsu answered and sparked another reply.

"I doubt that." This voice was gruff, meaner sounding. Nashi bet it was his Uncle Gajeel or maybe Pantherlily.

"Oh." With that, all the voices went quiet. Nashi moved quietly away from the door. He jumped back into his bed and underneath the covers. He couldn't stop grinning to himself. He knew what they were doing. But as they threw open the door shouting "surprise!", Nashi pretended to be surprised.

"AH!" He cried as he jumped out of bed. He could see the smiles on everyone's faces. "What's all this for?"

Natsu chuckled, going up to ruffled his son's bedhead. "Don't pretend you weren't listening through the door."

Nashi chuckled, and looked at everyone there. There were all three of the Fullbusters, all five of the Redfoxes, Freyr and Happy (Carla's eggsitting, Nashi guessed), and the Fernandez. They were all smiling at him, with hand's behind their back. Nashi grinned.

"Y'know dad... If you want it to be a surprise, you're going to have to keep them quiet."

Natsu shrugged, but chuckled. He grabbed his son by the shoulders and stood him up. "Then c'mon. Let's get started with this failed surprise."

Laughing, Nashi followed his dad into the living room. This is going to be a great birthday.

At the end of the party, Nashi was tired out. Even with the sugar rush he got from cake (not strawberry cake, much to Erza's disappointment), Nashi was done with the party. He waved goodbye to each of his friends and thanked them for the gifts. He now had a communication lacrima (The Redfoxes), a beginner's magic staff (the Fernandez), a bundle of first aid supplies (Nashi guessed more Carla than Happy and Freyr), and finally — from the Fullbusters — an ice sculpture of his mom. Of Lucy. He stared at it as it sat on his night table.

In the sculpture, Lucy was prepared to fight. She had her whip tightened between her hands, and her keys on her hip. Nashi traced his finger over the carefully made sculpture. She wore a weird costume. Her hair was done up in two buns, and she wore a spotted bra. On her arms, matching spotted sleeves stuck tight to her skin. A satchel sat low over one of her hips. Her pants were probably the weirdest part of the costume. Only one side had an actual pant leg; the other side resembled short shorts. Finally, she had two large calf high boots on her feet. And Nashi's hand traced over all of it.

"Your mom..."

Nashi froze. In his bedroom doorway stood Natsu. He had a small smile on his face, and was leaning against the frame. Nashi tried a weak smile. His dad chuckled, and headed into the room.

"Your mom was a very talented celestial mage. She fought with the powers of her spirits in dresses like that one."

"Dad," Nashi sighed. "I wouldn't exactly call this a dress."

"Yeah, I know." Natsu ruffled Nashi's hair some more. "But they were your mother's star dresses. She was really proud of being able to fight side by side with her spirits. With her friends."

Nashi's hand brushed past the keys on his hip. Virgo's key was beating like the rest, but Nashi didn't want to call on her yet.

"Dad..." Nashi tried, "how did you propose to mom?"

Natsu chuckled and started to turn around. "C'mon, let's save that sappy story for when you're older."

"I'm older now!" Nashi yelled, punching his dad in the back. "I'm not five anymore!"

Natsu felt the tiny fist on his back. He felt the shudders passing through it, and the tremors in Nashi's voice. For once, it wasn't Natsu who was about to cry. So he turned around, and held his son's fist loosely.

"You wanna know how I proposed."

Nashi nodded fervently.

"I did it in such an uncool way. I even forgot the ring." Natsu sighed, trying to smile at his son.

"And?"

"It was totally uncool."

"Jeez dad!" Nashi yelled. "Just tell me!"

"Well, she actually gave me the idea..."

Natsu watched, barely containing a chuckle, as his son's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped.

"Mom proposed to you?" Nashi gasped. And under his breath, he sighed. "Though of course, dad is so slow."

"Hey," Natsu gently cuffed his son's head. "Don't get it wrong. I proposed to her. She just put the idea in my head. Or rather, Lisanna said something about her that put the idea in my head."

Nashi groaned. "So slow! Get to the point, dad!"

Natsu groaned back to his son. "Fine. I'll tell you, but no interruptions. Not a one."

Nashi grinned a mile long grin. "I promise!" Finally!

"It was the Sakura Tree festival. Of course, it had to be that day; despite me planning all this two days before."

Natsu left it at that, and headed to his room. He motioned for Nashi to follow. Which Natsu did more than willingly.