Trail of a Fairy

26. Mother

Nashi ran his hands over the scarf again and again. No matter how many times he touched it, no matter how much he looked at it, it was still there. A second scarf.

Natsu smiled as he watched his son. He was looking between the two scarves - comparing each little detail. Natsu sighed, and wrapped his in scarf tighter.

"I got my scarf from my dad. And you," Natsu stated, "Got your scarf from your mother."

Not a single word went through Nashi's mind as he heard it. A few images flipped through, but nothing he could grab onto. The only thing that Nashi could grab was the scent of lilacs from the garden. They were growing strong, and every day Nashi went to the garden. The garden his mother started.

"From... Mom?"

Natsu nodded, but the boy didn't see it. "From your mother. She started it not long after you turned one. She put a lot of effort into that."

Nashi carefully, and slowly, wrapped the scarf around his neck. It tickled him as he buried his face into it. But he breathed deeply, wanting to catch a hint of something. Each faint strand of wool that brushed his nose tickled some memory deep down, but he couldn't reach it. He stood there - silent and unmoving - for a long time.

Natsu sighed, slowly turning away from his son. Nashi wasn't really there anyway. It was obvious; Natsu knew that look. It was the look he always had when he remembered her. The eyes - full of tenderness from the memories, but the tears spilling from them were hot and dry. The feeling of knives driving into his gut with fear. Fear of forgetting. And that was what hurt Natsu the most. So he walked away, not wanting to see the fear that reminded him so much of her.

In a sort of daze Natsu made his way over to the guild. He didn't notice the throngs of people going through town, or the vendors selling limited items. And the breeze coming from the park - one that ruffled the changing leaves - made Natsu shiver. He was glad when the guild doors opened and the warmth of the guild spread over him. Ivan was the first one to greet him.

"Uncle!" He cried as he jumped off his mother's knee. Levy tried to catch him, but failed.

Natsu smiled as he crouched down, ready to have the child throw himself at him. "Hey, buddy!"

Ivan jumped - tiny arms outstretched, and blue hair falling over his eyes. His shoelaces were untied, but that didn't stop him. He still jumped, and Natsu lunged to catch him.

"Careful!" He chuckled, just barely managing to catch the small child in his arms. But Ivan didn't care about what could have happened - he had succeeded. So with the toothy grin all the Redfoxes had, he began to talk.

"Uncle! Mommy taught Terry and I some magic!"

Natsu frowned as he tried to think. Who's Terry? But he didn't have more than a second to spare before a second child launched herself at Natsu. From a few feet away, Natsu heard Levy cry out.

"Careful, Teresa!"

Natsu barely reacted in time to catch the second twin. Her smile was just as big as her brothers, and her hair just as long. However, her grin was missing one tooth.

"Uncle!" She giggled, "Ivan knocked my tooth out!"

"Did not, Terry!" Ivan retorted.

Natsu chuckled. Okay, Terry is Teresa. "He did? Wow, that must've hurt, Teresa!"

"No!" The twins responded - Teresa's a more happy response than that of her brother.

Finally, after a heavy sigh, Levy stood up. "Let's go, Ivan, Teresa. I'm sure your dad is waiting at home with your sister right now."

With a groan, Ivan and Teresa peeled themselves off their uncle. Natsu smiled and waved as they left him, sitting on the guild floor. He sat there a few moments; ignorant to what was happening around him.

"Watch out, flame brain!"

Natsu barely heard in time to duck; a half-naked Gray was flying over his head. Natsu grumbled as Juvia rushed past him to go to her husband. He was lying in the splinters of one of the guild's tables. He looked rather beat up, and one of his eyes was starting to close up from all the swelling. While Juvia fretted around him, Gael came up beside her parents. She looked a little worried, but sat still as her mother cared for her father. Gray noticed her.

"I'll be fine, Gael." He patted her head.

Juvia paused in her care to hug Gael tightly. "It's okay, Gael-chan, Juvia will have Gray-sama patched up in no time."

Natsu grumbled as he stood up from the floor. His stomach was squeezing terribly. Time for breakfast.

Mira was in the back at the bar. Smiling happily, she wiped down the bar tables with her son's help. Alexander was grabbing the cloth tightly with both hands and spreading the mess everywhere. But he looked so happy to be helping his mother. From just around the corner, Natsu could see Laxus. He was leaning slightly against a wall - still dressed as he always did, with his large coat and headphones. But instead of his usual dark stare, his face was lighter - although not quite smiling. Natsu doubted he ever could.

As Natsu got closer to the bar, he trembled. Damn. I must be hungry.

He nodded his head to Laxus, but focused on Mira. She wiped her hands off on her red dress, and smiled warmly. Alexander copied his mother; wiping his tiny hands off on his pants. And his smile was even wider than his mother's.

"How can I help you, Natsu?"

Slumping onto a stool, Natsu let his head fall onto the table.

"I'm really hungry, Mira." He groaned. "My stomach's twisting inside out."

Chuckling, Mira turned to head into the kitchen. "No problem, Natsu. What can I get you?"

"... Pancakes." Natsu finally replied. "I want pancakes."

Mira disappeared into the kitchen for a while, with Alexander following her, of course. And it wasn't long before Natsu could smell the cooking food. His nose twitched, and the scent seemed almost familiar to him. But not quite. When Mira brought out his food, Natsu dug into it hungrily. But he took a pause.

"Mira... Do you put cinnamon in your pancakes?"

Mira blinked. "No. Why?"

Natsu started to eat, but under his breath he whispered "Lucy did."