Time After Time

Me stay with you

{NASHI'S POV}
After we get into Fairy Tail, there's the slight problem of figuring out who we're gonna stay with for our temporary visit to the past.

"Hmm..." Gramps taps his chin, deep in thought. Luke goes over and hugs Mom's legs.

"Me stay with you!" He states. I shrug and walk over to them, like it doesn't really matter to me, even though it does.

"Is that okay with you, Mo—err, Lucy-san?" I ask. She nods, then glances at Dad and away again, embarrassed. I smirk.

"I'll help you out." Dad comes to stand by us. Mom blushes bright red but doesn't say anything.

"Pfft!" Uncle Gray laughs. "Flame Brain, acting as a parent? That won't go well."

"What'd you say, Popsicle?" Dad growls. "You think you can do better?"

"Hah! I know I can. I'll take, umm..." He surveys the remaining kids.

"How about us three?" Storm volunteers. He and his two sisters go to stand by their dad.

"Juvia would be more than willing to help Gray-sama take care of our new kids!" Aunt Juvia beams, hearts in her eyes, and joins them.

Uncle Gray look slightly embarrassed. "They're not our kids, Juvia."

Uncle Jellal picks now to enter the guild hall. Reiki sees him, and immediately runs up with a big smile on his face. He's very confused when Uncle Jellal doesn't greet him the way he usually does, instead backing up and looking at Aunt Erza for help. She explains the situation.

"Since little Reiki likes you, would you be willing to stay awhile and help us out?" Aunt Erza asks.

"Uh, sure, but..." He looks at Reiki apprehensively.

"I'll help, naturally." Aunt Erza soothes.

"Don't forget me!" Rose cries, running over.

All that's left is Gale and the twins. Gale sees the book his mom was reading before we entered and recognizes it. He starts up a conversation with her, and she agrees to take him under her wing. Uncle Gajeel claims that Gale, who's already taller than Aunt Levy even though he's only 15, is too tall a task for her alone and offers his services.

The twins get in Aunt Mira's good graces by promising to help out with the bar and cleaning, which they usually do anyway, so she agrees to share her home at Fairy Hills with them too. Unfortunately, Uncle Laxus is nowhere to be seen.

"It's getting late, brats, so go home and get some rest!" Gramps yells.

So the ten of us leave the guild hall with our respective families. Luke and I walk with Mom and Dad to Mom's old apartment. I suppose it would be her current apartment, since she and Dad haven't gotten married yet.

"Sorry, it's kinda cramped with so many people. I guess I'll have to move when I want to start a family." Mom apologizes.

"Oh no, that's okay Lucy-san." I reply as Dad starts raiding the fridge.

"Yo, Luce, got anything to eat?" He calls from the kitchen, food already stuffed in his mouth.

"Natsu!" Mom scolds. "Part of having kids is you have to help take care of them!"

"I am!" He whines. "Kids have to eat, don't they?"

Mom rolls her eyes. I giggle as I watch them bicker. Twenty years, but I suppose their relationship hasn't changed much.

{ROSE'S POV}
The walk through Magnolia with Mom and Dad is awkward, and it seems like forever before we reach the inn Dad's been staying at. They both agreed to go here, since Dad can't stay at Mom's current home in Fairy Hills.

"You can just make yourselves at home." Dad gestures around. There are two beds, a bathroom, a closet, and a snack bar. I immediately raid the snack bar, and find a whole strawberry cake.

"You must really like strawberry cake, Jellal-san." I look over my shoulder. Dad blushes a little.

"W-Well, it's not for me." He stutters.

I smirk and raise an eyebrow suggestively. "Oh, could it be that you have a girlfriend?"

A dark aura comes from the bathroom. Mom walks out. "What's this talk about a girlfriend?"

"Of course I don't Erza, calm down! It was for you!" Dad placates. The dark aura disappears.

"Oh." Mom looks at me holding it. "Don't tell me you like strawberry cake too."

"My mom and I would go to the cake store every weekend to get more." The memory makes me happy, even though Mom doesn't remember.

"Huh, that's a good idea. I might have to do that with my daughter if I ever have one. So, um, do you want to sh-sh-sh-sh—" Mom can't even say it.

"Share? Sure!" I beam, and summon a knife to slice it. Silence descends. Slowly, I realize that Mom and Dad didn't know I could use magic.

"You're a wizard!" Dad gasps.

"What was that magic? It felt familiar." Mom asks.

"Sis magic beautiful. She make bad guy bleed!" Reiki chirps from one of the beds where he's sprawled out.

"I can change my armor and weapons at will." I boast, sticking my chest out. Mom's eyes just about pop out of her head.

"Can we have a demonstration?" She asks. I nod.

"Requip: queen battle royale armor!" Red and black metal gloves form over my hands, to add power to my punch and grip. Black and red metal boots have encased my feet, for a speed boost as well as a wicked kick. A simple black and red metal breastplate also appears, to offer some protection. All the metal has fancy swirling patterns of gold and silver on them, and a small gold and silver crown pops up on the right side of my head.

The armor comes with a sword. The hilt is red with black diamonds, same as the guard. The blade itself has four gold plus marks on the bottom, while the tip of the hilt has a large silver crown set inside a smaller gold one, just like what's on my head.

Both Dad and Mom gape at me. I know Mom's surprised because she doesn't even notice when her half of the strawberry cake slides off her plate onto the floor.

"Your magic... it's just like mine." She sputters.

"Really?" I ask.

"Who'd you learn that from?" Dad wonders.

"My mom. She's really strong." I brag. My queen battle royale armor disappears, as does my sword. I yawn. Mom and Dad let me go to bed without anymore questions, because it's late and they're keeping me from sleeping.

I climb into the same bed as Reiki, pulling the covers over us and wrapping my arms around my baby brother protectively. Pretending to be asleep, I watch as Mom and Dad, both blushing madly, both get into the other bed together.

With a smile, I fall asleep.