Nalu oneshots

Shot 12: Glory Days

"Hahaha! Mom and Dad are past it!" Nashi crowed to her younger brother Iggy. "They wouldn't know how to take down a dark guild if they were given instructions!"

Iggy, or Igneel as he had been christened, chimed in, "yeah! I bet they would totally need instructions!"

Natsu and Lucy exchanged indulgent glances. Nashi being the older by five minutes was always being copied by her younger twin. They were almost thirteen and just entering the stage where they thought their parents were dinosaurs and couldn't imagine them as young and capable.

"Instructions are over-rated," drawled Natsu with a sly wink to his wife. "Especially the ones about putting up tents. I figure Nashi and Iggy can deal with it if their tent falls down tonight."

"True," Lucy nodded. The campfire flickered and the logs shifted; more crackling pops emitted sparks. "It's not like they'd want help from two old and decrepit people - even if they do have years of experience." Hamming it up, Lucy sighed deeply. "Too bad, there's just so many stories from mine and your father's glory days."

Their earlier sass forgotten, the twins turned identical dark brown eyes to their parents. While Nashi sported pink hair like her father, Iggy had blonde. Together they chorused, "Tell us a story!"

"Shhh! You'll wake Layla!" Natsu stroked a soothing hand down the drowsing toddler's back. "I know we're outdoors, but keep using your indoor voices - Uncle Happy is napping too."

"Sorry!" Both children were contrite for at least five minutes, then implored Lucy to tell a story from the 'good old days'.

Lucy absently patted the sleeping exceed's head and then grasped her husband's free hand. "A long time ago," she began, her voice low and mesmerizing, "a very dark guild threatened all of Earthland and Fairy Tail journeyed to Ishgar."

The blonde recalled the dangerous mission of fourteen years ago, sharing old details her children were familiar with and a few new ones they were finally old enough to hear. With the skill of story telling she'd honed over many years, Lucy spun the tale of how her and Natsu had united as a couple and saved all of Earthland.

Iggy fell asleep first, followed quickly by Nashi. Natsu shook Happy awake and handed Layla off to him as Lucy giggled, yanking him into the dark forest. The exceed waved them off and muttered to himself, "I'm gonna want a dozen fish when we get back from camping. Can't you guys liiiiiiiike each other at home?"

Lucy laced her fingers firmly with Natsu's. She lifted her head to survey the glowing stars, "we'll be reliving our glory days by ourselves tonight."

"You talking about all our daring escapes and saving each other from dark guilds?" Natsu chuckled softly to the love of his life.

"Maybe," Lucy coyly answered, "unless you want to re-live the glory days where we used to celebrate our love all night long."

In response, Natsu lifted Lucy into his arms against a tree and began feverishly kissing her neck. "Hells ya!"