#small request

"I still don't see why I have to learn when you make them so well."

"Cause what if I'm on a job? What will you do then? I'm not letting ya go through life not knowing how to cook basic things. You, my love, deserve better than yer own overcooked eggs." Levy moved to interrupt, but he knew what she'd say and quickly kissed her cheek. "And ya can't rely on Mira and the guild forever."

Levy pouted. She didn't like when people acknowledged her problems, especially with something that was supposed to be easy. "I can make pasta."

"Noodles cooked in unsalted water with a canned sauce do not a meal make," Gajeel countered. She wrinkled her nose at him. It was a meal in her book. He took her hand again, gently helping her fold the eggs over. "Think of it like a story. Let the characters develop together but learn to stand on their own. Take them on a journey until they change for the better. Delicious eggy better." Levy snickered. Gajeel came up with some of the most terrible jokes, and she loved him for it. Swiping the eggs one more time around the pan, he took them off the burner.

"What are you doing? Some of it's still raw." Levy reached for the skillet, but Gajeel held it high above her head.

"Ya gotta pull them a little earlier than you'd think. They'll overcook in a minute. I'd rather have runny eggs in the pan and perfect eggs on the plate than perfect eggs in the pan and overcooked eggs on my fork." Levy glared at him. According to Gajeel she'd overcooked every batch she'd made. They'd tasted fine to her, normal in fact. He handed her a plate, sprinkling on just a little extra salt, and thought for a long moment. "It's like ruining something that could have been great. You'd be pissed if I gave you a crap cup of coffee." Levy would be more than pissed if Gajeel couldn't make a decent cup of coffee after as long as they'd been dating. It ran like blood through her veins. "Think of it, Lev. Like a cup made from old coffee grounds that have been sitting in the pantry for over a year brewed with lukewarm water."

Levy shuddered. She didn't even want to think about such a terrible drink. "Ok. I get it. Overcooked eggs are equivalent to a cup of coffee so horrible it should never be spoken of nor imagined again."

Gajeel laughed. If there was one quality culinary thing his little girlfriend understood it was coffee. "Exactly. And you'll never have to worry about that again, cause yer man just showed you how to make perfect scrambled eggs." Levy looked down at the plate in front of her. They seemed different from what she normally had but apparently that was a good thing. "See, they’re soft, fluffy, and delicious; not the rubbery mess ya were eating before."

Scooping up a bite, Levy sighed and licked her lips. "This is really good, but the others weren't that bad."

Gajeel laughed. It was tough to get Levy to set aside her ego, but her effort touched him. "They should be good. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day after all."

"Yeah, but I still miss my chocolate stuff, " Levy said, scooping up another forkful.

"Put it in yer coffee. I'm not letting ya eat those toaster things anymore. Yer sweet enough as is." Gajeel pulled her chair out from under the table and spun it around. "In fact," he straddled her lap, lowering down to kiss her deeply, "Your lips are sweeter than any pastry." She kissed him back, pulling him down onto her.

"And you're cheesy enough to make fondue."

Bickslow pulled her into a hug, placing a warm kiss on the top of her head. “How’s my Lis this evening?”

“How’s Lis? How’s Lis?” his dolls echoed. One fluttered over to her shoulder, resting on its favorite perch. Lisanna sat down on the couch with a sigh.

“I'm…ok.”

Bickslow peered at her through the metal grating with one green eye before slowly removing his helmet. “You know you can tell me anything, Lis. Lying isn’t gonna fly around me, though.”

“Won’t fly. Won’t fly,” the dolls sang.

Bickslow shooed them away. “Babies, Momma and I need to chat. Go play somewhere else.” The dolls hung in the air for a moment, disappointed they had to leave, but eventually they scattered, chasing each other into the kitchen. His attention turned back to Lisanna. Her face was flushed and tears welled in her eyes. Sitting down, he draped an arm across her shoulder, and she rested her head on his chest. “Now tell me, little bird, what’s got your feathers all ruffled?”

Lisanna sniffled into his shirt before drawing up every ounce of courage she had left. “I’m pregnant.” Bickslow ran his hand through her hair, fingers dancing along her neck before they found their way back to her opal locks. “Bix, it’s yours. I guess from well…you know. And I don’t think I can—I don’t expect you to—I don’t know anything anymore. I’m just scared.”

Bickslow continued to stroke her. “Of course it’s mine, silly. We’ve certainly had ample opportunities.” Tilting his head back, he laughed deep in his belly. “I thought we were doing well with protection, but sometimes we kinda get carried away during foreplay.” Lisanna’s cheeks lit up with a rosy blush; he was certainly right about that. “And I guess my swimmers are stronger than I thought.” Kissing her forehead, he asked, “What are you so scared about?”

Lisanna looked up at him incredulously. “It’s a baby. We haven’t even been together a year. The responsibility—we couldn’t possibly be ready to be parents. Do you even want kids? How are we supposed to—” She was spiraling out of control. Bickslow pulled her up his chest so she was looking straight in his eyes and swiped a finger over her nose.

“Silly little bird, what do you have to be worried for?” Lisanna squinted at him and puffed out her cheeks. Rumbles of laughter rolled through his body, she was too cute when she made that face. “Don’t gimme that look. I’m taking you seriously. I just don’t see what you have to be nervous about.” A black tipped finger slid down her cheek and under her chin, pulling her into a kiss. “Sure we haven’t been together a year. Doesn’t mean we don’t love each other. And we already have five kids. Of course I’d be happy about one more.” Bickslow looked deep into her eyes, passed all her walls of fear and insecurity, to the woman whose soul shone brighter than any other. “Plus, this one will be so special. Cause it was made with a piece of both our souls.”

Fear slowly melted the shell around Lisanna’s heart. He wasn’t going to leave. She hadn’t particularly thought of herself as a mother before, she’d always been the baby, but the dolls did act like children a fair amount of the time. Maybe this wasn’t an end to what she loved; maybe it could be a beginning. Lisanna smiled weakly. “I hadn’t thought of that before.” The pounding in her heart softened. “I’m still not sure if I’m ready,” she paused, kissing him gently, “but it means so much that you’d be alright with this.” The tension in the air started to dissipate and she giggled. “You keep on surprising me. I thought for sure you’d freak out more. I did.”

Bickslow chuckled. “Well I was a little surprised at first, but that was more cause I was sure we used protection every time. After a few days I was pretty calm. Just waiting for you to tell me.” Lisanna stared at him, eyes wide, before lightly slapping his chest.

“You knew? How the hell did you know? I wasn’t even sure until today.”

“Magic, baby. I can see souls, remember?” His eyes glowed in a near comical reminder.

“So you saw our baby’s soul and figured I was pregnant and didn’t even tell me?” she speculated, notes of confusion and teasing in her voice.

“Nah,” he shook his head, “doesn’t work like that. Your soul kinda changed. It got brighter and the shape sort of—it’s complicated. I can’t really explain. I don’t see a specific soul for the baby yet, just almost a small extension of yours. Plus I thought you knew. Don’t you have signs for this stuff?”

“Yeah, but it takes a while to read those signs correctly. You get a free pass for not telling me for now, but next time my soul changes, how about you let me know.”

“You got it, Lis. So…do you wanna tell them yourself or together?” Lisanna gazed at him, unsure of what he meant, and then she smiled, understanding. 

“Babies, come here! We’ve got something to tell you,” she called.

Near instantly they could hear little voices chanting, “coming, coming,” followed quickly with, “tell us, tell us.”