The buzzing of the hospital lights made his ears burn. His head fell into his hands, trying to think of a way to get back into the room with his wife. It didn't take long for Gajeel to ask his Bunny to be his, but like hell if Metalicana wasn't giving him shit for it for years before. It was like the old geezer knew something they didn't. Eventually, the two married in the clearing they always trained in, surrounded by the few closest people in their lives. That had been almost six years ago. With a sigh, his hand slid around the dragon on his necklace. He squeezed it lightly and whispered, "Bunny, you can do this."

He smelled the other person before they spoke - charcoal. He lifted his head from his hands. "What the hell are you doing here, flame brain?" He looked around Natsu, as if searching. "Ya know the purpose of babysitting is to actually watch the kid."

Normally Natsu would make some snide remark but he could see the worry defining the creases around Gajeel's eyes. "Relax. Layla is at home with Juvia and the kids. They were building a pillow fort when I left." Gajeel smiled ever so slightly. Of course they were. Layla loved anything with her imagination. She was just like her mother in that way. Hell, Layla was a lot like Lucy. She had her brains too, especially for a five year old. He would bet his money that his little girl was making his friends twins build a castle, ready to go to war. She was a natural born leader, that kid. His thoughts were torn from his daughter as the bench creaked. He could feel Natsu staring at him.

Gajeel ran a shaking hand through his hair. "They kicked me out." Natsu raised an eyebrow, surprised that his friend would simply leave his mate. As if reading his thoughts, Gajeel snorted. "Hell no. It took four of them to physically pull me out. I would have gone right back in too, but the doctor told me.." He sighed. "I was risking her life by distracting them." He stared at the doors before him. "What's so fucking difficult? They made sure everything went fine when Layla was born. Why's my son any damn different? I swear on the stars, if those fuckers don't do their job…"

Natsu rested his hand on his friends back. "She'll be alright. You know how hard Luce fights." Footsteps approached from behind the door. Natsu stood. "I'll take care of your princess for ya. You just make sure Luce kicks ass and you bring her baby brother home, got it?"

"Like you need to tell me." With that, Natsu left and the doctor emerged from the doors ahead.

"Mr. Redfox?" The man stood awkwardly before the towering slayer.

"Just spit it out. Can I see her yet?"

The doctor shook his head. "Mr. Redfox, if you would please have a seat." Gajeel did not move an inch. With a sigh, the doctor began again. "First of all, congratulations. You have a healthy baby boy." A day ago, Gajeel would have been on cloud nine at the news, but now - no, there was something else coming and he knew he wouldn't like it.

"What's the next part?" He grunted.

"We have done everything we can for his mother. Unfortunately, she is fading quickly. I'm sorry, I'm not sure if your wife will make it. You can go in to say- "

His world stopped. It was all Gajeel could do to keep himself breathing. The doctor kept speaking but he was no longer listening. He walked forward, his legs numb, and opened the door. There, lying on the bed, was a pale Lucy with wires coming from every part of her. It took all of his strength to keep his muscles moving until he reached her side. He collapsed, hitting his knees on the tile, by her side. He took her hand into his, pressing his forehead to her small hand.

"Don't you dare leave me Bunny." A sob caught in his throat. "Lucy, you can't… Layla needs you. I need you." He was shaking now. "Bunnies are…" he tried to take a breath but no matter what he did, his lungs felt like they were drowning. "Bunnies are strong remember? You told me that, show me Bunny. I can't, I can't do this." His face was soaked with tears as he gripped her small hand. "Dragons aren't strong, Lucy. Everyone thinks they are but they just intimidate people. I can't, not without you." He sat for what seemed like hours sobbing by her side, the whole time feeling his mate weaken next to him. "I don't know how. Don't make me. Please Lucy, please don't make me." His chest felt heavy, destroyed. For some reason, all he could see was his father's eyes the day they lost Lucy's mother. "Damn it Lucy!" He punched his leg. "No, I won't fucking do this! You're too damn strong for this. You've dealt with my shit since we were kids. I will not fucking give you up, so god damn it Bunny, fight. Claw the damn fox's eyes out. Layla needs you. Our son needs you. Hell, if something happens to you, I'm naming the kid. You trust me with that shit? I know you don't." If he felt like he could, he would have smirked at the memories of their fights over baby names. For some reason, his wife felt metal head wasn't an appropriate name for his son. He took a shaky breath and lifted his necklace off of his head to place it around her neck. She had to remove all jewelry when she went into labor, but she looked wrong without a dragon around her. With that, he crawled next to her in the bed and sobbed into her hair. "I'm -" he took in a ragged breath, "I'm not leaving this damn bed until you open your eyes." He kissed her hair. With that he felt a pulse against his mating mark. "What the -"

He looked down to see the small circle on the necklace glowing around her neck. The small nighttime sky turned black and the spot on her chest under the necklace began to glow. It wasn't until Gajeel felt a shift beneath him that he realized something had happened. "Lucy?" He looked up to see her looking down at him.

She gave a small, weak smile. "You are not naming our child." Her voice was rough, but it was hers. Gajeel took her in his arms tightly and kissed her head over and over again. "I thought I lost you."

"Gaj?" Her voice was tight and he looked up instantly.

"Yeah Bunny?"

"Could you get the doctor?"

Duh, why the hell hadn't he realized. "Of course." He placed one more quick kiss on her lips and left the room.

The next day, Gajeel sat behind Lucy in her hospital bed as she held their son. He couldn't get enough of having his skin touch hers, to remind him that she was okay. It was that moment that the door opened and a gorgeous little dark haired girl ran in. "Momma! Daddy!"

Gajeel slid an arm down and pulled his daughter into the bed. "Hey pipsqueak." He gave her a kiss on the head. "How was your uncle's house?"

"Good! I made a castle and I asked Uncle Natsu why there was a burn mark on Auntie Juvia's new couch, then it started raining inside!" Gajeel let a chuckle slip, before Lucy nudged him lightly. "Then grampy came to pick me up and now we're here. Is this the new baby?!"

Lucy slipped her arm around her daughter. "Yes, my love. This is your little brother." Gajeel looked up when the door opened to the room again, revealing his father. Their eyes met for a brief moment but it was all it took for them to understand each other. With a kiss to his girls and his new son, Gajeel left the room knowing his father would follow him.

He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know how you did it. Honestly, the thought was suffocating and the idea of looking into Layla's eyes every day and be reminded of that loss…" Gajeel shook his head. "I really can't imagine seeing her spitting image every day and living on. Smiling seemed damn near impossible, so I really can't wrap my brain around it but thank you." Crimson eyes met crimson. "Thank you for being strong so I could have her in my life." With that, he gave his father a tight hug. He saw tears in his old man's eyes but decided not to say something as he wiped it away.

"So." Metalicana cleared his throat. "What's the kids name?"

Gajeel grinned.

This story was based on Tim McGraw's Don't Take the Girl. Thank you all for staying with me until the end. Thank you above all to leoslady4ever and LittlePrincessNana for helping me through any bumps in the road for this, like all of my stories. Love you both!