Hey! I am Maria! please review this! I hope to have more up soon! Its a pleasure to meet you all! *Waves*

Igneel watching his son, Natsu getting sicker and sicker, with Grandeeney now taking care of a child, there was no way for her to help Natsu again. If only Igneel had listen to her and made his son rest, instead of letting him push on!

"Natsu, my child, I'm going to take you to an old friend," Igneel whispered to the sleeping form of Natsu, "Let her be able to help. Please stars let her be able!"

The red dragon took to the air carefully with his son's sleeping form in his claws, as he flew towards the only human he could trust.

- Heartfilia Mansion-

"Luce-Lu, its nap time." A frail man said to a small child who was playing, "your mommy is in your room waiting."

The small child with blonde hair and warm brown eyes ran from the play room towards her bedroom.

"MOMMY!" the child yells.

"Lucy," The woman with the same blonde hair and brown eyes said.

Lucy, the child, asks, "Can I ever meet Idgeel?"

"It's Igneel sweetie. And yes, he is coming today with his son," the woman, Layla said smiling.

"What's his name?" Lucy asks holding the red dragon toy her mom made for her.

"I don't know. I've never meet him," replied Layla as a dragon landed, "But let's go meet them sweetie."

Lucy jumps up and starts running towards the back gardens, Layla following her now holding the toy.

"Layla! I beg you to please help my son! He is sick and I don't know…." Igneel spoke as he sets Natsu down, "why is this child hugging me, Layla?"

"Idngeels!" Lucy yells ignoring the pink haired boy to jump and hug the red dragon.

"That would be my daughter Lucy." Layla replied kneeling next to the boy, "He appears fine. But maybe some rest and better clothing might help him."

"Idneels mommy told me all abouts you! I wub you!" Lucy said yawn and still hugging Igneel's snout.

"Lucy….What a precious girl you have Layla. One day I hope my son will find someone as wonderful as her." Igneel smiled and held Lucy as she napped on his claws, "If his mate was I would be a proud father."

"I may not know a thing about your son, Igneel, but I would be honored to call this boy my son-in-law." Layla said tenting to Natsu's old wounds, "What's his name?"

"Natsu Dragneel." Igneel whispered for fear of waking Lucy.

"Well Natsu, you do your best to grow up strong and make my daughter happy," Layla joked pulling Natsu to take him inside the house.

"Layla, that toy you dropped. It looks an awful lot like me. The child seems to love it dearly," Igneel asked handing Lucy over to her mother, "Is that why she jumped to me?"

"It is you Igneel, and yes Lucy has slept with it since she was born. She loves you very much, you crazy dragon." Layla replied entering the house, "though I fear one day…."

"Say it not Layla!" Igneel growled, "I will try with the others to find them fast!"

Layla nodded as she walked father into her home, "Kip, we are going to be having a father and son over for a while. This boy will stay in Lucy's room with her."

The frail man, Kip asking, "The father?"

"The dragon outside will need food as well. He has flown a long way to get here. Please bring him some food." Layla said ignoring the servant's protest to walk the sleeping children in her arms to Lucy's bedroom.

"Here!" Kip yelled in fear of the dragon as he threw the food out before running behind the dragon to look for the dropped toy.

"Thank you, man. May I ask you how my son is and what room he shall be in?" Igneel inquired as he started eating.

"He is in Miss Lucy's room with her," Kip replied without looking at the dragon, "You are the boy's father?"

Igneel nodded while he ate.

"Sir, if I may, what is your name?" Kip asked now looking at the dragon.

"Igneel and your name?" Igneel replied finishing his meal.

"I am Kip, and I have to find that toy before Lucy awakes. She dearly loves that toy so much, and would be destroyed if she lost it." Kip says searching for the red dragon toy.

"If I may, why does she love that toy so much?" Igneel asks helping Kip look for the toy.

"Layla had made it after a dragon saved her when she fell from a cliff. See she had just found out she was pregnant with our little Luce-Lu and was over joyed." Kip started to explain.

"You are the father?" Igneel looked the man over while asking.

"Oh dear no. I am a friend and teacher to Luce-Lu. Her father is Jude Heartfilia a wonderful business man but a horrible father." Kip said stopping and picking up the toy.

"You dearly love that child." Igneel stated calmly.

"I once had a daughter, when she was Lucy's age she fell gravely ill and long with my wife, my daughter's name was also Lucy. I called her Luce-Lu, so when I call Lucy that I feel my daughter is in a way still with me." Kip said looking lost in memories.

Igneel only nodded to let the man alone with his memories. Layla walked out and placed a gentle hand on his out stretched wing.

"Igneel how are you old friend?" Layla asked while petting his wings.

"The sadness I once felt is mostly gone. With my son's smile it will grow less and less. I truly treasure the time I have with him," Igneel said settling down next to Layla, "What about you dear girl?"

Layla smiling as she lays next to his head, "It's been four and half years since she was born and each day I spend with her is better than the last. Though I guess the truth is it started that day I got two shocks in a row, huh?"

"I remember hearing you scream once for joy then again for terror. I knew I could not let you die that day, though there had been others to fall by my cave I just let them, but not you. I couldn't let your die." Igneel said nudging her leg with his snout.

"And the worst part is I didn't want to fall that day, but I got to meet you dear friend. When did you find Natsu old friend?" Layla asked petting his snout.

"Four years ago. It seems he real father left him in a cave to die with a note that said his mother had died giving birth to him. It shouldn't matter that the mother had died he was so small," Igneel growled.

-Lucy's room-

"Igneel! Dad!" Natsu yelling waking Lucy up, who starts to rub the sleep from her eyes.

"Morning….I'm Lucy! What's your name?" Lucy asks holding the scarf around his neck.

"Natsu and don't touch my scarf! My dad gave it to me!" Natsu said trying to pull the scarf away from her.

Lucy getting upset decides to pull him down into a hug instead, "is your dad really Idgneels? I love him, he saved my mommy once. I love you Natsu… you smell warm."

Natsu blushed before a coughing fit over took him, smoke coming out his mouth; he lay on his side away from Lucy. Layla walked in seeing Natsu on his side coughing and Lucy holding him close from behind trying to help him with the smoke.

"Natsu dear, I am Layla, Lucy's mom. Igneel brought you here since you got worst and he was worried. You will be staying with my daughter in her room for the time. How are you feeling?" Layla asked as he placed a hand on his forehead.

"I feel bad…I need something…" Natsu coughing.

Layla saw a fire being lite and un-lite in the boys through, "Would you like water or fire?"

"FIRE please!" Natsu screamed holding his chest and Lucy's hand over his heart.

Lucy took his head and laid it in her lap, running her fingers through his soft pink hair as he mother lite a match and held it to his lips. Natsu breathed in the fire and started to relax and started to fall asleep again.

"Sleep a little longer my dears." Layla whispered turning out the lights.

Lucy had laid Natsu's head on the only pillow and laid hers on his chest over his heart. Natsu smiling in his sleep and wraps his arms around Lucy's tiny body. Feeling the other so close was weird but felt right to them.

-Back Gardens-

"He has started the change Igneel, the ones I read about in that book you gave me." Layla said watching the dragon's reaction.

"You mean he is becoming more dragon like me. I don't ever remember the other going threw it this much pain though! I hate this pain because I know it's my fault! Layla…." Igneel said flopping down causing her to laugh uncontrollably for a few minutes.

Once she regained her poise replied, "He will be alright. I believe his body is building up the fires he will need to fight with. Much like your ability to create flames in your own body."

"How do you know…."Igneel started but Layla cut him off replying, "That book. I figured he would be fine when I offered him the choice of water or fire, without a second to think he yelled asking for fire. He ate is so fast I thought for sure he was going to light my daughter's lap on fire. Right now he is holding her as they sleep."

Igneel smiling, "Her head on his chest, over the heart?"

Layla nodded smiling back at the dragon, "Looks like that joke isn't one now."

Igneel nodding back, "When he's time comes he will now go out to find her. I really don't want to explain the whole taking a mate to him yet."

Layla ignoring the dragon's shutters replies, "at least we will have cute grand kids."

Igneel rolled his eyes and laughs as Layla as she images the children of Natsu and Lucy.

"Igneel! Natsu can't stay here forever. We will have to separate them in the month! Igneel what if he forgets her? What if Lucy forgets Natsu! I don't want my beautiful daughter marring some man my husband picks for her!" Layla yelled after sometime and starts passing giving Igneel a crank in his neck to follow.

Igneel giving up on following her with his head lays it back down to reply, "Layla, please. Natsu will never forget his mate. I'm sure once the transformation is done he will fight harder than ever to win her heart. Now for Lucy….I do not know how the bond will work for them. Whether or not she remembers him or if she is pulled to him. But even if she isn't he will not give up without a fight to win her heart. Trust in my son, he maybe dense but his heart is pure, Layla you will have those cute grandchildren you dream up."

"Bond? The book never mentioned a bond being formed." Layla said calming down but still confused.

"Dragons bond with their mates. Before Enith died….Enith was my mate, before she died I could always find her and always knew sort of what she was feeling. A bond is just that, it binds two into one. But a bond is only formed if both parties truly care for the other deeply and are both willing to submit to the others will." Igneel explains sadly.

"So it's like a marriage? A dragon marriage!" Layla exclaimed loudly and hugged the dragon's snout again.

Igneel smiled at the human, "In a way though unlike human marriages and courtships, this will last forever"

"Even after death?" Layla asks somberly.

Igneel nodding replied, "Yes. I have never even thought of taking another mate. Enith is my only. Also Natsu may get very depressed if he thinks Lucy will reject him or leave him after he pours his heart out to her. Without her, he will only feel dead inside."

Layla still hugging Igneel, "That's why you panicked when you thought Natsu was very ill… You feared losing your last chance at happiness again."

Again he nodded, "The thought I may lose his was too much for me to handle. I lost Enith and Natsu is the only thing in this world that easy the pain her absent in my heart. I will not lose him, Layla. I will not."

-Lucy's room: Next day-

"Natsu! Stop hogging the bedding!" Lucy whines at the pink haired boy wrapped in all the blankets and sheets.

Natsu smiles and drapes his scarf over her neck, "But Lucy I am cold!"

Lucy smiles back at him and wrap the scarf around both of them pulling him closer, "Then let's lay very close to warm you back up!"

Natsu nods and pulls her into the cocoon he has made around himself.

"Natsu… You're burning up!" Lucy shouts panicking and sweating as she gets closer to his body.

Natsu sees her sweating in his arm, "Why are you sweating so much Lucy? It's so cold in here!"

Layla walked in as Natsu's tongue runs across Lucy's sweating forehead.

"Natsu, Lucy, what is going on?" Layla asks trying to hide a smile as she undoes all the blankets.

"Lucy thinks I'm burning up to the touch but I feel like an ice cube in winter!" Natsu whined pulling the blankets back around him.

"Mommy, he is burning up! Feel his hands, you'll see." Lucy whined back trying to pull his scarf off him.

Layla sighed, "Natsu go down to the garden, and Igneel will explain everything. Then it might be wise to get something to eat."

Natsu nodded and walked down to talk to his father.

-Back Garden-

"Natsu, how do you feel my boy?" Igneel asks pulling a shivering Natsu to him with his claw.

"Cold, but when Lucy put her hand on my forehead her hand felt cold, but I feel cold to myself. Dad… what's wrong with me?" Natsu shivered harder and became to hold on to Igneel.

Igneel smiled down at his son, "You're just becoming a dragon, or a Dragon Slayer, Natsu."

Natsu startled begins to pull back and yell, "I don't want to slay dragons! I love you, Igneel and I love Grandeeney!"

"Natsu, you won't slay us. It's a term we dragons use when human learns our lost magic. Right now your magic is lighting fires inside your body so you will now be able to use all the same attacks I can." Igneel explained pulling Natsu close again.

Natsu looking up at his father asking, "I can use the fire dragon roar, and iron fist and wing slash just like you dad? I can protect Luckey better now!"

"Lucy, and yes Natsu. You can use this power to protect her. Once we go home, I will explain everything to you. But for now go eat, ask that frail man I remember his name is Kip for some food." Igneel said pushing his back to the house.

Natsu nodded and trudged back inside to get the promised food and find Lucy to tell her everything.

-Lucy's room-

"So mommy, Natsu will be more like Igneel now?" Lucy asked playing with the dragon toy watching her mother sew another toy.

"Yes Lucy. Natsu will not be warm always like Igneel. You love Igneel right Lucy?" Layla asked as she looked at her daughter.

"Yes mommy! I love Igneels and Natsu too. He's nice and warm….. Can they stay forever mommy please?" Lucy pleaded

Layla choked back tears to reply, "Sweetie they can't, I am sorry. Daddy won't let Igneel stay and Natsu won't leave Igneel. You wouldn't want to separate them would you?"

Lucy looking sad asked her mom sitting in her lap now, "Why does daddy hate Igneel?"

"It was long before you were born, Lucy. Mommy fell from a very high place and daddy wasn't there to help her. It was Igneel that saved mommy and brought her home that day. Daddy thought Igneel was trying to hurt mommy not help," Layla explained carefully to not let Lucy know the real reason was her father wanted a dragon pelt.

Lucy looking confused in a cute manner, "But why? Didn't daddy understand Igneel would never hurt you mommy?"

Layla smiled at her daughter, "No sweetie. Dragons aren't known for kindness."

Lucy gave up trying to understand and asked, "Can I still play with Natsu while they are here?"

Layla smiled at her daughter, "Yes you can sweetie. But first you two need a bath! Go find Natsu so we can get him some better clothing,

Lucy slides off her mother's lap and runs to the kitchen to find Natsu.

-Kitchen-

"Kip-sensei!" Lucy yells running to him, "where's Natsu?"

Kip walking towards her, "I do Luce-Lu, follow me."

Kip walks by her with two full plates of food towards the dining room, where Natsu was finishing his fifth plate of food.

"Natsu!" Lucy screamed running towards him, "mommy said you need a bath so come on!"

Lucy grabs Natsu's wrist and pulls him to the bathroom. Layla smiling as her daughter pulled the pink haired boy this way.

Layla holding her arms out to Natsu, "come on Natsu, let's get you cleaned up. Lucy will stay out here so you don't feel embarrassed. And maybe you will feel better after it too."

Natsu nodded letting Layla undress him in the bath room and helped him bath, since he had never really had a bath before that wasn't in a river. Lucy was humming outside the door thinking about that pink haired boy.

"Lucy sweetie, your turn." Layla called letting Natsu out in white pants and a vest, as he passed Lucy he smiled.

Natsu called over his shoulder, "I am gonna show dad these clothing! And spend some time with him too, okay Lucy?"

Lucy nodded as she closed the door of the bathroom to get her bath.

-Back Garden-

"Igneel, how long are we staying?" Natsu asked hugging the dragon.

Igneel answered licking his lips at the food Kip was putting down, "about a month, why Natsu?"

"Do I have to train while we are here?" Natsu asked picking at the food.

Igneel looking at his son answered, "Do you want to?"

"I want to spend time with Lucy, but I also don't want to fall behind and not be able to protect her either." Natsu said pushing the food away from him.

Igneel nodded still watching his son. Letting Natsu lay back to take a nap, till Kip called to him to come in for dinner.

Igneel nudged Natsu to wake him up and pushing him towards the door, "best not to keep the women waiting for you Natsu."

"Dad… what's love like?" Natsu asked as he got to the door.

"It's not something I can explain my boy, ask Layla. She will explain it to you." Igneel said weighting his words carefully.

Natsu nodded walking to the dining hall, saying "sorry I fell asleep out there."

Lucy jumping up pulled him towards the chair next to her, "please sit here!"

Natsu sat down and spoke, "Layla….. Can I ask you something?"

Layla smiling and putting her napkin in her lap, "Of course Natsu."

"Whatslovelike?" Natsu whispered with his head down.

"I am sorry, I couldn't hear you Natsu." Layla replied before taking a bite.

Natsu asked again with food in his mouth, "Whafz Luwbs Fikas?"

"Natsu swallow then ask it again please dear." Layla asked between bites.

Natsu now sighing, "What's love like?"

Layla smiled, "Natsu do you love your dad?"

Natsu nodding, "of course I love Igneel, and Grandeeney the sky dragon and even that metal dragon Metalicana! But that's not the love I was asking about…"

Layla giggling, "Do you mean what's it like to be in love?"

Natsu nodding yes as Lucy pipes up "Isn't being in love the greatest! I can't wait to marry my prince charming."

Lucy looking at Natsu who looks down and loses his appetite and says, "I am going to bed."

Natsu pushes away from the table and runs outside right passed Igneel, who sees tears in his son's eyes.

-Out in the Woods-

"What's wrong with her? Talking about marring that stupid Prince when I love her, I know I am not much but I would love her better than any Prince could!" Natsu cried to the stars.

-Heartfilia Dining Room-

"Why did he run off like that mommy?" Lucy asks looking at the empty chair that once held her only friend Natsu.

"Lucy… Your words hurt him. Right now his dragon self is coming out and is looking for a mate, but his mind only hears what you said." Layla replied getting up.

"But…I was talking about him as my prince charming…" Lucy pouts as she walks to her room.

Layla decides to talk to Igneel instead of following her daughter, "Igneel where is your son?"

Igneel answered, "Somewhere in the woods. Crying most likely, your daughter is she okay?"

Layla nodded no, "she said something that upset him without knowing it. It hurts her to think she is his cause of pain now. She's in her room crying as well."

Igneel thinking out loud, "we need to get them talking then."

"Second floor, fifth window in is her room, take her for a flight and explain what it means to be a mate to her!" Layla said as she pulled a toy that looks just like her daughter, "I will find Natsu and give him this and explain what she meant."

Igneel smiled at her, "Let's do it!"

-Lucy's room-

"Stupid Natsu, over thinking things. Stupid dragon not knowing he was my prince charming." Lucy mutters as she gets ready for bed.

"Well to be fair to my son, he is still very young and doesn't know many humans." Igneel said hovering at the window, "if you will allow I can explain everything if you would like to fly with me?"

Lucy nodded as she climbed out her window on to Igneel's back.

"Lucy dear, Dragons are wonderful creatures. We are not wild animals but we are not humans either. See when a dragon, or even dragon slayer is young we seek our mates so when our time comes we know their face and scent so we can find them always. Do you understand that?" Igneel explained.

Lucy asked, "It makes scene, but why did Natsu storm off at diner?"

"From what I have heard from Layla, he stormed off after you mentioned finding and marring Prince charming. Natsu's dragon self can sense his mate, but his human mind heard that his mate was looking for another man. For us dragons, if our mate leaves us or rejects us, we just want to die." Igneel replied.

Lucy got really quite for a while before whispering, "it's my fault Natsu is so sad…"

-In the woods-

"Natsu will you stop hiding and come out to talk to me!" Layla shouted looking for the pink hair boy.

"I don't want to talk; I don't care about anything right now! I just want to wallow in my pity even if I don't know why," Natsu yelled so Layla could find him.

She did and smiled at him explaining, "prince charming is not a real person. It's a title girls give to the guy they want to marry, whether they know who he is or not."

"But I LOVE HER! Last night was the best night of my life! The way her fingers ran through my hair when she thought I was dying, I almost hoped I was so that was my last moment because it was perfect. Though this morning was even better, she feed me fire, I just wanted to kiss her and never let her go." Natsu screamed.

Layla smiled at him, "I know you love her. And the prince she was referring to was you. She loves you but she is too young to see how to work around that. So just be her friend and when the moment is right pull her tight, kiss her and never let her go. But only when the moment is right, okay Natsu?"

Natsu smiled and dried his eyes, hugging Layla close like she was a mother to him as well.

"Here Natsu, you can keep this. It was made just for you." Layla said holding out the toy she was working on earlier that looks just like her daughter.

"It's a little Lucy…I won't let anything happen to it till I can keep the real one just as safe. I'll train extra hard when we leave!" Natsu said still hugging Layla.

(A month passes and Igneel and Natsu have left. It's been five years since Natsu's change from a human to a dragon slayer, when news of Layla's illness reaches Igneel. The news states she has already passed on)

"Igneel," Natsu asks, "What's wrong?"

"I just learned a very dear friend passed away, you know we once stayed with them years ago. You probably don't remember her or that time." Igneel answered sadly.

"I remember this…" Natsu pulling out and holding for Igneel to see a toy that's semi-burned that once resembled a little girl that holds Natsu's heart and has sworn to return to her and always protect her.

So whacha think? Ya can say whats on your mind to me. and please if there's something you don't like say it! I don't want all nicey nice reviews, if there's something that needs fixing, tell me. also I am not the greatest speller, so if you see a mistake tell me please!