Chapter 4

It was late morning when we woke up and Lily and I got up to make lunch having slept through breakfast. Lily stopped me from getting a fish to eat. "What's wrong?" I ask him still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"How serious are you about learning transformation magic?" he asked me, studying me as he did.

"Very! I'm going to win Carla's heart by showing her how hard I can work!" I smile at myself before going for the fish again only to have Lily block me again. 

"Then rule one: No fish'!"

"What?" I screeched back at him.

"As Exceed we have to give up the one food that we cherish above all others while we train. Giving up kiwis was so difficult you have no idea the pain and suffering in store for us." Lily looked down at me now. "If you are serious about learning you must give up eating fish until we are done."

I start to cry but nod my head. For Carla I will do it. "Now what do you want to transform into?" Lily asked me startling me. I look at him confused and he goes on, "You can pick anything at all not just people or large cats. We can go to the library and get the book you will need to study. You have to learn about their bodies before you can transform into them. 

I think for a minute and remember how Natsu was so sure I was a dragon before I hatched. I smiled and asked, "Do you think I could become a dragon?"

He nodded, "It won't be as big as a regular dragon maybe about the size of a horse but yes you could become a dragon."

I smiled, "Then let's get to work!" I cringe as I eat yucky cereal for what is probably the first time. We do exactly as we had planned I 'borrowed' Levy's reading glasses from her room. I'm sure she won't mind. Lily didn't say anything but frowned and did not come into the room. Then we made our way to the guild. 

Everyone turned to see us silent. I turned around to look behind us but no one was there. "What?" I ask. 

Everyone went back to what they were doing and we flew to Mira. "Sorry about that we forgot you weren't with Natsu." Mira apologised for everybody. I frown.

"I'm my own person you know!" I whined and pouted. She just apologised again. Lily and I made our way to the library. When we got inside and saw it was empty I huffed, "I don't want anyone to know that I'm studying. That will show them when I'm done!" I turn to Lily before asking, "Can I transform into more than one thing or is it only one?"

He rubbed his chin for a minute, "Well you could do more than one but it will be hard and will require a lot of studying." 

I nod, "Can you sneak me a sleeping bag and some food every now and again? I don't think I will leave until I'm sure I can do it." His eyes go a little wide but he nods his head. 

This is how the next several weeks of no fish went. I stayed in the library learning everything I could about dragons, humans, and jaguars. I don't know why I picked jaguars but I did. When I was about half way through I had a book on mythical animals fall and hit me on the head. It opened to phoenixes and griffons. So I added one of them too. I am going to learn as much as I could. 

After the first month I was able to transform into two with no issues. I couldn't help the feeling of pride I felt for myself. I then decided I would have to be able to do simple things like fly which is a lot harder as a dragon than when I am normal sized and breath fire because of obvious reasons. 

I was still studying but now I would leave with Lily so that he could help me build an actual house for Natsu and Lucy. I knew Natsu and I know he wants lots of kids. I also know Lucy and I know she likes comfort. So Lily and I worked hard to try to finish in time and after we were done for the day I worked hard studying my transformation magic careful not to forget what I already had learned. 

It was nearing the end of the second month and we had decided to have lunch at the guild only to have Levy and Gajeel walk in. Everyone was a little surprised to see them so soon when they thought they were at a famous library and well everyone knew Levy. 

Lily and I were sitting at the bar eating ham sandwiches and kiwis which are surprisingly good. When they walked up to us. "I don't think I have ever seen you eat anything but fish and junk food before Happy." Levy awed. I just shrugged it off hoping they wouldn't read too much into it. 

Thankfully Gajeel decided to interrupt. "We have a question for you two, let's talk outside." Lily and I nod having just finished our meal and followed them. When we were a safe distance away Gajeel growled at us, "What is going on? Why was everyone not worried about us? I understand myself but Levy?"

"We told everyone that you two went to a famous library really far away." Lily answered as I nodded. 

"Why?" he growled. 

"Because mating takes a lot of time and you two sure didn't need anyone to come looking for you. Or do you disagree?" Lily explained not getting an answer from Gajeel.

"So no one knows?" Levy asked quietly.

"I know I talk a lot but that is really something you two should do." I answered and this time Lily nodded. "Don't worry Lily and I still have a couple weeks of plans so you two don't have to worry about us interrupting at all." I grin and not only Levy but Gajeel blushed too. "I think you forgot something and you need to go back to the library." I sigh as if it was obvious. Lily and I flew back into the guild to finish our drinks and get a little dessert. Levy and Gajeel walk in behind us and they get loud. 

"What do you mean you forgot your books and glasses?" Gajeel groaned.

"It wasn't my fault you were in a hurry!" Levy grumbled. 

Gajeel growled and picked her up over his shoulder and carried her out of the guild. "Let's go." A little dramatic I think to myself but it had several people chuckling and no longer concerned about them. Knowing Levy they would probably be gone for several more weeks.

It's been a week since Gajeel and Levy came to the guild and Lily and I were still going strong. Whenever we would stop in at the guild they stopped expecting Natsu and assumed I was with Lily. No one brought up my lack of fish again either thankfully. I started offering Carla flowers because I had no fish to give her and she would actually smile and take them. Once she even gave me a kiss on the cheek saying thank you. I no longer care to offer her fish she obviously likes flowers more. 

Lily no longer needed to help me with the actual training but he was with me at meal times when it was hardest to go without fish. I have grown fond of both kiwi and Carla's tea that she started offering me when she found out that I was training, but it just wasn't the same. I still wanted fish. I have mastered dragon, jaguar and human but the fourth is a lot harder, probably because there was so little information about them. I even learned some other magic when I would get frustrated with it. I can now breathe fire or ice.

Having said all that I still studied. I even stopped by once a week to restock Lucy's fridge while they were asleep. It won't be long before another months rent was due and I was running out of ideas. I thought Natsu's mating was only supposed to last two months not three. If they don't come out next week I will just have to pay the rent and hope for the best. It's a good thing that Natsu and I had so much in savings. 

The house was almost finished and Carla was actually coming over to help us decorate a little. Not much Lucy and Natsu would do most of it. Just enough that it didn't look bare. "So what are you going to do with your old house?" she asked me one day. 

I blushed a little as I ate my grilled cheese and tomato soup. "Well I'm going to live there, I was going to build on it and turn it into an Exceed size house by adding a floor right in the middle. Maybe make a couple bedrooms and a second bathroom?"

"A few bedrooms?" she asked also turning a little pink even through her soft white fur.

"Well one day I plan to ask you to be my mate and I hope we can a few babies..." I stopped seeing her fidget. She is truly beautiful. I think to myself. 

She leans over and kissed my cheek and whispered, "If you finish let me know." Then she took off leaving me behind. I just stared after her. 

Lily coughed ignoring the whole scene, "I guess we better get to work." He grinned picking up a hammer. I smile and we get to work. Since we were basically cutting the house in half and building rooms into it rather than actually adding on it. It went much faster. In fact I almost forgot to pay Lucy's rent.

Lily and I worked hard and scaled things down to our height. We left the bathtub the way it was because who doesn't like to swim in a pool? The paint was dry and the place looked good. Lily and I brought in our furniture and collapsed. We had spent the last three months working and honestly it showed our muscles were well toned and my transformations helped a lot throughout the whole process. I was finally able to master my fourth form and in the morning we would go to the guild and I would ask Carla to be my mate for life. Things were going great. 

The next morning I looked over at Carla and asked Mira for a fish and a carnation. She smiled and gave them to me. I sat down beside Carla and gave her the flower before giving her sweet kiss on the cheek. I still watched her as I took my first bite of fish in what seemed like forever. It was good but not as good as the way Carla looked while she blushed. 

I finished my food and jumped up transforming into a human, my ears and tail still remained just as Carla's did when she transformed. I held out my hand to her and Lily started playing the guitar. She transformed herself and took my hand the whole guild dead silent except for Lily's strumming. I danced with her in my arms and now that we were human her blush showed easily along with mine. We didn't say anything for a while and just giggled as we danced. 

When Lily's song was coming to an end I got down on one knee and asked what I have always asked. "Will you be mine forever?" This time she nodded a couple tears threatening to spill out if she tried to do more. I jumped up wrapping her in my arms and kissed her on the lips for the first time. 

When we opened our eyes we were back to our exceed selves and laughing and kissing again and again. Lily threw a couple flower crowns at us and told us to get out of here. He would take care of Wendy for Carla. He said it like he was grumpy but he couldn't stop smiling.

The guild erupted into cheers as we left to our new house that I only completed yesterday.

I don't kiss and tell. So just assume that we mated the way that cats do and the way that humans do since we both had those forms. We came back to the guild about a few weeks later too much hooting and hollering. "The newly weds are back!" Lily yelled out. 

Wendy ran over and gave Carla a hug and then she shyly gave me a hug as well. Gray tried to tease me only to turn bright red himself when I told him that we would be expecting eggs in a couple months. I ordered her favorite tea for her and helped her up. Much as she tried to wave off the attention I could still see her happy blush. I pampered her as best as I could and she insisted on drinking her tea in human form. As cats pregnancies go by really quickly so what was only a few weeks was the equivalent to a few months as far as the baby was concerned. 

She sat on the stool showing off the baby bump and I transformed as well to kiss on her belly and then on her lips. Making her giggle at my ticklish touches. Now that we are mated our human forms look older and Carla's bust was about as big as Erza's now. I honestly don't care but it seems to matter to her so I just nod my head and cuddle into her. 

Gajeel even comes over to congratulate us and Levy cooes over Carla. We were all having a great time partying when the doors slam open.

Natsu and Lucy walk in holding hands. "Hey it's about time you two show up!" I call out to them and Carla waves. They look at us for a second not recognizing us at first. 

"Happy? Carla?" They ran over and squeezed the life out of me and Lucy congratulated Carla and asked how far along she was and Natsu ruffled my hair asking when I learned to transform if I was so busy?

"My baby is already grown up!" Lucy cried as I transformed back into my regular self and let her squeeze me in a big hug.

That got people's attention, "Baby?" MiraJane asked, staring hard at Lucy and Natsu. They kind of chuckled nervously.

"Leave my mom and dad alone! They are tired enough as it is." I protest squeezing Lucy tighter. "Lushie, Carla is my mate for life now isn't that great!" I looked up at her smiling. 

She looked down at me and smiled whole-heartedly, "It's the very best!" then she very gently pulled Carla into the hug and she went back into her white cat self making it both easier and more comfortable for everyone. 

"Let's party!" Natsu yelled earning a bunch of cheers around the room. It was nice to have my family back.

"Hey flame brain how does it feel to be a grandpa before you actually have a kid?" Gray yelled at Natsu and to my surprise Lucy is the one who punched him. 

"Can't you knock it off for one day!" she screamed at him. He just shivered and held up his hands in defeat from where he landed on the floor. Lushie can be very scary.

Natsu was laughing his ass off, "That's my Luce!" 

"Your Luce?" Mira asked but was ignored when I transformed asking Lucy for a dance. 

"Absolutely Happy!" Lucy giggled and we danced around the guild and people started playing music. Gajeel and Levy started dancing and everyone just kind of shrugged and joined in. I dropped Lucy off with Natsu telling him to make her happy and they started dancing. I grabbed my beautiful bride and we started dancing as well. 

"Juvia wants to dance with Gray-sama." I heard her pout and I kicked Gray when she looked away. 

"Go dance with her!" Carla hissed at him and either too afraid to say no to my pregnant wife or glad to have an excuse he does as he is told. Carla smiles gently at me and leaned her head against my chest. "Are you going to be late tonight?" she asked motioning to the icy idiot and water mage.

I groan, "Maybe but I will deal with them tomorrow." I motion towards Natsu and Lucy. "Tonight I want to show them their new house so I will be close by." I grin at her. She purrs happy with my answer before kissing me gently. 

Master comes out seeing us all paired up as couples and Carla pregnant and honestly he probably doesn't even know who we are. "What on Earthland is going on?" he yelled out getting everyone's attention and the music stopping. 

"Hey gramps, I'm going to be a grandpa!" Natsu yelled out at him. 

"I'm too young to be a grandma!" Lucy cries. Natsu just laughs and puts his scarf around her neck making her stop and smile at him. She then leaned up and kissed him on the lips. The guild hall had been quiet before with only a few chuckles here and there but after that kiss it was dead silent again. 

"WHAT?" Everyone but the Exceeds demanded. They didn't seem to hear anyone as they continued to gently kiss one another. Lucy giggled as Natsu would occasionally tickle her with feather light kisses. I shrug nod a Lily who started playing the guitar again and started dancing with Carla again. We ended up flying into the air our normal cat selves and danced above everyone. 

I saw Gajeel and Levy just shrug and give each other a gentle kiss before resuming their dancing as well. Everyone hurriedly moved out of the way as the three couples danced around to happy to notice everyone else. Carla and I would go back and forth between cat and human as we danced and back and forth from the ground to the air. 

"I'm drunk." I heard Master say before turning back around and going back to his office. Our guild mates just watched as we danced smiling and giggling at each other. 

"So Mrs. Dragneel, do you have any plans later?" I heard Natsu growl in the still very quiet room. 

"Mrs. Dragneel!" Mira screamed unable to take much more she sat down in a daze. 

"Mr. Redfox, I'll have you know I'm a married woman!" Levy giggled at Gajeel's playfulness.

"Well Mrs. Redfox he is a lucky man." We all heard him growl. I heard a crash and found that Mira had fainted crashing onto the floor. 

I shrug at Carla who giggles and kisses me gently. "I'm almost ready to go home can you take me?" she asked sweetly. 

"Of course, I can."