Gajeel was on this puke machine not 2 hours ago, coming back to the woman he loved. He couldn't wait to be with her again and yet here he was back on said puke wagon riding away from her again 'More like running you coward.' The voice in his head echoed. The train pulled away from the station and headed to his new job in Crocus. It would be a three day job, plus 2 days both ways on a train. He had a week with nothing more than his own thoughts to keep him company. The job required a mage that could beat some thugs up, and right now he needed a good fight. Motion sickness soon took over as the train started to hit rougher tracks. He laid out on the bench, trying his best to curl in to a fetal position. His bag laid inches from his face, he could smell her. Her scent was overpowering him. He grabbed his bag opening it up to the stack of envelopes he took from the house. They smelled like her, old her, ink and paper, not the new scent that was mixed with something else. Each one had a small number in the right hand corner, shuffling through them looking for the first one, and hesitating before opening it. 'It has my name on it so they must be for me right?' He pulls out a folded paper and carefully unfolds it. The paper was slightly yellowed showing it was a little older than everyday paper.  Though his motion sickness made his vision blurry he was able to make out the delicate script on the page.

-Dear Gajeel, Its been 2 months since you left. I just got your first letter. I'm thankful that I can at least receive something from you, though Im so lonely without you. The house is so quiet out here. Jet and Droy helped me move my stuff in, don't worry I haven't girlied the place up...yet. I ended up in the hospital after you left. I learned something quite shocking, wish there was a way to tell you before you come home, you will be missing so much. We're going to be parents Gajeel! I know it sounds crazy, because it was just that one amazing, steamy night but here we are. I'm so happy, I wish you could share in this with me. Maybe with the next one.... until then my love XOXO-

"Why did I take that stupid mission" He grumbled as he put the letter back in to the envelope. Closing his eyes to hopefully get some sleep.


Lily and Natsu had just missed the train, it would be another 2 hours for the next one to arrive. Natsu paced back in forth getting angrier and angrier at the other dragon slayer."How could he do this to Levy? She's his mate, his family. His instincts should keep him here why did he run?" He looked at Lily who just shrugged.

"Maybe it was just too much for him to take in so soon?" Lily hoped that was a good answer, that was the only one he had. Gajeep talked every day about returning to Levy, he had no clue why he would leave not 2 hours after being back. He didn't even bother to meet his boy before he took off. There was no denying that Steel was his. He was a dead ringer for a tiny version of the Dragon Slayer, hell he even eats metal too! Lily shook his head.

Finally in Crocus, it was late, far too late to meet with the man that hired him, so Gajeel went looking for an inn. He found a small one not far from his employer's residence and decided against his better judgement that it would do fine. The place smell horrible, like piss and trash but he didn't care, it was cheap and no paper trail for him to be tracked to. It was 2am, but he wasn't tired, he ended up sleeping the entire ride there, all 2 days of it. He decided to read some more of the letters Levy had apparently written to him while he was gone.

-Dear Gajeel, I looked like I ate a balloon.- Gajeel let out an amused snort -The baby is doing well, though sometimes I feel like it's trying to escape. Lucy and Natsu's wedding was wonderful. Despite being just as pregnant as me, she looked amazing. Erza came back from her "mission" and you wouldn't believe me until you see for yourself, she has a son! I ended up adding 2 new rooms to the house. We needed a new room for the baby, and I didnt want to take Lily's room, I know how much he likes his things to be in an exact spot. I miss you so much. Oh Lucy said I should take a picture of me with my big ole belly so you could see me in all my glory HA! hope you like the picture. Love you dummy XOXO-

Gajeel pulls out the picture of Levy, heavily pregnant. She was wearing an orange dress, much like her normal ones, though much longer. Her hair had grown out incredibly long and was pulled back and pinned, but not in a ponytail. A single strand curled down on one side. 'She looks so amazing, swollen with child. Why did you leave her there?' the dragon in him asked.  He shook his head and placed that one down on the bed. Grabbing another and ripping it open.

-Gajeel, sorry this letter will be so short. I'm exhausted. It's been a long night but the baby is finally here. Lucy had a baby girl just 6 hours before me. She named her Rose and she has Natsu's pink hair. We have a son. Juvia has been such an amazing friend through it all, I think she wanted to be here for me since she knew you couldn't. Our child is so lucky to have so many people care about him already. Wendy delivered both babies, can you believe that? I hope you like the name I picked out, next time I'll let you pick the baby's name. Here is his first picture. Gajeel meet your son Steel Redfox. I love you dear XOXO-