Natsu came to a stop as soon as he could see the town of Magnolia over the hill top. He heaved a heavy sigh. It had been so long since he had ventured back here. He couldn't decide if it had been long enough, or even too long for it be a good idea for him to be returning.
"I don't know about this, Happy." He rubbed his chin. "This could be a very bad decision."
"Come on, Natsu." The small blue cat whined. "You promised after that last job we would return home."
"I know, I know." He fluffed his salmon colored hair. "Well, maybe we'll get lucky and she won't even be there."
Happy narrowed his eyes at his longtime friend. "Please, I know you want to see her."
"What!?" Natsu yelled, his temper flaring. "No I don't! We are only going back because you begged me to."
Happy only glared. He could feel heat radiating off Natsu, but he wasn't concerned, it was the same heat that always flared up whenever Happy mentioned the blonde girl. He rolled his eyes and continued to walk down the road.
"Awe, c'mon Happy!" Natsu called after him. "Wait for me!"
Lucy sat across from Gray and Juvia at one of the long wooden tables in the Fairy Tail guild hall. Her chin was resting on her hands and she was becoming irritated. "You could lay off the lovey-dovey, you know." She growled at the couple.
The dark-haired boy grinned at her. "Oh, Lucy I didn't even see you there."
"I did." The girl sitting on his lap smiled slyly. "I saw you before you even sat down."
"Of course you did." Lucy rolled her eyes. "We need to take a job; I have to pay rent still this month." She changed the subject. Their team hadn't been out on a contract in several weeks and her wallet was beginning to feel the pinch. "Where's Erza?" She looked around the hall.
"I think she's out with Jellal." Gray waved a hand at her. "If you want to go on a job so bad, go pick one."
"Fine." Lucy stood and strode over to the job board. She scanned the papers that had been hung up looking for something that wouldn't take too much of their time, but would at least cover what she owed on her apartment. "Hmmm…" She scratched her head and fiddled with her keys while she tried to decide on one.
"Need helping picking an assignment?" Lucy heard a sing-song voice behind her. She turned around to see Mirajane, one of her fellow female wizards.
"Sure!" She returned the girl's smile. "I just need something that will over my rent."
"Hmm…" Mirajane looked over the board as well. "What are the others on your team looking for?"
"Nothing." Lucy sighed. "I don't think they even want to go on a job, but I need cash."
"Why don't you take on a smaller job on your own?" Mirajane suggested, pulling a paper from the board. "This one would be perfect for a Celestial Wizard."
"Really?" She took the paper and looked it over. "It's not far from here. Do you really think it would be alright for me to take a job alone?"
"If you need the money and the others don't want to go with you, you should." The girl clasped her hands behind her back. "Of course you could ask someone else to go with you."
"No, I think I will be alright." She looked at the paper again. "This doesn't seem too demanding a job." She grinned at Mirajane. "Thanks!"
"My pleasure!" Mirajane returned her grin.
"I will see you two later!" Lucy called, waving to Gray and Juvia as she walked towards the exit of the hall. "Tell the other's I am taking a job when they get back!"
"Right." Gray gave her a head nod.
Juvia smiled and waved. "Stay safe!"
Lucy pushed the heavy door of the guild open and blinked as she stepped into the bright sunlight. It was a wonderful day and she was enjoying the feeling of the sun warming her skin while her eyes adjusted. When she opened them she was sure she saw someone duck behind the corner of the guild to her right. She shook her head. It couldn't be who she thought she had seen, he hadn't returned to the guild hall in years. Master always mailed him his jobs.
She stepped down from the porch of the large building and began her walk home to prepare for her journey.
Natsu exhaled slowly. That had been close. He thought for sure she had seen him.
"Why are we hiding?" Happy whispered.
"Because…" Natsu flushed. "I think it would be too hard on her to see us all of the sudden like that, you know?"
"Riiiigght." Happy smiled evilly at his friend. "Too hard on her."
"Shut up." Natsu peeked around the corner. "She's gone. Let's get inside just in case she comes back."
Happy shook his head slowly. It had been years since those two had seen each other, but the time away had only made Natsu realize his full feelings for Lucy. Once he had realized what he had turned his back on, his pride kept him away. Happy couldn't count the nights that Natsu would just lay on his sleeping mat and stare at the stars. It wasn't often that he would share what he was thinking about, but Happy knew. He was thinking about the brown-eyes he was missing.
Happy followed the Dragon Slayer into the guild hall. It had been years for him as well and he had missed all their friends, not to mention the fish that Mirajane would make him. The building itself didn't look much different from what he remembered, but there were many new faces that he didn't recognize, it filled him with sadness. They had stayed away too long. They should recognize all their fellow guild members; instead they were strangers in their own home.
"Hey, Gray!" Natsu called when he saw the couple that was still making out at the table where Lucy had left them. The man froze. His face was obscured by Juvia's body, but Natsu knew it was him. He could have recognized that half-dressed ice brain anywhere.
Gray slowly peeked out from behind Juvia, his eyes wide. "N… Natsu?" He asked.
"Yea! Hey! How've you been? It's been a long time!" Natsu began to make his way towards them.
"No!" Gray stood up, picking Juvia up with him. "We can't be seen with you!" He shook his head and backed away. "She would kill us if she caught us talking to you like nothing happened."
Now it was Natsu's turn to freeze in his tracks. His shoulders slumped. "That bad, huh?"
"You have no idea." Gray grinned at him. "You are in for the beating of your life when she finds out you're back."
"She didn't work for months after you left." Juvia sighed, still clinging to Gray. "Almost fell apart completely, poor dear."
Natsu tightened his fists. He knew he had caused her pain, but he thought she was stronger than that. No, he knew she was stronger than that. How could she let a silly thing like him leaving upset her whole life? He didn't realize she would have been so upset at his departure.
"You didn't even tell her." Gray clenched his teeth. "You didn't tell any of us."
"I know." Natsu breathed.
"She loved you, Natsu!"
Natsu was thrown to the ground, his face was sore where Gray's fist had hit his cheekbone.
"I deserve that." He stayed down. "I deserve more than that."
"Damn right you do." Gray growled at him.
"I am sorry." Natsu whispered. "I didn't know what I was doing. I was young and foolish."
Gray sighed. "We were all young and foolish." He extended a hand to help his friend up.
"Thanks." Natsu flashed a small smile and rubbed his cheek. "You've gotten stronger."
"You've gotten bigger." Gray poked Natsu in the stomach. "Eating too much?"
Now it was Gray who was sent flying across the guild hall. "I have not been eating too much!" Natsu yelled, feeling the old rivalry between them flit to life.
Gray laughed. "That's more like it."
The two of them took their stances across from one another, preparing for a sparring match. Everyone was gathered around, all eyes on the two competing elemental wizards. Fire and Ice, this was going to be a great show.
"Natsu!?" The single word caused silence to fall over the hall. Everyone was frozen in place.
"Natsu Dragneel!?" Her voice echoed off the stone walls. He recognized that voice. He had been aching to hear that voice for years. Every night he would imagine it telling him to sleep well. Now the sound of it filled him with dread. He turned to look at the slender blonde who was standing there a confused look on her face.
"Hey…" He scratched the back of his head. "Lucy."
I am going to try to keep this story light, fun and short. :) I am in season two of the anime right now and I love it.
