Chapter 1

The guild hall exploded in a flurry of fire, metal and plaster.

'Natsu you IDIOT!'

'Say you're sorry! Take it back!'

'Never!' Gajeel coughed. Natsu raised a fist and brought it down but an armoured hand caught his elbow.

'Enough,' Erza growled. Gajeel and Natsu both fell back quickly, bowing and apologizing.

'So sorry Miss Titania Scarlet!'

'Won't happen again!'

'Good.' She straightened and walked to the bar where Mirajane was rubbing a glass clean.

'What was it this time?' I asked, putting my pen down and re-aligning the papers now scattered hapharzardly over the work top.

'Oh, another disagreement over who took Wendy on her next mission,' Mirajane sighed.

'She better hurry up and decide or all of Magnolia'll be destroyed,' Cana said as she chugged a barrel of wine down.

Just at that moment, Natsu decided to run up to them and jump off the bar in a burst of pent up energy. He would have done it to if Elfman hadn't managed to catch him and yell, 'Stop behaving like a child! Are you a man or not?'

Gajeel shrugged and walked off. Natsu sunk down on a stool and pouted.

'All done,' I smiled as I rounded off the chapter with Jellal leaving. I stuffed my novel back in my bag and asked Mirajane for another coffee.

'So, any missions appealed to you recently?'

'Gray, your clothes,' I said. He exclaimed and quickly pulled on his jeans.

'Anyway,' he continued, 'we need to get something done. We can't just sit here all day, and didn't you say your rent was due soon?'

'Nah, I can pay another month. I found some saved money from the prison request,' I said as I sipped my coffee.

'Lucy,' Gray sighed, 'you should go out! Maybe have dinner with Loke or...'

'I'll go on a date with Loke when you accept Juvia's affections.'

Gray turned brick red and stalked off, probably to freeze something and cool off.

'He lllllllikes you!'

'Shut up you damn cat!' I swatted at Happy and he fell with a flump.

'Idiot,' Carla tutted as she stepped over him and flew to join Wendy and Levy, who were talking fervently about Scripting spells with Freed.

As I looked around, the familiar feeling of compassion and belonging struck me. Romeo and Makao playing cards, Makarov and Erza discussing and comparing tactics, Juvia fawning after Gray, Happy and Natsu arguing with Alzack about who would suceed in the final of Fiore's baseball tournament. It was all normal, all proper, and for a moment it felt like nothing could go wrong.

That moment ended four seconds later.

A hulking silhouette appeared in the doorway, a small man wrapped in a dirty brown travelling cloak with blonde hair and sideburns. He hurried inside and the Fairy Tail wizards turned to look as he passed. He came up to me and held out a letter.

'A note for m-miss Heartf-filia.'

'Me?' I asked and he nodded. I took the crumpled letter and slit it open. A small note was inside which I unfolded.

Several gasps ensued as the man disappeared, but I didn't hear them as my eyes slid over the page.

*Dear Lucy,

How are you? I know it's been ages since we last saw eachother, but I don't know what else to do.

I went on a request to Hargeon (I'm in a guild to!) when I heard some distressing rumours about something I will later tell you. I fear this can only be dealt with by the Golden trio, but as there are only two of us... anyway, will you meet on the outskirts of Magnolia, 44th street at midnight tonight?

Love Eva.

The chatter of the guild had started up again. Thankfully this meant no-one in the guild could see the tears springing to my eyes.

'Hey Lucy, are you okay?' Wendy asked timidly. I forced a smile onto my face and nodded.

'Uh huh,' I said, 'but I have to go on a job request.'

I shrugged on a cloak and slung my bag over my shoulder, 'could you tell the others where I am?'

'Yeah sure!' Wendy called after me as I hurried out the door, 'Good luck Lucy!'

I dropped my smile as soon as I was out of sight of Fairy Tail. I slumped against a wall and buried my face in my hands.

This could not be happening! I wasn't ready for this turn of events! And I could already guess what Eva was going tell me, and it wasn't going be good at all.

I stumbled up and walked off, past my house, along the river, past Kardia Kathedral and out into a small lane. A sign nailed to a wall read '44th Street'. I checked my watch. Night had just fallen as I left, and as it was the middle of summer, that made it pretty late...

'Lucy?'

I whirled around as arms crushed me. Someone started sobbing into my shoulder and their hood fell down. A flash of electric green hair, cut pixie short.

'Oh Luce! I missed you so so much!' The girl took a step back, hands still clenching my shoulders.

'Eva,' I smiled, 'it's been a while.'

She still looked the same, green hair with brown roots and dip-dyed fringe, wide eyes sprinkled with tears, freckles and a small nose. She was shorter than me, and she had a long sword strapped to her leg.

'It has, hasn't it?'

The sun rose slowly over Magnolia. It slipped through the curtains and fell onto my face, waking me gently from my dream of memories that were still foggy in my mind.

'Lucy?'

'Nugh?' My brain was too sleepy to comprehend who was talking.

'Whose that?' Natsu said, pointing at the kitchen door. The smell of bacon and sausages wafted out and I could see his mouth watering.

'Natsu, what're you doing here?' I sat up and glared at him. Eva came out of the kitchen, dressed in an apron and brandishing a spatula.

'You still a fan of bacon a la saucisson Luce?'

'I am!' Natsu cried.

'Aye sir!' said Happy. Eva giggled, disappeared, then came back with two plates filled with food. Natsu shoved it down his gob, a huge grin on his face.

'This is Eva,' I explained, 'an old friend.' I hopped out of bed and took the key from my bedside table. Blue appeared by my side, and I hugged him before feeding him a rasher of bacon. The darling hummed happily.

I had a showered, dressed, and emerged from the bathroom to see Eva chatting merrily to Natsu and Happy.

'My mother was the best cook,' she was saying, 'she could make a meal out of two potatoes, half a loaf of bread and a pack of turkey jerkey.'

'Her creme brulee was to die for,' I said smiling. They turned to look at me as I grabbed my jacket.

'You've collected a few then,' Eva nodded at the glittering gate keys I secured to my belt. I smiled and opened the door.

'Come on. We've got a guild to introduce you to.'

Fairy tail cheered as Eva blushed from her podium, waving and smiling. I leaned smugly against the bar and watched the boys fight over who got her first.

The guild had been amazed to see Lucy bring a friend home; from what she'd said about her past she didn't have any. But there she was, standing and waving bashfully as they asked question after question.

'She looks good. What guild did you say she was from?' Makarov said, sitting next to me on the counter.

'I'm not sure, but she said she was gonna go AWOL, strike out on her own,' I said.

'And she happened to meet you?'

'Crazy, I know.'

'Maybe, maybe not. But whatever happens, don't lose sight of your path Lucy. Don't let old memories fade, and most certainly don't do anything you'll regret.' With that he disappeared.