Narrator P.O.V.
Laughter and music filled the air as Roni walked towards the hometown of her guild she looked over at Kaylee and smiled. It had been 2 months since they had seen Magnolia. They walked up to the guild, Roni looked up and sighed. If Mavis could see us now… she would roll over in her grave. If they ever found it again. She thought. Roni pushed the doors open and was tackled by a small child.
"RONI!" Asuka screamed while clinging to her waist.
"Well, hi Asuka. Where's mom and dad?" Roni asked and she hugged her back.
"Boat ride to the island, said they had a feeling. Where's Kaylee?" Roni pointed up to the flying purple cat and Asuka's eyes widened. "KAYLEE!"
"You two can go play if you want." Roni smiled.
"Come on Asuka, it's nice outside." Kaylee said flying away, Asuka running not far behind laughing. Roni walked towards the bar and sat down facing the door.
"So…how did the job go?" Macao asked while staring down at his drink.
"Like all the others we have been getting the past few years…" she sighed. "I'm not sure why I keep going on these troubled family jobs, can't two people just sit and talk and not yell and scream in front of their kids?"
"It's all people are willing to give us these days…" He turned to look at her and gave her that 'things are going to get better' smile. She patted his shoulder and took a drink of her ale. Romeo walked into the guild, went to stool next to her and sat down.
"Hey…" Romeo said.
"Hey yourself. Do you feel like sparing?" Roni could almost see a spark behind his eyes but it quickly faded.
"No… but it's good to see you, glad your back." He said. Roni put her arm around him and half hugged him. She leaned down, "I miss them too." The guild doors flew open Twilight Orge stood there with Teebo leading the pack.
"Oh look the guild's empty today… our luck is looking good." Teebo smirked and his eyes landed on Roni. "Well well… what do we have here…" He walked towards her not breaking eye contact, Romeo stood up and stepped in between him and Roni.
"Payment is not due tell next month, we don't have the money to pay you guys…" Romeo stood his ground.
Roni stood up and started slowly walking around Romeo. He grab her wrist and she turned. "Trust me." She told him. He slowly let go and she stepped in front of him.
"You should leave, now." Roni held her hands to her sides as a blue light appeared around them.
"I don't think so…" Teebo raised his weapon.
"NO!" Macao screamed. Split second later Teebo was flying overhead and hit the back wall. Everyone stared. "What the…." They turned to see a dark outline of a man. The rest of the Twilight guys were slammed to the ground and as the dust settled the guild looked at the doorway. There with his token smile was Natsu, and the missing guild members standing behind him.
"We're Home!"
Roni's P.O.V.
All I could do was stare, it couldn't be… how?... I took a step back and smiled. I had almost given up hope. I watched as the guild celebrated their return, as I looked around none of them had changed a bit.
"RONI!" Evergreen, Freed, and Bickslow ran towards me and scooped me up in the biggest group bear hug ever. Tears ran down my face as I hugged them back, my family, has come home.
"I thought I would never see you guys again, I'm so happy you're back." I smiled.
"It's weird, it feels like we were only gone for a few weeks." Replied Evergreen.
"Try 7 years…." We all smiled, just happy that everyone was home. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned.
"Hey…. Laxus….um…. it's been awhile." I turned toward Ever hoping I hid my blush in time. She nudged me toward Laxus almost tripping in the process.
"Yea….it's good to see you…" He said looking almost speechless, which by the way was very unusual for him.
"Hey Roni… we are gonna go and….uh…. get some drinks at the bar…. Yeah drinks." Evergreen pulled the other two with her. "We'll see you two later…" She winked. Why? ….why does she…
"It really is good to see you…" Laxus put his hand on the top of my head and smiled. He turned and disappeared out the front doors. What the fuck? What am I 12? … Unbelievable, 10 years and he pats my head! I sighed and shook my head, walked to the bar and dropped onto a stool.
Laxus P.O.V.
I patted her head…. Really Laxus?! What the fuck?... She's changed, well everyone has changed, and I've changed. She's…. older…. She's…. hot….
"It's Roni…. We grew up together, plus after what happened with the guild she could never like me like that…." He didn't realized his conversation in his head had started to come out of his month.
"Laxus? What are you doing? Are you talking to yourself?" Freed said and smiled at him. Laxus stopped and turned.
"What?... NO! I was…. NO…. oh screw you…" Laxus huffed and walked away.
Back in the Guild
Roni's P.O.V.
Roni looked up at the clock. It's 1am…fuck… I need to go home. She thought.
"Hey guys, I'm going home it's late and I'm fucking tired." She announced to the passed out guild. She waived and walked out. While she walked she looked up at the clear night sky. It was a beautiful night, nice breeze and cold and too hot. As she walked her mind wondered. He has changed so much. His demeanor is so different now… calmer…almost sweet. His face is more mature since the last I saw him, and his body… wow… Chills ran down my spine thinking about it. His body is so toned, his arms looked so yummy… I felt my face get hot. I fanned myself and a familiar tingle started in my lower half. I really need to not think about him… I know he could never feel like that towards me… I sighed, brushed off the feeling and opened the door to my apartment. I was nice to be home. I looked over a saw Kaylee fast asleep on the bed. It had been a week since I slept in my own bed. I walked in took a shower, got ready for bed and crashed.
One Week Later….
Narrator P.O.V.
Fairy Tail was having their first festival since the return of their lost members, actually it was a large party thrown just because Natus and Gajeel couldn't hold their egos in, challenging Laxus to fight. The party was held the night before, food stands, people everywhere and a stage like normal Fairy Tail fashion. People gathered around the stage waiting to see who would perform.
"It's been so long since I had this much fun." Roni smiled at Evergreen.
"Hey it looks like the music is going to start." Evergreen pulled Roni forward. They saw Freed, Bickslow and oddly Laxus standing at the back of the crowd. They walked up and found spots so they could see. Roni looked over and saw Kaylee with Lily, Happy and Carla. Roni smiled noticing Lily blush at something Kaylee had just said.
"Hey Ever… I'll be back in a bit… I have to go do… something…" Roni said.
"Good Luck…" she whispered in her ear. Roni smiled and walked away disappearing into the crowd. Freed moved over to Evergreen.
"Where is she going?"
"You'll see…" Evergreen smiled. "Just don't let Laxus go anywhere." Freed nodded and moved back towards Laxus.
The lights around the stage turned down and a single spotlight illumined Mirajane. The crowd cheered and she spoke.
"Thank you everyone. I am proud to introduce the first performer of the night, Fairy Tail's own Roni Britt!" She moved off stage and everything went dark again. A single candle lit Roni face up on stage. Everyone in the crowd gasped… Laxus froze.
"Roni?..." He said aloud. "What's she doing?…" Laxus looked over at Evergreen.
"Just watch." Evergreen said simply and smiled. Laxus turned back to the stage and stood frozen as the music started playing.
(piano plays) Roni stood in the center of the stage, her hair was in a loose braid hanging to one side. Her long navy dress flowed down and stopped just before her bare feet. Her eyes were closed as the song started and she slowly opened them focusing on Laxus. She took a breath...
(Verse 1)
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love
when I'm afraid
To fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt
Suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer
(Chorus)
I have died everyday
waiting for you
Darlin' don't be afraid
I have loved you for a Thousand years
I'll love you for a Thousand more
(Violins play) Throughout the song dim lights come on around her and change with the music, most eyes were fixed on her and her energy radiated out through the crowd. But no one was more fixed or in awe the one man she was hoping would be. Laxus just stared at her, then finally started to listen to words.
(Verse 2)
Time stands still beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything Take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath,
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
(Chorus)
I have died everyday
Waiting for you Darlin' don't be afraid
I have loved you for a Thousand years
I'll love you for a Thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought Your heart to me
I have loved you for a Thousand years
I'll love you for a Thousand more
One step closer
One step closer
(Chorus)
I have died everyday
Waiting for you Darlin' don't be afraid,
I have loved you for a Thousand years
I'll love you for a Thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought Your heart to me
I have loved you for a Thousand years
I'll love you for a Thousand more
As the song ended she closed her eyes and bowed. Everyone cheered and clapped. Laxus without realizing had moved towards the side of the stage and waited for her. She got off stage, turned the corner and stopped in front of him. She was terrified that she blew everything by taking this one chance. Laxus stood there and looked into her eyes. What the two didn't realize was Evergreen, Freed and Bickslow had moved close enough to hear the conversation.
"You were…. Amazing…." Laxus smiled.
"Thanks…" Roni's heart was beating so fast it could have jumped out of her chest.
"But I'm not sure I'm what you're looking for…" Laxus sighed, his eyes were filled with sadness. He placed his hand on her cheek.
"Laxus…" She whispered, tears formed in her eyes, her heart dropped.
"You deserve so much more…" He turned and walked away.