Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail

Well this is the last chapter :) I hope everyone enjoyed this story!

Thank you for all the reviews, it inspired me to finish this knowing that there are people who are reading and waiting for the next chapter. ^^

Chapter Four: Remedy For A Wound

Mr. Heartfilia immediately turned at the voice and saw his only daughter standing straight, confusion written all over her face. He felt happy to see her again, but didn't know how to show it, he didn't know what to say to her as well.

"Look papa! I made a rice ball for you!"

Lucy stared at the father who yelled at her and didn't appreciate anything she did. The father who buried himself in work and didn't spend time with his only daughter... the father who never really visited her mother's grave...

"What are you doing here?" She found herself asking.

"I... I was visiting Layla since it's almost her death anniversary..." He replied.

Lucy's gaze dropped, "I see."

Mr. Heartfilia cleared his throat, "Have... have you been doing well Lucy?"

She raised her head to look at him; their atmosphere was nothing else but awkward. She slowly nodded, "Hai... how about you?"

"Yes, I've been well."

Silence.

"So you're here to visit your mama as well?"

"Y-yeah... sort of..." Actually, I don't really know why I'm here. She thought. She never imagined seeing her papa here. Of all the people to run into, why did it have to be him? But... he did say that he was going to change... Lucy looked at her mama's grave. Did you want us to meet mama? She mentally asked.

"I'm working. Go away."

Hurt washed over her as the words reechoed all over her head. She was clenching her hands together until her knuckles turned stark white. Why him? She thought. She was about to turn and head back when her father said,

"Lucy... have you eaten already? Do you want to go and get some lunch?" Mr. Heartfilia hesitantly asked. He knew his daughter hasn't forgiven him yet, and she had a right to do so.

Lucy looked at her father in surprise, "Both of us...?"

He nodded.

"I'm going to change who I am. Even without money I made it here." She suddenly remembered what he said during the Love and Lucky guild incident.

"But I'm glad I got to see you. Not as Lucky Lucy of the Heartfilias... I was able to see you as 'just Lucy', like you wanted to become."

Lucy remembered their last conversation, "All right."

Lucy and Mr. Heartfilia talked a little and ate. She saw how her papa seemed uneasy of the silence, she took pity on him and started to tell him about the adventures she had so far. He listened and nodded. She did most of the talking, but she didn't mind.

It was almost evening, and Mr. Heartfilia walked his daughter back to the train station.

"Papa..." Lucy started, "Will you be visiting mama on her death anniversary?"

His eyes widened, "Y-yes."

"Then we can come back here together then... mama would like that. I think..." It was still awkward, but there was progress.

He smiled at his daughter and nodded in agreement, "Yes... I'm sure Layla would like that very much..." He said in a quiet voice.

"Well then, I'm off. Take care of yourself, father." She waved and boarded the train. She sighed as sat on an empty seat. By the end of the day, he still hasn't remembered my birthday... she thought in a sigh, but she didn't feel that bad anymore. Strange, but being with her father took away some of the sadness. Now that she was calm, she wasn't really that disappointed at Natsu, Happy, Gray and Erza anymore. If she was able to forgive her father, then she absolutely could forgive her friends.

Mama, if you made me and papa meet, then thank you...

"Did you find her yet?" Erza asked as she and Natsu and Happy met up.

"No, where's Gray?" He replied.

"He went back to the guild. Mira wanted him to help them with the preparations."

"Erza, you look tired, maybe you should go back to the guild and rest for a while..." Happy told her.

Erza's eyes widened, "No! I'm fine, we need to find Lucy, who knows what might have happened to her right now."

Natsu shook her head at her, "Happy's right. Don't worry, I will find Lucy. Make sure the guild is ready when I bring her home okay?" Natsu grinned. "Let's go Happy!" He said and started running away.

"Aye sir!"

Erza sighed then smiled, "If it's you... I know you can bring her home." She muttered then headed back to the guild.

"Ah, I forgot to return this to papa..." She realized as she still held the piece of paper which wrapped something. Curiosity got the better of her and she opened to see what it was. Her crimson eyes widened as she stared at a new hair clip. The paper was actually a letter...

Lucy,

Happy birthday. Once again I am sorry for all the things I did before, and I hope that someday you will forgive me. I am not the best father, and I admit I made a lot of mistakes. I accept that you hate me or don't want to see me. But whatever you do, you're still my daughter.

You father.

Tears started to fall from Lucy's eyes... so he remembers... she held the letter and the hair pin tightly, "Thank you..." She sobbed. But this time, it wasn't out of sadness or pain... it was out of joy.

Layla, I truly regret what I did in the past. I neglected Lucy, and now I couldn't even look at her straight in the face. The girl is so much like you and I know she'll be able to make it through to any obstacle. Thank you Layla, for helping me today and for reminding me of her birthday... Mr. Heartfilia smiled as he mentally said to his deceased wife. He turned and went on his way back to Acalypha.

"Natsu, what are we doing here?" Happy questioned as Natsu stood amidst the crowd in the train station, his arms folded across his chest, his feet braced apart. His gaze scanning the crowd.

"Lucy's been here. I can smell her scent."

"Then why didn't you come here earlier?"

"Because I didn't want to take the train and go to whatever town she went." He grinned, "If I went here earlier, Erza and Gray would've forced me inside the train and go after her."

Happy rolled his eyes heavenward. "She could come back tomorrow morning. Do you plan on waiting here until then?"

"Oh she'll come back here today all right." He didn't know why, but he was so sure that she would. No matter how Lucy was mad at him, she'll come back. "Oh crap." He muttered.

"What is it Natsu? Do you need to pee?"

Natsu shook his head, "I forgot something. Ne, Happy, can you get it for me?"

"Are you going to give me a fish~?"

Natsu groaned, "Fine I'll give you one later. Now go home and get the box at the table."

"Which box?"

"The box at the table! I just told you didn't I?"

"There might be other boxes at the table..."

"There's only one box in the table!"

"Aye sir!" And with that, Happy flew away.

Lucy got out of the train, wiping at the corner of her eyes with her free hand, a gentle smile on her face. She walked through the crowd, and she stumbled forward because someone accidentally pushed her. "Kya!" She yelped, but then strong, muscular arms wrapped around her and broke her fall.

"Lucy!"

Lucy's eyes widened as she stared at her rescuer, "Natsu?" She blurted as she stood up properly, "Thank...you."

"Lucy... I...uhmmm" Natsu nervously scratched the back of his head and didn't meet her gaze, "S...sorry about earlier. I didn't forget your birthday...it's just... I used the wrong calendar..."

Lucy's smile broadened and she nodded vigorously, "Thank you," She threw herself at him and hugged him, "I forgive you... and thank you for not forgetting!"

Natsu sighed in relief and Lucy pulled away from him. Natsu grinned his usual grin, "Let's go home Lucy, everyone's waiting."

"You're Lucy from Fairy Tail right? This is your home to return to."

"Hai!"

"I wonder if Natsu-san found Lucy already..." Wendy pouted as she sat on the table.

"Oh he'll find her... he always does." Gray mumbled in reassurance.

"We're home!" Lucy and Natsu said in unison as they came inside the guild.

Everyone took about a second to react... "Ah, happy birthday Lucy!" They exclaimed.

"Thank you everyone!"

"Welcome home Lucy, Natsu." Mirajane greeted them in a smile.

"Heh! Now c'mon and let's party!" Natsu shouted then headed over to the food. Lucy laughed and scanned the whole guild. They took their time in preparing for her...

An ice sculptor of her, no doubt, made by Gray, was at the punch in the buffet table. There were a lot of food made by Lisanna, Mirajane, Elfman. Levy, Jet, Droy, Wendy, Juvia and most of the others helped with the decorations. Gifts were arranged by one of the corners. Erza came bringing a cake and placed it at the table.

"Lu-chan! Make a wish!" Levy called out to her.

Lucy happily made her way to them; my wish is already granted, thanks to all of you... she smiled and blew out the candles.

The curtains to the stage then opened. "Gajeel?" Everyone's mouths dropped open.

"Ah, Lily is there too!" Wendy cheerfully pointed out.

Gajeel started to sing a new composition of his specially made for Lucy's birthday with Lily.

"Ah, so that's why Gajeel-kun left so suddenly early this morning, he went to compose the song!" Juvia said.

The tune was off like his other songs, but the lyrics were great nonetheless.

"Lucy! Come and open your gifts!" Cana shouted to her when Gajeel's song was interrupted by Natsu when he threw a chair at him.

"Make someone else sing your song Gajeel!" Natsu laughed.

"Why you-!" Gajeel gritted his teeth together, "Wanna fight punk?"

"Oi, oi, there will be no fighting today! It's a special occasion!"

Natsu stuck his tongue out at Gajeel, and he just rolled his eyes in reply.

"Gray! This must've been expensive!" Lucy gasped as she held up a bracelet with hearts decorated in it.

Gray shrugged, "I didn't know what else to give you. And just so you know Lucy, I didn't forget your birthday." He informed her.

Lucy smiled and nodded, "Thank you Gray!" she said then opened another gift which was from Levy, Jet and Droy "I thought you weren't able to get me a gift? She looked up at them who were standing beside her.

"Well since you've been gone a long time, we had time to get you one."

Lucy unwrapped the gift and beamed, "A new book! Thank you! I'll read it immediately when I get home!"

Wendy and Charle got her a new dress, Cana got her a coupon to an all-you-can-drink bar, Gajeel got her an iron whip, Master Makarov gave her another slap in the butt, Erza gave her a teddy bear, and there was a dead fish with a red ribbon around it from Happy. Loke appeared with a bouquet of roses, each rose from her spirits.

After a long night of fun and celebration, everyone decided to go home, except for the others who were too drunk to wake up and walk home.

Lucy stretched up her arms and let out a yawn, "Natsu and Happy disappeared..." She talked to herself as she reached her house and went inside. She removed her black boots and placed all the gifts she received at the living room. She then proceeded to her bedroom. She took a quick bath and changed into her pj's.

She sat down on her chair and was about to write something when she noticed that there were two boxes now. One was Mirajane's gift, and the other...

She held the new box in her hands and stared at it in wonder. It was wrapped carelessly with red and orange wrapper. She unwrapped the wrapper and opened it. She gasped and took out the Fairy Tail symbol pendant; she opened it and smiled fondly, there was a picture of her and Natsu and Happy in one side, and with everyone else in the other. She noticed the card inside and took it and read it...

Happy birthday Lucy! Hope you like the gift!

Natsu

...so it said. Lucy smiled and whispered a thank you.

Dear Mama,

They never forgot. I acted silly. Mama, this is the best birthday I have ever had because of my friends in Fairy Tail. I'm so glad that it's there guild I joined. I love Fairy Tail.

Natsu grinned as he watched Lucy from her window, "Well that says she likes it." He merrily stated, "Let's go?"

Happy nodded, "Aye!"