Heya! I'm back with another chapter! Thanks for all the favs and follows, you guys are awesome! 3

So on to the story!

Disclaimer: We all know that I'm not Mashima...

Chapter 9: Visions of the Present

"Say, Lucy..." I sighed.

"What is it, Lucy?"

"How long will I have to stay here?"

Future-me stopped writing some kind of report and asked Mira for a new drink. "To be honest, I can't really remember how long it took me to get back." She cupped her chin in her hand and started stirring her drink with a bored expression. "I think I was gone for about 2 weeks?"

"Really?" I straightened my back and looked at her hopefully. "I've been here for about a week and 4 days, so that means I should be able to return soon, right?"

"Really?" a childish voice said behind my back. I turned around and saw little Sakura standing right behind me. "Are you going away?" She had tears in her eyes and looked devastated, with that little teddy bear in her arms.

I bent down and pulled her up on my lap. "Yes, I will need to leave soon", I answered and when I saw that Sakura was about to cry I added, cheerfully: "But don't worry! You have your mommy, right? And I'm pretty sure, we're going to meet again really soon!"

"How soon?" she asked.

That took me off-guard. "Well..." Damn, children always had to question everything! "I don't know but someday, definitely!"

And then she started crying.

"Lucy, the heck are you doing to my daughter?" a male voice behind me inquired.

"Naaatsuuuu! Help me out here, I'm no good with children!" I cried and started patting Sakura's head.

"Sakura!" Natsu crouched and spread his arms. "Wanna hug?"

Sakura stopped crying, jumped down from my lap and ran into Natsu's arms who hugged her tightly and, after a short while, stood up and placed her on top of his shoulders. "How's this?" he asked. "Now you're taller than anybody else!"

Sakura laughed blissfully and clapped her hands while Natsu ran around the guild, showing everybody the Queen Sakura who had come to reign over all mages. Soon, Haru joined them and challenged Queen Sakura and her ferocious dragon to a duel.

"Wow, I did not expect this." I leaned against the counter and watched how Natsu was interacting with his children.

Future Lucy just giggled and looked at her family lovingly. "I didn't either."

"Huh?"

"I didn't know he'd turn out to become such a good father to them." She asked Reedus, who was sitting next to her, if he could draw Natsu playing with their children and continued watching them. "Really, when I was pregnant with Haru, I was wondering whether Natsu was ready for this. But as it turned out he was more prepared than I was. Maybe even much happier. As soon as I told him about my pregnancy, he started pampering me and fulfilling every wish before I even had the time to voice it.

"When Haru was a baby, he had a terrible fever. I was totally panicking and had no clue what was the right thing to do. I was running around the house, frantically trying all kinds of things, but I'm no doctor. So Natsu stopped me in my tracks and calmed me down, saying we'd take him to Wendy and let her take a look. He said that everything was going to be okay and it was just a fever. Nothing our child wouldn't be able to overcome. After all he's a fighter." Now, her eyes were looking only at Natsu and I blushed at the intensity of the feelings in those eyes that looked just like my own. "Really, I don't know what I would've done without him. I've always loved Natsu, but those feelings keep growing the more time I spend with him. Even now."

I thought back to the childish, reckless Natsu from my time and all those times he'd helped me or calmed me down. Whenever I was crying, he'd hug me tight and say nothing. He'd just let me cry, but that was enough to calm me down. Seems like he's always been able to make me feel at ease.

"Lucy", mama said. "Why are you always fighting with your friends?

Huh? What's going on? I'm here, but also over there. Is this a dream?

"'Cause they said that fairy tales are a pile of shit!" Lucy answered.

I remember this. This happened back in kindergarten.

"Lucy, please watch your language", mama said and made her daughter sit down next to her. They were sitting in the mansion's large garden, on a bench next to the fountain. The sun was setting and all the gardeners had gone home for today, so they were the only ones there. "Now, why would you fight because of that?"

"Because I love fairy tales and I want to meet my fairy tale prince soon!" Mama laughed when Lucy said this and nuzzled her hair.

"Do you still think so even though other people said that fairy tales are a pile of shit?" mama asked and laughed again when little Lucy reminded her that she said bad words and had to watch her language, too. "So? Did your opinion change?"

Lucy lowered her gaze and muttered a quiet 'no'.

"See? You shouldn't fight over something like that."

"But mama! How did you know that papa was you fairy tale prince?" Lucy pulled her short legs up and wrapped her arms around them.

"Hmmm, that's a good question." Mama thought about this for a few seconds and suddenly Lucy's limbs became longer, her body became larger and her hair grew, falling over her shoulders. A grown-up version of the same person was sitting next to Layla now. She looked at her mother with a confused expression. "You just know, Lucy. When you meet that person, you'll know. Because that person makes everything better. You'll want to wake up early and go to bed late because every second with that person is precious. When that person is not there, you'll want to go search for him everywhere just to fill up the void he left behind. And the happiness will be so much bigger when you see him again. You'll just know."

Now all grown-up, Lucy asked the question she'd been afraid to ask that time, all those years ago: "But what if I don't?"

Layla smiled benignly. "What are you talking about, dear? Haven't you realized it already?"

Huh? What's going on?

Suddenly, the scene changed and I was in the guild.

"Guys! Lucy disappeared!"

"What are you talking about, Natsu?" Levy asked, adjusting her glasses. "She was here just an hour ago."

"I can't find her anywhere." Natsu looked around the guild, sniffing the air. He seemed to find something interesting, as he stormed off into the back of the guild going through several rooms, followed by the others. Suddenly, he stopped in a small, empty room with an old door. "It's gone."

"What's gone?" Levy asked and looked at a confused Natsu, looking pretty puzzled herself.

"Her scent", Natsu replied. "It's gone completely."

"What are you talking about, Natsu?" Erza asked, sounding alarmed.

"This was the most recent trail of her scent. But it disappears in front of this door." Natsu took a step forward and reached for the doorknob.

"Wait a minute, Natsu."

Everybody turned around to look at the small figure which had appeared in the doorway behind them.

"Master", Erza said.

"I have no time to listen to your scolding, gramps. Lucy's behind this door", Natsu said and, once more, reached for the doorknob.

"I said wait", master repeated and walked up to the door. "If you go through that door, no one knows where you might end up. You could disappear forever."

"I don't care! Lucy's there, I know it!"

"Natsu!" The master's voice echoed through the small room like thunder. "Is your trust in her abilities so small?" He shot Natsu a reproachful look. "If Lucy truly went through this door, then she must find her way back alone. Nobody else can help her with that task." The master crossed his arms behind his back and was about to leave the small room when Natsu spoke up again, his voice sounding dark and heavy.

"What if she fails?"

"I that does happen, then I'm afraid we will lose a valuable member of our family."

What followed was a suffocating silence. Erza was the first to move. She ran after the master; probably to find out more about the situation. The room kept getting emptier and emptier until there were only two remaining figures left.

"I trust her", Levy said confidently. "I know Lu-chan can do it!"

"I know", Natsu muttered, still facing the door. "She can make it. She has to."

Levy also left the room, leaving Natsu alone who put his forehead against the door and closed his eyes. "You have to", he repeated, "Luce."

Sooo that's it for chapter 9! Why don't you guys let me know what you think of this, I'd be really happy about it! Also, if you have any suggestions, wishes or ideas that could help me improve this, please tell me!

Thanks a lot!