Chapter 16

Former Authoress: Primsgirl89 (You can find her on both Wattpad and !)

Beater/Reviser & New Authoress: Kartara (You can find me both on Wattpad and .)

Quick note: I, Kartara, adopted this series form Primsgirl89 and began to write for it. Soon after, Prim and I both agreed that it'd be best if I edited the past chapters (Chapters 1 – 12) in my own style and upload it as my own fan-fiction to avoid copyright. Credit for the original story plot and development should go to her for these lovely chapters!

Former Authoress' Notes: The last update before it gets adopted.

"I think we can stay at the guild and train. We don't have tolerate..." Happy begins to say as he shakes from Natsu's burning glare. Lucy admitted in her mind that it was childish of her to make that decision all by herself.

She sighed and nodded. She made another transportation spell to bring them back, though not to the guild, but to a meadow she had stumbled across when she first joined the guild.

"Natsu?" She asked unsurely. He made a grunting noise to let her know that he was listening. "Can you sing to me?"

Happy and he looked at me like she had three heads, though after a bit, Happy admitted that he wanted to hear Natsu sing as well. They looked up at him, hopeful and curious.

He sighed before looking directly at Lucy. "Okay, but answer me this; why did you stop calling me Aki?"

She hadn't realized how she had stopped, but it's now rare for her to call him Aki. "Because I should call you by your name. Your eyes light up when I do."

It's true; whenever I say his name, his eyes light up the slightest bit. Just enough for me to see.

"Aye! Same with me!" Happy exclaims as he raises a little paw. She hugged the fur ball for all his cuteness. Natsu just watched them for a moment before he laid down on his back and watched the clouds become darker.

She may have a fear of thunderstorms, but she loved the rain, especially the darkness of it. How that even when it rains, it could be fun to think of all the good that can happen after or as a result of the storm. Life, the way they could all be together and make the best of it. Be with the ones you love so it's not so gloomy.

Her mother loved the rain like she did, albeit she didn't fear thunderstorms like her. Happy and she joined Natsu to watching the darkening sky, Lucy soon after placing a barrier over them. The barrier was see-through with stars that helped make the form of flames focus specifically on certain places to keep them all warm. When they laid down, they had all unconsciously made a triangle as they watched.

Hearing Natsu hum softly, Lucy knew he was warming up, but his voice was so smooth and soothing that she relaxed a lot more. Happy seemed to think the same as his tail swayed softly to the beat*.

"Guess it's true, I'm not good at a one-night stand," He started, shaky and softly. He was so unsure of himself. Well, at least she thought so. He held out his hand and toward her side of the triangle. And she took it.

"But I still need love 'cause I'm just a man. These nights never seem to go as planned," He looked to Happy peeling his head, his eyes showing the pain. Those two needed love in their lives. She could only hope she could help.

Soon, they both looked at her, eyes pleading. "I don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand? Oh, won't you stay with me? 'Cause you're all I need. This ain't love, it's clear to see, but darling, stay with me." He must have sung this to Happy because he also joined in; his voice was so soft and on a higher pitch than Natsu's. They seem to end that song.

"I will stay with you guys. You're my family, my nakanama. You guys are my new beginning," Lucy told them, her voice wavering as tears began to brim in her eyes. Happy flew into her arms, tears running down his face. Looking up at the sky, one might it also seemed to be crying at their moment. She looked to see Natsu hesitating to come into the hug. She patted the spot next to her encouragingly. Her eyes begin to well up as she began to sing a new part of this song.

"Why am I so emotional? No, it's not a good look, gain some self-control, and deep down I know this never works, but you can lay with me so it doesn't hurt," She sang in the tune that the two had used. Happy and Natsu looked at her and sang a part by themselves. Natsu isn't crying, but you can see the pain from all the years of isolation of other people while being judged.

"Oh, won't you stay with me? 'Cause you're all I need, This ain't love it's clear to see, But darling, stay with me," Happy sang as he looked at them with tears eyes. Natsu ruffled the fur on top his head and nodded. She wiped the tears away.

"Of course, my little Happy," Lucy murmured quietly but sweetly. Natsu gazed at us and sings as well.

"Oh, won't you stay with me? 'Cause you're all I need, This ain't love, it's clear to see, but darling, stay with me." Happy hugged Natsu. saying he always had loved him and will continue to. Lucy gave Natsu a gentle side hug that he also returned.

"Oh, won't you stay with me? 'Cause you're all I need, This ain't love, it's clear to see, but darling, stay with me." And they all just stayed like that. Stayed in their own circle of them. They were their own family. A family no one could fully understand. They can always hope to have others join, but not want.

Natsu and Happy fell asleep soon after, softly snoring. She looked up at the now shining sky. The sun peaked through the grey skies. This truly is a new beginning for the three of us.

A new beginning at a family

A new beginning at the guild.

A new beginning for the guild.

A new beginning of a future with happiness and friends.

She raised her hand and teleported to her apartment room. The group that were assigned to get them to come back—Grey, Erza, and Lisanna—were in her house, looking quite comfy and at home. Not liking it one bit, she pointed at the door, gesturing for them to leave. After seeing they weren't going anywhere, she grunted as she picked up a very heavy Natsu and Happy sleeping on top of him. She placed them on a bed that she made up just for them, gently lifting the blanket just below their necklines and tucking it in around them for maximum warmth. After she had finished doing that, she took a spot at the front of the bed, gazing affectionately at her new family.

The group seemed uncomfortable now as she laid beside the two, squirming and shifting in their seats. Lisanna, in particular, was aiming death-glares at her for even being close to Natsu. Grey and Erza—with a very hesitant and pouty Lisanna—left, saying that they were glad the three were back.

Lucy yawned once she heard the click of the door, fluttering her eyes open when they involuntarily closed several times. Before she knew it, her eyes had closed once more and she was out like a light, curling up in a ball near Natsu's feet.

Authoress' Notes:

As aforementioned, this is the last chapter Primsgirl89 wrote before I adopted it and began to write for it. From this chapter onwards, it will only be my work.

* - Song is Stay with Me by Sam Smith