A/N: Hi, Lovelies. :) Oh, this one is good. I'm happy.

But, I have to tackle the question I made last chapter, you know...continuation? M? T? At all?

I got many answers, and I know a lot were worried about the plot being non-existent in an M one. So, because I have no intentions upon making people feel uncomfortable or whatnot, I shall write a continuation in T and have M one-shots that correlate with the story whenever I wish. That way everyone is happy. I'll let you guys know when I'm posting these M scenes, and then you can decide whether to read them, and there will not be any plot in them, so no one will miss anything! ;) Okey Dokey? Good.

Also, I started a new story completely separate from this one, I had a reader confused and thinking it was a prequel or sequel...or both? How would that work I wonder? It is NOT. It's called, "Fate is a Fickle Lady" check it out maybe? Whoa, that kind of rhymed...

ON WITH IT!

Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Fairy Tail...

Anywho...

Ch. 14

The very first thing that Lucy noticed about the town of Magnolia was of course the monstrous guild that towered over all the buildings, except the church. Fairy Tail was huge and decorated with happy, festive colors, that just made you feel at home from the start. The second thing that she noticed was the hustle-bustle, lively community. In short, the town was everything that Lucy, a girl who had never been outside of her family's ridiculously large estate, had hoped for and read about. Though, she did question why it was named Magnolia when its prized trees were rainbow sakura's. The moment was made even better however, when the man of her dreams grabbed ahold of her hand. Erza was now helping with Gajeel instead. Natsu and Lucy stared at one another for a moment.

"Ready for your new life, Lucy?" He whispered.

"Yes." She nodded.

"Then come with me, to Fairy Tail!" He laughed, and began dragging her as the whole group began running (or trying to, in Gajeels case) to their precious guild.

The moment they came up to the guild, Natsu let go of Lucy's hand and grinned. He kicked open the doors and howled that he was back. Or something like that, Lucy wasn't too sure what the maniac had said, for the minute he was in the door, he was swarmed. Soon after, Lucy herself was crowded. Mira Jane, Levi, and a bunch of other familiar looking mages surrounded her. She'd always wanted to be a part of Fairy Tail, and so she felt as though she knew everyone already.

"Brats, silence!" The Master hollered, as he grew into a giant (that made Lucy almost piss her pants) "Behold the safe return of our beloved Salamander, Natsu!" The guild cheered deafeningly, "And, a new member, Lucy Heartfilia!" Again the cheers were deafening, and Lucy briefly wondered if she'd made the right choice. "Let's PARTY!" Makarov screamed as he returned to his dwarf size. Really, Fairy Tail? Drinking before noon even? Cana Alberana, the guild alcoholic, was cool with it.

XXX

"What color would you like, and where, Lucy?" Mira smiled kindly, as Gray, the pant-less wonder, was thrown against the wall behind her painfully breaking a shelf full of glass bottles. Mira never blinked, but Lucy gawked, clearly horrified by the guild she'd been sworn into. She held out her right hand stiffly in shock.

"Pink, please." She squeaked. Mira gently put the stamp to her hand and as she pulled away it made a resounding magical pop. Despite her fears of the craziness surrounding her, Lucy looked at her hand in glee. Never would she have been allowed to mark her skin so boldly, if she'd had lead the life her father deemed respectable.

"Nice, color, Luce." His voice rumbled behind her. She turned and beamed at her Dragon.

"Thanks, Nastsu! Hey, where's your stamp at?" She wondered aloud, just realizing it was missing from his right arm. He smirked and shrugged.

"Mine was taken away long ago…I'd burned it off." He explained and grimaced. Lucy stared at him wide eyed. He explained further, "You've been told many times, by many different people, that I'm a Beast. Why so reluctant to believe it, Lucy? I was a bad ma-" She cut him off with her finger, and his eyes grew kind and shiny, looking at her. She was beautiful.

"No, you were grieving and that's over now. It's time to move forward, Natsu. Get your mark back, please." Lucy said gently, but firmly. Natsu smiled a goofy, crooked smile, and complied. The red Fairy Tail guild marking, sitting in its rightful place upon his upper arm, once again for all to see.

XXX

After a few hours or so, Lucy decided it was time to go apartment shopping, so out she went. Luckily, she was able to make a run for it while Natsu wasn't looking, for she knew he probably wanted her to move in with him. Lucy didn't want that though. She wanted to experience some independence and live on her own. She'd never really had a place to herself, well at least not a place she hadn't been forced into living at. Now that she was free, she was given her unending inheritance. Really, as the last Hearfilia, she could do whatever she wanted with her life. She was limitless it seemed. So, she went to find an apartment.

After hours of searching, she finally found it! A little condo-like apartment on Strawberry Street! It was very nice, and she immediately started buying furniture and other stuff, to make it a home. Lucy was just so proud and excited, she couldn't contain herself.

XXX

"Oi! Where the hell did Lucy go?" Natsu yelled over the noisy guild. He'd realized about an hour ago that she'd left, but didn't bother to worry, until he'd found out she'd been gone much longer than that. Erza told him that she'd seen Lucy slip out hours ago. Hours? Where the hell did she go off to?

Since no one had a clue, he decided to take the matter into his own hands. Natsu crashed outside in a hurry and began searching for her scent. It was easy to follow after so many months of having to know her every move. These habits were going to die hard, and he felt like Lucy was definitely going to enforce that they did.

"Oh my goodness, is that him?" He heard a woman say, and turned to see a couple holding onto each other tightly in fear, on the side street. The man stepped in front of the woman to protect her.

"Yeah, that's that Beast, from Fairy Tail!" He answered. Natsu frowned and ran away from the couple, not wanting to get into it, just wanting to find Lucy.

"It's ashame, Fairy Tail used to be so respectable, now I'm not sure if they're really that trustworthy."

"I heard he had destroyed an entire city with his two bare hands!"

"Wasn't that Beast supposed to be in punishment by Porlyusica? Man, has that old hag lost her touch or something?"

However, as he followed her scent around…He couldn't escape the public's notice nor their rude comments and whispers. Natsu's reputation indeed preceded him. And as he came upon a townhouse on Strawberry Street, he wondered how long it would take to fix things up with the people of Magnolia. He looked into the upper window of the building however, and found his girl. He jumped in through the open window without thought.

XXX

"Sweet Mavis, Lucy! You probably just gave me a damn concussion!" Natsu shouted above the screeching blond, rubbing the good sized egg on his head. A moment later she relaxed and dropped her now dented skillet.

"Dammit, Natsu! Don't just come in through the window like that, use the front door! You scared the crap out of me!" Lucy cried, still shaking. Natsu noticed this fact surprisingly and held open his arms.

"Come here, Luce-ey." He demanded huskily.

"No, you're a jerk. Go home; I'm not done unpacking all my new stuff." Lucy whined, crossing her arms defiantly.

"Nope, I'm not leaving until I get a hug and help you. I mean you have a really nice place after all." Natsu insisted with a smirk.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK *

"Coming!" Lucy called, and gave Natsu an annoyed look. She opened her door and was thoroughly surprised. It was a couple of townsmen that were no doubt her neighbors. She frowned.

"Hello, miss. We'd heard a scream and there have been sightings of the man named Natsu Dragneel, back in town. We just wanted to make sure a single young lady such as yourself, was okay." The man in the middle explained. Lucy had no idea what to do, she wanted to tell them off that Natsu was nothing to worry about, but something told her to just thank them and send them on their way as soon as possible instead.

"Oh, yes! Thank you, I'm fine, it was just a spider!" She laughed it off, clearly lying.

After a few more questions, the men seemed satisfied and went on their way. Lucy quickly shut and locked her door. She quietly came back into her living room, to see her Dragon slumped on her new couch. He didn't bother to look up, as she walked into the room. Instead of sitting by him, she decided to stay standing. She merely stared at the top of his head, admiring his pink locks, until he looked up finally and met her sad eyes.

"Well…I guess you've noticed reaction about me being back home, now." He clapped his hands together, lips tightened and green eyes revealing nothing. Lucy's eyebrows furrowed.

"The reaction? I think that's too bland a phrase for this situation, I believe the thought of Natsu Dragneel being the 'number one enemy of the public,' would have a closer ring to it." She bit her lip and continued, "People gave you weird looks all day, when you were out with us. I'm sure it must have been worse, just you walking out there alone!"

"Okay, yeah, they are pretty upset and worried about my presence and vocal about it." He exhaled and leaned back against the couch, "It doesn't matter though because I need to move forward with my life and Magnolia will learn that I mean them no harm, eventually. I can't blame them for being scared though, because I caused so much terror before. I mean I went from a national hero that little kids looked up to, to being the monster they were afraid was under their beds." The two met eyes, and Lucy gave in. She crossed the room and fell into the couch next to him. Natsu wasted no time in pulling her into him.

"Well, you'll be taking missions again soon, and that will help your reputation, so I guess that I shouldn't worry any. It'll all work out." Lucy sighed not knowing who she was trying to convince and leaned her head on his shoulder. He rubbed her arm in soothing patterns and they just sat a while.

XXX

"Good! The bed is up and ready, after all that hard work and cleaning everything is set up! Wooh!" Natsu exclaimed, just about to fall back on top of the pink covered mattress. Lucy grabbed him and yanked him up before he could even touch her blanket though.

"Oh, no! You are filthy, Natsu! You still haven't bathed since the fight! In fact none of us have! You should go ho-"

"We should just take a bath together and conserve water." Natsu smiled deviously. Lucy twitched, turning pink.

"Absolutely, not. Go home, Natsu!" She yelled, pushing the dragon-slayer out her door, or trying to rather. He wouldn't budge.

"Nah, you go take a bath and I'll take one after."

"Uh, no! This is my house, now leave!" She cried, punching him in the arm. He pretended to be hurt and pouted as he left reluctantly. However, a moment later he came back knocking on the door.

"What, Natsu?" Lucy questioned exasperatedly, swinging the door open with sass.

Hot lips met hers passionately. Lucy gasped, and his satin tongue took advantage and traced her teeth, invading her mouth. She hummed in delight as she drove her hands into his soft spiky hair. Natsu's calloused hands traced her hips, then grabbed up her waist and pulled her into his feverish body, a hand going to the nape of her neck to pull her deeper into his kiss. He moaned longingly as they had to pull away to catch their breaths. Arms still wrapped around each other they gasped, and Lucy flushed. Natsu attacked her neck the moment she turned her head in embarrassment, leaving a trail of heated kisses from her jaw to her collarbone and back up to her ear.

"I forgot to kiss you, good night," He murmured, then kissing her once more on the lips he added, "And remind you, that I love you." He smiled at her goofy looking face; she was a melted goo-ball for this man. He nuzzled his nose into the crook of her neck inhaling her and leaving one more kiss there, before pulling fully away.

"I love you, too." Lucy whimpered, slowly letting go of him. How had she ever lived without him in her life? She closed the door, locked it, went to her bathroom and immediately set a bath. All the while, a tender smile sat on her face and a sparkle lit her eyes. Could life get this good really?

A/N: This one makes me smile, not sure why entirely. Tell me your thoughts, ask me your questions! Well, as long as they pertain to the story...or if they don't then PM me. ;) Haha, hope you guys can agree with my decision on the continuation and I also hope that you'll enjoy my new story, too. If you check it out anyways! Love you guys!