Previously.
"Goodnight, Sting, Lucy-san, Rogue-kun, Yukino-san…" Lisanna turned on her heel, heading towards the direction of her house, the stars shining brightly behind her.
Lucy stared blankly at her calendar.
July 7th – Mum's anniversary!
She sat there quietly, her face blank, her whole body stiff.
"Guess it's that time of year, huh…" She ran a hand through her hair and got up, getting ready for school sloppily. She drifted like a ghost to the kitchen, not aware of Yukino making her lunch.
"Lucy, why are you wearing casual clothes?" Yukino looked up towards Lucy. She was wearing a plain black dress with lace on the top and on the hem.
"Need to go somewhere…today…" she mumbled, walking around in circles.
"Oh dear, I think she's gone crazy. Sting, Rogue! Something's wrong with Lucy!" Yukino called out, hearing the two's heavy footsteps rush down to the kitchen.
"Is she finally dead?!" Sting yelled, body crouched and arms out like a ninja. Sting expected a beating from Lucy but got nothing.
"Why is she walking around in circles?" Rogue asked, attempting to stop Lucy.
"Oi, Lucy, what's wrong? Why are you in casual clothes? Today's a school day, remember?" He shook her by the shoulders and jumped back when a tear slid down her face.
"Look what you did, Rogue!" Sting teased him.
"S – shit! What do I d – do?!" Rogue panicked.
"Mum…" Lucy whispered, limping into Rogue's arm.
"What? Mom? Argh!" Rogue caught Lucy in his arms, her consciousness slipping away.
"Wait, didn't her mom pass away?" Sting asked, helping Rogue to lay Lucy down on a sofa.
"Hm… Ah! Her mother's death anniversary?" Yukino said, a lightblub clicking in her head.
"Ah, no wonder…" Sting said, sitting down.
"I think she just fainted on impulse. She'll probably wake up soon."
"AHH!"
"AHH!"
Lucy shot up and screamed, making the trio scream as well.
"Who what when where why?!" Sting yelled out, crashing on the floor.
"Ah, sorry. That happens every time, so don't worry. Just… continue what you were doing. Rogue, Sting, I'll be away for today, alright? Tell the others…" Lucy said bitterly, grabbing a black coat and a small black bag/purse.
"Wait, Lucy! Are you sure you're going to be alright?" Rogue called out as she grabbed the door handle and pushed the door open.
"I'll be fine…" They watched as she walked through the door and closed it, black heels clacking outside.
Rogue sighed. "Well, off to work, then…"
-X-
"I don't think Lu-chan's coming to school today…." Levy whispered, looking up at the sky, the others waiting for the first period bell to ring.
"Hmm? Why not?" Erza asked, closing her locker door and facing Levy.
"It's her mum's anniversary..." she said in a nearly inaudible murmur, her eyes glistening and starting to tear.
Everybody stood there, frozen. They weren't really shocked, they were just… sad. Everybody knew that Lucy's mother had passed onto the other world, but her death anniversary barely passed their minds.
Well guess what? Welcome to reality.
-X-
"Hi mum. How've you been?" Lucy wiped the last speck off her mother's grave, holding her mother's favourite flowers – white and pink lilies. She placed them on the small gravestone, her heart clenching.
"So much has happened and I….I just miss you, mum! Please, just come back!" Lucy choked out, tears springing out of her eyes.
"I just need someone to talk to mum! I just want you back!" tears continued leaking down her eyes and she crouched down, the droplets of water plopping onto the stone. She turned her head sharply when she heard a gasp and looked around – nobody was there.
"Who's there?!" Lucy demanded, taking a few steps back.
"…Just me…" Lucy's ears perked at the familiar voice and her eyes nearly turned into a penetrating glare when she saw Natsu.
"Why are you here? Have you come to tease me?" Lucy hissed, taking a step away from him, eyeing him suspiciously. He was wearing a black suit, black shoes and matching black tie. Her eyes followed his gaze as he looked towards a grave next to him.
Blaze Dragneel
XXX- XXX
A loved grandfather, father and son.
"Oh… I'm sorry for your loss…" Lucy mumbled, wiping the remaining tears out of her eyes.
"M – me too…" Natsu and Lucy locked gazes for a moment, staring into each other's eyes. It wasn't long before they had burst into laughter for some strange reason.
"Why…are…we…even…laughing?!" Natsu said between laughs.
"I don't even know!" Lucy laughed, clutching her stomach.
Of course, everybody had thought it was weird – two teenagers laughing in a graveyard. Of course it was weird. Soon enough though, their laughter had died down.
"Ahh, that was funny." Lucy wiped the last few tears from her eyes, her stomach nearly threatening her to start dying in another fit of giggles. Suddenly, the mood had turned serious as Natsu walked over to Lucy's mother's grave.
"W – wha?"
"Hello, Lucy's mum. Layla Heartfilia. I'm Natsu Dragneel, one of her….friends. I have just come to say that I sincerely apologise to you and your daughter for all the grief I have caused her. no, I am not her boyfriend in any way. I know that she's got a lover that she's waiting to wake up. I know this is not enough – I can't even express my apologies to you and your daughter. Just let me say one thing – I am extremely grateful that you gave birth to such a beautiful daughter. I honestly love her – as an extremely close friend of course – and hope you can forgive me."
Lucy's eyes watered and she stood there in shock watching THE Natsu Dragneel bowing in front of her mother's grave. Never in her life would she predict this. Never.
"N – Natsu! Get up!" Lucy grabbed Natsu by the arm and pulled him up.
"Wh – wh – what is wrong with you? W – what's with that speech?" Lucy asked, her faced red and flustered.
He looped his arms into hers, dragging her towards the exit of the graveyard.
"O – oi! Where are you taking me?"
"Let's go!"
"O- oi!"
Layla's spirit floated over her grave, smiling happily.
"I'll be watching over you, Lucy…"
-X-
"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Lucy screamed, her hair flowing backwards and grabbing onto the roller coasters handlebars hardly.
"Urgh….I'm gonna barf….." She looked over to Natsu who had just groaned, his face looking like a giant plum.
"Oh shut it, you! Learn to have some fun!" she yelled, the wind howling in her ears.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH!" She yelled and giggled as the bright red flame-themed roller coaster went down a steep hill, making the 'Welcome to Lost Kingdom Amusement Park!' visible. The wind slapped against her mouth, making it feel weird.
"Llllllllllooooooooooooooooook, Nattttttsuuuu!" she gurgled, her saliva soaring above her head.
"Pfft, ahahahahahah!" Natsu laughed at her, his signs of motion sickness wearing away.
"Ssssshut uuuuuup!" she gurgled again, crossing her arms. She screamed when she noticed that her hands left the handlebars.
"Yes! We're nearly out of here!" Natsu cheered, a big grin on his face.
"Hey look! You're not motion sick anymore!" Lucy smiled, poking at his face.
"WOOH! SO THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE ON A ROLLER-COASTER! WOOOH!" Natsu screamed, arms flailing in the air, making Lucy giggle.
"Look, there's a photo camera thingy! Get ready to pose!" Lucy yelled, pointing at the big screen.
"3, 2, 1… say cheese!"
"CHEEEESE!"
When the two got down, they smiled at their picture. Lucy was smiling, hair in the air and making a peace sign with her hands while Natsu made a weird monkey face.
"Would you like your picture printed?" An officer asked the two, making them both nod. He punched a few buttons on a machine and two separate copies of the picture printed out. The officer grabbed them and gave it to the two and saluted.
"Have a nice day!"
"You too!" Lucy waved, grabbing her set of photos, Natsu doing the same, and dragging him to a small café.
"Ahhh, today was fun." Lucy stretched in her seat. She checked her watch as her eyes bulged.
"Woah, it's already three o'clock! We've spent ages here!"
"Maybe we should visit the others," Natsu said, waving his hand to a waiter. Lucy propped her cheek in her hand, staring at the menu in front of her.
"Hello there sir, madam. What would you like to order today?"
"I'd like a chocolate ice cream, please."
"And you, madam?"
"Hmm… how about a plate of macaroons and a strawberry milkshake?"
"Your order will be completed soon. Thank you." The waiter walked off towards the stall, leaving Lucy and Natsu alone.
"So… did you really mean it?"
"Mean what?"
"That…I had a lover waiting for me?" Lucy blushed, looking down.
"I'm not blind, you know. I saw you guys kissing each other that day." Natsu puckered up his lips, laced his hands and made smooching noises towards Lucy.
"W – what are you talking about?" Lucy yelled at him, slumping down. She could just die from embarrassment right now.
"You owe him a visit though," Lucy frowned slightly.
"Your meal is ready. Here you go." Lucy beamed when she was handed her order. Natsu, on the other hand, just grabbed his ice cream and chomped on it.
Lucy popped a macaroon in her mouth, humming happily," It's delicious!" While taking a sip out of her milkshake.
"Shit! Brain freeze!" Natsu yelled out, clutching his head in pain.
"Haha!" Lucy popped a few more macaroons in her mouth.
"Ouchhhhhh," Natsu hissed, his brain freeze slowly going away.
"Not my fault!" Lucy teased him, taking a sip of a milkshake. Natsu looked up with a sneaky look on his face and stole the last macaroon from her plate and crunched on it, smirking at her.
"Wha – hey!" Lucy yelled at him, giving him a hit on the head.
"Not my fault!" He poked his tongue at her and swung on his chair, hands on his head.
"Hmph," Lucy smirked, jerking the chair towards her under the table.
"OOF!" Natsu fell over his chair, crashing into the next table, which was vacant, luckily.
Lucy snickered Natsu, who stood up and rubbed his sore butt.
"That hurt…" he mumbled, sitting back on his chair.
"Want to go now?" Lucy asked, getting up, taking the last gulp of her drink.
"Wait, I have a question to ask you."
Lucy stood up anyways, standing in the middle of the street, hands on hips.
"Forgive me?" He flashed her a genuine smile, a rose in his hand. Lucy blushed red and grabbed the rose hesitantly, turning around quickly.
"Definitely not…" she mumbled. Natsu chuckled at her red ears.
"You better not fall for me again~" Natsu teased her, holding her hand.
"S – shut up! I h – have Jellal!" Lucy squeaked back at him, squeezing his hand.
A/N: Yes, that was a short chappie, I know. I'm sorry. I have no time to write a longer one right now, but I'll try and make the next chapter longer than usual! Thanks all of you for reviewing, following and favouriting! I'm so happy that we've reached 195 reviews! I am so happy! Let's try and make that 200 review, okay? xD
Also, tell me if there are any mistakes. My eyes are starting to fail me TT_TT
Please read and support my other stories – Darkness, Fairy Tail Academy, Intimidating Flower, Lisanna's back, Of Dragonslayers, love & best friends and Valentine's day! :D