EPILOGUE: Who Knew?
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its characters.
Four days after
Birds chirped outside a small clinic where a blonde mage slept peacefully. Lucy was aware of something warm holding her hand and when she looked beside her, she saw a mop spiky pink hair. She smiled knowing fully well who was the man sleeping beside her who was squeezing her right hand every now and then and murmuring the words 'Lucy' and 'love you' while sleeping.
Lucy chuckled at the cute sight of Natsu sleeping beside her. She tried to take her hand away from his grasp but the moment she withdrew it, he woke up with a start and grabbed her hand once again.
Lucy giggled at how Natsu reacted looking worried after calling out her name and grabbing her hand.
"It's all right Natsu. I just want my hand back," Lucy said with mirth on her voice. Natsu let go of her hand and instead crushed her in a hug.
"You're awake. I've been so worried," Natsu whispered at Lucy. She patted his back and he slowly let go sitting on the bed and putting his hands down to hold both of Lucy's hands. She smiled at him and Natsu grinned at her.
"Sorry to make you worry again. It seems the only thing I'm good for is making you worry," Lucy said. Natsu rubbed her hands with his thumbs and shook his head.
"I'm just happy you're okay Luce," Natsu said.
Lucy looked down at her hands. She loved seeing those hands hold hers. It felt right for her and she smiled knowing that.
"I like it," Lucy said absent-mindedly.
"Huh?"
"I mean our hands. I like it like this. It feels nice and they look perfectly good together. Makes me feel safe," Lucy said.
"There's something missing though," Natsu said.
"Huh?" This time, it was Lucy who was caught off guard. Natsu took out something from his pocket and showed it to Lucy. Her eyes widened at seeing what it was.
"Natsu… that is…" Lucy was speechless. In front of her and sparkling from the sunlight was the ring Natsu showed to him back in the old cathedral.
"Luce, I love you and I have been itching to ask you this for a very long time so I'm cutting all the crap that Lisanna taught me about going down on one knee," Natsu said and earned a giggle from Lucy.
"So Luce, will you marry me?" Natsu asked with his trademark goofy grin in place.
"Of course Natsu, I will," Lucy said with a radiant smile on her face. Natsu took her hand and placed the ring on her finger.
"Fits perfectly," Lucy said. They each looked at each others eyes and then before they knew it, their lips were already upon each other dancing to the rhythm of their beating hearts. Natsu took his time massaging Lucy's lips before pushing it open with his tongue, encouraging Lucy to play along with it.
Lucy had her hands glued to Natsu's chest, with one hand gripping his vest and the other running over his toned chest. The kiss slowly died down and they held each others' gaze while resting their foreheads on each other. They both smiled and laughed a bit at each other before Natsu stole one last chaste kiss before enveloping Lucy on his embrace letting her rest on his chest.
They heard running footsteps from the door and saw the twins come in. After seeing their mother was awake, they scrambled towards her and hugged her on her waist. They climbed on top of the bed and were held by each parent.
"Mommy how are you feeling?" Kayla asked.
"Are you still sick?" Kiryuu asked.
"Why are your cheeks red?"
"Your lips are swollen, why is that Mommy?"
"Ne did you kiss Daddy when you woke up?"
"He was always here you know"
"He never left you"
"I don't think they'll be able to understand you two if you keep on talking simultaneously," Richard who was standing on the doorway said with a laugh.
"Sorry uncle," the twins said in unison.
Lucy was caught off guard. She really can't face Richard right now knowing that she has done nothing but hurt him and use him when she got down. But after hearing the twins call him uncle surprised her a lot.
"Oh Richard, thanks for bringing in the twins," Natsu said.
"No problem. Someone had to take care of them for a while since you refuse to leave Lucy here," Richard said with a playful smirk. Natsu just scratched his face with one finger while smiling nervously with a tint of pink on his cheeks.
"So how are you feeling?" Richard asked Lucy.
"I'm better now. Thank you for everything Richard," Lucy said.
"Don't worry about it. You're all guests here in the village and you did help save us after all," Richard said.
"So Natsu, I see you've finally asked her about it," Richard said playfully looking at Lucy's ring finger. The twins both looked at her finger and saw the ring that they didn't notice earlier.
"Wow… That's a shiny ring," Kiryuu said.
"Pretty," Kayla added.
"Does this mean that Mommy and Daddy will be getting married?" Kayla asked.
"Will you marry Mommy now huh Daddy? Will you? Will you?" Kiryuu asked enthusiastically.
The adults laughed at them and answered with a nod. They suddenly squealed in joy and rushed outside. Richard shook his head while laughing and approached the two.
"Congratulations you two," Richard said and held out a hand. Natsu gladly took it but Lucy hesitated a bit. Richard saw the look that Lucy had as if she was feeling guilty.
"It's alright Lucy. I've already accepted this long ago even before the wedding," Richard said with a smile. Lucy looked up at him and returned a smile.
"I'm sorry Richard. I've been selfishly inconveniencing you –
"What are you talking about? I'm fine. I want you to have your happiness. So again Lucy, Congratulations," Richard said with a smile and offered his hand to Lucy again.
"Thank you," Lucy said as she took the hand.
"Friends?" Richard asked while grinning.
"Friends." Lucy stated giving out an equal grin. Natsu looked at the two and counted to three before he separated their hands.
"All right that's long enough," Natsu said.
"Oh sorry Natsu," Richard said while sheepishly scratching his head.
"Oh come on Natsu. Jealous already?" Lucy said. Natsu just looked at her indifferently for a moment and Lucy pecked his lips which surprised him and made him blush. Richard just laughed at this.
All of a sudden, the room was filled with people after Kiryuu and Kayla told the guild about Natsu proposing. Mira and Lisanna were the first to arrive who were squealing like pigs while Erza followed profusely blushing.
"Natsu we heard you proposed already, is it true?" Mira asked, hearts starting to form in her eyes.
"Did you do exactly as I told you to?" Lisanna asked being equally as excited as her sister.
The two just sweatdropped at the siblings. The girls started to crowd Lucy with questions while the boys threw theirs at Natsu.
"Did you say yes Lu-chan?" Levy asked.
"Definitely. Lucy-san said yes. Juvia knows this," Juvia said answering for Lucy but with an evil glint in her eyes for having one less love rival with Gray.
"We have to arrange the wedding immediately," Mira said.
"I'll help you out Mira-nee," Lisanna said. The two clapped their hands together and started to shower hearts with their squealing.
"If there's a celebration, there's sake. Count me in," Cana said.
"C-c-cong-gratulations-s-s L-lucy," Erza said completely mixing up herself with Lucy's situation.
"Lucy-san congratulations!" Wendy said.
"Looks like Erza's getting mixed up already," Charle said.
"Who'd have thought you had it in you torch breath," Gray said grinning while smacking Natsu's back.
"Shut up underwear princess," Natsu retorted.
"So Salamander finally confessed huh? Thought you had no guts at all gee hee," Gajeel said.
"Proposing is… a MAN!" Elfman yelled.
"That didn't make any sense at all," Romeo said sweatdropping at Elfman's antics.
"He lllliiiiiiiiiiiiiikes her," Happy said rolling out his tongue at Natsu.
"Let's party brats!" Master Makarov announced. Evrybody else just cheered while Natsu and Lucy just blinked at the commotion.
"They're already making a huge ruckus about it," Lucy said.
"It's all right. This is what makes Fairy Tail fun after all," Natsu said with one of his signature grins. Lucy just smiled with a stain of pink on her cheeks. She settled her head on Natsu's chest and Natsu kissed her on her forehead. The twins went up to their parents and hugged each parent.
Lucy looked at how perfect everything was right now. She was with her family now. Nothing can come between them anymore and what's more is that she will be married to the best friend she never thought she will love. She has everything she has ever wished for now. Her friends. Her children. Her Natsu. Who knew life could be so perfect for her? She looked at Natsu again and he gave her a warm smile before kissing her passionately once again earning wolf whistles from their guildmates who were eagerly watching the two until Mira fainted from too much excitement.
A/N: That's a wrap! Again I want to thank you guys for all the support and for following this story. I hope you will also support my next project although I'm not so sure who I want to use as Lucy's partner for the next fanfic. I still can't decide between Natsu, Gray or Sting because they all make a good pair with Lucy. Anyway, thanks again. Until next time guys.