(A/N) Sorry this went on a long hiatus, but somethings came up. We're back now with some jazz and soul! The song is "For Once In My Life" my Stevie Wonder. I decided to go with the Michael Buble version because darn son, that vocal range! I don't own either though.
Tonight was an exciting night at Fairy Tail. On this very night, it was Natsu's birthday.
The guild hall had been lit up with sparkling decoration that shimmered in multiple shades of red, yellow, and orange. There was food on every table and a corner that was stacked a mile high with presents of all shapes and sizes. The crowd turnout was tremendous. Even Gildarts had halted his latest mission in order to attend the festivities that had been planned for week in advance.
Natsu couldn't have been more happy in his entire life. His birthday was the one day he could eat as much as he pleased without anyone smacking him over the head because had cleaned out the whole kitchen. It might not be his official birthday, but it was the day that he came to the guild, so that was had been made his honorary date of birth.
And looking around the hall with all the smiling faces and jovial cheering, he couldn't have asked for more.
But there was someone missing. He had seen his whole team give him best wishes and gifts, but Lucy and Happy had yet to make an appearance. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen them all day. The dragon slayer had checked Lucy's apartment, the bookstore, and all over town. Alas, his blonde friend and cat were nowhere to be found. It was really starting get him worried.
"Natsu!" he heard from the bar. Mira stood there holding a button of sorts.
He grinned and waved at the barmaid. "Sup Mira! What's the button for?" The takeover mage grinned and used a lacrima to make her voice heard over the crowd of celebrating guild mates.
"Attention! Could everyone direct their eyes to the stage." The whole hall went silent and looked at the stage as directed. Mira smiled and spoke up again.
"Lucy has a little something she'd like to tell Natsu." The crowd cheered and the pinkette just gaped as the stage curtains opened and a spotlight hit a figure on stage. Lucy stood in a stunning red dress and similar colored gloves. The house lights fell
She flashed a bright smile and snapped her fingers. "Hit it Elfman!"
Suddenly the stage lights suddenly came up and the sound of drums boomed. Elfman was behind the loud beats. The percussion was soon joined with the sound of a band. Natsu recognized the band as his guildmates. Jet and Droy were on violins, Levy was on the the Thunder Tribe on saxophones, Lisanna, Juvia, and Cana were on trumpets, Freed, Laxus, and Gajeel were on trombones, and finally with Lucy at the microphone. Even Happy was performing, playing a tambourine that was just his size.
The woman bobbed to the jazz that flittered across the stage. Just as the music made a slow decline in volume, she popped out her hip and winked at her best friend. "I hope you like it!"
"For once in my life
I've got someone who needs me
Someone I've needed so long
For once unafraid
I can go where life leads me
And somehow I know I'll be strong!"
The whole guild was catcalling and spurring the band on. Natsu stared in awe at the power of Lucy's voice and her gusto. The way she naturally walked on stage and using her hands to motion to her audience was captivating.
"For once I can touch
What my heart used to dream of
Long before I knew
Someone warm like you
Could make my dreams come true"
At thins point, the whole guild had stood up and started to dancing to the music. Mira had stepped forward and swept the birthday dragon slayer to the dance floor. He was a little dazed at the sound of Lucy's voice that he stumbled at first. The song felt so right for their relationship. It made him wonder if there was some deeper meaning.
"For once in my life
I won't let sorrow hurt me
Not like it's hurt me before
For once I've someone
I know won't desert me
I'm not alone anymore"
After a few bars of dancing, Natsu decided to start walking on stage. The blonde bombshell still sang her heart out and watched him approach. A smile reached across both of their faces.
"For once I can say
This is mine, you can't take it
As long as I know I've got love, I can make it"
Lucy walked to the edge of the stage and helped Natsu climb up. She gave him a quick wink and continued her chorus with a the biggest breath of air.
"For once in my life
I've got someone who needs me"
The band came crashing in with a heavy jazz portion. Brass instruments blasted away as the dance floor lit up with couples, friends, and the occasional visiting guilds that came to say their "Happy Birthday's" to Natsu. It was a flurry of color and inter guild relationships being built up and up.
The pair on stage were not ones to be left out and joined in, holding hands and sometimes stepping on each other's feet. It didn't matter; their joy overshadowed the nonexistent dancing ability.
"Hey Natsu?" Lucy asked, preparing to begin singing the next line.
"What's up, Luce?"
She quickly swept in and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. When she pulled away she beamed and gave him a small hug. "I love you..."
The pinkette couldn't find the words to say. He was shocked, confused, but was about to burst out singing the next line of the song. Lucy, holding onto Natsu's hand, pulled away from the embrace and belted out her final lines.
"At least for once I can say
This is mine, you can't take it!
As long as I know I've got love, I can make it!"
For once in my life
I've got someone who needs me
For once in my life
I found someone
For once in my life
I've got someone who needs me!"
Levy played some fancy cords and the rest of the band played a soft note to close the tune out.
The lovely couple on stage went in for a bigger hug. A huge applause consumed the room and shook the foundation of the building. At the front of it all, Lucy and Natsu stood, enjoying each other's presence.
Natsu couldn't keep a smile off his face. "Best birthday ever."