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Child at Heart Forever
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*Disclaimer: I do not own the story or the characters from Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima owns them.*
CHAPTER 29
Cana sat at the bar, her expression filled with boredom. "The guild's so quiet today. Where is everyone?"
Mira looked around at the nearly empty hall. "Jet and Droy went out to run an errand for the Master, Max is out cleaning the pool, I believe Gajeel was helping Levy fix the bracelet-"
"Whoa whoa whoa. . Gajeel and Levy?" Cana smirked. "So he's 'helping' her 'fix' the bracelet?"
Mira beamed back. "That's what I'm told. It's about time they finally spent more time together."
Cana smiled into her drink. "Keep going, what's everyone else doing?"
"Elfman and Lisanna are out on a mission today, getting back tonight." Mira frowned slightly, "Natsu was training Wendy most of the day, and-"
"Wait, why is he training her?" Cana asked bringing her large cup to her mouth.
"Oh, well Master asked him to; he said it was the best way to keep him busy so he didn't realize that Lucy went on a mission with Erza."
Cana choked on her drink, giving in to a fit of coughs. "What do you mean Lucy went on a mission with Erza?"
Mira looked up from the plate she was drying. "Yeah, Lucy said she needed to check on something but the master wasn't too keen on letting Natsu go out so quickly after he just got back."
Cana stared at Mira, mouth agape. "So Natsu has no idea that she's not even-?"
"Hey guys I'm back!" Natsu walked into the guild hall and gave Mira and Cana a large grin. "Man, today was awesome!" He looked around. "Where's Lucy?" He sniffed the air. "Doesn't smell like she even came here today. Weird, I thought she was going to be busy."
Cana's eyes widened as Mira stated simply. "She's with Erza."
"With Erza? What'd she do to deserve that?" Natsu asked with a cringe.
"Must've been something bad." Happy added mischievously.
Mira deadpanned. "She offered to spend the day with Erza. CHOSE to."
Natsu shrugged. "Oh, whatever. Where are they at?
"Oh! At Fairy Hills!" Cana lied before Mira could say anything more.
"I'll just head over there and-"
"Natsu did you forget?" Cana stared at him, eyebrow raised. "Guys aren't allowed to go to fairy hills." He gave a simple shrug of indifference. She continued with a smirk. "I'm sure Erza would be upset if you went over there." His face flinched with impending pain.
"Do you know when she will be done?" Mira and Cana looked at each other before shaking their heads. Natsu sighed. "I'll just go wait at her house for her to come back."
"Natsu, you really shouldn't be breaking into her apartment like that. " He slid off of his stool and gave them a cheeky grin before leaving the guild hall with Happy trailing behind.
Mira shook her head. "Whew! That was close! He almost found out."
Cana shook her head, bringing her glass to her lips before emptying the contents.
Natsu groaned as he arrived to Lucy's apartment. He wandered to the fridge and stared at the newly restocked contents. He closed the door, only taking out the rotisserie chicken and a fish for Happy, and walked to her couch. He stretched across her bed after inhaling his food and soon found himself dozing off.
Natsu was awakened by Happy tossing in his sleep. He shook his small friend awake. "Hey buddy, it's just a dream. Wake up!" Happy's black eyes opened and stared at him with confusion.
"Where are we?" He sat up and looked around. "Oh, it's already starting to get late." Natsu looked out the window to see the sky darkening. "Where's Lucy? You'd think she would be back by now." Happy frowned.
"I'm not too sure." Natsu said slowly. Feeling Happy's gaze burn into him, he jumped off the bed and dusted himself off. "Well, let's go check out the guild, I'm sure she's there now."
Happy flew into the air, letting out a jubilant, "Aye!"
While walking towards the guild, Natsu spotted Wendy and Carla. "Hey! How ya feeling?"
Wendy turned and gave him a small smile. "Oh, hi Natsu, Happy." She rubbed her arm. "I'm a little sore, but I think it was worth it. I learned so much today!"
Carla glared at the pink haired dragon slayer. "I think you should have held back a little on your attacks, don't forget that she is just a little girl and an ally!"
Natsu laughed with a boyish grin. "Sorry about that."
"You don't sound sorry." Carla grumbled.
Natsu ignored her comment as he slammed the guild doors open. He scanned the room, his smile faltering when he didn't see his favorite blonde. He sniffed the air as he made his way to the bar. "Hey Mira," he looked around again, "has Lucy come back yet?"
She frowned. "No, I'm sorry Natsu."
Cana stumbled over and threw her arm over his shoulder. "Why are you so worried?" She slurred out with a hiccup.
Natsu shrugged. "I'm not worried, it's just weird that she's gone all day."
"Well you do call her weird don't you?" Cana's lopsided grin played across her face.
"I suppose your right." He sat down at the bar and ordered some food. Pushing the food around on his plate, he looked around at the now lively guild. Laxus was being pampered by his 3 followers; Jet and Droy were failing in being secretive as they spied on Levy and Gajeel talking. Gray had returned and Juvia was following him around with adoration.
Natsu finished his plate just as Pantherlily sat next to him and ordered a Kiwi Juice. "You look a little down tonight Natsu."
"Just a little bored I suppose. Lucy spent the day with Erza over at Fairy Hills and I don't have a way to go get her."
"Why don't you ask Happy to go get her?" Natsu gave the small Exceed a surprised stare. "They don't usually care if we go there and I've heard that Happy visits them frequently."
Natsu's face lit up. "Thanks! That's a great idea." Natsu leapt off the stool and raced across the guild to where Happy was serving Carla a small cup of tea.
Mira and Cana glowered at him. "Thanks!"
He stared at them in confusion. "What? Did I do something wrong?"
Mira sighed. "I suppose not."
Cana groaned as she climbed off her stool and made her way to the door. "I've got this."
Natsu returned to the bar full of energy and ordered another round of dinner. Pantherlily gave Mira a quick glance before asking. "So, not heading over there?"
"Actually, Happy said he wasn't ready to leave yet. Something about making progress, shouldn't take too long."
Another hour passed before Natsu was able to drag Happy out and they headed towards Fairy Hills. Happy made his way through the halls. He turned the corner to see Cana walking out of Erza's room. "Hey Happy."
"Hi Cana!" Happy flew through the air towards the door.
"Where ya going?"
"Natsu asked if I could go chat with Lucy."
Cana gave Happy a serious look. "I wouldn't bother her tonight." The Exceed's eyes grew large. "Erza's not in a very good mood."
"D. . Do you know when Lucy will be leaving?"
"Well, Lucy made it sound like she was going to spend the night."
Happy stared at the door for before letting out a rejected, "Okay." He slowly flew out of the building. Cana smiled to herself, slumping in the doorway with a sigh of relief. She looked out the window and watched them slump away down the road towards town.
The next morning, Cana laid her head on the bar with a loud groan. "Mira! When are they coming back?"
Mira giggled as she put another drink on the counter. "Today I hope. Cana shifted her head so her chin rested on the bar. "Seriously, they need to get back fast. I can't keep doing that for Lucy."
Mira leaned over. "So what was Erza's room like?"
Cana glared at the takeover mage. "Did you know she has a trap system put in place if intruders come in. Apparently there is some special way to open the door. I barely made it out with my life."
Mira frowned thoughtfully. "Really, she has one of those?"
"Apparently Laki must have made it for her." She took a long draught of her beverage. "Well, regardless, now I need to fill in Erza and tell her why I entered her room."
"Yeah, I'm sure she isn't going to be too happy." Mira glanced over towards the door. "Oh thank goodness. Welcome home Lucy! Erza!"
Lucy bounced over to the bar. "Hey guys!" She looked around the guild hall. "Is the master here?"
"He hasn't come in yet today." Mira leaned forward with interest. "How'd the mission go?"
Erza pat Lucy's back, almost knocking the blonde over. "Lucy here did a fine job." Her mahogany eyes were bright. "I look forward to doing another mission with you."
Cana slammed her empty cup on the bar. "Well next time I'm not going to cover for you!"
"What do you mean cover for me?" Lucy asked, straightening herself.
Mira put her hand up to stop the brunette; however the card mage waved her off. "Natsu didn't know about you going on the mission, did he?"
Lucy looked guiltily over to Erza. "Well, no. We really didn't mean for it to last more than just that day."
Mira clenched her teeth. "Girls. . I think you should-"
"Well he was looking all over the place for you."
Erza frowned. "Why, is something the matter?"
Mira's tone grew nervous. "Girls-"
"No, he just assumed you were still here. We told him you spent the night at Erza's."
"I feel bad that he was lied to. I didn't want that to happen." Lucy pouted.
"Uhhh. . Girls!"
Cana leaned against the bar. "By the way Erza, there is something I need to tell you."
"GIRLS!" Everyone turned to face Mira. She gave them all an apologetic look before pointing behind Lucy.
Lucy turned, shocked to the pink haired dragon slayer glaring at the group.
I want to give everyone a big apology for this taking so long for the next chapter. To be honest, August and September have really pushed me to my limit. I'm going to go into all of the details, but to summarize: Major appliances and electronics in our house have been on the fritz (Freezer, TV, computer -lost all of my story chapters I was working on-), we had to put down our dog, my grandfather passed, my grandmother from my other side moved out here from across the country and I've been helping with that, school started and that's been overwhelming, I've been sick for about 3 weeks. That's just the big stuff. Ugh.
Now that I finally have a chance to finally breath, I will be focusing on trying to update my stories. I love you all and miss writing and seeing your responses. Thank you everyone for the support and patience. Next chapter, for the 30th chapter, I'm planning on starting a quest/mission that I've been planning since chapter 10. I'm really excited for it and I hope you all and hold on just a little bit longer. The next chapter will probably be a bit longer and with the essay and math test this next week, it will be coming on my immediate back list of important things. I will try to update A New World as soon as I can find time to rewrite everything that was lost with my frustrating computer situation.
Please let me know what you all think of this chapter. My original version was in Natsu's POV, but when I lost it all I was too frustrated and decided to try a different perspective.
