Author's Note: I want to thank you all for reading, reviewing, and sticking with me through this story. It has been an amazing past few months of me writing this. You all are awesome and I can't believe how lucky I am to have such amazing fans. You all kept me going with writing each chapter. I want to thank a few people personally for being constant reviewers: animequeen100, Rose Tiger, Rae-Tan, callmeshaun, and many of the guest reviewers and those whom I didn't get a chance to mention. You all have made my day and I appreciate each and every one of you. Because of you all, by the beginning of August, I'll be putting up my newest story I have been working on while finishing up this one. I haven't come up with a title yet, but I will make an announcement here when I'm ready to post the first chapter; so fret not, we will not be separated for long.
So this will be the last chapter of the story and the conclusion. I hope that you all enjoyed the magic i weaved because I certain did get a kick out of writing it. I felt that it was finally time for it to come to a conclusion. There were only a few loose ends to tie up and now that I have; it is time to say goodbye. Please remember to read and review; I wouldn't mind what you all have to say as a story as a whole or even just this chapter; hell, be happy if I got even one word to be honest. Just thank you all for everything! Oh and if anyone wants to make a cover art, just pm me and we will work something-of course I will give you full credit if you wish. But anyway the last chapter song for this is Endlessly-The Cab. Please pull up the song to give it a listen and enjoy the last chapter guys! Thank you for everything and I look forward to posting at the end of the month with a new work. Enjoy guys!
You And I Always
~Chapter Twenty-Nine~
After packing what the Dragneel's wanted to bring back to Magnolia, the loaded up the cars after Natsu took an extra dose of his dopamine, and they began their journey back towards their home. Luna sat in Natsu's lap as Lucy napped with her using Natsu's shoulder as a pillow. It was quite the ways back, but it went quicker than Natsu remembered. Before they had realized, Natsu was carrying in his sleeping wife inside their house while Luna walked carefully by her Grandpa's side. Igneel opened the door to be greeted by a tackling Luna while Natsu brought Lucy upstairs to their room to finish her rest.
After a while Lucy had awoken to Luna cuddling with her and Happy by her feet in their bed. It felt so good to finally be home. Luna looked up to see that her Mother was softly smiling at her, "How is my Princess?" Lucy nuzzled her child affectionately which earned her giggles.
"Sleepy like Momma." Happy had gotten up by their feet and nudged his head to Lucy's free palm. She lightly scratched his head as he purred.
"Hey Happy, missed us too huh?"
"Happy!" Luna shot up and pulled the furry creature against her cuddling. She smiled brightly as the animal cuddled to her purring loudly to be reunited with his person once more. Lucy sat up and watched her daughter and their cat play.
After a while, she had them follow her downstairs where Natsu and the others were watching some sports game on the television, "Morning guys." Lucy announced them coming down. Natsu turned his head to see Luna and Happy trailing Lucy as they descended the stairs.
"Hey Luce, how you feeling?" he asked his wife.
"Awake. What is for dinner? Oh and hi Igneel." she smiled warmly.
"Take out is on its way. Anyway, it is good to see you again Lucy." Igneel smiled. Luna sat on the ground in the living room playing with Happy as Lucy came and took a spot next to Natsu. He wrapped an arm around her as she rested her head on his shoulders and minding her healing arm. Luna and Happy took their spots on the floor where Luna focused on petting Happy who laid on her lap and purred in content. They stayed like this through the rest of the game until the food arrived.
"So Igneel, who were the one's responsible?" Lucy asked. Everyone's gaze went to Igneel as he swallowed his last bite of the meal.
"Old acquaintances of you both. Patty, Gina, and Vanessa. Then there was Drake and Ryder."
"Drake and Ryder was also behind this?!" Natsu's eyes widen in disbelief.
"Yes, these five have been behind everything from the beginning and you two aren't the only victims. More are coming forwards with evidence. It seems to be more of a hazing technique that the fraternities and sororities houses have been doing. This is a bigger case than we ever anticipated." Igneel gave details. Natsu and Lucy could only sit in disbelief. Their tormentors were sitting in front of them and this time they had proof.
"So this means..." Lucy trailed off.
"Yes, they will be convicted and be put away for a long time and the people connected to this will also be going after." Igneel explained.
"Why did they do this Dad?" Natsu asked.
"Not sure, but they want a trial so I suppose we will find out." Lucy let out a sigh.
"Great, another trial."
"It seems that way." Natsu agreed.
"At least we know the verdict. No jury in the world will let them walk once we put a pregnant woman they victimize and beaten on the stand." Jude added.
"He's right." Igneel took another bite of the food.
"Yeah, but when will the trials end? Maybe I should have been a lawyer." Lucy joked.
"Not too late to ever go back to school for that." Jude joked.
"No thanks. I'll stick to novel writing and my part time job at Fairy Tail." Lucy grimaced at the thought of law school. Natsu kissed her temple chuckling.
"Oh Luce, it could be fun." Natsu teased.
"But then I'll be too busy and then I won't be able to come home and have dinner ready. And because I'll be too tired we won't be able to do that thing in the middle of the ni-"
"Oh look at that! No law school for you, ever!" Natsu covered her mouth with his hand chuckling as Luna looked at her parent's odd behavior confused. A ripple of laughter came from the group as Luna went back to playing with Happy.
"So when is the trial?" asked Natsu.
"Next Wednesday I believe." Igneel replied.
"Well at least we have a few days to resettle and get prepared for whatever the defense has up their sleeves." Jude laid back in his chair and the group agreed.
"Are you nervous?" Igneel eyed the couple.
"Strangely no. I'm so used to this bullshit and this time around, I am glad we are going to do some more justice. They have been behind this since the beginning and I am just ready for all of this to finally be coming to an end." Lucy replied after a few moments of pondering.
"Well said Luce." Natsu agreed.
~Trial~
Like much of the previous trials, this one followed the same order. Opening arguments, witness and expert evidence, and the five culprits having a front row seat to the courthouse madness. Luna stayed behind with Jude at Fairy Tail while the trial was undergoing. The evidence stuck and piled up against the defense; it was pretty evident that the defense didn't have a prayer in the world of getting out of this air tight case. The final nail in the case's coffin came when Lucy gave her testimony. Not one juror looked ready to sympathize to the defense; especially after the fact that when Lucy disclosed that their actions revealed her second unknown pregnancy.
The trial had taken about two weeks to finish. When judging had commence, it didn't take all but two hours for the debate of innocent or guilty. When everyone had gathered to hear the verdict, the world guild had been giving for every charge against the defense from assault to attempted murder to kidnapping. . Each person was given the maximum sentencing and without so much as another word, they were filed out and Lucy, nor Natsu ever saw any one of them again. Outside the courthouse, congratulations were given all around and Natsu stood proudly by his wife.
"Is it over yet?" Lucy whispered to him. Natsu, with his infamous grin, nodded 'yes'.
"I believe so Luce, come on, let's get our Daughter and celebrate."
~Epilogue~
~A Few Years Later~
The Dragneel household had only grown bigger as Luna Dragneel rushed around her baby three year old brother to get her pink dragon backpack ready for her first day of kindergarten.
"Momma! Tell Nash to stop stealing my things!" Luna whined to her mother. Lucy walked into the living room as Luna pried the backpack from Nash. Lucy couldn't help but smile at her anxious five year old daughter. Kindergarten was such a big step in a young child's life.
"Mommy where Happy?" Nash, her sweet toddler asked. Nash looked like the splitting image of Natsu, but with her eye coloring; much like Luna.
"We will play with Happy later. We have to take you to daycare." Lucy told him. She gave him a quick kiss after scooping him up in her arms. She passed him off to Natsu whom was coming down the stairs.
"Seems like a mad house down here." he chuckled.
"You have no idea." Lucy mused. Igneel had already gone off to work and Lucy went to assist her daughter while Natsu finished taking care of Nash.
Putting her hair in pigtails and finishing filling up her backpack with the proper school supplies she would need and her lunch box that Lucy had packed; Luna was ready for her first real day of school. Natsu finished helping Nash get ready as they took the family car out. Nash was first they dropped off. With kisses and hugs, he joined the others at day care. Much like Luna, he had forgotten about his family when he saw his best friends waiting for him; Winter: the second child of Gray and Juvia Simon: the second child of Erza and Jellal, and Briar Rose: the daughter of Mira Jane and Laxus.
Once Nash was in his daycare with his friends, the Dragneel drove the car towards the elementary school and walked with a nervous Luna up the steps. She clutched her pack and looked up at the endearing looks of her parents.
"D-do I have to go?" she asked.
"You will have fun sweetheart. You are a Dragneel." Natsu encouraged. Luna's eyes pleaded up to her mother. Lucy got to her level.
"There is nothing to be nervous about. You are going to live it." Lucy consoled her. She felt Natsu join her at Luna's level.
"If I don't like it, I don't have to go back?" Luna asked.
"We will talk if it becomes a problem, but I don't think that will be the case." Lucy hugged her
"O-Okay..."
"Hey, I almost forgot." Natsu smiled as he saw Luna look at him from her mother's embrace.
"What is it Papa?" Luna asked.
"Momma and I got you a present." Natsu pulled out the velvet box. Luna's eyes lit up at the mention of the world.
"That is right." Lucy smiled as she let Luna go and watch her come up to her father. Luna took the velvet box and inside was the locket that had once been around Lucy's neck; the family heirloom passed down from Natsu's mother to Lucy, and now to Luna. Inside were pictures of her parents.
"So you always have a piece of us." Natsu put the necklace around her neck. Luna hugged both of her parents.
"So no matter how scary it may seem, you always have us with you." Lucy kissed her daughter's cheek. As Luna was about to speak, a familiar boy came up.
"Come on Luna! We are gonna be late!" said Storm; her best friend.
"Storm?! You are starting kindergarten too?!" she asked shocked. Lucy and Natsu had stood up as they watched the two children speak. Lucy had to put a hand on her husband's shoulder and prevent him from opening his mouth and say something stupid. Gray and Juvia were making their way over to greet them.
"Hey flame brain." Gray greeted smugly.
"Yo ice princess." Natsu snorted amused with his arms folded. Both Lucy and Juvia rolled their eyes, but greeted each other normally. Storm had Luna's hand with both sporting matching smiles.
"Bye Mommy! Bye Daddy! Luna and I are gonna go!" Storm waved with his free hand. Lucy wrapped her arms around Natsu's waist and gave him no time to insult.
"Bye you two! See you after!" Lucy smiled.
"You keep an eye on Luna and mind your teacher." Juvia agreed.
"Kick all the other kid asses in sports!" Gray spoke proudly which earned him a playful slap from Juvia on his shoulder.
"Papa loves you Luna! Remember that you are a Dragneel!" Natsu called after her.
"I love you Momma! Love you Papa! I'm all fired up!" Luna punched her free hand in the air as the two rushed off. Lucy could swear she noticed Natsu's eye brim with moisture. She leaned over and kissed him.
"She is your Daughter; she will be fine." Lucy comforted.
"Can she not grow up?" he softly whined.
"No, I want her and Nash to grow and do amazing things." Lucy smiled.
"So when do you think we will be in laws Lucy?" Juvia teased.
"We aren't already?" Lucy feigned innocence.
"No way we are going to be in laws!" Gray and Natsu yelled in union. They made both wives laugh.
"Come on Natsu, we are going to be late for work." Lucy dragged Natsu off before he got in a fight. As they got to the car, Natsu stopped her and kissed her.
"Natsu?" Lucy blushed.
"I love you." he spoke with such sincerity.
"I love you too." she replied with the same tone.
"Did you think all those years ago, our lives would turn out this way?" she asked him.
"No...but aside from a few things, I wouldn't have it any other way. Lucy, you and I are a team and will always be a team." Natsu rested his temple on hers and held her close.
"I love being on your team, partner." Lucy gently kissed him back.
"Alright, save the rest of this for tonight. I gotta get to Fairy Tail and you gotta start your first day as Fire Chief." Lucy grinned. Natsu removed himself and held her hand as they headed back to the car. They were the Dragneel's and through it all they came out only stronger than they did before as they drove away to their daily lives they knew they had their friends, their families, and most importantly each other.
