Just Us

Last Meeting

"Congratulations on getting promoted to President, Natsu! I'm so happy for you!" different employees come up to Natsu, complimenting him and cheering for him.

A party is being held in celebration for Natsu becoming President. And for Loke becoming CEO. I haven't talked to the said man in weeks. With everything cleared up now, I do have the desire to speak to him. He was one of my best friends. But...I've never had the courage to do so.

Suddenly, my name is being called behind me.

And, once I turn, it's just the person I was thinking about.

His eyes scream guilt, his lips are quirked in a smile. I smile a bit back. "Loke...congrats on the promotion. I'm happy for you," I say, and I mean it.

Loke nods, his smile widening. "Thank you, Lucy. The same goes for your lover. That's a very prized position he has in his hands now."

I laugh slightly. "I'm sure he'll do just fine."

It's silence, before he speaks up again.

"Lucy, I...I can't tell you how much I hate...what I did," he starts off, his voice quiet and mellow. I look down, not wanting to make eye contact with him. "I live everyday in guilt and regret since then. I know apologizes won't fix the trauma and damage it has done to you. But, just know...how sincerely sorry I am. None of that should've went the way it did."

I let out a breath. I nod a bit. "Loke...I appreciate you apologizing. That day, I was really upset. So upset that I wanted to hurt you." Loke looks down, ashamed. "But...I know you didn't have a choice." His eyes trail back up slowly. "Shizuki was threatening you with your job. It was a dumb decision for you to say yes, and not tell the police immediately. Though, I could understand. You were probably scared and didn't know what to do. So...you resorted to...that."

He gulps visibly. "Lucy...I've always...loved you," he confessed. I stay quiet. "I know it's too late to say all of this, but...I know that after today, I'll probably never talk to you again. So, I need to get this off my chest." He preps himself before continuing. "Ever since you became my assistant, I've had feelings for you. I never thought I would ever like you in high school. Yet, minds can change, and mine certainly did." He chortles. "I've grown to become attached to you the more I got to know you. And, over time...I fell."

I'm speechless. I was so oblivious - I never knew. At one point, I even thought he liked guys! This is shocking and out of the world. I would've never thought…

"And...it was a mistake...to let you work for Natsu."

I widen my eyes. "A...a mistake…?"

Loke laughs a bit. "For me - not for you. I regretted doing that. I'm not really the possessive type, so I didn't get overly jealous whenever I saw you two together. But...I guess I was a good actor, because you never knew, hm?"

I nod absently.

He chuckles. "And, when I found out you were dating him...it pained me. I saw that you were happy, though. That's all I cared about."

"Do...do you still…?" I trail off.

He nods slowly with no words.

Wow… "Oh...uhm…"

"You don't have to say anything," he cuts in. We make eye contact again. "I just wanted to let you know before we stopped talking again."

I sigh. "A little dramatic there, don't you think?" His face heats. I giggle. "Look...it'll take a while for me to trust you again but...maybe we can start anew? I miss my friend...What do you say?"

Loke grins, and tries to bring me in for a hug, but I stop him. "Uh, let's wait later for that, hm?"

He laughs sheepishly. "Right, right...But, yes. I would love to be friends again. I missed you, Lucy."

With a slight bow, he leaves. I can finally breathe out. That was so intense!

"What were you two love birds talking about?"

I turn around to come face to face with Natsu. I laugh, punching his shoulder playfully. "He actually just asked me out, and I want to say yes, but I want to play hard to get."

He laughs, wrapping an arm around me. "I guess up next is the wedding, huh?"

"Totally! It's next weekend - I already know!"

He leads us outside. The crisp wind kisses my skin. He turns to me, with a smile on his face. "I actually heard the whole conversation."

My smile fades. "Are you mad?" I ask gingerly.

He laughs slightly. "Why would I be mad?"

I raise my eyebrows. "He...he just - "

"But, he didn't kiss you, right? Or make any advances?" I shake my head. "Exactly. He knows his place. And, I know you don't love him back, so it doesn't matter."

I nod, understanding.

"You actually handled the situation pretty well. I would've got angry if he even had the audacity to come up to me. You didn't, and actually forgave him. Impressive."

I flush at the compliment. "I-I guess so…"

We sit on a nearby bench.

"It's crazy how much I've accomplished in just a year," he says absently. I look over at him.

"A person changes a lot in just a year. You're a fine example of that," I add.

He nods. "You're right...Just think, only a year ago, I was doing flings with various women, and then telling them to back off. I still can't believe what type of person I was…"

I smile lightly. "You changed, Natsu. You're not like that anymore. No need to hang on the past."

He chuckles a bit, glancing at me. "I know...I'm just...I'm happy I met you, Lucy...I feel like if I never met you...I would still have been the same, if not worse."

My body ignites as passion burns my insides. My face flushes once the words leave his mouth. My heart races in my chest, pumping blood through my veins. "Natsu…"

"And, you know…," he cuts in, standing from the bench. I watch him with curious eyes. "That night, when you were telling me how you wanted to start a family with me, and how you'll never stop loving me...made me think about a lot of things."

I raise an eyebrow. "Hm? Like what?"

He turns to me, his body stiff. He's biting his lips nervously. "Over the course of that year that I've known you...I couldn't help myself falling more and more for you…"

I grin at him. "I...I feel that same…"

"And...you're right. I want to spend my future with you. I want to grow old together, and spend our last wishes with each other. I want to do all the things I've wanted...with you. And, now...since we're going to be having a family together soon...I know what I've always dreamed of will come true."

Suddenly, he rests himself on one knee, the other tucked behind himself. My eyes widen at his stance. Is he doing what I think he's doing?!

He digs into his blazer pocket, and slowly pulls out a small, velvet colored box. He rests one hand on top of it. Our eyes connect, and I already know I'm crying.

"Lucy Heartfilia...you make me the luckiest man alive. You've changed me in more ways than one. You made me see the other valuable things in life - things that don't revolve around lust or desire or want. You made me realize the importance of love and support and caring for one another. You made me realize that it's okay to make mistakes in life, but we live and learn from them. I've grown with you, and you made me a better person. I can't be anymore grateful for that."

His lips spread wider. Tears rolls down my cheeks and plop down. This is actually happening… "So...I want to thank you for everything you've done. And...this is the only way I know how."

He opens the small box to reveal a diamond crusted ring. It shines under the setting sun, sparkling rays right in my eyes. The beauty...it's so overwhelming. "Natsu...it's so gorgeous...I don't know what to say…"

He laughs a bit. "Lucy...I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you too much and I'll be dumb not to. So...will you marry me…?"

Streams go down my face like a waterfall. I stand from the bench and run to him, straddling him with my arms. He falls back, and we both land on the concrete with laughs. "Yes, yes, yes! I want to marry you, Natsu! I really want to! I love you!" I exclaim as more tears rush down.

He holds me against his chest tightly. "I'm glad!"

He backs away, and grabs the box. He takes the ring from the slit, and takes my ring finger. He gently slips the ring on. I begin to sob hysterically, "Oh my God, it's so beautiful! Natsuuuuu!"

"Shhh," he says in between laughs. He holds me again as I cry into his shirt. "Geez, you're such a handful. Who would've known you'd get like this…"

"Of course I'm like this, dummy! You just proposed to me!" I sob louder.

His cackles continue. "C'mon. Let's go tell everyone the good news."

"You just want to show off, huh?" I add as we stand from the ground.

He wipes my tears with his fingers. "Yup. Especially in front of Loke."

I punch him again playfully. And so, we walk hand in hand towards the building.

And, in those moments of telling the employees the proposal, I realized just what I've been missing all those years that I haven't met Natsu.

Compassion, honesty, trust...loyalty.

I know I can't get that with many people. He has helped me see just how important those traits are, especially when it comes to a relationship.

I can't be more thankful for him.

"You really think you can take my babe away from me now since you've proposed to her?!" Levy screams at Natsu while we're all at my apartment.

I'm currently going to move out of my apartment, and officially move into Natsu's condo. It's a big step, but I know I'm ready. I want to spend the rest of my life with him.

I push Levy away slightly. "You'll still see me, Levy. I'm not moving away."

She pouts. "Yeah, but...it'll be so weird for me to go to Natsu's house just to see you," she whimpers, puckering her lips out.

I pat her head playfully. "You'll live, honey," I sooth, giggling.

Natsu chuckles. "You're welcome over anytime, Levy."

She rolls her eyes. "You're not making me feeling any better…"

"What, you want to have a sleepover or something?" I tease.

But, she doesn't take it. Her eyes sparkle. "Oh my God - could we?!"

Natsu and I exchange glances before laughing at her. She looks confused. "Uh, I was serious - why are you laughing?"

After zipping up my last suitcase, I take it by it's handle. I turn to Levy. "Remember that day when you helped me move in here? I'm getting flashbacks."

Levy chortles. "Yeah, it seems like yesterday when you told your parents you were moving away. You've really grown, Luce."

I smile. "Not just me, all of us. You two mean a lot to me."

Her eyes began to get glassy. She shakes her head. "Geez, Luce. Don't make me emotional here!"

Natsu and I laugh together again.

"But, really, Levy...thank you for always being there for me. Even when I was being stubborn or dumb...you were always there. I can't be anymore appreciative," I say before bringing my best friend in a tight embrace.

Levy hugs back just as tight. "Oh, what are friends for…? You've been there for me, too. Now...it's time for you to start your new life with your future husband. I can't be happier for you, Luce."

We let each other go. Our eyes are filled with tears, and we giggle at our states. "We're really getting emotional over nothing," she says, which makes us laugh more.

"I'm going to take this out to the car, alright?" Natsu announces, holding up my suitcase. I nod.

When he leaves, Levy asks, "I bet he's really great in bed, right?"

My face heats. "Levy!"

She raises her hands defensively. "Okay, sorry! I've just always wanted to say that."

"Well, some things are better not said."

She snickers. "Have you two...decided to try again?" she asks sternly.

I give her a slight glance before nodding. "We already have…"

She squeals. "I'm going to an aunt soon! I'm so excited!"

I laugh. "What makes you so sure you're going to be one?"

She groans. "Come on, Luce. We basically grew up together, so we're like, sisters...kinda."

I roll my eyes. "Okay, fine. You can be the aunt."

"Hell yeah!" Then, she stands up and runs out the apartment. Yelling to Natsu, she exclaims, "Hey, Natsu, just in advance, I'm gonna be the aunt! No questions asked!"

I laugh at her antics.

So, as I lay in Natsu's arms, on his bed, with all of my belongings packed away, I couldn't be any happier.

This has always been my dream. Being with the one I care about. Knowing that I want to spend the rest of my life with them. The rest of my life just filled with them. Nothing more to stop us from loving each other.

It's Just Us.

"I love you, Natsu."

"I love you too...Lucy."

And, it'll forever be…

...Just Us.

a/n: so...that's it, guys. that's the final chapter of "just us." usually, i feel very pressured about writing final chapters, so i really hope it's not bad. i hope it's not poorly executed or fast-paced. i wanted to include the main characters in the final chapter, that's why loke apologized for everything now and lucy forgave him. and that's also why levy is in here, as well.

honestly...i never thought this story would've gone so far. at first, i made this story to control my own childish fantasies, that's why the beginning of this story is really cringey lmao. i really tried re-writing this story and make several editings. that's why the first couple of chapters are different than the original THEY WERE TOO CRINGEY LMAO

like i said in the last chapter, i made this story when i first turned 13. i made this story 2 days after my 13th birthday. i was a horny kid with dumb fantasies and i needed to let them out lmao. so...that's why i never expected this story to be into what it is today. ive made many accomplishments with this story. ive met my best friend today because of this story. ive grown up with this story, and im sure it can be shown in the story as well. im a very different person from what i was 2 years ago. i know im a better writer from 2 years ago, but of course, im not the best. i still have much more to improve on, and i know that. i want to improve as much as i can. i first started writing when i was like 7, so it's been a long ass time.

and about an epilogue...someone actually brought that up in a review for the last chapter. tbh...idk if i could make one. i feel like there's really nothing i could do. ofc i could write about lucy and natsu's kids but...mmm idk what'll happen. honestly i feel like i left it at a perfect spot. but if you disagree, please tell me. i could see what i could about an epilogue.

now, onto future writings...honestly...idk if want to keep writing for fairy tail. im very sad to say that as ive come a long way. but i cant find much motivation to write for fairy tail anymore. BUT IM AN INDECISIVE PERSON AND I MAY CHANGE MY MIND LATER LMAO so that's not a finally decision. i'll most likely take a break from fairy tail for a while tho.

fanfiction has always been a home for me tho. whenever i get sad or stressed, i seem to come back to fanfiction and start writing. i feel a lot better afterwards. fanfiction has helped me relieve a lot of stress, and also helped me to express my emotions better. i love you guys so much. this place felt like a second home to me. at first, i was so confused and i didn't know where to go. but then, i met so many nice, wonderful people here and it all seemed so welcoming and warm. you all are apart of my life, and i don't know what i would without you all. everything always feels like a sort of dream.

anyways...enough of that emotional stuff! you can always still contact me on here, or on instagram! my personal is iam_alexiis. feel free to dm me and we can be friends or something! and i also have a wattpad! it's etheralpink and im not writing on there yet but i will soon! dont be shyyyy :D

i guess that's it...please tell me if you want an epilogue or something and i'll see what i can do. also, please review and tell me what you think of this chapter! if there's any mistakes, i'll get right on them! :)

this is bye for now...i'll miss you all while im gone. it's been a very fun and wild and long ride, and ive truly grown. i love you with all of my heart! thank you for supporting this story, even when i took months to update, you've always been there. it means a lot, and it always will mean a lot.

bye! :D