This oneshot takes place after 'Scarred Pasts' and is written for Day 6 of the Safe Haven Prompt Week; Embrace

There was just one thing more chaotic than the guild partying and that was the guild partying somewhere else than the guildhall. The award ceremony for Lucy was supposed to be a formal party, but with the mages getting drunker by the minute it was destined to walk out of hand.

Mest sighed as the guildmaster in the wheelchair he was pushing started yet another argument with a random guest. ''It was me who raised Lucy,'' he rambled, obviously way beyond tipsy, ''that trophy belongs to the entire guild!''

The people he was falling out against looked down at the old man. Mest felt embarrassed for him. ''I'm very sorry,'' he apologized to the people, ''he's getting a little senile.'' He quickly drove off with the wheelchair, looking for other people of the guild.

He almost jumped up when someone tapped his shoulder. He quickly turned around, being surprised it was Mirajane. ''Shall I take him from you for a minute?'' she asked with her signature smile.

''Oh yes, please,'' he sighed in relief, ''I haven't had a moment of peace this evening.''

Mirajane took the wheelchair from him. Before she walked away, she leaned in to him. ''I think you should enjoy yourself a little too tonight,'' she said with a wink and pointed to the other side of the venue, where Cana was trying to make Lucy drink more than she was capable of.

Of course he knew what Mira meant. More people had been hinting he should be with his girlfriend this evening. He wanted to, he really did. But the fact that she had been drinking for 2 hours now and fighting with her dad made it even harder to approach her. Being together was fine. Being together in front of the entire guild was... harder.

They had finally found each other and their relationship again after all these years but things would never be the same. He had lived for 7 more years now because of the Tenrou Island accident and that time had changed him dramatically. Not a day had passed without thinking about how different things could have been.

All of a sudden he saw her waving at him. There was no way back now. He gathered all his courage and merged with the rowdy crowd.

''Can I borrow her for a moment?'' he asked a very drunk Gildarts who was guarding her like a dog.

''Of course,'' he replied, ''but you know how many deaths await you if you even think about breaking my daughter's heart.''

''Dad!'' she let out and rolled her eyes. She turned to Mest. ''Let's go.''

They were now in the central courtyard of the building. He gently closed the door behind them. ''Finally, away from the madness.'' he said in relief, ''I was going to have a meltdown if Gray ran around naked one more time.''

She laughed. ''Remember that wedding party we waitressed for at the Woodlog Inn?'' she asked.

''That was seven years longer ago for me, y'know?'' He smiled. '' I remember it though, how old were we? Seventeen?''

''Something around that.'' She let her back rest against the wall. ''It made me realise that I didn't care what job I had to take or where I had to go, as long as it was with you.''

He was thrown off guard by her sudden words. He felt his blood rise up to his face. How was he supposed to respond to this?

From behind the door, they heard people yelling. ''I don't need my wheelchair, you will need a wheelchair after I'm done with you!''

''I'm sorry,'' Mest said, ''I think I have to go back, the old man is unstoppable.''

He turned around to walk off but was held back by her hand around his wrist. ''Please stay,'' he heard her say.

''Remember what else we did at that job?'' she said as she took a step closer, bringing the scent of wine with her.

''Ehr- '' He scratched the back of his head; ''you wore a maid uniform?''

Judging from the look on her face that wasn't the answer she was expecting. ''And?''

''You gave me your earring,'' he replied.

She now stood close enough to let her hand reach said earring and let it roll between her fingers. ''-and we made out until the owner of the inn had to call us,'' she said, now leaving just an inch between them.

He averted his eyes, clearly avoiding her advances.

She noticed something was off. ''Is it because you think I'm drunk?'' she asked, ''cause I've had way less than it may seem.''

''That's not really it...'' he uncomfortably said, ''It's just..''

''Is it because everyone is here?''

''Sort of..., it just feels like I'm not a part of them anymore,'' he quietly said, ''not a part of the world you belong to anymore.''

Without any hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him. ''Don't say that,'' she said, burying her face into his shoulder, ''of course you belong in the guild, you always have.''

He felt the tension in his shoulder flow away and wrapped his arms around her waist. ''Guess I don't have my guildmark for nothing, do I?''

She lifted her head to face him. ''And I don't have you without a reason, '' she said before closing the last inch between them. He felt her warm lips embrace his and her thumb trail his scar like she always did. He tightened his grip on her waist and brought one hand up to let his fingers brush through her hair.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Lisanna and Mirajane half-hidden behind a tree, both holding their thumbs up.

He grinned back.

''What's so funny?'' Cana asked, feeling him smile against her lips.

''Nothing.'' He quickly planted a short kiss on her lips again. ''It just feels like it used to do when we were young.''

She chuckled. ''Weirdo,'' she said before pulling him back.