Hello, everyone !

I'm finally back with the thirty-fourth chapter !

Thank you so much for the growing love you showed towards this fic ! *sending virtual love to everyone*

As always, I hope you enjoy reading this one :D

Disclaimer: I only own this plot

After regaining her composure back, Lisanna excused herself to head back to the Strauss family manor. She asked Natsu not to tell her sister nor brother and Natsu agreed because he knew Lisanna needed time to be by her own. He was so glad Lisanna was finally back to the Lisanna he treasured. He knew it would take a while for Lisanna to completely get over him and everything between them, but he also knew that she could finally face the truth.

None of this would have happened if it hadn't because of Lucy.

Natsu quickly made his way back to the party hall. He badly wanted to see Lucy. To his surprise, Lucy was waiting for him in front of the doors.

"Natsu." Lucy lifted her head up upon hearing footsteps coming and her eyes lit up when she saw Natsu.

Natsu made no haste in walking over towards her and then swiftly pulled her into his tight embrace. Lucy instantly closed her eyes, enjoying Natsu's warmth that was engulfing her. She knew Natsu had mended his relationship with Lisanna and she was so glad for him.

"Thank you." Natsu softly muttered.

Lucy quietly nodded her head.

"God, I love you so much…"

Lucy's hands unconsciously tightened themselves on Natsu's back. "I love you so much too, Natsu…"

Three years., Lucy inwardly reminded herself. Just let me live like this for three years…

The two of them stayed that way for a while before Lucy put a space between them. She stared at Natsu who was staring at her lovingly and smiled. "We should go back now before Sting realizes we're gone. Besides, I owe you a dance, don't I?"

Natsu chuckled. "I was just about to ask."

Sting nestled his head further as his nose took a whiff of a familiar scent which calmed him down. A soft chuckle and a light touch on his head, however, made him groggily opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was long strands of blond hair.

"Good morning, my little knight." Someone kissed the top of his small head.

But Sting would never fail to recognize that gentle voice.

"Lucy-nee!" Sting threw his arms around to hug his sister. How long it had been since the last time he saw Lucy right when he was awake!

Lucy happily smiled as she hugged her little brother back. "Did you have a good night sleep?"

Sting excitedly nodded his head in Lucy's hug. "I wish I can wake up like this everyday."

Lucy chuckled. "You can always see me here in the palace, Sting."

Sting nodded again. "Thank you..."

Lucy chuckled as she gently tore Sting's head away from her and affectionately rubbing her nose against his, eliciting an excited giggles from Sting. Before entrusting Sting to the Fullbuster family, Lucy decided to sleep together with Sting for the last time and Gray willingly permitted it. Sting also didn't object, because he really wanted to spend the entire day of his birthday with his sister.

"Alright then, let's get up." Lucy said. "We're going to meet your new family today, Sting."

Sting's eyes sparkled. A new family! A family that his Lucy-nee said will love him!

They were picked up by Natsu who was standing outside of Lucy's room after they got ready. Sting's eyes lit up upon seeing Natsu as he opened the door.

"Natsu-nii!" Sting jumped into Natsu's welcoming hands and he picked the little boy up.

"Hey, little cannonball." Natsu greeted. "Did you enjoy your sleepover?"

Sting nodded. "Next time, I want to have a sleepover with you, Natsu-nii! And with Rogue as well!"

"Of course." Natsu ruffled Sting's hair. "You can come here anytime you want."

"Did you know I'm being adopted into a noble family here?" Sting excitedly asked. "I get to see Lucy-nee a lot!"

"Of course I do." Natsu grinned. "And I can promise you that your new family is so excited to have you. But, for that particular last part... I don't know whether I can share Lucy with you as much as you want or not."

"Hey, at least she's still mine before you two got married!" Sting sneakily said, his cute pout was present.

"I thought you gave me your permission?"

"For marrying her." Sting agreed. "But you didn't ask for my permission to monopolize her even before marriage and I didn't give any permission for you to."

"...Cheeky brat." Natsu admitted defeat while Sting giggled happily. He was truly Lucy's brother, he had his own wittiness.

Natsu took them until the palace's gate where the royal carriage was waiting.

"You're not coming with us, Natsu-nii?" Sting asked as he hopped down from Natsu's arms.

"Not today, Sting." Natsu apologetically smiled. "I have something else I need to do this morning. Besides, I don't want to ruin your special moment with your new family."

Sting smiled in understanding and wrapped his tiny hands around Natsu's neck to hug him tight. "I'll come often to visit!"

"Sure." Natsu hugged him back. "Rogue will be so happy to see you come here playing with him. Or he will probably often go to your house instead."

Sting nodded and Lucy helped him to get into the carriage. She had been watching Sting's interaction with Natsu and she felt so happy. She was really glad Sting was able to spend the rest of his life here in the Dragon Country.

Lucy turned her body to face Natsu. "I'll be going now."

Natsu smiled and planted an affectionate kiss on her forehead. "I'll be waiting here."

Lucy smiled back and Natsu helped her to step into the carriage. He waved goodbye to Sting and stood there watching the carriage left. After the carriage was no longer on his sight, he turned his body around and entered the palace.

To be honest, there was nothing Natsu was supposed to do this morning. The reason why he didn't want to come along was because he wanted to give Lucy some more time to spend with her brother. After entering the Fullbuster family, of course Lucy's chances of meeting Sting would be limited. That was why Natsu wanted to give Lucy as many time as he could so she could spend it with Sting before he officially entered the ducal house.

As the carriage rode away, Sting's excitement slowly turned into a nervousness. His fingers played with the tip of his clothes nervously. Lucy didn't give him any details about his new family, but Sting secretly hoped it was one of Natsu's friends who attended his birthday party yesterday. Sting liked all of the guests that came to his birthday party yesterday because they were all so warm and loving. He was so glad his Lucy-nee could be a part of those wonderful people.

Lucy noticed Sting's nervousness from the corner of her eyes. She smiled upon seeing how rigid Sting's face was because he was feeling nervous. She gently took his hand into hers and squeezed it, bringing Sting's attention to her.

"It'll be okay." Lucy convinced. "They love you the way I love you, Sting."

"M—mmm…" Sting nodded a bit hesitantly.

"I promised to set you free, Sting, and I won't break my promise." Lucy said. "You trust me, right?"

Sting nodded.

Lucy smiled and lifted Sting up onto her lap. She then pointed to the outside of the carriage's window, the Fullbuster family crest on top of their ducal house was caught by their sights.

"That's your new home, Sting." Lucy said.

Sting stared at the family crest, his brain spun to remember which one of Natsu's friends had that crest yesterday evening…

"Gray-nii…?" Sting softly mumbled, a bit hesitant of his own memories. He didn't actually remember all of the family crests of the people he met at his birthday party yesterday, but his memory sort of telling him that that crest belonged to Gray's family.

Lucy didn't say anything and kept hugging Sting as he was still eyeing the family crest while the carriage was getting closer to the ducal house. When the carriage finally stopped and the coachman opened the door, Sting was momentarily stunned as Lucy carried him down from the carriage.

Gray and his parents were waiting for them outside the doors with Lector happily curled up in Gray's arms.

Sting hesitantly looked up towards Lucy and she smiled back as she gently put him down. Sting stood there in silence as he didn't know what to do, but Gray crouched down and stretched out one of his arms while the other was cradling Lector.

"Come here, little brother."

Tears filled Sting's eyes and he ran into Gray's welcoming hug.

"Gray-nii…!"

Silver and Mika Fullbuster laughed happily as they also crouched down to hug their sons.

"Welcome home, Sting!" Mika greeted her new son.

Sting nustled further into his new family's big hug. "I'm home, …Father, Mother."

Mika squealed in excitement for having another child and Silver ruffled Sting's hair affectionately. Lector purred sleepily while making himself comfortable between Gray and Sting. Sting slightly turned his head to look at Lucy who was watching him from afar.

He didn't say a word, but his eyes said it clearly.

Thank you, Lucy-nee. For giving me this new wonderful family and for setting me free.

Lucy smiled back at Sting and wiped her tears away as she looked over Sting with his new family.

Be happy, Sting.

Lucy was about to head back to the palace, but Mika insisted her to stay. Silver and Gray were busy adoring the bubbly Sting as well as the sleepy brown kitten. That was why Mika asked Lucy to come to the garden with her and have some tea together, leaving the three men alone.

"How I miss having a little child running around this house…" Mika sighed as the maids poured her some tea. "Gray was such a troublemaker when he was a little boy, but he became quite docile after receiving his lessons as the heir of the Fullbuster."

"Thank you so much for accepting my brother into your household, Duchess Fullbuster." Lucy said.

"Oh please don't call me that." Mika slightly pouted. "You're Sting's sister so technically, you're my daughter as well. Please call me Mother."

"But…"

"Please, I insist." Mika said. "I and my husband will be very delighted to have you and Sting call us 'Father' and 'Mother'."

Lucy was so moved by the genuine love the Fullbuster family showed her, tears started to fill her eyes. She blinked them away though, she didn't want to cry on such a happy occasion as this one.

"Yes, Mother."

Mika squealed. "I finally have a daughter I've been dreaming this whole time! I've always wanted another child—a daughter to be precise—but it seems like Gray is the only child I could ever have. Imagine how happy I am when he voiced out his opinion to adopt you as his sister! It's a pity you rejected, but I was so delighted when Gray said that we're going to adopt your brother! Oh, I love him so much the moment I saw him!"

Lucy smiled as warmth filled her heart. She was so happy Sting is now a part of the Fullbuster family. She could already picture how her little brother would grow up with love from his new family. The life Sting deserved to have.

"Tell me something, Lucy, is Sting a troublemaker?" Mika asked with her glinting eyes. "I'd love to see a troublemaker around this house! Gray is an adult right now and he's busy helping his father taking care of this ducal family, it's making me lonely! I need some commotion in this house!"

Lucy giggled. "Perhaps not as trouble-making as Gray, but Sting is full of curiosity. And he loves to run around."

"Perfect!" Mika huffed in satisfaction. "Oh, I'm suddenly feeling young again!"

Both of them then laughed and continued to chat. Lucy even forgot the time and only realized how late it was the sun began to set. Mika tried to invite her to join dinner, but Lucy said they should have their dinner as the new family and would join next time. Mika smiled in understanding and didn't insist further. Having Lucy called her 'Mother' was more than enough for her.

Gray held Sting's hand as they and their parents saw Lucy off.

Lucy crouched down to give Sting a tight hug.

"Thank you, Lucy-nee." Sting whispered.

Lucy gently rubbed Sting's back. "You're free now, Sting."

Sting nodded and kissed Lucy's cheek. Lucy chuckled and kiss his forehead back, making him gleefully giggled. Lucy then stood up and happily accepted Mika's embrace.

"Come visit us often."

"Yes, Mother." Lucy smiled.

Upon hearing Lucy's way of addressing his wife, Silver's eyes lit up as he looked at Lucy in expectation. Lucy giggled upon seeing Silver playfully wiggled his eyebrows and returned his hug.

"I'll come and visit you again, Father."

Silver's face brightened, feeling so happy he finally had a daughter. Lucy then faced Gray, letting out a small laugh as she accepted Gray's own embrace. Seemed like he had opened his arms wide for quite a while, his face beamed with happiness when it was finally the time for him to hug Lucy.

"See you, Gray."

"Be careful on your way home." Gray said as he ruffled Lucy's hair. Natsu wasn't there so he could ruffle Lucy's hair as much as she wanted to without having his hand being swatted away.

Lucy lingered for a bit longer there and finally leaving after the sky turned a shade darker. She sat on the carriage and waved goodbye to her new family. After the carriage rode away and the Fullbuster house was out of her view, Lucy leaned back to her seat and let out a relieved sigh.

She could finally rest a bit for now as she knew Sting was in a good hands.

Done !

Sting is finally a part of the Fullbuster family ! *hooray*

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