Chapter 59

After three o'clock on Tuesday, Lucy is getting back to her apartment. She had a long lunch with her father, and checked on Happy and Carla on her way back. Everyone is doing fine.

Now back at her place, she knows that she has hours to kill before the girls' night out. Yesterday evening, it had been decided that she, Levy, Juvia, and Erza are going out to have fun tonight. No boys allowed. The four are going out for drinking and dancing. It will be great seeing everyone face to face again.

So until Lucy has to start getting ready for a night of fun, she decides to work on her laptop. She does need to narrow down her ideas. Better yet, she needs to stick with one to be her main focus.

"Ugh, but which one?" she groans to herself as her laptop boots up.

Maybe she needs to make a new document of what she likes about each of her ideas. However, instead of doing that, she hops on Pinterest. The content sharing site allows people to pin things from images, videos, and more to their pinboards. One can also follow others and see what they pin. Lucy likes using the site for inspiration for her works that range from character's looks and attires to places. She also has other boards for fashion likes and recipes from cooking and baking.

She is scrolling down through her home page, looking at what the people she follows have pinned. Some pins pop up because the website is making suggestions based on her history. Then Lucy sees something that catches her attention.

It is a vertical, pencil drawing of two hands being held together from below the elbows. The only thing in color is the red string that is winding around the fingers and forearms. It signifies the Red String of Fate. An invisible red string is tied to two people. It originated from Chinese culture, and they say it ties around ankles. The Japanese say the pinkie fingers. The string can get knotted and stretched. Twisted and tangled. But it'll never break. Ever. Those two people are destined to meet. Time, place, and circumstances are all regardless

She stares at the image, the gears in her mind turning. Something is beginning to form. The string connects soul mates to one another. The two are destined to be lovers. However, the work won't be hot and heavy. Lucy wants it to be sweet, but she wants it to be more than that. She also doesn't want the couple to have everything nicely lined up for them. Does one know and not the other? Is one keeping it a secret?

Before she completely dives headfirst into the idea, Lucy opens a new word document. She brainstorms some basic things. She also makes sure to pin the image to a brand new board and entitles "Red" due to the significant color.

Not even ten minutes later, Lucy likes what she is seeing. There is a magic teaching school, and the four elements will play a role for the magic-type people have. Magic users only have one type. Their elemental matches it, too. So since the main character has fire, her elemental is made of fire. Likewise, elements and elementals will be assigned others. Since Lucy likes the dynamics of opposites, the love interest will probably have water-type magic.

Of course, there is more. Unlike her other novels, Lucy wants to add a focus on a touch of something that can be very real for people. She wants a somewhat unhealthy relationship featured to show that someone can escape it. She has personally never experienced or seen one, but that doesn't mean that they don't exist.

Lucy's phone vibrates since the sound is muted, informing her that she has a new message. When she checks the screen, she smiles and undoes her password to read it.

Natsu: Luccce! I miss your face!

She sends a quick reply his way.

Lucy: I miss you, too!

Natsu: Can it be Saturday now?

Lucy: It'll be here soon enough.

Natsu: Soon enough isn't soon enough for me :P

Even though he can't see her, she playfully rolls her eyes before typing more.

Lucy: So enjoy your family time in Paris until then :P

Natsu: So mean D: You make it seem like you don't wanna see me.

Lucy: But I do!

Natsu: Save that "I do" for our wedding day :P

She is more than thankful that he can't see her face right now. Then she thinks of a perfect response.

Lucy: You're acting like me saying yes to your proposal is in the bag…

Natsu: Maybe you just wanna tell me no so you can propose to me…

Lucy: As if!

Natsu: So if!

Lucy: That doesn't even make sense!

Natsu: Whelp, it does in my book :P

Lucy: You're a weirdo…

Natsu: I'm pretty sure it's stated that you're in the weirdo in this relationship. I'm the pretty one.

Lucy: No way!

Natsu: Say that to my Mr. Model face!

She laughs at his message, not that she will ever admit it.

Lucy: Beauty isn't everything.

Natsu: Sure it is :P

Lucy: *Sure, it is :P

Natsu: Ooo, look at you being so smart!

Lucy: Say that to my published books!

Natsu: Speaking of books ever figure out which one to do next?

Lucy spares a glance at her laptop's screen. The word document is on one side while Pinterest is on the other. Then she looks down at her phone.

Lucy: Actually, I started a new idea…

Natsu: A neeew one?

Lucy: Yesss.

Natsu: I can't wait to hear all about it :D

Lucy: Maybe I'll have more details down before I tell you.

Natsu: You can do it!

Natsu: Can I show you something?

Lucy: I don't see why not…

However, an incoming photo isn't what she receives. Instead, a message to connect to a video chat pops up on her screen. She doesn't hesitate to accept.

Because of the time zone difference, there is a beautiful sunset. The Eiffel Tower is in the background. People are walking by, simply adding to the ambiance of it all.

"One of these days, I'll take you here myself so we can look at this together," Natsu says, his voice coming from off the screen. The smile is hard to miss in his voice.

"And you can show me all the best places around," Lucy says.

"Oh, the best places to eat will be first on the list."

She laughs. "I don't expect less from you."

The camera angle shifts, and Natsu appears. "Hiya, Luce."

"Hey," she greets with a smile.

Lucy does miss him. Messaging and video chats can only do so much to make up for the lack of being together in person. She plans on giving him a big hug when he's back from Paris. Maybe she'll wait at the airport for him. Or perhaps it'll be best to wait until he has some time to adjust being back home.

"Having any fun back in Magnolia?" he asks.

She has yet to tell him about yesterday's adventure with the Dreyar and Strauss families. And she hasn't mentioned anything about going out tonight with the girls. "I've been on my toes, that's for sure."

His grin turns a little lopsided. "Why's that? Shouldn't you be having fun?"

"There's been some fun along the way." She makes up her mind about telling him about yesterday. "So something happened yesterday…"

Panic flashes across his face. "Wh-what?"

"Nothing happened to me. I'm totally fine. Promise."

He visibly relaxes. "That's good to hear."

"I met a few people that you know."

He blinks. "Like who?"

"A car accident happened in front of me," she begins to say. "There was a hit and run, and Mirajane Dreyar was involved."

His eyes light up with recognition. "Mira! Is she okay? How about the baby?"

"I called for help, and paramedics took her to the hospital. I met Laxus there. He took me up to see Mirajane. She and the baby are both fine. Her two siblings showed up, and then Makarov did."

"Hey, you met the whole gang."

"Mirajane knew me because of my books, but Makarov and Laxus knew because you talk about me…"

Natsu knows exactly what she is talking about. "Is that so… ?"

"Natsu's girl. Do you think it has a nice ring to it?"

He nods, a blush creeping in. "I also think Mrs. Dragneel is great."

Now it's her turn to blush. "Oh, yeah? Well, what about Mr. Heartfilia for you?"

He has never thought about that before. "Hearing that makes me think of your dad."

"He took my mother's name."

He seems a little surprised. "Really?"

"Yes."

It is clear to see that an idea has popped into Natsu's mind. "Okay, how about this? If I propose to you first, you take on Dragneel. If you propose first, I'll change my last name to Heartfilia."

Lucy laughs. "Where did you even come up with that?"

He taps his head with a finger. "All my great ideas come from here."

"Oh, I don't know about that."

"Hey, it was my idea to text you about the review you left for me."

"That's not fair. It's not like I had your number to text."

"But you knew where I worked."

"You knew where I lived."

"Huh. Good point."

Then she laughs some more. "How did we even get here?" She is referring to their current conversation.

"I'm pretty sure it's because of that review. That started it all for us." He is referring to their current lives and relationship now.

They keep on talking. Pretty soon, Natsu has to get going.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow," he says.

"I'll be waiting." Then she decides to switch into French. "Je t'aime."

He smiles and speaks fluently in French. "Je t'adore."


A/N Part 1: I lowkey feel bad about not getting this chapter out yesterday. But I had family stuff all Sunday and I had to work on Monday for a change. But at least it's out now :D As for the next chapter, I dunno if I'll feature the Girls Night orrr start the mini arc (it'll be the last part to the arc of the Dragneels being away) that will lead to the Dragneels coming home…

A/N Part 2: Red is another in-progress work of mine :P I've been going back and forth between it and a few others. I really do like the dynamics it might be able to bring to the table. I'm still building up the idea. I've got the main characters named and some traits attached to them. Of course, more needs done to it…

Staring in the next Chapter 60, I'll only be replying to reviews by pming. It's easier that way for me than leaving replies down below… I'll still be reading every single review though! I always do that because they're great :D


Goldenfireflower: Ayy, that's great to hear :D It's nice to feel welcome. I'm excited for when Natsu returns as well!

Sapphirespirit: I mean, it was supposed to be a one-shot, but now I'm approaching 60… Tbh, I dunno how long it'll be in the end XD

Guest: So much manly feels all around XD But I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Craycraynalufan: Someday! Give it time to happen naturally!

Fairy Tail Lover: Took him long enough XD Uh, I'm still debating that tbh. Idk how much more of CAF I have to go. So idk if I'll touch on their friendship or not…

Sharon frm india: That's a solid number! Oh, more updates to come for sure :D