So i totally lied to you guys and neglected you AGAIN and im totally sorry! Please don't hate me!

I had like a serious kidney infection, was almost hospitalized and I'm on like a shit load of antibiotics and it all just hurts, and I had the flu with that soo i totally wasn't feelin it -.-

And then the job at tops was a total fluke but THAT HASN'T STOPPED ME! I MUST GO ON

oooh and happy early birthday to DatEggLove! Live it up and turn up for the both of us(;

Alrighty, so you're reaaaaaaaally gonna love Lucy in this, but then this ones gonna be a little more on the emotional side but it wont be like BAM like my other feels ive thrown in this.

You'll see what im tryen to say.

Enjoy(:


Wendy

I looked back and forth between the huge desk that sat in front of me and the boy who sat in a chair next to me. The principal was leaned back behind the desk and he was glaring at me and Romeo. I was sweating bullets, trying not to match his gaze but still caught my eyes as they settles on his. He was angry, but not without reason.

Romeo seemed so reserved and patient. He had his arms crossed over his chest, his legs sprawled out and his head down like he was napping. He was doing what Natsu does when he doesn't want to pay attention to someone.

I can understand why he's so relaxed, everything that Romeo said was right. When the principal said he was going to call our guardian's, Romeo laughed at him. He said that won't matter, that Natsu won't be mad and that the principal will probably be the one to get in trouble, not us.

But that didn't calm my nerves. I don't want Natsu and Lucy to be disappointed in me. Even though I did what I felt was right, I can see why some would see it as wrong. We did seriously hurt Kyle, but he was being mean. He always picks on me and Romeo. And when I stuck up for myself he asked me if I was going to have my little boyfriend beat him up again-because he's the boy Romeo beat up when I first started coming here. Romeo stepped up from beside me, like he always was, but I put an arm between him and Kyle and lightly pushed him back. This was my thing, I wanted to take care of this bully once and for all.

So I pushed him. And when he pushed me back, all hell broke lose. Mike, one of mine and Romeo's friends, and Sarah-my friend, stepped up and we all struck together. But as quickly as it was started, it took a quick turn for the worst. One minute I'm helping Mike hold Kyle down while Sarah was on him punching him and the next thing I knew, she's pushed off of Kyle and Romeo's on him, hitting the kid harder than I've ever seen.

I was a little scared for Kyle at that point, so I released my hold on his shoulder and tried with all of my strength to pull Romeo away. I remember a loud screech escaping my chest when Romeo fought his way out of my grip and kicked Kyle a few times, who was lying helplessly on the ground.

I watched in horror as Romeo crouched down next to Kyle and grabbed a fist full of the kids hair. Romeo leaned very close to this kid and I heard him hiss, "Don't ever touch her again, got it?"

Kyle whimpered, tears streaming down his face and tried to nod his head, though it didn't move much because of Romeo's grasp on it.

Romeo smiled in response and dropped his hold, making Kyle's head drop to the floor with a loud thud.

After that, Romeo walked over to me and put an arm over my shoulders as he apologized for not letting me fight my own battle. I couldn't be mad at him because he really helped me out, he did everything he did to make sure I was happy, but I felt really bad for Kyle. He might need a hospital. And we were definitely going to be getting in huge trouble for this.

It didn't take long for the school cop and the principal to find us. They gathered all four of us but Romeo and I took the wrap because we didn't want the others to get in trouble. Mike was on the line of getting expelled and Sarah has a clean record.

But so did I until today.

What If we get expelled? I just started school, it can' end this quickly!

I sighed and looked back over to Romeo, who opened one eye and peaked at me with a sly smile on his face.

A knock came at the office door and the secretary walked in. She cheerfully said, "Mr. Dragneel and Ms. Heartfilia are here, do you want me to send em in?"

I looked back to the giant man of a principal and watched him nod as an evil grin spread on his face. He seemed almost cocky, like he was proud of everything that has happened and will happen. Maybe it's because of his hate for Romeo?

I shook my head at his attitude and rested my hands in my lap. My head fell and I looked down at my intertwined fingers, better to play it innocent so Lucy and Natsu don't get mad at me.

Instantly after entering, I heard Natsu, "I expect this from you, Romeo, but Wendy..."

"Natsu it wasn't-"

Natsu shushed Romeo and tsked, "Don't even. I don't care. I don't care about who you did it to or what you did to them or why. Remember the biggest thing I taught you.

Romeo let out a loud sigh and muttered in defeat, "'There's a place and a time for everything.' I know that Natsu but-"

The principal let out a choking noise and I looked up to see him glaring past me, probably at Natsu.

"No 'buts'," Natsu cut off again.

"Will you two please have a seat so I can get back to work? I don't need to waste anymore time on these two than necessary," Principal Lewis growled.

Natsu moved closer to the desk and slammed his hands on it. He barked back, "Waste time on them? Excuse you?"

Lucy moved to his side and spoke up for the first time. She gently placed a hand on his arm and whispered, "Don't." It was obvious that such a simple word and gesture got through. Natsu visibly relaxed at her touch and he backed off, cleared his throat and walked away to sit down in the seat that was set up for him.

It was nice to see them getting along a lot better. They didn't talk much, and when they did Lucy was usually sad-though she acts strong and pretends to be happy. I can see right through her, I've known her for too long to be fooled by the act. But thing's are improving and it warms my heart to know I don't have to chose between the two.

Lucy wasn't expected to come so there was only one seat, so she walked behind my chair and rested her hands on the back of it.

"So Mr.-uhm... Lewis? Tell us what happened." Lucy sweetly ordered.

The Principal rolled his eyes and sighed. He started to tell the story of what happened but he had it totally screwed up, "A young man, whom has constantly been bullied by Romeo, was just attacked by these two and a few other kids. The other kids were let off with small consequence but these two are looking at serious trouble."

Romeo doesn't bully him! I wanted to scream but held my tongue. Kyle bullies us!

"How serious?" Lucy asked, her voice dripping with anxiety. I could tell she was starting to freak out. She stood up straighter and began to run her fingers through the ends of my hair as a way to relax herself.

I looked over at Romeo then to the other side to look at Natsu. They both were sitting the same way, almost like a mirror image. It was almost comical. They sat the same way that Romeo did earlier, except now they had their heads held high and their firey gazes burning into the Principals. It's hard to believe he wasn't intimidated.

The principal laughed, a harsh gruff laugh that sent my blood boiling. He was enjoying this way too much. "Let's just say you should probably try to find another school willing to take these two delinquents."

Natsu exploded in that moment. He jumped up and screamed, "Now listen here you-"

But Lucy cut him off, "Natsu, please." Her voice was stern, like she was scolding a kid. She walked around me, her eyes locked on Natsu's the whole time until she was in arms reach of the principal. Once she reached him, her eyes snapped over to Mr. Lewis' and she leaned down close to him. She chuckled, "Wanna know something really funny? That man over there," She pointed over to Natsu who was slowly sitting back down, "I'm the only thing standing between him and... you." She poked a lazy finger in his chest and smiled softly. "He has a temper, and I'm sure he'd rip your head off, given the chance." She stood up straight and walked back over to Natsu and placed a hand down on his shoulder. "I might just get out of the way, if you know what I mean..." Lucy wiggled her eye brows then fell silent.

Natsu looked up and smiled as she continued to keep her eyes locked on Mr. Lewis'. The air around us all was tense, though I could hear Romeo next to me trying to hold back laughter. Mr Lewis' face was red and his eyes were wide, almost bulging out of his head. He was speechless. The lack of intimidation from Natsu and Romeo was instantly instilled in him at the subtle threat that Lucy gave.

Lucy cocked her head to the side and she sighed, "Now what exactly did you have to say about these children again?" Mr. Lewis grumbled a response but Lucy didn't seem to accept it. So this time she said with a edgier tone, "Speak up."

"I said I apologize!" He grunted loudly, almost like he had to force himself to pass those words thought his lips.

Lucy smiled thoughtfully. "So how about they take a day off, this'll give us all a chance to cool down. Then we can speak again tomorrow and get this all figured out so my daughter and Romeo can continue with their education-"

Principal Lewis stood up and said, "I need to expel them-"

"What you need," Lucy hissed, "is to sit the fuck down and think this through. Do you really want anymore issues with us?" Principal Lewis quickly shook his head. "Now that that's settled, I believe we will be going."

No one moved for a moment, besides Lucy. I could hear the faint sound of her heels hitting the ground as she walked away. Once we heard the door swing open, Natsu jumped up and chased after her, almost like a lost puppy while Romeo and I both slowly rose to our feet.

I was in awe. Lucy has been different since she came back. She used to be so abrasive and in your face, then she turned into this reserved and guilty person.

She's finally back.


Natsu

Damn, I can't stop thinking about what happened at the school. I was so close to losing my shit on that Lewis guy. How dare he say such things about Wendy and Romeo.

But Lucy. "Lucy, Lucy, Lucy..." I shook my head as I spoke aloud. It was just me in the living room of my apartment. I sent Wendy to her room and Romeo home. I called Macao and told him about what happened so I'm sure Romeo will be getting in trouble as soon as he walked through the door.

Maybe I should take this rare free time I have and go thank Lucy. Everything seems to be going okay in the gang, I called everyone after coming home and checked up. Cana and Laxus had everything under control, with the help of Mira, Lisanna, Gajeel, Levy, Erza, and surprisingly Gray. He had stepped up and partially filled in for me, and he's the main person I speak to when anything happens.

It's amazing how well they're all working, without me. It makes me feel like I never really had a job in the first place. Maybe I should get another apartment a floor down or something and start moving blow through that house...

Anyway, I should go thank Lucy. I could've gotten arrested if anything went wrong at the school. I'm glad she acted as my voice of reason. She handled things beautifully.

I decided to stand up and a paced around my apartment for a minute. Should I really go over there? What if she kicks me out? Na she can't kick me out, it's my place. But she probably doesn't want me over. After we left the school, she didn't say a word to me. I had to sit in the front of the cab so she and the kids talked in the back, but she never even gave me another glance.

Even when we got to the apartment, she and Wendy walked hand and hand up the stares before me and once I told Wendy to get in her room, Lucy dipped out and walked into her apartment before I even had a chance to speak with her.

I should definitely go over there.

I walked slowly over to my front door, almost making no noise at all. My hands were starting to feel clammy and a my head started buzzing with a million different reasons I shouldn't be going over there.

But I ignored my conscience, which I've grown used to doing, and swung the door open. Her apartment was only a few feet away from mine so within no time I was standing in front of her door.

I knocked very lightly the first time, almost like my hand didn't want to obey the choice I made.

I held my breath as I waited, but no answer came. So I knocked again, louder this time. "Lucy!" I screamed, to try to get her attention. "I'm coming in," was the only warning I gave before I pushed open her door and walked right in.

Lucy was standing in front of me, like she was walking over to the door or something. Her blond hair was tangled around the crown of her head, and she had her head down so I could barely see her face.

"What do you want, Salamander?" She asked, her voice a little nasally and cracked.

I looked around the apartment and sighed as I placed a hand on the back of my neck. Did I come at a weird time? I should probably just leave. "Uh... I can... go? If you'd like.." I muttered as I continued to evade looking at her.

Lucy looked up and her brown eyes bore into mine. I was mesmerized by her sharp gaze, like her eyes demanded that I don't look away. Her eyes were fierce, but the makeup that at one point decorated her eyes earlier today, now as smudged. Her nose was red and her lips chapped.

"Just tell me why you came here," Lucy muttered. She turned on her heel and started walking into the kitchen. I heard the clatter of glass and figured she was preparing a drink for me so I might as well just fallow her.

I plopped down at the kitchen table and asked her, "You good?"

She still faced away from me and I heard her let out a light laugh, "Let me ask you something, Natsu." I looked down to the cup she was filling with soda and noted that it was close to overfilling, but that didn't seem to stop her. "If you were to have a kid, what would their name be?"

I didn't really know what to say. I've never thought about kids, not until recently. But even then I didn't want to give a name to what I couldn't have.

Lucy still continued to fill the glass, though something must have snapped in her head. She realized what she was doing and let out a breath, "Fuckin' really?" Then sighed as she found a paper towel to clean it up with. After she was done, she moved to bring me the full cup and sat down in the opposite seat of mine.

"I've thought about that a lot," She continued. Her hands were rested on the table, her thumbs circling one another, while her eyes rested down on them. "If it was a boy, his name would be Damian. I've always loved that name. If it was a girl, I'd have to put more thought into that. Maybe Layla, after my mom." I didn't know she knew her mom. This is the first I've heard her speak of something like this.

I sat quietly and listened to her as her thoughts continued to fumble out, "I've always told myself to never hold regrets. Because life is just one big mistake. We learn from the choices we make, and it always seemed that good always came from it. But this..." She choked on a sob, and my eyes went wide as I watched her collect herself again.

It took a few minutes. As she tried to covered her mouth with her left hand and cried silently into it I thought about what I should be doing right now. I came over just to thank her, maybe ask where that side of her came from. Yet she turned it into this...whatever it was. She's falling apart in front of me. And I should help, I should comfort her. But she said earlier that she was wasn't going to dwell on everything.. what changed?

Finally calm again, though she still had tears streaming down her face, Lucy continued, "Have ya ever heard of the song Waterfalls by TLC? It's an older one, but it was a song my mom used to love. (Authors Note:the math probably doesn't add up but just pretend that the song was old enough for her mom to be able to listen to it.) She used to play it when she cleaned the house, and I'd sing and dance with her." Lucy smiled as she reminisced.

I couldn't help the smile that I gave back, it was almost cute.

Almost.

"The song goes, 'Don't go chasin' waterfalls. Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to. I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all. But I think you're movin' to fast.'" Lucy sang it slowly, almost like she struggled to remember the lyrics. I can't say I've ever heard the song, but she made it seem beautiful.

Lucy cleared her throat and looked up at me. Her face looked dirty, tear stricken and red. "Did I move to fast? Did I chase something that was too big for me? I should have never gone to Sting, I should have stayed with Wendy and helped change our lives. Why did I have to go off and do drugs?" Lucy shook her head and looked away again. "And the really fucked up thing is, when I think about this stuff, I want to go get some more blow, I want to get high so I don't have to think about it anymore. But then I see Wendy and... you. And I don't want to anymore."

I felt my eyes widen. What a heartfelt confession. What do I say? She could easily snap, I could easily say the wrong thing, this entire conversation was so fragile.

"Well... say something...," Lucy pleaded.

I opened my mouth to speak, but a loud knock at the door interrupted me. I rolled my eyes-it was probably Wendy coming over and she was suppose to be in her room, so I got up and walked over to the door to let her in.

When I opened the door, I was shocked to see someone entirely different and unexpected.


Okay so I know this is totally delayed, probably unexpected and/or forgotten about, but remember how a few chapter ago Salamander was all Lucy'll be living between me and... her.

Well we'll finally find out who 'her' is xD

Who do you think it is?

Hope ya'll enjoyed and whatnot, review and tell me whatcha thought. Just please be considerate..

There's nothing worse than getting bitched out over something you put so much thought, emotion and pure passion into and I'd really like to not get another blow to my already small amount of confidence.

Stay wonderful loves and I'll hopefully hear from ya'll soon(;

xoxo

-Bean