"Lucy, I'm home!"

Erza didn't move from the doorframe, clutching her stomach-as much as she could under that armor-looking around Lucy's house having broken the complete silence and emptiness. Somehow that sounded more natural than it should've. She had only moved into her girlfriend's house a month ago. How could she already call it home? Fairy Tail was her home, always had been, always will be. She hesitated to take the further step, but the memories of standing up to Fairy Tail's enemies like Acnologia, Sabertooth and Phantom Lord told her to stop being scared and close the fjorking door already.

She looked around, trying to find Lucy.

"Lucy?" she called again. No answer. Her chest tightened again, struggling to breathe. In her warrior mind, the worst possible outcomes overtook any sense of rationality. What if someone broke in!? No, there were no signs of a break-in. Something would have to be smashed, and she didn't see anything. Well, what if Lucy opened the door for someone? Again, no signs of a struggle. But that meant she could have been placed under an evil spell, and the person who kidnapped her-

A soft moan broke her thoughts. She looked for the source of the sound, and quickly found it. Lucy was napping on her couch, in the middle of shifting her position, from on her back to her right side. Able to take some deep breaths, Erza let her anxiety wash over her. Walking over to Lucy, she knelt next to her. She had been reading a book, and apparently fell asleep whilst in the middle of it.

Gods, she was beautiful, especially when she was asleep.

Without another word, Erza stood, picked up the blanket hanging off the couch and draped it across Lucy's sleeping form. Kneeling again, she kissed Lucy's forehead. Erza thought about why she came back to Lucy. She had her reasons, obviousyl, but seeing Lucy herself... she was like pure sunshine. And as a knight, Erza wanted to stay by Lucy's side, protecting her. That's why she always came back.

As she stood and turned away, she heard Lucy stirring. She turned back to Lucy to see her girlfriend awake and smiling. "Hey," said Erza.

"Thanks," said Lucy. Heartfilia removed the blanket, stood up, walked over to Erza and hugged her tightly. Erza's heart stopped, but she wrapped her arms around her.

"Just get back?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah," Erza replied, running her hand through Lucy's hair. "You know I'll always come back to you." She tipped Lucy's chin up and kissed her.