Hey Guys,

I'm glad I was finally able to sit down and edit this one. I actually wrote it a few days ago, but editing always takes longer than it should. It probably also had something to do with the fact that I both love and hate this episode. I hate it because of just how cruel some of the comments are about Lucy. It's realistic that people talk behind your back all the time, but geez, these people were supposed to be your friends and family. I love it because of how, even after everything that happens, it shows just how close Natsu and Lucy are to each other. Still, the execution left something to be desired.

Anyway, hope you enjoy it!

- Singed

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.

Lucy

As Lucy placed her latest letter with the others, she turned to see that it was a little before eight. If she left now, she would make it to Fairy Hill by the time the clock tolled. It would still be a little early for Erza, but this was something that Lucy just had to get done and over with. After they'd hashed it out, then Erza could sleep all she wanted.

Grabbing her bag, she decided to add her writing stuff, some of her parchments, and her journal. If yesterday had taught her anything it was that you never knew when you could squeeze in a letter or two. Sighing, Lucy marched from her apartment with determination. The streets were still fairly quiet, though with each passing step they grew more lively and by the time she reached Fairy Hill, the markets were bustling.

Reaching the front door, Lucy placed her hand on the doorknob and waited, listening intently. The door would automatically be unlocked for anyone who lived there, but for someone like her, who was a part of the guild but a nonresident, Lucy would need to wait for the magic to verify that she was a member before the lock would turn. In a moment, she heard the telltale click of the deadbolt sliding back and she pushed forward.

Inside was quiet, only the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall broke the silence. It made sense really. Mira and Lisanna would already be at the guildhall and the others were either just starting their mornings or were still asleep. She had noticed that most of her guildmates kept late hours when not on a job. There were a few early birds though, like Levy, but she lived with Gajeel now and of course, Juvia, who never seemed to sleep. As if on cue, Juvia descended the stairs, heading towards the kitchen.

"Lucy," she said with surprise, "what brings you here so early?"

"Hi Juvia, I've come to see Erza." At the mention of the Requip Mage's name, Juvia's face fell ever so slightly and she nodded. Juvia, like almost everyone else, had been at the guildhall when they'd had the fight.

"Yes, you two need to speak. Unfortunately, Erza does not normally leave her rooms until 9 or 9:30."

"I know. But she also has the ears of a fox. I doubt that if I knocked that she'd stay asleep for long."

Juvia's expression changed to one of surprise, but nodded and stepped out of Lucy's way. Lucy couldn't blame her really. It would take a foolish or desperate person to wake Erza. Lucy would like to think she was the latter.

Stopping at Erza's door, she paused for a brief moment before gaining the courage to knock. Rap, rap, rap, rap, rap! She waited for a moment, before trying again. Then she tried again. After she waited another few minutes Lucy flushed in embarrassment and pounded on the door. Everyone knew that Erza had trained herself to be up in a moment's notice and that she had the best hearing in the guild besides the dragon slayers.

"Come on Erza, we need to talk." Still, all that answered was a resounding silence.

"Lucy, if she didn't answer the first time, she's not going to," Cana sighed from her door. Lucy blushed furiously and turned to the sleepy drunk. She was clothed in nothing but a bedsheet and Lucy realized that she must sleep in the nude. It made sense, she hardly wore anything anyway.

"Sorry Cana. We just … really need to talk."

"Yeah, I get that Lucy." There was an awkward silence between them before Cana sighed.

"I need to apologize too, Lucy. I got a little too wrapped up in my own ideas and forgot that it was your wedding."

Lucy sighed and nodded. "I understand. I guess I should have been paying more attention or more clear with my choices."

"Nah, don't take this on yourself. It was my fault." Cana suddenly sighed and straightened. "Anyway, when she finally gets up, I'll send her your way."

"Thanks, Cana, but I'm sure that she knows it's me and doesn't want to talk."

"Yeah, maybe." With that Cana shut the door and Lucy left, glad that she got a chance to speak with Cana but angry that Erza had ignored her so completely. With each step out of Fairy Hill, Lucy's anger rose and she realized that there was nothing she hated more than being ignored or treated like she didn't matter. That was how she lived for years after her mother's death and she had left in hopes of not only becoming a Fairy Tail wizard but also finding fame so that she could never be overlooked again. She had found renown eventually, though everyone else in the guild seemed much more famous than herself. However, it had been much later that she realized that she had found something better than fame. She had found a home where the people in it very much cared for her and made her feel important and somebody. Well, most of the time. There were two instances where that hadn't happened. The one she'd have to write about later, but the other had made a massive impact on her though it had been painful to go through at the time.

Finding a bench close to the heart of town, about two blocks from her apartment, Lucy sat and pulled out her parchment. She wasn't sure what she'd find when she returned, probably Natsu or Levy, and she wanted a chance to get this written before that.

Piece 22 - Your Words Can Cut and Your Words Can Heal

Natsu,

What I'm about to share with you, I don't think I've ever shared before. You know about half of it. It's a story about how your actions and the words of our guildmates almost destroyed me, but then it was ultimately your words that began to heal me and soothe the ache. Still, if there was a lesson in all this it was that I learned to always guard my mouth because you never know who is around to hear them …. and never use an expired potion.

I remember that I was particularly annoyed with you that day. To be honest, it wasn't just that you broke into my place and read my private stories, again. It was because you did all that, and expected a free meal, a free bath and were almost offended that I was annoyed. I didn't mind the meal and the bath, not really, but I did mind the expectant attitude. You made me feel … used, like a tool. I remember wondering what it was going to take for you to take me seriously. I was supposed to be your partner, which meant that we were supposed to be equals. I know that you didn't mean to take me for granted but I guess with the loss of my father and our semi-romantic dance where I had wondered what it would be like to kiss you I was starting to come to a few realizations. I guess, in the end, it boiled down to the fact that if I wanted to ever feel like I deserved a kiss or could take one, then you were going to have to see me as an equal. Grieving my father's death made me remember how my parents were and perhaps it wasn't fair to compare us to them, especially since nothing had happened, but regardless of how my father acted later, he always respected and treasured my mother.

So, I was feeling underappreciated and I was just … tired. I had been pushing myself to have a normal time of it, but such charades can only be upheld for so long. Thus, after kicking you and Happy out, I took a well-deserved bubble bath. Unfortunately, I did not take an extra second to remember that we had been missing for seven years and that any potion given to me during that time would be far too old to use now.

Anyway, that was how I turned invisible. As soon as I realized I had, I knew I had to get to the guildhall and fast. I needed help, but then I realized that in order to get there without causing a scene, I'd have to walk through town naked. This caused some delay as I was worried that at any moment I might become visible again, but I never did. Though I did have some close calls with people and dogs running into me. Anyway, I thought most of my problems were over once I got to the guildhall, but in a way they were just beginning.

You and Happy were sulking at the bar complaining about how I kick you out all the time. The guild was laughing at your expense. Carla came to my defense berating you for treating my apartment like a cheap motel. Erza stepped in and backed her up, explaining that as your teammate, I should be given more respect. You were listening, but seemed none too pleased that the guild was on my side. At that moment, my heart soared for the first time in weeks. Finally, I saw that I did have everyone's respect. I was one of them and they weren't going to let you push me around, especially when I really needed you on your best behavior right then.

I realized then why your behavior stung so much. I needed you to put me first. You always did if we were in battle or I was in danger, but for that time in my life, what I desperately needed was for you to see my pain and for you to put me first in every situation. Of course, my soaring heart was about to crash and burn, shattering. Happy has never been that careful when it comes to his words and he never really cared what he said in front of people's face but I often wonder if he would have said what he did if he'd known I was there.

"Well, Lucy could try to be a little nicer to everyone now and again. That's why all the single guys in town call her the blond beast." They did? I mean, I wasn't really looking or trying to date right then and there, but everyone else in the guild, even Erza had a date from time to time. I had begun to wonder what was wrong with me, I now knew. I'd never thought of myself as mean. In fact, I'd always gone out of my way to be welcoming and kind to everyone. I was just loud and assertive, making up for the years of forced obedience and silence. Could no man really handle that? The men in Magnolia must be cowards.

What really hurt was how everyone laughed and then started agreeing. Wakaba, Max, and Macao were the worst. Of course, one is in an unhappy marriage, Max has never been a successful lady's man, and the other is divorced and none too happy about it. So I really shouldn't have cared for what they thought, but I did. I did so much. None of them thought I could date? Really? I could! I could get a date! If I tried, I'm sure! But really could I? The only person I wanted to try dating was suddenly you and after hearing what everyone else thought I realized that you must have seen me as undateable too.

The final nail in my confidence coffin was Levy saying that I didn't know how to be delicate. She was my best friend, besides you, yet she agreed. I was undateable. She had Droy and Jet wrapped around her little fingers, she could date at any time. So yes, I trusted her judgment in this. After hearing this, I turned my eyes to your face and saw that you were laughing along with everyone else. Fine, fine. Just fine. I could feel my hurt turning into anger and I decided that if people were going to make fun of me, then I would hurt them back. Childish perhaps, but you guys were supposed to be my family.

So I poured beer onto Macao, who of course blamed Wakaba. Then I pulled on Jet's ear, who started a fight with Droy. This turned into a full guildhall brawl that became out of hand faster than Droy could finish a plate of chicken. This ultimately led to being caught by you. Of course, my humiliation was not yet complete. You seemed happy to see me, which was weird because just a few minutes before you were complaining about me. I had a momentary horror as I wondered if it was all an act. Was your joy at seeing me every time nothing more than a mask you put on to keep me coming around. I only had this fear for a second because I knew you well enough to know, that no, you genuinely cared. It helped to heal the hurt a little, but I still understood that you would never date me and so those feelings about you I had begun to accept I had to squash. I could be your friend and nothing more. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, you groped me. You didn't mean to, it was an accident for sure, but I saw in your face that the second you grabbed my breast that you knew it wasn't an arm. I think you were too shocked to move fast enough because I slapped you harder than I ever thought possible. You were too stunned to say anything and I still wonder to this day if your shock was because I was invisible, I'd slapped you, or you had just grabbed my boob.

I had to quickly take my attention away from you because now the whole guild knew I was there and we needed to get to the business of reversing the invisibility. It started out light-hearted enough. You and Romeo tried to burn me alive, then everyone tried to paint a face on, finally, I had a magazine taped over my face. My hurt feeling was beginning to repair slowly as I saw how everyone was trying to help me, even though they sometimes had awful ideas or said poorly thought-out things. The worst was by far when I brought out Gemini. When Max, Droy, and Jet decided that it would be better just to keep Gemini instead of me, much of my hurt resurfaced. Thinking on it now, I've realized that in many ways those guys are losers and it is no wonder they aren't married or in a relationship. Choosing a fake girl over a real one is a perfect receipt to a long lonely life with no true relationship in it.

That was when everything got serious. Freed tried his enchantment, which did nullify the potion, but because it had matured for seven years it would take seven years for the enchantment to work. Then it got even worse when I started disappearing from existence. When everyone forgot me, that was the loneliest most terrifying half hour of my life. At that moment, I had forgiven everyone of their cruel words earlier, I just wanted my friends, my family to remember me again. I would even welcome your mooching with open arms. I was never more broken and never more determined.

Then you, one of the most recklessly forgetful people I've ever met stood up and announced. "Happy go get Lucy so we can get to work!" I was floored. Did you remember? You stopped dead and repeated my name, Happy did too. Then I saw that you remembered me. Your remembrance caused everyone else to gain their memories and the spell broke. I ran to hug you, but Levy met me instead and I had to be fine with simply sharing a look with you. Of course, the day didn't end there. Happy's actions caused everyone to go invisible and I had to spend the rest of the day calming everyone down. When it was my turn to forget, I remember being frightened as I wasn't sure what I was doing in an old building. I had no idea where I was and why I was there. I began calling out for someone, but no one showed up. I decided to leave but had a nagging feeling that I was forgetting something really important. It was as I was leaving the guildhall, the large Fairy Tail sign fell from the roof and almost crushed me. As an instinct, I called out your name as I cringed in the doorway. You were suddenly there, wrapping me in a bear hug and spinning me around. That was when you called for Happy, who called for Carla, and so forth and so on until everyone was there.

I'm not really sure how the day ended, but I do remember that the next day when you showed up for a free breakfast, I was so relieved that you were there that I served you a plate and did not complain. Then you surprised me by doing the dishes instead of expecting me to and even let me take my bath first. So, it would seem that we both learned a lesson from the day before. It didn't last forever, on both our ends, but from that day forward we always treated each other just a bit more kindly and I realized how badly words could wound and how easily they could heal.

Love,

Lucy

Lucy quickly seals the envelope and stuck it into her bag. That had been one of her longest letters yet so she had taken much longer than she'd meant to. It was time to get back because she was sure that Natsu was probably waiting for her to feed him. She stopped for a second, realizing that he would expect this from her for the rest of her life. Well, if it meant that she got to marry her best friend and soulmate, then it was a fair trade.

Natsu

As Natsu walked into town he failed to notice that he was practically skipping. Ever since he'd come to the realization that he loved Lucy and that she loved him back, his natural mode of transpiration when his mind was elsewhere had been skipping. No one had told him this, except for Gray, and since it was Grey Natsu naturally thought it was a lie. Lucy thought it was adorable, so she kept this new habit to herself and Erza believed in living life to the fullest as well as understanding that skipping was a wonderful calf workout, so her lips were sealed as well.

He was almost to the bottom of the hill, where Magnolia's city limits started when he stopped. He wasn't sure what caused him to, just that something was off. He looked around and took a big whiff of the air. This turned out to be a mistake as he got a big noise full of rotting fish and manure. The dump was nearby and Natsu had failed to take full notice of his surroundings. He covered his nose and started walking all the faster. When he could finally clear his senses of the offensive odor, he looked about for a moment to get his bearings. He watched some of the people walking past when he was hit with such a wave of deja vu that he almost felt like he was in the past itself.

This is where he had Lucy had stood on the first day he'd brought her to Magnolia. They had actually arrived late the night before and seeing as she had nowhere to sleep, he let her stay on his couch. She'd been floored with his ever-increasing kindness and had proceeded to talk his ear off as he led her up the hill. He had regretted his offer by the time they walked through the front door. She regretted choosing to take his hospitality the second she saw the state of his house. They had gone to bed almost as soon as they got in, he wanted to get away from her incessant talking and she hoped that in sleep she wouldn't be aware of how disgusting his place was. In the morning both of their moods had improved and Natsu was more than happy to show her his town and his guild.

It was here in this very spot she had stopped and gazed in wonder at such a town. She'd pointed out different stores and buildings and while Natsu was still trying to figure out how she had so much to say, he also found her wonder amusing and refreshing. Of course, now that he looked at it in the present much had changed. The florist that she had swore had the most beautiful flowers she'd ever seen was now a coffee house and the twins that had been kids playing ball were now moody teenagers, completely bored with everything. Many of the houses had been painted, one of the streets was repaved and the warehouse that had been standing in town almost since its founding had burnt a few years ago and replaced by a few new apartment buildings.

He and the gang had been on a job, otherwise, he would have helped to stop the fire by eating as much as he could. Yes, the more he looked the more he saw just how much had changed and for some reason, this made him uncomfortable, almost sore. He pondered for a moment, wondering what had him so annoyed. Normally he was fine with change, it made life interesting. But change also reminded him that life could turn at any moment and opportunities you didn't even recognize as the greatest moment of your life might never be taken because they seemed unimportant. Suddenly, he had a revelation.

His brow furrowed, he turned to the still floating lacrima and turned it on to record.

Piece 22 - You Can't Go and Disappear

"Hey, Luce. So, I've been trying to decide what to talk about now and I stopped here. Do you remember this spot? Let me see if I can get the camera to pan a bit." He grabbed the lacrima and had it sweep the streets and buildings. He would be surprised a few weeks from then to hear Lucy exclaim, that yes she remembered that spot quite well.

"Anyway, it's okay if you don't. I really didn't until just now. It was your first day in Magnolia and you just had to stop and gawk at everything. I remember wondering how you could talk so much? At the time I'll admit that I was glad to be home and almost to the guild so that you could meet some new friends and get yourself settled. I knew I wanted to be your friend but I hadn't realized yet just how special you were."

He sighed and started walking. "Still, you were so happy and your joy was catching. I remember thinking that it would be cool to go on a mission with you sometime or other when we finally got to the hall. But Luce, thinking on all this now I finally realize when it was that I realized just how much you meant to me. Just how much my life would be a total horrible mess if you'd never come into it. Lonely for sure. I know that some think that if you weren't around I'd end up with Lisanna, but that's not true. Sure, I'd had a crush at one time or other, those common thoughts that wondered if we'd make as good a couple as we did friends, but it wouldn't even be close to what you and I have. I'd think I'd know it, deep in my bones, even if I'd never met you." Natsu stopped and shuttered at the thought.

"When you disappeared that day because of that stupid magic potion and I had forgotten you for that small amount of time, it was the worst possible feeling. Even as I sat there, stuffing my face, talking with Mira and Happy, laughing with people from time to time, something was missing." He grabbed his chest and held for a moment, trying to show without words.

"Obviously my heart had not forgotten, which is why I yelled your name in that declaration to Happy. I remember stopping for a moment. Erza later described it as the moment my brain finally remembered what my heart had been screaming, but that wasn't it. The moment I said your name I remembered everything. The reason I paused was that… I remembered everything. I remembered how I'd treated you that morning by demanding food, the use of your bath, reading your story even though I knew that always upset you, but worst of all, I remembered what I'd been saying about you and then allowing others to say about you. To be honest, I hope you didn't hear any of it, but I know deep down that you must have heard some of it. That slap you gave me for grabbing your boob when I tried to help you up, had more than just righteous anger behind it, there was a deep-rooted pain in that slap too."

Natsu stopped walking in agitation. "How could I have treated you that way? How could I have gone behind your back and said all those things about you to our family? How could I go along as everyone started saying all those horrible things about you? How could I laugh at them? True, I was annoyed that they had been showing me a side of myself I didn't like but that was no excuse. What makes it all worse was that I had been annoyed and even angry about some if not all of the comments said that day. I even remember thinking that I thought it was weird that all those people thought you were undateable. You are the coolest, most beautiful, kindest person I know. Any guy would kill to have your affection, or at least I thought so. Obviously, I still do." Here he smiled at the camera and started walking again.

"Anyway, when I remembered all that I almost wished that I had never remembered you because I never wanted to be that guy who hurt his best friend. That desire didn't last though, even for ten times my shame I would take you. When I turned around and saw you standing there, the relief I felt was all-consuming. I wanted to run to you. I wanted to grab you in my arms and spin you around, crushing you to my chest in relief. I even had a thought of kissing you, but then Levy got in the way and the moment vanished, but the relief stayed."

Natsu smirked. "At least I got to do one of those things when you called out my name as I watched the sign almost crush you. I picked you up and spun you around as you laughed in relief and I would have tried for a proper hug and maybe even a kiss if I didn't realize as I spun you that I was quickly forgetting everyone else now that I was free of the potion. I acted on instinct and called out Happy's name. You know the rest."

Natsu suddenly stopped again, but this time he had a purpose. "Still, I remember watching you later, as I walked you home, knowing that I could have lost you that day and partially because of my actions. Even if you hadn't disappeared, you could have been too hurt to have stayed. People have quit for less offense. So, as I hugged you good night, much to your surprise, I think, I vowed to always be there as your protector and to always come to your defense, even if the words were coming from Happy. You deserve the best and you deserve the true respect of a partner. For the most part, I stuck to my vow, except for one embarrassingly bad choice of mine. Still, now that you know of it, you let me know if I fail in any way. You disappeared from my life for about half an hour one day and that is all I'm going to allow."

Natsu grabbed the lacrima and turned off the floating setting as he signed off.

"Love you, Luce, see you in a bit."

With that, the lacrima faded and he made it even smaller to slip into his pocket. He then marched into the store he'd stopped in front of and bought Lucy her favorite chocolates and a card of apology since he still needed to make up for the night before. Once his purchase was complete, he practically skipped to her apartment, much to the amusement of Magnolia.