A/N WOW THIS STORY HAS REACHED NEARLY 100 FOLLOWERS! (Or at least at the time I am writing this it has)

THANKYOU ALL SO MUCH! EVERYONE OF YOU WHO READ THIS STORY! I LOVE YOU ALL!

Please R/R

This chapter is dedicated to Valerioux, thankyou for all your reviews! You are one of the people who keep me motivated to write new chapters and your reviews always make me smile!

This chapter is abit more of a happy one since the last few have been rather emotional! Hope you all enjoy

The atmosphere at the guild hall was lighter then it had been in weeks, the melancholy having been chased away by the news of Lucy's recovery. Everyone was laughing again, large smiles adorning their previously worried faces. Glasses clinked together and chatter echoed through the hall as the members of Fairy Tail allowed the relief of their fellow guild member's return.

Everyone surrounded Lucy the moment she walked through the doors and each person told her how worried they were and how overjoyed they were that she was back.

"Next time you plan on facing off with a demon at least make sure I am there to keep you out of trouble". Erza had said after squeezing Lucy into a bear hug.

"Yeah, don't rely on flame brain. He struggles to keep himself safe and besides... we're a team right? We stick together". Gray had added causing him and Natsu to start fighting.

'It's good to be back'. Lucy thought to herself as she watched her dragon and her friend fighting it out and exchange insults. Even Erza just shook her head rather then interrupt them. She was glad to have the sense of normalcy returned.

"Hey Lucy, it's so good to see you back". Lucy was rather surprised to see the youngest of the three takeover mages in the guild standing in front of her with a genuine smile on her face.

She had been worried about what Lisanna's reaction would be especially since she left on a mission apparently right after hearing the news.

"Hey Lisanna, its good to be back".

"Umm I was actually hoping I could speak with you for a moment". Lucy could tell by the look on the young girls face that she was nervous.

"Sure, umm I hope you are okay". Lucy hoped this wouldn't be the start of an argument but could understand if the girl standing before her was hurt. She would take what was coming and hope to mend a friendship from it if possible.

"Yeah, I'll be honest I wasn't at first but after taking some time to think I realised I was be a bit silly. I mean it's kind of unrealistic to think that a childhood crush would turn into life long mates right?"

"I don't think you're silly at all, I am sorry if you were hurt"

"It's not your fault Lucy, I can honestly say that now I am actually really happy for you both. You are a lovely person plus you and Natsu have been through so much together. It's really great to see two people i consider family having such a great chance at true happiness and I just hope one day someone will love me as much as you love Natsu". A genuine smile graced Lisanna's feature and Lucy was truly happy to have such a selfless and kind friend in her life.

"Thankyou so much, anyone would be stupid not to love you Lisanna and the man that wins your heart will be very Lucky... but how do you know I love Natsu? I don't even think I've told him that yet?"

"It's kind of easy to tell". Lisanna giggled covering her mouth with one hand as she did so.

"How?"

"The way you look at him, like the world starts and ends with him".

"I don't look at him that way!"

"No, you just don't think you look at him that way... maybe you haven't even realised the extent of your own feelings for yourself yet. Who could blame you when you have had so many other things to think about... but you will. Actually there is something else I wanted to ask you about if that's okay?"

"Of course, what's up?" Lucy chose to ignore the first part of Lisanna's statement. She would have to think more about it later.

Lisanna's expression suddenly changed from a sweet smile to what Lucy could only describe as an adorable puppy face. When this girl did find her true love he would have a lot of trouble ever saying no to her that was for sure.

"Can I pretty please be Aunty Lisanna to yours and Natsu's future babies? I don't know when I will get to have my own and I can just picture how cute yours are going to be and I know we are not technically sisters but I promise I will baby sit whenever you want and..." Lisanna started rambling on about how much she would spoil and adore the baby and Lucy felt the need to interrupt the girl before she started hyperventilating.

"Of course you can! I would be honoured for my children to have Aunty Lisanna".

Tears formed in the young take over mage's eyes at hearing the kind sentiment.

"Aunty Lisanna, I get to be Aunty Lisanna!" She squealed before enveloping Lucy into her arms then running off to brag to Mira about it.

About an hour later the oldest takeover mage approached her.

"Thankyou for what you did for Lisanna, it made her really happy".

"I should be the one thanking her, she really is such a kind and selfless person and honestly the fact she is so kind to me after how hurt she must have been means a lot to me".

"She was pretty torn up at first but i think now she is just excited. She knows soul mates exist and can't wait to find hers, now that she knows for certain it isn't Natsu she is trying to find out who it will be. She is hopelessly romantic at times."

"Is there any way we can help her find her soul mate? Since she isn't a dragon slayer will it be harder to know for sure?".

"Maybe, if I find a way I will let you know".

"Good, she deserves it".

Lucy was never more grateful for the family fairy tail had become to her. She spent hours at the guild talking with everyone and laughing. Natsu had finished fighting with Gray and had since came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. Every few minutes she could feel him smelling her.

"You know you really are a weirdo" she teased.

"Mmmm" was all he responded, clearly preoccupied with smelling her.

Lucy just shook her head, content to lean back inti his embrace and watch Happy fly around chasing Carla excitedly. Those two had been getting along quite well lately and for that Lucy was glad. She could see Levy and Gajeel sitting by themselves and smiling while whispering to each other.

When she felt Natsu yawn against her shoulder she decided it was time to go home and get some rest.

"Okay fire boy, come on lets go home".

"Mine home or yours?" He said jokingly

"Ours".

The spark in Natsu's eyes was not missed by Lucy, nor was his large smile. Well he practically lived there anyway? They were mates and would have to live together anyway and after all that happened she wanted to let him know that she really did picture them together.

Just because she was not ready for the whole sexy time and babies thing didn't mean she did not want him. There was no harm in waiting as long as possible to take that leap anyway, they had all the time in the world to spend as a family and right now Lucy just wanted to spend time as a couple for the short time they had to do that.

As she layed down in bed with her pink haired dragon slayer beside her she couldn't help but think about the moment she had jumped infront of the dark orb for him.

She had been terrified, not for herself but for him.

'No, I can't lose him' had repeated in her head like a mantra.

The moment the orb touched her skin was excruciating but she could not scream, her soul was literally being ripped from her body and had the demon had enough time to claim it she would have died.

Still it was not that she was thinking about, it was the fact that if she died then so would Natsu. At least his soul was safe though even though in that moment hers was not.

After careful consideration Lucy decided that Lisanna may be right, she had started falling in love with Natsu. She was glad of this, at least when the time came for them to bond and bang it would be done out of love rather then necessity.

She looked over at her soul mate who had fallen asleep and was now laying on his stomach with a protective arm over her.

"You know what Natsu, I don't think I will mind spending the rest of my life like this with you". She said closing her eyes believing he wouldn't hear her.

'Me either Luce'