And part 5. We're coming closer to the end. Hope you like it.

Part 5

~~ 3 weeks later ~~

"Do you have everything?"

Lucy nodded and tightened his scarf. Her heart beat restless against her ribs. Who would pick her up? There was a bus line, that could take her to the city, but she had been told she would be picked up. Excitement and nervousness filled her senses. The last three weeks had been tough and she still had nightmares about her trips. Memories that came back time and time again. Things she sometimes thought she saw. The whole cocaine, the grass and the many alcohol had broken her. She had eaten well, but she did not have her old weight back. But she weighed 55kg and that was good. The doctor gave her a thick pack of documents and brochures to read and Lucy kindly thanked her, shouldering her carrying bag. Her heart rate speeded up, as she reluctantly left the foyer of the rehab center. The sliding glass doors slid apart automatically and she swallowed, then stepped over the threshold. Cool air hit her. There was rarely snow here in the south, but during her stay it had snowed and still everything was covered with a white layer. The glimpse of her brown soul mirrors slipped across the quiet landscape and then she stopped at a big black van. Her eyes widened as she recognized Gajeel. He stood outside and smoked.

She came in his direction and he saw her, raised a hand in greeting. Uncertainty filled her. Gajeel picked her up? Voluntary and without grumbling? She hardly believed it, but apparently it seemed true. The snow under her feet creaked softly and she swallowed lightly. Her fingers clawed into the strap of her bag.

"Hey, Gajeel," she said, smiling hesitantly. He stared at her, took a deep draft of his cigarette, then blew the smoke into the sky and nodded to her, grunting. She blinked slightly confused. And then the side door was pushed.

"LUCY!"

"WELCOME BACK!"

"WE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!"

She hastily backed away. Or at least tried, because she was not fast enough and couldn't escape Levy, Erza and Juvia when all three girls rushed and hugged her. She was badly cuddled and stumbled slightly, but she did not fall because her friends held her tight. Lucy stood frozen in the winter cold. Her breath rose in small clouds of steam and then tears came to her eyes. A shiver ran through her body and she wrapped her arms awkwardly around her friends. Only marginally she saw how Gajeel laughed with a grin and threw his cigarette into the snow and stepped out.

"Well then, let's get you home," his deep voice came to her ears, and while all four tried to get into the van in their embrace, Lucy was still crying. Happiness filled her senses, racing her heart. They didn't disown her, they were here and picked her up, catch her.

"Should we come with you?", Erza asked, watching her expectantly, but Lucy shook her head. Her eyes were glassy and she was about to burst into tears again. But not because of grief, but rather because of emotion. Natsu had resigned her apartment, got himself a bigger one and brought her things with him. That touched her heart. She did not have much stuff about herself, but there were things which was just to important to her. Like her cat Happy. Natsu had taken care of him too while she was at the clinic. Erza held out a key and smiled widely.

"So ... do you need a moment for yourself? Well, if something is, then you call us immediately. And no alcohol!", the redhead giving her instructions and Lucy laughed softly, but nodded.

"Natsu rips my ass off if I ever touch that stuff again," she said, smiling blissfully, pulling the edge of the white scarf higher. Then she got out. She looked around. The underground car park was huge, and nervousness filled her senses. She knew that Levy had taken care of Happy and given him food and water during Natsu's absence. So her russian blue cat would be fine. A tingling sensation spread in her stomach and she swallowed. Then she turned around, grinned at her friends and bowed.

"Thank you for being my friends!"

"Not true," Levy replied, and Lucy flinched, cramping, and her heartbeat speeded up as she sat up slowly. But Levy beamed at her.

"We're a family, nimrod", she said with a laugh, and Lucy felt tears gather in her eyes. Her throat tightened. Gajeel chuckled.

"Come on, Bunnygirl. Go away, your cat is already waiting impatiently", he said and she nodded, wiping the tears from her sore cheeks. She waved to her friends, no to her family, as Levy pulled the side door shut again and Gajeel started the engine.

"And call if you need help!" Erza shouted again. Lucy laughed and looked after the car, then she turned around and walked to the elevator chair. Her heart was thumping as she called it. The doors opened silently and she entered the small cabin. The electric light from the ceiling light shimmered sparkling in the polished, clean stainless steel of the cabin and she bit her lower lip, then pressed the button for the seventh floor. The doors closed again and then a slight jolt went through the elevator. Quiet music came from the speakers, but she stared blankly at the electronic display that indicated the floor numbers.

And then a bright ping sounded, the doors diverged and a short corridor revealed itself to her. The floor was covered with a dark carpet, the walls were painted in a harmonious creamy white and apartment numbers and signs showed in which direction you had to, where the stairs to the emergency exit was.

She left the elevator and her brown soul mirror glanced around searching and then, she found the direction she needed to get and headed for the front door. It was made of noble material and her heartbeat speeded up again. And then her eyes fell on the name tag.

Dragneel/Heartfilia

Her eyes widened, and she seemed unable to breathe. Her heart stopped for a moment and then beat faster, raced like she was running a marathon. She would live firmly with him. Heat flooded her body and shaking, she pushed the door key into the lock, turned it and pushed the door open with a soft click. She stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind her, then slid her hand along the wall until she found a light switched it on and warm, bright light from ceiling lights flooded the wide corridor. The walls were painted in a soft creamy white and dark parquet stretched across the floor. To the left of her was a shoe cabinet and above it hung a key strip on the wall. She closed her eyes and sucked the smell in the apartment deep into her lungs. A soft meow reached her ears and her eyes flew open. Happy had come down the hall and when he saw his mistress, he sprinted towards her. Lucy dropped her bag and dropped to her knees as the cat jumped into her arms. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she began to sob and squeeze a purring, clearly happy tomcat to her chest, scratching him and squeezing kisses into his fur.

She was at home.

~~ two weeks later ~~

She hummed softly as she eagerly stirred in the egg that roasted in the pan. Music came from the radio and the smell of fresh coffee filled the air. Swinging her hips in tact, Lucy turned off the stove, made an elegant turn, and deftly pushed the scrambled eggs onto her plate. Then she put the still hot pan back on. She hummed and danced around the kitchen, completely in her element. Her heart beat fast and excited against her ribs, her senses hummed and she just felt completely happy. A broad beam graced the blonde's full lips.

She was so excited. He would come back today, and she was so happy to see him again. Finally, after five weeks, she saw Natsu again. Happy mumbled angry, because he still had not gotten a fish fillet and she laughed softly, came after the request of her cat, which greedily swallowed the fish in high speed. She grinned and then two slices of toast shot out of the toaster. She grabbed the slices of bread and danced to the table, dropping on the chair with a light sweep.

"And what do you mean, Happy? Will he come this lunchtime or in the evening?", she asked, poking some egg with a fork.

"Neither."

She almost dropped her fork in shock when she got an answer. For a moment she thought Happy had given her an answer, but then she slowly turned her head and her eyes widened as she saw Natsu, with a shit eating grin. She jumped up, the chair fell backwards, and she dropped fork and toast, bridged the few meters to the kitchen door and jumped him, fell around his neck.

He laughed, replied the sweeping hug. Her heart was racing, and the masculine scent of sore aftershave penetrated her nose. Lucy broke away from him and beamed at Natsu.

"You're back!", she exclaimed joyfully, and he grinned wide, nodded and laughed softly, then pulled her a little closer. His warmth enveloped her, and his scent dimmed her senses. Redness rose in her cheeks.

"I missed you, my heart", he said suddenly and before she could say something, he pulled her closer. One of his hands slid into her hair and he kissed her, sealing her lips with his own. Lucy's eyes widened. Her heartbeat stopped a moment, only to rise even faster. Her fingers clawed his neck and she returned the kiss, closing her eyes and nestling against his body. Could she take it as an answer? Her senses were buzzing, and she felt happier than she had in a long time. She enjoyed the feeling of his warm lips, enjoying his warm and strong hands holding her and his smell.

Passion boiled up in her, filling her and carving for more. Panting, they parted and blush shimmered on their faces. Natsu grinned and kissed her once more.

"I love you, Luce", he said softly, tears filled her eyes as he fulfilled her deepest wish. She beamed at him.

"I love you too, Natsu", she said, and he wrapped his arms tighter around her, laughing. Yes, she was at home. He was at home. Lucy happily buried her face in his broad chest. She was finally where she belonged. One his side.

And that's the sweet, happy ending. I love drama to be honest, but I think we all need a happy end. Even if its so cheesy and fluffy like this one.

And actually I'm thinking about, to write more Sequels of this Storyline ^^ Because, there is potential more background which I could write. But I'm not really sure about that. Let me know your thoughts about this ending and the other stuff :3 I would like to read your opinion about it.