Well, hello again. It's been too long so I thought I'd post again. I don't really have an excuse for not posting, so, yeah. Enjoy!


Lucy groaned softly. The guild had woken her up. At first, their movement and chatter were quite and in the back of her mind like it was part of her dream, but then, gradually, it got louder and more distinct until Lucy simply couldn't ignore that it was there anymore. Lucy just wanted to sleep. She didn't even care that she missed the sunrise that she hadn't missed for as long as she could remember. She only wanted to rest a little longer. Her body was achy and sore from yesterday and her energy was still completely drained. She couldn't bear to move her limbs, as her tired muscle sent painful throbs through her body every time she tried to move one of them.

Lucy refused to open her eyes and instead squeezed them harder in order to block the strong sunlight.

She nearly fell back into a light sleep until she felt someone poke her face several times. While the pokes were gentle, they were extremely irritating. She groaned again. One that was meant to tell them to go away. While whoever it was stopped poking, they proceded to speak.

"Luce, Lucy, wakey-wakey. It's already, like, twelve." Natsu's voice was sparingly quiet but riddled with impatience. Lucy stifled another groan, and she instead nuzzled her face farther into her flat pillow.

"Please, Natsu. Lemme sleep a little longer. My body hurts all over. I don't think I'll be able to sit up." Lucy begged into her pillow. Her voice was muffled and sounded far away. It seemed like those few words took all the energy she had out of her. Natsu laughed and carelessly lifted her off the sleeping bag by her shoulders.

"Ow! Natsu!" Lucy yelped as a strong shooting pain went through her from were his strong hands gripped her shoulders. Natsu frowned in guilt and quickly let her go, but by now she was already sitting up and the damage was done.

"I'm sorry, Lucy. I know you're tired and sore but today is a big day! Trust me you won't want to miss it." Natsu assured taking on an apologetic tone. "I'll find Wendy and get some pain medicine. It's her own remedy. It works like magic. Getting some food in your system will help to…" Natsu continued to convince Lucy to get out of bed despite her soreness and tiredness. Lucy was going to refuse, but then she saw the eager and hopeful expression Natsu wore and gave in.

"Fine, Natsu, you win. But this day better be all you cracked it up to be, whatever it is that makes it so exciting." Lucy sighed the large breath making her whole body ache. He swept Lucy off her feet without explanation. Lucy let out a surprised, delighted, and slightly pained yelp as she was lifted high off the ground and into Natsu's strong arms.

"I'll carry you over to the others. We're eating a late breakfast today since you slept in so late." She nodded her face most likely slightly flushed. "Its almost finished too. You can smell that bacon." Natsu drooled a little and licked his lips before he carried Lucy across the camp to where they could see the others gathered together sitting on logs and such.

Upon seeing the pair, the group brightened with a mix of amusement, hospitality, and just plain friendliness.

"You're finally up, bunny girl," Gajeel stated with his mouth stuffed with a piece of bacon.

"Were we too hard on you?"

"Don't be silly. Lucy's a tough woman. She's pulling through." Erza said boldly with a piercing glare shot towards Elfman seemingly offended he'd ask such a thing to Lucy.

"We're glad you're awake, nonetheless." Mira smiled sweetly and the others bobbed their heads up and down like children who had no choice but to agree with their mother's words.

"The crazy woman wouldn't let us eat breakfast until you were up," Laxus grumbled, his arms crossed over his chest like they always seemed to be. The guys nodded gravely at the statement this time a slow nod that made Lucy worry what exactly Mira had done to make that happen.

"That's great and all, but why didn't you guys just eat without me?" She spoke the words timidly, her head dipped down in polite coyness. Lucy's heart was warm from their kindness. They were so friendly, but it was still so foreign to her. She had a difficult time accepting it. It felt strange, but it wasn't exactly unwelcomed by her.

"Because, Luce, today is all about you! Today you become an official member of the Fairy Tail guild." Natsu said enthusiastically. Lucy could feel Natsu heart pumping excitedly and his body shake with the laughter in his voice as he held her effortlessly. Lucy didn't want to tell him to put her down and hurt his feelings. But the more aware she became of the position of his hands and the contact they were making the redder her face got.

"You gonna put Lucy down or what Natsu?" Cana asked. Lucy was immediately relieved. She could feel Natsu jolt then quickly, but gently, set down on her feet. He half-laughed half-mumbled out a Sorry Luce to which Lucy gave a forgiving smile. Lucy took a seat with the others and Natsu followed suit.

"Did you do this for everyone?" Lucy asked, not wanting the others to see her as something special or more important. She wasn't comfortable with all this attention and it hadn't even begun yet. Natsu sighed. He must've seen the strain on her face.

"Does that matter?" Natsu shook his head before placing his arms on the back of his pink hair. "You really shouldn't worry so much, Luce. Just enjoy yourself. None of us want you to feel unwelcome or like you don't fit in. So if you're feeling that way, just tell us. Don't forget Fairy Tail's a family and your apart of that family. Whatever you need, we'll be there to help. It's okay to trust us." Natsu gave her an assuring smile that made Lucy believe his words immediately.

"Thank you, Natsu. It's not that I don't feel welcome, it's that I feel to welcome. I really don't deserve it…" Lucy explained a little where she was coming from. Natsu shook his head.

"That's enough of that talk. Of course, you deserve it. You're our first and best Key Keeper." The others were in agreement with him. "What's your favorite color?" Natsu asked randomly before Lucy could say something else.

"Uh, pink," Lucy said. Natsu nodded and, unexpectedly, stood. He walked off in the other direction, probably to search for Wendy. They watched him walk away before returning to their meals. Lucy shook her head and the pink-haired boy before tuning into the other member's conversations.

Erza patted Lucy on the back. It set small pings of pain through her, but it was bearable. Erza withdrew her hand with an apologetic look and offered a plate of food.

"I'm sorry, Lucy." Erza laughed. "You're a little probably sore, huh?" Lucy gave a weak smile and nodded. Levy slapped her hand on her thighs in dramatic anger.

"A little sore! She probably feels like she's dying every time she blinks." Levy said sympathetically. "They worked you dry, poor thing. And they expect you to party the day after? We should've given you a couple days to rest." Lucy smiled.

"I'll be fine as long as Wendy's pain medication it as good as Natsu said it would be," Lucy said desperately hoping it was. Erza laughed.

"Oh, it works. It just makes you super loopy." Erza laughed with a reminiscent look like she was remembering something fond.

"Natsu didn't mention that,"

"Of course he didn't," Levy said dully.

"No matter, Lucy," Erza assured. "Whatever happens while you're on the medication stays within Fairy Tail."

"That makes me feel a lot better." Lucy dead-panned. She didn't let herself imagine the things that could happen.

Lucy ate "breakfast" with the guild. Natsu was still off somewhere and Wendy was missing as well. She made casual conversation with the rest of the guild. She learned a couple things about the guild members. Gray apparently had a strange attachment to ice, plus the stripping problem that was brought up before. Mira and Elfman were very fond of animals. Erza had an obsession with cake and dressing up. Levy could read and speak several languages. Laxus was fascinated by thunderstorms, which made Lucy want to laugh, but she withheld since she wasn't sure Laxus would take it lightly. Cana was an excellent card player and had a lucky streak with gambling, though she hardly ever got the chance to. Gajeel was pretty great at metal work and repaired a lot of the team's weapons with the exception of Erza who wouldn't let anyone touch her precious babies. The others said that Wendy despises pickled plums, but loves cats. They all stated they found her quite adorable, and one of the most helpful members of the team, even though she had so timid around them. They also said that Natsu had a fire fetish, which Lucy hoped was a joke, but almost believed, as on more than one occasion you'd find him staring into the fire.

"What's something you're interested in, Lucy?" Mira asked. "You got something you're passionate about?"

"I like astrology. The stars in general." Lucy admitted, unconsciously looking up at the sky, but then being disappointed when no stars, with the exception of the sun, were visible.

"Oh, like the zodiac signs and constellations?" Gray asked. Lucy nodded.

"My mother got me into it. She used to tell me about the signs and their meanings. We'd look for the constellations in the sky sometimes too." Lucy remembered happily.

"Did she die?" Elfman asked curiously. Mira nudged him. Lucy nodded one again.

"She did." Lucy frowned. "But I always feel close to her when I look at the stars at night. I can remember her kindness and her stories still. She's with me in my dreams. Even if it's sad she's gone, she always feels close." Lucy gives a small smile. The others smiled longingly like they were remembering the ones they'd cared for and lost. It felt good yet strange to open up to them. But she knew she could trust them. She could tell it brought her closer to them. Simply sharing that much was enough to ease her of the guilt of lying for now.

Lucy helped Mira and Levy clean up the mess. The others went off somewhere else out of sight. It hurts to be moving around, but Lucy didn't show it. She'd feel bad if she didn't help clean up. Mira always seemed to get stuck with that sort of thing. She could suck it up for her sake. Lucy went and fixed some of the messy sleeping bags leaving Levy and Mira alone. Levy looked up at the sun. Mira folded some blankets the others sat on and aligned the logs into a circle.

"It's about three o'clock now," Levy stated. "You think everything's set up?" Levy asked. Mira shook her head.

"We'll give them some extra time. They tend to slack off. Besides, we can use the extra time to do up Lucy." Mira said. She stretched her back and wiped her hands off on her flowy skirt.

"I'm wondering where Natsu has been. He missed a meal. He never misses a meal."

"He must really be passionate about making this night fun for Lucy," Mira said slyly.

"He does seem to fancy her a bit doesn't he. He's never taken that much interest in a girl. Perhaps he's just excited to have a Keep Keeper." Levy agreed though she didn't seem to be convinced by her last statement. Mira shrugged with a devilish look.

"Maybe at first, but I think he's growing more attached. You know how Natsu gets when he gets attached to something." Mira said. Her voice became slightly concerned, but also strangely amused. Levy shook her head slowly in fond remembrance.

"Possessive Natsu? I don't see him very often. I occasionally see it when someone tries to take his food or when you try to put out a fire he'd made. Last time he really got like that was with that egg he found in the forest that one time, remember." Levy said. Mira nodded knowingly.

"How sad he got when he realized it was never fertile."

"Yet he still buried it like was alive anyway." The two continued cleaning in light silence.

Levy and Mira approached Lucy with their hands full of clothing. Lucy looked at them with a raised eyebrow. They dragged her behind a large curtain they've strung up to a pair of trees for changing. Mira shoved the clothes into Lucy's hands without explanation. Levy and Mira waited on the other side of the cloth for her.

Lucy changed into the clothes she was given. It hurt to maneuver her body into them, but she held the urge to collapse. She wore a white frilly skirt that flared outward. It stopped above mid-thigh and Lucy was sure if she bent over her underwear would be visible. She'd have to keep that in mind. She wore a form-fitting blue halter top that squeezed her chest and made it a lot more prominent. She slipped on a pair of long white socks and a pair of long brown leather boots. She strapped a leather belt around her waist, her keys in their pouch on her side. The outfit was a lot more restricting than she was used to but she still liked it. It would make her more confident in herself. She walked out from behind the curtain. Mira and Levy nodded in approvement.

Levy and Mira led her to a tree stump and set her on it. Lucy sat awkwardly while Mira brushed her hair and brought a fraction of it up into a side ponytail secured with a pink ribbon. Levy applied a pale lip gloss to her lips and flushed her cheeks with a soft pink powder. Mira and Levy stepped back to observe her like a canvas. They both nodded professionally. Levy looked up at the sky at the sun that was lowering in the sky.

"It's about four now. Shall we go?" Levy asked. Mira nodded. Mira and Levy led her from camp. Lucy followed confused as to where they were taking her. They walked a bit through the woods until several lights shone in the distance. They stepped out of the forest into a clearing covered with white wildflowers. A fire was lit in the middle of the clearing. Large rocks and logs formed a large circle around the fire. Rabbit kabobs and fish were roasting around it. The guild members stood in a group before her, hold a long piece of parchment paper that read Welcome to Fairy Tail Lucy!

"Surprise! Welcome to Fairy Tail Lucy!" They all at shouted at once. Lucy couldn't hold in her grin. Levy and Mira pushed her forward and the others greeted her with open arms. They took her into a large group hug. Erza the core of it. It was the most painful feeling she'd felt all day but at the same time the best. They gave Lucy some space.

"Thanks, guys. This is really the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me." Lucy felt tears coming out of her eyes.

"Ah, be a man, Lucy. Don't cry!" Elfman exclaimed jokingly.

"You look great in that outfit!" Erza complemented.

"We're glad to have you blondie." Laxus nodded her way.

"That's right. Welcome to the family, Lu." Gray patted her back lightly.

"Woohoo! It's been too long since we've had another addition!" Cana cheered.

"We're lucky we found you before another guild did," Erza exclaimed. "Key Keepers are short of pickings."

"What are the odds ice princess and flame brains actually did something useful," Laxus stated.

"Speaking of which where is the hot head," Gray asked. Lucy looked around curiously realizing that he'd been gone for quite a long time.

"I thought for sure he'd be here to surprise, Lucy." Mira frowned.

"Wendy's not here yet either,"

"I wonder if they got lost or something,"

"That idiot I'll beat his face in for not being here making Wendy late with him." Erza declared. As if on cue, Wendy came running through the clearing her arms full.

"Oh no! I'm late. I'm sorry. I had to make the pain medicine for Lucy and pink ink for her guild mark and then I got lost." Wendy said frantically.

"It's okay, Wendy. Thank you for going through all the trouble." Lucy smiled. Wendy nodded appreciatively and handed Lucy a small glass bottle full of a thick dark liquid. Wendy looked around with a confused look.

"Where's Natsu? He's not here?" Wendy asked.

"We assumed he was with you?" Levy said. Wendy shook her head.

"I haven't seen him for about three hours. He seemed to me in a hurry though. Very determined about something or another."

"He didn't tell you where he was going?" Mira asked. Wendy shook her head. Lucy frowned. She did want Natsu here. He was the one who convinced her to get up in the first place. Why wouldn't he be here? Cana shook her shoulder to cheer her up.

"No worries. We can have fun without fire breath." Cana assured. "The only things we need to have fun is booze!" Cana cheered. Lucy plastered on a smile. She opened the glass bottle Wendy gave her and drank it. The thick liquid tasted bitter and gross. It slid down her throat giving her a chill. It settled in her stomach for a second and it seemed to melt inside her, seeping into her veins. Her body felt significantly less achy. Her head and body felt very light. Lucy suddenly had the strong urge to cry and laugh at the same time. Erza was right. It did make you loopy.

"Are you okay Lucy? You're crying." Levy said placing her hand on her shoulder.

"Did you want Natsu here that bad?" Mira asked.

"I'll hunt him down for you!" Erza exclaimed. Lucy shook her hands wildly.

"Nah, it's da...the...uhm..." Lucy tried to form the words but gave up and held up the small glass.

"Damn. What kind of shot was that, Wendy? Can you make me one?" Cana laughed.

"Oh no, I'm sorry Lucy. I think I made it to strong. I just wanted to make sure it worked." Wendy apologized. She looked rather troubled. Lucy waved her hand and smiled.

"I feel great!" Lucy cheered. Cana cheered with her. The rest of the night was a blur. The only prominent memories Lucy had was when they gave Lucy her guild mark. The pink ink was carved into her hand and colored in painfully with needles. Even Wendy's pain medication didn't mask that pain. The other things Lucy remembered was opening the present they got her. It was the whip she'd been looking at in the city. She remembered declaring its name was Layla. Lucy and the rest of the guild past out in the wildflower clearing.

Lucy was shaken lightly awake by a familiar face lit by the firelight. Her eyes fluttered open to see Natsu's face in a frown. Past him, the sky was covered in stars. It seemed to be the middle of the night. Lucy yawned.

"Natsu, where were you? You missed the party." Lucy mumbled. Natsu's frown deepened.

"I know. I'm sorry, Luce. I was getting you a surprise and ran into some trouble." Natsu explained briefly.

"A surprise?" Lucy yawned. Natsu smiled and nodded. The wind blew and made Lucy shiver.

"I'll give it to you tomorrow. You can go back to sleep now." Natsu assured he smiled sadly. The cold nipped at her. Lucy grabbed his hand. It was warm.

"I"m cold, Natsu." She stated tiredly. "Warm me up?" She asked still half asleep. Natsu shook his head light heartedly and pulled off the bundle of scarf that Lucy noted he wore almost all the time. He spread it over her.

"Thank you, Natsu," Lucy mumbled. She gripped the scarf and snuggled into it. She breathed in the warm scent of fire and quickly fell back asleep. She didn't have any dreams that she could remember, but her sleep was peaceful and warm.


The next chapter will be in Natsu POV during the period he's been missing, just a heads up.

Have a lovely day.

Edited and Refined: 02-02-18