The guild hall was loud and boisterous…music to Makarov's ears. He had missed this atmosphere over the past 3 years. He even somewhat missed the destructive nature of his beloved guild. In 3 years, he hadn't received a single bill for heavy destruction on a job. The guild was actually getting a pretty nice bankroll now. Since the events of the Celestial War and the chaos that ensued afterward in Natsu's attempt to get Lucy back, the guild had slowly returned to its' former glory. His family was back to normal…as normal as it could be anyhow. He glimpsed at the 4 framed pictures, still hanging along the hall walls, then back to the crazy antics below.
He glanced over the balcony, standing on his bench that helped him oversee the entire guild. Macao and Max were having a drinking challenge, Cana, Droy and Bixslow egging them on. The pretty card reader had stuck to her resolve, quitting drinking altogether last year. But that didn't mean she didn't enjoy watching a good competition. Nor did it stop her from boisterously cheering when both Macao and Max began to turn green. Gray and Gajeel had engaged in a brawl, their ladies whispering to each other at a nearby table. Erza was sitting at a table with Jellal, holding hands over top of it. Evergreen and Elfman sat at a table beside them, their son Everden was playing with toys and Evergreen was patting her swollen stomach. Mira was happily mixing drinks, conversing with Laxus, while Kinana delivered the drinks to their perspective owners. Erik sat at the bar alone, watching Kinana.
There was a shift in the air as the giant wooden doors burst open, revealing the fire dragon slayer and his new wife.
"WE'RE HOME!" Natsu yelled triumphantly.
Instantly, the guild stopped what they were doing to rush over and welcome the new couple home, cheers erupting at a deafening level.
Natsu looked like his old self, much to the relief of the members who had watched his change over the past few years. He wasn't tired looking anymore. His pink locks stood straight up, a wide grin plastered on his face. Lucy, however, looked radiant. She had cut her knee-length hair back up to her lower back. Light make-up adorned her pretty face, which glowed with happiness. She had a simple red sundress on.
As the crowd dispersed, Mira and Cana pulled their friend to a table, talking excitedly as Juvia and Levy trailed behind. Natsu wasn't even sure if Lucy got a word in edgewise, but seeing his wife so happy, he didn't really care. Instead, he clobbered Gray and Gajeel each with his fists, thus starting a brand new brawl. Gray whacked Jellal in the head as he drew back to punch Natsu. Excitedly, Jellal turned, glancing at his girlfriend for permission. Erza scowled, but nodded. Jellal was fitting in. Grinning happily, he threw a chair at Erik, effectively dragging him into the mix. Erza wanted to talk to Lucy anyway, so she moved over to the table with the girls, ignoring the idiots behind her.
"Tell us everything!" Erza exclaimed as the girls sat down, "How was the honeymoon? Where did you go? What did you do?"
"Are you pregnant?" Cana asked, joining them at the table, "My guess is that Natsu is downright insatiable. I bet you've had a good few months, if you know what I mean!" she winked, elbowing Lucy in the ribs, her obvious innuendo making the other girls squeal.
Lucy's blush reached to her toes. She really had had very little time to talk with her friends since the reception. Other than that night in the woods. Juvia and Levy already knew some of her new life details.
"Oh c'mon, Lucy!" Mira said as she passed by with a tray of drinks, "We want details!"
"I don't know what to say," Lucy said in a low voice, her blush still tinging her cheeks, "Natsu is the perfect husband. He's sweet and attentive and always puts me first. He's amazing."
"Natsu is romantic?" Cana asked, scoffing a bit, "Excuse me while I go check to see when hell froze over."
The other girls laughed.
"When we were at Akane Beach, for example," Lucy smiled gently at the memory, "He sent me to go get some groceries since we had a kitchen room. While I was gone, he rented a private room with a bath. He had the bath all set up with incense and bubbles, a bottle of wine," she sighed happily, "Rose petals in the water and he had the bath scented with lavender. He pampered me the whole night. First the bath, then the massage…"
The other girls sighed, envious at the details just exposed to them.
"How did you get so lucky?" Levy asked, "I mean, of all the men in this guild, Natsu had to be the most clueless, obnoxious buffoon of them all, am I right? And yet, you should have seen him without you, Lulu. He was so lost. I'm guessing that's where this complete change has come from. But seriously!"
The other girls, even Lucy, had to agree.
"So how is it that he turned over so radically into this huge romantic?" Levy sighed, "I don't think Gajeel would know what 'flowers' were if I served them to him for breakfast every day for the next month!"
"I know what you mean!" Juvia agreed, "I think the most romantic thing Gray has ever said to me was 'you're pretty cool sometimes. Hey- get me a beer, wouldja Juves?' I mean honestly – who would've thought Natsu would be the romantic of the bunch?"
"He definitely has his moments!" Lucy sighed happily, "It's everything I always dreamed about."
"Jellal has his moments too," Erza put in. The other girls nodded. They had watched the romance blossom between Erza and Jellal in the past few months. With Jellal around full-time, he went out of his way to do special things for her, often to the detriment of Gray and Gajeel, who would get the cold shoulder from their ladies afterward.
"And Laxus too," Mira blushed.
"Laxus?" Lucy exclaimed, "Didn't see that coming! Seems I'm not the only one who needs to spill!"
"Who would have thought?" Mira sighed happily, "Only a few years ago, this guild had more singles than a singles bar. Maybe my brother and Evergreen won't be the only ones with babies soon!"
"Speaking of which, you never answered my question!" Cana interjected, "Lucy – are you pregnant yet?"
Lucy's cheeks went red, but she didn't have to answer thanks to a yell from above.
"My children!" Makarov yelled from his perch above the guild. The entire guild halted, directing their attention to their beloved master, "Tonight is a night of celebration – we are whole tonight! Welcome to our new members, Jellal and Erik – and welcome home Natsu and Lucy! TO FAIRY TAIL!"
"TO FAIRY TAIL!" the entire guild echoed, raising their mugs. Ten seconds later, they were all back at it. The brawl resumed. The ladies were laughing. Music blared throughout the room. Elfman was teaching Everden the proper way to say, "Like a MAN." Cana was laughing so loudly, Makarov could barely make out Max's drunken, "I's…I's so done." Macao stood up, raising his arms over his head in victory…before passing out on the floor with a loud CLUNK as he fell backwards. Natsu and Lucy exchanged a glance before rejoining the festivities. Tomorrow they would drop their bomb.
"Yup," Makarov thought to himself as another table busted completely apart, "Music to my ears."
