I really am on a roll with these chapters... I just hope they are worth your while reading... anyways, enjoy.
"Will I see you tomorrow?"
The redhead hesitated; they had passed the rest of the day by the river, sometimes talking, but most of the time just sitting in a comfortable silence.
"I don't know…" The blonde mage looked up at her sharply, a soft sadness colouring her expression, "Maybe… if I feel up to it…" She smiled a gentle smile at the girl wrapped in her embrace.
Dropping her gaze, the celestial wizard nodded slowly, "Would you like me to come see you…?" A blush replaces the sadness in her face, "I mean… if you don't feel up to coming to the guild…"
The hopeful lilt in her voice caused Erza to sigh in resignation, "If you want."
That is, if I can control myself…
Lucy's smile made her heart want to melt. The thought of having the girl in her apartment again caused a rise of mixed emotions. She smiled in response, giving the younger girl a final squeeze before releasing her.
Dusting off the seat of her skirt, she offered a hand to the spirit mage, a hand that she gratefully accepted; though it would seem that she was unwilling to relinquish the contact as she retained her hold on the knight's hand for far longer than was necessary.
The snapping of a nearby branch, followed by a stifled curse caused both girls to relinquish their hold of the other. Erza's eyes narrowed as she made out the shape of a fleeing figure.
"Natsu," She growled.
Moving as if to pursue the boy, sword at the ready, Lucy placed a restraining hand on her arm, "What's wrong?" She obviously hadn't seen the Salamander else she wouldn't have been so calm.
You fool! She obviously saw him. Nothing happened here that she would feel embarrassed about someone else knowing… oh, Lucy, if only…
With a sigh she unequipped her sword, raising her hands in apology she began to make her way back to Magnolia.
Realising that Lucy wasn't following, she paused mid-step, turning around to see what could possibly be holding her up.
Lips parted, eyes wide, a soft pink in her cheeks, her hands hanging limply at her side, Lucy was staring, quite avidly, at the Titania, the way that the light reflected off of her armour had entranced the poor girl.
Beautiful…
Snapping back to reality, the younger girl suddenly became aware of the fact that she had been caught in her adoration. Firmly shutting her mouth, turning away from the red haired knight, she began to walk, rather stiffly, Erza noticed, back towards the gates of Magnolia.
Shaking her head at the other girl's embarrassment, she fell into step behind her, content to walk back in silence.
I suppose there is always hope…
The flap of familiar wings caught her attention, and looking skyward, she beheld the sight of a strikingly familiar blue cat flying overhead, surprisingly empty handed. Upon catching sight of the pair, the blue feline began his descent.
"Lucy!" He cried when he came within a reasonable distance.
Attracted by the sound of Happy's voice, Lucy stopped in her tracks, turning around in time to catch the excitable feline as he crashed into her.
"Happy? What's wrong?" The winged cat looked up tearfully, sniffling loudly
"I've been looking everywhere for you," he cried in a tear soaked voice, "Natsu wanted to go on another job, but we couldn't find you anywhere." He burst into tears fully once more.
"We thought you had left again!" Lucy sighed, but patted Happy gently on the back, trying to calm his hysterics.
"You know I'll never leave, you guys are stuck with me forever." Sniffing loudly, Happy looked up at her with large teary eyes.
"Really?"
"Really." Having sufficiently calmed down, Happy detached himself from the front of Lucy's shirt.
"Then we need to hurry, Natsu wants to leave before nightfall, and if we miss our train we have to wait for hours."
Laughing at the cat's melodramatics, the celestial mage tickled him under the chin, "Then we better not keep him waiting."
Grabbing the overjoyed feline, she took off at a run, no doubt to pack some things before meeting up with Natsu.
Erza stared after her, a deep sadness settling in her chest, she felt her shoulders sag, coming back to the awful realisation that she and Lucy would never, could never, share something like what she shared with Natsu.
As if sensing her former companion's sadness, Lucy paused in mid-run, turning around to shout back,
"Erza-chan…"
The desolate knight looked up at the sound of her goddess's voice,
"Welcome home." And with a final breathtaking smile in her direction, the girl resumed her reckless pace, with Happy hurrying her along.
A soft smile painted itself across Erza's face,
"I'm home."