Day 2 of NaLu Week: Reunion

Lucy was fidgeting in the cab on her way to her old high school. She hadn't been back to Fairy Tail High since she graduated 10 years ago. Now, here she was at the age of 28, finding her way back to the place that started it all. She honestly didn't know why she was even going. Levy had talked her into going, saying that she'd regret not going and there was more to life than watching Netflix with her dog, Plue. Lucy had wanted to say no, but she knew her friend was right. Besides, she was curious as to how everyone had changed after high school. Sure she had kept in touch with most of them. She and Levy had been roommates in college and now worked together for the Magnolia Times. Lucy was a head journalist and Levy was the editor. They also worked together as freelancers for a nearby publishing company when they had the time. Erza stopped by from time to time when she was in town. Her work as a professional stuntwoman left her travelling almost constantly with her husband Jellal, a slightly illusive actor that was in high demand. Lucy had to admit that he played a really good villain. Then there was Juvia, who finally got Gray to marry her after their trip to Niagara Falls two years ago. Even Levy ended up with the quarterback from their high school's rival, Phantom Lord, after they had a couple of classes together at the university. Lucy had made it a point to keep in touch.

That's why she wasn't exactly convinced she needed to go to this 10 year reunion. Yet, here she was in a cab heading back to the school that basically took her in after she left private school. She had been so worried that she wouldn't be able to make friends since everyone would already have their cliques that they grew up with. Lucy didn't think she would have fit in. Then, on her first day, some pink haired idiot set off a chain reaction that would change her life. She had been walking to the library when some hot shot senior started hitting on her and this guy random knocks her off her feet, literally. After hearing the rumors about the senior guy being a player, she decided to buy her savior lunch and became friends with him. Natsu. That was why she was going to this reunion. She wanted to see her best friend from high school for the first time in 10 years. She hadn't expected to lose contact with him. He just traveled so much after high school. He took an indefinite gap year to search for his biological father. Lucy ended up breaking her phone at a party freshman year, causing her to get a new one. She lost a lot of numbers, including his. Since then, they hadn't talked. Part of her hoped he found his dad and hadn't been lonely on his travels. He deserved to meet someone to keep him company on those long, lonely nights on the road. The other part of her hoped he still hadn't found that special someone. Lucy had realized after she lost his number, that she had wanted to be that person to Natsu. She loved him then, and she loved him now. Which is precisely why none of the dates Mirajane Strauss set her up on ever worked out. She'd always compare them to Natsu and realize that they weren't the pink haired idiot she was looking for, nor could they replace him. Lucy sighed as the cab pulled to a stop outside the gymnasium's entrance. She got out and smoothed her dress down before making her way up the stairs to the doors. She took a deep breath before plunging into to 10 years worth of memories and experiences, bringing herself back to a simpler time that made her wish she had made better decisions along the way.

"Lu-chan!" Levy called from her table. She bounded up to her friend and dragged her over with Gajeel.

"Levy, you literally saw me two hours ago when you helped me buy this outfit," Lucy chuckled.

"I know, but Juvia and Gray are too busy being all lovey-dovey in the corner. Be careful, if you ask about their kids they'll bring out a photo album," Levy warned.

"Good to know," Lucy said as she pursed her lips, "I'm going to go get some punch."

"Alright, Lu-chan! We'll save you a seat," Levy told her. Lucy walked over to the punch on a nearby table.

"Well, Ms. Heartfilia, you haven't changed a bit," an older voice called out. Lucy smiled as she realized whom it belonged to.

"Principle Makarov, you're still working here?" Lucy asked as she turned to look at him.

"Unfortunately. I've got Macao's kid in this year's senior class. Can you believe it? That kid is almost as bad as Natsu was," Makarov said with a shake of his head, "Where is Natsu anyway? I'm sure he wouldn't let his lovely wife get her own drink."

Lucy choked on her punch. "Oh, no, Natsu and I aren't married," Lucy clarified.

"You're not? Darn, I always thought you two were made for each other. I guess I owe Professor Wakaba 20 bucks now. I don't suppose you've seen my grandson anywhere? His wife was nice enough to organize all this for us. Mira was definitely one of the better class presidents I've seen go through these halls," Makarov said wistfully.

"No, I haven't seen them," Lucy shifted awkwardly.

"Oh, well. Enjoy your reunion," Makarov said as he walked off. Lucy sighed as she walked back over to Levy and Gajeel who were currently arguing over the latest movie Jellal and Erza had been in.

"I'm tellin' ya, the last movie was The Scarlet Sky," Gajeel told his petite wife.

"And I'M telling YOU that it was The Tower of Heaven," Levy said as she poked her husband in the chest.

Lucy picked up her phone to search so that she could end this debate.

"Actually, you're both wrong. Their last movie was the remake of Grand Magic Games," Lucy told them as she held her phone out for them to see. The three of them started to laugh.

"That was such a bad movie when it first came out," Levy chuckled.

"Definitely one of the worst movies we caught at the drive-in back when it was around," Gajeel agreed.

"Oh my gosh! The drive-ins! Remember when we used to go every other weekend because they had discounts for Fairy Tail only on those Saturdays?" Lucy said as she remembered all the movies she'd watched from Natsu's front seat.

"Did someone mention the drive-ins?" a voice asked as they approached the table.

"Erza!" Levy and Lucy chorused.

"Oh, I've missed you guys," Erza said as she hugged each of them in turn.

"We've been filming on location in Italy. I was worried we wouldn't wrap in time to make it back, but we really flew through it these last few weeks. To be honest, the drive-ins are what inspired me to pursue acting," Jellal said as he draped an arm around his lovely wife.

"I remember the first play you were in and you had such a bad case of stage fright," Levy teased.

"In my defense, live theatre is so much harder than film. With film you can go back and redo things, but with theatre it's a one-and-done thing. You can't fix it if you're in the middle of a performance," Jellal explained.

"True," Erza agreed.

"So where's Natsu?" Jellal asked Lucy as the couple took a seat at the table.

"Lu-chan hasn't spoken to Natsu since right after we graduated. Her guess is as good as yours," Levy told him. Jellal's face formed a small 'oh' as he understood the gravity of what Levy was saying.

Suddenly, the door to the gym burst open and a pink-haired man walked in with a shorter girl with white hair on his arm.

"Is that… Natsu with Lisanna?" Erza asked in shock. Lucy felt her heart rate quicken at the sight of her best friend. Levy waved him over to their table. His eyes lit up when he saw all of them over there. The only available seats were between Lucy and Gajeel so Natsu sat next to Lucy and Lisanna sat next to him.

"Natsu! How have you been?" Erza asked.

"I've been good," he told her with a smile. An uncomfortable feeling fell over the table as the tension between Lucy and Natsu settled around them all.

"I'm going to go get some more punch," Lucy said in an effort to escape from the awkwardness.

"I'll go with you," Natsu said as he followed her.

"Hey, Luce, how have ya been?" Natsu asked her with a lopsided grin as they reached the table.

"I've been okay," she mumbled as she poured herself a glass.

"Luce, look at me," he told her as he put her glass down on the table.

"What?" She demanded. He didn't say anything and instead just hugged her tightly.

"I've missed you," he whispered into her hair.

"Why? You've obviously got Lisanna," Lucy said as she gestured back towards the table.

"What are you talking about? She just wanted to see all of you again so she asked to be my date. She didn't have a ride since her sister had to be here so much earlier so that's why we came together," Natsu explained.

"Oh," Lucy said.

"Luce, I have not stopped thinking about you every single day since we stopped talking," Natsu told her.

"Then why didn't you call? Or text? Or try to see me?" Lucy questioned as she started to get mad.

"We had been arguing and then you never responded to my text so I just thought that you didn't want to hear from me anymore," Natsu told her.

"I broke my phone at a party and when I got it fixed, I lost all my contacts," she told him.

"How was I supposed to know?" Natsu defended.

"You're right," Lucy sighed. "So, did you ever find your father?"

"No. Well. Yes. I found his grave," Natsu murmured.

"Natsu, I'm so sorry," Lucy told him as she held his hand.

"I'm sorry about your dad, too. I read about it in the papers. I had wanted to go to the funeral but I was broke and out of the country at the time," Natsu apologized.

"It's okay."

"No, it's not. I'm your best friend and I let you slip through my fingers. I made you face the world alone after promising to never leave your side."

"Natsu, we were kids. We couldn't keep all our promises."

"Well, I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

"What are you saying?" Lucy asked in confusion. Natsu picked something out of his pocket and got down on one knee.

"Lucy Heartfilia, will you marry me?" He asked.

"Natsu? What are you doing?" Lucy asked frantically.

"I bought this ring the summer after we graduated. I was planning on asking you after you graduated because I knew how important your degree was to you, but then we lost touch, so I held onto this. I told myself that if I ever saw you again, that I'd ask you to marry me," Natsu simply stated.

"But… why?" Lucy asked still bewildered.

"Because, I love ya, Luce. Always have, always will. You're the one thing that kept me going all those years after I found out about my dad. I knew that I had to get home to you," Natsu told her as he stood up and cupped her face, "So, what do you say?"

"It's been ten years, Natsu. I've changed," she whispered.

"So what? You're still a weirdo from what I've heard. Besides, we don't have to get married right away. We can spend however long you want getting to know each other…" Natsu trailed off as he searched her eyes.

"No."

"No?" His grin started to falter.

"No, I don't want to wait. I've been waiting for you for ten years. I don't think I could handle waiting anymore," Lucy said as she started to cry. Natsu broke into a beaming smile as he slipped the ring on her finger. The small heart-shaped ruby looked perfect on her slender finger.

"Luce, I love you," Natsu said as he leaned his head against her forehead.

"I love you, too," she told him before pressing her lips against his. It was a kiss ten years in the making, one of longing and hope. It was a promise, a promise that no matter what, they'd never leave each other again.