DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fairy Tail..if I did natsuXlucy will be cannon

HEAVEN CAN WAIT

Stranded dream

It was midday when Natsu and Happy set down their pack in the clearing by the river. Lisanna had been confused when they hadn't had to have a discussion about where to go to fish. When she asked, they told her that their destination was rumoured to be the perfect spot for fishing. Their enthusiasm rather than their explanation convinced her enough to agree. Even if I wanted to I couldn't have convinced them to try somewhere else she thought to herself as she put her pack down.

Finding them gathering their supplies (why and how they always had them she'll never know) she decided to rest her feet for a while. Settling with her back against a tree she looked at Natsu and Happy. Her mind turned inward in contemplation. I know I am fond of Natsu but I am confused as to whether has my crush on him lasted. I never expected to be able to come back. I am sure he accepted my 'death' and didn't expect me to come back into his life. If anything did happen how'll know it's what he and I want now...or just a shadow of our feelings from before? I need to know whether we have something to try…whether we'll be willing to try. Or is it Natsu with Lucy in this world too?

"I really have to talk to Natsu", she muttered opening her eyes.

Happy heard only Natsu, so assuming that she was searching for the missing dragon slayer he flew down to land in front of her, "He is gone to collect some wood."

"Oh I must have zoned out… so how is this place turning out?", She touched Happy's nose with her forefinger and giggled at his expression.

Happy mock glared at Lisanna as he answered her question, "Aye! It's good. Last time we checked out place based on the information we got, it didn't live up to its reputation. Lucy was really irritated because we woke her early for it. We caught her a bug but she never appreciated it.."

"But you had fun anyway didn't you?"

"Aye! Lucy can be funny without meaning to"

"I hope you both don't call her funny by making fun of her!"

Happy ignored the question, "Natsu and I rescued her and brought her to Fairy Tail. Do you know she can summon spirits? Do you know that she has one with a fish tail?"

"You miss her?"

"Aye! We spend most evenings in her apartment. And I spend most of my time during missions with her"

"I thought you accompany Natsu?"

"Natsu made sure I understood that unless he specifically asked me to come along it was my job to make sure she was safe when he couldn't."

"Why?"

"She jumped off a building trusting him to save her"

"Oh... He feels protective?"

"You should have seen his face when I told him that it was a touch and go in Edolas!Charlie and I caught her in a nick of time", Happy abruptly shifted the topic to his beloved exceed. "Do you think Charlie will ever like me? She always looks down upon me."

"It's the regular story of the princess and the pauper", she told him with a smile that was eerily similar to her elder sister's.

"Don't make fun of me", Happy looked offended.

"I only meant Charlie has the bearing of a princess…"

Happy's pouting face turned into grin at this compliment for Charlie.

Lisanna pottered on, "should I know anything before I talk to Natsu?"

Happy's grin turned sneaky, "You planed this out to talk to him?"

"Yes"

"You like him?"

"You were my best friends before I left. I missed you both. Did you miss me?"

Happy looked down and teared up. He abruptly flew onto her and clung to her stomach. She held him place while He hugged her to the best of his ability, "The first few weeks passed in a haze. I missed you so much. But Natsu had a harder time. Even after half a year the only thing that made him perk up was a lead on Igneel."

"I am really sorry for making you remember those times."

"That's ok. What's important is that you are back to us."

"I am really sorry for causing you both so much pain."

We survived didn't we? It was a long time until Natsu became really close to someone new but Lucy managed it"

"She is important to you isn't she?"

"Aye! But don't worry Lisanna we never forgot you"

The day had been fun with Lisanna transforming into a stork, cat and bear with varied results. She seemed to prefer bird forms and was infinitely more efficient in catching fish. When they were done drying off night had started to creep in and soon the fire was their only source of light. It flickered on their faces making strange patterns and masks. Natsu stared hungrily at it but knew he'd be scolded if he tried to. They knew if they really wanted to they could reach magnolia to sleep in their own beds but they decided to make it a full camping session with a night out under the stars.

Lisanna was stirring a pot of stew over the fire as Natsu gutted and grilled their fish. Happy had already claimed more than his fair share and was gobbling away. She smiled at her stew and decided to kick-start her plan.

"Natsu ...do you remember us from before I disappeared?" she said in her straightforward manner.

After a few moments of silence she turned to face him to gauge his reaction-

Lisanna knew Natsu was as dense as a person could be regarding matters like relationships so she was definitely surprised to see him frowning at her.

Could it be that nothing was going to change? Would they go back to the way they were before? Thinking to herself that she would like it very much, she smiled very widely to reassure him before continuing, "I am not forcing you to make sure things are the same from before. I am sure you have changed just like I have."

Natsu gave her his trademark wide grin as he put his put the cooked fish into the utensil she had given him. It made her want to check whether her hair was in place and whether there was anything on her face but surprisingly neither did her heart skip a beat nor did her face heat up. It puzzled her for a moment but deciding that the lack of those utterly teenage symptoms was because she knew him too well, she continued talking as if she had not been waiting for a reply. After all it didn't seem like Natsu was going to talk before she clarified more.

"Are you happy that I am here?", she asked with her heart in her eyes. I would definitely want to live forever in happiness with you.

Natsu crouched down in front of her to look at her in the eye. He saw that she was serious about wanting an answer but he completely missed the subtext in the conversation. He laid both his hands on her shoulders and gave a slight shake in frustration before saying, "You should know never to ask your nakama that. Of course I am!"

He then turned to Happy before asking, "I thought Lucy was the only weird one but Lisanna is getting weird too. Does it spread?" getting up he turned around and stood gazing out in the direction of magnolia with a startling expression of confusion and longing he continued, "but I don't think Lucy can be beaten in weirdness"

Lisanna understood what he hadn't understood yet. She understood what Happy understood instinctively. She understood.

AN: Thank you so much for reading! Please do review with your suggestions and feedback! I hope this chapter met its expectations (it makes me very nervous).

Thank you yet again for the reviews and the addition to your alerts/favourite stories/ author.. It made me want to keep writing instead of being a lazy bum.

A special heartfelt Thank you to all my reviewers for all the wonderful reviews! They make me smile every time I see them.