* Lucy's p.o.v*

"Don't strain yourself too much until the burns are almost completely gone. Do you understand?!" Polyushka explained, as Natsu helped me off the bed and lead me towards the door.

"Yes I understand and Thank you again Polyushka-san," I thanked the grumpy healer for the hundredth time, since she'd administered treatment to my burnt legs. They were feeling much better than they had been just a few minutes before and it was all due to the woman's magic burn cream, it wasn't as quick as Wendy's sky magic and it would take a few days for the wounds to fully heal but who cares the pain had almost completely faded away and I wouldn't be left with a scar.

"Don't thank me, just get out!" The human hater yelled as I quickly retreated to the safety of the corridor along with Natsu, who had been by my side since he'd come to take me off the pitch after my utter humiliation.

I closed the door behind me and looked at my friend. "I'm going to take a shower, you go back to everyone and tell them I'm ok."

"Are you sure?" He questioned tilting his head to the side.

"Sure." I replied, putting on my best smile to try and reassure him that I was indeed back to my usual old cheery self.

"Well if you say so." He beamed back before turning and heading off back to our balcony where our team would be awaiting an update.

As I watched the retreating head of pink hair I let out a sigh of relief and let the smile drop from my lips. I'd decided to go and take a shower before returning to fairy tail's balcony because I had to come to terms with the fact that, I had let them down, my teammates, my fellow guild members, The master and Mavis. I needed time to myself to just let the fact that I'd lost sink in.

"I Lost." The thought had caused me to stop in my tracks halfway down the hall, I lent against the wall to support myself as the tears I'd only managed to get under control sprang back to my eyes and my throat seemed to close up and rob me of air.

"Minna, I'm sorry." I breathed out under my breath as I desperately tried to force my body to continue onto the locker room where I could safely cry my eyes out in a hot shower without being discovered. I would not break down out here in the hall where anybody could walk by and see me! I was stronger than that, it was embarrassing enough that the whole stadium had seen me cry today. I wasn't going to let anyone else see that sort of raw emotional moment from me again. Unless it happened to be when I had my head buried in the shoulder of the one I loved while he stroked my hair and whispered words of comfort in my ear, well that wasn't going to happen anytime soon was it? Though how I wished Hibiki was still my boyfriend, I was sure he would have rushed to my side after I lost, picked me up bridal style and whisked me away, instead Natsu had been there for me in my time of need as always. He'd picked me up, brought me to get treatment and made me feel a tad better over my defeat...But that wasn't the same as what I wanted. Natsu was great as my friend and he meant the world to me, but could we be lovers one day? I didn't know...maybe. It felt odd to think about being anything other than friends with my lovable pink haired idiot.

"Sweetheart."

My internal rambling froze at the sound of that voice, my heart raced and I gulped as I turned around to face the man it belonged too. I knew who it was, without a doubt, only one man had ever called me 'sweetheart'. I could never forget the man who had stolen my heart and made me love him so much that it had broken my heart to hear that he had moved on. Though it was understandable, I mean if I had actually died I would have wanted him to move on and find happiness...but I was still alive and the part of me that only saw him three months ago was insanely jealous that he had effectively cheated on me, but that wasn't true, to him I had died. He watched me go after hearing my dying confession...I didn't know what to think or feel anymore!

"It's been a while." I began to say as I took in the man who had meant so much to me and still did. He looked the same as he had seven years ago but he had a few more lines around his eyes, he was a little more muscular than I remembered and his hair was shaggier and, to me, seemed to be a lot more like Leo's mane. I'd seen him from a distance earlier when we'd all entered the arena to show the audience who had qualified, but I had been trying to keep my eyes off of him in case I broke down and couldn't handle it. Then when Eve had run over and we'd made eye contact all my emotions had bubbled to the surface and I'd desperately wanted to run over and jump into his arms. That hadn't happened luckily, I'm not sure I could of handle the fan girls hatred if it had. "Hibiki."

"You're looking good." He said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. You better look sheepish boy, I knew you've been avoiding me for months I fumed inwardly. I'd decided feeling angry about it may help to hide my true feelings on the matter.

I don't know why but what I did next was burst out laughing at just how funny this whole situation was, the look on his face plus the highly tense atmosphere just seemed to tickle me pink. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh." I continued laughing. "But that expression you're wearing is just too comical."

"Lucy." He raised an eyebrow at me. Considering how awkward the atmosphere was becoming again I straightened and sobered up. Serious it was then.

"Yes?" I questioned, folding my arms in an attempt to build a wall between us. I read in a psychology book once, that the best way to do that in body language was to cross your arms.

"I'm S.." He started to say, before I held up a hand to silence him. I knew what he was going to say and I didn't want to hear it, in all honesty.

"Don't." I took a deep breath so the quiver in my voice didn't let him know how hard this was for me and unfolded my arms. "You don't have to apologize."

"But.."

"Really you don't. I understand I do, you moved on with your life and I'm glad you did, after all I did die it's only natural." I took another breath at this point and desperately tried to stop the tears that threatened to take over. I also didn't want to lose control and spill my true feelings on the subject. Because I was still hurt and confused over the topic but I knew I couldn't hold it against him.

"But I'm sorry for not coming to visit and explaining everything to you in person." He looked me straight in the eyes here with a regret full expression plastered on his handsome face. I felt my heart beat start to pick up and the longing to hold him again and have him hold me came out of nowhere. I couldn't do this! "You deserved better from me."

"Yes I did." The words slipped out before I realised what I'd actually said. "No, I didn't mean it like that." I hastened to add before I said something to damaging.

"You're right." Hibiki stated matter of factly taking a step towards me. I stayed rooted to the spot not knowing what to do or say anymore. I had been wishing, hoping and praying for Hibiki to come and see me since I'd returned home. I'd even gone to visit him...Though that hadn't quite worked out, instead I'd been told by his new girlfriend to stay away in all effectiveness. But now that the situation was playing out in front of me, I was acting like a deer caught in headlights.

"Hibiki, I.." I got cut off by the man pulling me into his warm chest and his arms wrapping around me. My mind went blank and I felt my body melt into the embrace. Traitor! I thought as my whole being seemed to respond instantly to this mans touch, his smell, the way he made all my worries fade away.

"Please forgive me." He whispered into the nape of my neck. I shivered as the heat from his breath brushed against my bare skin, just as it had on that night so long ago when we'd taken the first step into being lovers.

I hesitantly lifted my arms up so that they encircled him without actually touching his body, not sure if what I was about to do or say was a good idea. Should I forgive him? Could I let myself open up to the possibility of being hurt again?

'He was devastated when he thought you'd died, nee-san.'

Eve's words and that first conversation we'd had after my return surfaced to the forefront of my mind and I remembered everything Eve had told me about Hibiki's reaction to losing me. Then after my little brother had left I called Loki to confirm if what I'd been told was true, which it had been. Not that I'd doubted Eve but he was slightly biased in the whole situation, turned out I'd been told the tame version of events. Loki told me the whole truth with no details barred. It had been brutal to hear.

That memory helped me to decide that, you only live once and I didn't want to lose this man ever again! If Hibiki could come here and ask me to forgive him then I could forgive him for ignoring me for 3 months. I could forgive him for everything!

"I forgive you." I mumbled back as I buried my head in his chest, so that he couldn't see the tears escape and wrapped my arms tightly around him grabbing a hold of his shirt, afraid he would disappear on me if I didn't hold on for dear life. Something that registered in my emotional brain was that the colour of his shirt was pink, don't ask me why it just did. "I thought you hated pink?"

"I do." He chuckled pulling back just enough so he could see my face, and I could see his.

"Then why are you wearing a pink shirt?" I questioned, as he lifted a hand to brush the tear stains that streaked my face away. His touch felt so reassuring and comforting, it made me sigh in happiness.

"Because you liked/like pink." Was his reply. I didn't need to answer him or ask another question, I understood what he meant. It meant that he was always thinking about me even though he'd tried to move on. I'd always been in his mind. I didn't know why but this small little bit of clarification brought the biggest smile to my face and made me feel so much better about everything.

"Do you remember your last words to me?" He asked, pulling my head back to his chest as he stroked the back of my hair.

"Of course I do." I sighed in contentment as he held me. How I had missed this. " I never did get a reply." I giggled softly.

"How about a do over?"

"A what?" I pulled back, confused by what he was asking for. A do over?

"Tell me those last words again, so I can answer them."

I froze at this, I wasn't sure I wanted to hear the reply. But from the indicators he was giving me I wasn't sure it would be a bad answer. But was this too soon, we'd only just reconciled after all.

"Please." He begged twiddling with a stray strand of my hair. I hummed softly at the feel of him playing with my hair, it was so soothing and reassuring that I decided to go ahead and trust him. I pulled back just enough so we were looking each other in the eye again.

"Ok then." I smiled nervously at him, here goes nothing. "I love you, Hibiki."

"I love you too, Lucy." With that said he brought his hands up and cupped my face, gently stroking my cheek as he pulled me in to meet his lips for the best kiss I'd ever experienced. Damn he'd improved.

A/N; I hope everyone had a great christmas and a grand new year! So it looks as if this story is finally coming to a close, but don't worry it's not over just yet. Stay tuned for the epilogue of Stars and Archives: The next constellation.

Disclaimer; Hiro Mashima owns fairy tail.