Disclaimer: There were many questions and blanks left unanswered in that seven year time-skip, so I'm just trying to fill in the blanks. All copyright and royalties still with Mashima-sensei!

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Romeo Conbolt

Set during the 7-year timeskip, then Ch. 254-255.

Year X785

Romeo already knew who they were before he heard the door to the guild get knocked down. Only Twilight Orgre would barge in like they owned the place.

"Welco-"

"You've got the rent in for last month?" They always grunted and were blunt with what they wanted. He didn't hear Kinana's reply, but he heard his father.

"Didn't we tell you last week we still need time?"

"Well that's not good enough…"

Romeo heard bottles shattering and yells from Laki and Kinana.

"Natsu-nii…"

Romeo wasn't sure when Twilight Ogre started their habit of coming to their guild and breaking whatever they could find. But whenever they do, his father always tells him to hide.

Clinching his fists, he remembered the day when confirmation that Fairy Tail's strongest members passing spread far and wide.

Things haven't been the same since then.

"Natsu-nii…"

The guild was quiet again, but Romeo kept whimpering for the person who would always come and save the day.

Year X786

Romeo has started visiting the harbour port in Hargeon.

The sea reminds him of when he last saw them, waving his hand and wishing them good luck.

He didn't know how long he had stood there, until he heard someone calling him in the distance.

"Romeo! Romeo!"

He turned around and was surprised to find Macao, panting, "Dad?"

"We've been looking for you! You were gone for nearly two hours!"

"I…" He didn't know what to say, it felt like he was only gone for two minutes.

Maco sighed, "..It's OK son, let's go home."

"Un."

"I'm sure you're out there, Natsu-nii!"

Year X787

"Totomaru-sensei, but Natsu-ni –"

"I don't want to hear that name in my class!"

Romeo kept quiet. Totomaru didn't know it was the first time he uttered that person's name in a while.

Twilight Ogre continued their taunting, but Romeo had enough with running and hiding.

When he heard that Totomaru started giving lessons, he wanted to learn. Natsu-nii wouldn't have remained quiet. He would've stood up to them.

"When I get stronger, I'll show them!"

Year X788

He looked on as his father received updates from Lamia Scale and Blue Pegasus on their search of the lost members of Fairy Tail.

The answer has been the same. Despite four years of searching.

Looking at how forlorn his dad looked, Romeo comforted him, "It's Natsu-nii, dad. They'll make it. They always do."

His father nodded and tried to smile, seemingly unconvinced. Romeo understood and felt much the same way. On the inside, he wanted to believe in his words too.

"Natsu-nii… Why are you not getting in touch?"

Year X789

It has become an unspoken rule among everyone not to mention any of the people that went to Tenrou Island.

Romeo noticed that Reedus packed all his sketches of them in a folder. Jet and Droy don't mention Levy in their conversations anymore.

Everyone did their best to keep their spirits up. Whenever Bisca and Alzec bring Asuka over to the guild, it always lifts their mood.

Like today…

"Ahhh! Strawberry shortcake!"

Laki laughed, "Erza's going to have another person to battle over her favourite dessert!"

"Oh, I- I'm sorry, it just kind of slipped an-"

"No, it's OK Laki."

Although everyone knew it wasn't. When Romeo used to at least smile a little in Asuka's presence, at some point Romeo stopped smiling and easily got lost in his own thoughts.

Year X790

Twilight Ogre left a wreck of broken glasses and bottles. He saw in his father sunken eyes that has lost its glimmer of hope, and hair that's turning grey.

The search for their guild mates still bear no fruit. The island is gone and there's been no sign of magic in that area since.

When once he denied the truth, hoped that it was just a big joke they're playing… Now it has finally set in. They're dead and they are not coming back. To think otherwise is foolish.

Year X791

Although he's lost all hope, the Haregon port still calms him. He's been spending his days here, sometimes a lot longer than his father wants him to.

He knows why. These seven years have made them closer yet farther apart. Everyone is wary of him. He knows they're trying, but he doesn't want to have false hope. Not anymore. It's been seven years.

And he says so when they all got excited and left after Ichiya's news of abnormal magical activity around Tenrou Island.

He chooses to stay behind, not wanting to dampen their hopes in case of proving he was right. Though he also wanted to stay in case those darn Ogres come back. His father isn't as strong and always tells everyone to not fight back. He'll protect his dad with action instead of words this time.

And they do. He will fight them this time. He won't go hide like he used to. Fairy Tail fights and sticks together. He will show them that Fairy Tail's not taking anymore of this from them!

They are all stronger and bigger than he is, but he's not scared. Though as one of them swings his bat at him, he closed his eyes waiting for the impact. He hears his dad shout his name.

But he felt nothing. When he opened his eyes Twilight Ogres were flying left and right, defeated like flies.

And then they were all there. In front of him. The same as he had waved goodbye to them like they only left yesterday.

His mind went blank. He stood frozen looking at them, taking in their story of the first guild master – Mavis – saving them in one of the guild's grand magic, "Fairy Sphere".

In the ruckus he hears Natsu, "Romeo! You're all grown up!"

It jerked him from his shock, but seeing his role model and big brother again… He started feeling tears streaming down his face. This isn't a dream.

He manages to reply, tears and snoot in his face, smiling, "Welcome back, Natsu-nii! Everyone!"

A/N: I thought with the prompt "lessons learned the hard way", I'll focus on Romeo because I think Team Tenrou's disappearance probably hit him the hardest. Maybe moreso than Jet and Droy for Levy, because part of how much he loves Fairy Tail comes from his father and his own admiration of Natsu. Seeing his father (and vice versa) probably hurt him a lot. Mentally and physically (and most definitely mentally) shown, those seven years wore Macao down, and Romeo "didn't smile anymore". He was also shown as being the least happy when they all heard magic returned to Tenrou, Romeo was sure they were dead. How much hope did he have before for all of that to be torn down in those seven years to reach that point? I thought I'll explore that.

I initially wanted to only explore one moment of those seven years with this Romeo drabble in the beginning, but I wanted to write a little longer than I always do - and not always rely on dialogue - so this Romeo drabble expanded, ahah ^^" I'm not sure how much Romeo is kept in character here though. The thing with Mashima's side characters - especially ones that rarely appear because they're not important for plot like Romeo - are very much static. Yet Mashima focused on him in that seven years, so this is my idea as to how and why Romeo became very quiet and unlike his boisterous and cheery self before Tenrou Island happened, and why Mashima focused on Romeo and made him experience that.

But anyway, my headcanons and questions aside, I also somehow included other characters I have lined up to write (Laki and the Connell's) as I expanded on each year. So there you are! I'm so sorry this took so long!

Reviews, comments, and criticism (when constructive!) welcomed! I would love to hear your thoughts! ^^