So, um, guys...this is the last chapter. I know, I know, I wasn't expecting it either, but it just felt right. Do you know what I mean? Well, anyway, I hope you've enjoyed this story.

Chapter Fifteen

Lucy's P.O.V.

I plopped down on my bed for the first time in two weeks. I had been staying at the hospital so that they could run some tests, and I could get used to my new…situation.

I was exhausted, so I decided to take a quick bath and then a nap.

I shrugged off my clothes, and felt my way along the walls to the bathroom. It was scary, like I was lost in an unending labyrinth.

I only knew that I had reached my bathroom when I felt the cold tile underneath my feet. It came as a shock at first, and I had to sit down. I started rocking again, just like at the hospital. There was something comforting about it. Maybe it was the steady rhythm, or just that it was the one thing that I seemed to control...I don't know.

Taking deep breaths, I crawled over to the bathtub. My hand groped around for the faucet for a few minutes before I finally found it.

I turned the handle, and the sudden sound of water pounding on the bottom of the tub sent me falling backwards onto my back, shaking.

Water is good. Water is calm. Water is relaxing. Water is safe. I thought to myself, trying to sound convincing.

I gathered up what little courage I had and put my hand in the water. I was okay. The next step was putting my foot in, so I did. I was still okay. I decided to take a leap of faith and sit down in the water. My heartbeat sped up, but I was still okay.

I turned off the faucet when the water was high enough, and relaxed against the back of the tub. Then an idea popped into my head, and I had to do it. I was on a bit of a rush from just sitting in the water, so I decided to go all the way. I would put my head in.

Sure, it might seem trivial to normal people, but I hadn't been able to get my face wet since the accident.

So, I slid all the way into the water. I immediately started to panic. What was going on? I felt like I was drowning. I couldn't see the surface! Where was the air? Where did it go? Which way was up? Which way was down?

I thrashed in the water until I fell out of the tub onto the soft bath mat next to it. My chest heaved at the task of breathing. It seemed like I couldn't quite get enough air into my lungs.

I sat up-after I had calmed down-and felt around for my towel. Once I found it, I pulled it around my shoulders and made my way back to my bedroom.

Stumbling through the door, I let the towel fall from my arms and I reached into my dresser for what felt like some leggings and a tee. As I pulled them on, I walked over to my bed and pulled the covers up to my chin, just like when I was little, or sick. I curled up into a ball, and fell asleep.

Natsu's P.O.V.

I rang the bell a couple of times before I gave up, assuming that Luce was probably asleep. Looking down at the bag in my hand, I sighed. I had brought some Chinese take-out for us to share. I knew she loved dumplings.

Reaching into my back pocket, I took out my key. I only used it when Luce was out or asleep, since she didn't know I'd had it made. I wanted to respect her, and let her answer the door when she could, but when she couldn't….

I walked into Lucy's bedroom and saw her sleeping in her bed. She looked so cute, curled up like a child. I walked over and kissed her cheek. She smiled in her sleep, and I blushed, thinking that she'd woken up.

I placed the take-out on Lucy's kitchen counter and sat down on her couch to watch some TV. I wanted to be there when she woke up, in case she needed anything. I had vowed to myself to be there for her as much as possible. She needed me.

Thump!

I ran into Lucy's bedroom to find her crumpled on the floor. She was shaking and sobbing. I reached down and enveloped her body in mine, whispering in her ear,"It's okay, it's okay. I'm here. It's okay," over and over again.

We stayed like that for a while, me holding her, and her quietly letting everything out.

Lucy pulled away, and chuckled as she wiped her tears away. "You know, I told myself not to cry in front of you," she sniffled.

"Why?" I looked down at her in concern. She knew that I would always be there for her, right?

"You're just so…innocent. I mean, you're like a child, and I didn't want to take that away from you." Lucy started blushing when I caught her off guard and pulled her into a long kiss.

"Now, is that the kiss of a child?" I winked, then turned serious. "Lucy, you know that you can come to me with anything, right? I don't care how stupid you think it is, if you care about it, then I do too. Nothing that you tell me will be too much. I'm here to help you carry your load."

Lucy looked up in the direction that she thought I was, and smiled. I smiled back, even though she couldn't see it.

Lucy's P.O.V.

I licked my vanilla ice cream, sitting on a bench outside next to Natsu. The birds were chirping, and it put me in a good mood. In my eyes, the world looked yellow, it was smiling.

It had been a year since the accident, and I was used to my...condition. I learned how to read braille, and use my white cane to figure out where things were. But, most importantly, I learned to see, in my own way. I could taste, feel, and hear colors. Oddly enough, lots of things were prettier this way.

Lots had happened since I met Natsu, and everything else. Erza, Levy and the rest of the gang apologized profusely to me, and they still did. Also, there were a couple new couples around. Levy and Gajeel were an official couple, Erza and Jellal, and Sting met a girl named Yukino. Supposedly, she was really sweet and he'd become a better person. He apologized to me too, but other than that, we didn't really talk. Oh, I almost forgot! Natsu and I were having or one year anniversary!

Natsu leaned over and put his arm around me. I smiled over at him, and I could feel him give me one of his big smiles back. It had kind of become our thing, smiling at each other when we didn't have anything else to say. When we didn't need to say anything at all.

It was getting dark (I could tell by the feel of the cooling air around me) when Natsu stood and pulled me up from the bench, and started leading me through the park. I knew exactly where we were headed.

Natsu's P.O.V.

I took Lucy down to this little dock that reached out into the lake that the park surrounded. I had a blanket sitting on the end, and a picnic basket full of food.

We sat down on the end, letting our feet dangle over the edge, our hands intertwined.

"I know you can't see them, Luce, but the stars are beautiful tonight, just like you."

Lucy blushed, but still hit me in the head. "You're such an idiot, Natsu."

"What did I do?" I said, feigning innocence.

"Oh, please," she said sarcastically,"you and your cheesy pickup lines. Don't you know that you've already got me?"

Natsu leaned over for a kiss. "Yeah, I do."

Lucy's P.O.V.

And I knew that I had him, too.

How was it? The chapter? The whole story? I hope you liked it. So, I have a question for you guys. What do you want me to write next? You can write your ideas in the reviews, or PM me. I would really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for being such a great group of readers and supporters! :)