Luck of the Unwanted~

Chapter 24

"Merry Christmas everyone. Thank you so much for everything!" I said with a smile. Everyone just stared in shock, mouths all but dropping the floor. Wendy was the one to break the silence first.

"Lucy…san?" She asked. I smiled at her, encouraging her that I had truly gotten my voice back.

"Lucy! You got your voice back! The doctors were wrong after all!" She squealed as she ran and tackled me, causing me to take a step back, and hitting my back on Natsu's, surprisingly, rock hard chest.

I looked up at his face and he grinned comfortingly, telling me everything was okay now.

"Natsu? You don't seem the least bit surprised…. Did you know? How long has she been able to speak?" Grandine asked. Both her and Igneel were still surprised by the sudden news while Wendy was ecstatic.

"Yeah… It happened last night when we first got home from the party." Natsu started hopefully he wouldn't-

"And as a matter a fact, she got it back in a rather… different way. You see, after me and her-

"No!" I screamed causing everyone to flinch from my sudden outburst. With all eyes on me, my face started to heat. Natsu smirked as the rest of the family just watched, waiting for an explanation. How could I tell them that their son and adopted sister just kissed? Exactly, see? There is no way. That is why they will not know…. At least not yet.

"Well? What happened for Lucy to get her voice back?" Igneel asked as he started to get impatient. I looked at Natsu and he sighed.

"We…maybe… sorta…." Natsu started looking for the right words. What did I tell you? There is no possible way to explain what happened between us.

"Spit it out Natsu." Grandine snapped.

"We kissed." Natsu said quickly before closing his eyes as if awaiting a hit of some sort. A hit of one that never came. After a few seconds, Natsu opened his eyes only to be met with a… strange sight.

Igneel was sitting there nodding his head and Grandine was sitting there with tears in her eyes as she smiled softly at the to of us. I looked at Natsu for an explanation, but he looked just as blank on the situation as I did.

"You're not mad?" He asked as confusion spread across both of our faces.

"Oh god no. After all, it looks like Layla won this bet." She stated. That was when I thought my face would be stained permanently with confusion.

"My mom?"

"Yes dear. You see, when you guys were- hmm- three maybe? Layla and I made a bet. She said that you guys would get together before you both turned eighteen whereas I said that Natsu would probably be as dense or denser than his father and probably not even notice." Grandine said with a sigh. What was she talking about?

"You knew my mother?"

"Yes I did. As a matter of fact, we were best friends all through middle and high school. You're mom was one of a kind. She always had an aura around her that made you always want to smile. It was almost impossible for you to cry when with her." Grandine explained.

"How did you guys meet?" I asked. This was the first time I had ever heard anything about my mother. She died when I was so young, I barely remember anything about her other than a few key memories. Same with my dad. Especially because of the trauma, though I got most of it back after going to Hargeon.

"Well, believe it or not, I was a trouble maker. Always in detention for something. My reputation around the town wasn't all that good either. I had to move around from school to school a lot because of my expulsions. I was finally told by my parents that if I got expelled one more time, I was off to military school to learn some respect. That was when I was sent to Magnolia High." Grandine informed.

"At first I hated it. Being the 'rebel' I was, I didn't like being told what to do. I guess Natsu gets that from me. I liked to test the rules just to see how mad people would get. One day, I spray painted the bathroom wall and got sent to the principles office, just like every other day. Only this time was different. The class rep for class 1-A came in to discuss the tardies and absences with the principle. Relieved, the principle asked if she would befriend me and teach me how to behave. Much to my dislike, she agreed. That was how our friendship started." Grandine stated with a sigh.

"My how time flies. Because of the forced friendship, I often tried to push her away, yet, she kept coming back like a true friend would. After that, we stuck together like glue. She was even the maid of honor in my wedding, as I was hers. She actually introduced me and Igneel together. Since he was so shy, she set us up and since then we have been together." Grandine laughed as she leaned onto Igneel and he wrapped a hand around her waist.

"Wait a second. You guys knew Lucy's parents?" Natsu asked as Grandine and Igneel nodded.

"And you had a bet that Lucy and I would end up together?"

"That is correct."

Natsu was at a loss of words for a second as he tried to figure out and process everything that was just said.

"Now, how about we head over to the hospital and find out what is going on with Lucy's vocal cords?" Grandine suggested. I honestly didn't want to go, but I guess it is pretty important to discover what happened.

We all grabbed our coats and piled in the minivan. The ride there was very… adventurous. As many of you might know, Christmas is when everyone comes home for the year, resulting in much unneeded traffic.

People were also starting to get crazy on the road as they ran red lights and stop signs to get home sooner. More than once or twice, Igneel had to blow the horn because of reckless drivers.

Somehow we ended up making it to the hospital all alive. On the bright side, even if we were going to get in a wreck, we were already heading to the hospital! We walked in and requested to have a meeting with the doctor. The receptionist looked at Grandine funny since most of the time you can't do that, but once she mentioned my name, the woman nodded and contacted the doctors, then motioning us to wait in the waiting room.

We waited for a few minutes before a nurse came and got Grandine, Natsu and I to go back into a room. I was starting to get nervous. What if this miracle turned out to be yet another curse? Fate already hates me enough as it is… what if I just loose my voice again as to atone to my sins?

Natsu took one look at me and stood in front of my way, blocking my path. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked at me disapprovingly.

"Lucy. Why do I get the feeling that you are worrying? There is nothing to worry about. We are hear to see if everything is okay and permanent. You shouldn't be sad. If anything, you should be happy! After years of going without being able to talk, you finally get your voice back." Natsu said shaking a finger at me. I sighed and tried to go around him. He wouldn't understand anyway. No one could now that I think about it. Just as I started to go around him, he moved his foot and blocked my way yet again. I looked up and glared, but all he did was smirk.

"Sorry, but you cant leave until you tell me the truth." He stated, smugness written along his face. I pouted in response and he softened, even if just by a little but.

"B-but Natsu… I don't want to…" I said innocently looking up at him, fake tears threatening to fall any minute now. Natsu looked surprised, scared even. I assume he doesn't do well with crying girls?

"Uh, w-well…. In that case…" He stuttered scratching the back of his head.

"Thanks Natsu!" and with that, I ran around him and down the hall to where I saw Grandine and the nurse go just a few seconds ago.

"Hey!" I heard Natsu call behind me as I turned a corner. I soon found a door open as familiar voices emitted from within the room. I walked in and sat down in a chair beside Grandine.

"There you are! Where is Natsu?" She asked. I shrugged in response and inwardly smirked. I can't believe he fell for something like that.

"The doctor should be here soon. I am going to go find Igneel and Wendy and make sure they are ok. I will try to be back before the doctor gets here. Will you be ok if I'm not back in time?" She asked standing and making her way to the door. I merely nodded as she turned and walked outside.

"Natsu! What is going on with you?" she asked in a tone that almost seemed in disgust. On that note, I laughed. Hard. Suddenly stopping I noticed something. Is this what it sounded like to laugh? Is this how it feels to laugh?

The door Grandine had closed, soon slammed open. I looked towards the door to see if it was the doctor only to find an agitated Natsu was dripping sweat. What exactly had he been doing.

"Luce, why didn't you answer the question?" He asked.

"What question?"

"You know what question I am talking about. Why are you acting so saddened about something so great? Shouldn't you be happy about what happened?" He asked. I looked at my feet. Why did he have to care so much about me? Hwy couldn't he have just continued being the mean and annoying Natsu?

"I would rather not talk about it…." I said trailing off, turning my head so he could not see the real tears about to form.

"Lucy, I want to talk about it because I care. If something hurts you, I want to know about it. What is bothering you so much?"

"It's a curse. I'm a curse. My voice was taken from me to atone my sins. It was because of me that my parents died. Just because I got it back does not mean that I will have it forever. It is bound to get taken again. Or something more valuable could be taken from me. Something like you. I don't want anything to happen to anyone I love because of this stupid curse put on me!" I screamed as tears started to fall. I couldn't bring myself to look up at Natsu, I couldn't bring myself to see the reaction to what I just said. Now that he knows, will he leave my side to protect himself? Will he leave me

to fight this battle alone?

"Is that what you are worried about? Something happening to me or your voice? Nothing will make me leave you Lucy. If you loose your voice again then so be it. We were close before you got it back right?" He asked and I smiled finally looking at him only to see him giving me his famous grin. One that he knew would make me feel better in a heart beat.

"What exactly happened that day to make you so scared?" He asked. Man is he full of questions. Then again, I can't blame him for being curious.

"Well you know about the day the war started right?" I asked. In

response he nodded.

"That day was my birthday. My mom and I were in the garden setting up a table filled with snacks for the party about to take place. Since I was an only child, it was just my mom, dad, and I. Just like it always had been. My father was going to be home from work soon, and that was when we were going to start the party. Suddenly smoke started to billow from buildings and I recall looking up and seeing what looked like oversized birds flying in the sky." I said as a bitter laugh escaped my lips. Looking back now, I was so stupid and careless. I could have saved both my mother and my father with one simple move.

"My mother had told me to go inside after she saw what was in the sky. I remember asking her why, but she just frantically shoved me in the house telling me to lock the door and hide in the basement. I was scared. My mom had never talked to me like that before. She never looked as terrifying as she did that day. But I obeyed and ran into the house, not looking back. I ran all the way down the steps and hid in the corner of our basement. Even down there, I could hear the screams of people and covered my ears wishing that some force would make the lizards go away." I continued. I looked at Natsu to see how he felt about the story so far. His expression gave nothing away and I took that as a sign to go on with the horror story.

"After a while of waiting, I stated to wonder where my mother was. She was supposed to be coming down as soon as possible, but yet, she still wasn't there. I slowly walked up the steps as I lost my courage with each passing step. Questions filled my head: "Where is she?" "Is she ok?" "Where is papa?" "Is anyone still alive?". Questions like those filed trough as many more screams tore through the walls. I ran outside and started screaming for her. I needed a sign that she was okay. She started to call out my name in surprise, wondering what I was doing out of the house. Panic entwined her voice and was visible on her face." I said. As I spoke, I relived this horror and started to feel the emotions I did that very day. My heart felt as if someone was tugging at it, pulling it.

"I started to run towards her. Who doesn't want there mama in a scary situation? Just as I was about to get to her, two dragons blocked my way on either side. Blocking her from my vision with their large bodies. They started to charge up their fiery blasts. As my mom screamed in agony for me to run, I just stood there, frozen. I couldn't move. I was frozen in fear and couldn't move. Next thing I knew, there were blasts coming my way, and I was being pushed down to the ground. There in front of me was what used to be my mother, incinerated. You could barely even identify her." I said with a choke. Was I crying? When did I start to cry? Remembering this… it was terrible. Something no child should have to bear.

"I ran inside in fear, crying and screaming. It was my birthday, none of this was supposed to be going on. Papa was supposed to be home and all three of us in the garden eating cake and sharing stories. The door slammed open and I heard the voice of my father shouting for my mother. What was I to do? How could a five year old explain that her mother died because I couldn't even follow simple instructions?" I took a deep breath. I felt ashamed to look at Natsu.

"Once he saw, he looked relieved. Almost happy for a second. He explained that as he was walking home from work, there was an emergency evacuation and he was caught in all of the chaos. He said he came as quick as he could. That was when he noticed the missing figure. He started to freak out, shaking my shoulders kicking chairs. Once I explained what happened, his faced hardened and hatred tainted his face. It was like that for the next few months. The only times we were together was at supper. He cooked just enough for me to survive, before he finally went insane and killed himself with a steak knife in front of me. I remember laying there, holding him as I cried out to god. It was so loud that neighbors filed into the house only to see a five year old girl covered in a mans blood. When dawn arrived, a lady came and told me that I would be living with a bunch of other kids my age waiting for another family. I wanted to argue, but after everything that happened, my voice wouldn't come." I trailed off, wiping the now dry tears.

"That was where I spent the last 12 years of my life. That is until Grandine and Igneel came and adopted me." I finished. My throat started to hurt a bit after all of that talking, especially after going so long without it.

There was a knock at the door and Grandine walked in. What the heck was taking that stupid doctor so long? Too my surprise, Natsu didn't even look up. He just sat there, staring into nothingness. What was he thinking about? I hope it has nothing to do with guilt linked to my past….

"Hey guys, sorry I took so long. Wendy wanted me to run her across the street to get a snack. Has the doctor still not came yet?" Grandine asked, taking the last seat across the room. Even after the question, Natsu still sat there motionless. Grandine looked at me for answers, but I could do was shrug. Even I didn't know what was wrong with him.

"Natsu? Are you o-"

"Mom, why did we adopt Lucy? I don't mean anything bad by it, but what compelled you to adopt a seventeen year old? She would have been released in a year anyway because she was an adult…" Natsu said trailing off. Grandine looked deep in thought for a second, finger on her chin, before smiling softly and looking at both Natsu and I.

"You see, as I mentioned earlier, Layla and I were best friends. I am, believe it or not, you godmother Lucy. I was at the hospital the day you were born. See, the only thing was, it was when I had just married Igneel and he had just gotten a job offer and we were going to move to Magnolia. It was right after Natsu was born and my last week in Hargeon. I wasn't informed of Layla and Jude's death until a few months after the war. Your whereabouts were unknown at the time, and I had no idea where to even begin looking for you in Fiore. You could have been anywhere. I looked for you for months, but you were pronounced missing and then dead." Grandine looked down in despair. Is that why no one could adopt me?

"To try and make up for our deed undone, Igneel and I decided we would go and adopt another child hurt during the attack. Once we go there, we saw you!" She explained as tears brimmed her eyes.

"I am so sorry for making you wait Lucy. I apologize." She said as a tear fell. At that moment, someone knock and the door opened, revealing a middle-aged man in a white lab coat. So when the doctors do finally appear, they come and ruin the mood.

"Lucy Heartfilia?" He asked not looking up from his clipboard.

"Hai."

"What is going on today?"

"Well after 12 years of being mute, I got my voice back."

"Please open you mouth wide." He instructed coming my way and tapping on my chin. I followed his instructions and did as he told. He took out a small flash light and examined my throat for a few seconds before backing away and writing a few things on his clipboard.

"There appears to be no damage. You should be fine. If there are any problems feel free to come back." He said walking out the door. What is with that guy? He takes forever and then walks out five minutes later? Rude…

"Must be a busy day…" Grandine commented as she stood, making her way to the door.

"Are you coming?" She asked, as we didn't make a move to stand.

"Give me a second." Natsu said as Grandine exited the room.

"Natsu, what's wro-"

The voice was soon muffled by the feeling of something warm on my lips. Realizing what it was, I reacted and soon we pulled apart.

"Natsu…"

"Lucy, I am so sorry. Sorry for everything. Especially when you first started to live with us. I was terrible. I don't deserve to love such a strong girl like you. You shouldn't be with a guy like me. Anyone that can go through that and survive deserves someone be than me." Natsu said.

"Who are you to tell me that?" I asked standing and looking at him accusingly as Natsu just sat there, still stunned by my statement. It was true though.

"Lucy?" Natsu whispered as his face went from anguished to relief. I stood my ground, even when he stood and stare at me straight on. He smiled, and somehow I couldn't help but smile as well as a chuckle escaped.

"I didn't mean to sound so harsh when I said that I just-"

My words were cut off when Natsu's lips found mine. When we separated, he rested his forehead against mine and the only things I could hear were the sound of his breathing and the thumping pattern of my heart against my rib cage.

"I know. Thank you for setting me straight."

"W-well…" I stuttered. I was at a loss of words. Who was this again? He surely isn't acting like Natsu, that's for sure.

"Lucy?"

"Hm?"

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

The question startled me. I definitely hadn't expected him to ask that. I remained quiet for a second, trying to think about the possibility of the two of together. Would it work? I don't want to ruin what we have. But then again, what do I have to lose? I love him, and I pray that he loves me too.

"Yes. I will be your girlfriend Natsu." I stated as he hugged me and spun me in the air like a father does a small child. And in that moment, right there in the hospital room, everything felt complete. I sudden felt a weight being lifted from my shoulders, and could almost hear a faint whisper.

'Sayonara Lucy… We will always love you…'

As I heard that, I look over Natsu's shoulder where I saw my mother and father stand, hands intertwined. They sat there smiling before waving goodbye and slowly becoming transparent and eventually disappearing. I smiled, finally knowing for sure that my parents no longer blamed me for their deaths.

I buried my face in Natsu's jacket and he held me there before lifting my chin with his thumb, staring into my eyes.

"I love you Lucy."

"I love you to Natsu."

And then, we sealed those words with a kiss.

Hey guys! This is the last officialchapter, other than the epilogue. How did you like this chapter? I know it was long and jam packed with information, but i think it turned out pretty good! At least you know what Lucy's life was like! Thanks for the 300 reviews! I love you guys so much!

So I know that I left you with a cliffhanger and didnt update like I was supposed too, but! I have an excuse. You see, Friday, my mom cut the internet because we were switching carriers so i didnt have internet until Wednesday. Then on Wednesday, my sister called and told me that she was going to be coming and she had a surprise. For those of you that read my other stories, you know that I have a brother that is in the military (Army- he's a tanker). When she came, she said she left something in the car, and when she came back, my brother came with her. I cried so hard, I thought i would drown.

He has been stationed in Russia for a few months now and technically wasnt supposed to be home for Christmas again this year, yet, somehow he got to come home. I am sorry if I upset you for not updating, but I was a bit busy. Merry late Christmas though! Did everyone have a great year? This was the best Christmas I think I have ever had.

What should be in the epilogue?

I love you guys so much!

Over and out~

iloveanime12