Hello and welcome to chapter four.

Let's get straight to the chapter this time.

Chapter four: Welcome Home!

Previously: "How can Natsu Dragneel be dead if he is standing right here?" he asked as he opened his arms as a gesture to himself.

Present

Grays eyes widened then narrowed at the pink haired man, he charged and tackled him to the ground grabbing the front of his jacket and pulling him so their faces were a mere inch apart.

"Are you suggesting you are Natsu? PROVE IT!" Gray yelled with a growl in his voice. The pink haired man grinned and leaned up to whisper in his ear.

"The last words I said to you as I gave you my scarf were "I love you Gray Fullbuster, always have, and always will "he whispered before kissing Gray in the exact same place as Four years ago. He pulled back and their eyes met, Grays eyes widened before small tears of joy started to form and he pulled him into a hug. "And I still do, god I missed you" the now known Natsu said into grays neck as he took in the scent of pine and snowy forest.

"It really is you, Natsu I missed you too" Gray said.

"I hate to interrupt this toughing reunion, but can you get off my son and put some clothes on?" The black haired man asked, Gray glared at him and Natsu sighed.

"Awe, come on Zeref, let them have their moment" Mavis said as she stood beside him now.

"ZEREF!" Everyone that wasn't at Tenrou yelled in shock.

"The dark mage?" one of the new slayers yelled as they both charged to attack the dark mage.

"NO!" Natsu yelled as he pushed Gray off of him, in a flash he stopped both of their attacks with his bare hands and pushed them back away from them as he stood protectively in front of his father.

"Natsu?" Gray asked.

"Zeref is innocent" Natsu said and everyone gasped.

"What do you mean he is innocent!? He tried to kill us all!" Erza yelled, causing Zeref to flinch in regret.

"He wasn't in control!" Natsu yelled back.

"Natsu what do you mean?" Gray asked.

"So he really is Natsu?" Lucy asked and Gray nodded. The next few minutes were full of whispers around the guild saying 'He's alive?' 'Why did he call Mavis and Zeref his parents?', 'What happened to his hair?', 'His hair? Look at his eyes!', and other questions and comments.

"Zeref had a curse on his magic, whenever dark intentions and dark magic is around him his magic would control him, he had no control, but there is no reason to fear him anymore, I broke the curse, he will not hurt anyone ever again" Natsu explained.

"Natsu, I think you need to tell us everything that happened these past four years" Makarov said and Natsu grabbed Zerefs hand and walked to explain everything.

Shocked, that was everyone's reaction after hearing everything that happened to Natsu and his parents. Gray was the first to speak.

"Welcome home Natsu" He said and grinned at him, Natsu grinned back.Makarov was the next to snap out of his shock.

"Today our family is whole once more with a new addition! Today we celebrate not the past life of a member, but the reunion of our family!" Makarov yelled and everyone cheered. Instantly the members of team Natsu came to greet him happily.

"Natsu, I'm glad you are ok, I thought you were dead" Lucy said.

"Come on Luce, I always get back up" Natsu said as he headed over to the bar followed by Lucy, Happy, Carla, Wendy, Erza, and Gray.

"But you deliberately stayed away for two years and didn't even bother to tell us you were alive" Erza said in a voice that used to send shivers down his spine.

"Yep, and it was worth it, I knew you guys would have came after me. With Zerefs curse, it was too dangerous to have anyone try to come after me." Natsu said as he sat on a stool at the bar.

"Welcome back Natsu" Mira greeted with a smile as she set down a glass she was washing.

"Hey Mira I'm so glad to be back, I'm dying for some of your flaming steak and fire whiskey" Natsu said.

"Coming right up" she said as she went to make his order.

"Natsu, wouldn't it be dangerous for you to be around Zeref with that curse too?" Wendy asked.

"Not really, I was born with his powers and an immunity to it, that blast that turned my scarf black didn't kill me, at first I thought it was the scarf that protected me, which is partially true, however if I didn't have some immunity to Zerefs power I would have been out cold" Natsu explained as his food arrived and he began to stuff down his food like always. "Enough about me, what has been happening around here?"

"Cobra was released from prison under the conditions that he join Fairy Tail and be watched by master, Laxus, or me" Erza said after taking a bite out of a strawberry cheesecake Mira brought her.

"We also had two new dragon slayers join, Sting and Rouge, they are third-generation dragon slayers, and they are the two who charged at Zeref earlier. They joined in hopes of testing their strength against you and Gajeel, and were upset that you were gone" Wendy said.

"Interesting, I might fight them later" Natsu said with a small grin.

The Gildarts bells started ringing and Natsu got excited. Soon Gildarts entered the guild with a sad expression. "Oi, Gray, why is Gildarts upset?" Natsu asked.

"I think it has something to do with this being the anniversary of your supposed death" Gray answered.

Gildarts looked around and his gaze landed on Zeref, instantly his magic started to charge as he got a confused and angry expression.

"Gildarts!" Natsu yelled happily. Gildarts froze at the familiar voice and he turned his gaze to Natsu.

"Natsu?" he asked in disbelieve, Natsu nodded and Gildarts got a grin. "What happened to your hair?"

"Seriously, why does everyone ask that?" Natsu asked with a sigh. "Long story, anyway Zeref is no threat anymore, he is one of us now"

"Fine, but I expect full details later" Gildarts said as he went to drink with Cana.

"Natsu!" Mavis and Zeref called and Natsu looked over to them "ready for your weekly spar?" they asked. Natsu was instantly by their side with an excited grin.

"I'm always up for it" Natsu cheered "Freed can you set up some ruins in the field out back, I would hate to cause any damage to the guild"

"As you wish" Freed said as he went out back followed by the rest of the guild.

"Did you guys get a guild mark yet?" Natsu asked his parents.

"Mine is the color of all of our hair" Mavis said as she showed her guild mark on her left shoulder that had three layers, the inner layer was a golden blonde like her hair, the middle was black like Zerefs hair, and the outer layer was a dark pink with blonde and black stripes. The guild just stared at her mark with surprise.

"Mine is black with a golden white outline" Zeref said as he showed his mark that was on his left forearm. The guilds jaws slacked.

"that's cool it's almost like mine in a way" Natsu said as he unzipped and took off his jacket handing it to Gray to hold and revealing his black sleeveless shirt, more muscular form, his black dragon necklace, and his golden-white guild mark with a black outline and reddish-orange swirls that moved like fire. "But yours doesn't have moving swirls" Natsu said with a grin at Zeref. This time the guild gasped, and Gray stared couldn't help thinking how good he looked now.

"How do they have marks like that?" Macau and Wakaba yelled.

"When did Natsu get his mark changed?" Lucy asked.

"Hey gramps why didn't you tell me that we could customize our marks?" Laxus asked with an interested look.

"I didn't know we could" Makarov said just as fascinated at their marks.

"And that's because when I created the guild I made it where only people related to me or Zeref or had our magic could get customized guild marks, it was supposed to be a mark of Fairy Tails main family's bloodline, but I never found Natsu before I died, so I made Precht Gaebolg the second master and never told anyone about the marks." Mavis explained.

"Natsu's mark changed in reaction to his unsealed powers" Zeref said.

"That's pretty cool" Romeo said.

"Why does Salamander always get the good stuff?" Gajeel muttered with a small smile.

"Multi colored guild marks are man!" Elfman yelled earning a small hit from Evergreen.

"Shut up you big off" Evergreen said.

"I'm almost jealous of the brat" Makarov said.

"So Natsu, who are you sparing with today?" Zeref asked once everyone finial stopped talking about the marks.

"I was thinking of battling someone different this time." Natsu grinned and looked over the guild and his eyes landed on Erza, "Let's say Titania, if she is willing to be beaten."

"You never truly change do you?" Erza said with a smirk, "very well, I accept your challenge, but I must warn you, I've got a lot stronger since you disappeared" she said as she re-quipped into her flame empress armor and flame sword as she and Natsu stepped into the runes.

"She sure seems confident" Zeref said.

"Natsu use to challenge her a lot, she usually won in one hit" Happy told him.

"Interesting," he said as he then looked at Natsu "Natsu, remember, don't use anything that can kill people, they don't have the resistance we have"

"I know that dad" Natsu said. "I would never kill my nakama"

"Just reminding you, you only fought me and Mavis for four years, you could have forgot other people are not resistant to our type of magic"

"I get it!" Natsu said ending the conversation.

"Ready Natsu?" Erza asked getting into an attack position.

"I should be asking you that Erza, because I've been ready" Natsu said as he lit his fists in a beautiful white fire that had everyone looking in awe.

Erza was the first to make a move, dashing at Natsu swinging her at his abdomen. Natsu covered one of his arms in the white flames and blocked her attack stopping it dead in its tracks. Gasps could be heard from the onlookers as Natsu had just stopped Erzas attack using one arm, and a few people were trying to change their bets witch Cana wouldn't allow.

Erza jumped back and summoned another sword before attacking again, Natsu covered his other arm and blocked both swords and dodged the ones he couldn't block. Erza changed into her Flight Armor, hoping to gain an advantage through speed as she continued her attacks. Natsu closed his eyes, much to everyone's surprise, and still continued to block and dodge the faster attacks.

"When are you going to make a move Natsu?" Erza said, instantly Natsu grabbed her swords with his bare hands and opened his eyes with a smirk. He tightened his grip and the swords started to crack.

"How about right now, my turn" Natsu said as the swords shattered and he brought his knee coated in white flames to her stomach, causing her to cough up saliva and a little bit of blood as the breath was also knocked out of her. Erza gasped and fell to the ground holding her stomach trying to regain her breath.

"Crap, I didn't mean to hit her that hard!" Natsu yelled as he crouched down beside her and placed his hands over her stomach as his hands lit in a bright pink flame. Erza relaxed and released a relived sigh before falling to sleep. Everyone stared at the fallen Titania as Freed dispelled the runes and Mira walked over to them.

"Is she alright?" Mira asked concerned.

"Yeah, I healed her, she just needs rest now" Natsu said "can you take her to the infirmary Mira?" she nodded and lifted the sleeping Erza bridle-style and walking off.

"Natsu" Makarov said as he walked up, "you are now an S-class mage of Fairy Tail" he said with a smile. The guild erupted with cheers.

"Are you sure about that gramps, it's only my first day back." Natsu said.

"Natsu, four years ago I believed that you were ready to be S-class, and you only proved me more when you defeated Master Hades. You have done nothing but improve since then, and I say it's time you have the title you deserve" Makarov said.

"Well then," Natsu said with a huge grin "LETS PARTY" he yelled and even more cheers erupted. They all headed back into the guild hall, Mira returned and she and Lissanna started handing out drinks. Natsu sat at the bar and watched the rest of the guild as he drank his glass of Fire whiskey. Gray walked up to him in nothing but his boxers, chain necklace and Natsu's scarf, he handed Natsu back his black and white jacket and Natsu put it on leaving it unzipped. Gray sat beside him for a little while in silence, until Gray took off the scarf and wrapped it around Natsu's neck, Natsu looked at him in surprised confusion.

"What are you doing?" he asked bringing his hand up to grab the scaly scarf his foster dad gave him before he disappeared. He didn't realize how much he really missed this scarf over the years.

"I thought you would like it back" Gray said looking away and taking a sip from an icy glass of whiskey. Natsu chuckled and grabbed Gray's wrist as he stood and headed to the roof with Gray in tow.

They sat on the roof watching the sun set. Gray couldn't help but keep looking over at Natsu with a smile, he couldn't help but think this was just an amazing dream and he might wake up to fine Natsu was still considered dead.

Gray looked over Natsu closely, he couldn't help but think his new hair color and eyes looked good and defiantly suited him, even looked cute to him.

Natsu looked over to see Gray was stareing at him and smiled.

"Like what you see?" Natsu asked. Grays eyes widened and he looked away knowing he was caught stareing. Natsu chuckled and scooted closer to him leaning his head on the ice mages shoulder with a contempt sigh, gray looked at him and blushed. At this moment Gray decided to ask something he wanted to ask since Galuna Island, but was too scared to ask and then lost his chance when the fire mage vanished.

"Natsu" he said nervously, "will you go out with me?" he asked and Natsu looked up at him with his toothy grin and nodded before leaning up and kissing him. It was a short simple kiss that held a life-time of emotion.

"Did you really have to ask? I thought it was clear during our touching reunion" Natsu said.

"I had to make sure" Gray said as he kissed Natsu again, this time longer and more passionate.

"Okay," Natsu said as they separated again. He then looked serious "now there are a few things you need to know, you have probably heard something similar from the other dragon slayers, but it's a little different for me"

"Is this about that mating thing?" Gray asked.

"Yes, but for me it's different because I'm a fire type, not only that but I'm the King-fire type" Natsu said.

"King-fire type? I've never heard that before" Gray asked confused.

"That's because I hid it from everyone. I'm the King-fire Dragon Slayer, after all Igneel was the king of the fire dragons. I can use multiple types of flames, crimson, orange, purple, green, gold, pink, yellow, blue, even hell and liquid fire"

"What about those white flames you used earlier?" Gray asked now really curious.

"Oh those that was me mixing my light Fairy magic I inherited from mom, and my dragon-slayer magic. I can also make black flames by mixing my father's death magic too. But enough about my flames, I'll tell you later" Natsu said as he got his mind back on track."You know dragons as well as slayers mate for life"

"Yeah"

"They become protective and possessive of their mate; fire types are even more protective and possessive"

"That's not much difference" Gray said.

"That's not all; there is a ritual that fire types have to do with their mate if their mate is not a fire slayer. Fire dragon is the most destructive and unstable type of dragon magic and it puts the mate in danger, so they have to make the mate immune to fire." Natsu explained.

"How?" Gray asked.

"On a night with a full moon, we have to combine our magic into a ball, basically like a unison raid" Natsu said.

"A fire and ice Unison Raid, that will be tricky" gray said and Natsu nodded a little before continuing his explanation.

"Our magic will get to know each other, and when it turns gold, we each eat half of the magic ball. We then have three days to mate or it fails and we cannot do it again. The actual mating is the same as other slayers; we mark each other, bite each other's shoulders and channel some magic through the bite. But after mating we will have a stronger bond than the others, we can talk to each other telepathically, feel when each other is upset or in danger, and our bond will subconsciously tell us how to find each other if we need to. You will also be immune to fire and you can eat them to gain power like me" Natsu finished happily.

"I think I can deal with that" Gray said then kissed Natsu deeply. They sat there together just enjoying each other's company, until Zeref showed up with an important question.

"Natsu where are we going to live?" He asked. Natsu stood and started pacing.

"Shoot, Happy said my house collapsed so we have nowhere to live and we have no money because it's been four years since I've taken a job! I need to make some money, I need to take a mission right away" Natsu said and started to head for the stairs. Gray grabbed his hand and pulled him into a hug.

"Slow down, you just returned after four years, jobs can wait, in the mean time you and your parents can stay with me" Gray offered and Natsu relaxed a little.

"Are you sure?" Natsu asked, Gray smiled and nodded. Natsu turned and hugged him back.

"Thank you!" Natsu yelled.

"Heh, don't mention it" Gray said. "Now let's go in and party some more before we head home" He said and the three headed back inside.

A/N

Yay this is my longest chapter yet.

It took me a while to get this typed; I thought the original hand-written battle was not that good… I still think I could have done better than I did here, but it's hard putting the images in my mind into written form. I hope it wasn't too bad, please review and tell me what you think.

This chapter had a happy reunion, quick fight, and official relationship with somewhat lovey scene. Hope you guys liked it.

Reviewer replies:

Cindy- glad you like it and I left it there hoping for suspense and to make people look forward to more. Hope you continue to enjoy.

Guest- hopes you like the reunion.

Until next time