A/N: And here it is, the reunion that we've all been waiting for. This is probably the longest chapter I have ever written. I hope you find this a whole lot more exciting than the previous 22 chapters. The first paragraph was a suggestion from Paname. Told you so, it's brilliant idea! :)

Last Chapter:

"Come on, Laxus. Time to go, it's already noon!" She called to him at the entrance of the cave.

It was now morning at Magnolia and the train driver has just announced that they are now arriving at the station. The sunlight and the bustling of people caused Lucy to wake up to the face of a grinning man beside her and what's more importantly she wasn't just merely sitting beside the man. She was leaning into him, using his chest as pillow. Under normal circumstances, she would have Luck Kicked the man to death but today's not an ordinary day after all. July 1. It's her birthday.

"Hey, there Bug Eyes. Happy Birthday!" Laxus smiled at her. 'Oh, no, I'm dreaming, right?' She was surprised that the man knows her birthday. It's either creep-worthy or sweet. In her daze, she forgot to close her mouth which earned her another grin from the Dragon Slayer.

"T-Thank, you." She blushed at him then turned her head away to hide it. It was too late. He already saw her red tomato face. When the girl still didn't look his direction, he took something from his coat pocket and put it in the girl's hands.

"Here, it's my present for you…" Lucy, seeing the thing in her hands, can't mutter a single word. Her heart raced, butterflies fluttered in her stomach despite not eating a breakfast yet and face became redder than before. "…hey, is that all I can get? Silence? A simple tha…" Laxus, by all means cannot be reached right now because our dear Lucy has braved the challenges and kissed the man on his cheeks.

"Thank you, Sparky!" She smiled at him and by Mavis, Gramps, Precht or whoever Guild Master Fairy Tail had, he was also blushing that the color 'red' doesn't even exist in Erza's hair anymore.

'Hey, maybe I should give her more necklaces soon.' Laxus thought to himself in one of those 'manly happiness' of his.

"Laxus. Laxus. Hey, Laxus!" Lucy waved her hand in front of him. 'Okay, this has gone quite enough. I've been dazing off since I met her.'

"Wha..what?" Okay, he was caught off-guard again.

"We're here." Lucy pointed to a nearby sign that said, "Welcome to Magnolia Town!"

"Come on, we have a guild to surprise." Laxus shot her a smile that, if not for being a strong mage of a girl, she would have melt right there, right now.

"Hai!" Lucy smiled as he followed the man.

"Mira-san, do we a new issue of Sorcerer Weekly?" Levy asked the white-haired beauty in the bar.

"I'm afraid we don't have one for the past month." She replied.

"What? It's kind of weird, though. Anyways, I need to go now, Mira-san. Bye!" The bluenette said as she approached Gajeel. Mirajane waved her hands as if to say goodbye too, smiling. Those two really does seem to get 'too' close that Mirajane can't help but shift her mental gears to 'Take Over: Fangirl Soul.' She's grateful that Levy seems to be a little bit busy. Thanks to Gajeel, that girl would have been reduced to a mess at the disappearance of her best friend.

Sighing, she looked at Natsu's Team. They were again sitting around a table, deep in thought but instead of having that tense and silent mood they always have, somehow, they were comfortably smiling as if they were lost in memories. On their table, was a carefully made cake and not a hazardous-looking abstract art. 'So, they did manage to bake without any destruction. If only you could see this, Lucy.' The barmaid sadly smiled.

It has been a month after their failed attempt in finding Lucy at Tenrou Island. If only they could have gone sooner, they would be able to finally find her. But fate isn't really in their side at that time. They still have hope on finding her, though. But the moment they left that island, her scent has vanished again. It only gave another sense of dread on their hearts. They're minds are swirling with questions of 'What Ifs'. And the stress of this cat-and-mouse chase is taking its toll on their strength. Team Natsu seems not as strong as their epithet implies. While the whole guild does have their share of effort, the team has contributed so much, so much that after every stinking, seemingly useless job they took, finding Lucy is the most important because night after night they go on rounds along the country of Fiore, going home, only disappointed and crying themselves to sleep.

The guild do have the occasional parties but not as over-the-top and rowdy as ever because they can't be insensitive to the feelings of the orphaned team. All Team Natsu do is group in one corner, Erza holding the map and pointing in a particular town, asking either Natsu or Gray if they have searched the area. Happy, oh no! Happy cries all day. Mirajane only took the liberty of lulling him to sleep. Charle, who at first seems aloof at her blue companion, warms up to him, even crying with him so that he won't feel alone, especially now when all of his team mates are drowned in their search.

What worries them the most is that, how is it that there is no communication from their Blonde companion, not even a thought projection, at least? That question, whenever mentioned only submerges the team to another state of depression. On the other hand, Master Makarov and the Thunder God Tribe were also worrying about Laxus. Where could he possibly be? That solo mission was supposed to end months ago. Is he with Lucy or is he searching for her. At the very least, why is it that he doesn't contact. They do trust him to be alive; after all, he is a candidate to be the next Guild Master. Today, however, everything will be different. Too different for all they could possibly expect.

There's a creaking at the guild doors. Meaning there is someone who has just entered the building. Fed up with all the disappointment caused by their hopes, they just ignored it, not even bothering at a simple glance, no curiosity. Not anymore. Days, weeks, months, whenever some tiny sound made at those entrance or even shadows looming, all of their heads will whip with enthusiasm only to be disappointed at how it wasn't the missing Heartfilia.

"Hey, weaklings! I'm here!" A booming voice woke the whole guild from their trance. All of their eyes suddenly saw a large, blond, grinning man.

"Laxus?!" The Thunder God Tribe said, surprised and at the same time relieved that he was alive after all. Laxus saw them and nodded his head in greeting.

"Hey, come over here. Don't be shy." He said softly to someone who is hiding behind him. Of course, curious, the whole guild tried to squint their eyes to see clearly. Then she walked in, hands behind her and face apologetic.

"H-hi, everyone…I'm Lucy Heartfilia" Time stood still for everyone at the sight of the blond girl.

"L-lu…c…ceee…?" Natsu stuttered, shock, amazement, disbelief, relief and lots of other emotions contorted his face in split seconds then, he ran, ran as fast as he can 'till his feet hurt, even stumbling on tables and chairs. He can't take his gaze away from her. No, He won't take his eyes from her for if he does, she might disappear again. He cried, no matter what people will say, he cried 'till his eyes burn, preventing himself to blink. He can't risk it. He can't possibly make another mistake. Just a little more and he will reach her. And he did, finally, he hugged the blond with all his might, sensing her, smelling her sweet familiar strawberry and vanilla scent. It was her. No imagination. No magic. No illusion. Then a painful cry escaped his lips, a cry that released all those four months of sadness.

Erza, Gray and Happy followed after him in that split second, cried and destroyed any table or chair that might obstruct their path. Then they reached her. She was the very same girl they all loved. She's finally here. No more sadness just Team Natsu and everyday quests. They all hugged her and cried, cried 'till all of those hidden tears dried out.

"LU…SHIIEEE!" Happy hugged her, burying his face in her chest with tear-streaked eyes.

"Lucy! Don't you ever leave us again!" Erza scolded in her tears of joy.

"We really missed you!" Gray said, tone wavering as he tried to control the waterworks.

Soon, all guild members followed suit and in a moment, the Heartfilia was surrounded by everyone in the guild, crying their eyes out, hugged her and thanked the heavens for her safety. When all of the commotion died down and everyone is in their seats, well, not really everyone; Team Natsu refused to sit and insisted on staying with her, standing and guarding. Lucy then looked and smiled at Laxus, who was still standing behind her, watching the commotion dissipate. She smiled at him and he nodded as he walked to join his fellow teammates. She then turned her attention to the whole guild, specifically Team Natsu and asked.

"Who are you?"

"What? Y-you're joking, right?" Natsu took a step back, disbelief and shock visible in his eyes.

Team Natsu, took a step back, they can't believe what the girl has just said in front of them. No, no, no! After finally reuniting with their long-lost teammate, this happened? What is wrong with this world? How stupid fate can be. I-it just can't. All those memories, it was all gone. Just like that? Laxus scoffed.

"LAXUS!" Erza bellowed.

"What have you done with her, freak?!" Gray growled and put on a stance, ice formed in his hands, ready to battle.

But before the two could make a go for the man in question, Natsu surged forward, fire in his arms, screaming insults at him. Laxus just dodged each and every attempt of attack, chuckling as if to taunt the Fire Dragon Slayer more.

"Wait!" Lucy shouted at Natsu who froze and stopped his fighting. "I was just kidding! Come here, you guys!" She laughed and raised her arms as if to welcome her teammates in a hug, in which they did and all the tension building up in the guild quickly evaporated. How they missed those cheerful laughs. However, their reunion was short lived as men in black cloaks appeared at the guild.

"Hello. We meet again, Celestial Spirit mage. Come with us or this guild shall perish!" The man in front greeted them, possibly the leader spoke up.

"That voice!" Lucy gasped at hearing the man's voice.

"Who's he, Luce?!" Natsu asked.

"Hello, my name is Mnemosyne from the guild, Erebos." The man intervened.

"A dark guild." Someone said.

"H-he's the one th…at kidnapped me…." Lucy trailed off. At that revelation, Fairy Tail grew angry. How dare he, whoever he was, kidnap one of their members. Natsu lunged at the man, all of his earlier rage at Laxus, poured into the kidnapping bastard but before he could reach him, the fire in arms were quickly disintegrated, more so, he can't summon his magic. The guild was shocked and Mnemosyne smiled in victory. But what the man didn't notice was a fist fueled with lightning came in contact at his face and he collided in a nearby table. Take that, you silly bastard. All of the dark guild members dissipated while the other Fairy Tail members took their stance and battled an opponent of their own. It's payback time.

'You took her away from us and now you'll do it again?!' That was their unified thought that brought their magic to higher levels of power.

"Open! Gates of the Lion and the Centaur! Leo! Sagittarius!" Two spirits then came in a flicker of light.

"Arrow of Regulus!" Lucy ordered.

"Regulus Beam!" Loke fired a beam of light at Sagittarius' arrows, enchanting it with Light Magic.

"Take them down, Sagittarius!" Lucy turned to the horse-man.

"Moshi! Moshi!" The Centaur released the arrows, golden light emanating from the arrow tip; leaving trails as it shoot in the air and pierced several of the dark guild members. However, victory is far from over as her two spirits disappeared without her closing their gates. Not again! Someone has sealed her powers once again, but who? She heard a snicker among the commotion.

"Where's the Master, Happy!?" She shouted at the blue Exceed.

"H-he's at the meeting!" Happy answered.

"Guess we should handle this ourselves." She muttered under her breath.

She took a glance at her teammates; they are fighting with reenergized passion. All of them are just toying with their opponent. Erza, sliced each member one by one. Gray froze everyone who stood against him and Natsu, well when did he regain his powers? All of his opponents were toasted. She smiled at them.

She felt her magic powers returning but just as she summoned a spirit or two, she saw Laxus, kneeling, beaten by Mnemosyne, bruise covering his face. Maybe that's why she felt her magic returning, someone used the technique on Laxus. That also explains why Natsu regained his powers. Her pulse raced. She glanced at her belt; her keys were missing as is her whip. Where are those? It must have been lost in the commotion. She turned to her left, nope, she turned to her right, and there they are, under the pile of tables and…and they are too far. She turned to Laxus. Oh no! Mnemosyne is casting a spell at the beaten man and by the looks of it; it was powerful enough as pressure around it seems to grow heavier. Abyss Break! Laxus can't fight when his powers were sealed. The cloaked man released the spell. Time stood still for her. There's no time left so she ran, ran as fast as she can to reach that man and in a split second, she knew what those fluttering feeling she always felt around him. She loved him. She reached him and stood in front of Laxus, taking the full blunt force of the attack with only her body. Suddenly, a cry of pain was the only thing that can be heard followed by a deathly silence.

"LUCE, NOOO!" Natsu shouted on top of his lungs. All Fairy Tail members, who managed to incapacitate all of their opponents whipped their heads at the blinding light and when it dissipated, their eyes saw the body of a blond, bruised and gasping for air. Mnemosyne saw this. He was quite shocked and disappointed.

"Tch. Now that she's dead. There's no reason for us to have her. Her magic is useless. What an idiot." Mnemosyne announced and teleported himself and his comrades out of the building. All that was left in their places where puffs of smoke. Laxus, having regained his energy, rushed to Lucy's side.

"L-L-L…axus…" Lucy spoke, pain evident as she spoke. Laxus, sat there, held her hands in his, crying.

"Lucy, why did you do that? You can just leave me, you know. I would survive." He said in between his sobs. Just as Lucy could answer, Team Natsu was at her side, crying their hearts out.

"Lucy, w-why did you do that? Are you stupid? Are….y-you..." Erza, wiped the never-ending tears from her eyes with her arms, still trying her best to hide her sadness, reprimanded her but it was a futile attempt. Tears soon flowed out and no words came out.

"Lushyyyyy… Don't die yet. It's y-your birthday. W-We made a cake f-for y-you a-and…" Happy can't finish his sentence because he was crying and gasping for oxygen. The words the Exceed left echoed through the minds of the people around them. 'Die.' 'DIE.' 'DIE!' slapping them the hard reality.

"Lucy, please don't do this to us! You just got home and…and…and now…" Gray couldn't finish his sentence; he just hugged her barely conscious beaten body. They can't lose her again. Lucy, feeling the grief of her brother figure, took out her right hand that Laxus was holding and gently patted Gray's back saying that it will all be alright.

"Natsu…" She barely breathed but still managed to spoke up. She looked at him straight in the eye and removed her hand from Gray and cupped Natsu's cheek. It was damp from all his crying and continued while enduring the pain on her battered body. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to keep my promise…I'm sorry I won't be able to…to...be S-Class." She managed, coughing blood. "I guess I really am weak." She chuckled, her arm weakened, causing her hand to fall which Natsu caught. He put it in his lips, his hands trembling.

"Luce, you're gonna be okay. You're not weak, prove that to me. We're going to do jobs as soon as you get well. You, me, Gray, Erza and Happy…and…and…and you still have to…pay your rent." Natsu begged. Seeing these, the whole guild went silent and wept their tears in sadness. This was real. This wasn't like last time that they thought she's gone. They were here, watching the girl who changed their whole world dying. Levy buried her face in Gajeel's shoulder, unable to bear the sight of her best friend's untimely demise. The Iron Dragon Slayer patted her, trying to calm her muffled screams and sobs. Evergreen was comforted by Bickslow and Freed. Mirajane hugged both of her siblings, understanding full well what the team was going through. Charle comforted the crying Wendy.

"Please stay alive. PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!" Team Natsu is becoming more hysterical as they chanted those words.

"La…xus?" Lucy spoke, barely a whisper.

"Yes. I'm here, Lucy." Laxus squeezed her hand. He was sobbing the whole time. Never have the whole guild saw Laxus like that, so full of grief. To them, he was the most powerful. Indestructible and invincible, yet why it hurts too much for him? It was obvious, the girl has reached out to him, touched him to the core. Mirajane saw this but no amount of that kind of affection will make her a matchmaker in this dark moment. Flashbacks of her sister's supposed death came crashing in her memories, tightening her hold to her siblings.

"Laxus, t-thank you for everything…" Lucy gently caressed Laxus' gift on her neck. "...who knows I'll die this way…" Lucy chuckled and looked at him, his face contorted in sadness and eyes drowning in tears. "…I can't risk you dying…y-y-you will be the next to lead the guild. The n-next…" She winced in pain. "…G-G-Guild Master."

"Lucy, you're stupid! I…I don't care about that anymore…If losing you will be the reason, I don't want it anymore…Please, please, please stay with me. I love you!" Laxus begged, hugging her in his chest. She was cold. Lucy was taken aback by his confession. She didn't know he loved her, too. She then smiled.

Mustering the last of her strength, she lifted up both of her hands and cupped Laxus's cheeks. She rose up and kissed him full in the lips, tears streaming from her face.

"I-I love you, too…" She said as her body went limp, closed her eyes and breathed her last, all the while smiling at the thought of seeing her friends one last time.

A/N: I hope you find the chapter heart-racing. Truth be told, this was written way before chapter 9. I started writing this one the moment I finished the 8th chapter. Meaning, this chapter is the reason for my late updates. There were actually three inspirations for this one. First, the YouTube video of MoonlessNight126 entitled Laxlu (Nalu) - For you Only. The second one was the book of Nicholas Sparks entitled The Choice and finally, the second movie of the Amazing Spider-Man. The death scene of Gwen really moved me and made me add more scenes here and edit the lines to give more feeling. Anyways, thank you everyone for the support you gave me. It really gave me confidence to write and finish the story. As for the reviews, thank you for those encouraging words.

mromero18: Thank you for that. I hope this chapter has made an impact to you. :)

Lightningeye: Thank you for being a fan. The words you gave really pushed me to my limits. I hope it's not just 'seriousness and humor' can be felt in this chapter. This is most likely the piece that I ever put a lot of effort on. :)

Paname: As a fellow, LaLu fan, thank you for the suggestions and encouraging words you gave me. I hope that you'll finish you story because your ideas were very splendid. :)

Ghostunderasheet: Here's the update and to clarify, the story took place three years after their return from Tenrou Island hence the ten year time skip. :)