((OMG GAISE I AM SO SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT. I've been seriously lacking inspiration for Chapter 15, and I've been busy with upcoming exams! Anyway, I hope this chapter makes up for it! Please enjoy!))

Chapter 15: Hope?

As Yuuki and Zeref lay on top a hill, watching the stars, Yuuki felt a light fluttering sort of sensation from her bump. She sat up slightly to look fully at her bump.

"Something the matter?" Zeref asked, sitting up with her.

"I felt this weird movement…" Yuuki murmured, placing a hand on her swollen stomach.

"Is it the child?" Zeref placed his hand on hers.

"Yeah…I think he or she is kicking." Yuuki smiled.

"Wow…the feeling of the grass under my feet…I missed it so much." Yuuki sighed reminiscently.

"Was it really necessary to strip to your underwear?" Zeref asked lamely, glaring at anyone who dare looked at Yuuki.

However she didn't hear his underwear comment, and continued to feel the breeze on her pale skin, hear the birds twittering in the trees, see the beautifully blooming sakura trees and fluttering butterflies, and smell the freshness of the grass and the air.

Growing agitated, Zeref cleared his throat. "Put your clothes back on, Yuuki." He ordered.

She glanced back at him and saw that he was getting annoyed. "Right, sorry." She murmured, slipping her white dress back on.

Zeref smiled. "You really do look lovely in that dress; I don't understand why you only wore it on that day." Zeref sighed, caressing one of Yuuki's curls in between his fingers.

"I feel it should only be worn on special occasions." she lied, desperately wanting to rip the hideous dress off.

"Perhaps…" Zeref pondered, kissing her cheek.

"Lord Zeref, the food is here for you and your-" a servant of Zeref's castle began, placing a picnic basket beside him.

"Thank you, now leave."

"Yes, My Lord, enjoy."

"Food, my Yuuki-chan?" Zeref smiled, opening the picnic basket.

"Yes, please."

"Gray-samaa…" Juvia wailed, clutching aforementioned exhibitionist.

"I'll back soon, I promise." He smiled, kissing her forehead gently.

"Juvia wishes she could come too." She sniffed, gently rubbing her swollen stomach. Gray dropped to his knees and kissed her belly.

"I know, but we need to make sure the little guy is ok."

"I think Juvia and Gray are too cute." Lucy chuckled.

"I agree, it took long enough for Gray to confess." Gildarts roared.

"Oh, you're joining in the fight too, Gildarts?" Natsu grinned.

"'Course I am, what do you take me for?" Gildarts laughed.

"With Gildarts fighting we'll win this battle for sure!" Happy grinned.

"We're getting Yuuki back and ending this once and for all!" Ultear shouted gleefully, and everyone else cheered.

"There is still no guarantee of her safe return." Cobra sighed.

"Oh, lighten up, Cobra." Angel pouted at him.

"Cobra is right, though. We may be strong enough to defeat his army, but are we strong enough to defeat Zeref?" Lucy asked.

"Lucy, Cobra, shut up," Natsu began, "don't doubt our combined strength even for a minute. All of us together can- no, will beat Zeref, and not just for Yuuki, but for the entire Magical World. For our friends, our family, husbands and wives, sons and daughters. Our strength, love and passion are enough to bring down Zeref."

"Well said, Natsu." Erza smiled.

"No one could've said it better, except perhaps maybe Yuuki." Jellal agreed.

Natsu grinned. "We have so much to tell Yuuki! Erza and Jellal got married, so did Bisca and Alzack, and Juvia and Gray are having a baby! She's going to be so excited!"

"Hey, don't forget I got a boyfriend too." Lucy yelled.

"It's time." Master Makarov announced, somewhat somberly, but somewhat cheerful and hopeful.

"Gray-samaa!" Juvia wailed clinging to Gray. Porlyusica pulled her off, however Juvia continued to wave her arms for her beloved Gray.

"Good luck, all of you. I am sure you will all succeed, but I swear, if any of you die, I will kill you. Stupid humans." She ordered.

"Wow, I had no idea these gardens were so beautiful." Yuuki observed, as she looked around at the marvellous fountains, surrounded by rose bushes and sakura trees, and wonderfully green grass.

"They are beautiful, aren't they? I'm glad you like them." Zeref replied.

"Lord Zeref! Lord Zeref, sir! There are intruders at the main Castle Gates!"

"Intruders? Who are they?"

"It's the Rebel Army, Lord Zeref."

"Those scum? Get rid of them. Until then, me and Yuuki-chan shall remain in our quarters. Eradicate them all. Apart from the Fairy Tail members…bring them to me." Zeref ordered.

Yuuki swallowed nervously. Does he plan on personally killing Fairy Tail? If he does…I think I might end up killing him myself! Yuuki thought to herself, growling inwardly.

"Yuuki, can you hear me?" the voice of Warren Rocko echoed in her head.

"Eh?! Warren? The hell?!"

"Ah good, you can hear me! Listen, Yuuki we're here too-"

"Yuuki!" Natsu managed to scrape into the telepathic conversation. Upon hearing his voice, Yuuki nearly burst into tears of relief – he was alive!

"Of course I'm alive! I won't die without taking you back. God I've missed you, Yuuki. We all have. Warren can't keep this up long, so I'll keep it short and sweet! We've all missed you, and the past 3 years have been lonely without you. Ryfar's gotten big, and he thinks and talks about you all the time, we all do. I'm sorry we didn't come sooner, but we've trained and planned this out, and we're taking you back with us. I love you, Yuuki." Natsu said. "Oh, and everyone says hi."

"T-tell them I say hi too. And oh god, you have no idea how much I've missed just about everything! I've been through hell the last 3 years, but now…I think I feel hope again. I can't wait to see everyone again, especially you and Ryfar, I can't beieve he talks now too! I love you too, Natsu, more than you can ever imagine." Yuuki replied. "Oh, and tell everyone if anyone dies, I'll kill them."

"Yuuki!" Zeref broke her concentration with a harsh slap to the face.

"Ah! S-sorry Zeref…" she mumbled. The telepathic connection with Warren had been broken, but Yuuki would not let that bring her down. Natsu's words had returned to her something long stolen from her;

Hope.

/TBC/

((Finally, a cheerful(ish) ending to a chapter! Don't expect it to last too long though. xP

I hope, even though this was a short chapter, that everyone enjoyed it, and I hope to update soon now that I has my muse back. :D))