Chapter 26: Speeches

"Hey mom" Lucy said the moment the call was answered by the person she was contacting. She leaned forward to the railings as she listened to her mothers voice, "Lucy…morning…Its too early for your call"

"I missed you…"

"What is it now?" Lucy's mother asked making the blonde teen smile for knowing her mother too well that she knew her daughter too well too. "Nothing…Just wanted to call up my mother..Is that bad?"

"What's your story?"

"I got a boyfriend…" Lucy revealed instantly but then silence followed which made her a little nervous, "Mom? Are you still there?"

"..Yeah…may I ask who?" with her mothers question, she couldn't help but bit her lips and doubt her idea of telling her the truth too early, "Mom look-"

"Tell me who"

"Uhh…"

"Is he someone me and your dad will not like? Like a guy full of tattoo? Or a drunkard teen? A hippie-?"

"Mom, its Natsu."

Silence then lingered again in the conversation making the beauty teen nervous for the nth time that morning. With Lucy's frustration, she could help herself bump her forehead with her palms and react silently.

"Mom, please say something…You're making me nervous."

"Did you have sex with him already? Are you in his room?! You young lady, I didn't teach you such thing! You will-"

"Whoa Mom! You're over thinking this. Who said I did such thing?!" Lucy had her eyes wide and surprised with the words her mother just said, "I-Natsu…Mom?!"

"What? That's what happened to me and your dad"

"Mom~ you don't have to tell me that…I didn't need to know."

"Well face it…But please be safe…no babies yet, please."

"Mom"

"Alright, alright…See you in a week."

"Bye"

"Bye"

When the call ended, Lucy leaned to the railings again and stared at the rising sun. As she did so, she recalled every moment she had with her friends in the beach. Soon enough, their summer vacation is to end and a new journey is to happen soon.

When the sun was finally up, everyone was up as well. The gang decided to have breakfast all together in the roof top the way they did before, the only difference now is that all of them were paired up and cuddling their own lovers.

"Well this is the first that everyone of us has someone to cuddle with" Loke commented as he kept his arms around Aries who just giggled at the idea her boyfriend just said, "Cheers…to all of us" Aries proposed as she raised her orange juice and waited for others to follow. With a raised glass, everyone copied and raised their glasses as well and answered back, "To all of us!"

The sound of glasses being clanged made each one of them laugh with excitement. They shared smiles and nods as they drank up their drinks.

"Just want to add…" Juvia spoke up suddenly getting the gangs attention, "Its been months that we spent our days together…from school to the beach to every party we go…Each one of you were different to be with. But the feeling never changed, you all made this summer vacation the best. I love you guys…"

Hearing Juvia's speech made everyone moved and teary. So they huddled and gave everyone a hug. Unexpectedly, tears started to run down some of the girls' face.

"Since Juvia started this…It's my turn." Erza said as she cleared her throat and looked at everyone. When the gang looked back at her showing they were all listening, she sat up straight and held Jellal's hand. "I'm different and all of you know that. I'm strict, very bossy at times, but it is only this group that made me cry. When Levy and Lucy fought over some misunderstanding before, I actually cried in my room because my friends were fighting. I have soft spots for you all, and I never dared to tell you this before because I was scared that you'd laugh at me. But then I realize, you never laughed at me, but rather we all laughed together…Through hard times and good times. I love you guys."

"We love you too Erza!" Levy shouted as she leaped to hug the scarlet which all followed and hugged the scarlet haired beauty.

When everyone was done and calm with all the emotional speeches, Natsu suddenly stood up and cleared his throat and waited for others to look at his way.

"You also flame butt?" Gray commented as he looked at the pinkette who just dirty fingered him. Everyone found the comment funny but they focused their attention to the teen and listened to what he had to say.

"As you all know, this was a plan, a plan for me to court Lucy officially. This vacation happened because I wanted Lucy to be my girlfriend and every one of you thought I should. And I'm grateful for you all, for supporting me…Erza here, maybe had doubts but she trusted me. And I won't break it, Lucy's my life." Natsu then looked at Lucy before extending his hand to her. Lucy placed her hand to his then she was pulled up and stood next to him.

"I thought before that this vacation was just for my courting…But I ended up knowing you all better. How lucky I am to have friends like you. To see people that care so much for Lucy and for me. I maybe an idiot but I know that you are all my true friends. Thank you…Thank you because your all part of my memory, of how this courting would go, this friendship…everything. Cheers to us"

With his words, everyone stood up and clang their glasses to one another and gave each other a hug and a greeting of thanks.

For the first time, they all shed a tear of gratitude for the friendship they have built after so many years of being friends. They may have experienced challenges and differences with one another, but they were able to see the beauty of their friendship.

"Well be home soon…Are you scared?" Natsu asked as he ran his fingers to Lucy's palm who was resting against his shoulder. Even if Lucy was asked, she kept silent and just stared at the setting sun.

"Luce?"

"I told mom…" Lucy replied softly as she kept her head resting to Natsu's shoulder which tensed up with her comment, "You sacred?"

"Who wouldn't?" Natsu answered as he exhaled the breath he didn't know he was holding. Soon enough, Lucy looked up at Natsu and stared for a second. With a quick move, Lucy leaned and kissed Natsu in the cheek, "You're cute when you're nervous…"

"That's not funny. Your mom knows about us, so I'm pretty sure mom will know soon too and she would be bombarding me about not hurting you or impregnating you early." Natsu said as he kept his gaze steady to Lucy who suddenly flushed when she heard the word 'impregnate', "What?"

"Nothing… its just that, even mom said not to get pregnant early. I mean, yeah of course! duh! I'm still a student..we are still students..." Lucy replied softly as she kept her gaze as well to the teen that was not wavering his gaze. As they kept their stare to one another, Natsu suddenly leaned quick and stole a kiss from Lucy's lips. With the teen's actions, Lucy got surprised and leaned back, "Why'd you do that?"

"Can't I do that to my girlfriend?" Natsu smirked as he watched Lucy blush, "Gosh, I can get use to this…calling you my girlfriend."

"You just surprised me…that's all." Lucy then leans forward to kiss him this time but the action was reciprocated quickly by the pink haired teen. With all the emotions they were feeling, the kiss became intense and romantic making Lucy sit on Natsu's lap. As the kiss continued, Lucy gripped Natsu's hair and brought his lips closer to hers if it was even possible. Natsu on the other hand feeling all the emotions too, suddenly gripped Lucy by her hips and kept his lips to hers.

When the kiss started to hurt and that they were getting out of breath, they parted and tried to catch their breath.

"That was our first intense kissing…" Natsu commented as he tried to catch his air while holding on to Lucy's hips. Hearing his comment, the blonde sniggered as she kept running her fingers to Natsu's hair. Soon enough, Lucy pushed Natsu's face and tried to stare at the handsome face of her boyfriend. Without words, the two just stayed in their position. From time to time, Lucy would lean down and kiss Natsu in the lips and stare once again.

"What are you doing?" Natsu asked after being kissed by Lucy for the fourth time while his face was being stared by the beauty

"Not much…Just trying to memorize your face." Lucy then leaned down again and gave Natsu a peck in the lips. "When do you know that you should kiss me?"

"When I feel like it…" Lucy replied without keeping her eyes to his but instead to the features of his face.

"Oh-" Natsu was cut short when Lucy kissed him again, "I love you…" Natsu said quickly as soon as Lucy pulled back. The instant the word flew out of Natsu's mouth, Lucy suddenly froze and stared at the teen's eyes. Lucy kissed him and said back, "I love you too"

And with that the two kissed again, full of passion and desire. Love sure was felt everywhere as the two held one another.

-End of Chapter 26-