Happy Merry Belated Christmas Everyone! I hope you all passed your Christmas well. Please R&R and I shall see you at the bottom of the page.

POV: Lucy, Natsu

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

Strumming my fingers against the dining room table, I look around the empty house feeling bored and a bit impatient. My eyes settle on the small arrangement of Anemone, Begonia, and Snapdragon flowers sitting in the middle of the dining room table. I've been up for a few hours now after a nightmare woke me up leaving me incapable of falling back to sleep. I don't feel tired, which is a relief since usually I feel so worn out after a nightmare that I can barely even stand out of bed, but today is different.

The nightmare I had wasn't the usual screaming and pounding on a wooden door if not one where I was wandering aimlessly through the dark trying to find my way. I had tried running and calling out for help, but my voice would be drowned out in the suffocating silence. Just when I had been getting really anxious a bright orange light lit up from somewhere in the darkness. At first it looked like a flickering candle in the darkness, but as I ran towards it, it started getting bigger until I was close enough to recognize a figure behind the flames. The more I looked at the shadowy figure it almost looked as if it were holding the fire in its hand. He, presuming it was a guy, held out his free unburning hand towards me and although he looks suspicious I couldn't help but feel myself drawn to him, but just when I lifted my hand the boy vanished and I was left staring at the ceiling of my room.

Ring!

My eyes shoot open at the sound of the phone ringing in the nearby hall before looking at the clock that's hanging on the wall nearby. It's barely six-thirty-two, who would be calling at a time like this?

Standing up from my seat, I head on over to the phone and pick it up on the fourth ring not bothering to look at the caller ID as I answer the phone, "Dreyar residence," and wait patiently for the person on the other end to answer.

"Happy birthday Lucy!" The voice on the other end says with so much enthusiasm that it would be hard to recognize it if I hadn't grown up hearing it.

I'm silent, frozen in place, as I stare at the empty wall in front of me not knowing what to say. My hand is shaking where I'm holding onto the coffee table and my eyes are beginning to burn with the tell-tale sign of oncoming tears that I bite back. Swallowing hard I say into the speaker, "You remembered," hearing my voice quiver.

He actually remembered.

It's strange, I know, to act this way when my father is saying happy birthday to me. I should be happy, and I am, but I also can't help but feel a bit surprised. Jude Heartfelia, for a few years after my mother passed away had shut me out for a time. It's the very reason he and I aren't all that close. That year after my mother had passed away my father spent countless hours in his office working so hard that he hardly ever slept nor ate. It had been on this very day that I had entered his office and offered him a rice ball that I had made myself. He had rejected it slapping it out of my hand causing me to leave the room crying. Since that day I've done what I could to stay out of his way and he ignored me for a few years until I had my first accident when I turned twelve.

We had been in Hargeon on a business trip and dad had decided to take me along with him so that I could get out of the house to let servants clean freely around our home in Crocus. I don't necessarily remember what had happened that day, but dad said that he got a call from the local hopital saying that I had fallen off a cliff and that someone had rushed me to the hospital. I was hurt so bad that I was in a coma for an entire month. When I had woken up my dad was the first person I saw along with the rest of my family that had come from Magnolia. He'd instantly rushed over to me and hugged me and kissed my head while apologizing over and over for abandoning me all those years and how he promised that he would try to be a better father for me. You could imagine how confused I had been, and how scared I was of all his words turning into lies, but they didn't. He kept his worrd and got better at including me in things like family business trips, social get togethers, or sometimes he would just take me out to eat whenever he had the chance. He even started remembering about my birthday, even when he was usually out on business and couldn't take me with him because of school, but during that time he never really called. He would usually have a servant buy me what I wanted and leave a hand written note. Today would be the first day in nine years that I'd actually hear him say happy birthday to me.

There's silence on the other end before a small chuckle emnates from the receiver, "Of course I remembered, I always remember,"He says cheerily, but his voice sounds a bit sad and guilty, "I'm sorry Lucy, I wish I could have been there with you on all of your past birthdays. Even now I whish I could be there with you celebrating your seventeenth birthday," He sighs sounding tired, "But I promise that when I get back we'll have an enormous party in your honor." he says sounding far more happy.

"I can't wait," I whisper feeling myself smile, "Where are you right now?" I then ask while moving my gaze towards the small globe, "I haven't talked to you in months. Last time I remember you were in Desierto. How did that go?" I ask all too eager to change the subject.

Jude chuckles and it sounds so comforting, "The trading deal went great in Desierto, I actually stayed there longer than I was supposed to and got you a gift at one of the local stores. It should be getting there to you some time soon," He explains with much enthusiasm, "And right now I am currently in Enca. A few more weeks and I should be getting home for Christmas."

"That's good, I can't wait to see you," I say with a small smile. I then look on over at the clock sitting on the table which now reads seven-thirty, "Oh dad, I have to go or I'll be late to school," I say but not really wanting to go.

"I have to go as well. I have a meeting in a few minutes but I wanted to call you before you went to school," he explains and I can almost imagine him looking down at his watch that mom had given him for Christmas the same year they had gotten married, "Happy birthday Lucy."

"Thanks dad," and without another word the other end goes silent.

That talk had been good, not as uncomfortable as the last one we had a few months ago, although now that I think of it I should have told him about the nightmare. He would probably know what to say to calm my unease. Maybe next time he calls I'll tell him.

A slight knocking at the front door has me hanging up the already silent phone and I walk on over and open the door to find that no one is there. I slightly open the door wide enough for me to look around the front entrance but finding no one there, although there are a few students walking out of the dorm and heading towards school. Just when I'm about to close the door I look down and spot a large bouquet of flowers. I pick them up feeling a familiar weight in my arms as I search through the evergreen stems and leaves before finally spotting a small note that reads Happy Birthday in simple handwriting.

Frowning, I look back up wondering who could have left the flowers here on my doorstep without a name from the sender. Looking back down at the flowers I can't help but somehow recognize the Asiatic Lilies, Chrysanthemums, Gerberas, Lisianthus, and Carnations that make the arrangement pop in a rainbow of colors.

I tentatively sniff one of the lilies feeling my lips curve into a soft smile at the sweet familiar smell, "Natsu..."

My eyes shoot open as I look down at the flowers with surprise and confusion. I must be going crazy, why would Natsu Dragneel give me a bouquet of flowers for my birthday? He hardly ever talks to me at school much less looks at me and whenever he does he's usually glaring angrily at me. Even so, this bouquet looks exactly like the one he gave me that time in the hospital...

I feel a pain near my temple and I cringe almost dropping my flowers in the process. I close the front door while continuing to feel the pain when I hear Makarov call out from somewhere inside the house, "Lucy hurry or you'll be late for class. Just because today is your birthday doesn't mean you get to play hooky."

"I'm going," I call out and ignoring the pain I rush up to my room to get my things. I place the vase on my desk and change into my uniform before pulling on my shoes and coat and then rush out of the room while tying my hair up in its usual side ponytail while leaving a bit of hair loose. Without looking back I'm out of the room and heading out of the house towards school.

"God you're an idiot," Gray grumbles in his seat in front of me, "You just had to go and leave the flowers on her doorstep. What if Laxus and Makarov had been the ones to open the door and find the flowers instead?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I mutter as I keep my eyes closed and arms croseed across my chest to show my indifference, "Besides, even if I did know what you were talking about there's no way they'd know the flowers were from me," I argue sounding bored as I open my eyes to watch as more students file in before the bell rings.

Gray shakes his head with a knowing smile, "You're such a romantic fool," he says and if I were in reach he'd probably ruffle my hair as if I were a little kid. I just glare at him and duck my face into my scarf so that he doesn't see the pink that is surely dusting my cheeks at the moment.

The bell rings a few minutes later and Lucy rushes in looking winded from probably running all the way from Fairy Hills. A few of the students give her smiles and congratulate her for her birthday which she smiles back and thanks every single one.

She eventually reaches her desk, which is uncomfortingly right next to mine, and smiles over at Gray, "Morning Gray," she says with a bright smile and he smiles back.

"Morning Lucy, and happy birthday," he greets with his winning smile and I hold back the urge to roll my eyes.

"Thanks," she answers back before moving her gaze towards me and I stiffen at her curious expression, "M-morning Natsu," she says shyly and I'm a bit taken aback. Sure she has greeted me before a few times, but that had been when school started and has stopped probably getting the hint that I don't want to talk to her, which in truth is an obvious lie.

I blink not knowing what to do as she stares down at me expectantly. I snap out of it when Gray clears his throat, "Umm... Morning," I grumble and she smiles, a light blush tinting her cheeks, before she sits down in her seat just as Freed walks into the room.

The rest of the hour I try to decipher on her trying to talk to me this morning and what that blush meant. Could it be that she somehow knows that I was the one who gave her the flowers? No, that's impossible. She'd have to remembereverything in order for her to think that the flowers were from me. Unless...

The bell rings overhead and everyone picks up their things as a dreadful thought runs through my head like a hamster on a hamster wheel. I look over at Lucy as she leaves the room along with Erza, Levy, and Lisanna with a look of horror.

It's impossible. It can't be possible for Lucy to think that I gave her the flowers unless she's slowly regaining her memories. No, I'm probably just over thinking this. I really hope that I'm just over thinking this.

Well I hope you all enjoyed that chapter because it's the last chapter I'll write EVER! Muahahaha. Nah just kidding. I'd be crazy insane if I were to give up now, but this is the last chapter of the year. So what's your guys New Year's resolution for 2015. Mine is to finish this amazing story and come up with more fabulous stories for you all.

On another note, I want to thank you all for the amazing past six months. I want to greatly thank Lady Any De Fanfic for being my very first reviewer and favorite-er ever and for monkeywahl for being my very first follower. and also immense thanks to every single one of my fantastic readers.

Anywho, now for the last Shout Outs of the year.

Great thanks to my Fanstastic Favorites...

- ScarletRoseAngel

- Fairy Tail Fanatic 4EVER

- Yuuki Akuma

To my Fabulous Followers...

- Fairy Tail Fanatic 4EVER

- HeroOfFate

- Amazing-dragon

- Yuuki Akuma

- 52438174

And to all of my Fantabulous Reviewers...

ChaosxXx - glad you enjoyed it, and happy new year.

richgirl555cub - I saw the abridged series right after I read your review and now I can't stop laughing. I'm so gonna start saying his name that way from now on. On another note, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and I wish you a happy new year.

CelestialWizard - That could happen, or maybe it couldn't, but I love the way you're thinking and I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying my story. I hope you have a happy new year.

ScarletRoseAngel - I'm really happy to hear that you like my story, and have a happy new year.

Fairy Tail Fanfic 4 EVER - No, don't yank out your hair. I promise things will clear out more soon enough, I hope... Well either way I hope you have a happy new years.

FanFictionLeon - Glad you liked it and I hope you have a happy new years.

BeastlyTick59 - a battle of Good vs. Evil of course. I hope you have a happy new year.

Owl's Song - they're rivals of Fairy Tail and yes, I do believe that everyone will freak out once they find out. Well I hope you have a happy new years.

PuckSabPuckSabri(Guest) - I'm glad you're enjoying it, and happy new year.

Well that's all the shout outs for this year.

If you're enjoying my story so far please follow, favorite, and review - remember, reviews are a writers candy - and if you have any questions or ideas you'd like to see put in this story you can also PM me and I'll sgladly add it in.

This is DemonHeart42 signing out for 2014.

Until next year my lovelies.