The guild hall was immaculate. The beer tables had been cleared away in lieu of rows and rows of white chairs. Large white streamers suspended from every corner of the guild. Flower petals rained from the ceiling, courtesy of the local flower mage.
Sting and Yukino had brought out the entire Sabertooth Guild. Even Princess Hisui and her father Tomo were there. Cana and Gildarts had come home just for this event, Gildarts smiling at his protégé mage. At the front of the guild, Master Makarov stood proudly at the altar. Gray, Gajeel, Laxus and Jellal stood to one side; Levy, Juvia, and Erza on the other. Realizing she had to stop staring at the pictures on the wall, Mira hurried to take her place up there too.
Along the edges of the outer walls, large framed pictures of Jet, Lisanna, Wakaba and Nab lined the walls as it seemed only right that everyone should be there. Mira wiped away her tears as she regarded her sister's picture. She would be so proud today.
The music started and Natsu Dragneel entered the hall. He looked sharp. His face was clean-shaven, his pink locks tamed. He wore a white suit with a black shirt and his signature scarf. He knew Lucy wouldn't have it any other way. He walked down the aisle, joining the others on the stage and pausing to take in the crowd that had gathered.
He stood before Master Makarov.
"We will take a moment to pay our fallen guild members our respects," the Master started, nodding toward the pictured wall, "Two minutes of silence please."
Nobody moved or made a sound the entire two minutes, everyone reflecting on the events of the past 2 ½ years.
The Master nodded as time expired, and Natsu pulled out the key.
He raised the key.
"Open – Gate Of The –"
Suddenly, it was all too overwhelming. His voice choked, tears exploding from his eyes. He cleared his throat nervously and wiped away the tears on his face, embarrassed amidst laughter from the crowd.
"It's okay, Natsu," Makarov said in a low voice, "We all know how you've waited for this. Take your time."
Natsu sniffed, accepting a Kleenex from Levy and wiped the tears off his face.
Taking a deep breath, he tried again.
"Open – Gate Of The –"
He paused again.
"What's the matter?" Makarov asked.
"Remember when Sorano tried to open the gate and didn't know Lucy's classification?" Natsu replied. The guild gasped, anxious whispering ensuing.
"It's okay!" Natsu called out, "I've got this."
He paused again, looking out over the crowd at the faces of the guild he loved so much.
"Thank you," he said to them, his voice full of the love that he was feeling right then. The members of Fairy Tail nodded as he glanced at each individual face, pausing a bit long over the faces of the ones who stood at the altar with him. Gray. His best frenemy. Gajeel. The brawn for when he couldn't be brawny on his own. Jellal. The protector from the shadows. Levy. The best friend/shoulder to cry on. Juvia. The voice of support. Erza. Big sister and justice keeper. Mira. Gentle supporter. Laxus. The leader. Makarov. The eternal master and father figure.
Nodding to them with his silent message of "I couldn't have done it without you", Natsu stuck out his arm, yelling at the top of his lungs, "OPEN! GATE OF THE ONE LOVE – LUCY HEARTFILIA!"
The familiar DING DONG was heard and there was a bright light emitted across the guild that was positively blinding. As the light faded from the back of the hall forward, Natsu recognized the Celestial King and his beautiful wife, Atria, standing arm in arm. All of Lucy's Celestial spirits stood with them: Loke, Cancer, Taurus, Aries, Scorpio, the Gemini twins, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Capricorn. Looking behind them, Natsu realized Aquarius was there too. She nodded approvingly and Natsu felt tears stinging his eyes. She finally had given her love and approval to both of them. As the light faded in front of him, he got his first look at his beloved bride.
He took her in his arms instantly, unable to contain his whole body sobs. Lucy's body convulsed with his and wet tears threatened to ruin her make up. They stoked each other's hair and faces and they bawled, causing the rest of the guild to become unhinged too. He placed small, wet kisses over her tears.
Natsu smiled, taking the vision in. Lucy's knee length hair was pinned to the top of her head, cascading down in spiral curls. A diamond tiara adorned her head. She wore a silver, shimmering Celestial dress. Diamond heels adorned her feet.
"I have never seen anything so beautiful in my life," he whispered to her, the waterworks starting all over again.
"Me neither," she replied.
"You're never gonna cry again," he promised.
They looked at their family. Every last one of them were down on one knee, proudly displaying the Fairy Tail signal to welcome Lucy home. Lucy burst into tears again, her happiness at being reunited with her family and Natsu catching up to her all over again.
Even if I cant see you... no matter how far away you may be... I will always be watching you.
"Ok…I lied. After today, you will never cry again," Natsu enveloped her in his arms, crying with her.
"Hey – you gonna get hitched or what?" Gildarts yelled.
He stepped back from her, taking her hands in his, "Wanna marry me?"
She grinned back, "I thought you'd never ask."
They laughed together at their own private joke.
"Okay, so we all know why we're here today, blah, blah, blah, blah," Makarov started, "But at the risk of starting the blubbering all over again, I will say this: Lucy Heartfilia: I have never been happier to see a child of mine come home."
The entire guild burst into new tears yet again, Natsu and Lucy resuming their 'is this really happening' hugs.
Gray wiped away a tear from his eyes, catching Gajeel doing the same. Both mages looked quickly away from each. If you didn't see it, it didn't happen.
Makarov paused for the aftermath of his statement to pass before continuing, "Natsu has opted to make his contract with you in front of all of us. Do you accept this?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way," she whispered, sniffing her tears away, "My family. I love you all so much. Thank you for supporting Natsu and bringing me home."
Natsu laughed nervously again, wiping his own tears away once more before looking deep into her eyes, "Lucy, I have no idea how to make a contract. So I'm winging it."
"So wing it already!" Sting called out, making the guild laugh.
"A wise person once told us it only takes single spark in the darkness for it not to be dark anymore…or something like that. You are the spark in my darkness. As long as I have you, there isn't anything I can't do. You're my best friend, my confidante, and my partner for life. I will spend the rest of my life proving that to you, if you'll have me. Another wise person told me once that 'you can't really get rid of what composes you'. You compose me, Luce. You are my inspiration. I could not love you more. Do you remember that night? I won't specify which night. You'll either remember or you won't. I told you you'd be lost without me."
Lucy squeezed his hands, tears running down her face, "I was lost without you."
He laughed, fighting back the flood gates once more, "But it goes both ways. I was lost too. Ask anyone here. I lost myself without you. I can't live without you, Luce. I'm a mess without you. A useless, blubbering mess."
He hugged her tightly, only reluctantly letting her go when the Celestial Queen made her way down the aisle. Her presence was majestic.
She reached for the key, holding it up for all to see, "I, Atria, Celestial Queen, hereby terminate my contract with Lucy Heartfilia and relinquish her to Natsu Dragneel. May you both have long, loving lives. And thank you. Thank you for everything you've accomplished together. We are indebted to you."
The Celestial Queen got down on one knee, bowing deeply before them, presenting the key to Natsu. He took it gratefully, smiling gently at his bride. The entire Celestial crowd followed suit, even the Celestial King. Finally, she rose and retreated to her place beside her King.
"The contract is binding," Makarov said firmly, "By agreeing to the contract, you agree to love each other for the rest of your lives, regardless of time, distance, and Natsu's idiotic mistakes. Do you both agree to these terms?"
"I do," Natsu said, looking deep into Lucy's eyes.
"I do," Lucy repeated.
"Then by the power invested in me by these bastards that won't let me retire, I now pronounce you Natsu and Lucy Dragneel!" Makarov announced.
The crowd erupted into cheers. Natsu ran a hand down his bride's face, cupping her chin gently.
"I love you yesterday, today, and every tomorrow to come," he whispered before smashing his lips against hers.
The crowd's cheers resumed again, louder than before. It would remain loud for the rest of the night and well into the next morning.
The world was right again.
Natsu's Lucy was finally home.
And she was finally his…for the rest of eternity.
Oh…and she LOVED the name Pookey.