FAIR WARNING: 100 YEAR QUEST SPOILERS. DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU

Day 6 – Stir (arouse strong feeling in someone; move or excite. Prompt a feeling or memory)

Lucy, Erza, and Wendy are just getting back from a mission. It was a simple mission that took about a week, mainly due to travel time.

Since she got back from the mission with Laxus and The Thunder Legion two months ago, she has done her best to avoid Natsu and Lisanna. Whenever they would be at the guild, she would take a small job that would only take a couple of days even though she didn't need the jewels.

She's been gearing up for the conversation they need to have. The last time they talked it was mainly yelling and crying.

Wendy tries to pull her back and she's saying something, but Lucy isn't paying attention. She's more focused on talking to Natsu and Lisanna to put this behind them. It won't be easy, but it's about time she stops going out of her way to avoid them.

The second she walks in the guild she understands why Wendy was trying to stop her. Lisanna announces that she's pregnant to the guild.

Lucy freezes in place and tunes everything out. She's brought back to the time she was told she WAS pregnant and LOST her baby. She doesn't even remember Laxus zapping down and zapping away with her. She doesn't remember him taking her to his place, crying herself to sleep, and then being laid on the bed in the guest room.

3 months later

Lucy is making dinner for her, Laxus, and The Thunder Legion. Freed, Evergreen, and Bickslow still have yet to show up. Laxus has let her stay with him again, and they picked up their own routine like she never left, but with fewer breakdowns. She also doesn't hide out in his home this time, she goes to the guild and if she's not with Laxus and The Thunder Legion, then she's either with Erza and Wendy, Levy and Gajeel or Cana. She has forgiven Mira and has been talking to her again, she just made Mira promise to always be honest with her even if it's something that will hurt her.

She hasn't hung out with and talked to Gray since the first time she came home from a mission with Laxus and The Thunder Legion. She's missed him but when they tried, Natsu got pissed off because well, even though they've become better friends, it's Gray. Of course, they fought, and it was almost as bad as the fight they had when Gray found out what Natsu did. He might have become better friends with Natsu, but Lucy has been like a little sister to him. Then Gray and Juvia had a verbal fight because Juvia thought Lucy was trying to take Gray away now that she didn't have Natsu anymore. Gray, not so kindly reminded Juvia of the fact that Lucy was pregnant and lost her baby. Then the guild exploded (not literally), and Erza shut that shit down quickly.

Lucy just couldn't take anymore and ran out of there, Levy and Wendy in tow. She hoped that all of the drama surrounding their situation would have died down.

Thankfully now it has. When Lucy tried talking to Gray again, Juvia wasn't accusing Lucy of trying to steal Gray away which was really nice because she missed her pseudo-brother.

A couple of months ago Gildarts had come home for a bit and when he found out what Natsu and Lisanna had done he had a very long talk with the both of them. She heard that he told them he's disappointed in them but he's also happy for them having a baby on the way.

Gildarts also had a talk with her, apologizing for Natsu's actions and saying he was sorry that she lost her baby. He can't imagine how hard that is and if she ever needs anything let him know. He's going to be retiring soon so he'll be around more. He wants to be around for when Cana finally settles down and has a family. He doesn't want to miss out on time with his grandchildren like he did with his own daughter.

He also yelled at the guild to just drop it already before he disintegrates the place. Mistakes were made and unfortunately, there was a heavy price to pay. He had informed them that she had forgiven them for their actions and it's high time they do the same.

She may have forgiven them, but it still hurts. Especially seeing Lisanna pregnant. They were finally able to sit down and have the much-needed conversation. There were lots of tears and apologies. She had told them to give her more time. Happy expressed how much he has missed her. She apologized to him, especially for forgetting about him. He hugged her and told her that it was okay. She suggests going on a mission together, just the two of them. He was very happy and agreed right away.

Fuck, I will not cry. I will not cry.

"Hey is everything okay? Why are you crying?"

Lucy looks up and sees Laxus in the doorway wearing nothing but a towel. She blushes at the sight. Despite seeing him like that many times, she doesn't think she'll ever not get bashful seeing him that way.

"I'm alright. It's this onion, making me cry more than normal." Lucy wipes away her tears and washes her hands before going back to her task.

"Bullshit." He knows damn well it's not from the onion. He's lived with her long enough to know. Laxus smelled the tears once he was out of his shower. He wasn't exactly paying attention while showering, being preoccupied with something else. He forgone getting dressed and walked out in just a towel, dripping wet hair, droplets of water cascading down his body. He could have taken the time to get dressed, but in all honesty, he likes the reaction he gets from her seeing him like this. She must be becoming immune though because even though she still blushes like crazy, she's no longer a stuttering mess.

Lucy puts down the knife and sighs, "I was thinking back on everything that has happened."

Laxus walks closer to her, "It's been getting better though right?"

Mavis the things this man does to her when he's close especially like that, in nothing but a towel. Some days she just wants to take it off of him and-

"Lucy?"

"Y-yeah?" She gulps when she sees him look at her like he wants her but there's also a bit of uncertainty. So, she's not the only one.

There's the stuttering. He gets in her space so he can cup her face with his hand. There's such a difference in size between the two of them his hand damn near covers the whole side of her face. He looks straight into her eyes, rubbing her cheekbone with his thumb and once he sees what he's been looking for he leans in and just when their lips are about to connect there's a knock on the door. He drops his head and sighs.

"I better go get dressed." Laxus kisses Lucy on the cheek before leaving the room. Fuck. He's really hoping he didn't just scare her off. It's been six months, and he knows there's no timetable for getting through the grief of what she's been through, but he also knows he's not imagining the shift in the room when they're alone together. He can sense her feelings, but it doesn't mean she's ready. He gets his shit together before he walks out to join everyone. Here's to hoping dinner isn't awkward.