A/N: I'M BACK FROM THE DEAD. Well, really I just want to tie up loose ends. Feels great to hit that complete button. It's been 9 years since I wrote TCR and a lot has happened since then. I guess I was just doing an old person thing and reminiscing on the past. Then I remembered I still have a story to finish, after all, it's literally one chapter left. If any of you readers are still out there, this one's for you.

Summary that *I* just caught myself back up on: Gray, Erza, Lucy, and Natsu spend a hectic first year at university together. From food fights to detention and even starting their own band under the careful eye of their teenage manager Wendy. The drama heats up when Erza begins to have fainting spells and gives her friends mixed signals about her past. Her parents are dead, they aren't; she did have a happy childhood, she didn't. Gray hops on his motorcycle to visit Erza's hometown Rosemary Village to see if he can find clues on Erza's past. Coincidentally, he bumps into her childhood friend Kagura who reveals that she thought Erza died along with her parents when their family home burned down. Armed with that knowledge, Gray confronts Erza. It doesn't go well and currently they aren't speaking to each other at the moment… But they want to. Lastly, from an off-hand web search Natsu finds out that criminal prosecutor Jellal is working on the Layla Heartfilia case, and he and Lucy begin to get suspicious of Jellal's motives for getting closer to Erza and keeping her away from Gray…

Glorious Chapter 21 — From a Certain Point of View

On a creaky old bench, I fiddle with the buttons of my jacket as I nervously wait for my aunt and uncle to pick up the phone. It's the lovely month of May, where the gentle scent of tulips wafts through the air as much as restless storms of students furiously study for their end of the year exams.

"Hello? Erza is that you? Don't be such a stranger!" my aunt chides.

I grimace, feeling guilt well up inside of me. "Sorry, Ma, a lot's been going on. Heartbreak, long lost exes, fights. And now I have exams on top of all this."

"Oh, well don't let me keep you from your studies. Do you need something? And don't worry, me and your uncle are coming to pick you up from campus once all those dreadful tests are out of the way."

I hesitate, there's a reason I've never talked to my aunt and uncle about my past. I'd always get knots in my stomach and feel like I was about to pass out. My aunt and uncle have been really patient, never pushing me to open up. But now that my friendship with Gray is on the line, it's now or never. "Um, yeah. It's actually about the accident…"

My aunt tenses on the other line, but after a long sigh she speaks with a tinge of sorrow. "Oh honey, I knew you'd ask about this one day. What do you want to know? I'll say anything I can but even we don't have the full story."

I look up at the clear sky, even if what I ask will cause a downpour I'll get my answers. "Did I, was I the one who caused it? Ever since I was young I dreamt of candles. I fought tooth and nail to deny it, but the nightmares keep recurring. Everything's my fault, isn't it."

"Erza, sweetie, listen closely. On record, what happened to your childhood home was an accident. Officials think it's highly probable it was you, but no one blames a five year old. Even the coroner's notes just say your parents' cause of death is force majeure. However," her aunt seems to lean in closer, "your uncle and I have suspected foul play for years. We didn't have the resources to pursue the case then, but these past few months we've been working with someone of interest who is close to cracking the case…"

Cold paranoia creeps down Erza's spine. No, it couldn't be. As her mind races, it's hard to keep up with what her aunt is saying.

"...didn't want to tell you yet…don't interrupt your studies…false lead…but you…now's a good time…keep it secret…news…"

Erza doesn't mean to interrupt, but blurts out, "I know this person, don't I?"

Her aunt pauses. "Yes, you do. It's Jellal."

The rock path is slippery as we make our way up to my favorite scenic outlook in the Tiger Tall Mountains. For some reason Lucy strongly insisted we go before our exams were finished. I was going to turn her down and tell her she's crazy but she said strawberry cheesecake and now here we are.

Natsu has been practically carrying Lucy on his shoulders the whole hike up. How they haven't tripped yet is a miracle but there's no way I'm giving Lucy a hand. There is precious cargo in this tote bag and I will not let it go for anyone, not even her.

The pair are unusually silent after I filled them in on the conversation I had with my aunt. Lucy taps on Natsu's shoulder to let her down, and not after a second her feets touches the ground she turns around and gushes, "SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT JELLAL HAS BEEN WORKING WITH YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE TO CONNECT YOUR PARENTS' DEATH WITH MY MOM'S DEATH BECAUSE JELLAL IS THE ONE IN CHARGE OF MY DAD'S ONGOING CASE?" She is slightly out of breath, but just barely.

I resist the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose. "Yes, that's exactly what's going on."

Natsu pauses from stretching his shoulders. "Oh, so that also means that Jellal was using you to get more information about the case, and ended up accidentally mixing pleasure with business because he got jealous and wanted to permanently ruin your chances with Gray?"

I crack a smile, despite how unfunny the whole situation is. Contrary to what it seems, Natsu regularly picks up on things more than he lets on.

Lucy gasps. "I knew it. You can never trust a man with scars."

Natsu protests. "Hey, what about me?"

Lucy smiles. "Babe, you're different."

"So it's babe now, huh?" I tease. It's hard not to roll my eyes.

Lucy rubs the back of her neck. "Well, I call all my friends affectionate nicknames, even you!"

I quirk my eyebrow.

Lucy coughs and revises her statement. "I mean, except you!"

Natsu changes the topic by running ahead and yelling back, "Guys, prepare your stomachs, this view is gorgeous."

We reach the edge of the ridge and his statement is irrefutable. Gilded green mountains hold host to meadows full of wild flowers and long wild grass. Pristine rivers snake their way through the distance and glisten from the warm rays of the setting sun. The smell is heavenly too, crisp, clean, with faint pine and various herbs.

I catch sight of Natsu giving a small nod to Lucy and before I can react Lucy takes the tote bag from my shoulder and arcs it across to Natsu, who dashes off with Lucy on his heels. Hell is about to break out when I rush after them, only for me to trip on a snagged root and crash headfirst into a chiseled, familiar stomach.

Firm hands wrap around my arms to keep me from falling, and only then do I realize who it is.

Gray smirks, "Didn't know you had such a hard head."

I'm about to flip him off but realize I can't; he's still holding my arms.

He abruptly lets go, remembering everything that happened between us. But I remember his warmth, and how stupid I was to push it away.

"I mean, first of all," he stammers, unsure of how to act around me. "Let me start again, I have to apologize," Gray gets halfway through his second sentence until my lips crash into his.

I lean into his body and wrap my right hand around his neck while my left grabs tightly onto the collar of his stupid shirt with little pineapples on it (I'm allergic). This just feels right. After a moment's hesitation, he leans back and puts his hands properly on my waist. That's better. All of a sudden he steps back, looking flustered and slightly out of breath.

With raised eyebrows he confusedly accuses, "Wait, I thought you hated me. Did I miss something?"

It takes a lot of my willpower not to step forward and silence him with another kiss.

"Yeah, I was a dumbass. And I got answers. And I realized one of them was you," I blush by admission. I sound so stupid and lovesick, but sometimes, even I have to admit what I am.

The look on Gray's face is priceless. "We were both dumbasses, huh," he says as he pulls me in for a tight hug. His breath is hot on my ear as he admits quietly, "I don't know what I did to deserve you but I'll do everything in my power to understand you from now on. No exceptions."

We pull back and are about to go in for another kiss when we hear giggling. I glare in the direction of where the voices come from.

Lucy and Natsu step out from their respective trees they were hiding behind. They are positively beaming. Natsu puts an arm around Gray and ruffles his hair. Lucy shoves her phone into my face and urges me to look at the "secret footage" she captured of us. I'm seriously going to end her later. And then ask for the footage obviously.

Natsu graciously releases Gray from his chokehold and picks up the tote bag from the ground. "Anyone want to celebrate with strawberry cheesecake?"

On the way back down the path, we explain everything that happened. Gray definitely was still a little confused, but he got the majority of the situation.

"Wait, so you're saying if Jellal gets near my girlfriend again I have every right to sic Juvia on him?" he asks seriously. He even shudders at the thought.

Lucy turns to look at me with a very large grin, "So you guys are official. Going pretty fast around those bases, huh?"

I stare at her pointedly. "I could say the same about you."

"Hey, that's not fair," she starts to pout until she sees something very, very unusual at the base of the trailhead.

A swarm of white vans, camera operators, and news reporters wait in ambush for us. As we get closer they shout, "Lucy, how does it feel to take over your father's empire at such a young age?" Another butts in, "Were you aware of your father's actions? Did you ever suspect he would go to such lengths to protect his image?"

I'm not immune from the barrage of questions either. "Erza, were you aware of the blackmail your parents held against Mr. Heartfilia? Are you relieved that you've officially been declared innocent?"

All four of us look wildly at each other. No one knows what's going on. Gray and Natsu lock eyes in silent communication. Gray shields us from the cameras and places his keys in my hand. "Take my motorcycle and Lucy. Get yourselves to The Sub and don't stop for anyone."

I look at him like he's crazy. "What about you guys?"

He grins, "Don't worry, we'll meet you two there."

I nod. It's about time we start trusting each other. I grab Lucy's hand and start running to Gray's motorcycle. I yell the plan to Lucy and she follows suit, gripping my waist as I start the engine. We race out of the parking lot and in the rearview mirror I see: Natsu cracking jokes with the reporters?!

Lucy and I stumble into The Sub breathless. Now we know what fugitives feel like. We collapse near the closest table, opposite of a person busy reading a huge newspaper that covered their face.

"What the hell were they talking about?" I ask Lucy, bewildered at the unfolding events.

Lucy shakes her head and pulls out her phone. "I have to call my dad." She frowns when he doesn't pick up so she looks up the news. As she reads further and further down the article, she brings her hand up to her mouth in shock.

Lucy begins, "Erza I—"

Just as Gray flings open the door and rushes inside. I spot Natsu hop out of a white van and fist bump the driver in thanks.

Gray has a wild look in his eyes. "Guys you won't believe what the reporters told us." He notices that he interrupted Lucy and is about to let her finish, but she looks ill and she motions for him to deliver the news.

He gathers his composure and sits down next to me. He grabs my hand and holds it firmly as he relays the information. "Apparently the Heartfilia case is actually going to trial. But not in the way the CEO of, sorry, Lucy's dad, thought would happen. Jellal noticed two unsolved tragedies that happened seven years ago on the same day, June 8th. Somehow he managed to get someone locked up for an assassination attempt against the president to admit information in exchange for less jail time. This assassin and his partner were hired by Lucy's father to kill Erza's parents because they had blackmail on him."

Erza grips Gray's hand hard in surprise as Natsu walks into the shop and comforts Lucy with a reassuring hug. Gray shifts nervously, it's a lot of information. "Hey, Natsu, mind finishing the story? It's hard to get through."

Natsu nods. "Yeah, as Gray was saying. This blackmail was actually that Lucy's dad was having an affair. Both parties were having a bitter financial dispute anyway, so Lucy's dad decides to put out a hit on them. Unluckily though, the assassin's partner actually had a wife, and this woman was the one hooking up with Lucy's dad. So at the last minute, the assassin is left to burn down the house alone while his partner goes rogue and kills Lucy's mother to get revenge on her dad. This whole thing was covered up until Jellal came along and blew it all up. Connected the dots that it was his own client, Lucy's dad, that accidentally had a hand in killing his own wife."

Gray finishes quietly, "And it's with the help and testimony of Erza's aunt and uncle that this all came to light."

Lucy's face is ashen. I can't speak. What else has my aunt and uncle been hiding? And how is Lucy this composed still?

Lucy leans on the table as Natsu rubs little reassuring circles on her back. She mutters, "I knew my dad was a greedy bastard, but I didn't think he'd go this far." She then buries her face in her hands. "And now I'm CEO of the largest mining company in all of Earth-land?!"

I see a hand tap Lucy's shoulder. "I think I may be able to assist you in the matter," a familiar voice says empathetically. From behind the large newspaper is none other than official business manager Wendy herself. I look at the newspaper she put down and see the headlining article: YOUNGEST EVER MBA STUDENT GRADUATES FROM MAGNOLIA UNIVERSITY. A proud-looking Wendy beams back at the camera.

All four of us look at each other. Hey, why not? A lot weirder things have happened today.

The refreshing breeze runs through my ponytail as Gray holds tight against my waist. We're gliding along a magnificent stretch of coast that is surrounded by gleaming azure water as far as the eye can see. Ever since that day I had to cop Gray's motorcycle to run away from the press with Lucy, I've been hooked on driving it. Luckily, Gray doesn't mind being in the passenger seat. He claims there are "passenger perks" like feeling up the driver. Can you believe this guy? Can't blame 'em though.

It's been a few months since the whole scandalous trial debacle went down. We're firmly in the middle of summer break and we've been having the time of our lives on our little tropical island getaway. Gray and I have gotten closer, a lot closer, than we were during the school year. It's the little things. One day while looking for something of his to wear, I discovered a whole horde of crossword puzzle books. When I confronted him, he said it's his guilty pleasure but he doesn't want the hockey team clowning on him so he keeps it hidden. I gave him a searing kiss and said it's a good look on him. Later he discovered I had a really big thing for knitting (embarrassing) as my go-to way of relaxing and we've proudly been doing old married couple shit together ever since. But only sometimes.

Lucy and Natsu are still just friends. Allegedly. Although Gray and I have been placing bets on when they'll cave. They're actually joining our little vacation rental in a few days, so I better sleep with one eye open. Someone is going to get surprise-thrown into the ocean as a wake up call, and it's not going to be me. Thankfully, Lucy is coping alright and isn't too sad to see her dad locked away. They were never close and she's resolved to let karma play out its toll. Meanwhile, Wendy has shaken up the business world by being a CEO that advocates for unions, and she is still making money hand over fist. Imagine that.

I let my eyes wander briefly from the road to look back at Gray. He's gorgeous, inside and out. Kind, patient, and true to his word. He's been supportive of me as I learn about my childhood PTSD diagnosis and I'm really thankful we get to be by each other's sides.

As my eyes flick back to the open frontier ahead, Gray leans into my ears and shouts something to the tune of "I love you."

A/N: AND NOW TO RETURN BACK TO THE DEAD. But before I go, seriously, I want to thank everyone for their kind comments and hype around our crazy favorite ship of almost a decade ago. The first year of high school was rough for me, and this space was a great way to bond over a common love we had and feel a little less alone in the world. Looking back, the concept of "ships'' was new and exciting to me as an impressionable young teenager who didn't have much of a grasp on who I was or what I valued. (I mean, what teenager does). I didn't understand why I started to like the characters and their potential for emotional connection more than the actual stories they were involved with. But with age, I see that what I wanted for the characters I desperately wanted for myself. To have ride or die friendships, to feel eternal love. Fiction is an interesting space, what we don't have in the real world, we can somewhat make up for in our imaginations. I'm a big proponent of imagination, the power it holds to give us purpose and hope. But, with the ever increasing dominance of digital spaces, I do encourage you all to unplug and connect with the physical world too! In other words, esp. fellow introverts, it's ok to touch grass sometimes too! Now it really is time to draw to a close. Sending out so much love for the many lovely people who commented on my (very silly, I want to say cringe but writers remember to give your young self grace!) story. I never got the appeal of social media, but this is the one space where I know it's true uplifting power! Stay strong out there. Peace.