They never really talked together ever since he came back. Which was a shame. She liked being friends with everyone, but didn't dare go to him. Even if he was less stiff around guildmates than before, he still appeared a bit distant. He would always answer when talked to, he would always greet people who were coming back from a hard mission or wish them a happy birthday. He was just discreet about it all. It made her sad, he was here for her birthday, but he hadn't wished her a good birthday. She had hoped the whole night, she had waited for him to come and wish her a happy birthday. She would have made a small talk; she would have got to know him better. He never came. He was here with his team, she knew it, Bickslow had his souls dance for her, Evergreen was snuggling Elfman, Freed was gawking at Mirajane cleavage.

Mira said that he still felt guilty about his non-presence when Phantom attacked, and he felt even more guilty about the Fantasia event. It made her sad, she was quite friend with Bickslow, she went shopping with Evergreen a few times, and she even took a mission with Freed and Levy. As if she was a plague victim, Laxus never went near her without taking his precaution which meant his noisy team sticking by his side.

The only times he wasn't with them, the only times her team wasn't near her and the only time she could have talked to him without attracting unwanted attention was when he was facing the board.

The first few times she would only glance at him. He would only raise an eyebrow, take a mission and leave. But the more they met at the board, the longer she would stare at him. At a point where he wasn't surprised anymore to meet her eyes, and would even nod in acknowledgement at her.

But now, he started to say "Hi", and Lucy wanted more than a mere "Hi". This was a new fantasy, she couldn't even answer without stuttering.