Taking out his keys, Natsu hesitantly unlocked the front door. He slowly turned the knob, poking his head into the house, "Uh...hello? Is anyone home?"

"Natsu honey, is that you?"

"Yeah ma, It's me," He walked through the door, closing it behind him as he threw his backpack at the couch next to him.

"Oh sweetie it's been so long! Are you okay? Do you feel sore? Are your burns healing up? Have you been eating and drinking water?" Pulling him down into a hug, Grandine pressed her baby boy to her chest, momentarily cutting off his circulation.

"I'm okay mom, really, I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit, I was swamped with assignments' and I didn't wanna be more behind than I already was-

"Now I know you're lying," Grandine interrupted, "The Natsu I know would not put that much focus into his schoolwork," suddenly let him go, she raised an eyebrow eyeing him closely. Natsu began fidgeting, he felt small beads of sweat forming on his eyebrow. His mother was the only other person that could see through him perfectly, she was almost as scary as Ezra, "What's really going on Natsu?"

"I-"

"NATSU! YOURE HOME!" Before he could finish answering his mother, he felt the wind being knocked right out of him. He noticed a head of purple hair leaning against his chest.

"Heya Wendy, how's your first year of Highschool going?" Natsu asked thoughtfully, smiling at his little sister.

"It's been great! I'm even friends with a senior, she's super nice," Wendy responded with a smile equally as large as her older brothers'.

"Thats great, I'm really happy to hear that," Natsu responded as he ruffled Wendys hair, much to her annoyance, "Where's dad? And Ignia and Zeref?"

"Your dads in the garage, Ignia's in his room studying and Zeref's out with Mavis," Grandine pointed in all directions revealing the status of the Dragneel family.

"When is he not with mavis." It was true. Mavis and Zeref had been together since they were freshman in high school. She's practically part of the family.

"You're just in time for dinner though, go to your room and freshen up, I'll call you down in a bit, Wendy come help me set the table," Grandine turned back around and started towards the kitchen, Wendy close behind her.

Natsu walked around the couch, picking up the backpack he had previously thrown. He stares back down at the living room as he slowly goes up the stairs, remembering every moment of the incident. Oh crap, not again. His heart started spinning and his heart was palpitating, feeling the warmth of the fire around him, his breath shortened. He holds onto the railing careful not to call too much attention to himself as to not worry anyone. Slowly, Natsu made it back up the stairs and came face to face with Ignia's room. He stared at the door for a moment, unsure of what to do next. He wasn't as close to his oldest brother as he was to zeref or Wendy. Or course they loved each other, Ignia was quite protective of his baby brother, but it was more of a sense of mutual respect. Especially since Ignia had always been more mature and serious than the rest of them. Zeref too of course, but he was still slightly more affectionate than Ignia. Holding his breath, he knocked on the door, tensing up when he heard a response from the other side.

"What is it, Wendy?" he asked in a more monotone voice.

"Uh actually, its Natsu"

"Natsu?" Suddenly the door swung open and Natsu was enveloped in a bear hug, he wasn't sure what to do now, he just let it happen.

"How are you feeling? Are your wounds healing properly? Have you been eating properly and drinking water regularly?"

"Geez, you're starting to sound just like ma," Natsu said, teasing his older brother

"To be fair, I am working towards being a doctor too, so I should sound like her to some extent" Ignia replied, smiling. Natsu had never seen this side of him before. He was totally whipped for someone.

"Who's got you smiling like that" Natsu asked with a smirk.

"W-what are you talking about? You're crazy...go away." Ignia's face turned a shade of pink that would put Natsu hair color to shame, slamming the door right in his face. Natsu laughed, his brother wasn't good at hiding secrets. Emotions he could definitely mask, but secrets were never something Ignia could keep. Natsu headed towards the end of the hall, stopping right in front of a door with a dragon drawing on it. He opened the door and stood there for a moment. The fire didn't really go any farther than the kitchen and the living room, so most of the upstairs was perfectly fine, untouched.

He threw his backpack on the floor next to his bed, throwing himself on the bed right after. He nuzzled his face into the pillow and closed his eyes. He thought of her, his mystery girl. The angel that plagued his mind day and night. He had to meet her, but how? It was currently Friday, so he had to wait 3 more days to—hopefully—be able to see her. What should I say though? Should I introduce myself right away? Should I ask for her number to keep in touch? What if she doesn't wanna get to know me more? Or what if she doesn't think im cool enough?

"Uugggghhhhh...this is soooooo hardddddd."

"NATSU, IGNIA, DINNERS READY!"

Natsu stood up from his bed, rubbing his eyes to the point where he saw little colored specs everywhere. He opened the door to his room, went down the stairs and to the kitchen where his parents and siblings sat waiting for him.

"Heya dad!"

"Natsu, my boy, how have you been? Are you feeling okay? How are your burns doing? Have you been eating properly and staying hydrated?" Natsu chuckled.

"I'm fine dad, really, my burns are fine, and yes I've been eating."

"Well, that's good, how's school going? Thought of a career yet?"

"Well, actually-"

"I'm home you guys—OH NATSU. How are you baby brother? Are you feeling okay? Have you been eating and drinkin-"

"IM FINE GEEZ, CAN EVERYONE PLEASE STOP ASKING NOW," Natsu looked at his family around him, cringing at his outburst, everyone laughed found it funny though. Natsu was already annoyed, and he'd only been home for almost an hour.

"No need to yell at me, I was just trying to be a good big brother and ask how my baby brother was doing" Zeref sulked.

"Don't worry, I already asked, he said he's fine," responded Ignia, teasing his brother. Ignia and Zeref had a love hate relationship, most of the time they were arguing, more than a married couple honestly.

"I'm sorry, but everyone's asked me the same questions already," Natsu apologized, swirling his fork over his plate.

Zeref smiled understandingly at his brother and sat down at the table. Everyone began eating, except Natsu, surprisingly. He looked around. He hadn't been home for a home-cooked meal in a long time, he didn't think he missed it until this moment.

"It wasn't your fault y'know."

"Huh?"

"I know you feel guilty about it Natsu, but we're not mad. The most important thing is that you're safe."

Natsu looked up, giving his mom a small smile. He had really taken his family for granted before the incident, and although he hadn't gone to visit after he came out of the hospital, they still welcomed him with open arms. He savored the moment, taking it all in while he still could, in that moment, he silently vowed never to take anything for granted every again. He would face things head on and not let things go as easily as he used to.