It was a Thursday morning, the 23rd of December to be exact, and the dawn had barely cracked the sky, the house was so quiet they could hear a pin drop and the atmosphere was chilly with a winter's air. Wendy and Grandeeny both emerged from their rooms at the same time, mother and daughter eagerly awaiting the imminent holidays and excited to decorate their currently bare pine tree. Wendy, who was wearing a candy pajama set with her hair in two braids, walked straight over to the Christmas tree. Her pet Carla, a white, purebred, Persian cat with a pink collar around her neck, silently tiptoed out of the room behind her owner. Grandeeny, with her towering frame, chocolate brown eyes, and shoulder length blue hair, appeared from her room in a red night dress and Santa hat. She watched with an amused expression as Wendy started opening the two cardboard boxes with the Christmas tree ornaments, completely oblivious to her presence.
"Well good morning to you too Wendy."
"Oh sorry, morning mommy."
"I see you're up early. Excited to trim the tree?"
The blunette nodded happily. Carla meowed daintily, as if responding with a "yes" of her own.
"Well I'm glad you're getting a head start before our guest arrive," she made herself comfortable on the couch as she watched her daughter with extreme concentration start designing the tree. "How are you feeling? You know with both Natsu and Zeref coming over for the first time in a while."
"I'm really happy," she said, caressing the top of Carla's head as the cat rubbed against her leg for attention. "I can't remember the last time I've hung out with the two of them at the same time. And plus, I know dad will be happy to see them too."
Grandeeny could feel tears coming to her eyes hearing her child describe their family situation. She was, however, mostly becoming misty eyed with tears of joy for Igneel. She knows it'll mean the world to him to finally be seeing his sons together after all these years. This Christmas was no doubt shaping up to be a special one.
"Yeah," Grandeeny answered. "He really will be."
December 23rd
"I can't believe Bunny Girl got me roller skates for Christmas," Gajeel said as he skated through the loft. "I feel so free."
"Don't." Natsu said as Loke came over and yanked a card he was writing on.
"Let me see this. "Merry Christmas, August and Larcade. Don't swallow these. Love, Uncle Natsu." Loke glared at him. "Natsu you are the worst uncle to ever exist."
"Hey, it's a great gift! One is six and one is four and it's a bunch of tacks. They're gonna love 'em. Now give me my card back."
"Well I hate Christmas," Loke said, preparing to rant. Natsu swiped his Christmas card back in the process. "First of all, it means that Hanukkah is over. Second of all, I hate it when you guys leave and go home. Seriously though, when are you leaving?"
Gajeel and Natsu answered simultaneously.
"Tomorrow at 3:00 p.m."
"I think 4:00 a.m. Is that it?"
Gajeel, skating around the island kitchen looked at Natsu in apparent confusion, while Natsu did the same. Loke slammed his face on the table.
"Look Loke, don't worry about it, man. We're all gonna get to hang out tonight at your office party," Natsu reassured him. After a moment of contemplation he continued. "And please tell me you're not dressing up like Santa Claus at the party this year, are you?"
"I'm the only man in the office. Of course I'm gonna dress up like Santa."
Natsu rolled his eyes while Gajeel groaned.
"Look, I like it!" Loke continued. "I get all this dirt on my coworkers. They get drunk and they whisper what they want for Christmas in my ear, and then I use that information to subtly undermine them and control them for the rest of the year."
"Ah, the true spirit of Christmas," Gajeel deadpanned.
"Oh, you'd better watch it, Redfox," Loke challenged. "Because I will take you down."
"You wanna go?"
"No, do you wanna go?"
"You're gonna try and take me down?"
"Hey, I had figure skating lessons until I was 13, and then my mom sobered up and realized I was a boy," Loke stood up and rolled his neck. "Let's do this."
Gajeel's laugh almost cost him to lose his balance and fall off his skates.
"You should not have said that.".
"Both of you, enough," Natsu interjected. "Nothing's smart about what you guys are doing. Why don't you both act like grown-ups?"
Again, Gajeel's scoff almost threw him off balance from his skates, again.
"You're one to talk."
"Yeah, why don't you tell that to the office supplies you're about to give to your nephews?" Loke added with a smirk.
Natsu stood up. Now they've done it. He rolled up his sleeves and cracked his knuckles with a smile. "You bastards wanna go?"
Gajeel smiled with a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Been a while since we've done this Dragneel."
Loke took off his tinted glasses and folded them into the collar of his shirt. "I'm ready when you are, playas."
With that Gajeel skated himself right into Loke, using the speed and momentum to turn himself into a human battering ram, knocking him over. Natsu jumped on the table and then launched himself on them as they sprawled on the floor, feet flying, fists pumping and bodies being wrangled on the floor as the three fought for dominance.
"Guys ENOUGH!" Lucy's voice bellowed as she stepped out of her room with a panicked expression. She had on a brown pencil skirt, button up blouse and brown camisole as she held her car keys in her hand. The boys paused their scuffle and slowly tried to get off of one another.
"I need your help right now. I need you guys to get in my car and come with me to the mall because I really need to figure out what to buy Dan for..." she paused when she took in what the guys had on. Gajeel, with his roller skates, Loke with his custom made shades, and Natsu with his red dragon t-shirt on.
"Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, you guys are all wearing the gifts that I gave you! That is so sweet. I need to take a picture."
"Wait, Luce don't take a photo right now," Natsu said, as he and Gajeel were still dog piled on top of Loke.
She didn't seem to care though as she whipped out her phone and pointed her camera at them, about to take pictures.
"So cute."
"Don't do the photo," Gajeel said, struggling to get up.
"Please, no pictures," Loke added as he slipped back down on the ground.
"So cute, so cute."
"So... why can't you figure out what to get your boyfriend?" Natsu asked, trying not to sound too curious... but he was curious. He and Lucy were currently browsing different department stores in the mall, at this point it was still window shopping because Lucy had no idea what she wanted to buy.
"I don't know. Maybe because we've only been going out for, like, a month, so... I just don't know."
"Well, I think you've got to figure out how you feel about him and then get a gift that reflects it," Natsu offered. "I think that's kind of the move."
"My initial thought was to just get him a gift certificate for piping hot sex."
Natsu's eyebrows grazed her hairline at her bold suggestion.
"Really... oh, you're being serious?"
"But after what happened between us last time, I don't want him to think that I'm just using him for his body."
"If he's any kind of man... I'm sure he'll be okay with that... have you two slept together yet, by the way?"
"No, not yet."
Natsu shook his head, trying his best to act aloof. He may not have been the biggest fan of Dan, but as a man, Natsu felt kind of bad for him. The couple had been going out for almost a month now and they still couldn't seem to get it right. "Poor bastard..." the pinkette muttered. His eyes spotted something in her hands.
"What's this?"
It was a handmade card that he snatched before she could say anything else. He read what was written inside.
"'Nerdy weird sex that works for both of us.' Okay wow, this is amazing," Natsu said about burst out in a howl of laughter in the middle of the mall.
The blonde felt a sharp air of embarrassment as her blood rate spiked and her cheeks became pink and hot.
"Give it back."
"This is amazing."
"No, come on."
"I'm gonna keep this."
"I'm gonna cash this in one night and get some weird nerd sex. Does the guy have to dress up like Luke Skywalker? Is that your kink Luce?"
"No, it isn't!"
"Seriously though, thank you. Now I know what I'm getting my mom."
"Come on Natsu."
"This is going right to my mom."
"Why do we have to go to this office party tonight?"
Gajeel posed the question to Loke, as the two were in a different section of the mall buying his Santa outfit... which didn't consist of much.
"Because it's the last night before you guys go home to your families, and we got to blow this thing out, man. Plus, it'll be a good opportunity for you to do some networking. Help with the job search. I'm telling you, everybody's hitting the nog, having a good time, letting loose. You swoop in there, and then boom... new job, man. That's how things work. You know? Benjamins in your pocket, La Pen-si-own, little four-to-the-oh- to-the-one-to-the-kay."
Gajeel's grimace grew the more Loke talked.
"You make me want to stay broke."
Later, once shopping was all done, everyone was piled in Lucy's car headed back to the loft. Lucy and Natsu were in the front with Lucy driving, while Gajeel and Loke were in the back.
"So what'd you get your boyfriend?" Loke asked Lucy.
"I'm not telling you, but, um, I'll give you a hint. It's fuzzy."
"Well, I hope you didn't listen to Dragneel," Gajeel added dryly. "He's literally the worst gift giver ever."
Flashback
"Merry Christmas man," Natsu said passing his cousin a bottle of Windex. Gajeel took the bottle with a repulsed expression.
"What the-"
"They're for your piercings!" he said happily. "You're welcome."
"Where exactly are we, Luce?" Natsu asked, noting they were in unfamiliar territory.
"Can I get a drumroll please?" When nobody made a move for her drum fair she continued. "We... are on Candy Cane Lane!"
She waved her hand to present the obscure, suburban neighborhood road where the guys simply saw a bunch of houses that had Christmas decorations up in the middle of the scorching LA heat.
"At night, the whole block lights up with Christmas decorations and it's the most beautiful thing ever. It's like an actual Wonderland. Cana and I discovered it a few years ago together and I was hoping to share it with you guys."
The teasing came instantly and synchronously.
"Oh it's so beautiful!" Loke cooed.
"Like, oh my God, what wonderful fun!" Natsu cheered with a dopey expression.
"It's a Christmas wonderland folks!" Gajeel added with a pompous accent. "Let's all hop aboard the Holiday Express!"
"Okay, whatever," Lucy rolled her eyes. "But we have to come back later because then you'll see what I'm talking about."
"Oh, no, absolutely not woman," Gajeel chided from the backseat. "We're not gonna have time. Natsu and I have to go straight from the party to the airport."
Lucy's heart sank as she turned to Natsu. "Really? No..."
"Yes, I've missed my flight four years in a row," Natsu affirmed. "If I miss it this year, Grandeeny's gonna kill me. Not to mention, I haven't spent Christmas with my dad in four years..."
"Celeste check it out," Gajeel said looking out the window at a specific blown up decoration. "It's a menorah for you!"
"Oh, a menoooooooooooooorah," he drawled; pleased. "JUDAISM, son."
Gajeel gave him a look that said he regretted pointing out the decoration at all.
Meanwhile, back in Magnolia...
With the Christmas tree all set, Grandeeny gently chastised Carla from attempting to scratch on the Christmas gifts under the tree. The blue-haired nurse picked up their blue ribbon pedigree and carried her back into Wendy's room to scratch on her actual scratching post. She made sure to shut the door behind her. Wendy had disappeared from the living room and seemingly found herself in her parent's bedroom. On her way to the kitchen, Grandeeny caught a glimpse of her husband and daughter sitting side by side on the bed watching some arbitrary family movie. She couldn't see their faces since their backs were facing the door, but she could practically see Wendy's excited expression as she pointed animatedly to something on screen. Igneel didn't respond. Not a sound or a twitch. A few seconds later, he lifted a trembling hand and rested it on her head and Wendy happily leaned into it.
Grandeeny couldn't help but smile.
Even though Igneel didn't say much these days, she always knew how much he cared for her and her daughter through quiet moments like those.
Once she entered the kitchen, she put on her oven mitts and checked the oven, taking out her cookies.
The doorbell rang.
Belno was at the door, and as Grandeeny swung the door open wider she noticed the dark skinned woman holding three gift wrapped boxes.
"Belno!" Her face lit up. "Always nice to see you."
"Hey Deeny, I brought these for your family," she said, hoping for the other woman to relieve her of their weight. And that she did.
"Thank you so much, and since you're here, I'll just give you the gifts we got for your family. WENDY! COME HERE AND SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR AUNTY BELNO!"
Wendy came running out of room, taking the gifts from her mother's arms and putting them under the tree. Dutifully, Wendy presented her aunt with three boxes wrapped tightly with a bow all labeled with her and her sons' names.
"Thanks for my gift Auntie Belno."
"Thank you baby," Belno cupped her cheek before taking her gifts. Wendy smiled graciously as she made her exit, eager to get back to movie watching with her dad.
"So I'm gonna be cooking a big dinner tomorrow for the holidays, so if you want, you and your family are more than welcome to stop by and dine."
"Oh honey, I'm going to be having two grown, husky men eating dinner at my house, so I'll be cooking more than enough food, but I'll be more than happy to stop by for whatever Christmas goodies you're baking this year. You know I love your desserts."
"I'll be sure to make extras just for your family."
"So how's Igneel doing?" Belno asked curiously.
She smiled solemnly. "Well, I can say he's been doing really well these days. He'd be doing a lot better if he could just see his family though."
"How do you feel about the boys coming home for Christmas?"
"Pleasantly surprised. Well you know Zeref, he's always been kind of dodgy... and Natsu well... I'm really glad he's deciding to come. I'm actually a little nervous, but really excited, but I've got to play it cool because I know he doesn't like it when I make a big deal out of things."
"How long as that boy been in L.A? Three... four years? And this is his first Christmas back?"
"Well the thing with Natsu, is that he just chooses to spend Christmas with his mother so him coming here is really... rare."
"That boy finally grew some common sense and decided to spend a Christmas with the other half of his family."
Grandeeny smiled, grateful for Belno's aggravation on her behalf.
"Well how about you Belno? How are you feeling about Gajeel coming back since he left Hargeon?"
Belno sighed. "He usually came home for Christmas, even when he was still playing football. I'm just not looking forward to him and Boz being together again, cause I know their greedy asses are gonna eat me out of house and home."
Grandeeny chuckled. "Like I said, you guys are more than welcome to come over."
"Anyway Grandeeny, I've got to go finish getting the house ready for Saturday."
"Of course. It was so good to see you again Bel."
"You too Grandeeny!"
Back in L.A...
Loke walked nervously onto the stage where Cana's magazine shoot was being held. It was very busy. Beautiful women, make-up artists, set designers and directors were all walking, taking, setting the stage, just doing something. He saw Cana sitting on a director's chair in a black, two-piece swimsuit with her toned abs and generous mounds of caramel skin being on full display.
"Hey, hi," he said. "You look awesome."
"This is a before and after shoot for a Bolivian diet pill," Cana said plainly.
"El Glatrax? Yeah, I've taken that."
Just then, a plus-sized, brown skinned woman in a black two-piece pulled up a chair and sat next to his friend.
"I'm the "before," she said, pulling out a magazine and starting to read.
"Su-Sure, you are, look at that."
"So you said you wanted to see me for something?"
"Yes! I actually brought you a gift..." he said, presenting her with the gift bag he held behind his back. Cana smiled accepting his gift. "And I hope you appreciate that I have kept eye contact with you, this whole time and made no reference to the fact that you are basically naked."
"Very proud of you, Loke," she said with a smirk.
Their conversation was interrupted when a shirtless, muscular man approached them and started to affectionately kiss Cana.
"Okay..." Loke said awkwardly. "Lot of tongue."
"You done with her hair?" The bigger man asked.
"With her...? No, I'm not the hair guy, man."
"Oh, no, no, no, Bacchus this is my very good friend Loke, and he just came by to bring me a gift, so..." She took out the gift from inside the bag. "Oh, it's perfume," she cooed. "Wait why does it say "Cornelia Number 5"?"
"Actually, it says that because... you know, I-I made it specifically for you! And um, they didn't have any bottles with the name "Cana" on it so I just went with Cornelia because I thought it was close enough. See, I found this place on Third Street where you can design your own perfume. I put base notes of cocoa because of your brown..."
Cana raised an eyebrow at where she thought he was going with that, nonetheless he continued.
"Uh... ness. Sea salt, because it kind of sounds like Cece. Uh, and sandalwood, because you know, Sandalwood," he pointed finger guns at her. "Always up to no good."
"Thank you Loke."
"Yeah. No problem."
"Hey, let's get back to work," Bacchus said into her hair, nudging her waist.
"Yeah, okay, um... well I'll see you tonight Loke?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'll just... I'll see you there."
Dan and Lucy were seated, legs folded in the blonde's room, on her bed, both holding their Christmas gifts for one another behind their backs and counting down when to exchange their gifts at the same time.
"Three, two, one. Go."
"Oh envelope!" Lucy cried excitedly.
"Festive bag!" Dan echoed her energy.
"I was afraid you were going to get me jewelry, so... Oh, no." Her excitement dropped when she opened up the envelope and saw what was inside.
"What is it?" Dan asked worriedly.
"Oh, my God," she said as she took out her Christmas gifts and read them. "Oh, my God... two tickets to see the revival of The Great Comet on Broadway... and passes to the Salzburg Music Festival? That's... incredible."
"I knew you were gonna love it."
"I'm... speechless. And, um... all I got you was-"
Dan pulled out what Lucy had for him in the gift bag. The beating, life-sized toy heart ba-bumped loudly as Dan picked it up and read the label.
"An "anatomically correct heart of a 50-year-old nonsmoker."
Lucy was embarrassed.
"You know what? Normally I'm, like, really good at giving gifts, and I thought that was romantic, but now I realize it's just... creepy. I'm sorry Dan, I have to get you something better."
"No, no it's great!" He quickly reassured her. "I love it. It's funny an-and quirky and, and so sweet. It's like you." He held out his arms for a hug and Lucy leaned in and they shared a warm embrace. "That's why I love it. I love it. Thank you, I love it. I... I love you."
Dan's words sent a shockwave through Lucy. Her eyes flung wide open. A frown etched its way on her face. There was a long, awkward pause in their conversation.
"...Thank you."
"You're welcome..." He said just as awkwardly, rubbing her back. "You're very welcome."
Later that evening, Natsu, Lucy, Dan and Gajeel all arrived at Loke's Christmas office party together. Apart from Dan, who seemingly always wore a suit and tie, Gajeel was dressed up to the nines in a suit as well, his hair slicked back into a low man-bun. Despite his earlier disposition, he seemed to be taking Loke's advice to heart.
"Well look at you, all dressed up," Natsu mocked. "What, are you in The Temptations tonight?"
"Suck my dick Dragneel. I know I look fly," Gajeel snapped back. "And I'll tell you what... one of us is walking out of here tonight with a new job."
As they descended the stairwell, Lucy broke away from the group when she spotted her best friend (and her new boyfriend).
"Where you going?" Dan asked.
"You wore my present!" Lucy exclaimed excitedly as she ran over to Cana. The brunette was wearing a long black winter coat that covered her dress, black heels, a smoky eyeshadow with cat eyeliner, and Lucy's gift - which was a bushy, brown, handlebar mustache.
"I sure did mi amor. Thank you, I love it."
"YAY!" Lucy jumped up and the two shared a warm embrace.
"Okay, well, she's seen it now, so maybe you can take it off," Bacchus chimed in. "You look like a man."
"I know, right?" Cana smiled at him, proudly showing off her friend's gift.
"No, that's what's freaking me out."
"Good humor and fun..." Cana said quietly as she peeled off her mustache. "God forbid."
"Is that Celeste?"
Gajeel drew everyone's attention over to Loke, who was at the center of the party seated on a golden throne, wearing nothing but a Christmas hat, tight, black shorts, a fake, bushy, white beard and a red choker with a bell on it. His face lit up when he saw his friends. The five of them, plus Bacchus, grimaced as he waved at them excitedly.
"What in the...?"
"Hey, you guys!"
"Whoa, whoa, Loke," his boss, Karen admonished walking over to him. "Santa voice. This isn't temple."
Loke cleared his throat, and using a deep voice with a Santa impression, reworded his greeting.
"Ho, ho, ho!"
"Are those my shorts?" Lucy asked after a while, feeling nauseous.
After a while of being at the party with the gang comfortably intermingling with people, Natsu noticed Lucy's absence and went to go find her. With a drink in hand, he found her pacing the balcony, with her red dress and black coat on, all by herself. Once on the balcony with her, he closed the glass doors behind him so they could have some privacy.
"What's wrong, Luce?"
"Hey, Natsu," she took a deep breath, training her eyes to the ground before she eventually sat down. "I'm freaking out because Dan told me he loved me today."
Natsu's eyes widened. "And what did you say back?"
Lucy played with her fingers instead of answering, still feeling too guilty about her actions to talk about it aloud.
"Luce?" Natsu nudged her gently.
"Well I... I couldn't say it back, so um, so I said "Thank you"."
Natsu's nerves were shot. "Oh no Lucy..."
"I know! I know! I'm so stupid! And I know it's horrible, I just... didn't know what to say."
Natsu settled down next to her, feeling the gravity of the situation weighing him down. "Okay well..." he ran a hand through his hair. "Let's brainstorm this together Lucy. Why do you think you couldn't say it back? Is it just because he put you on the spot? Or...?"
"I don't know!" she said aggravatedly, more so frustrated with her herself than with Natsu or anyone else. She sighed. "I don't know what to do because in relationships, I'm always the one who feels it more. That's my thing. One time I went on a date with a guy, and by 11:00 pm, I was giving him my ATM code."
"Really? What is your ATM code, by the way?"
"Oh it's 4203..." she stopped herself from absentmindedly prattling when she realized what she was saying, and doubly so when she saw the mischievous grin plastered all over his face. It was a grin that annoyed her. "Okay, very funny. Very good try Natsu, but no."
"It wasn't a try actually, 'cause now I know how to swindle you out of all your money if you ever get rich." He was smiling at her with his chin in the palm of his hand, just enjoying teasing her. "A little wine and steak and I guess I'm an instant millionaire."
He chuckled at his own joke, and Lucy smiled too, seeing the humor in it.
"Hey listen," Natsu said getting serious. "If you don't have feelings for Dan, then you need to tell him."
Lucy looked mortified. "What? I can't do that to someone on Christmas! And then New Year's is right after that. And then Valentine's Day is soon after that, and then, it's... it's Presidents' Day!"
"Presidents Day? Known for its romance, that Presidents Day," he answered sarcastically. "No, but seriously Luce, just tell him. Don't lead him on... you'll only hurt him more. Take it from a guy who's been there before, that shit hurts."
Lucy looked at him sadly, but his gaze steady and unwavering. After a bit of a stare off, Lucy finally gathered the confidence to get up.
"Alright," she said standing up. "I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna tell him."
"Really? You sure?"
"Yeah! Thanks Nat."
Cana rushed into the bathroom with a flushed face and a distraught expression. She and Bacchus just had terrible fight. What was the fight about? Something so needlessly petty that Cana wanted to forget it ever happened. She couldn't believe he was being so difficult and embarrassing her in front of her friends. This was supposed to be a fun night. This was supposed to be her Christmas. As Cana stood in front of the sink mirror and started taking napkins from the napkin dispenser to dab the tears from her eyes.
"Hey, what are you doing in here?"
Cana was startled. "¿Qué demonios Lucy?! You scared me!"
[What the hell Lucy?!]
She turned around to see Lucy in her sleeveless red dress and heels, casually sitting on the bathroom floor, eating something. She walked over to her friend, and she too, slid down the wall to the bathroom floor.
"Bacchus is getting on my nerves. What are you doing in here?"
"Eating cookies and avoiding confrontation."
Cana sighed. "Remember when Christmas used to be fun and all I had to do was worry about my drunk uncle asking me out?"
"Oh right! Tio Bruno. For years, he thought I was a boy. He was such a weirdo."
Cana chuckled. "Right?"
"Hey. How you doing, Dan?"
Natsu noticed Dan on the balcony finishing up a phone call and decided to approach him.
"I'm good."
"So... have you and Lucy talked?"
"Oh, yeah, no, we talked. Yeah, she told me, she told me."
"She did? Okay, well," Natsu patted him on the shoulder. "I know, it's probably hard right now, but you never know, you know? So maybe Lucy doesn't love you right now, but that's not to say she might not fall in love with you later. I think that's the positive way of looking at it, man, but I know it's hard, believe me."
Dan's jaw dropped. His hand holding the phone slowly lowered as the pinkette's words sunk in.
"We... we talked about how... we might have to drive you to the airport... 'cause you're gonna... miss your flight..."
Natsu's breath hitched, realizing he's made a grave mistake. He didn't show any of his fret on his face though, deciding to play it cool.
"Yeah, that was probably all you guys talked about, so I'm joking."
"W-Wait a minute. Because she hasn't..."
"Yeah, I know... guess what, Dan? Don't even think right now. I'm drunk."
"Natsu... did Lucy tell you..."
"I'm basically a raging alcoholic, I tell you! I need to be in some sort of AA meeting!"
"...that she doesn't love me?"
The silence that followed the completion of his question was horribly awkward, and Natsu coughed uncomfortably.
"What's wrong with me Cana?" Lucy asked after explaining her dilemma to her friend.
"There's nothing wrong with you chica, you just don't love him."
"The first guy I like who isn't an asshole and I can't make the relationship last longer than a month. Maybe I should just try to make it work."
"No Lucy, you can't force yourself to dive into something like this if you just aren't feeling it."
She sighed.
"I know... I just wish I could stay in this bathroom all night."
Cana held Lucy's hand as they shared in their mutual fear of conflict with their boyfriends. "Me too, chica."
Just then, they heard a toilet flush and a Mermaid Heel employee stepped out of one of the stalls to the sink. Cana and Lucy looked bug-eyed at each other wondering how long she's been in there.
"Whoo," the woman joked waving her hands. "That eggnog is deadly!"
When she left the bathroom, Lucy made a move to get up.
"We got to get out of here." Cana deadpanned.
"Yeah, we do. I'll just put off talking to Dan 'till later, after the holidays. You coming?"
"Yeah, I'll be out in a sec. Bacchus wants to go to this party..."
"Ugh," Lucy rolled her eyes as she checked herself in the mirror. "Bacchus is the living worst."
"Yeah, I know."
"Did he even get you a gift?" Lucy asked as she left the bathroom. Being left with only the eerie bathroom silence and herself, she answered.
"No..."
With that, Cana's mind went on the perfume she received from Loke that she flippantly threw in her purse. She lifted up the brown cylinder bottle with the name of "Cornelia" on it. It may have been kind of cheesy, but he made it just for her. She couldn't help but smile at the gesture. She spritzed some of the perfume on the insides of her wrists and rubbed them together. When she went to go smell her hands, her nose revolted and she started coughing violently.
It smelt horrible.
After about an hour or two failing at an attempt at "networking", Gajeel rage-quit and retreated to sitting by the punch table with a little brunette girl who was hiding underneath it.
"Who even wants to sit at a desk all day? Not me, I'll tell you that much." He had been venting to her for some time now. The little girl had been the perfect confidant, listening attentively and nodding every so often. "I don't want to turn into one of those losers who calls Wednesday hump day. Or say lame shit like TGIF on Fridays. But that's enough about me, what's your deal kid? Why are you sitting under a table?"
"Mommy won't let me sit in Santa's lap..." the wide-eyed girl said sadly.
"Yeah that's probably for the best..."
"Hey. Hi," a dark haired brunette woman with a noticeable baby bump approached them. "I'm Mako, the genius who brought my kid to this Christmas party. Looking forward to years of therapy over Dirty Santa. Honestly, I'm amazed she's even talking to you. She doesn't like anyone."
"Yeah, I don't like anyone," the girl echoed.
"Yeah, but we're really working on that."
"No, she's working on that," her daughter corrected.
Gajeel airily laughed at their dynamic.
Back in Magnolia once more...
Ding-dong!
Once again, Grandeeny was interrupted from cooking in the kitchen by a guest at her door. She untied her apron and made a dash for the front door. She heard the sounds of her tiny visitors before she even saw them.
"Mommy, is this grandpa Iggy's house?"
"Yes Larcade, we're at Grandpa Iggy's."
"Mommy, are we gonna see Grandpa Iggy?"
"Well yeah, August. That's why we came all the way over."
Grandeeny swung the door open with renewed enthusiasm and was met with three platinum blondes. A small woman with blonde hair in cascading waves, held the hands of two young boys.
"Mavis! Boys! You're here early!"
She hugged her daughter-in-law as her two sons invited themselves into her home, racing each other in the wide open space of the living room, speeding to the TV room.
"Boys, no running in the house!" Grandeeny called out to them. "Come inside honey," the blunette beckoned to Mavis.
"So sorry, for dropping by unannounced, but I spent the whole day yesterday travelling and I still have some last minute Christmas shopping to do, so I was hoping to drop the boys off for a couple of hours."
"Granny Deeny, where's Uncle Natsu?" Larcade asked, doubling back into the living room.
"Yeah, where's Uncle Natsu?" August echoed.
"Uncle Natsu doesn't live here boys," Mavis answered empathetically.
"Then where is he?"
"Yeah, where is he?"
"He lives in L.A," Grandeeny jumped in. "But he's coming home very soon."
As soon as Grandeeny answered, the boys went buck wild with celebration.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
"All right, now go sit in the TV room please," Mavis demanded. The pair scampered away obediently. "They've basically become Natsu's biggest fans. Ever since they got their tablets, I'd catch them on YouTube watching his old boxing videos all the time, trying to mimic his moves in the bathroom mirror. It's so cute."
Grandeeny felt her chest warm at her words. "Speaking of which... Igneel is really looking forward to seeing Zeref. Where is he by the way?"
Mavis' breath hitched. "Uh..."
"Well?"
The look on Mavis' face didn't bode well with Grandeeny's stomach. "Oh don't tell me..."
"I'm so sorry Grandeeny. I tried to convince him to come, we argued about it for days but..."
Grandeeny sighed. "It's okay. It's not your fault."
With that, Mavis had to excuse herself to go attend to her Christmas shopping and Grandeeny started panicking. If Zeref wasn't coming, what were the chances that Natsu wouldn't come too? She pulled out her phone. She needed to call him just to make sure.
Back in L.A at the Christmas Party...
"Please just tell me what she said."
Dan was still pacing the balcony trying to prevent himself from having a full on panic attack as he prodded Natsu for the details on how the woman he loves doesn't love him back. Natsu was freaking out too. If Dan left this room freaking out, Lucy would end him.
"So she told me, that she thinks you're really great... but she just doesn't want to jump into anything... And why am I talking to you about this?!"
"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, oh. Oh, God."
"Listen Dan, I... I feel like such a terrible guy for saying this to you."
"Oh, my God."
"You're a good guy, Straight. I know I've never said it to you before, but I do think you're a good guy."
Dan gearing up to cry, reached out to Natsu for a hug. As uncomfortable as he was, Natsu awkwardly hugged him back.
"Hey, man, just let it go," Natsu said, trying to keep an eye out the glass balcony doors and Dan's hug spun him around. "You know what I mean? Just let it brush off your shoulders, dude... What is happening to my life?"
"Hey," Natsu jumped at Lucy's voice and sudden entry. "Why are you guys hugging?"
Dan quickly separated from her roommate, straightening up his clothes. "Oh, nothing. Just guy-talkin'."
"Really?" Lucy asked, still confused.
"Everything's fine," Dan said trying to reassure her. "We're just talking. Just talking. About, uh... how moved we are... by... jazz music."
"Yeah, I can't do this... I'm sorry Luce. I told him that you didn't love him."
Lucy's jaw dropped. "What?!"
"Because I..."
"What?!"
"Don't be mad at him Lucy, you'd be proud! He said it really nicely!"
"NATSU WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?! That was not your information to share!"
"Look I'm sorry alright? I didn't mean to-"
"It was not your information! Why would you do that?"
"Lucy, when you left this balcony before, you told me you were going to talk to him! Why didn't you talk to him?!"
"You don't think that maybe I wanted to wait until AFTER the party to tell him?!"
"Crap. Lucy, you're right, I'm sorry. Look, you guys probably have a lot to talk about right now, so I'll go. I'm so sorry."
He swiftly tried to make an exit from the balcony and from this incredibly awkward conversation. Unfortunately for him, when he tried to open the balcony doors, the doorknobs were jammed.
"Natsu?"
"Oh, my God," he said as he frantically tried shaking the knob.
"Natsu."
Completely losing it, Natsu started slamming his palm on the glass doors and crying for help.
"Please! God, this is my nightmare! GAJEEL! LOKE! HELP ME!"
Meanwhile at Santa's wish granting station, on his golden throne Loke and one of his coworkers were having a stand-off of sorts. The bigger woman glared at him as he glared at her, each of them challenging each other and their respective prides. The woman, seeing his discomfort, scooted around on his lap some more, causing Loke to grimace.
"Okay, you think this is fun? Why don't you do it?"
"I do think it's fun actually."
"You do it then. Do it."
"Yeah okay," the woman said getting off of him and walking away.
"What are you doing, Santa?"
Loke looked up. It was Karen, his viscous green-haired boss.
"I have a really bad case of Santa lap. The entire marketing department is wearing wool. It's not good down there."
"Well, get back to work soon. Boom!" She whacked his Santa hat as she walked away, causing the bell on top to flop in front of his face.
"Ow! Why would you...? There are so many bobby pins up there... everything's attached..."
Cana, who watched the whole thing from a distance walked over to him feeling slightly annoyed.
"Does she always treat you like that?"
He sighed. "Yeah, kind of."
"You like dressing up like Santa?"
"Sexy Santa," he corrected. "And no. Not really."
"You know, you don't deserve to be spoken to like that. You just got to tell her no. Otherwise, all she'll do is see you as a pretty face and a hot body."
Loke took a moment and blinked.
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
Cana, realizing her mistake smiled in embarrassment. "You have a pretty face?"
"No, no, no, 'cause the second part. And I'd like you to say it, with like, in an accent, but make direct eye contact."
"Okay, do not push your luck with me Celeste."
"Hey, what's that smell?"
"That's your perfume."
"You wore it?"
"Yeah, and it smells terrible," she said as she strode away. She still couldn't help the smile that creeped up on her face despite her terrible smelling perfume.
The situation on the balcony turned out to be just as painfully uncomfortable as one could imagine. And Natsu was stuck there for all of it.
"Dan, I really care about you. I think I just... I think I just feel really overwhelmed."
"Yeah. Yeah, I know, Natsuvius told me..."
The loud ringing of Natsu's cellphone cut them off.
"Damn it. Hey, guys, just pretend I'm not here, and just do whatever you two guys are doing." Lucy glared at him from her spot on one of the balcony tables with Dan. Natsu was seated defeatedly on the floor by the balcony doors, floundering for his cellphone. "God I don't want to be here..." he murmured.
"I-I knew you were getting out of a long relationship and you told me about Sting," Dan continued. "I just thought... I thought we were feeling the same things for each other. You seemed like you were."
"Well I was... I just think that maybe you were feeling them... a little bit more than me. I just... I got really hurt, and I'm trying really hard not to get hurt again."
"But Luce, you know I'm not going to hurt you."
Natsu's phone began to ring again.
"I... Oh... I am so sorry. Yeah I know this is awkward, but I have to answer it, it is my Ma so..." he answered the phone without another moment to waste. "Hey, Ma. How you doing? I can't really talk right now."
"Hey Natsu," Grandeeny's voice poured into his ears. "I was just calling to make sure you were still coming and... wait, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were busy."
"Yeah I'm in a real weird situation right now," he eyed Lucy and Dan who were looking right at him.
"Natsu Dragneel... are you high right now?!"
"What?! No, Ma, I'm not high, I'm done with that phase."
Hearing only Natsu's end of the conversation was starting to get a little weird for the couple. Lucy raised a confused eyebrow.
"Well, please just make sure you won't miss your flight... no PROMISE me."
"I promise you I won't miss my flight, okay?"
"Hey, no running in the living room! - Sorry, Granny Deeny...-"
Natsu's ears perked up at the sound of his nephew. "Hey is that Larcade?"
"Yeah, Mavis dropped the boys off a while ago."
"...and Zeref?"
Grandeeny sighed. "He isn't coming this year."
Natsu grit his teeth as a deep scowl grew on his face. His grip on his phone tightening in his hands. "Why that son of a... Even on Christmas?!"
"I'm sorry Natsu," Grandeeny continued. "But please just come. I don't want your father to be heartbroken."
"I promise I'll see you soon Grandeeny. Bye."
Once he hung up the phone, he looked at his phone screen in sullen silence. Lucy and Dan dared not say anything feeling the tension hanging over him.
"Hey Nat... are you finished?"
Natsu sparingly nodded his head.
Feeling scared because she didn't want to overstep her boundaries, Lucy asked the question burning in her mind anyway.
"Hey... are you okay?"
"..."
It took a while before he answered. He had his phone clenched between his two hands as he held them over his lips. He stared off into the great nebula with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"Yeah... You guys continue."
Taking his cue, she did just that.
"Dan, I don't know how else to say this, but can we just... can we just keep going but take it a little bit slower?"
He shook his head.
"I-I don't know if I can do that. I don't know how with you. It's just not how I feel."
Natsu let out a heavy sigh, being the first normal sound he's made since the phone call. "Look man, all she's asking you to do is slow down a little bit. Seriously, why are you trying to go to the extreme and end it?"
"Hey Natsu," Lucy said gently. "It's okay. I can handle this."
"All right everybody, listen up!" Loke entered the break out room where his female coworkers with sipping on dreams and eating treats, in all his shirtless Santa glory. "Clear the room, I need to talk to Karen. You know what? Actually, stay... this'll be good for you guys to hear this, too."
The women, not caring about what he had to stay, started clearing out the room anyway.
"Wait, why d... Don't... Come on. I just told..."
"There are two hours left in this party," Karen said, approaching him menacingly. "What are you doing, Santa?"
"Karen, I'm not gonna be Sexy Santa anymore. It's over. Santa's dead. I killed him."
Just then, a little brunette girl holding a teddy bear had walked into the breakout and heard the last few sentences that Loke said. She let out a blood curdling shriek. Loke started to panic.
"Oh, my God! No, no, no!"
"Oh don't worry," Karen waved it off as she ran away. "That's just Mako's cowardly daughter. She is a scream machine."
"Karen, I'm not a sex object, all right? I'm your employee. And I work harder than anyone. I'm the first one to show up every morning..."
"No, you're not."
"That's because there's never a parking space."
"That's because everyone's already here..."
"Okay, you are so off topic right now. You're missing the point. I need you need to take me seriously, Karen."
"So, does that mean no more... Sexy Easter Bunny?"
"No Sexy Easter Bunny."
"What about, uh... Cinco de Sexy?"
"No Cinco de Sexy."
"And no... Sexy Martin Luther King?"
"I could never get the voice, I never really felt like I had the authority..."
"I can't believe it took you five years to say that to me. Actually, I'm more horrified that you were actually seriously considering that last suggestion."
Karen sighed. "Well, I guess I'm gonna have to be Sexy Santa next year."
"Well, just got to jingle bell rock. You know what I mean?" He smiled and nudged her.
"Loke, that is so inappropriate."
"Interesting... so you can dish it out but you can't take it? Yeah, how's that feel, Karen?"
Karen stared him down. Something about Loke standing up to her and not backing down deeply intrigued her.
"I think I like it..." She said slowly. Loke's eyed widened at her response. Of all things he was expecting in response, that was probably the last thing that would've crossed his mind. He didn't know what to make of it, and before he let his imagination take him to any wild places, his supervisor's sharp tone snapped him out of it.
"Both these machines need toner. Now."
"They need..." Loke was in a daze as Karen power walked away. "I guess I'm gonna put the toner in the... in the machine."
"Momma, I already told you, I'll make sure the two of us get to the flight on time," Gajeel said into his cellphone. "No worries."
He was still seated by the punch table, enjoying several cups of the freshly spiked batch of fruit punch. He noticed Mako walking around frantically. Making eye contact, she rushed over to him.
"I can't find Miko," she said obviously flustered. "And I've looked everywhere. I-I have no idea."
"Hey, momma you know what? I've got to go," Gajeel quickly hung up his phone getting up. "Um, I'm sure she's around here somewhere. I'll help you look for her."
Mako nodded her head and started shouting her name. "Miko! Miko! Hey, I'll tell you what, you go that way, I'll go this way."
With that, the business executive went to the left, while Gajeel searched the right side of the party as instructed. There was fake snow everywhere and ornaments hanging from the ceiling in odd places that kept dangling in his face. He pushed them to the side in annoyance.
"This is Loke's fault no doubt," he grumbled. "I don't know how, but it just is."
Still on the balcony...
"I'm sorry, Lucy," Dan said shaking his head. "I just don't want to slow down... with you. It doesn't feel natural to me. So if you need to, then... I don't think I can do this anymore."
Dan finally pulled the triggered on what the two of them were tapdancing over the entire night. The inevitable breakup. Natsu sighed. He felt like he'd been on that balcony for an eternity. He didn't want to be here to witness this. This was honestly just too sad.
"So... that's it?" Lucy asked with high-pitched voice. "It's... over between us..."
Her eyes were glossy and Natsu could tell she was about to cry. He looked away. He really didn't want to be here to see this.
More than anyone else in his friend group, Luce was easily the biggest crier... and he had this thing where... he just hated seeing her cry.
"Luce, do you want me to uh...?" He made a move to get up and go somewhere she couldn't see him, which wasn't much considering he was still locked up there with the two of them.
"No Natsu," she said gently dabbing her eyes. "Its fine."
Natsu looked at her with a crestfallen expression.
Clearly this wasn't fine.
"Hey, have you guys seen a little girl running around here?" Gajeel asked another random woman passing by. This time, the woman was actually helpful and pointed him to an area underneath the disco ball section of the room, with a miniature, Christmas themed house under it. Hugging her knees close to her face inside, was Miko. He made his way over.
"What're you doing in there kid?"
Miko looked up, trembling at his height, scary looking appearance and demeanor. She sunk her face back into her knees to hide from his terror. Gajeel sighed. He kneeled down and knocked on the roof of the house like a door.
"Hey. Anybody in there?"
Miko shyly looked back up at him again.
"I think you found Santa's house kid. Good. 'Cause I was actually looking for it."
Miko relaxed her stance for a bit, looking up at him and smiling. He smiled back. For a moment, he had her convinced she was in Santa's house.
"Really?" she asked with a twinkle in her eye. The twinkle dulled as fast as it lit up. "But that's not true. The man with no shirt killed Santa."
Gajeel was confused. "Oh, you mean Loke? Well, he's just an idiot dressing up like Santa."
"Then why didn't he have a shirt?"
"You know kid, we ask ourselves that question every single day."
"Is it because he's a D-bag? My mommy says he's a D-bag."
"You know something? You're a really smart kid... with an even smarter mommy. Listen, even if the man with no shirt killed Santa Claus, I bet you're still gonna get lots of presents under the tree this year."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Miko finally emerged from the tree and threw her arms around Gajeel.
"Thank you, LeBron James."
Gajeel instantaneously froze.
What the fuck did she just call him?
Having to remember to bite his tongue since she was a child he relented to the fact that he was just LeBron and patted her back a few times.
"You found her!" Mako cried, running over to them. She hugged her daughter once she got close enough.
"Hey, has anyone ever told you that you're really good at this?" Mako asked getting up.
"Quite the opposite actually."
"Regardless, if you ever want to hang out with Miko again... I will pay you A LOT of money. Let's go home honey. But seriously a lot."
He chuckled and waved them both goodbye as they began exiting the party. "Thank you."
"Like, whatever amount you're thinking, add MONEY to that... 'cause that's what I'm willing... Like, a lot."
Miko turned around and waved one last goodbye to Gajeel.
"Bye, Miko."
"Bye, bye, LeBron!"
His weird new nickname was soon forgotten when his phone rang and he saw what time it was. It was 1:35am. They're flight was at 3:00am.
"Yep. Oh hey momma. Yes. Actually, we're on our way right now, so just go back to sleep. We're getting Natsu to the airport soon. Love you. Bye."
Finally, with the night over and the entire gang plus Cana piled in the car, they were making their way from the party to drop off Natsu and Gajeel to the airport.
"Holy God, what's that smell?"
Gajeel, who was squished in the backseat next to Cana and Loke scrunched up his nose at the awful smell.
"It's nothing... Oh. That's my perfume."
"Jeepers, that is bad."
"Yeah I know," Cana said gently. "But it was made for me so..."
Loke felt his face light up at Cana's appreciation for his gift. "I didn't realize you were so into perfumes," he said with a smirk.
Cana pulled out the perfume bottle from her purse once again, fingering the letters on the cylinder gently. "You know... Cornelia was my late mother's name..."
Loke sombered up upon her words.
"...and I know you probably didn't mean to, but seeing the name on this perfume kind of felt like a reminder that she's still watching over me... that sounds cheesy doesn't it?"
Loke shook his head, staring at her in awe. "No, not at all."
Natsu, who was the one driving, kept sneaking glances at his blonde friend in the passenger's seat. She was looking out the window, not trying to participate in the car conversation at all. Clearly she was bummed out, but just like on the balcony, she was trying to pretend she was fine so she wouldn't worry anybody else. Natsu focused back on the road. They were making a fast track for the airport. The pinkette sighed. He couldn't leave her like this.
"Okay, sorry guys but there's something we gotta to do." Natsu switched lanes from the freeway he was on and headed on a roundabout to head in the opposite direction of the airport.
"What are you doing Dragneel?!" Gajeel propped himself up from the backseat. "You're going in the wrong direction! We're going to miss our flight!"
"Look I'm sorry man, but there's just something I gotta do!"
As everyone in the car erupted in grumbling and groans at Natsu's impulsiveness, Lucy couldn't muster the same energy.
"What are you doing Natsu?" She asked softly.
"I'm taking you to Candy Cane Lane."
"But Natsu... you're going to miss your flight. What about your dad...?"
"Oh don't you worry, I'm still going to see him," his grip on the steering wheel tightened as he accelerated the gas. "But I can't go home and be happy with my family knowing that I left you here feeling like this."
Lucy stared at Natsu driving furiously in the seat next to her. For a moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade away around him. She wanted to cry. Why was he always so thoughtful? Why did it always touch her heart like this?
Why couldn't things just work out with Dan?
"I think we're too late, Nat," Lucy said as they pulled up slowly down the neighborhood street. None of the houses had their Christmas lights on.
"This was supposed to be your gift, Luce," he said disappointedly. "I'm sorry."
"Candy Cane Lane is shut down!" Loke said with a chuckle. "Should've just got her perfume, man."
"Now isn't the time asshole," Natsu spat venomously. Loke shrank back.
"I think its just me," Lucy said solemnly. "I think I have the worst timing. I'm always in the wrong place at the wrong time or... Let's go Natsu. I think you can still make it if we go."
Natsu gave her an incredulous look. "No. We're not."
Lucy was confused. "What do you mean...?"
Natsu unbuckled his seatbelt and unlocked the door to the car.
"What are you doing?" Gajeel asked as he watched Natsu walk out the car.
"It's only 2:00 am," the pinkette said irately. "What sense does it make to turn them off now?"
"Natsu! We don't got time for this!"
He approached the front porch of the nearest house and knocked on the door. "Excuse me!" Natsu shouted.
"Oh, hell, no!"
"Excuse me, I've got a girl out here who'd really like to see the lights! Sorry to wake you! But I need you people to make it the Candy Cane Lane or whatever! I mean you spend all this time to show off and do it, so show off... you got an audience! This whole neighborhood is ridiculous! You all show off, so turn on the lights! Just go in the shed or whatever and turn your damn lights on! Seriously! Turn on your lights!"
Gajeel, giving up on any chance of them making it to the airport on time, sighed as he unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.
"HEY! TURN ON THE LIGHTS!" he shouted.
Cana and Loke got out and followed suit with the four of them shouting nonconcurrently in the street for the residents to turn on their lights.
"Turn on your lights!"
"Lights! Turn on your lights!"
"Turn on your lights!"
Lucy watched them all for a moment from her window, simply in awe of how amazing her friends were. Then, with a sniffle from her nose, she quickly unbuckled her seatbelt to join them.
"Turn on your lights! Turn on your lights!"
The five of them continued to carry on loudly in the street until suddenly, one of the houses lit up, their extravagant Christmas decorations on full display. Then, another house lit up, then another. Soon, the entire street had their Christmas lights and decorations on and powered up for Lucy and the gang to spectate in wonder at the actual festival that was being put on by the residents of Candy Cane Lane.
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Merry Christmas, everyone!"
"Feliz Navidad!"
"Happy Hanukkah!"
They all jumped for joy and hugged one another in joyous triumph. Lucy jumped into Natsu's arms unabashedly causing the two of them to fall over with Natsu landing on his butt.
"Sorry," she said quietly, but the smile on her face remained nonetheless. She hugged him again. "Thank you Natsu."
He was surprised, considering he didn't think that seeing the lights would make her so happy, but he was grateful she was feeling better anyway.
"Anytime Lucy."
"Merry Christmas everyone!" One of the neighbors shouted from their window. "NOW STOP YELLING BEFORE I CALL THE COPS!"
"Crap. Let's get out of here!"
The five of them made a mad dash for the car, speeding off into the night back to the airport.
Natsu's phone rang again and he hesitantly answered it.
"Hey, Ma! How are you? Yeah... No, I'm gonna miss my flight. Hey listen, I'm still coming, I'll just be coming a day or two late... Yes, I know that a day from now is Christmas day! You know what... Hey mom, remember Gajeel?" He hurriedly passed the phone to the back seat. "Gajeel, it's Grandeeny. Talk to her."
Gajeel turned on the charmed immediately.
"Hey, what up, Aunty? You know, I wrote a song about you the other day. You want to hear it?"
Hello everyone!
More Nalu-like fluff!
So it's the end of the Dan arc in Lucy's love chronicles in this fic. I know a lot of people weren't fans of the relationship, which is fair, I mean, I don't really ship them either, but the purpose of their relationship was to teach Lucy what exactly it is she wants/should expect out of a man and out of a relationship.
If you notice, Dan is the complete opposite of Sting. To Lucy, Sting was wild and exciting, although he was emotionally unavailable and unreliable. Dan is patient and affectionate, but ultimately, didn't excite her. In the end, the relationship didn't equate to more than puppy love for Lucy - a true rebound, in fact - whereas Dan started to take it all seriously. Poor Dan! It was even reflected in the gifts they gave each other. Lucy got him a silly gag gift, whereas Dan got her something that was incredibly expensive and thoughtful.
Anyway, clearly this isn't the end of Lucy's love journey, because there is an obvious endgame ship, but we still aren't close to that pairing yet unfortunately. We still have to see how Natsu's relationship with Daphne plays out (and what lessons is he going to learn from that one)!
But that's enough dissecting (the characters themselves will be doing this in-depth, in the distant future), I just really wanted to talk about it a little. Anyway, what did you think of the chapter? There is A LOT happening this chapter, my obvious favorite parts were Natsu and Lucy talking at the party, and of course, the ending with everyone in the car and Candy Cane Lane. I will say, I had fun adding the bits about the Dragneel family back in Magnolia, (adding a bit more lore to the story), as well as the Loke and Cana bits. So sweet. Even the bits about Gajeel with his new friend were so cute. I have this head canon where Gajeel's Achilles heel is cute things, which is why he was so desperate for a cat in the anime, and why he ultimately falls for a girl like Levy. It's the same thing I feel about Gray actually.
I'm really excited about the next chapter, but solely for the reason that it's the tenth chapter and nothing else. I can hardly believe I managed to pump out almost ten chapters of this thing, (all things considering happening in my real life). When I started this story, I genuinely didn't think it'd be longer than a one shot. Maybe a two shot, if I was feeling myself regardless. So thank you to everyone who's been along for the journey and for all the love and reviews!
And on that note, thank you to those who reviewed last chapter! Specifically, anneryoko, rao hyuga and queenuly14! Appreciate y'all!
And now, a short end credits scene...
It was Christmas day and snowing at the Magnolia airport. Natsu and Gajeel were joyfully reunited with their mothers although Belno whacked Gajeel hard upside his head with her purse, causing Natsu to laugh at him.
"Boy I told you not to miss that damn flight! Plane tickets aren't cheap you know!"
"Ow! I said I was sorry momma, it wasn't even my fault..."
"Come here," she said, pulling Gajeel into her bosom.
"I'm so happy to see you," she said tearfully. "And just know you'll always be a success in my eyes, no matter what."
Gajeel remained still for a few long moments taking in his mother's words. They didn't even need to say anything more since they both knew what she was talking about, and she said all that was needed to be said between them.
"I love you momma."
Meanwhile, not too far away was Natsu sharing warm hugs with Wendy and Grandeeny.
"Natsu!" Wendy cried jumping into his arms. Natsu hoisted her up and twirled her around.
"Hey sis!"
Grandeeny waited for to slide off of him before she got her hug in as well. "Merry Christmas Natsu."
"Where's dad?"
"Oh, he's at home," Grandeeny responded.
"By himself?!"
"Don't worry he's fine. Besides Carla's keeping him company."
"I can't wait for you to come home," Wendy said latching onto his arm. "Daddy's gonna be so happy to finally see you."
Natsu felt a pinch in his chest. Wendy's words being emblematic of how distant he's made himself from the family all these years since the incident... especially his dad. It was a cold distance that none of them did anything to deserve, and it was something he hoped he could rectify one day. Despite how complicated his relationship with his family was, he still loved them.
"Well... I'm home now sis... I'm home now..."