I'm really, really sorry this took me so long. I thought it would be easy and I could get it done easily in a few days. Needless to say, I was wrong. This took me forever because it seems I used up all my inspiration on the first 23 chapters. I honestly don't know how people can write 50+ chapters of the same story and not die, but they have my respect. Writer's block sucks.

Anyway, the epilogue is here at last. It might not be my best work, just warning you, but I plead exhaustion and a cold. I feel gross right now. Although not as gross as a few days ago, so that's something. And I'm not getting migraines anymore, so that's also a bonus.

Now that I've gotten the apologies out of the way, I'll get started with the thank-yous. First of all, thank you to everyone who has reviewed this and who will review this in the future. (Hopefully, there will be some of you who review after this is finished.) Your reviews were amazing and inspiring to someone who loves feedback. I really appreciate it. Secondly, thank you to everyone who favorited and/or followed. I'm really glad that you did, because it means you thought my work was good enough to add to your favorites and worth keeping up with. Thank you so much.

Thanks also to the people who PMed me with ideas and comments. I loved getting your feedback. And thanks especially to Kosmotius, who has been giving me amazing ideas and beta-read my last few chapters for me because I'm too lazy to proof-read myself. You're awesome.

Alrighty, I know most of you skipped this whole thing to get to the interesting stuff, so thanks to those of you who struggled through and read everything even though you're bored out of your minds. And finally, I'll do dedications. The epilogue is dedicated to SlightlyOff7. Special thanks to WhiteWinterStar (Thanks a ton for reviewing every single chapter!), gwb620 (thanks so much for all of your reviews!), artistofthemind (I think I'd hate myself if I didn't write that – I'm going to write a quick sequel), z-TragicMagic-z (sorry I didn't use your idea I'm terrible at fight scenes), GwenuitHolland (I hope it's fluffy enough), LiveTheAnime01 (thank you so much! I really want to hug you), KillerCupcakes (I know the feeling), bronzitewolf (I'm doing a sequel!), artificialartofficial (I'm really glad you liked it!), Readywolf02 (thank you for keeping up with the story!), 1 Guest, TheCaptainOfShips (please don't cry... I'm glad you liked it), Blonde Neko-Chan (I'm glad you read it too!), and last but not least, Riinachaan (I'm really impressed that you actually read it twice). I adore you guys. Thank you so much.

EPILOGUE

"Natsu!" I waved my hand high in the air, so he could see it over the crowds of people. "Over here!" I watched his pink hair bob up and down as he struggled through clusters of happy shoppers to get to where I stood by the fountain. A gust of wind blew in my face and I tucked my scarf over my nose, not dropping my hand. Natsu popped out from the wall of bodies a moment later, grinning at me.

"Hey."

I smiled back and gave a little wave. "Hi." He tugged on my hair affectionately. I took a second to appreciate the image he presented, his scarf tossed carelessly around his neck, his one-sleeved jacket (A/N: This has bothered me since he started wearing that thing: what do I call it? You know, the thingy he wears instead of the vest that only has one sleeve and it's kinda like a trench coat because it's long, but it isn't a trench coat, and it isn't exactly a jacket either, and I think you get my point. I decided on jacket.) proudly displaying the red Fairy Tail guild crest on his right shoulder. His hair looked like he had just rolled out of bed, but his eyes were wide and bright.

"So where are we going?" he asked me, grabbing my hand. I twined my fingers with his happily.

"There's a new cafe down the street," I told him, tugging him back into the crowded square. "They're supposed to be really good, so I thought we should go. Levy said they have the most amazing hot chocolate."

"How about chicken?" he inquired, stepping in front of me to make a path. "Do they have any chicken?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's a cafe, Natsu. I doubt it." He pouted briefly, but then a wide grin spread across his face. His canines are really pointy, I thought stupidly to myself, mesmerized.

"Well, it doesn't really matter, since you're with me. Whatever it is, it'll taste good!" My cheeks heated up instantly. I bit my lip to keep from blurting out something stupid and tucked a strand of hair behind of my ear. What was I even supposed to say to that, anyway? Thankfully, we arrived at the cafe just then, so I was saved from saying something horribly embarrassing like, 'I feel the same way.'

"Come on, we're here!" The sign on the glass door read Leanne's Dream in perfect cursive. A bell rang when we stepped inside, and a blast of heat hit me hard in the face. I inhaled deeply – the air tasted like cinnamon and homemade brownies, the kind you made when something really good happened and you just had to spread the joy around. I had made tons when we got back to Magnolia, and I probably would've buried my apartment in them if Natsu and Gray hadn't barged in and eaten them all.

A young woman behind the counter smiled brightly at us. "Welcome to Leanne's!" My jaw dropped.

"Mira?" The white-haired mage's smile didn't falter.

"Hi, Lucy! On a date?" I glanced at Natsu, who had detached himself from me and was staring greedily at the sweets in the display case.

"Um, yeah. What are you doing here?" She shrugged cheerily and smacked Natsu's hand away from the glass.

"A few of the girls who normally work here are sick with the flu right now, so the owner put up a job request at Fairy Tail. Levy and Juvia and Erza are here too." She turned her head to call through a door behind her. "Hey! Lucy and Natsu are here!"

Sure enough, two blue heads and one red one poked through the door. "Lu!" Levy exclaimed. "Welcome! I'm really glad you came!"

"Juvia is happy that you got a date, Love Rival," Juvia declared.

"You have to try this shop's strawberry cake," Erza recommended. There was a strange sparkle in the air around her. "It's absolutely to die for."

"Thanks..." I said slowly. "Is there anyone else I should know about?" I asked, turning back to Mira. She put a finger to her lips thoughtfully.

"Well, I guess there's also–"

"Natsu!" a familiar voice called. A blue streak came flying from the kitchen and slammed into Natsu's chest. "I'm working here too!"

"Happy!" Natsu said in surprise. "I thought you said you were going to hang out at home today." The little blue Exceed shrugged.

"Mira said she'd give me fish if I helped out today. So here I am!" I sighed, undeniably disappointed. I had been hoping for a day alone with Natsu, and yet it was like nothing had changed.

"Mira, can we get two hot chocolates?" She smiled at me, and I got the prickly feeling that she could tell exactly what I was thinking and found it endlessly amusing.

"Sure thing! Do you want anything to eat?" I wasn't in the mood for eating anymore, but I agreed anyway. No doubt Natsu would gladly eat my food too.

"Whatever you'd recommend is fine." I grabbed Natsu's elbow and pulled him away from the counter. "Come on, let's sit down." He followed me obediently, and much to my chagrin, so did Happy. I almost asked him to go away, but they looked so, well, happy together. I couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead, I stared out the cafe windows and counted the people passing by. My neck got hot at some point, so I unwound my scarf and put it on the back of my chair. My coat soon joined it.

"Here you go!" Mira said, placing two steaming mugs on the table. "Two hot chocolates. And," she continued, sliding two plates off the table next to us and setting them down next to the mugs, "Two chocolate croissants." She winked. "On the house." I smiled gratefully at her – I was starting to run low on money, since I hadn't been on a big job in a while.

"Thanks, Mira." I took a sip of the hot chocolate as she walked away and nearly died of bliss. The chocolate was sweet with just a hint of bitter, and it dissolved in my mouth. Behind it were hints of vanilla and a tiny bit of cream, and something else. I sipped it again and pondered the flavor curiously. It wasn't quite cinnamon, but it was definitely some kind of spice. Cloves? No. "Mira, what's the spice in this?" I called out to her. She smiled.

"Nutmeg."

"Ooh, what's this?" Natsu said suddenly, noticing the food on our table. Happy sniffed the mug of hot chocolate curiously.

"Hot chocolate and croissants," I answered, watching as he stuffed an entire croissant in his mouth and chewed.

"This is really good!" he cheered, reaching for the other one. I tore the corner off it before he could devour it whole and popped it in my mouth. It was flaky and warm, and a pinch of bittersweet chocolate coated my tongue. It was a perfect foil to the sweet hot chocolate.

The bell over the door rang. I glanced up curiously to see who it was and blinked in disbelief. I mean, how unlucky can one person be in the span of fifteen minutes?

"Oh, hey, Lucy," Gray said mildly, not seeming to notice the face I was making. "What are you two doing here?" I took a deep breath.

"Eating," I said levelly. "Why are you here?"

"Juvia said she had something to show me," he said vaguely, glancing around the shop.

"Gray!" Juvia shrieked, throwing the kitchen door open with a thud and vaulting easily over the counter to throw herself against him. "Juvia has been waiting for you!"

"Right..." he muttered, not meeting her eyes. "Could you...like, get off me?" I sighed heavily and rested my cheek in my palm. Our date was just running further and further off the tracks, and I was pretty sure it was going to be beyond saving soon enough.

I realized Natsu had gone silent and looked at him to see that he was staring at Gray like he had just had an immense personal epiphany. Happy was busily drinking his hot chocolate and licking his lips. I peered at Gray for a moment too, but all I saw was Juvia attempting to seduce him like always. I opened my mouth to ask Natsu what was wrong when the bell rang again.

"Has anyone seen Ever and the others?" Laxus asked, stepping inside the cafe. He looked oddly out of place amidst the artfully placed flowers and pastel blue walls. Mira smiled sweetly at him.

"No, they haven't come by. Is something wrong?" Laxus ran a hand through his spiky blond hair.

"Well, we were chasing a couple of thugs and got separated. I've been looking for them, but I haven't found a trace. And there's a big bonfire in town, so I can't catch their scents through all the smoke. I thought they might come here, since you said there was that thing today–"

"What thing?" I interrupted. "I didn't hear about this." A sneaking suspicion had taken root in my mind, and the more I thought about it the more likely it seemed.

"Ah, well..." Laxus trailed off awkwardly and looked to Mira for help. She gave me her patented don't worry about it smile.

"He means the job that we accepted, to work here for a day or two while the regulars get back on their feet. You didn't hear about it because you and Natsu were out on a job when I told everyone." She turned her bright smile to Laxus, who paled ever so slightly. "Right?"

"Right," he confirmed speedily. "Exactly." I sat back, annoyed. "Anyway, since they aren't here yet, I guess I'll just wait. I was just getting hungry." He flopped into a seat at the table next to ours and crossed his arms.

I glanced at Natsu again to see that a slight frown creased his forehead. "Natsu, is something wrong?" He grunted in response and stared at the table. He jolted in surprise when I touched the back of his hand tentatively. I peered at him, craning my neck so I could see his face. "Seriously, are you okay? Do you feel sick or something?" He lifted his head.

"Nah, it's just kinda–"

"Hi, everybody!" Lisanna's perky voice interrupted. I hadn't even heard the bell that time. "How's it going?" She spotted us and made a beeline for our table, a bright smile lighting up her face. "Natsu, Happy, Lucy!" She pulled up a chair to the table and leaned forward, cutting me off from Natsu. I could barely even see him over her head. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Hanging out," Natsu replied casually. The corner of his mouth that I could see was tilted up. "What about you?" As Lisanna launched into an explanation of the shopping she had been planning to do in town, I glanced around the small cafe. It was filled with Fairy Tail wizards laughing and talking as though they were back in the guild hall. It really was like nothing had changed.

Well, it wasn't that that was a bad thing. I loved them all, after all. But...

But I wanted a day to be alone with Natsu.

After years of pretending and walking a careful distance apart and kicking him out of my apartment and acting like it wasn't a big deal when he saw me naked (which happened uncomfortably often) and wishing and not letting myself wish, I wanted a few days a month where it was just us. I wanted some time to process the fact that, yes, he felt the same way. The idea that I didn't have to hide behind our friendship anymore was disorienting, and harder to believe when we were surrounded by our guildmates as though I had never left and Natsu had never chased me.

The cafe exploded in laughter as Erza burst through the kitchen door, covered in head-to-toe in flour and roaring with the wrath of God, and a tiny smile crept onto my lips.

How was I supposed to resent their presence when I was so glad to be there with them? I had missed being home. It made me light, as though my bones had gone hollow. I felt like I was floating in an ocean of pure calm, surrounded by the feeling of the kind of place that you can't help but need so deeply it weaves itself into your soul. I sighed contentedly to myself, watching Erza chase Gray around the cafe.

If Fairy Tail were a thread, what color would it be? No, that was wrong. Fairy Tail wasn't a single thread, it was a tapestry – thousands of different threads twisted and knotted together, hung on a wall to keep out the drafts. Warm, and treasured. The kind of thing you looked at every day and found something new in the picture every time.

So then, what color were the threads? Erza was crimson, bright and strong and brilliant. Gray was blue, dark and cool and calming. Levy was deep forest green, the color of leaves on a sun-dappled day. Gajeel was grey, reliable, the shade of in-betweens and half-truths. Mira was deep purple, popular and pretty with just a hint of shadow. Cana was orange, bright and colorful and fun.

And Natsu...

I turned my gaze on him, searching for something that would tell me what it was. The first thing my eyes alighted on was his pink hair, and I muffled a giggle. Natsu, the pink thread. It just didn't fit. I squinted, trying to see it, as though it would simply be there, staring back at me.

His eyes met mine over Lisanna's head and it hit me.

I blinked as I registered the sound of Natsu's chair scraping back and he stood up. "Natsu, what's wrong?" Lisanna asked him, getting up too. I could only stare at him as he stalked past her and grabbed my wrist.

"Wha–" I gasped, unable to resist as he dragged me toward the door.

"We're leaving," he announced, letting the door slam shut behind him. He didn't say anything to me, just dragged me down the street. I watched the back of his head in total bewilderment. Even the messy pink spikes looked irritated.

"Natsu?" I tried after a few minutes. No response. "What's wrong?" He started walking faster. I sighed. This was getting us nowhere. I moved so I was walking next to him and maneuvered my hand into his. He glanced at me and relaxed his fingers slightly so it didn't feel like he was crushing every bone in my hand. I nudged his shoulder with mine. "Natsu?" He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it silently a moment later and looked away.

Giving up for the time being, I looked around us. We were on the opposite edge of town from the guild, nearing the border. I frowned. There wasn't anything on this side of town except for a train station and some small residences.

Just as we were about to leave the town, Natsu took a sharp left, leading me onto a vaguely familiar path through a sparse patch of trees. We emerged on a plot of grassy land. Dead leaves coated the ground and crunched softly underfoot. A small cottage sat comfortably in the back, against a low cliff and a few tall oaks. It was covered in vines and other plant-life and sort of seemed as though it would collapse if it weren't for said vines holding it together. A sign swung in the breeze in front of the house. I smiled. Natsu and Happy were the only idiots I knew who would put up a sign announcing the inhabitants of their house.

Natsu brought me inside and pushed me gently onto a hammock before disappearing into the kitchen. Seconds later came loud curses and clattering pans. I laughed to myself and looked around. The inside had reverted back to its state before I had snuck in and cleaned it that one time. If anything, it was worse. Old food containers and bits of what I was assuming used to be food littered the floor along with blue hairballs and clumps of pink hair. I didn't even try to imagine what had happened there. Other belongings were scattered here and there – spare fish sacks, Natsu's summer clothes, and what appeared to be and smelled like unwashed underwear.

Natsu came back with two steaming bowls of soup and, handing one to me, seated himself in a tiny gap in the carpet of grossness on the floor. I stared in amazement at the soup. It had noodles and vegetables and chunks of meat in it and everything. I glanced at Natsu, who was scarfing his down like there was no tomorrow. "Did you make this?" He nodded, flashing a grin at me.

"There are these things called instant ramen or something, it's great." I smiled and shook my head. Knew it. My stomach growled, and I figured why not. It seemed to be harmless enough, judging by the way Natsu's was almost gone. I picked up my chopsticks and dug in.

"This is really good!" I exclaimed, snagging a carrot and popping it into my mouth.

"Right?" Natsu smiled smugly to himself and got up. "I'm gonna get more. You want anything else?" I shook my head and he vanished back to the kitchen. Listening to him drop something else, I laughed again and sipped my broth.

"Hey, Natsu," I called, setting the bowl in my lap.

"Yeah?" he said, appearing in the doorway. He had a streak of something on his forehead and his hair had gotten messed up somehow. I bit my lip to keep from cracking up.

"Was there a reason we left the cafe all of a sudden? You seemed kind of upset." He averted his eyes and ran a hand through his hair.

"I just wanted us to be alone, since it's our first date and all."

What?

Did I actually hear him right?

"I didn't think you cared," I said slowly. "It didn't seem like it bothered you."

"Well, it did." He pouted at me. "Got a problem?" I set the bowl aside and got up, crossing the room carefully.

"No. It actually bothered me too. I wanted it to be just us today." I reached him and wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his chest. Natsu tangled his fingers in my hair.

"And then Lisanna came and I could barely see you," he complained, twisting a blonde strand between his fingers. "I almost told her to move, but she wouldn't stop talking. And then she said we should go into town together so I could help her pick out gloves or something, and I just had to leave." I pulled back to stare at him in surprise.

"That's what made you want to leave so abruptly? I didn't even hear her say that." He scowled.

"Yeah. Why were all of them there, anyway?" I sighed.

'I'm pretty sure it was Mira's fault. She probably–" I paused, catching movement out of the corner of my eye. Through the window, thick white flakes drifted in an ever-growing number to the ground, covering the dead leaves and blanketing the world in white. "Natsu, it's snowing!"

"Awesome!" he cheered. "You know what this means, right, Luce?" An evil glint appeared in his eyes, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. "Snowball fight!" Before I could protest, he picked me up and tossed me over his shoulder, running out of the house.

"Natsu!" I shrieked when he put me down. "I'm not wearing shoes!" I'd taken them off out of habit when I entered his house – I didn't like wearing shoes in my apartment.

"Oops," he grunted, picking me up and settling me on his shoulders like I was a little kid.

"Just take me inside," I said, but he shook his head.

"We have to build a snowman first." I rolled my eyes, tucking my feet against his chest and hoping it would warm them up.

"There isn't enough snow, dummy. We have to wait until later."

"There's enough to at least make a snow-Happy," he insisted, crouching down to gather a ball of snow from the thin layer covering the ground.

I gave up on common sense and said, "Get me some too. I'll make the ears." He reached down for another handful and tossed it right into my face, cackling. I growled and shoved what was left down his collar, making him hiss. Hopping off his shoulders, I ran for the house to get my shoes.

Not that much later, we were both completely soaked and freezing. Well, I was. Natsu and his handy oven-body were perfectly warm, while I was shivering with cold. "Luce, you okay?" he asked me, coming close with his hands up. "Do you want to go inside?" I shook my head, unwilling to let go of the moment.

"I'm fine. I left my coat and scarf at the cafe though." I hadn't had time to grab them before he dragged me out.

I didn't notice what Natsu was doing until something warm settled around my throat and on my shoulders. I moved automatically to take the scarf off. "You really don't need to–"

"Keep it on," he commanded, taking my hands in his. "You can give it back later, when we go inside."

"If you're sure," I said. He nodded.

"It's fine." I smiled brightly at him.

"Then thanks." A tiny sound like a sigh escaped his mouth, and he smiled back.

"Luce, come here a second." He beckoned me forward, leaning forward. I cocked my head curiously.

"What's up?"

"Just c'mere." He gestured some more. I moved toward him cautiously, half-afraid he was going to stick a handful of snow down my collar.

"What is–"

He took the last step forward and his mouth connected with mine, his lips already curved in a cute little smile. "Guess what," he whispered, pulling back an inch to smirk at me. I rolled my eyes to hide my spinning thoughts and weak knees.

"What?"

He kissed me again. "I love you."

Erza was crimson, Gray was blue, Levy was green, Gajeel was grey, Mira was purple, and Cana was orange. There were dozens more, but only one really mattered to me. Just one.

Natsu was obsidian, a shining, smooth as glass, iridescent black. Loyal, strong, sweet, stupid beyond belief... All the things that couldn't quite be expressed, that is what Natsu was. He was beautiful in a way that was not exactly beauty, rough in a way that was not how you assume. Without the light reflected in his surface, he was dull and black, but put him in the sun, and spots of brilliant color would appear, hidden beneath the black.

Natsu was crazy, not very smart, and way too violent for his own good, but he was loyal, and sweet, and caring... And he was the one I loved. He was my best friend, and the most extraordinary person I had ever met. He gave me a family, friends, a life – everything I had ever dreamed of as a child. He widened my world.

Most importantly, he gave me his love.

So how was it? I hope you liked it! Remember to review and favorite! I have a ton of new stuff I want to write, so make sure to follow me for new fics.

It's been a long time since I started this fic. More than six months. It's been an incredible experience having all of you read my writing and give me praise and feedback and advice, so once more, thank you all so much. I hope you'll read my stories in the future.

Giselle