A/N: This is kind of an epilogue-like last chapter. Thanks to all who've stuck with me through this writing journey! I really appreciated all the support as I tried to get this done. There are a lot of things I would change or improve to make the story better, but overall I'm happy with it I think. Thanks for putting up with any mistakes. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. I hope you enjoy this last chapter.

Without further ado:

July 7.

Cold rain fell around us as I stood under Natsu's umbrella, the two of us side-by-side was we stared down at Igneel's grave. It was just one small plaque in a sea of grass and headstones, but the name engraved on its surface was like proof that he had existed, that he'd mattered. The love he'd given Natsu was now being passed on to me.

I tightened my hold on Natsu's arm.

He glanced down at me. "Are you cold?"

I gave him a look. "Natsu, it's summer."

"And raining."

"I'm fine. I'm just thinking about things."

"What kinds of things?"

"The way time passes."

"You're a weirdo."

"Yeah, yeah. By the way, it's almost noon."

He looked surprised. "Oh. Already? We should get going," he said, stretching his free arm.

"We can stay a little longer if you're not done."

"No, I said everything I need to say." He looked down at the plaque and smiled a bit. "Even if it's only like this, I'm glad I can visit him once in a while." He stared for a moment longer before we walked away.

Last time it'd been just the two of us visiting my mom, but this year we had two graves to visit. My mom's was in a cemetery on the other side of town, closer to our old mansion. Natsu and I were borrowing Mr. Makarov's car for the day, and I hopped into the driver's seat, wiping off the water droplets that had dripped onto my arm as I got in.

"Ready?" I asked Natsu as he stowed the umbrella by his feet on the passenger side.

"I did take dramamine," he reminded me.

"Just making sure," I said, shifting the car into drive. "What are you going to do when you don't have Wendy to remind you to take motion sickness medicine whenever you go out places?"

"But I still have you."

I sighed. "Natsu, just because our universities are both in Crocus doesn't mean I'll be there to nag at you every day. We're both going to make our own friends, and what then? You're going to throw up on them?"

He scowled. "Lucy's being mean," he whined.

"I guess I'm just worried," I admitted. "Yeah, we're in the same city, but we're still going our separate ways. I'm going to some fancy Ivy League for business and you're—"

"And astronomy," Natsu added in, grinning.

I laughed. "Shh, that's a secret," I said. "Anyway, I'm going to some fancy Ivy League for business and astronomy, and you're on the other side of Crocus taking way too many classes..."

"It'll be fun," Natsu said.

"You say that now, but you're definitely taking too many classes."

"They all looked so cool. I couldn't pick just five."

"But seven? I still can't believe you're actually allowed to take that many."

"I'm taking advantage. Jellal isn't even going to university. Go nag him instead," Natsu grumbled.

"He's just taking a gap year." I sighed. "He and Erza will be separated. Gray and Juvia are going to the same school, but it's out in the middle of nowhere. Then Gajeel's staying in Magnolia for tech school, and who knows where Levy will end up transferring after community college—"

"Lucy. Breathe."

I pressed my lips together. I didn't trust myself not to burst out into more rambling. Everyone had assured me that we would still be friends no matter where we ended up or how long we had to spend apart, but I was still so reluctant to leave this little family I'd found for myself. And today was a day when my emotions tended to run wild regardless, which made the impending separation seem even more foreboding. It had been a month, but the sights and sounds of our high school graduation still felt fresh in my mind. It was both exciting and terrifying.

"Hey, Natsu?"

"Mm?"

"We'll be okay, right?"

A pause. Then, slowly: "Lucy?"

"I don't mean anything by it," I said quickly. "I...I don't know what I'm asking. This is the first time in a while that I've been so afraid of the future. Not since we almost moved last fall. I can't know for sure what will happen next, and that scares me."

"Just think of it as an adventure."

"How?"

"We've had all sorts of adventures until now. Eating food, making food, watching food shows..."

"I highly doubt those count as adventures," I said, laughing.

"Okay, there were other things too. We've been having all sorts of fun adventures ever since we met, and we only got closer, right? This is just a new adventure, that's all. We'll be fine. You, me, Erza, everybody. Maybe our adventures aren't the same thing anymore, but we can still support each other and stuff. 'Cause that's what people do when they love each other." He paused a moment to gauge my reaction. "That's what you want to hear, right?"

I nodded, trying not to tear up while I was still driving. "Yeah. Thanks, Natsu. I just had a moment of weakness."

"It's not weakness. It's strength."

"Well, that's one way to think about it," I said. "I know it'll be fine, but I can't help but worry. It's just...it's more fun when we're together. But we're about to be apart."

"Nah, you worry too much. Ah! Don't miss the turn!"

"Sorry!" The wheels screeched against the pavement as I took a hard right.

He hissed through his teeth. "Jeez, pay attention, Luce."

"I said sorry. It's not like I almost crashed or anything, it was just a sharp turn."

"Urgh, I'm gonna be sick..."

"Not now, Natsu. We aren't even there yet."

"Hurry up."

"I'm trying."

"Oh, make a left here."

"Wait, what?" I stopped the car at the stop sign. His face was blank. "No, we go straight."

"Trust me. Take a left."

"Okay..." I obliged, letting him guide me through a couple back streets until he told me to stop.

"Park here," he said.

"Park?"

"It's lunchtime. We gotta stop to eat."

Well, we were stopped outside a cafe. I found a parking spot and Natsu hopped out the passenger seat, bringing the umbrella over to my side of the car.

"If you wanted to eat lunch in between, you could've just said so first," I scolded. "You had me really confused for a couple minutes there."

He scratched his head. "Well, they wanted it to be a surprise for some godforsaken reason..."

"Wait. They?"

The bell on the door jingled as we entered the cafe. I stepped inside first so Natsu could close the umbrella, ducking into the dim light and dry air. When my eyes adjusted, I was somehow both surprised and completely not surprised to see all my friends already seated inside.

"Lucy! You guys made it!" Levy exclaimed, jumping up and running to hug me.

"What's all this for?" I asked Erza, who was seated closest to the door.

She just smiled. "We didn't want you and Natsu to be all alone on a day like this. Maybe we weren't invited, but we still wanted to be here for support. And we thought surprising you with food was the way to do it."

"But if it's for both of us, how come I'm the only one being surprised?" I said as I sat down. Natsu was still struggling with the umbrella, and I was about to get back up to help him but it looked like Juvia was already on her way to take care of it.

"It's because Jellal can't keep his trap shut," Gajeel said, sending Jellal a scowl.

"It wasn't on purpose," Jellal defended.

"It all worked out, so it's fine," Erza said smoothly. "Now, the bill is on us, so you can order whatever you want. Our treat."

"But I—"

"Just think of it as a going-away present," Levy said helpfully.

"And I'm sure we all know how much anxiety you've been having about everyone going different places," Gray drawled, annoyance dripping from his voice.

"She ranted to you too?" Gajeel said. He sat back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Jeez, Bunny Girl. You're worse than Levy when it comes to overthinking things."

"Hey!"

"I know," I sighed. "Thanks, everyone. Really."

Natsu came back with the umbrella finally closed. He started listing off his order. "So I want a burger, cheese and bacon, ketchup, no pickles, side of fries. Iced tea. And for an appetizer I'll have those empanadas, the spicy kind. And can I have another order of—"

"Slow down, Natsu," Levy cried, panicking as she scribbled it all down. "I can't write that fast."

"Are you really going to eat all that?" Erza said skeptically.

Natsu plopped himself on a seat, grinning. "Don't you guys know me by now. Of course I'll eat it all!" He laughed loudly as the guys all started to protest that he couldn't do this to them, they said he could order whatever he wanted but they didn't mean he could order everything, how much money did he think they had? I just smiled, slowly. That was so Natsu. And while he was at it...

"I'll just have a salad. Put me down for the chicken caesar with—"

"Gah, Lu, stop! I'm still on Natsu's!"

Laughter. Warmth. I would miss these simple days, when my Fairy Tail friends' presence in my life was as constant and reliable as air, but we had our futures to look forward to and prepare for. For now, I would keep these memories in my heart and carry them with me until the days when we came together again. Despite my never-ending anxiety about the future, I did know that everything would be all right. With each end comes a new beginning, and my next adventure was only just about to start.

A/N: A huge thank you to all who have read and/or loved this story. I hope it was as enjoyable to read as it was to write. All the support was really unexpected and wonderful (well, unexpected for someone like me who usually keeps my writing to myself) and I'm glad everyone liked my versions of Lucy and Natsu and all of Lucy's besties. Because I really liked writing them together. So yeah. Thank you thank you thank you!

I hope everyone has a wonderful, fantastic day!