Oh god, here it is. I can't believe this is the epilogue. I want to cry so much. ;u;

This epilogue is very different due to the fact that it's in the pov you guys have always wanted it to be in.

Finally, Natsu is going to be the one talking this time. It was definitely a lot fun getting to write everything in his eyes.

For the last time, I want to thank you all of reading this extremely long fanfic. This story has been with me for so long; it's going to feel weird not thinking about scenes anymore.

I'm very proud to say I've converted a lot of you to the teacher x student side. :-) That's definitely my biggest accomplishment, aha.

Well, now that this story is over, I guess I can announce my new story.

Deal With The Devil will be published next Saturday, taking SL's place. It's going to be a lot different from my other fanfics, so please look forward to it! I believe some of you will be familiar with the plot of the story, but there will be lots of twists that I've come up with. :]

Thank you guys so much for everything. This fanfic is truly the story that made me enjoy writing. I can't thank you enough.

Some of you think that SL will reach 2,000 reviews when it's finished. Let's see if you guys are right. ;-)

Hope to see you on another story of mine! ~

Never have I yearned to hear the last bell of the day so much before.

I glance at the clock with each chance I can get as I teach my final class; I lean against the edge of the board when it's nearly time.

My life for the past several months has simply been eating, working, and sleeping. It's been an endless cycle, but today is the day where that all changes.

Because today Lucy is returning to Magnolia for a book signing.

After working four difficult years, Lucy has published her first novel. Within a month, her novel became a best seller.

It was only natural for dozens of places to contact Lucy and have her travel the country to do interviews and hold book signings.

It took a few days for Lucy and I to finalize the decision, but after hours of convincing her she won't get another opportunity like this, she eventually accepted.

While I'm here in Magnolia, she's been traveling all across the country, occasionally sending me pictures of all the different food she's trying. Even if I'm not hungry, my stomach growls when she sends me a picture.

We call each other whenever she has the time. It's mostly when we're both supposed to be asleep, but it's worth it. All I want is to hear her voice—just for a bit.

It's been years since Lucy and I have been separated for this long; I haven't missed it.

It's just my luck that her last book signing is in Magnolia.

The last bell of the day is music to my ears. I have to fight the impulse to shoo everyone out of my classroom as they gradually file out.

Striding to my desk, I begin to hastily collect my things, hearing a few knocks on the door.

"Natsu, we have to go to a meeting," Gray says.

"N-Now?" I stutter, fumbling with my keys. "I have to go somewhere—"

"You're going to get fired from all the meetings you've skipped," he remarks while stepping out of the way as I exit my room.

I stare at Gray as I try to calculate everything out in my head. I let out a deep sigh.

"Fine," I give in, trailing behind Gray to the meeting room. "Is the meeting going to be long?"

"You know Erza," Gray shrugs. "She's unpredictable."

"Of course," I mumble.

Clenching my keys, I slide into my regular seat for meetings. I can already feel myself dozing off when Erza's shoes click their way in.

I can't keep from bobbing my leg under the table as Erza preaches about nothing in particular. As always, Gray and I play a lazy game of tic-tac-toe on the corner of our papers.

Catching a glimpse of the time again, I tighten my grip on my keys.

I could be seeing Lucy right now.

"Natsu, are you listening to what I'm saying?" Erza inquires.

"Yes," I nod. "You want to repeat the sports festival?"

"That's right," she gives me a satisfied smile, moving on with the subject.

I hide a smirk; I only knew because of the papers in front of us.

An hour has passed already—Erza hasn't stopped speaking about the festival yet. The ticking clock is mocking me.

"I need to go to the restroom," I stand from my seat.

"Hurry, because I haven't finished yet," Erza instructs.

"Okay," I reply, although I'm already closing the door.

It only takes two of my steps to turn into a full-out sprint. I'm relieved that as soon as I reach the train station, the train is arriving.

"It's been a while since I've ran that fast," I mutter under my breath.

My breath lodges into my throat when I see what time it is; Lucy's book signing ends in thirty minutes.

I'm bouncing on the tips of my toes as I wait for the doors to slide open at my station. And when it does, I'm outside before the doors have finished opening.

Briefly stopping at the flower shop and frantically searching for the perfect bouquet of roses, I rush to the book/music store.

My steps come to an abrupt stop once I notice the lengthy line that is as long as the entire street.

I have no choice but to join the end of the line, becoming worry after I've been the last one in line for some time.

The line slowly moves closer and closer to the front of the store. The few steps I take when the line moves is what prevents me from pushing past everyone to see Lucy.

I can feel my hands becoming damp while holding the bouquet—my fingers twirl around my scarf to pass the time.

Squeals begin to sound in front of me when I'm close enough to watch people enter the store.

I chuckle, receiving a couple of strange looks.

"What's that old man laughing at?" a girl whispers, loud enough for me to hear.

My eyes widen at the group of teenage girls with Lucy's book in their hands.

I'm not even thirty yet.

Despite being the last one in line for almost an hour, I'm out of breath the moment I enter the room and see Lucy at the other side of the store.

It's a nostalgic feeling.

Taking out my own copy of Lucy's book, I hold the bouquet behind my back.

A smile spreads across my face while listening to Lucy's voice. I've been so used to hearing her voice through the phone, it's refreshing to hear it without a speaker.

"You're lucky to be the last one," a worker comes up to me. "If anyone came behind you, we wouldn't be able to let them in."

"Leave the best for last," I respond with another step closer to the table.

I can only hear my rapid heartbeats when there's just one person left in front of me. These past several months have been torture without Lucy and now she's here, a few feet away from me.

The person in front of me gets their book signed, exiting the line with a giggle.

I've forgotten how to breathe as I step in her place. I lay Lucy's open book on the table and slide it towards her.

"Who do you want me to dedicate this to?" Lucy asks without lifting her head.

"Natsu would be fine," I say.

The moment I'm finished speaking, she whips her head up.

"I didn't think you were going to show!" she exclaims, surging out of her chair.

I open my mouth to reply, but I'm caught off guard as she reaches over the table to wrap her arms around my neck.

"Lucy, you're going to—"

There's a creak followed by a loud thud on the floor.

"—push the table," I finish with a chuckle.

"I've missed you so much," Lucy whispers into my ear, not caring about the table she has stepped over.

"Me too," I whisper back.

I can't stop myself from brushing my lips across her warm cheek.

"What are you holding behind me?" she questions, pulling back to look over her shoulder.

"It's been a while since I've gotten you roses," I answer.

"It seems like it's been years," she breathes out, happily accepting them. "Thank you, Natsu."

"Any time, Luce," I grin.

She smiles back—her cheeks becoming flushed after I've called her the nickname that I always love saying.

"My things are in the back," Lucy points behind her. "Let me go get them."

"I'll help," I reply, following after her through the aisle of books.

"It's been so long since I've walked through these aisles," she sighs with content.

"It was sometime last year, wasn't it?" I recall. "You were looking for some inspiration for your book."

"Don't remind me," she pouts. "The writer's block was the worst."

"Good thing it's all finished now," I state, taking her bag so she can hold the bouquet with ease.

Lucy smiles with a nod, her eyes flicking somewhere behind me.

"Before we leave, can I check something?" she requests.

I walk behind her into an aisle that looks exactly the same as the one before it and after it.

"Found it!" Lucy quietly cheers after scanning a few shelves.

A smirk plays across my lips while watching her attempt to get a book at the top shelf.

"Even after all of these years, you still haven't grown," I tease, easily removing the book from the shelf and handing it to her.

Lucy sticks her tongue out in response as she leafs through the pages.

"What book is that?" I inquire.

"You haven't read it?" Lucy lifts a surprised brow.

I shake my head, reaching for the book. However, Lucy pulls it away before I'm able to touch it.

"Well, the main character meets these friends and—"

"Don't tell me," I interrupt. "I want to read it myself."

"She goes on an adventure and—"

"I said don't tell me!" I repeat, clamping her mouth shut with my hand. I can feel her cheeks tug up into a grin.

"That's how it feels when you spoil books for me," she scolds once I've pulled my hand back.

"I'm never doing it again," I mumble.

"Okay, we can go now," she says.

"That's all you wanted to see?" I ask.

"Yep," she replies with a nod.

I scoff, walking beside her out of the aisle. I don't realize our fingers are already laced until I've subconsciously squeezed her hand.

"Thank you for coming here, Lucy!" the manager of the store speaks politely before we leave.

"Thank you for allowing me to have a signing here," she responds.

Exchanging a respectful nod, Lucy takes me out of the store.

"I can't wait to go home and relax," she lets out a heavy sigh as we head to the apartment.

"I think Happy misses you," I reveal.

"Does he?!" she gasps.

"He misses your food the most, I think," I reply.

"Of course," she stifles a laugh.

In the short walk to the apartment, we catch up with one another as if we haven't been speaking on the phone almost every night.

The best thing about talking to each other face to face is that it allows us to say whatever we want and be able to see the reaction simultaneously.

The chill spring air allows us to stand closer than we normally would.

"Welcome home, Lucy," I announce as I open the door to our home.

"Why is it so dark in here?" she questions, stepping inside. "Did you forget to pay the electric bill?"

I wordlessly enter the apartment and close the door. It's pitch black for half a second, but once the lights are on again, everyone has jumped out from their hiding spots.

"Welcome home, Lucy!" everyone shouts.

"What?" is the only word that leaves Lucy's mouth.

"I haven't seen you in so long, Lu-chan!" Levy proclaims, leaping into Lucy's arms.

"Been a few months, right?" Gajeel shrugs.

"Juvia has missed Lucy so much!" Juvia wails.

"Welcome home, Lucy," Wendy waves hello with a nodding Romeo behind her.

"Here, have a drink!" Cana sticks out a drink in front of Lucy.

"Not yet," I snatch the obvious alcoholic drink away. "Lucy needs to be completely sober tonight."

"Is she pregnant?" Lisanna blurts out from the kitchen.

There's an awkward silence in the air until I remember how to talk.

"Getting drunk when you're tired isn't a good idea," I explain.

"Yeah, I'm not pregnant," Lucy waves her hands in front of her with protest.

"Yet," Gray snickers in the living room, earning a smack on the arm from Juvia.

"Well, whatever," Cana brushes us off. "I'll get drunk for you!"

Placing my hand on the small of Lucy's back, I direct her towards the kitchen where all her favorite food has been set up.

"Even the macaroni and cheese boxes are here!" Lucy laughs with delight. "Who planned all of this?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Levy remarks, peering at me.

"Natsu is such a good fiancée, isn't he?" Mirajane gushes.

"That's what being a man is all about," Elfman commends.

I modestly scratch the back of my neck; Lucy's bright eyes causes my stomach to feel light.

"Can we eat now?" Gray inquires.

"I'm starving," Gajeel adds.

"Let's dig in," I approve, allowing everyone to get their plate and put as much food as they'd like.

"I would like to make a toast!" Levy declares once we've all been seated around the apartment.

"Do you think she's gotten better at making toasts four years later?" Cana mumbles to Lucy beside me.

"I hope so," Lucy responds with a giggle.

I view Levy curiously, not knowing what to expect by her toast now.

"We've all been through a lot these past four years," Levy begins. "Some of us attended Magnolia University and graduated, and all of us worked our butts off.

"But we're all here together now, happy and successful. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way."

"And now we're all old!" Lisanna yells with her cup out in the air.

"Except for Wendy and Romeo," Gajeel sends the 19 year olds a dirty look.

"Well, besides that!" Levy shakes her head. "We've finally made it, everyone! Cheers!"

"Cheers!" everyone gently clinks their cups together.

I didn't think the enormous amount of food Mirajane cooked was going to be finished, but it's all been devoured when I return to the kitchen to throw away some trash.

Washing my hands at the sink, I feel two arms wrap around my waist. Just by her familiar smell it's not hard to figure out who it is.

"Thank you for doing this for me, Natsu," Lucy speaks into my shoulder.

"You're welcome, Luce," I smile, twisting the ring on her left hand.

Her arms loosen around me, so I take the moment to turn around and envelop her in a hug tighter than the one at the book/music store.

"You're warm," she whispers.

"So are you," I reply.

I pull away slightly to lean my forehead against hers. The brown swirls in her eyes never fail to put me in a trance.

"I wish we could go and be alone right now," I admit.

"Why don't we?" she suggests with her eyes closing.

"I wish," I mutter, not hesitating to take a hold of her cheeks to make sure my hands will cover our connected lips from everyone.

Lucy and I have only been enjoying each other for less than a minute when someone clears their throat behind us.

"A room exists, you know?" Gray snorts.

"Don't listen to him," Juvia tells us. "He's just embarrassed."

"Of what?" Gray looks at her with a puzzled expression.

"Because Lucy and Natsu's love is stronger than ours!" Juvia exclaims.

"No way," Gray waves her off. "Our love is surely—"

"Finish the sentence, Gray," I grin so wide my cheeks hurt.

"Whatever," Gray grumbles, hastily throwing his trash away and striding to the living room.

Juvia giggles while chasing after him, leaving Lucy and I alone once again.

"Where were we?" I ask.

"I think we were somewhere around here," Lucy leans in towards me.

She doesn't get very far since another couple enters the kitchen to join us. Lucy pulls back before they see us.

"Lu-chan, do you want the cake now?" Levy offers.

"There's cake?" Lucy's eyes widen. "Yes, I do."

Levy takes Lucy away from me which causes Gajeel and I to stiffly stand beside one another.

"How did you propose to Lucy?" Gajeel inquires bluntly.

"You really want to know?" I smirk. "Why? Are you planning to propose to Levy?"

"So what if I am?" he retorts. "Do you have a problem? Do you think it's too early to ask?"

Beneath Gajeel's hard eyes, I'm able to see that he isn't asking these questions half-heartedly. A smug look starts spreading across my face.

"Cake is ready, everyone!" Mirajane proclaims.

"I'll think about what you've said," Gajeel says, walking with me to the table with the cake. "Thanks."

"I'm sure you'll be able to make her a great ring," I give Gajeel's shoulder several encouraging pats.

Gajeel gives me a toothy grin. "Going to Oak University for four years was definitely worth it."

"For sure," I nod.

Once the cake has been sliced and everyone has a piece, that's when Lucy's welcome back party starts settling down. One by one, the couples—or trios—leave the apartment.

It's nice to know that there won't be anyone from our group of friends missing any time soon.

And some friends have become closer than before—literally.

"We'll leave you guys alone tomorrow," Levy winks while Gajeel unlocks the apartment next to ours which was once Lucy's.

"Please do," I reply, having Lucy look at me with a fallen jaw.

"Goodnight!" Levy waves before entering her apartment.

"Goodnight," Lucy and I wave back.

Shutting the door, I follow Lucy inside our apartment, taking a seat at the table.

"Levy told me she found a job," Lucy reveals, sliding in the other chair the table. "She's finally going to be a librarian."

"Gajeel is going to be a metallurgist," I mention.

"Cana is going to get into the wine industry," she adds.

"I heard Romeo saying he wanted to be teacher," I recall. "He told me he looks up to me."

"He does," Lucy confesses with a small smile. "Can you believe Wendy is going to be a vet?"

"What about Juvia?" I inquire. "What does she want to do?"

"Follow Gray, of course," she answers as though it's obvious.

"So, be a teacher?" I clarify.

Lucy nods. "She wants to be the coach for the swim team."

"There's not a swim team at Magnolia High," I frown.

"Which is why she's going to make one," she responds slyly.

A laugh leaves my lips as I lean back in my seat. "Everyone has it figured it out now. That's relieving."

"I'm glad everything went okay," Lucy states.

"It was always going to," I counter. "You kids were so worried back then."

"Hey," she gives me a gentle kick under the table. "I'm sure you were worried when you were younger, too!"

"Extremely," I admit.

We stick our tongues out at each other simultaneously.

"You know, you never signed my book today," I remark.

"Do you really want me to?" she gives me a bewildered look with pink cheeks.

"Let me go get it," I rise from my seat to swiftly get the book.

Already open to the first blank page, I place the book in front of her with a pen.

"What do you want me to write?" she stammers.

"Whatever you want," I shrug.

"Go away while I write it," she commands, shooing me away.

I chuckle as I go off to brush my teeth for the night. I'm more than happy that Lucy will be by my side again as we sleep.

Once I've finished, I exit the bathroom to meet up with her in the middle of the hallway.

"Let's go to sleep," she takes my hand to our room—the book in her free hand.

"What did you write?" I ask when we've made ourselves comfortable in the bed.

"Don't read it until I've fallen asleep," she orders.

"Okay," I accept.

Although I don't get cold at night, ever since Lucy left, I could feel how freezing the empty side of the bed was. It's nice to have it warm again.

"Can you read your book for me?" I request after a while.

"R-Really?" she stutters.

"I'll promise to stay awake the whole time," I raise my pinky finger in the air, locking it with hers seconds later.

"Well, okay," Lucy straightens up to lean her back against the wall. "Here goes chapter one."

"You forgot to say the title," I point out.

Lucy presses her lips together to keep herself from laughing. She takes a deep breath.

"Secret Lovers," she says.

"Sounds familiar," I respond.

"It should," she laughs softly.

I listen intently to Lucy's gentle voice as she reads the book that I've already memorized word for word.

Her voice when she reads is entirely soothing.

Listening to Lucy's voice like this, feeling her hand under the covers, and having my eyes flutter shut every couple of seconds is something I'll never get tired of.

Someday, there will be another voice I'll listen to like this, another hand I'll feel under the covers, and another pair of eyes fluttering shut every couple of seconds.

However, this voice, hand, and eyes will be much smaller.

And I know that Lucy and I are prepared for it all—unlike the time we fell in love at the convenience store, of course.

But that day at the convenience store, I was glad I was unprepared.

Though I'm sure nothing could have prepared me for the adventure Lucy took me on.

So now, I suppose it's safe to say that it's my turn to take her on an adventure now.