AUTHOR:

This story takes place after the disbandment of Fairy Tail. Chapter 418 in the Manga, Episode 278.

The first 'chapter' is a spin on the final episode of 2016. It sets the groundwork in explaining how as the author I believe Natsu and Lucy see one another. It does have some basic summaries to the actual episode to avoid copyright, and droning on. I hope that you will enjoy the different perspective and development of their personalities. -RaiRai

*** WARNING: In this fiction Lucy has a one paragraph non-cannon previous relationship with a major character.

It had seemed like forever since she had seen him last. He had grown so much. He was taller, stronger, more confident, but deep down he was the same wonderful, playful Natsu. The one that her whole world had revolved around for the last several years. He was her best friend first, her teammate second, her guild-mate third, and lastly the man who had given her a chance. Deep down she felt she owed him a debt of gratitude she could never repay, so she regularly tried to suppress the thought and continue as normal.

She stood in the stadium watching a hooded stranger take out all the other contenders with a brilliant fire magic so powerful she only mildly recognized it. She had hoped it was him, but now that they were together again, sharing a meal again, it hit her like a tidal wave. She had missed him; in fact, she had missed him more than she had missed all her other guild mates combined. She thought to herself that it was both odd and wonderful to finally have him back in her life again. That was, assuming he was back in her life to stay for awhile. She had learned when he left last year he came and went when he pleased. He was so one track minded he didn't really realize he had left her behind.

She shoved that tinge of pain back down and focused solely on the joy of having him here with her. Ever second of his return had truly been wonderful. It shined a light into her life that she had been missing so much her heart ached from all of the loneliness.

He was staring at her now, across the table covered in a small mountain of dishes from all the food he and his blue cat had scarfed down. Natsu and Happy had shared a look than both turned their attention back to her. "You're weird Lucy," they said in perfect unison.

"Huh?" She questioned, being pulled from her daydreams to focus back on her previous teammate and his feline son staring at her.

"I'M NOT WEIRD" She theatrically shouted at them, causing several other patrons to stop what they were doing to stare at the odd sight that had unfolded into the booth where Lucy, Natsu, and Happy sat.

"Whatever you say, Luce," Natsu casually said back at her returning his attention back to his monstrous meal. While Happy simply made a face at her. She giggled a little, happy to slide back into the familiarity that was the entirety of their friendship. The nearby patrons returned to their meals, and the night continued to roll on by.

Happy and Natsu told her all about their year, about how Natsu melted Mount Altana, and how Happy lost his fish in the process. As they shared their stories they finished their meals. Leaving the quiet restaurant and choosing to take a stroll to prolong the enjoyment of each others company. They walked along to a garden and its large statue. It was under the statue in the comfort of its shade, and privacy, that she told him about the disbandment of the Fairy Tail Guild. He took the news rather well, but it still hurt her a little to tell him. Talking about how everyone just fell apart, their lives moved on, it was still bittersweet. It was ok now, she still missed them, but she had adjusted to the loneliness. Now that Natsu was by her side the pain had dulled considerably and she refused to let herself focus on the sadness. She had grown so much, and achieved so many of her dreams this year, all she could do was hope that every one of her previous guild mates had done the same.

They walked in silence through the cool night she quietly lead them to her new home in Crocus. It took them less than half a second to make themselves at home. Instantly scratching and destroying her wonderful home; therefore, putting the security of her damage deposit in jeopardy. She scolded them as usual but forgave them quickly. Then the night drifted by as usual, with stories and board games.

It had gotten late, they had all lain down intent on getting some rest. Lucy was in her bed thinking about her day. Her mind swam with memories of Natsu. She was so relieved he was back. She had missed him. Try as she might she had not been able to stop thinking about him. She never let her mind run down 'that' road. The last time she thought of Natsu as anything other than a teammate he had been utterly clueless, and she ended up feeling insulted. She would never admit it, not even to herself; but she knew deep down she had felt something else. She had felt something other than insulted. She never let herself think about it, never wanted to unwrap that buried emotion to find out what it truly was under the surface. Now, as she lay in the dark of night she wondered to herself if maybe she should. What would happen if it bubbled to the surface? 'NO!' She thought to herself. Practically screaming into her own brain. She slammed the thought back down again, keeping it buried in the bottom of that pit. The pit that held all the other deep emotions she suppressed regularly to get through her day. She grumpily rolled over to her side and sighed out loud in frustration. She knew she needed to sleep. There had been too much to process for just one day. She sighed again on last time, then whispered quietly into the darkness, before letting her spirit travel to a distant realm of dreams.

Natsu laid on her tiny couch. It only felt fractionally better to lay on then the cold dirt he had been sleeping on for the last several months. He just didn't fit on her stupid dainty couch. His legs were too long and there wasn't enough room for him to roll around. He moved from his side to lay on his back and stare at the ceiling. It was only in the quiet of night that he truly let himself stop running wild and take a break to think.

He heard her then, the voiced she used ever once-in-a-blue-moon. The voice she knew only he could hear when they were in a large dragon slayer-less group of people, or surrounded by noisy neighbors or a particularly gossipy blue cat. Her voice was soft, but for some reason, it was laced with just a twinge of pain.

"I've missed you." She whispered for only his ears "Next time..." She stopped. He wondered what she was going to say. She sighed heavily again.

"Night." She whispered. This time, so quietly he could tell she was nearly asleep. He laid there, on that tiny couch listening to her breath wash over her. She was sleeping now; he was sure of it. She was breathing softly, and slowly. She moaned lightly into her pillow adjusting it ever so cutely.

He returned to his thoughts again. Thoughts of his guild; his home, his friends, his team, his partner. He kept questioning to no one in particular if it was really over? If he had stayed would his home still be ok? As more time went by his brain kept berating him. It just would not slow down enough for him to sleep.

His brain ran in circles with the news of his guild being disbanded. He could tell Lucy was hurt, he was sure this whole thing had made her cry, but for how long? Had she moved on right away? He never wanted for her to be sad or to cry, but he was surprised she didn't seem to care more. He was glad she was able to be so independent. She was always stronger than people realized. However, even with all that, he was confused. The Lucy he thought he had known so well was stronger than that. She fought for what she believed in. She wouldn't just run away, or give up on their Fairy Tail family, would she? He thought she was more than that, and it saddened him to being seeing so little from her. For that matter what about the rest of his guildmates? Had the rest of his guild gotten along so well? Had they thrown in the towel to? Did they all just easily moved on, leaving behind their home, and one another? He was growing frustrated now; Why would they all just give up?! 'That's it' he thought to himself. After a brief word with his blue exceed he decided to get some revenge on the sleeping blonde.

Happy never missed a beat he had the markers all ready to go. Like, ninja, they broke into Lucy's room. They were ready to cover her in markers as payback for choosing to move on. He could never hold a grudge against her, not even if he tried. Perhaps, a little childish prank would help him to feel a whole lot better about her apparent betrayal.

As he stood above her bed deciding exactly what to draw on her face he saw it. Just in the corner of his eye. He turned to look more. Her ENTIRE wall was covered completely! It was the location of any and every member of Fairy Tail, or close to it. It had their most recent sightings and updated notes. He stopped for a moment in awe of the naked girl laying just inches away from him; 'She didn't just move on' the thought hitting him like a hammer. 'No way would the Lucy he knew just walk away from their family'. He understood then, staring down at her. He was yet again completely in awe of her. She was still the Lucy he had missed for the last year. The Lucy he thought about during the silence of night while he attempted to sleep. The girl he had had to leave to keep her safe. She was lonely and struggling, but she held onto hope.

'I CAN'T let her keep feeling like this!' he thought to himself. A wave of determination washed over him. 'I'm going to fix Fairy Tail; fix our family' he decided. He wasn't going to let Lucy stay here either. He would make sure she stayed happy from now on. Even if he couldn't remain by her side, he would make sure she had a family. There was just one thing he had to do first, and dammit it was going to be fun!

"Come on Happy" he whispered so as to not startle his best friend. "I've got a plan."

The following morning Lucy woke to soldiers practically knocking down her door. What was going on? What happened to the peaceful sleep and calming morning she was just starting to appreciate? Before she knew what was happening Natsu had her in his arms. He was jumping through a freaking WINDOW! Once again his strength and speed caught her completely off guard. This meant, that although he impressed her, she was left struggling to escape the bridal style grasp he had hoisted her into so that she could join them in running to Mavis only knew where.

As they ran through the streets she was forced to question him. There was no way anyone, not even Natsu could think Fairy Tail was getting back together. It was an utterly hopeless case! They had no means of reaching everyone, hell they didn't even know if anyone wanted to come back. She, along with everyone else was forced to move forward. Even though she was pretending to not be completely crushed by the loss of their guild, it didn't mean that anyone else felt the same way. She knew from her research that this year had allowed each member to grow in new ways. Ways they might not ever want to turn from to rejoin the guild of their youth.

Not for this first time in her still early morning Natsu surprised her. He seemed to have read her mind, and understand her doubts. He knew that deep down she had held out hope, and used that to knowledge to his advantage.

"YOU believe it can be done, so we'll get everyone back together and reform our guild. Come on." He ordered her while dragging her along by the wrist.

Tears of joy started to roll down her face. She was too happy for words. Was there really still hope? Natsu had never let her down before. If he said the guild would reform it had to be true; didn't it? Even if it wasn't entirely true, it was the sliver of hope she had been holding out for; The life line she screamed for while struggling against the oncoming tide. Natsu was giving her an irreplaceable gift; He was giving her a reason to keep fighting.

They raced through the streets. Natsu taking her wherever his plan lead, and Lucy following blindly behind him for the second time in her life. They made it out of Crocus and onto a well-traveled gravel road. Lucy couldn't help but get lost in her own thoughts. Thinking of the first time he had saved her from a swarm of soldiers.

*FLASHBACK*

Their eyes had just met. Lucy was standing in a swarm of crowded women. Captive to her heart; or more accurately the illegal love charm cast over the entire crowd of fan-girls. Suddenly Natsu met her eyes, and the charm was broken. As thanks, she took him and his strange talking, blue cat out for a good meal. The aforementioned meal cost her nearly ever last penny she had!

Later in the day that same guy with the record-breaking appetite had helped in her escape; as well as the defeat of the con artist who had placed her under the charm spell in the first place. Fatefully, while defeating the villain Aquarius took out half a fleet of ships. It took no time at all for the army to start chasing them down. He had grabbed her hand a promised to take her to Fairy Tail. That was in truth where their story has begun.

*END FLASHBACK*

She had unquestioningly believed him then. Just as she was believing in him now. She would follow him once more to their home, their family, their guild.