Hey everyone! The last chapter of Two-Stage Heartbreak! Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail

It had taken much coaxing from Levy and Cana to get Lucy out of her house. And some amount of bribery. But here she stood, outside Starlight Cafe, with her two best friends.

"C'mon Lu," Levy winks. "You can do it."

"I haven't seen society in months!" Lucy laments. "I can't."

Cana gives her a playful push towards the door. "You can, and you will."

"Remember what we told you earlier?" the bluenette encourages.

Earlier…

"No!" Lucy snaps, aghast. "I'm not going back to work!"

"It's been months," Cana complains. "You need to get out and back to society."

"Cana!" Levy chides. "Be kinder." To her blonde friend, she says, "But she's right. You really need to get back into society. You've been cooped up for months. It's unbelievable you haven't even stepped out to get the mail."

She points to the stack of envelopes and packages on the table. Many were gifts and love letters from Loke. "The mailman literally begged us to empty out your mailbox when we came," she deadpans.

"I did step out once!" Lucy defends. "When I got my phone!"

"By stepping out, I think she meant she opened the door to the mailman," Cana comments snidely. Levy elbows her.

"Back to the topic!" Levy announces. "Lucy, you're going to work tomorrow. We've already called Mavis and told her you're coming in."

"What if he comes in?" the blonde sniffs.

"Then we'll whip his sorry ass," Cana says confidently. "He won't get anywhere near you."

"I'll get Gajeel to stand nearby if you want me to," Levy offers. "And besides, we'll be working the shift with you, so no need to worry."

"Still," Lucy pouts, folding her arms.

"What's with the stubbornness?" Levy puts her hands on her hips. "Two days ago, you were desperate to get back to work!"

"Yeah, you wanted to meet Natsu, the guy who came in," Cana snickers.

"Until I remembered Loke likes going to Starlight Cafe!" the blonde cries. "That's where we met! And I might run into him again!"

"You won't," Levy reassures. "I'll get Mavis to refuse service to him if he comes in."

"C'mon Lucy," Cana pleads. Her eyes suddenly take on a mischievous look. She whispers something into Levy's ear and the bluenette smirks and nods.

"Lucy, if you go to work tomorrow, I'll buy you the entire manga set of Your Lie In April," Levy says.

"And I'll get you the latest Burberry purse," Cana adds.

The blonde licked her lips. She so desperately wanted the manga set of Your Lie In April and that new purse looked amazing…

"And my extra set of The Infernal Devices," Levy says.

"Versace perfume."

Sold.

"Fine. I'll go," Lucy grumbles.

Currently…

"This is a really bad idea," Lucy complains, gazing at the cafe.

"We won't follow up on our offers if you don't go in and work," Levy warns.

"You were bribing me!"

"And it was working," Cana smirks.

"Ugh!"

Lucy pushed open the door and was immediately met with…Loke. She grit her teeth.

"Hey L-"

Before he could say her name, Cana punched him in the face.

"Move," Levy snaps.

"Actually, a better idea. Leave," the brunette sneers, pointing out the door. "Before we make you."

Loke scrambles away and hurried out. Cana shoots Lucy a triumphant look.

"See? Problem solved."

She shoots both of her friends a grateful look. "Thanks guys."

"Lucy!"

The blonde was suddenly tackled in a hug by a silver haired girl.

"Hi Mira," she greets.

"Where have you been?" she shrieks. "We were so worried!"

"Sorry," Lucy apologizes sheepishly.

Mira pulls back with a radiant smile. "We've missed you! So glad you're back!"

"Me too."

Lucy is suddenly tackled in hundreds of hugs from her friends; Evergreen, Lisanna, Erza, Bisca, and even Mavis.

"Glad you're here," her short boss says with a smile. "Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be!" Lucy flashes a smile back.

"That's our girl!" Mavis beams.

Erza tosses Lucy a piece of fabric and she catches it. Her pink apron with her name tag pinned to it. She pulls it on, inhaling the familiar smells of the cafe.

"You're waitressing today, okay?" Mavis says brightly.

"Alright!"

Lisanna passes her a book and pen to take orders and Cana immediately pushes her towards the nearest table.

"Work!" Levy puffs, making a shooing motion with her hands.

She approaches the table and immediately sees a familiar face.

"Hey Wendy!" she greets cheerfully.

"Lucy!" the little girl squeals, wrapping her friend in a hug.

Wendy Marvell was from an adopted family and she was fourteen, not old enough to work at the cafe.

"I've missed you!" the blue haired girl whimpers.

She laughs. "Me too. Ready to order?"

"Yup!" she cheers, pulling away. "I'll have a strawberry milkshake with a chicken sandwich please!"

Lucy winks at her friend. "Coming right up!"

She works tirelessly, cheerfully talking with customers and bringing back orders. Five minutes before her shift ends for lunch, Cana sidles up to her and elbows her.

"Ow! Cana!" she hisses.

Cana nods at the door. "Look!"

Her gaze goes to the door, where a pink haired boy stands, hands tucked into the pockets of a black hoodie. He walks to the nearest table. Lucy inhales sharply.

"That your man?" Cana smirks.

Lucy could only nod, staring in shock. The brunette gives her a push towards the table, waving away the other waitresses.

"Go."

She stumbles towards his table, a menu in hand.

"Hi! I'm Lucy, your waitress for the day!" she chirps cheerfully.

He freezes, then slowly turns to look up at her.

"Lu…cy?" He gapes up at her and she could feel the heat rush to her neck. Her heart started to flutter. What the hell?

"Hi…Natsu, right?" she ventures.

"I know you," he breathes. "Me…and you…we—"

"Yeah, I know," she cuts in quickly. "That was a bad part of my life; I'd rather not relive it."

His lips curl into a mock-pout. "So are you saying that you didn't enjoy it?" he teases.

She flushes red. "No! I'm just saying…that it was a low point of my life…"

Natsu grins at her. "Kidding. But anyways, are you okay now?"

"Yeah, I'm better now," she says quietly.

"Sorry if I, you know, offended you or anything," he apologizes.

"You didn't," Lucy reassures.

"So, can I have your number now?" Natsu's lips curve into a smirk at her blush.

Lucy instinctively smacked him with the menu. "Too early for that, sir. You may have the menu though."

Natsu skims through the menu. "Black coffee, all the sandwiches, chicken soup, bagel, blueberry muffin, strawberry cheesecake, and chocolate milkshakes."

Lucy gapes at him. "How much do you eat?" she demands.

"A lot," he says with a grin. His canines were abnormally sharp.

"Damn," she mutters, scribbling down his order. "I'll be back in a few with your orders."

Before he has another chance to say anything, she sweeps off to the kitchen and passes the order to the chef.

She comes back, moments later, trays full of food.

"Here you go." Lucy places down each plate.

"Thanks Lushee," he mumbles, already stuffing his face with food. "Can ya stay and keep me company for a bit?" he asks hopefully.

She hesitates. He's not bad company. Lucy looks over at Cana, who winks and behind her, Levy smiles and flashes her a thumbs up.

"Fine," she decides. "But not for long; I have work to finish."

"Sweet," Natsu grins.

He takes a gulp of his coffee as she perches herself on the edge of the table.

"I don't bite," he mutters, noticing her uncomfortableness. "Unless you're food." He looks her over and she tenses. But the look is casual and after a few seconds, he goes back to his food.

"So…how've you been?" Lucy asks awkwardly.

"Pretty good. I should be asking you that though," Natsu comments. "How are you?"

"Um…other than the fact my friends forced me to go back to work, good," she answers.

He stops eating to look at her curiously. She freezes, a slight blush coming on.

"W-what?" she stammers.

"Forced is a pretty string word Lucy," he says.

"I-I was going through some things…" Lucy mutters.

"I would ask, but I'm guessing it's personal," Natsu comments.

"Yeah…it is…" she drifts off.

An awkward silence hangs over them. Deciding to leave, Lucy hops off the table and mutters, "Well, I'm gonna go—"

"Lucy! Wait!" he pleads.

Her gaze whips back to him. Natsu looks like he's about to get on his knees.

"What?" she snaps. "Why do you want me around?" She feels frustrated. She can't get a read on this guy. She doesn't understand what he wants.

"Lucy, I'm gonna be honest with you." Natsu inhales sharply and then exhales. "This might be sudden for you, but I think I like you. A lot. I started coming to this cafe because after we first met, I saw you come in here and I wanted to meet you again.

"Look, I know you just broke up with a guy; I saw you and your friends kick him out of the shop. But, I…I was wondering if I have a chance. With, you know, you. I like you Lucy. I want to get to know you."

She can't help but stare at him. He…likes me? The girl who slept with him drunk? The girl who's a broken, drunken mess?

"Natsu…we just—"

"Met, yeah. I don't care. I just want to know. Is it possible for me and you to date? Do I have a chance?"

A chance. That was all he was asking for. Could she…? She gazes at his hopeful smile, glittering eyes. She knows it'll take some time for her to get back to her old self. But she has a feeling that he'll wait.

She recalls back to months ago, when she had first met him. A boy with ruffled pink hair and eyes slitted like a dragons. Sheets that reeked of sex. He had shown her kindness, although she was a stranger. And now she had met him again, against all odds.

Yes. Yes, it was possible. Yes, he had a chance.

She voices that word aloud. "Yes." She takes a deep breath. "Yes, you have a chance."

He grins widely. "Thank you, Lucy."

"Lucy!" Mira yells from the register.

"Coming!" she calls back. She turns to Natsu, letting a sigh escape her lips. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." She winks and he smirks.

"I'll be waiting."

~.~

When she comes back with a checkbook, he smoothly signs off the receipt and slides his credit card in. When she goes back to the register and takes out his card, a piece of paper flutters to the ground. She picks it up and written on it is a number. A number and a name. Her lips curve into a smile and she glances back at him.

He's grinning at her mischievously and mouths, turn it over. She does what he says and a date is written on it, along with a question.

Friday 17th, 6:00 pm. You free?

She grins wider and grabs one of their business cards and a pen. She quickly scribbles something and walks back to his table with his card in hand.

"You're all good! Have a nice day!" she chirps.

She walks away, watching him from her peripheral vision. He's reading what she wrote and whips out a sleek black phone and furiously types something. Her phone suddenly buzzes and she pulls it out.

926-348-1818: See you Friday ;)

Lucy: Tomorrow. You'll be coming to the cafe anyways

She quickly renamed the number just as it went off again.

Natsu: Tru tru. Or I might break into your house tonite

Lucy: You don't even know where I live!

Natsu: I have my ways…

Lucy: You sound like a rapist

Natsu: I swear it's not like that

Lucy: Sureee

Lucy: I'm gonna go get lunch rn. ttyl

Natsu: have fun! I'll be thinking of you :D

Lucy: ^/^

She tucks her phone into her back pocket and makes herself a coffee and a sandwich. She sits in the corner of the cafe, thinking.

Heartbreak hurt. She knew it from firsthand experience. But maybe…maybe getting your heart broken wasn't such a bad thing after all…

Heartbreak allowed her to meet Natsu. Meet someone who might actually care for her more than the other would.

With that last thought, Lucy stood up and trashed her lunch. Maybe now, she could begin again.

Done! I finally finished one of my multi-chap stories :DD Accomplishment! I hope you guys all enjoyed! Thanks to everyone who read, reviewed, favorited, and followed! Love you guys :)

~ Soul