The storm was relentless that night. Thunder clapped and echoed ominously, and lightning shot across the sky. The rain was in a constant downpour with no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Everyone was drinking and having fun as always smoke from cigarettes and girls dancing around their customers, there was one person who was not at peace.

It was a normal night for assassins and gangsters.

But one person wasn't in peace. Natsu was tossing and turning in bed. The bolts of light flashed through his window, illuminating the pitch black bedroom.

With a groan, Natsu rolled onto his back and rubbed his eyes tiredly. The one time that he wanted to escape his nightmares was ruined by thunderstorms.

Figuring that lying there awake was pointless, Natsu sat up. Sleep was far from his eyes.

Natsu wasn't sure where he would go from here. Nashi was here with Erza and Jellal . But since he got his assignment to kill them he had alerted them. He hadn't met Nashi after that night but for her safety he had revealed his true identity. But he was shocked when Erza revealed that they already knew he was Nashi's real father.

The thunder had increased in volume. As Natsu stepped outside, a roaring boom echoed through the sky. Natsu did not flinch at all. He was too exhausted to notice. Yet, he figured that he had to find something to keep him awake.

Natsu stepped out from under the protective foundations. He gradually began to get soaked with rain. Each drop was freezing cold, and they drilled into his uncovered skin. Natsu could not care less. The shock of the iciness would wake him. His wounds were getting hit by raindrops like bullet.

Natsu looked at the dark pitch black sky. Everything was blurry due to heavy rainfall but for him it was another sweet memory of Lucy.

He held his arms open and feeling the droplets in his exposed skin, he knelt on the ground into the mud. But he didn't care at all.

'Luce'

Even the small drops of rain reminded him of her.

X_X

"I can't believe we're actually watching The Notebook," Natsu moaned, hunting for the remote.

"C'mon. It's, like, the most romantic movie of all time." Lucy laughed, reaching a hand under the sofa cushion and pulling out the TV remote. "Here it is, Mr. Grumpy ass."

"Oh. Right. I knew that. Just... If it gets too mushy, I'm leaving the room."

"You're not a very good boyfriend, it would not kill you to smile few times Natsu and little flirting with me anytime. So come here or I'll not give you any more kisses" she jested, snuggling up and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Whatever. Let's get this over with." Natsu frowning at the thought of not receiving anymore kisses from Lucy, but he hated dumb romantic movies.

As it turned out, the movie 'The Notebook' was not too unbearable. By the time the famous scene in the rain came around, Natsu was snuggled up and enjoying the storyline just as much as Lucy.

"C'mon, He did write to her, can't they just figure it out and live happily every after?" Natsu asked agitatedly.

"Just wait and watch," Lucy replied, a smile quivering on her lips. She, of course, had seen this movie a hundred thousand times.

"You wrote me?" Allie asked onscreen, sounding distraught. The rain poured down around the fictional couple, drenching her blue dress.

"Yes... It wasn't over... It still isn't over..." Noah replied.

"Ryan Gosling is sooo great," Lucy giggled, grinning as Noah and Allie started passionately making out.

"You're telling that to your boyfriend," reminded Natsu, pausing the movie temporarily.

"But seriously. It's like, what can be more romantic than kissing in the rain! You're never really in love until you've made out in pouring rain."

Natsu raised an eyebrow, than grinned a mischievous grin hitting his brain. Lucy widened her eyes, shaking her head.

"No, no, that's not what I meant. No! It's not!" But it was too late. Her pleas were interrupted as Natsu made a brief, sharp gesture towards the sink spigot in the nearby kitchen and water burst out.

Lucy squealed in discomfort as the explosion of water was carried directly over the couch. At Natsu's will, they were immediately drenched in their own personal rainstorm. Natsu grinned, water dripping down his already soaking face.

"Don't. You. Dare." He'd already leaned in, silencing her frustration with a kiss.

It was several minutes before the rainstorm ran out of water. Natsu pulled back, his face still a few inches from Lucy. She caught her breath, groaning in annoyance. He turned off the sink without moving, taking a moment to brush a soaking wet lock of blonde hair back from her face.

"Was it as 'magical' as you expected, Babe?"

She giggled. Twice in five minutes, Natsu mused. Extremely out of character for Natsu. "Yup. You're my Noah and I'm your Allie."

He planted one quick kiss on her lips again. "Shall we begin our movie once more?"

"Natsu, I'm still soaking wet and if you don't dry me off, I will kick your sorry little invincible ass."

"Your wish I'd my command sweetheart." he kissed her one last time.

"Natsu suppose if we didn't end up together. What will you do whenever it will be romantic rainstorm with thunder. Huh?" she wiggle her eyebrows and blew a raspberry at him.

"Don't ever say that you will always be there with me in every way. My every rain, summer, winter, autumn is incomplete without you Luce." he wrapped his arms around her.

"Ohh! You are so corny but imagine if I'm not there with you?"

"You'll always be with me." he silenced her with a deep passionate kiss.

X_X

Natsu was shaking under cold rain lying in mud ground and missing her touch. He was the reason Lucy was gone.

Layla Heartfilia stared at the sobbing, pitiful man in the mud before her. She couldn't believe that this was the man who had killed her daughter. She couldn't believe that this pathetic soul, could be the murderer and destroyer of her life.

But she knew the truth he was innocent. Situation turned him into criminal. She was there when he was kid and playing with her young daughter in school days. Jellal has explained everything to her this evening. She still have to meet her granddaughter. It was all like a shock. She cried after everything. Things were serious in life but still a ray of hope in her life.

Lucy left her daughter in this world.

But first she needed to face Natsu Dragneel and talk to him. But seeing him lying there and chanting Lucy's name she realized he was victim all along.

Natsu felt a presence of someone.

The ice shards fell to the ground around her old bones. Layla stood there looking at the young man. But she still wasn't sure if she had a heart to forgive him.

Natsu looked up at her, unable to believe his luck. Her eyes were hard and cold and the man could see that forgiveness did not dwell there. She would let him live, but she would never forget the pain and grief he had caused. He would live, but he would not be forgiven. But if he hit the redemption maybe there was a chance.

"Mother?" he called for her. His voice like a plea of help.

Layla turned and felt her heart was beating fast. She kept walking through the rain pelting her face, the mud slowing her steps, and the tears blurring her vision. She walked through the heartbreak and the knowledge that she had come face-to-face with her daughter's murderer and had let him live. She didn't even want to know what Natsu thought of it...or her. But she knew if she had stayed she would have forgiven him. She just needed sometime to relax.

She reached the edge of the garden and realized that the sky was getting darker and the rain was getting heavier. She knew it was hard as she turned back.

As she reached to the place, Natsu was still there sitting under rain brokenhearted, she took a deep sigh and spoke.

"Natsu" a long forgotten name rolled out of her mouth.

"Mother" He reached for her like a lost kid. "Please forgive me. I'm your culprit but please don't abandon me. I've left nothing. Please," he said softly.

Layla saw truth in his eyes. All the years she had lived it was easy to recognize the difference between truth and lies.

His eyes were filled with regrets, pain and love.

Layla knelt down and wrapped her arms around him and for the first time in years Natsu felt free. The freedom he longed for and the moment he wished for thousands of times.

"Everything will be alright." Layla rubbed soothing circle in his back. And he kept crying like never before.

As the darkness began to grow around them, she held him as Natsu kept pouring his all bottled up emotions.

Natsu looks at Layla Heartfilia. It was hard to face her again.

She was shocked when she saw him with Jellal. Now she was crying, she could not resist as she hugged him tightly.

"I'm sorry for Lucy." he apologized.

"I'm not sure if I can forgive you yet but I can't hate you for loving her. She was truly happy when she was with you. You helped my daughter. We will learn." Layla cried in his arms.

"Mother" Natsu said his body stiff. Waiting for her scream and yelling but it never came. She was there in his arms crying for the loss as he cried in her under the heavy rainfall.

They came back inside and saw Ezra was in Layla's room waiting with Jellal.

"You?" Layla wasn't sure. She knew what was coming. Was it dream or reality?

"I've something precious which belongs to Lucy. Meet little Nashi." Ezra put little Nashi in the bed. She looked at Layla curiously but smiled when her eyes fell on Natsu behind her.

"DADDDAAA!" she nearly fell from the bed as she jumped for him. Thanks to his fast reflexes he caught her in his arms.

"My baby" Natsu smiled at her and rubbed his nose with her affectionately. She giggled and he kissed her forehead. He stood and turned silently towards Layla.

"Your granddaughter." and held Nashi toward her.

Layla was lost, the feeling was beyond explanation. As she saw her grandbaby in the arms of Natsu ,her heart began to beat so loudly.

As Nashi was handed to her, already a year old. She looked into her perfect face and saw what every grandmother sees.

A perfect angel.

Her sweet cheeks, hair, fingers and toes so soft. She was reflecting image of Lucy. Layla wanted to hold her close to her heart and let her know that she would always love and protect her. She wanted to share everything. She was with her, and it was at that moment that the "days of awe" came into significant meaning for her.

"My Lucy's baby" she smiled at Natsu as tears of happiness brimming in her eyes after all there years of sadness Layla held Nashi in her arms,

Nashi's eyes focused on Layla. She prayed that she would grow up to be all that she can be and that her pain would be less in this world and her joy great.

As she rocked her that night she whispered a wish in her ear:

"You are blessings from God heaven above. My Lucy came to me and my life is fill with happiness. I wish for you to be happy and smiling again forever."

Erza stared at the family in front of her. Jellal held her to his chest.

"She will have you kids as her parents. I give you my blessings but I have one condition." Layla said looking at Erza and Jellal.

"What?" both asked while holding there breath.

"You would not hide about Lucy and she must know about her real father. The story of her origin." Layla said and both took the breath they were holding back.

"We would not dare. Lucy's wish was to reveal the truth when Nashi would be mature enough to understand. But now we are free from the duty. We are glad that she have both of her family with her." Ezra assured her.

Natsu smiled at them. His eyes held the spark which was gone. He had new reasons to live and smile.

He held Nashi in his arms as she curling her hand around his thumb. She was so soft and small.

His angel.

Reminder of his lost love.

His Lucy.

Her memories.

X_X

A/n: I think I wrote many unfinished stories as one shot which can be turned into fine stories. I have not forgotten my other stories. But I just wanted to give this one a perfect ending maybe I will add more.. Depends.. Read and review..

@bahall1964 @Ushindeshi guys this chapter dedicated to you. Thanks for being awesome.. Enjoy. Till then.