"Mhmmm!" the feeling of someone shaking you, made all the aches and pain in your body start to come back.

"(f/n)....you're lying on my head!" Hearing Natsu groan you instantly roll to the side, the sight of multiple people around you, of course, you didn't really know any of these people. Jumping to your feet but falling back to your knees you went on the defensive.

Feeling some strong arms go around you, the scent of Natsu instantly put you at ease since he could feel your distress from the intruders. "It's member of the guild," he whispered in your ear making your whole posture change, allowing yourself to melt into the guy's arms.

They'd come to find the missing guild members, as the first master explained what had a happened or should I say the spirit of Master Mavis Vermillion. Apparently, she'd put a spell on the island protecting you all for the last seven years, apparently, your magic helped to make sure Acnologia couldn't break the spell.

However, during those 7 years, none of you had aged as the rest of the world carried on as usual. The rest was history as you made your way back to the guild, that upon arrival was under attack by a previous guild but with you all back it was a piece of cake looking after them.

All of you partied, the old members left behind all welcoming you, seeing that you and Natsu were extremely close the two of you stealing glances as they talked to the others. It seemed perfect, yet you still didn't want to mate, not yet.

As much as your body was saying it was time, your mind said that you needed to do something before you could fully commit yourself to become the mate of the king of the dragons. Gajeel, Laxus and Juvia could see the look in your eyes as you watched the guild laugh, drink and fight with each other.

Something you had always wanted, a family!

It was everything you'd wanted, your side to hurt people had subsided a lot to the point you were becoming maternal. There was also a difference between you and the three dragonslayers in the guild. The ones that had been trained by dragons anyways...they all had an exceed but you didn't it was strange like you felt you should but like mating it wasn't the right time.

So as you sat and watched you mate play, you planned out what you would do next, knowing that Natsu wouldn't be happy with the decision you would make. It wouldn't be that he was the only one not happy with the decision.

Still, you'd made your mind up, this was something you needed to do by yourself. Natsu had insisted that you lived with him, but you refused, advising it wasn't the right time. The pink-haired boy knew that you were thinking of something. At the end of the day, you were his intended mate. He couldn't ignore the distant look in your eyes, as if you needed or wanted to be anywhere but by his side.

The Tenrou members had only been back two days, Lucy luckily was kind enough to let you sleep on the couch as you said you would indeed sort something soon. Of course, the busty blonde didn't know at the time what the actually meant.

Coming to the guildhall, your bag was over your shoulder as you prepared to go on a quest by yourself knowing that you had somewhere to come back to and call home. The reason you were going alone, was you needed to get stronger to protect the ones that you loved, you felt deep within you that something worse would come one day, but when it did if you didn't get stronger it would take something precious from you.

As soon as you walked in, as usual, Natsu's eyes instantly went to your starry night ones, with the cutest smile upon his face. However, as soon as the look appeared upon his face it instantly vanished again. It was obvious you were planning on leaving, but from the guilty look upon your face, it was obvious to everyone that you would be going alone.

"No..." Natsu yelled thinking that you would turn and run but instead you went up to the quest board. There wasn't much choice on there so you decided to take a small job that would be easy for you. Apparently, some monster was creating havoc to a forest tribe.

After getting the poster you went to the bar where Mira was stood, most of the guild watching. This would be your first ever proper quest; you didn't really do them at Phantom Lord. Gajeel knew just how important this would be for you as he smiled at Juvia, who knew the same.

Feeling someone stand next to you, with no need to look who it was before the quest was ripped from your hand. "Aww, cool...I'll get my stuff," Natsu and Happy becoming excited that you had picked a quest.

"Natsu..." turning you jumped on him kissing him for all the guild to see, not caring at all and Natsu not caring back in return as he held you close. However, handsome, and strong the pinkette was. He was also kind of clueless at times, still not understanding that kiss was an 'I'll back soon, stay safe.'

"So, when you want to go?" smiling from ear to ear, you didn't really want to upset him, and you really didn't want to leave him behind yet again. Yet you needed time to discover yourself fully, before you'd met up with Laxus, all you'd done was hide from the past but now you needed to discover yourself to be able to embrace what your future held.

"Natsu, I need to do this quest on my own. You understand right?" flicking his head, bring him to actually listen to the words that you were saying. The look of confusion crossed his face, it was clear he didn't understand what you meant. "I've been running from my past for so long I need to discover who I am before I can embrace you as a mate," smiling, your soft hand caressed his warm cheek.

Blinking a few times, his own hand that was hot covered yours as he leaned closer into your scent. Closing his eyes, Natsu you needed to, but he still didn't like the idea as others noticed the conflict practically filling the air around the two of you.

Taking this opportunity, Mira-Jane looked at the flyer filling your name in the quest book. "I don't want you to leave again...I just found you," his voice was low so that Grey couldn't make fun of him later for being clingy.

The tone was adorable, that you couldn't help but giggle. "Don't laugh at me dumbass!" Natsu groaned but it ends with you karate-chopping his head, hard. "Ouch...what you do that for...want to go!" growling at you as you slipped your bag off, your fist connected with his face sending him into Grey. Instantly, the whole guild was fighting as you smiled watching them all fight apart from Laxus and Mira who knew why you'd started the fight.

"Don't take too long!" Laxus commented as you picked up your bag, beginning to walk forward towards the door. Mira-Jane waved at you as you look back for a second, the biggest smile anyone had ever seen on your face as your eyes shone like the brightest stars in the night sky.

"I'll be back before you know it Natsu...look after our family!" upon hearing your words, Gajeel, Natsu and Wendy lifted their heads looking at the outline of your leaving. Natsu, can't bear to watch you go again, as he begins to get out of the fray, to just get clocked on the head by the lightning dragon slayer that was allowed back into the guild.

That was it for the next few months that you would see anyone from the Fairytail guild, as you went on your way to your first quest, in which was a piece of cake for you clearing the monster causing havoc with such ease.

However, upon your journey, you heard rumours of the Grand Magic Games. Apparently, this would be where the magic guilds go against each other to see who the better guild was. During your travels, the guild came under some heat due to an item Lucy's deceased father had left her but you were too far away to help, that when you heard about it you already knew it was over.

Instead, you took the time to reflect on your power, growing with each day to be able to prove that you can protect those that you loved and missed with every mile you got further away from them.

Natsu missed you each day, every morning waking up and smelling the air to see if you were close by but as of yet he'd not been able to catch a fresh scent since the day you left on your quest. Even though you weren't around though he knew you were safe, his dragon instincts told him that.

After what happened with the item left by Lucy's father, they learned of the Grand Magic Games and of course, Makarov insisted Fairytail take part to prove just how strong the guild truly was and to regain their previous glory.

Whilst, everyone was training though not knowing that hardly anyone was at the guildhall you made your way back. Wanting to see Natsu, but also wanting to see everyone, who'd accepted you into their lives after everything that you'd done.

Pushing the door open, the few there was the older generation of the Fairytail guild. "Well look who is back but all the young uns are training!" Macao commented.

"Let me guess for the Grand Magic Games!" a huge smile forming on your face as your master chuckles.

"I assume that is why you're back!" the old man commented as you nodded. "Fantastic, we're meeting everyone at Crocus," the man added as you nodded.

"I'll see you; I've never been to Crocus. Where are we booked in to stay? I want to surprise Natsu," you grin as the Master nods in agreement informing you of where to go, but to come to see him before meeting up with Natsu, so that the fire mage doesn't get distracted.

Agreeing to your master's terms, you head on your journey to Crocus, the excitement of seeing your mate coursing through your body making it seem as though you were skipping on air.

***Thank you for reading***

***Sorry for the delay!***