"Mama!"

I smiled happily, spreading my arms open gesturing her to give me a hug. Her little stubby legs pushed off the ground and her cute small hands clasped my face. She smiled ever so brightly and giggled, "Let's go on some adventures!" she cheered. I just laughed lightheartedly and nuzzled my nose into the crook of her neck making her erupt into a fit of laughter.

"She's your daughter alright." Natsu grinned, patting Luna's head. I glanced at him with a smile, "Our daughter." I corrected him.

"I thought she was our daughter?" Sting frowned, glaring over at Natsu. I looked at the both of them with a startled face, "She is our daughter." I added in once more.

They both began to go off, screaming names and taunting each other. "Tell him I'm the father!" Natsu screamed.

"I am!" Sting shoved back.

"Lucy! Just tell him, Lucy! —"

"— Lucy!"  I shot my head up with a gasp, feeling tears in the rims of my eyes. He gave me a weird look before wiping them away with his thumb, "You okay?" His soothing voice caressed me.

"Uh — yeah. A bad dream that's all." I smiled, patting the empty space next to me. He sat down and gazed over in front of us, casually wrapping his arm around my neck in comfort. "What was your dream about?"

It wasn't really a dream, more like a nightmare. One of my greatest fears for my daughter and I, "Nothing really."

He just gave me a look of disbelief before smiling. "Just don't give up hope okay? We've been waiting all this time for a good reason."

Though I couldn't help but feel overjoyed, his words always helped me through the toughest times. Even so, I still had an ounce of doubt somewhere deep inside. But yet, "Thank you Natsu." He gave a playful smile before running his fingers through his pink locks, "Where's Sting?"

"I dunno. He's been busy at the guild and such."

"Too busy to come and be with you?"

I just looked at Natsu, hoping he could just change the subject. Luckily, he isn't as dense as he was years ago. "Sorry. You want me to walk you home? It's pretty late already. Or did you want to stay the night here again?"

I smiled and gave him a nod, "Yeah, could you walk me home? I'll meet you outside, just give me a sec." He agreed and headed out the door. When he was gone, I heaved out a frustrated sigh. "Mama misses you so much sweetheart ..." Her soft pink locks tickled my fingertips as I glided my hand through them.

As time went on, she began to look more and more like Natsu. Her hair grew out so much, I had to trim it at one point, especially her bangs that almost covered her whole face. Though, she still greatly resembles me. Time after time, I've come into this room so much, so many memories flood in my mind when I recall what has happened over the past several years.

"When are you going to wake up love? It's been about 40 months since you've been .... like this. Mommy misses you so much." I stared at her for a good minute as if I was waiting for a reply.

Of course though, she didn't. So I just grinned and kissed her forehead before heading out towards the door. Instantly, his salmon colored hair caught my eye in the distance by the guilds entrance. "You ready?" He asked.

"Yeah. I see everyone went home early." my eyes wandered around the empty guild hall in shock. Even after all these years these guys were the same, booze lying everywhere, food splattered on some of the tables and yet, it was still the beautiful - fun - loving guild it always was.

"Mm. Something about Gramps saying we're annoying him too much."

I giggled at that and nodded that it was just like old times. "Ne, Luce. You ever think about coming back to the guild? As an official member again?" But I just paused and looked at him, seeing a certain glint in his eye. So I just turned the other way and mumbled, "I'd be lying if I said no. I've thought about it here and there."

"So just come back. You know Fairy Tail is your home. You could stay here in Magnolia with us and raise Luna around the people you belong with."

"Nastu —"

He heaved out a heavy sigh and leaned in closer to me, "C'mon Luce ... remember a couple months ago we —"

"Can we just talk about something else?"

Once again, he reluctantly agreed and changed the subject, shifting away. Natsu just scratched his head in thought about to say something but decided not to for whatever reason. Though I didn't complain and wanted to just get some sleep so we continued to walk in silence for awhile, I thought at some point he would break it off by dropping an ignorant comment. Just anything but he didn't. "Natsu...?"

He didn't even acknowledge me. Or maybe he didn't hear me at all, "Natsu." I said more sternly. This time he glanced over at me, "You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah. Just ... thinking."

"Yikes. You're thinking? Should I be worried?" I joked, trying to thin out the tension in the air. But I just earned a playful glare from the dragon slayer, sighing, he folded his arms behind his head, "What's up with you and Sting?"

"Natsu ..."

"No. I'm serious. It's been bothering me ever since you guys got into a fight."

"It's none of your concern."

"It is my concern. I care about you and I hate seeing you come to the guild with such a gloomy aura."

"Who said it's because of Sting? Have you forgotten what kind of situation we're in? My daughter has been in a coma for years."

"Hey, she's my daughter too." He protested. I bit my lip and exhaled, "Yeah — I know. I'm sorry. I don't want to get into an argument with you too."

"Well what'd you and Sting argue about?"

You.

"Nothing. Why are you prying so much into this?"

Natsu just shrugged, "Yanno. Just wondering ..." he began to trail off and started mumbling to himself under his breath. I had a feeling I knew why he was being so awkward and meddling in my business. But I didn't want to bring it up, especially not now.

Ever since I moved back here to Magnolia to be closer to Luna I was happy that I could get my same apartment back. There's not a lot inside, just the essentials like a bed, clothes and things in the bathroom. I spend most of my time at the guilds infirmary room anyways.

"You got the key?"

"Huh?"

"The key. Do you have it?" he asked, extending his hand out to unlock the front door. I nodded and patted my pockets for it but my heart instantly dropped when I felt nothing. I instantly gave Natsu a worried look before practically searching myself for the house keys. "Crap! I think I left them back at the guild."

"Well it's too late to go all the way back."

"So what are we gonna do?" I asked. We both stood there for a second before a wide playful grin spread across his face. Great, he's got some plan that'll just end up in me yelling at him. "Stay here. I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" I shouted as his silhouette slowly faded into the dark abyss. Seconds passed, maybe even minutes since he left and I was there to fend for myself in the darkness. It was kind of creepy if you ask me.

Suddenly, I heard glass shatter from the inside of my apartment. Then footsteps shuffling over towards me. "Natsu Dragneel!" I shouted, pounding my fist on the door in anger. Quickly, he swung open the door and yanked my arm inside, "Woah. Cool it Luce."

"How can I be cool when you broke my window!" I screamed, pointing at the smashed window and small fragments of glass scattered everywhere.

"Hey keep it down. You're gonna wake the neighbors." he scolded, using his palm to cover my mouth. But I just glared at him before licking his hand, making him retract it in disgust. "Ugh! Gross!"

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Though he just grinned slyly and shrugged, "That was kinda hot~" he teased.

I felt my chest ache and my veins go cold with embarrassment, "What a pervert! Don't be saying such lewd things this late in the night."  I shoved his shoulder, feeling more irritated than I was. "Plus, you're gonna pay for my window ASAP! I can barely afford rent as it is." I turned my head away, resisting the urge to give him a good 'ol Lucy Kick. Jeez, who the hell does he think he is? Breaking into my apartment like that.

I shifted my head away when I felt his hand ruffle my hair as if I was a child, "Natsu what the —" I stopped seeing a soft grin form on his face. "Now it's really starting to feel like old times." He beamed.

He was right. All this arguing about nonsense, breaking into my apartment with an idiotic plan of his and, me worrying about rent. It's like how it was years ago between me and him, it felt great though I'm not gonna lie.

"You're still annoying." I chipped in, throwing myself onto the bed feeling so exasperated.

"And you're still heavy. I think I just heard the bed spring break." he snickered, laying back on the couch that was across from me.

For some reason though, I didn't mind that comment. This whole night just felt so right now that Natsu mentioned it, everything felt great. The way Natsu and I are talking was like the past years didn't even happen.

So I just stared at him, how the moon cascaded onto his face, onto his annoying grin. I glanced around the room and memories began to flow back into my head. Natsu, Happy, Erza, Gray, Carla and, Wendy. When Team Natsu was still a part of my life, Fairy Tail in general. I really do miss this. I know Luna would love spending time with them as well.

"Hey Luce, you okay?"

"Hm? .... yeah."

"You sure? You look kinda sad .."

I paused for a quick second and grinned at him, "Thanks Natsu."

"For what?"

"I don't know. For just being here. It means a lot to me."

"Well where else would I go? Happy's with Wendy and Carla so you're the next person I thought of."

Though I just glared, "Oh so I was just a plan B?"

"Yeah pretty much." he joked. But I rolled over onto my side and faced the shattered window, hearing him grunt from behind me. "Mind if I stay the night Luce?"

"I guess so. Only cause I don't want you to be walking around in the dark and scaring people." I said, earning a soft chuckle from him. But I didn't want to admit that I didn't want him to leave me alone. It gets lonely nowadays.

The rest of the night I just laid in bed, staring out the window and wondering about so much things.

Why does there always have to be evil lurking around and preying on the innocent? Why do people react the way they do under pressure? Why do I feel like I'm slowly losing breath as days go on?

These are the things that keep me up at night, the things I wonder.

——————

Well, how was it?

Btw, stay tuned for Chapter 2 ;)