I'm Back, Fairy Tail

"Natsu...I don't think I can do this."

"Come on, Fey. I don't remember you bein' nervous for anything."

I shot him a look before I returned my gaze back up to the unmistakable Symbol that belonged to Fairy Tail.
"This is different and you know it."

We were standing in front of the Guild's double wooden doors. Natsu had his fingers laced behind the back of his head, a permanent smile on his face. One was on mine as well. It had felt amazing to smile again.
Natsu set his dark eyes on me, "Fey, everyone misses you! They are going to be so happy to see you again!" I smiled and shushed him, "Not so loud." He laughed-loudly I might add-and dropped an arm around my shoulders.

I instantly stiffened as my heart started hammering against my chest.
My muscles tensed, ready for a blow, but not receiving one. Calm down. I told myself, forcing my muscles to relax. You're safe...you're safe with him. I looked up at Natsu and my heart stuttered then picked up again when I saw that beautiful smile of his.
All for me. I thought I would never see that smile ever again. Now, it was just the matter of keeping it there.

"Ready?"

"Nope."

"Alright then!"

Natsu lifted up his leg and kicked the Guild's double doors open with a loud boom! "We're back!" Natsu roared, strolling in with me at his side. "Look who I found!" The Fire Mage shouted happily, his eyes shown brightly as every head in the Guild whipped towards the source of the loudness.

It all happened in a matter of seconds.
There was a lack of breathing as everyone sucked in a shocked breath. Before releasing it in a whoosh of air.
Hundreds of pairs of eyes locked on me, shock and confusion filling all of them.
I'm getting this reaction a lot.
As I scanned the many faces in the Guild Hall, I saw new, and old faces...there were even some that I didn't see or recognize.
So many lost...

Before my emotions could spill over, I grasped ahold of them, and concealed them. This is supposed to be a happy memory. So, make it one, Fey.
With that, I managed to smile awkwardly, and flicked my rigid wrist in hello, "Yo, I'm back...Fairy Tail..."

I cringed at the way my voice bounced off the silent walls. Happy memory? I almost laughed. Awkward as hell is more like it.
Natsu rolled his eyes, "I swear she ain't a ghost." He tugged me to his side with a fanged grin, "Fey's really here!"
Then the whole Guild exploded.
They all ran toward me while shouting out my name joyfully.

Happy was the first to get to me. The small Exceed nearly knocked me over when he flew into my chest. He wrapped his little paws around my neck as hot tears ran down his furry cheeks. I hugged him tightly to me as the whole Guild swarmed around me.
Hesitate hands reached out to touch me, making sure that I was indeed, real. Tears welled up in multiple eyes and in mine as well. The locked up container that I had put my emotions in, began to crack, until it shattered completely. My tears joined theirs and so did my choked laughs. I received hugs from anyone who could get to me.

Someone wrapped their arms around me from behind. When I turned around to see who it was, my world got a little bit brighter. I burst into tears all over again when my eyes landed on the familiar, small form of, Levy.

With a cry she threw her skinny arms around me and hugged me to her. I was forced down to her level. I moved Happy and placed him on top of my head so he wouldn't get crushed. I hugged Levy tighter to me and buried my face into her soft hair. "Fey-chan!" Levy sobbed, her arms further tightening her grip on me. My heart began hurting, it couldn't handle this level of happiness. "I never thought I would ever hear you say that again, Levs."

The blue haired woman laughed as she continued to cry. Large hands enclosed around my waist and then I was in the air. I was placed on someone's broad shoulder along with Levy. I looked down and saw Elfman grinning up at me. I laughed and ran my fingers through his hair in a sign of thank you.

With a quivering smile I placed my hand in the air with my pointer finger and thumb out, The Fairy Tail way. Everyone cheered from below me and they all gave me the Fairy Tail Salute. All of Fairy Tail's members' voices combined together until they resembled a roar. Nothing had ever sounding so beautiful.

Levy still didn't let go of me even when Elfman put us down. She was like a magnet, I never wanted her to let go. I still had Happy on my head, who was purring, and rubbing his paws in my hair. Thanks for the rats' nest, Happy. While I had one arm wrapped tightly around my best friend, that's when Gajeel and Lily came up to me and her. "Good to see you again, Freya. You have been missed greatly." Lily told me with a smile. I grinned down at the black Exceed warrior, "Thank you, Pantherlily, I have missed you as well." With one last grin I turned my attention to Gajeel. I found his crimson eyes already on me. "Shrimps never gonna let ya go now." He sighed by way of greeting me.

I chuckled brokenly as I gave Gajeel a watery smile, "Y-yo, Gajeel..." He tilted his head down in greeting but then he gave me a small smile, "Hey, Little Fairy. Where the hell have ya been?" My laugh sounded more like a garbled sob.

Levy mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like, 'Stupid Gajeel', and reached out blindly for him. Gajeel cracked a smile and grabbed her hand. His hand dwarfed hers, but by the way he held her hand, he acted as if it were the most fragile of glasses. With strength I didn't know she possessed, Levy pulled Gajeel to her. He went without protest and instantly wrapped his scarred arms around her small frame. I smiled so widely that my cheeks hurt.
You two are-

"Freya!" I froze when the Master of Fairy Tail's voice rang out all around us. Everyone froze, the yelling died away, and my muscles went stiff.

He did not sound happy.

Levy looked up from my shoulder and blinked up at me with teary hazel eyes. I smiled softly at her, pried her arms from around me, and ran my fingers through her soft hair to reassure her that everything was going to be alright. I'll be back in your embrace soon, Levs.

I took Happy off my head, much to his protest, and walked quietly over to Natsu. He looked at me with worry in swimming in his eyes as he took the blue cat from me. I gave him a bright smile, my eyes saying that everything would be fine, and turned away before he could see the doubt in them. I took a deep, calming breath, and faced the Master.

In all the time that I had been away...Gramps looked the same. Still short and powerful.

"Freya, come closer." He told me with a serious voice and face. I quietly and quickly walked toward the powerful Mage. I stopped a few feet away from him, not dating to move any closer. I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared out of my mind.

Gramps looked up at me with such a stern look on his face that I though he was going to pop the blood vessel that was making itself known on his forehead. Then he spoke and his voice cracked like thunder throughout the Guild.

"Freya..." His hardened face turned into a soft smile, "I am so glad that you are safe, my child." I sucked in a sharp breath as a lump clogged in my throat, preventing me from speaking.

Gramps opened up his arms wide and said happily, "Group hug, ya brats!" I dropped down onto my knees and scooped up Gramps into my arms. I hugged him tight as everyone ran toward me and picked me up in their arms.

I laughed wetly as all my Guild Mates surrounding me once more and wrapped their arms around me or each other. Warm, strong arms wrapped around my middle first and I didn't have to look to know who it was. After all, I knew him better then I knew myself.

I instantly relaxed in his arms as more of my friends started to hold me. Suddenly, Gramps started to grow in my arms. I let go of him as he grew taller and bigger. He grew so tall that his head almost banged into the ceiling. He then bent down at the waist and gathered us all into his large arms. He hugged us all to his chest for a while. Even though I was being crushed, I felt loved, and peaceful. I could have stayed that way forever. Just being surrounded by the smiling and smushed faces of my Guild Mates made my life lighter. More livable. Then he let us all go when our lungs started to fail us and our faces turned purple.

Once I was back on my feet-a bit unsteady-Gray yelled, "Let's welcome Freya back with a party!" Everyone whooped and cheered in agreement. There was a stampede of Fairy Tail members as they all ran to the bar. Poor, Mira...I thought with a sympathetic smile.

After a few more hugs and plenty more tears, laughter started to fill the Guild once more. Levy hadn't left my side for one moment and that meant neither had Gajeel. Gotta admit, I thought to myself, it's strange seeing all of Gajeel's teeth. The Iron Mage seemed to never be without a smile. I still remembered how his lips had always been in a permanent frown. His eyes had been cold and hard.
Now they were warm and inviting.
I looked to the small girl that barely reached up to his elbow. You changed him, Levs. Can you see it?

It was...beautiful.

They had something beautiful.

"Fey!" Natsu suddenly shouted, gaining my attention. I spun around to face him, "Hmm?" He and I locked eyes, "Your Guild Mark...it's gone." He noted, his eyes flashing with awareness. Without looking I touched the spot on my chest where my Guild Mark was supposed to be. I wrapped my fingers around my necklace and held onto it. It felt wrong in my fingers. Not right.

"I know, Natsu." I told him sadly as I rubbed the empty spot. "When I awoke...it wasn't there anymore." Natsu's eyes narrowed and then he grabbed my hand.

"Well, let's go get ya a new one!" He said as his eyes sparkled. They were green now. A slow smile started to form on my face and then it overtook me.
"Okay!"

I'm happy to be back...

I thought happily as Natsu dragged me to the bar to get my new Guild Mark. I looked down at out intertwined fingers and smiled as the new batch of tears fell.

I missed this place...
I looked up at Natsu.
And I missed you...
Natsu.
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I dedicate this chapter to, @wolf_lover_forever

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