"Out of all times.. why now?" Blonde cried out as she smashed her hands against the wooden table. Her knees felt weak and they kissed the floor.

Lucy's eyes read the simple note she received over and over again. It was like a shard in her gut that couldn't leave. It felt like death just the same as bereavement and in quiet moments it choked the breath from her body.

What was once whole is shattered; where once was peace is now emptiness, echoes of a love she put her everything into. Her cheeks soaked with tears as she clenched her teeth in despair.

"Why now, Natsu..? Isn't it enough I miss Aquarius already? I don't want to miss you, too.." she spoke with trembling voice.

- 1 year later -

Lucy's eyes, those brown eyes that would melt anyone who would look at them. Her smile, the smile that would make anyone's day better just by seeing it.

It all disappeared.

Blonde tried everything in her power to reach out to someone, anyone from the guild, but she never got a response back. After about 6 months of trying, her hope left her.

For the first time in a long time, blonde decided to go for a walk. Her heart felt heavy ever since he left, and she wasn't the same since. She grabbed her coat and closed the door behind her.

Upon the hill she stood as still as the trees, not totally frozen, for just as their budded twigs move so did her long hair. Her eyes were closed, taking in the warmth of July. Tousled auburn ribbons wave around her face; blown by air as fresh as any after a rainstorm. After several deep breaths she took in the view. It was truly a magnificent sight.

The mountains and the sun met; they united as two powerful forces. The green color added to its beauty along with the flowers of all kinds.

Blonde sat at the near rock, still admiring the view before he got back on foot and headed home. Her eyes never left the floor but her legs knew the way anyway.

As she opened the door to her dark and lonely apartment once again, she saw it.

She saw him laying on the couch. His soft snores echoed through out the four walls. She let out a slight gasp before covering her mouth with her hand.

"Natsu.." her whisper was fragile, almost inaudible but he heard it. His eyes opened gently and he locked their eyes together.

"Hey.." he greeted with his raspy voice.

"You're back.." she dropped all of her things on the floor and ran to hug him.

"Happy birthday, Luce.." he said quietly.

As she was an inch away his body vanished.

'An illusion..?' She thought

Lucy sobbed into her hands and the tears dripped between her fingers, raining down onto the parched soil. Her breathing was ragged, gasping and the strength left her legs.

She sank to her knees not caring about anything in the world. She was noisy, her skin was blotched but there was no-one there to witness it, let alone come to comfort her. She cried until no more tears came, but still the emptiness and sorrow remained.

"Why..? Don't torture me like this.." she took few deep inhales to calm herself. She went to the window and looked at the sky, at least they were under the same one.

"I really miss you.."

—

The boy with spiky pink hair looked into the night, the stars above him seemed magical, as if they weren't from this world.

He glanced over at the blue cat and smiled softly at his sleeping figure.

Natsu covered his forehead with his palm as he smiled once more, his lip quivered as he tried to prevent tears from coming to the surface.

"Happy birthday, Luce.." he winced painfully.

"I miss you, too.."