Same challenge for this one. This is the final chapter, but even if it is, I'll assure you that this will be worth it. I can't guarantee this to be something you've never seen before but I'll make this last one unpredictable and unexpected.

Oh and this is a song thingy, I don't know what you call it but I'll attach the song here so you can listen while reading. :) it's at the end part of the chapter.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My body was frozen, I had my doubts if I did the right thing, but at the moment I didn't want to see him. I had a difficulty to face him once again, and I was doing so fine earlier.

I sat on a bench at a nearby park, thinking non-stop if I made the right choice. I know I did, but something felt wrong. I placed my palm on my chest, trying to ease the pain but couldn't. I stood up as I was covered with the orange-pink color of the setting sun, heading back to the sold estate, which I can technically stay in since my father was the one who bought it, so I could take my mind off things.

When I came back, everything was quiet and I realized that Natsu wasn't here. He left early. That's probably for the best, after what happened, I wouldn't want any more uneasy situations. I went straight up to my room and saw my fixed baggage. Oh boy, now that I've fixed my things there's no more distractions...then before giving up hope and leaving without a trace, I remembered something that took my interest. I rushed to my bed and crouched down to see the box I've kept in check from the very start.

I reached out to grab it and successfully did, shoving it neatly in my luggage. I decided to read it once I've arrived back home. I locked the house and took one last look before everything would end, probably ending so soon. As I took my time, I heard a loud honk from a car horn, I turned around and saw Natsu's car. It caught me off guard to see Natsu back here, I felt scared again, facing him is hard right now. The door opened and it wasn't Natsu who was inside it.

"Hey, are you Lucy?" He asked me and I nodded stiffly, not knowing who this person was kade me raise my guards. "Oh god, thank goodness, I thought I'd be waiting forever, this looked like a ghost town, I thought he was pulling my leg on this."

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" I relaxed my shoulders and tried to think sensible, this man must not be a bad person if he has Natsu's car. Oh maybe...he stole it while he was depressed about everything...?

"I'm Natsu's friend, probably. Call me Gray. I'll explain the rest later. Get in." He gestured for me to get in the car and so I did. Being so calm about this, I must have gotten that from Mira. I went inside and as soon as I closed the door and turned to the driver's seat where Gray was seated. I saw him shirtless, but I couldn't react much and just stared.

"What is it?" He asked, eyebrow raised.

"Oh nothing, this must be a normal thing for you? Mr. Gray?"

"Huh? What are you talking about---Oh." He paused as he glanced at his, perfectly built body. "To be frank, yeah."

"I see." Was the only thing I could say.

"Hey, what did you do to Natsu?" He had a small grin on his mouth but his eyes looked as if he wasn't surprised, like Natsu's attitude now was similar to his usual self.

I turned to him, not replying to his vague question.

"I mean, when he went back to the guild, he started to talk to us. Sure he was still a stinker but he's trying to fix things with everyone."

"I see. I don't think I've done anything to him." Oh wait, I did nothing to him. Nothing good.

"He even made me go back here with his car to fetch you and bring you back safely. That's pretty much a big deal, entrusting his car to me. Heck, I bet he doesn't even like this car but it sure feels nice bring back some part of him back before everything went dark and desolated."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, very much flustered from all the words and concepts he's been spitting out of his mouth.

"I mean he's your partner, I thought you knew?"

"Knew what??" My tone was a bit alarming that somehow made Gray surprised.

"About him and Lisanna. It was a long time ago but it's been heavy on him ever since. He didn't tell you?"

"He didn't tell me anything regarding that..." I looked out side, dark gray clouds covered the sky.

"If he didn't tell you, then I'll keep my mouth shut." I turned to him calmly, seeing as how calm he's been throughout the whole trip, especially on this uncomfortable conversation.

"Why won't you tell me, Mr. Gray?"

"First of all, Call me Gray."

"Okay. Gray."

"Good." He smiled calmly at me and quickly head back to the road. "Second, You seem important to him, he even took the trouble to ask me this favor to make me drive back here and get you."

---Flashback---

Natsu entered the guild and everybody payed no attention, knowing that Natsu will talk to no one and vice versa, but this time all of them turned to look at him as he was sweating and out of breath.

"Natsu?" Mira asked, surprised and a bit worried. "What's wrong?" Ignoring Mira, Natsu quickly jogged to Gray, probably swallowing every single pride inside him to do it, which is very hard.

"Gray." Gray's eyes widened as did all of them as they heard Natsu speak again, and the words were not directed to Mira. "I need to ask a favor." They went outside, which was Gray's decision.

"What is it?" Gray asked, eyebrows closed together but still having a surprised expression pasted on his face.

"I need you to go back to a mansion in this address." Natsu pulled out a piece of paper in his pocket. "And fetch someone there."

"Why?"

"Just hurry up, you might miss her, you idiot." Natsu said with seriousness. Gray nodded and Natsu smiled which surprised Gary a lot. He punched Natsu's shoulder, a bit hard.

"You're back, Bro." He grinned like a child and so did Natsu. After that, Gray walked to Natsu's car and rode off to wherever that was with no questions asked. 

----End----

"I didn't dare ask him. I just needed to trust him on this. And I was right to do so." Said Gray and I wondered why Natsu would ask of such a troubling favor. Then it hit me. When I went here I rode Natsu's car and I would've had trouble getting home. I hate how he's right even when he's not here.

I stayed silent for a few seconds. "So Natsu was related to Lisanna?"

"They we're married." He stated bluntly that, if I had drunken water, I could spit taken whatever I would be drinking.

"What?" The scene where I asked Natsu about Lisanna played back in my mind. I must have been so insensitive to remind him those things.

"I'm not telling anything other than that, but enough with the real talk." He parked at the side and turned to me. "So, where do you live? I'll take you there."

I looked down, having a heavy train of thoughts but decided on one thing. Gray left me back home and I did my best to relax but failed. It was hard to do so after being so drained mentally, physically and emotionally. I successfully slept, but the following day wasn't so good, I didn't know where to start from here now, I didn't know what to do. I couldn't do anything else so I took my phone, remembering I haven't thanked Mira yet and told her about my experience like I was suppose to do.

I picked up my phone, since I couldn't focus at all in anything, maybe some talk with Mira would help. I dialed her number and waited as the phone rung over and over with the same monotone beep.

Finally she picked up.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hello? Who is this?" A male voice replied.

"Huh? This is Lucy Heartfilia, may I speak to Mira Jane, please?" I waited for a reply from the other line but no one replied for seconds.

"Hello? Excuse me?---are you still there?" The phone call ended with a high tone beep, meaning that person hung up. Then, I gasped in realization. Was that Natsu?? I quickly called again, hoping that the same person would answer.

"Hello! Please don't hang up!" I quickly exclaimed on the phone, but sadly.

"Lucy? Is this you? Why would I hang up?" It was Mira Jane this time. 

"Oh...it's nothing. I just wanted to thank you for granting my favor, the fresh start I mean."

"It's no problem, Lucy, If you need anything just tell me, alright?" It reassured me that Mira and I still have a good relationship, I thought Natsu would rant out everything and Mira woul hesitate to help me. I may just be over thinking things.

"Oh, Mira, hang on." I said quickly, hoping it wasn't too late before she could hang up. "Can I ask you one more favor. "

......................................................

"Sure, Lucy, no problem."

"Thank you, I think this would be the best option for us." I said, fiddling with the chord of the telephone.

"Do you want me to tell him about it now?" she said softer and softer in a whisper, probably because Natsu was with Mira right now. "Or shall I keep it a secret?" It made me think for a moment.

"You can decided on that Mira, but I suggest you tell him, if he doesn't want to meet me I'll still be waiting." There was a bit of silence in the other line but I waited for her reply.

"Lucy, may I ask why the sudden change? He told me you rejected him, and in the worse way possible really." She giggled a bit. 

"I...let my fear get in the way of my decisions really, but I want to make things right. Honestly, I'm ashamed to the way I acted towards him."

"I see..." She said. "Well then be assured that you'll be able to see him and clear things up."

"Thank you Mira." I said with a smile and I felt as if a huge weight was thrown off of my shoulders. I shouldn't be too assured though, I still had to face him after all I've done to him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I'm sorry, I said this would be the last chapter but I honestly couldn't fit the ending in one and two chapters. I'll just let myself finish this when it is actually finished, but it's almost over. I promise.

Here's an extra part so you'll know the details on the other side of the line. Don't mind the typos cuz I didn't have spare time to re-read everything.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Mira!" Natsu shouted. "How can you assure her that I'll be going? What if I don't?"

"Then you'll be a hypocrite." She said flatly. "You keep telling her to face her problems and you yourself would do the opposite."

"But you didn't even ask me about this."

"Will you say no?"

"No."

"Exactly. A woman needs time to adjust to changes. In your case, you're lucky she adjusted fast. Too fast actually."

Natsu had doubt but Lucy wanted to talk, he wouldn't turn down or rudely let a girl wait for him, but he didn't feel as though it would be worthwhile to just go and talk casually after everything.