MAIN HOUSE LOUNGE

Noise of different chatters sounded across the room.

Natsu and Lucy both sat on the stools by the bar counter, with Mira serving them light drinks. It was too early to get drunk.

As the kids lay still asleep in the nursery room, it was the adults' turn to have the time for themselves. Parenting can be tiring, I presume. Not that I know of.

At one corner of the room, Mavis was sitting on the leather couch with Zeref. She was speaking with Erza through the phone, asking how her honeymoon in Paris was going and all that.

"Can you believe it?" Rakheid started as he took a sip from his orange juice, sitting next to Natsu,

"A lot has happened in such a short time. Everyone having kids and stuff, Sting going around the world again with this Aguria chick, Elfman and Evergreen..." he continued. But he couldn't find the right words to say about the latter's relationship status.

"They're still on the dating stage, but we get the point," Rogue finished for him. He was there, too.

"Hey, real men take it slow," Elfman defended.

Everyone in the room chuckled. They were all either eating on the tables or playing cards. The usual.

"The only one who hasn't found a mate yet is you, Rogue," Lyon said.

It only added up to the laughing and teasing.

Let's just say the Main house has become the ultimate gathering place. Literally.

The Fernandes', Eucliffes, and Vastias already made houses for themselves inside the compound. The whole territory has become even more enormous than it ever was before.

"I'm a busy man. The women can wait," Rogue answered with a smirk that said ain't-nobody-got-time-for-that-shit.

"It's not like you have a woman for yourself, Rakheid," Lyon made sure he said it louder so everyone could hear.

"Oh but I have," the blonde answered smugly, "I've been keeping in touch with this certain blonde girl 'Dimaria' from before."

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COMPOUND'S FRONT GATE

As the family continued to chatter at the main house, something huge was on its way to the main gate.

Something.

Or someone.

She was back.

Her sandal-covered feet made their way towards the huge metal gates.

Bickslow was on guard shift that time. He had to look closely at the stranger's face as she came closer.

He recognized her.

It was her. No shit.

When she stopped just a foot away from the metal rods and came eye to eye with him, Bickslow's eyes were never as wide as they were right that very instant.

"Y-You..."

"Long time no see... Bickslow," the woman's voice was quiet.

"You're here," he said, still not believing what he was seeing.

"Let me in," her voice sounded like she was demanding and begging at the same time.

He wanted to open the gate for her. Trust me, he really did. But that would mean disobeying the Don's instructions.

"You know I can't do that," he said as he tried to stand his ground.

"I thought we were friends," her eyes never left his.

Bickslow sighed heavily before he spoke,

"You know I love you more than just a friend..."

And yes, she knew about it. About how he felt for her, a long time ago.

"...But I can't disobey Natsu's orders" he finished.

They just looked at each other for a while.

"Just tell him I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Tell him I miss my family...please," she pleaded.

There was no way he could turn her away with that look on her face. He had to at least do her a favor, for old times' sake.

"Jet!," he called out to his partner on shift, "Call the Main House on the telephone!"

"What's up, Bic-" Jet started.

But the instant he saw silver hair beyond the gate, his soul jumped.

Nobody was expecting her.

"Holy Shit! That you??"

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MAIN HOUSE

Laxus was having his drink when the telephone beside him rang. It was Jet's voice on the other end of the line, telling him to give Natsu the phone. Saying it was urgent.

Everyone went quiet as the Don listened to the report.

"What?" Natsu clarified. His voice going back to being stern again.

And they all saw it in his face, the look of resentment.

He turned to look at Mirajane first, and just like that she understood what he meant.

He then fixed his eyes at Lucy as he spoke to the phone again,

"Let her in."

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As the woman stood right in the middle of the room, right in front of them, Lucy didn't know who she was.

But judging by the look on everyone else's faces, she knew this woman wasn't just anyone.

Also by this woman's face, it wasn't hard to tell that she was related to the Strauss siblings.

"Lisanna" Natsu spoke the name dryly.

She was staring at him longer than expected.

"Nat-"

"Why are you here?" he cut her off straightforwardly.

It took her a great amount of courage to speak to him.

"Can't I be with my family once more?"

Natsu looked at her emotionlessly.

"After what you have done?" he said.

Noone made a sound the entire time. All were eager to just listen.

"I know what I did," Lisanna glanced at Mira and Laxus.

Her eyes were pained as she did, and Lucy noticed this.

"Yet you still have the guts to show your face again." Natsu said with the same flat tone.

"Natsu-" Mira started, but Laxus grabbed her hand, motioning her not to interfere.

"Even if you used to be one of my people, what you did was unforgivable."

"...I did it because I-," Lisanna Looked at Lucy, sitting next to him before she continued, "...I love you."

The silver-haired looked down to the floor, not wanting to have eye contact with the LadyWife. It was too much to handle.

Then there was silence after that.

Natsu broke it off with a blank voice.

"We will speak in my office."

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When the two left and the huge double doors closed, still no one made a sound. It was like Lisanna's presence sucked the life out of the room.

"She is your sister, isn't she?"

Lucy got everyone's attention as she asked Mira the question. Elfman was facing the floor the whole time.

Mirajane nodded sadly at her question.

The one who gave her a real answer was Laxus.

"A murderer. Nothing more." He said.

This just got Lucy more confused.

Why was everyone acting this way? Why was Natsu so cold to that woman?

More specifically, what did she do?

Why was Laxus angry with her?

She wanted to know.

And she was going to, soon enough.

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NATSU'S OFFICE

He sat on his black leather chair, as majestic as ever as he stared at her.

She was standing in front of him, head downcast. Only the desk table separated them, yet to her it felt like they were miles away.

Mustering the courage, she lifted her head to face him,

"Stop looking at me like I'm an enemy"

"Are you not?" he replied dryly, "What part of being 'exiled' do you not understand?"

Lisanna was startled by this. What did she expect? Comforting words coming out from him? No. It would be a miracle if that happened.

"Anyone who harms a member of my family is an enemy to me," he continued.

"It has been years...please...forgive me," she was begging now.

But Natsu was just born and raised to be a stone-hard man. Unfortunately for her, only those on his good side can get to see his warm personality.

"You are right, eight years to be exact. MIra's first born would have been eight years old as well...if it weren't for what you did."

His words were like barbecue sticks impaling fresh red meat.

"It was a mistake!" Lisanna's eyes started to moist.

Natsu just stared at her.

"I'm not here to cause any trouble. I'm not here to win your love again...or to threaten you. Just please give me another chance...let me come home. I promise, I will not be a burden to you....or to that woman."

"That woman you speak of, is Lucy. And she is my wife. You will treat her with the same regard as you have for me," Natsu said.

"I will do anything you want to make up for my mistakes...just let me stay...here in the compound," her eyes looked at him with deep sadness.

Natsu gave it a while before giving her what she wanted.

Besides, Mirajane might have something to say to her after everything that happened.

"Pay your sister a visit before you return to your quarters," he said as he stood up.

He wasn't going to keep the conversation going and have Lucy wait for him all day.

Finally getting his approval, she started to let her tears fall freely.

"I will...thank you."

And with that, he left her by herself.

What? He wasn't going to stay there and comfort her all day.

That's not him.

Not part of his being.

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