Layla's pov
I walk into the guild with my hood up after a three year mission "man, i miss Layla so much" the voice of happy rings out "so do i buddy" the voice of natsu answers him "I miss her to, its way to quiet without her here" the voice of erza says sadly "its a good thing you wont have to miss her anymore then" i say and they all turn to me, i rip my cloak off and all their eyes widen "hey guys!" I laugh with a smile "Layla!!!". Im immediately crushed in a hug from natsu and happy "hi guys! Man have you grown since i last saw you" i laugh as i hug them back "how the hell have ya been?" Natsu asks as he looks down at me with joy "ive been good dragneel, what about you? I hope you've been looking after the guild for me" i say with a giggle "of course i have! You know i dont brake promises" he says with a goofy smile "im glad to hear that" i say with a smile "happy!" My exceed strike yells in delight "strike!' Happy yells as they hug "ive missed you so much!" Strike squeals "ive missed you to! Has Layla been looking after you?" happy asks "of course she has! What about natsu?" She asks "hes been fine" he says

"Uh, hi there" a shrill, annoying voice comes from behind us, we turn around and i see a bright blonde girl infront of us "are you new to the guild?" I ask "thats just lucy" natsu says and i nod "im Layla" i say with a smile "wait, you're stings sister?" she asks and i nod "yeah, he's not my biological brother but we met when our dragons disappeared, i hope my little bro hasnt been causing you guys any trouble" i chuckle "no, he's actually the master of sabertooth now" she says "really? Thats amazing" i say "so what kind of mage are you?' She asks "im a white dragon slayer like my brother but i can also use requip magic like erza, fire dragon slaying magic like Natsu and i was originally a crystal dragon slayer" i say "whoa thats awesome!" She shreaks "thanks" i say with a laugh "what about you?" I ask "im a celestial wizard" she says "thats awesome! Have you got Aries key?" I ask and she giggles "yup, do you know her?" She asks "yeah, her old master used to hire me for jobs regularly so we used to hang" i say "i havent talked to her in such a long time" i say with a smile "you should come on a mission at some point so you can see her again" natsu says "id love to!" I say with a laugh "hey pinkie, you haven't forgot about me have ya?" The voice of grey comes from behind me "of course not fullbuster, how could i ever forget about you?" I say as i turn to him with a soft smile "its been awhile" he says and we hug tightly, i hear a low growl and i glance at natsu whos glaring daggers at grey "Layla!!!" The voice of mira rings out, i immediately pull away from grey and we run into each others arms "hi mira!!" I squeal "ive missed you so much! Dont you ever leave for that long again!" She exclaims and i laugh "i won't, promise" i say as we pull away "you look amazing! Your looks never seese to amaze me mira" i say with a smile "you're one to talk! Look at you! You've grown up so much Layla!" She says with a giggle.

"U-um, miss Layla?" A small voice comes from behind me and i turn around to see a girl with navy blue hair thats neatly pulled up in pigtails "hi, you must be wendy" i say with a smile "thats right, how'd you know?" She asks with a smile "gramps has told me about all the amazing things you've done" i say "he has?" She asks with a grin and i nod "i also have to thank you for keeping natsu in check for me while i was gone" i say with a playful wink and she laughs. I stand up and i see Natsu staring at me with a soft smile "c'mere ya big idiot" i say as i open my arms for a hug

Natsu's pov
Layla opens her arms for a hug and i immediately grab her wrist and pull her into my arms "ive missed you so much" i say as i burry my face into the crook of her neck and i inhale her sent: vanilla, cinnamon and blossom, the sent ive missed oh so much. "Ive missed you to Natsu" she says softly and i feel her breathe in my sent "you arent allowed to leave me for that long ever again" i say and she giggles "missed me that much?" She asks and i nod "yeah, its just not the same around here without you" i say softly "its good to be home" she sighs "ive looked after your house for you and everything" i say "i even payed the bills for you" i say "you didnt have to do that Natsu" she says as she snuggles into my chest more "ive been staying at yours tho, and i ate all the food" i say and she laughs "thats fine" she says "and ive been sleeping in your bed cuz ive missed you" i say "i dont mind that" she says "so that's why you haven't been coming to visit me much" the voice of lucy chimes in (I CHIMED IN WITH A HAVEN'T YOU PEOPLE EVER HEARD OF CLOSING THE GODDAMN DOOR? NO!) "Yeah, ive just missed you so much Lala. Please dont leave me alone for that long again" i plead "i won't, ive missed you and everyone else way too much to do that again" she says with a sigh

"has there been any news on igneel, weisslogia or crusade?" She asks and sadness fills me "igneels dead..." I whisper and i feel her gasp "no.." She whispers "no he cant be" she whimpers "he is, he tried to kill acnalogia on his own" i say sadly "what about weisslogia and crusade? Please say moms still alive" she says "they're fine, they're with Skiadrum, Metalicana, Grandeeney and all the other dragons" i say and she sighs in relief "im so sorry about igneel Natsu" she says sadly "i loved him like a second father" she says and i nod "i know, and he loved you like a daughter" i say "what else have i missed?" she asks and i chuckle "a hell of a lot" i say "three years is a long time" she mutters and i laugh "it sure is, but you're back now and thats all that matters" i say and i feel her smile "man its good to be back" she says

Layla's pov
"Hello child" i hear gramps say from behind us, i pull away from natsu and i turn around "hiya gramps" i say with a soft smile "my girl you've grown into a fine young woman" he says and i smile "thanks gramps" i say "id like to talk to you in my office" he says amd i nod "can i come?" Natsu asks as he put his hand on my waste "no my boy, i need to speak with her alone" gramps says and i hear Natsu growl lowly "hey, ill be back before you know it ok?" I say as i kiss his cheek and he blushes and nods. I walk with gramps to his office and i sit down as he shuts the door, he sits in front of me "how was the mission my dear?" He asks "it was fine, although i have a brand new scar to add to my collection" i say as i lift my top up to show a scar that runs from the top of my shorts all the way around to my right shoulder blade "its healed nicely" he says and i nod "but thats not what i wanted to talk to you about my dear" he says "whats up gramps?" I ask "its about Natsu" he says. worry instantly fills me "whats up with him?" I ask "as you know, mating season is very close and Natsu hasn't found his mate. We all thought it would be lucy but we were wrong" he says "what, so you want me to find his mate?" I ask "Layla, my dear you are his mate" he says, my eyes widen and my heart beat picks up "you must be careful around him, he might hurt you" he says "tch" i tut "Natsu has never hurt me and he never will" i scoff "ive dealt with this before, sting and rouge where just as bad. Natsu doesn't scare me and never will" i say as i stand up "if he gets aggressive then we'll need to lock him away until spring is over" he says "you cant do that! He's not a goddamn animal! Hes my best friend!" I yell "im sorry my dear but we wont have a choice, male dragon slayers get extremely aggressive for mating season" he explains "i can control him gramps, he wont hurt me" i say "just please be careful my dear" he says and i sigh "i will gramps" i say with a soft smile.

I walk back to Natsu to see him and lucy arguing "WHY? WHY WASNT I YOUR MATE?" lucy screams "BECAUSE YOU ARENT OK? IT DOESNT WORK LIKE HUMAN LOVE LUCY" natsu screams back "HEY! Stop arguing, we are family in this guild and we dont fight each other!" I snap at them "lucy, he cant choose who his mate is, thats just how it works ok?" I explain, she scoffs and walks away. I roll my eyes "selfish brat" i mutter as i turn to Natsu "Natsu, come here" i say as i see him loosing his temper, he walks to me and i hug him; he slowly starts to hug back and inhales my sent "you need to calm down ok?" I say and he nods, he holds me tighter to him and i glance up at him "you ok?" I ask softly as i hug him back with the same grip "he's staring at you" he growls lowly, i look over my shoulder to see loki smirking at me and looking me up and down "ignore him" i say to natsu "how? Hes eyeing you up like a goddamn piece of meat!" He exclaims "natsu, if you dont calm down gramps and erza are going to lock you away. Please calm down" i whimper at the thought of not seeing him "im sorry Lala, please dont cry" he whispers "its fine, you just need to stay calm ok?" I say as i inhale his scent "i will"