Something tickled my feet and my eyes jolted awake.

I almost shrieked when I didn't see what it was immediately.

"Plue." I looked at my white puppy, his tail wagging excitedly.

My cute little shiba's tail started wagging excitedly at my sudden attention. I was lucky my old landlady kept my room empty for the time I was away and wasn't hesitant on giving it back to me when I arrived in town.

The visit from Zeref, Mavis and Wendy was a month ago. I had to ask my agent (before I fired her) to keep my departure from the Spanish team a secret. Because I didn't stay for the entire contract, a nasty fee that could've left me bankrupt was supposed to follow. I was lucky Mavis was willing to help me pay for half.

Now I owe her more than I already do.

Magnolia was still as beautiful as I remembered. Still bustling with the same city life that made it feel so much like home.

Mavis had sent out invitations for a Fairy Tail reunion this afternoon at five. She wanted my return to be a complete surprise so I have basically been on house arrest for the past week since I arrived. Plue and Wendy have doing a decent enough job of keeping me company. When I left, I kinda picked up an interest in gaming so it's been Call of Duty for maybe a good chunk of the day.

I wanted to jog around but everybody in this apartment complex knows who I am. So I just settled to a lot of core and upper body work outs. I juggled the ball at least ten minutes before going to sleep. I did defy rules and walk outside last night for a couple minutes. I kicked around a ball for a bit against a wall in the alleyway a block away in the dark. Then this homeless guy commented on my ass and I literally booked it Wendy-speed home.

Never doing that again.

Rapid knocking sent Plue into a barking frenzy. Judging by the way he was skipping in place, I can guess who it was exactly.

Making sure I didn't look like a complete mess, I opened the door and was greeted by a widely-smiling Mavis dressed in something casual for once. Even when she delivered me food she always had some sort of business attire having come from a meeting or something to re-establish the club.

This time, she was carrying a whole bunch of...clothes.

"Boss?" I blinked. "What's all of this?"

"You're the highlight of the event." She beamed, ushering me back by inviting herself in. Right behind her, Wendy trotted in as well carrying a whole bunch of other things I didn't even want to know.

"I'm the what now?" I gawked, watching them dump everything on my bed.

"So here's how it goes." Mavis crossed her arms. "I am going to be giving a boring speech for the press on reuniting our club. Then afterwards, Coach Makarov is going to announce the starting line-ups. You're literally going to walk up on the stage from behind-the-scenes. It's gonna give everybody the surprise of a lifetime."

"Wait, wait, wait." I needed time to get myself hyped up for this. I'm gonna be greeted with either two different reactions:

The arms opened wide with loving smiles and tears because my teammates never actually felt I abandoned them. Instead, they're just glad I was happy for some time and did my own thing. Because at the end of the day, I found my way home to them.

The second reaction is the one I'm most afraid of.

Utter despair and hatred painted on all their faces when they see me reveal who I am. They hate me for taking a deal and leaving them in the dust to fend for themselves.

They hate I was one of the major reasons the club ended up in a hiatus in the first place.

"You're scared." Wendy concluded. The blue-haired girl was in front of me now, taking both my hands and squeezing it warmly. "I wouldn't worry too much about their reactions. I know for sure I never hated you. I know Jellal and Erza never hated you either. They're happy you got to see the world on your own for a little bit. I can bet anything they're gonna be happier you're on the pitch with them again."

I smiled.

Hopefully everybody is as understanding as Jellal, Erza and Wendy.

"You're right." I closed my eyes.

She is right.

I just need to concentrate on making myself look the best of me to take on the world.

"Alright." I said, more determination in my voice. "Let's show the world the Celestial Striker is back."

------

Natsu Dragneel

I can't believe my brother.

I know how to dress myself really well and if I needed to look presentable so he doesn't look bad, I know how to fucking do it.

I hate being touched...everywhere while being dressed by a whole bunch of guys trying to secure the fire red tie just perfectly. My black vest was perfectly straightened and even my scarf was tightened just right.

Glancing in the mirror, I smirked at myself.

Damn I looked good.

Three soft knocks caught everybody's attention. I glanced at the doorway to see my wife, dressed in a beautiful red strapless dress to match my tie. It reached about half her thigh and some smoking red heels to complete the outfit. My mouth watered at her sight.

Oh I'm gonna have fun ripping that off her tonight.

"You ready?" She winked. "Mr. Salamander?"

"Yes I am, Mrs. Salamander." I glared at all the butlers who stopped their finishing touches completely. "Stop touching me and get the car pulled around, please."

In a scurry fashion, they backed out of the room. Lisanna finally came into the room and into my opened arm, planting a kiss on my cheeks. "You excited?"

I nodded. "Playing for the school is fun and all but Fairy Tail is the real deal. I honestly never thought Big Sis would pull the club out. Just in time, too. I'm ready to kick some ass at the World Cup."

In fact, I'm all fired up!

When she first made the announcement to me and my wife, we both immediately said we're coming back. Then the entire OG responded just as eagerly so there was no doubt the old times are coming back. I honestly just want to be playing with my old friends again, making memories winning tournaments as a family.

"I heard Coach is going to announce the roster tonight." We were outside my brother's mansion, waiting for the car. "Do you think I'm the starting striker?"

"Duh." I kissed her forehead. "I wouldn't want anybody else on the pitch in that position. You've been practicing, too. You're catching more and more of my passes so if it's not you, I don't know who'd it be. You're the best striker I have ever met!"

Lisanna shook her head suddenly, a sad smile settling on her face. "You and I both know that's not true."

"But it is."

"Natsu..."

I bit my lip a bit, not caring my sharp canines were slowly cutting into my bottom one.

No pain is worse than the one I had to go through when she left. I planned on just drinking my days away, do everything I can to just forget someone came in and turned my life upside down like that.

It took me a while to accept that yeah there's no way she'd come back to me. She's out having fun with no regards to how much she hurt me when she left me in the dust alone.

Alone.

And my heart?

If Lisanna wasn't around to pick me back up, I would still be the drunk fucking screw up I made myself into.

"In my eyes." I grabbed her shoulders with a warm smile. "Not ESPN's, not Fox Sports. You are the best striker. I love you."

I kissed her briefly and she returned it.

"I love you, more." She smiled.

I opened my mouth to say something else when the car's headlights pulled up, blinding us.

"Wow." I whistled. "Big Sis knows how to pick 'em."

It was the most flawless Tesla I have ever seen. Pure dark red and just beautiful inside and out. It reminds me of Ezra's car but unlike that crazy lady, the drivers who drive this don't lose control.

But fuck cars altogether.

Or any form of transportation. Walking and running is the way to go. I know in Lisanna's little handbag, she has my motion sickness medicine. I need to take before I show up to the red carpet event all pukey.

The driver jumped out of the car and opened the door with a bow. "Mr. and Mrs. Dragneel."

Lisanna climbed in first closely followed by me. I settled in, took a deep breath and released a huge sigh. 

My wife handed me two of my motion sickness pills and the bottle of water my brother's servants prepared for us knowing I am the worse passenger otherwise.

After the pills ran down my throat, I threw the water bottle down to my feet and gave a loud shout: "Fuck yeah! I'm all fired up."

Lisanna giggled cutely beside me and winked. "Natsu Dragneel you ready to dominate the field again?"

"You betcha!" I asked. "How about you Mrs. Strauss-Dragneel? Are you ready to make your mark on the world?"

"With my husband by my side." Lisanna looked forward, a wave of determination and love shone in her dark ocean blue eyes. "I am taking that striker spot no problem!"