I lied! I'm updating on Christmas for your Christmas present! <3 I think you'll find this chapter to be heartwarming. So, relax, kick back, and enjoy!

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Lucy's POV:

Now, that it's winter break, I decided to take a break and chill with Levy, Erza, Juvia, Mira, and Cana. We all gathered at Mira's house and we just talked for the whole day.

"So, I decided that we should have a Christmas party," Mira said.

"That sounds great! Who are you going to invite?" Erza asked.

"Obviously, all of you people. I'm also going to invite Natsu, Gajeel, Gray, Jellal, and Sting over. You can even invite your parents if you'd like. Oh, I'm going to plan the best Christmas party ever!" Mira exclaimed with glee.

"But, Christmas is tomorrow, Mira. How are you going to plan everything?" Levy asked.

"Simple, I'll text the boys if they want to come and you guys can text your parents to see if they want to come as well. Then, I'm taking all of you guys to go shopping with me. Oh, I'll pay for the whole thing, so you don't have to worry about spending money. I'll even buy presents for everybody!" We agreed to the plan and started to text our families to come over and celebrate Christmas. My dad still hasn't come back from his business trip, so I only texted Virgo.

"I'm done. Oh, you don't have to bring the booze. My dad has a lot, so he'll bring the beverage for the adults," Cana said as she drank her scotch.

"Does Cana-san consider herself as an adult?" Juvia asked. I shrugged my shoulders and placed my phone inside my back pocket.

"Let's get to work, everybody. By the way, does anyone here know how to cook?" Mira asked. Erza and I were the only ones who raised our hands up.

"Does baking count? I'm a pretty good baker if I do say so myself," Erza said.

"Yes, I'll need help making brownies, cookies, and a big cake for the whole party. All of the cooking will be done at my place. What about you, Lucy? What can you do?" Mira asked as she pointed her finger at me.

"I can make any dish you want, but you have to give me the recipe," I said. Mira nodded and faced her attention at Levy, Juvia, and Cana.

"As for the rest of you, Juvia and Levy, you guys are on decorating duty. Cana...just drink your scotch. Come on, everybody. Move it! Move it! Move it!" Mira commanded. As fast as we could, we went to different stores and got all the ingredients, decorations, and presents to make the perfect Christmas party for all of our friends and families to enjoy.

[THE NEXT DAY]

It was five in the morning and Mira called all of us to meet her at seven o'clock. Mira gave Erza and I special instructions and we had to get up an hour earlier than everybody else.

I got ready and walked all the way to Mira's house. Still wishing I had my driver's license, I started running to prevent myself from being late. I made it all the way to the front door and rang the doorbell. Instead of Mira, Erza was the one who opened the door for me.

"Right on time, Lucy. Mira is really enjoying herself when she's cooking. Before, Mira got really pissed at me for being here 10 minutes early and got really stressed out. I told her that we should start baking and she seems to have calmed down. Oh, here's the recipe that Mira wanted to give you. Roast turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, caesar salad, a fruit salad, fettuccine alfredo, stuffed mushrooms, and clam chowder," Erza said as she handed me the recipe.

"No problem. I've made a big dinner like this before. This should be a piece of cake." She patted my back and we walked to the kitchen. Erza and I saw Mira humming, while putting the brownies into the oven.

"Ah, Lucy! Start making the salads first. It doesn't have to be hot, so I can put it in the fridge when you're done," Mira said as she handed me an apron. I obeyed what she said and got straight to work. After finishing the salads, Juvia, Cana, and Levy came over with the decorations. Mira instructed them to cover the place from top to bottom.

Everything was completed and it was time to start the celebration. The first visitors to arrive were the boys. Mira texted them to bring along their parents too. Everyone was here and the decorations looked spectacular. Mira played some Christmas music and everybody was getting along quite well.

I thought that the last guests were here, but there was a certain doorbell that rung, which caught my attention. I opened the door and saw the one person I was least expecting.

"Hey, Lucy. I hope I didn't come too late," Dad said as he brought a present. I gestured him to enter and he started to mingle with all the parents.

"I know that you forgot to invite your father, so I invited him for you," Virgo said.

"Virgo, I didn't forget to invite him. I thought he was still out of town."

"This is the worst thing I could've done. You must punish me, Princess," Virgo said as she tried to tie herself up. I rolled my eyes and took away the rope.

"No, Virgo. I don't like giving people punishments. Especially, you."

"I'll leave you to your thoughts, Princess." She bowed with courtesy and helped Mira to serve the food. I went up to the balcony and looked up at the stars.

Tonight, the stars were looking shinier than usual. I looked at the shooting star and made a wish. I closed my eyes and clasped my hands together. This is what I needed. To savor the silence and solitude I was in.

I looked at the stars one last time and decided to head back to the others. I turned around and saw Dad waiting patiently for me.

"What do you want?" I asked a bit harshly.

"I just want to talk to you, Lucy," he said with a sad tone. Stunned by what he just said, I started to process all the things that could possibly go wrong. He gestured me to sit right next to him and I reluctantly did. I waited for about a minute or so and I started talking.

"I wanted to speak to you for so long. When mom was here, I remembered the time you would push me when I was having trouble with the swings. I always cherished those little moments with you. I still do. Sometimes, I wondered what it would be like if Mom was still here. But, she isn't anymore. I don't want her to be the reason why we were so close before. I want you to love me, because I made you happy. When Mom died, you stopped talking to me. You would talk for about a minute or less, but that was it. I want to have a full on conversation with you. I want you to care for me again. I want you...to love me the same way you did when Mom was alive." Tears were falling from my dark, brown eyes. I tried to wipe them away, but they just kept coming. I want to have my dad back. I want to tell him that I love him. I want him to realize how sad I was without him.

I covered my eyes with my hands and cried softly. As I let all my tears pour out, a pair of arms started to wrap around my body. I looked to see Dad hugging me, as if he didn't want to let me go. I didn't want to, but I needed to cry, so I cried on my dad's broad shoulders. He gently caressed my head and began to talk.

"You remind me so much of your mom. It pained me to just even look at you. I never stopped loving you. Not even for a bit. Layla's death took a huge toll on me. I prayed that one day, Layla would magically come back and we can all be a happy family again. I knew it was never going to happen. I tried to distract myself through work, but it could only do so much. I told myself that I will become better. Become a better father. But, we know that didn't happen. I'm so sorry, Lucy. For not being there to help you, love you, care for you, and just simply be there for you." All the years that I've never spent with my dad was heartbreaking, but I was happy to finally be able to talk and receive closure from him. If this couldn't be a better day than it already is, Father gave me his gift and motioned me to open it. I ripped the wrapping paper and found a bunch of clothes, books, and a necklace engraved with the initials, LH. I didn't know what to do, so I engulfed him with a hug.

"Merry Christmas, Daddy."

"Merry Christmas, Lucy..."

[TIME SKIP]

I headed down to celebrate Christmas with the rest of the guests. I felt like I knew a lot from my friends just by talking to their parents. I was still shocked by the fact that Ul is Gray's mother and Gildarts is Cana's dad.

"Psst! Luce, can you come here for a sec?" Natsu asked. I playfully rolled my eyes and walked to where he was.

"What do you want?"

"Look up." I looked above my head and found a mistletoe right on top us. I blushed a tiny shade of pink.

"What are you suggesting, Natsu?" He leaned forward to my face and placed his lips on mine, sending butterflies and fireworks down my stomach. Some days like today, I always wondered if he knew that I was grateful to have him in my life. It humored me how we didn't even get along at first, yet fate brought us together in the end. I don't know if he knows this, but just being with him was enough for me to have a reason to smile everyday.

"I love you, Lucy."

"I love you too, Natsu..."

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Next Update: Wednesday

My Christmas present from me to you! Sorry, if this was late. I hope you have fun spending time with your family and friends! Christmas is about the season of giving and joy. So, do something nice for your relatives. It can be as simple as giving them hugs! Love you, guys! Merry Christmas!

~TheKonfusingKK