Hello again, everyone. c: ♡ Here is the next chapter~!  This is my second one of the day, and I'm pretty sure my streak will keep going. c:  In other words, I'll mostly likely be publishing again today!  I want to get this book finished (even though I loved writing it) so I can work on another of my eleven I can do! xD  

There's a song here for when Natsu meets Lucy again!  You can play it during the scene if you want~!

I dedicate this chapter to Kayla_Eucliffe_FT for being a big fan of mine, and mentioning me in her bio! c':  You're so sweet!  I hope you all like this chapter, and feedback is appreciated, like always!  Until the next chapter, minna!

яу-¢нαи,

тнє иαℓυ ωяιтєя ♥

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Lucy let Rose enter her apartement first, and shut the door politely behind her.

"Well, this is it!"  Lucy exclaimed.  "It isn't anything fancy, but..."

"It's adorable."  Rose replied, smiling.

Lucy looked relieved at Rose's comment, and watched her enter her bedroom to look around.

Enetering the kitchen, Lucy looked over her shoulder.  "Do you want some tea, Rose?"

Rose nodded, smiling.  "That sound great.  If it's not too much trouble, of course."

Lucy shook her head, smiling.  "Of course not!"

As Lucy prepared the tea, Rose went around looking at all the pictures Lucy had, including a cute little doll on her shelf.  Sitting down in the chair near the front of the table, Lucy walked over, setting the tray of tea and treets in front of them.

"I'd have enough space to put another bed in here,"  Lucy started.  "Are..you sure you can't stay?"

Rose looked at her, amused.  "I'm sure you don't want a few hundred years old person staying in your home."

Lucy shook her head vigorously.  "That doesn't matter!  Right now, besides Michelle, I don't have any family..."

"Michelle?"

"Oh!"  Lucy stopped, blushing.  "Michelle's over there..."  Pointing, Lucy guestured to the doll.

Rose smiled slightly.  "Well, I'm sure she's enough company, isn't she?"

Lucy looked embarrassed.  "Well of course she is, but...I just don't want you to go."

Rose set down her tea, taking Lucy's hands in hers.  "Lucy, I really would like to stay, it's just that a few hundred years is a large difference.  You've recovered from a seven years, but...it seems too impossible for someone like me.  Besides,"  She looked at Lucy, laughing slightly.  "I have to go help Annabelinda with the other dragons, remember?"

Lucy slowly nodded.  "Yeah..."

"Don't worry."  Rose replied.  "I'll be with you in here."  She guestured to her heart.

Lucy nodded, suddenly giving her a hug.  "I love you, Rose."

Rose froze, but then couldn't help the emotional shaking of her eyes.  

She lightly placed her hands on Lucy's back.  "I love you too."

Lucy ended up talking with Rose for a long time, until it was mid-afternoon.  After that, Rose had stood up, stretching.

"Where're you going?"  Lucy asked, standing up.  "You're not leaving already, are you?!"

Rose looked amused.  "No, I'm not.  I have to go and check up on something.  I'll be back tomorrow."

"Promise?"  Lucy asked, looking slightly worried.

Rose laughed slightly, resting a hand on her shoulder.  "I promise."

_________________________________________________________________________________

Natsu ended up waking later on, around five in the evening.  By this time, the sun was halfway down, and it set an orange glow on everything outside.  As Natsu stirred, he sat up, rubbing the back of his head as he yawned.

Freezing slightly, he turned to look at the other bed, and saw it messed up and empty.

"Lucy...!"  Natsu exclaimed quietly, pulling himself out of bed quickly.

Where was she?  He had to see her...

Going into the main part of the guild, Natsu looked around but didn't see her anywhere.  His heart seemed to beat a little faster in panic.

"Oi, Natsu!" You're awake too, I see?"  Erza replied.

"Where's Lucy?"  Natsu asked, looking at Happy who had snuggled him with happiness.

Gray guestured to the door.  "She's been gone for awhile.  She and Rose went off to her apartement."

"I think she's saying goodbye to Rose."  Wendy replied sadly.

"It must be hard on her..."  Mira replied.  "She is family to Lucy, after all."

"Whaaat?!"  Natsu exclaimed.  "Why didn't anyone wake me up?!  Geez..!"

Everyone stared at him in surprise and puzzlement, watching as he ignored everyone else's happy greetings and ran out the door of the guild.

"What's up with him?"  Gray muttered.

Mira giggled.  "I think I have an idea."

This time, Erza smiled too.  "Ah."

Gray looked back and forth between them, and so did Happy.  "What are you two talking about?"

"Yeah,"  Happy replied.  "For once I don't get it..."

_________________________________________________________________________________

Natsu ended up reaching Lucy's apartement, taking off all his bandages as he ran.  Wendy had given him a second treatement, so he didn't need them anymore.

"Lucy!"  Natsu called.

No answer.

His heart race quickening, Natsu was fearful that Lucy wasn't here.  Was it all just a dream?  Was Lucy really back?  Had...he really said those things to her?  What if he was still in those illusions?!

Many scary thoughts raced through Natsu's mind as he jumped up to Lucy's window, looking in.  He didn't see her, even though her lights were on.

Where was she?

Climbing in without a second thought, Natsu hopped over the bed and landed on the floor, looking around.

"Lucy?"  Natsu called loudly, waiting for a reply.

Her scent was fresh, so why--

"Natsu?"  Lucy replied with surprise, appearing out of the kitchen.

When her eyes landed on him, she smiled, her face brightening.  "Natsu!"

Natsu jogged over to her, relaxing.

She was safe.

Lucy was blushing slightly.  "What're you doing here?  Aren't your injuries still--"

Natsu interrupted her with a kiss, making Lucy halt in surprise.  When Lucy registered what was happening, Lucy's eyes softened, and she closed them, resting a hand on Natsu's shoulder.

Pulling away, Natsu blushed slightly.  "I'm glad you're okay."

Lucy was blushing more than Natsu was, of course.  "Y-Yeah.  But are you sure you're okay?  You were a lot more injured than I was..."

Natsu grinned.  "Much better."

Lucy smiled softly.  "That's good to hear."

All the memories Natsu had remembered revolving around him and Lucy in her apartment made sense now.

Lucy was here to stay, and Natsu was going to spend everyday with her, from now on.

Surprising him, Lucy planted a small kiss on his cheek, making Natsu's expression turn into one of surprise.  Looking away, Lucy walked back into the kitchen.  Natsu watched her, smiling slightly.

"Did Rose leave?"  Natsu asked, walking in to stand next to her as she did the dishes.

Lucy shook her head.  "No, she said she had to take care of something.  Rose said she'd be back tomorrow, and say her goodbyes then."

"Ah..."  Natsu replied, slightly preoccupied.

Lucy stopped, turning to him with puzzlement.  "What is it?"

Natsu shook his head, smiling down at her.  "Nothing.  Just thinking."

Lucy laughed.  "Natsu, thinking?  That's new."

Natsu blushed.  "Hey, I think all the time!"

Lucy couldn't help another small laugh.  "That's hard to believe!"

Natsu pouted his lip, looking like a child.  Suddenly, he got an idea.

"I'll prove it to you!"  Natsu exclaimed, and Lucy turned to look at him in surprise as she was drying her hands.

Grabbing her wrist, Natsu planted a kiss on Lucy's lips again, making Lucy's eyes widen.  Suddenly smiling in amusement against his lips, Lucy blushed and kissed him back passionately.

When they pulled away, Natsu grinned.  "I thought about doing that, and then I did!"

Lucy smiled, giggling.  "That doesn't count, stupid."

"It should!"  Natsu whined, pulling on her again.

"A-a-a,"  Lucy replied, dodging his lips as she shook her finger at him.  "No more!  That's all you get!"

"What, why?"  Natsu asked, pouting again.  "I haven't seen you for days!"

Lucy laughed, covering her mouth with three fingers cutely as if to guard her lips.  "There's a limit!"  She teased.

Starting to walk past him, Natsu's face suddenly turned mischevious.  "Oi, then I'll break the limit!"

Lucy squealed as Natsu grabbed her wrist, and she tried to shake him off and run.  However, Natsu's grip was too strong, and he held on.  Since Lucy was pulling with all her might, Natsu tripped and fell, landing on top of her with a thump.

"Ouch, ouch...."  Lucy murmured, her eyes clenched tightly closed.

When she opened them, she looked at Natsu with horror, seeing he was smirking at her, pinning her down.

"No!"  Lucy exclaimed, laughing.  "I said no more!"

Natsu grinned childishly.  "Says who?"

"Says me!"  Lucy exclaimed, preparing for the worst.

"I ain't gonna listen to you!"  Natsu exclaimed.

"You said you would back at the base of the mountains, before we entered the portal!"  Lucy protested, squirming.

Natsu shrugged.  "This is a special case."

Lucy tried to dodge at first, but Natsu planted his lips on her's after a moment of struggling.  Giving up her tease, Lucy kissed him back, relaxing under his grip.

After a minute or two of kissing, Natsu pulled back, but only inches from her face.  

"Got one!"  He replied childishly, and Lucy smiled.

.

.

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It's official!  Natsu and Lucy have found each other again, and are planning to have new relationship with each other!  Now all that's left is Rose leaving, and the matter of Loren and Lores.  What will happen to them?

Find out in the next chapter, Chapter 21: Farewell.