-3 years later-

No one's P.O.V

     It had been several years now since the Fairytail Guild came back, and they were still thriving. And within the Guild, love was blossoming.

       In the time that Lucy had been gone, several things have occurred between other members. Including Juvia and Gray, who are sitting happily in one of the Guild halls seats, the ice make mage holding his ear against his fiancées stomach, as she was pregnant. Another development was Jellal and Erza, who had been recently taking it steady in secret, although everyone knew the two of them were dating. And finally Levy and Gajeel who already had a beautiful daughter, and twins on the way.

  With all the family and love in the air, how could one not be happy? Well that one, was Natsu. Who felt lonely amongst all this romance. He currently sat his favourite place in the building nowadays, the bar.

"Are you okay, Natsu?" The lovely white haired bartender asks, noticing he was deep in thought with a glum expression written on his face. Instead of denying it like he usually does, for once he vents to her.

"No..." he takes a deep breath. "I've been been thinking about Luce..."

'Of course he has.' Mirajane thinks to her self. 'He hasn't seen her in eight years.'

"It's just that," Natsu pauses for a second, trying to hold back an onslaught of tears threatening to fall. "I regret leaving for a year, maybe that's why she won't come back home."

  Before Mira could respond he continues, he was trying to cover his face with his arms but she could hear his small sniffles ."I only went to train so I could protect her once I got stronger. So I wouldn't lose her again, I guess I failed."

   While the dragon slayer continues sulking, Mirajane thinks back to the day Lucy and her were observing the scene between Natsu and Lisanna. She knows know that they're just friends, nothing more, it only Lucy knew that back then—things might've been different now.

"If she was was still here maybe we could've started a family together." He was obviously envious of his friends around him who had already gotten a head start.

  Lucy and Natsu's son Luke suddenly popped in the take over mages head. 'Oh, Natsu. If only you knew.'

***

No one's P.O.V

It was a Wednesday morning in Crocus. The early daylight from the sun peaked through the curtains of someone's bedroom window. Under the blankets the person stirred, bothered by the sudden intrusion of brightness.

His mother walked in the room, quick to fully open his protective curtains, letting all the sunlight deep in which finally got the young boy moving.

"Wake up, hunny. Don't want to miss school today, do you?" The mom urges her son to get ready for another day. The figure groaned, his head popping up from the covers, his golden blonde hair disheveled.

Lucy smiled at him before leaving him to get ready. Luke was currently attending Crocus elementary, he was halfway through the first grade, meaning he was seven. The school mostly taught kids about magic, since it was a huge part of Fiore, and overtime Luke experienced more of it in his life. Just last week on his seventh birthday the celestial mage gifted him three of her Zodiac keys.

Luke hit the ground with a thud. He shook his head and began getting dressed, Crocus elementary was a uniform school, so he had no choice but to wear what he was given. His usual daily outfit consisted of a light blue polo shirt, beige kaki shorts and a dark blue tie to hold it all together, Lucy always thought her young child looked so adorable in the ensemble.

After he was done tying the laces of his classic black shoes, he got up to leave his room, taking the keys of Virgo, Loke, and Cancer with him. The keys that were now his. His mother thought about the selection carefully, Luke has always had a liking to the hardcore maid Virgo, as well as Cancer who was always happy to deliver on great haircuts for him. And lastly Loke because he was the strongest of all the spirits, and more than able to protect the seven year old.

"Here's some toast. Eat up." Lucy said as he entered the kitchen, Luke always loved his moms breakfasts even if it was simple as butter on toast.

Lucy heaved a sigh as she brought him the plate, it was still hard work being a single mother even with Luke being a bit grown up. Hana had left when he was six to pursue her own path, the blonde was happy for the young girl and wished her the best, although she would always miss that helping hand.

"Want me to walk you to school today?" Lucy asks as her son his gobbling down the food, just like his father would.

"No." Luke simply says, crumbs falling out his open mouth. It was usual for him to travel to school alone, after all Crocus elementary wasn't far from where they lived and it was a safe journey.

She giggled and leaned forward, wiping the excess toast from the corners of his mouth. "Don't talk while eating, silly." It's exactly something she'd say to her former team mate, Natsu. It was crazy how much those two were alike eating wise, on the other hand Luke had inherited her smarts and love for reading.

Luke quickly nodded, thanked his mom for the meal and rushed out the door, his tiny backpack in tow, he didn't want to be late.

"Have a good day!" She called out, even though the small boy couldn't hear her.

***

It was roll call time in the classroom, the blond had just made it in time to run to his seat and plop down. The teacher cleared her throat as she began to call out students names, one by one.

Luke tuned most of this out, his chin resting on the palm of his hand, waiting to be called out. If he wasn't learning or at recess school was boring for the young boy, he had no friends where he currently went and no one was too keen befriending him for no reason in particular, but his mother didn't need to know that.

"Luke Heartfillia?"

He snapped back into reality to quickly raise his hand. "Here."

When the Guild disbanded and Lucy moved to Crocus to start her life with her baby she didn't change her last name, the girl had no reason to. Lucy wasn't running or hiding from anyone.

Later outside during recess, several kids were playing out back behind the schools building. Luke was on the swings by himself, as usual. Yet today he noticed a group of kids his age in the corner of the playground, the seven year old was in range to hear their conversation.

"Did you see Fairytail in this weeks Sorcerer's weekly! They're so awesome!" One kid says in excitement to another, it seems to Luke that they were taking about a magic Guild.

"They're like the best Guild in Magnolia! In Fiore!" Another replies just as hyped. "The Guild has the best mages ever, with the coolest magic!!"

Luke was interested in the topic, he's never heard of that Guild before, apparently their in Magnolia. He's never been before. Without thinking the blond began to chime in, wanting to brag about his magical powers. "I'm a celestial mage." He confidently brags, that's sure to impress them.

The group of kids notice him and are in complete awe. Being a celestial mage at all was rare, the princess of Fiore in fact was one. It was particularly rare for kids his age. Luke did not regret his choice of blabbing his mouth, as of yet. He was proud and happy at this chance of new friendships, yet little did he know someone one else noticed him.

***

A shady looking man was strolling through the tight knit streets of Crocus, minding his own business. He had passed by a local school's backyard, fenced of course to keep the children safe. The man had no care of it until he heard a single phrase.

"I'm a celestial mage." A kids voice echoed, catching the mans attention. He smirked as he took out his phone lacrima and dialled a number.

"Bingo."

***

It was after school and Luke and Lucy were on their way home, even though Luke preceded to go to school himself in the morning, he doesn't mind when his mom picks him up afterwards.

"Mom." Luke suddenly says, getting her attention. "What was dad like."

Lucy's eyes softened as she looked at her son, she felt guilty. He would almost never bring out the subject, she never gave him a good enough answer. Deep down she knew it was her fault Luke didn't grow up with his father, the celestial mage never returned home after all like everyone else did.

This time felt different, Lucy decided she might as well give some backstory, as his son he deserved to know. "Well."

Luke looked up at her with hope in his onyx eyes, thinking maybe finally his mom would tell who he is, or was.

"Your father was a very kind man." She starts off, already reminiscing. "He was brave, strong, careless, a leader." She began listing off his traits. "He was always there for his family—" Lucy thinks back to when the dragon slayer left for a year, maybe he wasn't always there. "And I loved him very much." She stops it short, saddened at how he had left the Guild and didn't try to contact her since.

"Why isn't he here?" Luke pushes further, curious to know more.

"I don't know if he loved me back. He left one day and so did I. I never bothered to return." Lucy gets caught up staring at nothing as the two continue waking, almost at their house.

Luke remains silent, knowing he shouldn't pursue the topic further for his moms sake.

"Oh look we're here!" She exclaims in a positive attitude, almost as if it was a mask to hide behind while in truth she was still hurt by the conversation. Lucy reaches for the house keys in her pocket and is ready to unlock the door. Yet she stops cold.

"The door...is already unlocked..."

***

I haven't updated in awhile •^• oops. School is starting very soon for me so I won't be able to update as frequently but I'll do my best •3• thanks for reading! ✌️

~NaLu4Lyfe03