"Anyways, I hear Natsu is back," Sting said as he sat on the couch. My eyes were still on his freakish friend but who am I to call him a freak?

"Yeah, he came back a while ago, I'm so happy!" I grinned as I sat right next to him, tearing my eyes from the eyes of the void. I'm telling you, creepy but whatever.

"Had he told you why he left so urgently?" Sting asked me.

That got to me.

Not the question itself but the way he had asked it. It was my first time hearing him say something so...pressingly? I don't like it. I know some people are just capping their feelings in and just let them out at terrible times but wow!

He sounded like he really didn't care about Natsu.

Or the effect it might have on me.

"Well, he brought his family back...So I guess it was something to do with family?" I shrugged. Natsu hadn't really spoken of his family much. And I really don't see Zeref much even though he is meant to be in 6th form. He's literally allowed anywhere and he's nowhere to be found.

And Wendy hadn't enrolled yet. Something about the papers getting lost in their house. Natsu hadn't even let me see his house yet.

So I guess things had changed.

Natsu now had a family. Gajeel is now a vampire. We're in Year 10 now. Dad had come back only once and left straight away...

But...nothing about those changes were that different. Natsu had that family for ages, even if he didn't know. Gajeel being a vampire might have changed but he's glad because he likes the taste because of the iron. Freaky but HE doesn't mind the change. He's acting the same. And dad? He hardly gets to stay home...

"Lucy!" Mum yelled as she rushed down the stairs with her phone in hand. She had a large grin on her face and everything. "I have great news!" Her voice died down as she saw Sting and her eyes then went to Rogue.

"Sorry but your dad is coming home! Not just for a night but for 5 months! It's a reward for going on that trip so quickly! Do you see that!" Mum smiled softly at me.

"That's great but...what about the money? 5 months? Mum, I don't think we can live here with just your job alone..." I pointed out.

"Who says he isn't going to work?" She asked me with an eyebrow up. "His business is here. 5 months. You get to see your dad and didn't you see Natsu was back? With all he had been hearing from you about him on the phone, I bet he'd like to see him."

"You talk about him that much?" I heard Rogue snicker in the background. He was so quiet that I bet that my mum and I weren't meant to hear it, let alone Sting. He elbowed his best friend in the stomach.

"When is he coming back? And I don't talk about Natsu that much..." I pouted. Maybe I haven't forgotten about Natsu in the year he left but whatever. What's done is done.

What's going to happen is important.

"In a week. I have to get the house ready! Maybe some flowers? What about a present? Should I get balloons? Chicken?" My mum ranted on. As she rambled onwards about the next week, I started to put my hand on her back and push her back upstairs. I don't think she'd want three kids to watch her plan something embarrassing for her.

"Who's up for Mario Kart?" I asked. They both scrambled for the controllers as I walked back into the living room. I reached into my pocket, expecting to feel the lighter but no.

A note.

I took it out and read it.

'I bet your real life is going really well, isn't it? I wish I had something like that...'