A Lost Boy

Chapter 31

The window to the nursery was still open and Mrs. Fernandes was still asleep in her chair with Panther Lily at her side. When the wind blew she did not wake nor did she wake when three children: Two boys and a girl, came through that open window and alighted on the floor with great softness. They gazed upon the sleeping woman and each of them felt guilt for all the pain that had made her suffer with their absence.

"Oh Mother." Juvia said her voice full of deep regret. "Please forgive us."

"She's been waiting for us all this time." Natsu said. "She even left the window open. Just like you said."

"That's because I knew she would. Mothers like her never forget and never close the window."

"Do we wake her?" Romeo asked.

"No. Let us break it to her gently." Juvia said.

Juvia, Natsu, and Romeo all climbed back into their beds as if they had never left to begin with. Panther Lily finally caught hold of their scent which woke him and he woke Mrs. Fernandes. Erza stood up from her chair, first checking the window and then the beds of the nursery, seeing all three beds occupied. The children waited for her cry of joy, but it did not come.

"Oh Lily." She said to the large black cat in a voice full of deep sorrow. "I dreamt that my little ones had come back. I dreamed they were asleep in their beds. But they will never come back."

She walked out of the nursery and went down the hall which confused the children greatly. They did not understand how she could not see them. But you see, she saw them in their beds so often in her dreams that she thought that this was just the dream hanging around her still. The heartbroken woman had just reached the end of the hall when she heard Juvia's voice call.

"Mother."

For a moment she became perfectly still. Almost too terrified to hope. Then she went back into the nursery to see her little ones out of bed and staring at her with their smiling faces.

"Hello Mother." Romeo said.

"It really is us." Natsu said.

"We've come home." Juvia said.

Erza fell to her knees and stretched out her arms to embrace, hold, and cradle each of them. Shedding tears of long awaited joy while planting kisses on each of their foreheads and cheeks.

"Jellal!" She cried when she could speak again. "Jellal, come quickly!"

"I'm coming!" He said running from his study and into the nursery. "What is it?"

He looked at the window first and then he slowly turned around to face the two boys and girl in the arms of his wife.

"We're back Father." Natsu said breaking away from his mother and expecting to be scolded by the man for all the trouble he and his siblings had caused.

"Did you miss us?" Romeo asked innocently.

Jellal stood before them stiff, serious, and sophisticated as always. A perfect English gentleman. One who never loses his composure for any reason whatsoever. Not even for an extremely emotional and touching moment like this.

"You're back." He said. "Well done."

He held his hand out. Natsu moved to shake it for he was certain that his father would forever be a man of no sentiment or affection. But the very moment the boy's hand made contact with the one belonging to the banker he surprised them all by pulling his eldest son close and stretching his arms around him.

"My angels." He said moving his arms to hold Romeo while fighting the urge to cry. "Of course I missed you."

Juvia was the last one he held and before he embraced her as he did to her brothers he made a look that asked her permission for such an affectionate act and at the same time begged her forgiveness of his earlier treatment of her.