Welcome Back... (NaLu)

Coming Clean

Natsu's POV

With my hand in her's, dressed normally, Lucy in her new clothes, and her little exceed behind us, I slowly open the door to see everyone in a low mood. We stood there for a couple of seconds until a couple of eyes look up to see the old me standing hand in hand with Lucy.

"Uh, hi?" Lucy said to break the awkward silence and stares from the guild members.

"Lucy?" poor Levy asked from Gajeels arms.

"Hey.." she said back. That's when the whole guild started barreling towards us.

Still holding her hand, she began to cling to me in fear of getting trampled. I wrap my other arm around her and pulled her close, stopping every one in their tracks. Everyone was at jaw drop at the sight of us. Not at her being back, and me back to normal, I'm pretty sure it was because I wasn't willing to give her up.

I was afraid. Afraid of letting her go, afraid that if I do, she'd be gone. That all of yesterday and last night was all a dream.

"Come on Natsu! Hand her over!" Gajeel laughed. I tightened my grip more.

"I'm not going anywhere." she reassured me.

"Okay.." I said quietly. We let go of each other and we didn't break our gaze until Levy pulled her off the steps.

The guild went crazy. Each mage getting their turn to hug her and tell her different things. Every now and then she'd quickly look over at me to let me know she wasn't going anywhere. I settled down at one of the bar stools then felt someone brush past me and sit down next to me. Gray.

"Hey," he started.

"Hey!' I replied, glad to be talking to someone.

"So you are still able to communicate!"

"Yeah yeah.."

"What's that?" he asked pointing at my ring.

"Oh, uh, a gift.."

"Who'd you get it from?" he asked in his snarky tone. I let my eyes find Lucy and I looked at her with a pink hue across my face. Gray followed my eyes and saw I was looking at her.

"Ohhhhhh I see. A promise ring?"

"Huh?" I said turning back.

"The ring. Does Lucy have one too?"

"Yeah, why?" he stared at me like I couldn't tell my left from my right.

"Did anything, you know, happen between you and Lucy when she got back?" he asked. I thought about all the hugging, and the whole 'living together' thing. Even though we think of each other as 'rivals' or whatever, in the beginning Gray would actually would listen to me. Give me advice, and when I shut down, he did whatever little things I needed and would do his best to help.

"Uh, well.." I told him about yesterday, but I didn't tell him about her new magic.

"Woah, dude, I think she's got um.."

"What?" I asked seriously.

"Ugh, nothing. Now if you wouldn't mind, go save your girlfriend. I'll go get Happy."

"She not my girlfriend, Ice Princess!"

"Sure, Fire Brain!" we insulted eachother with a smile. I guess I kinda missed that too.

I looked in her direction and saw her struggling with questions she didn't have answers for. Gray was right, she looked like she needed a way out, "Lucy!" I called to her.

"Yeah?" she looked over, relieved.

"I think it's time we fill the guild in," I said pointing to Sapphire, who was sitting on the bar counter getting her guild mark and talking to Carla.

"Right.."

"What do you mean?" Levy asked. It's been a while since I've seen her this happy, even when she's right by Gajeel's side.

"Uh..." Lucy and I said at the same time. We looked at each other for help.

"I'm going to get Gramps." I told Levy.

"Wait for me!" Lucy called after me. I stopped and waited for her to catch up and we ran up to his office together.

"Gramps!" we called out through his office door.

"What is it you want- Lucy?" he looked up at Lucy.

"Hey Gramps! Is it cool I fill the guild in?"

"Of course, welcome back my dear. Do what you must," he replied with a wink and a wave of his hand.

"Don't you want him to see?" I asked while we walked towards the railing above everyone downstairs.

"Uh, he already knows. I kinda told him before I left."

"Oh, yeah.."

"Hey, up here!!" Lucy yelled over the others. It worked, the guild put everything down and looked up at us.

"Follow me!!" She grabbed my hand and looked up at me with a wink. I gave her a small nod and a grin. She smiled and held my hand tighter. We ran down the stairs and out the doors through the back where there was a nice open field usually used for training, the whole guild following us.

"I guess I should tell you where I've been for the past two years huh?"

"Yes!" everyone cried out.

"I was uh, in," she looked up at me again and I gave another quick nod, "The Dragon Realm.."

"The Dragon Realm?!" I could hear Gajeel yell.

"Yes, the Dragon Realm." I said back.

"Then that means..." Levy said quietly. Lucy backed up and motioned for me to light something.

"Gray. I'm gonna need some ice."

"Uh, sure," he froze a block of ice opposite of my fire.

"Juvia!" I called out. Without hesitation, she motioned water towards Lucy and she stopped it in front of her. She looked back at me, reassurance read across my face. She turned back around and began taking in her elements.

"Okay.. Natsu?" she called out to me.

"Yeah?"

"How does a battle sound?"

A fight? With Lucy? I don't stand a chance. Not just because I'm rusty, but also because she's almost over powered.

"You've got it!"