Chapter One: Lucy's Back

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN FAIRY TAIL! ~(sadly)~

Normal POV

Lucy stared out the plane window restlessly. Finally, after nine years, she was returning home.

And she couldn't wait.

~ Nine Years Ago ~

Lucy was at a playground with her best friends — Natsu, Erza, and Gray. She was seven years old at the time. The three of them were older than her. She sat out from the games they'd usually play, not in the mood. Lucy was upset and wanted to cry, but not in front of her friends. They all noticed. They'd all known each other for three years, so they were friends since she was four years old.

"Luce, what's wrong?" Natsu asked her, dropping onto the floor to sit in front of her.

"Yeah, Luce, what's wrong? You've been gloomy all day!" Gray said, copying him.

Natsu's eyebrow twitched as he yelled, "Stop copying me, Stripper! Put on some clothes, too!"

"Eh?! When did that happen?!" Gray screeched, fumbling for his clothing hurriedly.

"Stop fighting you two!" Erza shouted, taking a seat next to the two and glaring menacingly.

Natsu and Gray saluted, "Aye, Sir! I mean, 'ma'am'!" Erza nodded in approval.

Lucy giggled with a tinge of sadness. "I'm gonna miss you guys…" she said quietly.

"What do you mean by that, Luce?!" Natsu and Gray asked loudly, worriedly, not noticing they said the same thing at the same time.

The blond smiled, trying not to worry them, and answered sadly, "My daddy said Mommy and I have to move to America because of his job. We have to stay there for nine years…I'm going to miss you guys!"

Erza, Natsu, and Gray stared at her in shock. After what seemed like eternity, Erza asked softly, "When are you moving?"

"In exactly six weeks, but it's okay. I'm coming back after nine years," she replied, forcing herself not to cry in front of them.

"Luce… Don't try to hide the fact that you're sad. We're your best friends, so you can cry in front of us… And nine years is a long time to wait," Gray stated, his voice shaking. He gave her a grin and joked, "We'd be hurt if you didn't cry, actually."

That was when she started to cry into her hands. "I...I don't want to go!" she wailed, tears dripping onto the ground. The three inched towards her and pulled her into a warm, comforting hug.

"We should make the most of our six weeks together. We should spend as much time we can together, too!" Erza decided. Lucy's tears were subsiding as she pulled away from the group hug.

"Thanks," she whispered through tears.

The three smiled at her fondly. "Let's go play, Luce!" Gray and Natsu shouted, pulling her up from the ground. They started to run and dragged her along, Erza on their heels.

~ Six Weeks Later ~

Erza, Gray, and Natsu planned a party for Lucy's departure. There was ice cream, milkshakes, candy, balloons, streamers, and a huge decorative sign that said, "We'll Miss You, Luce!" She smiled, knowing that Natsu and Gray made it, being the only two who called her "Luce".

After the party, Lucy had to leave. She remember the sad tears her best friends cried.

"I'm gonna miss you, Luce," Natsu stated, hugging her tightly at the airport. He hugged her for what seemed like eternity, then he let go.

"We're all gonna miss you, Luce," Gray corrected, pulling the blond into a tight and warm hug. Again, after what seemed like eternity, he let go of me. He smiled fondly and ruffled her hair. She didn't complain.

"Goodbye, Lucy. See you in nine years," Erza told her. Lucy smiled and hugged her tightly.

When she pulled away, she looked at all of them, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Promise me that we'll never forget each other, that you'll still be here by the time I get back!" Lucy said determinedly.

Gray raised an eyebrow. "You're always crying Lucy, and you shouldn't." He shared a small smile with the others. "After all, how would we forget you?"

They had a group hug before Lucy's father said, "It's time to go, Lucy." She nodded at him.

"Goodbye, everyone! I'll miss you!" Lucy cried.

"We'll miss you too, Lucy! Remember us!" they shouted as she walked away. She waved at them all as she got onto the plane.

On the plane, Lucy looked out the window to see her friends waving at the plane. She smiled lightly and murmured, "Bye, everyone… See you in nine years…"

End of Flashback

The plane landed and Lucy took out her luggage from its compartment. She dragged her two suitcases and her knapsack off the plane. She felt so happy… It was good to be back.

When Lucy got off the plane, she stopped walking. She stood there, with tears silently falling from brown orbs, and muttered, "… I'm back, guys…And I can't wait to see you!" A grin broke out onto her face.

At the thought of seeing her friends again, she began to speed up her walking pace, then began to jog. Soon, she was full out running, feet pounding the the ground.

No, wait... Lucy thought. I am home.

And it felt great.