Yes I decided to write a new fic because I am loving this whole Laxus x Lucy thing going on.

I mean seriously, that couple is just delicious!

I do not own Fairy Tail. Wish I did, but I don't :'(

Chapter One - Time Away

Lucy was sitting on the soft ground, her legs crossed underneath her. She felt the wind blow past her, grasping her hair and flowing in the wind. She was calm and relaxed, a peaceful aura surrounding her. Lucy heard some distances leaves rustle, moving in sync with the nature around her.

"Good, you're doing well," Capricorn's familiar voice nodded. "Now, take a deep breath and hold it. While holding your breath I want you to picture yourself standing firmly on the ground. Then, let go and envision yourself floating," Capricorn ordered. Lucy nodded her head, relaxing her face whilst her mind was focused and concentrating.

Lucy imagined herself in darkness, completely black air and ground around her. She was wearing a simple white summer dress, standing firmly on the ground. Her feet were bare, unable to feel the texture of the ground beneath her. Finally, she let her breath out slowly and envisioned herself lifting up from the surface of the ground. It was like she had become weightless and oblivious to the world around her. She felt a certain calm around her, like nothing could destroy anything.

"No, I'm not letting you go," Gray stated firmly.

"Gray..."

"Don't you Gray me, Lucy," the ice mage gritted through his teeth. "After everything we learned from future Lucy there's no way we're letting you go away for several months, it's insane!" he was almost shouting at her. Lucy's heart sank, pained that Gray felt so betrayed and hurt by her decision. Gray had turned his back to her, his arms crossed firmly across his chest. He made up his mind, he wasn't letting Lucy leave.

Lucy sighed and walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Gray, I have to do this, and you know it," she hissed softly. Lucy bit her lower lip, holding back the tears.

"I don't understand why I have to pay for his mistake. Just because he doesn't want to be with you doesn't mean I don't," Gray stated. Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Lucy threw her body against his back and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I love you, Gray," she mumbled, rubbing her face in his back. She felt Gray's body become weak from the embrace.

"Dammit Lucy," he hissed. "Don't you cry," he muttered, spinning around and embracing the celestial mage in his arms. Lucy placed her head against his chest as he rubbed her head softly, wrapping his arm protectively around her shoulder.

"We all love you Lucy, that's why we don't want you to go," he whispered to her as he felt her body quiver, holding back the tears she so badly wanted to spill.

"I know Gray," her voice cracked. "But I have to leave. I need to become stronger," she stated, rubbing her nose against the coolness of his chest. Even through his shirt she could feel how cool he was.

"No you don't Lucy, there's still me and Erza. We can still be a team, we can protect you," he tried everything in his power to get the celestial mage to stay.

"I know you and Erza can protect me, but I don't want that anymore. I don't want to protected by anyone," she sighed, pushing away from Gray's chest to look up at him. "When I come back, I promise I will get the chance to protect you," Lucy smiled up at him. Gray looked down at the beautiful blonde girl, and his heart melted. This meant almost everything to her so he didn't want to fight and argue with her any longer.

"Fine," he sighed, looking down at her brown glistening eyes. "I'll let you go but promise me you'll be back as soon as you can," he said. Lucy nodded her head.

"I promise."

oOo

Loke and Lucy were in an open field, sparring with a long thing blade in Lucy's hand, matching the one Loke was using. There was a thin coat of sweet spreading evenly over Lucy's body. She was exhausted and tired like never before. Her hand ached from the weight of the sword and all her muscles were still in pain from yesterday's battle. Lucy found her footing, raising the sword behind her.

"Here I come!" she yelled, running at the Lion with full speed, swinging the sword down on him. Loke struggled to defend himself from the pure force of the attack, surprised by the amount of energy she still had in her. He frowned. It wasn't energy - it was rage. Lucy always took the chance she had during spars to let go of her rage and anger. It fueled her attacks and her dodges like nothing he had seen before.

"Stop. Getting. Distracted," she ordered between three sharps swings of the sword which Loke barely managed to dodge out of the way.

Erza pulled out her sword, stopping Lucy from boarding on the train as the metal object hindered her access. Lucy sighed, looking at the scarlet haired wizard.

"Are you sure?" was the only thing Erza said, staring at Lucy with an expressionless face.

"I'm sure," Lucy stated, trying to sound confident but her voice cracked, almost breaking. Erza eyed her suspiciously, not convinced from her statement.

"Lucy, please don't do this," it wasn't normal for Erza to beg. She never begged before in the presence of Lucy.

"Erza," Lucy watched as Titania sheathed her sword and walked over the to the blonde girl. She grabbed the back of Lucy's neck and placed her forehead against hers.

"I love you Lucy," Erza whispered, shutting her eyes tightly. Lucy sighed.

"I'm not leaving you Erza. I will be back and we will be together again, a team," Lucy stated with a broad grin on her face. "I love you so much Erza, I wouldn't do this unless there was another way out of it."

"I know," Erza whispered, holding back the tears, gripping tightly onto Lucy's shoulder. Erza was the last person Lucy had seen before leaving, and she had promised herself not to cry anymore after all her final goodbyes.

"I will be back before the S-Class exams, and when I come back, I will become a strong and powerful mage that Fairy Tail can be proud of," Lucy grinned through her teeth.

"Yes you will," Erza pulled back to look up at her. "You will come back and fight me?" she asked with a hopeful smile.

"I promise."

oOo

"Are you tired yet, princess?" Virgo asked.

"I'm always tired," Lucy gasped, still keeping up with the celestial spirit. Lucy and Virgo were jogging through the forest together already for over an hour, almost reaching back to their tent and base where Lucy was staying.

"We could slow down and walk the rest of the way, princess," Virgo suggested.

"No, I want. To keep going," Lucy managed to say, desperate and exhausted.

"As you wish, my princess," Virgo acknowledged her master and continued the pace all the way back to their base.

Lucy walked up the stairs of the guild, her fists clenched tightly and determination covering her face. She was going to be strong and be able to tell the master everything. She knocked on the door to his office. She waited for the reply of a 'come in' and she opened the door, letting herself enter. Makarov and Laxus were sitting in the office desks, obviously discussing something.

"Good morning Lucy," the old man said happily.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I can come back another time," Lucy suggested, clearly seeing they were speaking about something.

"Nonscene!" he stated, "I always have time for my children," he said. "What is it darling?" he asked her, sticking his hand out to gesture the seat across from him. Lucy sat down nervously on the seat, feeling a little off and scared by the presence of Laxus there.

"Master, I've come to tell you some news... I'm leaving Fairy Tail," she managed to say. Laxus eyes opened wide and glared at her while Makarov's mouth dropped to the ground. "Not permanently," Lucy waved her hands frantically. "I'm going away until the S-Class exams come up again," she began explaining.

"Where are you going?" it was Laxus who asked. Surprised, Lucy gulped a little in worry.

"Well, ahm I'm not sure myself yet. I just know I need to get away from here," she stated with a sheepish smile. Makarov's face looked grimm at the news of his beloved celestial mage leaving Fairy Tail.

"Has this got something to do with a certain dragon slayer?" Makarov asked suddenly. Lucy looked down at the ground, red heat flushing into her cheeks.

"Y-You heard," Lucy whispered.

"Well rumours travel fast here in Fairy Tail," he shrugged. Laxus eyed the tearing girl in front of him. What was wrong?

"I need... I need to move on," Lucy said, biting her lip as she looked up. "I need to do this, to become stronger," Lucy said, putting all her effort into not tearing up.

"I understand," Makarov nodded his head, as if agreeing to himself mentally. "Just take some advice from an old man like me, Lucy Heartfilia. When your heart is broken, many things can happen afterwards. Some people loose their way, others find their true being. However, you Lucy, already have found yourself. You found yourself a long time ago when you joined this guild; Fairy Tail. This is your home, your family. This is were you belong and this is where we will all be waiting for you," he told her, looking deeply into her pained eyes.

"Thank you, Master," Lucy firmly nodded her head and rose up from her seat. "I will come back," she promised before walking out the door, confident in her decision to leave Fairy Tail.

oOo

It was so dark in the field, Lucy had a hard time seeing even her hand in front of her. She let her body relax and closed her eyes, focusing on the sense that was her hearing. She listened for a long time, hearing the wind rustle through the leaves, and owl hoot in the distance, a wolf howl even further away and a bat flew over her head. She waited in patience for the attack.

Lucy jumped to the side, body rolling and jumping back up on her feet. The place she once stood on was now occupied by Capricorn, who had attempted to punch her.

"Very good, my lady," he said, proud of his master. Lucy smirked, rolling up her sleeve.

"We ain't finished yet," she smirked, charging at the goat with punches and kicks, one after the other. He dodge her attacks, predicating every one of them. Capricorn caught her leg in mid air, stopping her from hitting his face.

"Stop trying to use force behind your attacks," he told her. "You're not strong enough to physically damage me so go after my weaker points," he explained to her. Lucy cursed under her breath as Capricorn through her across the field. Lucy pulled her weak body up, spitting out the sand that was in her mouth.

"Lucy-san," Levy whimpered, still holding tightly onto her waist, her head nestled in her busty bosom.

"Levy-chan," Lucy hugged back the intelligent mage, unable to let go of her best friend.

"I'm going to miss you, Blondie," Gajeel rubbed his hand over Lucy's head, destroying her pony tail look. Lucy didn't care, she just smiled back at him.

"What will I do without you for so long, Lucy?" Levy continued to cry.

"You? Oh you're going to write me a book," Lucy stated matter-of-factly.

"What?!" Levy pulled away, shock and awe covering her face.

"When I'll be gone I'll be missing my birthday," Lucy explained. "When I come back, I want to read a story that you will have written, as a birthday present," Lucy explained with a playful grin.

"Lucy! You know I can't write," she whimpered. Lucy laughed.

"Silly," she sighed, rubbing her head softly. "You've always had the ability to write. Don't you remember working on that story involving the dragons and princesses?" Lucy asked her. Levy thought back to the moment Lucy was talking about. "You ended up writing so much for me you hadn't even realized," Lucy explained.

"Oh that," Levy looked down to the ground.

"When I come back, I want to read about your adventures that you had while I was gone. Please include all the gory details about this one," Lucy pointed playfully at Gajeel who snarled at her.

"Ok," Levy sighed and looked up at her with an encouraging smile. "You must work and train hard so you can be strong enough to beat even Gajeel," Levy told her.

"You bet," Lucy grinned.

oOo

Lucy climbed off from the train, walking off the platform. She looked at the familiar town with such a nostalgic feeling in her eyes. She was home. She walked on through the town, her rucksack slumbing over her shoulder. She thought about how different the guild might look and how the others could have changed but she doubted it. She just really wanted to return to the guild and make everything feel like home once more. Where everything was back to normal, just like it should be.

Lucy felt worried. What if they didn't want her back? After all, she wasn't coming back as the same Lucy she was before. Lucy couldn't believe how much seven months of training alone in the mountains had changed her. Physically, magically and even mentally. She had become stronger no doubt, but became a stranger even to herself at one point. She didn't like being this isolated and angry so that's when she decided to return back. Her training wasn't over, but simply, a new dawn was upon on her.

"Natsu... I love you," Lucy whispered, looking down at the ground, tears filled in her eyes.

"Lucy..." Natsu looked back at her. They were standing on the beach as the sun was setting behind the horizon, hiding it's beautiful red rays.

"Please Natsu, don't leave me," Lucy gritted through her teeth, tears continuing to flow down her eyes. Natsu looked at her, pain filling up his face.

"I'm not leaving you Lucy, I never said I was..."

"Please love me," Lucy looked up, desperation filled her face. "I... I don't think I can bare to look at you and Lisanna anymore Natsu. It hurts so much," she cried and sobbed, taking a step forward to him. "I'll do anything just please, love me," she sobbed, falling into his arms. Natsu hugged her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders as she quivered.

"Lucy, you don't want that," Natsu finally spoke, his lips tracing over her blonde hair. "I love you so much Luce but not that way," he sighed. Natsu truly felt horrible for Lucy. He never knew she had feelings for him and he felt horrible when he shared the wonderful news to the guild today about dating Lisanna.

"Natsu," Lucy cried out his name, burying her face in his warm chest.

"Lucy, I'm sorry to break your heart. I love you so much and I never wanted to do this to you," he said, pulling her shoulders back and looking down into her eyes. "You'll always be my best friend, my partner, and the first true member of Team Natsu. You'll always be the damsel in distress where I always attempt to save the day... and make everything worse," he gave her a playful grin. "Please don't cry over me anymore. I don't want to hurt you like this."

Lucy stood in front of the guild. She was trying to muster up the courage to enter it but it was a lot harder than she expected. Gulping down on her saliva nervously and clenching her fists, she pushed the two doors wide open, stepping inside the guild. Everyone's eyes darted up to stare at the mage that marched a few steps inside and stopped in her tracks. Gray stood up and with Erza, they took the first few steps forward, followed by Wendy, Happy and Levy.

"Is that...?" "No it couldn't be." "Everyone was so sure she was dead." "She looks really different, it can't be her." The phrases ran through the bar wildly as they stared bewildered at her.

If it was Lucy, standing before them, she looked nothing like what they remembered. Her hair was cut short. She was wearing cameo shorts, a long sleeves top with a long brown cloak that covered her whole figure. Her cheek had a long plaster, covering up some sort of injury.

"Lucy?" Erza was unsure, taking a hesitant step closer to the figure.

"Hello everyone," Lucy gave everyone a big grin, cocking her head to the side. "Miss me?"

"LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCYYYY!" the whole guild bellowed and ran to her side. Erza was the first to embrace her as the rest grabbed at her, trying to have their turn in hugging her.

"I thought you died Lucy!" Happy burst into tears, falling on her head as she was embracing Gray.

"I'm so happy to see everyone," Lucy's own eyes began tearing as she saw the faces of her friends. Elfman made it his job to throw Lucy up onto his shoulder so that everyone could see her from every point of the guild.

"Lucy's alive!" he screamed and received cheers from everyone. Makarov and Laxus heard the huge commotion and made their way out of the office and looked out over the guild. They watched with astonished gazes as they saw their favorite celestial wizard on Elfman's shoulder, laughing and crying at the same time.

"Lucy's back," Laxus whispered in disbelief.

"Yes she is," Makarov grinned. "Just as she promised, right before the S-Class exams and Grand Magic Games."

My chapters won't be written in this fashion most of the time. I didn't want to write chapters and chapters of how Lucy trained and what she learned and the whole reason why she left. Instead, I cut it short with snipets of it from present and past and summarized it in one chapter, so that we can get to the juicy stuff in the next chapter. That way as you're watching Lucy fight in future, you'll learn of her new magic techniques and other stuff.