So, here it is, the Epilogue! I am honestly not entirely sure how I feel about finishing this, but it truth, I have never been good with endings...ever. I am really quite proud of what I have written, and happy that I did finish it (no matter how long it took), I really loved writing this story!

Thank you so much to everyone who has read, commented, and given kudos to this work, you guys are all amazing! Truly! I am so glad you all enjoyed this story (though at times maybe not so much), it means a lot to me as a writer. You all really motivated me to keep writing even when I felt like even with my planning that this story was going nowhere. So, thank you, again!

Anywho, I hope you all have an amazing rest of the week, and for the last time...

Enjoy! :)

Epilogue
Forever

"The world is brighter than the sun, now that you're here. Though your eyes will need some time to adjust, to the overwhelming light surrounding us."
- Light, Sleeping at Last

Almost a week had passed since the battle between Fairy Tail and Avatar II, and things were getting back to normal. Well, as normal as things could get for Fairy Tail anyway. The Magic Council had collected the remnants of the Avatar II guild to be taken to separate gaols all over the country, and from there, Fairy Tail had started to try and rebuild the parts of the street the battle and Gray's ice dome had destroyed. No-one was quite sure just how far the shrapnel from the explosion of the ice dome had gone, and so they'd been widening their clear up area each day. Even then, they all had a feeling they'd be finding shards of ice everywhere for quite a while.

Though most of the townsfolk hadn't seen the fight itself, they couldn't have missed the giant dome of ice which had appeared near the Fairy Tail guild hall. Story after story was being passed around town in explanation, each as farfetched as the last. Only Fairy Tail knew the real truth, and none of them were going to divulge it. That was for Natsu and Gray to share when they felt the time was right, if at all.

The whispers didn't stop following the pair though as they walked through town going about their daily business. Gray didn't think they ever would stop, but it didn't matter to him, not really. Gray slipped his fingers into Natsu's own as they crossed the street towards the markets. They still weren't allowed to go on jobs (much to Natsu's annoyance), but they needed to eat, and as Gray had pointed out: 'We may have just nearly died, but if we don't start getting back to normal now, when will we ever?' Erza had begrudgingly agreed to let them leave the guild hall to walk into town, but warned them she'd have their heads if she found out they'd done anything more than buy groceries.

This went on for weeks until Gray finally put his foot down. With a glance at the others which clearly said 'Don't you dare stop me' he had grabbed a small job from the board in one hand and Natsu's hand in the other before walking from the guild hall with a grin and a wave saying they'd be back in a couple of days. For once Erza hadn't stopped them. She knew full well they were perfectly capable by now, she had just wanted them to go on a job of their own accord. From then on things had been as normal as they ever had been.

– o – o – o –

On one particular morning, months after the battle, Gray was finding it rather difficult to get out of bed. Even after all this time, he'd still sometimes wake with aches and pains all over his body. Ghosts from his time with Avatar II. This time though it wasn't so much that, but the fact that he was extremely comfy.

Content.

Gray rolled over in their bed, the warm morning sunlight shining through the gap in the curtains. He watched the slow rise and fall of Natsu's chest as he slept. His boyfriend's lips were parted slightly, but they still were unmistakably curved into a slight smile. The mornings like this were Gray's favourite. He'd lost count of the times he'd woken up like this, though that didn't make any of them less special than the last. There were some times though where Gray would wake in the early hours in a sweat. His hands shaking, cheeks damp, and a scream on his lips. Natsu would always hum an out of tune song and rub Gray's back until his breathing had evened and they could go back to sleep. Despite Natsu's reassurances that he couldn't help it, Gray still hated that it happened. Even if Natsu's out of tune humming was one of his favourite things to listen to.

Gray watched with a fond smile as Natsu, yawning widely, blinked himself awake.

"Morning, Snowflake." Natsu mumbled. A smile picking at the corners of his lips.

"Morning sleepy-head." Gray replied, his voice still croaky with sleep. He let his eyes slip closed again, relishing in the calm warmth which had settled around them.

"Oi!" Natsu grumbled good-naturedly, "you can't go back to sleep now!"

"And why not?"

"I'm awake." Natsu answered defiantly, "and you know you love it here."

"Only because you're here." Gray offered his cutest smile. He wrenched his eyes back open but only to capture Natsu's response to his comment, Natsu's grin was always worth it. Gray leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to Natsu's lips.

A comfortable silence settled again as Natsu studied his boyfriends thoughtful expression. "You okay?"

Gray offered Natsu a small smile."Much the same as yesterday."

Natsu leaned forward, kissing Gray again, this time much deeper. More please.

Despite knowing part of the reason as to why he'd received it, Gray leaned into the kiss. He brushed his fingers gently across Natsu's cheek before, somewhat reluctantly, pulling away to answer. "I still remember both. I don't think that will ever change really…remembering my own life two ways." With and without you. Gray knew Natsu didn't need to hear that last part. The first time he had said it without thinking. Gray didn't want to bring those memories back for Natsu, that expression of hurt wasn't one he wanted to see again. "I don't think it'll ever stop feeling strange."

"As long as you're alright though…"

"You're here, Natsu, how could I not be?" Gray paused, "No, I'm better than alright, I'm content." The loving smile Natsu gave him in response was enough for Gray to know he felt the same.

Natsu rolled towards Gray so that he could fit snuggly into his boyfriend's embrace.

"It won't happen again, none of it will." Gray wrapped his arm around Natsu's middle, and entwining his fingers with Natsu's own Gray pulled him closer so he could bury his face in his hair. "I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you."

"Promise?"

"Promise." Gray answered. "You are my everything, Natsu, I love you."

"Love you too." Natsu closed his eyes. "Forever."

Gray smiled as he gave Natsu's hand a gentle squeeze. "Forever."

P.S. I honestly cried twice writing the epilogue, first because I didn't want to end it/wasn't sure how to end it (and I was worried that you guys would even like the ending I chose), and secondly because those two idiots really are a bit too cute *sobs* dammit!

Thank you so much for reading and sticking with me all this time! You guys really are amazing!
Anna :)