A/N:This is it! The story is finally completed. I may drop a few post-story bonus chapters if I find the time.

EPILOGUE: A FUTURE SAVED

When you act like nothing's wrong.
And try not to be obvious.
Only I know that smile, It fills me up.
After I met you, all of my actions have changed.
I can feel that this is love.
All of my days. All of my moments that are filled with you.
Maybe our encounter was already a miracle.
Some day, under the same sky, when we're together
I'll hold you tight.
Because all of my moments is you...

Natsu never thought he could love anything more than he loved Lucy. Until the day she'd told him she was with-child. The mere mention of a baby had changed Natsu's whole world. He'd loved his daughter long before she'd developed arms and legs, before he'd even known she would be his little girl.

And now he crashed through the apartment door like a man possessed, stopped only by the sight of his wife sitting in the bed, an animated bundle in her arms. Time spun in on itself as the future he'd been promised came to life before his very own eyes.

The sight rendered him speechless, immobile, breathless. He stood rigid in the doorway, barely aware of the rapid footsteps approaching behind him. Hands and legs tangled with him as everyone crammed into the doorway, collapsing in a heap of excitement and shock in the entryway.

Lucy glanced up at the commotion, a small smile gracing her flushed cheeks. "I appreciate the concern, guys, but was it necessary for all of you to be here?"

"We came as soon as we heard," Erza panted, the first to stand among the rest of their group.

Team Natsu—minus a heavily pregnant Lucy—had departed just that morning to finish up the remainder of a week-long job in Oak Town. News of Lucy's early labour had reached them quickly. But not fast enough.

"You're late," Happy scolded, having never left Lucy's side since hearing the news of her pregnancy. Natsu was glad.

"I'm so sorry, Lucy," Natsu managed, still winded from the run.

Porlyusica stepped away from Lucy's bedside to make room for the rest of the group. Natsu couldn't bring himself to stand.

Come to think of it, they hadn't considered Lucy's privacy when they'd all barged into the room at the same time, desperate to catch a glimpse of the newborn baby in her arms.

"We'll leave you guys alone for a minute," Gray said, ushering the rest of the team outside.

"Congratulations, Lucy," Wendy said as she departed.

Left alone in the room with only a gentle squeeze from Erza and a playful scolding from Happy, Natsu found the strength he needed to stand again. He approached Lucy carefully, as though she'd shatter into a thousand pieces if he got too close. When he didn't come close enough, she grabbed him with her free arm and tugged him onto the bed. He sat motionless, that first glimpse of his newborn daughter riveting him in waves of heat so hot they burned even him.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Lucy said.

"Like you."

Lucy beamed at him. He hadn't noticed it through the haze of his own elation, but she looked exhausted.

"Do you want to hold her?" she asked.

He hesitated. "You're not mad at me?"

"Please," she said, offering their daughter to him, "it wouldn't be a normal day in Fairy Tail if something didn't go wrong."

Natsu laughed at that. He took their daughter into his arms, so light, so fragile, and he knew there and then that he'd do anything to keep her safe.

"Hi, Luna," he said, testing the name on his tongue.

Meaning moon, Lucy had chosen the name after renewing every contract with her spirits. It had taken five long years, but she'd finally recovered all of the power and the memories previously lost to her. And so they'd named their daughter Luna: so she'd always be among the stars.

And, though he hadn't mentioned this at the time, it did fall nicely in the tradition starting with her mother. Layla. Lucy. And now Luna. A family built on love and luck and light.

She was perfect. But of course she was—Luna was the embodiment of the love he shared with Lucy. Such a being could not be anything less than extraordinary.

Cradling their daughter as easily as if he'd held her all his life, Natsu leaned on the headboard beside Lucy. Her head fell against his shoulder.

"You're amazing, Lucy," he said. "You did this. All by yourself."

"Don't be silly. We made her together, you know."

Natsu cheeks warmed. That's a memory he definitely wouldn't forget. Everything from the gentle touch of Lucy's hands to the way she'd whispered in his ear left him hot. Sure, they hadn't really planned to start a family yet, but Luna was the greatest accident he'd ever made.

"I'm serious," he said. "I've watched you for eight months. You're so strong, Lucy."

Lucy barely stifled a giggle. Luna stirred in his arms, roused by her mother's amusement.

"That hard work is just starting, Natsu."

"How hard can this be?" he said.

And then Luna started crying.

"Don't be jealous, Natsu. It's not my fault Luna likes me best."

Natsu couldn't stop the scathing glare that formed as Loke rocked his daughter back and forth. Two months later and he still hadn't gotten the knack of settling her down. But one glance from Loke and Luna would stop crying instantly. It left Natsu feeling slightly bitter, but it was also a pleasant feeling to know that his daughter felt so at ease with his friends.

"She loves you so much, Natsu," Lucy said, offering him a comforting squeeze.

After giving birth to their daughter, Lucy had cut her hair short again. She wore it half-up like she used to, white ribbons dangling from the ponytail atop her head. Those ribbons reminded him of her wedding dress, and of Cana's vision which had come true the night of the ceremony. He still owed her an apology for that one.

"Don't worry, Natsu," Levy put in, "it gets easier. I promise."

"And it helps to get a babysitter," Gajeel snickered.

The twins were older now and far more adventurous. They'd caused more than a few issues in the guild already.

"Isn't it kinda mean to leave them with Erza?" Gray teased.

"Listen, she takes no shit from anyone. And with Jellal spending more time here, it gives them something to do besides—"

"Gajeel!" Levy scolded. "Luna's right here!"

"Crap, sorry."

"I'm sorry about him," Levy said.

Natsu couldn't help but laugh. And then a wave of sadness passed through him, so slight it barely existed. He owed everyone an apology. All those months he'd spent wallowing in despair when he should have listening to them. They were his friends. And he'd left them to suffer alone.

"I think she likes me best," Happy chimed in, nudging Luna's cheeks gently.

"Actually, I think you'll find I'm going to be her favourite."

Heads turned at the unexpected voice. Aquarius stood a mere ten paces away, accompanied by an oddly familiar face.

Lucy leapt to her feet. "Aquarius!"

Standing beside her, much taller than when they'd left her, Alina offered a bashful smile. Shortly after their wedding, Lucy had taken it upon herself to write letters to Alina, wanting to keep in touch after everything that had happened. In some ways, it had kept her close to Aquarius too.

"I told you we'd meet again," Aquarius said. "You should have more faith in me."

Lucy rushed into Aquarius's arms but was quickly pushed aside.

"I can't believe you made something so adorable, Lucy," Aquarius said, stealing Luna from Loke's arms. "She's your daughter, that's for sure. Those Heartfilia genes are something remarkable, aren't they?"

Looking only a little dismayed at being rejected, Lucy's eyes glistened with maternal pride.

"She insisted on being here when I arrived," Alina said suddenly. "I think she missed you, Lucy."

"Quiet, brat!" Aquarius roared.

"Why are you here?" Natsu asked, lending a voice to the question in everyone's minds.

"You know why," Lucy said. "She's here to join Fairy Tail, isn't that right?"

Alina grinned at that. "I'm sixteen now," she said. "And my mother is on the mend thanks to all of your help. I wanted to do something for you. And this way, I get to follow my dreams too."

"You wanted to reunite her with Aquarius," Natsu realised.

"This way, you can see her whenever you want to. And Aquarius doesn't have to miss out on seeing your daughter grow up. And she missed you."

"I did not miss them!" Aquarius insisted. "Though, with that said, I must leave you. Being out of water isn't such a pleasant experience for me."

She handed Luna to Natsu, who to his surprise didn't cry as she stirred in his arms. Lucy used this moment to embrace Aquarius for the first time in five long years.

Mirajane approached the table excitedly. "A newcomer? How exciting! We haven't had a new member in a while."

All at once the guild began to crowd around Alina, and Natsu's daughter quickly became old news. He slipped out of sight with his wife, Happy trailing along quietly behind them. A family reunited again.

"It's a shame Igneel didn't get to meet Luna," Lucy said as they emerged in the fresh Magnolia air.

"He did," Natsu said, admiring his daughter. Luna grabbed a handful of his scarf and twisted. "Because he's always with me, wherever I go."

"Speaking of being with you wherever you go," Lucy said, "can you watch Luna tonight?"

Natsu's brows tented. "Where are you going?"

"I finally finished my book," she said. "Levy and I are going to read through it tonight."

"You really are amazing," he said.

Lucy grinned. "Luna sleeps a lot, so that helps. I guess she takes after you. All she does lately is eat and sleep."

Natsu nuzzled his daughter close. "Guess so."

"What did you decide to call it, Lucy?" Happy flew in closer, showing genuine interest.

Lucy spun to face them, blonde hair flying around her like beams of majestic sunlight. Suspense hung in the air. She held up a finger excitedly.

"Journey's End!"

Song: All My Days - Sejeong.

THANK YOU FOR READING!