Breakaway

Following Natsu

Natsu, unaware that anyone was tailing him, was extolling his luck of being able to leave the guild without many questions being asked of him. He really did hate lying to his friends, and to Makarov-who had done nothing to deserve being lied to-but he couldn't risk it. He valued their safety more than he valued the air he breathed, and he wasn't about to endanger them. 'Great! I can finally go to Reklaw and see them again. I hope they're not too upset that I'm late. Maybe if I buy those two something they'll let me off easy.'

At that moment, his train rolled in, and luckily, it was Marcus driving. Marcus was a citizen of Reklaw, and was rather fond of Natsu, always taking the time to wake him up once the train stopped, allowing him to get off on time and spare him the misery of having to ride the entire route, since he first was in Reklaw and Magnolia was his last stop before returning home. "Hey, Natsu, how you doing kid?" Marcus said in his cheery gruff voice as he watched Natsu board and sit up front.

"I'm doing great, Marcus. Wake me up when the train reaches Reklaw, yeah?" Natsu responded as he leaned against the window and prepared for the wave of nausea that was sure to pass through him once Marcus left the train station, leaving Natsu with no way to alleviate his misery.

"Sure thing kid. Always do," Marcus said as he watched in the driver's mirror more people board in the back and take their seats. He frowned slightly but looked down. He would keep his thoughts to himself. Even though it seemed like they were following Natsu, he wasn't entirely sure and therefore he very well couldn't go up and challenge them on that notion.

Sighing, Marcus moved the train and looked over to Natsu and sighed as he watched the pink-haired boy almost immediately fall into unconsciousness, though his face turned a very unsightly shade of green-Marcus often compared it to a pickle, though he wouldn't let Natsu know that-before he did so.

Happy watched on in confusion as his best friend conversed happily with the train conductor. You didn't replace me, right, Natsu? Happy thought desperately. His friend had been reelly distant lately, to everyone. Happy supposed it could have been related back to that time where Natsu disappeared for 3 years without a word.

A lot had changed in 3 years, but there wasn't much they could do. Natsu didn't really talk about it. He was always became really cagey whenever someone brought it up, and, in a very un-Natsu like manner, told people that it was none of their business as to what he had done with his life for those three years.

These random jaunts out of the guild, had gone unnoticed at first, Natsu just came to the guild at his usual time and just left without a word to anyone. He left when it was really loud, so no one could see him go. But that method didn't work for long, and soon he'd been in front of Makarov's desk, being interrogated by the leader of Fairy Tail. The rule that everyone in Fairy Tail who was going to leave the guild had to get permission from him to leave, unless it was for a job, was instated then. And unless those seeking to leave could give him a valid reason, their requests to leave might be shot down. Natsu had gotten creative then, using any excuse he could think of that sounded reasonable in order to get out of the guild. The search for his adoptive father, Igneel, was the excuse he used the most, always telling Makarov that he thought he was on to something.

Soon, the train stopped and Marcus got up to wake Natsu. Shaking the Dragon Slayer, he watched with mirth as the boy shot up and rubbed his eyes, though his eyes still showed traces of sleepiness and sickness, he seemed alert for the most part. "Thanks, Marcus. I promise one day that I'll repay you!" Natsu swore as he stepped off the train.

"Don't worry about it, Natsu," Marcus said with a laugh, waving off the Mage's promise.

Natsu grinned before heading into town. Pulling his pack around from his back, he dug through several small packets before producing a small bag of Jewls. Letting the bag fall open, he rifled through the currency, nodding in satisfaction when he found out that he had plenty to get what he needed. Looking around, he found a small nearby store, where the cashier, Noelle, greeted him with a smile. "Hey, Natsu. Here for gifts again?" she teased.

"Yeah. I'm late coming in this time. It took a lot more convincing this time around than before. I figured I should make it up to them," he responded as he picked out a small bracelet and some sweets.

Happy with his decisions, Natsu went back to the counter where Noelle was waiting patiently, drumming her fingers in a happy tune against the counter. "Won't you just being there be enough?" she asked ringing up his purchases.

Natsu chuckled a little bit. "Not for Montgomery. He's going to chase me around the house until I apologize."

Giggling, Noelle showed him the price, which he happily paid in full. Carrying the items out, he placed them in his pack in a small pocket. Walking out of the store, Natsu passed some of the villagers who greeted him with smiles and waves, which Natsu returned with glee.

Soon he was out of town and on the edge of the woods, where a quaint house stood. Smiling fondly, the Mage stepped forward and produced a key out from under the mat, unlocking the door. Stepping inside, he frowned at the near silent atmosphere of the house, save for labored breathing in another room. His smile dropped to a frown as he listened before he shook his head and stepped back outside. "Ashland! Montgomery!" he shouted out into the open air.

His smile returned as he heard quick little footsteps race toward him. Two joyful cries of "Daddy!" greeted him before two children were hanging off his arms. Crouching down so he could get on their level, one of the kids threw themselves up onto his back while the other nestled themselves in his lap.

The young boy on his back, Montgomery, stared at his father from over his shoulder. "You're late!" he pointed out.

"I'm sorry, kiddo," he said as he ruffled his son's flaming red hair. "But I got you gifts to make up for it." His daughter, Ashland, looked up and tugged on Natsu's shirt, black hair, marred only by a single white streak running down the left side, hiding some of her face. Natsu stood, Montgomery still hanging off his shoulders, while he carried Ashland in his arms and into the house, shutting the door to the outside world. And, unknowingly, to his friends.