•••

Lucy woke up, warm and comfortable in her fuzzy, soft mattresses, that Sunday morning.

The said woman stretched, and yawned, having have had a good night's sleep. A small smile crept up her face when she reminisced about last night, him and her realisation.

That she was attracted to Natsu Dragneel.

'Perhaps it's just my limerence.', she concluded, still having trouble accepting her obvious attraction and feelings for him. 'It couldn't be more than that.'

She then smiled to herself, a bit assured. 'If it's just infatuation..then I'll be good..it'll go away sooner or later.'

But then Levy's words struck her like lightning.

"I'm talking about the physical contact here. Don't think I haven't noticed it. How close you both are. I'm guessing emotionally now too."

That's not true. Right?

"And it doesn't just end here. Even your conversations, their topics. Everything. You always find a way to include him."

Does she really? She doesn't remember.

"Lucy, the only person you'd be denying all of this is to yourself. And it's just not just you, I've seen him too. As a matter of fact we all have."

It's not true! It's no-oh who was she kidding? It is true. Every word of it.

She knew deep down in her heart that it is way more than just some silly infatuation. True, she wanted to touch him, embrace him, heck even kiss him! But whenever he was so much so as an inch away from her face, she would totally freak out and get flustered. She didn't just want him physically, but emotionally too. She cared for him far too deeply to just be infatuated by him.

"Ughh this is too complicated!" She groaned, covering her face with her hands.

Crushing. It was always something that she had tried to avoid the best she could. Catching feelings. She didn't want to be sucked in that vicious cycle of emotions.

However, things she so desperately wants to avoid always find a way to get to her.

'Lying here isn't going to help me though.' She thought, attempting to throw off her warm covers and start the day. However,an unexplainable weight kept her down, preventing her from getting further away.

"What the-!"

She turned to her side, the weight obviously being Natsu's embrace.

"NAT-su..?"

Her supposed confrontation turned to a mere whisper, and Lucy held her breath, mesmerised.

There faces mere centimetres away from each other, Lucy brought up her hand, still in a trance, to his hair.

He was gorgeous.

However, before she could run her hand gently through his beautiful pink locks, she regained her sense of doing and stopped herself, her hand awkwardly hovering above while her fingers almost brushed the tips of his spiky hair.

'What the heck were you thinking Lucy?!'

Just looking at him made her lose herself.

Just how the heck was this supposed to be 'mere infatuation'?

Still looking at him, she gently lowered her hovering hand, subtly caressing his face instead. She traced her fingers up and down his left cheek so lightly that it just might seem like a feather's doing to him.

She leaned forward ever so slightly, as if the space between then wasn't already a lot less.

"I think I really am falling for you, Natsu."

Her tracing fingertips were stopped by a warm hand, as it clasped her pale ones gently into his own. Onyx eyes stared back at her, his expression groggy, but awake nonetheless.

"What did you say?"

She yelped, having been completely caught off guard.

And unfortunately, startling her often resulted in a very painful Lucy punch.

•••

She gingerly placed the ice pack on his cheek, flushing a deep red. Natsu slightly hissed while she did this, and Happy snickered from the corner, watching him, and playing with Plue.

"What did you do this time Natsu?" He asked.

"I didn't do nothing!" He replied irritatedly, before hissing back in pain. "It was all Lucy's doing. She was acting like a pervert again and when I woke up, she suddenly punched me!"

"I was not acting like a pervert!" Lucy screeched, smacking him on the arm this time.

"OW! Look Happy! She did it again!"

The said woman huffed, crossing her arms and looking away in irritation.

"Why'd you stop?"

"You have hands, do it yourself." She replied back sassily. "Besides, you wouldn't want a pervert tending to you now, would you?"

Natsu sighed, the ghost of a grin on his face. "Fine." He said. "Happy, Lucy was not acting like a pervert. She was just...touching me..when I was asleep..a lot.."

"Oh my god Natsu!" She yelled, embarrassed, while the blue cat snickered like crazy.

"That doesn't sound like a pervert at all Lushie."

She got up haughtily and sauntered away to the kitchen.

"Hmph! I'm not talking to you guys!"

Before she could completely walk away, Natsu stopped her by gabbing her hand, and Lucy's heart started beating so fast that it was almost painful.

"N-Natsu?"

"Actually, I've been meaning to tell you something.."

"What is it?"

She noticed that he was fidgeting and shifting uncomfortably, and Lucy's heart tugged at the endless possibilities of what he might have to say.

"I..I want to go see Zeref."

•••

"Are you sure you're ready? You don't have to force yourself y'know?"

She walked alongside him, with a beautiful bouquet of white Lilies and daises. With the one free hand that she had, she took his in hers, and squeezed it in reassurance.

"I have to." He replied a bit shakily. "If I don't today..I might not have the courage tomorrow."

Lucy smiled ever so slightly, squeezing his hand one last time before letting go.

"How far?" He asked after a while.

"We're almost there." Lucy replied, a bit uncertainly. However, she smiled and suddenly pointed towards the huge grounds visible a little while ahead. "Over there!"

Natsu and Lucy, along with Happy, walked in the grounds, covered with beautiful white snow. The place was beautiful, as the snow glistened in the sun and the frozen droplets of dew shimmered on as well.

The resting place of Zeref and his beloved wife was visible even from afar. They both had big, beautiful headstones, and had been laid to rest at probably the most beautiful site this cemetery has to offer. Right under a huge Fairy Willow Tree.

Natsu was completely still, staring at the sight in front of him. Lucy glanced sideways at him, gazing at his frozen state.

"He really did love her." She blurted out, placing the flowers down on the gravestones. He didn't look at her, but she could tell that he was listening. "From what I could understand, your brother really loved her. And he was willing to leave his life behind as a wizard to spend the remaining with her."

"I know it's still not an excuse to leave you behind, alone, but I suppose, you can't really hate someone for falling in love."

Natsu closed his eyes, turning his face away from her.

"Luce.."

"Hm?"

"If..If you don't mind, could you and Happy give me a some time here alone?"

He was shaking, but it was not from the cold. She smiled slightly, before leaning her head on his shoulder and holding his hand. She gently squeezed it, comforting him.

"Of course!" She mumbled. "Take all the time you need."

She backed away, with Happy settling down on her head again.

"We'll be heading back then!"

They both exited the cemetery, leaving him there, tracing their steps back home.

"Will he be alright?" Happy asked worriedly.

"I'm sure he'll be."

A tiny snowflake fluttered down in front of her, then another and another. Lucy stared at them in awe, completely mesmerised. No matter how many times she'd see them, she would never not be surprised by the snow.

"Careful. You might catch a cold."

A deep voice came from behind her and she whipped back, Happy still on her head. A young man of about her age, give or take a few years, stood, dressed in a dark cape. His torso and face were decorated with tattoos of some sort, all a deep maroon, his spiky red hair, arranged like a burning flame.

Something about him was familiar, but foreboding as well. Before she could form an appropriate reply, he spoke again.

"Well well, if it isn't Lucy Heartfilia."

"How-How do you know my name?"

The young man just smirked, taking a few steps closer to her.

"I have my ways."

"Who are you?"

Now he stood directly in front of her, towering over her petite frame.

"Hello Lucy. I am Ignia, Natus's half brother. And I'm here to take him back."

•••

Wtf I swear to god this biatch is gonna get it if she dares come in between my ship. Imma drag and yank her away by those ugly bangs of hers if she dare ruin my NaLu.

But yeah, keep on working towards making them canon.

Ughh Natsu was the most idiotic in this chapter. Way to ruin the mood genius😑

Also Sabertooth to the rescue!

Y'all know the drill! Please vote, comment and share! This is probably my fav chapter by far. What's yours?
Only 2 more to go 😉
Until then!
Belle🌸
🔥❤️🔑