Finally finished the update! I am so excited for the game, lord this should be good. I hope you all enjoy the little surprises I left you!

~•*Lucy*•~

I stood in the corner of the elevator, my head downcast as I stared a hole into the ground. My thoughts where spinning; I felt like a wreck. I had to fix things with Natsu... I wouldn't feel right until I did just that.

We waited patiently for the elevator to descend, listening to the whirling of the pulleys as they shifted the large box downwards--the sound made my stomach churn. I was losing time.

I saw Natsu pinch the bridge of his nose. I wondered what thoughts where going through his head, and now that I think about it, he has gradually been showing more emotion around me. He used to be so collected and calm, cool even. But now, even before he figured out my secret... I had begun to notice a shift in his behavior.

Natsu and I walked out of the elevator once it had stopped at the lobby and made our way over to the receptionists desk for check out. "Lucy, go ask another desk if you could use the phone. Go and call Erza, ask her pick us up." Natsu said when we were halfway there.

I nodded, my pace quickening as I walked over to a younger looking guy who was dressed in the hotel uniform. I asked him for the phone and he smiled before handing it to me, but not before slipping in a comment about how good I looked. I rolled my eyes and took the phone, ignoring his comment and dialing Erza's number. It rang once before she picked up.

"Hello?"

"Erza! It's Lucy... Natsu and I need a ride. We're are at the hotel and checking out right now. Could you come get us please?" my tone was generic, the emotionless tone that my father had drilled me into years ago.  Because aparently being strong meant you had to kick emotions to the curb.

"Yeah, I'll be there in ten minutes. Oh! Before I forget... There is a ball game tomorrow and I wanted to bring you and Natsu along. Jellal wanted to go and I think you and Natsu would like a reprieve from work." There was an unerlying tone in her voice that said other things as well.  No doubt it was time to keep our heads low.

"Yeah, that sounds great! I'll uh, I'll let Natsu know," my voice was significantly quieter, but I was still smiling to myself. I should believe in my own words, even if Natsu and I weren't on the greatest terms right now, I should still try to enjoy myself.

"Okay, see you soon." The line clicked and I handed the phone back to the guy with a tight lipped thank you before I turned and headed back towards Natsu while thinking about the game. Some genuine fun--I hadn't had some of that in quite some time.

"Erza said she'd be here in ten minutes. She also said that there was a ball game tomorrow and invited us along with her and Jellal."

He raised an eybrow slightly and readjusted the bags on his shoulder. "Really? Man, it's been a while since I've been to one of those."

"I've actually never been to one before." I admitted shyly, my forefingers tapping together. Why I felt so embarrassed about never going to a game like he had, I didn't know. A smile lit up his face as he looked at me and I swear i felt my heart stop right then and there. I had almost believed I wouldn't ever see that smile again. There was just something about him that put me at ease, he was different; and I knew right then that I never wanted to lose him.

"You're gonna enjoy it. Knowing Erza, I'm sure she's going to go all out on this." My thoughts shifted to an image of Erza decked out in Wizards gear, waving around a sign while cheering loudly in the stands.

"Really? Is she a Wizard's fan?"

Natsu laughed, his head tilting back a bit as he did so. "Yup. She's most likely going to paint her face and bring a poster with her.  The last time we went she had been shown on the big screen and her face turned beet red in embarrassment. It was hilarious!" he explained as he wiped a tear of amusement away from his eye.

"Oh my god, that sounds like her." I chuckled before my smile slowly began to fade away. My arm wrapped around my abdomen as I grabbed hold of my adjacent arm. I looked down, my hair moving forward as I did so. "Natsu, I'm really sorry I didn't tell you... I really did want to tell you, I swear I did! I just..." I bit my lip and I felt that my eyes were beginning to tear up.

"Luce, it's okay. I don't care about any of it, honest. I'm just angry that you didn't--couldn't--tell me sooner. I'll accept your apology, but that doesn't mean that I'm not mad about it still."

I nodded quickly while blinking my eyes rapidly. My smile grew again and I felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. "Thank you Natsu." he nodded before a small smile wormed it's way onto his face.

We walked outside to wait for Erza after that, an air of peace having settled around the two of us. I wanted to explain things to him in further detail once I got a chance to speak with him after the game. I still felt like he deserved to know the whole truth; my cover was blown so it didn't really matter anymore at this point. I wasn't going to hide anymore secrets from him. It felt wrong to me and I didn't like it.

We took a seat on a nearby bench, the wind blowing slightly.  The sun was shining down on the half of the bench I was sitting on and the beams of light fell over my skin in a comforting warmth.

I glanced around as I watched the street, taking in the sights; but when my gaze shifted closer towards Natsu, I felt his calculated  gaze on me.  I was about to look at him straight on and ask him if something was bothering him, but before I could do anything, Erza's car sped through the driveway and stopped quite loudly before us.  We both stood up as Erza pulled her sunglasses down and looked at the two of us. "Get in losers, we're going shopping."

"Wait, what?" I question her as I opened up the passanger door.

"It's a line from a movie, you know... Mean Girls?" She looked at me like this was basic knowledge. I laugh nervously.

"I haven't watched many movies. I was always too busy to watch any..." I left out the part about never really having the freedom to wach them until a few years ago.  But even then, I had worked myself to the bone to get where I am, all to bring down my father.

"Lucy, I have a feeling that will change." she said with a grin. I wasn't sure if I should worry. Natsu hopped into the backseat after he had tossed our luggage in the trunk, and I took my seat shotgun with Erza.  She sped off before I had the chance to buckle up, leaving the hotel in the dust. I closed my eyes and as she slowed down, I allowed the wind to dance with my pony tail.

It had only been a couple of minutes, but when the car stopped and I heard her shift the gears and I reopened my eyes to find ourselves parked in front of a store. "Well, you weren't joking about shopping..." I laugh quietly and Erza flashes me a wicked grin.

"I call it 'Shopping for Spirit'!" She flipped her hair over her shoulder as she stated they name proudly. I shake my head as we both burst into simultaneous laughter before getting out of the car. The three of us walked inside--the door chime jingling as we entered--and Erza made a beeline for the body paints. I glanced towards Natsu who looked a bit distracted and hesitantly reached out and poked his arm, drawing him from his thoughts.

"Back from Lala land?" I ask with a smile.

"Can't tell, things seem a bit brighter than usual." He gives me an appreciative look that I hadn't ever seen before be he pushed his hands in his pockets and heads in the direction Erza went with a small grin. I stared after him, slightly dazed, wondering what had just happened. I quickly shake it off before hurrying after them, not really wanting to be left behind.

By the time I caught up to them, Erza had enough body paint to last her until next Christmas, and she was already looking over the poster boards. As she chose her poster boards, I strolled down another isle for markers to draw on the boards with.  Natsu had gone off in another direction to get some Wizard's shirts for us, and I could have sworn I saw him looking at some flags.  I had to do a double take, but I eventually chalked it down to Erza.  Maybe she had asked him for it.

After I had plucked the markers from the wall, we all met up at the register and placed our supplies down on the counter.  I had actually found a foam finger while I walked back towards the register, and a light blush took over my face when I heard Natsu laughing to himself.  I turned around and stuck my tongue out at him while Erza giddily payed for the supplies.  Natsu only smirked back, and I turned back around towards the clerk, my cheeks even more red than before.  But to my surprise, the clerk didn't even seem the least bit phased by our merchandise, and as Erza rushed out with her goodies in hand, Natsu told me she always came here.

"He's used to this..." He chuckles and I smile to myself.  We all got back in the car, and this time I sat beside Natsu in the back. The wind had picked up, so Erza rolled the roof back up.  As she drove, I leaned my head on Natsu's shoulder, the quiet purring of the engine lulling me to sleep.  It wasn't a deep sleep, I was still able to hear everything, but that didn't mean that I could make any sense of it.

"You knew, didn't you Erza?" I heard Natsu's rumbling voice through his chest. I must have slipped down against it in my sleep.

"Knew what?" She asked almost innocently.

"About Lucy." There was silence. Did she know?

"We can talk about this later, now is not the time. But Natsu... Take care of her," there was a pause in her voice. "She needs you more than you know." I felt a warm weight around my waist and I realized Natsu had me laying against him with his arm wrapped around me to keep me comfortably against him.

I was beginning to fall into a deep sleep, my hearing beginning to shut off for the time being, but I could have sworn I heard Natsu mumble, "I need her too." before it shut off completely.