Natsu sits down in the cake shop with uncertainty.  He thinks this is a strange place for a date.  He recalls how the sign reads  "Mira Jane's  Sweet Shop."  He has no idea who this is or why he was told to come here.  It must be Gray's idea of a joke.

         Lucy walks around for a bit. She is glad to arrive at the place on time. She sees a boy with pink hair at a table. She thinks is that him?  She is here for a blind date and admits to herself she feels a bit nervous about the whole thing.

       She enters the shop and walks over to his table.  "Hi, I am Lucy Heartfailia,"  She says.

         "Nice to meet you Lucy, I am Natsu Dragneel,"  Natsu replies.

         "Oh, so you are Natsu," Lucy remarks. She appears to be surprised.

        "Yes, that would be me," He states.

          "Do you have any idea what is good here?" He asks.

        "I am not sure, but I must say this building is rather nice," Lucy replies.

              A young lady walks over to them and smiles, "Hi, I am Mira Jane, the owner, and manager of this establishment,  now how may I help you?"
             

           "Is there any strawberry cheesecake?"Lucy asks.

                Natsu thinks wow I like this girl already she even eats strawberries on her cheesecake just like I do.  He sure is glad he did not stand her up.

               "Yes, there is a cheesecake that comes with strawberries for a topping," Mira Jane answers.

              "Great, I will take a slice,"  Lucy tells her.

               "Okay, what about the young gentleman you are with here?"  Mira Jane asks.

               "I will take the same as her,"  Natsu responds.

                "Alright, I will be back with the cheesecake slices soon," She remarks.

                     A few minutes after she left the table another girl walks over to them, "Hi I am Lisanna, Mira Jane's sister, and I must say she forgot to tell you it is free drinks today,"  she remarks.

                   "I will have a glass of milk,"  Lucy says.

                   "I will have a  glass of chocolate milk," Natsu says.

                      "Sorry, we are all out of chocolate milk, but we do have plain whole milk, 2 % milk, skim milk, lactose-free milk, some soy milk, rice milk, and hot chocolate," Lisanna tells him.

                  "Hot chocolate then," Natsu responds.

                  "Excellent choice, I will make sure that Mira knows," Lisanana says. She walks away with a smirk.

                 Lucy laughs which leaves Natsu to wonder what it is she finds to be so funny.  She can tell he is puzzled about the whole thing.

                 "Sorry, it is just that second girl seems like a flirt," Lucy says.

                 "I did not notice," Natsu says with a grin.

                 "Oh, and why not?"  Lucy asks.

             "How could I when I have the prettiest date right in front of me?"  Natsu asks.

                   Lucy blushes a deep shade of red which leaves Natsu to think she is so cute.  Natsu blushes a bit too since he knows he likes her.

                     A  bit later, Mira places the plates with the cheesecake slices on them in front of them, hands them each a napkin, and a fork, then hands Lucy the glass of milk, and Natsu the glass of hot chocolate.  She smiles then walks away.  She thinks those two are so good together.

                  Natsu eats the cheesecake in silence and Lucy does the same.  He drinks the hot chocolate slowly as Lucy drinks her milk.  After a while, they finish their drinks, so Natsu pays for everything despite Lucy's protest.

             "It is fine, Lucy, besides it is our date," Natsu says.

              "So, I know it is not like you owe me anything," Lucy says with a sigh.

                    Natsu walks with her to her car and sighs.  "Do not go, Luce," Natsu says.

                  "I am only going back to my place," She says.

             "I know, but this has been one sweet date," Natsu says.

                 "You know that is both the silliest and sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me," Lucy states.

               "Good, then you know I meant it," Natsu replies.

                   Natsu asks for her phone number and smiles an even bigger smile when she hands him a slip of paper with her name and number on it.  He plans to call her back as soon as he can.

                 Two days later, Natsu hears the news there has been an accident, three people were in a train crash, and it seems two were pulled from the wreckage.  Mrs. Heartfailia and her husband Mr. Heartfaila were the ones removed from it.  The third passenger, Lucy is said to be in critical condition.

               "What?  Not Lucy, this can not be happening," Natsu screams.  He goes to the hospital buys some flowers, a card, and a balloon.  He asks for the room Lucy stays in right then.

                  "Sure right this way, Natsu Dragneel, now your girlfriend might be napping," The nurse says.

                 "Okay, but how is she?" Natsu asks.

               "Aside from losing both her parents in the wreck, she has a bit of a concussion and might have trouble remembering much,"  The nurse warns him.

           "The nurse here is right," The doctor tells him.

                "I see thanks so much doctor and nurse," Natsu says as he pushes the door to her room open.

                 Natsu places the balloon, the flower inside a vase with the card on the bedside table. He sits in the chair and pulls it up closer to her.  He holds her hands.

                 "I know we only met a few days ago, but I want you to know it was one of the best days for me," Natsu says.

                Lucy remains asleep, but in her dream, she feels so happy. 

               In   Lucy's  dream                

                   Lucy smiles over at her mother and father. She can not wait for the family trip. It has been years since she last went on one. She texts Natsu to tell him she will be away for a few days.  She smiles when she sees his thoughtful response.

              Natsu's text to Lucy

           Take care Luce, and I will see you when you return.:)

             Lucy's text to Natsu

                I will tell you all about it when I get back, I promise. :)

               Lucy's mother hands her a bag of m& m's. The candy brings back so many good memories.  Lucy grins as she takes the bag. 

         "Thanks, mother, you know how much I love chocolate," She says.

        "Lucy, your mother, and I are so proud of you.  We are glad that you have Natsu in your life now.  If something shall ever happen to us we know he will take good care of you,"  Lucy's father, Jude says.

         "Oh, but nothing will happen to you right away, right?" Lucy replies.

              Lucy's father just drives along the highway with the nice destination he has in mind for himself, his wife, and their daughter.  He thinks it is a shame  Natsu could come along for the ride.  He is sure he would have enjoyed it.

           "Well, I suppose we could always invite Natsu to come along next time,"  Mr. Heartfailia says.

      End of Dream...

       Lucy wakes up to the sound of loud noises, strange lights, and a voice that sounds rather familiar.  She looks up to see Natsu close by and smiles. Then, she frowns when she recalls the wreck. She must find her parents.  It seems something must have happened to them.

       "Where are my folks?" Lucy asks.

         "Luce, you are awake," Natsu says.

          "Yes, but where are my mother and father?" Lucy asks. 

                 The doctor enters the room just then and shakes his head out of pity.   "Sorry, Miss Heartfailia, but you were in an accident," He says.

                "I know, but mother and father,"  Lucy begins to say.

                "Lucy Heartfailia, sorry, but you were the only survivor of the train crash.  The train's conductor was found dead on arrival, and your folks were pulled from the train itself.  The two were dead when the medics arrived on the scene.  You were trapped under the rubble, so far you were almost forgotten,"  The doctor explains.

            "How?" Lucy asks.

          "This here fellow, Natsu Dragneel saw you and came to your rescue," The doctor goes on to say.

            "Natsu, ah yes, he was my date a few nights ago at Mira Jane's sweet shop,"  Lucy states.

              ''No, mother, father!  Please tell me it is not true, Natsu," Lucy pleads with him.

           "I am sorry, Luce," Natsu says through his tears.

             Lucy sobs as she says,  "Thanks for the gifts Natsu, the flowers are ever so lovely."

               "You are welcome,"  Natsu remarks.

                     Two months later, Lucy is home from the hospital. She is still heartbroken over the loss of her parents. She knows the funeral was a month ago as she recalls attending it and Natsu being there for moral support.  

                     "Luce, here," Natsu says.

                     "What is it?" Lucy asks.

               "Go ahead, open it," Natsu remarks.

                    Lucy opens the box to see a cute puppy inside.  "Thanks, Natsu," She says. She hugs him.

                Natsu smiles, hugs her in return, as he replies,  "You are welcome, Luce."

                 Time skip to four months later,  Lucy and Natsu are an official couple now.  The others, Gray and Juvia, etc are so happy for them.  It is almost as if those two are meant to be.

               One year later, Natsu gets down on one knee with a ring box opened in his hand to reveal a cute silver band ring with little rose symbols on the side and a single diamond in the middle.

               "Lucy Heartfialia will you make me the happiest man alive?  What I mean is will you marry me?"  Natsu asks.

            "Oh, Natsu, yes!  I will be glad to marry you," Lucy says. She kisses him as he slips the engagement ring on her left ring finger.

          "I am so glad because you know what?" Natsu replies.

          "No, what?" Lucy asks.

          "You are still the prettiest and sweetest date ever," Natsu tells her.

           "You are still the handsome and silly man I have come to love," Lucy states.

                 Natsu kisses his fiance once more as Juvia takes a photo.  

                     the end...

             *Nalu The Sweet Date one-shot story was written by Summer Cheng (that is me)

                All the characters belong to Hiro Mashima the creator of Fairy Tail while the plot only belongs to me.

              Thanks, Happy Reading, and no copy cats.

          -Summer out!