Natsu was nervous as hell. He was really hoping Gray's plan was going to work. He got himself dressed and then ran out the house and hopped on his bike. He was going to be early but he didn't care. He would wait a lifetime for this opportunity if he had too. Especially after he heard that she still loved him.

He drove the hour long trip thinking about what he was going to say to her. And how he really was going to owe all his friends if this worked. God please let this work! He thought to himself. When he reached his destination he parked his bike away from the main drive and walked to the back of the property.  It hadn't changed much at all over the years, but there was one specific place he was looking for. 

As he walked along he saw it. At the back of the grounds was the sakura meadows. The exact same ones that he, Lucy, and Gray grew up playing . He walked along the rows of trees remembering all the fun they had there as children.  When he reached a certain tree he stopped and looked at it. It had grown a lot since he had last been there, but what he was looking for qas still there. It was his and lucy's name carved into the trunk of the tree.

He sat under the tree for a while and waited until he heard talking in the distance.  It was faint, but he knew those voices anywhere. It was Lucy and Gray. He stood and hid himself behind the tree waiting for the moment when he was supposed to come out. Just like they had planned Gray walked Lucy out to the meadows. Natsu's heart started to race.

"Wow, this place hasn't changed at all!" He heard Lucy exclaim. He poked his head around the tree just enough to see her face.

There she was as beautiful as ever. She had her hair down with loose curls framing her face. She was wearing a cute black mini skirt, a red sleeveless blouse, and a pair of red sneakers. His favorite colors. Almost like she was teasing him. Like she knew he was there.

"You remember all the fun we used to have here?" Gray asked her.

"Remember it?" She smiled. "Who could forget. We used to have so much fun in here! I remember us playing tag from sun up to sun down." She smiled as she leaned against a tree.

"Yeah those were the good old days." Gray said leaning against the tree beside her. "Hey, why don't we play again for old times sake?" He asked grinning at her.

"Seriously, Gray?" Lucy asked cocking an eyebrow. "Don't you think we're a little old for hide and seek?"

"Nah," he said grabbing her by the hand. "Come on you count and I'll go hide." He winked at her. "One game that's all I'm asking for."

"Okay, okay..." she laughed. "One game and that's it!" She leaned against the tree and started counting..
"1...."

"2...."

"3....."

"4....."

"5....."

"Count to a hundred!" Gray yelled as he started towards the direction of his car. He looked at the tree where Natsu was hiding and gave him a thumbs up as he mouthed to him 'Alright fire boy, it's on you now. Don't fuck this up.'  Natsu smiled back at Gray and with that Gray left.

Nastu waited until he heard Gray's car pull off down the street.  Now it was his turn. He came out from behind the tree and walked in the direction of where he could hear Lucy counting.

"80...."

"81....."

"82...."

"83...."

"84...."

He hid himself in a spot where she could easily find him, but covered enough where she couldn't tell that it was him. He and Gray had made a point to wear similar clothes for just for this reason. They didn't want Lucy to get scared before she realized who it was she was seeing. He waited on her to reach one hundred before he noisily moved in the direction where he wanted her to go. Back towards the tree that had their names carved in it. It was important to him that she saw that tree. That she saw it was still standing. Hopefully it would give her hope.

When he reached the tree he hid behind it watching and waiting as Lucy slowly made her way to where the tree was.

"Gray... where are you??? Im going to find you!" She sang out smiling broadly. She spun around a few times looking and listening for any sound as to where her friend might be. "Seriously Gray? Where did you go?" She yelled. As she spun again she stopped when her eyes caught sight of the big sakura tree. She looked up and starred at the large carving in it.

NATSU ♡ LUCY
4 EVER

She smiled remembering the day Natsu climbed that tree to carve that. She yelled at him the whole rest of the day for being so reckless.  She giggled to herself at the thought. As she was looking at the tree she noticed a new carving underneath it. What in the world? She thought to herself. It was written small and if she hadn't been paying attention she would have missed it. She walked forward looking closer at it, trying to read what it said.

Lucy,
I'm a fool. You're my world, my light, the air i breathe. I love you more than anything! Please forgive me.
Natsu

She quietly gasped in shock as she took a step back surprised at what she saw. As she stepped back her foot caught a tree root and she started to fall backwards. She braced herself for an impact that never came as she felt herself being surrounded by a strong pair of arms. She leaned into the warmth as her back lay against the chest of her hero.

Natsu leaned forward his lips grazing her ear as he whispered quietly, "Lucy, I love you."