Best Friend

Chapter 1

Closure

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. No copyright intended. I do own the story line, because I made that all up with my brain.

Everyone meets up in the middle of Magnolia with their heads held high after the battle with Tartaros. Wendy, Gajeel, Sting, and Rouge all stay together for the time being mourning in understanding of the loss of the dragons that raised them, all except Natsu. I look around for him growing worried and anxious for my best friend, I spot a head of messy pink hair leaving the group off to the side. Relieved, I step forward to follow him, a hand touches my shoulder, I turn around to find Erza.

"It might be best to leave him alone for now, Lucy. Let him grieve in his own way."

I sigh and look back at his retreating figure in the distance, not even Happy is with him. Silent tears roll down my face as my heart aches for him.

"That might be best, Lucy. I know you're worried about him, we all are but Natsu… he's always used to doing things on his own." Gray said speaking up, trying to comfort me.

"I know you guys might be right but I know it's not good to leave him alone tonight. I know what it's like losing someone so close to you, especially a parent. He needs me."

They gave me sorrowful looks but didn't protest further, I gave them a small smile as I left to go find him. Running after him in the direction I saw him go, I know right where he is going. It's a place he always goes when he needs to be alone, long story short it's a meadow a little ways from his house in the woods, we found it by accident one day just walking around. Back when everything was okay, when it was a happy day just walking around with your best friend recalling tales of past, before all the chaos that just unfolded. I clutch the broken key in my hand as I remember Aquarius and her sacrifice, tears roll down my face even more as I recall the memories. I sigh and swallow the lump in my throat, Natsu needs me more than I need him right now. He doesn't know what I had to do, I nor anyone had the time to tell him what I did and he won't know until I know that he is okay. Determined, I pick up my pace and make my way expertly through the woods in the dark to find that special place. Before long, I found him, kneeling on the cool grass looking up at the stars in the night sky. My breath catches in my throat as I find him, seeing him in this state almost makes my heart stop.

"I thought I'd find you here."

He doesn't even turn around he just bows his head. "Luce, you should go home."

"No can do. I'm not leaving you alone."

He grunted in frustration, "Maybe I want to be left alone!" he yelled.

I only closed my eyes and sighed, "Look, we don't have to talk or anything. We can just sit here in silence. But one thing I am not doing is leaving you alone until I know you are okay."

"Okay?! Luce, I will never be okay!" he yelled.

"Then I will never leave!" I yelled back at him.

He just stared at me and I stared back, gaze unwavering just like my stubbornness. He sighed giving into it and just fell to the ground, laying there motionless. I joined him and looked up at the stars with him. After a long while of silence, a time that seemed like for hours he finally speaks.

"The night sky is endless."

I smiled, "Yeah, it is infinite."

"I wish that could be said about life. Why did he have to die, Luce?"

I was silent as I looked at him, a loss for words. I had asked myself the same exact question when my mother left me so young. Maybe I should handle this in a different approach, since we are stargazing maybe that can help him. All I have to do is find the right constellation and remember what my mother had taught me. So there I was babbling about so many different constellations myths and stories as I pointed out the constellations to him as we stargazed.

"You see that one right there? That has the four stars that looks like a trapezoid, connecting to a long wavy line."

I said pointing it out to him, I looked over to see if he was looking, only to meet his gaze. Was he looking at me the whole time? The thought brought a slight blush to my cheeks, I saw the faintest of blush on Natsu as well before he turned to look at what I was pointing out.

"Where is it Lucy? I don't see it."

I sighed and took his hand and guided it to what I was looking at, "See it right there in the middle of all the other ones that I showed you, in the northern part of the sky?"

It took him awhile but he saw it, "Oh that one?"

I nodded, "Umhmm, that one is called the Constellation Draco. It appears very seldom and is rare to catch with the naked eye but it's there, usually more visible within 12 years of each other. It is called the Constellation Draco because it is believed that it is the dragons resting place-"

Natsu cut me off getting excited, eyes getting wide, "What really? That constellation is named after dragons? What do you mean resting place."

I smiled at his enthusiasm, "It was an old myth from centuries past that every time a dragon dies, it's soul goes to the constellation and becomes part of it, resting there forever within the stars."

He looked at me bewildered. I smiled brightly at him, a little nervous for what I'm about to say but I gather my courage hoping this will allow him to find some closure.

"So, in a way, Igneel is up there in the stars. Even though sometimes you can't see the constellation all the time, that doesn't mean that it isn't there, it is forever constant. Just like his love for you, it never faded and never will. I know what it's like to lose a parent, and I know that nothing will make any of this better-"

Natsu cut me off by hugging me tight, pulling me closer to him. I sat there for a minute shocked at his sudden movement but hugged him back as I felt him shaking. Hearing him sniff made my own eyes well up with tears.

"Lucy, thank you. You always take care of me, you always somehow manage to know just the right thing to say."

I hugged him a little tighter then pulled away, put my hand gently on his face, wiped away his tears and smiled at him.

"Your welcome and of course I'd take care of you, it's what best friends do."

"You're more than that to me Lucy." He mumbled into my hair, pulling me close for another hug.

I blush a little thinking I wasn't supposed to hear that, but I let it go. That can be a conversion for another day. He pulled out of the hug to look at me, his roughly yet gentle hands holding my face.

"Do you promise that we will always be together no matter what?"

I smiled, "I promise."

We sat there in silence for a little while before we decide to go back to my place for the night, I told him he could crash on the couch but knowing him, I'm more likely to see him sneak in my bed with me. Maybe I will let it slide just for tonight, given the circumstances, his protective embrace is probably what I need right now to survive the loss of Aquarius. Thoughts of what Natsu had said cloud my mind, just what did he mean by I mean more to him than as his best friend? I know he mumbled that, which means I probably should not have heard him but I did and now I can't get it out of my mind. Maybe he meant it as I am like family to him, he views everyone in the guild family, so it would make sense. Yet, it feels different every time I am around him, maybe I am like family but a different kind of family? Ugh! Pull yourself together Lucy, quit thinking that way. We are best friends nothing more will come of it no matter how I may truly feel.

I know, pathetic right? I've somehow managed to fall in love with my best friend. I've realized how I feel more and more as the threat of losing him became more prominent, I don't want another day to go by without him knowing the truth. He's everything you'd expect from the hero right out of a fairy tale. Strong, brave, compassionate, fearless and above all he has a warrior's heart striving to do what is right no matter the cost to himself. His confidence and optimism is what gives me the strength to perceive when all seem at loss. Watching him grow up over the years from goofy, childish, dimwitted Natsu to the man he has become today is amazing. I love him for every reason he is not and more, I know that may not make sense but in my heart I know it to be true. But now is not the time, he needs to grieve. We all grieve in our own ways but what I know most importantly, no one should be left alone after losing a loved one. I didn't have that luxury when I lost my mother, my father became indifferent towards me and cold, until I found Aquarius, the absence of my mother lessened. And losing Aquarius just now like I did, it's like I lost my mother all over again.

I felt my hand being squeezed, I look down to see Natsu holding my hand.

"What's wrong, Luce?"

I look up at him and tried to smile, "Nothing, I'm fine."

We halted in our steps as he got in front of me, a look on his face saying he was not convinced by my sad attempt at a smile. I looked over his shoulder and saw we were nearing my apartment, wanting to just sleep away this horrid event seems better and better.

"Luce, that half ass smile doesn't fool me. What's up?"

I sighed, "I'm just really tired, Natsu."

I told him walking past him to enter my apartment, I heard him follow and close the door behind him. I didn't even bother to change into pajamas, my body is about to collapse as I feel the weight of how exhausted I am. I lay on my bed and settle in for sleep. Natsu sighs as he takes off my shoes as well as his and settled into bed with me, his arm wrapping around me like a barrier. I hug his arm tightly to me as I let some stray tears fall, I felt him get closer to me as he held me. His head snuggled into my neck, the feel of his hot breath sending shivers down my spine.

"Fine I'll let it go. But you are going to have to tell me what is wrong eventually." he said.

I sighed and let myself be carried away by the comfort that some much needed rest would bring.