Waiting

Natsu looked at his blonde partner in concern. "Natsu….." the blue exceed on his shoulder said worriedly. "I know happy but not now." He said. It had happened again, another break up, another boy that made Lucy cry. Natsu grit his teeth, that boy is going to regret being born. He turned around and was about to leave but Lucy stopped him.

"Natsu' that word alone was enough to send him on his knees beside Lucy, who was crying and curled on the floor. Lucy clung to him, shaking and soaking his vest in just a few seconds 'please don't leave me. Not you too, please…" Natsu put his arms around Lucy. Damn it! He hated seeing her like this. Broken, vulnerable, crying and shattered inside.

He stayed in that position until Lucy fell asleep from crying. He stood up and carried her to her bed. He pulled the sheets just before her chin, and stared at her intently, a dozen thoughts running in his mind. "Lucy' he started 'Im always right here for you, ya know? I don't understand why you keep doing this…this dating thing. It only hurts you and I hate seeing you hurt." You could notice his voice cracking a little now "I keep on waiting for you Luce, but sometimes I wonder if just waiting is okay for me now. Am I not suitable for you? What am I doing wrong? Please hurry up and notice Lucy, I don't want to see you like this anymore." Natsu finished, holding her petite hands in his big calloused ones, and his head down, his eyes full of unshed tears. Happy had the decency to stay quiet the whole time.

It took days before Lucy decided to show up at the guild again. During the time that he waited, Natsu kept himself busy by tracking down Lucy's latest ex-boyfriend and beating him to a pulp, which would probably send him to the hospital for one whole month. The day Lucy showed her face in the guild, was the exact same day Natsu was contemplating if he should already confess to Lucy. He swore he would never see her cry again. He was asking advice from the matchmaking demon Mirajane when Lucy's sent hit him full blast. He hadn't smelt it for such a long time.

"Since she's here why don't you just say it to her now?" Mira had asked

Natsu shook his head and looked over to where Lucy was "Not now, she needs time to heal. Besides I don't think I'm ready either." Mira felt her heart swell. Their little Natsu was growing up.

"Ne Levy-chan, why don't we go shopping later? I'm kind of outgrowing my clothes a little and I also want to buy some new books anyway." Lucy asked the bluenette

"Eh? But didn't you and Mark have a date today?" Levy asked

Lucy took a sharp intake of breath, no, not today, she came here today to have fun not cry, besides she has decided to move on. "We broke up" she said simply as if saying what to buy from the grocery.

"Oh…..sorry Lucy." Levy said, not knowing what to say anymore.

"Yeah, anyway, so what about shopping?" Lucy pressed

"S-sure" Levy replied hesitantly

"Why? Do you have plans already? It's okay then, we can go shopping next time"

"No! I's not that, it's just….." Levy bit her lip and looked at Lucy "You don't seem upset at all Lu-chan."

"Oh that, I decided that it was his loss. He should've never dumped a rare pack like me." Lucy winked and Levy smiled

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go shopping!" Levy squealed

Before they exited the guild, Lucy stopped and looked at Natsu, who had his back turned at her and was chatting with Mira. She felt a light blush cover her cheeks

"Lu-chaaaaan! Come on! Let's go!" Levy, who was now a few meters away called

"Wait, I'm coming!" Lucy yelled as she run after her friend

Besides, I already have someone waiting for me.