"No!"

She tried to pretend that it was just an illusion - that the blood gushing out from his side was just water, stained red only because she was getting tired and not seeing things properly.

She tried to pretend that his breathing wasn't growing shallower and strained, but that he was simply panting from exhaustion.

She tried to pretend that he was just getting colder because they were in a chilly area.

She tried her hardest to pretend -but pretend wasn't always enough to cover up the truth.

Lucy felt a shaking hand grasp hers weakly. She didn't want to look directly in his eyes, for fear she would burst into tears, but something draw her gaze over to him.

Moist, chocolate brown eyes met bright onyx ones. A strangled sob escaped Lucy's lips, and she sniffled loudly.

"Why...cry...we...weirdo..." Natsu managed to choke out. Despite the condition he was in, his eyes were shining and he was smiling, blood bubbling at his lips. It only made the fragile dam Lucy had for her tears shatter into pieces. She wept openly, sobbing.

"So...sorry...couldn't...prote...you..." He coughed, crimson blood splashing over his lips. "Sor...so..."

"Shush," Lucy whispered, running her hand through his salmon-pink hair. "It's okay. We'll be okay. When we get back, we'll get Porlyusica to fix you up. Then-then we can go take another job, if you're feeling better. I don't know if 90,000 jewels are enough, if you and Happy are going to sneak in the house everyday and eat all my food." Lucy allowed herself a small chuckle.

Natsu's eyes were closing. "Lu...cy...uh..." He broke down in a coughing fit.

"Shh." More tears leaked out of her eyes. "We can talk later."

"I...you...I...I lo..." Natsu coughed again and closed his eyes, looking pale from blood loss.

"Yeah, I know. So-so maybe you might...well, ask me out on a date sometime?" Lucy blushed a little. "And I don't know if you will ask, but we could get married, and have a baby. I've actually been thinking about it, and if we get a girl, we should name her Nashi. Nashi, daughter of Natsu and Lucy Dragneel." Lucy giggled. "And we would go on vacation together. Vacation, and spend so much time each other, right? Natsu?"

The celestial spirit was suddenly aware of how his head had lolled to the side, a thin trickle of blood running down his chin. His hand was cold and limp in her hold.

He wasn't breathing.

Lucy was only dimly aware of her surroundings. All she could feel and hear was the strange buzzing that covered up everything. It filled her eyes, clouded her vision, and it crushed her heart in its claws.

Lucy threw her head back and screamed - a mournful cry that reverberated around her and shattered her heart.

Her future had just disappeared from her, and it was never coming back.

Is it bad? Good? Potato?

This is my first NaLu one-shot, and the sadistic side of me has won again. It happens to love Natsu dying and Lucy crying her eyes out for him. And it's short. I sincerely apologize for that.

But please review or fave if you liked it, or you can tell me how I can improve, as this is my first sad piece of writing.

Merci beaucoup!