52 Days

Lucy smiled up at the clouds. They were on the cliff again, and they hadn't even bothered to appear in their classes today. He met her outside her house, and she had jumped in his car willingly. They had run around, doing mundane things to occupy their time, and finally, at around 3, it brought them back to their normal haunt, Lucy laying out in the grass, Natsu sitting on his car.

After a minute, Natsu stood up. "Well, there's somewhere else I wanted to show you today." He said, holding out a hand.

Lucy took it and got to her feet, walking to the car. "Where are we going now?"

Natsu grabbed her wrist. "We're leaving the car." He said, smiling as he pulled her along a path.

Lucy fought of the urge to scream in pain as Natsu's hand clamped around her wrist, the memory of what had happened the night before fresh in her mind. Even though it was a gentle touch, the bruises there were fresh and painful. She carefully slid her hand backwards, and, mistaking her actions, Natsu slowed down, but he still held her hand. "So, my question now?" He asked, continuing the game they constantly seemed to be playing.

Lucy nodded, and Natsu grinned. "What's your favorite color?"

Lucy shrugged. "I like yellow. How about yours? Wait, let me guess. Red."

Natsu looked at her with wide eyes. "How'd you know?"

Lucy inclined her head towards where they had left Natsu's car. "Your car?"

Natsu blinked, then chuckled. "Dad's car. He promised me when I graduate from college its mine though."

Lucy smiled. "Thought you weren't going to do that."

Natsu shrugged. "Maybe I will, and maybe I won't. I probably won't go until after I explore the world first." He looked back at Lucy. "What do you want to do after high school? You never really talk about it."

Lucy sighed. "I want to get published and go somewhere where no one knows who I am." She sighed. "Start over."

Natsu nodded, and the two teens fell into silence, both barely noticing their hands were still clasped together. After a while, Natsu pointed ahead. "There it is!" In his eagerness, he scooped Lucy up, breaking into a full-blown sprint.

Lucy felt her eyes water as his arms accidentally hit some bruising, but she fought them back, biting her lip. Natsu finally set her down, indicating the scenery. "Isn't it beautiful?" He asked, not looking at her as he stared.

Lucy couldn't help but gasp. It was a beautiful lake, a placid blue, only intermittently disturbed as the occasional fish jumped up lazily to snap at a passing by dragonfly. There was a island in practically the center of the lake, the sole inhabitant of the island a large overhanging willow tree. "It's beautiful Natsu!" She gushed, turning towards him. "How did you ever- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Natsu glanced up from unbuttoning his pants. "Taking off my pants." He stated, tossing them with his shirt, socks, and combat boots.

"Why?" Lucy asked, covering her eyes, but not before briefly ogling Natsu's body and black boxers that had flame designs on them.

"Going swimming. Duh." He rubbed his hands together. "Race you to the island!" He called as he jumped into the water, positively drenching her.

Lucy groaned. Oh course, it was her luck, her Dad came home the day before, and then Natsu wanted to go swimming. She pulled off her socks and shoes and left them next to Natsu's clothes, walking to the edge. Natsu watched her from further out. "You know, it'll be easier if you just jump in." He called, eyeing her. "And take off your clothes."

She glared at him. "Hell no! I'm a girl!" She took a deep breath before she dove in. The water felt good on her skin, even if her long-sleeved shirt and jeans got absolutely soaked. They were wet when Natsu had splashed her, but this was ridiculous. When she finally reached the island, Natsu poked fun at her for keeping her clothes on, calling her a weirdo.

They spent the rest of the day, laying out on the island, talking about frivolous things, occasionally jumping back in and having cannonball contests. Neither of them noticed when it started getting darker until Lucy noticed that she could barely make out the edge of the lake.

Natsu swore as he sat up. "Shit. We should probably head back."

Lucy nodded, walking to the edge. "I'll race you to our stuff!" She called, diving in, and Natsu laughed as he followed after her. Lucy reached shore first, but as she climbed out, she noticed how much chillier it had gotten, more than ever now that she was soaking wet. She shivered as she pulled on her shoes, and suddenly she found something shoved in her face.

"Here, take it. You need it more than me." Natsu said as he offered his shirt, and Lucy almost took it before she remembered the bruises.

She shook her head. "I'll be fine once we get to the car."

Natsu frowned, but he draped the shirt around her shoulders before he finished pulling on his boots and socks. As he led the way to the car, Lucy couldn't help but smell the scent on the shirt. It was a Natsu-like smell, just how she always imagined he'd smell, smoke and the outdoors.

She didn't notice how bad she was shivering until they got to the car, and Natsu sighed as he heard her teeth chattering slightly. "We need to get you out of those wet clothes." He muttered, revving up the car and pulling away.

Lucy noticed when he turned the wrong way onto the road, heading away from town. "Um, Natsu, my house and town is in the opposite direction."

Natsu nodded. "We're going to make a quick stop first. It would suck if you got a cold from sitting in those clothes. Who else would skip school with me instead of go to second period history?"

Lucy snorted. "Lisanna?"

Natsu laughed. "She can be fun, but she can be a stick in the mud about that. Last time I asked her to skip, she had some pep rally, and she told that creepy red-head that I was planning on ditching. She wanted me to see some new routine she was doing with the cheer squad."

Lucy pulled a face. "That guard, what's-her-name, she takes her job too seriously. To be honest, who carries around a notebook and records every single misdemeanor she sees?"

Natsu frowned. "If I remember right, her name begins with an E?"

Lucy pondered for a minute. "Emily? Eliza?" She snapped her fingers. "Erza!" She sneezed suddenly and groaned. "She'd probably write me up for sneezing tomorrow."

Natsu pulled off of the road, grinning. "Don't worry, we're almost there." He pulled into a driveway and grinned at her. "Welcome to the Dragon's Nest!"

Lucy climbed out, smiling at the small house as she grabbed her backpack. It was a quaint cottage, and Lucy glanced at Natsu as she followed him to the front door. "Dragon's Nest?"

Natsu shrugged. "Well, we ARE the Dragneels. It kinda sounds like dragon, and they have nests."

Lucy smiled. "Can't argue with that logic."

Natsu unlocked the front door, frowning as he turned on the lights. "That's weird. Normally Mum and Dad are back by now, and Wendy's doing homework." He shrugged. "They probably went out to eat." He waved her to follow, and he led her upstairs to a bedroom.

"Sorry for the mess." He said as he flicked on the lights, and Lucy felt her eyes pop out of her head. Natsu's car had been one thing, but this was another. There was clutter everywhere, and instantly Lucy had the thought 'Hoarder…'

Natsu rummaged through a surprisingly neat dresser, and pulled out a pair of pants and long-sleeved t-shirt, tossing them to her. "Put these on. They'll be better than what you're wearing." He glanced at her, frowning. "Want a pair of boxers, or are your underwear dry enough?"

Lucy couldn't help but blush at how plainly Natsu put it, and she shook her head. "I'm good. Where's the bathroom?"

Natsu pointed outside as he handed her a towel. "Second door, on the left."

Lucy smiled as she dashed to the bathroom, locking herself into the small bathroom. She hissed slightly as she pulled off her shirt, inspecting the damage done to her torso, letting out a soft and cynical laugh. The 'artwork' on her skin was black and slowly purpling, especially the one on her ribs that was a practically perfect imprint of a shoe, and, judging from the odd bump sticking out of her skin and how bad it hurt with even the lightest touches as she dried herself with the towel, was probably broken. She sighed, pulling on the shirt gingerly to not upset her ribs, knowing that when she got home, she'd have to look up on Google how to fix her ribs herself and how to bandage them.

She didn't spare a glance at her legs, not wanting to see the damage done to them as she dried them, and she pulled on Natsu's pants, feeling slightly embarrassed as they hung ridiculously low on her hips. Not only was she in a boy's house, but she was wearing his clothes. Oh, what people would say.

She opened the door, holding her soaked clothes, about to ask Natsu for a belt when she noticed one hanging on the doorknob. She smiled as she pulled it through the belt loops. For someone who pretended to be an idiot, he had his moments.

Voices attracted her attention, and she walked towards the end of the hallway, wondering if Natsu was talking to Happy again.

"No buts mister! Where were you? I said be home by 4, and look at the time! 6! 6! Can you read a clock properly?" A shrill voice said, and Lucy furrowed her eyebrows as she walked slowly towards the edge of the stairway. "I wanted you to come with us so we could be a family!"

A younger female voice sounded. "Mom, it's alright. It was just a conference meeting. It's not like he missed my graduation."

A booming laugh sounded. "True, true." There was a pause, and then the voice continued. "Natsu, where were you though?"

Natsu let out an uneasy chuckle as Lucy reached end, looking down towards the family standing in the living room. "Well, it's kinda a long story."

Lucy stared at the family on the landing below her, a woman with beautiful silver hair glaring at Natsu as he scratched the back of his head. A man stood behind her, shaking his head pityingly at Natsu, fire red hair sticking up in a million odd angles, and small girl with blue hair right by the man's side. Lucy had seen the man around before- he was the local judge at the courts. She guessed that they were Natsu's family, the small girl Wendy, and she smiled slightly as Natsu's foster mother tried to hound where he had been from him.

Wendy happened to glance up at the stairs, and she gasped. "Natsu! Who's the girl in your clothes?"

Instantly 4 pairs of eyes were fixed on Lucy, and she turned bright red. Natsu, however, merely grinned. "Oh, hey Luce!"

Natsu's mother narrowed her eyes at Lucy, and Lucy couldn't help but gulp. However, the man sighed. "I guess you were right Wendy. Your brother's straight. I owe you ten bucks."

Natsu turned bright red. "Dad!" He hissed, looking extremely uncomfortable. "It's not like that!"

Three pairs of eyebrows rose, and Natsu gulped. "This is my friend, Lucy. The one I've been telling you about?"

Natsu's mother nodded. "Oh. Alright then." She shot a glance at Lucy, eyeing the girl's clothes. "Why is she wearing your clothes?"

Natsu scratched the back of his head. "We went swimming, and her clothes got wet." He glanced at his Lucy as she started going down the stairs, still bright red. "Oh god, look at the time. We should get Lucy home before-"

"Hold up." Wendy frowned. "You bring a girl home for the first time, and she gets no say in what happens?"

Lucy blinked in surprise as the man walked over to her. "Please join us for dinner. We'll throw your clothes in the dryer, so you don't have to worry about wearing my son's clothes home."

Lucy flushed slightly. "Well, I, uh…"

Wendy grinned. "It's settled! You'll stay for dinner!"

The man grinned. "Good to hear. We haven't been formerly introduced. I'm Igneel Dragneel, and this is my wife Grandine and our adopted daughter Wendy." He placed a hand firmly on her upper arm, and Lucy did her best not to betray the pain in her face. "Let's go to the study and get better acquainted while Natsu and Wendy help my wife make dinner."

Lucy glanced back at Natsu, a small smile on her lips, and he mouthed, 'I'm sorry'. She giggled slightly and waved at him.

The second Lucy and Igneel were in the study, Igneel entered the 'serious' parenting mode her mother used to get into every once in a while. "Miss Heartfilia, would you please sit?" He asked, indicating a sofa, and Lucy sat down, suddenly unsure. "Now, Miss Heartfilia-"

"Lucy." She interjected, and then looked down. "Please just call me Lucy."

Igneel nodded. "Fine then, Lucy. I wish to know your intentions with my son."

Lucy shifted uncomfortably. "I don't understand sir."

Igneel watched her carefully. "I am well aware of your, reputation, Lucy. I just wish-"

Lucy's eyes widened, and she shook her head. "No! I'd never do that to Natsu." She looked away sadly. "I know of the rumors, but Mr. Dragneel-"

"Igneel."

Lucy smiled slightly. "Igneel, I know about the rumors, and I doubt you'd believe me if I denied them, but I do have to say that you shouldn't believe everything you hear. Natsu is my friend, and while I do care for him more than I should, I won't take it any farther than friendship. I know he wants to travel the world after high school." She kept her gaze away, but the blush betrayed her as it spread to coat her ears.

Igneel looked at her, then smiled, chuckling. Lucy looked at him, confusion written on her face. "Why are you laughing? It's the truth!"

Igneel shook his head. "I understand something a little better now." He stared at Lucy, still smiling. "You know, not many teenagers can speak to a full grown man like myself and not be intimidated by the town's judge. You have spunk."

Lucy blushed even deeper. "T-thanks." She said softly, looking down, and Igneel laughed.

"No need to get shy now. Come on. We can go bother Natsu while Grandine tries to get him to focus on making the food instead of just eating it from the pan."

Lucy didn't think she had had a more fun mealtime than the night she spent at Natsu's house. It beat her own silent home with its boisterous activity and laughter, and all too soon dinner was over, and Lucy helped gather the dishes with Grandine as Igneel and Natsu lay moaning contentedly in the living room. Wendy excused herself to go do homework, and Lucy offered to do the dishes in Wendy's place.

Grandine pointed to the sink. "You wash, and I'll dry and put away." She said, and Lucy nodded, barely rolling up Natsu's sleeves so they wouldn't get completely soaked.

Grandine was a powerhouse, and Lucy was hard pressed to wash the dishes properly and get them in the drying rack before the woman had them dried and in the cupboard.

Lucy was rushing so much, she failed to notice when one of her sleeves moved up too far until she heard Grandine gasp slightly. "Lucy! What did you do to your wrist?"

Lucy paled, but she pulled her sleeve down a bit. "I tripped over my dog." She lied, flashing her best fake smile at the woman. "It hurts, but it's bearable."

Grandine watched Lucy carefully, frowning. "Lucy, I may be a vet, but I am a trained professional. That looked like you may have broken it."

Lucy shook her head. "It's fine. In a few days, it'll be completely normal."

"… You sound like this has happened before."

Lucy cursed herself for her own stupidity. "I trip quite a bit. It's fine."

Grandine's frown never wavered, but she nodded. "If you say so."

Lucy rushed through the last few dishes, hoping to avoid any more questions, and she quickly walked into the living room. "Umm… Natsu?"

Natsu instantly sat up, grinning at her. "You done?"

She nodded. "Can you take me home? Plue is probably worried to why I haven't come home yet."

Natsu nodded as he stood up. "See you in a bit Dad."

Lucy grabbed a plastic bag that was next to the door, surprised to find her clothes warm and dry. "Thanks for having me for dinner!" She called, and she heard a responding grunt from the floor.

Grandine shouted from the other room. "Always a pleasure when Natsu brings a girl over! Feel free to come by and visit anytime!"

Natsu grunted as he shut the door, and as he walked to the car, he glanced at the blonde next to him. "Sorry about that. They're an overprotective pair, those two."

Lucy chuckled softly. "I would expect your parents to think so, especially when you're hanging around with a girl like me."

Natsu glanced at her as they climbed into the car. "What do you mean?"

Lucy sighed. "I'm that girl no parent wants their son to bring home. That easy tramp that everyone sees and whispers about." When Natsu opened his mouth, Lucy snorted. "Don't deny it. You said it yourself, you hear the whispers, the things people say about me."

"Luce-"

Lucy closed her eyes, leaning her head against the window. "It's fine Natsu. I've gotten it so much, it's almost expected whenever I go somewhere."

They fell into a silence that lasted till Natsu pulled into Lucy's driveway. Lucy flashed him a forced smile as she climbed out. "Thanks for bringing me home Natsu. See you tomorrow."

She turned to go and walked began to walk towards her house when she felt herself spun around and she was crushed against Natsu's chest. "Lucy, I want you to know, I never saw you like that. I saw you as the sweet girl I saw in the counselor's office who talked with me." She could feel him grin into the top of her head. "I was always that kid too, the one every parent would hate their daughter to bring home one day. I was always just the delinquent, the delinquent that was surprised when you, Lucy Heartfilia, agreed to help me spring Happy from the pound."

Lucy smiled and chuckled, and she hugged him back, even when her body screamed in protest. Natsu smiled slightly, and he held her closer. "You definitely surprised me that day, especially when you came out with that ridiculous dog. On that day, I thought… I thought…" Lucy looked up, and Natsu glanced away, but the beams from his headlights gave away his blush. "I mean, what I'm trying to say is-"

Lucy lifted up her arms and pulled his head down to hers, kissing him. His eyes widened, but his arms slipped comfortably around her waist and he kissed her back gently. It was gentle, not rash and brutal like all the other kisses Lucy had gotten in her life. It was perfect… She almost wanted to pop one of her legs up like that girl in Princess Diaries

They pulled apart after a moment, foreheads touching as both teens stared at each other, neither saying a word, and Lucy felt like she was on another plane of existence; she had achieved such a state of bliss.

Natsu coughed slightly, eyes meeting Lucy's evenly, some emotion in them she couldn't place. "That… That was…" He said softly, and his words snapped Lucy out of her little world.

"A mistake." She said softly, pushing out of Natsu's arms suddenly. "Sorry Natsu, I should've never done that." She whispered before she dashed into her house. She glanced behind her before she closed the door, eyes meeting Natsu's one last time. He was frozen in place, a look of confusion on his face as he tried to figure out what had exactly just happened.

She slammed the door shut and locked it, dashing to her room and flopping on her bed. Plue glanced up from exactly the same place he had been when she left him that morning, and Lucy hugged the small dog. "Oh, Plue!" She sobbed, crying heartbrokenly until she fell asleep.

Hahaha! This was supposed to be a Friday update, but... hehehehe... If anyone gets what yesterday was, theyn you'll understand. There were no lucid thoughts, and a LOT of snack food. :D

Speaking of which...

Please leave reviews! I do like reviews, and snack food. This chapter was a little shorter than I would've liked, but nno use crying over it now. I'll get the next chapter up soon.