AN: GAH! Back to Lucy here...sorry if my last chapter turned anyone off this story! It really does get better...sometimes filler is necessary, no?

I never really address the timeline directly, but in my mind this all takes place directly after the guild gets back from Edolas in the "lull" before the S-Class trials. Hopefully that helps set the stage a little bit!

Anyhoo, read on sweet readers and remember reviews are looooooove~! ;)

Chapter 3: Embers

Lucy was debating with herself as she paced outside the guild hall. She had headed straight there bright and early to confront Natsu about his explosive episode at her apartment the night before. When she had arrived however, Mira informed her that Natsu and Happy hadn't come in yet.

Then Lucy had gotten worried. After she had summoned Virgo to carry Natsu home the night before, she hadn't checked in on him. Maybe he was really sick. She warred with herself, arms crossed over her chest, foot tapping impatiently.

She was concerned for Natsu, but if he was sick it was his own doing. Drinking too much and acting the way he had was really unforgivable! On the other hand, he had acted so affectionately with her, spoke to her so softly...

The blonde celestial Mage blushed crimson at the memory of drunk Natsu calling her scent "delicious". He had even pulled her on top of him! What could that mean? Could he possibly care more for her than she thought?

"No no no! Get it together Lucy!" Lucy exclaimed this to herself, shaking her head emphatically and deciding on a course of action. She was going to Natsu's house to check on him. If he was okay she was going to tell him off. Or maybe confess to him. Or both!

Either way, her feet carried her toward the ramshackle hut in the woods that Natsu and Happy called home. She was mentally rehearsing what she was going to say when she drew up on the house. The smell of wood fire and food cooking caught her of guard and she stopped short.

Her brown eyes flew up to the chimney where a thin curl of smoke could be seen. That was odd. Natsu never cooked. He always either came to her place and ate all her food or went to the guild hall.

Lucy didn't know why but she suddenly had the urge to sneak up to a window and spy on Natsu. How else would she figure out why the heck he was suddenly cooking for himself?

As the blonde crept quietly towards the kitchen window, she tried to still her unsteady breathing. She was so nervous! Her heart was telling her she needed to be honest with Natsu about her feelings.

Her head was screaming "no way"; a confession like that could ruin their friendship. But something about Lisanna's return had lit a fire under Lucy to do something, anything, about her love life frustrations.

Lucy stopped underneath the window and slowly raised herself up just enough to peer up over the sill. What she saw almost made her eyes pop out of her head. There was Natsu sitting at the kitchen table chowing down on a plate of food. Happy was sitting on the table itself doing some damage on a plate of his own.

But Lucy's eyes couldn't move from the figure sitting next to Natsu.

Lisanna...

A roaring sound filled Lucy's ears and her chest tightened. Of course she was there taking care of Natsu. Why wouldn't she be? She was Natsu's closest friend now...

Lucy felt the beginning of tears pricking her eyes as she thought back on the way she and Natsu had met. How he had saved her and brought her to Fairy Tail and encouraged her to do her best. Things had always been so easy and natural between them.

Everything was better when they were together.

Now that Lisanna was back, Lucy felt herself getting replaced on the team. She felt like a chasm was opening between herself and Natsu and she hated it. With the weight of her emotions heavy on her mind, Lucy decided to sneak away and prayed no one would notice her.

She turned in a crouch, inching back away from the house. A loose stone caught the heel of her boot and suddenly Lucy was sprawling into the shrubby undergrowth.

"Ow..." Lucy mumbled as she hastily drew herself back up. When she looked back up, she found herself face to face with Natsu as he looked out the window. Obviously, with his super dragon slayer senses, he had heard the crashing sounds of Lucy's graceful tumble and had come to investigate.

His face shifted from angry suspicion to happiness to anxious in three seconds as he took in Lucy's expression. She couldn't help the crushing feeling that was taking over her. Looking at him, his pink hair still ruffled from sleep, scarf askew, eyes bright and wide; he was so perfectly Natsu.

And so perfectly out of reach. Lucy mustered up her best fake smile and greeted Natsu brightly.

"Morning Natsu!" Her cry summoned Happy and Lisanna to the window too, both were clearly curious.

"Morning Luce." Natsu's voice was low and he didn't make eye contact. He nervously fidgeted with his scarf instead. Lucy swallowed. Her mouth was suddenly so dry!

"Luuucy! What were you doing in the bushes?" Happy squeaked his blunt question, crossing his tiny arms and looking very stern. Lucy laughed nervously, palms suddenly very sweaty. She tried to avoid looking at Natsu and her eyes ended up on Lisanna's pretty features instead.

She was flat out gorgeous, just like her older sister. Her short silvery hair framed her face just so, deep blue eyes so open and trusting. She had a curvy, womanly shape too, although not nearly as busty as Lucy herself. A small part of Lucy's ego preened itself at that realization.

Remembering herself and that her presence was still unexplained, Lucy cleared her throat and shuffled her feet.

"I-I came to make sure Natsu made it home okay." Lucy flinched at how nervous her own voice sounded. What was with her?

Happy snorted.

"And what you fell in the bushes? They're all squashed now! They'll probably grow funny forever!" An angry blush rushed up into Lucy's cheeks at Happy's insinuation that she had damaged their stubby little shrubs.

"Hey! Watch it, cat!" She growled, for a second forgetting her awkward situation. Happy huffed and floated back into the house, tucking back into his breakfast, and flatly ignoring his humans.

Lisanna giggled at their interaction but Natsu remained awkwardly aloof. Lucy took a moment to take in how close the two were standing to each other. They seemed comfortable, intimate even. Her heart felt like someone was squeezing it.

"Lucy, do you want to come in for some breakfast?" Lisanna asked politely, her pretty face an open invitation. It was saying 'let's be friends' but what Lucy's mind saw was 'let me steal Natsu away forever.' No way she could eat breakfast with them!

"No, no thanks! I'm watching my figure! Gotta stay trim and trained, right Natsu?" Ugh, Lucy groaned inwardly at her own weird comment.

Natsu raised an eyebrow at her but didn't say anything. He was at least looking at her now. But his expression was clouded, an unreadable emotion in his slanted olive eyes.

"Well, another time then?" Lisanna was still carrying on polite small talk. Lucy wondered if she was picking up on the tension in the air between Natsu and herself. Lucy couldn't tell but she wasn't sticking around to find out.

"Er, sure maybe. Well, gotta get up to the guild to see if there are any good jobs! See you later!"

Lucy spit all this out and spun on her heel, rushing back onto the the trail that led back towards Magnolia. She didn't want to see Lisanna and Natsu standing close together anymore but the image was seared into her mind.

The tears she had been fighting were rolling down her face now. She cried as she started jogging, letting the wind wipe away the tears. She couldn't stand the horrible crushing feeling in her chest. She felt so overwhelmed.

Had she really already lost Natsu? She had only just come to terms with the weight of her feelings. And now...?

Her distress must have become very apparent to her spirits because suddenly a golden aura appeared and Loke materialized in front of her. Lucy stopped running, heaving in a gasping breath before bursting into a fresh wave of sobs.

Loke didn't say anything. He just gently gathered his mistress into his arms and held her until the tears stopped.

KYAAAH! Had to push Lucy over the edge a little here...I relate to her a lot so I have a really good time writing her emotional scenes. _;;;