How long had they been standing there like this, she didn't know, nor did she really care. At the moment, she just wanted to revel in the feel of him around her arms. He wasn't hugging her back, but that didn't matter at the moment. When she had thrown her arms around him, she had been afraid that he'd push her away and leave, but he stood there and let her hold him.

Maybe he was only standing there out of pity, she eventually thought. He had told her, in his own words, that he thought of her like his sister; but, hey, she's an avid reader, and she's read a few stories about brothers and sisters falling love. It might not be exactly the same as their current situation, but if those blood related siblings could do it, then she could convince him - hopefully within the next few hours before they had to get ready to leave for the first day of the tournament.

She had finally confessed to him, and wasn't surprised by his reaction. She was slightly hurt that he didn't do anything, but at least it was better than flat out rejecting her. That could only mean she had a chance, right? Even if he only stayed out of pity, that still meant she could convince him, right? If he had left, she knew she wouldn't have a chance.

What could she do, though? How could she convince him? If confessing and leaving weren't enough, she could always seduce him. No, Lucy. Let the man handle one thing at a time. If she were to try to jump his bones now, he would definitely get scared and reject her.

"I'm sorry, Natsu," she finally said, speaking in a whisper so she wouldn't frighten him. "I've tried living with this, but I just can't. If you're not with me, I have to leave."

She felt him stiffen, so she tightened her hold on him. She would not let him go, not while she was pouring her heart out to him. He chose to stay, so he will hear her out.

"Ever since that day when you came to me and Gray, asking about Lisanna, I felt I had lost you, that you were finally out of my reach for good. I tried avoiding you, not avoiding you, staying away for days on end, taking vacations, but…In the end, I just couldn't fully get you out of my mind."

"And you think leaving the guild is the right decision?"

She let out a small smile. He finally spoke, and it wasn't a rejection. Her heart was pounding, and she was afraid that, at any moment, he'd push her away.

"It's the only one I have that will help me forget about you."

"I don't want you to leave." He finally raised his arms and held her against him. If only for a moment, she would cherish this moment with him. "Even knowing it would mean you're suffering, I don't think I can let you go. It wouldn't be fair to you to pretend I love you the way you want me to, just to make you stay, but you're leaving me with no other choices."

No, this isn't what he's supposed to be saying. Why isn't he saying that he'll try? Or at least that he's happy to learn that she loves him? He hasn't even denied what's been going on with Lisanna….No more, she could hear no more of whatever it was that he was trying to say. He only stayed with her for this amount of time so he could reject her without hurting her feelings; she wouldn't have it.

"I don't know if -"

Lucy cut him off, quickly raising her head and placing her lips against his. No more, please, no more! Natsu, if you don't think you can grow to love me, then at least let me have tonight before I leave your life forever.

His mouth felt better than she dreamt it would. It was softer than she imagined, warmer, and it fit against hers perfectly. She put in all her feelings into that kiss, but still kept it gentle. She probed his mouth with her tongue, gently running it across his lower lip. He shivered, and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. She could just feel his reluctance, the urge to push her away, and yet he didn't. She held him against her, not wanting to break away, even if he tried. She gave his bottom lip another petting, and he finally parted his lips.

He allowed her tongue into his mouth, and gave another audible shiver as she ran her tongue along his teeth, exploring every inch of his mouth. He let her play with his tongue, but he kept it in his mouth, almost afraid to let it go too far.

But he already let it go too far, it was too late to stop. She grabbed his hands and gently placed them on her hips. She wanted him now more than ever, and since he let her kiss him like they were, she wasn't going to let him go until she showed him how much she really loved him.

"Luce, hang on…"

"Don't talk, Natsu. Just let me do this, just for tonight. Please."

She put her hand on the back of his head, keeping his face close to hers. She felt him sigh, and she melted against him, feeling like she had won, if only for tonight. He placed his hand on the back of her head, grabbing onto her hair, and pulling her away from him.

"Lucy, you have to listen to me."

They stared at each other, both slightly out of breath.

"I'm sorry to say," he said quickly, "but just because you said you love me, doesn't mean I want to do - that - with you the second you say it."

"I just thought that, after finding out that you're the reason I want to leave, you'd at least let me try to convince you." She rubbed her hands up his muscular chest, reveling in the feel of the result of all that physical training he did all the time. "You did say that you would show the man I love the woman I really am, didn't you? Besides, after tonight I'm leaving, remember? Can't we do something as a goodbye party?"

"No, I won't let that happen. You're not leaving." He kept her head pulled back slightly while he stepped out of her embrace.

"I am leaving." She put her hands on her hips, letting him have his space as he let go of her hair and backed away a little bit more. She wouldn't mind if he still held onto her hair, but she didn't want him to get any more scared than he already seemed to be.

"No, you're not."

"Yes, I am. Unless you tell me that you love me back, I'm leaving." Sighing, she turned away from him, not wanting to face his rejection again. She felt confident she could change his mind, but they were running out of time, and if he didn't let her do what she felt was necessary, she didn't think he would understand his true feelings. Okay, maybe that was a little conceited of her to think that, but she had to believe he felt the same for her, otherwise this would be impossible for her deal with.

"I won't let you leave Fairy Tail." She glanced behind her to see him staring out the window. "Just let me think about it for a minute. I'll find a way to keep you."

She didn't have to see his face to know he was troubled. She bit her bottom lip as she watched him climb out the window. She should stop him, but wouldn't that make him push her away more? Sighing, she fell back on her bed, pulling her knees up as she felt her composure start to crack, meaning the flow of more tears she didn't want to shed.

He said he wanted to think about it, which could mean two things:

One: He wants to love her back, but he doesn't think he could, not in that moment; or,

Two: He doesn't love her back, but he still wants to find a way to keep her in Fairy Tail.

"Lucy?"

She sat up quickly as Natsu poked his head through the window again.

"Don't leave until I come back." And he was gone again. Taking another deep sigh, she fell back again, resuming her previous fetal position.

-Line break-

He wasn't alone. He could feel another presence with him, even in deep slumber. Slowly rousing from sleep, he could barely make out the fuzzy sight of the boy he really hoped he wouldn't be seeing again that night. Wasn't he supposed to be with Lucy? How did that go? Obviously not well if he was bothering the sleeping Gray.

Sitting up, Gray ran his hands over his face a few times before moving to his hair, waking himself up more so he could listen to Natsu and comprehend what the boy wanted.

"Natsu…" he mumbled.

"She confessed to me," Natsu mumbled, staring at the wall across from him. He sat down on the edge of the bed, making Gray scoot away from him. "She said she'll definitely leave unless I say it back, but I don't know if I can."

"You don't love her back?" Gray blinked a few times. Well, this was a surprise. He thought, for sure, they would be the most lovey-dovey couple after they both confessed their love for each other tonight. Maybe he, and everyone else in Fairy Tail, was mistaken?

"Honestly? I'm terrified. I mean, what if I say it back, and then something happens? I don't think I can handle another loss again."

Gray patted his friend's back as Natsu put his head down, bending so far that his head fell between his knees. So, the problem wasn't that Natsu didn't love Lucy back, it was that he was afraid of losing her after he told her so. Why shouldn't he be afraid? After all, that's how it happened with Lisanna, even though she did come back…He had moved on then, she was dead; Gray understood that Natsu didn't love Lisanna anymore - even though she seemed to think otherwise.

"Well, if you don't tell her, she's leaving anyway." Gray took a deep breath. "So, in my opinion, you should tell her you love her, then see what happens. It'd be better to know that she's here, now, with you. You could take the gamble, or just say good-bye to her forever, because we all know once she's set her mind on something, Lucy will see it to the end."

"You make it sound so easy," Natsu scoffed, sitting up again. "I almost did it, but when I opened my mouth, something else came out, and I think I hurt her even more. I tried to say it, but I couldn't." He put a hand over his eyes. "I told her I loved her like my sister."

"Ouch." Gray sighed and leaned back on his elbows. "If you came here for advice, I gave it to you. Go tell her you love her before she's gone for good, leaving the two of you in a world of depression. I don't think you can just move on from her like you did Lisanna. You'll know she's alive and well, and hanging off that pretty boy who she's going to be with as a substitution."

Gray smiled as he watched the other boy clench his fists at the mention of Hibiki.

"Now get your sorry ass off my bed, out of my room, and let me sleep." He forcefully pushed Natsu off with his feet, sending his friend flying off the bed. He chuckled as Natsu stood up and threw some insults as he made his way out of the window.

-line break-

She felt warmer suddenly, and the sudden change in temperature roused her from sleep. Her eyelids were heavier than usual, having cried herself to sleep. She had prepared herself for rejection…

But when she felt his hard chest against her back, she couldn't help that smile and giddy feeling appear. Her stomach lurched when she felt his hand rest on her naked hip. She shivered when she felt his breath against her neck.

"Lucy, wake up."

No, pretend you don't care. He may just be doing this to make her happy, make it so she stays. She wouldn't settle for him pretending. He must be sincere about his feelings.

Why did she assume he came back to her to tell her that he loved her? Maybe he just came back because the thought of her and him doing things made him pretend to love her for the moment. He didn't seem to be that heartless, but a girl could never be too sure.

She felt him sigh, and nearly squealed in delight. She couldn't help it - the feel of him on her back made her giddier than a kid in a candy shop.

"Listen, I came here to give you my answer. I thought a lot about it. I'm sorry for making you worry, but I…" He paused a moment, maybe a moment too long. Lucy was starting to feel that dread creep into her belly again. "I love you, too."

She couldn't help it. She turned around to face him, surprised to see his cheeks flushed, his hand now resting on her stomach.

"Don't bullshit me," she said.

He blinked, clearly taken aback with her sudden attitude. "I'm not. I mean it." He smiled, taking his hand off her stomach to brush a stray hair from her face.

"What took you so long?" she asked, becoming more and more excited as he began rubbing her arms next.

He sighed, taking her hand in his. "Honestly? I was afraid. I didn't want you leaving me like Lisanna did."

She placed her unoccupied hand on his cheek. "I won't ever leave you, not now." She brought him down and gently placed her lips against his, glad that he didn't pull back this time. It was just a gentle kiss, just a soft brush of the lips, nothing too crazy.

When they did pull apart, Natsu smiled down at her. "I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you this. I love you, and not like a sister."

Lucy chuckled and pulled his lips to hers again. "Enough talking now."