HELLO BEAUTIFUL READERS OF THE WORLD! I must say, I've managed to conquer writer's block and I swear, I have been typing like a mad woman! :3 This chappy is 4200 words excl. A/Ns and I have just completed chappy 7 with over 3000 words! *VICTORIUS GRIN* Note: The first half of this chappy may be a bit boring since that was from the writer's block period but after that, I guess it's good? :D HARHARHAR! AND CHAPPY 7! I am so glad with how it turned out! ;3 By the way, I am very sorry for the wait! DX I shall get typing for chappy 8 ;D ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I no is Mashima-Sensei? Fail engrish write derrr! Harharhar!

Note: Me: *Scrolls through archives* ...WHERE BE MY BEWDIFUL LUNA FILL? Peoples of the world, please do me a favour and shove more LuNa ffics here! D:


Mustering up all of her courage, she forced herself to look at him straight in the eyes.

"Natsu, what are you implying?" And against better judgement, she remained rooted to her spot when his figure loomed over her, his forehead now against hers.

"I'm. Asking. If." Why on Earthland did he have to pause after every damn word? She felt herself shrink into her seat – not that it really helped since he would just come closer anyway and crud, if this continued, Lucy was positive the chair would tumble over…along with her…and him. That, she concluded, wouldn't end too well.

"You-"Lucy gulped and began to flush a strawberry red when Natsu playfully poked her on the cheek.

"Damn." Natsu breathed and Lucy looked to the side, thanking her lucky stars when they were interrupted by flurry of shouts and screams. Apparently, lunch time was over. She was about to let out a sigh of relief but quickly decided against it when a loud voice boomed through the classroom.

"IT WAS YOUR FAULT!" An angry and crying Ben stomped into the building, pushing Alice to the ground. His cheeks were puffed and covered by blotches of pink as globules of salty tears poured down his face.

"STOP BEING SUCH A CRYBABY!" The girl in question screamed, pushing him back into a nearby table. Lucy cringed. "Dear lord." If it wasn't one thing, it was the other. Deciding to set aside her discovery of 'Sexy Natsu' and what had just transpired; she approached the two kindergarteners who hurled insults at one another as if it were a tennis match.

"Ben, Alice – Stop this at once." She huffed and an irritated Natsu had to drag them away from each other when Alice punched Ben in the nose.

"B-but she started it!" The brunette stuttered, wiping away his tears with the back of his hand. Lucy's eyes softened as her favourite kindergartener cried his tiny heart out and she couldn't help but sympathise with him after recalling that Alice had nearly killed her barely a day ago.

"Ugh! Boys aren't supposed to cry!" Alice snorted, arms crossed. Ben cried harder, clutching onto Lucy as if she were his lifeline.

"What happened Alice?" She tried in a calm and motherly voice.

"I don't know. The baby girl over there," She gestured towards her fellow kindergartener with a lift of her chin, "Started to yell at me all of a sudden."

"N-no! You broke it!" He supplied with a sniffle, snot running from his nose.

"You mean that piece of poo you made?"

"IT ISN'T POO! ALICE, YOU DUMMY! I HATE YOU!"

Lucy let out a sigh, somehow getting the feeling this wouldn't end soon. She glared at the dragonslayer who had fled to play Lego with the boys - Why did Natsu always have to dump her into these stupid situations? One moment he was Natsu and the next he was- Okay, she decided not to venture any further, glad when a small yank brought her out of her thoughts.

"Miss Heart!" Emily tugged shyly on her apron, looking slightly nervous.

"Yes, what is it Emily? I'm kind of busy right now but-" Lucy raised a brow when Emily shook her head. "I saw what happened!" She confessed, clutching onto the hem of her skirt with both hands.

"B-Ben-kun was making a play-dough model a-and it rolled onto the ground b-but Alice-chan didn't notice and stepped onto it. And then they had a fight and Alice-chan started to hit Ben-kun!" She blurted out, looking positively guilty. "A-and!" She stuttered, eyes on the ground.

"Yes?"

"That's all." Lucy placed a finger to her chin – So that's what happened.

"Ben, Alice – why don't we start with a 'make up handshake'?" She suggested with a smile – Both kindergarteners gaped at her.

"What? Miss Heart! You expect me to give him a handshake? I haven't done anything wrong!" Alice tapped her feet impatiently, nose in the air and Lucy sighed.

"Alice! It's partially your fault – Shake hands now or you're going to the naughty corner," All the kindergarteners let out a gasp, muttering about the naughty corner and how no one ever went there.

"But-"

"And," Lucy eyed the star poster hanging from the door "I'll have to get rid of two golden stars from your name. So?"

"Ugh, fine!" The two kindergarteners begrudgingly shook each other's hands and 'made up'.

"Good. Now, you two are going to make a play-dough model together." She shook her head in disapproval when Ben and Alice glared daggers at one another.

"Miss Heart, I'd like you to know I'm only doing this for my beautiful stars!" Alice hissed through gritted teeth.

"W-well, Miss Heart, I'm only doing this because I like you!" Ben countered cutely, poking his tongue out at a seething Alice.

"And I'd like to ask, but do we get anything from this?" Alice, always the annoying one gave Lucy a pointed stare – If it wasn't Terry, it was her.

"What do you mean Alice?"

"I'll tell you after we finish with the play-dough!" She beamed and Lucy groaned – Last time she did this, it didn't turn out too well.


"We finished with the play-dough!" Ben and Alice happily announced, looking as if they were the best of friends, much to Lucy's confusion. She suddenly felt like running for the hills when the two kindergarteners exchanged mischievous glances with one another.

"Andddd, we both decided what we want for our rewards!" Lucy raised a brow and stared incredulously at the pair when they handed her a giant picture book.

"This is…?"

"It's a picture book! Miss Heart, can you read it to the class?"

And now, Lucy found herself comfortably seated at the 'carpet area', face to face with the whole class who were eager to listen to the story. She inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, glad that it turned out better than she had imagined.

"The red fox and the blue bird." Lucy began, flipping to the first page of the book. She smiled upon noticing that the whole class was waiting avidly for her to read the next line – even Natsu was seated at the back of the group, staring at the colourful pictures with full concentration.

"There once was a red fox, in a red forest, full of red leaves…and a blue bird, in the blue sky, where the clouds moved by the breeze."

"Look! It's the fox!" Shou pointed out in awe, the rest of the class nodding in agreement. Finally, something that wasn't going to end in chaos! Lucy flicked to the next page, savouring the moment of peace and quiet – Really, how could this go wrong?

"They were both happy and content with their lives…until one day, when fire attacked the trees in a one-sided fight." The children gasped as their round orbs landed on the frightened expressions plastered on the red fox's and the blue bird's faces but soon enough, they cheered with joy when the two main characters escaped the forest with the help of one another.

"They helped each other! I wonder if they're going to be friends!" And Lucy wondered whether or not this was similar to the relationship that she and Natsu held – They were entirely different individuals yet they were here, together.

"Miss Heart! The next page!" Ben urged her from the left and she smiled.

"The red fox and the blue bird travelled for miles and miles, after the flames had engulfed the forest and all creatures wild. Together they walked, together they ate and without knowing it, they became the best of mates." For a brief second, her eyes met Natsu's – What was running through his mind? The dragonslayer looked strangely serious and deep in thought.

"But children and those who read this book – foxes and birds are like wolves and chooks! How could the red fox and the blue bird continue to be – acting like friends when it won't succeed?" She furrowed her brows – what the-? How was this story supposed to end then?

"The friendship between them broke like a twig when the red fox's hunger made him think big. That's right readers…" Lucy quickly flicked to the next page before continuing, "When you're hungry, you have to eat!" What the f*** was with this development? Screw relating it to herself! The children suddenly went silent and Lucy and Natsu gawked at the next picture. It was pixelated. Eff the rhyming words, what the shit was this piece of crap? Lucy quickly snapped the book shut and faced the traumatised 4 year-olds.

"Err, so class! What was the moral of that story?" She managed with a shaky laugh. Natsu gave her an 'are-you-crazy' look but she shot a glare back at him.

"…That birdies are all boxy and pink and red on the inside?" Shou tilted his head, the rest of the class still silent. They all stared at Lucy, intrigue present in their eyes.

"No Shou, that was a err… good guess but the true moral of the story is,"

"Is?"

"That we shouldn't trust others too easily."

"Should I trust you then, Miss Heart? What if my life was on the line?" Ellen readjusted her glasses, her striking emerald eyes gazing straight through Lucy's warm, chocolate ones.

"Well Ellen, that depends. You can place your trust in many but to have someone that you fully trust – especially with things such as your life, is rare." Lucy concluded with a finger in the air. "That sounds deep." Shou gasped in wonder. Lucy silently thanked her quick-thinking before facing the children again.

"You might understand it better once you're older."

"Hmm…Miss Heart! I've learnt something today!" Lucy turned to her favourite kindergartener.

"And what's that Ben?" The child took a quick glance at his play-dough 'buddy'.

"Alice! I wouldn't trust you even with my play-dough!" Ben grinned toothily, screaming for dear life when the blonde pounced on him. Somehow, this triggered a flurry of miniature voices - the rest of the kindergartener's started asking one another whether or not they trusted them, much to Lucy's amusement. Her eyes flitted over the children, eventually coming to rest on the dragonslayer who stared straight at her, arms crossed and mouth set into a straight line. She could only wonder what was running through his head at the time.


After school:

"Hey Luce," Natsu was sprawled over the mini tables, watching on as Lucy checked the time-table and supplies.

"Hm?"

"I didn't like that story." He mumbled onto his arm, gaze still fixed on her back.

"Neither did I."

"It was stupid."

"Mmhm."

"But, it kind of got me thinking," Thinking? At this, Lucy snapped her head back, eyes meeting his. She'd forgotten all about the fact that he'd been having weird 'mood-swings' recently and now upon realisation, hoped she hadn't gotten herself into another one of those moments.

"About?" She narrowed her eyes when he lifted his head by a bit and braced herself for what he was going to say.

"…Do you trust me?"

"What?"

"Do you?" Was it the slight desperation in his voice or was it the way he was looking at her that made her all warm and fuzzy inside? Either way, she couldn't help but smile (and be secretly relieved that 'sexy Natsu' hadn't made his appearance). It was unlike him to ask such a question since the trust between Fairy Tail members, although unspoken of, was held in high regard.

"So?" He shot her another frantic look, much to her surprise.

"What are you talking about dummy? Of course I do!" He gave her a toothy grin but quickly crinkled his nose and scowled when she spoke again. "We're partners, aren't we?" Was she doing this on purpose?

"And plus, there's also Gray and Erza and the rest of Fairy Tail." She continued, oblivious to his souring mood when she mentioned Gray of all people.

"I meant with your life."

"What?"

"I meant it as in 'do you trust me with your life' – those people are rare right? Those who you would fully trust, that is." He took her shocked expression as a sign that she understood his question and quickly smirked when she looked away, blushing.

"Damn it Natsu! Can't you act normal for a day?" Lucy muttered under her breath – He didn't know whether or not she had intended for him to hear her but decided to shrug in response anyway.

"Earth to Lucyyy!" He teased, acting oblivious to her flushed face.

"I-I do." She coughed, grabbing the roster in an attempt to avoid further questioning.

"What? I can't hear you! Did you catch a cold from that Marina kid or something?"

"It's Maria, you dolt!" Lucy huffed though really, she was experiencing inner turmoil because saying those damned two words would mean that she actually-

"Mario, Maria – All the same! And stop avoiding the questi- Wait, does that mean you don't trust me?" He cried in false horror and Lucy suddenly knew that she wasn't going to get out of this without spilling her guts and possibly dying from embarrassment. "I mean, I did kind of nearly kill you a few days ago and that other time I-"

Lucy bit her lower lip, hands now clenched tightly into shaking fists.

"And then the other time, you said that I'd be the death of you – Was that what you were implying after that- Oh my god. It all makes sense now. You don't like m-"

"I said I do! Happy now!" She blurted out, pink still dusting her cheeks.

"Oh, okay then." He shrugged, his paranoid rambling coming to an abrupt stop.

Lucy narrowed her eyes. It was almost as if all her efforts and courage to actually say that wasn't appreciated, almost as if he were planning for this to- "You bastard!" Lucy screamed, pointing an accusing finger at him (More like a pair of scissors). He took several steps back, hands in the air, looking slightly troubled but otherwise unfazed.

"Wait, more than Gray?"

So that's what he was worried about? She took another step towards him, scissors still in her hand. "Natsu, I jumped off a frickin' tower back at the Phantom Lord incident…And whose name did I call out?" She seethed through clenched teeth, not caring what saying all this would mean anymore.

"So? You had tea yesterday. Iced tea." Oh great. "And how does having iced tea imply that I trust Gray more than you?"

"…" Natsu looked at her, an awkward expression on his face and Lucy raised a brow.

He rolled his eyes. "Iced tea, hello!" Why the frick did he just use the 'It's because I'm so smart, duhhh~' tone and why the heck did he just remind her of a troll-face - Actually, why was he born with a brain the size of a pea? She rubbed the bridge of her nose before facing him again.

"Na-"

"I mean, you could have had hot tea." Okay, that was seriously the last straw.

"God dammit! It was hot, okay?" Shit-faces – was that the best line she could think of? Note to self: Stupidity is contagious.

"But it's Autumn."

"Correction: It's the beginning of Autumn – It can still be hot."

"…I stand corrected."

"Good. Wait, what were we talking about again?" Lucy tapped a finger on her chin.

"Oh right! So, me or Gray?" The annoying smirk of his made its way to his face again. Well, damn. To think that Natsu was such a schemer! (*Cough* Lucy didn't have the heart to admit to her own failures)

"Err…It's getting late." She started to pack the table, looking at her watch and damn, it was already 5:30pm.

"If you were stuck in a volcano, would you trust your life more with me or with Ice-brain?" He looked certain of his victory but the scenario made Lucy question his confidence – a volcano, really?

"I wouldn't be stupid enough to pick Gray, you know." She deadpanned, hoping that the fact that any normal person would have picked him wouldn't imply that she liked him more than she should. In other words, this was a win-win situation – She wouldn't end up revealing the fact that she had a crush on him and he would still be satisfied with the answer which equals: no more interrogation.

He nodded after digesting what she had just said. "I see, I see."

"Yes, so can we please go home now?" Lucy let a small smile form on her lips when he beamed at her reply, satisfied. Thank god – His reaction probably meant no more awkward questions. She was heading towards the door but flinched when he opened his mouth again.

"Wait, if you had to be stuck in a room with me or Gray for a whole week, who would you prefer?"

"Natsu, what does this have anything to do with trust?"

"Oh, I guess it doesn't." Lucy sighed as she turned the doorknob and made her way out of the classroom, Natsu close on her trail. "Okay then, do you like me or Gray better?" He flinched, raising his hands in defence when she shot him a heated glare. "Let's go back to trust then…me or Gray? Volcano or not."

"Natsu, why aren't you ever satisfied?" She wouldn't entertain him just because Gray was his rival – In fact; Lucy was under the impression that he was going to make fun of the ice-mage afterwards. Why should she answer when he was just fooling around?

"It's just a question." He shrugged, running up to her as she sped-walked along the path.

"Luce?" Natsu folded his arms in irritation when no words fell from her lips. In fact, the prolonged silence made him think that maybe, he wouldn't ever get a proper response from her – At least not for questions like this. He was about to give up but raised a brow when she looked to the side, slightly embarrassed.

"Of course I'd pick you – Who the hell do you think I trust the most anyway?" Her voice was a cross between a rushed whisper and an annoyed grumble but it didn't escape his ears. His lips were set into a straight line and his dark orbs widened for a split second. Natsu chose not to reply and 'sexy Natsu' disappeared into thin air for the rest of the day because really, he was more shocked about the fact that she had actually said that. He hadn't expected it. Not in the least. They reached the door of her apartment, not having shared any words since she'd said that. Lucy had averted her gaze from him for the majority of the trip but Natsu was too immersed in his own thoughts to really notice. He felt like punching himself for teasing her so much, especially since she'd answered his question seriously.

"Well, I'm here –Not that you wouldn't know." Lucy shrugged awkwardly as she reached for the doorknob, stopping when Natsu hugged her from behind. She felt him nuzzle his face into the crook of her neck and immediately froze in her place, eyes widening in shock and mouth slightly agape.

"Natsu, what are y-"

"Lonely hug – Happy went on that one-week mission with Wendy and Charle, remember?" His voice was muffled but it only made Lucy's heart beat faster. What was with this situation? She tried to steady her breathing. It's a justified 'lonely hug', a justified 'lonely hug'. Maybe it was a side-effect of being Happy-less for a week? When they stayed in that position for at least half a minute or so, Lucy mustered up her courage to turn to face him, silently noting to herself that his arms were now around her waist. Her next words dissolved into nothingness when she realised it. No matter how you saw it, at this very moment, they looked positively like a-

Possibly against better judgement, she tip-toed and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"When I'm beside you, do you still feel lonely?" And his eyes widened once again. He hadn't expected this either - perhaps that was why he was only able to utter one word.

"What?" Lucy sighed as she lowered herself and pressed her face against his chest, a bittersweet smile playing on her lips.

"I wonder…I wonder if this goes beyond friendship." Her comment was more directed at herself rather than at him and she wasn't aware of it but it didn't go unheard by the dragonslayer who tensed for a split second.

"Well, don't let the lonely monster eat you up!" She beamed, slapping him lightly on the shoulder as she opened the door to her apartment. "Night Natsu."

"…Night Luce…"


Lovely. Why did she have to go and do that? Why? Why did she have to go the extra mile and kill their friendship? What was it that made her feels so compelled to do so? Love. That was what. She liked him too much – too much being enough to make her go senseless, even if it was just for a moment. Then again, you only needed one moment to ruin everything – something that took many moments to build. If he'd realised what her words meant and didn't return her feelings (which was quite probable, considering the many times he'd let her down with his 'friendship' statements), she'd have lost so much for so less. How selfish of her. Sighing, she placed a hand on her forehead, forcing her eyes shut as she slid down the door. "Lucy Heartfilia, you are an idiot."

She trudged to the bathroom after what seemed like a millennium, trying and failing to force the pessimistic thoughts out of her head. After what seemed like another millennium, she found herself seated at her desk, pen in one hand and a stack of blank sheets in the other. If she'd known that such an act would make her feel like this – 'this' being a mix of anxiety and despair, she'd never have- Damn. She would have. She would have still hugged him and said the words that may or may not have spelt her doom – Of course, he never really heard her, right? But still-

"Lucy, Lucy, Lucy, what have you done? Wait no; what the hell is wrong with you?" She stared vacantly at her neatly arranged desk, nothing really running through her head until she noticed a small blob of yellow and pink next to her books. It was the play-dough model that Ben had made her. Her fingers playfully poked the blob of pink and a faint smile formed on her lips - that was until she noticed what the model actually depicted.

"What is-" Lucy narrowed her orbs before gasping when it hit her. It was a model of her and Natsu, holding hands and what was this? Why did it look as if she were giving him a peck on the cheek? And that was when she slammed her desk and sprung to her feet while blushing like there was no tomorrow – that was when she decided. If a kindergartener saw it that way, then it was simple.

"Screw it. It's your fault for making me fall for you in the first place." Of course, she was oblivious to the fact that he like-liked her as well. And then there was the fact that her resolve wouldn't exactly mean less stress – If anything, it was going to make her situation a lot worse.


Meanwhile, Natsu lay motionless in his hammock, arms behind his head. What had just happened? Did she just confess to him? Half-confess, maybe? Suddenly, he wished that Happy were here.

"Stupid, Weirdo Lucy." He muttered, confused with the development. Maybe she liked him the way he liked her? Maybe she didn't? 'I wonder if this goes beyond friendship'…Why did she have to look like that at the time? Her distant smile, the anguish in her voice – She'd said the line in the softest of voices and yet he didn't miss the bittersweet tone that laced her words.

Natsu tossed and turned, wondering why his chest felt so constricted, why there seemed to be a growing lump in his throat. 'When I'm beside you, do you still feel lonely?' If possible, she'd made him fall harder for her.

"I'm not letting you go."

-Back at the guild-

Mirajane smiled sweetly as Makarov swirled his cup of whisky before chugging it down in one gulp.

"Master, it's rare for you to drink at this time of the night." She supplied while glancing at the clock – 10pm. Guild-members were still around partying and drinking but the fact that Erza and Gray had just left his office moments ago raised the bartender's suspicion. The master looked uncharacteristically deep in thought before facing Mirajane.

"You said that nobody's seen Natsu and Lucy, right?" Mirajane raised a brow.

"Yes but what does that have to do with-"

"I've sent Erza and Gray to visit them- tomorrow, that is."

"Eh?"


If you have spotted any mistakes, do tell! Cup Ramen and I have attempted to read over this a million times along with chappy 7 but it's so, very hard to get every error fixed with 15 pages to go through DX I shall update chappy 7 once I get most of 8 done ;D I am also planning on ending this on chappy 8 but who knows? There might be 9 chappies! (I highly doubt that though).

Also, random life stories:

So, I ate some random (yummy) crap and got constipated. The solution? I used my EPICALLY AWESOME scientist brain and decided that as a lactose-intolerant person, I would drink some nice, choco milkshake and get diarrhea...After some moments of agonising pain, it worked. And I kinda felt like crap for a while after that. HARHARHAR