A/N : ooooooooooh! I've been away for quite a long time ne? Sorry! I really had a lot going on and my professors are really aiming for our heads.. BUT! I really thanks those who followed this story even though I thought it was already forgotten! xD It really gave me the strength to write again! I really love you followers! And those who added this story to your favorites! Thank you so much! I really don't know how to thank you enough.. Please continue supporting Sleeping Lucy!

It won't take too long now.. I guess 5 chapters left till the ending..

I dedicate this chapter to NinjaKichi & Armadura Fairy for adding this story to their faves and: FluffyBlade, & JcL107 for following this story!Thanks guys! :3

DISCLAIMER: I do not own fairy tail. If so Natsu would have been married to Lucy by nowxD

Chapter 7: Growing Up with Lucy part 2

Running as fast as I could while Happy was dangling on my shoulder trying his best not to fall off, we scanned the place looking for any clues to which a "memory key" might be in.

"Natsu, I'm kind of noticing how a lot of Lucys are turning up." Happy said trying to calm me down. "Yeah so what now Happy? It's not like there are any objections from my side. Or yours?" I replied while climbing up a tree to gain a better view.

"Yeah ." he breathed. "So which one do you like?" Happy nonchalantly asked making me almost fall from the tree.

"What kind of stupid question is that? Do you want us both to die?"

"I was just asking you indecisive teenager."

"What has this place done to you Happy? That was a bit cruel."

"If all of the other Lucy will disappear, whom will you pick to stay?"

"That's a stupid question. Even if there will be a thousand Lucy from different places, I think I'd still like them all. Good or bad, rough or girly, shy or loud, if it's Lucy then I'm bound to like her."

"You liiiiiiiiiiike her." He teased. I was about to outstretch his face when I saw something sparkling from a treetop not too far from where we've climbed.

"Natsu! Let's go over there quickly!"

"No need to tell me Happy." I jumped as soon as Happy finished his sentence and made my way through the series of trees that lined straight towards our destination.

If I will be able to get that key without any hindrances then there will only be one more to go…

Only a few centimeters out of my reach, the key started to emit a blinding light.

I knew this wouldn't be too easy… here we go again…

When the key stopped glowing like a firefly gone haywire, Happy and I have both our feet planted on the ground. I stared at the grassy floor for a moment when I heard the rustling of leaves from nearby. I shot my head up in response.

"Natsu. What are you doing here?" Lucy asked with a wide-eyed look on her face. She looks like she was in her early teens, probably thirteen or fourteen if I'm right.

"Lucy." Somehow even though I expected seeing another 'Lucy', pronouncing her name again, hearing her voice again, seeing her alive and breathing again makes my body shiver in delight, wanting to somehow rush to her side and take her back. I wouldn't have cared if I have to bear with a lot of Lucys. Seeing her around me, being with her again, that's what would matter more. But then again I would still want my Lucy back.

"Lucy. I need your memory key. I already met the child version of you and-" I said almost in a hushed tone. I didn't know why but the strength in my voice was torn apart by an unknown force.

She just stared at me like I was talking nonsense. "Natsu, I don't remember meeting you when I was younger than this."

"Huh? But…" I couldn't quite make out anything from what she just said.

"But anyways. Do you still remember how we met?" she asked.

"I'm… not quite sure if I do." I honesty answered.

"Jeez. That is so you." She said as she held out her hand and asked, "Do you want me to make you remember?"

I closed my eyes and the flashback started.

Flashback

LUCY'S POV

"Good morning milady." The maids greeted as I walked past each one of them. I really hoped they would treat me like a friend or the like. It bothers me to be called milady by girls that are only a few years older than me.

Letting my thought get the best of me, I didn't notice that I walked a bit farther than the usual stroll to my mother's grave.

I was already in the middle of the forest.

The leaves rustled from behind me. I made a sharp turn to see who was there.

"Damn that Erza. Wait till I get back from my training. I'm definitely going to kick her ass." A certain pink haired boy said while scratching his head.

He looked like he didn't notice my presence immediately but when he did, he had this odd expression on his face. "I'm not sharing you any of this." He over protectively said while tightly hugging a huge blue fish.

"What are you planning to do to that fish?" I asked because the fish looked terribly familiar.

"Roast it?"

Then it hit me. "That… uhmm.. that fish releases harmful juices when not cooked properly." I informed him. He seemed lost for a while pondering on what to believe in.

"I know a place where they cook delicious food. Do you want to come?"

Looking quite pleased with my offer, he immediately dashed somewhere yelling "Happy! I found us some food!"

He went back as soon as he left and was holding a blue cat together with the blue fish.

When we got back to the mansion, some of the servants have been eyeing the pink haired boy. Maybe it was because this was the first time we ever let a man in unless they were prospects chosen by my dad to be my husband.

It surprised me too, how I was able to drop my guard for this weird person.

"Oy oy." The guy called out to me. I turned to him and asked what was it he needed. "Why are people here piercing us with their stares?"

"Aye. It's kind of creepy you know." A weird blue cat said.

"Maybe because it was the first time I let anyone in." whose not going to be arranged to be married to me at least.

"wow. I feel special." Bade the blue cat again.

We arrived at the dining room just in time for lunch.

The long table was filled with all kinds of food cooked from the fish the pink haired guy caught. "Hey, I'm Lucy by the way. Lucy Heartfilia. You are?"

"Natsu. Natsu Dragneel. And this one is Happy." He said while pointing at the blue cat who's munching on his fish already. "Aye" replied the cat.

"Uhmm.. so what brings you around here?" I inquired not really wanting to eat that much.

"We're training." Natsu said proudly.

"Aye, cause Natsu got beaten up by Erza."

"You don't have to add the last part, Happy."

I stifled a laugh as the two argued and explained why and how they got here only to be interrupted by the sudden opening of the dining room doors.

"Lucy." I squinted at the sound of my name.

"Yes father?" I answered trying hard not to meet his gaze. I tremble in intimidation as I stared at the plate in front of me eyeing the details.

"Who do you think is that guy you brought here to eat and talk to you? Whose family is he from?" his voice was monotone.

"H-he's my friend." I stuttered wanting to sound determined but failing miserably.

"Friend? You carelessly call someone you just met a friend. How will the other family look at you? They'll think you're like a girl with no breeding. I didn't raise you to just let anything come into our house."

I was scared at my father's harsh voice and emotionlessness but I can't do anything about it. I just shivered and bowed my head.

"Are you listening to me Lucy?"

"Yes father." I would've agreed to what he says so easily on normal days but this isn't just any normal day.

"Actually, no. Why do you have to gauge people who come through those gates? I never even wanted to marry yet! I don't have time for this." I said as I rushed outside dragging Natsu and Happy along with me.

I ran myself to death until we all reached the attic.

I eventually let go of his hand as I opened one of the windows.

"Rich families are hard to figure out huh." I told Natsu.

"You said it." He answered while standing beside me while we both stared at the view. While Happy was still munching on the fish he still held.

"Sorry about my dad."

"It's okay. I came from a place where yelling is just a daily thing."

"You're family always fights too?"

"It's not like that. Hmmm. More like my second family."

"Second family?"

"I'm a mage and I'm a part of the guild called fairy tail."

"That's a famous guild! Wow! You're a mage too! Me too! I'm a celestial mage. What's it like to be a member of fairy tail?" I can feel my mood brighten up a bit.

"What it's like? Everbody's always yelling, picking fights and duels."

"That sounds like a scary place."

"No. Not at all. It's fun actually. Everyday's an adventure." He was beaming as he explained one too many details about fairy tail. Each description gives him an even happier childlike grin.

"It sounds nice. Fairy Tail that is."

"It does. You'd be welcome there anytime you want to join."

"That's easy for you to say. I can't leave this place." I heard my voice drop.

"Then. What if I take you away?" he asked with a serious expression on his face. "You don't like it here do you? A place where people dictate you how to breathe the life you should be living. If that's so, then I'll take you with me. Then you'll no longer have to worry about people coming at your door just to impress your dad and win your hand."

I stared at his face for a while. There was no hint of a joke in his face.

There was this awkward silence, the nice kind of awkward silence.

A sudden flow of sweet music filled the attic magnifying the effects of his words.

"Natsu." I called. "One day I'll surely leave this place. By then, please welcome me to Fairy Tail all right?"

"They liiiiiiiiiiike each other." Happy butt in making us both shout "Shut up!"

We laughed and laughed and the next thing I could remember, we were both tied in a chair in front of my magic teacher, hypnotizing us both to forget that we ever met.

End of flash back