08.

NATSU DRAGNEEL

I've finally found it; a way to get Lucy to forgive me. Well, I can't take all the credit. Happy was actually the one who thought of it. It was perfect too. We even had Erza in on it. The plan was bound to work. So why was I hesitating? If it would get Lucy away from Metal Face and back to hanging out with me then I should already have swallowed the thing without thinking, but maybe it was the thought of the consequential effects that would come with it.

"What's taking you so long, Natsu? They're going to come for us in a minute." Happy's high pitched voice nagged.

I wanted so badly to snap at him and tell him I'll take my damn time, but I know he's right. Gajeel and Wendy would smell it if I didn't hurry up. It would smell toxic to them of course. It wasn't for their element. This whole plan will be ruined if they found out. Especially stupid Gajeel. He'd know something was up then.

"Yeah, I know," I said, taking a deep breath before bring it to my face. The smell itself wasn't vile. It actually smelt really good. Like a mixture of dragon's fire and honey. But, I knew what it would do to me over the next few days. In the long run it would be better if I ate them now rather than later.

Letting out a shaky breath I placed the tip of the roots onto my mouth. Just the tiniest bit on my tongue made me want to eat more. I moaned at the pleasurable taste. It tasted so good. I grabbed another two from Happy quickly scarfing them down.

"Natsu," Happy said worriedly. I've never eaten that much at once before.

"I'll be fine Happy." I assured him. "But, Iraneth said-"

"I'll be okay, Iraneth also said I could eat more at a time the longer I've been eating them. The effects won't be pretty, but they won't be really bad either." I explained, he didn't look convinced, but there was nothing we could do now. I could already feel the effects working on my body.

We made our way out of the alley and over to the train station. We quickly made it over to the others with time to spare. I caught Erza's questioning gaze and I nodded implying it as done. Now it was her turn to follow through on her end.

"Come on guys! I call sitting by the window!" Wendy's voice rang out to us.

Happy and shared a look before walking over the train, and following her on.

Well, here goes nothing. I really hope this works, Happy.

LUCY HEARTFILIA

It's been a week since Natsu's and Happy's return and we were currently on a train our way to Bullem. It would take us three days to get there and we've already been traveling for one. I had forgotten how much traveling sucked. It was exhausting.

I still hadn't really spoke with Natsu or Happy other than a few words during our training and when I had Cancer cut Natsu's hair. To say I was still angry with them wouldn't be the correct thing to say. I really wanted to forgive Natsu I did, but every time I tried to talk to him something always got in the way. Whether it was Gajeel wanting to hang out, or Gray wanting to test his new moves on me. The conversation with Natsu was always put off. I finally decided to just stop trying to talk to him. If fate wanted us to speech to each other then it would let us. Even so, that didn't stop me from wanting to talk to Natsu.

I sighed glancing from my stop on the train over to where the pink haired devil was sitting. He was crossed the aisle from me, resting his head on the window, doing everything he could to prevent from throwing up; his motion sickness getting the best of him. Wendy didn't look any better. She looked greener than ever laying in Erza's lap a bucket right next to her. She'd already thrown up twice. She used to never get motion sickness, but ever since she hit dragon slayer power maturity she'd had it worse than Natsu did when I first met him. Even thinking about riding a train makes her fall to the ground green faced.

I looked over to Gajeel from beside me. He had his head in his hands, trying to look like the moving vehicle didn't bother him. Of course it did, it bothered every dragon slayer even the lacrima dragon slayers. I placed a hand on his back, rubbing up and down gently. I smiled as he looked over at me laughing at his grimace. That was one thing I loved about Gajeel, he always knew how to make me smile.

When I first met Gajeel I thought he was really scary. I mean, he did just get done kicking my ass trying to provoke Natsu. When everyone started going their separate ways and I started to hang out with Jeel more I learned that he's really a big softy. Of course, Levy already knew this and that's why she forgave him so easily. I've seen the way she looks at him, I think they'd be good together. The beauty and the beast. Too bad she isn't on this trip with us.

I turned back to the window resting my head against it watching as scenery passed by. I felt my eyes shut. It wasn't long before the feel my eyes shutting, letting the moving train lull me into it's soothing soundless slumber.

"Ah, thank god!" Wendy said as the train stopped running off as fast as she could. The other two weren't that far behind her, racing out of the train as fast as the could. Erza, Gray, the exceeds, and I were slower coming out of the train grabbing our things on the way out.

We were in a city called Jangeria in the country of Stellia. The city itself wasn't that big, yet the architecture was amazing. It was nothing like Fiore, ost of the buildings were made of a golden stone and a had beautify swirling designs on each one of the buildings. Trees and other plants were everywhere around each building, man made waterfalls and water fountains were everywhere. Adding in the clear blue sky it had to be one of the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Were most of the country was just desert land, this place lived and strives with beauty. It reminded me of an Oasis in the middle of a desert. Where, many creatures, or people rather, live and strive; where the plants were green and full of life against the harsh, humid weather. It was hard to believe a place like this exists.

"Wow," I said speaking to myself as I looked all around me. "It's so beautiful here."

"Well, that is to be expected." Erza said from beside me. "Jangeria is know for it's beauty. There's a rather large natural underground river running under the town. They use different pipes to bring the water to the plants here to make them green."

'That makes sense.' I thought as I looked around. 'I really hope Natsu doesn't destroy this place.'

"Well, we should get going and find a hotel to stay in." Erza said, Gray agreed and started to take off to find a cheap hotel.

"Hey, aren't you missing something?" Carla's voice rang.

I turned back and looked at the three dragon slayers laying in a heap on the ground. I walked over to them grabbing Wendy by the arm, helping Carla carry her. I did the same with Gajeel and Lily, but when it came to Happy her was more reluctant than the other, more loyal, exceeds.

"Oh, come on, Happy. Why won't you carry Natsu?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Have you ever tried to carry Natsu when he's like this? He drools and I'll get that all over me! Carla definitely won't like my fish then!" Happy tried to reason.

I sighed looking over to the other dragon slayer and their exceeds. Gajeel and Wendy already seemed to be doing fine, getting over their motion sickness. Natsu was the only one who still looked green and slimey.

"Fine," I said, walking over and throwing Natsu's arm over my shoulder, lifting him up.

It was a lot harder to pick him up then I anticipated, making me topple over with him on top of me the first few times. I groaned, pushing him off, trying again this time I was ready for the weight. I had to give Happy props for carrying Natsu around all the time.

"Alright," I huffed, shifting his weight. "Let's go,"

We went to the nearest hotel, which happened to be the most expensive, and got a room. we only got three rooms with two beds each. It was enough for the one of the dragon slayers and their exceed to share a bed along with either Gray, me, or erza. I was really hoping I would get to share a room with Gajeel, not Natsu.

"Now," Erza said, standing in the hallway in front of the first room. "The rooms we're sharing are going to be with whoever you're standing by right now. So that means, Wendy, Carla and I are sharing a room. Gray, Gajeel, and Pantherlily are going to be sharing a room. And Natsu, Happy, and Lucy are going to be sharing a room."

"But-" I opened my mouth to object, but Erza shoved a key in my hand before I could get more than a word out.

I looked over to Gajeel for help, "Hey, shouldn't a girl and a girl be sleeping in the same room? Why is bunny sleeping in the same room as flame for brains here? Aren't girls supposed to sleep with girls?"

Erza smiled, an evil glint in her eyes. "Well, Natsu and Lucy have been partners for years and have already slept in the same room while on missions together. Besides, even if they weren't partners we have an odd number of girls anyways. So one of us would have to share a room with one of you boys."

Erza slowly walked over to Gajeel making him back up into the wall. She leaned up into his ear whispering just loud enough for the rest of us to hear. "You know, instead of Natsu and Lucy sharing a room we could work out different sleeping arrangements."

She ran her hand down his chest stopping just before the waistband of his pants, sliding her thumb in. By now Gajeel's face was beet red from blushing so hard. He grabbed Erza hand away from him and put it back down to her side.

"Um-uh….yeah-well, um….uh….no thanks." He glanced over at me with pleading eyes, not knowing what to do.

I really wished I had a camera right about now. By now I was trying my hardest trying not to laugh, but I couldn't help it. I let out a loud laugh, shaking both mine and Natsu's body. Tears started to form in my eyes from the laughter and began to run down my face. Just as I started to settle down I took another look at Gajeel's face and started all over again.

Gajeel let out a loud huff, snatching the keys from Erza's awaiting hand and stomping off towards his bedroom.

"Gajeel," I giggled, "Come on, don't be mad. It was funny!" I managed between giggles.

He didn't stop, only picked up his pace towards his bedroom. I tried to hobble after him, but Natsu's dead weight stopped me.

"I'd leave him and get Natsu to bed." Wendy said from behind me, looking at Natsu worriedly. "I've never seen him with his motion sickness this bad before."

I had to agree with Wendy, Natsu looked horrible. His face had a slight green tint to it, and a small sweat had breakin out on his skin. His face was in a way that made him seem like he was in a lot of pain. It made him look worse than horrible, actually. He looked like he was going to die.

"Yeah, come on Happy, let's get Natsu into bed. See you later, Wendy!" I threw over my shoulder following Happy towards our room for the night, handing him the keys to get in.

I followed Happy into the open room, setting Natsu down on the first bed I seen. I let out a huff, looking down at Natsu. He was positioned on the bed at an odd angle. I went over and fixed him so he was laying straight under the blankets.

I took a second to look around the room. It wasn't that big; it only had two beds, a small kitchen area, a little wardrobe, and a door to what I assumed was the bathroom. I imagined Erza and Wendy had the biggest room while Natsu and I had the smallest room.

"Probably so he won't break a lot of things." I mumbled.

"What did you say, Lushy?" Happy asked.

"Nothing," I said, turning around to look at the blue exceed. He was sitting next to Natsu on the bed, a strange look on his face. "How's Natsu doing?"

Happy didn't turn to me as he spoke. "Not good. He's never had his motion sickness this long before. I think there's something wrong with him. Really wrong Lucy."

Happy finally turned his face to me. There were tears were tears in his eyes threatening to leak out. I frowned, looking down at Natsu. "I'm sure he'll be fine, Happy. Just needs rest is all."

"Yeah, if you say so."

We sat in silence for a while, not a word being said between us. I went over pulling up a chair beside Natsu's bed.

"Lucy, can I ask you a question?"

I turned my head towards the little blue exceed with a questioning gaze. He didn't turn away from Natsu as he spoke so I couldn't figure out just by looking at him what was up.

"Yeah Happy, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Do you hate Natsu and me?" I was taken back from his choice of questions.

Did I hate them? I thought I made that answer obvious. How could I hate them after all we've been through together? Even if they did leave for a while and didn't tell me about it I still couldn't find the strength to hate them even though I tried, and tried. I never managed to actually hate them. For a while I thought I did, but I soon realized that emotion was misnamed for anger.

"No," I whispered, "No, I don't hate you, Happy. I was angry and sad for a very, very long time about you two leaving me. I was hurt because I thought you two didn't care about me like I cared about you two. I was so close to you guys. When you two were around it was like all the bad things in my life disappeared, vanished like they never happened in the first place. It felt like, it felt like my parents weren't dead after all. Like, I wasn't completely alone in the world. Like I had a family again. Even though Fairy Tail is my family you and Natsu were like my family inside a much larger ones I was the closest to. And when you two were gone." I paused letting out a shaky breath, trying push the feeling of hurt and betrayal from my mind. "But now, no, I'm not angry anymore."

Within seconds of me saying that I felt him through himself into my arms, sobbing into my chest. "I promise I'll never leave you alone again!" He cried out, hugging me tighter "I promise Lucy! Do you believe me? Please, Lushy, say you do!"

"Of course," I said hugging him back.

I fell asleep,

"What's the verdict, Happy? Did you get it out of her?" the unmistakable voice of Natsu rang loudly through the room.

"Shh, Natsu you'll wake her up!" Happy hissed.

"Right, sorry," Natsu whispered. "So did you?"

"Yeah," Happy replied with a defeated voice. "She's not angry with us, but Natsu, I think there's something wrong with her. She...she doesn't seem like her. You know what I mean."

"No, but I'll find out." Came Natsu's reply.

"I'm going to go to bed Natsu. Try and not stay out all night, okay."

"Goodnight, little buddy."

"Goodnight,"

It was a moment or two the room was silent before I felt myself being shaken lightly. I tried to ignore it, trying to hold onto this weird dream I was having, but the shaking wouldn't stop only to be accommodated by my name being called softly.

I opened my eyes to look into a pair of dark green ones and a toothy grin.

"Hey, Luce, get up I want to show you something." Natsu said, stepping away from me.

"Wow, it's good to see you're well enough to bug me. A few hours ago you looked like you were dying." I said, closing my eyes again.

"You'd like that wouldn't you."

"Shh, don't tell anyone it's a secret."

"Come on Lucy, get up. I want to go and do something with you."

"Can't you go do what ever you're doing on your own? You're a big boy I'm sure you can manage."

"Lucy," Natsu whined.

I opened my eyes again and looked over the clock with a frown. It read 3:43 a.m. I looked back over to Natsu with a look that clearly said, 'Why in Mavis name are we going out at three forty in the morning.'

Natsu rolled his eyes holding out a hand. "Don't you trust me? I mean geesh Luce, a number of times I've saved your life I thought you might by now." Natsu teased.

It was my turn to roll my eyes now. Ignoring his hand, I stood up and stretched my back. "So where are we going?"

"You'll see when we get there." Natsu said, leading the way out the door and down the hall out through the front doors of the hotel.

I wanted to laugh. For a moment we were acting like our old selves again. Like, nothing ever happened. I felt my chest start to ache. Shaking my head I followed Natsu blindly to where ever he wanted to go.

We walked through the lit up down, and I stared at it in amazement. Natsu didn't seem fazed by it though. All the fountains were lit up a different shade. Some were yellow while others were a light green color. We never stayed long enough in one spot for me to examine the fountains closely, but I could tell someone put a lot of work into them. It was amazing.

We walked for a while longer until we were out of town and heading towards the woods. We finally stopped outside town on a hill that looked over the brightly lit city. I could see the whole town from up here.

"Wow," I gasped looking down at it. Each part of the town was lit up in different colors changing periodically. One would stay blue for a moment then change to purple.

"I thought you might like it up here. you always were a sucker for these kinds of things." Natsu said staring at the town below us.

"Wait, how did you know about this?" I asked.

"When I was traveling with Iraneth we stopped in a clearing not to far from here. I was getting bored of just hanging out with a dragon and a cat all the time so when they were sleeping I took off and ended up here on this hill." Natsu paused, a small smile on his face. "I stood here for a while staring down at the town for a while until I barged in there demanding to know just what kind of magic was doing that and how they did that. When they said it wasn't doing that by magic I demanded they let out the little people they had trapped inside there. I ended up breaking a few of the fountains to see if there was little people inside of them making the light. They kicked me out of town after that. Well, after they explained that they're not magic at all. In fact, it's these things they invented called, L-E-D lights. They're meant to change color like that. They didn't have little people inside. "

I found myself laughing loudly at his story. It was so him it was funny.

"What?" Natsu asked seemingly innocently, but the small twinkle in his eye and the barely noticeable smirk told me other wise. I finally calmed down and a pregnant silence fell over us.

"It's so beautiful," I said quietly.

"Yeah it is," Natsu replied. I turned towards him to see him facing me already.

I felt a blush creep it's why onto my cheeks and I turned away from him. I felt his hand on my shoulder trying to get me to look at him.

"Lucy, I didn't bring you out here to look at the view. I want to talk to you about something." Natsu said, lightly squeezing my shoulder.

I knew full well what he wanted to talk about.

I kept my gaze on the town, "and what if I don't want to talk to you about something?"

"Lucy please," Natsu begged.

He turned me away from the town and towards him. My gaze moved to the ground refusing to look at him. Natsu let out a frustrated huff, putting his thumb under my chin bring my face up to look at him.

"Lucy, I don't want to fight with you. I don't like it and I never have. So can you just talk to me about it? Happy told me you talked to him. I want to know exactly what it was like for you without me. I want to know exactly how I hurt you." Natsu said looking into my eyes.

I pushed away from him, turning around and taking a few steps. "Why so you can go and gloat about it to everyone?"

"No! Of course not! I would never," Natsu took a few steps closer to me turning me back around. "I want to know so I can know how to fix it. I want us to get passed this and go back to being the best friends we used to be. Lucy please, I want to fix this whole," Natsu looked frustrated looking for the right word. After a moment, he let out a sigh forgetting about whatever it was. "This weirdness between us. I want to make it disappear."

"It can't just disappear, Natsu. You aren't a genie. You can't just snap your fingers and make everything go away!" I snapped at him.

"You don't think I know that! Listen, Lucy, I just want to talk. Luce, just talk to me."

I let out a sigh, looking straight into his eyes. He looked so determined, like he actually did want to make it go away. "So you really want to know what it was like for me, huh?"

Natsu nodded his head.

"I was so sad at first, Natsu. So was so upset that you and Happy let us I cried for days. Then I was so angry and frustrated with you two. You let us with no goodbye or anything. Then, for a while I started to get use to you gone. I even started to take jobs with Team Shadow Gear with Erza and Gray. I ranted to Gajeel about you a lot. I ranted mostly how I was the only one who thought you were coming back to us. I also ranted about how I was upset you left us. Gray ranted with me sometimes. Erza mostly stayed out of it though. Then everything changed when the program to switch guilds while still being in your own began. Natsu, that's when everyone started to leave me. I know they didn't think of me or anyone else when they left. They needed to get out and away from the guild for a while. So, I tried to be happy for them about their decision to leave. Gray went first. Then, went Erza. Then went Carla and Wendy. They left me one by one until I was all alone. I've never felt so alone in my life. Even though I had so many people around me everyday I felt I as if I was the only one in the world. I felt so lonely, Natsu. So, so very lonely. I finally convinced myself you weren't coming back so when you did…. "

I hadn't realised the tears were falling until I felt Natsu's hand brush them away.

"Lucy," Natsu whispered.

"And when you did come back my emotions were all jumbled. I didn't know what to think or what to feel about you returning to Magnolia. So I let my emotions be anger. Natsu I wanted to hate you so much for leaving me; for leaving the guild, but I realise I can't hate you Natsu. I can't hate you Natsu and I'm tired of trying."

I felt myself being pushed into Natsu's firm chest. I tried to push away, but I was too weak from my arms shaking so much.

"Shhh, It's alright," Natsu cooed.

I gave up trying to get away and buried my face into the crook of neck crying until I couldn't cry anymore. I cried about Natsu leaving me. I cried about the feelings I still had for him after all this time. I cried about seeing Natsu again. Most of all, I cried out all the feelings I had bottled up inside of me all this time. Finally, when my body shaking sobs stopped Natsu spoke.

"Lucy, I'm so sorry. I don't, I don't know how I can ever make it up to you. I, I'm just so, so sorry Lucy." Natsu's voice shook as he spoke.

I pulled back to see him wiping away the evidence of his own tears. I looked down at his shirt where my head used to lay. It was cover in my tears and snot.

"Well, letting me cry on your shoulder was a start," I said nodding towards it. Natsu's nose wrinkled up as he seen it.

"Gross Luce, like I needed your cooties." He teased, trying to lighten the mood. I rolled eyes. "Now I have to go and change."

"Do you even have another pair of clothes?" I asked.

Natsu rolled his eyes. "Duh Lucy, who do you think I am? Even if I didn't I'm pretty sure I can follow behind Gray and wait for his clothes to just 'magically' fall off like he claims they do."

"to think you'd wear Gray's clothes." I laughed.

Natsu must have caught what I was thinking because he narrowed his eyes saying, "you wouldn't."

"You're right, I wouldn't wear his clothes. You would."

I turned around walking off back towards the town leaning Natsu speechless behind me.

"Hey, Lucy, wait up!"

It didn't take long for Natsu to catch up and we walked beside each other in a comfortable silence. We soon got back to the hotel and went back to our room.

"Hey Lucy," Natsu said, as we got inside. I walked over to my bag grabbing some PJ's and heading off to the bathroom

"Yeah," I replied through the bathroom door, taking off my shoes and getting changed.

"We're going to be in Desierto tomorrow right?" He asked.

"Pretty sure why?" I asked, re-entering the room and walking over to my bed getting under the covers. Natsu walked over to his own bed, being careful of the sleeping Happy.

"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to go and meet someone," He said.

"You mean, that dragon that you trained with, Iraneth."

Natsu nodded, "I told you that when I found Igneel that I'd let you meet him and that didn't happen like I planned. So, I was thinking since Iraneth is Igneel's father he'd be the next best thing. I mean, he is a dragon after all."

"Yeah, I think that would be fun. Maybe we could bring Wendy and Carla along as well. She sounded really jealous the other day that you knew a living dragon and she didn't."

"Yeah, Carla would stop Happy from complaining so much about seeing him again." Natsu agreed.

It was quiet for a moment as Natsu got situated.

"Goodnight Natsu,"

"Goodnight Lucy,"

a/n: BOOM! NALU FEELS CHAPTER! Now you get to see what Natsu and Lucy's relationship was like before he left. Other than that bunny scene. I personally like this one much more. Their friendly/flirty banter reminds me of some people I know.

ANYWAYS! Let me know what you think of this chapter and stuffy stuff. It's like a really long chapter too (4809 words not including the a/n to be exact!) Most of the chapters aren't going to be this long. Usually around 2000 words on average. I just had already most most of this then my dad "accidently" erased half of it so yeah. I took some time to redo some of the things I didn't like and add things in. And no, the beginning wasn't added in either. I've had that planned for like a while now.

I wonder how many people actually read really long author's notes? Any who, this is a really long author's note so I'm just going to stop here and now before I tell you my whole life story.

I'm out.