*Hey guys! It's me again :3 You best be proud of yourself for making it this far with me c; Haha, I think it's time to relieve you of that cliff hanger from a couple chapters ago :3 Without further adieu, READ ON! ~AsianNinjaChik*

Chapter 10

~Lucy~

When I get back back with Wendy, I decide to go pick out a job for me and Natsu to do, since he obviously looked so hung up on that. I walk over to the request board and study them for a minute before one catches my eye. "Save my Bird".

Intrigued, I rip it off and flip it over to read the description:

"Hello, Wizard of Fairy Tail,
I see that you have seen my job request and have decided to help me save my bird. If you are seeing this request, it must also mean that you have already taken up my request to find treasure. It also means that I am probably gone from this world. My request is that you find my bird, and keep him at your Guild so that he may have a wonderful life. Your reward is also the treasure that you can split with your friends."

I frown… "Treasure?" I wonder aloud.

"Oh yeah! Erza, Gray, and Juvia went on a request to find some treasure for a fisherman." Elfman says as he walks up.

"Oh. Where's Natsu?"I ask.

"Probably with Lisanna. You should ask Ever."

At the mention of Evergreen, a sly thought crosses my mind, but I push it back until later, "Alright, I'll do that. Speaking of… You and Evergreen, eh?" I lightly elbow him.

His face goes red, "THAT IS NOT MAN."

I frown, "Sure it is, in fact, Alzack is more of a man than you are." I taunt.

"NO HE IS NOT."

"Sure he is. Having a wife AND a kid that you are willing to fight and die for? Now that's called being a man."

At this, Elfman runs over to Evergreen, who is sitting at the bar talking to Mirajane, and he says, quite loudly I must add, "EVER, LET'S GET MARRIED AND HAVE A KID!"

Mirajane smiles and Evergreen's face flames, "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!"

While everyone in the Guild erupts into laughter, I hear Bickslow say to Fried, "He's finally making a move on her, she should take the opportunity."

As Elfman tries to… I don't even know actually… do something to Evergreen, Natsu appears behind me and asks, "Hey, Lucy. Do you love me?"

It's my turn to go red as I ask, "What kind of a question is that?"

"Well, Lisanna asked me if I loved you, and I said, 'Yeah, of course I do!', so she got really red for some reason and wanted to know if you loved me and I told her that I'd go find you and ask." He explains shamelessly.

How stupid can you… wait… Did he just say that he loved me? To my face. Just like that.

"Natsu, how stupid can you get?" I ask, still red.

He frowns, "You're right! Of course you love me, I don't even know why I asked. Thanks, Lucy!" He says running off.

I stare after futilely calling him back. Realizing that things could end badly, I decide to follow him and eavesdrop on their conversation.

He walks confidently down a hallway until I hear Lisanna say, "So…?"

"Well, she didn't say it outright, but I think she does!" Natsu says happily.

I can feel her frown through the column I am hiding behind, "Oh, I see. What about me?"

"Huh?"

"Do you love me?"

Natsu's answer.. is not a smart one, to say the least, "How stupid can you get?"

Her shock resounds through the entire hallway, "Wh-what?"

He laughs, "That's what Lucy told me!"

I hit my forehead with my palm and hear Lisanna breathe a sigh of relief, "But is that a yes or no?"

"Well, since Lucy loves me, and that's what she said, it's a yes!"

"Really?!" I hear her squeal.

"Mhmm! I love everyone in the Guild equally!" He says decidedly.

Her disappoint rolls of in waves and I worry that I will get swept up in it, "Oh, of course you do."

Poor Lisanna, I think, I know how much she cares about Natsu, and I think it's quite obvious… How can he not tell?

How can YOU not tell? A little voice inside me asks.

Tell what? That he's a stupid thick-headed idiot? I ask myself.

No, silly. That you love him. It says back.

I almost laugh out loud, HAH. Yeah, right. I don't love him… Do I? I shake my head, Just as a partner. I love him as a partner and nothing more.

I take a quick peek around the corner, only to see Lisanna's hands tangled in his hair, and her lips on top of his.

I quickly unpeek and try to stop my racing heart.

Wh-why is my heart beating so fast?

It's because you looooooooooove him. The voice snickers.

This time, though, I don't say anything back, and only think about is as I slide down the column and sit on the ground with my hands on my head.

"I-I-I'm sorry, Natsu!" I hear her say quietly as she runs past me.

I quickly follow suit so that Natsu doesn't know I was listening. I run home, feeling confused and surprised. The minute I walk into to my room, I curl up on my bed and let everything sink in.

It isn't until I feel strong arms around me and hear the owner of those arms say, "Lucy, don't cry.", that I realize that I'm crying.

I turn and see Natsu's worried face. Much like the one he had when I found out my father had passed away. He knows I'm not going to say anything so he pulls me closer and holds me while I cry.

Why am I crying?

I wish I knew.