A/N: Ello my lovelies, so sorry for the long wait. Initially this chapter was to be published on Christmas day but due to some complications i was not able to post it. Recently someone close to me also passed away so i've been dealing with that as best as i can but i did stop writing. I am back for now and i apologize again for the slow updates. Thank you to everyone who has been patiently waiting for this chapter and to everyone that favourited, reviewed and followed. If you have any questions leave it in the reviews or you can find me on Tumblr, Trainofpeetas. Thank you, enjoy :)
I pick up my pace and head to my room. I take out a fresh pair of pyjamas and then change while letting my hair down. I then put on my slippers and go over to my father's room. I don't visit him as much as I should, but he sleeps most of the time and he even broke down crying once because he said I reminded him of mother. Ever since that I tried to avoid him but I made it a point to at least try to visit him once every day… especially these days.
I pad over carefully and then stand in front of his huge oak doors. I knock and then enter. He's awake when I enter reading over some letters, and I don't know if it's a good thing or bad. "Hello father" I say as I near his bed.
He looks up at me and smiles gently but I can see the sadness behind his eyes "Hello Lucy"
"How have you been feeling today?" I say as I sit on the seat next to his bed stand. I shuffle closer to his bed as I hear him sigh.
"Honestly, not so well. I nearly stopped breathing today. Twice." He says not wincing at all.
I flinch at the words and barely contain the tears threatening to fall "I'm sorry father. If there's anything I can do?" I say with a question.
"There's not much you can do. But I suppose that the wedding has to be brought closer again." He says looking me in the eyes.
I nod not looking away "Yes father. Igneel had invited us over on Thursday so that we could discuss further plans" I say finally moving my eyes away from his.
"Great. We can start planning soon and maybe Grandine will take you dress shopping, since she is like a second mother to you." He says and then looks at one of his letters again.
I sit there for a while and wait for him to say anything else but he doesn't so I take that as permission for me to leave. "Good night father" I say standing up and walking to the door. I stay there for a couple seconds but when he doesn't reply I walk out of the room.
By this point the tears are openly pouring down my face. I brush them off angrily and head to my room. When I close the door behind me I stand there for a while before I get into my bed and turn off my lamp light. I'll choose what I'll wear tomorrow… for now I just want to mourn about the loss of my father. Even though he's still physically here, emotionally he is slowly going away. Even though he opened up to me a lot yesterday he still seemed distant.
I close my eyes and find myself instantly drifting off into a dreamless sleep. The next time I wake up the sun is filtering through my huge windows as usual. I yawn and then get up looking at the time. I realize that it's already 9:00. Great, I slept in and I still don't know what to wear. Maybe I should just do what Cana does, wear my underwear.
I grumble and then walk over to my dresser which contains all my bikinis. I look around until I find a white one with some pink flowers on it. I decide to wear it and then grab a loose white and pink ombre sun dress.
I brush my hair realizing that there is no point taking a shower because I'll be at the pool all day. I'll probably take one when I'm back. I tie my hair into a side pony tail and then wear my bikini and the sun dress on top.
I grab my pink sunglasses and perch them atop my head as I grab my pink and white striped beach bag that still has all my beach essentials in it like, hand sanitizer, magazines, a towel, lip balm, deodorant, tanning lotion and sunscreen which depends on whether or not I want a tan or not.
I go downstairs and head to the kitchen eating some cereal instead of the usual fancy meals. I mean since we are going swimming I shouldn't eat something too heavy. I finish and then go to the driver Capricorn.
"Hey Capricorn. Mind driving me, Natsu and Wendy to our guild pool party today?" I say looking at the taller guy.
"Of course Miss Lucy" He says and then heads to the garage.
"You can just call me Lucy!" I yell at his retreating form.
I sigh and then head outside when he doesn't say anything in return. When I leave my house I'm surprised to see Natsu and Wendy already done and waiting for me, usually they're the ones being late.
I smile at them as I cross over from my front lawn to the pathway "Hello Natsu, Wendy!"
"Hey Luce. Wow I didn't think we would be here earlier than you" He says while bringing his hands behind his head. I can't help but look at his shirtless chest when he does so, he isn't usually without a shirt so seeing his tan abs just makes me that more turned on.
He smirks noticing where I'm looking "Eyes up here Lucy… You know what? You can look but you can't touch" He says repeating my words from yesterday.
I groan "Are you serious? You weren't supposed to remember that, let alone bring it up!"
"As ever" He says his smirk still in place and it makes me want to snatch it right off him.
'Ehem, I hate to interrupt your flirting but uh Capricorn has brought the limousine out" Wendy says as she gathers her bag from the ground and then walks over to the car.
I look back at Natsu and then follow Wendy to the car. The limousine is spacious however Natsu decides to sit right beside me. Wendy opts to sit beside the driver's seat saying something about how Capricorn will talk to her more than us.
So it leaves me and Natsu alone. Wendy and Capricorn can't hear or see us because of the divider that is on. I could choose to turn it off but I leave it in place just in case something happens.
"You know you can sit in front of me right?" I say looking at Natsu.
"I know" He says.
Capricorn starts the limo and as soon as it starts moving Natsu lurches forward in a painful movement. I stare at him as he clutches his stomach.
"Motion sickness?" I ask and he nods bleakly. "I thought that the doctor gave you some medicine for that"
"He did" Natsu says barely getting the words out.
"But?" I say knowing the answer already.
"I forgot to take them… Plus I hate the aftertaste" He says paling at the thought.
I sigh and then bring his head on my lap. He doesn't resist and sighs when I start combing my hands through his unruly pink spikes. He falls asleep after a while but I keep my hands in his hair, the motion making me feel calm. It won't be until a while till we arrive at our destination.
I don't know why but I start humming a song that my mother used to always sing to me when I was younger, especially when I was scared which was usually before I fell asleep.
"You have a beautiful voice" Natsu mumbles his eyes still closed.
I don't say anything. Wasn't he supposed to be asleep? Oh right dragon slayer… "Thank you Natsu. Now get back to sleep, we still have a long way to go"
He groans and then pauses "Please don't stop"
I hesitate. This song was always between my mother and I. She said that she used to sing it to father too if he was ill or sick. It feels intimate like I'm trusting someone with a big secret but I start humming anyways. Natsu falls asleep again shortly after. The only thing keeping me company are his soft snores.
I smile looking down at his relaxed face. He just looks so cute and content at the moment and I can't help myself but take out my phone and snap a picture of him. After a while I contemplate putting a picture of him on instagram. I end up doing that and for the caption I write 'Isn't he a cutie?' Let's just hope that he doesn't go on his instagram, which he hardly ever does from what I know.
I hear a ping from my phone and look at it.
GROUP CHAT: Levy, Erza, Juvia, Wendy, Mira, Cana
Levy: Omg, he looks too cute! Such a lucky girl Lu.
Juvia: Juvia agrees Natsu looks so calm
Wendy: Is that what you guys are doing at the back?
Mira: Awww, when was this taken?
Cana: You guys are no fun. I thought you were going at it.
I blush at Cana's brass comment and then hear more pings.
Erza: I already arrived and invited Jellal. Where are you guys?
I decide to reply then.
Lucy: First of all yes this was taken just now. Yes Natsu is just asleep back here Wendy and no Cana what makes you think that we'd ever do that?! Oh and we're still on our way Erza, about 40 mins still left until me, Natsu and Wendy arrive.
Cana: Well with all the sexual tension going on, why wouldn't I think that something happened?
I don't know why we even added Mira and Cana to the chat, the two girls are just so nosy when it comes to love.
Levy: They haven't even kissed more than 3 times Cana
I blush at the thought… I don't know whether I should tell them about our make out session yesterday. I smirk maybe I should say a bit to make them very curious.
Cana: What?!
Lucy: Nah, we had like a make out sesh yesterday
No one replies for a while and stare at the screen with a huge smile. Maybe this will get them to shut up for a bit about whether or not Natsu and I have made the next step in our relationship.
Levy: AHHHH! OMG Lu-Chan! You have to tell me everything about it when we arrive!
Juvia: So Lucy is not a love rival anymore?
I roll my eyes at Juvia's comment. But before I could type the girls continue. I keep one of my hands on Natsu's hair still absentmindedly stroking his pink locks.
Mira: When did this happen? I have only seen them kiss like once or twice!
Cana: Did anything else happen in that make out sesh ;)
Wendy: Yea I like interrupted them twice…
Lucy: A girl never kisses and tells…
Natsu mumbles incoherently and I look down at him. He has his brows pinched together and he mumbles my name. I look at him for a second until he goes quiet.
"LUCY?!" He jumps up startling me as I drop my phone.
"What?!" I look around frantically but I notice that it must've just been a nightmare. I sigh bending down to retrieve my phone which he reaches before me "You probably had a nightmare Natsu" I say trying to get my phone out of his grasp.
"Yea, I probably did… Ooooo! You girls have a group chat and talk about girly things too?" Natsu says scrolling through the messages.
"Natsu! Give that back! There's a reason why we didn't add any guys to the chat!" I say trying to get it from him but he holds it far away from my reach.
"Hmmm… You were talking about yesterday? Is that all you girls talk about, whether or not you had kissed someone or had sex?" He says still scrolling through.
I blush at his blunt words "Natsu just give back the damned phone!" I say reaching for it again, but it's no use.
"What does Levy mean he's so cute and you're lucky?" He says looking at me. I blush under his scrutiny.
"Nothing…" I mumble and look away from his eyes and try to reach for my phone again
"Wait a minute" He says reading more. "You took a photo of me while I was asleep?" He says looking back up at me again. "But where is the photo? If it's not on a group chat does it mean you posted it on somewhere?" He says trying to look for the photo on the chat but doesn't find it.
He starts to tap something into my phone and I instantly start reaching for my phone again.
Lucy: How did you guys see the photo? I forgot how I sent it to you.
Levy: ? Lu, you posted it on instagram. What do you mean?
Cana: AHAHA OMG. This isn't Lucy its Natsu. Hey Natsu! Make a move on Lucy over here, she's still a virgin.
Lucy: … Sure whatever
Cana: AHAHA now that's what I'm talking about. Go get her tiger! Oh I mean dragon ;)
Mira: AHHH! I think I'm going to faint. Just get together already you two!
Levy: How did you get Lu-Chan's phone?
Lucy: She dropped it and I picked it up.
Cana: AHAHA we should add Natsu to this chat. He makes it that much more interesting.
Lucy: You should. I mean the guys don't talk at all on our chat.
Cana: Okay wait one sec
Natsu Dragneel has been added to the chat.
Cana: There!
Natsu hands me back my phone finally after many failed attempts to reach for it. I snatch it off him as he goes on his phone. I turn my attention back on the screen and scroll up through the messages.
"Natsu!"
He looks over at me absentmindedly "Yea?"
"You do know that this is a girl chat only right?!" I say glaring in his direction.
"Eh, your point is? The guys don't talk about nothing on our chat" He says frowning as he looks back at his phone. I shake my head at him. He is very naïve so I guess it doesn't really matter that much, as it would if it were any other guy.
"Awww, Lucy I didn't think you thought I was cute" Natsu says not bothering to look in my direction.
I stare daggers at him "You weren't supposed to see that" I huff.
He looks up at me and lets out a low whistle "If I had seen all the pics that you post of yourself on instagram I would've gone on every single day" He says.
My anger deflates as I stare back at him shocked. "I mean you look super-hot in these photos!" He comments not even blushing while doing so.
"Um thanks?"
"Damn right you should be thanking me!" He says smirking.
I scowl at him "Don't make me tell Erza to discipline you" I say crossing my arms over my chest.
"I'd much rather get disciplined by you" He says huskily leaning close to my ear. "Plus I know how much guys you've turned down when they asked you out on a date… Tell me Lucy, were you just waiting for the day that I asked you out?" He says smiling deviously.
I stutter my face growing red. But I don't know whether or not his statement is true, I mean true I did reject almost every single guy that asked me out but was it because I subconsciously had a crush on Natsu the entire time? I shake my head, that can't be true, I mean I would always look around the guild or the classes we had together in high school for Natsu but that didn't mean I liked him right?
He smirks when I don't say anything "No need to be upset about it Luce. I like you too, and not in the friend way… Like the 'I wanna take you up against any surface right now' kind of way"
I gape at his use of words, Cana must have been a huge influence around Natsu but this is absurd I need to think of something, anything that can distract me and then I look outside the tinted window seeing the buildings move by rapidly. I quickly blurt out the words as he leans in closer to me "Natsu, look at the window!"
He looks and pales "Why'd you have to remind me?" He groans. I smile as he places his head on my lap again all playfulness from a few seconds ago gone. "Damn you Heartfilia for playing dirty"
I shrug my shoulders innocently "What can I say? You were getting too ahead of yourself" I say and then look out the window.
The rest of the wait goes by uneventfully. We finally make it to the water park and as soon as the car stops Natsu opens the door and rushes out kissing the ground. I roll my eyes as I follow suit standing beside him as he is worshipping the ground.
The heat is blazing outside and all I hear is screams and laughs from the guild members who had already arrived. Wendy skips over to us as she waves to Capricorn who says he will pick us up when the party is over.