C.C.: So sorry to have made you all wait so long! I hope I'll be able to update a little more. Did anyone else cry when (spoiler) K/Cana reunited with Gildarts? I know I did...

Sorry that this is so short.

She Couldn't Help but Feel This Way

Rated: K+

NaLu

Lucy couldn't help but feel this way, no matter how hard she tried to push the thought out of her mind. It wasn't as if she hated Lisanna, in fact, she quite liked her. The silver haired mage was everything the others had described her as.

Kind, friendly and someone who was always smiling.

Not that Lisanna couldn't take care of herself...she had two of the strongest mages that Lucy knew as her older siblings, after all. However, as Lucy continued to watch as Lisanna and Natsu happily chatted away, Happy sitting not too far from them chowing down on a fish, she couldn't help but feel 'replaced'.

As if she had somehow lost her spot in Natsu's eyes.

Not that they were 'together' or anything.

It wasn't as if she had somehow become unimportant or that he had completely forgotten about her. He still treated her as his important nakama. It was just, she had somehow found that she felt...second best. Someone whom he didn't think about until after the silver haired mage. Lucy found that she wasn't the first one he went to anymore when he wanted to try something new or go out on missions anymore.

He'd go to her afterwards, of course.

Sure, Lisanna would go out on missions with her brother (and sometimes Mira would join in) just like old times, but there were times she would go with Natsu. Of course, Lisanna would happily invite Lucy along because that was just the kind of person she was.

She was nice. A good girl.

Each time, however, Lucy would decline and go on a mission alone.

Her excuse was that she wanted to fend for herself sometimes (which was true). She found that she relied far too much on Natsu when on missions. Even more so when Gray and Erza tagged along. Chocolate brown eyes regarded the pair happily reminiscing about the old days, Lisanna filling in the eager Dragon Mage of her time in Edoras. She let out a heavy, dejected sigh and smiled at the sight.

Despite how she felt, Lucy was glad that Lisanna had come back. Now Mirajane and Elfman had their little sister back and no longer had to live with the guilt of 'killing their sister'. Natsu had his childhood friend back and things pretty much went back to normal.

Who was she to butt into any of that?

Lisanna had been in Fairy Tail longer than Lucy had even known it existed! Compared to her, Lucy was a mere stranger...someone who held no past connections to any member of the guild save for the past year or two. Not that the guild didn't care about her, of course.

They had fought to the death to protect her when her father had sent that dark guild after her.

Lucy loved Fairy Tail and the guild loved her back.

Yet...why did she feel so...anxious?

"You okay Lucy?"

The sweet voice that was Mirajane's brought the blonde out of her thoughts and she looked up to see a gentle pair of eyes regarding her with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Lucy said, chuckling nervously. She didn't think anyone would notice. Leave it to Mirajane to be the first one to sense her growing anxiety.

"Are you sure? You look down," Mirajane continued, setting aside a cup she had just finished cleaning. "You want something to drink?"

"Oh, uh just water is fine," Lucy said, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

"Alright, I'll get you some," Mirajane said, turning around to grab another cup. Lucy watched the elegant movements of the S-class mage with awe. She could see how she and Lisanna were related, both were kind and had a sort of 'aura' about them that made you want to be near them. Of course, Lucy had heard rumors about how Mirajane was once considered a 'demon' back in the old days (she had even seen pictures).

When the water had finally gotten to her, Lucy's gaze had already trailed over to Lisanna and Natsu once more.

Mirajane, of course, noticed this instantly.

"You sure you're okay?" Mirajane asked once more, her eyes following Lucy's gaze to fall onto her little sister talking animatedly with Natsu. She couldn't help but smile knowingly at what was currently running through Lucy's mind.

"Huh?" Lucy replied, a little surprised.

"I asked if you're sure you're okay," Mirajane repeated.

"Oh, yeah," Lucy said, waving it off. "I was just thinking, that's all."

Mirajane nodded, smiling. "You know, Lisanna and Natsu are close."

With that, she watched with amusement as she saw the slender shoulders of the stellar mage stiffen as soon as her comment finished. Lucy could be so silly sometimes, it was a cute aspect that Mirajane adored.

"But so are you and Natsu," Mirajane finished. Lucy turned her gaze back to Mirajane, a look of surprise painted across her pretty face.

"I-I suppose we are," Lucy stuttered, blushing slightly, "but I don't have the sort of bond with Natsu like Lisanna does...I mean...even Gildarts...!"

She stopped, not quite sure why she even brought up Gildarts in the first place. She didn't know what she was saying nor why she was saying anything at all. She was being silly, selfish and just plain childish.

"True," Mirajane said, nodding in agreement, "but you and Natsu share a bond that Lisanna doesn't either, don't you think so?"

"I⎯"Lucy paused, thinking it over, "I...guess so."

What in the world was Mirajane getting at?

"So wouldn't you say that you and Natsu are also close?" Mirajane said, smiling.

"We are but..."

"But...?"

Lucy sighed, shrugging. "I don't know. Maybe I'm just being silly?"

Before Mirajane could reply, however, Lucy stood up from her seat, her water untouched and a tired smile plastered onto the teen's face. "Sorry, I feel kind of tired...I'll see you tomorrow?"

"W-Well, alright, see you tomorrow," Mirajane replied, eyes blinking rapidly in confusion. As she watched the Stellar mage leave the guild, her delicate shoulders slumped slightly and her head hanging just a little...Mirajane couldn't help but feel a little at a loss as to what to do.

"Hey Sis!"

Mirajane turned, her younger sister bounding over to her happily, Natsu just behind her with his usual grin. Smiling, Mirajane greeted the pair with a small wave.

Lisanna paused and looked around, as if she were looking for someone.

"What's wrong?" Mirajane asked.

"Where's Lucy?" Lisanna asked, frowning. "I was going to ask her if she wanted to go with Juvia and me on a mission together!"

"Oh," Mirajane said, "she just left. She said she was tired."

"Aw," Lisanna said, sighing as she took a seat at the bar, "and I really wanted to spend some time with her, too."

Mirajane smiled at this. "Lucy's a good girl, huh?"

"Yeah!" Lisanna said, grinning. "She's a little different from the Lucy I know in Edoras...but she's a nice girl! Levy says she likes to read!"

"Hey!" Natsu said, frowning. "You can't have her! Lucy's mine and Happy's partner!"

"Aye!" Happy chimed in.

At this, Lisanna's grin only increased as she leaned in towards the Dragon Mage.

"Oh, quit being so clingy! How do you know Lucy doesn't want to partner up with me and Juvia? I bet you give her a whole lot of trouble!"

"No I don't!" Natsu retorted, arms folded over his chest. "Lucy likes going on missions with me!"

"Natsu gives everyone trouble, so Lucy's used to it," Happy stated, trying to help but not really doing a great job at it.

"Happy!" Natsu growled.

"Even though you can't stand transportation?" Lisanna teased.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Natsu said, scowling.

Mirajane watched them with amusement, if only Lucy had stayed long enough to see the two. They were practically fighting over her! She watched Natsu and Lisanna bicker for a few moments until a thought came to mind.

"Natsu?" Mirajane cut in, causing the pair of teens to turn their attention on her. "Why don't you go see Lucy at home?"

"Huh? Why?" Natsu said. "Is she sick again?"

"Mm, not exactly," Mirajane replied, "I'm just a little worried about her. Could you check up on her for me? And who knows, if you ask her now she might go on that mission with you...you know, the one you've been saving for her?"

"Hey! Sis! Don't help him!" Lisanna said, pouting. "I've been trying to get her to go on a mission with me for weeks!"

"Oh, Lisanna, you can ask her another time, okay?" Mirajane soothed.

"Hah! I win!" Natsu said, grinning widely. "Happy, let's go!"

"This isn't over Natsu!" Lisanna called after him as Mirajane chuckled behind the counter. Natsu bounded towards Lucy, a wide grin on his face and Happy flying just behind him.

If only Lucy knew how important she really was.

C.C.: To be honest I quite like Lisanna, not a BIG fan of her's but I have nothing against her...mainly b/c she's fictional haha :O and even before she was revealed to actually be not-so-dead (but I hardly dislike any character in fairy tail soo...). it sometimes makes me sad that she's sometimes portrayed as an evil witch in some Fairytail fandom, however. Although, again, I feel like the whole "psyche! Lisanna is actually alive and was really in Edoras all along!" card was a tad bit...disappointing (man I feel evil saying that).

I mean, is it bad of me to actually want to see some of the good guys actually stay dead instead of just appearing later on and reveal that they're actually alive and kicking? It's a little war I'm having with myself; I don't want anyone to die, truly I do (I cry endlessly when it happens...I have loose tear ducts so I pray no one dies)...and yet I do want the ones who were supposed to be dead actually stay dead for once. But, alas, overall glad to see that Mira and Elfman have their little sister back and all is well so far. Who knows? Lisanna may play a huge role sometime in the near future...?

Still, I shall stay a NaLu fan forever and always regardless.