And we are back to time again ;) Here is a bit sweeter chap as well as some humor (I hope it's funny at least at some parts o.o) I really hope you like it. Also I did say I was most likely gonna update again today : ))

Sorry for any grammar mistakes.

We'll see when the next chapter will be out. Tomorrow I'm going to Oslo for the day, part of it to watch Billy Elliot, gonna be fun :D Then on Monday I have a busy day as well so… and I still need to finish a chap for my book that I'm working on xD

R&R

Enjoy!

Chapter 13: Believe

3rd person POV

Erza was eating cake in the guildhall close to the scene when a door slammed close. She lifted her head and saw Lucy storm in. She looked upset. Erza frowned as Lucy ran up the stairs to the second floor and straight towards the girls' bathroom. Then a moment later Natsu came in and rushed up the stairs after her. The same door opening and closing. Erza lost her fork. What in cakes name was going on? Her eyes narrowed as she thought over where they had been, and what they would have been doing. Practice. Erza suppressed a groan. Ever since the older mages had returned, the guild had gotten a tad bit more crazy.

The door opened again, just a bit more softly and Natsumi went straight over to the bar, Igneel close on her heels.

Erza shook her head and looked down at her cake. She would continue thinking of the matter after eating the delicious treat. Yes, that she would do.

The door to the girls' bathroom opened softly. Natsu peeked his head in. There was no one in there except for a heartbeat, breathing, and the familiar smell of Lucy. The scent of salt was strong, and he knew with no doubt that she was crying, and he did not like to see Lucy cry.

"Luce?" he said softly as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Lucy tried to hide her head further into her knees as she heard the familiar voice. Natsu, she thought. Her grasp tightened against her legs as she heard the steps come into the bathing room. The water was steaming, fogging the mirrors. Making her invisible by the wall. At least to most eyes.

"I can see you," he spoke softly as his steps came closer.

Natsu frowned as he crouched down in front of Lucy and reached a hand out and let it land softly on top of her head. She did not peek up and if even possible, his frown deepened. He let his hand fall down to the side and ended up on top of her left knee. Then ever so carefully, he made her loose her grip around her legs. They fell limp to the floor and he took the opportunity to sneak his arms around her. He brought her close, so her face was resting by his neck, breathing hot air straight towards his scar.

"It's ok, Lucy. I would like to know why you stopped though, even if you had all of us believing in you," he said softly.

"I-It's p-painful," Lucy sobbed.

Natsu pulled a bit away and looked at her face. She did not look up at him, but down on the floor. She sniffed and was about to bring her right arm to wipe her tears when he stopped her. He cupped her cheeks with both his palms and let his thumbs brush away the tears, right below her eyes.

"I want you to tell me," he whispered. "You can trust me, right?"

Lucy faintly nodded in return.

"I-It brought back m-memories. One particular memory of my mother, when I came to visit her while she was sick, like every day. She was gone. After that, I never had any real friends except my celestial spirits. Aquarius was the first spirit I ever summoned; also I know that she meant a lot to my mother. The pain of losing her… it is still here," she whispered and pointed to her heart. "The thought of the future being in my hands. I-I just couldn't take it! How could my mother? It is all so confusing." The tears were still falling, but most of her frustration was gone. Except the part that had feelings for her best friend. They were still trapped inside. Wanting to explode.

"Shh… It's going to be alright. If anything, you have all of us. Your family, Luce. We will stand by you no matter what. You are awesome! We could all feel it on the field how much magical energy you had, and have. I believe in you, and it is time for you to believe in yourself."

The tears had stopped and Natsu wiped the rest away. Leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. In that moment it felt right, although after, he felt embarrassed as he had no idea what had come over him. His heart beat rapidly against his chest. And had Lucy always looked so beautiful? He silently wondered. He pulled apart and arose from the ground helping Lucy at the same time. He decided that yes, yes she had.

"Mmhm… I will try. I will do my best," Lucy said with a confident tone, a faint blush on her cheeks. She could not believe what Natsu had just done.

"We don't want anything different," Natsu said confidently.

The door to the bathroom opened. "Lucy? Natsu?" Erza's voice rung through the room and the two mages paled. "I know you're both in here."

"Er…We're here, Erza," Lucy said with a smile as she dragged Natsu after her.

Erza raised her eyebrows at the sight of Lucy and Natsu. They both had a pink blush on their cheeks; however, it was also signs of that Lucy had been crying. "Are you ok, Lucy?" Erza asked slowly, wondering if she had to punish Natsu.

"I am now," Lucy said with a smile as she brought Natsu's hand up in the air. "I just needed a pep-talk."

"You now this is a bathroom for females only?" Erza added with a stare.

Lucy and Natsu froze. Then they both slowly nodded.

Erza sighed. "I will let it pass for this time only," she started. Then she met Natsu's eyes. "But if there ever is a next time, you will not go unpunished." Her dark look made both mages shiver.

"Aye sir! I mean, yes ma'am!" Natsu squeaked.

She smiled and shooed them out.

Safe outside the bathroom doors both Lucy and Natsu could breathe out in relief. Then they looked at each other and burst out into fits of laughter.

Gray fell over at the field, feeling exhausted. He laid on his back just breathing. Never in a million years would he had thought that the power of dragon slaying or god slaying as well, took so much effort. How in the whole world could he learn this magic soon enough?

The faint sound of giggles brought him out of his thought as he rolled over to his side so he could look towards the guild.

Lucy and Natsu came walking side by side. Chatting happily. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the faint look in Lucy's eyes. And Natsu, as ever, he was not able to see it. He was too blind in that moment. Sure, he had stronger feelings for the Celestial mage than he had ever seen Natsu had had for others. The guild was the guild, however, for Natsu, Lucy would be special without him really realizing it. Gray sighed and sat up halfway as Silver and Anja playfully battled against each other a little further away.

Lucy's love was loud and clear shining in her eyes for the fire mage. Though for Gray, he had never understood her. Maybe because he saw her as a sister, that it was like that. After all, the fire breathing monster was very annoying and often getting on his nerves. Lucy was the only one really keeping up with him. Another sigh. It was time he talked to Natsu. The idiot had to see reason, at least eventually.

He got up on his legs and started moving towards them. Lucy and Natsu stopped.

"Let's talk," he said, looking directly at Natsu.

"You two better not start a fight," Lucy threatened.

"We won't," Gray promised and started to drag Natsu after him.

"Hey! I can walk by myself snowman!" Natsu protested.

Gray let the insult pass for this time and let go of Natsu when they were far enough away from Lucy.

"Tch. Natsu. I cannot believe that I am talking to you about this. But what are your feelings for Lucy?" Gray asked.

Natsumi opened the door leading out to the training field when she had finished her little break. After all, Lucy and Natsu had come down from the second floor with smiles and had been on their way out again. She stopped dead in her tracks as she heard the end of Gray's sentence.

Igneel who was walking behind Natsumi crashed straight into his mate when she stopped up. She motioned for him to be quiet and he rolled his eyes.

"What do you mean, feelings for Lucy?" Natsu asked crossing his arms.

Igneel's eyes widened at the kid's stupidity. He was freaking old enough to mate, and he had still no idea about certain things? He silently groaned and Natsumi sent him a death glare.

"You can't mean you are so dense, Natsu," Gray said angrily. Eyes blazing.

"Hey, I ain't as stupid as you all take me for," Natsu grumbled in protest.

"Then quit acting the part!" Gray complained.

"I still don't see where we are going by talking about Lucy," Natsu pointed out.

Gray smacked his forehead.

Natsumi nearly fainted. Really? This was her son?

Igneel winced. How could he had failed so horribly to raise his son?

"Do you like Lucy?"

"Of course I do! I like everyone in Fairy Tail!" Natsu defended.

"Not in that way you idiot! As in more than friends," Gray spelled it out for him.

"I never really thought much about it…"

"Have you ever?" Gray raised an eyebrow.

"I dunno. She's in my dreams."

Natsumi sucked in a breath. This was getting better.

"And what happens?"

Natsu blushed. It was no way he would admit anything.

Gray started to lose his patience. "You better tell me, or I will kick your ass for making Lucy hurt," Gray threatened.

Making Lucy hurt? Natsu wondered. What have I done wrong? She seemed fine earlier.

"We k-kissed," Natsu stuttered. Blushing.

"Is that all?"

"Yeah, what more would it be?"

Natsumi wanted to smack her son.

"Do you remember when I had a serious talk with you, after you kept asking what 'sex' was?" Gray asked, blushing a bit himself.

Igneel wanted to laugh. Oh, this was priceless.

"Why?" Natsu was feeling sceptic as to where this conversation truly was heading.

"Because Natsu. Do you ever want to have sex with Lucy?"

Silence.

Igneel tried to keep his chuckle within.

Natsumi wanted to run and protect Lucy.

Gray was fuming.

Natsu had no idea why Gray would ask such a ridiculous question. Why in the world would he have sex with Lucy? Anyone for that matter. Unless. Do you like Lucy? The words rung in his head. More than friends. His face went blank.

Finally. Maybe he's starting to understand the picture here, Gray thought as he watched Natsu with patience.

"Lucy likes you Natsu. She has for a very long time. However, you are hurting her. You have been so obvious that it's not even funny. At the same time you have no clue. I mean, who in their right mind would sneak into her apartment to sleep beside her, just to sleep in her bed? It does not even matter how many times she kicks you out. You come back anyway. You're always there for her… Do I need to go on?" Gray then asked. Waiting.

Lucy likes me? Natsu was still stuck on that thought.

Natsumi understood that she had to take matter into her own hands when it came to her son. Stepping out from her hiding place and rounding the corner of the guild she brought a fist down on Natsu's head so he focused as he whirled around.

"Natsu," Natsumi said with a stern voice. "You keep marking Lucy with your scent without even knowing it. I do not know why Igneel never told you, but that is part of mating. Mating when the dragon has found his mate. As well as the dreams. They reflect your true soulmate! How could you be so blind?"

Natsu blinked. I've been marking Lucy? I like Lucy? No, the feeling is stronger than that, he thought.

"I love Lucy," he whispered quietly, barely enough for the slayers to hear.

"Damn right you do. And from the appearances of it, you have ever since you brought her to the guild," Gray pointed out.

Natsu blushed. "She's going to hate me." He pouted.

"No she won't Natsu. She's feeling the same. It's all clear in her eyes," Natsumi said softly.

"She's been hurt because she thought she would never have a chance with you," Gray said and pointed towards her. She was sitting with Aquarius out on the field. There was no water close. Loke stood to her left and Capricorn to her right. She was concentrating as Silver was guiding her through the mental training. "The faith you have in her, that's what keeps her going."

Natsumi nodded in agreement and walked away to let her son figure out the rest. Together with Igneel she went to approach the celestial mage. Knowing that it was soon time for changes.

Natsu watched his mother and father go. Then a last look from Gray, and he went as well. His heart was beating rapidly as he thought about Lucy. All the times he had saved her. All the times he had been raging over her being abducted. The fear of losing her to Acnologia that fateful day, that they all would die, that he would never see her smile again. His fists clenched. Tears streamed down his face as his feelings went through him. No, a world without Lucy would be pretty dark indeed. And now he had a new mission. He wiped his eyes and grinned.

To prove his love for her and get his mate, that would be his next task.

How did you like this? I really hope you did : )

Love