KTKG Says: Hey, I'm back with a new chapter! I just wanted to say thanks to those of you that take the time to review and let me know what you think about this story. I really appreciate the feedback and the encouragement from you guys! Anyway, thank you!

Chapter 14

The salty smell of her tears had him pausing at the front door to his house.

This couldn't be good. She was crying, and honestly, he didn't know how to deal with a crying Lucy. Really, when he thought about it, he didn't know how to deal with this situation at all.

Pushing his thoughts aside, he wrapped his hand around the doorknob and gave it a twist, his face settling into a determined expression. He wasn't about to lose his mate because he didn't know how to deal with the situation. He would see this through, and no matter what, try to fix whatever damage was done.

Swinging the door open, he took a couple of steps inside and paused. It was getting dark, but the living room was empty of anyone. Listening closely, he could hear sounds coming from the bedroom. It sounded like the rustling of clothes and sniffles. Instantly, his heart sank as his mind started jumping to the worst case scenario.

She wouldn't, would she?

He didn't even bother to close the door as he took off around the corner and down the hall, almost skidding to a halt as he came to the open door of the bedroom. Instantly, he felt his heart stop at the sight before him.

"Luce…"

There, in the middle of the room buried in her belongings. Her suit case lay open beside her, half stuffed with some of her clothes. Her back that was facing him went ridged when he uttered her name, but she didn't turn around. Instead she sniffed quietly.

The scent of fresh tears assaulted his nose and he tentatively took a step forward. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he called out to her again. "Luce… what are you doing?"

"You could have told me."

His eyebrows shot towards his hair line in confusion. He could have told her? Told her what? She stayed in her position of facing away from him as she continued on. "Something told me that… that it wasn't what I had thought it was. What I had hoped it was." She sighed and dropped the pair of jeans she had clutched in her hands, her shoulders drooping with the movement. "I should have known though. I mean, you guys have more of a history and a bond than you and I probably ever will."

Natsu could barely hear what she was saying over the pounding in his ears. His stomach twisted in an unpleasant way as he digested what she was saying. Oh Mavis, she couldn't possibly be saying what he thought she was saying, could she? Just to make sure, he decided to ask for clarification.

"What…what are you talking about?"

Finally, she turned to him and he was surprised to find her glaring at him through pools of tears. Her brown eyes almost became slits as she took in the confused expression he was sure was on his face.

"Don't play dumb with me Natsu. I saw you and Lisanna behind the guild."

The frown that spread across his face was instantaneous. He knew she had seen, but the anger on her face made him surprisingly upset with Lisanna. After all, she was the one who had started this whole mess. He pushed his anger aside when he noticed she had resumed her hasty packing. Reaching out a hand, he grabbed her shoulder, freezing her instantly.

"Lucy wait, I can explain everything."

She turned, shrugging her shoulder out of his grasp as she shut the lid on her luggage, throwing her whole body into the action. "There's nothing to explain! I saw everything Natsu, everything." Her glare was back on him full force and he took a step back. Man, she was pissed.

"But Lucy, it wasn't what you think! Lisanna-"

"Oh please Natsu, you really expect me to believe that she just kissed you because she's just a friend?!"

She was up on her feet now, hauling her suitcase up with her as she stood to her full height. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he could help but notice how beautiful she was when she was all fired up. Shaking his head to get back on track, he reached for her again but she stepped back. The action made him feel like she had just stabbed him in the chest.

"Don't Natsu. Just, don't."

Of course, he wouldn't listen to her. Lucy sighed as she turned away from the pink-haired man in front of her. She had hoped that he wouldn't have come to the house before she had finished grabbing some things, but of course here he was, trying to explain something to her that didn't need any explaining. The sight she saw had explained everything to her loud and clear.

He had chosen Lisanna.

She should have known that something was going on between them though, although now she was mad at herself for holding out hope that there was something between her and Natsu. She had to remember that they weren't actually in a relationship though. But the way he had held her in bed that morning before going off with Gajeel… what did that mean? Had what they shared meant nothing to him? Or was she his little secret outside of the guild?

"Lucy, would you just listen to me for a second?"

Her eyes were suddenly on his face, his obsidian eyes staring into her own, but she wouldn't listen. She had a lot to say, things that had been building up over the past couple of weeks, and she was going to say it. But first, she just wanted to know something. "Why?"

He blinked in confusion and she continued on. "Why make love to me, cuddle and hold my hand… act like you loved me if in the end you wanted Lisanna? You can't have us both." The shock on his face had her reeling in anger again, and really she didn't know why. Maybe she was angry at the whole situation, angry at him for leading her on. Or maybe, just maybe, she was angry with herself for allowing herself to fall in love with him in the first place.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice he was reaching for her until it was too late. His warm hands latched on to her forearms before she had a chance to move away, the sudden action making her drop her luggage.

"Where the hell are you getting this all from Lucy?"

It was now Natsu's turn to be pissed. What the hell was she thinking? Did she really think that he did all of those things because, well, just because? Everyone knew that he did and said things that he meant, even her. Why was she not seeing it?

"I did those things because… well… because!" He sighed in frustration and her mouth turned down into a frown. Why was it so hard for him to tell her that he did it because he did love her? His eyes travelled down her neck and rested on the mark there. Taking a deep breath, he tried again. "Luce…" He was at a loss of what to say, so he decided to just say it. She cut him off however before he could get out a single word.

"It's okay. I understand."

She was strangely calm all of a sudden and he leaned back to try to get a look at her down-turned head. "It was a mistake, all of it. It just… I just thought…"

Suddenly, he found himself panicking. This was not what he wanted to happen. This wasn't supposed to happen! Desperate to show her that it wasn't what she thought it was, he tugged her in his direction, sealing his lips over hers. When she didn't respond to the kiss, he pulled away and his heart broke at the sight that greeted him.

Tears were running down her cheeks as she turned her head away. He watched as she bit her bottom lip in an attempt to keep the sob in her throat in check.

"I-I can't."

He felt his eyes widen. "Lucy…" She shook her head, effectively silencing anything else he was about to say.

She couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't tell her why he did the things he did, let alone give them the label she had been craving for almost a month now. She needed space, needed to get away from him so she could clear her head and think things through. She had desperately wanted to kiss him back, but the image of those same lips planted against Lisanna's wouldn't leave her mind.

"I have to go Natsu."

His grip tightened on her arms but the pleading look that she threw him had him eventually letting go. He stared at her for a couple of minutes, but eventually let go completely. She took a step back, tearing her eyes away from him to look for the luggage she had dropped earlier. She couldn't look at him. The lost and defeated expression on his face had her already broken heart shattering into even smaller pieces.

Without another word or a glance in his direction, she scooped up the suitcase and hurried out of the room, rushing down the hall and out the door that Natsu had left wide open in his haste.

Natsu on the other hand was frozen where he stood.

He glanced around at the clothes she had left behind scattered on the floor, his eyes roaming further and settling on the plush bed. Stiffly, he made his way over to it and sat, his hands instantly coming up to catch his falling head.

What the hell was he supposed to do now? Lucy hadn't responded when he kissed her, couldn't even look in his direction as she practically ran out of the house. He let out a breath that sounded more like a shudder to his own ears.

Maybe, just maybe, there was no fixing this.

Shaking his head at that last thought, he reclined in the bed; Lucy's sent wafted up to meet him but it didn't calm him like it normally did. This time, it made him feel like Gajeel had gut punched him with his iron arm.

He had to fix this, some way some how. Until then, he had to let Lucy be. After years of dealing with her temper and emotions, he knew enough to know that right now wasn't the best time for confrontation. He'd give her a couple of days and hopefully try again.

Hopefully, he'll be able to save whatever relationship had been blossoming between them.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

KTKG Says: And there you have it. I'm sorry this chapter is so short, but trust me, I had to end it there! I'm going to try to have the next chapter up by Sunday, but I make no promises~! Please review and let me know what you think! Also, please check out my other story Big Sister Lucy. I know it's a shameless plug, but really, what can you do? Meh. REVIEW!