It has been way too long and I am so sorry for that. I've been way too busy now that school has started. I plan on giving you guys some chapters today so fret not!

So without further ado.

I do not own Fairy Tail or anything related. Hiro Mashima does.

The ride back to Magnolia was quiet. Not completely comfortable, but not extremely awkward. Watching the scenery pass by, the two of them sat there. Seemingly in their own little worlds. Every now and then, Natsu would sneak glances towards Lucy. Just to make sure that she was okay.

Soon, they found themselves in front of Lucy's apartment. Pulling into an available parking space, Natsu turned the car off and unlocked the door. She undid her seatbelt and started to open the door. However, Natsu's hand grabbing her wrist.

"Are we still friends?" the blonde whipped her head towards him but couldn't form words. "I know that what I said shocked and confused. I'm sorry for that. However, I won't apologize for how I feel. What I said was true, and while I'm happy I said it, the last thing I want is for my confession to tear our friendship apart. If it will make you feel better, we can act like I never…"

She snatched her hand away from him and stared hard in his eyes. "Don't you dare say you want to pretend it never happened!" a hand went through her hair, moving it from her face "I won't lie to you, I'm a little confused and I didn't expect to be confessed to. However, I refuse to let my confusion cause you to deny your feelings."

"I understand."

The two departed from the car, with Natsu walking Lucy up to her door. They hugged and then departed for the night.

The next couple of days afterwards, the two seemed to grow closer to each other. The initial awkwardness was still present, however, to anyone else, it seemed more like the awkwardness of a new couple. This did not go unnoticed by their friends.

With the fact that the two of them were joined at the hip, no one could ask what happened to inspire the change. It wasn't until a few days later that Natsu showed up to the lounge alone that he was pounced on.

All of their friends shifted closer to where he was sitting at waiting for someone to ask the question that had been bothering them. That someone just had to be Gajeel.

"So Salamander, are you and bunny girl finally a 2 piece meal." The listeners all looked at the pierced male with confusion. What the hell is he talking about?

"Come again?"

"Are you guys a combo or just dollar menus?"

"Have you lost your mind? I told you eating screws was going to make you crazy."

"Dammit Salamander! Just answer my question. Are you a bean burrito or a Nacho Supreme?"

"What the fuck are you talking about metal-head?"

Gray, being within earshot of the conversation decided to intervene "He's asking if you and Lucy are finally going out."

Natsu turned towards his direction, a questioning gaze fired at him as well. "Why do you think we're dating?"

Both males rolled their eyes at his answer. A sweeter, more feminine answer came from Mirajane who "happened" to be listening to the conversation. "Well Natsu, the two of you have been joined at the hip for the past couple of days, so we were wondering if something interesting happened." She handed him his food then collected the dirty cups of the men around him.

Natsu took a grateful bite of his food then regarded the people around him. "Oh nothing big happened. I just told her I loved her."

With the nonchalant way that he made the statement, no one took notice of what he said. It had the same tone of someone talking about buying a new pair of shoes. His tone caused Mira smile and nod her head, Gajeel and Gray just kept eating and taking sips of their drinks. Everyone in the surrounding area really started to ignore the conversation, until what he said finally registered.

A loud and collective "WHAT!" resounded through the entire establishment. A flood of people ran up to Natsu's table, all of them asking varying questions. Some a bit more vulgar than others. The situation was getting out of hand until an aura of pure evil was emitted from Natsu's right.

Mirajane, still standing there, smiled so very deviously. She grasped the pinkette's shoulder with more force he though she was capable of. "So you're telling me, you two are now a couple and didn't bother informing us."

Trying to shake off the fear the once motherly woman instilled in him, Natsu pried her hand steadily off his shoulder. "We aren't dating."

This caused the group to let out collective gasps and voiced apologies on his behalf. Mira, brought him close in a hug and cooed comforting words to him. "I'm so sorry Natsu. We didn't know. I'm sure it still hurts."

Pushing her off him, he looked at the crowd with confusion and growing irritation. "She didn't reject me."

…. "OMG! YOU GUYS ARE A COUPLE NOW!" The guild stared cheering and celebrating, the creation of the couple they all saw coming. Money was exchanged, drinks were poured, and quite a few males were upset over the blonde's supposed relationship. Once again they crowded around him, every one of them asking questions and yelling statements.

Sitting in the thick of the crowd, the pinkette's frustration boiled over. "WILL YOU GUYS SHUT UP FOR A SECOND!"

The lounge looked at him (some not too happy about his outburst). "First off, yes I did confess to Lucy and tell her how I feel. No we are not a couple. I know she has a boyfriend and I respect that. I promised her that I would give her time to process it all and make her own choice. Any other questions?"

The lively attitude of the crowd soon crashed at Natsu's explanation. That was replaced by an absurd amount of evil radiating off the white haired "angel". She marched up to the pinkette (who was scared shitless) "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN YOU AREN'T GOING OUT WITH HER! HOW LONG ARE YOU GONG TO WAIT THIS THING OUT NATSU DRAGNEEL!"

"Don't you think I want to be with her too? I'd love to steal her from that douchebag asshole Sting. She deserves so much better than him. However, I know how much she cares for him and how much history they have together. I can't act like the time they spent together never happened, and neither can she."

He sat back down at the table and took another sip of his drink. Mira's earlier anger dissipated. She could only sigh and look at the young man in front of her.

"She wants to be with you Natsu. She might not even know it herself, but she does."

"She probably does. I'd jump at the chance to make her mine. The only thing Sting has over me is their history, but that's a lot stronger than most of us think. He knows things about her that I don't know, seen things with her that I never will." He looked up at Mira and the rest of his friends, determination bright in his eyes "However, that doesn't mean I'll give up. He may have been there for her but I'm here for her now. Lucy is mine and I don't intend to hand her over without a fight."

The lounge erupted in a fit of cheers at his declaration. The atmosphere livened with partying and cheering. Drinks were passed and food was devouring, all in the happiness of their friends. The white haired motherly figure watched her friends and students. She eyed the pink haired young man and smile 'if anyone can bring you happiness Lucy, he will. I'm sure of that.'

So...What did you think? Did you like it? Was it awful? Just let me know! Please Read and Review.

Heaven***