Twentieth chapter = extra long one :)

WHEN WE WERE KIDS

CHAPTER TWENTY

I waited at the station for about five minutes before Natsu came. He smiled when he saw me, a kind smile, not a grin, more something to make me feel more comfortable. I smiled back.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"I'm fine, happy that someone is here with me." I said, taking his hand.

"Of course I'd come, it's only natural to help friends, you taught me that." He said, grinning once again. His grin definitaly made me feel better. The train came, and we got on board, finding a four seater. He sat in front of me, and put his feat up on the seat next to me.

"Have you took your pills?"

"Oh yeah..." he said, and threw one up in the air, before catching it in his mouth. The train started to move, and I saw him flinch, but he stayed composed, and after about five minutes, he grinned.

"I'm fine, this is excelent! I can look out the window! Wow..." he said, while I laughed. After a while, we settled down. I took my shoes off, put my feet up, and took out a book. I was reading the end, an extremely sad part, I felt a tear roll down my cheek.

"What are you reading?" He asked.

"A book. Sh." I said. I hated it when people spoke to me whilst reading.

"What book is it?" He asked again.

"Things not seen. Sh."

"What's it about? He said, moving seats and sitting next to me. I tutted.

"It's about a boy who becomes invisible, and he meets a girl who is blind."

"Why are you crying?"

"Because it's sad."

"Why? Read to me." He said, leaning against my arm like a child wanting his bedtime story.

"Alright. He's become visible again, and the blind girl has written him a letter."

"Let me guess, they get together." He said, bored.

"They don't, that's why it's so sad. She befriended him, because she was his body, and he was her eyes. Alicia, the blind girl, didn't want to see him any more, because he was normal again."

"That's selfish."

"It's understandable."

"Read." He said. I sighed, and cleared my throat.

"I open the envelope, and read the scrawled words.

Dear Bobby,

Sorry I'm such a mess. Face it. I'm a mess. I'm never going to be fun to be around. I've been kidding myself into thinking we were such friends. More than friends. You were like me. That's how it was. Now you're back and I'm not. I spoke to Nancy today. She asked me if you ever kissed me. I said almost. The last time I kissed a boy was kid stuff. You almost kissed me today. I felt you. So close. But it would have killed me. Because I don't know if I can see that. I can't see us. I can see you, but I still need to see me. And I feel like you see me. Do you? You do. You almost kissed me. So close. With you it's not kid stuff. I was almost gone Bobby. I was almost all the way disappeared. I couldn't remember if I was real. I couldn't see who could love me. I couldn't see anything there to love. I couldn't find a reflection. Anywhere. I needed a mirror so bad. And that was you Bobby. Invisible mirror. I see me. I see you. Love Alicia."

I was surprised Natsu was so quiet. His eyes were closed, so I gently blew on his face.

"Natsu... are you awake?" He nodded, and opened his eyes. "Where you listening?" He nodded again.

"I understand why she wasn't selfish, she just felt understood when Bobby came, her invisible mirror." He quoted.

"That was a thourough study, well done."

"Continue reading please." He said. I accepted with no fuss, thanks to the please. In the book, Bobby was describing what crying from happiness meant to him. I stopped after a while, and looked down at Natsu again, blew, and called his name. He was sleeping, on my arm. He was cute when he slept, no grinning, but no other expression, apart from when he frowned from time to time. I gently put my book down on the floor, as to not wake him up. I stroked his cheek, and fell to sleep.

I had another nightmare, but this time, I knew it was a nightmare when my mother was in it. I was wearing the black dress, in a room draped with black cloth on every side. My mother stood in front of me, in a black dress too, but her's was more grand, floaty, like one for a masquerade ball. She had a mask on. Black, sparkly, with feathers curving of one side. She just stared at me, expresionless. Music started playing, ball music. My father walked in, dressed in a black tailcoat, grand, like my mother. He smiled at me, and to my surprise I smiled back. Then, Natsu appeared, dressed in black as well, and not grand like my parents. He walked towards me as my father walked towards my mother. They had masks on as well. They both bowed, Natsu towards me and my father towards my mother. I curtsied at the same time as my mother. Ntasu and I held each others hand, and rotated into a slow waltz. I started to hear words in the music. Come back, come back, come back, come back. It started hurting my head. I stopped dancing, holding my hands up to my head, and I fell to the ground, like my mother, at the same time. Natsu looked down at me, expresionless, before taking out a knife. My father was mirroring his movements. I realised what he was doing, and screamed, at the same time as my mother. He stabbed me, in the chest, right were my heart was.

"You shouldn't of put us in danger." He said.

I woke up, in a gasp, and rubbed my eyes with my right arm. Natsu was still on my left arm, not for long, because he to, woke up.

"Dad!" He said, loudly, as he lifted his head up. Obviously something that happened in his dream. It was still night outside, around five o'clock.

"You too?" I asked, as I caught my breath.

"Huh?" He said, still confused.

"You just woke up, bad dream?"

"Yeah...did you have one to?"

"Yeah. What was your's about, you said 'dad'?" I asked. He sat up.

"It's the same, except something changed this time. I'm always in a volcanic land, fire and lava going around everywhere. Hidden in the flames is my father, and he's leading me towards them, but I have to leave all my friends behind. But this time, I looked behind me, and saw them walking away. Only one person was waving, goodbye to me."

"Who?" I asked.

"You." He said. "What about your dream? Did your dad kill me again?"

"No. He killed my mom, but you were still in it."

"What did I do? Heroicaly save your mom?"

"No. You killed me." I said, sighing, and leaning against his shoulder.

"And why do you sound happy saying that?"

"Because I know for sure that that will never happen. At least I hope." I said, laughing.

"Yeah, of course." He said, laughing to. "I spoke to Gramps before we left."

"Oh really? How are they all doing?" I asked, nervous that the truth about Silver might run free.

"Nothing much. He asked me about my dreams, and I told him you were having them to. He then asked me if we were having them on the same night."

"Hold on, you've been having nightmares to?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I said, annoyed with him.

"I'm not the type who goes complaining to someone about waking up in a cold sweat every night." He said, shrugging.

"Natsu..." I said. "I know something is wrong, and it's not to do with the dreams, there's something else, what's wrong, Natsu?" I asked, getting up off his shoulder and looking at him in the face.

"Nothing..."

"So are we having them on the same night?" I asked, knowing if he had something to hide, it was for a good reason.

"Yes. Gramps spazed out and said that he would be back in three days."

"Was that all you talked about?"

"No we also- yes, that was all." He said, stopping himself from saying something, I lifted my head up again, and looked it at him. He was looking out of the window, blushing.

"Natsu?" I said, joking.

"Hm?" He said, still looking out the window. I laughed at him.

"What else were you talking about with Gramps?" I said, jokingly. He just blushed more.

"Stuff."

"Like what?"

"Just stuff." He said. I laughed more. I poked him gently on the cheek.

"I bet it has something to do with your crush!" I said, and laughed as he became more red.

"And so what if it does?"

"Then kawaii." I laughed. "Come on, why don't you tell me who she is!" I complained.

""If you knew, you'd make fun of me." He said. I leant back in my seat, and watched him, stare out of the window.

"Why, is she weird or something?" I asked. He smiled.

"No, yes, but not in that sense. She's weird, but in her own way." He seemed lost in thought. I looked at his expression. I imagined her being me, and I wanted to kiss him, on the spot, but I held back, and my thoughts felt stupid.

"Is she nice?"

"The most nicest person I've ever known." He said. Bam, jealousy. "She has taught me so many things, but at the same time she's evil."

"Hey Natsu?" I asked. He snappd out of his daydream.

"Yeah?"

"Can you promise me that even after you tell her, we can always be best friends?" I asked. He looked directly at me, and grinned.

"Luce, we'll always be best friends, even if time is torn apart, we'll be best friends." He said. I felt my cheeks tingle a bit, and I knew there was a little blush.

"Well who's the emotianal one toninght?" I joked, ruffling his hair.

"You asked me. Your turn to tell me about your crush, what's he like?"

"Stupid, stupid, with a side dish of stupid." I said, Also next to me.

"Gray?"

"No way. Even though he's stupid, he's brave, and funny, and kind, and-"

"I get it, he's awsome." He said, I heard the roll in his eyes.

"No, he's also arrogant, selfish, slightly self centered, and ignorant, but he is incredible, in his own way, he is just..."

"Yes?"

"I can't find the word...incredible doesn't quite sum it up..."

"Is he handsome."

"Yes."

"How much?"

"If he were an apple, he would be the type that are really red, crisp, sweet, and crunchy."

"So pretty handsome."

"Yep."

"You just compared your crush to an apple."

"I did."

"I'm hungry." He said. Silence, and we both fell into uncontrollable fits of laughter.

"I'll miss you." He said. My reaction was to think he'd discovered that I was leaving in a month.

"Huh?"

"When you'll be with your crush, I'll miss you."

"What are you talking about?"

"You'll be going on about babies and weddings and stuff like that." He said.

"Wow, hold it, babies! I'm only fourteen!"

"About two years till marrying age..." he said, rasing an eyebrow at me. I nudged his elbow.

We continued laughing and randomly chatting the rest of the day, our carriage was completely empty, which meant we could make as much noise as we liked. Around lunch time, the train stopped at a station for half an hour. There wasn't much journey left, so we got changed. The dress was a perfect fit for me, and the gloves hid my burns, which had turned into pink, new skin. I found a little field, and picked some daffodils whilst waiting for Natsu. When I saw him, he looked so mature. He had a black shirt on, along with black trousers. He could look good in anything. We got back on the train, and the rest of the journey was quiet. He sat in front of me, and kept staring at me. I looked out the window. The sun got lower and lower, till it was once again the familiar orange light. I started recognising the surroundings, the mountains, and the forest. I felt scared. It must of shown on my face, because Natsu put his hands on my knees.

"Lucy, it's gonna be okay, isn't it?" He said. Just the sight of him, there, with me, made it okay.

"Yeah, it'll be fine." I said, smiling.

Slowly, the train came to a halt. Natsu picked up my bag for me, and held my hand. Everyone was looking at us weird. Two kids, dressed for a funeral, holding hands, and getting off at the Heartfilia lands. It was strange. I still had the yellow daffodils.

"Wow! It's such a quiet village!" Natsu said, as we entered the grounds.

"Keep your voice down, this is part of the land, it goes up to the mountains over there." I said. He looked at the mountains, then back at me.

"And you're inheriting all of this?"

"Normally, yes."

"Well..." he said, and rolled his eyes. We walked along, and it became night time .

"Natsu?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Yeah, of course."

"I've been learning celestial magic." I said. He stopped.

"So you'll be going to Fairy Tail?" He said. I heard anger in his voice, or was it dissapointment?

"No. That's why I'm learning it in secret." I said, taking out the gate keys.

"Lucy, listen, Rogue learnt magic, you've never met him, but the school found out, and he was forced to go to Fairy Tail, even though he decided to leave Magnolia completely and go to Sabertooth, so Lucy, be extremely careful, don't tell anybody anything." He said. I was taken aback by his urgent voice, and nodded.

"I know, I know. I've made a contract with all the spirits, but I'm still weak."

"Let me guess, you want to try and summon two of them so they can pay there respects to your mother?"

"Yes, besides, I can only summon two of them, Aquarius needs to be summoned with water."

"And you want me to keep a look out for you?"

"Can you read my mind?"

"If only." He said. We continued walking. The stars shone brightly, and everything was iluminated in the most beautiful silver light. I had missed the grounds.

"It's weird." I said. "Being here with someone, but in a nice way."

"Yeah, it's strange seeing where you come from. All this time, you've been a mystery girl, but I think I got you figured out." He said.

"There it is." I said. I had seen the statue of a woman with wings. That was where my mother's grave was.

"Hey Luce." Natsu said. He walked to my side, and hugged me. "It'll be alright."

"Thanks." I said. My eyes were stinging.

"I'll wait here for you, see? I can see everywhere, no one's coming."

"I know, I'm just paranoid." I said. I smiled at him, and walked to her grave. I knelt down, and put the yellow daffodils on the stone.

"Hello, mom. I'm missing you, so, so, much. If you're watching me, you'll know that I left here, and I'm at Magnolia. You'll also know who my best friend is." I said, and looked around towards Natsu. He had his arms crossed, and was looking around. "He's funny, you'd like him. I found your keys, the spirits are here. I'll try and summon Capricorn and Cancer, but I'd need water for Aquarius. Here I go, I love you mom." I stood back up again, and took out Capricorn's key. " Open! Gate of the goat! Capricorn!" I said. The suited goat appeared, and greeted me, then the grave.

"Miss Layla, your daughter learns fast, you would be proud. Miss Lucy, are you sure you want to do this? You could suffer severe tiredness from draining all your magic power."

"It's okay."

"Remember, take a deep breath."

"Yes." I said, and held out Cancer's key. I breathed in, concentrating my magic energy.

"Open! Gate of the giant crab! Cancer!" I said, and wooshed the key through the air. I waited, my eyes still closed, and felt it. My magic, draining at a scary speed, I opened my eyes, and saw Cancer, and Capricorn stand by her grave, paying there respects. My magic went down, until it hit the bottom, but I waited, I stayed. I had to, they needed me to.

"Goodbye." I heard Cancer say, and I let go, falling down, feeling paralysed and tired. The spirits disapeared, and Natsu rushed to my side. I was panting, and sweaty.

"That was amazing!" He said, holding up my head. I closed my eyes for a moment.

"Lucy? Can you hear me?" He said, nervous all of a sudden. I could, but his voice seemed so far away, like I was drowning under a cloud of black smoke. I felt him hold me closer, and he spoke in my ear.

"Lucy!" He yelled, it hurt my eardrum, but pulled me out of the fog.

"...don't shout..." I said, opening my eyes slightly, he laughed.

"You gave me a scare. Are you okay?"

"Fine, just tired. Can you help me get to her please? My legs feel like jelly..."

"Sure, here, put your arm over my shoulder." He said. I did so, and he helped me up. We walked to the grave, and stood there, in silence. I missed her a lot.

"Hey, my lovely lucky Lucy. Did I ever tell you why you were named like that?" My mother said, as she held my hand. My father was standing by the window, looking out of it. I knew tears were falling down his face to.

"Don't mama, keep your efforts." I said, stroking her hand, refusing to let the tears fall down mine.

"Lucy, lucky Lucy. You be lucky for ever, okay? Do what you want in life, and don't let anything stop your dreams." She said, tears rolling from her eyes, onto her cheeks.

"I will mama, just please, be quiet, you'll be stronger."

"I am strong. That's why I'm speaking. I love you, lucky Lucy."

"Me too, mama." I said, putting my arms around her frail shoulders.

"Layla?" I heard my father say, his back still to the window.

"Yes?" She said, as she patted my back.

"Thank you." He said. The silence that followed made the rain on the glass so loud, it hurt my head.

"That's okay, Jude. Thank you." She said. I heard a long sigh from her, and her hand stopped patting me.

"Mama? Mama?" I said, getting up. I saw her, pale, and not responding, her mouth slightly open. "Mama?! MAMA!" I said, as I cried, more than I ever had in my life.

"Lucy..." My father said, as he walked over next to me. He put his arms around me, and craddled me, stroking my hair like when I was a child.

"Daddy! Why isn't mama saying anything!? She 's not speaking! Mama!" I continued, refusing to let the fact she was gone sink in.

"Lucy..." My father repeated, I heard the crack in his voice, and I felt his tears sink in through my dress. That was the last time my father hugged me.

"Are you crying?" Natsu asked.

"Yes." I said, as I whiped a tear from my cheek. He didn't answer. "I suppose I had a flashback, one that I couldn't really remember."

"What was it?"

"My dad, hugging me for the last time."

"When was that?"

"When my mom died. I'm sorry, I'm putting you in an awkward situation."

"It's okay. I should be sorry, I don't know what to do or what to say to make you feel better."

"You don't need to make me feel better."

"But I'm your best friend. For now, I'll say, I'm here for you Luce. We all are." He said, and put his other arm around me, hugging me. I hugged him back, and cried harder, letting out a sob.

"She would of let me stay. She would of let me stay in Magnolia." I cried.

"I don't doubt that. She sounds amazing." He said, why was he being so mature? Normally, he would be off chasing after some inncoent villager.

"She was. She would of liked you." I said, sobbing harder.

'Oh really? Why?" He said.

"You have a strong character."

"I'm not sure wether that was a compliment or not." He said, laughing. I laughed. "Only you could laugh whilst crying.'

"She liked strong characters. People who aren't sheep, who stood up for what they believed in." I continued. "She was like that."

"That explains a lot." He said.

"She told me to let nothing stop my dreams."

"Then don't. What is your dream?"

"I don't really know. I suppose, the usual girls dream."

"Which is...?"

"Wearing a really pretty white dress, and getting married."

"So that's the usual girls dream..." he said, laughing again. I hit him.

"Don't insult dreams."

"Ouch! Okay, okay... let's make a promise."

"Another one?"

"Yes. As to honor your dream and your mother, if we are not married by twenty five, we will marry each other." He said, in an important voice. I laughed.

"You promise?"

"Only if you do."

"Then deal."

And that was the day I promised myself to wait till I was twenty five before marrying someone, in front of my mother's grave. She would of laughed.

We left, and got on the night train. The journey back was uneventful, and the weather was bleak. I felt happy though, like as if my mom had given me permission to live in Magnolia, and I had also succeeded in opening two gates at the same. The train finaly came to a halt, in Magnolia, at ten p.m.

"Ah! It's good to be home! Have you recovered yet?" He asked me, as we got off the train in our usual clothes.

"Mh-hm." I said, still tired.

"Okay then! Let's go! It's friday tommorow, we don't want them to miss us to much." He said, grinning. I nodded, and looked up at the sky, as the train pulled out of the station. The stars were out, it was becoming Autumn. I had to put my plan for Natsu's birthday into action...

"Lucy? Coming?" He asked.

"Yeah. Sorry." I said.

We walked home, through the night. It was peaceful being back. Three days on a train was long, even when it's with Natsu. We got onto Hyacinth road, and he walked towards his house.

"Come in! I'll make us some coffee, or coacoa, if you prefer." He said, shrugging and grinning.

"Sure, thanks." I said, following him. He opened the door, and held it for me.

"Well, well, on top of being polite you're being gallant? This is a nice change..." I teased, as I walked in.

"Hey!" He said, closing the door behind him. "Throw your bag on the floor, I'll boil the kettle."

"Thanks." I said, putting my bag down.

"Well Natsu, bringing a girl home? You should of told me, I would of waited an extra day..." A voice said. We turned around, and saw Gramps, smiling at us.

"Gramps! I've missed you!" Natsu said, clapping the old man on the back.

"Me to, where were you two?" He said.

"We were..." Natsu started, and looked at me for help.

"Out." I said, in lack of inspiration.

"Where?" He asked, even more suspiciously.

"On the hill, looking at the stars, it's the aquarides meteor shower soon, and I thought there might be some early shooting stars." I said. He looked at me, less suspicious, but still...

"Okay, seems believable. A young girl and boy, looking at the stars together, very cute." He said. We both sighed simultanioulsy.

"Okay, I'll make some coffee." Natsu said, and went into the kitchen. I nodded at him, and smiled. Mokarov didn't move, he just stayed there, looking at me.

"Lucy?" He finally said.

"Yes?"

"You and Natsu-"

"Are just friends." I said.

"Yes, I know, I was just joking around, but you two, why did you become friends so quickly?" He asked.

"I don't really know. I guess it feels like we've known each other an eternity." I said, smiling. He smiled.

"I need to ask you something else."

"Sure."

"Say, hypothetically, Natsu had found his father, but his father lived extremely far away in a remote and very dangerous area, crawling with monsters. He asks you to go with him. What would you do?" He asked. I was taken aback. What was with all the sudden questions?

"If he needed me, of course I'd go with him." I said, totally truthfully.

"Okay, and one last question. Do you have a series of scars anywhere? Maybe on your abdomen?"

"Y-yes. How did you know?" I asked, surprised. He was about to answer, when Natsu called.

"Coffee's ready! Oh crap! I burnt it!"yes you can burn coffee, it tastes like caramel. He said.

"It doesn't matter, I should probably go home anyway. See you tommorow!" I called.

"Okay. Bye!" He called back. Mokarov nodded his head at me in farewell, and I smiled back.

When I got home, waiting for me was another letter. I sighed, and picked it up.

Hello, Lucy,

We've decided something. Being your frenemy, we want you to break Natsu Dragneel's heart. Be the most hostile towards him you can. Do not attempt to pass a message to him, do not attempt to make one of your friends pass a message to him. Do not attempt to communicate with him in any sense. If you do so, your maid will suffer more than she already has. Also, please befriend Felicia Merel as well as Sting Eucliffe. Hope you liked your dress, goodbye.

I fell on the floor, and stared in shock at the letter. Whatever, I was going to find a way to say goodbye.

Next chapter! Frowning! Drugs! People with the same etymoligie as Happy's name! And Sting, my pleasure, fangirls ;) Hope you enjoyed our special twentieth chapter, once again my biscuits, I love you, bisous :* Roji