Note: Happy NaLu Week! I really wanted to do NaLu Week for 2021 but since there isn't an official prompt, I made my own! (I posted it on my DA account, moon-drips, if anyone is interested.) I tried to make sure that I didn't reuse a previous prompt, and I'm honestly really excited. Also sorry for posting this so late at night, wanted to post it earlier but I lost track of time.

Prompt: Day 1—Dream

Summary: For now, she would stay satisfied with being able to stay by his side.

Warning/s: Post-Alvarez Arc (If you haven't read past this part or seen the anime past this part, there will be spoilers!)

By Your Side

Everything felt numb. Her body ached and her eyes felt heavy from exhaustion. Though she kept her gaze steady into the dark nothingness as she sat curled up on the sofa. Sleep not coming to her anytime soon due to the events of the evening. It was almost too hard to take in. That they had made it out alive. That Aquarius was still out there. That Natsu was almost taken away from her.

A quick glance to her left quickly eased those last fears as she caught a top of pink hair against the sofa, his head leaned back against the front of the couch. Happy was curled on the cushion beside Lucy, fast asleep with his pink-haired companion.

Her apartment was disheveled with some furniture overturned and the exterior looking worse for wear but fortunately, her room wasn't too damaged, just needing a couple of small repairs. The sunrise was still burning along the skyline outside as the sun continued to rise up. When the war was over, and everyone had gotten their wounds bandaged up, they all either went home or the guildhall for a quick nap. Everyone had agreed that some rest was needed and that they would recoup later in the evening to re-clean and patch-up wounds. The night had gone on for too long and the exhaustion had finally caught up to everyone after all the action.

The three companions sitting in Lucy's house were no different as they were quick to rush back to her apartment to get some quiet time. The games now haphazardly shoved away from the couch as they gathered to sit around one-another. No words being said as they provided each other with comforting pats and silence. The boys had already fallen asleep, Lucy being the only one who couldn't find it within herself to go to bed yet.

Her mind kept replaying the battle in her head, the whole thing finally hitting her as she was finally allowed to think of her thoughts properly. In the rush of the events of the battle, she hadn't been able to properly take everything till now. It felt like a ton of bricks had been placed on her.

When she found out that Aquarius was well, she was overjoyed. Her hidden fears of the past year slowly being overturned with determination to find her fixed key. Along with her excitement with finding a new companion in Brandish, regardless of their initial hassles. Then along with fixing Natsu's book to keep him by her side had caused her enough stress to last her a life-time.

Though what had scared her more than anything was when she thought she had lost her best-friend for good. Twice. She wouldn't know how she could handle it after already losing him for a year. She could still see him being brought into the infirmary in his comatose state by a panicking Happy, barely breathing. She had never seen him so… lifeless. She shivered at the memory, her heart starting to ache again. Then when he had suddenly disappeared after his fight with Zeref...

Lucy took in a sharp breath as she leaned her head back, allowing her to close her eyes for a brief moment as she basked in the silence. Ignoring the rising light basking her face as she took in silent breaths. Counting silently in her head as she listened to the chirps of the morning birds. Letting out another sigh.

A hand on her thigh though caused her to shoot her eyes open and stare back down into onyx eyes. Lucy's eyebrows raised a little as she looked back down into sleep dazed eyes, stopping a little in shock as she stared back at the man. Though her surprise soon disappeared as she loosely wrapped her hand in his, relaxing as he drew circles on the top of her hand with his thumb.

They stared at each other for a while before Lucy whispered, "I thought you were asleep."

The man only shrugged, tightening his grip on her hand, "Why aren't you asleep?"

The blonde woman responded with a shrug. Silence quickly enveloping the two. The only sound being that of Happy's quiet snoring and the morning birds.

The celestial mage then took this time to glance over a yawning Natsu. Tracing over his features as she studied her partner. Trying to engrave all the things she could in her mind. Taking notice of the way his fangs caught the low light, glinting. How his eyes scrunched a bit and how his shoulders rolled back and forward a little to get rid of a little nick in his back.

The sense of dread that had been forming eased back slightly as she took comfort in his presence. Though the gnawing feeling within the pit of her stomach kept scratching her to reach out for him. She tried to repress it for a couple of minutes but the sensation only seemed to grow worse. Now causing her to chew on her lip nervously as she eyed the man from the corner of her eyes.

It was only a little after that Lucy asked quietly, "Hey, Natsu?"

He grunted in acknowledgment, eyes closed once again.

She opened her mouth but closed it as she winced before opening it again and closing it again. She could feel sweat starting to gather in her hands and felt tongue tied. If there was any indication that Natsu picked up on her nervousness, the increase in his body temperature filled with his comforting warmth gave it away.

"Do you think..," she took in a deep breath as she wiped her free hand against her seat, her next words being barely audible if it weren't for the male's super-hearing, "We will always stay by each other's sides, right?"

She was sure he could hear how loud her heart was beating. She almost wanted to chuck herself out the window as the silence seemed to drone out. Though when he grabbed her hand tighter, she was sure her heart was going to burst as he sent her a lazy grin.

"Of course you weirdo! We're partners forever."

Her shoulders dropped completely from their tense posture as she melted into the back of the couch, smiling sleeplily as she gazed warmly at her partner, "Yea."

The tightening in her heart was not an uncommon feeling and was something she was still coming to terms with even with all the years that have passed. For now she would be grateful to have her pink-haired idiot by her side with that contagious loop-sided smile.

She would worry about her long-standing feelings for another day. For now, she will get some sleep.

"Night Natsu."

"Night Luce."

Lucy soon fell asleep along with the boys, heart lighter now lighter as they slept under the glistening morning glow of the sun.

Note: I don't know if it was obvious what I was trying to imply subtly but I hope people understand what Lucy is honestly feeling right now lol. Lucy is coming to term with her feelings for Natsu basically. I wanted to add a secret forehead kiss but decided against it since I couldn't fit it in well with this one-shot.

~writingamongstars