A/N: Back again! Hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
Lucy's POV
Things had been better, to say the least. Natsu genuinely seemed to trust me and if I could just work st it a little longer, perhaps I could end up convincing him to turn himself in and turn his life around. And surprisingly, the more we hung out, the more I enjoyed his company. Behind the wall of sarcasm and smugness, Natsu was a decent guy. Certainly not what I had expected when I first met him.
"How are things?" I asked as I entered Natsu's office. He looked up from his phone.
"Pretty good. Thanks to the work you have done and the work the others have done, we are finally bringing in a decent income again," Natsu sat his phone down, grinning at me. I still really didn't care about the drug operation, but Natsu seemed pleased so I knew that I had to be pleased as well.
"That's great. Seems like things are finally looking up," I said, taking a seat on the futon. Natsu nodded as he leaned back in his chair.
"Any plans for the day?" Natsu asked, coming to sit next to me. I was about to answer when my phone started ringing. I pulled it out and immediately felt a sense of dread when I saw it was the hospital where my father was.
"Hello?" I answered the call, my voice wavering a bit.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Heartfilia. I am sorry to bother you but I have some grave news about your father's condition," I began to feel a pit of worry accumulate in my stomach. I glanced at Natsu, who was watching me with a concerned expression. He must have noticed the wavering in my voice.
"Yes? Is he okay?" I asked.
"For now, yes. But last night, his cancer began spreading rapidly through his pancreas and some of the cells have started infecting his bloodstream. I'm very sorry to say but your father doesn't have much time left. We have been trying to reverse the process, but his body has stopped responding to the treatments," I felt tears begin to well in my eyes as I listened to the doctor speak.
"T-thank you, Doctor," I hung up the phone as I let it drop in to my lap. I stared at the floor as tears began sliding down my cheeks. I had no words, absolutely none. When my father had been diagnosed, I told myself that there was a chance he wouldn't make it. But no matter how much I had told myself this over the past few weeks, watching it become a reality was something completely different.
"It's your father isn't it?," Natsu's voice echoed from beside me. I nodded, keeping my eyes on the floor.
"Come on then," I looked up to see Natsu standing in front of me, his hand stretched out towards me.
"Where?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"To visit your father. You want to be with him if he goes, right?" My eyes widened. In the minutes I had been trying to process this, I hadn't even thought about going to see him. I nodded slowly, taking his hand as he helped me off the futon. I wiped a few tears from my eyes as he led me down to his van. in all the shock, I had forgotten to take my hand out of his. Natsu must not have noticed as he got in the van, his hand leaving mine. Something about holding it felt both wrong and right at the same time. All the shock must be really getting to me. I got in the van and we took off towards the highway. Neither of us spoke as we drove, both of us unsure what to say. How did this happen so fast? Just two weeks ago, my father had been doing so great. Was this even really happening right now? My father was the only family I had left, and now he was about to be gone too. Would I even be able to handle it? Too overwhelmed by my feelings, I closed my eyes and tried to sleep the rest of the ride.
We eventually arrived to the hospital, my eyes fluttering open as we parked. The sense of worry returned as I stared at the hospital doors. Memories of my mother's death were hitting me like train, and now I had to face it all over again with my father.
"Ready?" Natsu asked, softly.
"I don't know," I replied as I got out of the van. Natsu followed me inside and we walked over to the elevator. When we arrived to his floor, I felt frozen. I was about to see my dying father, and the realization was suddenly hitting me harder than it ever had today. That's when I felt a hand take mine. I looked down to see Natsu's fingers intertwine with me.
"I'm here. Now let's go see him," Natsu led me out of the elevator and down the hall to my father's room. I was too overwhelmed to speak, or to even let go of his hand. I hadn't felt this helpless since my mother had passed away. If Natsu wasn't here, I doubt I would've even been able to make it to my father's room. As we approached his door, tears began welling my eyes again.
"It will be okay," Natsu said. I nodded slowly as he led me in to the room. I let go of his hand as I approached the sleeping figure of my father, Natsu hanging back by the door.
"Dad, it's me," I said softly as I approached him. I took his hand in mine, trying to fight the tears filling my eyes. His eyes slowly opened, and I almost broke down at the weak gaze in them.
"Sweetheart, you're here," My father's voice came out a weak rasp.
"I came as soon as the doctor called," I said, smiling softly at him. He noticed the tears in my eyes, and with his free hand, he slowly wiped a few of my tears away.
"Don't cry, princess. Whatever happens was meant to," My father smiled weakly at me. I nodded, trying my best to smile through the tears. That's when my father noticed Natsu. He beckoned for him to come closer.
"You're the boy that was with her last time," My father said as Natsu approached. Natsu nodded, his expression unreadable. Was he thinking about his own parents right now?
"What is your name?" My father asked, his voice beginning to waver more. I felt my heart break watching him slowly weaken.
"Natsu, sir," Natsu spoke softly, an almost melancholy feeling in his voice. I was surprised when my father reached his other hand towards Natsu, wanting him to take it. My father usually hated guys that hung around me, but perhaps that didn't matter in his final moments. Natsu eyed my father's hand for a moment, before slowly moving his own to take it.
"Well Natsu, thank you for accompanying my daugther up here twice. She seems to have found good friend in you," My father smiled weakly at Natsu. I smiled as I watched them.
"She did, sir. She is a great person," Natsu said, looking at me briefly.
"Just promise me that you will look after her when I am gone," I saw my father squeeze Natsu's hand slightly. Never had I thought that I would see the day when my father entrusted my well being to a guy.
"I promise," Natsu said. My father smiled weakly again as he let go of Natsu's hand. I glanced at Natsu, his gaze still unreadable as he glanced at the floor. What was he thinking about right now?
"I love you, sweetheart. I am sorry for everything I did after your mother died," My father turned to me. Tears were flowing from both of our eyes now.
"No. I am sorry that I wasn't a better daughter. I love you too, Dad," I rested my forehead on his, both of us closing our eyes.
"At least I will get to see your mother again," My father said, his voice barely a whisper at this point. I was about to respond when my father began to cough violently, his hand leaving mine.
"Dad!" I cried out as his body wracked with more and more coughs. The machine he was hooked to began beeping violently.
"Doctor! We need a doctor in here!" I began running to the door.
"No, stop," I turned as I heard my father speak.
"We both know they won't be able to help. I love you, never forget that," My father said as his eyes began to close. I ran back over to him, taking his hand in mine once more. I fell in to a rack of sobs as my father sunk back in to his bed, his breathing becoming more and more shallow. My heart then stopped as I heard the machine flat line. My father's grip loosened as the final breath left his body. I immediately lost it. Tears were pouring out of my eyes as I clutched my father's lifeless hand close to my chest. He couldn't be gone. He just couldn't. This had to be a bad dream. I tried convincing myself of that, but to no avail.
"I'm sorry," I looked up as Natsu spoke. He was standing a few feet away, his arms open for a hug. Not caring about it in the moment, I let go of my father's hand and ran over to Natsu, throwing my arms around him. His arms slowly curled around me.
"He just can't be gone!" I cried in to Natsu's chest. He said nothing, just holding me as I cried. This couldn't even be real. First my mother, and now my father. Why did life seem to take away the people I loved the most.
"This just has to be a fucking nightmare!" I screamed into Natsu's chest, my tears soaking his shirt. I felt his grip around me tighten slightly, but he remained silent. From the corner of my eye, I saw some of the medical staff enter as they began unplugging the machines. I closed my eyes and buried my face further into Natsu's chest, unable to watch them wheel my father away.
Natsu's POV
I had just witnessed Lucy's father pass away, and I honestly had no words. I had seen many people die, but this time was different. He had told me I was a good friend to Lucy and asked me to look out for her. The least I could do for him and Lucy would be to honor his last wish. I held Lucy as she sobbed, unsure of what to say. We stood there for a good ten minutes or so before Lucy let go of me.
"Can we just go home?" Her voice shook as she spoke. I nodded as she began heading for the door. I followed after her. As we entered the hallway, a doctor walked up to us.
"I apologize for bothering you when you just had a loss, but I wanted to speak to you. We are sending your father's body to the local morgue, and the coroner gave me some documents. They just ask if you wish to bury your father or have him cremated," The doctor spoke to Lucy, holding out the documents to her. Lucy didn't move however, just continued to stare at the floor. I felt bad, she was probably too emotional right now to speak.
"Ms. Heartfilia?" The doctor asked. When Lucy remained silent and still, I took the documents from the doctor's hands.
"Thank you, Doctor," I said. The doctor nodded as he turned back the way he had came. I shook my head. I know he was just doing his job but he could've just mailed the documents to Lucy instead of barraging her minutes after her father had died. I looked back at Lucy.
"Let's go," I said softly. She nodded, following me to the elevator. She remained silent the whole ride down and the entire ride home. I didn't blame her though. I could understand how she was feeling to an extent, but I had never seen both of my parents die right in front of me. I didn't even know how to help her.
We arrived to warehouse a few hours later. Lucy had fallen asleep, and I didn't want to wake her. I quietly opened her door and lightly grabbed her as I picked her up in my arms. I carried her though the warehouse, ignoring everyone's questions as I took her to my room. Shutting the door behind us, I sat Lucy down on the bed. Pulling a blanket over her, I walked over to the recliner and began playing a game on my phone, trying to get my mind off today's sad events. After about thirty minutes or so, Lucy began to stir.
"Natsu?" I looked over as Lucy's eyes opened. They were all red and puffy from the crying today.
"Hey," I said, sliding my phone in to my pocket.
"Would you come lay with me?" Lucy asked. My eyes widened.
"Are you sure?" I asked. I knew we were friends, but that was more relationship type stuff wasn't it? And as cool as Lucy was, I knew I didn't feel that way about her.
"Normally I would never ask, but having you close has helped today," I nodded, understanding what she meant. She wasn't Trying to be romantic; she just needed a friend. I walked over to bed, laying down beside her. She rolled over and faced me.
"Sorry you had to see all that today," Lucy said. I shook my head.
"Friends are there for each other right?" My eyes locked with Lucy's. She nodded as she smiled weakly at me.
"I just don't know what to do now that he is gone," Lucy sniffled.
"I wish I knew what to say," I replied. I was never good in these types of situations.
"I don't think there is anything you could say. But you were here for me today, so thank you," Lucy said, smiling weakly at me again. I smiled softly back at her. We stared at each other in silence, just staring in to each others eyes. I was just noticing, that even though they were red and puffy, Lucy still had beautiful eyes. I don't know why, but I began to think of the night she had drunkenly kissed me. And I also don't know why, but my eyes trailed down to her lips for a second. Maybe it was the heat of the moment, or the fact that I didn't know how to comfort her, but I slowly began moving my lips towards hers. What I was doing? Why couldn't I stop myself? Lucy's eyes widened as she realized what I was doing. She began to open her mouth to protest but that is when my lips caught hers. She lied still for a moment before she kissed me back. This was a completely different kiss from the other night. Her lips didn't taste like alcohol but they were still warm. So this is how she kissed sober? I was not disappointed. Why was I doing this though? And why was I enjoying it? Too lost on everything, my tongue slowly slid between her lips, eliciting a gasp from the blonde. My tongue explored hers, neither of us pulling away. I didn't even know what I was doing anymore. But, I knew we had stop before we did something we would both regret. Slowly, I pulled my face sway from hers. Her eyes opened, looking at me with confusion.
"What was that about?" Lucy asked. Her tone was confused, but not angry.
"Sorry, I don't know what came over me. I think I was just caught up in the heat of the moment," I said, brushing it off. That had to be it. Just the heat of the moment. I knew I didn't have those kind of feelings for Lucy. We had just become friends after all.
"Oh, well okay. Just don't do it again," Lucy eyed me seriously.
"Noted," I said. I had no plans on doing that again. I still don't really know why I did it in the first place.
"I should head home," Lucy said as she got up from the bed. I nodded as I sat up.
"See you later Natsu. Thanks for looking out for me today," Lucy said as she headed for the door.
"No problem," I said. She smiled softly at me before exiting the room. I sighed as I threw myself back on the bed. Way to go Natsu, you probably just made things even more complicated than they already were. Why the hell had I done that? I knew that my feelings for Lucy were only friendship. I was certain of that. So why had I kissed her? It was because she needed comfort right? It had to have been from just all the shock and sadness we had been feeling today right?
"God why is this so fucking confusing?" I shouted at the ceiling. Lucy and I were friends and nothing more. I had to make sure to never do anything like that again. I finally had a friend I could trust and the last thing I needed was to make her uncomfortable by doing stupid things. Today had just been a whirlwind of emotions and we were both just caught up in the moment. I just needed to forget about it and relax. Sighing, I got up from the bed. I began stripping my clothes off, deciding to take a nice, long shower. I stepped in and let the hot water run down my body. This is just what I needed. Watching her father pass away had made me think about my father. I wonder if he was even still alive, and if he was, then where the hell he could be. I shook my head. Stop Natsu. Don't waste your thoughts on a man who abandoned you 22 years ago. My life was better without him in it. After spending some time in the shower, I turned the water off and grabbed a town. Wrapping it around my waist, I walked back in to my room. As I did, I noticed the scarf Lucy had bought me hanging on the rack. Seeing it got me to thinking; I should get Lucy something nice or take her out for a fun day to help get her mind off today. I should've just suggested that instead of randomly kissing her. She probably thinks I am some fucking weirdo now. Ugh Natsu, why are you still thinking about this? Just focus on being there for Lucy. Because that is what good friends do.
A/N: And that is a wrap. Drop a review and let me know your thoughts! See you soon!
