Hey Everyone!

I'm getting excited that I'm almost to a 5th of the way through. It is going to be quite the project, but when it is finished I'll feel really accomplished I'm sure. Also, I'm not going to lie, this chapter kind of got away from me. I had something else planned for Natsu's part but it just wasn't working as I was writing so I decided to go where the story was taking me. It works, but it is definitely an angle I never thought of before. Anyway, hope you enjoy! Feel free to comment or review.

- Singed

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

Lucy

Lucy sat back down with a cookie and munched for a minute, thinking of what she needed to write next. The sun was backlighting the buildings across from her window and it turned the world orange, just like Natsu's fire. She smiled as she thought of all the times Natsu would start a fire for her on those cold nights while on the road, or when he'd warm the air around her if she even showed the slightest shiver. She didn't even think he was aware of doing this, but who knows, maybe he was. It was always difficult to tell with him.

Her memories lead from one to another and soon they landed on one that was not her own. It was created from the descriptions of both Erza and Natsu's accounts of what happened at the Tower of Heaven in the battle with Jellal. It was flashes of images she created from their stories. Natsu charging in as he always does. Erza being in more danger than she'd ever been before. Natsu eating the pure etherion, and then that massive explosion. She had been so sure that no one could have survived that. She had felt her heartbreak, but Happy had needed comforting and reassurance and so she agreed with him that she was sure he was alive.

Then miraculously, he was. He and Erza both.

"Humph," she laughed and shook her head, picking up her quill once more and turning to the parchment.

Piece Seven - Your Comfort

Letter 7

Natsu,

The first time I realized just how lucky you were was the Tower of Heaven incident. Man, that was crazy. Of course, ever since then all our bigger than average adventures have just gotten crazier. But I think it was that fight that showed me just how indestructible you were and how much I could count of you if you considered me a friend, which you obviously did.

That was also the first time I actually saw Erza as human. It's funny, even then I could tell that her heart only beats for Jellal, but I couldn't figure out why. How could she still harbor feelings for him after what he'd done? Sure, she hated him to an extent, but love is like that. It can so easily turn to hate, given the chance and correct circumstances. But in the end, love won out, for both of them. She couldn't kill Jellal and he couldn't just let her die either. At least that is Erza's theory. She thinks that Jellal was the one who got her out of that tower by switching places with her. If I ever get a chance to ask him, I will.

Then there was you. Other than being a little beat-up and exhausted, you were the same old Natsu. For just a moment, I wondered if there was something between you and Erza, but it only lasted for a day. It soon hit me that you two were brother and sister, not lovers. For some reason, I remember feeling immense relief. I think my crush was still around.

It's funny how we went to that resort to relax and escape, but we didn't get that until we were back in Magnolia. Well, I didn't. A day after returning, I remember feeling how absolutely exhausted I was. I was ready for bed and no one was going to stop me. When I scooted under the covers, I remember thinking how nice and toasty it was. I almost fell asleep when I grabbed your scarf.

I was so mad! How long had you been there and how could you think it was appropriate to sleep in my bed! I started yelling as usual, but you slept right through it. Happy didn't and that was when he told me about the Miss Fairy Tail contest and how you had been sick since eating the etherion. It made me pause and I could feel my anger drifting. I had been gone for dinner. It was perfectly possible that you had come by to see me while I wasn't home and then fell asleep while you waited. But couldn't you have chosen the couch?

Anyway, I sent Happy home and he flew off without protest. I'll confess that I tried to move you to my couch, but you were so heavy! All that muscle and hardheadedness made you weigh a ton. So, I took the couch, for like ten seconds. I just couldn't get comfortable. So, I walked back over to the bed and gazed at you. You looked so peaceful and you were sleeping so well that I just remember sighing and climbed back in with you. I was sure I'd wake up before you and if you'd ask, I'd say that I slept on the couch.

I was just drifting off when one of your arms snaked around my waist. For a moment, I thought you were awake and trying to take advantage of the situation, but no. You were still snoring away. I figured that you had just unconsciously bent to my warmth. Once I got used to your arm, I drifted off faster than I had in years.

The next morning, when I awoke, you were still sound asleep as I'd hoped. I climbed out of bed and made my way to the bathroom and then the kitchen. I figured that the smell of food would wake you. Sure enough, you showed up just before the eggs were done.

"Man I'm starving!"

"The eggs will be done in a moment."

"Yeah. Take your time. Hey, by the way, sorry I fell asleep in your bed last night. I wanted to hang out but you were gone and I guess I just went to sleep."

"Just don't expect too many more favors. Breaking into my place and taking my bed and now eating my food," I said while dropping the plate of eggs and toast in front of you.

"Yeah, sorry about that! But man Lucy, your bed is so comfortable. It was the best sleep I've had in a long time." I just ate my own breakfast along with you and shooed you off as I prepared for Miss Fairy Tail. I had to win it! I needed the rent money something awful. It was as I was making the bed though, that something hit me. My bed is comfortable, that much is true, but you weren't the only one who had slept better that night. The only difference was that I couldn't use the bed as an excuse. I shook off the thought and marched to the door. But looking back on it, I realize that I just found you comforting. Not only did you make me feel safe, but you felt comfortable around me, which in turn made me comfortable.

Since then, you've snuck into my bed more times than I care to remember, but I'll always remember that first night. You had opened up a new chapter to our growing friendship, and you hadn't even been trying.

Love,

Lucy

Lucy sighed as she finished the latest letter and stood to stretch. Three more letters to go and if she were lucky she'd be able to do some reading before bed. Tomorrow she'd have to get up early if she had any hope of finishing her letter quota for the day, but she could do it. Slipping the letter into its envelope, she went to the kitchen for a glass of water and another cookie. She was supposed to be on a diet for the wedding but being stressed always brought out her sweet tooth.

Natsu

Natsu, clean-faced and ready to record his next part, touched the lacrima and cleared his throat.

"Hey Luce, I just realized that what I said in the last part totally set me up for this one. It's awesome when that happens because then I don't have to think as much. Anyway, I guess I need to skip ahead to the whole you saving Loke's butt and the Tower of Heaven incident. They all kind of work together and culminate in one night, so this piece was a slow one."

Piece Seven - Lying for You

"Of course, I will say that I remember that I got kind of jealous when it came to you and Loke. He was always telling you how beautiful you were and how he'd like to be more than just spirit and master. I mean, it's no secret that he has the biggest number in the guild. I knew that you weren't interested, but still, it irked me and I always felt you deserved more than what he was offering."

Natsu's hand curled into a fist for a moment, then uncurled a bit. "It's like what girl really wants to be nothing more than another star in some guys sky? You know that's how he counts right? He'll put a new star in the sky with every new conquest. Some of the girls find it romantic, I just find it … degrading. You deserved to be someone's one and only, someone's sun. Even back then, I knew that much and I was determined to keep you out of his reach. But, he did buy us all those awesome tickets to that resort, and hey, I actually like the guy. You know, when he'd not trying to woo you." Natsu paused for a moment, hoping that he'd just used that word correctly. Woo, it was so weird, but he'd heard it from Lucy plenty of times when she talked about her romance novels, so he figured that it had something to do with all this.

"Anyway, the Tower of Heaven was next and while I wanted you safe, Erza was the one in more danger, so I was a little too preoccupied to keep my eye on you the whole time. I just remember being overly relieved when I realized that you were in that lifeboat out at sea. It allowed me to focus on Erza. She had taught me so much for so long, I had to keep her safe. She guided me since I was a kid and she always had my back. In fact, remind me to give you more details later, but she was the first one to mention to me that we'd make a good couple. I had just waved it off, but I guess she saw something back then."

Natsu sighed. Looking back on it, he kind of wished that he'd taken Erza's advice and tried. From everything Lucy had told him it sounded like he'd had a shot for years. Then again, this timing of asking Lucy two months ago had all worked out. Who knows if it would have worked if he'd tried at any other time.

"Anyway, have you ever done something really stupid, but out of necessity and regretted it later? Well, eating that etherion-filled lacrima was one of my worst instantly regretted mistakes, and that is saying a lot. I didn't let on to the rest of you, but a few days later, when it fully hit my system, I was so, so sick. All I wanted to do was sleep and … well, look we're about to be married, so I guess I can talk about this, but my gas was horrible. It burned, and not in a good way. It felt like my insides were being twisted."

Natsu winced at the memory but charged forward. "Anyway, I remember thinking, in my pained and exhausted state that I just wanted to go and see someone to take my mind off of all that pain. I was on my way to the guildhall when a pounding headache started and I realized I couldn't go somewhere so noisy, so I turned to your place. As long as you didn't yell, your place was always calming and I figured that you would talk to me."

"Of course, when I got there, you were gone. I'd stumbled over to your bed and that was the last thing I remember. It was so comfortable and warm. Best of all it smelled like you. Have I ever told you that you have one of the best scents I've ever smelt? Anyway, I was dead until morning and what a morning it was. I was still tired, but the pain was gone and there was breakfast to be had. Those eggs and toast really hit the spot and I remember feeling a lot more like myself after that. I was maybe halfway down the stairs when it hit me. I reeked of you. I didn't mind that at all, but there was no way I should unless you'd slept next to me. I remember thinking that that was a little weird of you, but I had stolen your bed and it was so comfortable. Could I really blame you?"

"On my way to the guildhall, I passed a lot of merchants and people setting up for the Fantasia Festival. I was excited about all the food and was watching the funnel cake vendor setting up when I saw Loke. He was hitting on some girl who looked and smelt about ready to do whatever Loke asked of her. I just rolled my eyes as I passed and I felt his eyes on me for a second. I turned and looked at him and our eyes met, before he turned back to the girl. I guess he had used his own powers to come to Earthland. Anyway, when our eyes met, I saw a glare of jealousy, but also defeat."

"I thought this weird but didn't have my answer until two days later. After the whole Laxus thing, I was hanging at your house covered from head to toe with bandages. You were cooking me some soup and Happy was retrieving some of our stuff. It had been decided that I needed to stay with someone until I had recovered a little more and there was never any question as to who I would stay with. As I was sitting on the couch, Virgo's head suddenly popped out of nowhere."

"Virgo!"

"Oh, hello Natsu. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you're here. Big brother told me everything."

"Uh? Oh, you mean how Lucy was turned to stone and the battle of Fairy Tail?" I reached from my drink.

"Well, yes that, but also how you two are lovers in the night." I spit it everywhere. I remember having to lie to you later, saying that I spilled it because of all the bandages.

"What?"

"Of course, he popped in to check on Lucy a few nights ago. We take turns since she is so prone to getting herself into trouble. He said he saw you two sleeping together." I just nodded, thinking back to that night. Now it made sense. He thought we were lovers and at least he was a decent enough person to not truly put the moves on you while he thought we were together. I remember opening my mouth to correct her, but suddenly I stopped. If I kept silent Loke would leave you alone. So I changed the subject."

"I didn't realize you could all just pop in like this when you wanted."

"Oh, we can't. Sometimes we can, especially the stronger ones like Loke. No, I'm not actually here." She passed her hand through the coffee table. "This is a projection. We have the ability to do this if we are contracted with someone."

"So does Lucy know about this?"

"No, actually she can't see us."

"What?" As if on cue, you walked in. You walked right through her projection and placed a bowl in front of me.

"I'll be back in a second. I forgot your hot sauce."

"Thanks Luce," I muttered as I watched you leave, right back through Virgo's head.

"She really can't see you. Wait, why can I?"

"I'm not sure. In this form no human should be able to see us. It's because most people would find our watchfulness on the creepy side."

"You're telling me. I'm not sure I like you guys constantly watching her. Especially not Loke and that cow guy."

Virgo just bowed. "It is understandable since you are her lover and both Loke and Taurus have expressed an interest in, as big brother would say, making her see stars as she sings the forbidden song. However, rest assured. We can only check once a day between all of us and only I or one of the other female spirits can check on Lucy if she is in a embarrassing situation. The Celestial King felt that was best." She popped out just as you walked back in and we ate the soup." Natsu smirked and shook his head.

"I never did tell you about that because it kind of freaked me out that I could see her and you couldn't. I also forgot about it for a long time. I also never correct Loke, who thankfully, never mentioned his misinformation to anyone else at the guild, at least not that I can tell. I realize letting him think this was dishonest, but it protected you and I have no regrets. I'll never know if he figured out the truth, but even if he did he obviously thought better of trying to seduce his wizard."

"Anyway Lucy, I have to go." He tapped the lacrima and it went dark. He really didn't and he was just going to kill about ten minutes before recording the next one, but he was already feeling the Lucy kick he was going to get for one, not telling her about the celestial spirit thing all those years ago, and two for letting her spirits think she was his lover. Oh well, that lie would be truth soon enough and if he had to do it all over again, he wouldn't change a thing. Like he'd told Lucy, he liked Loke, but only when Loke's stars didn't include her.