It's been awhile but here it is! The final chapter. Hopefully, I've done your expectations justice. May the fluffly NaLu commence!
This time when Lucy woke up, she was in her own bed, curled up on her side. She saw Happy was curled up beside her chest, making her smile softly. She leaned back only to collide with someone's chest.
She looked down to see a tanned arm fastened securely against her waist. She twisted so she could better see who it was, and to affirm her own suspicions. There Natsu was, his head near the crook of her neck, strands of his pink hair entangling with her own blonde.
Lucy held in a yelp as Natsu tugged her closer towards him, snuggling his face in her neck. "Lucy," he muttered in his sleep. His nose was tickling her neck and Lucy felt his hand go dangerously low. So despite how peaceful the fire dragon slayer and blue exceed looked, Lucy couldn't help but let out a scream.
Natsu immediately jerked awake, ready for any danger. He tore off the covers and jumped off, in his battle pose, with flaming fists. When he didn't see anything, he looked back at her confused.
"What were you doing, in my bed, with me!?" Lucy shrieked as Happy yawned and rubbed his eyes. "So loud," he whined, sleepiness evident in his voice.
Natsu looked like he was about to agree before catching sight of Lucy's death glare. "Lucy, you were who didn't want me to go," he protested when her anger didn't diminish. Lucy wasn't fooled in the slightest.
"Oh really?" She questioned as she sat on her knees, putting a hand on her hip and leaned forward. Natsu gulped. "How did I do that?" He backed away from her and wouldn't look her in the eye.
"Y-you were holding on to my vest and wouldn't let go when I put you down," he stammered. Lucy blinked not having expected his answer. Natsu saw his chance. "Yeah, that's right. Here I was, letting you sleep and you yell at me as soon as you wake up?"
Lucy narrowed her eyes. "Not so fast. I didn't wake up holding on to your vest. You should've left as soon as I let go."
Natsu pouted. "Well… Happy and I fell asleep too. It was pretty boring sitting there, watching you sleep."
"Aye," Happy chimed in. "You aren't that attractive while you sleep y'know Lucy."
Lucy felt the rage build up inside of her, but before she could kick them out, she heard Natsu mutter "I thought she looked pretty." Lucy lost all her anger at once as she stared at Natsu in utter disbelief.
"You what?" She croaked out, unable to trust her own ears.
Natsu looked bewildered. "I what?"
"You think I look pretty?" Natsu vehemently denied having said any such thing, but Lucy could see a blush on his face. Her heart started pounding faster and faster. Natsu cocked his head to one side, as if he were listening.
"Why's your heart beating so fast Lucy?" He asked softly.
"I-I," Lucy paused seeing Happy looking at the two of them curiously. Instinctively she knew that this was a conversation that she and Natsu needed to have by themselves. She glanced back at Natsu to see that he had come to the same conclusion.
They had a brief argument trying to decide who would ask Happy to leave for a bit, when the Exceed took matters into his own paws.
"I get it. You two want to talk alone, so I'll leave. But you both owe me a lot of fish," Happy bargained. "Not together either. Separately."
"Done," Natsu and Lucy said simultaneously. "Extra if you don't tell Mira," Lucy bargained. Lucy didn't know exactly what was going to happen between her and Natsu but she did know that she didn't want the demon barmaid meddling in it. Whether this talk would lead to something or not, Lucy wanted to keep it to herself.
Happy gave her a thumbs up before he flew out the window. It spoke to how frazzled Lucy was, considering she didn't even try to yell at Happy to use the door. Once he was gone, Lucy turned back to Natsu and stared at him. She stared for so long that he began to fidget under her scrutiny.
"Lucy," he began when it was clear that he couldn't take anymore silence. Lucy kept her gaze on him as she slid off the bed and walked closer, inch by inch. She was acting much braver than she felt. It took all the courage she had to keep going, until there was less than a foot of distance between them.
"What was going on with you, when I was in Juvia's body?" Lucy asked as she peered into his face. His eyes grew dark as he continued looking at her. "You said you would talk later. So talk."
"Is that really what you want to talk about?" Natsu asked, a fierce look on his face.
"I do," Lucy stepped even closer, if that was possible. Inwardly she was shaking, but she had to do this. She was so certain she was right. And if she didn't do it now, she might never get another chance. "Be honest with me, Natsu."
He sighed before looking her in the eye. "I was jealous."
Lucy blinked in surprise as her jaw went slack. "Jealous? Of what?"
"Of Gray," Natsu shot back. Lucy couldn't understand the logic. Wordlessly, she told him to explain. Natsu raked his hand through his hair looking frustrated. She wasn't going to let him just ignore his emotions though. They were going to talk about it, she would ensure it.
"Juvia was hanging all over Gray!"
"Which she always does, I don't understand. Why would Juvia showing how much she likes Gray bother you?" Lucy's mind was spinning. It was as if she couldn't comprehend anything at all. What was Natsu getting at?
"Because she looked like you!" He blurted out loudly. He stopped before softly adding, "And I couldn't help but imagine that it actually was you. That you were the one who liked Gray. She also sounded and smelled like you, which really didn't help."
Lucy's breath caught in her throat. Her heart was beating so fast that she could hear it. She stepped closer to Natsu again, now sure of what it all meant. A small smile was beginning to form as she asked "And why would that bother you?"
Natsu looked at the lack of space in between them and up at her. He seemed to understand what was happening because he put his arms around her to bring her right up against him.
"It would bother me because I like you. A lot." He was staring at her face so intently. A large grin bloomed on Lucy's face even as the blush on her face got deeper. "I like you too."
It was Natsu's turn to grin. He leaned in slowly, checking her reaction as he did. He stopped an inch away, and Lucy leaned in the rest of the way herself. It was a chaste kiss, soft and Lucy could feel the affection from Natsu towards her. She hoped he could too.
He pulled away much too soon, leaving Lucy feeling a bit dazed. Natsu was grinning at her so brightly, it made her heart hurt. She put a hand on his cheek. "There is no way I could ever like anyone more than I like you. Not now, not ever," she told him seriously.
Natsu's smile was so wide it could break his face. "Me too. You're it." Before she could tease him for how eloquently he put it, he was kissing her again.
Lucy could talk later, this was much better. They crashed down on her bed as they kissed.
"Guess this is one change you're okay with," she couldn't help but mutter against his lips.
"I've been hoping for this change. I'm prepared," he muttered back before pouncing on her. Lucy began to laugh as he tickled her as she reached to tickle him back. They lay there, laughing,cuddling and kissing before they fell asleep again. This time, even more entangled with one another together, blissful smiles on their faces.
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