"Do you want him to?"

Levy's question kept popping up on Lucy's mind no matter how much she wanted to forget it.

Did she actually want a boyfriend who made fun of her romantic dreams, who couldn't even dance, or think of asking her out on a date? And instead, asks her to eat out just so he can get free food? Was Levy insane? Why would she want that?

So why couldn't she stop thinking about it?

But Natsu had also been there for her whenever she needed him. He would also get completely emotional when it came to her welfare and he was extremely protective of her.

Well, he was also really protective about everyone in the guild, including being extremely emotional when Erza was in danger.

But he did like to be with her all the time. Unlike Gray and Erza who Natsu also treated as rivals, Natsu didn't even want to fight with Lucy. And yet he always wanted to tag along in her missions and brought her along with his.

But didn't that just mean he felt more responsible for her cause she was weaker than the others in the team?

"Am I not just like Happy then?"

Lucy actually said that out loud. She was walking in the streets back towards her apartment. She looked around feeling embarrassed that someone might have seen her talking to herself.

But there was no one. It was really late at night and the streets were almost empty.

"Why am I even thinking about this?" She berated herself. It wasn't as if she wanted Natsu to be interested in her. She had Ark. She liked Ark.

But she really missed Natsu. Was it too selfish of her to want Natsu as a friend and Ark as a boyfriend?

Since Levy and Gajeel had become an item, Lucy had found her less and less with Jet and Droy. They still did missions together from time to time, but they weren't as close as they were before. Was that really the fate of friendship?

Was she willing to let go of Natsu to be with Ark?

The thought brought so much pain she quickly erased it from her mind. Natsu was... Natsu had been the one to bring her to Fairy Tail. When she thought of when her life really started, she thought of Natsu. Natsu was her beginning.

Then was she giving up on love instead?

Lucy shook her head vehemently to shake away her thoughts. She had bought some books. She was going to read until she got too tired to think about anything.

She finally arrived at the apartment and of course in her bed was a sleeping Natsu.

Well, she couldn't really blame him. She did say she was staying at Levy's. But she had felt guilty that Levy had to change her plans with Gajeel because of her, so she decided to go home. She had stayed a long time in the bookstore to give both guys a chance to leave.

But something was different on the way Natsu slept. He usually was so relaxed when sleeping, with his arms sometimes spread wide open and taking up as much space as he could.

But the Natsu sleeping in her bed had his arms curled into her pillow as if he was holding on to it for dear life.

It made him look so vulnerable that Lucy's heart ached just watching him.

She sat on the bed to get a closer look. The mattress dipped a little as she sat and the movement made Natsu clutch at the pillow tighter, his brows furrowing as if he was concentrating on something.

Lucy wondered if he was dreaming. And if so, what was he dreaming about?

She raised a finger to smooth the furrows on the space between his brows and he seemed to relax at the touch. Lucy smiled as she continued to watch Natsu sleep. He looked so adorable with his eyes closed and his soft pink hair falling into the pillow he was holding.

She couldn't help but touch the soft locks.

This time her touch woke up Natsu. His eyes opened slowly and he seemed a little bit disoriented. "Lucy?"

Lucy blushed that she got caught touching his hair, but she didn't remove her hand. In fact, the childlike gaze he gave her made her brush her hand over his hair instead.

"You can go back to sleep, I'm going to read." She smiled at him.

But Natsu didn't smile back. "You are not leaving, are you?"

Lucy's chest constricted at his words. "No, of course not. Didn't we promise to be together forever?"

This time Natsu gave her the smile she was used to. The smile that always brightened her day. The contented smile, free of cares and worries.

Nothing was resolved. Lucy still didn't how to deal with their relationship on a day to day basis. Natsu still didn't understand how he felt about Lucy and Ark.

But for now, they both understood one thing. They were never going to let go of this bond between them.

Natsu let go of the pillow and suddenly pulled Lucy into his arms. "You smell good." He said with a smile in his voice. "I like holding Lucy."

Lucy had stiffened in surprise when Natsu pulled her into his embrace. She blushed pure crimson at his words. "Na... na... natsu." She had her eyes shut tightly, trying to calm her thumping heart.

Then she heard Natsu softly snore. She opened her eyes one at a time and saw that Natsu had indeed fallen back to sleep. She shook her head in complete amazement.

Well, of course. Typical Natsu.