Rocking gently back and forth is my house above people's heads, I am visited by many creatures day and night that find feed in heart and take shelter in my tree.
Songbirds sung lightly to the tune of the air whilst squirrels chattered loudly complaining about the cold winter. Underneath the pale blue sky, the wind danced calmly through the canopy of leaves that sheltered the Dragneel household.
The window to the room Lucy stayed in was slightly cracked and she was tucked under the covers as her beautiful blonde locks moved in the breeze that was allowed in by a visitor (Natsu) an hour ago, the same one who tucked her in so she could enjoy waking up in the still cool weather.
The truth was she had only returned to dreamland a few minutes ago, waking early afraid that Natsu had already left to go get his things together and finalize things. The reason she was so worried was that when he left in the morning he probably wouldn't come back till late at night then he would sleep and fly out the first thing next morning.
She wouldn't get to see him all day then she would miss him for a year and a half more after that and that was something she knew she couldn't take, if they departed from each other like that, but then what lingered on her mind was the fact that the trip would be rigorous and life threatening at times.
Lucy's hairs shifted on her forehead when another gentle breeze blew through the Egyptian blue curtains and flew over tickling her ears and waking her up, she opened her chocolate eyes that looked almost hazel with the new light she was bathing in.
Lucy sat up on the bed so the sun wasn't staring into her eyes anymore when she was startled by the room that wasn't hers until she remembered where she was, it made her feel at peace and then slightly stressed when she thought about Natsu and her upcoming ordeal.
A sweet aroma of coffee and a mix of teas followed by breakfast muffins and eggs made its way to Lucy's nose and entered her stomach making it shiver with hunger and slight delight. She heard a knock on the door when the food smell still wasn't enough to get her out of her burrow in the comfy blanket. ''Lucy?''
She heard her name falling like honey from Grandine's lips she who had a naturally calm and sweet voice. ''Yes,'' she answered quickly jumping from the bed and opening the brown wooden door. ''I thought you might want to take a shower so I brought this outfit for you.'' Grandine initiated a 'No! it's okay thank you' and 'but I want you to have this' fight a common one nice and courteous people often had when offered things. ''It would make me happy,'' Grandine said ultimately winning and handing her the outfit.
Lucy smiled sweetly to herself wallowing in her soft and happy thoughts while warm water caressed her and mingled with soap suds in the shower taking with them a day's impurities, Grandine had slipped a small bottle of vanilla cake shampoo into the bundle of clothes and Lucy enjoyed it and its soft smell that was much like how she was feeling at the time.
Lucy looked at herself in the mirror, the fact that Grandine had seen her dark circles made her give up on concealing her lack of sleep with BB cream.
She twirled in the light pink dress and felt refreshed in her white pants that she brushed twice only noticing now that her nails matched with her cute top that was adorned with small yellow palm trees. When she finally made her way out of the bathroom still dripping, she found Wendy timidly knocking at the door meaning to wake her for breakfast. ''Oh I'm already up.''
She said innocently scaring the girl nearly out of her skin. ''Don't sneak up on Wendy like that!'' Natsu said sending them both flying from his sudden appearance, he wore a cheeky smile on his face satisfied with his work. ''Are you actually a ghost or do I not notice you?'' Lucy smacked his shoulder when she regained her wits.
''You just don't notice me..'' he pouted bending down to her height and putting on a puppy dog face making Lucy weak in her heart. 'I always notice you' she thought petting his short haircut affectionately.
Wendy watched the two not knowing what to do as they blocked the way back to the kitchen, she blushed like she was watching a romantic movie and a kiss scene was coming up, it looked that way especially when Natsu looked mesmerized with her and his plump lips were slightly parted. Gray wondered why the two were so blind to each other's love when he came to call all three of them before Igneel started to yell, ''Where is Natsu?!''
Lucy took a big bite out of an apple breakfast muffin and watched Natsu intently, she wanted to go out and walk around with him until the day was over never knowing when he would up and disappear but he surprisingly took his time munching on food and drinking the hot blueberry tea his mother offered him.
''Lucy we should go shopping sometime,'' Grandine cut through the sound of plates and forks. ''We should, shouldn't we?'' Lucy smiled sweetly going back to her Chai tea that was starting to cool off. 'How am I gonna stay focused when he is away?' Lucy blew her thoughts over the steam of her cup. 'You have to do the best you can.'
''Luce let's go.'' Natsu's voice cuts into her thoughts. ''Huh?'' he was walking toward the door. ''Oh I'm coming.'' she sat her cup down and grabbed her purse making a dash to catch up with him and his darned long legs. ''What are you doing?'' she asked Natsu who was kneeling by the front door.
''Putting on my shoes am I gonna leave the house bare footed?'' Lucy felt her face get hot with embarrassment simply because the whole family was watching the two and their every move. She knelt by him and fastened the buckle of her little black shoes that didn't fit well with her outfit anymore.
''You didn't have to say that out loud..'' she whispered into his red ears sitting beside him, unknowingly hyping the whole family who swore to scream if she kissed him. ''Now I'm embarrassed, you're responsible for this.'' Natsu's ears glowed red from the combination of cold and Lucy's close lips sending warm air into his ticklish ears. He stood up and handed her a piece of chewy ginger candy as an apology for embarrassing her.
''Bye-Bye!'' Gray called from upstairs gathering his school books prompting the rest of the family to send farewells out of the door. ''I'll visit when I can!'' Lucy called inside before closing the door and quickly turning to follow Natsu and his bothersome long strides.
'I've learned to love you with all my heart' Lucy caught up to Natsu and jumped onto his back. ''Huh?!'' ''Before you go away I want you to carry me one more time.'' 'I'm saying goodbye and trying not to cry, this is my way.'
Lucy smiled through her thoughts and jumped again to be received by Natsu's strong hands. Natsu adjusted her onto his back and continued walking through the melting snow and the damp early morning that shook its leaves just enough to dump its dew onto Lucy's still wet hair that swung against Natsu's neck alerting him of the fact to which he let her down much to her protest.
Grandine watched the whole scene from the porch, filled with a mix of sadness that her son would be leaving soon but also happiness that he had found someone he clearly loved with all his heart. ''Luce keep still you could catch a cold again.'' He took off his red jacket and dried her wet locks making sure not to miss the nape of her neck.
Lucy wiggled in her shoes eager to get back on Natsu's back and go wherever he was going. ''Patience! why do you want to ride on my back that bad?'' ''For old time's sake.'' When he was done Natsu picked up the now squealing girl and let her climb onto his back and hold the wet jacket, so they could make their way down the street. ''My nails are the same color as your hair.''
Lucy randomly piped up making Grandine who was going into the house giggle at her loud randomness. ''Where are we going?'' ''To Fairy Hills, I want to go to the Dentist, get my things and say goodbye to Jude.'' ''Oh.'' she breathed into the cold open air tightening her embrace on Natsu's neck. ''Are you going to strangle me?'' he asked jokingly. ''I should,'' she said placing her nose into his hair and snorting his clean scent up like a drug.
''Why do you that every time? that is so weird.'' 'To show you that you're mine.' she thought to herself through a soft gaze. ''Are you an animal then?'' he asked as if he could hear her thoughts scaring her a bit. '' 'I have to learn to live half alive don't I Luce? at least until I return.' ''What do you think Jude is doing right now?'' Natsu asked out loud. ''Either he is sleeping, eating or thinking.'' ''Wow you made him seem pretty lazy.''
''He kind of is..'' Lucy giggled thinking of her father's habits. ''I think he is pretty cool especially when he is concentrating on something,'' Natsu said putting Lucy down again as they were already at the train station. 'Good times always pass me by unfairly whilst hard times last longer than anything else.'
''Already? we just started talking, though.'' Lucy smiled at Natsu but if you could see through a human you would see her heart speeding up with anxiety. ''You will be alright Lucy,'' Natsu said giving her shoulder a squeeze and slowing her heart to a safe pace. ''I hope so,'' she murmured to herself through the bustling voices of early people taking the train to various destinations. Lucy stepped onto the train with Natsu spotting the same old lady from the first train ride who in turn spotted her as well when she took a seat.
''You-'' the old lady began but stopped wondering why the two young ones were so sad looking today, though their fashion was brighter this time around. Before Lucy could even register it she and Natsu were stepping down the path to Fairy hills and turning the two separate keys to their opposite apartments.
Time will surely bring you right back into my arms and there I will hold and treasure you even longer my dear.
''Why are you going in there?'' Lucy asked opening her door and letting Plue and Jude out. ''The dog likes me now,'' Jude said excitedly before realizing the dull atmosphere in the hallway when he picked the white puppy up. ''My other things are in this apartment,'' Natsu said quietly stepping into his original place. Lucy watched him step into the dark apartment and then followed him out of sheer curiosity, the place was pitch black with only small rays of light rained through the dark curtains inside of the semi-empty apartment.
When the duo walked around they stirred up the previously resting dust, Lucy stood absolutely still like she wasn't allowed into his residence and had snuck in, watching him pick up the heavy and completely full luggage that rested in the middle of his living room.
Seeing him holding the bag over his arm really made it feel like he was going away quicker. ''Where are you going?'' Jude called to Natsu who only looked into Lucy's sad eyes and felt her heartbreaking stares in his soul. ''I've gotta go overseas tomorrow,'' he answered Jude but it was like he was begging Lucy to break her eye contact which she did because if she peered any longer she would begin to cry though she wouldn't be the only one.
'Take me with you I don't care where we'll go, my home is wherever you are.' she wanted to say though she couldn't because she knew he would reject that notion. ''You're leaving so soon?'' ''I thought you would stay a little longer than that.'' Jude hugged Plue closely who was currently occupied with attacking his fingers. ''Yeah, my plans keep changing.'' Natsu carried his heavy bag to Lucy's apartment to gather his other things.
''Why do you have so many things you have to take?'' Jude asked the question Lucy was just starting to wonder about. ''We will have to share our supplies and we don't know if we will have a chance to collect new materials in the impoverished places we will go to help.'' ''Oh! that makes sense.'' Lucy sat on the couch watching Natsu walk back and forth grabbing things she didn't even know where there thinking about how good Natsu was at keeping things from her. Jude got bored with the back and forth and ran into his room to play with Plue and fail to teach him tricks while bribing him with treats.
''I'll miss the feeling,'' she whispered catching his attention on purpose. ''What feeling?'' he walked into their shared room to get something before returning to hear her answer. ''I used to feel like I was walking on clouds every day.'' Natsu didn't know what to say so he just nodded his head. ''N-Natsu why didn't you just tell me you were leaving?'' ''I did not want you to feel scared the entire time.'' ''I wanted you to seek help before I told you but the timing wasn't right.'' replied to her tiny love confession, he truly someone who had to be told they were loved or he wouldn't realize it.
Natsu knelt by Lucy's knees looking up at her while she lowered her head trying to escape his endearing gaze, he took her hands and she looked up just enough to make eye contact with him. ''Luce you do know, I won't be able to talk to you during that time?'' ''Yes I do.'' ''Are you going to stay strong?'' ''Yes I will.'' he cleared his throat and she raised her voice repeating her her earlier conviction. ''Yes I will stay strong and not give in!''
Natsu raised one hand and caressed the top of her head before taking her smaller hands in his hands again shaking them gently. ''I want to say all the things I won't be able to now.'' ''I'll begin with happy birthday, Luce! Can't believe we're already twenty-one.'' Lucy began to sniff as it would help soothe her heart and stop her tears from festering. ''hmm what else oh..good morning, good evening, and good night.''
he gave her hands a gentle squeeze and his gaze softened more trying to find her hiding eyes. ''You look beautiful today,'' he said it three times which he thought should be enough for the days to come. ''Don't skip meals and drink a lot of water, don't miss exercising.'' ''hmm what else do I want to say?'' he was interrupted by Lucy's tears falling on their intertwined hands, he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs whispering, ''Shh shh it's okay.'' Natsu stood up letting go of her hands to ruffle her hair with both of his hands,
''Can't forget to mess up your hair.'' he giggled trying to stop her low crying. ''I definitely can't forget to hug you..come here.'' she jumped at his offer and fluttered into his arms that wrapped around her tightly. ''Mhmm.'' he breathed a blissful sigh bending his legs slightly to hug her properly. ''It's gonna be alright.'' he rocked her from side to side resting his chin on her shoulder.
'I'm going to miss my red face and the feeling of walking on clouds when I leave you.' 'I want to hold you in my arms longer and tell you I love you, but I'm starting to feel this is a beautiful but false hope.' thoughts like this flooded Natsu's mind while he held her close because honestly his heart suffered and was weaker than his body, he too cried sometimes..he was only human and this was killing him slowly but sweetly.
''So now Lucy I'm going to go to the hospital for my last appointments and a dental cleaning, then the rest of the day is ours.'' he smiled breaking the hug. ''Oh and I need to stop at one more place before then.'' ''Okay.'' Lucy liked that promise even though she was planning on following him around all day, he seemed to be done with gathering everything.
Natsu walked out the door leaving his things with Lucy and telling her the rest of his huge team might show up to get his things. ''If Laxus is a part of the group then let him take my things, he'll load up the first van with our things.'' ''The first van?'' ''Yep a whole lot of us are going including teachers and the sort.'' ''Us doctors won't be the only ones.'' he smiled at her one more time and she returned his gesture by scrunching her nose cutely. ''Ciao! I'll be back in about two hours.'' ''Kay bye Natsu.'' she closed the door thinking. 'Well, it's only 7:10 AM so I can spare him two hours.'
As soon as he was out the door, an imaginary gateway opened up and freaky things started to seep through coming for her. ''Papa!'' she called for Jude in a slightly shrill voice breaking him away from the puppy while she was standing on the coffee table to delay the monsters grabbing her feet. The reason they showed up this time was because she was anxious now if she would only remain calm like when she took showers or did something relaxing they wouldn't appear so often.
''Yes bear?'' he called back with a voice full of sleep that seemed to scare her demons away. ''Why are you always sleeping!?'' ''I'm old! let me live.'' he yawned walking into the living room, Lucy still on the table arguing with him like it was the most normal thing in the world.
''What is this are you having a one-man party?'' he gestured at the table and the girl on top of it. ''You messed up my kitchen.'' she quickly changed the subject and Jude ran away. ''Seriously!'' she sighed scrubbing the counter tops clean of some sticky, saucy, substance after making sure she put Natsu's scarf into his bag. 'I never realized this house was so messy.' 'The Dragneel's house was my wake-up call.' Lucy hummed the tune to the song 'Build me up buttercup' for the thousandth time thinking of Natsu. ''How many times have I heard that tune Lu? you're driving your father mad.'' Jude complained sweeping the living room.
''If I don't drive myself crazy first, its been in my head for a week now.'' Jude turned Frank Sinatra's Fly me to the moon' on Lucy's record player while playing around with a duster. ''I love this song.'' Lucy swung her hips to the swing of the instruments while cleaning the fridge out and wondering where Natsu was at the moment. ''In other words, I love you.'' she sang along with the lyrics before laughing out loud at her father's imitation. ''Stop it!'' she laughed to which he replied with the lyric. ''Let me sing ever more.'' as the song began to come to an end.
Lucy wondered when Natsu would be back though he had been gone only ten minutes before her father busted into her thoughts with an unnecessary high note that sent her off her rails laughing 'I love you both too much'.
Your place is in my heart while my place should be in yours, You are responsible for most of my happiest moments and the reason I breathe easily every morning.
Chapter End~
I'm so sorry for being late with this chapter as I have been and still am sick. Every night I feel better but when I wake up in the mornings I am sicker than before.
(My family doesn't seem to believe in going to the hospital often, ironic huh?'
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please ignore my mistakes.
-Peace