When I fall down to Earth you always have your arms and hands outstretched waiting to catch me and hold me in your wooden cradle.
''My mouth seriously smells so bad and it's numb,'' Natsu complained to his father over the phone rounding the corner to his family's house. ''Why?'' ''I had to get my teeth scaled.'' ''Oh I can't stand the smell it drives me crazy.'' ''When I was younger the smell made me throw up.'' ''Mm.'' Natsu hummed a reply knocking at the house door citing the end of his phone call. ''You're back?!'' Gray opened the door and Wendy who was actually expecting a friend over flew into his arms. ''Why are you not happy to see me?'' he quirked an eyebrow and plastered on his usual cheeky smile.
''Of course, we already missed you.'' the two chimed. Natsu stepped indoors and explained his reasons. ''I came to get my other things and Lucy left a few things over, also I want to talk to pops.'' ''In her haste to follow you?'' Gray asked for the reason Lucy left her things behind. Natsu walked into the living room thinking about it. 'She makes me so confused, does she like me the same or not?'
''Yeah,'' Natsu patted the cat who ran towards him and patiently waited for him to take him home with him. ''Happy you gotta stay here.'' he petted his head and the cat seemed to understand replying with fond purrs. ''Natsu.'' ''Yes wind?'' he looked up at his little sister who wore a worried expression.''You're gonna come back alright aren't you?'' ''C'mere.'' he extended his arms to bring her into a hug when he noticed Gray with the same look sitting on the steps, ''You come here also.'' Gray ran over eager for this could always be the last time he would see him.
''I'll be alright you two, and I'll try my best to come back in good health.'' he kissed their chubby cheeks lovingly. ''You guys just work hard in your studies until then.'' ''Why can't you call us from over there.'' they inquired about the no communication policy. ''I don't really understand that either, I'll have to ask my team.'' ''But you'll be gone by then..'' Gray frowned earning a wordless smile from his always happy older brother. ''Your breath smells by the way.'' Gray randomly added. ''Wow, you just know all the right words to say don't you?'' Natsu glared and Gray stuck out his tongue retreating upstairs before it got playfully violent.
Next, on his list, Natsu talked to his mother and calmed her worries about him going to deserts and icy lands. ''We can't leave anyone behind Ma, so we have to make a thorough sweep of our assigned areas.'' ''Okay but make sure to be careful wear the masks and beware of used needles,'' she said tearfully handing him a small suitcase she had picked up and filled less than thirty minutes ago. ''I will.'' ''And make sure you wear you jacket when others are cold, even though you don't feel it.'' ''Stay hydrated honey.''
he kissed his mother's face reassuring her and accepting her gift. ''What is this?'' ''I put all your favorite snacks inside of it, you can share them with your team, it's like an emergency energy supply but make sure you eat real food when you can get it.'' ''I will thank you, mama.'' ''I also placed notebooks and pens inside so you can make your observations.'' he squeezed her much smaller frame one more time to calm her shaky heart for good this time before he went to find his father who was waiting for him in his study.
Gray tried to follow Natsu into the study. ''Why are you following me?'' ''I don't know, I'm on autopilot.'' ''Autopilot yourself out of here.'' the elder hissed under his breath. ''That doesn't even make sense.'' Gray giggled whilst he was shoved out.
Igneel sat at his coffee colored table that was surrounded by over a thousand books and giant stacks of paperwork he had completed in record time carefully skimming books with his finger not missing even the smallest of details, he wore a pair of wooden frames over his juniper green eyes that could see well enough already but it was a just in case measure as he called it, he didn't want to miss even the most minor of details as his own father had taught him to make everything count.
His son that he had lovingly taught in the same manner closed the door quietly though he knew Igneel had picked up his natural cherry scent when he walked in. ''Hello Natsu,'' he said closing the intriguing book and stretching out the knots in his arms and back. ''How many times does Mom have to tell you about posture? I mean you're a doctor yourself.'' ''I know, I know.'' ''I'll change it today.'' ''Good I don't want you to be a bent old man when you get older.'' Natsu sat beside him in a chair that was pulled up for Grandine originally and ruffled his father's vermilion hair.
''I'm your father.'' he yawned ruffling Natsu's pink hair back in response to his rudeness. ''I know who you are.'' he smiled trying his luck that ended in him being smothered in a long hug. ''So what'd you want to ask me?'' ''How did you know I wanted to ask you something?'' Natsu played around though it was obvious he wanted desperately to confide in him. ''Well for one you and Gray let me hug you when you want something from me, but my sweet baby girl is different it warms my heart.''
''Also I saw you block Gray from following you in which means you want us to be alone.'' Natsu sat looking relaxed in his mother's soft chair when in reality his heart was racing dangerously. ''Calm down,'' Igneel said calmly staring through him with those entrancing green eyes. ''I want to talk about l-love.'' he managed out in almost inaudible squeak,
''What did you say?'' Igneel teased the already blushing kid a little. ''I said I want to talk about love!'' he scream/whispered just in case someone was leaning against the door listening in on them two. ''Who is that you like.'' ''Papa!'' ''Okay Okay.'' Igneel laughed his son was too cute for the first time he saw him behaving in such a way and he couldn't resist messing with him.
''So what are your symptoms? and are you even sure this is love?'' ''Yeah..don't write anything down!'' Natsu pushed his father's notepad and ink pen down, he wasn't really going to write anything he was still messing with him. ''You play too much.'' Natsu scolded and his dad shot back. ''This coming from the king himself, I'm really so honored.'' Natsu's face when hot and he whispered. ''I don't have time, I promised Lucy I would spend the day with her.'' ''Okay I understand, let's talk.''
Even when I am rough with you and as cold and hard as ice, you still spread your arms and catch me tightly in your embrace within your bruised foliage.
''The only thing always in my head is her.'' his father hummed along with every sentence to let his son know he was listening as he doodled in his notebook.''It's like when she is away I feel empty...I mean I can't help but worry and wonder about what she is up to and if she is okay.''
''I want to stick closer to her especially when I feel like she loves me the same.'' he sat to attention thinking. ''But at the same time, it feels like I am going crazy over a fantasy instead of seeing reality.''
Natsu just talked and his father nodded along knowingly. ''Whenever she gets close to me, my heart was already pounding but then it feels like an instant heart attack.''
''Hmm.'' his father hummed reaching over to pat him on his head before leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed. ''At the same time, my heart attack like feeling is kind of ecstatic and exhilarating.'' ''It's like I love her so much that I have to force myself to breathe if she gets too close.'' while thinking about his many 'symptoms' he fell in love even more. ''When she isn't around my heart falls silent and beats at a steady pace.'' 'Do you understand or am I just strange.'' he leaned forward toward his father a desperate want for advice clearly on his face.
''You're just strange.'' his father said bursting his hopes of good advice and making slight hurt wash over his expression. ''Why didn't you confess to her already?'' his father looked dumbfounded at Natsu's ability to go so many years without love when he clearly wanted it so badly.
''I-I guess I don't think she feels the same way about me, she confuses me sometimes I'm ready to tell her but other times I think she might cling to me because I've stayed with her for so long?'' ''I dunno.'' he placed his palm on his burning cheek and cocked his head to the side. ''I don't want to be rejected by her..I just don't want to be hurt by her.'' he breathed silently looking our his father's window view of the family garden.
Igneel sighed his soul out during the sitting with his almost hopeless son. ''Okay Natsu now let me advise you,'' he said leaning over to wipe the rouge tears that started to fall at the thought of Lucy looking at him with a look of pure disgust and rejecting his beating heart knowing it beat strongly for her but still wanting him to stay near her selfishly.
''You should confess to her and get that off of your chest.'' ''If she rejects you then go overseas without a care then come back and make her fall in love with you.'' Igneel said suddenly after thinking rationally about it he added ''And if that still doesn't work then child you should fall for someone else.'' ''I don't think I can do the latter, I love her too much.'' ''With your descriptions, I can tell that.'' Igneel laughed in an attempt to cheer his oldest son. He stood up and hugged his child tightly. ''I believe you can do it, ask her if she can see you off and you can ask her at the airport.'' ''Why at the airport?'' ''Well so you can leave as soon as she rejects you if she does.'' ''Papa!'' Igneel giggled sitting back in his chair reassuring him that he was still teasing.
Natsu stepped out of his father's study after making sure he was correcting his posture and nearly ran into Wendy who wanted to know what she should do about her thinning eyebrows. ''Well do you pluck them?'' he asked wiping any remnants of tears from his eyes. ''I never do and hope never to do so.'' she answered looking scared that her eyebrows would soon be 'bald' though they looked thick.''Wendy talk to mommy some more about this topic but what I can tell you is to sleep better, eat, exercise, and apply black castor oil to your thinning areas.''
''Does that also work for the hairline?'' ''Yes and for the eyelashes.'' ''Just be careful and remember a little oil goes a long way alright baby?'' ''alright.'' He kissed her forehead and patted her back leaving to say goodbye one last time. He helped Juvia into the house as he went out the door cheerfully saying. ''See you later Ace.''
Gray handed him a small toiletry bag and his mother handed him all his favorite foods in one small tray for lunch. ''Mama knows she is giving you a little too much.'' ''It won't burden my team trust me the team is huge.'' and with that he walked out the door oblivious to the fact that Wendy was really a spy for Grandine and Gray who desperately wanted to know what the two talked about, but all they got out of the sweet girl was ''Natsu likes Lucy a lot'' which put Juvia under a laughing spell.
Thank you who always waited for me whether it be day or night, You who had no choice but to stand without moving still loved me more than even I, and you collected my tears without a word.
Lucy vacuumed the rugs and tossed the clothes into the dryer all the while singing rather beautifully along with a track while Jude opened the windows and cleared the driveway of leaves before coming back inside to lie on the couch. 'Knock' 'Knock ''I'll get it!'' Jude excitedly rushed to the door to open it, his face adorned with a smile but instead of seeing Natsu who he was planning on teasing (He has been teased enough Jude..)
he saw an entire crowd waiting to come inside the space that would be much too tiny for all of them. ''You guys aren't getting in here there are too many of you,'' he said frankly slamming the door in the faces of the now amused guests. ''Dad!'' they heard Lucy yell before the door was opened again quickly. ''Nah! they have to draw lots or something.'' Jude piped up in protest of letting the visitors in. ''Hello.'' Lucy greeted the visitors despite background interjections from her father.
''Hi Lucy,'' Laxus said smiling at the hilarious back and forth that went on between father and daughter. ''You came to get Natsu's things right?'' ''Yep and a couple people wanted to say goodbye.'' Laxus said taking the luggage and a green knapsack from her smiling with sympathy as he went through the same type of parting drama with Mira-Jane but he believed it was harder for 'NaLu' as the white haired girl called them because they actually lived together.
''Is this a going away party?'' Natsu's voice split the crowd a few minutes after they arrived, he walked through the doorway with his mother and brother's gifts as well as a calmer mind thanks to his father. ''How did you guys even fit into the hallway...?'' ''Oh not all of you are here, wow that kind of offends me!'' everyone laughed and Laxus confiscated the gifts except the food and added them to one of the vans they had waiting out front.
Jude saw Natsu and started to complain about all these guests surprisingly then the guests complained about the rude little man, much to his distaste as he started arguing with them. ''Haha what!?'' Natsu was about done with Jude. ''Why, though?'' he asked hearing their stories about how they stood in the hall and got grilled by Jude, ''because I didn't want them to come inside honestly I worked so hard cleaning and no one is about to mess this up for me.'' He looked into his daughter's half baffled, half amused eyes for a second then decided he was too tired to deal with that and went to lay on his bed.
The guests took that as a cue to file in and take the things they came to get and load them into one the vans quietly because when they made even the slightest sounds Jude made a sound to remind them all that he was still awake and 'trying' to sleep'. ''What is that?'' Lucy asked gesturing to the small tray in Natsu's hands when a familiar box caught her eye, the same caramel box with white ribbons he had told her to open next month.
''Oh this is lunch my mother made for us and this.'' he lifted the box so she could get a clear view of the wide but thin box. ''..is a present for you I thought we could spend the rest of the day writing that story you wanted to.'' ''Oh.'' was all she said in reply she was truly touched he was always thinking of her when today really should be his day. ''We can do what you want to do, I'm fine with you just being by my side.''
she suggested making him scratch the back of his neck out of pure bashfulness. ''I wanted to do this with you so I guess we can do this today, when I come back I'll complete my promises.'' and she took his vow as fact for he never broke a promise. ''Be careful, return then promise me?'' ''Promise.'' he smiled.
I hope you won't keep me prisoner, but that you'll hear my cries and let me out to fly back to the sky as vapor, I promise to rain down on you again soon.
After the guests said their goodbyes to Lucy, teased her, & got grilled by Jude her attention was finally returned to the time that settled on ten o'clock.
Lucy was surprised and delighted to learn of the beautiful art Romeo had drawn at Natsu's request. ''Why didn't you draw it yourself, you can do that.'' ''All I could think of was the night sky, a moon and trees burnt black in the distance,'' Natsu whined stretching out on the couch. ''That's completely fine it would still be beautiful, you know I never get to see you draw anymore.''
''I didn't want to mess up the laptop Romeo has a patience I need to work on.'' Lucy looked at Natsu's face with a far off look thinking he was the most patient person in the world dealing with her for all those years..all her phases basically raising her to be a put-together person, instead of the broken up person she was when he came back and found her. ''Do I have a fish on my head or something?'' 'A fish? this boy has gone mad.' ''No I was thinking you look so cute today!'' ''Ahh!'' she made baby sounds pulling at his cheeks and ruffling his hair. ''I would appreciate handsome more than cute..hot is also good.'' ''Don't get ahead of yourself buster,'' she said opening the laptop and starting it up, and making her father giggle to himself in his room. 'She is her mother's daughter alright' 'I kind of feel bad for Natsu though..Nah'
''You already set it up?'' ''Yeah, I wanted you to easily begin your story.'' ''Thanks!'' ''Not a problem.'' ''But why is the username, Luigi.'' ''Because you look like Luigi.'' Lucy stared into Natsu dark eyes wondering what was behind those strange dark orbs. ''You're staring holes into my soul.'' ''You look like 'Magilla Gorilla'.'' she countered with the most unlikely look alike making her father choke.
''How are you about to say I look cute and then say I look like a gorilla?'' Lucy didn't reply but just thought of another insult to which Natsu laughed out loud putting her in a loose headlock. ''You are so petty sometimes.'' ''You're the king of that profession.'' she shot back wrestling with him. ''Let's write,'' he said realizing the position they were in looked and felt strange. ''M'kay,'' she handed him the laptop after approving and proofreading the three chapters he had written beforehand.
''Everything she once saw as beautiful was ugly and saddening for just one day.'' Natsu typed away on the beautifully decorated laptop. ''But she shall realize that better things will replace the things that go away one day.'' ''Why do I feel like you're writing about me?'' Lucy piped up from his side he had actually forgotten about her presence beside him and became immersed in his writing letting her take over his thoughts as his finger glided across the green keyboard. ''You know your hair smells really good.'' he changed the subject but she just let it be. ''Yeah your mother let me have a shampoo that smelled like vanilla cake now I feel like I need to buy more from their brand.''
Lucy's fingers went over the keyboard more impressively than the days when she played the piano making Natsu bring up that exact memory. ''Hey later on next year,'' ''Hmm?'' ''If I draw pictures for your stories can you play the piano all the while?'' ''Of course!''
She never thought of using Natsu's art but it would be perfect for the stories she wanted to write. ''You can just ask me to play the piano for you, I don't have anything against the instrument it's just that I have less free time than before.'' ''Same with art.'' Natsu sighed. ''One day..one day.'' 'The fact that you two plan on being together one day is real sweet' Jude the owner of this thought who was supposedly 'trying' to sleep just an hour ago filled a glass of cold water and stood against the counter top sipping diligently watching the two who looked like they were having the most fun in the world together. 'It's almost making me diabetic.'
''What genre are we writing?'' ''I was thinking it was romance by the title apple of my eye,'' ''That's what I had in mind so I named it that way,'' Lucy responded receiving a slight nudge from Natsu. ''But you never had a love life how are you going to write a love story?'' Lucy blushed at the fact though it wasn't embarrassing but rather surreal in this day and time. ''Hey you're no better than me!'' ''This wasn't about me Ms. Author.'' Jude laughed silently to himself and then remembered that the two thought he believed they were married so he got down on the floor and crawled back into his room military style with his cup and laid in his bed again. 'These kids!' 'I've never heard of a two who were so bad at keeping secrets...they're practically shouting.' 'So childish!'
It feels like millions of years I'm away from you before the clouds send me back to you again..then I feel it was only for a short while when you soak in our happy moments.
And like that the two who were much like the waves that kiss the sands before drifting back to their rightful home in the sea pushed and pulled all day barely touching but deeply holding each other's hearts tightly in the own.
''WHAT NO!'' Lucy realized the sun was going down quicker than it normally did for her and setting the stars in their pre-ordained spots, she stood and opened the window letting a cold breeze drift in. ''The night has to come-'' ''And the day will come again like that in the same cycle so fret not, I know.'' Lucy finished the quote the two made up in middle school it actually pulled on her heartstrings this time. ''How about we order pizza and blend custom juices.'' Natsu stood up and straightened his posture happily. ''I want veggie pizza!'' Jude scared the two who had forgotten about the forever sleeping blonde. ''Why're you always sleeping, it's not healthy!'' ''I've been sleeping like this my whole life and no there isn't anything wrong with me.''
''Honestly, I almost lost your mother to some poser because I was sleeping.'' he said casually. Lucy laughed and clung to her father who had a look of unfazed pride on his face. ''I woke right when she said 'I like this one very much if you don't mind'.'' He smiled sitting on the couch in front of the T.V. ''Then she yelled at me because I'm always tired.'' at that Natsu joined in on the chuckling imagining Jude being hollered at in public as a young man. 'And then I teased her like there wasn't a tomorrow coming.' he thought smiling to himself.
''I want a spicy pizza,'' Natsu said sitting next to Jude. ''So I'm ordering?'' Lucy inquired. ''Yeah, you hurt my feelings every time I order something.'' Lucy smiled going to find her phone it was true he made it seem like it was a hard task because he knew what he wanted to eat but always double checked what she wanted when she didn't really care, so he ended up being yelled at. ''You wanna watch a movie with us?'' ''Sure, what else am I going to do sleep?''
Natsu smiled going to eject the previous movie from the VCR. ''Do you have Home Alone?'' ''Yeah we already watched that thrice, though.'' ''How about The birds,'' Natsu suggested to Jude who replied with a sour face. ''I've never seen that one.'' ''Do you have to see every movie beforehand?'' he asked placing the 63' movie's box on top of the T.V. All three of them giggled at the line 'When will you know when we're all dead?! but their fun was interrupted when Aquarius decided she was going to drop by and then end up staying a little later than planned because Lucy had the nerve to invite her to the pizza-movie marathon party.
The blue haired judge nagged that she should come to court if she had time to do things like this, to which Jude decided she reminded him of an old friend who was just as annoying.
Lucy snuggled close to Natsu who was asleep on the couch leaning on Jude who was eager for a nap, the same one who would complain that his body ached in the morning because of the heavy Dragneel. Even though she knew all three of them were going to end up on the couch again. ''You guys need to brush your teeth.'' she shook the groaning duo awake then laughed when Natsu tripped over the coffee table and Jude joined him shortly tripping over the same object.
As time falls like the rain and the stars, you have proven yourself to me and made it clear that I'll love you more and more as time flies away from me.
~Chapter end~
Still sick I have managed to finish this chapter at 1:30 AM. (Wonder when It will be posted though?)
Please ignore my mistakes and try to make sense of the wonky story line that could have been better. (But let's never give up on our dreams.)
This chapter was pretty long compared to the previous one?
What do you think of Gray in this chapter? I actually have a favorite part myself. ''I'm on autopilot.'' -Gray F. Dragneel
-Peace