Author's note: Hey everyone! Before I start this I'd like to deeply thank all the people who Favorited, Followed, and Reviewed chapter 1 and encouraged me to write this second chapter. It truly meant a lot and I feel honored to write about what is (in my opinion) the best pairing in any Anime for you guys. (sorry NaLu fans)

Also I'd like to say that since I want to edit the NaLi story a bit, I'll have two or three flashback chapters like this one where I edit scenes from the original story a teeny bit. If you don't like them, let me know and I'll focus on the main story!

Merci beaucoup!

Two years ago

A pink haired youth and a blue cat sat away from each other at the foot of a great tree, both scowling angrily. A third figure

"Fighting again, Natsu?"

Lisanna stood tall and proud, clad in the cocky assurance that fit her so well. Natsu looked up at her quizzically, "Oh, Lisanna. You're back?"

Happy pouted and blurted out "Natsu ate all my fish!"

"Well that's not good Natsu! The dad is supposed to take care of his family." Lisanna laughed, hiding the heartache she felt.

"Oh shut up Lisanna, that fantasy is from forever ago," Natsu said sharply, "stop bringing it up at every possible occasion." He looked away, scowling.

Lisanna was shocked by the spite in her old friend's voice and her smile dissolved. She looked down and fought back inexplicable tears...

Damn it Lisanna, stop taking this so seriously, you'll only embarrass yourself

"Alright well... I'll see you later." She turned around and started to plod away miserably.

Happy noticed Lisanna's expression as she left and was shortly puzzled until realization hit him like a brick.

All these years... Lisanna...

Without a second thought, Happy turned around and smacked Natsu furiously. Five years, how could this idiot be so dense for five years?

"Happy, what the hell was that about?" Exclaimed the Fire Wizard angrily

"You are truly the greatest idiot in the world!" Happy growled at him, trembling in anger; at Natsu, at himself, at anyone who knew about this.

Natsu stared at his cat in shock, he had never seen Happy this angry before, "This can't be about the fish Happy, what happened?"

The cat pointed furiously at Lisanna's retreating figure, "That girl deserves so much better than you, and yet you still treat her like that?"

The Dragon Slayer stared blankly at his ivory haired friend, "So what? I may have been a bit harsh, but she's a big girl, she can take it. Plus I'm sick of that joke, it gets on my nerves after all this time."

"Why do you think she keeps saying that, you clueless flame headed idiot?"

Natsu thought back to the first time Lisanna had mentioned marrying him; four years ago, while waiting for Happy's egg to hatch in that big straw hut.

"Can I be your wife?... You're kind and cute and you love kids... I wish this moment could last forever..."

Then it was clear, Natsu blinked twice, his jaw drooped open, and his eyes opened. A single tear rolled from Natsu's left eye as he reflected over the time he had wasted, time he could have spent with her.

•••

Lisanna got to the park exit and turned left before exiting. She leaned against the trunk of a Sakura tree in a secluded spot, hugged her knees tight, and let the tears pour from her eyes. She had reached her limit, she didn't know what to do about Natsu.

"He doesn't realize... Chances are he never will..."

Lisanna saw that moment clear as day, five years ago, when she had started having deep feelings for Natsu as he told her about the fire dragon Igneel, his long-lost foster father, under her red umbrella; showing his immense hope and determination. Ever since then she had wished for Natsu to see her the way she saw him, but whenever she made a pass at him he ignored it or just laughed it off.

"None of that explains why I cry over something like this so much though..."

Natsu's dismissal of her weighed on Lisanna's heart like a chunk of lead, making her all the more vulnerable to tears whenever she failed to tell him how she felt about him. At this point she felt she might cry by looking at him, it hurt so much seeing all the things she loved about him; his immutable happiness, his headstrong confidence, his eternal loyalty, his inexorable kindness... Lisanna kept thinking like this, weighing his value against the pain he unintentionally caused her. She pressed her face into her knees and wept.

But before she could wipe her eyes and leave the park, she heard the faint rustle of clothes in front of her and felt a rough finger gently wipe away her tears. Lisanna looked up to see Natsu smiling tearfully.

"How long?" Asked the dragon slayer.

"Five years..." she murmured, "Since that rainy day..."

Natsu pulled Lisanna to her feet and took her face in his hands, "five years huh?" Their lips brushed lightly, "I owe you..."

Then he kissed her and all was right in the world. The two lovers locked in each other's embrace as Happy hovered a respectable distance away, crying for joy.

"About damn time!"

Natsu and Lisanna jumped suddenly as Mirajane and Elfman walked up to them; the former grinning madly, the latter scowling disapprovingly. The lovebirds leapt away from each other, blushing furiously.

Lisanna managed to stammer out; "Mira, big brother Elf, what are you doing here?"

Mira scoffed, "Came to watch the show, what else?" She laughed before rounding on Natsu, "You take care of her Salamander, I think you're great together, but if you hurt her in any way..." The she-devil's eyes told the rest.

"Lisanna, I won't stand in the way, but if Natsu tries anything out of place, I will show him a man's honor!" Growled Elfman, with obvious mistrust.

The couple both blushed and laughed, embarrassed at having been caught.

"All jokes aside, Lisanna's coming with us, I picked up an S-class mission and Team Strauss is my support." Said Mira smugly.

Natsu's brow furrowed, "Not fair! Let me come too!"

Elfman immediately turned on him, refusing to let Natsu spend any more time with his baby sister than was absolutely necessary, "No! It's a man's duty to protect his family!"

Natsu was about to respond that it was his own duty to protect Lisanna when she put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. When I come home from the mission, we'll talk about us."

Natsu immediately deflated, "Okay... Just swear you'll be careful, ok?"

"I swear." She giggled, and sealed the oath with a small kiss before running to join her siblings on that fateful mission.

Sometimes over the next two years Natsu would wake up in a cold sweat, seeing Lisanna's broken body and hearing her words...

When I come home