A/N: It took me quite a while to these done, but update for all the wonderful readers who have supported me until now! I love you all~

And oh yeah, about me deleting the Sting chapter, I kind of thought it was too cliché so I replaced it instead. I want to apologize for those who were looking forward to reading it, though.

The First Snow

It took Natsu exactly 36 seconds to realize that he should be running right now, 40 seconds to rejoice that he actually outsmarted the police, but 59 minutes and 40 seconds later to slap himself for even agreeing to Lucy's dumb plan in the first place.

'Oh my god, Natsu fucking Dragneel, did you not realize the danger you might actually get yourself into once they find out that it was you all along?!' He ruffles his hair in frustration, heaving out a sigh as he plops himself down on his bed.

He felt sorry for Gray, the guy was forced to do it after all, and he felt sorry for all the people who were involved, and it was all because of a childish plan made by someone who wasn't even goddamn breathing, let alone walking.

But remembering the gleam in Lucy's eyes whenever she spoke, the way her voice cracked because she was too much excited, and the cute quirk she had of cheering as soon as she saw Romeo and his father making up, Natsu couldn't help but actually be happy himself.

For once, in his life, he did something good.

His thoughts eventually drifted to the blonde. Her smiling reaching from ear-to-ear, her cheeks raised up and tinted rosy pink, her voice coming out smoothly like music to his ears, her cheerful nature and-

'Okay STOP.' Natsu lightly slaps himself, bringing him back to reality. "I am not, nor should I ever be, attracted to someone dead." He mumbles to himself, feeling goose bumps all over his body.

"Nat-chan! Who're you talking to?!"

"N-NO ONE!" He cries, hiding himself underneath his comfy blanket.

Seriously, what's going on with him?

XXX

A loud sneeze interrupts the classroom's silence, eliciting groans, sneers, and looks of annoyance from everyone around. It was the nth time that Natsu did it today, and as annoying as he might be, they had to agree that his sneezing was even more obnoxious.

Although Gray, who was sitting right beside him during Math class, couldn't help but look at him in worry as he catches a sight of a shivering Natsu.

"You okay, bro?"

His voice is low, but audible enough for Natsu to hear, making the corner of the lad's lips twitch slightly upwards.

"Yeah."

Gray didn't look amused nor contented with Natsu's answer, but he simply shut his mouth and stayed silent, sending worried glances every now and then as the class continued. His girlfriend, however, was a different story. Juvia looked like she was going to kill someone with her cold, hard glares. It took Natsu all his might not to burst out laughing when the couple started to bicker.

"Nat-chan!" Lucy chirps as soon as they step foot outside of the building.

The mentioned teen gives her a lazy glance, "What?"

The nickname grew on him so much that whenever Lucy would call him that, he would quickly look at her like it was his instinct to do so. Not that he was complaining or anything; he found it quite cute whenever the blonde ghost would call him that, it reminded him of Lucy's fondness of him (or more like his pink hair, he caught her staring at it a few times before).

"It's almost Christmas!"

Natsu didn't get the point on why she said that.

"So?"

"What do you mean, so? So, we get to have presents and stuff!" She chirps, floating around the area like a lunatic while Natsu cringes. "There's food, songs, discounts, and more food! Christmas is the best holiday of the year!"

"Christmas is the longest holiday of the goddamn year, that's why."

Lucy giggles at this, making the lad blush.

'Does she think I'm funny?'

"I bet you're one of those students who can't wait for Christmas because they can finally wake up late and snore under the blankets more." She grins.

Natsu didn't know whether to blink in astonishment or praise the heavens for that. Lucy in fact, has a brain, and it amazes him on how specific she could be about him.

The thought makes him flush pink once more.

"You're getting red, are you hot?"

"Wha-wha-what?!"

Lucy blinks her large, brown eyes in front of him innocently. "Are you sick? Do you have a fever or something? It's getting cold lately, I know. Hello Natsu? Natsu? Nat-chan?"

The pink-haired latter wanted to slap himself for inwardly hyperventilating at such petty words. 'Oh my god, was I actually thinking that she called me hot? I'm such an idiot. Seriously.'

"You're getting weird, Natsu."

"I know." He sighs, getting rid of his shoes as soon as they enter the house and plopping down on the couch. Good thing Lucy was gone before she heard Natsu mumble-

"But you're making me weird, Lucy."

XXX

"Tokyo, lately, has been getting colder and colder each day. Good morning, everyone, this is Mavis News to report to you about the weather around our country. It is now-"

"That's just bullshit. Of course it's getting damn cold. It's fucking winter." Natsu mumbles to himself as soon as he turns the TV off, throwing the remote somewhere as he pulls the comforter closer to his body and patiently waits for his hot choco Igneel was making (he forced the old man to do it because his feet were frozen cold).

"Maybe next time you should learn to wear socks." He hears his father say as soon as a mug was placed on the coffee table in front of him.

"Maybe next time you should learn to buy a heater."

Igneel could only roll his eyes in silence, various thoughts of 'My son is PMSing' flashing on his mind before excusing himself to go back to his room and wander off to dreamland.

"Oh my god, oh my god! Nat-chan! It's snowing!" Lucy exclaims happily (now where did she come from?), floating to the windows as she stares outside them. "It's snowing, oh gosh! It's finally freaking snowing!"

Natsu could only roll his eyes at this, snuggling with his blanket more. "I know, stupid."

Despite the mean comment, Lucy only ignores this and floats closer to Natsu until their noses touch, causing the latter to slightly jump and flush (hopefully Lucy's too dumb to even notice). "Winter is the best season to drink hot chocolate, wear mittens, and make snowflakes!"

Seriously…

…is this kid 18 or what?

"But you know what's best for winter, Nat-chan?"

The said teen merely gives her a glance. "What?"

"Repaying favors!"

Fuuuuuuck.