Lucy had honestly never been one partial to astronomy. And to be honest even now she found it a little boring, but she was intrigued by the images of the galaxy Yukino had been showing her.

Natsu had sent the silver-haired girl to teach her all about space, saying that was going to be her training until she remembered more. All the while, Natsu was always leaving it seemed. He would just say "I have something to look into" before disappearing, leaving Lucy to her studies.

He would show up sometime at night and sneak in bed with her though, holding her protectively throughout the night, as if she might disappear any second. But considering their past, it was more likely than she would have liked to admit.

"So then, what kind of star is this, Ms. Lucy?" Yukino asked suddenly, breaking Lucy out of her reverie, the blonde girl blinked dumbly, having spaced out through that entire lecture she was being given, and flushing in embarrassment.

"I... uh..."

Yukino sighed, before giving a kind smile "Do I need to review" she asked. But before Lucy could answer a sharp laugh broke through the small clearing the girls were sitting in.

Lucy raised her head and her eyes widened at seeing the familiar pink-haired man laying across a branch in a tree, like he seemed to like doing.

"Wow, queen, your knowledge on space is failing you?" Natsu asked, snickering as he slid down from the branch.

Lucy didn't know why, but the way he called her "queen" seemed to rub her wrong. In a way, it made her sad... but she couldn't place her finger on it.

"Don't worry, you'll get it down, you're just not fully caught up yet" Natsu explained, crossing his arms as he referred to her memory, walking up to her "I have faith in you."

Lucy stared at him, but something about his eyes... it didn't feel like he was looking at her.

((LINE CUT))

Natsu was getting annoyed now. Albeit, seeing Lucy made him feel a bit better, he just couldn't wait for her to remember, and was beginning to get a little impatient. But now, he had to focus on the current problem.

It would be a bit weird to admit to Lucy he had been stalking his brother for the past few weeks. He had noticed the abnormal, sidelong glances he had been giving him and Lucy since he got back, and whenever he saw it, he felt a shiver run down his spine.

Zeref knew something, and he was gonna find out what.

It just really sucked that his brother had to be so damned boring. Every day was a routine, and everyday it was boring. Why couldn't Zeref be spontaneous for once? If Natsu was gonna follow him around, he could at least give him something interesting to look at.

Even now, the whole day had passed, and Zeref was just strolling home, nothing abnormal at all about the whole day.

Natsu sighed, walking into the small house, and kicking off his shoes, trekking up to his room as usual. And of course, he softened upon seeing Lucy lying in the bed, breathing softly.

He laid down in the bed by her, watching her carefully, and drinking in her features. Still the same Lucy he remembered. Same delicate features, pale skin, golden hair, and chocolate eyes. Everything was the same.

Natsu was caught off guard by Lucy suddenly opening her eyes, and jumped a bit as she did "You're awake..." he noted, speaking softly, smiling a bit "You should rest"

Lucy shrugged, smiling back "Well, I'm awake now so don't worry about it..." she mumbled.

The two lay there in comfortable silence, just watching each other, until Natsu saw a weird look flash across Lucy's features, which worried Natsu slightly.

"Lucy, what's wrong...?" He asked softly, and Lucy averted her eyes.

"It's just... I've been thinking... You say how much you love me... But it feels like you're more in love with the past me's.." The blonde started nervously playing with her fingers "It... Doesn't feel like you look at me... When you look at me... If that makes sense..."

He never really thought of it like that before. And honestly he had never seen a difference, but now he felt like slapping himself. Sure she would always be the same Lucy, but she was still a different person, and he had failed to see that.

"Lucy, I'm... Oh god..." Natsu said in horror, "I never meant to..."

Lucy smiled sadly, placing a hand on his shoulder "It's ok... We didn't get a chance to do fall in love properly... So let's focus on fixing this fate for now, ok?" she suggested, and Natsu sighed softly.

Yeah, she was still Lucy.

And like always, it made Natsu feel like he wasn't kind enough. In the end he was really such a selfish person, only caring about her and her safety. But one couldn't help but harden after all these years. And he just hoped in the end, that he could make the right choice...

((LINE CUT))

The moon's shine filtered through the trees softly, the only sound to be heard was the rustle of leaves, and the sound of grass underfoot.

It was these nights he wished he didn't have to be out like this, and maybe just sit by the shore, watching the waves gently be pushed against the shore. Alverez had always had nice beaches. It was a shame he couldn't visit more often.

No, there was more important business to attend to.

The terrain slowly shifted, changing from forest to cave. The young man stepped inside, not fazed by the looming darkness around him as he entered.

"Zeref." A rumbling voice from deeper in the cave growled "Were you followed?"

"No," Zeref answered calmly "I wasn't"

"Acnologia."