A/N: Sorry this wasn't up sooner, my laptop decided to be all weird and only have half the writing on the screen :(

teacupcococake they are real brother and sister in this :) That's a really interesting idea though! But I had already written stuff about their parents when I read that :/ I really appreciate the thought though, and it's a good idea for next time! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail! (unfortunately)

Enjoy!

Chapter 13

Lucy turned over, half asleep, trying to cling to the warmth. She felt like there was something she was supposed to be doing, but she couldn't remember what. She didn't really mind too much at that point; she felt so safe, and warm, and peaceful. She sighed.

That was when she noticed that the blanket she was clinging too seemed too hard to be a blanket.

Slowly, she opened her eyes to a bare chest. A very nice bare chest. Male. Smooth. Toned. Hard, yet soft. And was that an 8-pack?

Lucy was still too much asleep to realise the problem with this. She found that she didn't really mind the bit of eye candy – or the strong, warm arms encircling her waist. She still had that safe feeling.

Slowly, she trailed her eyes up that marvelous body. At first she didn't recognise the peaceful look on his face. As soon as she saw the pink hair, however, it all clicked into place.

Natsu. She was cuddling Natsu. He was in her bed. Asleep. Shirtless.

Lucy started to freak out. How did this happen? She was fully clothed, and he had pants on, much to her relief. But why was he in her bed, and why were they cuddling?

She gasped. I called him eye candy!

Screaming, she pushed Natsu away and off the other side of the bed, blushing furiously.

"Ouch, Luce," she heard him mumble from the floor.

"What were you doing in my bed?!" she screamed.

"Well," he started. "I couldn't get to sleep, because my bed was so uncomfortable, and then you started shivering in your sleep, so I thought I'd warm you up – it was a win-win," he grinned.

"You can't just climb into my bed with me!" she yelled, still bright red. "What if somebody saw us? Juvia still has her key – what if she–" Lucy suddenly stopped, realising what she was saying. For all she knew, Juvia had seen them. No doubt the girls would all find out.

Lucy groaned.

"I'm sorry, but it's not that big of a deal," Natsu said. "You looked like you were about to freeze to death, I was just trying to help,"

Lucy rubbed her temples. She knew what he was like, and believed that he thought he was helping. She tried not to be mad, but it was hard.

"Whatever," Lucy finally sighed, heading for the shower.

It was 9:15 when the two eventually got to the lobby to meet Levy, Cana, Mirajane, Erza and Jellal – everyone else all had made other plans.

"You're late," Erza said, frowning.

"Sorry," Lucy mumbled.

"And why are you late together Lu-chan?" Levy asked.

"I – I went to go wake Natsu up," Lucy lied, hoping that nobody noticed the faint blush on her cheeks as she remembered how she woke up.

Nobody seemed to believe her.

"L-let's go!" Lucy called, walking out the front.

"Lucy!" Michelle screamed, pouncing on the blonde.

"Michelle!"

"I've missed you so much, it's so good to see you in person!" Michelle cried.

"You saw me last night," Lucy reminded her softly.

"I know,"

"Michelle, Hibiki, I'd like you to meet my friends from Fairy Academy," Lucy said, introducing each of them in turn.

"It's nice to meet you," Michelle said. "I've heard a lot about you all, and it makes me happy that Lucy has found so many great friends,"

"It's nice to meet you, too," Mirajane smiled back.

Everyone got along really well, much to Lucy's delight. There were no awkward silences, no big disagreements. Everyone talked and lightly bantered like they had all been friends forever. Any worries that Lucy might have had disappeared instantly.

"Your friends are great, Luce," Natsu commented, watching as Jellal, Hibiki and Erza were immersed in discussion and Mirajane and Levy were having a girly chat with Michelle.

"Yeah, they are," Lucy smiled, turning to Natsu. "All of them,"

"So what's the story with you and Natsu?" Michelle asked. They were walking through the park, and Lucy and Michelle were a few feet behind the group.

"W-what do you mean?" Lucy cried. "Have Levy and Mira been telling you lies?"

"Well, only because I asked them," she smiled.

"Well I'm telling you now: we're just friends," Lucy stated. "What made you ask something like that, anyway?"

"Well, I noticed last night how he reacted to you," Michelle mused. "You know, when he won the game because you called out to him? I could hear you across the field," she winked.

"T-that doesn't mean anything!"

"And then today," Michelle went on, ignoring her childhood friend. "I saw how close you two are, and they way you smile at each other – I've known you since pre-school, and I've never seen you smile like that before. There's no denying that you have a special bond – romantic or not,"

Lucy was speechless. Did she really have a special smile, just for Natsu?

She shook her head. "There's no way we would ever be together,"

"Why not?"

"Because he's Natsu. He's crazy, wild, reckless and stupid and absolutely clueless about love. He's kind and caring and my best friend, and I love him, but the feeling is purely platonic – for both of us," she stated.

Michelle didn't say anything, but she was clearly unconvinced.

"Luce! Michelle! Hurry up!" Natsu called. "We don't have all day!"

Lucy sighed as the two caught up with the rest of their friends.

"We'll definitely see each other again," Michelle said, hugging Mirajane.

"Of course," Levy replied. "We'll write, and call, and email,"

It was time to say goodbye to her old friends. Lucy hugged both of them extra hard.

"I'll miss you guys," she whispered.

"We'll miss you, too," Hibiki said.

"But don't miss us too much," Michelle added. "After all, you have such wonderful friends with you to keep you company," she smiled.

After one last hug, Lucy watched as her childhood friends headed home.

The Fairy Academy students still had an hour before they needed to head back to the hotel, but Lucy wanted to go home, and she didn't want everyone with her for that.

Levy went to the library –it was a lot bigger than the one in Magnolia; Erza and Jellal wanted some alone time; Mirajane and Cana went shopping; and Natsu stayed behind, watching his best friend.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"I'm fine,"

"If you miss them so much, you still have a little more time to spend with them,"

"It's not that," she told him. "I just have to do something, and I'm pretty sure they know what. They know that I'd want to be alone for it,"

"Oh," Natsu said. "I'm sorry. If you wanted to be alone, you should've just said so! I'll, uh, meet you back at the hotel, then," he turned to leave.

"Wait," Lucy said, grabbing his wrist. "Will – will you come with me?"

Natsu turned to look at her. "Sure. If that's what you want,"

Lucy nodded.

The two walked down the street, towards Lucy's house. Part of her wanted to go back and walk the halls of her house, while another part of her wanted to completely avoid it. What she really wanted was to see her mother.

Lucy led Natsu to the back garden, where her mother was buried. She had bought flowers on the way, and was disappointed to see that the ones she left the day she moved to Magnolia were still there – utterly wilted and completely dead.

Lucy sighed, leaning down to switch the flowers. She had hoped that her father would visit at least once. I guess he just doesn't have time for something like that, she thought angrily.

Her anger must have shown on her face, because she felt Natsu's hand on her shoulder. It calmed her down immediately, and she turned to smile gratefully at him.

"Hi Mama," she said, turning back to the grave. "I'm sorry it's been so long. I thought Papa might…" she trailed off before shaking her head. "Anyway, I brought a friend with me today! This is Natsu, he goes to Fairy Academy with me," she smiled, pulling Natsu forward.

"Hi Mrs. Heartfilia," Natsu called, grinning. "It's nice to meet you. You have a wonderful daughter, and I'm really glad she puts up with me,"

Lucy smiled. "I want you to know that I love it at Fairy Academy," she continued. "I have lots of wonderful friends, besides Natsu. I made it onto the cheerleading squad there, which is kind of why I'm here. Everyone's really supportive of me – especially Natsu – and I'm grateful to every single one of my new friends,"

Natsu smiled encouragingly at her when she paused.

"I'm really happy, Mama," she said. "You have no idea. I just wish that you were still here to share it with," Lucy wiped a tear away. "But I know you're watching from Heaven, and I'm grateful for that. I love you, and I miss you. So much," she stopped, her voice breaking at the end.

Lucy sat there for a while in silence, tears starting to fall. Natsu wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she leaned her head against him.

"Mrs. Heartfilia," Natsu suddenly began. "I don't think I need to tell you how amazing Lucy is. You raised her wonderfully while you could, and I think you still are kinda raising her. She's always telling me about the little sayings you told her when she was younger, and I think that, to this day, they are what's making her into a fine young woman. I really wish I could have met you in person, because you would have to be an incredible person if Lucy turned out like this,"

Lucy smiled to herself, listening to her best friend.

"And I promise you, that I will protect her for you," he continued. "No matter what, I will always be there to keep her from harm,"

The two sat there in silence again for a while before Lucy pulled away from his embrace to stand up.

"We'd better go now, Mama," she said sadly. "But I'll come back again, as soon as I can. I love you,"

Lucy walked away silently, and Natsu followed her.

"Thank you," she whispered, halfway down the hill. "For coming with me, for being there and for everything you said,"

"I meant every word of it,"

"I know," Lucy smiled. "So did I,"

Lucy decided not to go home. She couldn't face her father – and they didn't really have much time left anyway.

She wanted to calm down a bit before they met up with everyone, so they went to the store to get some more motion sickness patched for Natsu. He bought their entire stock.

After a quick stop at the bakery, they headed back to the hotel to get ready to leave.

"Is Lucy sad to be leaving home again?" Juvia asked as they left their room.

"Not really," Lucy smiled. "I was happy to come back and see everyone, but I'm glad to be going back. Fairy Academy is my home now."

Juvia smiled at her blonde friend as she shut the door.

A/N: There! I hope you liked it! Once I finally got it up haha

I think the next chapter will be up soon, sometime later tonight. I like to write an extra chapter before I post, just in case there's some detail I wanna change at the last minute. So that means I'm currently writing Chapter 15, and once I'm finished that, I'll upload Chapter 14 - it shouldn't take too long though ;)

Thanks for all the great reviews so far - keep 'em coming! ;) Love you all! :)