Pairing: Nalu

Characters: Natsu Dragneel, Lucy Heartfilia, Happy

Genre: Romance, Fluff

Rating: K

Summary: A little fluffy one of how Natsu comes to a not-so-little realisation.

Notes: This is a sort-of prequel to another one-shot of mine called 'Another Reason'.

There was nothing particularly different or unique about the day it happened. It was just another day of pranking Lucy and having fun with her and Happy.

Lucy had been in bed, reading, when he and his exceed entered through the window, setting in motion the usual ritual of her scolding them, earning cheeky grins from the boys who paid next to no attention to her lecture.

Now Natsu wasn't dumb. He could read Lucy better than she could read her own novel, and he knew it had been quite some time since she actually was bothered by them coming over the way they did. But he guessed it wouldn't be as much fun without her trying to reprimand them.

In time Lucy figured they weren't really listening and, with a huff, settled back with her book. Seeing this, Natsu noticed the perfect opening and slipped away to raid her fridge.

So what if he'd already eaten at the guild? There was always room for food from Lucy's.

Satisfied at end of his meal, he proceeded to (try and) clean up the (not so) little mess he had made, before heading back to Lucy's bedroom.

He paused at the sight that greeted him.

Lucy had on this gentle little smile, and was softly reading to Happy who didn't look interested too interested (no references to fish, duh!), seemingly more inclined towards cuddling with Lucy. It was a cute sight.

But too quiet for Natsu's current mood.

So now in ninja mode, he stealthily made his way to Lucy's bed, and went undetected until he chose to jump with a roar, startling her. Before she could do anything more he was on her, attacking her with one of his best moves - the legendary Fire Dragon's Iron Tickles.

She tried protesting through her squeals and laughter, doing her best to fight off Natsu's arms from her sides. Oh but good luck with that Lucy, he was using the massive strength at his disposal - not enough to hurt of course, he'd never actually hurt her - but definitely enough to fend of her futile attempts to stop him from tickling her.

The struggle did eventually cause them both to eventually topple off the bed, though - Lucy on the floor in a heap with her ankles still on the bed, while the more spatially aware Natsu managed to land sitting next to her, not really falling and not quite stopping the barrage on her sides either.

And he truly saw no need to stop. This was so much fun!

He glanced up to Lucy's face to see if it has turned that weird red it does when she laughed too much.

It had.

But that wasn't all.

Natsu couldn't really stop watching, his hands on auto-pilot now.

Her head was thrown back and her hair an absolute mess, sprawlled on the floor around her head. She didn't have any make up on, was wearing a shirt that would better fit him and she still smelled lovely from her shower.

He noticed that she looked really really..nice. Lucy was looked pretty, no matter what she wore. It was obvious enough to not be said. But they way she looked right then was far more than just pretty.

And he liked the prim and proper Lucy too - Lucy was Lucy after all - but he knew not everybody got to see Lucy like this - she didn't let them - but he was allowed to see her this way.

Her cheeks were dusted pink and her happy laughter rang in the room.

The view, what he could hear, that feeling of being special in Lucy's eyes - but most importantly evidence everywhere that Lucy was happy - it was all so heartwarming.

No really, Natsu literally felt a strange warmth blooming in his chest - and strange warmths were a rarity for fire mages y'know.

And for those few moments all Natsu knew was Lucy. And suddenly it struck him.

He loved her.

It fit. It made sense that he would love her. She was kind, a nice person, smelled good, loyal to a fault and was an awesome best friend - right up there with Happy!

And, like he had discovered just then, she was far more than just pretty.

She was beautiful.

Inside and out.

And because it made sense this new revelation didn't alarm him in the least. Instead, it got more comfy in his head.

Natsu didn't realise he was slowing down the tickling, nor the really goofy smile he had on.

But Lucy did notice, and was about to amusedly ask him what put that smile there (in between all her wheezing), when Happy landed next to them and made a comment on checking the floor for cracks after Lucy's fall.

Needless to say, Lucy shot up, promising to skin "the alley cat" alive for the comment, prompting Happy to take off flying around the apartment wailing, Lucy yelling as she chased him around.

Natsu sat back to watch his best friend's be silly, donning on a big, peaceful grin.

Yeah. He loved Lucy.

And maybe someday, when the time is right, he'll even get to tell her that.

Fluff. Like I promised! :D

I had already handled how Lucy came to realise her feelings for Natsu, so it only felt right to do his side of the story.

Thank you to the Composcreator and xheartthemusic for your reviews (I hope this made you two feel better :D) and everyone who favourited and followed!