This chapters a little wonky, it switches between following Lucy and Natsu. Also, it's a little cheesy… But enjoy! Chapter 3 coming soon!

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Lucy wrapped her arms tightly around her knees, barely able to see the river in front of her with such tear-filled eyes. She squeezed her eyes shut, letting the hot tears spill onto her cheeks. Her heart pounded as the fight replayed over and over again in her head. Her face was flushed with anger.

Who did Natsu think he was, anyway? Why did he always have to take things too far? He had no right to be calling her lazy, or making her seem spoiled by her past. He didn't understand at all- and today of all days, too…

Suddenly, there was a hand on her shoulder.

"Lucy?"

Loke had appeared and knelt beside her, looking concerned. Lucy sighed in exasperation, looking away from his gentle gaze.

"I didn't call you out…"

Seeming to ignore the comment, the Spirit wiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks.

"What happened? Are you hurt…?"

Lucy nudged him away, getting angry again. Why did everyone have to be so pushy!

"Go away- I just want to be alone!"

He frowned at her angry expression but obeyed, slowly disappearing in a flash of light. Not yet satisfied, Lucy pulled out her ring of keys and angrily threw them out of arm's reach. Then she returned to hugging her knees, leaning her head down and just staring at the water before her as it streamed past.

After a moment, she began to regret getting so angry. Loke, and Natsu… they were her friends, and she had no real reason to be yelling at them… Lucy felt worse, now realizing how bad a friend she was. There was only one person she wanted to talk to today and she couldn't, but that wasn't Natsu or Loke's fault…

The tears only fell faster down her cheeks as her anger began to turn to guilt and regret- Natsu was her best friend and on a day like this she should want him close, not push him away. A small sob caught in her throat. What had she been thinking?

"Lucy…?"

She could practically hear his voice, warm and innocent as always…

Natsu peeked over the riverbank down at his friend. She was sitting by the water, hugging her knees with her back to the dragon slayer. He frowned as he saw her shoulders shaking slightly, then quickly ducked back out of sight to make sense of the scene.

Lucy was crying. It made him angry to think anyone could make her this upset, but his stomach dropped at the idea that this was his fault. What had he done? Her words played over and over again in his head.

I just can't stand the thought of going anywhere with an ass like you!

Lucy always seemed so happy to go on jobs with him- was she just pretending all that time? Natsu was so unsure what to think.

You don't know me at all! You don't know anything!

Each time he recalled those words his throat tightened a little more. Lucy was his best friend- at least he thought… Maybe he really didn't know anything.

Lucy's voice snapped Natsu back to reality, and he peeked back over the bank to see what was happening. Loke was there beside her now, and she seemed angry as she looked up at the Spirit.

"Go away!" Natsu heard her yell, "I just want to be alone!"

Crestfallen, Loke faded away, and Lucy threw her keys away in frustration before returning to crying. Natsu frowned. If Lucy was mad at him, she should take it out on him, not her other friends. The pink-haired boy felt bad for getting her spirits caught up in his problem, even if he didn't understand how it was his problem in the first place.

Lucy let out a choked sob and with a twist in his stomach Natsu suddenly decided he had enough. He absolutely hated seeing Lucy cry and always swore to prevent it from happening. He couldn't stand the idea of her being this upset over something he had done to her, and even if he didn't understand the situation he had to do something.

The dragon slayer stood and slowly climbed down the riverbank, hesitantly approaching the sobbing girl.

"Lucy?"

He called uncertainly, afraid she might turn on him again. No response. He swallowed at the lump in his throat then took a step forward.

"Lucy, please-"

He placed a hand on her shoulder and she jumped, turning to look up at him. Her eyes were wide and moist, and her cheeks were damp and rosy. Her pale lips trembled around his name.

"N-Natsu?"

Natsu felt like crying, too, as he looked down at his friend. He didn't even know exactly what he did but he was a monster, anyone who made Lucy cry like this was a monster- he could barely speak his throat was so tight.

"Lucy I- I'm just so s-"

Suddenly she threw herself against his chest, wrapping her shaking arms around his middle and hiding her tear-streaked face against his neck.

"Natsu I'm s-so sorry-!"

The dragon slayer's eyes widened in surprise, his arms held awkwardly out at his sides, unsure what to do. He had expected her to yell at him again, maybe hit him- anything but this! Her breath caught on a sob, muffled against his shoulder, and finally he gently brought his arms around her.

"Lucy, please- don't cry…"

He felt her trembling and held her closer against his chest, wanting to warm his friend. Her hands squeezed into fists pressing into his back, and he could feel his scarf beginning to soak from her tears.

"I- I'm not really angry with you, I just-"

Natsu gently rubbed the blonde's back, unable to bear her trembling voice any longer.

"Shh, it's okay Lucy. You don't have to explain yourself."

Natsu didn't know what he was doing; he just wanted to see Lucy happy again. He pressed a hand to the back of her head, smoothing out her blonde her hair and waiting until her sobs slowly subsided, tears no longer staining his scarf. With a sniffle Lucy stepped back, peeking at him with red eyes. Happy she was finally calming down Natsu reached out and wiped away the last of her tears. For a moment she leaned into the warm touch before looking away, cheeks flushing.

"I'm sorry- I don't know what came over me…"

Natsu shook his head.

"You don't have to keep apologizing, Lucy."

The blonde mage brought a clenched hand to her chest, it still trembling slightly.

"I mean it, though- you're my best friend, Natsu, I shouldn't be yelling at you like that for no reason… I don't mean what I said, I'm just upset today because- well- it's my birthday…"

Natsu pulled his eyebrows together- confused.

"What?"

Lucy rubbed her arm, uncomfortable.

"…and it's my mother's, too. We share a birthday. But-" her lips began to tremble again "we don't get to share it together anymore…"

Natsu could see her getting upset again and quickly stepped forward, squeezing her shoulder.

"Lucy…"

She lifted her head and suddenly damp, brown eyes met black and locked there. Neither one could look away from the other, and Lucy almost thought she felt warmer just by looking into those affectionate, dark eyes. Natsu didn't know what to say, didn't know how to put his feelings into words. Finally, Lucy swallowed hard and said somewhat hesitantly

"I… I haven't been to visit her grave yet… Will you… come with me?"

It was difficult to ask such a question, but Lucy needed Natsu- she couldn't keep pushing everyone away. The dragon slayer nodded quickly, relieved to finally have a way to help his friend.

"O-of course!"

Lucy nodded slowly, then timidly turned to lead the way.

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Am I saying 'friends' too much? Is it ruining the mood? Tell me these kinds of things, people! D;