AN: So, there's a lot of basketball in this chapter. I don't know if Natsu would pick basketball over any other sport, but it's the one that I know most about, so, please bear with it. :) No one seemed put off by it to begin with, but I just wanted throw it out there anyway. Now then... *Runs off to hide self before the mob comes *

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima does. I do not own the song, It's All Coming Back to Me Now, that is sung by the forever talented Celine Dion.

Chapter 4

~When you see me like this, and when I see you like that~

"I want every detail," Levy said as soon as they got into Lucy's room. She pushed Lucy onto her bed, and stood in front of her with her hands on her hips. "We're not leaving until I know everything about your history with Natsu Dragneel."

Lucy shrugged. "There really isn't much to tell."

"Then we shouldn't be here long." Levy smirked, moving her arms slowly so they crossed over her chest, trying to act intimidating. Though it was hard for Lucy to take the smaller woman seriously.

"Where should I start?" the blonde woman shrugged again, her gaze shifting to her balcony doors. "We met as kids when they moved in next door. My parents - er, my father - wanted to show me off as the perfect little girl. Our mothers insisted that we become friends after that. After my mom died, he was there for me. Then Father suddenly decided that I was to go Mermaid Heel, and we fought. I don't remember what was said, precisely, and I don't even think we said goodbye."

Levy watched as her friend's facial expression changed through her story, ending with her eyes tightly closed, her hands clenched into tight fists. Levy knelt down in front of her and gently placed her hand on Lucy's knee, waiting until the blonde opened her now wet eyes and looked at her.

"Many people separate from their childhood friends to move on with their lives," Levy said softly. "Sometimes it's for the best. In your case, you get a second chance to make things right with him."

"I don't know how I can face him after all these years." Lucy shook her head. "I purposely drowned myself in school work, forgetting everything that happened in my past life. If it wasn't for the occasional birthday cards from my dad, I'd forget about him, too. I haven't thought of Natsu once in ten years until Wendy showed up just now. I feel like everything that happened is just a dream that I once had, and none of it happened at all in real life."

Levy pulled her friend into an embrace. "I think, when the two of you meet again, it'll be like you just saw each other yesterday, and there isn't ten years of separation between you two."

Lucy chuckled softly. "I highly doubt that. He isn't going to let it slide without putting my in my place first."

"Try not to sound so enthusiastic about it," Levy mumbled, earning a little pinch on the arm.

~.~

~Then we see what we want to see. All coming back to me~

The next day the girls spent the morning and afternoon lounging by the pool. It had been so long since either of them allowed themselves a moment of relaxation, and they found that neither of them wanted to willingly leave their lounge chairs.

Finally, in the early evening, Levy jumped up when her phone started buzzing. Lucy glanced questioningly at her friend.

"Lucy! There's something important I wanted to watch on TV," Levy stated, excitedly. She grabbed her towel and wrapped it around herself. "I need your help to figure it out." She pulled Lucy's arms, forcing the blonde to sluggishly pull herself from her seat. She wrapped her towel around her body and hurriedly followed the bluenette inside.

"You've only been here for two days," Lucy said, watching her friend, astonished, as the girl grabbed the remote and handed it to her. "What could possibly be on TV right now that you have to watch?"

Lucy clicked the power button, and was met with cheers, music, and commentators.

"Tonight is Game 7 of the Fiore championship playoffs between the Crocus Knights and the Magnolia Wizards."

Lucy felt the remote almost slip from her fingers, but quickly tightened her hold on it, blindly trying to find the power button. She couldn't take her eyes off the screen, even as Levy wrenched the device from her fingers, effectively hiding it so the blonde couldn't turn it off.

Levy sat on the large couch that was positioned in front of the TV, whistling slightly. "I can't imagine the amount of disappointment coming from his hometown," she mumbled. "Being drafted into the Knights when he lives in Magnolia."

Lucy also gently sat herself on the couch.

"But, you can't help who you're drafted into," Levy continued, pulling her feet up and tucking them under her rear.

"Everyone has been excited and full of energy watching these two teams play during the series. The rivalry of the ages."

"That's right, Macao, and with the series tied, it's anyone's game. Can the Knights defend their championship? Or will the Wizards swoop in and steal it from under them, ending the Knights' four season win streak?"

Lucy inhaled sharply as the camera panned over two men, one with short black hair, and the other…

"Well, the Wizards have been giving their all against the Knights. But the most exciting part about watching these two teams are these players right here."

"Gray Fullbuster and Natsu Dragneel certainly are two peas in a pod. Did you hear Fullbuster's interview after their last game, Wakaba? Apparently they have been rivals since childhood."

"It's absolutely amazing. It's all in good fun, though, wouldn't you say? Despite the way it looks like they absolutely hate each other, both players play a fair game. Neither of them have any fouls against each other."

"It warms my heart to see two young, brilliantly talented players play the game for the enjoyment of the sport."

"Looks like the game is about to get underway as the teams take the court. Referee Mest Glider is our head ref today. He tosses the ball, and Gray is the first to reach the ball, passing it to Lyon Vastia."

Lucy clutched her towel tighter to her body as she watched the game unfold. Levy glanced at her, and smirked slightly.

Lucy couldn't believe that she was watching him play. She hadn't seen him play any sport since before she found out about her mother's illness. He was always smiling, even if the ball was taken from him, or if he managed to foul someone - he always had that boyish grin on his face. Even now, he didn't think of the game as anything other than a way to have fun, and, boy, was he having fun.

She felt her lips curl up slightly as he laughed and high-fived his teammate. She shook her head as she managed to point out every single man on the court as someone she used to know. Gray, Lyon, Loki, Gajeel, Jellal...was that Sting? And Rogue?! She didn't even know those boys liked basketball, let alone want to play it professionally.

"Hey, Luigi! Eh, what are you doing?"

"Nothing, go away. And that's not my name."

"Do you want to play a game of HORSE with me?"

"No. Go away."

"Aw, why?"

"Because you always win that stupid game. Besides I'm practicing."

"Practicing what? You're just standing there."

"Exactly."

"Standing? What the hell do you have to practice standing for? And what's with the book? I don't think that's how you're supposed to read."

"I'm not reading it, you dummy. I'm practicing my posture. I'm going to grow up and be a proper lady one day, and balancing a book on my head is supposed to help that."

"You're weird. AH! Hey, don't throw things!"

"Shut up! Go play your stupid boy games and let me practice being a lady!"

"Okay, okay. I can see you need lots of practice. Ladies don't throw books."

"Natsu Dragneel, I'm going to murder you!"

Lucy smiled as the scene presented itself through the fog of her memories. He always knew how to rile her up, and, in the end, always get what he wanted out of her. She angrily chased him out of her room, down the ladder that he had put up, and into his yard. When they reached his basketball court, he tossed the ball to her, saying that since she was already there, why don't they play a game. He always knew how to get his way with her, and, she supposed, spoiled him more than his parents ever could.

She had gotten in trouble with her parents, and she refused to rat out Natsu. Granted, she was grounded for a week - but that didn't stop him from sneaking into her room - but she never regretted it. She never regretted any moment with him.

A buzzer sound from the TV brought her out of her reverie. The teams separated, and the halftime break began. Levy stood up from the couch.

"I'm going to go get changed before the next half starts. Should I order take out or something?"

"Sure," Lucy responded mindlessly. She smiled as the camera panned to Natsu's smiling face. He was having fun. And he didn't have the slightest clue that she was watching him.

~.~

~The flesh and the fantasies. All coming back to me~

It was the middle of the fourth quarter, and the teams were evenly matched. The atmosphere on the court was heavy, and Natsu felt it, but he didn't let himself be intimidated. He wanted to win, sure, but he already accumulated four championship rings. He wouldn't be entirely disappointed if his team lost. Would he say that out loud? Hell no. Whether they won or not, he still played with everything he had, he never held back.

"You're finally going down, flamebrain," Gray muttered as he bounced the ball in place. Natsu held his arms out, ready for the man's next move.

"Not if I stop you, ice princess," he muttered back, a small smirk on his features.

Gray dribbled twice before jumping slightly to his right before juking to the left. Natsu didn't fall for it, however, and he chased the stripper down. Gray had amazingly lost his shirt at least five time since the start of the game, and he was threatened with a personal foul if he did it again.

The shot clock ticked down, ten seconds now. Gray passed the ball and ran around the outside, Natsu on his heels the whole time. They circled around to the basket, the ball being passed to Gray, who caught it and tossed it up, the ball easily going in. Natsu grabbed the ball, shaking his head as Gray pointed at him, laughing, not unkindly.

Natsu passed the ball to Gajeel and the pair jogged to the opposite end of the court, Natsu taking his place at the right side of the court. Watching as Gajeel got into position, Natsu darted around Gray and made his way to the basket. Gajeel passed the ball, but it was grabbed by Lyon. The crowd cheered, drowning out the sound of Gajeel and Natsu swearing very loudly.

Natsu had slipped on the court to take off after Lyon, catching up to the other man easily. Lyon jumped when he reached the basket, with every intention to dunk the ball, but Natsu jumped up and stopped the ball. Lyon fell back as Natsu grabbed the ball and darted down the court.

He smiled as he could hear the crowd going wild. He was going to give them the best finisher of the season. All he had to do was get passed the airheaded Toby Horhorta, and the game would go to the Knights. Natsu, being the showoff that he is, headed straight for Toby, the oddly tanned character standing there with his arms out. Natsu laughed as he jumped, practically floating over the defender.

The basket was in reach, the ball was so close. Natsu put his hand on Toby's shoulder to propel him further, but fate had other plans. Toby's knees buckled as Natsu pushed on him, causing the pinkette to falter, his flying spectacle cut short as he whirled around.

He had only a moment to register that he was falling wrong before something hard hit his head, and the world went black.

~.~

~I can barely recall, but it's all coming back to me now~

Levy's hands shot to her mouth as her eyes widened at the sight. The crowd from the screen went eerily silent; she thought she had hit the mute button for a second.

"Get up."

Levy glanced to her left to see Lucy's eyes glued to the screen, her eyes unblinking. The blonde slowly stood from her seat. "Why isn't he getting up?" she whispered.

Nothing seemed to register in Lucy's mind as she watched the medical team surround her friend. She couldn't hear what the announcers were saying as they decided to play back his fall. She watched as Natsu fell onto his shoulder, over and over again. Why were they doing that to her? She wanted to see Natsu now, not his past self.

The screen went back to the commotion as his teammates piled around the medical team, trying to see their friend. Gajeel was practically shoving people aside, not caring if they were there to help or not.

"Get up, Natsu," she whispered again. She reached the screen, her palms pressing against the glass, willing her spirit to travel to him through the waves. "You can take one fall, can't you? Get up!"

Levy pulled her friend from the TV as she started to hit the device. The blonde choked back a sob as as a stretcher was pushed onto the scene.

"Come on, Natsu! I've seen you fall from higher than that! Get up!" She started fighting as Levy pushed her back on the couch.

This was the second time the smaller woman had to fight Lucy back onto the couch during the game, but Lucy seemed to be fighting harder this time. Levy had no idea how much into the game Lucy actually was, shouting at the referees for bad calls, pointing out dirty tricks, cheering for good plays...in which Levy had absolutely no idea what was going on.

"Lucy, he's going to be okay!" Levy shouted, trying to calm the blonde down.

"Damn right, he's going to be okay! I don't understand why they won't let him walk on his own! Open your eyes, Natsu!"

Lucy fought to scramble back to the screen, shouting at Natsu all the while. Tears streamed down her face while she watched as his body was carefully hoisted onto the stretcher. Photographers fought for pictures, his teammates fought them back, the medical team tried to rush off the court and into the locker room. Gajeel had been kicked out of the game for trying to fight the other team for what they had done to Natsu, even though it was all an accident.

Lucy didn't stop fighting until Natsu disappeared, and a commercial started. She tightly grabbed onto Levy as she cried onto her friend's shoulder. She continued mumbling how he had taken much worse than that, but the words were gibberish mixed with her crying.

Levy bit her bottom lip as she held Lucy against her. The fear of what actually might have happened hanging in the air, but neither of them dared to think it. He didn't die. There was no way. Sure, it looked like he hit his head when he fell, but they couldn't be absolutely sure, right? He was actually fine, right?

He had fallen much harder before...he was going to be okay.

Right?

~.~

AN: Don't hate meeeeeeeeee. I'll give you a little bit of spoiler so no one dies from a heart attack and I end up getting tons of hate mail. Natsu isn't dead...he'll be fine, actually. I know the fear of watching something like that happen to someone you really care about, without knowing if that person would be okay or not. Luckily for me, the only time I've witnessed it the person only really suffered a slight concussion and a broken ankle. It is scary, though. Well, with that in mind, please don't hate me, kay? :) I'll see you guys in a week or so for the next...and final...chapter. ^_^/)