AN: Hi. Having an idea of where this story might result with, I thought this be a good time to tell you that I have a poll going on if you don't know about that. Will be up for a while for some last minute voting. Also, I should say this now so you people don't get the wrong idea, this story WON'T go the way you think.

Love can be quite a powerful force, and sometimes people confuse passion for it. Two young lovebirds are about to experience that as they are going have quite a love story. Just like any other love story, we need to start from the beginning. They were just two mere high school students when it all started. The young man of this story, Natsu Dragneel, waited anxiously around a corner as he saw a beautiful girl by her locker and decided to go for it.

"Hey, Lucy." Natsu said as he walked right over to her.

"Hey, Natsu. What's up?" Lucy asked.

"Well, there's something I want to talk to you about." Natsu said. "How long have we known each other and been friends?"

"Since we were kids. Why?" Lucy said.

"Well... I was thinking... Maybe we could be more than friends..." Natsu nervously asked as he took a bouquet of yellow tulips, Lucy's favorite flower, from behind his back and held them for her.

"Are you asking me out?" Lucy said as she almost couldn't believe it.

"That depends. Is the answer yes?" Natsu hoped. Lucy and Natsu have known each other for a while, and she knew she seemed like a nice guy. It wouldn't be the worst idea.

"I think I would like to." Lucy said as she took the flowers and was liking the idea of going out with Natsu. That was only the start.

...

Days Later

Natsu and Lucy already went on their first date and it went really well. The two of them had a great time and decided they want more of it.

"Dad, I'm telling you that Lucy is a great girl." Natsu said as he and his father were having dinner together.

"You don't have to tell me. I've known that girl for years." Igneel said. "She's nice, smart, responsible, and you always seemed happy to be with her. Her mother, Layla, did a great job with her. So, am I looking at someone who could possibly be the future Mrs. Dragneel?"

"Dad, Lucy and I have only been dating a few times." Natsu laughed. "On that note, what about you? Shouldn't you start looking for yourself? Start looking your own Mrs. Dragneel?"

"I had one." Igneel said, but this was a delicate matter for him.

"Yeah, but Mom's been gone for years." Natsu said. "Don't you think it's time you start to find someone. I'm in high school, and I'm not going to be around forever, Dad."

"I appreciate you care, Natsu, but you're just a little hung up on your own joy." Igneel said. "You found your first love, and that is great, but I'm not in a rush to find someone." He said as he was fine with how things were for now. "Besides, I might not be dating, but I could still be having fun with the women."

"Dad." Natsu laughed as his old man is quite a jolly guy that he loves.

...

Lucy

"Mom, I've got to admit that I don't know why I waited so long to date Natsu." Lucy said as she was talking to her mother at the same time and was just as happy about her new found relationship.

"It all sounds great, but don't get too ahead of yourself, Lucy." Layla said. "Natsu is a great guy, don't get me wrong, but don't crash and burn."

"I know, but I never knew Natsu was this good of a guy." Lucy said. "He listened, tended to my needs, acted considerate, and more. It seems like a great start so far."

"You don't have to convince me." Layla said. "I knew what a nice guy he was from your father's funeral. He was so nice and considerate at the time, and I still remember the flowers he and his father gave us as condolences and what he could use to honor him."

"Yeah... I wonder what Dad would think if he saw this now." Lucy said.

"Probably thinking of ways to kill Natsu if he breaks your heart." Layla said as the two of them shared a laugh. "Lucy, you got yourself a good one. I really do hope things work out."

"I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but I have a feeling they will." Lucy said because love isn't about knowledge. It's more about feeling, and they were both feeling it.

...

Couple Years Later

Natsu and Lucy continued on with their relationship and it lasted for a couple years. The two of them practically became the big high school couple. The two of them had a great time together and always seem to be happy. The two of them went to prom together. As the night that most high school students looked forward to came to an end, the two of them walked out together hand in hand.

"I'm telling you that we were robbed." Natsu said. "King and queen should have been ours. We were THEE high school couple. How did we get voted out to the stereotypical star quarterback and head cheerleader?"

"Can't win them all, I guess." Lucy claimed. Despite that, the two of them had a lot of fun. They've been together for so many years and it appeared to be deeply in love. "Besides, I say this is a good contingency prize." Lucy pushed Natsu against the car and started to passionately kiss him. Lucy really loved him, trusted him, and felt secured with him.

"Well, I should probably get you home." Natsu said.

"Not just yet." Lucy said as she felt daring. She opened up the back of the car and got Natsu to get in and lean back. Once he was like that, she crawled in and got on top of him with her closing the door. Natsu knew what she wanted and certainly didn't disagree. As the two of them removed each other's clothing and got even closer than they already have, the two of them really felt loved by each other. Sadly, this love didn't last.

...

Months Later

Their plan was to go to college together so they can always be together. It seemed like the two of them were meant for each other, especially when the two of them wanted to stay together. However, a problem came at the last minute. It was Natsu's dream to become a fireman while Lucy wanted to be a writer, but a bigger dream she had was to be with Natsu forever. That's where the problem came in. Natsu got accepted into a school that could help him become that, but Lucy couldn't go with him. It was a choice between love and dream, part of an infinite struggle between romance and career. Natsu chose...

"Natsu, are you serious?" Lucy said as she was crying. "You tell me this now?" Natsu didn't have the heart to tell her until now, when she was getting ready to leave for school.

"I'm sorry." Natsu said.

"You're sorry? You're sorry?! That's all you have to say?!" Lucy cried.

"Look, I don't like this anymore than you!" Natsu claimed. "It's an opportunity for me that I can't turn down! It's my dream, and I thought you of all people would understand!"

"But what does that mean for us?!" Lucy said as this practically means they can't be together anymore. They just don't think a relationship would work if they're not together. Natsu didn't really know what to say. "Just go... Just go!" She shouted. Natsu just did what she said as he turned away and walked to his father's car while Lucy ran straight into her mother's arms. Layla and Igneel looked at their kids and each other's as they felt so bad. It's always upsetting to see your kid in so much pain. Lucy's upset because Natsu is leaving, Natsu is upset because Lucy isn't understanding.

"I'm sorry, son." Igneel said when Natsu got in the car.

"Just drive, Dad." Natsu said as he didn't want to talk about it. From there, it was all downhill for love with both of them.

...

Four Years Later

As love might come to an end, life still goes on. Both of them went to school, did their work, and they both have now become graduates from college and plan to return home. That's what Lucy is doing as she's packing the last of her stuff from her dorm.

"Yeah, Mom. I'm just packing everything I have and I should be home by tomorrow." Lucy said as she talked with her mother over the phone.

"It will be so good to have you home." Layla said.

"I hope you weren't too lonely without me." Lucy teased.

"I managed to cope." Layla said.

"Well, I'll be glad to be home myself, and it will be even better when I don't see Natsu." Lucy said as there was still some anger there.

"Lucy, you talk about Natsu every chance you get." Layla said out of concern. "Is there still a torch for him?"

"Only one of anger." Lucy said as she never got over what he did. It seems there are still some strong emotions with him.

"Lucy, it was years ago." Layla said. "Shouldn't it be ancient history by now? Besides, you knew it was always his dream to become a fireman. This was the best chance he had."

"Are you defending him?!" Lucy said.

"No... I just don't want you to hold on to this anger." Layla said. "There must be some way you can get over it."

"Mom, I rather not talk about it." Lucy said. "I'll see you tomorrow." Lucy still holds something towards Natsu, but if it's anger, why hold on to it for all these years instead of letting it go?

...

Natsu

"Cheers to the newest fireman!" A party was being held for Natsu and his friends to celebrate him becoming a real fireman. It was a happy moment for him.

"Thanks a lot, guys." Natsu said as they all chugged down his drinks and everyone was having a great time. "Sorry, but I do need to cut back on the drinks. I'm driving up to surprise my old man. He's expecting me home tomorrow, but I plan to surprise him by showing up at home tonight."

"Come on, Natsu. Let's party first!"

"There are also a ton of babes here! They're going to love a fireman!" It did sound like fun as Natsu had a look around to see some beautiful woman, but he thought he spotted Lucy in the crowd.

"Lucy?" Natsu thought it was her, but when he cleared his vision, he saw it was just another blonde woman. Believing he saw his ex damped the party mood Natsu was feeling. He never quite got over what happened with Lucy either. Break ups are never easy, especially when you really loved that person. Sometimes something comes out of it, but sometimes it's not what they expect.

...

The Dragneel House

Natsu still went through with his plan. He drove up to his father's home and wanted to surprise him that night. Luckily, he was sober enough to drive. When he got there, he saw the lights were still on and that meant to him his father was still up. He went straight up to the front door and it was unlocked to his luck.

"Dad..." Natsu whispered as he crept his way into the house, but he saw no sign of him in the living room. He moved quietly in and closed the door to help in his surprise, but he didn't see his father anywhere. He looked around and tried to find where Igneel was until he spotted something on the dining room table and got a closer look. "Candles... Rose petals..." He looked around and found something else. "Discarded clothing...some of it women's clothing... Dad has a date?" This caught Natsu's interest. He never heard anything about his father dating someone. "Please don't let me walk into something." Curiosity getting the better of him, Natsu had a look around to see if he could find his father and his mystery date. Natsu searched around until he heard a splashing sound from the bathroom and saw the door was partly opened. Natsu couldn't help himself and had look inside to see his father sitting in the tub with his back to him taking a bubble bath. The only reason a straight man takes a bubble bath is if someone else is involved, and it looked like she was under the water doing you-know-what. "Oh, Dad..." He whispered as he never knew his Dad to be like that. He was rather curious as to who the woman was until he finally saw her emerge out of the water. To Natsu's shock, the woman was a spitting image of Lucy, but looked a lot older. His eyes weren't tricking him this time. It was none other than Layla Heartfilia, Lucy's mother. Natsu thought he was mistaken, but he wasn't as he saw Layla combed her fingers through his hair and pulled him, actually kissing his father. Those two are intimate with each other? Their kids were talking about their parents dating, but not this. It's the biggest shock to Natsu. How did this happen?