A/N: I had lost muse juice for a while with this story but I think I have it back now. I just did free writing. I did no editing, nor did I read it over. I just typed what felt natural happening between these two. Please enjoy ^-^/

O.o.O.o

Two days went by. Natsu didn't see Lucy at the guild and neither was she at her apartment. He had checked both during the day and night for her, but the landlady said she hadn't been back. She also had no clue where Lucy had gone. He was on his way back home with Happy, who walked beside him, the cat's face a depressing reflection of his. Natsu cupped his hands behind his head as he walked, his face tilted towards the night sky, sparsely dotted with stars that seemed as dull as Natsu.

Something had to be wrong. He'd never seen Lucy act that way, with that particular atmosphere around here. Sure, he didn't pay enough attention to recognize it for what it was, but he wasn't too dense that he couldn't pick up when something shifted. He scratched the back of his head then dropped his hand to his side. He probably needed to do something for her. But what exactly? He spent a lot of time with Lucy but realized…he didn't know much of what she really liked. He just knew most of the things she would react to; what would piss her off or some of what could make her cry.

He groaned and Happy looked up at him. "What's wrong, Natsu?"

"Lucy. I can't figure out what's wrong with her."

"Maybe she went to visit her dad."

He came to an abrupt halt, gravel crunched beneath his sandals and he grinned at Happy. Why didn't he think of that? Lucy was talking to her father now, wasn't she? She had mentioned visiting him days…maybe weeks ago.

"Let's go there."

"I'm hungry," Happy whined, rubbing his paw over his grumbling stomach.

"We can eat at her place. And her dad's rich. So he's got loads of food. Let's go!"

"Aye sir!"

Natsu grinned at Happy and they both continued, with a renewed energy about them.

Lucy sighed as she stared up at the canopy of her old bedroom. It was so massive, she felt so small and swallowed – just as she had as a little girl. Nothing had changed. The walls were still painted a baby pink shade, her crayon hand drawings plastered in several positions on the wall. The musical box was still on her night table and was still fully functional. Her trunk of toys still stood against the eastern wall and the lid wasn't shut; a few of her toys peeped out at her. A soft smile came to her lips but didn't linger for long as her thoughts strayed.

She wondered if he was worried about her. If they were all worried about her? She probably should have said something before she left but knew he would have probably followed her. And what she needed wasn't for him to follow her, but the space away from him. She needed time to think and get over what she felt for him. It was silly, absolutely ridiculous. Natsu wasn't even her type. There was nothing romantic about him. He was the most dense guy she had ever met. But then he made up for it with how much he cared for her; how he managed to cheer her up and put a smile on her face when she felt her lowest. And on those seldom occasions when he would hug her…they were the best hugs she had ever had.

She pressed her hand over her left breast and felt how rapidly her heart beat there. Just at the thought of him. It was probably because he had grown on her. They spent so much time together. So it was probably just a consequence she had to suffer. She bit her lip and threw her hand up over her eyes. Maybe she needed to put the romance novels away. Probably that was to blame for the ridiculous way she was feeling.

"So this is where you actually were?"

Lucy frowned at the sound of the familiar voice and slowly lowered her hand from her eyes. Natsu stood at the side of her bed; his hands folded across his chest while Happy hovered beside him.

A scream left her and she stopped herself, almost choking on her gasp. "Why are you here? Why do you always do that?" She yelled at him then turned to the door when she heard rapid but soft knocking.

"Lucy, Lucy are you okay in there?"

"I'm okay, Papa. I just…it was a bug but I got rid of it."

"Okay." His tone was uncertain, as if he didn't believe her lie but then she heard his footsteps grow faint before she turned a hostile glare at Natsu that could have turned him to ash if he wasn't already so used to the heat.

"We were worried about you."

"You could have used the front door."

"But the balcony doors are open."

"How did you even know this is my room."

"Instinct." And he gave her that stupid grin.

"Get out."

Natsu frowned and came close, sitting on the edge of her bed. "I'm not going anywhere."

Lucy's eyes slid up to his and she frowned, blinking at him. "What?"

"You heard me. We need to talk."

She felt her chest tighten and she pushed herself up further on her bed, her gaze was suspicious as she regarded him. What could he possibly want to talk about with her? And he looked so serious, it was enough to put her on edge.

Happy looked between them, sensing the atmosphere and mumbled that he was going to get food before leaving the room. Lucy wrapped her hands around her knees, drawn to her chest, as she looked at him; waiting for him to say what he had to.

"What's the matter?"

"What do you mean?"

"You usually don't up and leave like that. What went wrong? Did I do something?"

"No." Yes.

"Then what is it?"

She shrugged noncommittally, avoiding his eyes and looking at a point beyond his shoulder. It was suddenly cold in her room and the goose bumps that prickled her flesh caught his attention. He moved closer and Lucy, reacting with alarm, moved away from him.

"What are you doing?"

"You're cold."

"I'm fine."

"Come here."

"No."

Natsu rolled his eyes and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her. Lucy pushed against him, trying to pull out of his embrace but his grip was strong and he wouldn't budge. She let out an exasperated sigh, her body still stiff against his. "I don't need you, Natsu."

"Hmm, I think you do."

She scoffed and said nothing else. She hated how quickly warmth spread through her, and how quickly the color rushed to her cheeks from feeling his embrace. She wanted to snuggle into him, to breathe in his scent and all the other rubbish written in novels – acted out in the movies. But she wasn't at liberty to do so. This was probably just another stupid dream.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming here?"

"I didn't want you to follow me."

He frowned at that. She felt his grip become slack but his arms remained around her. "Do you hate it when I do? When I come to see you?"

"Sometimes. Because you, Gray and Happy always trash my place; or invade my privacy."

He chuckled as if that was something good and Lucy tried to pull away from him again but he wouldn't let her. "Would you prefer if I stopped?"

"Would you?" she asked and looked up at him then.

"I'm asking if you would want that. Yes or no?"

She continued looking at him and blinked once…twice. They both stared at each other, their bodies close. She saw his gaze shift, go slightly lower then back to meet her eyes. If she said yes, would he really stop visiting her? She swallowed and licked her lips. Somehow, his face seemed to be getting coser to hers. Their noses almost touched and his warm breath fanned over her slightly parted lips.

"Natsu…"

"Yes or no, Lucy?"

"N-…" He was going to kiss her. She couldn't continue because he was going to kiss her and she wanted him to so badly. Gods, she didn't want this to be another dream. She closed her eyes and as she felt the slightest brush of his warm lips, the door opened and they both sprang apart from each other.

"Miss Lucy, I heard you had a guest. I brought snacks."

Lucy squeezed her eyes shut, tried to silence the frustrated screams in her mind before turning to face the servant. Wasn't it time for them to be off duty? She wanted to sap the tray out of her hand and yell at her. What the hell was wrong with everybody and their inability to read the atmosphere.

Natsu however, didn't seem the least bit pissed off about the abrupt intrusion. He went straight to the maid and took the plate of food from her and started eating as he left her room. The maid bowed to Lucy then left the room, closing the door. Lucy blinked at the closed door, wondering if anything had really just happened between them? Had he really just tried to kiss her, or was it another fleeting fantasy?

Natsu's heart was racing and he almost felt as if sweat would break out on his face. What the hell had he almost done? Something had come over him at that moment, and he wasn't exactly sure what it had been.

But he'd make sure never to do anything like that, ever again.

O.o.O.o