Hey-hey~! I'm back!

I know I said I was going to post the last chapter next week but, well, I finished a lot earlier than I thought I was going to.

I hope you like it; I wasn't sure if it is good enough.

But enjoy anyway!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. Hiro Mashima-sensei does!

Natsu POV

"Natsuuu~? I'm so tired. Are we going home yet?" Happy whined as he laid on my head.

It was already dark outside. Only the moon accompanied us. We had just left the guild a few minutes ago. Passing the park, I was reminded of Lucy. 'I wonder if she's alright?'

Lucy had left the guild earlier when the rain finally let up, saying she had to get some stuff from the market. Since Happy and I hated grocery shopping, we decided to stay at the guild. But, in all actuality, we wanted to give her a little space.

"We're going to Lucy's house," I decided abruptly.

"But why~? I'm so tired I could fall asleep on your head!" Happy complained.

I frown a little remembering the salty scent on Lucy. Crossing my arms, I sighed loudly.

"Luce was crying in the rain, Happy," I told him, "I need to check up on the weirdo."

"She was?" Happy yawned, "Well, ok. As long as I get to fall asleep on her warm, soft bed..."

Then, I heard small snores on top of my head. Happy had fallen asleep. I smiled at his antic. Well, he was trying to impress Carla the whole day today. So, I could not blame him for being so tired.

Looking to my right was the river. Lucy always did walk carelessly on the beam beside it. I could imagine the absentminded expression she would have worn while dismissing the warnings from the fishermen. 'I wonder if she did that today?'

I doubt it. She seemed too disturbed to be herself. She had been so weird this past week. It must have been because of the rain! Since it had been pouring the whole week.

I turned my head towards Lucy's building. Her lights were still on. Maybe she was still up.

"Happy, wake up! I need a lift to Lucy's window," I pulled one of his cheeks.

"Why don't you use the door for once? Mira did give you her spare key awhile back, remember?" Happy replied sleepy.

I did remember. But I had never used it before and I was not going to start now. Since I left it at our house. Not that I was going to admit that to Happy!

"But where's the fun in that?" I retorted.

Happy snorted.

"You left it at home with the umbrella, didn't you?" Hapy asked me as he lifted me up to Lucy's window with lidded eyes.

I slowly pushed the window opened. Happy flew me in and set me gently on the floor before he lazily settled beside Lucy's fallen blanket that was on the floor.

I quickly shut the window and turned back, scared if she was awake, she would kick us out. But there she was, asleep on her bed. She had such a disturbed expression on her face. Her bed was in disarray, like she had trashed around on it. 'Is she having nightmares?'

My mind was working slower than my body just then. I switched her lights off and kneeled beside her bed.

Only the moonlight eluminated Lucy's room. I stared at her face. Her eyebrows were furrowed. She was biting her lip and I could see trails of tears on her cheeks. 'She was even crying in her sleep.'

I soothen her blonde hair and held one of her small hands. Her furrowed expression quickly softened and it looked like she was smiling. She pulled my hand closer to her, hugging it and intertwining our fingers.

"Natsu..." She sighed.

I momentarily stiffened. My eyes grew wide. 'Did I wake her? Did she wake up? Was I going to get kicked in the face?' My mind was thinking up questions at the speed of light.

Which was all a waste of time as Lucy's breathing became that of someone fast asleep. Calm and stable. I slowly relaxed and smiled. I continued soothing her hair down until I, too, fell asleep.

Lucy POV

I woke up with something warm between my hands. It had a rough surface and seemed strong and hard. Opening my eyes, I realised it was a hand. Natsu's hand to be precise.

I felt blood rushing to my face. Natsu was asleep with his head near my pillow and was sitting on my floor. I quickly untangle our fingers and gave him a kick.

"LUCY KICK!" I yelled as my foot swung to met his head.

He woke up with a start. Happy had also woken up, startled.

"Ouch!" Natsu exclaimed, rubbing his head, "What was that for?"

"What are you guys doing in my house?!" I yelled, annoyed.

"Lushy, don't be mad at us," Happy said cowering a little.

Natsu scratched his head and looked at me. He blinked and came closer. I pulled away a bit, my blush intensifying.

"W-what?" I stummered.

"Are you feeling any better?" he asked with a smile.

He placed his right hand on my forehead, checking my temperature. I simply swatted him.

"I"m not sick!" I could not help but yell, irritated.

"Come on, Luce. Aren't we partners? You can tell me what's wrong, can't you?" Natsu sighed, fisting his hips.

"N-nothing's wrong! I-I'm completely fine!" I stuttered.

Even someone as dense as Natsu would have known I was lying. And he did know. Hell, even Happy knew!

"Stop lying. I know you were crying in the rain yesterday. And when you were sleeping too. So, tell me the truth!" Natsu begged.

"Yeah, Lushy! Why were you crying? Your crying face doesn't suit you at all!" Happy added.

I did not want to tell them. I was never planning to tell anyone. But Natsu startled me with his words.

"I know I might not be the one you want to let it out to. I'm sure you'd prefer telling Levy but at least telling someone would make you feel a little better," He said that with a concern expression.

I opened and closed my mouth, not knowing what to say. I took a deep breath to calm myself down and thought up coherent sentences in my mind. Natsu and Happy waited patiently for me to start. I had never seen Natsu being patient for anything before.

Exhaling deeply, I started to talk.

"I was dancing in the rain because I didn't have a swimming pool to hold my breath in," I gave him a vague answer.

"A swimming pool... To hold your breath in?" Natsu looked at me confused, "Are you speaking in riddles, Luce? You know I suck at riddles!"

"Yeah, Lushy! You're the only one in our team that understands riddles!" Happy said.

I must have been very perplexing to them. Natsu shook his head and looked me directly in my eyes while holding onto my shoulders.

"Stop speaking in riddles. Tell me what's wrong," Natsu said slowly.

Happy simply nodded in agreement.

I sighed. No use in stalling any further.

"I cry while dancing in the rain because I wanted to melt all my sorrows and regrets away. Losing my mother. Losing my father. And then losing one of my best friends in the world, Aquarius!" I cried in Natsu's shoulder, fisting his vest.

He did not say anything. He soothingly rubbed my back, coating me to continue.

"The rain reminds me of Aquarius. The river reminds me of her! Taking a shower reminds me of her! Even a simple glass of water!" I yelled into his vest, "I cried over a glass of water! Dancing in the rain helps mask my tears and calms me down but every time I see water, I want to cry!"

Natsu hugged me tighter and slowly patted my head. Happy went near us and hugged one of my legs. Tears were flowing from Happy's face as Natsu tried to hold his in.

All three of us fell to our knees, hugging each other tightly.

"I... I don't want to lose anyone ever again!" I screamed into his chest, "I don't care if I get sick in the rain. I don't care about any of that! I just want to forget. That's what dancing in the rain does for me! I get to forget! I get to forget the twisting pain in my chest. The feeling of someone squeezing my throat. How I can't breath! I forget all of that!"

I cried for hours and hours until I could not cry anymore. Natsu and Happy stayed with me the whole time. Never leaving me for even a second. After awhile, I fell asleep in their arms. Their warm and safe arms.

After what seemed like an hour later, I awoken from my slumber. Natsu was still patting my head. Happy was asleep on my bed.

"Hey, Luce," Natsu smiled softly.

"Hey, Natsu," I said back to him.

We both stopped talking after that. We sat comfortably in the silence that surrounded us. Neither saying anything. Neither wanting to break the silence again.

Soon after, Natsu started to speak.

"Hey, Luce? Can I be your partner?"

"... But you are already my partner, aren't you?" I said confused.

"Not that partner, we'll always be that. Can I be your dance partner?" Natsu asked, looking anywhere but me with a tint of pink on his cheeks.

"Huh?"

"Well, I can't make you stop dancing in the rain or anything after knowing why. But I don't want to leave you to be sad all alone and get sick, so..." Natsu looked at me smiling.

"I thought you hated the cold rain,"

Natsu shrugged.

"A small sacrifice for my partner. One I'm willing to take!" He grinned his goofy grin, putting a smile on my face.

"Yes, ok!" I laughed as tears fell. Happy tears for once. Finally, I was crying full of joy instead of sadness. I was free!

And it was all thanks to Natsu and Happy.

Hehe~ So that's the last chapter!

I really hope you liked it! Now, what am I going to do?

Oh well. R&R PLEASE!

Thank you for reading and goodbye for my baby fanfic

Love always,

~StormAria~