Okay after sharing what I had in mind, we shall continue our path of development. From now on I shall write the chapters "Before" and "After" for it to be easier for you guys.

Oh and by the way, I will be answering every one of your reviews so ask whatever questions you have.

Chapter 3 – Can't Back Down

BEFORE

My eyes felt heavy and my head was like full of liquid, making it hard for me both to move and open my eyes. My body felt numb at first, but the pain started running through lots of places I didn't know could hurt.

And then realization hit me.

I had drunk all evening yesterday and then Natsu had taken me to my house. But that was not all. The puzzle in my head started to fill all of the missing pieces and when the idea was fully formed I forgot about everything that was going on with my body and just jumped in my bed.

I blinked a few times so I could adjust to the light and took a deep breath to feel everything that hurt or itched.

There were my legs, my wrist, a small ache on my neck, a lot in the head, lips and lastly right between my legs. There it was as sore as it had never been before.

I turned my head to where Natsu was supposed to be but he was not there. As I touched the spot I felt how cold it was, which gave me the reason to believe he had been gone for quite some time.

I sighed and looked at the time. It was pretty late and he had probably left for the guild or something. I looked for a note, but there was nothing.

I decided it was not a big deal for him to stay with me in bed, even though, deep inside, I wanted him to be there when I woke up. To smile with that stupid grin of his that always showed his perfectly white, sharp teeth that were just like dragon's. And maybe say a good morning or hug me for a little while before we get up.

Or I was delusional.

We had a one night stand. That was it. A one nighter. And that is why he was not here in the morning. We were both drunk, our hormones had hit their peak, we had had a very hard mission and that was how we could relax. That was all.

And even so, I felt empty and hurt. I have never thought of Natsu as something more than a best friend to me. Because he was my best friend. I may have Erza, Wendy, Mira or Gray, but Natsu has always been right next to me. We have laughed together, cried together, fought together and now…slept together.

My mind clouded with thoughts, which felt far more painful than any of the other physical aches all over my body.

I forced myself to get out of bed and just suck it up.

I have gotten through so much for so little time and I was not going to let our little slip up play mind games on me. This was Natsu after all. He was just going to goof about it, and oh god…probably say it in front of the whole guild.

I froze in my tracks and felt a single tear drop down my cheek. I was so stupid. Why did I let myself do such a thing? I shouldn't have drunk in the first place. Then nothing of this wouldn't have happened and right now I wasn't going to cry in my kitchen while making my morning hot chocolate.

Usually my chocolate is the only thing in the morning that gave me strength through the day, but sometimes nothing could make it better.

Except Natsu. He was like my hot chocolate except right now he was more like the early morning. There was such thing, but I didn't want to experience it.

I found the strength to get dressed and get out of my house because it was passed noon and the jobs could not be left aside. Plus the whole guild would start asking questions if I am not there on time. They are usually thoughtful to be asking such things, but right now, I didn't want to answer any of them.

When I entered the guild hall, I encountered the same noisy and in the mean time extremely homey environment there was each day. There were still some damages, a few scratches on the wall, some broken glass here and there, but Mira was taking care.

I made a mental note to go help her after I finish. Even though I didn't know what I had to finish.

Don't act stupid, Heartfilia, you know exactly what you want to finish. I want to see him, talk to him, figure out what is it going to be from now on. Just do it. Go find Natsu.

I looked around the hall, but none of the faces looked like his. He was nowhere to be seen, which lead me to believe that he was back to his house or on a mission. The second one seemed more believable.

I jogged to the white haired beauty and said, with my voice slightly shaky and raspy, "Hey Mira, have you seen Natsu."

She left her word aside and looked around, "Well he was here a few hours ago. Walked a little around the Request Board and then picked a mission. " And he was on a mission after all. "I asked where you were, but the only answer I got was a few mumbles of you being home and something like that." Okay, he hadn't spilled a single word, not good at lying. I felt relief wash over me, but it was quickly replaced. "But the mission, it worried me, Lucy," Mira dropped her gaze to her hands first and then looked me straight in the eye. "He took an S-class mission. And he will be gone for long. I really tried telling him it was going to take long, but he assured me it was all okay and I…oh Lucy why are you crying? Didn't you know?"

Without even realizing it, I really had started crying and it was not just a single tear.

So he decided to run away? From what, Natsu? Why did you do that? Why did you choose to run instead of solving things?

Mira had pressed me to her chest and was slowly rubbing my back soothingly. "I am so sorry, Lucy. I thought you knew. I asked him if you were going to tag along, but he said it was only for S-class wizards and he is right that it will be very dangerous."

I wasn't quite crying, yet there was still some pulsing in my breath and my heart was beating fast.

I moved away from Mira and with the corner of my eye checked if there was anyone staring. But there wasn't anyone. They were minding their own business.

"Thanks for telling me, Mira," I managed to smile a bit, just a small pull at the corner of my lips.

"It's no problem silly, anytime."

As she got back to work I moved away with a sigh.

My day was going to be rotten, that was for sure. I was going to get a hot bath to sooth the pain a little, have a nice cup of hot chocolate, change into clothes I was more comfortable in and spending it in front of a nice book I had borrowed from Levy.

"Hey Lucy, are you okay?" Wendy's childish voice rang through my ears and made me turn around.

"Um, yeah, Wendy. I am fine," I pulled another one of my small smiles and focused on the girl in front of me.

She smiled on her own and then her cheeks turned a bit rosy, "Lucy, I w-was wondering if you would come on a mission with me? I really want to go on one, but I can't seem to find a partner and I thought, maybe, you needed the money or something…"

I stopped moving and started thinking on the idea. I was hurt, yes, I wanted to rest, yes, was I going to leave this situation dictate my life from now on, no.

"No problem, Wendy, even if I don't need the money, I would always love to help you."

I smiled genuinely this time and tossed my hand over Wendy's shoulder, leading us towards the Request Board.

Another chapter done :D And this is all in a day. I am so happy with how this is turning out and I haven't even imagined half of the stuff I have in mind now and when I started. Stay tuned and on the edge, little pumpkins :3

Review and PM me whatever you would like and I will try to reply to each review as soon as I see it. So Fun.

And again, please do not hate on my story. There is no reason for it. These are my choices and I will continue writing however I like. Thank you.

~Bria