~At the greenhouse~

Erza had just knocked out Gray for eating the food before Mira was ready. He was laying on the ground with swirls in his eyes and a biscuit hanging out of his mouth. Gajeel had fallen asleep with his cat Pantherlily in his arms. It's quite comical to see someone as scary as Gajeel care so much about something. Levy was sitting there giggling at the sleeping form of Gajeel right next to her. No one seemed to notice the quick glances that Lucy kept sneaking at Natsu. One time she looked, he noticed and turned to look at her. He had a curious expression but she quickly turned red and looked the other way.

~In the garden at Natsu's, later in the day (Lucy's POV)~

Me and Romeo were in the garden. I stood in front of him as I raised my hand. "There is more to learning then just studying at a desk." I said, proud at the idea I came up with. "Today we are outside to observe nature. Nature is our textbook. " I said with a wide smile as I looked around at the scene. "How boring." He said with a sigh. I looked over to the left and saw a dragonfly land on a bush. I ran over to it, excitedly. "Oh look a dragonfly!" I said as I crouched down next to it. With a quick swipe of my hand, I had caught it. "Gotcha!" I said proud of my little feat.

Suddenly Natsu popped out from the other side of the bush with a smile gracing his lips. "Oh so you only caught one?" He asked with a snicker. He rose his hands and showed that he had three in them. I released the one in my hands and ran off and grabbed two nets. I held one out to Natsu. "Shall we?" I asked with a gleam in my eyes. I was excited at the idea of a new challenge. Romeo was watching for afar. "Hey." He said annoyed. Right after he said that Natsu grabbed the net and jumped over the bush and we took off running.

"Let's go!" I shouted as the battle began. Me and Natsu started darting around the field trying to catch more dragonflies. I jumped up a tree, jumping from branch to branch, reaching for more. Natsu jumped up and grabbed onto a tree branch and swung himself around and launched himself into the air. He did a flip then as he came back down he caught more on the way. He landed gracefully then showed me that he had over half the net full. I quickly turned back around and kept going. We kept running back and forth, jumping here and there as Romeo continued to stand in the middle of the field just watching us.

We finally finished as we counted how many we had caught. "Well you got 56 and I got 57." Natsu said which really didn't surprise me. He always manages to beat me and it's normally just slightly more then what I got. "Looks like I win again." He said putting emphasis on the again. Romeo then walked over to us. "Satisfied now?" He asked coldly and I felt a shiver run down my spine. This kid really is a mini Natsu. "Sorry, I got carried away." I said rubbing the back of my neck. "Quit fooling around! What are you even here for? What about my lesson?" He said angrily. A small smile spread across Natsu's face as he looked at Romeo. "Have you found your resolve?" He asked Romeo and he turned to him with wide eyes.

I looked over a Natsu wondering what he could possibly be talking about. Romeo then narrowed his eyes. "Your despicable. I hate you!" He shouted at Natsu and my eyes widened in shock. "I know." Was all Natsu said, which resulted in me being even more shocked. "You...You are a robot behind a human mask! Being around you sickens me!" He yelled then turned around and ran off. I looked at Natsu and I could see the pained expression on his face.

~At my house~

I was in my room sitting on my knee's in front of a desk. The room was dark, the only light came from a small lamp placed on the desk. I had two textbooks sitting in front of me but I haven't even opened them yet. I couldn't get what Romeo said to Natsu out of my head. "What has to be done, must be done." I thought to myself. It was upsetting seeing that Natsu had this kind of relationship with his brother.

~Back in the garden, the next day~

Me, Natsu and Romeo were standing in a circle. "And this is?" Natsu asked looking towards Romeo. "A lesson." I stated simply. I had used a stick to draw a circle around us in the ground. "Sumo! Go ahead and beat each other up!" I announced happily. I was really hoping that giving them both the chance the wrestle out their frustrations might be able to become closer. "Shall we give it a go?" Natsu asked with his hands in his pockets. "I would never stand a chance, if you think about it rationally." Romeo said then turned to walk away. "Romeo, the result may be important!" I shouted after him. "But whats most important is the effort you put in." I said hoping to convince him to try it. "Enough. I'll never be able to match my brothers standard. That's why I don't care about school. I don't want to do anything." He said as he stopped walking.

"That's okay too, if that's what you desire then you should do so." Natsu said. "Natsu!" I scolded wondering why he would say something like that. Romeo closed his eyes in anger then ran off. I turned towards Natsu, anger rising in me. "How could you say that to your brother? How?" I gazed into his charcoal eyes and he never gave me a response.

~At the greenhouse~

Me and Natsu were sitting in our normal spots at the greenhouse. He was to my right but he was slouched over with his head resting on his palm and seemed depressed. I sat back straight with my arms crossed."What happened between them?" Gray asked noticing the tension surrounding them. I glanced over at the clock and noticed the time. "It's time" I said as I stood up and started to walk away. "Lucy, where are you going?" Mira asked me with eyes filled with worry. "Natsu's house." I stated without looking at her or stopping.

~Back at Natsu's~

I was sitting in the middle of Romeo's room on my legs. Romeo was looking out the window then he suddenly turned to me with a questioning look. "I don't understand." He said. "Whatever just sit down." I said turning to face him. "No" He said while crossing his arms. "Quite complaining and do it." I said and he looked to the side like he was giving it some thought. He sighed but did as I told him to. "So care to tell me what we are doing now?" He asked wearing his usual bored expression. I leaned just about an inch closer and he rose an eyebrow at me.

"What" He asked looking at me funny. "Today we are going to work on eye contact. To face each other means to keep eye contact. You can start by practicing with me. Stare directly into my eyes." His eyes widened in shock at first but then he turned to the side with slightly pink cheeks. He looked at me from the corner of his eyes. "You really don't get it do you? Doing something like this..." He trailed off and went back to stare at the wall to his right. "My brother...doesn't care about me. No matter what I say or do to him, his facial expression never changes. He's as cold as ice." He said while squeezing his eyes shut.

I smiled at him. "That's not true. He was delighted with the rice ball I made for him, and he actually thanked me. Even though I know it didn't taste good." I said as I watched him. He turned his head to the side once again not keeping eye contact. "Lucy, are you in love with my brother?" He asked and I was stunned at the question. "Natsu is...Natsu is my rival!" I said raising my fist. "Really? You weren't looking at me but at my brother. You come around here for him, not for me." He said standing up and facing me. His face contorted into a sour expression. I stood up and my hands on his shoulders. "I'm looking at you Romeo. Your the reason why I am here. I wont avert my gaze." I said as he stood stunned.

"Alright I'll do this, but will something actually come from this?" He asked sitting back down. "Of course" I said following suit. He looked me directly in the eyes like I wanted him too. We sat there for about a minute when the door opened up to reveal Natsu standing there. "What are you two up to?" He asked looking at us curiously. "What does it look like. Lessons." I said harshly. "Lucy, can you please stop. Don't concern yourself with Romeo any further. I'd like you to leave him alone." He said coldly and I couldn't believe he just said that.

"Why are you saying such things?" I demanded to know. I was getting really upset with his attitude towards his brother. "As I thought, nothing would come from this." Romeo said. "Romeo. Romeo!" I shouted as he ran out the door. I stood up and went to follow him but as I neared Natsu he put his arm up blocking me. "Lucy," He said with a dark expression on his face. "What!" I snapped at him, mad that he was blocking me from going after Romeo. "I wonder why? Forcing someone to do something against their own will, wouldn't that make the person unhappy?" He said and I couldn't say anything. I froze just standing there staring at him, shocked by what he said.

"I'm the one that caused Romeo this suffering. He is unhappy because of the comparisons that are made due to me being around him. He worries about that. I'd like to tell him but..." He said and now I think I understand him a little better. "You just have a bad way of showing it. Anyway, I'm going after Romeo. I'm his teacher after all." I then pushed his arm away and ran out the door. I stopped a few feet away, down the hall and turned back to him. "And also...you may be annoying but your not sickening. Don't worry." I said and then I went back to chasing after Romeo.

I found him standing on a cliff leaning on the railing and looking over the city. "Time to go home Romeo." I said and he quickly turned around. I smiled at him then he looked at the ground with sadness in his eyes. I walked over to him and held my hand out. "Come, lets go home." I said then he quickly turned and tried to run away but I grabbed his hand before he got away. "Wait!" I shouted but the sudden movement made me lose my balance. Me and Romeo were falling, so I turned him quickly and made sure to take the brunt of the fall. My head slammed into the railing and I howled out in pain.

Romeo climbed off me and sat next to me and started to apologize. "Its nothing serious" I said trying to smile the best I could yet wincing in pain. "You hit your head pretty hard." He said looking at me with concerned eyes. "Nah I'm fi-" I said trying to stand up but lost my balance and fell onto my knee's once more. Romeo then turned his back to me. "Get on." He said and I was shocked. Did he really expect to carry me on his back? "But Romeo..." I said but he cut me off, sort of reminding me of a certain someone who does that a lot to me. "Come on, lets go home." He said pulling my arms around him and lifting me up.

He started walking back to his house and I was impressed by the amount of strength he possessed. My feet were dragging because of the height difference but I didn't care. I saw him sweating and panting as we made our way there. I felt really bad for him. "Romeo thinks that Natsu can handle anything without changing his expression, but he probably wants Natsu to notice him. But he never realized that Natsu was always watching him. Whether he showed it or not". I thought to myself. Romeo then collapsed onto the ground with me laying on his back. "Romeo!" I said worrying about him.

I turned to the left and saw Natsu running in our direction. "It's him." I said staring at him. Romeo turned to the direction I was looking and saw Natsu. He was running as quickly as he could, down a big slopped hill with branches smacking him all over. Scratches marked his face while a little blood fell down his cheek. His face full of worry and panic. Romeo watched him with amazement. Right when he got to the very bottom of the hill he tripped and started to roll the rest of the way and landed right in front of us. He quickly shot up and moved closer to us. "What's wrong Lucy?" He asked panicking. "Nothing, I'm fine now. I was just a little dizzy. But I'm fine now." I said doing some exercises to prove what I was saying. His worried face turned into a smile. "You had me worried there." He said with relief evident in his voice.

"Natsu, your a mess." Romeo said shocked by seeing his brother this way. Natsu turned to look at him as a leaf landed on his nose. He crossed his eyes to look at it and brushed it away then smiled at Romeo. Romeo froze starring at his smiling brother. "You did well. You managed to bring her this far. Thank you very much." Natsu said while reaching over and patting his head. Romeo started crying and threw himself into Natsu's embrace. It was heartwarming watching the scene in front of me and I couldn't help but be happy at how things turned out.

~The next day, at the greenhouse~

"Alright time to go see Romeo again!" I said jumping up. I was actually excited to see him. "Ah Lucy, regarding that." Natsu said turning to me. "What's up?" I asked glancing down at him. Mira was working on the tea, Gajeel was petting Pantherlily, Levy was watering the plants, Gray was yawning, and Erza was sitting with her legs and arms crossed, as stiff as usual. They all turned our direction when Natsu started talking. Suddenly I heard the sounds of someone yelling a short ways away. I turned to see it was Romeo running this way with a huge grin plastered on his face calling out to his brother. "Hey Romeo, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"Oh I came to get you." He said. "I was just about to leave." I said smiling at him, liking this new side of him. Everyone was starring at us. "I'm sorry, Lucy but I want my brother to teach me now." He said and at first I was fine but he had to add that last little comment. "I think he'll be more effective. Actually your effectiveness is too low." He said still wearing that huge smile. I felt crushed. Once again, beaten by Natsu. "Besides, I love my brother!" He exclaimed with sparkles in his eyes. "It's like all the love that I had been suppressing is bursting out of me all at once! Oh but don't misunderstand. I don't dislike you Lucy." He said. "Would you like me to tutor you as well Lucy?" Natsu said with a smirk. I clenched my fist and started trembling.

"You might get a better position." And with that a flaming aura surrounded me with veins popping out on my head. "I HATE YOUR GUTS!" I yelled at Natsu, in a rage. "Yes, yes I know."

~To be continued~