Hiyo~ I bet you're uber curious as to how NaLu will work out now? right? riiight?... no? oh... well okay then...

Either way, here ya go!~

A year.

That's how long it's been since Natsu had fled from the town.

And of course, Lucy still got misty-eyed at the thought of the pinkette, so she did what any other girl who was in love would do. She became captain of the guards, and searched all over for any trace of him. normal, right?

But of course, they were always too late whenever she thought she had found him. And they were left with no progress, whatsoever.

Lucy sighed, as she walked through the gardens, before sitting on the stone bench. She understood why Natsu had to leave, but she still wound up asking herself this same question, over and over. And she asked herself this again, as she stared wistfully at the roses across from her, which, of course, reminded her of him.

"Princess!" A voice disturbed her thoughts, as she quickly looked up.

"what is it?!" she asked urgently, standing from her seat.

"W-We think we've found him..."

"Prepare the guards. we leave now."

Lucy rubbed her temple impatiently, as she leaned over a map, and newspaper clippings. There was almost NO WAY she was gonna find him in THIS huge town! Not only that the guy moved like a whisper. no one's seen him, or heard him, Neither Natsu OR Salamander... and he would probably get weirded out that she was hunting him down for a WHOLE YEAR.

Then again, he said he loved her too, so maybe he wanted her to...

"Alright, ladies, we'll 'deliver' this royal jewel through town, and try and rope him in. He has a fondness for royal things..."

"yes ma'am!"

"good, now let's-"

Her little speech was interrupted when she heard gunshots fired outside the building, along with shouts of "STOP, THIEF!"

Lucy's eyes widened, and she quickly rushed out into the street, to see about five guards shooting at a black retreating figure, with a long white scarf

'Natsu!' Lucy's mind raced as she quickly took off, calling out guards to go with her "go on both sides and cut him off!" she yelled out, the men immediately following her orders, but Natsu always adapted easily to any situation, and had already slid down the roof, and into the alley, going off in a completely different direction.

Lucy smirked 'Got you!~' she thought happily, and turned sharply into the alley, but she frowned when she saw no one there. "Odd... I knew he was quick, but damn..." she muttered, before turning, but shrieked when she bumped into a broad chest, and quickly jumped back, only to see Natsu standing there, his masquerade style mask covering most of his features.

Lucy gaped, both not saying a word.

Until Natsu smirked proudly, as if mentally patting himself on the back "I just knew you would come~~" he cooed almost too happily, as he sat himself down on a nearby crate.

Lucy blushed lightly "w-well of course! I can't just let you go like that!"

Natsu rested his chin in his palm "well, I can't stay in Era... they already know my face"

Lucy stayed silent, because she knew this was true, but the thought of him being away still broke her heart.

"It's not safe for me here... meet me back here at midnight, kay?" Natsu suddenly said, pushing himself off the box.

Lucy nodded "h-hai! see you!" she stuttered, before turning, and heading back to the inn she was staying at.

Lucy huffed impatiently, as she sat on the edge of a roof, waiting for Natsu 'did I just get led on...?' she wondered to herself, sighing sadly

"Sorry I'm late!~" A cheerful voice called from next to her. Lucy jumped, and swiveled around to see the cheery thief settle on the roof next to her, smiling as he looked at the night sky.

"you had me worried..." Lucy pouted, and he just laughed, taking his mask off. "Gomen ne, Lu~" he said, still grinning.

Lucy smiled softly, and followed his gaze to the stars "you seem happy~" she giggled, and he shrugged. "I don't have a reason to NOT be happy when I'm with you..."

"aw~" Lucy gushed at how sweet he could be, nuzzling into his arm

"H-Hey now!" he quickly stammered "D-Don't get all mushy on me!"

Lucy huffed "You're the one who got mushy..."

Natsu blushed lightly, and grumbled something about girls.

A silence passed over them, but it wasn't really awkward... it was more comforting than anything... Lucy felt genuinely happy just sitting next to Natsu... Yes, she was head over heels for a guy she only talked to a few times, but he felt so warm, and easy to get along with, that it really didn't seem too weird, and apparently, he felt the same... maybe they were just the ones lucky enough to tell who they loved...

"Say Natsu... why do you keep stealing..?" Lucy suddenly asked, causing Natsu to shift in his spot uncomfortably.

"Well, the adrenaline rush is great for one thing... but I also need to take care of my brother and sister, Gajeel and Wendy, and..." He stopped, going silent, as he looked down, examining the cobblestone pathway below. "I... need to see someone..." he muttered the last part, so Lucy could barely hear.

"someone..?" Lucy questioned, tilting her head curiously

"see... my dad, Igneel, disappeared when I was young, and I KNOW he's alive... I just wanna see him..." Natsu growled out determinedly, glaring challengingly at the moon.

"and this will help you meet him?"

Natsu scratched his cheek nervously "eeh... maybe... see, he was a cop, and loved justice and stuff... so if I can cause enough mayhem, then maybe he'll come to check it out"

Lucy had to admit, the idea was pretty good for not having anywhere to start...

she nodded in understanding "yeah, I get it... but you could at least come back to Era..." she muttered the last part mainly to herself, but apparently Natsu heard, and laughed "

"I would if I could, but everyone knows it's me... unless I got my name clear-"

"Leave it to me!" Lucy said quickly, before jumping off the roof, before Natsu could finish.

"O-Oi! whattya gonna do?!" he stood quickly, calling after her.

"don't worry about it! just meet me in my room tomorrow night!~" she said back, as she ran off back toward her lodgings, and Natsu stood there bewildered while ruffling his hair, before sighing heavily, and smirking "that woman...~" he said under his breath, as he stared in the direction she left in

That's it for now~! sorry it took forever for such a small chapter, but I wanna build the suspense, for what's gonna happen in the last chapter, so prepare for cliffhangers~! kyahahah~

anyways~ please favorite and reveiw~ we like dem~ X3