The Promise Part 3

"Okay, tell me. Why do you come to the pool every day and yet never touch the water?" Natsu asked.

"I'm not a water person. I don't see the point in getting pruny when I don't have to." Lucy explained.

Natsu and Lucy were once again at the public pool. Lucy was safely sitting on a wooden lounge chair beside the pool but Natsu was in the water, wearing his trunks, floating like water was second nature for him. Ever since that day they met merely two months ago, they had been meeting at the pool after Lucy got off work. To cover for herself, she told her family that she got a longer shift now at the diner. And for once, she had lied effectively.

Lucy didn't really understand that even though they hadn't known each other long, they were very close. He knew why her brothers were protective of her and how she came to live with them. She knew that he lived with only a cat. He only over had an adoptive dad but he disappeared years ago. He knew that her birth mother died when Lucy was three and her dad gave up his parental rights two years later. She knew that he searched for his family. He knew that she loved reading and writing. She knew that he loved to play pranks and always pushed himself to become better. He knew that when it stormed, She would hide under her sheets with music blaring in her ears. She knew that his one weakness was the fear of being alone. And motion sickness. They knew so much about each other. But the one thing she knew that he didn't know, she was in love with him.

"Weirdo." Natsu sighed and swam away from the edge of the pool Lucy was at.

"I am not weird!" Lucy protested.

"Oh I know for a fact you're weird." Natsu argued.

"I am not!" Lucy stood up from the seat and sent daggers at him with her eyes.

"Prove it!" Natsu goaded her.

Without thinking, she took off her shirt and skirt and jumped into the pool. That had to be a perk of summer; the ability to wear swimsuits under clothes. One never knew when it would come in handy. Natsu throw his fists into the air, whooping with triumph. Lucy surfaced and wiped the water from her face. She was smiling and stuck her tongue out at Natsu. He was smirking.

Then she realized exactly what he just did. " You trickster!" Lucy laughed, flinging water at his face by cupping her hand.

They swam around in circles, splashing each other and laughing. Water had gotten in her eye and started irritating it. She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them, Natsu was gone. She turned around to see if he was behind her but he wasn't.

"Natsu?" She called out. She spun back around and still, no Natsu. She was starting to get worried and scared. Where could he have gone so quickly?

As suddenly as Natsu disappeared, Lucy felt arms lift her by her thighs. She screeched and saw Natsu under her. He had placed her on his shoulder. Before she could ask what he was doing, she was placed down on the cement beside the pool.

"Why did you-" Lucy started asking.

"You were brave enough to jump in. That's all I needed. Wouldn't want you to get all wrinkly."

Lucy playfully smacked the top of his head at that.

"Plus, you looked like you were getting cold."

Lucy blushed and stood from the edge, making her way to her discarded clothes. With her now wet swim wear and skin, they didn't help much with warming her. Her hair was damp and collected the night air, making it colder than it actually was. Her teeth chattered and she rubbed her arms. She looked out at Natsu who was still in the water.

"So, how are the brothers?" Natsu asked when he propped his arms on the cement.

"The same. Ask me every night how my day was and I lie. Laxus is packing so he can leave Sunday evening."

Natsu didn't say anything to this. He knew it was his fault that she lied and that always gave an uncomfortable weight in his stomach. He looked away from Lucy and instead focused on the water dripping onto the cement.

A gust of wind cut across the large pool area and Lucy was once again reminded of how cold she was. "This is your fault." She sneered and Natsu looked at her with a large grin.

"I didn't make you do it Luce." He sang back, rubbing in the fact that he never officially told her to get in.

"You goaded me. You tricked me." Lucy whined.

"That's like blaming the cat for the dog chasing it. It's just what comes naturally for them."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Natsu finally climbed out of the water and crossed over to the bag beside Lucy. From the red canvas material, he drew out a set of keys. He spun the keyring on a finger into his palm and motioned for Lucy to follow him. As they walked, Lucy could feel his hand rested on the small of her back as a way to lead her to the planned destination. Though she didn't need it. She knew where they were going. He planned to go to the changing building so they could get in dry, warm clothes. Inside, he went to a few lockers in the back especially there merely for pool employees and he rummaged around a bit.

"Here, it's been in here since the beginning of summer and I think this might be it's only escape." Natsu joked as he handed her a thin black hoodie.

"Thanks." Lucy smiled as she pulled it on and was instantly pleased with the warmth that it gave her.

"Now, wait here while I put on dry clothes." He ordered lightly and turned towards the changing room.

He returned not even five minutes later wearing blue jeans and a black shirt. Water still dripped from his hair onto his shoulders. He threw his wet clothes into the bottom of the locker and slammed it closed and Lucy lead the way outside.

"Shall you walk me home?" Lucy asked out of habit rather than mere request. She knew that he would. It was part of their routine now. Every evening after Natsu had his nightly swim, he would walk with Lucy until they reached the corner of the lawn then they would part ways for the day.

"Be my pleasure." He quipped and held his arm out for her.

Lucy looped her arm through his and they walked out of the pool gates. The walk from there to Lucy's house was only a ten minute exercise, something she had grown thankful for.

The two walked comfortably in silence for most of the distance. Only when they could see her house looming over them, did Natsu speak. When he did, it was so soft she almost missed it.

"This is always the part I hate the most."

Lucy stopped walking and looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"This is always the part when I have to say goodbye."

"But you'll see me tomorrow." Lucy reasoned, not understanding his sudden change.

"And only for two hours without jobs getting in the way." He said grimly.

"It's okay Natsu."

"Luce, I love you. I don't know how or why but I did and I can't take this hiding it anymore." Natsu exclaimed taking her hand in his.

Lucy could feel a mixture of emotions swirling around inside her. Happiness that he actually felt the same as she did, nervousness of his closeness, longing for him to move closer, and concern for what could happen to him if her brothers knew he just said that.

"Natsu, you can't. My brothers.." Lucy protested.

"Lucy I don't care if your brothers hate me or threaten me, I am not scared of them. I love you and they can't change that." Natsu proclaims.

He steps toward her, closing the distance, and grabs her cheeks. His lips crash onto hers. Lucy gasps at his sudden action but she can't help but to melt into the kiss. She wants to kiss him too. Her hands rest upon his hips. Her eyes flutter closed and she sighs.

Natsu smiles in the kiss. And refuses to pull away. Her lips send electric sparks through him and fill his veins with an unquenchable flame. This was entirely new to him but he liked it. It made him feel alive; made him feel like he had a purpose after frailing about for so long. He wanted more. He needed more.

She was his drug. And he never knew until he kissed her.

The kiss might not have ever ended. And if it were up to Natsu it wouldn't have. But they needed to breath. They slightly pulled away from one another, gasping in oxygen to work their lungs again. Natsu rested his forehead on hers and Lucy closed her eyes.

"I love you too." She whispered lightly; a secret for him alone.

Lucy felt the light flash on behind them and heard foot falls coming out of the back door. She quickly pushed away from Natsu so their owner wouldn't see. Natsu's face was torn between utter bliss and masked pain. They both gasped for air. But as Lucy looked towards the noises she just heard, she knew they had saw.

Laxus and Sting were both staring down the driveway, sending Natsu menacing glares. Lucy gulped, fearing for Natsu. She turned back to him and instead of seeing him cower under the glares, he was glaring back. He firmly stood his ground, telling them without words, he wasn't leaving.

Laxus, for now, had the calm anger glowing around him, like he was going to attempt to handle this politely. But Sting was different. His face was dark red from rage and his hands were clenched into tight fists. Lucy knew how this was going to go. Laxus would tell him to leave and never talk to her again, Sting would go straight up to him and punch him in a vast number of places, and Natsu would remain stubborn and refuse their demands.

She turned back to Natsu and placed her hands lightly on his chest.

"You have to go." She stuttered.

"Wait? No Luce-"

"Please. I can't have them hurt you." As she said this, she could feel tears brimming her eyes. Natsu took on look and saw how frightened she was; saw the scenario that she could see of what would happen if he didn't leave. But he didn't want to leave. He had had enough of those two. He should be able to be with the girl he had fallen so hard for. But he also wasn't going to cause her pain. So he did as she asked. He mumbled a quick goodbye, took one last long look at her, then turned on his heel and walked down the road.

A few tears fell down her cheek as she watched him retreat. It was also the first time since the Liam thing did she think things shouldn't be like this. Her brothers shouldn't be placing her in an anti-social plastic bubble to protect her from emotions because no matter how hard they tried, feelings were going to get to her. They should show their disapproval about it without threatening the well-being of any unfortunate male that walked too close to her.

She should be able to be happy with Natsu without the fear that her brothers would turn him into their personal punching bag.

Lucy turned to talk to her brothers but the look on Laxus's face dried out her throat and no words would come out of her mouth. He looked disappointed and hurt. She didn't understand the emotions she saw and she felt bad because of it.

Without any words, Laxus turned and went back inside with Sting following shortly after, leaving Lucy alone outside.

The third installment to the Promise. I know it might not be what some of you were hoping for, but I hope that it was likable. Hopefully the next chapter will be a huge improvement seeing how it will be the end to this short, little tale.