Hi guys! It feels so weird to be updating daily again, I don't think it'll last though XD Anyways, thank you guys so much for the support I'm working on chapter 29 at the moment and hopefully I'll get it finished by Monday. Hope you guys enjoy!

Ps, we're starting things off with some fluff (Way too early I know) But it was the best way I could separate those two chapters, hope it doesn't bother people too much :)

Chapter 28 (What Love Is & Breaking Ties)

19th Feb, X791

Natsu's POV,

I laid there watching Lucy as she slept, I had only woken up only a minute ago, hungry.

And it wasn't the kind of hungry for food either, trust me I had tried multiple times to eat but it wasn't food I wanted. No, it was something else and that something else was Lucy.

Staring at her now was already making me even more ravenous than before, I had thought just staring at her would be alright but apparently it wasn't doing anything but making it worse.

I held back the urge to pace around her room again as the minutes ticked by. God this was terrible, it was easier to just go back to sleep. But my body wouldn't let me, I was stuck staring at her.

I didn't even know what I wanted, all I knew was the burning hunger that was slowly roasting me alive from the inside. I never thought fire could be this painful.

I growled lowly as the fire continued to get stronger, it was spreading now. It was only at the bottom of my stomach when I had woken up but now it was going to my arms and legs.

Soon I'll be drowning in it.

I clenched my teeth as I continued staring. I have to get rid of it now.

But how?

Slowly I glanced back at Lucy who was still asleep, her bed covers had somehow fallen off while she sleeping leaving her only in the skimpy piece of fabric she called pyjamas.

I scowled, curse her for wearing that. Does she know how god damn good it looked?! It wasn't a lot either but even looking at her back I could judge how easy it would be to tear through that fabric.

How easy it would be to see her soft, smooth skin.

Stop it.

I growled again, angry I would even think about these thing while I tried to stay still. I couldn't wake her up, I just couldn't. I couldn't... Take what I wanted... That was... Wrong...

But I needed it, oh so badly.

The burning was worse than ever now, it wasn't just a burning ache anymore, all over my body I felt oversensitive. Like the slightest touch could set me off destroying things.

It felt... Uncomfortable.

Suddenly Lucy spoke, her voice echoing like a wind chime in the breeze.

"N-Natsu it's five in the morning, what do you want?" I froze as I met my eyes with hers. Her brown orbs widened slightly as she scanned my expression, slowly she opened her mouth as if to ask me again but that was enough.

It was enough to completely set me off.

Before she could speak I had grabbed her, hugging her tightly against my chest while pushing both her shaking arms to her sides. I chuckled softly at her panic, the burning fire only spurning me on.

Gently I licked the side of her neck, earning a slight whine from her. "You." I whispered softly into her ear.

She started to shake as I moved to the other side of her neck and her ear, nipping at the skin just a bit as I went. I didn't know why I was holding back, I was far more hungrier than this but I have to wait.

Wait until she begs me for it.

"Natsu.. What's gotten into you?" She managed to choke out, her voice shaking a lot more than I had expected. I chuckled, finding the question hilarious because the answer was suddenly bluntly obvious to me.

Absolutely nothing, I was just taking what I wanted after all.

"Nothing.. I've just decided I've had enough of waiting. That's all Lucy." Slowly I kissed the space just underneath her jawline, knowing somehow that, that would earn me a response.

Sure enough it did. "Nngh, w-we can't be doing this." She whispered, finally giving in to me. I smiled proudly at my handiwork, she was begging me for it. A thought suddenly crept into my head as I reduced Lucy to a trembling mess in front of me.

She might let other people do this to her too...

I clenched my teeth angrily, furious at the thought. No, no I won't let that happen.

Forcefully I grabbed her chin so she was facing me, I could tell by her expression I was hurting her but it didn't matter. It was only for a minute anyway. "I'll only say this once and once only Lucy. I've grown tired of seeing other men around you, so many other men. You have no idea how attractive you really are. But you see Lucy..."

I hesitated, as the image of those other men flickered into my mind again, making my grip on her chin tighten. "You belong to me. And me, only." Before she could say anything I crashed my lips onto her icy cold ones. Determined to make both me and her forget about those other men. Other people.

We were here now and that's all that mattered.

"I love you Lucy."

Present,

Normal POV,

Lucy sat silently on a plastic chair she had found outside not too long ago as she stared at Sting who was still unconscious after finishing Chariot. She had been sitting there for almost three hours now, which meant that Sting had been unconscious for a good few hours now too.

Lucy bit her lip as she glanced at the wall clock nearby, 11:00pm. It would be hitting curfew soon and she would have to leave.

She sighed and buried her face in her hands. She had thought coming here would have given her some answers, some kind of assurance maybe, that Sting wasn't a cold blooded killer.

The uncertainty had driven her crazy after Sting had left for the emergency room, making the whole day seem almost tasteless to her. The uncertainty was still there now.

Slowly driving her deeper and deeper into the ground.

She hugged her knees tighter into her body, trying not to pace. This was ridiculous, why was she worried about whether Sting was a killer or not? Didn't she have enough evidence he wasn't?

And even if he was who was she to judge, she had taken more lives than anyone else, even if it was-what she had thought-justifiable.

She had still killed them, destroyed whatever future they had. Sure most of them were criminals and would have just plagued the innocent but it was still wrong to take anyone's life.

She wasn't god or the devil, she had no right to take anyone's life.

Suddenly a quiet knock on the the door made her look up. "Come in." Lucy called out, slowly getting out of the chair as she spoke.

The door opened, revealing one of the receptionist that was in charge of the medical section of the Domus Flau. Lucy frowned.

Curfew already?

"Miss Heartfilia, there's someone looking for you by the name of uh..." She looked down at the wooden clipboard she was holding. "Mr Natsu Dragneel?" Lucy felt my eyes widen slightly as she realised what the receptionist was telling her

Natsu... Was here?

She glance quickly at the clock again and nodded. "Oh.. Tell him I'll be there in a sec." The other woman nodded and walked back outside again, shutting the door behind her as she went.

Sighing Lucy pushed the chair back to where it belonged and stood in front of Sting's bed for a minute. She felt bad he was going to have to wake up alone in a hospital bed tomorrow but it wasn't like he wasn't going to see them again.

She'll just see what Natsu wanted and then go back to the inn for the night. Hesitantly Lucy opened the door, giving one last glance at Sting's sleeping figure before going down to see Natsu.

Natsu leaned on one of the beams outside one of the entrance/exit of the Domus Flau waiting for Lucy to show up after the reception girl told him that Lucy was still in Sting's room a minute ago.

He wasn't sure what he was going to say to her when he sees her again, he hadn't planned this at all but who cares. They were friends once, he was sure he could get something together for her.

Besides, who could really blame him, he had just been kicked out of his guild a few hours ago. He had already said goodbye to everyone else, except for Lucy.

Natsu sighed and looked up at the stars above him. He wasn't sure what he was going to do after this. He knew he'd have to leave Crocus, but where was he suppose to go afterwards?

Natsu clenched his fist angrily, he was really alone this time. Makarov had told him that he should take a break from the guild life for few months, come back afterwards, learn a few things or two while he was gone.

Suddenly he remembered Happy storming out of the guild before his meeting with Makarov, making him scowl. His best friend.. He didn't even get to say goodbye to him...

Just thinking of the Blue Exceed bought tears to his eyes as he forced his fists to his side. He couldn't just beat his problems away this time, no this time he'd have to deal with it.

At least there would be a chance Happy would have forgiven him by the time he went back..

Silently he cursed the stars for shinning so brightly tonight, it was like they had no pity for him at all. If anything he wanted a starless, moonless sky cause at least that would have bought him some kind of solace.

This beautiful of a night was not helping.

"Natsu?" A voice called out, making Natsu look up from his angst.

Not that far away from him stood Lucy, who hadn't seen in normal clothes in a normal situation in almost six months. "Lucy." He whispered, as he took a one over of the blonde in front of him.

Lucy frowned at Natsu's teary eyes for a moment and repeated exactly what he had said to her that morning without knowing it.

"Natsu... Were you... Were you crying?"

Hours before,

Natsu sat silently at the bar, a plate of food was sat in front of him but Natsu wasn't hungry. Various people had already went over to him and asked if he was ok, including Erza who was still injured after fighting Bacchus that afternoon.

"Oi!" Gray called as he walked over to Natsu again with Erza and Happy in tow.

Natsu barely looked up as they approached him, nodding in response. Erza frowned at the pink-haired Mage, he had been like that all that after Chariot and she had no idea why. She just knew whatever Gajeel had told her-

He was having problems.

"Natsu, get up your food is getting wasted." Erza snapped, propping Natsu up herself. Natsu irritatedly shook her off and went back to staring at food. "Natsu, come on let's go fish or something. You don't even have to get a big one, we'll just ask Mira for-"

"Can you just leave me alone?!" Natsu yelled, cutting Happy off. All three stared at the Dragon Slayer in shock, Natsu never yelled at Happy, much less Erza.

Happy glared at his best friend, his eyes tearing up considerably.

"I thought we were suppose to be friends Natsu!" He cried only to be met by silence from Natsu. Fed up with the Fire Dragon Slayer, Happy left, leaving only a pissed off Gray and a distraught Erza to deal with Natsu.

"Natsu!" Erza hissed as the bar doors closed with a bang that echoed through the building. Natsu merely grunted in reply when Mirajane suddenly bursted into the room looking a little distraught herself.

"Natsu... The Master wants to see you."

Mira's words seemed to hang in the air for a few minutes as the rest of the bar went silent.

Slowly Natsu got off his chair breaking the silence and dusted himself off. "Thanks Mira." He whispered before starting for the Master's temporary office.

The rest of guild just continued to stare at Natsu even after he had left, they couldn't explain it but a sense of foreboding had settled on the group, they knew whatever this meeting was about wasn't good.

Wasn't anything good for the Dragon Slayer.

They were right.

"Natsu, come in." Makarov called from behind the door. Natsu stared hesitantly at the doorknob for a few seconds, unsure whether he wanted to open it.

He had seen the look on Mira's face when she had walked into the bar a minute ago, whatever Makarov wanted wasn't anything good. He bit his lip as his mood sinked further.

First Happy now Gramps, his day was just getting better and better. Finally he grabbed the doorknob and let himself in, not really feeling like letting the old man or himself wait any longer. "Natsu." Makarov greeted as he beckoned him towards his desk.

Natsu grinned slightly and sat down, not really knowing what to say next. "So... Mira told you to come up here, yes?" "Yeah." Makarov looked uncomfortable for a few minutes as he looked away from the pink haired teenager in front of him. "Did she.. Did she tell you why?"

He muttered, staring at the Dragon Slayer from the corner of his eyes. Natsu shook his head. "No, she didn't tell me. I came here to see why." Makarov seemed to be relieved at this but not by much.

He quickly turned back towards Natsu, lacing his fingers nervously together. "The fight between you and Sting Eucliffe. Why?" Natsu's eyes widened, a little surprised by the question. "Why?" He repeated, still not sure what his guild master had just asked him.

Makarov nodded. "Why did you fight him? I know it's a silly question Natsu, if it was in any other circumstances I would have assumed the same reason as usual. But I don't think it is.. So tell me, why?" Natsu leaned against his chair tiredly.

How many times had he answered this question already anyway? How many people had already walked up to him and asked him this? He sighed and eyed Makarov through hooded eyelids. "I.. I don't know."

Makarov was visibly not content with this answer and crossed his arms over his chest, "Natsu, I've known you for years boy. I understand half your answers to my questions are 'I don't know' but there is an answer to this. Your just not telling me."

Natsu clenched his teeth frustrated, what did Makarov want? Can't he just accept that answer and move on like the rest of them? "I said, I didn't know." Makarov's eyes narrowed. "Natsu, stop behaving like a child and face up to your problems. If there's anything I hate more than warm beer it's people lying to me so spit it out."

Natsu was silent for a few minutes at what Makarov had said. Was he really running away from his problems? Was it really a problem anyway? Can't they just leave it alone? Makarov sighed at Natsu's silence before speaking, "This... This isn't about Lucy is it?"

Natsu stiffened as soon as he heard Lucy's name. Makarov frowned knowingly at the teen. This was about Lucy Heartfilia.

"How long has she been gone anyway?" "Six months." Natsu answered quietly, while staring at his hands. Makarov nodded and looked over to the calendar on the far wall.

The two were silent for another few minutes before Makarov sighed again, "I don't know why you did it, though I do have my theories. I think your the only one who will ever truly know anyway. But the reason I called you here is because I'm temporarily ex-communicating you from the guild."

Natsu's head jerked straight back up at the words 'ex-communicated'. "What?!" Gramps glared at Natsu's outburst, looking a little unhappy at the decision himself. "Me and the rest of the guild have already decided you needed some time off from the guild-life."

"So you mean the whole time the rest of you had been plotting this?!" Natsu screamed angrily, his shoulder shaking as he slammed his fist into the wooden desk in front of him. Makarov scowled. "Have you ever stopped to think about why?!"

Natsu went silent again, slowly thinking it through. "Your temper has made you nuisance, that last fight you had with Sting was enough. I understand you might have.. Feelings for the girl but I absolutely forbid you from causing a ruckus at their guild just because of a little jealousy problem you have."

Natsu bit his lip at Makarov's cutting words, they were meant well enough but every single one of them cut into Natsu's skin like glass shards falling out of the sky. "I'm sorry we had to make this decision Natsu."

"You can't just leave Natsu!" Lisanna cried, grabbing onto Natsu's arm. Natsu glanced back once at Lisanna before walking forward again, hoping she would just leave.

They were outside the bar doors, just a few minutes after Natsu had come out of Makarov's office, his guild insignia gone for his arm.

Erza noticed it instantly and questioned him furiously about it, until Natsu couldn't take the questions anymore.

"I'm leaving alright?!" The group instantly caught onto the second meaning behind his words and stormed up to Makarov's office leaving him alone in the bar.

But before he could even think about sneaking out Makarov's voice echoed through out the building, sending the group that had stormed up to his office a minute ago, running straight back down.

The group stared at Natsu for a minute as they stood at the end of the staircase, silently shocked at his predicament.

Erza was the first one to accept Natsu's situation and had only patted him on the back before walking away, not even saying a word after. Natsu knew why, somewhere inside Erza was crying but she couldn't show it. She wouldn't show it, it wouldn't help anything anyway.

Gray was next, barely hugging the guy before whispering a choked goodbye and leaving after Erza.

Lisanna who had followed the two curious was the last to say goodbye and she wasn't barely holding up as well as Erza or Gray.

"Natsu, stop." She cried, standing behind him as he slowly walked away. Furious he was just going to walk away like this. "Please..."

Natsu looked behind him again one last time, one last glance. "Listen to me Lisanna, I want you to forget about me alright? Forget all of it, this is what Master wants, I don't question his decisions. If everyone else can accept it, then you should to."

Lisanna was silent after Natsu had spoken, not really sure how to react.

Natsu realising this was his chance, he left. He didn't know if he could leave if he had stayed any longer.

Present,

"Why are you here?" Lucy whispered walking closer to Natsu when she stopped abruptly. "What?" Lucy pointed toward's Natsu's exposed arm. "Your guild insignia..." Natsu looked over to it and sighed.

"At least I didn't need to tell you." Lucy's eyes widened as she took a step back away from the Dragon Slayer. "You left?" She squeaked. Natsu grinned half-heartedly. "No, temporarily ex-communicated."

Lucy stared at Natsu for a moment, not really sure how to tell him that those things were the same thing when Natsu beat her to it by nodding. "I know they're the same, it sounds better though." Lucy held back a small grin at Natsu's weak attempt of a joke.

"Right."

They were silent for a few minutes when Lucy spoke again, unsure of the silence. "So you left Fairy Tail? Trying to copy me huh?" Natsu chuckled softly at Lucy's terrible joke and shrugged. "I dunno, what do you think Luce?"

Lucy smiled softly, completely caught by surprised at Natsu's old nickname for her. "There's something else though... Isn't there?" Lucy asked quietly after the moment of light-hearted laughter passed.

Natsu looked a little uncomfortable for a moment before nodding. "Remember that time I asked you what 'love' was?" He whispered, staring almost fondly at the sky as he did so.

Lucy was silent for a few minutes, surprised Natsu would ask her something like that. Who did she think she was, a human computer? What she was even more surprised about though was that she indeed remembered.

All of it, the entire conversation even though it was six months ago, she remembered it.

"Six months ago?" She finally answered a slight blush colouring her cheeks at the memory. Natsu nodded slightly before looking back at her. "The thing is, after you left the guild... The longer you were gone, the more I thought about those three things and.."

"I know I've already said this before, but.. I love you, Lucy."

I don't know what's with the large amount of Nalu recently XD Rest assured I'm not done torturing Sting and Lucy yet though, not yet. To my fellow Stinglu fans, I swear a Stinglu moment is coming. And to the Nalu fans, I hope you guys enjoyed. Read and review!