I have good new, and bad news. Good new is: I have an actual idea for this chapter! I also apologize for the last chapter being so short. Bad news: I am still on writer's block for 'The Girls on Vacation'. I have also not developed chapter two of 'The Girl Next Door'. But screw it, I feel like writing this!

Chapter... 5?

Party!

~Lucy's POV~

The day went along as usual... Unless you count Natsu clinging to me all day is normal...

The guild continued to get louder, and louder, as party time got nearer, and nearer.

Mira set up decorations, Reedus painted past moments of the master and the guild, we all convinced Gajeel not to sing at the party, And Levy finally cooked up the grilled chicken she was talking about... Along with Natsu's help...

It was four o'clock, and it was three hours until the party started. Although, it seems everyone else has started to drink without the master... Where is the master? Anyways, I felt really bad for not getting the master anything. So... I kinda went into town... By myself...

Natsu was distracted again, since he decided to have another fight. How does Natsu, after fucking use all his magic energy, still have some to beat the shit out of Gray!?

I don't know... And honestly, I don't care. I need to get something for the master!

The streets of Magnolia weren't heavily packed, so I was able to make it to the center of town. I think I know just what to get the master!

'Magnolia Portraits' is what the sign read. I walked in, and looked at the various photo lacrima's and frames. I finally got a wooden frame. It had gold traces over it in the shape of leaves that circled the frame.

"I know just what to do with this!" I thought. I payed for it, and then I ran back to the guild.

~Natsu's POV~

I finally pulled a full-on sucker punch right into frosty's face.

"Da fuck, firebrain!?" He yelled. Darn, can't this guy just drop already?

"Next time you'll think twice about messin with me and Lucy." I said. I planted a grin right on my face. Maybe he'll do it again so I can kick his ass...

"I didn't do a damn thing!"

"Really?"

"Yeah!"

My smile disappeared, and I gave him a suspicious glare. He seriously doesn't know what he fucking did!?

"Well, you're wrong! You did do something!" I barked at him

"What did I do!?" Gra- Frosty yelled.

"You touched Lucy!" I screamed. Everyone stopped, and stared.

"Love Rival!" I heard someone say.

"She fell down! I was only helping her up!" Frosty yelled, once again.

I continued to give my suspicious glare. I would have helped Lucy. Not him...

"Remember? You were busy helping Levy cook the chicken?" Frosty said. He's coming up with excuses now, is he?...

I stood there in silence... Thinking...

"This was a fucking hour ago! You're seriously picking a fight with me now!?" Frosty said. Can't this guy just shut the hell up!?

"Whatever..." I said. I turned away. I am so gonna get him back later! I gotta go to Lu-

She's not here.

The guild continued to be it's boisterous self, but I couldn't find her.

I took a sniff, and quickly picked up her scent. She had left the guild alone. But where to? Why?

I ran out of the guild, and started to follow the scent. Her scent... Her beautiful scent. I loved her scent! It was one of the most recognizable ones I knew. I ran along with the overwhelming strawberry and vanilla scent.

"Lucy!" I yelled.

I ran, and ran. I finally saw her. Her beautiful figure running towards me. She stopped. I didn't... oops...

I ran right into Lucy.

"Ow! Natsu.." Lucy said. I could sense her becoming annoyed. We fell on the ground. I quickly stood up, and grabbed her hand.

"Sorry, Lucy." I said. I scratched the back of my head.

"You almost made me break my present!" She exclaimed with a pissed face. She's so weird...

"Is that why you left me?"

"Yeah... It's for the party."

"Ohhhh..."

"Jeez, Natsu.."

She grabbed my hand.

"Baka." She whispered.

I smiled, and held her hand tighter.

Why the fuck am I freaking out about her doing errands!?

When we got back to the guild, all the drama died down. I guess people were actually getting used to me and Lucy being together...

"Natsu!" I heard the master yell.

Oh shit... Maybe not...

"In my office... Now!" The master yelled. This is not good. He shouldn't be getting mad. His party is in two fucking hours...

I reluctantly left Lucy, and strolled into the master's office.

I opened the door, and saw him sitting at his desk.

"Sit down." He commanded.

I did so.

"Natsu..." He began.

"You need to calm down!" He yelled.

I just stared at him. What was he talking about? As long as I have Lucy, I'm fine...

"Do you understand what you did?"

"What?"

"You were on the verge of destroying the guild! That's what you did!" He yelled again.

"Gramps... I'm sorry..." I really didn't know what to say. I was just protecting Lucy.

"At any rate... That's not the real reason I brought you here for..." He finally calmed down.

"Well, what did you call me for?" I asked.

"As a father, I worry for all of my children..." He started.

"I don't want to see my children get hurt..."

"I'm not saying I don't approve of you, and Lucy being together. Do you understand?" He asked.

"Yeah, go on..."

"You understand that once a dragon has found their love, they cannot find another one?"

"Yeah.."

"Do you also understand that even after death due you part, you can not find another love?"

I nodded.

"Natsu... You must also understand that once you have decided on who your love is, you cannot change your mind?"

"Yeah..." Where was this going?

"Just make sure she loves you. If she doesn't..." He looked down. What's so bad if she doesn't love me!? Lucy does love me!

"You will die." Those last words shocked me! I'll die!? My eyes went wide.

"If she dies... You die. If she finds another love, you die. If you are not careful with your feelings... You die." He finally said.

"What about Lucy!? What if I die... without all this crazy love stuff?" I asked. Lucy needed to be safe! She had to! I didn't want to put her in danger!

"She... Will be fine. It's you who I'm worried about. Even though you dragon slayers are tough... You're heart is not. Don't let your heart be tugged around. If she was in any possible danger, I would've called her here too. It's just you, Natsu. Please... Be careful." He said in a sorrowful tone.

"Also, don't wreck my guild!" He yelled. And on that note, I left...

~Lucy's POV~

Natsu came back to me, practically sprinting.

"I love you Lucy." He quietly whispered in my ear. He took my hand in his.

"I love you too." I replied. He planted a kiss on my forehead.

"Do you wanna help me?" I asked.

"Do what?"

"With the present. We can both give it to him. I need to get something though. It's in the storage area. Come'on!"

"Okay!" He cheerfully replied. Then I started to pull him towards the storage area.

(Sorry, I don't remember that place where they put all the spell books, and such...)

We had finally gotten to the storage area.

"We have a lot of searching to do." I told him

"Why? What are we looking for?" he asked.

"A picture. A picture that means a lot to the master. I thought the one with newborn Happy would be good, but I still want to look for something else." I explained.

"OK! You take the left side, I got the right. We'll be able to look at albums faster that way." Natsu said. He put on a toothy grin, and quickly swept his hand away from mine.

We must have been looking for about an hour. The noise outside was impossible, and it made it harder to concentrate on finding a photo.

I finally saw a white sliver coming from the crack of some books that were on the top shelf.

"Natsu, come help me!"

"What is it?"

"The ladder! Get the ladder, I wanna try and get that photo up there." I explained cheerfully. What if it was the perfect photo! I had to try to get it!

"OK!" He said. He quickly ran to the other side of the room, and got the wooden ladder.

"Thanks." I said, and quickly put the ladder against the shelf.

"No problem. Do you want me to stay behind you in case you fall?" He offered.

Realizing that I was wearing a skirt, I really didn't want anybody-not even Natsu to stand below me...

"N-No, it's fine." I said. I tried to shake the thought away.

"Ok.." He said. We stood there for a moment, before he finally turned away.

"I hope It didn't sound like I was being rude..." I thought.

Step by step, bar by bar, and I finally reached the top.

"Just a little further." I said. I was on the last bar of the ladder, and I had to stretch my arm out to get even remotely close.

I finally grabbed the photo. I attempted to get it out, but it was stuck. I tried with all my might, and finally... I got it!

The force I used was so powerful, that I ended up falling backwards off of the ladder.

"Ahhhh!" I yelped.

"Lucy!" Natsu yelled.

Time went by so fast... Yet so slow. My eyes widened, and my heart pounded. My stomach dropped. I held the photo close to my chest.

Was I seriously falling? Would Natsu get to me in time? Would he catch me? What if he didn't? What if-

My thoughts were cut off. My eyes relaxed at the sight of Natsu. He had caught me in his arms.

He was panting.

"Y-You... OK?" He asked. He was gasping for air between his words.

"H-Hai..." I replied

"Good." He said.

I could feel his arms trembling.

"Natsu!" I quickly yelped, as we collapsed.

I closed my eyes, and braced myself to feel pain. But I didn't. Not like I expected to. Sure I fell on the floor, but I didn't feel Natsu fall onto me. He had caught himself. His hands were right next to my head, and his left knee was placed right between my legs.

Realizing out position, I blushed.

"L-Lucy?" Natsu asked.

I just stared at him. I didn't care.

Holding the photo in my left hand, I held it up so we could see it.

It was a picture of the master and Laxus. Laxus was a little boy, and the master was lifting him onto his shoulders. It was in front of the old guild, and there were some guild members I didn't even recognize.

"It's perfect!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah... Just like you." He replied. He then brushed my bangs out of my face. I didn't know how to reply to his actions. He carefully set his hand on my cheek. Our eyes... Our hearts... were connected. He leaned in for a kiss, and slowly... We both closed our eyes.

His hot lips connected with mine. My heart raced, and all I wanted was for him to take me. Before I knew it, we had parted for a breath. We both blushed, and panted.

"We should... Get to the party." I said.

"Y-Yeah..." He replied, but still stared into my eyes.

"Uhhhh, Natsu?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you please get off of me?" I asked. I didn't mean to seem awkward or rude, but the party was about to start. Besides... I needed to put the present together.

"S-Sorry..." He said. I could sense the awkwardness in his voice.

Oh great, I ruined the moment...

He stood up, and lifted me to my feet.

"Shall we go?" He asked.

I nodded, and we headed out of the storage area.

I hope the master likes the present...

Happy Thanksgiving, if you're in the USA! Anyways, I hope you guys liked this chapter. I don't know how intense the NaLu stuff may get, but you'll find out soon enough. I might make a sequel to my sad NaLu one-shot, but it will have to wait. I am still in the process of developing a plot for the Christmas special. That's right! A Christmas special. Please follow, favorite, and give some reviews. It really means a lot to me, and I am really thankful to all my readers!

XOXO

~locoanime