Oh my goodness. I feel so overwhelmed with happiness at so many positive reviews. I'm literally on the verge of tears. You guys are so amazing, I will try my best to give you a good quality story that will desperately attempt to keep them in character. As promised, here is the next chapter. I'm glad people felt I captured Natsu's POV well. I'll be honest Lucy's was harder for me. I kind of feel she's a tusunder at times. The format I forsee will switch between the 2.

And since I've seen it elsewhere, I'm gonna assume it's mandatory. I do not own any aspect of "Fairy Tail". The creative genius behind it, is Hiro Mashima. We are all grateful for his brilliance.

Lucy's POV

"Guess Natsu's feeling better," she thought to herself. "I'm glad, he's been acting weird lately."

She put the breakfast plate she had gotten for Gray on the table, and sat down with her coffee, waiting patiently for the boys to be done. She'd never admit it out loud, but she actually enjoyed watching their brawls. She loved seeing the flexing of muscles and the way their bodies moved as they battled. It was all very exciting and sexy.

"I wonder who will stop the fight this time since Erza's out on an S-Class mission for the rest of the month." She thought to herself.

She couldn't decide who had the hotter body. She would have probably said Gray, if he didn't flash himself every other hour. You just start to get used to it after a while. Natsu was more modest. He used to run around in just a vest for a top, but lately he's been covering up all the goods, much to her, and many of the other guild girls, disappointment. Though his style has gotten a lot cooler.

Gone were the white, baggy pants, sandals and long coat. Now he wore tight tanks and jeans. Even boots! (She honestly hadn't been sure if he could tie shoes) And of course his ever present scarf. His arms were sexy as hell, and looked even larger and more defined than they used too. I wonder if he's been working out more? "Maybe Gray will tear his shirt today", she thought mischievously with a smirk. When was the last time I saw his abs she wondered?

At 19 she was starting get tired of having so many platonic relationships with all these hot guys. Gray, Laxus, Gajeel, Elf-man, Freid; Surrounded by eye candy and none of them ever made a move. She sighed wistfully to herself. Most of them seemed to be dating someone else anyway. She wasn't desperate enough (yet) to try and steal someone away from one of her friends.

She didn't think she was lacking in the looks department, but after 2 years with no one from the guild showing any real interest in her in that way, it was a real damper to her self-confidence. She had recently found her old "Perfect Boyfriend" scrapbook (episode 2). And it just cracked her up to remember how immature her thinking had been. Both Siegran (Jellal) and Loki had been in there. I suppose in a way she did get Loki but not in any way she had imagined all those years ago. She didn't have a picture of Natsu at the time, because he hadn't been featured in "Sorcerer's Weekly" yet. I wonder where I would have listed him? Amazing what can change in 2 (9)years.

And what doesn't change. She hasn't even had her first kiss yet, how depressing. Maybe she should take Loki up on his numerous offers, though she doubted his sincerity.

She could look outside her guild, and she had received offers, but she really wanted to be with someone she knew she could trust. Other guilds would be loyal to their particular guild, just like she was loyal to Fairy Tail. Sting from Sabertooth was a tempting man, and had expressed interest at the ball after the whole Future Rogue and Dragon mess. But Natsu had punched him for his efforts. After that Natsu wouldn't leave my side. She smiled at the memory.

If she was being honest he was the one boy in particular she wanted to notice her more than any of the others, though he was the least likely as well. His boyish innocence made her inexperience seem like she was Aphrodite in comparison.

She loved him so much, and she loved what they had. The fear of losing it made her want to cry with just the thought. There was no one she trusted more than him, though Erza came close. And to ruin that just because she was having these feelings was more than she was willing to risk. Once you step beyond friendship there was no going back. You either stayed together or everything you had was gone. Her first true, non-celestrial friend in all her life. Ruining all they had built together… no she would just admire and keep her thoughts to herself. You can find your friend sexy and not have to do anything about it, right?

He definitely made her feel cherished and protected. Maybe she was just suffering some form of Hero Worship/Florence Nightingale effect. She snorted, Natsu a hero? The initial thought was funny at first, but when she actually stopped to think she realized, Yeah, he was her hero. Ever since the very beginning, when he saved her from that asshole Bora, he's been her hero. She thought with a smile looking over at him with a soft expression.

CRASH! "Take that Ice Princess!" As he blew flames around.

She sighed, "But why does he have to be such an idiot at times though?"

Authors Note – Thank you all again for the reviews and follows. This will be a slow going story. With lots of internal thinking. Many people think "just date and have sex already!", but try to remember being in high school. Most of you were/are way too shy to even talk to your crush let alone do anything else. I'm writing this story loosely based around some of my own thoughts, feelings and struggles when I had to make a similar decision of wanting to just stay friends or pursue a closer relationship with my own male best friend of 3 years. Please review and keep reading and I'll let you know how that all worked out ;)