Hiro Mashima is the sole owner of the world of "Fairy Tail." I own nothing, just making his character dance to my tune. I know if I owned it, I'd probably ruin it with a bunch of mushie love Shoujo stuff.

Thank you again for your reviews. I'm just gonna say, it is going to be a slow going story. I also want to make sure both POV's are really explored and brought out.

Chapter 3

Natsu's POV

Her bag was big, but not heavy. Didn't see why she seemed to be struggling so much. Sometimes she is so strong and other times she acts so weak. I wonder if all girls are so confusing. You'd think a bag like this would be nothing compared to taking on that red headed crazy chick from the Grand Magic Games.

It still pissed him off what happened to Lucy during the GMG. She should have definitely beat psycho lady if those Raven Bastards hadn't cheated. And what the one black haired bitch did still pissed him off even more. He had been consumed with a burning rage, that was only held in check because of Erza and Gray. They had been just as angry but weren't beating the shit out of that bitch.

They won in the end, but he still believed that Lucy's self-confidence was shaken because of it. He tried to make sure to always encourage her even more. Sometimes it irked, how she always calls herself weak. Like he'd settle for a weak partner? That's just insulting. Why didn't she just understand? She is definitely the biggest weirdo he knows, after the stripper that is.

He turned from the ticket window and looked at Lucy, just because he felt like it. She saw him look and smiled, he smiled back. She really has such a great smile. More and more he knew he wanted her as more than just his friend, but had no idea how to go about accomplishing that. He couldn't just come out and say it, that'd be too weird.

He had been couple watching for a little while now, trying to figure out this dating thing. He knew he loved Lucy, he also knew he liked her body quite a bit, but where to go from there? He knew his love for Lucy was very different then his love for Lisanna or Erza. With Lucy it was more consuming. He wanted to be around her more than anyone else, he wanted to hear her voice, he wanted to hold her, he felt a lot more protective of her than anyone else. He knew he wouldn't hesitate to jump straight into hell for her. But what exactly did being with her mean? He already knew what the guys thought about it, but since she still kicks him in the head just for sleeping in the same bed as her, he figured there was more to it.

So he started couple watching. Discreetly. He didn't even tell Happy what he was doing. It was so embarrassing. He'd rather wear Lucy's bunny outfit, than ask Gray for any advice on the subject. He's been walking around town for about 2 months, just people watching. There were 2 big differences that he could tell. The first was Guys did stuff for girls. Like carrying their bags and packages, paid for their food, opened the doors for girls... Which why do guys open the doors anyway? Girls open doors fine by themselves? Lucy is always harping on him to use the door, from what he's seen she likes opening doors.

But he also realized that Lucy was the one who was usually buying him food. And he ate all her food at her house. But I like her cooking, so what do I do? AHA! I will start buying her groceries! Then she'll cook, but I'm still paying. Brilliant! Money wasn't really an issue for him. He hardly spent anything he and Happy earned. Besides food. Though he had bought himself some new clothes recently that he thought and hoped Lucy would like. That had been awkward. He went into a store and the lady helped him out. It's taken an adjustment, but he didn't mind his new clothes anymore. Lucy had complimented him, so he was happy. Mission successful.

The 2nd difference was touching. They just touched a lot, which seemed really nice. Holding hands, hugging, kissing, walking arm in arm. He liked that part a lot. That was something he could get on board with quite happily.

He imagined doing those things with Lucy, and just had these real, weird, intense, warm, feelings that he'd really, really like to do all that with Lucy. It made him smile to imagine it. And then just to test it out, he tried imagining doing those things with Erza and almost screamed in terror. (shivers) And went through his short list of girls he knew, and imagined doing things like holding hands with each of them. Only Lucy made him want too, and gave him a happy warm feeling. No one else felt right. He loved his nakama, and yes he could admit that most of them (especially Erza) had some pretty smokin, hot bodies. But that good, weird feeling just wasn't present with them.

So after some deliberation, he decided to just start doing things for Lucy. And see how she responded. If she kicked him, then he knew he did something wrong, but she seemed to really like him carrying her bag. So he had did something right. He felt happy with this small success. He was also paying for her ticket, and she gave him her smile. This isn't so bad. Is there a door he could open for her around here? He thought looking around.

As the train pulled up he groaned in trepidation. The one thing he had no control over. His motion sickness. No amount of traveling had cured him, or even given him a larger resistance to it. The second that train started moving, he'd be in hell. He groaned even louder when he realized that the train ride to Iceberg was long. They would have to switch trains after 6 hours of travel. And would only be half way there. He wanted to weep. He seriously debated about just running behind the train. It'd be good training.

"Hey Natsu?"

"Yeah, Lucy?"

"I had an idea about the train ride for you." I looked at her with interest. Perhaps she had some Troia in a bottle? "What if you took some sleeping pills and just slept the whole ride there?"

"I couldn't do that Luce. I wouldn't be able to protect you if something happened." Nope, not gonna do it. What a stupid idea he was thinking with a pout.

"Well honestly, you wouldn't be able too anyway as long as the train was moving." She said reasonably. "You'll just be miserable the entire time, and really it isn't fun for me when you moan the entire time. I feel bad for you, but I also feel bad for my shoes when you randomly barf on them." Damn, did she have to say that? It's humiliating. I hate that I can't control it.I put my hand through my hair in frustration. I know it's not fun, it's not like I enjoy it, but I really hate the idea of not being awake.

"How about this, I'll let you use my lap as a pillow" she said with a smile.

"Won't you be bored?" Lucy's lap… as my pillow… I took a quick look and sure enough she was still wearing that sexy, skin tight, tiny, red mini skirt from earlier. It'd be her skin to my head. I had to swallow back the drool pooling in my mouth. Look at the sky, look at the clouds, ooo, that cloud looks like a fish. I am not thinking naughty thoughts, no sir… nothing about licking her delicious skin up her thigh to…FISH. Yup definitely a fish.

"I've got plenty of books, I brought paper and pens so I can work on my novel, and my spirits to entertain me if necessary. I haven't summoned Lyra in a while"

"Fine, I'll try it, but only for you. But you have to pet my head while I'm sleeping." Damn I'm getting soft. But then again she has a soft lap. Why the hell am I torturing myself?

She looked a little surprised at that, but said with a smile "S-sure thing Natsu."

Months turned into about 2 years. He was so much fun to hang out with. We did so many great things together. White water rafting in Colorado Springs, conferences in Wisconsin, Ropes courses in Michigan. We played Volleyball and baseball. And of course would hang out and play video games. "Final Fantasy 8" came out, and I also got "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" for the 64. He was jealous that I had an N64. So would come over and play that as well. He got along well with my older brother. Another intense gamer.

We went on a trip to Mexico building houses for the poorest people there. The compound we were staying at overlooked the entire city. Really a beautiful site. But at night, a really cool thing happened. Only the perimeter of the city had lights, and it was in the shape of a giant heart. It was so beautiful. I was playing Uno with Michael (getting my butt handed to me.) when I saw it. It took him a little while to see it, but we both agreed it was a pretty site. For me it was a nice memory but it meant more to Michael. Not that I would find out about that anytime soon.

We came back from Mexico, I bought him a sombrero for his birthday, a normal one, not one of those decorative ones you see Mariachi bands wear. And nothing had changed. My feelings for him had grown. He was now one of my very best friends. I still thought he was hot, and had only gotten hotter over the years. He wore a goatee very well, and had gotten taller.

But I never let on that I had the hots for him. We did so much together. I had, had one boyfriend before meeting Michael, and that had sucked. The dude kissed like a St. Bernard. Slobber everywhere, it was so horrible. I broke up with him within a month. And hadn't dated anyone after that. Hoping Michael would notice me. At the same time, I really didn't want another dog boy either. Michael had not had a girlfriend at all. So both of us were very inexperienced in this whole dating thing. I was afraid to ruin our friendship. What if he slobbered as well? What if I hated being physical (mind out of gutter, holding hands, hugging, kissing only. At least at that point :) ) with him, and killed our friendship completely? But I was also running out of time. Michael was entering his Senior year, and then would go off to college.