Sorry for not updating sooner. So here's an extra-long chapter for you :) It's starting to get a little hot in here. Not a lemon (Not that I have any idea why that is used to describe a sexual scene) but some naughtiness . And It's probably a little out of character, but I wanted to do it anyway. It's my first time, so be gentle. I'm having a little trouble expressing what I'm imagining.

Also just so you know, I probably won't update for about 2 weeks. Busy stuff, plus vacations, and other miscellaneous events. I promise, I will not drop this, you have spoken, so I will keep my word. You my wonderful reviewers have given me the drive to complete this story.

As always I own nothing. Hiro Mashima owns everything. Please leave a review. It gives me warm fuzzies, and motivates me.

Chapter 3

Lucy's POV

Dear Natsu,

Were on our way to Iceberg now, and your sleeping on my lap. I have to say, I think I'm going to drug you every time we travel from now on. The silence is very nice.

We've been going on a lot of missions lately, haven't we? Winning the Grand Magic Games gave a huge influx of requests, and it feels like you've made it your personal mission to accept them all. You big goof.

But I don't really mind. It means I get to spend a lot of time with you and earn plenty of rent money. I've never told you how much I enjoy your company have I? Even when your frustrate me, you are such a blast to be around. Every day is filled with laughter. We've been partners going on 3 years now, and you still have no idea how I feel about you. I've gotta confess, this crush I have on you really needs to go away though. Especially with the most recent events.

I've noticed the changes lately, Natsu. The nicer clothes, the better behaved you are at restaurants, even just now, you carried my bag and paid for my ticket! My heart is really hoping it's all for me. But my head tells me otherwise. If you felt the same way I feel for you, wouldn't you have tried impressing me sooner? No, these changes tell my head that you have found someone else, and want to impress them. Though you shouldn't have felt the need to change who you are to impress anyone. You are wonderful the way you are.

I've been debating about asking you about all this. Maybe teasing you a little. I love it when you blush. It's so adorable. But a big part of me really, really doesn't want to know. And the other, curious parts of me wonder who the lucky girl is. Is it perhaps, Lisanna? Have you finally grown up and acknowledged feelings for your childhood friend? I know she wanted to marry you when you guys were younger. I don't really mind if it's her. She's my friend as well. And I know she'd cherish you, better than I ever could. She is a better match for you than I ever will be.

She's so strong, much stronger than me. She treats you gently, and is more open about her feelings. I'm so weak. Both inside and out. She would be a good partner for you. One you wouldn't have to save all the time. I'm sure I'm nothing more than a burden for you. You're just too kind to tell me the truth. Sometimes my weakness just sickens me.

I'm gonna be completely honest with myself and you, for once in my life. I think I've been in love with you since you saved me from Phantom Menace. I've denied my feelings all this time. Remember that time you thought there was a treasure buried by the Sola Tree? I had honestly thought you were going to confess to me that night. I debated with myself and had decided that I would say yes to you. Instead, I found out that you didn't feel that way at all. You only wanted Virgo to dig for you because the ground was too hard. I felt so embarrassed and heartbroken. I made the decision that night to never make that mistake again, and just be your Nakama. I would give up these feelings for you and just be content with friendship.

Here I am, still harboring these traitorous feelings for you all these years later, only they've gotten worse. How can I cast them aside when you are always there for me? What can I do Natsu? What can I do to make you feel the same?

How do I give you up? I want to be with you, to stay by your side, but can I, with a smile on my face, lie and say I'm happy for you day after day when you finally get together with this mystery girl?

I'm so conflicted. I have so much fun with you, even when I have to yell at you. I love kicking back at the guild just eating dinner. I love watching your crazy antics every time you challenge Gray and Erza to a fight. Even when you sneak into my apartment. Since I'm being honest, I look forward to it, and actually feel a little disappointed when you aren't there. When you're there, I don't feel so alone. I love fishing with you and Happy, though I do honestly hate all the bugs. I love fighting together with you on our various missions.

And while I'm being completely honest, did you have to go and get even hotter? No pun intended. Seriously. You've gotten even taller, your chest more wide. The bulge of your arms make me want to pant. You features have lost their boyish charm, given you a more rugged, handsome look; though your smile is still adorable. How do you expect me to stop thinking of you in inappropriate ways, when you keep getting more sexy! Damn it Natsu, give a girl a break. You leave me with such mixed feelings and emotions.

For now I shall just continue to go with the flow. We're still young, right? It's not like I want to get married right now, or be in some super serious relationship. We're only 19! I just need to enjoy what we have. I have to just strengthen my resolve not to ruin what we have. And perhaps God will show me the man I'm supposed to be with down the road, so that I can turn "my swan into a crow" as Shakespeare wrote. Oh, you probably wouldn't get that reference, not that I'm insulting you, you just don't read what I read. But it doesn't matter since you're never going to see this anyway!

Your Nakama, friend and secret Admirer

Lucy

I took a moment to stretch my cramping hands and legs. And sealed my letter. I just put a "N" on the cover of the envelope, and put it in the bottom of my bag. Sometimes I just need to write out all my emotions, so that I don't explode, or cry.

Natsu was snoring softly in my lap. It sounded almost like purring. I was so relieved that the pills had worked. As much as I loved him, his painful moaning for hours on end really squash your mental fortitude to a pulp. No, I can't understand what he goes through, and honestly I've tried really hard to be patient with him, but after 2 years of this I came to the conclusion that he whined way too damn much about it.

The one time we rode with Gajeel, he looked uncomfortable but he at least stayed silent.

A nice peaceful, QUIET ride on the train. When was the last time I experienced such a pleasure? Even when Erza knocks his ass out, I still have to deal with Gray and her. Not that I dislike them, but sometimes you just want to enjoy the scenery. If you stare out the window too long, they automatically assume something must be wrong. Sorry that I get more enjoyment from the trees than watching you polish your swords Erza. And since I don't want people to know what a pervert I really am, I don't want to be tempted to stare at Gray.

I'm even more thankful for the private room. I guess the conductors recognize us by now, and know that Natsu will bother the other passengers. This is going to be a great train ride; I have several books, snacks, my spirits, and solitude. I occasionally still petted his head like I had promised. His hair was very soft. You'd think it's be more pokey or spikey, but really it was quite pleasant. I also really enjoyed looking at his sleeping face. He even smiled in his dreams. I wonder what he's dreaming about?

A naughty thought randomly entered her head. While he was sleeping she decided to take the opportunity to examine his transformed body. His top had ridden up a little. And she could see a hint of the abs she had really been wanting to see. She didn't know what possessed her, but carefully, gently she pulled his shirt up higher. Till his entire abdomen and chest was exposed. Oh My God, has he always been this ripped? She looked at him with a little awe. He's always been muscular, no doubts about that, but they were even bigger and more defined now, than her memory remembered. She was getting really turned on just by looking all that tanned, ripped flesh. Each section of his 8 pack was about the size of her fist. A broad chest, that narrowed down to an incredibly, sexy, well, defined waist. She had way too much saliva in her mouth all of a sudden.

He had been sleeping for a little while now. Would he wake up if she touched? She really wanted to feel his chest and abs. She looked at his face, his expression hadn't changed. Did she dare to do more? "I shouldn't, I really shouldn't" she thought,as she slowly reached down and very lightly touched his left chest pec muscle, while looking at his face for any changes. Slowly she gently felt along his muscles, with one finger. Circling his nipple. It was like touching a rock with a very satiny, smooth covering. Turning herself on even more. "I really should stop, but when will I get another chance like this?" She silently thought. Growing a little bolder she let her whole hand feel down his eight pack. And she looked at his face again. Still no change. She smiled, and started to follow the creases that outlined his muscles.

She was so tempted to lean over and kiss him. Just once she wanted to see what his lips felt like. Just once she wanted to give in to temptation. She started to lean forward , when suddenly she saw his features change.

She stopped touching him and quickly lifted her hand and head back, as he seemed to sniff the air. He abruptly turned over put his arms around her and buried his face in her crotch! Sniffing her. "EEEK!" She was so surprised, she just froze, what could she do? She wanted to push him off but he was holding her so tight. "Natsu, wake up!" Shaking his arm roughly. He didn't respond. It had been her idea that he take sleeping pills in the first place.

"NATSU!" she shoved his shoulder. It was like trying to move a boulder. Not even a flinch, he had gone back to snoring. How completely awkward, and her heart was racing. "This is what I get for acting like a molesting pervert"she mentally berated herself. She smacked her hands to her face. How the hell do I get out of this predicament? There was no way they could stay like that for the rest of the ride.

She pulled out her keys. One of them would be able to help. Taurus would cleave Natsu in half in a fit of jealousy, Loke would pummel him probably for the same reason, Aquarius, yeah right. She wouldn't be any help. Ah, picking her most helpful one.

"Open gate of the maiden, Virgo!" I called out.

"Punishment princess?" But then blinked in what could be considered shock, if Virgo showed emotions that is, and said "Princess is being punished?"

Ignoring Virgo, she requested, "Please help me move Natsu to the other bench, as gently as possible."

"Yes, princess." And with relative ease she gently lifted him away from me, and placed him on the opposite bench. She then buckled him in so he wouldn't fall off. "Does princess need any other assistance?"

"Thank you so much Virgo. I didn't know what to do in that situation."

"My pleasure princess. If you need me again, please don't hesitate." And with that she was gone.

She silently breathed a sigh of relief. "Guess I'll take this opportunity to go to the bathroom and stretch my legs." I gave another look at his sleeping face, and left the car. He'll probably wake up and make a fuss that I left him alone. She chuckled to herself.

But when she returned, he was still snoring. "I'm glad" she thought. They wouldn't reach their destination for a few hours yet, so she would prefer if he stayed asleep.

There is something seriously, and completely wrong with me. Bad Lucy, bad, bad, bad. You'd be pissed as hell if Natsu had done that to you. She berated herself for a while yet, before deciding she would buy him dinner to make up for her poor behavior.

My Junior year of school was coming to a close soon. It was already April. We were still just friends. I was a firm believer that the boy is supposed to ask the girl out, but after about 3 years of waiting, I figured it was never gonna happen. I really liked him, and had fun with him. He was finishing up his Senior year, and would be heading off to college. If I didn't ask him out very soon, chances are I'd never get the chance. I came to a realization, that if I didn't at least ask him out, I would live with a lifetime of regret. (Please note, this was before facebook, and before the internet was a prominent figure in just about every home. Dial-up was still the main form of internet connection, and a 4 giga-byte hardrive was huge and amazing.)

So one day our group was traveling somewhere, and Prom got brought up. My school did both a Junior Prom and Senior Prom. My heart was racing, butterflies in my stomach, here's my chance. I casually said "So, speaking of prom, want to go with me?" He didn't even think about it when he shrugged and said "Sure."

Success!