"Moooom?" Nashi droned as she stepped into the bedroom. Lucy was in her room sitting at her desk working on her latest novel.
"Yeeees?" Lucy imitated.
"Can I take some of your paper so I can draw? I can't find any in my room."
Lucy nodded as she reached into the bottom drawer of her desk and pulled out a pad of white paper. "Here yah go."
Nashi skipped over and thanked her mother. She turned to walk out but got a glimpse of what she was writing. Curious, she snuck over and rested her chin on Lucy's desk. Lucy smiled and set her pen down.
"Whatcha writtin'?" Nashi playfully asked.
"Jason thought it would be 'super cool' if I wrote an autobiography for my next project. But I'm having some writers block. " Lucy proceeded to hand her a pile of papers. "You want to read the last chapter?"
Nashi smiled wildly and nodded. Her mom often let her read her work to get an opinion on it; something about children being the best judges of creativity.
"Let me know if there's any big words you need help with." Nashi happily sits on the floor and carefully picks up each page, not wanting to ruin her mothers hard work. A few pages in Nashi gets up and walks back over to Lucy's desk.
"Mom, when did Dad say he liked you?"
Lucy freezes. It's been a few weeks since Natsu's been brought up by anyone. Even though it's been so long, just the mere mention of him was enough to phase her.
After taking a moment to regain herself, Lucy puts down her pen and finds the ten year old to her left holding a stack of papers.
"And what brought this up?" Nashi carefully places a page on the desk and points to a particular paragraph. "You skipped to when you were already together." Knowing just how stubborn she could be, Lucy sighed.
"I did write it, just not in that version." She reaches to the right and skims through the large pile until she finds the few pages she had removed. "It didn't feel right putting it in the final version so I took it out. Do you still wanna read it?"
Nashi shook her head. "No, can you read it instead? I think it'll be better if you read it."
"Mhm." Lucy nodded and then flipped a few pages to where the scene she was looking for was at. "Ah, found it."
Natsu had somehow end up where Gajeel, Gray, Wakaba and Macao were hanging out. He zoned out for most of it, not because he didn't understand what they were talking about but because he didn't necessarily have an interest in talking about "sizes" or "making girls scream". Both of which he wasn't sure what they were referring too, but Natsu decided it would be best not to ask.
" 'ey Gajeel? You made a move on Levy yet?" Gray leaned across the table with a odd grin on his face.
Gajeel choked. "The hell you talking about stripper?"
"Oh come on! It's been how long? It's so obvious you guys have a thing for eachother. Just make a move!"
"Yah sure, whenever Natsu makes a move on Bunny girl."
Natsu turned bright red. "What is that supposed to mean?! I can make a move on her whenever I want!"
"Really? Ok then. I'll ask Levy out if you ask Lucy first." Gajeel gave the same weird smirk that Gray had given him not to long ago. There was no way Natsu would be able to do it. The guy was about as romantic as a brick wall, even if it was Lucy.
Natsu has had feelings for Lucy for quite awhile now, only just realizing it when Gildarts confronted him about it on their year long training session. He couldn't help it. He had a closer bond with Lucy than probably anyone else in the guild, except for maybe Happy. All those missions, those times he snuck in her house at night, those times they saved each other or were even there for each other were bound to lead to something.
Natsu stood up with his hands firmly planted on the table. "Ok fine! I will! And you can all kiss my ass when I do!" Natsu turned around, ignoring the side comments the guys were making, and walked towards the blonde sitting at the bar. That's when Natsu froze about twenty feet from her and then quickly retreated back to the table.
"Couldn't do it could you?" The four mocked.
"Stuff it! It's not as easy as you guys say it is." Natsu folded his arms in defense. Macao and Wakaba looked to each other and nodded. "What are you two geezers thinking?" Gray asked.
"We just figured that he didn't ask because he has no idea how to talk to women." Sounds of agreement went around the table.
"But I talk to Lucy all the time. I know how to talk to her."
"Not when you're confessing your undying love to her you don't. Face it Natsu, you need our help. Me, Gray, Wakaba and Macao can help you come up with some pick up lines." Gajeel smirked. Natsu at first denied their advice but, after some convincing, finally listened to what they had to say.
After some coaching and much needed reassurance, Natsu finally mustered up the courage to walk over to Lucy. His absolute worse fear at the moment was that she didn't feel the same way.
"Yo! Lucy what's up?" Natsu flashed her his famous smile.
Lucy shrugged. "Not a whole lot. Just sitting here telling the girls about the job we just got back from." She gestured to the four sitting near her: Erza, Cana, Mira and Levy.
"Oh well I just wanted to tell you that my Fire Dragons Iron d*** will have you seeing stars."
Cana spat out her beer. Erza went to pull out her sword but Mira and Levy managed to subdue her. Lucy was beet red.
"Wa-wait...what was that?" Lucy stuttered.
"I said that my Fire Dragon's d-"
"I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID BUT WHY!?"
Natsu paused for a second. His nerves were beginning to effect him. He knew that if he stopped that he would never hear the end of it from the guys.
"I bet you can make me roar like a fire dragon." Lucy didn't know how to respond.
"Wait that came out wrong!"
"WAS THERE A RIGHT WAY FOR THAT TO COME OUT?!" Lucy was embarrassed out her mind. Her face couldn't possibly get any hotter or redder. Cana was laughing hysterically and Erza rubbed her temples now that she understood what he was attempting.
Natsu glanced behind him at the table and saw them bent over the table laughing so hard tears were coming out. Throwing everything they had taught him away, Natsu decided to wing it.
"Lucy, you're the key to my starry heavens."
The girls stopped what they were doing. The guys were still laughing but Macao was getting their attention and telling them to shut up.
"I'm...what?"
"Your star shines brighter than any other."
"Nat-"
"It's always more fun when we're-" Before Natsu could finish, Lucy had placed her hands on either side of his head and had put her lips on his.
Natsu froze for a few seconds in shock. After it registered in his head what was happening, he slowly pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her small waist. Lucy moved her hands up into his hair. When they separated after what felt like hours, they touched foreheads.
"Together." Lucy whispered.
The guild was absolutely silent for several seconds, then quickly erupted in cheering and applause. The sound of drafts of alcohol clinging rang across the entire room.
"WELL IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME." The guys behind him were standing up on their chairs cheering them on. Natsu and Lucy laughed, still in the same position only Lucy's arms rested over Natsu's shoulders.
"You're next Gajeel!" Natsu said pointing to the dragon slayer. Lucy looked at him quizzically but Natsu have her an expression that said he'd explain later.
Gajeel through a few insults his way but Natsu didn't care what so ever. The only thing he needed to care about right now was the woman standing next to him holding his hand.
Nashi rocked back and forth happily after hearing her mother's story. Lucy stopped occasionally because of some "bad words" that needed to be censored, but at some point she had stopped reading from the pages and was telling it all on her own.
"So he really was as bad at talking to girls as Uncle Gray said."
Lucy scratched the back of her head and laughed. "Yah he was. Normally it wasn't like that but I guess it was different when he tried to tell me how he felt."
"Because he loooooved you." Nashi giggled at her Happy impression.
"Yah, yah he did." Lucy maintained light hearted even after her daughter left the room to go and play. The memory was always enough to make her embarrassed and laugh at the same time. Lucy glanced down at her novel. Her writers block being cleared, she starts writing again.
"It's always more fun when we're together right?"
"But what happens when we're not?"
He pauses. "Then it'll be even more fun when we are."
A few tears spring in her eyes. Lucy takes a deep breath to calm herself down. "Natsu..."
The cold stone walls weren't much comfort against his back. His hands were in shackles hanging above his head, holding them up as he sat. He shook them in another attempt to break free but it was no use.
"Would someone mind getting me some food?! I haven't eaten in forever! Hey! I know someone's out there." He scanned past the cell bars and into the hallway.
Erza and Gray turned the corner and walked to the bars. He gave them a cold hearted stare.
"Why am I still here?"
"Because you're a murder and an enemy of the guild." Erza spoke sternly. Gray slid a small tray of food through the space in the bars, just close enough for him to reach with his feet.
The man remained silent but anger was quickly creeping up on him.
"Shut up and eat your food." Gray got up from his kneeling position and began to walk off. Erza followed.
"Now that we have E.N.D, we can use him against Zeref." Erza muttered.
The man yanked on his chains and leaned forward as far as he could.
"I'M NOT E.N.D! MY NAME IS NATSU DRAGNEEL OF THE FAIRY TAIL GUILD AND I AM NOT A MURDERER!"