Author's Notes:

Been a while since I did a NaLu fanfic. Inspired while rewatching Grey's Anatomy season 2 and the beginning of season 3. Meredith and Derek fiasco.

Hope you like it.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Mature Content.

The Difference Between Us

Lucy

I can do this.

It's simple.

Dinner with friends to celebrate a happy occasion.

Don't be a bad sport and ruin it with your past drama.

I got out of the rental car, grabbing the container of my signature dish and the bag full of gifts. Closing the car door and making sure it was locked while balancing everything, I gazed at my reflection. Makeup flawless, dressed to perfection, and hair piled high in a bun. I looked happy. Taking a deep breath, I gave myself another look in the window and smiled.

Easy in and out. Smile and get through this damn dinner.

I walked up the walkway when I saw the familiar pink hair that had given me whiplash these past five years.

Shit!

I tried to move faster but I tripped and almost dropped the container. "Dammit," I cursed to myself trying to gather my balance. Natsu spotted me immediately when I was by the door.

"Lucy?" His deep voice called out to me. Memories of my past feelings came flooding back and I panicked. Ignoring him, I got past the door and ran up the stairs. He was behind me in seconds. As usual. "Hey, didn't you hear me calling you?" He grabbed my arm, but I snatched it back.

I can't do this.

Not here.

"I heard you but chose to ignore you." I reached for the doorknob knowing how much the couple likes to keep their front door unlocked. I stepped inside, rushing to put the items down with him still on my trail trying to talk to me. An already awkward situation made our buried feelings less significant when Natsu and I walked in on Juvia giving Gray fellatio in their kitchen.

The couple was hosting a housewarming party for their engagement, and we just happened to arrive an hour earlier than requested. I thought maybe I could help with preparing food and organizing seating, also avoiding the current situation with Natsu. But seeing Juvia standing up and wiping the corners of her mouth before running to their bedroom with only Gray's t-shirt on spoke volumes.

Natsu, who was usually expressive of his disgust with the two showing explicit public displays of affection was awfully quiet. I apologized for the both of us before placing the gifts and the container holding my signature sweet heat-fried chicken on the counter. I then grabbed Natsu by his arm and got the hell out of there.

We stood outside trying to collect ourselves. My face was burning hot and all I could do to calm down was fan myself. The summer air wasn't helping to soothe me. My eyes peeked over at Natsu who remained silent. For the years I've known him he hasn't been this quiet.

"Are…" I cleared my throat to speak up. "…are you okay?"

Natsu glanced over at me and then straight ahead. "Yeah…" He ran his fingers through his pink locks. "I never would have thought I would see them so…"

"Open. Raw. Explicit?"

"Yeah." Natsu nodded, agreeing to any of the synonyms that came to mind seeing such an act. "I don't think I can ever go back in there and not see… that."

"You're preaching to the choir," I chuckled, feeling some sense of normalcy return between us. Even if it was briefly.

"I'm going to run to the car really quick for my charger." He left me alone before I could ask if he wanted company. I thought this could be our chance to talk about what happened two years ago.

A tap on my shoulder prevented me from staring at my best friend as he entered his car. The timid blue-haired woman gazed at me sheepishly. "Juvia?" She was fully dressed in a cream-colored dress with patterns of blue daisies.

"Juvia wanted to apologize for her actions. Gray-sama and Juvia were cooking… and got carried away."

"I bet…" I mumbled feeling the rush of embarrassment for the both of us. "We can go if you guys… need more time."

"No!" Juvia shook her head and grabbed my arm. "Please don't go. Juvia wants you to stay. It's been too long since we've seen you. Come inside. Natsu-san too." Her midnight-blue eyes glanced up at him. He stood next to me smiling. All traces of his previous shock were now gone.

"Hell yeah, I'm starving." He walked past both of us. "Hopefully that moody prick didn't put his dick in the food."

"Natsu!" I yelled to reprimand him. But he laughed waving me off going up the stairs to their home. I smiled at his silliness.

I can do this.

"How was your trip to Ishgar? Did you find inspiration for your new book?" Gray said going around pouring everyone a glass of wine.

I swallowed the carrots in my mouth while nodding. I took the filled glass to wash down the remains. "It was interesting. Seeing the different cultures and how they do things there is awe-inspiring. I will probably go back in a few months."

"Juvia would love to go there one day," Juvia smiled sitting at the other end of the table. Her eyes glanced over to Gray hoping he'd take the hint as he finished pouring Erza's own glass.

"Let's plan our wedding first before we think of going out of the country," Gray joked, humbling Juvia as she pouted. Everyone at the table laughed.

"So, what's your next destination on this final book journey?" Levy asked sitting across from me sipping her glass of water.

"I'm not too sure since my contract ends at the end of the year. I have to sort out some things at the estate and then meet my editor back in Stella."

"Aww, busy as usual. I wish I could have gone with you to Ishgar, but you know… pregnant," she said pointing to her huge belly. She then glared at her boyfriend, before elbowing him. "You couldn't hold out for another year?"

"Nope," Gajeel grinned wincing in fake pain while sitting by her side. "I will take you once the twins are old enough to behave."

"By then, the feeling to travel there would have died out," Levy whined. "Lug head."

I smiled watching the couples around me who were either dating, engaged, married, or starting a family immersed in conversation. High school is where I met everyone. After the death of my mother, my father uprooted my previous life and moved us to Magnolia. As a new moody student, they embraced me with open arms and accepted me into their group. Anything to cheer up the gloomy new girl. Pulling me through my depression and building me whole again, I couldn't ask for a better friendship than that. Throughout the years, we remained close and in touch after graduating, even if went our separate ways to pursue our careers and life in general.

Returning here, they gave me a sense of home every time we gathered. Something I truly cherish.

I looked from the corner of my eye at the man next to me.

And there was us. Me and Natsu. The only two who were single, but the best of friends. More like used to be, but the others didn't know that. We have a way of putting on a charade in front of them without actually saying it.

"Why not stay and plant some roots back here? Everyone here misses you, Lucy. Coming back for big events is great and all, but we still want you around outside of that," Erza said sitting by her husband on the opposite end of the table. "Aren't you lonely over there?" she said speaking for everyone.

I smiled at her. All my friends had their eyes on me, including him. The spotlight on my decisions has always been an ongoing topic between us every time I came back. It was something I did not want to decide on so lightly. Taking these trips had been an escape from my reality.

Before I could answer my usual spiel, Levy felt one of the babies' kicks causing her to jump, drawing everyone's attention away from me. They gushed in excitement wanting to feel the kicks themselves and asking questions about her upcoming baby shower.

I sighed in relief, picking up my wine glass again. My eyes went back to Natsu when the attention was taken off me. He has been quiet since dinner was served.

Unfortunately, he was the main factor in my choice to either flee or stay.

Since high school, he has always been my friend. My rock during the good and bad times of my life. He was one of the first people to approach me. With his silly antics, he drew me into the fold. Introducing me and steadily pulling me out of my shell. Ever since then, he's been the closest person to me. When my only living parent my father died, he was there front and center. With a box of tissues and a shoulder to cry on. Same with breakups with ex-boyfriends. Ready and waiting with the same items plus a tub of cookie 'n' creme ice cream.

During that time, not once did I initiate more. My trust in him only grew through the years. We've never had feelings for each other. I believed the feelings were of mutual respect. When he dated other girls, I didn't get jealous. They, however, had a problem with me. They couldn't believe I could just be his friend.

Entering college, the nasty looks and jealous texts only escalated. The women he dated were crazy. They couldn't believe a girl and boy could be friends without catching feelings. But I defended myself. I said anything is possible if you know yourself. At least that's what I told myself every time he would look at me. Smile at me. Talk to me. Hug me and annoy me.

I would have distanced myself from him if I could, but he was my friend.

My best friend.

Sadly, it all came ahead when his father passed away two weeks after college graduation. I immediately dropped everything I was doing and rushed to be there for him. At the time he found out about the passing, his girlfriend was caught cheating on him which only plummeted his already fresh wound into oblivion. That was the first time I had ever seen him cry.

I believe it was because of the loss of such a powerful man in his life and the lack of control over it. Igneel Dragneel was a storm to be reckoned with. The wealth did not change his personality as it had done for my own father, he remained rambunctious yet knowledgeable. Igneel instilled deep respect in his family and friends, so when he died, it not only hurt Natsu, but everyone he ever interacted with.

That evening something shifted between us.

The funeral and burial were beautiful send-offs for his father. Now at the repass, I held him as he sat in his childhood bedroom crying while we went down memory lane. Through his tears and a few of my own, we talked about the little things Igneel did for us whenever I would come to visit. He mentioned how Igneel viewed me as his very own daughter since he only had his two sons. Natsu smiled as he wiped away a fallen tear.

"He said he wanted me to marry you so it could be official," Natsu chuckled. "Marry your best friend. I did," he made his voice deeper to mimic Igneel.

I could only laugh at the imitation. "He had a way with words."

"I know right," Natsu glanced up at me. He gazed at me with such intense emotion, that I suddenly was aware of how close we were. My heart was beating fast, and I was scared he could hear it. I had to pull away from our embrace to give us some space. Noticing my sudden withdrawal, he shamelessly looked away and cracked a smile. "Lucy, you know I love you, right?"

Straightforward words skyrocketed my heart into the stratosphere. Never has he said 'I love you' to anyone but his family. Emotions had to be running high for him to say that. I looked away. I was not ready to face something so… real. His hand found mine and squeezed it. I glanced up and we gazed into each other's eyes. Onyx clashing with honey brown.

"I'm being serious," he slowly leaned in, eyes flickering down to my lips, and then back up to my eyes. I didn't move knowing what was coming next. "I love you," he whispered.

Those simple words crashed into my life with a hard slap to the face. His cheating girlfriend heard his 'confession' and believed I was seducing him while he was grieving. What happened after the slap could only describe a trashy reality TV show. The yelling, the accusations, another slap, and hair pulling. Just trashy.

Natsu defended me by standing in the middle but then he didn't when his girlfriend suddenly broke down. The gaslighting and shifting of blame for her cheating on him because of his neglect had me fuming. He cried and held her. I could only stand there dumbfounded and bruised, watching them hold each other as I held my swollen cheek. His family members rushed in from all the commotion and tried comforting them. His aunts shooed me away and denied me access to return to the home because of the chaos that ensued on such a day.

That night and days later it was radio silence on his end. Such a simple phrase and the actions that followed ruined our friendship.

Not waiting another day, I booked a flight away from Fiore to Stella. I blocked him on everything. If he did not call or text me until then, I rather not disappoint myself in waiting any longer.

For the past five years, I've traveled. Within the first year of my move, I wrote a book about my heartbreak and self-published it. In a matter of months, it became one of Stella's bestsellers. It also became a nationwide hit at the beginning of my second year of moving to Stella. Publishing companies wanted to sign me as an upcoming author. Contracts for up to 5 to 15 years.

I grew on the high of fame and writing. I proceeded to stay in Stella since they were the ones who put me on the map and signed a five-year contract. From there, I published more books, never letting my fans down. Each word, line, page, paragraph, chapter, and book expressed my pained unrequited love. The ache from it. The betrayal and the never-ending turmoil, which always ended in a happy ending despite my own ongoing story .

I hid behind it; hopeful it could heal the inner pain.

I traveled to book signings, meeting other authors and production studios. One of my famous books was in the process of becoming a movie. Something I never imagined when I wrote it. Every location was planned in advance and set for my arrival, but the one place I avoided going to was Fiore. My editor questioned why I refused to return to my hometown, but I dodged answering her question. The chance of seeing him again plagued me with fear.

However, I couldn't avoid him forever. I had to be a big girl and do the adult thing. I returned home after three years. Maybe the time apart could be our chance to find our way back to each other.

Or so I thought.

Jellal's and Erza's engagement party threw a wrench into that hope of reconciliation. That night turned my sadness into rage. The fact we were sitting at this table so civilized was beyond me.

After the opening of gifts, eating dessert, and playing some games, I called it a night. I had to go home to arrange some of my late father's business plans and then a flight back to Stella the next day to meet my editor. I bid everyone farewell after having my own feel of Levy's babies' kick.

As expected, Natsu was right behind me within seconds and meeting me by the door as I was putting on my shoes.

"Need a ride?" he asked, shoving his hands in his jeans pocket.

Maybe I can't do this.

"No thanks," I slid on one of my shoes. "I don't need a repeat of two years ago." Ouch. Harsh much?

It was as if he stopped breathing. My words were rude when he was being polite, but I couldn't help it. I fixed my buckle on the shoes before moving past him to get my purse off the coat rack.

Stay strong, Lucy.

"Why… would you…?" he stuttered.

I whirled around and got close to his face despite our height difference. "That's the difference between you and me," I harshly whispered making sure the others didn't hear me. "I don't cast blame when it's unfounded." I then turned away and walked out avoiding slamming the front door.

When my foot hit the pavement of the sidewalk, he grabbed me by the arm and…

…kissed me.

~s~

Natsu

She had this hold over me for years.

Watching her stroll away as if she had this aura of nobility stifled my perception.

I chose at that moment to never let her walk away from me again. Not without a fight.

So, I chased her… and… I kissed her.

It seemed like she melted into me as soon as I touched her. There was zero resistance as I kissed the traces of sweet frosting from her lips. I used my arm to wrap around her waist to pull her closer, and a hand at the back of her neck to pull her deeper into the kiss.

She let out a whimper that sent a surge straight to my groin, making me want her even more. As much as I could, I devoured her, kissing her until neither of us could breathe, and our lips were tender to the touch when we came up for air.

Opening my eyes, I gazed at her. I hoped to see anything but this.

Tears falling from her eyes.

"Lucy…?"

"Why do you keep doing this?" she asked. The pain was etched in each word. "Why do you keep pulling me in to only hurt me?"

I loosened my hold around her, and she took the opportunity to wiggle free.

"I'm sorry-"

"And there it is!" she yelled. "Typical Natsu. The apology and then radio silence follows right after." Lucy wiped her tears and turned away briskly walking into the night. I could only watch her dumbfounded as she once again disappeared.

"You know you're an idiot, right?"

"Excuse me?" I glanced up at my older brother Zeref from the couch as he held one of his toddler twins, August, who poked at his father's chin. I held the other toddler twin, Larcade. He was busy flipping through his sensory toddler book. I was at his house explaining to him what transpired last night while helping him watch the boys since he pressured his wife Mavis to have a mommy spa day. Anything to keep his wife happy for pushing out his twin sons without epidural.

"Lucy is back after two years, and you thought kissing her would make her do what exactly?"

He was the only person who knew what happened between Lucy and me. The only one I could trust to give me perspective of the situation I faced. He was there that day. Watched her leave the house to never return. He was there when I struggled to call, text, and search all over Magnolia for her. The mental anguish of losing my best friend in a matter of minutes. It was only months later, I found out from Levy that Lucy had moved overseas.

"I don't know?" I shrugged glancing back at my nephew on my lap. He was pushing the book towards me. I took it but gave it back when he reached for it.

"See, an idiot."

"I would like it if you refrained from calling me that," I glowered.

"Whatever," Zeref said putting August down as he fussed to be with his twin brother. "You ever thought maybe you should apologize?" He stood up straight and walked over to the kitchen.

"I don't know what I'm apologizing for." Larcade wanted to get down too, so I leaned over and sat him up by my feet. Zeref scoffed and mumbled under his breath. I frowned and continued. "Five years ago, she disappeared after Pops died, then left again after… you know that night, and now…"

"And everything leads back to you," Zeref returned with two bowls of cut-up bananas. "Stop touching her and actually talk to her."

"I tried that but talking led to…"

"What happened two years ago, yeah, I get it. Try meeting in a public space where you two won't take off each other's clothes."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure."

~s~

Lucy

"Where is it?"

"What?" I reached over the table to grab a strawberry-glazed donut. Recently my sugar cravings have been catching up to me. My editor, Brandish folded her arms over her chest glaring at me as we sat in the local cafe. She had become a close confidant in the five years I've been away from home. When I met her in Stella, we clicked automatically at the publishing company. What solidified our friendship was finding out our mothers were best friends when growing up. Though they both died before we could officially meet, connecting in an entirely different country in the careers we love, we considered it fate.

"Don't do that. Where is your manuscript?" Her green eyes eased up from their glare. "This could be your final book under this contract. Timing matters in the next assessment so you can make better demands with your contract renewal."

"Who said I was renewing it?" I bit into the sweet treat, closing my eyes, and tasting the soft dough.

"Aw come on," she sat up and leaned in closer. "Wait, are you looking at a new publishing company overseas? Back at Fiore?"

I shook my head. "No. I went back for an engagement/housewarming party. I told you this before I left."

"Oh yeah, I forgot. Still, I have to ask." Brandish reached for her own donut to take a bite. "Can't have my favorite author running away," I smirked at her compliment while finishing up my own baked goods. "You still didn't answer my question. Where is the manuscript? I have to give them something before they start negotiations."

"Can you hold off on that?" I asked wiping my fingers on a napkin.

"Any reason why?"

"I'm still working on it. You can say it's lack of inspiration."

Brandish nodded immediately understanding. "Is another trip in order?" She dusted off her fingers to take out her tablet from her purse. She opened the planner app and scrolled. "I can schedule you for another trip by the end of next week or for the end of the month. What do you think works for you?"

I smiled at her. She was always in business mode. "You've always been too good to me."

Brandish looked up and narrowed her eyes. "That sentimental crap you're pushing on me can be used in this new book."

I laughed, and she cracked a smile laughing with me. "Fine. Probably by the end of the month. I need to relax on the sporadic traveling for the time being. My dad's company needs my full attention in the meantime. Apparently, they need his plans to proceed with the next project."

"I thought the non-profit organization took over. Why do they need your father's input now?"

I shrugged. "I honestly don't know. The lawyers said it was in his willing testament. Whenever the company can't think of what to do next, it's up to me whether or not to give them one of his plans to advance."

"He thought ahead before his death," Brandish said sadly.

"You can say that. The way I look at it, he knew my mind was never into the business so why bother me when he has Plans A - Z prepared." I frowned thinking of the arguments my dad and I had over marrying some mogul to keep his business going. I didn't talk to him for months leading up to his death. Thinking about the time I missed being angry made me look at myself internally. I was doing the same thing all over again, this time with Natsu.

"True. Besides all that business chat, tell me how it was back home. Did you catch up with everyone and a certain someone?" she wiggled her eyebrows.

The already sulky mood grew cold. "No, I didn't."

"Why not?" Brandish looked at me curiously. "All that pain you've felt over the years should be placed into your last book with an actual true ending. Meaning working out your issues."

"How can I when he continues to do stupid shit."

"Wow, Ms. Heartfilia, such a potty mouth," Brandish grinned but it quickly faded. "The last time you guys tried to talk was two years ago. When you came back, I knew something was wrong, but you never told me what happened." She was right. I jumped ship the minute Natsu said those stupid words. She leaned back and spread her arms. "I'm all ears now. We have the whole day to ourselves, so spill it."

I gazed at her and then down at my empty plate. "We need more donuts if you want me to tell you."

Brandish smirked. "Consider it done."

Two Years Ago

Returning home for Erza and Jellal's engagement party was the first time I had seen him in three years. Walking into the hall decorated for the celebration, he was the first person I locked eyes on. The previous pain had dulled away when I gazed at him not moving from the entrance.

The past three years had changed him. He no longer had the boyish face with a big grin. He had grown into his looks. His face was already handsome, but now that was an understatement. He wasn't a model for the cover of one of Fiore's famous magazines, but he could have been. His deep onyx eyes were round and were burning a hole through my soul as he watched me begin to move further into the hall. A new surge of feelings began washing over me. No longer was I naïve about what I wanted. Whether it was a night of heated arguing or something pulsating hot to curb the intense emotions running down to my core.

As if reading my mind, he stood up taller making his broad shoulders pronounced in the black button-up shirt, proving he still works out. Instantly, a rush of wetness pooled between my legs.

I was so lost in his appearance that everyone else around me didn't matter but him. The others were gathered close by and noticed my presence.

"Lucy!" I blinked several times, breaking our exchange. My friends ran over to me, giving hugs, and handshakes between us. I missed them dearly.

Especially him.

I took a quick glance over to Natsu. He stood idly by while the others chatted away catching up with me. When we finally had our moment, I couldn't help but play it as if the past three years never happened. I embraced him and patted his head. The swirl of his smoky spice cologne had me on the verge of swooning and ready to drop my panties.

Parting from our hug, I saw the confusion etched on his face. That made me feel giddy. Knowing how confused I was back then was only the surface emotion I went through because of his actions. Not wanting to linger longer than needed, I walked away without saying another word. For the rest of the night, I did anything to take my mind and eyes off him. Celebrating my friend's happiness, I danced and drank away. Cana was truly proud.

When it was time to head back, I signaled everyone to let them know I was departing. They gave me teary hugs of goodbyes and for me to return soon speech. He was standing there, but I avoided saying goodbye to him too. I didn't want the night to end yet. He knew what I knew as I slowly turned away. Before I could get in the cab the hall provided as a service, on cue, Natsu stopped me.

"Can we talk?"

The alcohol swirling through my system sparked a raw emotion when his onyx eyes clashed with my honey-brown ones. He now possessed a latent, imposing power that made my mind crave more than a talk for the night.

"I have a flight in the morning. Hop in." I got in the cab leaving the door open. If he really wanted to talk, he would get in without hesitation. Or close the door to continue our feud and my need to masturbate these new feelings away.

He looked around outside before getting in. We rode back to my hotel in silence. His eyes were on me the whole time, but I refused to look at him. Instead, my eyes were glued to the changed scenario of our hometown Magnolia. It still was beautiful as I remembered it, even if it was late into the night.

Arriving, I got out quickly and I went inside the hotel. He can pay the driver, that's the least he could do. Walking through the lobby, my heels clicked with a strong rhythm gradually building my anxiety to be alone with him. The hotel bar was closed, and so was the restaurant. The only place was the lounge or my room.

Needing a shower and a good soak for my feet, I picked my room. He was a few feet behind me when I reached the elevators. The silence stretched on when we rode up.

Fishing out my keycard, I embraced his heated presence close behind me. The shallow breaths when he inhaled and exhaled. The ruffling of his shirt when he walked. Everything about him I felt.

Maybe being alone with him was a bad idea. Thinking about what was needed between my legs and the alcohol-induced courage was not rational in any way.

I made it this far.

Tapping the card, I walked in and held the door open for him. He slid in before I closed it. Without saying anything, Natsu walked in further to sit on the couch. I removed my heels and threw them to the side.

"I need to wash off my makeup. I'll be out in a few." Not waiting for his reply, I shuffled to the bathroom and locked the door. I gazed at my appearance in the mirror. Before I left, my makeup was immaculate, but now it was oily and smudged. "So much for looking like a knockout," I whispered. I grabbed my facial wash and proceeded through my routine.

The shower called my name as I patted my face dry. Hoping to get this conversation over with, I opened the door and proceeded to the sitting room. Natsu watched me sit down in the armchair close to the couch.

"Talk."

One word.

Simple.

No emotion.

Natsu glanced down at his feet. "Lucy… we really need to talk about what happened that day. Why did you leave?"

"The same reason why you never called."

He sat up. "I did call, but by that time you had left. So, what was your true reason for leaving?" He was looking at me. "Let's get this out into the open."

"You know why," I glanced away breaking eye contact.

"I really don't."

"Don't play coy with me!" I snapped glaring at him. I felt my emotions flaring at his lack of knowledge. What he had done. How much he has hurt me. I inhaled to calm the boiling rage. "Why… why would you say that then…" I couldn't finish my sentence. That day was on constant repeat in my mind. From every angle possible I tried to understand his reasonings. I desperately wanted to understand why he chose her over me after confessing his love for me.

Natsu ran his hand through his hair and over his face. Sadness and frustration blared through his eyes. I looked away to stare at the ticking clock refusing to acknowledge his emotions when my own were running high.

Watching the secondhand move on the six, I began counting. He has five minutes to explain, or we're done.

"I told you I loved you and you left me. You seriously can't figure out why I'm confused?"

I was baffled. Was that really all he remembered from that night? Yes, it was Igneel's funeral, and emotions were running every which way but that day he lost his father and best friend. That day should be etched into his brain. His memory. I couldn't do this. Not again.

I stood up and pointed to the door. "Get out."

"Lucy!"

"No! I will not have you blame me for something you did. Playing with my emotions like that. I get it. Igneel died, you were hurting, but so was I! You let her berate me in such a way and then conned her way back into your arms. Even after missing your dad's funeral! For God's sake, she cheated on you the day Igneel died."

Natsu stood up towering over me. "How are you any better? You left me right after it happened."

"No, I didn't!" I moved toward him and shoved his shoulders. He barely nudged an inch, but he took the hint to step back. "I waited days for your call." Tears burned but I refused to let them fall. "I waited days Natsu and nothing. It was like I never existed. Like I didn't matter," I whispered.

He rubbed the back of his neck and turned away from me. That hurt.

I also turned away and made my way to the bedroom. I needed to get away from him before I said something I would regret later. "Just go."

Natsu followed and grabbed my arm to stop me. "You have always mattered to me." His fingers tightened around my arm. I faced him to see the same intense emotion from that evening in his childhood bedroom. He then pulled me close and hugged me. "I've missed you."

My body stiffened from his embrace. The sensation of his arms around me, my body automatically remembered it. I shivered when he inhaled and brushed his fingers through my hair. The anger slowly faded and other feelings glowed through. It felt natural as if I belonged in his arms. I couldn't help but give in to him.

I pulled back and looked into his eyes. "I missed you too."

Natsu pushed a stray hair behind my ear. The touch of his hand gently touching my ear made my knees weak. Taking a sharp breath, I tried to calm my racing heart. Noticing my increased breathing, he smirked.

He leaned into me, lowering his mouth to mine. He teased my bottom lip with his tongue, then gently nipped it with his teeth before he pulled it into his mouth, gently sucking away the sting. He slipped his tongue between my lips, and I opened for him, with no hesitation, as he buried his fingers in my hair.

Noses mashed together, teeth clacking, lips swollen… Natsu and I were kissing.

In real life.

Not in a book.

This was not a story.

Or a well-written chapter.

Right here, in reality.

We were kissing!

His grip on my hair tightened as he leaned into me more. I raised my arms draping them over his shoulders. One went to the back of his head, while the other caressed his face. One of his hands stayed in my hair, pulling me deeper into the kiss, and the other went down to my butt, gripping and squeezing as he pressed his body closer to mine.

His dick was hard.

I was making him hard.

Me.

It seems that he realized what was happening and pulled away looking dazed. Neither of us said anything. He ran his fingers through his salamander hair breaking eye contact for a moment before he brought his eyes back to mine.

"Lucy…"

Before he could say anything, I reached for his collar and pulled him back towards me. I brought his mouth back down on mine.

Talking about this moment will ruin my ability to see the rest of it through. So, I kissed him back and hoped he would take the hint.

He did.

He took over the kiss, backing us further into the room and hitting the desk. There was a loud crash as he pushed me up to sit down.

His hands went behind my neck unzipping my dress. As it fell, he went for my bra and pushed it up to free my breasts. He cupped, squeezed, and teased my nipples into hard pebbles as he devoured my mouth. I gripped the back of his head, panting as he went down to suckle my nipples, going back and forth between them for equal attention. He licked and nipped until I was shaking, then slipped a hand down to my stomach pushing my dress around my waist.

As soon as he touched me, I was ready to come undone.

I was ready for him now.

I grabbed the collar of his button-up and ripped it open. A few buttons fell to the floor, but my eyes didn't have time to be mesmerized by his abs. I went for his belt buckle, zipper, and his waistband, tugging his pants along with his boxers down at the same time. He did the rest taking off his shoes and finished getting undressed, then he peeled me out of my dress and panties. I opened my legs when he was done, then stretched my arms, reaching for him.

Are we really doing this without getting to the source of our issues?

Yes.

Natsu stepped between my legs, and the soft pink head of his dick rested against my stomach, heavy and thick. He dropped his mouth to mine again, kissing me with the same frenzied passion I felt coursing through me. The same lust I'd felt since we first saw each other in the hall earlier that night.

His hand at the back of my neck kept me in place as he had his way with my mouth. He used the other hand to lift my thigh, hooking my knee over his elbow. He kissed me harder – biting my lip sharply enough to make me whimper, then sucking it into his mouth as he lowered his hand to guide himself into me.

His tongue slid against mine as he stretched me open, prompting me to dig my fingers into his back. I held on to Natsu tight, moaning into his mouth as he buried himself as deep as my body would allow. I pulled away from the kiss to take a breath, then nestled my face into his neck as he slowly, and deliberately pulled all the way out.

The deep rumbling groan of pleasure he let out when he sank into me again made me grin against his neck. I lifted my head accepting his mouth against mine for another kiss as he settled into a slow, steady rhythm.

Our gazes met and held on. I expected to feel uncomfortable and embarrassed by what we were doing, but instead, I felt oddly… relaxed. Like what we were doing was natural. As if this was supposed to happen.

Talking to each other wasn't going to solve our problems.

Maybe fucking each other would. Anything to sedate this anger boiling between us.

Natsu leaned in as he delved into me, pressing his forehead to mine. Again, our eyes met, and his mouth curved into a grin. After a few seconds, so did mine, and then he leaned in a little more and kissed the smile off my face as he stroked deeper, harder, faster, and stretched me open wider. The sounds of our pants, moans, and groans of pleasure, the wet slide of him moving in and out of me, and the smack of his balls against my skin filled the room.

I hooked my legs around his waist, and he plunged so deep that it sent a spasm of electric pleasure through me. My mouth opened, but nothing came out as he wrapped his arms around my waist, stroking so fast, so hard, that I wasn't even touching the desk anymore.

Pleasure built deep in my pit, that I was undoubtedly on the verge of bursting if I gave in, but I held on, rocking into him as he slipped his hand between my legs.

He stopped moving. Instead, he kept me suspended in the air, impaled on his dick while he thumbed my swollen, sensitive clit in tight, fast circles that snatched my breath away. A high, intense moan built in my throat, and I didn't bother holding it back. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let the orgasm seize me, snatching a scream of ecstasy from my mouth as it hit.

He then started his strokes once again. The feeling of him inside of me, heavy, hot, and hard, elongated the wave of my climax. My whole body tingled as I melted against him, feeling helpless as he kept thrusting.

He gripped my ass cheeks, holding me tight as he ground into me one last time, pushing as deep as he could go before he released. He lowered me back to the desk as the tension left his body, then planted his hands on either side of me. We were both panting, physically spent from the intensity of our release, and it took a second before either of us moved.

Natsu was still inside of me when our eyes met. We stared at each other, questions firing off in our minds. He pulled out, looked down at himself, then up at me. My legs were still open because I couldn't find the strength to move, and his eyes stayed there for several seconds before he lifted his gaze to my face.

He pushed out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his sweaty tresses, and verbalized his inner thoughts.

"What the hell does this mean, Lucy?"

Present

"He got dressed and left me there. Just like that, I knew his answer, so I got on my flight and came back."

Brandish's mouth dropped open. "What an asshole."

I leaned on the table. "You're telling me."

"You're an asshole too. Always running away."

"I do not-"

"You just told me," she said cutting me off. I waved her off. She was right but I wasn't admitting that. Stubborn just like my dad. The one trait I inherited from him.

"So, what are you going to do?" I shrugged. "Well, I suggest going back and confronting him. In public so we don't get a repeat of last time."

"I'm not doing that. It's like we're out of sync with one another. All we do is argue, and touch, and in the end, I'm crying. It's the same cycle over and over again."

"True, but it won't end until you've actually talked."

"How? If you don't remember, he didn't choose me." I frowned remembering him getting dressed, along with a quick exit as I sat on the desk, naked and dumbfounded. "Never has and never will."

"Lucy, I don't believe that. Try to understand, you literally had sex with your best friend. Did you imagine you do such a thing?"

I cringed. "Of course not."

"My point exactly. So, talk to him. Running away will not solve the matter at hand." Brandish reached over and grabbed my hand. "Carrying this much hurt is not good for you. He was your best friend, should your friendship end just like that?"

I frowned and glanced down at the table. "No."

"Good. I'm booking you a flight back to Fiore. Hey, maybe that was your next destination for the inspiration for the new book." Brandish grinned, opening her tablet again.

I chuckled, "I'll get you the manuscript, just book the damn flight."

Author's Notes:

Until Next Time.

Songs

U in my head – Omido, TRUU

Outta my head – Omido, Rick Jansen, Ordell

BABYDOLL – Ari Abdul

Bliss – alayna

A Little Closure – Deanz, Revel Day