Lucy found herself in a bad situation. She was barely managing to hold onto a cliff edge that was slowly cracking. She looked down, seeing very long drop waiting for her, causing the celestial blonde to gulp. Her heart was pounding nervously against her chest, jumping up into her throat as she attempted to cry for help, but no sound came out. All she could think of was that she was going to die…the small rock she was grabbing onto broke, and she started to fall. "AAAAAHHH!" Before she fell too far, a hand caught hers. "N-Natsu?" She felt herself pulled up slowly, after about a ten seconds.

"Yeesh…saving you is a real pain in the ass…" Luke said, panting slightly. "Plus, did you put on a few pounds?" Luke chuckled jokingly, lightly punching Lucy's shoulder playfully.

"I didn't ask for your help…" Lucy crossed her arms and huffed, looking away from her rival savior.

"Oh, come on, don't be that way, beautiful," Luke replied, placing two fingers under Lucy's chin, turning her head to his, causing her to blush lightly.

"Hmph…" Lucy puffed her cheeks out, looking over at Luke. "Thanks…" A few minutes of silence passed as the two looked at each other. Without a word, they slowly started leaning in towards each other…their lips almost touched when…

.

.

"WAAH!" Lucy shot awake, sitting up as she panted heavily, looking around. "Oh my god…did I really just dream about…" Lucy groaned, yet she was relieved that she was only dreaming. "Ugh…I need to stop letting him get to me…" Lucy shivered, the thought of her and Luke almost kissing leaving a sick feeling in her stomach. "I need some fresh air…" She nodded to herself, putting on a plain t-shirt, blue shorts, and a pair of pink flip flops. After that, she walked out of her house, quickly glancing at the gold flower Luke got her quite some time ago. She didn't want to throw it out because it was a beautiful flower, and a part of her would feel bad for throwing it out. "Tch…" Lucy shook her head, exiting her apartment, locking the door behind her, and started talking a late night stroll in Magnolia Town. "It's quiet here at night…" Lucy said to herself as she crossed her arms, shivering a little from the cold breeze. "I should've put on a jacket…"

Cynthia slowly trudged through the quiet Magnolia streets, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts, sleeveless shirt, and a pair of slippers, rubbing her eyes as she yawned quietly. "Ugh…Stupid insomnia…" Cynthia accidentally bumped into Lucy's stomach, causing her to take a few steps back. "Wah! L-Lucy…?"

"Cynthia?" Lucy blinked a few times. "What are you doing out so late at night…?"

"I couldn't sleep…so I thought a nice walk would help fix that. Wendy is out like a light, so I didn't want to wake her," Cynthia nodded slowly, yawning.

"You look tired to me…" Lucy replied, crossing her arms as she raised a brow.

"I just can't sleep…" Cynthia sighed, taking a seat on the stone railing.

"You too, huh? At least you didn't have a nightmare…" Lucy asked, taking a seat next to Cynthia.

"You had one…?" Cynthia looked up at Lucy while furrowing her brows.

"Ugh…it was awful…Luke and I almost kissed…" Lucy groaned just at the thought of it.

"Oh, stop acting like you hate him already!" Cynthia objected, smirking slightly. "I can tell you two obviously still care for each other!"

"We don't!" Lucy protested, frowning. "I don't like him, and he doesn't like me!"

"Nope, he clearly still cares for you," Cynthia replied. "He just acts like he doesn't to throw people off! Speaking off…how did you two meet again…?"

"You asked me this before…" Lucy sighed, looking down at her feet before looking up at Cynthia. "I'll tell you, since I need to get this nightmare off my chest…It started a few months ago…May, I think…"

{Flashback}

In a bright midafternoon in Magnolia Town, Lucy was peacefully walking through the town, having just returned from a solo mission. "Hey everyone, I'm back!" Lucy said with a cheerful grin.

"Hello, strange person I've never met," A brown haired male responded who was walking in Lucy's direction.

"Oh, hello!" Lucy gave a sweet smile towards the stranger. "My name is Lucy Heartfilia; who are you?" She asked.

"Oh, name's Luke Cloud," Luke nodded slowly. "Lucy Heartfilia…that name rings a faint bell…" Luke shrugged, and then gave the female a small smile.

"It does?" Lucy blinked a few times, and then shrugged it off. "I am from Fairy Tail, so maybe you've heard my name?"

Luke stayed silent for a few seconds before it hit him. "Oooh, you're THAT Lucy…"

Lucy raised an eyebrow, a little hesitant now due to Luke's sudden change in behavior. "What do you mean THAT Lucy…Who are you…?"

"Oh, you know, just your average mage from the strongest guild in Fiore, White Eclipse," Luke said rather prideful, showing off the White Eclipse guild mark on his right hand.

Luke's confession caused Lucy's heart to pump even faster as she took a step back. "I-I've heard of you guys…"

"Oh? Have you now?" Luke flashed a smirk. "Good, because we'll be taking Fiore by storm soon," Luke turned his back towards Lucy. "If we meet again, don't expect to get off so easy," Luke then walked off, leaving Lucy shaking slightly in her boots.

{End Flashback}

"Wow…" Cynthia was surprised at Lucy's story. "Was he really like that? He was so..."

"You would think so, yeah" Lucy sighed.

"What happened then…?" Cynthia asked, looking up at Lucy. "You fought, right?"

Lucy nodded slowly. "He beat me…badly…" Lucy sighed. "But it's what happened after…"

{Flashback}

Lucy was wrapped in bandages after her loss to Luke, unable to find a comfortable position in the darkness of her room on her bed due to all the cuts and burns she received during the fight. She heard a knock at her window, so she slowly got up and opened it, and there stood Luke. "L-Luke…?" Lucy took a step back.

"H-Hey…" Luke replied with a solemn tone. "Can I come in…?" Lucy stood there for a few seconds before nodding slowly, and Luke hopped inside, unable to look Lucy in the face, obviously feeling bad for hurting her earlier.

"What are you doing here, Luke?" Lucy asked, looking at the mage.

"I came here to say sorry…" Luke replied, slowly lifting his head up to look at Lucy.

Lucy stayed silent for a few minutes before she lifted up her shirt, revealing a large burn mark on her side. "It hurts, Luke…" Lucy mumbled.

"I-I know…I'm sorry…" Luke replied, looking down at the floor again. "I just…I feel bad about earlier…"

"Do you really…?" Lucy asked, lowering her shirt.

"Yes…I just wanted to tell you that…" Luke replied. "I understand if you don't forgive me…" Luke turned around, starting to leave via the window.

"Luke…" Lucy started. "I forgive you…"

Luke turned around, caught off guard by Lucy's words. "Y-You do…? Just like that?" Considering how things went, he didn't expect her to immediately be so forgiving up him.

Lucy nodded. "I do…" Luke smiled slightly before hopping out of the window and down to the streets above, starting to walk off, but Lucy stuck her head out the window. "Luke!"

"Huh…?" Luke turned around.

"I can tell you'd be a great person to be friends with…and next time, I won't lose." Lucy gave a sweet smile as she went back inside.

Luke stared at the window for while, blinking a few times. There was then a soft chuckle that escaped him and he started to walk off once again. "I'll be waiting."

{End flashback}

"DAWWW!" Cynthia grinned stupidly. "That's so cute…! What happened next?"

"Well…since things between our two guilds were tense…I realized I wanted to be friends with him, so I did the only thing I could. I went up to White Eclipse, and I challenged him to another fight. Of course…I lost again…but we were able to be friends after that," Lucy smiled faintly at the memory, and then frowned realizing it was all in the past.

"Oh…" Cynthia replied. "But wait…why does he act like he hates you!?"

Lucy cringed internally, knowing this was coming. "That…oh…well…You see…he asked me on a date…and I accepted."

"DAAWWWW," Cynthia grinned goofily.

"Yeah…" Lucy rubbed the back of her head and sighed. "And then Natsu showed up…and it became a real mess…and I picked Natsu over Luke…and it broke his heart…"

[Flashback.]

Lucy and Luke were in Lucy's house. They were just about to leave when Natsu ended up walking in on them. He was going to tell Lucy there was work, but he picked up a familiar scent and rushed over. It wasn't as if Luke and Lucy were sneaking around with their friendship, but Natsu was just unaware and caught them at a bad time. "What's he doing here?"

"Is he bugging you, Lucy?" Happy asked, tilting his head.

"Busy." Luke said with narrowed eyes. "You can leave now."

"H-Hey, wait...!" Lucy waved her hands. This was an awkward situation and she had to try and diffuse the growing tension as best she could. "It's just...Luke and I were hanging out. We've been getting along lately and all..."

"After what he's done to you?" Natsu wasn't buying it immediately. Lucy was kind hearted and that was the best part about her...but Luke was the problem. Natsu didn't like anyone from White Eclipse, and they were on very thin ice with the way they were challenging Fairy Tail and winning some of their fights.

"It doesn't concern you, Dragneel." Luke said while stepping closer. "You're in the way, so move."

"You want me to kick your ass again?" Natsu snarled while stepping closer to Luke. The animosity in the air was only growing more intense and Lucy was worried a fight would break out.

"I'd like to see you try!" Luke yelled.

"Guys, knock it off!" Lucy stepped between the two of them, pushing them apart with her hands. "Natsu, it was my choice! And Luke, you don't have to be so hostile! Especially not in my house!" Even though there was distance between them, Natsu and Luke still were glaring at one another. "Can you two just calm down?"

"I was calm, then he had to barge in here and ruin everything." Luke sucked his teeth in annoyance.

"Me? You're the one barging in here!" Natsu snapped back. "I was coming to tell Lucy we had work, and I see you in here. I know Lucy can handle herself, but that doesn't mean I trust you around her."

"Natsu...Luke..." This situation was spiraling out of control. She understood why Natsu was upset for her...With a sigh, Lucy turned to Luke. "Hey, I'm sorry, but...maybe we'll just have to take a raincheck on this. I think I just need a little space right now."

"What...?" Luke blinked once. Natsu arrived and suddenly their plans were dashed, just like that. "Are you serious? We were just about to leave?"

"I know, but..." Lucy rubbed her arm awkward. She did feel bad about this, but there didn't feel like an option where anybody won. It was probably just for the best that they all get some space.

"That's not fair." Luke grunted, obviously annoyed with the way things were turning out.

"Luke..." Lucy really felt bad about it, but...

"...No, I see how it is." Luke shook his head and started to make his exit. "So you'll pick him any day, is it? Fine."

"That's not...!" Lucy didn't get the chance to finish her sentence, because Luke just...suddenly kissed her in front of everyone. She was completely stunned, frozen, face red from what happened. Luke was doing it to prove a point, but by the time Lucy even registered what happened, he slammed the door on his way out. "W-W-..."

[End Flashback]

"…..Oh…." Cynthia had no response for that, but she sighed. "And…that lead into round three…?"

Lucy nodded slowly. "Yeah, kinda…we made up after that, and White Eclipse went quiet for a while, but Luke was the only one around, and he got along with everyone he talked to in Fairy Tail. But then White Eclipse came back, and he fought me again…and of course…he beat me…again…" Lucy let out a sigh. "The third round was humiliating too…he beat me so easily…"

Cynthia placed a hand on Lucy's leg, shaking her head slowly. "I'm sure you'll beat him, and I know he still cares for you…I think so…at least…er…" Cynthia stood up, rubbing the back of her head as she yawned. "That story made me tired…"

"Would you like to spend the night with me?" Lucy asked, standing up.

"I don't wanna worry Wendy though…" Cynthia frowned slightly.

"I'll let her know in the morning, C'mon!" Lucy nodded.

"Alright," Cynthia nodded, following behind Lucy.

"She's optimistic; I'll give her that…" Lucy thought to herself.