A/N: Hi everybody! So sorry this chapter took longer than I intended. I've been in sort of a writing slump. But I think I finally got some flow going again. I'm hoping to have 7 out in a few weeks! I will also be working on another Nalu story soon. I'm excited to share that one with you all as well. But I promise to finish Just My Partner and wrap it up with a nice little bow before I focus too much on the other one. Thank you everyone so much for all the favs and follows and reviews! I just love hearing from you guys. Please let me know, if you can, how you like this chapter! Thank you all again!

Enjoy! :)

Chapter 6

Lucy's POV

Lucy laid on the rocky ground, hearing distorted voices coming towards her. She groaned, grabbing her head. She had taken quite the tumble down a steep rocky slope.

She began to open her eyes, and she was wrapped in complete darkness. But from above she saw a light rushing towards her.

"Lucy!" She recognized the voice as Natsu's and then instantly remembered what happened moments before she fell, and her cheeks started to heat.

"Luuucy!" She then heard her feline friend.

She sat up rubbing the back of her head.

Natsu skidded to a halt and bent down to her level, bringing his flame up to scan her face. "Are you okay?" Concern filled his voice. He grabbed her chin with his thumb and index finger and tilted it up so he could examine her more thoroughly.

Her face heated further as their eyes met. His expression switched from concern, to flush. They stared at one another, then his eyes flicked down to her lips for a moment as he pressed his into a line. She heard her heart begin to drum loudly.

"Ow! The heck did I run into?" They were both pulled out of their gaze from the sound of Happy's complaints. Natsu moved his flame in the direction of the blue exceed. And once the fur ball saw what he had run into, he shrieked, darting back to his friends.

It was a golem.

But something was different. It wasn't alive. It stood as if it were just a statute. But no blue orbs lit the creature's sockets.

"Relax, Happy. I don't think it's even, alive… or awake. Or been brought to life, however it works." She said as she stood with her partner standing as well.

They approached the golem and as Natsu's flame lit the area around it, they noticed another next to it. Also not activated. Then another, and another. They walked in between the monsters and realized there was even more behind them. They were all lined up as if they were soldiers.

Lucy barely spotted a small torch on a wall near them. She lightly nudged Natsu to show him the torch. He strolled up to the wall then lit it, and began assessing the wall with the now extra light and saw multiple ones along the wall. And in one quick motion he threw his flames in the direction of the torches. Finding more on the other side of the cave walls and doing the same to them. The room was now fully lit.

She gasped as she saw the cave was filled with dozens and dozens of golems, all lined up like soldiers.

The trio walked through the rows of them.

"Well, looks like we found the source finally." Lucy said, moving her hand along the creatures. "And someone is definitely bringing them to life."

"I wonder why they haven't attacked again since there are so many of them." The slayer questioned.

"My guess is that they are waiting us out. Instead of sending more for us to destroy, they'll just wait til we are gone."

"I got an idea." Natsu grinned widely, igniting his flames. "Let's just destroy them all now."

She shared his grin, nodding in agreement. She then summoned Virgo and dressed in her form.

"Hello princess. Have I been summoned for punishment?" She said eagerly.

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Uh, no. See all these golems?" She motioned to the creatures. "We need to destroy every last one of them."

She bowed. "As you wish." Then she began drilling into them along with Lucy who now had Virgo's abilities.

Natsu had also easily demolished a few around him. "Damn, is it just me or are these things a lot weaker?"

Lucy nodded. "The magic that's used to bring them to life must also enhance their durability."

He shrugged. "Oh well, easier for us." He began to throw another series of blows to into the golems, until he abruptly stopped with the sound of a woman's screech piercing his ears.

"No! Stop! Stop demolishing my creations!"

The group's heads snapped in the direction of the woman. She stood above them in an entranceway that would drop off if she stepped any further.

"Cease this immediately! Leave my creations alone, you lowly wizards!" She said through clenched teeth.

Natsu tilted his head up to eye the woman and took a couple steps forward. "So you must be who we've been after this whole time. Who are you and why are you attacking these lands?"

"Ha! I'm not telling you a damn thing. Now leave this place!"

He cracked his knuckles, shrugging. "That's fine by me lady. I'm not much for talking anyways." He jumped high, launching towards her, ready to fight.

His fists were close to making contact with the woman's face before a rock wall suddenly appeared, sealing the entrance where she stood, shielding the woman. Causing Natsu's face to make contact against the wall instead. Falling to the ground.

"Ah! what the hell!" He complains rubbing his face.

"She uses earth magic, that's how she creates them." Lucy exclaimed.

The rock wall sinks back into the ground, revealing the women once again. "That's correct. And I will activate every one of my golems if you do not leave." She threatened, crossing her arms.

"No chance!" He yelled back. "Now that we know you're here, we can't leave til we defeat you! And I've been itching to get this job over with." He clenched his fist, flames igniting.

The woman scoffs.

He once again charges, jumping towards her, only for her to once again bring up the wall. Natsu ceased his attack, landing on his feet.

"Hey Virgo, bust through her wall!" Lucy shouted to her spirit.

"Right away, princess." She ascended into the air drilling through it, with the dragon slayer right behind her, ready to pummel his target.

Once the wall crumbled down, it revealed the stunned earth wizard. Natsu stepped one foot into the entrance, grabbing the woman by her shirt and flung her to the ground as she shrieked. He jumped down after her.

She quickly tried to regain herself, throwing her arms out. "Rock pillar!"

The ground where Natsu once stood was now being extended into the air at rapid speed, quickly approaching the ceiling of the cave. "Ahh shit!" Natsu shouted before he leapt from the pillar, landing just right on the head of a golem, then shooting himself off the creature, charging right for the earth mage. Before she could react, Natsu's fiery fist made contact with her jaw. Sending her flying directly into one of her creatures, a pained howl left the woman's mouth.

She cried, grabbing her arm that now held a large gash. She stumbled back on to her feet. "You fools! I will awaken everyone one of them right now if you don't leave this place!"

"You're bluffing!" The spirit mage shouted back. "If you were going to, you would have by now."

The woman's brows furrowed.

Lucy studied her face for a moment. "You can't activate them, can you? You just construct them." She looked around at the golems. "But someone else animates them, don't they?"

Her nostrils flare.

"There's someone else?" Natsu questioned, turning to the mysterious woman. "And where are they, hm? Hiding like a coward."

"How dare you! He is not a coward! He is taking back what is rightfully his!"

The duo exchanged glances before looking back at the injured women.

"Who is he? What is he taking back exactly?" Lucy interrogated her.

She only growled in response, holding out her arms and once again creating a rock pillar from the ground. Only this time under Lucy's feet.

"Lucy!" Natsu hollered.

She initially squealed, being caught off guard. Then quickly twisted her body to drill through the pillar back to the ground.

Natsu grinned at his partner once he realized she was safe.

The woman scoffed and began to take off running, only to hit a wall of ice.

"I thought I heard you guys down here."

The group whips around to see the ice wielder.

"Gray!" The celestial mage beamed.

He scanned his surroundings, eyeing all the golems, and the wizard who struck his ice wall. "So we finally found 'em? Took long enough."

"Right." The fire mage agreed with annoyance in his voice.

The woman's eyes filled with panic as she watched the three wizards, and spirit that surrounded her.

"Nowhere to run now, lady." Natsu said.

"Tell us where your accomplice is." Lucy demanded.

She looked at her creations around her, throwing her arms up, then quickly swung them down. And shouts. "Crumble!"

They all quickly turned around to see multiple golems beginning to fall forward, attempting to crush them.

"Watch out!" Natsu yells, throwing himself towards Lucy, wrapping his arms around her, and throwing themselves across the room.

Virgo disappears in a brilliant light, as Happy flies upwards, out of the way with Gray quickly jumping across the room as well.

As dust from the fallen statues began to settle, Lucy coughs, leaning herself up on her partner's solid chest. She felt his arms tightly around her and herself on top of him.

"Are you okay?" He asks her as she gently leaned up further.

"Yeah, I'm okay." She said, as he leaned up as well, coming face to face with her. "Thanks for breaking my fall." Her lips pulled upwards as she stood, with Natsu following suit.

"No problem." He gently laid his hands on her arms to help her stand.

They once again found themselves forgetting the current task at hand. And watched each other. One another knowing they were each thinking about their earlier conversation that had resulted in Lucy tumbling down a rocky slope. She studied him, attempting to read his expression.

"What are you idiots doing?" Their gaze with one another broke upon hearing Gray shout. "She's getting away, let's go after her!"

They shared one last glance, then followed after their guildmate.

The four of them had scoured the cave and mountain sides for an additional three hours without finding her. She had known the mountains better than them, considering she had probably been living up there for some time.

They had decided to venture back to the cave to destroy the rest of the golems. Only when they finally arrived there, the entire place was cleared of any trace of them.

"The room is completely empty." Happy exclaimed.

"What the hell happened to all of them!?" Natsu shouted.

Lucy scanned the room for a moment then eyed the ground. "I think… I think they all walked out of here." She turned to her teammates. "So, that would mean the other guy was here."

"How far could they have gotten?"

"Well, it has been a few hours, so I'd say a decent distance away." Lucy sighs heavily. "We should get back. Let Erza and the rest know what happened."

"Oh come on." Natsu complained. "We know they are here now. Let's just go look for them and kick their ass."

"No. We need the rest of the team if we are gonna face that many when they are activated." She said as she began heading towards the way out.

He pouted. "So we aren't leaving in the morning then. Huh?"

"Just get over it dude. I don't wanna hear you complaining about it the whole walk back."

"Shut up, ice freak!"

"Don't you two start." She warned them.

The gang had finally arrived back at the estate and out of the mountains. On their way, they came near the outpost where the others would have been, watching over the lands.

"Hey, Happy."

He turns to his blonde friend.

"Can you fly up there and tell them we all need to meet? We'll go find the men to replace them."

"Aye." He flew towards the top as the others went to complete their own task.

When they all made it back to the mansion, they made their way to the same room they met in on the first night they had arrived. Lucy told a passing maid to let Lord Halloway know they were back and had pressing news.

The whole team sat on the sofas awaiting the young lord's presence.

Lucy had already filled Erza and Wendy in on what had occurred in the mountains, during their walk back to the large home.

As she waited, she sat quietly, hearing the others converse. She barely paid attention, lost in her own thoughts.

She couldn't help but replay the moment from earlier in her head. Hearing his dark tone echo in her mind.

And how would said husband feel about me being in your bed every night.

And I don't exactly keep my hands to myself.

Light color dusted her cheeks as her stomach twisted. He was in her bed almost every night. And no, he didn't keep his hands to himself.

She honestly never tried to think too hard about it; she always said it didn't mean anything. To protect herself from any false hope. And she also decided never to speak about it aloud to her partner or anyone else for fear that if she did, it wouldn't happen anymore. She'd be lying to herself if she said she didn't enjoy it.

Natsu had confused her in so many ways. She thought he really didn't know what they did was intimate but evidently, he did. Considering he knows they couldn't anymore if she was in a romantic relationship. And she couldn't ignore the fact that he was being completely unreasonable and selfish, telling her she couldn't marry so that he could keep cuddling her. Yet, he would never take the steps to evolve their relationship.

She knew he would most likely sneak into her room tonight. And she knew she had to have a necessary conversation with him about boundaries. Though the thought of the conversation filled her with anxiety.

She kept stealing glances at the dragon slayer, watching him in the midst of some sort of debacle with Gray. As she watched the requip mage's irritation at the two grow. And before Erza could erupt her rage on the fire and ice wizard, Lord Halloway came into the room.

"Lucy." He said with a warm smile approaching her.

He lifted her hand and placed a gentle kiss on it. She side-eyed Natsu, awaiting his reaction. Erza was sitting next to him, already giving him a stern expression. Making sure he didn't cause a scene once again. She noticed his jaw clench along with his fist, his knuckles turning white.

"I hear there is some news." He looked towards Natsu who had visible dirt and bruises on him. And Gray, who also sported a few fresh bruises of his own. "Did you guys engage in combat?" He shifted his attention back to Lucy.

"Yes, we did." She motioned for him to sit. "We found a cave where dozens and dozens of golems were being stored. None of them were activated though. So, we decided to destroy them, and they were actually much weaker when they weren't animated. But then we came across a woman who had the ability to use earth magic. She looked a little older than us, with dark hair. At first we thought she was behind all of it. Come to find out, she only constructed the golems, she didn't have the ability to animate them."

"Well, who does that? Did you see them too?"

"No, we didn't. She wouldn't give us much information before she got away. She seemed to be really upset when Natsu insulted her accomplice though. He accused him of being a coward and she defended him. And said that 'he was taking back what's rightfully his.' But that's all we got out of her before we lost her."

Lord Halloway inclined his head slightly, deep in thought for a moment. Then his eyes widened, as if he realized something.

"Do you know what she meant?"

He stood up, fingers over his mouth with a stunned expression. "I- he." He fumbled with his words and took a breath. "I think… I think it's my brother."

The room filled with light gasps.

"What!?" Lucy said in astonishment.

"You have a brother?" Erza asked incredulously.

"Yes, I do." He began to pace. "He's my twin brother actually."

"What? There's an identical you running

around?" Natsu asked, eyebrows raised.

"Oh, uh no, he's my fraternal twin."

The fire eater tilted his head. "Huh?"

Lucy rolled her eyes. "They aren't identical, they don't look alike." She turned her head towards Soren. "I remember him. I met him briefly when you guys were at the Heartfilia estate. But he didn't stay with you guys."

"No, he didn't. He was very upset that day."

"Why?"

"Well." He sighs. "You see… he was the one you were originally supposed to be betrothed to."

Her eyes widen.

"But my father decided against it. My brother, well, he's never been very stable. He was always so angry and threw tantrums when he didn't get what he wanted. I wasn't always the best son, but he gambled, and he was extremely irresponsible and always got into trouble. Technically he is older than me by several minutes. But my father decided that I would be the one to marry you and inherit the lands instead." He sighed. "Of course, years later, he thought because I never married and left to travel, he would inherit it instead. But after my father died, it was me that he chose." He sat down taking another breath. "When Sage found out I still inherited them, he lost it. That was the angriest I had ever seen him. Then… he left. I haven't heard from him for an entire year."

"Now he's bent on revenge. And attempting to take back what he thinks is rightfully his." Erza remarked. "Did you know he could use magic?"

"A couple of years ago he told me that he was dabbling in magic and had learned a few spells. I didn't think much of it. But I didn't imagine he had the ability to animate things. Or that he'd use it to destroy his own home." He lowered his head.

"Well if you ask me, the guys totally messed up." Natsu spoke as the young lord glanced in his direction. "Destroying your home and hurting your own family just because daddy didn't give you what you wanted. The guy's screwed up."

"Yeah. Dude has some serious issues." Gray agreed.

"What I don't understand is, he says he's taking back what's his, but he's just destroying everything. If he did get what he wanted in the end, there would be no lands left to have." Wendy included.

"No point in trying to understand the logic of someone so willing to hurt his own family. Disgraceful." Erza crossed her arms.

"He's still my brother... Maybe... Maybe I can reason with him."

"Look, I get it, he's your brother, but we gotta take him and this crazy chick down." The dark-haired wizard told him. "You can talk to him once he's locked up."

Lord Halloway only nodded his head.

"We can assume that they know we've figured out who they are and why they are attacking." Erza stated as she crossed her arms, placing a finger to her chin.

"But why hasn't there been another attack?" Soren inquired.

"I assume they were waiting for us to leave, making us think there was no longer a threat." She replied.

Lucy nodded her head, knowing she had said the same earlier. "What do you think your brother would do next, knowing he's been found out? Would he give up?" She asked him gently.

He let out a chuckle. "Oh no. My brother does not like to give up. I've never known him to give up very easily until he's gotten his way." He rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Should we continue to have some of us look for them in the mountains, while others stay behind?" the tiny dragon slayer questioned.

"I'm not sure splitting up is an ideal plan anymore. With how many Lucy says there are, what happens when they decide to release them all and we aren't all here." The scarlet mage answered.

"What if they don't come at all? How long should we wait?"

"Oh, he'll come." They shifted their attention to the young lord. "He's never been one to have patience. I'm surprised he was able to wait as long as he has just to wait for you to leave."

"So, it's decided then. We will wait here for the attack. We need to make sure that when your men are coming and going in their lookout post, they wait for the next shift to come. If he's gonna bring all of those monsters at once we need eyes on these lands at all times, every second counts. We must be informed immediately and be ready before they hurt anyone or demolish any fields." Erza ordered.
"Right!"

"If we are done here for the time being." The red-haired lord turns to Lucy. "Are you still okay to have dinner, Lucy? We could meet in my quarters in…" He glanced towards the clock. "In well, thirty minutes?"

"Yes of course, Lord Halloway." She smiled warmly.

"Wha-"

She heard her partner begin to protest until Erza slapped a hand against his mouth and gave him a threatening look.

"I'm just going to get cleaned up before then."

"I think I'm gonna hit the showers too." Gray said, beginning to head out.

"Well, you're already half undressed." Natsu commented.

Gray looked down. "Ah shit. Again?"

The group rolled their eyes amusingly at his stripping habit.

"If you need me and Wendy, we'll be in the strawberry fields." The requip mage beamed next to the tiny wizard.

Everyone grinned and left the room heading in different directions.

Before she crossed the entryway, she saw Natsu sitting back down. He leaned forward, hands together with his elbows placed on his knees. Clearly lost in thought.

She debated for a moment to stay, but then decided she wasn't ready for that conversation yet.

Instead, she headed upstairs to take a much-needed bath.

Natsu's POV

Natsu had sat there awhile, pondering on all that had occurred in the last several hours. He was spiraling at best. He couldn't handle it. He couldn't handle the idea of losing Lucy to anyone. She had said she wouldn't marry anytime soon, but not that she wouldn't one day.

However, she told him that if he didn't marry her, then someone else would. Then she retracted her statement, saying she didn't mean it in that way… Natsu had never cared for the idea of marriage or romance, but he had to admit the idea of marrying his best friend did sort of excite him for a moment.

He knows Lucy would never want to marry him though. But he just couldn't handle someone else swooping in and marrying her. Truthfully, the thought of Lucy by the side of anyone but him just felt wrong.

He couldn't explain what had happened earlier, the change he felt inside of him when Lucy mentioned having a husband one day. It was like an unfamiliar thing or feeling inside of him bubbling underneath the surface.

If she decided to be with someone one day, nothing would ever be the same. He would never get a good night's sleep again if he couldn't lay next to her. He knew holding her the way he would wasn't a normal thing friends did but he couldn't help it. He was honestly surprised his partner didn't protest. The first night he finally held her he expected to get a series of Lucy's kicks but instead she almost welcomed it.

He had never said anything about it before. He was afraid that if he did, she would be embarrassed and wouldn't even let him sleep in her bed anymore. So, the very fact that he brought it up earlier, had him worried.

He rubbed his hands up his face to his hair and ruffled it as he sighed loudly.

He had already been sitting for some time, Lucy was surely at her dinner with him by now. And by this point he couldn't move. Because if he did, he knew the sleaze ball of a lord's room would be the first place he goes. He had to physically keep himself glued to his seat. He knew that even if he tried, the moment he'd go into the hall, he'd catch her aroma coming from the direction of Halloway's room, and it would drive him insane.

He didn't want her mad at him. He didn't want Lucy to have a bad night because of him. And he definitely didn't want to catch the scarlet wizard's wrath.

"Natsu?" Speaking of the scarlet mage. She came into the room and tilted her head in confusion."Why are you still in here, don't you want food? Dinner's ready."

"I want food, yes… But I can't leave this spot."

She raised a brow. "Why?"

"Because if I move, I'll run straight to Halloway's room and barge in on their 'dinner'." He mocked his last word with annoyance, as he met her eyes with his. "And none of us want that."

She smiled at him and sat down. Gray, followed by Happy, entered the room.

"Why are you still in here?" The ice wizard asked.

"He can't leave that spot, or he'll ruin Lucy and Lord Halloway's dinner." Erza answers amusingly.

He chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Wow dude, you're ridiculous."

"Don't start with me, ice perv!"

She threw her hands up at each of them, giving them both a stern look, immediately silencing them. She turned her attention back to Natsu. "You also look like you've been in deep thought for a while."

"He's thinking about how Lucy told him to marry her!" Happy said amusingly

"What!?" The other two said in bewilderment.

"No, she didn't! She didn't mean it like that, Happy!"

"She said, and I quote, 'If you won't marry me then someone else will'" The exceed teased his friend. On the edge of laughter.

"She didn't- she meant-." He exhaled. "She said, she didn't mean it like that." He was becoming flustered from the conversation.

His teammates held an amused expression.

"What?" He asked, becoming increasingly more flustered. "Look she didn't mean it okay. Lucy would never want me to marry her." He shook his head. "She would rather marry some pretty boy… Which." He scoffs. "Which is stupid. Right? I mean, why? Why does she need to marry anyone, hm?" He continued to ramble. "Is she not happy with just all of us having adventures? Is she not happy with me?" He groaned in frustration feeling that familiar spiraling feeling.

"Natsu." She sighed heavily. "Have you stopped to think about why you're so upset about it?"

"Well… Yeah, because she's Lucy. My Lucy. My partner. We're supposed to be by each other's side and go on adventures forever. How are we supposed to do that if she's with someone else?"

"Geez man, are you really that dense?" Gray said with raised brows.

"Listen, I, by no means, am an expert in the matter. But Natsu, have you ever considered that maybe you have feelings for Lucy? Romantic feelings?" Erza questioned him.

His face went flush, feeling his chest tighten. "Romantic? Uhh… No, I mean, I've never really been into the whole romance thing, sooo." He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

She chuckled. "You can still love someone without caring for romance."

"Of course I love her, I love all you guys."

"Yes, but… You love her differently."

"Yeah Natsu, you're innn looove with her." Happy says in his teasing sing-song tone.

Natsu finally stood, groaning in frustration, as he ruffled his fingers through his hair roughly. "Oh, what do you guys know about love anyways."

"I already stated I didn't, but at least we know what we are feeling." She defended as their other friend nodded in agreement.

"Oh, and you know what I'm feeling?"

"Well, it's not hard to figure out."

"Look, Lucy and I… We are just partners."

She sighed in frustration.

"How is it fair to be mad about another man proposing to her but you won't be with her either?" Gray asked with his brows furrowed.

"She wouldn't even want to be with me!"

"She's in love with you, Natsu! It's so easy to see. She's loved you from the beginning." Erza spoke up.

He stood in silence for a moment. Lucy, in love with him? No. There was absolutely no way. He knows the kind of books she reads. And he was the furthest thing from a prince charming.

"I'm not… I'm not her type."

"That doesn't matter." She exclaimed in frustration. "Listen, getting angry about her marrying one day is one thing, but acting as if she can't be with anyone ever is so selfish, Natsu. She deserves to be happy. So, either realize you're in love with her, or back off. Because she deserves happiness."

"Of course she deserves that!"

"Then get your head out of your ass, dude!" The dark-haired wizard shouts at him.

Before the dragon slayer could begin a fight with his friend, Wendy walked into the room.

"Hey, why is everyone in here?"

"Because Natsu's an idiot."

He only responded to the ice wizard with a glare. "Whatever. I'm done talking about this."

"Fine. But you need to come eat." Erza told him.

"I already said I can't leave."

She gave him her signature warning glare. "I will see to it myself that you don't run to Lucy before her dinner is over. Now move!"

"Yes ma'am!" He said hurrying out of the room.

"That was pretty good huh, Happy?" Natsu asked, rubbing his now full belly, as he and his blue companion strolled down the long hall to their room.

"Aye."

As they approached his room he caught the scent of his blonde partner. Who would now be in her own room. He started thinking back to his earlier conversation with his guildmates.

He thought about it some, and he may have been acting a bit ridiculous, and… Selfish.

He wasn't trying to be. He just truly couldn't handle the idea that his relationship with Lucy was going to change. And he couldn't get Erza's accusation out of his mind. The relationship they had wasn't romantic. He had never had the desire to do things, like give her flowers or take her on dates or whatever.

Sure, he always enjoyed being in her company and he did occasionally enjoy doing things to make her happy, but it wasn't a romantic thing. Or at least he didn't think it was.

Even so, he was definitely not the type of person she'd be with. He would make the worst boyfriend. He definitely wasn't charming. And he is notorious for always saying the wrong thing.

Erza of course insists Lucy is in love with him as well. It just didn't seem possible to him.

He sighed, overwhelmed from these thoughts about love. There was a reason he never cared for it, it was way too complicated.

"You alright, buddy?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm alright, buddy." He says to Happy, walking up to the entrance to their room. "I'm gonna get cleaned up real quick." Natsu headed to the washroom.

"Aye. I'm heading to bed early. I'm beat. Goodnight." The exceed heads into the room.

Natsu walked into his room after his quick shower, and the lights were already off. The only light in the room came from the moon's light beaming in from the balcony windows. He could see his feline friend curled up in bed, snoring. However, Gray's bed was empty. He shrugged his shoulders. Knowing it still wasn't very late.

He stared at the balcony doors. Knowing exactly what he wanted to do. And who he wanted to see. He told himself he needed to talk to her. To apologize to her for how he's been behaving. He didn't want her to be upset with him. And he also didn't want her to think he didn't care about her happiness, because he did. He was always searching for potential ways to make her smile.

And then he thought for a moment, is that what love's supposed to be?

He shook away the thoughts, heading out through the balcony doors.

Once he shut them, he turned, then stopped in his tracks as he saw her.

There she was, on the other balcony attached to her room. She was leaning against the railing, gazing at the stars moments ago, now slightly turning in his direction, probably alerted by the sound of his balcony's doors. She smiled softly. As if she had been waiting for him.

The feeling hit him like a ton of bricks, and his breath hitched.

The moon light danced across her skin, and her golden hair glistened. He always knew Lucy was beautiful, but his chest swelled and he felt his stomach twist, swallowing the lump in his throat. Natsu recalls having a similar feeling like this on some occasions when seeing Lucy, but not quite at this measure. In the past, he wouldn't welcome the weird feeling. He would brush it off before he would really let himself feel it. But now, he is. Something he didn't understand before, was finally clicking into place.

Then his panic slowly began to set in at the realization.

He was in love with his best friend.