She Never Did

3 weeks ago:

"Hey, Macao, where's Natsu?"

Macao's eyebrows knitted together as he registered who's voice asked him the question. "What are you doing here, Lucy? Shouldn't you be off with Natsu on his job?."

"He went on a job?" Surprised, Lucy's eyebrows shot up her face."When did he leave?"

"You don't know?" He raised an eyebrow sceptically, cocking his head to one side as he leant towards Lucy. "He wouldn't've left without you... I mean, he was gone like a shot when the request came in, so I just assumed that he left to get you..."

She felt her face drop, hurt at being left behind by her immature best friend, who would usually be begging for her to tag along with him. "So he's gone? What was the job exactly, and who sent it?"

"A dragon was spotted near where Wendy's old guild was - Cait Shelter? - and the Magic Council wanted it destroyed before anyone got wind of it. Natsu was out the doors before anyone realised."

She groaned, her initial hurt long forgotten, but instead replaced with worry for the pink haired boy, and threw her head into her hands. "Why won't he learn? I'll bet you anything he thinks it might be Igneel, so why would he leave if it needed to be killed?

Macao shrugged his shoulders, indifferent. "There's a small chance it might be his father, so what else would you expect? He's probably gone so that no-one can get there before he him and kill him just in case."

She sighed, slowly pulling her face free of her hands. "I know, I know, but I'm worried about him."

Macao looked at Lucy, something almost like sympathy hiding in his eyes, though she dismissed it as worry. "We all are."

2 weeks, 1 day ago:

Lucy sat on a bar stool, listening intently to Mirajane retelling stories of all the Guild members when they were children - especially ones centring Natsu, Grey and Erza, since they were members of Team Natsu - and laughed when she deemed it appropriate, cringing also when the moment was right.

"Mira," She said, cutting the white haired She-Demon off from an extremely embarrassing tale of a young Natsu having his first fire whiskey, set up by Gildarts on one of his rare visits. "When do you think he'll be back?"

Mira shrugged as she twirled the towel inside of the damp glass, drying it and placing it down on the bar, already knowing who the blonde was asking about. "You never know with Natsu. It could be a day, it could be a month."

"He's been gone for a week now, and we haven't heard a peep from him!" Lucy groaned, wringing her hands in her lap nervously.

Mira took a step back and placed the dried mug underneath the bar where the other glasses were stored, not even her being able to make a joke like the hopeless romantic she was in the situation given. "It'll be fine, Lucy. How do you think we all felt when you and him took that S-Class quest? We didn't get anything from you, and then when Gray didn't return..."

Lucy flushed, her anger gone, replaced with embarrassment. "I'm sorry Mira. I just-"

The white haired shape-shifter smiled, finally finding an opportunity. "You two are just like a couple; he leaves for a few days and you go out of your mind with worry!"

The blonde felt the blood rush to the surface of her neck s well as her face, her eyes widening in horror. "What? No! It's not like that! It's just that, I'm not used to not going on a mission with him and keeping him in check. I mean, he saves my life regularly, but I'm the one who stops him from getting hurt by acting irresponsibly, and I just know he's gonna act without thinking."

Mirajane shrugged, her inner romantic screaming 'denial'. "If you say so." Then she sauntered off to serve yet another tankard of alcohol to Cana who waved her over casually.

Lucy fell forward and threw her head in her hands, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She reallydidn't feel that way for the salmon haired boy, no matter how much the rest of the Guild insisted she did, but he was her best friend, so of course she'd be worried - it was natural and to be expected, right? No-one ever questioned Erza's panic when he went missing, but as soon as Lucy worried - everyone assumed the worst, or in their eyes, the best.

The Stellar Mage jumped out of her seat when the Guild's huge wooden doors suddenly slammed open, Gray falling through them, his hand clutched to his heaving chest, like he had been running for a while without stopping.

"Grey, your clothes!" She called, trying to keep the normalcy as her mind began to think up endless possibilities to his actions.

"Shut it, Lucy!" He panted, and when he looked up, Lucy could see his dark eyes swimming in barely dammed tears. "It's Natsu. I just read about it in the Sorcerer Weekly and-"

Lucy stormed over to where he was standing, his body shaking violently, and gripping her hips with her hands. "And what?"

Finally Gray looked up, unable to keep his tears at bay. "And what do you think? He went after a God damn dragon, and he's dead!"

She took a step backwards, feeling the Guild member's eyes rest on her with worry – and she hated to admit it, pity - as Gray recited the story. "The no-one actually knew if the dragon was Igneel, but when the Council decided to check up on Natsu, he wasn't there, and nor was the dragon, but they did find a load of charred bones scattered around a nearby clearing, so they found them to be Flame Brain's!"

"But it can't be-" The Celestial Wizard stuttered, unbelieving. "This is Natsu we're talking about! He's a Dragon Slayer – he was trained by a dragon to kill dragons, so how could he lose! I mean he- he just-"

"Well he lost and he died, okay?" Gray spat, turning on his heel and fleeing the hall, Juvia soon on his tracks in an attempt to comfort him.

She counted to ten in her head, then left, ignoring the concerned stares of her fellow Guild members.

Day 1:

Dear mom,

He's dead. Like you. He was killed by a dragon. We got nothing left to bury of him though, because when they found him, he was just a pile of bones.

But then again, that where we all end up someday, right?

~ Lucy

Day 2:

Dear mom,

I miss him. And missing him makes me miss you again/

Why couldn't he have just left the job alone – or at least brought me with him? Maybe I could've saved him, like he always seems, no seemed, to save me.

He said he'd always be there for us.

I didn't go to the Guild yesterday, and I don't plan on going back for a while. I can't take their stares. I don't like being pitied.

~ Lucy

P.S. Please don't be worrying about me, I'm fine, just a little shaken.

Day 3:

Lucy didn't go to the Guild again that day, instead she stayed in her home, eating, sleeping, bathing and writing letters to her mother and father, and every so often, she'd find she had written a bunch of words for Natsu.

Day 4:

Dear mom,

Please don't be worrying about me, okay, I know what you're like.

I'm eating fine, and sleeping regularly. I'm sad, but not grieving. Natsu wouldn't want me to break down. I've got to put everyone else first.

~ Lucy

P.S. I love you, and I miss you.

Day 5:

"Lucy, open up!"

A furious, raven haired Ice Mage banged at Lucy's door, demanding entry to her once quiet home. The Key user hadn't been to the Guild for five days now. She told herself it was because she wouldn't be able to stand their pitiful sideways glances, or their hushed remarks. She knew that the place would be silent and depressing, and she didn't want in. She didn't want him in either, since strangely enough, he reminded her of Natsu, bottling up his feelings.

"Go away!" She screamed, throwing down her pen.

"He was my friend too, y'know, and you don't see me moping around!" He snapped, his voice breaking.

"You never acted like it! And maybe you should be!"

"You're infuriating, blondie!"

"Oh, and by the way, get your facts straight. I'm not moping!"

He left with an annoyed groan that Lucy could hear from her apartment shortly after.

Days 6 - 10:

Each day a new Guild member would knock on Lucy's door - some quietly, respectfully, others as if they were trying to destroy the place brick by brick. Erza pounded, but Lucy could hear her heartbroken calls, Happy knocked timidly, his voice shaking as he called out for her.

Lucy nearly opened up for him - he sounded shattered, broken beyond repair.

Gajeel came with threats, a few dents to the walls and cracks and splinters in the wooded door, Elfman told Lucy with kind words that Natsu wouldn't want her to cry - he'd want her to carry on.

But Lucy wasn't crying.

She never did.

Day 11:

This time, it was Wendy who came knocking, and this time, Lucy let her in. She got her a plate of cookies and two glass of milk, one for the young girl and one for herself. They chatted and laughed with together over nothing and everything. The young Dragon Slayer had healed what Lucy didn't know was broken, without even a hint of magic involved.

It was then that she cried. Only a single tear at first, but as soon as Wendy wrapped her arms around her in an attempt to console her, they began to start flowing freely down her face and into the blue hair beneath her.

In the end, Wendy had to use her magic to make her sleep.

Day 12:

Lucy didn't get any visitors pounding at her door today, and she was glad. She watched the hours tick by, sleeping, an reading, blissful of her time away from the Guild that she never seemed to visit.

Day 13:

"Lucy, please."

Today, Lucy was greeted by the sound of Levy's desperate tone, calling out to just let her in, or she would find a way, even if it meant using Gajeel. She had no fear of lies. The petite bluenette had wormed her way into her heart, so what was to stop her from worming – or demolishing - her way into her home?

But if she was honest, she didn't really want that.

"Go away Levy. I know you mean well, but leave me be. I'm fine, honestly." She would call brightly, a true smile donning her lips.

She heard the sigh ring through her door. "Fine, but hear me out. The Guild has lost it's two most brightest members - one to death, and one to grievance."

Lucy tried to interrupt, protesting she was not grieving.

"I said hear me out, Lucy. The Guild is dark without its flames and without its star. No-one has been talking like usual and we're all worried about you. Even Gajeel. Cana's even stopped drinking."

Lucy scoffed.

"I'm serious! All these people who have been coming to you every day have been worried about you. No-one forced them to come. They all love you, and they want you to be happy. So please, just come back. You're my best friend, and I need you."

The she heard a combination of sniffles, sobs and hiccups come from Levy.

The Mage felt like crying at her friend's well meant words. "Levy, I'm not grieving. I just want to be alone. I'll be back soon."

Levy sighed again shakily through her sobs. "If you say so."

Strangely enough, it was like the blonde heard every step her blue haired friend took away from her home.

Day 14:

"Lucy, let us in?"

Mirajane's worried voice echoed into Lucy's home, filling her head. She dried herself from her bath and stood at her window, her pink, button up pyjama top slung over her shoulders.

"Lucy, we just want to help you. We've all been suffering but this has gone on for too long, and you've taken it too far!"

This time, it was the Master's voice who cut through the still air, his tone clicking something inside the blonde.

"Who said I'm suffering?" She shouted as she opened her window, her anger and resentment finally coming to the surface after the two weeks of almost complete solitude. "I just wanted for you all to leave me alone!"

"And that's why we're here! We just wanted to help you, but all you've done is push us away. You've turned against us - your own family. You even turned down Happy - do you know how much he's been hurting without you? He needs you, but you've just ignored him all this time Lucy. It's just plain selfish!"

Lucy clenched her eyes shut. "Fine, if that's what you call it."

Mira spoke again, her voice shaking. "Please, just come back to us. We miss our Lucy."

"I know that you all pity me, giving me those sad looks. I can't stand that. I'll do one more job to cover this month's rent, then I'm out of here, because I know this won't ever end."

Lucy heard the She Demon's sob. "Please, no. That's not what we meant!"

"LUCY!" Makarov bellowed, his voice cutting through the Mage like a knife tearing her insides.

"Well, It's what I meant." She snapped, and slammed her window down, shutting herself off from the pair outside.

Day 15:

Today was going to be her last job as a member of the Fairy Tail Guild, and as much as it hurt her to leave, it hurt her more to stay. She was right, eyes followed her as she moved, and hushed whispers spoke of her solitary fortnight. Rumours were spread, lies were told, and every step she took felt documented and analysed.

Happy hovered over her shoulder the whole time, each attempt of making conversation ignored and disbanded. This time, Lucy knew how much she was hurting the blue Exceed, but she didn't care. She wouldn't be there for much longer so why did it matter what he felt for her? They had never gotten along properly anyway...

Lucy scanned the jobs board, looking for one that gave her enough for this month's rent and a for travel and food expenses for when she left. Anything between the ranges of 150,000 jewel to 200,000 should be more than enough - and there was plenty of them, just none low enough to suit Lucy's skill level. As she browsed, she noticed the chatter start up in the Guild again, and relaxed subconsciously - finally they weren't paying full attention to her any more. She stood there for God knows how long until she felt Happy perch on her shoulder like a parrot from the pirate stories she would read as a child.

"Please don't leave me, Lucy." He chirped, his eyes drooping as he tried to rest his blue head on her blonde hair.

As she shoved him away, a silence cloaked the hall and hung in the air like fog. She sensed the Guild zone in on her once more and she tensed, hating the attention, and stared at the board with more intensity than before. Finally, she snapped, and whipped around, only to be caught off guard by the sight of a body standing so close to her, she couldn't see the owner's face.

And she didn't need to – she'd seen that person more than enough to recognise them by just a section of their body.

"N-Natsu?" She stuttered, her anger melting as she raised her head to look at the pink haired Dragon Slayer.

Finally, her eyes met his, and he smiled his familiar smile, and she broke, falling forwards, wrapping her arms around his bare torso tightly, sobbing into him and trapping his arms to his sides. As the tears came to a halt, she stepped backwards and shot a forced glare in his direction, her anger present but not yet overpowering.

"I swear, Natsu Dragneel, if you ever go on a job without telling me again, I will personally hunt you down and strangle you with my bare hands, if you're not already dead that is, and that's a promise." She growled, poking a finger angrily into his abdomen.

Suddenly, she grabbed the front of his open shirt and pulled him forward, getting up onto her tiptoes and pressing her lips to his angrily. At her touch, he stiffened awkwardly, and she reeled backwards, blushing crimson like a fool as the Guild around them erupted into cheerful laughter and whooping cheers. Natsu then overcame his initial shock and pulled her in for another kiss as he laughed with them, more happy than teasing.

It was Mirajane who got the most money out of the Guild member's bet. Whilst everyone else thought it would be Natsu to crack first, it was quite the opposite – giddy, cheerful, yet sensible Lucy, who had never had a boyfriend, made the first move.

And all matchmaking She-Demon could do was smile as she watched the two teenagers sit close together opposite to their team, both blushing like fools and looking anywhere but at each other as the childish teasing bore on. When the time came that Lucy wanted to head home, Natsu joined her to the door, their fingers intertwined. Mira heard their first argument from all the way at the bar.

"I don't care, Natsu! You are not coming over tonight!" She bellowed, her face still beetroot.

"I'd just come in through the window like I do anyway."

"You think I don't know that?"

With a flash of his signature smile, the Dragon Slayer dragged his new – or first, if you didn't class he and Lisanna's 'family' – girlfriend from the Guild to her home, where she knew that Natsu would end up kicked out on the floor, whilst Lucy slept.

Either that, or she'd just grit her teeth and bare it.

Hey guys, since a lot of you have been asking, here's my idea on how Natsu survived - or more that he didn't actually die.

(Plus, I have no clue)

My idea on how Natsu survived was that he got seriously delayed on his journey to find Igneel, so by the time he reached the sighting spot, Igneel had already moved on, and the Council had stopped monitoring the situation, deeming it useless, so when he didn't turn up, they assumed he had died on the way there, and decided to say the cause of death was the dragon instead of it being unknown.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed!