Hello all! This is my (late) entry for NALU week! I will be trying to post a new part of this 7-part story throughout the week. I have never done this before, so I'm a little nervous how it'll go! The chapters are shorter than my normal style, because I'm pumping out 7 chapters in a week. So I hope that you like it, and please let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not own NaLu, because if I did, you better believe there would be a lot more kissing.

Warning: There will be one chapter with sexual themes, but I'll warn you so you don't have to read it if you don't want to.

Day One: Longing

That fateful meeting between Lucy Heartfilia and Natsu Dragneel was now just a distant memory to the woman. Several years of friendship had flashed through her mind when she watched her pink-haired friend grab his diploma, pumping his fist once in the air in victory. There had been times that Lucy wasn't sure Natsu would pass; he had a tendency to skip school to bother his mentor in his lab. Dr. Gildarts Clive was a shark biologist, and Natsu found his stories of swimming with massive monsters more thrilling than learning about Charles Dickens or the Declaration of Independence. Nothing seemed to jump out to him as strongly as the marine animals had made his career.

The only reason Natsu had stood on that stage with a diploma was because of Gildarts. The doctor had made a promise with the teenager that was correlated to his passing high school. Though Lucy knew of the deal, Natsu never went into detail about it. She honestly was okay with that, too. Junior year was a scary time for them, Lucy fearing that nothing would help keep Natsu in class. But the promise between her best friend and his idol helped Natsu pass all of his classes senior year.

"Let's party!" But now, all of her fears were far behind her. She laughed as Natsu jumped off the deck of the pool, making a huge splash that soaked several of the party growers. He popped up from the wavy water, only to be shoved back down by an attractive dark-haired male.

"Watch where you're jumping, idiot. You almost landed on me." Natsu managed to get out from the teen's hold, coughing once before glaring over at his attacker.

"I'm going to kick your ass, Gray!" The two started to wrestle in the water, though nobody in the party seemed to care. By now, the two fighting was an everyday occurrence. Lucy scanned the graduation party, nearly jumping out of her pool chair when a pair of bright blue eyes appeared in front of her.

"Lisanna!" The short haired girl giggled as she waved to Lucy, grabbing her hand and pulling her out of her seat.

"You enjoying my party? Mira always puts the best celebrations together." Lisanna Strauss had also graduated with Natsu and Lucy, and her older sister made sure the world knew about it. The party was huge, yet didn't feel chaotic. If there was ever a woman who could manage such a large crowd, it was the eldest Strauss sibling.

"It's really been fun. Thanks for inviting me," Lucy replied, letting Lisanna pull her closer to the water.

"Why wouldn't I? You're always been a good friend to me." The girls exchanged smiles of appreciation, Lucy watching as Lisanna threw her free hand into the air. She seemed to be motioning her sister from across the party, though Lucy wasn't exactly sure why. Part of her was a little nervous to know what they were up to.

"The food was really good, too. You'll have to give my compliments to Elfman." Lucy was hoping to distract herself from her suspicious friends, but Lisanna's playful look did little to quell her instinctual nerves.

"Maybe you'll be able to do that yourself." What did that little smirk on Lisanna's face mean? The hostess turned her attention to the pool, using her free hand to cup her mouth. "Alright everyone, listen up!"

"Eh?" Lucy's eyes shot to Natsu, who had finally paused in his fight with Gray to listen to Lisanna. The group in the pool followed suit, Lisanna waiting until she caught most people's attention before speaking again.

"Lucy and I are going to go start a game of spin-the-bottle."

"W-What?!" It didn't take long for a few whistles came from the party, triggering a blush from the blonde. Though she was sure some were from her friends in an attempt to embarrass her, she couldn't help but wonder if some of those catcalls were from serious suitors. Lucy should have been flattered that Lisanna and Mira picked her as their "prize" for the game. She was single, so it wasn't like she had a boyfriend to get jealous.

Her attention subconsciously flickered toward slanted eyes for only a second before she forced herself to look away and mentally scolded herself.

"If you want a chance to kiss one of us, come join." Lisanna was just as mischievous as her older sister! Lucy yelped when Lisanna pulled her off the pool deck, the two making their way toward a campfire. The game was already set up for several to play, and Lucy realized it was in the same area Mira had previously been standing. Now it all made sense. These two were as intelligent as they were beautiful. Lucy dropped down onto one of the blankets surrounding the bottle, but she wasn't alone for long.

"How'd you get yourself roped into this one?" Lucy closed her eyes when a hand dropped onto her head, a long sigh coming from Gray as he dropped to sit next to her. Lucy tried to show her helplessness through her pout, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I didn't do anything. Lisanna and Mira just decided I'd be a good bargaining piece or something." More people came around the fire, Lucy slightly agitated that the Strauss plan worked. It was a mixture of girls and guys, though Lucy knew only some of them came for a shot to kiss her. Her best friend, Levy, only moved toward the fire when seeing Juvia drag a non-compliant Gajeel toward the game. Cana and Loke, both known for kissing anyone when having some alcohol in them, were in a candid conversation when taking their seats. Lisanna had returned, her smile victorious as she passed around some appetizers on plates. A couple people she wasn't as acquainted with were also there, and she worried she'd be forced to kiss someone she didn't know. Was there a way to get out of this game?

"Stop eating all the snacks, Natsu!" A scolding tone from Erza made Lucy realize that Natsu had now joined the circle, sitting on the other side of her. Seeing the rambunctious man playing the game willingly surprised her. Natsu wanted to play? Just who was he planning to kiss? As far as Lucy knew, Natsu had never showed interest in dating anyone in the circle. She took another peek at the contestants to confirm her suspicions, but nobody stuck out to her. Well, nobody but...

Cheeks darkening when her own hopes seeped in to answer, Lucy smacked her cheeks and refused to look back at Natsu, instead focusing on the first spin of the bottle in the group.

Lucy didn't get away unscatched. Cana had been the first person who landed on her, and the tipsy woman wasted no time connecting her lips with Lucy's. There was a strange noise from Natsu when Cana yanked Lucy over his lap, their kiss hovering just over Natsu's lap. The kiss had lasted for a few seconds, which Lucy was sure only happened so Cana could tease the men in the circle. She pulled away with a slow 'pop', the brunette letting her eyes roam the group with a seductive smirk. Most of the men couldn't meet the busty woman's eyes; even Gray's cheeks dusted pink from the show next to him. Natsu was her final target, her grin increasing at the way his scowl contradicted the deep red on his cheeks. Leaning over, Cana tapped his lower lip once and winked.

"How'd you like your seat for the show, Natsu? Did it get you 'fired' up?" Lucy's eyes widened at Cana's teasing, using a familiar phrase against him. Natsu quickly yanked away from the touch, ignoring the laughter of the group to glare into the night's darkness. Lucy watched his reaction, wondering what was going through his mind.

The game continued on through the night, many kisses being exchanged. Lucy and Natsu both were tossed into the kissing frenzy, neither seeming excited about their match-ups. Natsu ended up kissing Cana as well, who made just as big of a scene of their kiss as she did with Lucy. A spark of jealousy hit Lucy as she watched the two, but she tried to ignore it by staring up at the starry night above them. She had no reason to be jealous; Cana and Natsu weren't romantically involved. Cana just liked kissing. And this was just a part of the game, right? Plus there was the fact that Lucy and Natsu had no romantic interest in each other, so she shouldn't have this unsettling stomach cramp.

That same feeling coursed through her again when Natsu had to kiss Juvia, despite both parties complaining. Lucy could understand Juvia's displeasure; the woman had openly confessed her love for Gray since 6th grade. Their peck could hardly be considered a real kiss, but it was the best the group was going to get from the stubborn duo. Even still, Lucy struggled to hide her wince as she forced a smile once Natsu's eyes moved back to her. It got a little easier to grin when he stuck his tongue out, expressing his lack of displeasure in the action. Lucy, now feeling her stomach releasing her tension, turned her attention back to the game.

Lucy got thrown into the mix once more, receiving a kiss from Gray (which the two talked down to a cheek peck after Juvia nearly died) and giving the flirtatious Loke the kiss he had "been waiting for" since freshman year. Though Lucy had only planned to make it small, Loke had caught her off guard with his expertise. The way his lips pressed to hers was impressive, and she did feel a little breathless after the kiss. It held no feelings, but she admired his style. Loke pulled away with a sly smile and a courteous kiss to her hand, seeming quite proud of himself. Feeling eyes on her, Lucy quickly jumped up to her feet and excused herself. Most of the people involved in the game were distracted by the fact that Loke had landed on a shy Junior (Aries, was it?), so Lucy was able to get away with little complaint.

"Yo." Well, almost. Lucy had made it to the edge of the backyard, just out of the light of the campfire, when Natsu's voice hit her ears. She peered over her shoulder at him, waiting for him to join her side. Lucy let out a yelp when Natsu grabbed her hand, only increasing his pace and leaving the party behind them.

"Wa-Wait!"

"No way, that party was getting crazy. They just made Gray and Gajeel kiss." Now that was something Lucy wanted to see. She didn't voice her thoughts as Natsu continued. "Plus, I've got to talk to you."

"About what?"

"...Let's go find some fun on our own. Come on!"

Lucy didn't really have a choice with Natsu linking their fingers together so perfectly. She let him drag her down the street, weaving through people's lawns and seeming not sure of where he was going. Lucy wanted to protest, forgetting her shoes at the party they just left. She felt the complaint die on her lips when her feet suddenly hit sand, eyes widening at a familiar scenery.

"The Magnolia playground?" His cheeky grin was large as he nodded, the two slowly walking into their old hangout spot.

"Yup, one of my favorite places as a kid!" Lucy scoffed as Natsu led her to the swings, offering her the left one. It was a little higher than the other one, and used to swing the best. Lucy laughed as he moved onto his own swing, noticing their fingers still entangled together. She knew he'd let go if she asked, but she decided to ignore it as she swung her legs slowly.

"More like, where I saved your butt." The first time they met, Natsu had accidentally gotten his head stuck in the ladder of the slide. While most kids laughed at him, Lucy took pity on the young boy and helped him free himself. After that, Natsu followed her throughout the summer, claiming they were now 'best friends'.

"And then I paid you back!" Lucy was a little more timid as a child than most, and so she tended to play on her own. Her babysitter was less than attentive, and one day Lucy wandered away from the playground and into the bigger park. She soon got lost, the coming of night leaving her resources limited. Scared of the dark, Lucy had hidden herself under a bench in the park, crying when hearing the noises of the night animals coming out of sleep. Lucy had been terrified that nobody would come find her.

But like a knight in shining armor, Natsu had appeared to save the day. The older boy had been walking Happy (a blue cat who acted more like a human than a feline) when he had heard Lucy's crying. Offering her his help, the little boy brought her back to his house where his dad managed to contact Lucy's parents. The two events sealed their friendship, and both had been happy to be glued to the other's side ever since.

"Life was so simple back then," Lucy whispered, her eyes staring out at the darkness in front of them. Natsu cocked his head, his attention focused solely on Lucy.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, our biggest problem was summer ending or getting our soccer ball back from the neighbor's yard where that crazy pomeranian lived."

"Who would've thought a small dog could bite so hard." His leg twitched at the reminder of where the dog had attacked when he got the courage to jump the fence. Despite his displeased look, Lucy laughed and continued to swing in sync with him.

"Then you told everyone the stitches were from saving me from three thugs trying to beat me up." Because they both knew nobody would have let him live it down it they knew the truth. Natsu scratched the back of his head and laughed, remembering the panic that came with making a believable story to tell his friends at school that following monday. Protecting Lucy was the first thing that came out of his mouth, and nobody even batted an eye at the idea.

"You never did tell anyone the truth."

"No, I didn't."

"You could've used that as blackmail. Man, you really blew your shot, Luce." She wanted to say she had done it selflessly, but she knew she'd be lying. Hearing the girls tell her how lucky she was to have a guy protect her like Natsu had made her feel warm inside, and she didn't want to lose that feelings. Each time he told the story, he would wrap his arm around her and say "I'd do anything to keep Lucy safe". It would make Lucy's heart skip a beat. Even now, with the years of childish embarrassment gone, the two stuck with the story.

That was probably around the time that she had fallen for him.

"...Hey, Natsu?" Lucy's long hairs twisted in the warm breeze as her free hand clutched the chain of the swing. Her lips pressed tighter together as she struggled with the question that continued to bug her throughout the night. She planted her feet firmly in the ground, stopping her motion as she finally looked up at the guy by her side. "Why did you join in on Spin-the-Bottle?"

"H-Huh?"

"Was there someone that you wanted to kiss?" The question blurted out at a speed Lucy wasn't even sure he would understand. It seemed like it took a second for him to register her question, because he blinked twice before his mouth dropped open in shock.

"Why are you asking that?!" He sounded just as nervous as she was, Lucy noticing the slight tremble in their linked hands. "And what about you?"

"M-Me? I was forced to play by Lisanna!"

"Yeah, but you didn't seem that forced when you kissed Loke." Her ears perked up at the off tone in his voice, and her heart instantly wanted to believe it was jealousy. Did Natsu feel the same pull in his stomach as she had at the fire? Eyes wide with wonder, Lucy turned her swing to face him, letting the chain tangle above her head.

"It was kind of the same with you and Cana, though. Did you want to kiss her?" Instantly he pressed the back of his free hand to his mouth, eyes lowering while he shook his head.

"Nah, she wasn't the one." The simple sentence was enough to stall Lucy's breath. So there was someone. Stomach flipping, Lucy reached forward and pulled his hand away from his mouth. Running on feelings she hadn't been able to admit out loud, Lucy tried to catch Natsu's gaze with her own.

"So then, who did you want to kiss?" His eyes shot to hers instantly, and Lucy swallowed. The answer was so clear, that she wondered why she hadn't noticed it before. Maybe she had, and just pushed it away in fear. But knowing wasn't enough. She needed to hear him say it out loud; she needed to hear him call her name. The distance between them was nearly non-existent, Natsu allowing his own swing to turn closer to hers. The small burst of heat between them made both their faces flush, and unconsciously Natsu let his eyes drop down to her lips. Instantly her mouth parted, as in instinctively waiting for him to make a move. The air was heavy with silence and untold feelings, both teens refused to breathe in fear of breaking the moment. Slowly, Natsu raised his hand to her cheek, and Lucy closed her eyes at the touch.

After all these years, was he-

The loud crackle of thunder above them was the only sign they got before a downpour of rain drenched then. Lucy yanked back as she gasped in shock of the chilly rain. Her arms quickly covered her head as the two jumped off the swingset, running back toward the main road. Natsu paused at the crossroad, Lucy looking back at him in confusion.

"I'm just gonna head home."

"But I thought we were all sleeping at Lisanna's house?"

"I've got something to do tomorrow. Say goodbye to everyone at the party for me, okay?"

"Wait, Natsu! What about what you wanted to talk about earlier?" He slowly dropped his hand down to his side, the rain too heavy for Lucy to notice how tightly he clenched it.

"Don't… don't worry about it. We have tomorrow, right?" She wanted to press him more, but the strike of lightening in the sky made her change her mind. She nodded, hoping her voice didn't waver as she answered.

"Tomorrow, then! And don't forget, because I have something I have to tell you, too!" And without waiting to see his answer, Lucy turned and ran as face as her racing heart would allow her. Natsu stood still as he watched her, unwilling to let her out of his sight despite the strain on his eyes. It was only when Lucy turned the corner that he closed his eyes, knowing the truth he had hid from her.

The next morning, Lucy felt confused when seeing Happy meowing happily on her bed in her room. It took her a moment notice the note with "Lucy" written on it wrapped around the blue cat's neck. She read it, then fell to her bed in pure shock.

Natsu was gone, leaving nothing but a note and a heartbreaking longing in Lucy's heart.

I have NO idea what happened to the first time I put this up, so I hope this one works! Sorry for the confusion! ANYWAYS, where did Natsu go? Will he come back? What does Lucy have to tell him? And who else would die seeing Gray and Gajeel kiss?! Review and find out! Or come see me on Tumblr: navybluewings0013

Day Two: Reunion