Hello! This one shot here definitely isn't as in depth as I wanted it to be but I couldn't find myself to keep dragging it along. I hope that I found a sweet spot to end this on and that you enjoy this!

Natsu heaved a heavy sigh as he made his way down Strawberry Street. He just came back from his annual fishing trip with Gildarts and Happy and he was more than ready to just lay down in Lucy's bed (or on the floor if she felt kicky). Usually the annual trip would go off with a hitch, but since him and Lucy (finally) confessed their feelings toward each other this past year, that is all Gildarts wanted to talk (tease) to him about. Yes he and Lucy are now dating and NO he and Lucy aren't doing those kinds of things, ya nasty.

As he made his way up to the door of Lucy's apartment, he checked to see if the lights were on in the home. Sure enough they were and it made Natsu slightly annoyed. (Why was he annoyed you asked? Oh, you didn't? Oh well, I'm still gonna tell you) Natsu was annoyed because it was a late hour and he told Lucy not to wait up for him because he knew she had a meeting with her publisher early the next morning. Clearly she didn't take his advice. Well, he thought, she is a grown woman and makes her own decisions, but she also needs to consider her health. And since he knew Lucy was waiting for him, he didn't even check to see if the door was locked (yes, he now uses the door, like a normal person), growing even more annoyed.

Natsu pushed open the door and caught a strong waft of alcohol. At first Natsu panicked, he didn't want to be molested tonight by his girlfriend, but he also didn't want to sleep on the couch tonight. That made him conflicted. However, that didn't last long. Natsu took a long breath in and realized that he couldn't pinpoint exactly what type of alcohol that Lucy had opened. He continued into Lucy's home and could hear a faint sound coming from Lucy's bedroom. Was that crying he heard? The thought of Lucy crying made a rush of loathing flow through his body as wrenched open the door.

Lucy sat in front of her vanity, her back towards him, but the sound of sniffling and smell of salt were ever present. Before Natsu could voice his concerns and ask what was wrong with the girl, Lucy whirled around to face him. Dark streaks ran down her cheeks and lips were formed in a pout. Natsu peered around Lucy's form and could see a crystal glass filled with a strawberry colored liquid. Speaking of strawberries, he could smell a little hint of it, and knew it was different from the scent of her shampoo. The smell was linked with another, which was very strong. He couldn't place the type of alcohol but he knew he smelled it before at the guild.

"Hey Luce…" Natsu dragged on, "Uh, whatcha got there?"

"Natsu?" Lucy asked quietly.

"Yeah Luce?" Natsu's heart began to thud. Where was this conversation going to end up? He thought fearfully.

Lucy took a deep breath, "Do you think I'm a pretty princess?"

Natsu's eyes widened. What kind of ridiculous question was that?!

As he was still mulling over the surprising question, Lucy's eyes began to water more. She then began to hiccup while mumbling things like "He doesn't think I'm pretty." and "He thinks I'm scum".

Okay now this was just getting weird. Well, at least the normal weird that he was used to associating with Lucy, but this was a new type. His nose then caught the strong scent of the familiar alcohol (Seriously what was that?!) on Lucy's breath as she was still mumbling crazy and absurd things. Of course he thinks, no he knows, she's pretty. Hell, she's a freaking gorgeous goddess, and she knew it too so where was this coming from. Natsu's dense mind had a lightbulb moment. Lucy has been drinking! (yes, we know that) And since she has been drinking and Natsu couldn't discern the type of alcohol, this must mean this is a new drunk!Lucy persona! It made perfect sense!

However, Natsu couldn't quite pinpoint the type of drunk that his Lucy was displaying now. He knew the tequila drunk Lucy, where she became a sorority/valley girl and went around the guild and asking anyone who passed by if they wanted to know a secret. Next was beer drunk Lucy, who decided that she was a gymnast and strongly believed that she could do a back handspring off of the bar. Natsu winced, that was a rough visit to a hospital and Lucy had to sit on a pillow for weeks. The funniest out of the drunk Lucy's was definitely the absinthe drunk Lucy.

"Yo Lucy! What's up?" Gray asked the young blonde swaying in her seat.

Lucy inclined her head so far her eyes directly met the ceiling. "I think I see a bird...or is that Underdog?"

The fact that the occurrence happened indoors made it even more hilarious, and the memory of it brought a chuckle upon Natsu's mouth. Although, the last drunk Lucy personality made him feel exposed just from the mere thought of it. The sake drunk Lucy. Natsu felt himself shiver, no one has to be reminded as to what that drink made Lucy turn into. She rivaled Juvia's subtlety when it came down to it.

Lucy then went from mumbling and sniffling to full on sobbing and wailing. Natu's panic resurfaced and he started to make sense of this new Lucy. This kind of alcohol was turning Lucy into a depressed Lucy and he didn't like it. Thinking back on all the times she had shed tears upon his behalf aches like a knife to the chest.

Natsu moves to bring Lucy closer to him, his arm encircles her head and brings atop of his toned torso. His fingers began to caress her hair to soothe her into small hiccups. Waiting for her to stop trembling was agonizing, making him wish that he could do so much more. Lucy's sobs started to lessen and his muscles soon began to relax, but then they seized up again when Lucy pushed him away.

"Answer the question, Natsu." she said in a very demanding tone.

Still confused as to what was going on, he answered "Of course I think you're pretty, Luce."

"Why?" she suddenly screamed, "How can someone like you think I'm pretty? I'm just ordinary and I don't have any striking features! Yet I walk around here like I'm a showpony, embarrassing myself! So why?" Her form started to tremble and the tears resurfaced before she buried her head in her hands.

Natsu was stunned. What had happened while he was away? How could his strong, confident, beautiful Lucy think so low of herself? He knew he was a man of very encouraging words, but everytime he knew she was down, he was there to help her back up.

Natsu slowly walks over to Lucy's trembling form, not wanting to provoke another outburst and have her more upset at him. He took his hands and gently moved hers from her face. Then, he took her chin and raised it so her eyes could meet his own. Natsu's green orbs bore into Lucy's, studying her. Her eyes were red from crying, maybe for even a few hours, and her cheeks were splotchy while her lips were bruised (her habit of trying to not let anyone know she is hurting).

"Lucy," Natsu growled out, "I never want to hear you say those things about yourself. You are Lucy. You are the light of Fairy Tail and the light of my own life. You are the epitome of beauty, both in strength and body. Do you understand me?"

Lucy gulped down the huge knot in her throat, and weakly nodded. And as if all of her strength depleted, she fell onto Natsu. Natsu gathered her into his arms and lifted her feet off the floor. He turned to the right and began to walk over to her bed, making sure he didn't trip on any clothing items that were thrown askew. He gently placed her on the bed and was going to ask if she needed anything, but stopped when he saw her eyes closed and her breathing turned to soft air.

Natsu knew that something had brought this burden upon Lucy and he knew that she needed to talk about it. He didn't want to pressure her, but he also didn't want her to keep thoughts like this bottled up inside until one day it explodes. However, Lucy needed rest and so did he after a long day of traveling. Her face looked so peaceful and Natsu wanted it to remain that way. He and Lucy had walked through fire together to get where they are now and they will get through this; as long as they have each other.