"Huh, Lucy?" a voice that made Lucy feel quite nostalgic came from close by. "No way, Lucy Heartfilia! Is it really you?"

Lucy looked up to find a set of clear grey eyes connecting with hers. A woman with a flawless complexion and chestnut-brown hair pulled back in a stylish up do was staring at her smiling. Beside her was another with strawberry blond curls and bright blue eyes, looking at her with the same expression of disbelief.

There was something familiar about the two women, but Lucy couldn't place her finger on. "Don't tell us you've forgotten!" said the strawberry blond. Lucy tried harder to remember not wanting to seem rude, and noticed the freckle on the strawberry blond's nose and the way the brunette's lips were crooked when she smiled and suddenly it all came back to her.

"Eleanor! Danielle! I don't believe it!" she said in shock. The girls smiled, Danielle (the brunette) embraced Lucy and followed by Eleanor who cried for a little while. "I thought for sure when you left Heartfilia estate that we would never see each other again!" Daniel exclaimed, Lucy smiled and said "It has definitely been a while since our days together as children."

Eleanor, now having her tears under control spoke softly. "We heard what happened to the estate, and to Mr. Heartfilia. We're dreadfully sorry dear." Lucy smiled and said reassuringly, "It was difficult but I got through it, I still miss him but I at least found some closure." Danielle smiled and took her hand. "I'm so glad to hear it LuLu!"

"I can't believe how young you look! It's like you haven't aged a bit" Eleanor said excitedly. Lucy blushed, thanks to the Acnologica indecent she hadn't aged for 7 years. But Lucy decided it would be too difficult to explain that to Danielle and Eleanor, it didn't matter for the moment. "Well I guess I'm just lucky." Lucy replied closing the subject.

Eleanor laughed "You always were! By the way what are you doing in Magnolia?" She asked.

"I live here actually." Lucy said proudly. Eleanor and Danielle looked at each other surprised, "Really?" they asked in union. Danielle continued after a slight pause, "It's just so wild! You know its nice enough to visit, but with all the mages around it rather chaotic don't you think?"

That's right, now she remembered. She never talked about being a mage to Eleanor and Danielle, because they only knew her back when she was Lucy Heartfilia of Heartfilia estate. When she was nothing but a walking, talking image of how a distinguished daughter of a wealthy nobleman should behave. Them being non- magic folk they would have no idea of how she joined Fairy Tail and had become a full-fledged mage.

"ah, well it's not all bad" she said. Why didn't she just tell them she was a wizard, surely she didn't care what they thought of her. It isn't like she was embarrassed to be in Fairy Tail, Never! She loved Fairy Tail, but she had a feeling her old non – magic friends wouldn't understand. She was beginning to remember why she hadn't mentioned it to them years ago.

"So how about you, What brings you to Magnolia?" Lucy asked changing the subject.

"Oh, we are here on a special trip with our husbands." Said Danielle, Lucy almost choked "Husbands?!" she asked in disbelief. "Yes! Harold and Markus work together so we usually go on trips with all four of us." Lucy just nodded and smiled as best she could.

"Thats why this is special!" said Eleanor, "Because this is our last trip together." she finished sadly. "Why is that?" Lucy asked still trying to wrap her head around everything.

Eleanor answered "Because when little Geoffrey is born we simply won't have time for trips like this."

Lucy went stiff and wondered why only now she noticed the bulge of Eleanor's pregnant stomach.

"C-Congratulations" she said half in a daze. "So LuLu, are you married yet?" Danielle asked.

"Ooh I bet he's handsome!" cried Eleanor.

Lucy still struck dumb, tried desperately to stammer a response "Uh..Well aha you see-"

"Lucy!" a familiar voice cried out behind her. She knew who it was even without looking. Why now? She thought.

"Hey, Lucy!" Natsu said running up to where she, Danielle and Eleanor were standing.

"Oh, is this him?" asked Eleanor gesturing towards the pink-haired salamander.

"NO!" cried Lucy "He's not, I mean I'm not! I mean.."

"Lucy are you okay? You look a little red" asked Happy who was standing next to her by now.

"Oh my! A talking cat?" Said Danielle astonishingly.

"I can fly too!" Happy proclaimed proudly, enjoying the attention. "Who aren't I Lucy?" Natsu asked confused.

But Lucy was making it her goal to change the subject ASAP.

"Well, Danielle. Eleanor, it was marvellous to catch up but I really must get going." Lucy said hurriedly taking Natsu's arm.

"oh.. Uh of course, always a pleasure LuLu." Danielle replied

"Yes, so lovely to catch up. I wish you the best." Concurred Eleanor.

and with one last quick embrace Lucy disappeared into the crowd dragging a very confused dragon slayer behind her.

Lucy walked back in silence for a while, saying nothing.

"Echem.." coughed Natsu, "so LuLu?" he said before bursting out laughing. Happy soon joined in and the two of them laughed hysterically as they repeated it over and over.

"Are you quite finished?" Lucy said angrily.

Stifling the last of their laughs the stood straight and nodded. "Aye..phfft... LuLu" said Happy with one last cheeky grin.

"I said enough cat!" Lucy growled half heartedly.

"So Lucy, do you wanna go on a job?" Natsu asked turning to her. "Maybe later, I'm feeling kinda dizzy right now. I think I'll just go home." she answered her mind spinning.

"Alright, how bout tomorrow?" He asked a little disappointed.

Lucy felt bad but there was nothing she would be able to do the way she was at the moment. She was certain she was suffering from shock.

"Sure" she said and walked slowly back to her apartment.

...

After taking a shower to clear her head, Lucy felt a little better. But she still couldn't quite wrap her mind around the situation. Eleanor and Danielle had been 17 when she was seven years ago. That would make them 24 by now, that's a fair enough amount of time to get married and start a family.

But somehow even though it made sense it felt strange.

But that's just silly isn't it. Bisca and Alzack got married and had a kid, that wasn't so different was it? That hadn't gotten her all confused and agitated. But the difference was that Lucy had grown up with Danielle and Eleanor, they had done everything at the same time. Studied their finals together, turned 17 together even planned their futures together. When they were going to leave home, where they would live, who they would marry.. And now 7 years later they had done it all and Lucy was behind them for the first time.

Lucy sat on the edge of her bed quietly, trying to figure out why this bothered her so much. She was thinking so deeply that she didn't hear the window open and shut behind her.

A warm pressure on her shoulder pulled her from her thoughts with a shock. She knew who it was without turning her head. "Hey.. Natsu."

Natsu sat down next to her making himself comfortable. "You feeling any better?" He asked.

"A little" she said, drawing her knees up to her chest.

"There's a celebration going on down at the guild, Mira sent me to come get you." he said hopefully.

Lucy just sighed, "You go on without me, I'll pass for tonight."

"What's wrong Lucy?" he asked concerned.

"Nothing, I'm just tried is all." she lied, though it was in vain. Natsu knew her better than that.

"It's those girls from before isn't it?" He said decidedly "you've been acting weird ever since we saw them in town."

He called me weird again.. Lucy sighed defeated. There was no point in denying it now, "Yeah, but it's nothing really"

Natsu's expression grew concerned. "When I came over you seemed troubled, did they say something to upset you?" Natsu asked, his temper heating up.

"No, no calm down. They were just some old friends." she said reassuringly

"Then what upset you?" he asked confused. Lucy shook her head, "Its silly really I don't know why its got me so riled up. It's really hard to explain..." she trailed off. "Well try." Natsu said encouragingly. Lucy let out a breath, "Those girls, well I knew them from before.. you know before everything. Before Acnologica, my dad passing, even before Fairy Tail."

Natsu nodded "Back when you were rich and stuff" he said. "yeah.." she agreed solemnly.

Lucy continued hurriedly, "Anyway the thing is I was talking to them and it turns out they are both married and starting families of their own." Natsu cocked his head to the side,"So are Biska and Alzack.." he said.

Lucy shrugged "Yeah I know but everyone's so close in the guild you barely notice any things changed at all."

Natsu just sighed and said "Thats true.."

"These girls though, they were my age and now they are older. They've already grown up and experienced life and I am still 17 years old!" Lucy said her hands flying up in the air.

Natsu suddenly went rigid. "Wait, are you saying you wanna leave Fairy Tail to go get married ?!"

Lucy nearly jumped out of her skin "NO!"

Natsu relaxed a little "Its just that they've done the whole marriage and babies thing and I haven't even had a boyfriend yet, hell I haven't even been kissed!" Lucy felt her face go red, she had shared way to much information and her cheeks were burning with shame.

Luckily though Natsu wasn't the kind to pick up on such social humiliation, he was far to dense.

"I don't understand, so you want a boyfriend is that it?" he asked confusion tinting his voice.

"This isn't about whether or not I want a boyfriend!" Lucy shouted angrily.

Why was this so hard to explain? She screamed silently.

After a pause she exhaled and continued softly,

"Its just... 7 years ago I thought I would've had one by now.." Lucy could see Natsu was truly trying his best to understand her silly problems.

"Wait a minute.." Lucy said suddenly,

"Somethings missing. No giggling, no snide remarks about my embarrassing confessions.." Lucy looked around "Where's Happy?"

Natsu laughed nervously, "Umm.. aha now that you mention it."

Lucy eyed him suspiciously, "Where is he?" Natsu exhaled loudly and said very quickly.

"On a date with Carla"

Lucy threw herself back on her bed in frustration. "Ahhh! Even the talking blue cat has a better love life than me? I'm pathetic!"

"No you're not... You're Lucy of Fairy Tail! You've fought monsters and dark guilds, You've saved the world a bunch of times! How many of your rich friends can say they've done that?" Natsu said attempting to cheer her up. She smiled mostly out of appreciation of her friend's efforts to comfort her. Though she still couldn't shake her depression.

Natsu noticed and sat a while in silent thought, after a few moments he spoke again,

"Actually now that I think about, I've never kissed anyone either. But it never crossed my mind I was missing something. No big deal." he said trying to console her but somehow it just made Lucy feel worse, she sat up to face him.

"Well of course you don't mind. It isn't a big deal for guys, but it is for girls." Natsu scratched his rosy hair in the vexation of trying to keep up with her mood swings. "Why?" he asked trying to understand. "I don't know, it just is." Lucy said not even understanding herself anymore.

Getting up and walking over to the window she apologised, "Sorry, it's just with everything that happened, my dad, the guild. I just wonder how long it will be until the weight of all the time we lost is lifted. Its like every time I think I'm catching up I fall farther behind.. will things ever get back to normal again?" when she finished it stayed quiet for some time before Natsu spoke.

"No" he said calmly "Its not about going back Lucy, we can't go back... If we want our lives to be intact again, we need to move forward. Its hard, but that's what a guild is for; What Nakama are for." Lucy turned to face him, he really could be wise sometimes.

"I see..." she said looking back out of the window, she smiled 'Well, despite losing 7 years I'm still young. I have plenty of time for all those things don't I ?' She thought to herself.

Looking out on the translucent river, Lucy witnessed the moon painting everything it touched in white and silver. Lucy felt happy just to be alive, Still... I should have at least been a little more experienced by now.. She couldn't help thinking in the back of her mind.

"Natsu, thanks for listening. You should get back to the party, I'll catch up later."

...

Natsu sat and watched his blonde team-mate from where he sat on her bed. It would seem he had been able to cheer her up a little, but he could still see faint traces of unease in her deep, brown eyes. What else can I do? He asked himself internally. She still seems upset, even though she says she is better.

Natsu just smiled, that was Lucy for you. Always smiling just to keep her friends from worrying.. despite how sad she really was inside.. despite what pain she felt, she would keep it from view as not to burden the people she cared for.

Didn't she know?

Just as they feel joy together, Friends are meant to hurt together.

Lucy though always ended up grieving alone.

It annoyed him to no end...

As he continued to watch her slightly concerned, his mind drifted back to their previous conversation.

'Well of course you don't mind. It isn't a big deal for guys, but it is for girls.'... He didn't understand it. Why did it mean so much to her? He thought. He didn't care did he? But then again it had never occurred to him.. Sure he knew about kissing he wasn't that dense. But it had never crossed his mind as something he should do himself. He usually had other things on his mind..

like food and going on missions, fighting with Grey, becoming S-Class, finding Igneel. Stuff like that! But never kissing..

So for the first time, Natsu thought about it.

He recalled seeing Bisca and Alsack do it at the guild, as well as couples in town in parks and cafés. They would lean in; usually with their eyes closed and press their mouths together, they would continue to do this while their hands would caress the other tenderly. Natsu didn't see how that could be a thing.. to him it seemed ridiculous. Although when ever the couple would break apart they would be smiling happily, so maybe it was enjoyable..

Without really noticing Natsu eyes skimmed over his team-mate's pretty face, lingering on her mouth. Her pink lips looked so soft, he wondered what they would feel like against his..

Wait! Was he thinking of kissing Lucy? He couldn't! There was no wa-

But then it occurred to him.. Wasn't that what she was upset about? That she was 17 and hadn't been kissed yet.. Maybe he should kiss her, she never specified who she wanted to kiss her... just that she wanted it to happen! If he kissed her, it might cure her sadness!

It was settled. If it would cheer her up. If it would make her smile again. If it would return the light to her eyes and make them shine brightly once more. he would do it! Besides... He was a little curious himself as to what the fuss was all about with this kissing business.

...

Natsu had been quiet for a while, Lucy had expected him to leave. She really just wanted to be alone, she hated worrying her friends with her stupid problems.. She didn't even know why all of this was effecting her so deeply. It really was silly..

"Lucy.." she heard Natsu say her name before crossing the floor towards her, in a few strides he had closed the distance between them.

Lucy, thinking he meant to leave through the window she was standing in front of moved aside. But to her confusion, he changed direction with her ignoring the window; he continued moving towards her.

"Natsu?.." Lucy asked warily. Fazed by how close he was getting and without showing any signs of slowing down. It took only a matter of seconds for it to happen but to Lucy everything seemed to be going in slow-motion. She could feel her face erupting in a furious blush in reply to his closeness.

Before Lucy even had time to react, she felt his warm, rough hand on her cheek. What is going on? is what she wanted to say but before her mouth could form the words, his lips were on hers.

At first Lucy could only stand there wide-eyed and stiff with shock, Natsu was kissing her! Natsu!

She thought about pulling away but suddenly she became astonishingly aware of the warmth his lips ignited against hers and with his strong but gentle hand cupping her flushed face, she soon felt herself melt into his kiss. Lucy placed her hands on his warm chest as his hand combed through her smooth, shoulder-length hair.

Warm and sweet.. her first kiss. It was soft and simple, but Lucy felt it was perfect.

When Natsu pulled away he was smiling his most brilliant grin. Lucy wished she could recover as quickly as him, she was still trying to find her breath.

"That's one down for both of us." he said blushing slightly. Lucy couldn't help but smile with him, his grin was infectious. "Thank you" she said quietly. "Any time" he said smirking and taking a step back.

"Oii!" They heard a voice call out, "Natsu you were meant to get Lucy ages ago, I know snails that move faster than you!" Grey shouted mockingly, bursting into the room.

"Why don't you say that again you over grown popsicle!" Natsu yelled back heatedly, completely back to his regular, boisterous self.

Gray responded equally flustered "What the hell did you call me Hot-Head?!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were deaf and ugly!"

Lucy smiled to herself as they carried on, "Guys! Isn't there a party or something on?" she asked interrupting their squabbling.

"Yeah, let's get back already!" Grey said bolting out the door, "Hey Salamander, let's see if you can keep up!" he called out behind him.

"Get ready to eat dust bastard!" Natsu said excitedly and went to leave but stopped short of the door,

"You coming Lucy?" he asked looking over his shoulder.

Lucy smiled "A party at our guild? Wouldn't miss it." she said laughing,

"Alright!" with that remark and one last enormous grin, Natsu left to beat Gray.

Lucy got changed and headed out after them. Walking in the moonlight towards Fairy Tail, her hand drifted to her lips, as she remembered Natsu's kiss.

Who knows what it meant, what ever it was she had plenty of time to figure it out.

She didn't know what lay in store for her, but what she did know is that she was going to keep moving forward. What ever her future was didn't matter, all that really mattered was that it she had one.

Life was beautiful, full of wonder and great friends.

She would live it proudly and at her own pace.

The End