Their first time they had any… intimate actions… It had been 100% accident. Natsu and Lucy weren't quite sure what to do afterwards, trying to find who was at fault, and in the process, started unconsciously avoiding the other, afraid of how the other felt.

It had been Lucy's 21st birthday, so of course, her friends took her out to drink, but being it was her first time drinking, she didn't know her limits, or signs to look for of when to stop. Natsu had been fairly buzzed himself, so when Lucy randomly kissed him while he was coming back from the bathroom, he got too caught up in the emotions his alcohol had supplied.

Upon waking up the next morning, the two were racked with dread and fear. Neither really minded who it was done with, but the timing felt so ill placed it made them want to puke, and not from the alcohol.

Lucy was already gone by the time Natsu had woken up, which hurt him more than the splitting headache. He had instantly called her, but she denied the call. He tried calling Levy, Juvia, and Cana too, but they all ignored and denied him as well.

In the end the only one who would accept his call was Erza and Gray, while he was halfway to their campus. He felt his heart physically shatter when he found out all the girls had been holed up in the girls bathroom, trying to calm her down.

He ended up skipping all classes that day, sitting on a bench in the courtyard, hoping he would turn to dust and blow away with the light breeze that continually pushed wisps of his hair out of his face.

"Why are you sittin' here lookin' like shit?" A familiar voice said, as Gajeel appeared and sat beside him, not looking at the depressed man next to him.

Natsu huffed in annoyance, not bothering to look as well. "Well, I'm pretty sure Lucy hates me now…" he grumbled, running a hand through his hair.

Gajeel let out a snort in laughter "Ah, yes, I heard about your little escapade last night, from Levy… Shrimp says your girl has been a mess all day…"

Natsu shot him an irritated glare, "I know metal face." he practically growled, which made Gajeel grin more.

"You're pathetic." He decided, but before Natsu could retort, he kept talking "If she means so much to ya, then why haven't you tried to find her yet?"

His eyes widened at that, before he opened and closed his mouth like a fish "I… uh… She probably doesn't want to see me… She ignored my calls-"

Gajeel sighed in exasperation, standing and turning to look at the shorter, pink-haired, male "Look, I know you need to respect her space sometimes, but the girls had literally all day to mope about it If I were in your stupid, out of style, shoes, I woulda' found her and told her what I felt about it. You two sorry love birds aren't gettin' anywhere by 'giving the other space'." he said sternly, starting to leave "Get your act together before you lose yer chick" was the last thing he said, and Natsu couldn't help but grin.

No matter how rough Gajeel's exterior was, he knew he was really a softie at heart. He immediately stood and took off to find Lucy.

He had searched the whole campus by the time he realized Lucy had already gone home, which rather pissed him off as he was now really tired from running around like a madman, but he decided to forget it and rushed after Lucy urgently, and probably nearly gave her a heart attack when he bust into the room while she was changing.

"N-Natsu! What's-!" Her eyes were wide and panicked, which is how Natsu felt, and he instantly approached her, and pulled her into a hug, making the girl stiffen, especially when she heard what he had said.

"I really missed you…"

Lucy's eyes watered, and she couldn't find the voice to answer.

"All day I just wanted to see you… A-And I get that you were mad, but I was mad too… Mad at myself, at alcohol, at LIFE… Mad that I was the one who hurt you... " he went on, not giving her a chance to speak "But if this did end up ruining everything, then I wouldn't want to leave you without telling you how much I love you."

Lucy gasped lightly, and slowly pulled back to stare at him, finally swallowing the lump in her throat "I-I… You… Love me…?" she asked in shock

Natsu raised a brow "You're focusing on that? I thought it was obvious, not to mention I said it about a million times last night…" He drawled, and fliched as Lucy broke out in tears "H-Hey, I'm sorry if it's too much-!"

"No!" She stopped him, sniffling "I-I love you too!... I-I just didn't remember hardly anything, a-and, I had to be DRUNK, and I was so embarrassed, and was afraid you were upset at me for just attacking you like that-!" Natsu shut her up by slamming his lips against hers, also smashing their noses together, but they overlooked the minor detail.

"Lucy… While that's not how… We wanted it to happen… Nothing will EVER make me not love you. And if you don't remember me saying it back then, then I'll say it so many times you don't forget!" he decided, and Lucy gasped, which turned into a laugh, as he swept her off her feet, spinning her in a circle while repeating the words 'I love you' like a mantra that he had to recite, or else he would die.

And he continued saying it up until the moment her head hit the pillow, and her eyes closed for the night, but not before saying one last time;

'I love you too, Natsu…'