Hey guys! Happy NaLu week! And Happy Birthday to Lucy! I was going to create a tribute, but this can be her present, ha! I'm a little late in the day, but, hey! I made this all this morning anyway. Just wanted to say that I thank you for even looking at my first chapter of NaLu week! Just to let those who do not know, know, tumblr's NaLu week is a week consisting of writers making a number of seven chapters, off seven prompts, one for each day of the week, all for the couple Natsu and Lucy. Check out tumblr and search for NaLu week for further details.

And warning: love rants and fluff overdosage! Caution!
Please read and I hope you enjoy!

He was frozen. Shocked. Paralyzed. The feelings still resonated upon him. He didn't realize it, and now he felt foolish for not noticing it. The sensation that stilled him remained.

The soft touch of her lips still lingered on his skin.

Natsu blinked, unable to believe it. It was her. She had only been bait for these feelings, allowing them to surface undeniably all over him. Every touch she placed on him was still there.

At first, he was in pain. The physical kind. But by the time the girl had gotten by his side, and the moment she touched him, he was miraculously soothed. His breath was catching in his throat the more he thought of it.

And from Lucy of all people.

He'd never expected it from her. Not one shred of thought traced to Lucy, concerning…
his non-platonic feelings. Whatever they were.

Natsu had learned of all emotions long ago, from Igneel. His great, scaly father had taught him how to feel and fight with emotion. Natsu smiled to himself. That was what made him strong. And that was what would make him stronger.

Igneel had told him of frustration, pain, happiness, anger, excitement, will, grief; and Natsu had learned and been taught to fight with all of them. He'd learned to fight with love. But that was not all Igneel had taught him. The dragon told him of something that would not only help him be strong and fight, but fuel the will and meaning of the fight. It was love. A type of love.

A branch of love different than what he felt for his guild and friends.

His father told him that this love was stronger, unpredictable and emotion-fueling than just plain old love. Igneel lectured that one day, Natsu would find someone to share an unbreakable love for. That no matter what, this love would propel him to do great things, and the person he would share it with would do the same. They would fight for each other, care for each other, and protect each other. Know one another like the back of their hand. An unbreakable bond.
And it would alter Natsu's life forever. It was called being in love.

When Natsu had been first taught of it, he was fascinated and confused. His thoughts revolved around-
A new sparring partner?! Cool!

And- What?! Love? Wait, with a girl? I don't know any girls!

But when he found out exactly what a girl was and met one for himself, he was disgusted with the idea of being in love.

Natsu winced at his obnoxious behavior. Then again, he was quite young. And as he thought more; He must have given his adoptive father an enormous migraine and been a pain in the neck to raise. Thinking again, Natsu realized he hadn't changed much at all. The more he wondered about it, the more he grew to realize he was still acting somewhat like his pre-adolescent-age self. He sighed. He hadn't changed much- but Lucy made him change a little bit. Just awhile ago.

And in one short minute too.

Natsu sighed again. Lucy hadn't done much, really. Maybe it truly was him after all. He turned his head to his left, eyeing the sleeping blonde's figure under the blanket. He was still pretty sore and roughed up from the group's latest mission, which was many times more strenuous than he had originally thought. Lucy had healed him. A lot more than she probably thought. That was some weird talent of hers, he guessed.

Natsu flopped over, so he faced Lucy's sleeping body. He eyed her peaceful intakes of breath, and her exhales as she made a continuous breathing pattern while sleeping. She was so quiet, and she was- Natsu frowned at her-

Kind of beautiful. Natsu felt a blush rise across his face and scolded himself for it, even though it was dark and everyone was asleep, so no one would notice. Natsu never even thought to think of Lucy in a way that did not suggest they were great friends. It was just a way he had grown up, the way he had lived. But he didn't know or why, but… Lucy had this power to make him feel warmer, and happier, and even more loved than before. It was Lucy's gift.

Maybe she had this power over everyone, the power to connect and weave her story, her heart within others, so they would all feel an instant bond with her. Lucy was so kind, and loving. He knew other people loved her too, and the entire guild loved her as their family, but Natsu had always felt he had this partial authority over her. He was selfish, and he knew it, when it came to her. He didn't know why, though… he felt she was his.

He didn't want her in a controlling way, but as a… have and to hold sort of way. He cared about her a lot, and he didn't want to hide it anymore. What she had done… it made him want her forever. So that those stupid guys she dated wouldn't chase her anymore, and so she wouldn't date them or something like that.

She had the power to heal him and take care of him and propel him to do better, and Natsu knew only she had that power over him. Lucy had the talent to make him happy.
And he didn't know what he would do if she left him, taking her gift with her.

Natsu shimmied closer to her and wrapped his arms around her tightly. He squeezed his eyes shut. Because when she had kissed him, when she pressed her own soft, pink lips against his face, he felt loved. He felt like she could take care of him for all of eternity, and he could do the same. For the first time, since Igneel explained in detail to him before leaving his life forever, he knew what being in love was. Because he was in love with her.

"Lucy, please don't leave. Stay here with me and Happy and take care of us. We- no I love you! I said it. I'm in love with you. Don't leave." He whispered to her sleeping form, pulling her into his arms tightly.

Natsu smiled as he heard her sigh happily and snuggle into him.
"Natsu…" She murmured, and the dragon-slayer felt content, and felt like happiness was blowing him up like balloon.

He pressed his face into her neck and soft strands of hair and finally he knew. He knew that Lucy and her beautiful self and beautiful gift and something like that were not going anywhere. She was here to stay, and Natsu felt like an idiot for thinking otherwise. She was his Luce after all, and he had a kiss to prove it.

And as he finally took the time to relax and doze off in his partner's bed, he grinned into the back of her neck, with devious thoughts.

It would be a kiss on the lips next time.

Ah, that was refreshing to read and write. And stressful to write. Any how, what did you think? Was it lame? Maybe. Corny? Most likely. I'd like to apologize if was confusing in any way. And yes, it was a little unconventional. And fun to write! So please! Don't refrain from writing me a review, it's all to help me improve! I might even post an extra chapter discussing what exactly happened... Thanks for checking my fanfic out!

Oh yeah! Here's a random bonus I wanted to add! As bad as it may be! Optional!

Lucy wanted to scream when she heard him say that. We- no I love you! I said it. I'm in love with you. Don't leave.

She wanted to shriek with excitement at Natsu's words. She wanted to turn around and hug him and kiss him senseless. Lucy wanted to say she loved him too, over and over again until he got sick of it. When had he figured it out? Was it because she kissed him? Lucy smiled at herself and decided not to move as Natsu snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her towards him.

"Don't go." He whispered into her neck.

Lucy was so happy! She could finally scoff at Aquarius when she heard that the celestial spirit got a boyfriend or some other. Beat that Aquarius! Beat that!

Lucy sighed and snuggled deeper into Natsu's enclosing arms. She relaxed, and let herself fall asleep again. At first she was angry when Natsu wrapped his arms around her and woke her up in the middle of the night. But after he said that, her entire mood altered, and she was content with it. That moment. And she didn't ever want him to leave either.

Lucy wanted to hug him back, tell him how she felt, but she was exhausted. And this was enough. She was happy, but she would tell him when she was ready, when the sun woke her up with welcoming rays of light.

Natsu always had the ability to bring out the best in her. She trusted him the most. She loved him the most. He had the talent to keep her going, and keep her warm. It was... Natsu's gift. She liked this moment enough, and she would be patient. Natsu was probably already sleeping.

She would kiss him good morning.