Hey readers! I'm sad to say... This is the last prompt on the NaLu week list! Eeeeep! I can't believe I did it! I can't believe it's ended! I just want to thank you guys for reading this little one-shot collection, and my heart swells with pride whenever I hear you guys enjoyed it, be it a humble review, favorite, or follow. Thank you so very much! I hope you enjoy this last edition in my NaLu week one-shots!

She guessed it wasn't that hard. To try. But deep down, it really was difficult. It was hard to let go of your past, and get in the moment. Right now, she felt the most capable. She had to act. It had been years since she lost her parents. They would want nothing more than to get her in the present. She was thinking about anything but that, her past a constant nag, and Lucy wanting a glimpse into her future.

And it had been nearly a year since she realized she liked Natsu. In a more than a friend way.

Lucy sighed, walking home slowly, lagging. She felt mad at herself for letting another day get by in which she didn't tell him how she felt. And looking at other couples, she felt guilty she hadn't even confessed anything. The other couples in the guild were going steady- Levy and Gajeel were making very steady and obvious advancements to being a couple, Gray and Juvia were steadily dating, even if it wasn't that public from Gray's side. And Erza was getting married. To Jellal. With Makarov's approval.

It was frustrating, but Lucy held through, even through Natsu's stupidity. She obviously liked him, but he couldn't see what a… monkey could! It made her feel stupid too. She'd sent him signals, with none or idiotic replies. With the thought of this, Lucy stormed up a little faster to her home. Suddenly, she froze. She had made a promise with Erza, Levy and Mira. Today was the day she would confess. She stopped, trembling and putting a hand to her mouth. Mira made an oath to herself she would come up with a lame way to send Natsu over.

Lucy felt woozy, and she wanted to sit down. She stood there, taking deep breaths, regaining her steps. Mira never broke an oath. If Erza was there, there was no doubt it would happen. Lucy remembered everything Levy told her this morning. It was a sweet little pep talk. And with a nod to those words, Lucy felt enlightened. Enlightened and scared to death.

Lucy spread her arms out for balance as she walked along the ledge that separated her from water. She hummed as she placed one foot in place of another, making a beat as her feet clapped against the cobblestone road. She sighed, basking in the bright and warm sunlight. It really was a beautiful day. Lucy's smile faltered as she thought of her chances with Natsu. She sighed. They were as likely to be together as a fish sprouting legs and walking about Magnolia. She stuck out her lower lip in a pout.

Lucy wished she could be as brave as Erza at a moment like this. So she could just… say it. All she needed to say were three simple words any way.

"Lucy! Be careful!" A man in a boat called out familiarly, causing Lucy to stop and turn her head in his direction.

Lucy rolled her eyes with a sigh.

"Yeah!" His buddy added. "If you fall, we're not coming after you!"

"Yeah? Well, I don't expect you to!" Lucy yelled back fiercely as the two men snickered, their boat floating away, leaving Lucy irritated.

Her anger subsided as she remembered what she had been challenged to do. She continued to walk along the edge precariously. He wouldn't even understand, would he? He'd probably laugh it off. Lucy bit her lip. Maybe she really was a silly little girl. Lucy groaned. Of all the people to fall in love with, it had to be that pink-haired idiot.

Lucy inhaled.

"If you never tell him, he'll never know!" Mira said, waggling a finger towards her.

"Come on Lucy, we're waiting for a confession!" Levy adds, placing a hand on her hip and smiling.

"I can trust you to tell him your true feelings, can't I?" Erza asks, winking and clasping Lucy's shoulder.

Lucy smiled weakly and stared down at her feet. Her friends were sweet, and she knew they would do all in their power to help her, but… would it really be enough? Lucy clenched her fists. She already knew what she had to do. Lucy knew she couldn't be a coward and back out. It was her chance. She had to snatch it up before something impeded the moment. If she didn't take the initiative, Natsu wouldn't. He was far too idiotic for that. Lucy beamed, staring up at a lone white cloud, wandering over the blue plain above her.

She just had to. Now was not the moment to have doubts. Fine then, she would just turn around and head back in the direction from which she had come-

"LUCY!"

The said blonde's eyes widened as she flinched and twisted her body towards the familiar voice. She gasped, catching in Natsu's appearance, smiling widely at her as she spun around.
"Nat-?" Lucy barely finished the sentence when she felt the sudden discomfort that she was, well…

Falling.

"Kyaaaa!" She shrieked, tumbling over her highly elevated shoes and splashing backwards, head-over-heels into the crystalline waters.

Lucy squeezed her eyes shut, the cold rush smacking up against her back like a thousand needles. Lucy was still, frozen, her eyes shut and she was petrified in the water. Her lungs already wailed for air, and her body shivered against the icy current. She hadn't even taken the time to inhale before entering the water's realm. Screaming at her body to move, but receiving no response, Lucy panicked. She had only been submerged for about eight seconds, when something gripped her wrist and yanked her forcefully out of the water's grip.

In milliseconds, she was out in open air, in the bright light again. Reluctantly, she opened her blurry eyes, blinking excess water out of them and closing them once more to get rid of droplets in her eyelashes.

She choked on water and coughed, her body demanding she do so. She breathed heavily, her mind still trying to process what had happened in the last ten seconds. Feeling hands grasping her forearms and waist, she stared up at her rescuer.
"N-Natsu?" She asked, still soaked, her clothes clinging to her.

She squinted up at him, as he glowered down at her with no good intentions. Lucy gulped. Natsu quietly pulled her completely out of the water, carefully setting her back on her feet. Lucy blinked, shocked. She slowly turned her eyes back up at him, Natsu's expression emotionless, with only a hint of irritation.

"Are you crazy or something?" He muttered. Lucy bit her lip before beaming back up at him placidly.

"It was… bound to happen sooner or later. Thanks for… going after me." She replied gratefully, carefully pulling away from his grip, allowing her hands to fall to her sides. She hung her head, not wanting to look him in the eye. They stood there a few seconds, not looking at each other or saying anything. Lucy felt useless. She frowned slightly, sensing Natsu's irritation. Was she… a burden?

Lucy felt defeated, as she noticed her ankles begin the move as she picked her feet up and began to walk away slowly. She pursed her lips, grabbing her opposite elbows, still soaked head to toe. She loosed her tense muscles and swayed as she walked away. She took deep breaths and wanted to cry. She hadn't even tried. She hadn't said anything worthwhile. Lucy lowered her head again.

She was going to… head home. She had no business staying where was anyway. Not when she couldn't tell him.

"Where ya' goin?"

Lucy gasped as a hand reached out and grabbed her elbow, spinning around in the other direction. She frowned, confused.
"Home…?" She replied, her voice soft.

Natsu blinked down at her, before giving her sympathetic eyes, confusing her.
"Aw, you don't have to be sad! Here- you can tell me whatever! We're partners, right?!" He exclaimed.

Lucy shot him a bewildered look, stuttering.
"WH-What?!" She sputtered.

Natsu grinned at her, revealing sharp canines.
"Mira said you were sad, so I came to cheer you up!" He said in reply.

Lucy blinked, smacking her free hand to her forehead. Well, Mira wasn't exactly lying. She sighed.
"Natsu… I'm not really sad. Mira's just blowing the whole thing out of proportion. Besides… Weren't you just upset with me five seconds ago?" She spat out.

It was Natsu's turn to be surprised. He stared at her, water dripping from his bangs, streaming down his face.
"What?! I wasn't mad at you! Just commenting on your recklessness, that's all-"

Lucy snorted.
"You're one to talk."

"-and your clumsiness."

Lucy glared.
"You startled me, so I fell in! I'm not clumsy!" She retorted loudly.

Natsu placed a hand on his hip and patted Lucy's drenched head.
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that!"

Lucy growled, moving backwards.
"Ugh fine! I'm going home-"She grumbled, turning away and stomping off.

"Wait a sec!"

Lucy felt herself be caught by the wrist again. She turned to face Natsu again, still irritated at his immature behavior.
"What is it- Hey-"Lucy's eyes widened as she felt herself be crushed against his chest in a hug.
"You're still sad… About something." He murmured, his chin resting atop her messy blonde hair.

Lucy's body failed to react. Her arms were still hanging limply by her sides.
"It's nothing you need to worry about." She replied with a slight smile.

"I don't believe that." He replied huskily, tightening his grip around her shoulders.

Lucy's eyes widened again and she felt obliged to do something thing again. The weight and pressure of her duty to say something- anything – took up space in her mind.

What could she possibly say? And how could she say it? She was so caught up in the moment. She couldn't just let the chance pass her by- could she?

Lucy relaxed, pulling away gently and prying his fingers off of her damp forearm. She smiled weakly up at him and sighed.
"Look, I've been meaning to tell you this for a while." She laughed softly. "Mira sent you after me so I could get the chance to tell you something. I'm not really sad. I'm confused. And stressed." Lucy brought a tentative hand up his chest.

Lucy averted her eyes away from his face.
"I'm sorry I took so long to tell you this but-"Lucy finally brought her eyes up to meet his.

Lucy's breath caught in their throat. She couldn't say it. Lucy wanted to say everything, but her voice wouldn't comprehend anything she willed it to do. She searched his expectant green eyes and she sighed, her breath fluttering. No, Lucy realized. Words wouldn't sum it up. Lucy steeled herself sucked in air through her teeth. It wasn't about what she was going to do. It wasn't about she could have done.

It was about what she was doing.

Before she knew what she was doing, she had reached up, grabbed his still-soaked scarf and pressed her lips against his. In seconds, she was kissing him.

Lucy had shut off everything her books had told her, everything her mind had thought. In that moment, her past didn't matter. And to hell with her future. All she needed then was right in front of her.

Her breath was hot and his lips were rough against hers, but they were always comforting, unlike the way she imagined it would be.

He didn't react to her, and Lucy didn't know what he was feeling. Her heart was racing and she kissed him firmly but not forcefully, sending her feelings quite clearly across the table. Her eyes were watery, and she didn't come up for air, not once, as she moved her mouth against his. It made her weak at the knees. It made her feel like she was on fire.
It was the most passionate thing she had ever engaged in.

Lucy closed her lips and pulled away, opening her eyes with several blinks. She clung to his scarf and stared up into eyes, smiling weakly.
"I'm in love with you, idiot." She concluded.

Her breathing was still feverish, offbeat even. Lucy sighed. She had done it, and she didn't regret anything. She had said everything she needed to, even if she really hadn't done so much with her words.

Not exactly.

"Lucy…"

She didn't look up.

"I don't-"

Lucy smiled to herself sadly. Knew it.

"I don't know why you didn't say anything sooner."

Lucy froze, flitting her head back up towards his face.
"W-What?!"

He smiled down at her grabbing her hands and leaning down.
"Well, you didn't exactly have to say anything, actually. The kiss was enough." He said quietly.

"You pretty much told me everything I needed to know." He said, nodding.

Lucy laughed, beaming. Natsu beamed back. Lucy waited for a reply.

"So it's safe to say I agree with everything you put into that kiss!" Natsu said, almost in a matter-of-factly way.

Lucy frowned.

"So…"

"So… what?"

Lucy raised a brow, growing impatient. She should've known.
"Natsu, if I may ask- Do you even know what I meant when I said I was in love you?" She dead-panned.

Natsu frowned, raising a hand to scratch his head.
"Well…" Lucy rolled her eyes. "No." He said, sounding embarrassed.

And the battle was only half won. She should've seen this coming. This was Natsu after all. Lucy took a deep breath. She would handle this situation calmly. Calmly…
"Natsu… When I kissed you. That's pretty much the exact same meaning as when I said I loved you. Got it now?" Lucy hinted at concentrating Natsu.

Natsu frowned at Lucy, his eyes narrowed.
"So I guess… I'm in love with you too?"

Lucy grinned. She was having way too much fun with this, feeling more mischievous than ever.
"I don't know, you tell me." She replied with a laugh.

Natsu inhaled again.
"Okay. I love you too, Luce."

There. Lucy was warmed. It may not have been perfect, but it was perfect enough for her. In those moments, they decided to head back to the guild. They were soaking wet and they were starving. At least the guild could help them with one thing. Lucy felt electric as Natsu reached out again, intertwining his fingers with hers. Soon, they'd be back in that crazy guild hall, surrounded by crazy people with crazy antics. They would say 'I told you so'. Not much had changed in the world. Nothing, not really. Lucy glanced to Natsu's grinning face, and when he kissed her cheek, everything felt perfect. She was so happy. Lucy was finally content.

She didn't need her past to be with him. Everything that had already happened had ceased to be important. She didn't know what the future held, if they could even hold up in a harsh world. All she needed was the moments in between. She didn't even know if he was even going to be in her future.

Natsu was her present. And that was what Lucy really needed, after all.

Whyyyy!? I had infinite amounts of fun writing all of my one-shots, I'll have you know! This week has helped grow as a writer tremendously! Thank you so much for checking out this collection! Thank you, every one who has provided feedback and has trusted me enough to favorite and follow this fanfiction. It means so much to me. I will hopefully be posting many more NaLu fan fictions in the future, as I am very much interested in this couple! Thank you so much everyone! I love you all!