"I hate it. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it."

"Repeat it one more time, won't you?"

"I hate it!"

"I didn't actually mean for you to say it again but okay—"

"How is it that every time I try to find some time to squeeze in with Lucy, I get no time, but then ice Princess does it and he gets all the time!" Natsu slammed his palm against the table earning a loud slam to echo throughout the room. "It's crazy! Stupid! It's like the world hates me or something!"

Loke could only just ball up on the couch as he held onto his magazine, the look of confusion and fear mirroring his facial features. "Uh, I guess... it's just how it is?"

"I've been trying to see Lucy this entire week and I failed all those times and then that bastard Gray does it once and it happens! What the hell is that?!"

"I don't know? Why don't you go right now, then?"

"I don't know where they are! Or what they're doing—that asshole could be doing something to her and I wouldn't know!" Natsu shouted as if he realized something. "He could hurt her!"

"Now Natsu, you honestly think that Gray is doing that right now?"

"I don't know! What if he is?!"

Rolling his eyes, Loke cleared his throat and tried to go back to his little reading session.

"Honestly, you're freaking out over nothing."

"Now how do I find a way to see her... maybe if I... wait! I got it!" The rosy-haired singer beamed as he shot up in his seat, grabbing his keys and his phone. "Thanks for the advice, Loke, I'll see you later!"

"Where are you going?!"

"To the hospital!" He shouted before he slammed the door shut behind him, leaving Loke all by himself.

The ginger just sat there in silence, trying to think of what Natsu was planning on doing but he just shrugged it off, returning to his magazine where models posed for his eyes.

"He had all sorts of stuff coming out of him, it was gross!" Lucy said, giggling through out her story as one of her best friends sat across from her at the cafe. "It was cool though and I actually got to keep one of them." She sounded proud making Gray chuckle.

"What did you keep?"

"A doll head."

"Gross," he scrunched his face up in disgust making the blonde smile brightly.

"Hey, it was the limited edition Barbie collectible. I had to keep it."

"You definitely still are a weirdo," he tapped her on the head making her shoot him a playful glare as she fed herself some ice cream.

"And you're definitely still are the ice-loving freak as you took me to cafe to order ice-cream in the middle of fall," she pointed at the cup between them. "though, I must say, I don't mind it." She flashed a grin his way making him laugh out loud. "It was always something I got used to especially since the only thing you would like to buy me is something cold and Natsu would like to buy me anything hot and spicy," she put down her spoon to sigh. "I missed this a lot."

Gray could only smile at the blonde across from him as he felt the nostalgia hit him across the face. He could already picture the young seventeen year old sitting across from him all those years ago, her baby face morphed into a more matured one, her hair longer and her body structure slightly larger.

Time really did fly by and he could only thank God that he was able to see how much things changed.

"You honestly think I'd let you forget about me? Especially after you bullied me so much back in elementary school?"

Flushing red, Lucy covered her mouth with her palm. "I told you that was a complete accident! Please get over it, that was almost twenty years ago!"

The couple paused to look at each other in surprise, their eyes wide in realization.

"That was almost twenty years ago," Lucy repeated, her voiced hushed. "we're so old."

"We're only twenty-five," he laughed nervously making Lucy frown.

"Where did the time go? I remember just yesterday we were playing together on the playground," she sighed, tracing the pattern on the table as Gray watched her. "and then this seven year gap really did a number on us... I'm a nurse, you and Natsu are famous, and I..." she laughed out loud. "we're old."

"Hey," Gray reached over to place his hand on top of hers, a soft smile appearing on his face. "it's true that we did age slightly but you know what didn't change?"

"What?"

"We're still sitting across from each other having the time of our lives. Time will always pass by, it won't stop for anyone but we do get to do whatever we want during that time. So, stop being so sad about how much time passes and let's just make up for the time lost ever since graduation," he offered a bright smile her way. "yeah?"

"Yeah," Lucy sighed, a small smile coming to her lips. "I wonder what everybody else is up to like Lisanna, Erza, Mirajane..." she had a small pout on her lips making him lean back and sigh.

"Wanna find them?"

"How?"

"I have connections," he smirked. "did you forget that I'm famous?"

Rolling her eyes, Lucy could only smile as she felt her pager go off in her purse, the blonde pulling the small electronic out. "Oh, I have to head back, I got a 911." She frowned, holding up the small thing to show Gray who also frowned. "I'm sorry,"

"No, don't worry about it," he waved his hand up to signal a waiter over. "you're saving lives and all."

Lucy could only sigh in relief as she realized that Gray wasn't like any other guy that she went out with that didn't understand her urgent rush to get to the hospital, he was her best friend and he always understood.

—X—

Rushing into the hospital, Lucy went straight to the nurse station to grab the chart she was assigned 911 and immediately went to the assigned room number as she didn't want any actual doctors chewing her out for being late. She grabbed a pair of gloves while she continued to do her hair in a quick bun, pushing the door open to enter the large private room.

"Good afternoon, sir, I'm your nurse Lucy and I'll be taking care of you," she snapped on the gloves while she grabbed the chart and quickly scanned it. "could you tell me what is wrong—Natsu?" She looked up once she read the name as the said devil laid in the bed in front of her. "What the—Natsu, what are you doing here?" She put down the chart to take one of her gloves off to press her hand to his forehead. "You're not hotter than usual... is it your foot?" She lifted up the blanket to look at his perfectly good leg. "Are you sick?" She continued to talk in a frantic manner as the singer just sat there with an amused look on his face.

One thing he always loved about Lucy was that whenever she was nervous or scared she would talk for hours without realizing it and he thought it was the cutest thing. He was glad that habit didn't die as he loved to watch her eyebrows scrunch up and her brown orbs grow in size.

"Why aren't you saying anything but sitting there smiling at me?!" She playfully smacked his arm to making him wince. "Natsu! Say something!"

"Sorry," he flashed a grin. "you're just so cute."

Blushing furiously, the blonde yanked her gloves off her hands as she sputtered. "I—is this a joke or something?"

"Nope," he popped his P, grinning widely. "I'm sick Nurse Lucy, would you please give me a check up?"

"Are you actually sick or are you being dumb again?" She eyed him suspiciously making the rosy-haired patient pout.

"Hey, I could be dying!" He crossed his arms across his chest. "And you're just accusing me."

"Then what's wrong? Where does it hurt?"

"Right here," he placed his hand on his chest making her eye his chest. "it hurts right here."

"Your heart?" She asked as she came closer to place her hand where he had his hand. "Why does your heart hurt?" She brushed her fingers against his hand making him quickly grab her hand and yank her into the bed.

A yelp of surprise erupted out of her mouth and the male was on top of her in matter of a seconds, a proud smirk plastered on his face.

"N—Natsu?!" The blonde looked around the room with wide eyes as she entire face was beet red. "What are you—?!"

"I tried all week to hang with you but something always popped up as soon as we could but then all of a sudden Gray decides he wants to hang and nothing pops up so yes, my heart hurts because I feel like the universe hates me and does not want me to hang with my favorite person in the entire world," he said making Lucy even redder. "and so I realized the only way I could see you is in the hospital so I faked being sick so I can see you for at least a few minutes or so because goddamn it," he let out a sigh. "I miss you so fucking much."

Looking up at the male who she loved so much and known for so long, she felt her heart race in her chest as she felt all the emotions start to sprout.

She didn't know if he was being serious or joking but it made her entire body grow warm and she just wanted to reach up and hug him. Or kiss him.

Maybe both. Because she missed him so fucking much, too.

"Natsu," she sighed. "I—" She swallowed thickly as she felt her feet grow cold. "I... I missed you, too." She forced that out as she smiled. "But you're really heavy and I can't breath."

"Oh," he looked down to see he was sitting on her to get off. "my bad." He flashed a sheepish grin her way as Lucy sat up and faced the male.

"You're an idiot," she sighed making him smile. "but it's okay," she said as she ran her hand through his messy hair, pushing his bangs out of his eyes. "because you wouldn't be you if you weren't."

"Lucy," he grabbed her hand in his to press it against his face. "have dinner with me tonight."

"I—"

"And I promise I won't let something stupid get in the middle of it because you're far more important than anything else," he grinned cutely making her heart skip a beat again, her cheeks turning pink. "so please, grab some dinner with me."

Letting a small giggle slip out, Lucy felt all squirming as she realized that Natsu had matured and this was a completely different new feeling from when he would ask her out back in high school. She still felt the butterflies but now, she felt like she was going to melt.

"Only if you don't cancel on me, again." She smiled making him smile right back.

"I promise, I won't."

—X—

"Honestly, Natsu, I would have been fine just being home and watching a movie with a box of pizza," the blonde said as she pulled down her dress from the bottom as it continued to ride up her long thighs, the couple walking down the street looking like a bunch of movie stars. "but you always insist on going out to eat." She clicked her tongue in disapproval as Natsu laughed from beside her, the male grinning from ear to ear.

"Lucy, first dates are all about first impressions!"

"This isn't our first date," she flushed slightly, giving him a scolding look. "this is the opposite of a first date."

"It's basically our first date since we reconnected," he shrugged as they approached the restaurant. "besides, I want to show you some of my favorite places around here and next, you can be the one to pick the place, yeah?"

Puffing her cheeks out, the blonde huffed. "Fine," she sighed. "but they better have some bomb-ass food or I'm going to be really upset with you."

"Oh, I promise I won't disappoint you, Miss Lucy," he winked in her direction making the blonde's entire face spread out into a wide smile as the couple rounded the corner.

But as soon as they came around the corner, they were surprised to see so many people and the paparazzi crowding the restaurant like they were expecting somebody famous to come on by.

"What the hell? I swear they have some sort of camera installed in my head or something," the singer muttered under his breath as the two paused in their steps. "what the hell am I supposed to do, now?" He looked around to see if there was another way in. "Fuck," he hissed making Lucy look at him.

"Natsu, what are we going to do?"

"I don't know," he pulled his phone out to look at the time as he chewed on his lip, trying to figure out a way to get through. "shit."

"Don't tell me we have to cancel," Lucy pouted making Natsu shake his head and look at her with a smile on his face. "then what are we going to do?"

"I'm not sure," he said as he reached down to grab her hand making her cheeks darken. "but you're going to have to trust me on this, alright?"

"What—?"

"Look, it's Natsu Dragneel!" A shout echoed through the streets making Natsu throw a wide cocky smirk in her direction before he turned around and pulled Lucy down the street with him.

The couple ran down the street where they came before, a crowd of fans and paparazzi right behind them that ran and squealed, trying to reach the famous male who just attracted that much attention to himself resulting their dinner reservations to be canceled. But Natsu Dragneel was not going to let that get in the way of his night with Lucy as he pulled her to whenever his legs took him, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"Natsu, where are we going?! My legs hurts, I can't run in heels!"

"Take them off, then!"

"I can't just take them off!" Lucy hissed as she turned around and look behind her then back at Natsu with wide eyes. "They're catching up on us! Why are there so many?!"

"Because they love me," he suddenly stopped, a wild grin plastered on his face. "and I love you so we're going to go!" He bent down and scooped the blonde up in his arms making her squeal in surprise and fear. "Let's go!" He shouted as he started to run earning another squeal from Lucy who wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"Natsu!" She cried out as the old track star ran as fast as he could, the crowd behind them growing smaller and smaller before he turned a corner to completely take them out of the picture.

He pressed his back against the brick wall as he finally set down the blonde whose head was spinning in all direction, her heart racing in her chest.

"Nat—"

"Sh!" He covered her mouth with his palm as they listened to the shouts of worry and confusion come from people from afar. They sounded as if they were running in all directions making the two press against each other in the alleyway where the night blended them in with the wall.

The thumping of their hearts were heard loud and clear as they came down from their adrenaline rush.

"I feel like this happens a lot," Lucy whispered as Natsu's face split into a grin, the male's dark orbs boring into her warm ones.

"You're damn right it does," he whispered right back as they listened for the slightest movement of fans or paparazzi. "but y'know, it's more fun with you beside me." He hand slipped from her mouth to cup her face, a warm smile decorating his face. "Everything is more fun with you."

"Natsu," she breathed out as she stared up at him with wide eyes.

"I'm really sorry about our dinner reservation," he brushed his thumb against her cheek. "but I'm not sorry about this."

"Sorry—?" She echoed but stopped but a pair of lips stopped her from speaking.

The same electric shock that she felt whenever she kissed Natsu ran through her body, the blonde shivering slightly as the familiar pair of warm lips connected with hers. And at the moment, all the memories of their dates and kisses ran through her head.

"Hi I'm Natsu Dragneel!"

"I know this sounds stupid and you probably think I'm joking but lets go on a date, Luce."

"Do you, uh, want to be my girlfriend? Unless you want to be the boyfriend because I'll gladly be the girlfriend if you want to be the boyfriend!"

"I love you, Lucy."

Pulling away from the kiss, Lucy felt her entire body grow warm as a smile spread across her face. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at the rosy-haired male who was staring down at her, a light blush on his cheeks as his signature toothy grin decorated his handsome tan face.

"Lucy," he swallowed thickly. "I still love you."

Lucy felt her heart throb as she finally heard the words shes been dying to hear for almost seven years come out of the male who she equally loved as much, hot tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

Once Natsu saw the tears his eyes grew wide, the male pulling away slightly. "Shit, uh, I didn't mean to—Lucy, uh, I—I don't mean to—"

"No," she shook her head. "no, no, Natsu," she laughed as she wiped the tears away. "I'm not crying because I didn't want you to say it, I'm crying because I wanted you to say it. For a while now," she looked up at the confused looking singer who just stared. "I... I still love you, too. The moment I saw you, I felt it. I never stopped," she smiled up at him making his face slowly spread into a smile as well. "I love you, Natsu."

"Goddamn it, Lucy," he breathed out in relief as he pressed his forehead against hers. "you scared me," he laughed nervously. "I honestly thought I had to go run away when I saw those tears in your eyes, I thought I screwed up or something!"

"When do you ever care about screwing up?"

"Ever since we graduated and I lost you," he pressed a sweet kiss against her forehead. "if I could go back in time, I would have never left you." His voice suddenly dropped to a hush silence as his smile turned into a bittersweet one. "I never forgot about you, you know," he brushed a strain of blonde hair behind her ear. "I thought of you every day and there wasn't a single day where I thought about dropping everything and going back but... I didn't know what you were doing or how you felt..." he sucked in a deep breath. "I was so afraid you hated me for leaving."

"I would never hate you for leaving, dummy," she sighed. "you know I supported you in whatever you did or wanted to do... I would never hate you for doing what you love."

"But I loved you," he frowned. "and I was stupid to leave you."

"But now you're here with me," she smiled, grabbing his hand to hold it tight. "and that's all that matters."

Looking down at the blonde with soft eyes, Natsu gave her hand a squeeze and kissed her forehead, pulling her towards him. "You still want to grab some dinner?"

"No," she said making his smile drop. "I'm tried of having my picture taken and people always interrupting our dates so this time," she took in a deep breath. "we're doing it my way."

"And what's your way?"

"We're going back to my place and we're going to order some food and watch some movies." She pulled away from him to walk out of the alleyway, a wide smile on the blonde's face as she held out her hand towards him. "Yeah?"

All Natsu could do was stare at the blonde in front of him with a smile on his face as he felt that same feeling he felt way back whenever he was with Lucy, his chest feeling as if it was going to burst into flames anytime soon.

"Yeah."

—X—

Coming up the stairs to stop in front of a door, Lucy paused in her actions as she fished out her keys and stared at her doorknob leaving Natsu to stand beside her and watch her in confusion. This went on for a couple of seconds until he spoke up, the blonde turning her head to look up at him in a sheepish way.

"Uh... you're still not scared of dogs... right?"

"You have a dog?" The look of pure surprise and fear washed over the male.

"Yeah, but, he's nice, I swear!" Lucy cried out making Natsu's entire face become pale as he looked to the side awkwardly. "I promise if he tries to pull anything I'll put him in my room." She offered a smile his way making him swallow thickly as he tugged on his collar.

"Well... I can't really do anything about it so... alright," he shrugged his shoulders. "but if he tries to bite me I'm going to kick him."

"You are not going to kick my dog!" The blonde threw him a dirty look as he threw her the same look she was giving him. "No way! If you kick my dog, I'll kick you!"

"Fine, kick me as much as you want but I'm still going to kick that dog if it tries to bite me." He shrugged as Lucy pushed him away, the male coming right back to wrap his arm around her waist and snuggle his face into her neck to make her giggle.

"Natsu, stop it!"

"Hurry up and open the damn door," he kissed her neck to pull away and have her push the key through the hole before she unlocked the door. She pushed open the door and out came a small dog, Natsu quickly jumping away when the dog start to jump up and down right by Lucy. "Lucy, oh my god, Lucy!"

"Relax, Natsu," the blonde laughed as she bent down and scooped the dog into her arms. "Plue is harmless, aren't you, Plue?" She cooed at the dog, kissing his head as the small pup licked the blonde on the face. "Look!" She thrusted the dog towards Natsu who jumped away even further, his hand stretched out to block the dog away.

"I—I'm good," he nervously smiled. "keep him away."

Rolling her eyes, Lucy entered her home to kick her heels off and put down her keys, Plue snuggled up right up on her chest. "Well, come on inside. You can make yourself comfortable while I go change," she offered as she walked down the corridor to her room as Natsu slowly entered the home of the blonde.

He took his nice shoes off and closed the door behind him, his dark eyes looking around the flat to have him realize this was a complete Lucy house. To the two bookshelves full of books he knew she didn't read and to the pink furniture, Natsu felt like he was seventeen again back in Lucy's apartment.

"Natsu?"

"Y—Yeah?" The male looked up as Lucy came back, the blonde holding something in her arms as a dark blush dusted her cheeks. "Whats up?"

"Don't make fun of me, alright?"

"What is it?" He smiled at her embarrassed face as he walked towards her, the blonde chewing her bottom lip nervously. "What?"

"I... have this shirt," she laughed lightly. "from when you gave it to me and you... uh, lost it?" She held up a familiar looking shirt towards the singer whose eyes went wide. "So, uh, do you want to wear it instead of your suit?"

"You told me you didn't know where this shirt went when I asked you about it!" Natsu cried out as he grabbed the shirt from her to look at it even closer. "It even has that stain right here from that time you spilled your coffee on me! This is my shirt!" He looked at the blonde in disbelief. "I looked for this shirt for so long and you even knew and you had it all along!"

"I'm sorry!" The blonde cried out. "I just loved the shirt so much and I just didn't want to give it back and... well, I'm offering if you want to wear it?"

"Yes, I'm going to wear it," he huffed as he loosened his tie. "don't tell me you have a pair of my pants, too?"

Looking away sheepishly, Lucy had a small smile on her lips making Natsu gawk at the blonde, the look of disbelief plastered on his face.

"Which one?"

"What?"

"Which ones do you have?" He repeated making Lucy giggle nervously as she slowly pulled something from behind her, the blonde presenting the old pair of black sweatpants that had Magnolia Baseball on the top corner thigh. "My sweatpants!" Natsu almost shrieked. "My favorite—!" He snatched the sweats from the blonde to look at it closer. "Oh my god—Lucy, I—" he threw her a look as he took in a deep breath to exhale loudly. "I'm going to kill you," he closed his eyes to press his palm against his forehead. "My baseball coach almost murdered me for losing this pants and you had it all along?"

"Uh... I love you?" She smiled making Natsu huff.

"I get to choose the movie."

"What—?"

"No arguing, I'm choosing the movie."

Puffing her cheeks out in annoyance, the blonde crossed her arms across her chest and sighed. "Fine but I get to choose what we eat."

"Fine,"

"Fine!"

Turning around at the same time, Lucy walked back to her room as Natsu just stood there staring at his favorite clothes from back then, the male feeling all the memories wash over him once more.

He couldn't even stay mad at Lucy but damn, these were his favorite pair of sweats and t-shirt.

"I can't believe she took these and never gave it back to me," he muttered as he started to strip off his clothes to put on the clothes. "she probably stole my shoes too—" he looked up as something caught his eyes, the male staring at the red sweatshirt that was hanging on the closet door. "don't tell me..." he walked over to grab the sweatshirt and flip the hood up to see the letters Dragneel printed on the back.

And suddenly, Natsu just wanted to scream because this woman had all his favorite clothes in her house.

notes: yes, it is I, back from the dead. i'm very sorry ;-; i haven't forgetten about you guys, I LOVE YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR.
notes2: i hope you guys enjoy this littl chapter, i kinda did. c:
notes3: i'm soooo stressed out over school guys. but good thing is: i got my license and i drive now!
notes4: how are you guys? tell me whats up with you
notes5: leave me a lovely review if you guys missed me ;)