Please forgive me for how long it has taken me for getting this one ready. So much has happened and ya know, writers block, heh

But I really hope you all enjoy this. I had the best time writing this. And I also went back and edited chapter 1, so be sure to give that a re-read if you haven't. And for all you new readers, I hope you enjoy.

Fairy Tail and it's characters belong to Hiro Mashima

"Nnng, dammit Happy, move!" Natsu shooed away his oddly colored cat. He was trying to clean, and the feline made it so much harder to do.

Picking the broom back up, Natsu moved quickly. He only had a few more hours before Lucy got home and he wanted this place to be spotless.

After the senior prom, Lucy had forced herself into his life. That weekend she went to his apartment and stayed all day, hung out with him and pretty much took control of his downward spiral of a life. Which he didn't mind at all, he needed someone to pull him back up. But it would take more than that to get him back to the way he was before.

He snorted as he thought of the long conversation they had with her father about living together. It took almost an hour to get through all the details. But Jude was a kind man, and he learned early on that Natsu would not only not hurt or touch Lucy, he would protect her from those who would. Jude also helped Natsu find a decent job. It was a restaurant and bar called Fairy Tail, Fairy Universities' famous on-campus eatery.

He worked as a host, waiter, cook, and even bar tender during the four years of his employment. It was fun and easy, they even let him take left overs home! The owner, Mira, took a liking to him and helped him any way she could.

Lucy often came and did her homework while waiting for his shift to end, it had made him nervous back in the beginning. He was still getting used to someone being around all the time again and someone caring about him. So her being at his job, possibly watching him, made him extremely nervous. Mira guessed early on that he liked her, and he never denied it. But even after what happened between them… he didn't really know what they were.

Now though, she was his best friend. She was everything to him. When he was off work and she didn't have classes they would stay in and have movie days or go out and explore the city. His favorites were the days when she was on the couch reading and he'd be playing a game. They did their own thing, but they were still together. It was always more fun with Lucy.

Emptying the dust pan, Natsu coughed. Living with a cat, dog, and a girl who sheds more than the both of them was tough. Hair was everywhere.

He ran to the kitchen sink to get the mop and water. Putting it on the floor, he grabbed Happy and Plue and put them behind the gate in the living room so they wouldn't run over his wet floor.

"Stay," he pointed at them, knowing Plue was too small to get over the gate and Happy didn't like wet feet, so it was kinda silly to say that, "good."

Grabbing the mop, Natsu submerged it in the soapy water. Getting both his feet and parts of the floor soaking wet already.

"Ughh," he groaned, swiftly running the water over the floor. He still had to dust and vacuum and loads of laundry to do. It just gave him more time to think about what's all changed the last few years.

The first of many changes was his relationship with Gray. The week after the dance, Lucy let him and a few others know that know that Natsu was moving with her to the university. Gray begged Lucy to let him speak to Natsu, to apologize again. And this time, Natsu actually listened to what he said.

***flashback***

"You sure?" Natsu gripped his knees, he was sitting on one of the many benches at the park.

"Don't you want to make up? Or at least find out what happened?" Lucy rubbed his back a little, it was still weird being so close to him. Just a week ago she thought he hated her, now he was trying to make amends and was going to be moving in with her. Her father wanted to get to know him first, so for the last few weeks they were at home he would be staying at their house. Her father even made him quit his job so he could relax for a while.

"Well, yeah…" Natsu leaned forward, staring at his sandal clad feet. He felt like he was going to hurl.

Lucy offered him a sad smile, he had confessed to her how much his friends meant to him, and then they all abandoned him for personal reasons, "It'll be OK."

"Hey," their guest had arrived.

"Hey, Gray," Lucy greeted, smiling at him. He was looking almost as nervous as Natsu. Almost.

Natsu kept his gaze at the ground. He wasn't sure he was up for this.

"Um," Lucy looked between the boys, one nauseous and the other awkward, "Sit here, Gray."

Lucy stood and pushed Gray onto the seat, Natsu flinched when Gray's arm rubbed against his. Which didn't escape the other twos notice.

"I'll go and get us some drinks, I'll be back!" she jogged off, they needed to be alone for this.

"Lucy," Natsu watched wide eyed as she left him alone. He couldn't do this. Not after all these years of being alone…

"So um," Gray leaned forward and braced himself on his knees, "Where should I start?"

Natsu hugged his middle, hoping to stop the bile coming up, "Freshman year?"

"That summer," he was getting right into it, "Erza went crazy because she had been elected class president over Kagura. She decided that she would shape the class into more respectable students. She spent all summer drilling it into my head to work hard in class and on the ice rink."

"What's this got to do with you being an ass?" Nastu wondered.

"So when you came back, you didn't know why all of a sudden Erza wanted you to act a certain way. She told me she was going to give you the silent treatment until you behaved. Told me to do the same," he scratched his head, "I'm not putting all the blame on her…"

"Sounds like it…"

"First day of school," Gray was facing Nasu now, "Erza introduced me to the upperclassmen on the hockey team. They showed me around the school and told me that I was good enough to make Varisty-"

"I know that already-"

"They said I should hang out with them, if I want to make it. So I did," He sighed, "and I regret it. They were jerks. I saw every text you sent me, but between homework, the hockey team, my siblings, and avoiding Juvia… I lost my best friend."

Natsu sat silently for a second. Gray never called him that before. They all just called him nicknames they made up for his fascination with fire.

Going for the easiest route, he said, "Congrats. On you and Juvia, I mean."

Gray grimaced. He and Juvia had got together near the end of sophomore year, but by that point he realized what he did to Natsu and it was too late. He remembered seeing him the day it happened, he was walking home in the rain. Gray had pulled over to give him a lift, but Natsu refused to get in the car. They argued over him being an idiot. Gray was angrier at himself than at Natsu and drove off. But before he did, Natsu got the last word in…

"Don't fuck over Juvia like you did me!"

"Thanks," Gray nodded, then closed his eyes, "and I'm sorry. It was because of me you got sick that year."

Natsu bit his lip, yeah he had gotten sick from walking home in the rain. He missed three days of school, and not a soul was there to help him catch up. Mavis had stayed with him to get his fever down, so she helped him with his work. She was a hell of a lot nicer than his brother was. Zeref could have offered to come pick him up, but nope. Let his younger brother fail at life even more.

"It's fine," he felt awkward with this type of talk, "it was no big deal."

"It is to me," Gray stood, standing right in front of Natsu, "I should have been there for you. I shouldn't have tried to get a good reputation with the hockey team, I should have let my skills speak for themselves. I should have been there that day with Cobra. Hell, I was there! And I didn't do a damn thing!"

Gray was now kicking the rocks and sticks on the sidewalk, "Nothing I say can take away these past few years. I just want you to know I'm sorry. I don't even have an excuse for my behavior. Except that I was dumb teenager, I'm still a dumb teenager."

Natsu rubbed his arms, when was Lucy going to come save him from this? Not that he wanted to get away, but he just had no idea how to stop Gray from beating himself up more.

"I did some shitty stuff too," he began, "don't know how you guys didn't keep from kicking my ass all the time. I'm sure Gajeel would have loved to when I broke his guitar."

Gray snorted, Gajeel wanted to do a lot more than that.

"And Erza, I get it. She wanted our classmates to be better people. But she coulda told me, she didn't have to pretty much tell me she was gonna ignore me until I grew up. She coulda… yeah," Natsu sniffed, it was hard to hear his redheaded friend calling him out on his immaturity.

"Yeah, trust me. She regrets that, a lot," Gray sat back down on the bench, "and I know we have a long way to go before things are good between us again but… I want my friend back."

Natsu rubbed a hand over his face, before he looked at Gray and said, "Well, I was told that I need friends again. So, yeah it'll take a while, but yeah. We're good."

Smirking, Gray held out his fist, "Nice to have you back, pyro."

Bumping his fist, Natsu said, "Right back at ya, ice princess."

The guys were sitting in silence when Lucy came back, "Hey, I got some soda. You guys good?"

"Yeah," Natsu grinned, standing and taking the drinks from her, "We're good."

***flashback end***

Natsu finally finished mopping. Wiping his forehead, Natsu sat the mop down in the sink and then went to the living room to sit down. He still had time before Lucy came home, and he needed a break.

It was thanks to Lucy that he got Gray back. He and Gray annoyed each other to pieces, but now it was like before. They were buds, and Natsu was helping Gray pick out an engagement ring. It was the most hilarious thing ever, hiding it from Juvia was so hard!

Natsu snickered, Gray was so head over heels for that girl. It was him that was thinking about marriage, Juvia hadn't brought it up since before they were dating.

But just as easily as his smile appeared, it disappeared. Gray wasn't the only one head over heels for a girl.

Shaking his head, Natsu didn't have time to think about that! He had stuff to do! Sitting next to the laundry baskets in the floor, Natsu started to separate clothes. It actually reminded him of when he first started to live with Lucy, it was hysterical.

***flashback***

Natsu was lounging on the couch when Lucy came home from work. He was in a t-shirt and boxers, he had just gotten off work and didn't have any clothes to wear.

"Hey!" Lucy covered her eyes, "Put some clothes on!"

Natsu glanced down at himself, "I'm not naked…"

"Pants! Long pants! Put them on!"

"They're all dirty," Natsu took his feet off the coffee table to walk into the kitchen where Lucy was.

"Dirty? Don't you know how to do laundry?!" Lucy kept one hand over her eyes while she got out a glass.

"Well yeah, but I don't know where the laundry mat is."

"Laundry mat?" Lucy could finally feel her cheeks cool down, "we have a laundry room downstairs, Natsu."

"We do?!" Natsu gaped at his roommate. Why didn't she tell him?

"Yes! Didn't I tell you that a week ago? When we moved in?!"

"No?"

"OK, we'll go down and get our clothes in the washer. Then order a pizza. How's that?" Lucy put her hands on hips, smiling at her pink haired roomie.

"Laundry date? Sure," Natsu turned away from her so she wouldn't see his cheeks burn.

"Alright, I have an extra basket if you need it."

"Nah, I brought my own."

Thirty minutes later, Natsu and Lucy entered the laundry room with two baskets full.

"OK, this won't take too long. I don't understand how you could use your entire wardrobe in a week but OK," Lucy was thankful the room was empty.

"I didn't have that many clothes to begin with," Natsu sat his basket next to Lucy's and started to pick up clothes.

"Oh," Lucy pulled out her jeans first, "then we'll just have to go shopping for you."

"Really?" Natsu hid his smile from her, when was the last time someone went out of their way to go shopping with him?

"Wait, what are you doing?"

"Huh?" Natsu had put his whole basket in the washer and was about to start it.

"Do you not know how to do this?" Lucy started to pull out his clothes, stopping when she held a silk pair of boxers, which Natsu took from her with his pink cheeks.

"Do what? You just wash the clothes," Natsu put the boxers back in the basket.

"You have to separate them!" Lucy showed him her clothes in the floor, "If you don't you'll ruin them!"

"Uh," well now he felt stupid.

"I'll help you, dork," she threw a t-shirt at him.

"Hey!" he threw it right back.

"Ah!" Lucy giggled and ran away from him, Natsu running after her with his basket.

***flashback end***

That was their first ever laundry room fight. It was the best night Natsu had in a long time. Except with her seeing all his underwear, and those silk boxers. His face still burned knowing she knew he had them.

"I bought them as a joke," he mumbled as he walked down to the laundry room. It was sort of a joke, the lady at the tux rental place told him to be prepared for prom. It's not like he and Lucy were dating or anything and would ever see them, but for some reason he wanted to get them. They were comfortable and felt so smooth.

Shaking his head with that thought, Lucy probably didn't think anything of them. After all, she had tons of silk and lacey panties. It's not like she had anyone to show them to either.

Sighing again, why did he think things like that? His eight-year crush on Lucy was getting pathetic.

Getting a few loads going, Natsu looked at his phone. He still had about 2 hours left, perfect.

"When did she text me?" Lucy was at her graduation rehearsal right now; she really shouldn't have her phone.

Lucy: This is soooo boring. Why do all these people have to walk all at once, like really? Almost 800 people. And I'll be done pretty early, so I'll be sitting here bored out of my mind! Geez, I can't even have my phone with me..

He snickered. He could imagine, their high school class was close to 300 people and his last name was in the D's. He would be sitting there watching too, but at least he could have his phone to goof off with while he was waiting.

His phone dinged, alerting him of a new message.

Lucy: what do you want for dinner tonight? I was thinking Chinese.

He already had dinner planned. He was just hoping she would appreciate it.

Natsu: Sorry it's so lame! You'll be home in no time. :P And don't worry about dinner. I got it covered.

He would have just enough time to get dinner started before he needed to be back down here to put the clothes in the dryer.

He was back on the stair case when his phone went off again.

Lucy: Alright. Oh! And can you go pick up my gown from the dry cleaners? By the time I get done here they'll be closed :(

"Shit," Natsu slid to a stop in front of their door.

Natsu: SURE!

He would have to hurry, like really hurry now. Rushing inside, he had put the meat in the sink this morning so it would thaw out, he turned the oven on and ran to put some shoes on.

"GAH!" he tripped over something in the dark hallway, "What the...?"

He grabbed whatever it was and ran to his room, noting the odd feel it had.

"OK," he turned the light on, "What is- "

His pupils got smaller, his pulse raced and face burned. It was Lucy's bra. And not just any bra, super sexy-lacey and red... and its matching thong hung off it.

"Wha- What… what the hell!?" he threw the clothes onto his bed, "Where'd that come from?!"

He ignored the pretty clothing on his bed while he dug through his closet to find his sandals. Putting them on and getting his keys and wallet, he glanced at the clothing one more time.

"Just, gonna put them back in her room," gingerly picking them up, he skipped across the hall to Lucy's room, "PLUE! WHAT THE HELL!"

The little white dog was sitting in a pile of clothes on her bed. He had a pair of pink cotton panties on his head.

"Why did Lucy have to get a dog, why couldn't she get another cat?" he threw the clothes he was holding into the pile and removed the pink panties, then he picked up the fluffy pooch, "Or better yet, why not a smarter dog?"

Plue wiggled around in his hold, licking Natsu's face, "I guess you're not so bad."

Placing the dog in the hallway, Natsu closed Lucy's door and ran to the kitchen. Putting the chicken in the over and setting it on low was the only thing he could do before he heard a knock on the door.

"Now what," he groaned, he was wasn't going to finish in time at this rate, "Yes?"

"Delivery for Natsu Dragneel?" a teenaged boy held out a bouquet of roses.

"Oh, yeah," taking the vase from him, he grinned. He had forgot about these, "Thanks man."

Taking the money offered to him, the delivery boy nodded and left.

"Perfect," Natsu placed the vase on the counter, he would arrange everything later. Now he had to get going!

He ran as quickly as he could, first stop was the laundry room to move everything to the dryer. After that, he ran to the parking lot. He had traded his motorcycle in for a Jeep Wrangler not long after moving here. Surprisingly, it was his brother who co-signed the loan with him. After he graduated, Zeref told him he wanted him back in his life. Going so far as moving with Mavis to the same part of town that he and Lucy lived in.

This Wrangler was his baby. It was much better than his motorcycle when he went places with Lucy. And she looked so good tucked all cozy in the passenger side.

"Shit, get a grip Dragneel!" Natsu yelled, leaving the lot and going down the road. He didn't have time to think about his pathetic crush on his roommate. He had stuff to do so that maybe by tonight she'd be more than his roommate.

"Maybe," even though he had a huge suspicion that she liked him in high school, he didn't know anymore. She was comfortable to walk around half nude in front of him now. Didn't that mean she didn't see him as a potential boyfriend?

He crossed his arms as he waited at a stop light. No way was that true. That just meant she was comfortable around him. She still freaked out when he saw her in a towel.

"Dammit," he hit his head on the steering wheel, "this isn't that difficult."

But it was. He had tried so hard for four years to become the person he used to be. It wasn't easy, four years of being cruel to people and being hurt all the time by the people he cared about took its toll. Even now, he still had a long way to go. It was still natural to snap at people when the pissed him off.

He didn't deserve Lucy's kindness. He didn't deserve her as a friend. He sure as hell didn't deserve her love. But he wanted it, more than anything, he wanted to be loved by her. And he wanted her to accept his love in return.

Shaking his thoughts clear so he could get his errands done, he got Lucy's gown and made sure it wasn't going to wrinkle in the truck on the way home.

"Alright," he finally made it home and hung Lucy's gown on the door and raced back down stairs to get the laundry, "got the gown, cleaning and laundry is done. Gotta finish dinner."

Glancing at the clock, he had about an hour and 15 minutes before Lucy would be home. If not sooner. He checked his phone one more time.

Lucy: Thanks Natsu! You're the bestest :)

He bit his cheek to hide his smile.

Natsu: Nope. That title belongs to you.

He put his phone face down so he wouldn't get distracted. He checked on the chicken, and it was going good so far. He got out more pans to fix the vegetables. He was going to make sure this dinner was perfect. Mira had been teaching him how to properly cook, with seasoning and everything. This was his part of his graduation gift to Lucy, the real gift… well he would give it to her… maybe. He still wasn't sure.

Adding water to all the pots, he sighed. Lucy had told him that she would be staying here since the job she had lined up was close by. She never said anything about him leaving or wanting to be on her own. She had done more than enough for him, so he was expecting her debt to be paid. But then he thought of the night after she turned 21 just last year. When they finally, finally talked about why she didn't recognize him freshman year.

***flashback***

Lucy was giggling as they entered the apartment. Natsu had her around his shoulders, their friends had thrown her a birthday party. And with it being the big 21, well, Lucy was pretty tipsy.

"C'mon Lucy," Natsu deposited her on the couch, "let me get your shoes off."

"Nat-su~," Lucy purred, shooting shivers down his back, "you're so good to me."

"Yeah," he finally got her strappy heels off her feet, "guess so."

He was still really bitter about what a guy said at the party. After all the time he had put in to make things right and make up with people, hearing that was more than disheartening...

"He was wrong, you know," hearing Lucy's sober voice jerked him.

"What?"

"That guy," she leaned on the arm of the chair, pulling her feet onto the couch, "he said you were only good as my babysitter and maid. He was wrong."

Natsu sat on the edge of the coffee table, "No. He was right. All I am is your maid."

"You're my friend too."

"I haven't always been," he let it slip out before he could stop it.

"Yeah," her eyes turned toward the floor, appearing a bit glassy.

"It's OK though!" Natsu waved his hands around furiously, "It was my fault!"

"No it wasn't. You didn't forget me," she reached out and placed her hand on his knee, "but I forgot you."

"Lucy," he put both his hands over hers, "it's OK, it was years ago."

"I never told you what happened, did I?"

No, and her never asked. Natsu almost feared what she would say.

"That summer…" Lucy laid down on her back, patting the couch so he would join her. Natsu's face exploded with heat, she was in a very petite dress and looking exceptionally good. But he would be lying if he said he didn't want to be close to her, so he laid beside her on his side so he could look at her, "that summer was the first time in my life where I felt like I belonged. I had fun working at the water park and I got to know you. You were my first real friend, Natsu. Everyone else were just acquaintances, children like me who had important parents. You were the first person to ever call me weird."

Natsu snickered when Lucy stuck her tongue out at him.

"I was so excited to have a real friend," Lucy's beautiful brown eyes stared at him with such love in her eyes, what kind of love Natsu didn't know, "then my dad wanted me to have a few weeks meeting people I would be going to school with. I tried to get out of it, but he was actually doing a good thing by being a loving father, so I went along with it.

"Those girls, even though we became friends, they terrified me. They were going to be juniors, so they knew the ins and outs of high school I guess. And it was my first time in public school, so I guess I believed everything they said," Lucy moved over on her side to give Natsu more room, and so she could see him better, "they had me convinced that freshman were actual bait for the upperclassmen. One toe out of line and you'd be in a dumpster or a locker."

Natsu stifled a groan, it was like they told her every trope of lame high school movies.

"On the first day, they said I should keep my head down and stay out of the way. I only realize now that they said that so I wouldn't be noticed by the junior and senior boys. They were afraid of how 'pretty' I was," Lucy scoffed, she had plenty sobered up now thinking of those girls, "but I did it anyway. I wanted them to like me."

"You should have made them like you for you," Natsu whispered, "you're gorgeous, Lucy. That's apart of you and you should be proud."

He pretended he didn't see her face pink, "I know that now."

Natsu took a chance and started to rub Lucy's arm. Them being so close and intimate was rare, even after living with each other for two years. But he was going to enjoy it while he could.

"So, when you said something to me that morning," Lucy continued, her eyes screwed shut, "I was so terrified and nervous that even if I had looked at you there was a big chance I didn't register that it was you. I hate that it happened and there is nothing I can do to take it back. Is that the only time you said something to me?"

Natsu gulped. After the first day he had hid from her every chance he got. If they happened to be standing next to each other at their lockers he pulled a hood over his head and they didn't have any classes together. His fight with Cobra happened about a month after school started. Lucy wasn't in the cafeteria when it happened, but he saw her when he got back from suspension. He acted normal, ignoring everyone's jabs and rumors. But when he stopped at his locker, Lucy was already there. He pulled his hood up so she wouldn't see him, but it didn't help. She saw his face, and she was scared.

It killed Natsu when he saw that. So he did the only thing he could think of…

"What are you staring at, princess?"

It was the start of a long decent into hell.

"That was the only thing… before the fight."

"I'm sorry," Lucy buried her face into Natsu's shirt, "I'm so, so sorry Natsu. I should have tried to find you. I should have said something instead of being afraid of you. I should have done something!"

"Lucy," he wasn't upset about it anymore, "it's OK."

"No it's not! That's the whole reason you're here with me!" she yelled, stray tears falling from her eyes, "I wanted to make it up to you! All those years of being alone! I still want to make it up to you! Because I was supposed to be there! You're not just my friend, Natsu! You're so much more than that!"

"More… than a friend?" Natsu eyed Lucy closely, did she mean what he thought that meant?

"You've always been more than a friend to me," Natsu panicked, thinking he said that out loud, "I just want you to know how sorry I am before I say that…"

"Huh?" before he could question her, Lucy was out. Small snores filled the room.

Sighing, Natsu carefully got up and carried her to her room.

Before he shut the door he said, "You've always been more than a friend to me too, Lucy."

***flashback end***

The food was finished and waiting to be served, Natsu grinned at the table as he placed the roses in the center of the table. Now all he had to do was shower and get dressed.

Getting the water nice and hot, Natsu tried to relax. The next morning Lucy had been a mess; she could remember parts of the conversation but not all of it. Natsu told her that she explained what happened freshman year, he left out the more than a friend thing though. He had a feeling she didn't want him to know that yet.

Taking a long, calming breath, Natsu glared at the shower head, determined.

"Yosh," he smacked his fists together, splashing water into his eyes, "it's got to happen today. I'm gonna thank Lucy for everything she's ever done for me."

Using the body wash that Lucy bought for him and the shampoo he knew she liked, he hurried his shower along.

Wrapping a towel around his waist he scurried around his room to get his clothes out. A nice pair of jeans, a black undershirt and a red button up that Lucy always picked out for him when they went to church. So he knew she would at least be pleased with his outfit.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he wrapped his scarf around his neck. He looked a lot different than he did four years ago. He no longer wore leather or ripped jeans or black all the time. He also looked healthier and stronger. Eating more than junk and working out was all it took. He was proud of how he looked, cause he looked pretty damn good.

Beep-beep

"Gah," he smacked his head, "quit being stupid and finish already! She'll be here in twenty minutes!"

Running to the kitchen, Natsu felt his heart skip a beat. It was almost time. He was either going to go to bed a happy man or a loser. He prayed that it was the first one. He was beyond tired of being a loser.

"Mreow," Happy was rubbing against Natsu's leg.

"Heh," Natsu scratched his blue head, "you're right. Lucy wouldn't want me to call myself that, huh?"

The cat purred in agreement. Lucy had actually caught him calling himself a loser more than once, and she didn't like it. Not one bit.

Putting the final touch on the table, Natsu stood back to observe his work. It was perfect, nothing could screw up tonight. Nothing but him, that is.

Ten minutes later, the door opened to reveal an exhausted blonde, "I'm home."

Lucy kicked off her shoes and put down her purse. She released her hair from its bun before walking around the corner, "Whatever that is, it smells amazing. I'm star… ving…"

She blinked and rubbed her eyes to check if she was seeing this correctly. Candles were everywhere, giving the room a soft glow with the lights out. Happy and Plue were nowhere to be seen. Lucy stepped lightly to the dining room table; a beautiful vase of roses in the center, small candles circling it, a bottle of wine sitting in a bucket of ice with two glasses, a mouthwatering meal already on their plates, and a small wrapped gift in her usual chair.

"Wha," she felt tears spring into her eyes, "Natsu? Did you do all this?"

"Yeah."

Lucy glanced into the kitchen where her roommate was hiding in the shadows, "Hey. What's all this for?"

"It's for you," he came up to stand in front of her, "kinda like… a big thank you for everything. And to celebrate you graduating tomorrow."

"Natsu," she opened her arms wide and brought him in for a hug, "you have nothing to thank me for."

Natsu held her tight against him, letting her faded strawberry scent calm his nerves, "Of course I do, you helped more than you know."

Lucy pulled away from him, the light from the candles shining in her eyes, "Thank you."

"This isn't even all of it weirdo," Natsu laced his fingers with hers and pulled her to the table, then he handed her the gift, "here."

"Natsu," she took the gift, unable to keep the smile on her face. Not that she wanted to, "I told you not to get me anything."

"Like I was gonna do that," he crossed his arms, hiding something from her wasn't easy, especially this.

"Geez," Lucy sat down and pulled on the string to unwrap her gift.

Natsu bit his lip, he was both excited and nervous. What if she didn't like it?

"Paper?" Lucy knew Natsu was an oddball, but this was strange even for him. She held up the rolled paper and raised an eyebrow.

"It says something weirdo," Natsu stuck his tongue out at her.

Giggling, Lucy unrolled the paper and saw that it was actually several papers.

"An acceptance letter?" it was from Fairy University, and taking a closer look… "You got accepted to Fairy? You're going to school?!"

Lucy jumped out of her seat, excitement flooding her as she gazed at him, waiting for an answer.

"Ye-Yeah," he licked his lips, they were suddenly very dry, "I took a test online, and I found out I don't have to do a lot of the basic stuff… I can go straight to my degree."

"That's so wonderful Natsu!" she embraced him, "I'm so happy for you!"

"Th-thanks, Lucy," he rubbed her back before adding, "I wouldn't have even thought about if you weren't around."

Still smiling, she asked, "What's your major going to be?"

"I wanna be a veterinary physician," he grinned, "but not the normal kind. I wanna go to barns and stuff and help the big animals. Maybe even wild animals!"

"Wow," Lucy placed a hand over her heart, lest the love she had for him grow even more.

"Um," he pulled his scarf over his flushed cheeks, "I thought you'd like to know. And I know we haven't talked about it or anything, but if you're still gonna be here I'll need your help to study and stuff."

"Of course," she put the papers on the table, "I'll be more than happy to, Natsu. I don't have plans to move anytime soon."

"Great," this feeling was amazing. Someone was actually proud of him for wanting to go to school.

"I have to say this is a better gift than my dad's," Lucy touched the petals on one of the roses, "I didn't need a new car…"

"That's not your gift."

Lucy jumped, "It's not?"

"No," he snorted as if it was obvious, "this was just the easiest way of telling you."

"Then what's my gift?"

"You'll get it," he walked into the living room, he moved the furniture around so they would have room, "After you dance with me."

"Dance?" Lucy watched as he turned on a familiar song, it was the theme to their junior prom.

Natsu had a soft blush on his face, he stared at the floor as he told her, "The only dance I went to in high school was senior prom with you. You were my one and only dance. I'd uh… like to change that."

She walked up to him and put his hands around her waist, "It'll still be just me you're dancing with it."

"I'm OK with that."

The pair moved in a circle around the room listening to the song that had aged alongside them, it reminded Lucy of the days when she first met Levy. It was their jam. It reminded Natsu of the days he spent watching his classmates alone. One would think he wouldn't want to think about those days, but it also reminded him of falling in love with Lucy.

"So," Lucy began, "how come you never told me Ur taught you and Gray how to dance?"

Natsu's eyes narrowed, "Did Gray tell you that?"

"Juvia did, but same thing."

"I'm gonna kill him."

"I rather like him, so don't," Lucy winked, "and I think Juvia would murder you."

The light conversation stopped when the song changed to more upbeat one, causing Natsu's face to burn, "No! I didn't want to dance to this! Not that it would be bad but- GRR! Don't get the wrong idea!"

He switched it to an instrumental and turned down the volume, "for background noise," he said with rosy cheeks.

"Why don't you want to dance to the fast one," she flipped her hair, "scared?"

"Scared? ME?" Natsu scoffed, but he hid his face. He wasn't scared, he was terrified, "As if. We're not like that."

"Oh," Lucy's charm turned off when he said that. He was right, they weren't like that.

"But," Lucy looked up at him, hopeful, "that could… we can… um I'd like…"

He closed his eyes and prayed, "We could change that."

"Change it," Lucy sat on the lush couch, patting the spot next to her, "change it how?"

Natsu took the seat, but screwed his eyes shut again, "Um… I don't know how you feel. But… I really like you. I… always have, since we first met. When we moved in… I came here to do what you said. To make up for high school and all the shit I caused."

Lucy placed a hand over his in his lap, she noticed him shake when she did. She smiled, he was finally the Natsu she met when she was 14.

"But now… I want to go forward. I want to try… with you," he peeked at her, gauging her expression, "so… will you go on a date with me?"

Lucy's grip on his hand tightened, "I've been waiting for you to ask me."

She sealed the deal by kissing his cheek, which was now a healthy shade of tomato.

Letting out a huge sigh of relief, Natsu wrapped his arms around her. Kissing her forehead, Nastu said, "I didn't want to ask you while you were repaying a debt to me. Now that you're done with school, it's fair."

Not to mention he didn't think she'd actually accept.

"I see," Lucy snuggled into his arms, "well I'm glad. Cause now we can spend the next few years you're in school making up for this."

Natsu nuzzled into her neck, "I can handle that."

"Lucy Heartfilia," the dean of Fairy University called out into the microphone.

"I won't cry," Jude whispered to himself, holding a tissue in one hand and his camera in the other.

Natsu zoomed in with his phone to get a good shot of his date for the evening. Last night was amazing. Dinner was delicious, they danced again, and then Lucy went to sleep right next to him in bed last night. Tonight after the party for everyone, he and Lucy had a date on the beach. A picnic at midnight, he couldn't wait to take her.

Natsu grinned, four years ago he was in a pit and didn't have a way out. He had honestly been scared of his future. But now, as he looked into the camera to get a good shot of Lucy, his eyes trailed down to her hand, where his real graduation gift was.

A pretty ring sat on her ring finger, a promise ring. She glowed when she put it on this morning, smiling at him as she showed it to him.

"I promise you this Lucy, I'll never forget you. And I'll never let you forget me. For the rest of my life, I promise you this. I'll always remember you, because you are the best part of my memory."

Thanks for reading. And I hope the length made up for my long absence. Please go and check out my other works! And if you would like to see another chapter of 'You Forgot', please let me know! This Lucy and Natsu pair is actually one of my favorites. It'll be hard to say goodbye.

Thanks so so much for reading! I appreciate each and every one of my followers. After this I have a few more chapters of Love, Blood, and Fur and Hey There, Neighbor. And then finally I'll be getting back to Smiling Melodies. So I hope you look forward too.

Love, Smile