Lucy sat at the guild table and stared at her hands. Her fingers were folded together as she nervously twisted them around each other. Her mind was a buzz and she couldn't shake the cloud of nerves that hung heavily over her shoulders. She tried to rationalize with herself that she shouldn't be nervous, but that somehow only made it worse. Levy, sitting on her right, finally looked up and gently nudged her friend with her elbow.

"What's up, Lucy?" Levy's full attention was on the blonde now, her book down, hands patiently folded in her lap, as her caring eyes stared intently at Lucy.

Lucy sighed, untangled her hands, and shoved them under the table before turning her attention fully towards the caring book-worm. "I have a date." Levy's eyebrows rose in slight surprise before a small smirk twisted up the edge of her lips.

"With Natsu? Finally…" She mocked rolled her eyes and laughed slightly before seeing the unchanging look on Lucy's face.

"No, it's not with Natsu." Lucy blushed slightly and returned her attention to the table in front of her. Their was a small, awkward, silence before she heard Levy cough slightly and continue.

"Oh," Levy ran her fingers over the smooth edge of her book, "I'm sorry Lucy." It was silent for another moment. Lucy knew that Levy was trying to not bring up the fact that everyone else was finally beginning to get together. Levy and Gajeel were first, surprisingly. They had been dating for over a year now. Gray and Juvia were next and they had been together for a little over four months. Even Erza was together with Jellal since he was pardoned a bit over a month ago. Lucy could sense the guild's expectant eyes on her and Natsu, but nothing between them had changed. They were best friends and as far as Lucy could tell, nothing more was coming from it.

"Its fine." She smiled brightly at her friend, forcing herself to exude a level of confidence that she didn't actually feel about the situation.

"Anyway, so who is your date then?"

Lucy blushed and couldn't meet her eyes, instead choosing to once again put her hands on the table and watch her fingers nervously fidget. "Daichi," She whispered out.

Levy's confused look only intensified. "Who?"

Lucy laughed nervously. "You never met the owner of the small second-hand bookstore, Sunset Books, did you?"

Levy shook her head no. "I've been there a couple dozen times though."

Lucy smiled and stopped fidgeting while her blush intensified. "Well, I was there three weeks ago and we just hit it off. For the last three weekends I've been stoping in to get a new book, and he was there each time, and we just started talking…" She trailed off, searching Levy's face for a reaction. When she didn't see one, she continued. "He's really… He's really nice Levy."

Levy smiled slightly, but her face didn't look nearly as happy as it did when she thought that Lucy's date was with Natsu. "I'm happy for you, don't be nervous Lucy. Just relax and have fun ok?"

Levy turned her attention back to her book and Lucy looked out at the people in the guild. It was loud, as always, but she continued to search until she found a certain salmon-haired dragon slayer. He was way over on the other side of the guild talking to Gajeel. She felt a sudden warmth spread through her chest as she looked at him before she brushed off the feeling and continued to obsess over thoughts about her date.

~ 5 hours later ~

Daichi had brought her to a small cafe. She hadn't been there before but she immediately loved the relaxed atmosphere. The inside was lit with a variety of candles and the walls were covered in muted tones that allowed the bustling nature bouquets of wild flowers to take the spotlight. Light orchestra music floated across the room and the slight twinkle of barely-there lights made it almost feel as if they had stepped into a field in the dead of night with only the stars to shine down on them.

Daichi reached across the small table they were at and lightly grabbed her hand, sending tingles up her arm. His touch felt nice. They talked easily, about books, the world, and magic, for the next hour. She felt relaxed around him. By the time they left the restaurant she felt overly giddy that he had gently slipped his hand into hers and that he was now walking her home, holding her hand. The slight heat from his touch made her blush as his deep voice continued to discuss the variety of books he had within his second-hand shop. When they reached her front door he let go of her hand and turned to face her.

"I had a really nice time Lucy." He smiled at her and his bright green eyes sparkled in the slight light. He had floppy black hair that was in that perfect in-between zone of sloppy and tidy. His body was well-muscled, even though not nearly as good as Natsu's, and his smile was truly kind. She felt her heart beat a bit faster as he looked at her. Slowly, he reached one hand up and brushed a stray hair behind her ear, almost imperceptibly grazing her right cheek as he did so, only strengthening her full on blush.

"I did too." Her voice was soft. He hadn't moved his hand, his fingers now lightly held the piece of hair as the palm of his hand rested against the side of her neck.

"Maybe we could do this again, next Friday?" He took a step closer to her and the small space in between them became hot. She could feel a slight need spread to her lips as she anxiously wondered if he was going to kiss her. She wasn't used to this feeling, the want for someone's lips against her own.

"Y-yes…" She mumbled out, her thoughts nearly incoherent as he leaned in even closer, pressing his forehead against hers. Her entire body felt tingly, a slight heat that seemed to radiate throughout her entire being. His green eyes stared into hers for a moment longer as if seriously debating something. He breathed in sharply, finally coming to a decision as he closed the gap between them… and turned her head to the right so that his lips gently pressed against her check. Lucy gasped as the warmth of his lips left her check. She could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks as both his hands grasped hers.

"Thank you, for a wonderful night." He smiled at her, squeezed her hands slight, before letting her go and walking away.

She just stood there for several minutes, her hand traveling up to touch the still warm place that he kissed, before she turned the doorknob to her apartment and stepped inside… only to be greeted by Natsu laying on her couch.

"Luce!" He shot up, his crooked smile welcoming her home. She sighed slightly but didn't chastise him. She walked over, still in a bit of a daze, and sat down next to him on the couch. He didn't have his shirt on and she couldn't help but admire his abs, once again realizing that Daichi wasn't near as muscled as her best friend. His smile faltered slightly as he stared at her dazed state. "Where were you? You're home later than normal." He stared at her for a second before leaning back on the couch, his head on one armrest while he propped his feet onto her lap. Normally, she would have pushed his feet off, teased him, chastised him about breaking in, but she didn't. All she could manage to do was blush even more before she hid her face with a wall of silky blonde hair. "Luce?" She felt Natsu shift slightly but he didn't move his legs.

"I was on a date." Everything was completely quiet for a moment so she lifted her head up slightly so that she could turn and see his face. He was looking at her, a quizzical look splattered across his unmoving face, as she felt the muscles in his legs slightly tense. His eyes stared into hers for a minute more before he crossed his arms behind his head and closed his eyes, sighing out a deep breath.

"Any good?" His voice sounded normal. Like the Natsu she had always known. But, something about the way his muscles had tensed, about the way he had sighed, that made it seem like something was simply off.

She laid her hands on his warm skin, absentmindedly rubbing his calf muscles, making his muscles slowly relax. "Yea, we're going out again Friday." She could feel the way his body automatically tensed again beneath her fingers, but it relaxed quickly. She simply kept rubbing his muscles. She ran her fingers over his calfs, enjoying the feeling of his skin against hers. She gently massaged his ankles, trailing her fingers across the tops of his feet before rubbing slowly up the back of his calf before gently rubbing the area beneath the knee. She had no idea why but she found it amazingly soothing, like it set her soul at ease. He still hadn't said anything but he moved his hands down to his sides and when she finally looked up to peek at his face his eyes were closed peacefully and a gentle smile graced the corners of his lips.

"Luce?" His voice was soft.

"Yea?" She continued to rub his calf muscles, but she kept her attention on his face. She saw the muscles around his lips slightly pull down before he asked his question.

"Are you happy?"

"I think so."

He opened one eye and sized her up before closing it again. "Mhm, that feels so good Luce…"

For the first time she felt self-conscious about what her hands were doing and she felt her fingers immediately falter as a flush of embarrassment seeped through her entire body. Suddenly, she realized she hadn't done this before. She had never touched him like this. It had just felt so, natural… She gently pulled her hands away before lightly pushing his legs off of her, leaving him half-on, half-off the couch. His face scrunched up as he sat up fully, turning to give her a puzzled look.

"Why'd ya stop?

She turned and looked up at his face. The way he was looking at her, the way his eyes bore into her, it made her feel this inexplicable 'something' inside. She couldn't quite place it, she couldn't name it, all she knew was that she felt it. A feeling she associated with friendship while at the same time realizing that she didn't get that feeling with Gray, or Erza, or anyone else. Just Natsu.

When she didn't answer his hand found its way to hers and she immediately felt the way her whole body felt a sudden need to be held by him. A need she desperately ignored. Silently, he turned so his back was towards her and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"More… please…" His voice almost sounded needy, as if he needed her touch, as if he needed her to soothe some invisible pain for him.

"Oh, um, ok…" She brought up her other hand and gently began rubbing his shoulder muscles. She massaged the tense areas around his shoulder blades, running her hands over the taught muscles that stretched down his spine, letting her fingers enjoy the feeling of his skin as they lightly brazed against the line of his pants. She heard him gasp slightly, but ignored it. Figuring she may have hit a sore spot she moved on, slowly working her hands away from being so low on his body and back up until her thumbs were lightly working his neck muscles, his head leaning forward, small, contented, noises escaping his mouth.

"Luce…" It came out breathy and deep.

Her hands stopped momentarily before continuing. "Yea?"

"We will always be there for each other, right?" She could feel him gulp slightly before he asked, his slight nerves evident.

She smiled warmly at his back and leaned forward, leaning her head against the warm skin of his back and wrapped her arms around his torso. Her fingers brushed slightly against his multitude of easily apparent ab muscles and she felt another wave of intense need sweep through her body.

"Always."

He leaned his head back slightly and both of his hands reached up to grasp her arms, pulling her somehow closer. In that moment, she couldn't resist, she leaned her head forward and up ever-so-slightly and kissed the base of his neck, she could feel his pulse momentarily pick up beneath her lips. He froze slightly in her grasp but all she could focus on was the insane beating of her own heart.

"You sure you like him?" His voice was gruff and heavy, his fingers dug slightly into her arms.

Lucy was stung. Her heart faltered. She had forgotten all about Daichi. In those moments that she was massaging Natsu's stiff muscles, all that had centered in her mind was him and the fluttering heat that overwhelmed her body. A dash of guilt swept through her before she brushed it aside. It had only been one date, it's not like Daichi had to be on her mind every second. It was ok that she had, well, forgotten.

She squeezed him tighter. "He's nice."

"Did he kiss you?" His grasp was even tighter around her arms now and she could feel the way his heart beat had slightly sped up within his chest. She couldn't help but feel confused, why was his body reacting this way? Why was he asking these questions? Her eyebrows furrowed up slightly as she muttered into his back.

"On my cheek," she smiled into his skin and breathed in his woodsy scent.

"Did you want more?" His voice was barely audible, it was almost like a whisper, a private concern that he didn't really want to voice.

She dug her head a little deeper into him, her arms tightening around his muscled body, "Maybe." She closed her eyes and thought back to when Daichi had leaned his head against hers, to the way she had felt, and decided to answer Natsu honestly, "Yes…"

Immediately, he was out of her grasp. She was still leaning forward, she barely managed to catch herself before she would have fallen onto her face flat on the couch. She looked over to him, baffled. He stood there, his shirt slung over one arm as his other hand brushed through his hair, a nervous laugh escaping his lips. His eyes looked hesitant.

"I'm happy for you, Luce." His eyes nervously flickered over to the door and she couldn't understand what was happening. It was all going so fast. She had just been holding him, and now he was backing towards the door. She could tell he wanted to escape but what she couldn't figure out was from what. A pain seeped into her, it was deep within her, working its way up as if tentacles were grasping at all of her organs, crying out at his sudden and inexplicable departure. "I gotta go. Happy's waiting for me at home. I'll see you at the guild, ok?" His eyes searched hers for a moment before he dashed out the door, not waiting for a response.

Lucy sat there stunned. She leaned back against the couch, her head resting against its back so she was staring up at the ceiling. Her heart was beating erratically as memories from her day floated through her. Levy, Daichi, Natsu… Natsu… She could nearly feel the heat from him still on her hands, the way his muscles had felt, the way it felt to touch him, the heat within her grew and her heart swelled at the thought of touching him, at the image of her hands almost teasing the line of his pants, the way his small gasp had sounded. She lifted her hand and placed it over her beating heart. What was this feeling? What was this need she felt? She had felt it with Daichi too, but it was different. With Daichi it was something innocent, new, budding. With Natsu it was deeper, infectious, mature, and heavily desired. She closed her eyes and her breathing became slightly erratic. She liked Daichi, she new she did. It was that new kind of flowering love. That new 'like' from meeting someone new and finding out every little new, exciting, thing about each other. But, Natsu, just the thought of him made her whole body react. She couldn't stop thinking about the way his hands had grasped her arms, about the kiss she had lightly placed at the nape of his neck. About the way it had made her body rush with emotion… She liked Daichi, but she loved… The sudden realization took her over, her fingers curled into a ball over her heart and her eyes shot open and she couldn't help but mutter the words that had hit her as soon as the realization enveloped her entire being, as soon as she realized the extreme truth and intensity of the feelings she had.

"Oh, shit."

~Author's Note~

Hey, everyone! Let me know what you think. Should I continue this story? Please review.