Hey, fairy tail fans and welcome back to secret rendezvous, and here is part three of this four-part story. as always tell me what you think and leave a like and review in the comments Also, be sure to check my other stories a fairy tail re-told or (if AU stores aren't your fancy) check my one shot mash-up story Friendship, family, love, and the fairy tail.
Natsu had found himself in the corner of the guild the sound of everyone talking helped him calm down his mind it had been around six months since he and Erza started going to meet up crime Sorcière, about three months since he started hanging out with Meredy and it had been a month since the kiss happened, of course, they left on good terms he thinks but he had to wait for another month till he could finally talk to her again
"Hey Natsu" a voice called he looked up as Cana threw her arm around the dragon slayer "what's with the serious face," she asked "Lucy kick you out again"
"no," Natsu told her, "just a lot on my mind."
"well, you know what I always say," Cana said as she climbed on the table taking another swig of her drink "having a bunch of drinks will make you forget."
"maybe," Natsu told her laughing, a bit, "but I think I'll need something stronger than that."
"is that dragon slayer joke," Cana asked to which Natsu laughed "cause you and I both know that I can drink you under the table" Cana bragged
"Sure Cana," Natsu told her a smile forming on his face
"there it is" Cana laughed "the classical Natsu grin" Cana smiled "you would whole more popular with ladies if you lead with that" Cana told him "and well if you liked Sorcerer weekly" Cana smiled
"Yeah I guess," Natsu told her "thanks Cana"
"any time" Cana smiled as she stood up leaving Natsu to his thoughts as she walked away she couldn't help but wonder what was on Natsu's mind 'ey, not my business' Cana reckoned as she walked away she needed more beer that and she wasn't going to take Natsu's challenge lightly so that meant she needed booze, lots and lots of booze
as Cana left Natsu mind went back to his plight of his pink-haired secret friend as he let out a sigh 'maybe I'm overthinking this'
"Hey, Natsu!" Gray shouted getting in Natsu face "what's up with that stupid look" he said getting in his face "that stupid brain of yours finally give out"
"not now Gray," Natsu said once the words had left his mouth the entire guild had stopped all of them snapping their necks to their resident dragon slayer almost as if he had grown a second head wondering if they had heard what they thought they heard not once has Natsu rarely ever shoed of Gray seeing everyone staring at him Natsu looked around "what"
"you okay man" Gray asked
"Yeah, just thinking," Natsu told him "what, a guy can't think to himself now and then"
"well, that not normally your thing" Gray muttered
"what was that Ice princess,"
"you heard me you fire-haired punk"
the two soon found themselves fighting again as the rest of the guild sweat dropped and sighed in relief "look like Natsu, back" they all collectively thought as Natsu and Gray continued to fight which soon evolved into a whole guild brawl
"That was strange" Lucy muttered as she watched Natsu and Gray fight
"what was," Mira asked
"Natsu," Lucy told her "ever since he and Erza came back from their job "he's been different" Lucy explained to her
"no, that you mention it," Mira said she also had noticed how Natsu seemed to mutter to himself a lot lately" Mira also glanced at Lucy "also don't think I haven't noticed Natsu hasn't stopped by your place in a while" Mira teased
"hey" Lucy shouted "besides he raided it last night so there," Lucy said huffing "maybe I should ask him" Lucy looked back Erza had appeared as was now scolding both Natsu and Gray she noticed Natsu looked a little more deflated than usual she shot him a smile which he noticed and smile back only to be hit on the head making Gray laugh "Hey Wendy" Lucy figured the young dragon slayer might have a clue
after all, was said and done and Natsu and Gray had gone their separate ways Natsu had gone and sat down by Wendy, and Gajeel who was currently smirking at him "what" Natsu asked him as he let out a slight chuckle
"oh, nothing Salamander," Gajeel said "just that you are clearly thinking about a girl"
a blush formed on Natsu's cheeks as he jumped up "shut up" Natsu all but shouted which thankfully sounded out by everyone talking everyone extremely loud "I...I don't know what you're talking about"
"sure," Gajeel told him "then why you getting so defensive"
"th..that's not your concern," Natsu told him "it's not like that" he muttered as he thoughts went back to what happened one month ago the words that Meredy told him but still he couldn't no don't want to talk about it cause well not even he didn't know what to make of what happened he sighed "don't worry about it"
"I mean" Wendy started "its sort an of obvious thing though Natsu," Wendy told him
"not you too kid" Natsu groaned
"we're just curious," Wendy asked shyly
"well I " Natsu stopped he hated lying but still he had to do it for Erza besides this was honestly something that he was just going to do for himself "don't worry," Natsu told them "if I get in over my head I'll ask you guys"
"UH huh," Gajeel asked still smirking "I won't tell anyone," Gajeel told him "as long as you stay on my good side"
"whatever man" Natsu groaned
"Hey Natsu" Cana's voice rang over the crowd "get your ass over here so I can put you in your place" she all but screamed several barrels of Booze stacked behind her as everyone looked at Cana wondering what the hell she was up to this time
two months later
Natsu and Erza found themselves once again on the edge of the town, of course, it was around that time but Erza noticed something different about it Natsu seemed to be nervous about something he looked fidgety and looked like he was starting to space out "hey Natsu" Erza asked catching the young man's attention "are you alright"
"umm yeah," Natsu told her "fine just thinking," Natsu told her "a lot on my mind," he told her as they approached the train
"I see," Erza said "you've been doing that for a while now," she asked "anything you want to talk about," she asked "you can tell me"
"I know," Natsu said "but it's nothing too major," he told her "no need to worry about me"
Erza looked at Natsu a look of concern forming on her face but decided not to press on as the pair had a long walk ahead of them and a part of her knew Natsu would tell her when he was ready
Jellal and Meredy were also on their way to their normal meet up location but something was off Meredy seemed nervous she was rubbing her arm looking at the ground as she walked this was a problem even when they were tracking the dark guild she seemed to be Jumpy "Meredy" Jellal asked "did something happen with the dark guild"
"Huh," Meredy said "oh yeah I'm fine" she lied "nothing bad happened," she told him "the dark guild guys were no trouble" she wasn't lying her mind was on what had happened between her and Natsu two months ago her mind flashing back to the kiss she shared with Natsu 'damn it this is messing with my head' she sighed she found herself walking at a faster pace 'why is my heart race Natsu came across her mind again she shook her head 'damn it, damn it'
"Meredy" a voice called bringing the pink-haired girl back down to earth as she looked back at him nearly snapping her neck in the process "are you okay," Jellal asked "you looked stressed"
"stressed," Meredy asked "I'm fine, yep top of my game, nothing could or will stop me" she shouted almost too quickly Jellal smiled at this but before he could continue the conversation a loud boom sounded over the area that was both had attributed to Natsu being Natsu "welp looks like there nearby I should get going don't want to come in on you and Erza" Meredy speeded before Jellal could even get a word in leaving a trail of dust in her wake
"That was weird" Jellal muttered as he watched her figure disappeared into the distance
Jellal continued walking now by himself his mind on what could have Meredy so anxious was an appropriate word as he walked he stopped to wait for Erza he had takin on Erza's advice and attempted to bond with the young girl which worked slowly but still he could tell there was something on her mind what it was he could only guess
"Jellal" a voice a called pulling the man he looked up to see Erza walking up to him "something wrong"
"no, it's just" he looked away, "I think I might be overstressing Meredy a bit," he told her "she seems anxious and nervous as of late"
"Hmm, how long has this been going on," she asked
Jellal scratched his brain as he thought about it "when I think about, it started around two months ago" Jellal explained "just around after are last meet up"
"that's strange" Erza muttered now that she thought of it Natsu had been acting strangely for the same amount of time, he seemed spaced out "maybe" Erza looked to the ground "something's up"
"you think so," Jellal asked
"yes," Erza told him "Natsu has also been acting strangely for the past two months," she said "something up, and there might be a problem"
"you sure," Jellal asked "maybe it nothing"
"I know," Erza said "but I can't help but worry"
"Okay then," Jellal told her
Natsu himself found himself pacing around he was going in circles in no idea where if he would see Meredy this was making him nervous as to why he couldn't tell "come on Natsu" Happy called out "calm down, why you so nervous"
"it's nothing buddy," Natsu told him
"you sure" happy asked Natsu could hear the concern in his friend's voice but gave him a passing smile
"Yeah, I'm totally fine," Natsu said
"Hey Natsu" Meredy' voice rang over Natsu's ears he turned back as he smiled nervously at the girl as Happy flew up and hugged her "hey Happy," she said as she patted the blue exceeds head she looked at Natsu who was sweating bullets seeing this Meredy started to have more of her own internal conflict "you okay"
letting out a breath of air and scratching behind his head "yeah I'm fine" he said averting his gaze "just ya know" he smiled "stuff"
"stuff," Meredy asked as she rose an eyebrow "Oh yes stuff," Meredy said trying to sass the dragon slayer
"ha-ha very funny," Natsu said as he looked the other way "so how have you been," Natsu asked her
"oh ya know," Meredy told him "fine I'm eating and stuff," Meredy told him walking forward a slight blush forming on her cheeks "and took a long break afterward at a hot spring" she was sure to drag the words out as she saw Natsu squirm a bit as he looked the other way giving off a nervous laugh "so how have you been"
"I" Natsu looked away "fairy tail's been great"
"I see," Meredy said a long pause came over them before the pair burst out into laughter the sound of them laughing covered the forest as Happy was released from Meredy's grasp so she could catch her breath "what are we" Meredy stopped and continued laughing "doing"
"I don't know," Natsu told her
"eh whatever," she said as she walked up to him before embracing him in a large hug "besides I do enjoy hanging out with you" she admitted to him as she felt Natsu hug her back this made her smile as she gave a slight 'yes'
"you like each other" Happy teased
"and what if I do cat huh," Meredy said almost too quickly shocking Happy as he deflated
"well you don't have to be mean about it," Happy said kicking a tree
"oh Happy" Meredy said in fear as Natsu stopped her
"don't he's being dramatic," Natsu told her
"dang it" Happy said Natsu seeing through this ruse "well it was worth a shot," he said as Meredy couldn't help but sigh
"well shall we head off," Meredy asked "maybe we could head to the bar," she said getting a shocked looked from Happy "is that problem boys" she was sure to shoot Happy a devil grin "I hear that got some new menu items," she said in a sweet voice catching Natsu attention
"well I mean" Natsu started
"that's not fair Meredy!" Happy shouted "you are using food to bribe Natsu, you're a cheater"
"I am not" Meredy shouted
"oh come on Happy," Natsu told him standing between the two "we'll be sure to stick in some fishing as the feline just sighed and nodded his head Meredy grabbed Natsu by the arm and had dragged him off as Happy flew behind them
as the trio left the didn't notice the pair of blue and red-haired wizards behind them as they came from the bushes "what" Erza whispered as she saw the pair vanish into the forest before turning to Jellal "how long has this been going on"
"I don't know," Jellal told her "however it might explain the past few months," Jellal told her as he looked at Erza who appeared to be eyeing Meredy with a look he couldn't recognize "everything okay Erza"
"yes," Erza told him not averting her gaze
"overprotective much" Jellal asked
"I am not" Erza almost shouted "just wondering why Natsu wouldn't tell me this," she asked "he seemed so distracted"
"well what do say we ask them about it later," Jellal told her "just to see the looks on their faces," Jellal asked as a smirk grew on Erza's face
A few hours later Natsu and Meredy found themselves laying against a tree as Happy enjoyed all the fresh fish the pair had caught still full of their trip to the local town bar and had since fallen asleep
Meredy had woke up looking over she saw Happy still fishing not a care in the world as she snuggled on the pillow wait she wasn't at a hotel then she noticed she was on Natsu's shoulder who had also woke up he looked down at her "hey"
'oh crap' Meredy stated in her mind 'don't worry as long as I pretend to be asleep, he won't use this against me'
"I think it's almost time for us to leave," Natsu said
'damn it' Meredy cursed herself 'why'
"You know you drool " Natsu mentioned which got a reaction from the girl as her eyes shot open
"I do not" Meredy shouted him seeing his smirk realizing what had just happened "you sleazy dragon" she sneered as Natsu tried to hold back a laugh "that's it you're going to get now" Meredy shouted as she pounced him then proceed to tickle Natsu as much as she could managing to straddle his waist as she continued her tickle attack "I've been waiting for a while to get you back," she told him "and now you know how it feels"
"N..N...NO" Natsu couldn't help but laugh as Meredy attacked his sides with a pace that could match Jets speed "ple...ple...ase" Natsu was on the verge on tears "I'm sorry"
"oh did the little dragon learn his lesson," Meredy asked as Natsu caught his breath "or do you need another one" Natsu muttered something as Meredy leaned in "what was that" before Natsu jumped her managing to make the part roll over the ground
"I said, you're in for it now," Natsu said with an evil grin on his face as Meredy looked at him with horror etched in his face
"Natsu" a voice called looking over the pair looked to see Erza and Jellal standing over them Happy was also back trying to hold back his laughter quickly separated large blushes on their faces
"hey Erza" Natsu muttered
"Hey Jellal" Meredy muttered
"what is going on here" Erza and to their surprise Jellal had asked only instead Jellal was in front of Natsu and Erza was in front of Meredy
"well" the pair had asked in perfect unison
"there in love" Happy teased
"Happy" Natsu and Meredy screamed "that" they looked at each other "not true"
"Hmm," Erza said glaring at Meredy "then what do exactly call what you were doing to Natsu earlier"
""umm"
"Natsu, you weren't doing anything too inappropriate to Meredy where you," Jellal asked his glare matched that of Erza's as Meredy to blush as Natsu grew angry
"what do you mean by that" Natsu shouted
"Natsu would never do anything like that" Erza shouted at Jellal "right Natsu"
"of course not," Natsu told her "we just ya know doing normal friend stuff"
those words struck Meredy as she looked to the side 'damn it there it is again' she thought to herself "damn it Jellal" Meredy said trying to get the attention of her friend "shouldn't you and Erza be making out under a tree"
"wait what," Jellal said his face now crimson as Natsu glared at him "we weren't you"
"yeah not so fun now is it," Natsu told him
"Alright you caught us," Meredy said sliding back to Natsu "so go back to your whatever you're doing," Meredy said shooing the pair away "me and Natsu are just going to uh finish hanging out," Meredy told them "nothing out of the ordinary here" as she attempted to back away as
Jellal who had finally regained some sense of brain function looked at Meredy "how could you say that"
"I see," Erza said "well we should be going," Erza said as Natsu nodded wanting to leave the awkward situation
"yeah sure later," Meredy said as she looked at, she couldn't help but stare at Natsu for a few more seconds "now if you don't mind," she said as grabbed Natsu hand and attempted to leave
"I think you misunderstand Meredy" Erza chimed in "me and Natsu have a job with our team later, we need to head home," Erza said as she and Jellal had started to separate
"oh," Meredy said "well I guess" seeing a chance she jabbed Natsu in the side "guess I'll have to finish making you apologize next time" she stopped "I'll see you"
"yeah," Natsu said he was about to speak again when Meredy grabbed him by his scarf and kissed him on the cheek making Natsu sputter a bit as Meredy walked away as she winked at him "later" Natsu muttered as he placed a hand on his cheek
"I see," Erza said catching Natsu's attention "so that's why you've been acting strange, these past months"
"N...no it isn't" Natsu attempted to defend himself
"while I am mad you never told me anything," Erza said walking up to him "I won't stop you Natsu" she walked away Natsu muttered something as Erza smiled
meanwhile, Meredy and Jellal had walked in a long silence "listen Jellal"
"no, I won't say anything Meredy," Jellal told her as Meredy let out a sigh of relief "though I would keep you and Natsu's extra activities from Erza from the time being" Jellal teased "I doubt she'd be all too pleased with knowing what you Natsu do under trees," he said as a look of realization came across the young girls face"
"How did you"
"I didn't," Jellal told her "until right now"
"I uh what," Meredy said realizing that Jellal had just played her she looked back "it... it's not like that," she said while blushing "we're just friends"
"Whatever you say Meredy" Jellal told her "whatever you say"
To be continued
SO there may be one chapter to this story or I might add another chapter to make it five haven't decided yet so I'll let you know when I decided