Hi! :D Wow it's such a long time since i have used that emoticon. :D I used it again. Anyways, i am dedicating this chapter to......!!! @Hearty1234 !!

Well....I'd also shout out to @Kerriana88 @Griffin5142 @Life_of_Anime for answering! Did I miss anyone? Did I? If I did then woops. :) xD

Neehee.

~Grace

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Chapter 8: Winter brings out the best qualities

NATSU'S POV

The snow was still too soft outside, as it had just began falling. Lucy was a little disappointed, though. I patted her head, as she looked at me.

"Cheer up. I promise, tomorrow, you can turn me into snow itself." i said. Her face turned from a sad one, to the one i know best. She smiled and hugged me, her furry gloves feeling soft on the little skin i had exposed.

We spent two hours, making the best of the soft snow. Luckily, i hadn't seen Gray during that time.

NEXT DAY

I was awoken furiously and i swear i was in a military training camp where they wake you up with sirens. Lucy was hopping around the room, quickly pulling on some winter clothes.

"What?" i asked with a hoarse voice.

"Here!" she said, throwing some heavy duty clothes on me that made my head collide with the floor due to it's weight. I sighed. I forgot i had promised her. I put them on, but ignored the scarf she gave me. I wrapped my own scarf around me, of course.

"Wear a hat!" she said, pulling a black beanie on over my salmon hair. I felt like a little kid, you know how parents always stuff them in clothes before they go out in the snow? Yeah, like that.

Although she was buried in clothes herself, she still looked her normal self....that is, until we got outside. The snow was much more stiffer, and her cheeks were red. Her nose had a slight tint of red. She was so adorable.

"Let's build a snowman!" she said excitedly.

"You're so eager." i laughed. Her eyes softened.

"That's because my childhood winter was never so happy and exciting. Papa always ignored me when i wanted to have fun, so i would spend them alone. But now i have a friend with me!" she said. My heart clenched when she said 'friend', i don't know why.

If she had such a hard time, then its my duty to make her happy!

"Yosh, let's get to work then." i said. She clapped her hands before making big balls of snow. One of the balls was bigger than herself, and she had to ask me to help her. Silly girl.

When we were done, she wanted to add a carrot, and stones for buttions.

"I don't think all those are necessary." i said. She began to pout, before i changed my mind and let her do what she had to do. Lucy got the biggest carrot i have ever seen, and stabbed it in the snowman's face.

Then she carefully placed the stones on. I narrowed my eyes. That is one weird snowman.

"Hey, let's do that thing where they lie in the snow and make things!" she said, patting the snowman's head.

"You mean snow angels?"

"Yes! Oh oh, you do one, i'll take a picture!" she said, taking out her camera from her bag. Well, if it was to make her happy, no problem. I got in the snow, swiping my arms and legs up and down.

When i was done, i stayed still so Lucy could take a picture, giving my signature grins.

"That was great!" she said, showing me the picture.

"You try it." i said, taking the camera from her. She looked at me, not saying anything.

"What?! No way." she said. I gently shoved her forward, causing her to go 'oof' on the snow. I quickly took a photo (yes i know how to use a camera) of her. She looked so silly, snow had  gotten on top of her head!

"That's not funny!" she said, pouting, "But it was fun."

I looked at the snowman, and the balls that it was made up of. I got a genius idea. Snowball fight! Without Lucy seeing, i formed one quickly, before sending it soaring into her head. She fell back down.

"OWW! NATSU?!" she yelled. She made one, and this time.....she kicked it. Now, i'm sure you know this already, if not, pay attention. Lucy's kicks are strong! So of course, her attack on me was more powerful than i thought.

"Oh yeah?! Fire Dragon's Roar!" i said, as i stuffed snow in my mouth and spat it at her. I didn't use magic. Luckily for her, she dodged my spit-ball snow.

"Hey you!" she yelled.

Playing with Lucy was kinda amusing. She would fall down alot too. Ha. I had to resist the urge not too laugh. As the day continued, Lucy came up with an idea to go ice-skating.

"You sure the ice is hard enough?" i ask her.

"I'm sure!" she said. We walked together, and my body unconsciously held her hand. The only thing preventing me from making real contact with her skin was the gloves, but i didn't care. As we rented ice skates and i helped Lucy to put hers on, she slowly got up.

"This is easier than i thought!" she said, twirling around.

"Easy for you to say." i replied, struggling to get up from my fall. She laughed at me and held out her hand. I accepted it, but with my weight, i pulled her down by accident.

"Sorry sorry." i said, as we both got up.

"Here, i'll show you!" she said. She showed me how to balance properly, and then while she danced around, i observed her. Her smile enhanced everything, even the cursed snow itself. I was soon day dreaming about something, before i caught up with reality.

"Lucy?" i called, looking around. I didn't see her among the other people, until i heard her familiar voice. My snapped in her direction as i successfully skated beside her.

"Hey, you left me alone." i said, catching up with her.

"Sorry, but Sting was here." she said, "He had bumped into me and i was sent flying over here away from you."

As she said that, she pointed to the mass of snow on the ground, and out emerged Sting's head. I facepalmed. Out of all people, it had to be him!

"Sting-kun!" yelled a little voice, as Lector landed on top of Sting.

"You aren't wearing any skates." observed Lucy, as Sting got out. She was right, he had on normal shoes.

"Ah yes, we just came back from a job. I saw Natsu's hair so as i came over here, the ice sent me flying." he said.

"Where's your partner?" i ask him. He looked around.

"You're right! Rogue's missing!" he exclaimed. That idiot. He didn't even realise that his own friend was gone? In one way, it was good. I was really starting to feel uncomfortable around Rogue himself.

"Who said i was missing? You left me." said a tired voice. I started shivering.

"Ah sorry." said Sting. Rogue saw me, then his eyes turned to Lucy. She waved him, but she did nothing more as a greeting. I'm guessing she was feeling uncomfortable too.

Rogue didn't reply or say anything towards her. I furrowed my eyebrows. Why is he getting upset at Lucy? Is he...jealous? No wait.

First of all, he can't be jealous of Lucy. If he is, then he hates her because either I am with her, or everyone is naturally attracted to her.

Second of all, to be jealous....he has to be gay.

Third of all, maybe he is not jealous of Lucy, but of me or Sting  maybe because we have such a good relationship with a beautiful girl. :v

Nah, no matter how weird Rogue may be, he will never fall for Lucy. That's kinda ridiculous.....yeah.....i am starting to doubt my asumption now.

Maybe he does like Lucy?!! That's why he is so harsh, trying to play 'hard to get' huh, and the 'cool guy ' act. I mean, yeah, i was told i may like Lucy, but as her teammate and best friend (A/N: and probably admirer XD) it is my duty to protect her.

Or i could use Rogue's strategy, and see if what Mira said was right. She says i like Lucy, so the only way i can find out is use Rogue's idea. Although i would feel kinda bad for being harsh to Luce.

"Is this hard?" Asked Lucy. I snapped out of my train of thoughts had glared at Sting, who was on the ground again. Yosh, time to put my plan into action.

"Hey Luce, your skills need enhancing. Let me help you." i said, managing to walk next to her on the ice. . When i said that, Sting burst out laughing when he saw Lucy's face.

"Natsu-kun, what did you say?" she asked flatly.

"Uh....let me help you."

"No, before that."

"Your skills are really on point, they're greeeaaat!"

Gosh, now i sound like that tiget from Frosted Flakes at the end. Lucy smiled sweetly and went back to looking at Sting. Okay, so maybe i got scared. So what? But my plan failed too. Her face scared the shit out of me.

"Wait!"

"What is it? Do you need help too?" she asked, holding my hand as i almost had my face planted into the ground.

"No, i can do it myself. I don't need a girl like you to help me." i said, loud enough.

"......."

There was no response. I was starting to sweat heavily, maybe i went too far? How does Rogue manage to do this?!

"NATSU?!"

"Sorry Luce! I am so sorry! Please forgive me!" i said quickly, falling to my knees.

"I want an explanation." she said, looking like Erza when her cake is squashed.

"Okay fine, but please...let's go somewhere else." i said. She looked at the other two boys and waved them goodbye, and followed me closer to the edge of the frozen lake, with a huge tree above us. I brought her far away from the boys, but in any case, they could hear us with their enhanced hearing.

"Well? Why were you so strange?" she asked.

"Rogue was being so cold to you....so i thought that maybe he was...you know, trying to play the 'bad boy' and stuff...." i started.

"I doubt that, that guy is an emotionless pile of skin. But even if he did, why did you act cold too?" she asked, sitting on the snow.

"Umm, well.....i wanted to know why he was doing that to you, i thought he liked you. So i did it too wondering how you'll act towards me. Because to me, his strategy wanted you to fall in love with him....so.....i wanted to see if it would work." i explained, scratching my head.

Lucy's face turned completely red, not thanks to the snow, but to what i just said.

"Y-You baka! What are you s-saying?! Rogue would never do that, you know it! You're so stupid!" she exclaimed, at the same time moving about awkwardly.

"Maybe, to see if she will love you, tell her you love her!"

Mira's voice rang in my head and i slapped it out. Ugh. I took Lucy's word and didn't say anything else about the matter, instead, i laughed.

"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry Luce." i said, hugging her. She was warm, and her warmth made me happy.

"You idiot!" she said, hitting my head. I rubbed my head, pouting.

"That hurts!" i whined.

"Something's bothering me too....Why would you want to see if i would fall in love with you?" she asked, making the air tense once again. I hesitated.

Maybe i should just ease the weight, and go with what Mira said. Mira said i like Lucy, maybe i do but i can't believe it yet. I think i accept it now, so i can tell Lucy......

"I....I wanted to know if you liked me.....I mean, yeah, we're friends, best friends, but i just....." i said, slapping myself mentally because i couldn't tell her my feelings straight out.

"W-What?! Natsu, enough! T-This is weird...." she said, completely embarrassed and walking away.

"Wait, Luce!"

"I'm heading to the guild. When you are done acting strange and all t-that....come and we can d-do a job together...you idiot." she said with a small voice, walking off.

Was that....was that really Lucy a while ago? The bold and outright Lucy? She sounded so....strange and awkward.

Maybe Mira knows, i will ask her.

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Chapter 9: Coming to light

Preview: Natsu decides the venture to find out why Lucy was acting so strange. He thought about asking Mira, who knows everything. But then, he reconsiders. Maybe he should find out himself, no, ask Lucy directly. :)