My First Job Back and A Match Maker's Smile

I blinked open my eyes and almost hissed when morning light hit them. I yawned and I tried to stretch but something stopped me. A heavy weight was holding my arms down. I lifted the covers and almost died. Natsu's arm was wrapped around me and his cheek was lying on my shoulder. His hand was laying on top of my stomach. My heart went into heart attack territory.

I didn't move. I was pretty sure I was paralyzed. However, I find myself not wanting to move. For one thing, I didn't want to move, and wake him up...I didn't have the heart. The other thing, I liked being in his arms. So, I just laid there staring up at the ceiling. I was about to close my eyes when Natsu shifted.

His arm tightened around me and his legs intertwined with mine. My heart was beating so erratically in my chest that it hurt. My breathing hitched and electricity shot through me. I slowly turned my head towards him and stopped. I hadn't realized how close we were. Our lips were only a few inches apart. Only a breath away from touching. I blinked and my eyes roamed his face.

He looked so cute and boyish with his face so relaxed. I breathed deeply and slowly let it out. What was I doing? Before I could stop myself I brought up my free hand and very lightly ran my fingers through his hair. He didn't move. Becoming more brave I slowly ran my fingers down his cheek. Natsu shifted his face a little to the right but his eyes remained closed.

I then cupped his cheek as lightly as I could to try and not wake him. I smiled and closed my eyes for a moment. I wonder what it would be like... I thought, If I told you. I opened my eyes and stared down at him. Oh, Natsu, if onlyI could. After a moment, I let go and as easily as I could I detangled myself from him.

I got out of the bed and turned around. Natsu was still sleeping peacefully. I smiled despite myself, what was I going to do with him? I stretched my arms over my head and tip toed to my closet door.

I grabbed some clothes and went into the bathroom to get dressed. As I was getting dressed, I stopped, and looked in the mirror. The bandage that Wendy had put on my cheek was still on. With a breath I slowly peeled it off. I turned my head to the left to see how bad it was.

I was shocked to see that my skin didn't have a mark on it. Wendy must have worked hard...thank you so much, Wendy. When I arrived at the Guild I was going to thank her again.

Now, it was time to look at my stomach. I reached for my shirt and yanked it over my head. I closed my eyes for a moment and looked.

Wendy wasn't able to save my stomach.

I had three more scars crisscrossing over my stomach. I sighed as I stared at them. All three were wicked looking and red. I knew that they would fade in time, but they would always be there. Three more scars to add to my collection. I closed my eyes and traced the longest one that was in the center of my stomach with my finger.

I don't care about this scar...

I found myself smiling softly.

And you shouldn't care about yours either.

I looked at myself in the mirror and slowly turned around, until my back was facing the mirror fully. I took a deep breath and tilted my head to the side so I could see. Air whooshed out of my lungs, my heart dropped, and my eyes widened, as they always did when I saw my back.

Scars and raised flesh. Thats all you could really see. Scars, long, short, big, and small, raced up and down my back. One certain scar ran from the middle of my stomach, around my side, and all the way up my back, till it stopped at the back of my neck. That one had been a pretty nasty memory and an even nastier battle. It had been made my a long wicked sword edge.

A shudder raced up my spine at the thought of that day. I quickly blocked out that memory and turned away from the mirror. My whole body was marked with scars, my back being the worst of it. With a huff I put on my new shirt for the day.

Once I was finished in the bathroom, I grabbed my keys, and turned to the door. I grabbed the handle, began to turn it, then stopped. I turned back to my bed and looked at Natsu. Would he worry where I was when he awoke and saw me gone?

I told myself that he wouldn't, that he would be fine. I kept telling myself that even as I went to my desk and wrote a note to him. Natsu, went to the Guild, see you later. There, perfect. I brought the note to him and laid it on my pillow. I just hoped he would see the thing before he jumped out the window. Did he not believe in doors or something? With a shake of my head I left.

Natsu...they are ugly...

*******

When I arrived at the Guild Hall all my friends greeted me with a smile and asked how I was doing. I smiled at all of them and said that I was doing just fine. I made a beeline to the bar and took a seat.

"Good morning, Freya! Are you feeling well?" Mira asked kindly. I nodded my head at her and smiled weakly. "Yes, Mira, thank you." I asked her for a drink and she made me a glass of water.

She handed it to me and I thanked her. I sipped it as I thought back to this morning. I sighed, what was I going to do with that boy? "Your awful quiet today." A soft voice said from behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see Levy there. She was completely fine now. You wouldn't have even known that she had come so close to dying.

Levy took a seat next to me and looked at me with a smile. "Your early too." I glanced at the near empty Guild. "I could say the same to you, Levs." She nodded her head. "You could. Did something happen, Fey-chan?" Did something happen? Hell yay it did. I let out a breath and faced Levy. This...this would be the first time I had ever said this out loud. And for the love of Dragons everywhere I was afraid.

But as I looked at Levy...I knew I could tell her. I just knew. "Levs...I love him." I whispered out as my heart started to hammer its way out of my chest.

Levy frowned and wrapped her arms around me. "Fey-chan...don't be sad about that." Levy whispered in my ear. I held her tight. "Oh, Levy, I wasn't supposed to love or let anyone in..." I could practically hear the smile in her voice when she said.

"You let me in, didn't you?" I smiled softly into her hair. "You were the first." Levy gripped my shoulders and leaned back to face me. "That's because I'm awesome." I laughed softly, "That you are Levs, that you are."

Levy and I talked for a while until the Guild started to fill up.

Levy's eyes darted to the entrance when Gajeel with Pantherlily at his side, walked in. Her eyes went back to me. I shook my head at her with a smile on my face. "Go." I told her simple. She smiled and hugged me again.

"Its not always a bad thing to let someone in and I'm happy for you."

Were her parting words to me. Then she hopped out of her seat and went over to Gajeel and Lily. I sighed tiredly and crossed my arms on the bar. I laid my chin on them and closed my eyes as my friend's laughter filled the air.

*********************************************

I felt a warm presence beside me and then something heavy being wrapped around my neck.

My eyes flashed open and I sank my nails into the arm that was around me neck. With a flick of my wrist I twisted the arm. I heard a groan of pain and I looked up. I came face to face with a pair of green eyes.

I instantly let go and stood up. "Oh for the love of Dragons, Natsu! Don't do that!" I practically shrieked. "I told him not to do that." Mira said with a wink. "But he never listens." She muttered to herself.

I turned my attention to Natsu who was smiling at me while rubbing his arm. I took a deep breath and called onto my patients. "Are you alright? I didn't break anything did I?" I asked while rubbing my eyes.

"Glad your strength is back." Natsu told me. "I got a job for us." He said, his eyes dancing with excitement. I exhaled. Like I said before, the boy had more energy than half the Guild.

"What's the job?" I asked. I expected him to give me the paper, instead he put his arm around my shoulders, and leaned in so the flyer was between us. I was hyper aware of his body pressed up against mine. His open vest really didn't help the situation either. Each breath he took made his chest rub up against my back. I sucked in a sharp breath as my eyes darted to Mira. She was looking at me with an evil smile.

Oh, no. I didn't like that smile at all. It was her matchmaker smile. The worst smile of them all. I looked down at the paper before she could see my red cheeks. I focused on what Natsu was saying. He basically told me that there was a bandit that needed to be captured.

From what he was telling me and from what the flyer said the bandit had been robbing the town for quite some time now.

The town's people had tried everything to capture him, but it just seemed like he suddenly disappeared when they were close to getting him. "Sounds like he's some kind of Mage." I thought aloud.

Natsu nodded close to my head. "It seems easy enough to do. It won't put to much strain on you." My heart did a funny leap in my chest at his words. Natsu wasn't aware of it, but his words were sweet and considerate towards me. It seemed like he was always thinking about me and what would and wouldn't harm me.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't notice him get closer to me. But the next thing I knew, he was in my face, and his eyes were alight with concern. "Oi, Fey, you're face is red." He tilted his head and before I could blink, he reached up, and cupped my cheeks.

My face must have been on fire.

"Do you have a fever?" Natsu asked me as he leaned in even closer to me and placed his forehead against mine. I sat there, like an idiot, staring up at him. Once I was sure I wouldn't choke on my heart that had lodged itself in my throat, I shook myself out of my daze. I blinked rapidly and placed my hand on his hand that was on my cheek. "No, I'm fine, Natsu." I told him hurriedly with a smile.

I'm not fine.

He studied me for a moment longer, leaned back a little, and nodded. "Alright, lets go!" He grabbed my hand and literally dragged me out of the Guild.

I looked back at Mira and before I lost sight of her, she brought up her hand, put them to her chest, and made a little heart. Mira! I wanted to scream.

But Natsu dragged me away before I could say anything to her. I finally got my feet under me and I tried to match his long legged pace.
Then I noticed something, "Oi, Natsu? Where's Happy?" Natsu turned to look at me over his shoulder, "He said he didn't want to come." I narrowed my eyes. Mira and Happy...Matchmakers straight from hell...

With that we walked to the train station.

As we waited for the train to arrive, I read over the flyer again. My face was still tingling from his warm hands and my heart was jumping around like crazy. I took a breath and tried to concentrate on the flyer. My eyes almost popped out of my head when I saw the little words written in the corner.

We think that the bandit might strike at the ball that we are going to have soon. We have a precious diamond that is going to be on display and we believe that he intends on taking it. Thank you.

I glanced to Natsu, who was staring off into the distance, then back to the flyer. Did he know that we were going to a ball? Oh, no...what if we have to dance?

My eyes darted to Natsu again. Him? Dance? I almost busted out laughing right there. But then I started to imagine it. His arms around my waist, my hand in his, my head on his chest. I'm pretty sure I looked absolutely crazy standing there, clutching that paper, and smiling like an idiot.

I had a problem. And that problem had pink hair and a talking blue cat. I snapped out of it just as the train pulled up. I began to walk forward then stopped when I noticed that Natsu was rooted to the spot. He was staring at the train like it was his worst enemy. His motion sickness.

"Natsu, are you sure you want to get on? We could just walk. We have time." Till the ball, I thought silently. He looked a little green in the face but he shook his head.

"Nah, I don't want to put any strain on you." Then with that he grabbed my hand and we boarded the train. But he was oblivious to what his words did to me.

*********************************************

Natsu and I took out seats and he surprised me when he almost immediately put his head in my lap. I blinked down at him and already noticed that his eyes were closed. I smiled softly at the Fire Dragon Slayer and placed my hand in his hair.

Right when the train started to move Natsu turned green and instantly started to gag. I felt horrible for him. "Natsu, are you alright?" I asked.
He gave me an incoherent response. I was about to knock him out but I stopped. There was probably another and less dangerous way of helping him.

I exhaled softly, lifted his head off my lap as gently as I could, and got up. I saw a woman who worked on the train and went over to her. "Excuse me, Miss?" I asked politely. She turned to me and smiled, "Yes, is there something I could help you with?" I nodded and asked her if she had anything to help someone relax or sleep.

She looked at me then she looked behind her. "Umm, I do have some for myself, since this is such long train ride, but I suppose I could give you some." She reached into her pocket and withdrew a small pill bottle. She opened it and shook two small pills into my hand.

I thanked her and then asked if I could have a glass of water. She told me she would bring it to me, then she left. I went back to my seat and stared at the poor Dragon Slayer. He had started to moan when the woman showed up with my glass of water.

I smiled as I took it and went to sit next to Natsu. I laid him on his back and propped his head up with my hand. I set the cup of water to the side and with my other hand that still held the pills I tried to make him open his mouth. "Natsu, I need you to open your mouth, and swallow these pills, ok?" He either didn't hear me or was too out of it to do as I said.

Guess it was up to me then. With my finger I gently pried open his mouth and placed the two pills in. I bent down and grabbed the cup of water. I brought the cup to his lips and tilted the cup. Little drips of water fell from the side of his mouth but he managed to swallow them.

I put the cup down and placed Natsu's head back onto my lap. I began to lean back when I noticed that the woman was still there. "He's so lucky to have a girlfriend like you." She told me with a bright smile, and with that, she turned, and left.

My shoulders slumped, great, even a complete stranger saw how I felt. I looked down and saw that he was fast asleep. At least the pills had worked. I leaned my head back against the seat and closed my eyes. Almost like an afterthought, I ran my fingers through his hair, and I didn't stop till I fell asleep.

Author's Note; Another job equals a new adventure...and new heartbreak...