The Fallen(Nalu)

22- Worries Slowly Fade

A few days have passed.

We've made it about a third of the way to our destination.

There was one town that we passed through a day ago but other than that it's just forests and plain grassy areas.

As the days have gone by I've been getting these conflicting feelings.

The more time we spend together the happier I am...I'm starting to feel more like me.

But at the same time the longer we're together the more that feeling keeps trying to push itself to the surface.

I know that the time limit on this happiness that we have going on is running out and I fear it's going to end sooner than I had hoped.

There's only two options at the end of this.

I either run away...or accept the truth and the pain that I know will come along with it.

"Hey, Lucy, look at this!"

I turn to the side, Natsu pointing at a bird's nest sitting on a branch that is right at his eye level.

He stares in awe and I walk over to him and stand on the tips of my toes so that I can see as well.

Three little baby birds sit in the nest, doing their best to make noise that just ends up coming out as little squeaks.

I smile down and take a step back.

"They look like they were just born."

Natsu grins and nods his head.

"Cool , huh?"

I nod my head.

"Yeah."

He steals one last look at the little birds in the nest before we continue walking.

A few weeks ago if someone would have given me those two options and told me to pick...I would have picked the first one without hesitation.

Now, though...now I'm really not so sure. The first choice is starting to look a lot more scary than it used to.

"So, how do you think the guild is holding up without us?"

I glance at Natsu out of the corner of my eye. He walks with his hands behind the back of his head, a small smile on his lips.

A smirk forms on my lips before I respond to him lightheartedly.

"Without you there...quite well I'd imagine."

He glares and his gaze snaps to me.

"Yeah right... even without me there I bet they're all causing a ruckus."

I cringe as I imagine Gray and Elfman and the rest of them that have been known to start riots in the guild hall.

"Yeah...yeah you're right."

He smirks proudly to himself and continues walking ahead of me.

"Erza alone is probably keeping the guild hall in chaos."

I snort.

"Yeah and she thinks that what she's doing is keeping order...."

Natsu barks out a laugh.

"Right? She's crazy and she doesn't even realize it!"

I shake my head.

"If she heard what you just said about her she'd kill you, Natsu. Literally."

His smile falls and he gulps.

His head quickly darts from side to side and he surveys the area around us.

When he's done he looks at me with a pointed expression.

"Don't say that...you're making me paranoid."