The Next Day

Erza awoke in her bed the next morning, the sun breaking through her blinds and shining on her face. She rubbed her fingers across her face, stopping at her lips. She thought about the kiss she & Natsu shared the night before and blushed. Nervous, she began to roll over in her bed numerous times.
What is wrong with me? Why do I feel this way?
She couldn't figure it out. When she thought of Natsu her stomach grew uneasy, but it wasn't a bad feeling. It had been years since she felt this way about anyone. Sure she loved everyone in Fairy Tail, but Natsu was something…different. It kind of scared her.
"Agh! What am I doing? I have to get ready and head to the guild hall." She hopped out of bed and got into the shower, all the while replaying the date in her mind. An hour or so later, Erza had emerged from the Fairy Hills dormitory and made her way towards Fairy Tail.
When she arrived at the guild, she was surprised to see that Natsu was nowhere to be seen. Deciding to wait for him to arrive, she headed to bar and sit. She also wanted to ask Mira if she had seen him, but she uncharacteristically apprehensive.
Mirajane saw the slightly nervous look on her friend's face and spoke before Erza had even arrived at the bar. "Morning Erza," she said with a gentle smile "looking for Natsu?" her smile changing to a mischievous smirk.
Erza's face turned bright red as Mira's question reached her ears. She opened her mouth, but the words just stumbled out. "N…n…no…no. Of course not! W…why would I be doing that?" She tried to deny Mira's question by shaking her head fervently in disagreement; but her blood red cheeks gave Mira all the answers she needed.
Mira smiled at Erza softly, "He went on a job with Lucy, Gajeel, & Wendy."
Erza looked at the barmaid with confused eyes, "Huh? Why did Wendy & Gajeel go with them? Why not Gray?" Mira stopped cleaning the glass she was holding and placed her index finger on her chin as she began to think.
"I don't know for sure. I think it was something about needing the help of Dragon slayers, and as for Gray; he and Juvia went on a job with Elfman & Lisanna."
Hearing that Natsu and the others went on a job without her upset Erza a bit, and a saddened look began to appear on her face.
"Why did they go without me?" She muttered under breath.
"Well, Natsu said you were pretty tired from last night. So he told everyone to not bother you."
Erza's eyes widened a bit in surprise. Natsu didn't want anyone to bother me? She smiled to herself as she thought this. Natsu had thought of her.
She sat at the bar for a couple of hours, waiting for Natsu and her friends to return. The minutes began to pass slower and slower, she had never been so bored before. She chatted with Mira for a while, talked to the master about the new S Class jobs, and soon she found herself sitting at table, opposite from Laxus. As she sat down, she began to stare at the guild hall doors.
"Hey Erza what's eaten ya?" Laxus inquired as he sipped his mug of beer.
"Nothing. What are you talking about?"
"I'm just sayin you look a little distracted."
"How I look is none of your concern Laxus." She said to him coldly
Laxus was taken a bit aback by her stern statement but he didn't blame her, the two were never really on friendly terms. "Whoa, calm down; no need to be all hostile." He finished his beer and held his mug in the air.
"Hey Mira! Another beer please."
"Coming right up." Mira turned around to fill another mug.
Erza stayed fixed in her chair, staring a hole into the guild doors.
Where are they? The master said it was an easy job, they should have been back by now. What if…
She then caught a hold of herself. What am I saying? Natsu & the others can take care of themselves. I need to stop worrying.
Mira brought the cold beverage to where Laxus & Erza sat. "Here you are Laxus, another cold one for you."
Laxus took the mug and placed it to his lips, the golden brown drink sliding smoothly down his throat. He let out a sigh of ecstasy, "Ahh, thanks Mira. Damn, that's good. Want some Erza?"
He held his mug up to her. She looked at him for a split second before turning her attention back to the door. Laxus simply shrugged his shoulders and brought the mug back towards himself. "Suit yourself." He once again drank from the mug.
"You still worried about Natsu?" Mira said casually, Erza almost falling out of her chair in surprise. She quickly composed herself and replied to Mira's question.
"No…I am not worried about Natsu, he can take care of himself."
"Really? Because your cheeks are red again." Erza frantically covered her cheeks with her hands trying to hide her blush. Mira gave Erza a sly smirk and strolled back to the bar.
Erza sternly watched Mira return to the bar, cursing the mischievous barmaid in her mind. She then turned back around, once again focusing on the door.
Laxus, who had just witnessed the ladies' show, started to chuckle at Erza's expense.
"Something amusing Laxus?" Erza asked sternly.
"So, you have the hots for Natsu huh?" He asked with a sly smirk.
Erza angrily turned towards Laxus, but the moment's intensity started to fade as she still had her hands pressed on her cheeks.
"Whoa now." Laxus waved his hands trying to calm Erza down, but he still couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "I'm not making fun of ya. I'm just a little surprised is all."
"What are you going on about?"
"Well…" Laxus stopped briefly to take another sip of his beer. "I just thought you would go for someone more…manly, I don't know. Someone like Elfman, or Gray, hell, even me." He chuckled some more as the thought of him and Erza dating crossed his mind.
Erza however was not amused by Laxus' comments. "Not that it is any of your business, but yes…I do have feelings for Natsu…I think." She looked down at the ground, unsure of herself.
"What do you mean you think?" Laxus' question caused Erza to look up from the ground at him.
"You either like him or you don't. Does he like you?"
There was a deafening silence between the two as Erza pondered Laxus' question. She thought of their day together yesterday. For her, it was easily one of the happiest days she ever had. She thought of the picnic, the fight, and…the kiss. She once again placed her fingers on her lips when she thought of that.
She could still feel the warmth of his lips on hers. It had left a lasting effect on her. However she still didn't know how Natsu felt about her, at least not fully. Natsu, being as innocent as he is never thought of things like "relationships" or "love".
After a few moments of silence, she answered Laxus, albeit it hesitantly. "I don't know. Natsu is…complicated."
"Ha! If by complicated you mean rock stupid. He's not a hard one to read, you just have to confront him head on and you'll get what you're lookin for." He took another sip of his beer. "That's the thing about that kid, he may not be the smartest member of Fairy Tail, but you can always count on him to be honest." He winked at Erza and smiled at her.
Erza sat perplexed at Laxus' words. She hadn't heard speak like that in a long time. It was actually quite refreshing. She smiled back at him for a split second before she caught herself and turned around again, faking an attitude towards him. Laxus could see that he had gotten through to her. Content that his words were heard, he stood up from the table and walked towards the bar.
Idiot, he didn't have to tell me that. I already knew Natsu's nature, but he is right. I just have to confront Natsu head on. So I can get a… She thought of the kiss again. Focus Erza! When Natsu comes back, you have to tell him how you feel.
She looked towards the door again with a renewed look of resolve in her eye.
An hour after this, the guild hall doors opened. Erza nearly jumped out of her seat, but she managed to compose herself. She stood up, ready to walk up to Natsu and tell her how she felt…but what she saw on the other side of the doorway horrified her and stopped her plans cold.
A spiky-brown haired man walked with a limp.
Behind was Gajeel. He was bloodied, bruised and beaten. A cut above his eye was bleeding profusely, and his shirt was all but torn and ripped. Erza looked upon her haggard comrade and saw that there was something even more shocking in his arms. In them lie Lucy, clutching her keys as her near lifeless, bruised, and broken body was draped in Gajeel's arms.
As he dropped to his knees in exhaustion, something appeared from behind his back. Wendy soon came into view, the young girl was also covered in cuts as Carla struggled to pull her limp form into the guild hall. Erza could do nothing but stare in shock and horror as she saw her friends at death's door.
However, as she walked towards them, her eyes widened again in terror when she noticed something even more horrifying than her friend's broken bodies…
Natsu…did not come back with them.
"We have a problem." The spiky-brown haired man said between pants.