We had won. The battle against Tartaros ended six days ago, it was almost an entire week. But there wasn't any sign of our victory. We had had many losses and our souls were devastated. Aquarius, Igneel, Grandeeney, Metalicana, Skiadrum, Weisslogia, Silver Fullbuster left us to save us. Physical injuries had left us all debilitated.

We had won. But our victory had cost us a lot, enough to not feel that as a real victory.

I was staring right in front of me while I was walking on the side of the river. The entire city was destroyed and the guild had been raze to the ground. Right now everyone was trying to put all the pieces together.

Plue was looking at me from my arms and I heard that someone from the river was telling me to be careful not to fall into it. I smiled bitterly for that warning. After all we had been through, falling into the river would be like a bad joke.

"Here we are, Plue. Home sweet home" I tightened my grip on Plue and walk inside my house.

"Hey Luce!" a voice said from the couch.

I wasn't surprised of hearing my best friend's voice. Even if he was devastated from what happened, it had not passed a day without his presence and his smile. That hadn't change. I don't know where I would be without him. He was my best friend and I was starting to consider him even something more.

"Hey Natsu" I leave Plue on the ground, who disappeared in the celestial spirit world. I looked up and I smiled at him.

The Dragon Slayer stood up and he started to walk closer until he was in front of me. "I was waiting for you" He had his marking grin on his face.

I was going to answer when I noticed that something was missing. I looked around to find a certain blue cat, but I couldn't find him anywhere. "Where's Happy?"

"Maybe he's with Carla"

I smiled at him thinking about the two Exceeds. "They're adorable together. By the way if you're hungry, I think I have something in…"

"Actually, Luce, I'm not here to eat" He started giggling like the fact that he was at my house to eat was ridiculous and I could swear I saw him blushing.

"No? Than what?"

My voice faded away. While I was talking, Natsu cut the distance between us and now our noses were almost touching. He had an even larger grin on his face than usual and it looked like his eyes were shining from the flames of his inner fire. I had never seen him like that before and looking at him made me blush.

"I came here to do something important" he said suddenly becoming serious. "I was thinking about this from a long time, but after what happened, now it is more urgent than ever"

The fact that he was talking about the battle against Tartaros surprised me, neither of us had ever talked about that, like a tacit agreement of not talking about that topic. I wasn't able to speak and my heart was beating so fast that I was sure he could hear it.

With his eyes connected to mine, he slowly started to move even closer, reducing the distance between our lips. I knew he was going slowly because he wanted to give me enough time to understand what he was trying to do and, in case I didn't want to, to stop him. He knew that this one would have be my first kiss and that for me it was important. But I didn't push him away, like never before I needed to feel him close and to admit my feelings. I closed my eyes and cut off the remaining distance between us standing on my tiptoes.

I could feel his surprise, he probably was expecting a Lucy kick. I smiled against his lips and put my arms around his neck. At this point the Dragon Slayer recovered from his initial shock and he put his arms around my waist, pick me up and spin, finally returning the kiss.

It was really sweet and soft, full of relief for not being pushed away and satisfaction for finally being able to make this move.

We stopped after what it seems like an hour and for me it could had go ahead for ever.

I smiled, a real smile after days, full of love. He grinned back and his lips soon reached again mine for a quick kiss and for than got down towards my neck.

"Na… Natsu… what are you doing?" I could feel shivers of pleasure run down my back from the trail of kisses he was leaving on my skin.

He looked up, approaching his mouth to my ear. A displeased sigh escaped from my lips for not feeling the contact with his skin. "Anything you do not want to do too" he whispered with an husky voice "I will give you enough time to stop me, in every moment"