Got a new story! I know I have other stories I should finish before writing another story but I couldn't stop writing when I first began. I wrote this story all the back in mid November and uploaded it on my Wattpad account. It's a Nalu mating story but not your usual kind. Read and and find out why. I plan on making this a rated M story in the future but for now it will be Rated T.

Read, review, fave and follow. I want to know if you want me to continue the story. :)

Disclaimer. I don't own Fairy Tail or any of its characters.

-Oby Abel-

Chapter one: What?!

"I'm your what now?" Lucy asked quite stunned by what Natsu just told her. He had suddenly dragged her out from the guild celebration. It was decided to throw a big party for many occasions such as; Lisanna's return to Earth Land, The S-class trials on Tenrou Island, Fighting Grimore Heart and Acnologia, coming back from Tenrou Island, The Infinity Clock and saving Lucy incident, the GMG and the Seven Dragons, The Tartaros and one year spand of Fairy Tail disbandment and finally, their newly built guild. There were so many things to finally celebrate thus this grand party. And Natsu dragged her away from it all to say something she found so utterly ridiculous.

"Mate. You're my mate. I know it sounds weird but-" He began explaining but was interrupted by the sudden snort of the blonde. She covered her mouth to hold back but she gave in. It was just too ridiculous that she found it too funny. Natsu on the other hand couldn't understand the blonde laughing when he was serious. This was something important to discuss.

"It's not a laughing matter Lucy." He stated in all seriousness as he folded his arms and furrowed his eyebrows and pursed his lips. "This is actually a grave matter and it concern the both of us."

She stopped laughing altogether and straightened herself up. Was he serious? She had never seen him look so...annoyed and serious at her before. Actually she had never seen Natsu so serious other than fighting. He used to be a dork and goofball not this man she was staring at.

"I'm sorry but it sounds too ridiculous and stupid." She apologized yet it wasn't a genuine apology. She wasn't exactly at fault.

"I know this makes no sense but I've noticed it lately... Or I first realized it recently." He paused as he thought back to his conversation with Gajeel. The Iron Dragon Slayer had told him about a few things that apparently Metalicana had told him but Gajeel had ignored it for so long until last year where the Iron Dragon told him to find a book which he did. It was about Dragons and their mating rituals. He then showed the book to his fellow Dragon Slayers as the rules also abided them. And that was how he found out that Lucy was his mate. But it didn't mean that he actually liked the idea because they were friends. No romantic feelings involved whatsoever. It would be too weird, right? Him and Lucy as lovers and getting marri-

"Natsu, you okay there? You spaced off."

His eyes snap up to the blonde's as he was pulled back from his thoughts and memories. He smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry, got caught up thinking.."

"Alright but tell me, why am I your mate or whatever you call it? And what does this entail?" She still found this all too ridiculous. His mate? What does that even mean? A soul mate? Was he confessing to her? Oh Mavis! He was confessing! What should she do? This wasn't the same things like the time with Virgo. This was an actual confession. Should she reject him? But what about their friendship? What will become of it if it gets awkward? Should she accept him? No! She doesn't like him like that. They were best friends and there was no romantic feelings involved or was there? Did she feel anything romantic towards him? Her brain began hurting thinking so hard.

"Lucy? Lucy did you hear anything I just said?" Natsu asked and made her snap back to reality before her mind began imagining weird scenarios and whatnot. She blinked a few times before finally gazing at him. What did he just say?

"Huh?"

Natsu sighed before rubbing his temples. This was so hard. Why did it have to be Lucy? It should've been a stranger. It would be so much easier. Actually it shouldn't be anyone now that he thought about it. Natsu had no idea about love or romance and he liked it that way. He didn't have time for that since saving the world was more pressing than such feeble emotion. And he was sure that Lucy didn't like him. Or she did but not like a boy. No that sounded wrong. As a man who can woo her romantically. And he didn't blame her. He didn't have any romantic bone in him.

"I said that Metal Head showed us Dragon Slayers a book about mating and other important things mating entails. And many of the stuff that the book said point to you being my mate and it makes sense. The reason why I am almost always by your side is my instincts fault. I subconsciously bathe you in my scent to fend off other slayers or dragons. And that's why I always sneak into your bed and feel so comfortable. It because your scent calms me down. That I knew before the book. Your scent always calms me down since it smells of Vanilla and Honey and a faint of strawberry. Very yummy."

Lucy was too stunned to speak. She searched for lies but there was none. He was sincere. Too sincere. Her cheeks were tinted pink when he mentioned her scent. It was weird but embarrassing especially as he told her she was yummy. Be it indirectly or not. He still told her that.

Natsu on the other hand was waiting for her to interrupt or laugh at him but she did not. He saw her confused state and he couldn't blame her. It was confusing but it was inevitable. They were mates. Like it or not. Mostly it was his fault but he wasn't to be blame for scent marking her since he had no idea. If there was someone to blame it would be Fate or Destiny. It was their fault for letting them meet. Not that Natsu regret it. No. On the contrary he is thankful. Lucy had filled the gap Igneel and Lisanna left in his heart and on such little time as well. She has been one of the greatest friends he could ever ask for. His best friend next to Happy. Their adventures were the best too. There was never one moment when it wasn't fun with her. He felt his lips slightly curved as he was scrolling through the many adventures and fights they had been on, in his mind before finally continuing to answer her questions.

"Being someone's mate will actually not do you any harm. It will bond our souls for eternity and give us abilities. You-"

"Abilities?" She interrupted as her eye arched and stared at him as she waited for him to elaborate. She was curious of these said abilities. Not that she was even thinking about accepting the whole ordeal of her being his mate. She was simply just curious.

"Yes abilities. First we'll be able to communicate with each other telepathically, without really using magic. It's so we can always find each other if we ever get separated and track each other down. And then there is the share of magic. You would be able to control fire as I would be able to control your spirits or just summoning them. You can also stop me from using my fire, controlling it or even extinguish it. Or you can magnify my flames and make me stronger. That's actually really cool, right?" He stopped to ask as he found that to be the pro of this whole mating.

Lucy looked at him blankly. Why would she be interested in sharing her magic with him? Yeah, his flames were cool and he was super powerful but way too destructive as well so it wasn't that good. Or maybe it was. Oh and not to mention she would never ever let him touch her keys. He would use them as slaves or something worse... Anyways, this wasn't what they should be talking about. It wasn't as important. So she shrugged her shoulder and told him simply, "Sure."

"You don't seem that impressed?" He noticed her non-interest in the awesomeness of the mating bond - the power and magic part - but could he really blame her? He knew this was sudden but he had to tell her. They were friends. Best friends and best friends share everything. Or mostly everything. Sharing food was a no no.

"Do you want the honest answer?" She asked. She might as well tell her what she thought about all of this. How ridiculous and stupid it sounded and her answer. Yep. Definitely her answer. He nodded accepting her incoming words.

"This-" She pointed at herself and then him in one liquid movement, "- will never work. Sure we are partners and best friends but that's all. I know why you took your time telling me all this. You respect me that much and I thank you for that but Natsu, I can't accept being your mate or whatever it is you want me to be. We have no romantic feelings involved. You now it. I now it. We aren't meant to-" She explained truthfully and he held up his palm interrupting her. Stopped her from finishing that sentence.

"We are. We are meant to be. I'm not saying that I don't agree with what you said. I do. Believe me I do. I don't do romance. It's just not in me and you know it, but you are my mate and will be for the rest of my life. Claimed or not. That's something I can't change since Fate and Destiny have a finger or two in this and the Universe as well. It's not something that can or will ever disappear." He was being truthful as well.

He had read the book thoroughly - dismayed that he had to read a book but he was more concerned about the whole mating thing than reading - and found nothing. Nothing to stop it or at least find another mate. There wasn't any loopholes or something to get out of it. Seriously nothing. Either accept it or die. Yes, die. If he wasn't mated before he reached a certain age his body will start shutting down. He will slowly dissolve to nothing. Perish. By his on flames. A truly cruel thing.

"But I don't want to be your mate!" She huffed annoyed. "I don't want to be bound to someone just because of Fate or Destiny or whatever you want to call it. Neither of us want this so what's the point of continuing this conversation?" She was being honest. There was no point of them still talking about it since both had agreed they didn't share any romantic feelings and she had no wish to mate with just because he said so. Heck no.

Natsu knew that the blonde's mind was set. She didn't want to be bound by him and he could accept that. No he couldn't a actually. That was the whole point of the topic. He wished he could but he couldn't. He didn't want to die. Heck if he knew what it entailed becoming a Dragon Slayer he would've refused Igneel training him. Or that was what he thought he would've done. His mind wasn't functioning well. Too many things to process. But first he had to break the news. It actually made him feel bad to mention it since he knows Lucy will definitely accept him in a heart beat if he told her he would die. She would feel so guilty but he had no choice. Not what the best friend should be doing towards his best friend but he was afraid of dying. And he was only telling her the truth. It's not like he was forcing her. It was her choice to reject him or accept him. He opposed the idea of mating as much as she did. But the bottom line was that he was afraid of death that would come.

"I don't want this as well but if we don't mate before I turn 22, I'll..." He didn't want to say it and his face sported a pained expression as he squinted his eyes shut turning his face sideways to hide his expression, and finally told her the final outcome. "...I'll die. Die by my own fire as it will consume me from the inside out. It will dissolve me. I'll become nothing. This is no lie. I'm serious. That's why i brought it up...I'm afraid Luce. I don't want to die.." He admitted with a tiny whisper barely audible for the blonde but she heard him and she felt a tug in her heart as she processed this new information. He could die? He could actually die by his own flames? She winced as an imagine of him burning and melting away from us flames. Not pretty and it hurt. Was she to give up her freedom and independence just the save him?

"No.." She whispered and moved her eyes to gaze as his. He looked confused, not understanding what she meant. Straightening up she composed herself and acted bravely as she spoke more boldly - though she was dying in the inside.

"No. I still can't accept. I don't want to be a claim to you. I'm Lucy. Lucy of Fairy Tail and not Natsu Dragneel's mate nor property. I..." her voice began to waver as hurt flashed through his eyes. "I can't Natsu... sorry." She was never a selfish person but this, this she had to be selfish about. She wasn't but her own property and she needed her freedom. She would help him find another way. She would work hard and never give up. That she owed him.

Natsu was shocked, disappointed and most evident, hurt. Had he heard right? Was Lucy rejecting him just after him telling her he was going to die if they didn't mate. Hadn't she understood the grave danger? Him dying. Dying. Three years. He had three years before dying. It hurt. It truly hurt to be rejected like this by his best friend. How many times had he saved her from danger and death even? He didn't even blink throwing himself into danger for her and she couldn't do that to him? Everything he did was never out of obligation but because he wanted to save her. She was an important person to him yet she didn't feel the same about him? Life sure was cruel..

"Natsu..." She spoke his name timidly and looked at him ashamed. She knew he was disappointed in her. She was too. He had saved her so many times and this was her thanks? To just let him die without even blinking. This was unfair but she couldn't. She didn't want this. Neither of this. That's why she swore to herself that she would do anything to help him. Stop this. Even if it's the last thing she does; She will find a way.

Natsu ignored her call. He felt numb and betrayed but funny enough he wasn't angry. He didn't hate her. He couldn't. He wanted to but it wasn't in him. It wasn't in his nature to be angry at her or even hate her. She didn't choose this. Neither of them did. So he couldn't blame her but only his foster father Igneel and yet he couldn't do that either. He glanced at his bandaged arms reminisced about the Fire Dragon King Igneel...

"Natsu. I'm sorry. I truly am. I will give you anything to help you but my soul. I'll help you find another way. We'll get through this. Remember? Nothing is impossible. We can do it. So please speak to me, please.." She was desperate. She didn't want to lose her best friend because of her cruel decision. And not speaking for 15 minutes worried her even more. Especially when he was clearly ignoring her. She felt tears form in her eyes as he kept ignoring her. Had she lost him? Had she lost her best friend? Why was life always cruel towards her. She already lost her parents and she couldn't lose Natsu too. He was her only family. Not true. Fairy Tail was her family but her bond with Natsu was that of a real family member. They had a special bond which she just broke...

Doubt and guilt began creeping their way into her. Should she toss her freedom away and accept him? But it felt so wrong. It made her angry yet the male didn't speak to her. Not even after nudging him and tugging his arms. He refused to speak, he kept quiet and ignored her and that hurt that she cried. Harder. She cried out of guilt and sadness. She fucked up and knew she had to fix it and the only way to do it was accepting. But could she?

"I…"