Part 1

Lucy handed the driver a small bag of coins and thanked him for both his service and his silence. He nodded in response, and she took a step back and watched as he turned the vehicle around on the dirt road, wheels bumping along the uneven terrain. With a deep breath, she turned and walked towards the path that wore into her memory, colored now with unkempt wildflowers and bold jaggers.

The trees shook with her arrival, their leaves whispering secrets that she would never hear, but she walked on still. An old house peeked out of the forest, a mirage at first, but soon solidified as she found her way towards the front steps. Lucy's eyes dampened when she assessed the aged building—her summer home. Ivy climbed past the large glass windows and around the front pillars, but she couldn't see any more signs of wear. She peeled off her glove and ran her hand over the smooth railing as she walked up the stairs.

Lucy pulled a key from her pocket—this one hummed only with memories—and unlocked the front door. The hinges creaked when Lucy pressed forward, and her breath caught in her throat. Everything was the same as the day she left for the last time. The day they left.

Did you make your bed, Lucy?

Yes, mama.

And you checked to make sure all the candles are out?

Mmhmm!

Well then go ahead and give your bag to Ms. Spetto.

Lucy paused, and took a half step backwards. Kneeling down, she lifted the corner of the mat beneath her feet and found an identical key to her own. She couldn't be sure if it was moved or not since it was last hidden.

Wait, mama!

What, honey?

Did you put the key under the mat? I told him we would just in case!

The details were blurry, but Lucy could never forget her mother's smile. Of course, Lucy.

She let go of the mat and walked back inside, putting her suitcase down in the foyer. She made her way through the house slowly, afraid to disrupt the peace that it had fallen under. Ghosts of memories flit through the building, awash with light and life. Or maybe, she thought, I am the ghost.

A smile pulled at the edge of her lips when she saw the rocking chair that Ms. Spetto would fall asleep on when she was supposed to be watching Lucy. Her mother excused herself at least once a day to practice her magic, since she never had the chance to at home. Lucy moved her hand to touch the keys at her hip, reassuring herself. She still didn't know what exactly they did, since her father kept them under his possession ever since…

But she heard voices, once, when she tried to sneak up on her mother in the forest. The air hummed with something peculiar, and goosebumps ran across her skin. Magic, she thought, with curious excitement. But who else was there? Her father never joined them in the summer, he had too much work to do. It was only ever Ms. Spetto, her mom, and herself. So who was she talking to?

Lucy blinked, and tore her gaze away from the chair. All of a sudden, the house felt quite small, and Lucy felt very… alone. She rubbed at her skirt, smoothing out wrinkles that didn't exist, and rushed outside. She took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes closed for a moment, willing herself to the present.

A breeze excited the trees once again, and she turned towards the old ash that she knew so well. Her feet moved before she told them to, and she found herself walking along an aged path that only she knew about. Well, only her and one other, she supposed. If he was actually there, she thought with a pang in her heart. Mama always assumed he was imaginary.

Lucy! What did I tell you about running off when Ms. Spetto is watching you?

Mom! You'll never believe it! I found a dragon in the woods!

A… dragon?

Yeah! And he has pink hair!

Oh I see. Did he have wings and horns, too?

Well, no, but he said he'll get them when he's older. I think. He's eight years old.

Is that so? He's only a year older than you!

Yeah!

What's his name?

Lucy ducked under a branch as she trudged through the overgrown path. Her heart beat quicker in anticipation, and it didn't take as long as she remembered to reach the small clearing. Walking forward, memories that she had forgotten long ago rushed through her head. Pink and yellow raced around the grass, chasing, laughing, whispering nonsense to one another. His toothy grin and sharp eyes flashed in her mind.

Natsu.

A small sob escaped her, and her hands covered her mouth as she sank to her knees. Was he truly just a figment of her imagination? Every summer they came here, and every summer she met with him in the forest and they played until the sun went down. Was I really that lonely?

She hadn't shed a tear since she left her mansion, but now she let them flow freely down her cheeks. Lucy lowered herself to the ground, the exhaustion from the travel and the onslaught of memories finally weighing on her. Tall shadows grew as the sun fell, and she closed her eyes, desperate to escape the loneliness that seeped into her bones.

Lucy fell under a fitful sleep after her tears ran dry, shivering when the air turned cold and the birds fell silent. So when she was lifted off the ground, she only snuggled closer to the source of warmth, sighing in content at her fanciful dream.

Sunlight streamed through the window and onto Lucy's face, and she wrinkled her nose as she slowly woke up. Her eyebrows scrunched together when she blinked the sleep away. Why was she still in her dress? The past few days caught up to her, then, and she remembered that she was in her summer home. But hadn't she…

Lucy rubbed at her eyes and saw the glass of water on the night stand, next to three apples. The floor creaked in the corner and she froze—she wasn't alone.

Instantly awake, she pushed herself up and turned towards the sound. Her heart skipped a beat. In the corner of her room stood a man, or at least he resembled a man, despite the scarlet scales on his skin and wings folded behind his back. But it was the salmon colored hair and white scarf that made her jump out of her bed and straight into his chest, wrapping her arms around him as best as she could.

"Natsu," she choked out behind the lump in her throat.

He didn't respond.

Tentatively, she loosened her hold and leaned back to look at him in the face. His sharp eyes looked even darker than she remembered, and she pulled back completely when she saw his glare. For a second time, she looked him over, and her eyebrows knit together when she saw his clawed hands and scarred chest. Finally, she noticed the gnarled horns that grew from his crown, and when she met his eyes once more, she felt unsure. "…Natsu?"

His leathery wings twitched. "Seven years," he growled, voice gruff as though he hadn't spoken in months. She stepped back when he stepped closer. "I've been alone for seven years."

"I don't—I thought you had—"

"Igneel disappeared," he said, his hands curled into fists. "He was gone in the spring, and you," she couldn't help but notice his fangs when he snarled, "you never came back in the summer."

Tears flooded her vision, and she could have sworn she saw a crack in his gruff mask. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "I'm so, so sorry Natsu." He turned his head to the side and huffed before she continued. "My mom was sick, all those years ago. She—my father begged her to stop using magic, he swore that she was weak, and she couldn't handle it. But whenever we came here she would practice with her keys, and I—I never knew." He slowly looked back at her, and she kept going, afraid he would leave if she stopped talking. "She died, seven years ago. The next summer, father wouldn't let me come back here, but I tried. Natsu, I begged him to let me go. I lost her, and I couldn't lose you too."

"Lucy…"

She shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut. "I ran away when I was 16. After mom died, father hardly even noticed me. I couldn't stand it. But I only got to the next town over before his hired goons found me and dragged me back. I—"

"Your dad sent someone else to find you?" Natsu growled, and she opened her eyes to see him reaching out for her. But he took one look at his claws before pulling his hand back, scowling.

"Yeah," she sniffed. "He did. And this time it'll be so much worse if I'm caught," she said, almost to herself.

"They won't," Natsu said confidently, startling her. "They won't take you, as long as I'm here." She watched as his face twisted from anger to something more uncertain. Underneath the scales, she could see a glimpse of the boy she once chased toads with. "Will you stay?" he asked softly.

Here she stood, in front of the man who was her best friend, her dragon. Where he was unsure, all of her fears had disappeared. He was real, and he was here. She leaned forward slowly and cupped his face, resting her forehead against his. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Luce…" His dark eyes searched hers, and she saw what she hadn't before: hope. She squeaked in surprise when he pulled her closer, burying his head in her hair. "You're here."

She hugged him tightly in response. "I'm here."

This is the first part of my ft secret santa gift for cosmicdragonwizard, and while I was planning on making this longer, it may have gotten a little too long, so I'm aiming for three parts. I hope you like it! I get to play around with END-inspired Natsu, so we'll see if I can pull this off... wish me luck!