Lucy sat down at the bar next to Natsu. Mira looked at the two questioning their matching outfits. Lucy wore a white low cut shirt along with a red sweater with a white fluffy trim paired with a red skirt and three golden bells pinned in her hair. Natsu wore his usual white pants with a red long sleeve shirt along with red cloth hanging from his belt, a santa hat placed sloppily on his head. The guild was having their annual christmas party, every year people went home as couples some moved on and left the guild while others stayed. Lucy jumped closer to Natsu seeking his warmth as the guild doors flew open.

"You cold Luce?" he asked wrapping an arm around her.

She looked down to her now warm hip as Natsu pulled her closer. "Thanks Natsu," she sighed sipping on her hot coco.

Natsu looked out the closing door, turning back to her he whispered, "Looks like it's snowing wanna head home early? Before it gets too bad?"

She looked at the clock. 11:43, it was late and she knew her heat had stopped working at home she really didn't want to go back but nodded her head anyway. "My heat stopped working today can you stay with me tonight?" she asked with a shiver.

"Ya sure but Happy already left with Carla and Wendy so it'll just be the two of us," he said pulling her into a hug.

"That's ok," she said hugging him back.

Through a raging blizzard the two walked occasionally stopping so he could warm her, by pulling her into a tight hug and raising his body temperature. Finally the two made it. Lucy shivered uncontrollably as she walked into her freezing apartment.

"Luce," she heard a deep voice call to her.

"Y-y-ya?" she said.

"Do you want a bath?" Natsu asked walking towards the bathroom.

She nodded in response. He turned on the water of the bath and added some bubble mix. Lucy walked into the bathroom minutes later, towel in hand. She began to strip, not caring that Natsu was with her. Natsu looked away with a blush, looking back only when he heard a splash. He saw her sitting in the hot bath her arm covering her chest as she reached out to him.

"Come in…" she said softly, looking down.

He blushed heavily as he undressed. Once he undressed Lucy took his hand and pulled him into the bath. She snuggled against his warm chest, once he found his seat across the bath tub. Lucy blushed when his hand wrapped around her bare waist. She took her sponge and slowly started washing up and down her body, she moved the sponge to him and started washing small circles on his chest. He took her hand in his and washed up and down his body.

Lucy sat on her bed, dripping wet, Natsu came in the room a towel wrapped around his waist as he dried his hair. Quickly, he changed into his boxers and cuddled against a still dripping Lucy. Natsu knew he liked, no loved her but never knew how she felt nor how to tell her.

"Natsu…" she breathed.

He hummed in response.

"I-" she started with hesitation. "Good night," she said quietly.

He lay her down on the bed, hovering over her, her legs wrapped in his. "Goodnight Luce," he said sadly.

"What's wrong?"

He flopped on the bed beside her, pulling the blankets up to his chest asked, "Luce what does it feel like to love someone?"

Her heart sank at the thought of Lisanna but raced at the thought of him thinking of her. "Love is like," she paused a moment, thinking. "Love is like how you felt towards Igneel but way stronger. Love is never wanting to be away from that person, ever. It's that feeling you get when you stand next to that person and feel butterflies in your stomach. It's like-" she was cut off with a small mumble. "What?"

"Then… I love you," he said a bit louder.

"I love you too Natsu," she said happily, turning toward him.

He pulled her into his embrace and cuddled into the crook of her neck.

The next morning Lucy awoke to Natsu laughing softly in his sleep. "Igneel…" she heard him say softly. "Luce…" she blushed heavily at the sound of her name.

He's dreaming of me and Igneel? She thought to herself as she unwrapped his arms from around her. Lucy moved so she hovered above him, as she sat down she smiled slightly at the feeling a bulge through his boxers. She put her hands on his cheeks and smiled, his eyes opened slowly.

"Mornin' Luce!" he said smiling brightly, moving his hand to her's.

"Morning," she smiled softly.

Natsu looked down though only for a moment as he recalled Igneel's words to him. "Luce," he said slowly.

She hummed in response, putting her head on his bear chest.

"M-mating season is starting soon," he said. "This will be my first year and-and I was wondering if you wanted to be my mate?" he asked.

She waited for him to continue.

"You can say no I'd understand considering you'd have to be impregnated and it does start tomorrow," he said sadly.

She just lay there on his chest, thinking.

"Sorry I-"

"I'll be your mate, Natsu," she said happily.

He was shocked. "You know that I have to impregnate you right?"

She smiled happily and said, "Pregnant with your baby just in time for Christmas! Sounds great to me!"

Natsu sighed in relief.

"Plus there's still enough time between now and Christmas I might even have a bump by then," Lucy smiled brightly. "Mates are for life right Natsu?" she asked looking up at him from her spot on Natsu's chest.

"Mates are forever not even death can separate them," Natsu said happily.

She smiled at his words. Slowly, Natsu pulled her into a hug, brushing his lips softly over the top of her head.