Author's note: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of the characters. A few of the chapters contain plots from the anime and are not my complete original creation.
Single quotations are thoughts, double is them actually speaking
Loke returned to the cozy little apartment just less than an hour later. He had picked up ingredients to make a variety of meals, knowing that Lucy would need to eat to recover her strength when she woke up. Virgo returned through the Spirit world when he returned, asking again for a punishment. He put away everything he had bought, glancing at the clock. He still had a few hours before he should start making anything for her to eat.
He walked back into the bedroom, admiring his owner's face. She looked much more peaceful, comfortable, now that she was tucked into her blankets. Her lips slightly parted, her chest rising and falling evenly with every breath. He wasn't sure how long he had stood there watching, but he forced himself to move, knowing if she woke up and found him staring, she'd be angry. He didn't want to make her angry, just wanted to take care of her. As he was looking around her apartment, he sat on her couch, feeling himself starting to tire. He used more magic than he'd like to admit during their battle with Bixlow. He wanted to nap, but wasn't sure that he should, knowing her team mates would likely show up.
Loke glanced over to his sleeping master. 'What if I laid next to her?' he thought to himself. He knew it would risk Lucy's fury. Since he hadn't returned to the Spirit World to heal, he was in need of sleep himself. If he slept next to her, he'd not only keep her warm, but would be able to protect her from any intruders, knowing that Natsu usually entered through her bedroom window. As he contemplated, he walked back over to her, looking down on her. He sighed. He knew his answer.
He decided to take his chances and carefully climbed over the sleeping mage. He settled himself on top of the covers, no need to fuel her fury more, and laid beside her, resting on arm behind his head, the other on his stomach.
As he slowly drifted off to sleep next to her, he thought about his princess. She wasn't strong like Natsu or Ezra, but she was strong in her own way. The night that she saved him she summoned all of her spirits, managed to gain audience of the Spirit King himself. She wasn't aware of it, but his ability to pass through his gate without being summoned was not only because he was strong, but because her magic was strong as well. He was sure a few others were able to pass through their gates without being called, but none of the other spirits were as intrusive as he was. She was also strong in a sense that she would never use her Spirits as a shield, treating them as a friend and a team member than property. She cared for others and their well-being before her own. Physically, she wasn't strong, but that could be helped with training. She had the strength that you can't get through training. She wasn't aware of her potential, but he was, as well as the Spirit King. It had been centuries since he's seen someone with her kind of power.
He thought more about the night that she had saved him, how that changed his outlook on life, how she had given him what no one else had. He knew now he'd do anything for her, even if it meant give his life. Not just because she was his key holder, but because he actually loved her. With ever fiber in his celestial being, he loved her completely.
As Leo, he was a natural flirt, a ladies man and always knew how to smooth talk women, went on countless date and breaking more hearts than he could count. It wasn't entirely his fault, it was just his personality. For her, he didn't want to be the flirty feline, he wanted to be the loyal lion. The days of his playboy ways were long over, flirting was inevitable, but there was no meaning to it if it wasn't Lucy. He knew he had to bide his time. Lucy didn't take his proclamations of love seriously. He didn't take it personally, he had a reputation. She knew the reasons behind his playboy ways, she was the only one who knew what Karen's death had done to him, how guilty he felt. He just needed to prove himself to her, which that would take time. It'll be worth it though, she not only had his key, but his heart as well.
He sleepily peeked over at her, just watching her sleep. He smiled at how close he was, even though he knew he'd have to face her wrath if she woke up and found him there. As he closed his eyes once more to drift off into sleep, Lucy turned in her sleep towards him. Her arm went over his waist and her head on his shoulder. He froze only for a moment before a blush set into his cheeks. He placed his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. 'She'd be furious' he thought happily as he dozed back off to sleep.