It didn't take long for them to get to Erza's house, but as soon as they did, it was like a lacrima bomb went off. Erza hadn't taken one step through the door, Natsu setting his baby girl on the floor, when a tall, thin blonde woman collided with her. Erza herself didn't fall, but the woman did, and she nearly cried as she picked herself back up again. Natsu couldn't help but snort, remembering just how much it hurt to be slammed right into his knight's armored chest.

The blonde woman looked up at the sound and stared at him, shocked. Natsu just smiled wryly, his exhaustion catching up with him. Goddamn when was the last time he slept? Three days ago? Four? A week maybe? "Hey Lucy- long time no see, yeah?" He said lightly. Suddenly she squealed and launched herself at him. She was rambling unintelligibly into his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around his neck but she didn't care. He laughed and hugged her back. It felt good to have his best friend back after being gone for so long.

"Natsu you big idiot! What are you doing back? Have you already met Rose? Oh my god, Rose! Erza have you found her yet! Oh wait there she is- Natsu what are you doing back? Oh my god, hide before the anybody else from the guild sees you!" She shrieked when she released him, everything finally catching up with her. "Wait, hold on. Don't answer that." She said quickly, shaking her head. She moved out of the way and Rose skipped into the house with Erza in tow. Lucy and Natsu stared at each other for a moment. "You better not leave again Natsu. I don't ever want to see Erza like that again."

Natsu flinched, not wanting to think about how much he had hurt the one woman he always sought to protect; even on the other side of the world. "I would never hurt Erza. If I ever leave again- it will either be with my family or against my will."

She seemed to accept that and nodded. "Good." Natsu shouldered past her and shrugged his long, worn down cloak off, pushing his shirt sleeves up. She eyed his clothes as he threw his cloak on one of Erza's chairs. "Natsu Dragneel. You have a lot of explaining to do about what the hell you are wearing."

Before Natsu could respond, Erza entered the room again, this time in her usual clothes. His knight's eyes immediately found his clothing just like Lucy's did. He scowled and crossed his arms. "I have been all over the world, and introduced to countless cultures. You pick up a lot on the run." His brown tunic was loose and slightly tucked into a pair of loose, light colored cotton pants, but the thick black combat boots on his feet made the combination look strange. Although it seemed to work for him. "I don't always dress like this." He said, rolling his eyes at the girls' conflicted expressions.

Erza shook off the sight and crossed her arms. She made sure to keep one ear on Rose in her room- just like Natsu was unbeknownst to her- as she spoke. "So what's the plan now Natsu? You're back, so do we just go to the guild?"

Natsu shook his head, making Lucy look between them as they seemed to have a short, silent conversation. "No, I need to make sure that I wasn't followed. But first I need to sleep. I can't remember the last time that I've actually slept longer than a few hours." Erza immediately pushed Lucy out of her house, yelling something about seeing her at the guild later.

Almost as soon as the door was shut, she was spun around, her dark brown eyes searching his own golden ones. He walked forward silently until they were barely an inch apart. "I thought about you everyday you know." He said softly. "As I was running, and training. Even while I was learning all theses new things- I was thinking about you, and Rose, and how I could very well never see my baby girl again, or my mate." His hands settled on her waist and his mouth moved to her neck, causing her breath to hitch.

"Mate?" Erza questioned, trying to concentrate on his words and not his touches.

"Yes. A dragon picks one mate for life, for eternity. It's a bond that not even death can break. You will always unconditionally be mine, as I will always unconditionally be loyal to you." He explained, nipping at her neck in the pauses in his words. "There is a mark on you, one that you can't see. It gives off a signal to others wanting to be with you that you are very much taken." The words came out as a growl, and a moan finally slipped out of Erza's lips. The touches, the kisses, the bites, the words- it had been so long since they had last been together.

"You know Natsu. Rose's birthday party at the guild isn't for several hours. Do you think that you can stay awake for awhile longer?" She asked innocently, her bare hands travelling from his neck to his waist, fingering his waistband. Natsu growled, grabbing her legs, and she moaned again. She knew exactly what was about to happen. And she was going to love it.

A couple hours later Natsu woke up surprisingly comfy. As his eyes slowly blinked open he was met with red, which he recognized as his mate's hair. The lovely red strands were spread out across the pillows and he smiled at her serene expression. Suddenly their bedroom door was pushed open and a small body jumped onto the bed.

"Daddy! Mama! get up! It's time to go for my birthday party!" Rose squealed excitedly, jumping up and down on the bed. Natsu laughed and pushed himself up as Erza stirred awake, pulling the blankets up higher.

"I'm up Princess." He said, picking her up and setting her down on his lap. "I'm up. Now go get ready, and we'll get going, okay?" He said, smiling down at his little girl. He can still remember how she looked when she was born. How she was brought out to him as he was packing after being cleaned up. The last thing he did before he left was kiss Erza, and gently say goodbye to his newborn baby girl.

"Okay Daddy." Rose chirped before sliding out of his lap and off the bed before running to her room.

"She's just like, you know." Erza said sleepily, sitting up to rest her head against Natsu's shoulder. "Always so energetic and happy. She's never serious about anything."

Natsu pressed a kiss to her head before he slid an arm around her bare waist. "Has she showed any signs of your magic yet?"

Erza shook her head. "No, not yet. Mira thinks that it's more than likely that she won't use Requip magic. Rose doesn't even like weapons. She's wrestled a few times with other kids around the guild, and she's more likely to use her fists than something she has to hold." The redhead looked up at her thoughtful lover. "Why?"

"Just thinking that maybe it's time I took on a student." He said, grinning down at her before sliding out of bed. "Now come on sleepy-head. Our little girl is five today: it probably wouldn't be a good idea to be late to her own party."