Lucy almost teared up at the sentimentality of it all. After all of the time she spent looking for an adventure in her books, this man just pulled her into one. Not that she minded. Of course, as they scaled the mountain the temperatures dropped and eventually Natsu remembered that Lucy wasn't quite up to speed with him. He slowed down and realized that she was actually struggling a bit with the thinner air and rocky terrain. So he asked:

"Do you need to take a break?"

She puffed the bangs from her face and commented with an almost raspy "I'm fine."

He chuckled good-naturedly and admired her perseverance for a few moments before responding.

"Well, I am actually getting a little worn out how about we sit for just a few minutes, please?"

She huffed for a moment, but deep down she knew that she needed a break but her pride wouldn't let it happen unless he needed it. So, when he claimed to be tired she plopped down without a second thought. From her position on the ground, she could see him smiling at her and she felt awkward under his gaze. In an effort to break her discomfort she asked: "So I've noticed you wear that scarf a lot and I was wondering if you might tell me the story behind it. I mean I've never seen anything like it." Natsu stiffened slightly at the question and Lucy feared she had accidentally trodden on dangerous earth, but soon he turned to look at her with tears in his eyes and spoke.

"Well, nobody's ever asked before so I haven't told the story to anybody but here goes. When I was little, my pops always talked about how one day his dream of a great Dragon-Park would be realized. Each night he would tell me stories of dragons, who won the princesses' hearts instead of some stuck-up prince. Well, on my 10th birthday, pops opened up the theme park and gave me this scarf in representation of dragon scales to make sure I remembered the power of dreams. I don't like to take it off because of two things. I think it keeps me focused on the future and wanting to succeed for dad's sake, but also I feel like it covers up a small part of me and gives me some protection. So, you know when dad died last July I wore it and remembered to believe in dreams."

Lucy tugged at the woolen threads of her scarf absently; clearly her mind was caught in another time. "It's almost as if it lends you strength when you need it most and shows you love is real." Natsu gaped at her in both awe and astonishment. It was clear that this girl understood him on a level entirely different from even his closest friends. "Exactly."

The hike was comfortably silent for a while before Natsu filled the air with laughter and jokes again. Lucy's initial misgivings had faded and she allowed herself to enjoy the refreshing nature of Natsu's company, but soon they found themselves nearing a relatively flat area and Natsu became aware that night was falling more quickly than he expected. Under normal circumstances, he would have practically run up the mountain and made it back down by sunset but Lucy was slowing him down. Not that he disliked it. In fact, he made note of how nice it was to slow down and travel at a leisurely pace. Natsu Dragneel had always travelled quickly; while enjoying life, he never really stopped to examine his life and the world around him, at least not without his sister making him.

So, while he sat down on a rock and allowed the blonde to rest, he took the opportunity to really look at her. Shapely hips and legs hugged by the spandex of her leggings, she was a sight for sore eyes. The over-sized jacket that he had lent her hung loose on body, giving her an almost childlike look of innocence. In his eyes she was perfect.

Though his social status and handsome complexion would make him a highly sought after young man, he had only had one real love interest before Lucy. Her name had been Lisanna and they had dated for several years in high school, but their relationship never truly took flight because of their initial sibling-like upbringing. And while Lisanna had been beautiful, he had never been able to see her that way and Lucy, in his mind, had long since surpassed Lisanna's beauty and charm. She truly had a kind and caring heart. Natsu could tell.

He had also become hyperaware to the fact that his initial affections toward her were quickly growing into something heavy and untamable. Of course, he feared that he would fall in love with her too quickly for his own good but it was nearly impossible not to fall for the blonde bombshell. He knew she was no damsel in distress but he was worried that if she was too fragile, he could inadvertently hurt her. He had never been a fan of the feeble and fearful girls who seemed to think it was cute. In his opinion, girls could be just as strong as men and Erza Scarlet the owner of downtown bakery, Deadly Delectables, was proof of that. He had always wanted a woman who could handle stress and have his back as much as he would in turn have hers. Lucy seemed to fit the bill but he hadn't really seen her in action yet and he couldn't wait. Maybe she would be exactly what he was searching for.

He was shaken from his thoughts quite literally when Lucy grabbed his shoulder and wobbled it in desperation, eyes filled with determination and…was that fear?

"Natsu! Are you listening? There's someone screaming; we have to help them." And with that she took off in the direction of the mannish yells.