The train ride back to Magnolia was uneventful. It was slightly tense though as everyone retreated into themselves to try to process everything that had happened so far. Erza and Jellal sat away from the group, quietly talking, both with troubled expressions on their faces. Gray and Wendy sat across from Lucy and Natsu, Gray staring out the window and brooding, while Wendy silently fretted, Carla on her lap, her big brown eyes fixed with a frown and not budging from her fellow Exceed that sat silently on Lucy's shoulder and stared worriedly between his two partners.

Happy had been worried and anxious since seeing Lucy surrounded in fire. He'd spend the previous night with Wendy, Carla and Erza and had woken all three females repeatedly throughout the night as nightmares plagued him. It was almost like back when Future Lucy had died and Happy had suffered horrific nightmares for months afterwards. His usually chipper and talk-active nature was completely subdued and Carla disliked seeing him like that, but knew there was nothing she could do. She knew he would brighten up and return to his old self when he made sure that none of the two people, he considered his parents would be taken from him.

Unfortunately, Carla wasn't entirely sure that either of the two humans would be alright. Granted she didn't know much about dragons since Wendy's knowledge was also mostly limited, but from what the girl had told her about the mating bond, things could turn for the worse very soon.

Her gaze, slid from Happy down to the curled-up form of the Fire Dragon Slayer who was shivering with his head in Lucy's lap and moaning from time to time as motion-sickness assaulted him. Wendy had found that Porlyusica's potion against motion-sickness worked wonders with her, but Natsu still remained incurable. No matter how many times the old healer amplified the dosage, it didn't do anything for Natsu. His motion-sickness was as hard-headed as he was.

Lucy had been silent since they got on the train. She simply stared out the window and caressed Natsu's hair in an attempt to somewhat calm and comfort him. Her mind was nowhere near their train as she tried to make sense of everything that had happened on this job. The only logical explanation for all of it was that she and Natsu really were mates. But that in itself was illogical. They couldn't be mates.

None of it made any kind of sense to the blonde. She prided herself on being the logical and level-headed one in a group full of temperamental hot-heads. She could make sense of everything, nothing was too far-fetched for her. But she found herself completely stumped on this problem. She'd talked once with Gajeel about dragons. The Iron Dragon Slayer was definitely the one with more information than her own partner and she'd caught him in a good enough mood to accommodate her curiosity. He'd explained with some detail about the dragon mating rituals. He didn't know everything, but Metallicana had still instilled enough knowledge into his son that if he ever found himself with a mate, he'd know what was happening. Gajeel had said that his dragon father had doubted that Dragon Slayers would ever be affected by the need to mate since they were mostly humans, but he'd wanted his son to be prepared none the less.

The actual mating process was a complicated one, but the mating-bond begun manifesting itself very early on. It would only reach full strength once both mates claimed and marked each other, but it was still strong even in the early stages, binding two dragons irrevocably together. Once claimed and marked the mates shared their everything, emotions, thoughts, their very lives. Two became one in every way they could.

She had no idea how this translated to humans and was quite frankly, scared.

She trusted Natsu with her life, but this seemed so much bigger than either of them. Natsu probably didn't have much more of a clue than she did, and with things like these at least one of them should know what was going on. Things like these... There literally was nothing that could compare to this.

Once back in Magnolia, she'd grab Natsu, Levy and Gajeel and drag them to the guild's library. They won't leave there until they knew what was going on. Or at least until they were sure there was no information to be found.

A quick thought flitted through her head and she flinched. For a fleeting moment she'd wished that Zeref was still alive. He'd probably have some answer. It was irrational and stupid. If anything she should wish for Igneel, or Metallicana to be alive, they would know what to do. It was her stupid head that still secretly respected Zeref for his genius that made her irrational.

If Natsu ever knew of her thoughts, he'd lose his mind. Hell, she was disgusted with herself, but she couldn't help it.

They'd figure it out. She had to believe that.

With that resolve fresh in her mind, Lucy let herself drift off to fitful slumber, her mind still racing.

XxxxxxxxxxX

When the train finally pulled up in the Magnolia Train Station and Natsu escaped his personal death trap, things became a flurry of activity. Jellal and his team wouldn't be staying so while he and Erza said their goodbyes a little ways away, the others all clustered together around Natsu and Lucy. Meredy was brimming with curiosity about how Lucy escaped Natsu's fire unscathed.

"How did you pull it off?" the pink-haired girl asked abruptly, staring at Lucy.

"Pulled what off?" the blonde asked, genuinely confused.

"Not being burned when that roar hit you! You should have been toast!" Meredy blurted out and the others shifted somewhat uncomfortably, while Gray shot Natsu a cautious glance. The Dragon Slayer had become even more unpredictable than normally. If he was ready to attack Erza, who knows what he'd do to a virtual stranger like Meredy if she did something he didn't like.

"Well," Lucy started, a look of concentration her face. "Turns out I'm immune to Natsu's fire."

This got a reaction out of the others as they all expressed their shock simultaneously, crowding even closer to Lucy, firing question, one over the other.

"How's that even possible?"

"Immunity to dragon fire? That can't even be!"

"That is simply astounding! I had no idea things like that were possible!"

"Seriously?! You gotta be kidding!"

Lucy paled at the barrage and tried to back up, while Gray tensed and attempted to calm the others down, while at the same time trying to extract Lucy from the middle. They couldn't afford Natsu going ballistic inside the Train Station. If he destroyed, Gramps would destroy them, or worse, sick Mira and Laxus on them...

The last time he and Natsu had gone a little over-board during one of their fights and caused some minor structural damage in town, Mira and Laxus had been sent to 'deal' with them. Gray definitely didn't want a repeat performance from the Thunder Dragon Slayer and the take-over mage, thank you very much. They'd scarred him for life the first time.

But it was too late, already.

Natsu had been clinging to shreds of his control when Meredy had started interrogating Lucy, by the time others had gotten so uncomfortably close to her, anger and possessiveness were reaching a boiling point inside of him. That voice he'd heard earlier in his head when Erza had grabbed Lucy, that shouted, "She's mine! Don't touch her! Mine, mine, mine!" had gotten louder and he felt a strong urge to tear apart anyone who got too close to Lucy.

Rational thinking escaped him, instinct took over and flames licked around him as grabbed Cobra by the lapel and flung him away from Lucy. The others had quickly clued in that they had an angry Dragon Slayer on their hands and inched away from Lucy, while Natsu watched them like a caged beast, ready to attack at any wrong movement.

Then Gray made a grave mistake.

Grabbing Lucy's elbow, Gray pulled her towards him, intent to get her away from the others and hopefully calm Natsu down. He realized that he'd only made matters worse when Natsu's golden eyes flickered in his direction and the other boy snarled showing fang.

"Don't touch my Lucy," Natsu's growl was low and sinister, as he advanced towards Gray who still held on to Lucy's elbow.

This prompted Lucy into action and she swatted at Gray's hand, twisting her arm out of his slackened grip. Natsu however didn't stop, and continued to stalk to the ice-make mage, a maniacal look on his usually boyish features.

The commotion had drawn Erza and Jellal's attention and they came running just as Natsu leaped at Gray, fire coated fists raised. Erza re-quipped into her Adamantine armor, ready to repel Natsu's attack, but didn't get there in time. Lucy, however was closer and she jumped in front of Natsu, spreading her arms wide.

"Natsu, stop! Gray's not hurting me!"

The Fire Dragon Slayer stopped just inches from her face and stood in front of her, his eyes showing recognition, but not losing their beastly gleam.

First when Lucy reached out a hand and cupped him cheek, did he stop growling and seemed to start awake, looking around, slightly confused.

"W-what happened?" he asked and Lucy shook her head.

"You lost control again, Natsu."

Her words hit him hard and Natsu shuddered, clenching his fists.

"Damn it," he bit out. "What the hell's happening to me?"

"It's okay," Lucy soothed, closing the remaining inch between them and wrapping her arms around his torso. "It's all gonna be alright. Whatever is happening to us, we'll figure it out."

Moisture gathered in Natsu's eyes at her soft words and he clutched her to him, burying his face in her neck. "Don't leave me, Luce," he whispered almost inaudibly, ashamed of his weakness, but still scared of this situation he had no control over.

Lucy heard him and tightened her hold on him. This was uncharacteristic of Natsu, this insecurity. He was usually brimming with confidence and attitude. There was nothing that could stop him. It was painful to see him so shaken, so down.

"Never," she whispered back just as quietly, but making sure to stress the word as strongly as she could. There was no way she'd ever leave him, no matter what happened. He was hers, she was his, it had been that way since the very beginning. Nothing was changing that. Certainly no stupid, ancient, dragon ritual. They would be toughing this one out together, just as they did everything and anything else.

And if they came out of it mated for life... Well, there were worse things.

XxxxxxxX

Although tired, cranky and hungry Natsu, Lucy and their entire team trudged towards the guild instead of their homes. Rest and food would have to wait. They needed to consult with the Master about what was happening to Natsu and Lucy. If he remained unchecked, Natsu could pose a threat to anyone who even stood too close to Lucy if he lost control.

They weren't sure if the Master would even be able to help, but it was their only option. Besides, he needed to know about this development.

"I'm gonna get Levy-chan to help me research dragon mating rituals. There's bound to be some sort of information in the guild's library," Lucy announced, walking ahead of them, while Natsu followed behind her, his eyes fixed on the ground, a hard frown on his face. "I also need to talk to Gajeel, maybe he knows something more than Natsu," she finished, oblivious to her partner's glare falling on her back at the mention of the Iron Dragon Slayer.

"Good idea, Lucy," Erza commented, hastening her step to catch up to the Celestial mage. "The more information we have, the better."

Natsu didn't really like that they were talking about his problem without even asking what he wanted to do. And besides, it really had nothing to do with Erza or Gray. It was about him and Lucy, if anyone was supposed to take care of it, then it should be him and Lucy.

"It's not your problem," he eventually grumbled and Gray reached out to thump him on the back of his head.

"The hell it isn't," the ice mage scowled. "Anything that has to do with you has to do with the team. If there're problems we find a solution together. You should know best that Fairy Tail never lets you deal alone with anything."

"That's right," Erza smiled as she turned to look at them and Lucy matched her. "Why do anything alone when you have an entire guild full of people there to help you?"

Lucy beamed at their teammates and Natsu grumbled under his breath, knowing that he was defeated. And besides, if he really thought about it, he knew that if push came to shove, having their guild backing them up would work in their favor.

At one hand he knew that some of his worries were completely baseless, but it wasn't exactly easy to convince himself of it. There was this totally unhinged side of him that kept thinking if he let the guild in on what was happening between him and Lucy that they'd take her away. It was the bond talking, he knew that much. The incomplete bond would do anything to push him into completing it. It still wasn't something he could do alone, though. Only him and Lucy doing the ritual would complete the bond. And Lucy might not even want that. So, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

He was ripped out of his worried thoughts when he felt someone take his hand. Looking down, he saw Wendy smiling up at him. The younger Dragon Slayer had been silent during most of the going ons that Natsu had almost forgotten she was there, at all.

"It's all going to be alright, Natsu-san," she whispered, her fingers squeezing his gently. "The dragon mating bond is a wonderful thing. Grandine didn't tell me much about it, since I was too young to fully understand it, but from what she said I can tell that it's something you and Lucy-san will forever cherish."

Natsu knew that the mating bond once complete would be like being one with Lucy in every way that counted. There was absolutely nothing they'd be able to hide from the other once it was completed. That wasn't what scared him. It was the physical aspect of the ritual that left him pretty much shaking in fear.

He had absolutely zero ideas about sex. He wouldn't know where to start or what to do. He'd probably do something extremely stupid and Lucy would hate him... He really should have worried about this sooner. The moment he'd realized that he loved Lucy as more than a friend he should have set to finding out information about sex, but he'd never even hoped that anything would come from his one-sided feelings. Now he had to worry about it, if he wanted to or not.

Advice, he'd need advice. The only person he would trust asking about such things was Lucy, but that would be a double-edged sword. And Lucy wasn't stupid, she'd know why he was asking right away. That would be way too awkward.

He could ask Gray, but he'd never hear the end of it, and the damned popsicle would tell Lucy just to spite Natsu. Erza... She was even more clueless than Natsu. Wendy and the Exceeds were out too, for obvious reasons.

Probably the only people who wouldn't make fun of him if he asked anything like that were Alzack and Lisanna. But Lisanna probably didn't know much more than him and that would be an exercise in futility. That left Al, who was married and a father. So, he definitely knew what to do.

The only problem was that Natsu wasn't really all that close to Alzack and really wouldn't even know how to ask...

Damn, he really had his work cut out for him. Lucy would be more than worth it, but still.

AN: And that's part 4. Things are probably gonna start heating up next chapter. No lemons yet, but definitely some kissing at least. I'll warn you when the lemon gets here so you can avoid it if you want.

A huge thank you to the reviewers of the past chapters: Andria Justus Haynie; Dark Shining Light; Mishy1824; XxCelestialPrincessxX; MasterGildarts; TheElectricLady; Ember Reverie; Anna5949; Ushindeshi; GothBanshee; animequeen100; Forbidden-Hanyou; Morenoel; Daelmagines; ABT4Life; aliciacevbra; savwafair; vaneanime and four guest reviewvers.

You guys all rock! I never expected this story to get such a response, and it's making me very happy so I have the urge to write even more.