A/N;

Pairing: Nalu, Fairy Tail

Genre and rating: Modern!AU; K

Natsu was lying on his bed, throwing a red ball at the ceiling and catching it, Happy curled into his side. The small blue cat was more subdued than usual, something Natsu could relate to as he caught the ball in his left hand for the 50th time. And then in his right for the 51st time. The world seemed quiet outside, the traffic hushed and nature silent, as though it too were in mourning.

It had only been three days since the funeral.

Natsu supposed that it would make sense that the world would react so strongly to her emotions, Lucy always managed to light the room with her smile or bring everyone to tears with a trembling lip. While she had not been close with her father, Natsu still understood the sting of becoming an orphan. Even if Lucy wouldn't call herself that at the age of 20.

He didn't even look over when he heard the door open and soft footsteps pad over to his bed. A small smile lifted one corner of his mouth when he thought about how Lucy had come into his studio apartment like she owned the place, which she might as well have considering she used her key more often than Natsu. Hey, he liked her bed and her place more, with all it's personal touches and homey feeling and love.

Lucy continued to be quiet until she crawled into his side, hugging him tightly and throwing the blanket she had wrapped around her shoulders over him, managing to trap his cat under the dark blue fabric with bright yellow stars. Lucy had always had this blanket, and it made his smile turn more melancholic as he lifted an arm and pulled her into a strong embrace in his side, their legs tangling subconsciously as Lucy rested her head on his chest.

"Hey," he called softly in greeting, running his hand through her messy hair. While she had showered, Natsu wasn't sure if she had brushed it yet. Maybe he could offer to do that for her, only because it would be a nice thing to do and not at all because Natsu loved playing with the soft strands of gold. Absolutely not. "What're doing here, Luce?"

"I'm here for my daily fix of hugs and kisses," she replied, words muffled by the fabric of his scarf. "And you owe me two days extra." She lifted her head at his gentle chuckle, red eyes and tired smile making Natsu's heart ache. His Lucy should never be sad or upset! Well, only angry-upset with him anyway and that was only because she looked adorable when yelling at him. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, lips lingering as she hummed and sank further into his embrace. Happy mewled as he worked his way from under the covers, climbing over Natsu quickly to see Lucy. She giggled when Happy began purring and nuzzling her chin with his head, nosing her cheek until she lifted one hand from under the blankets at rubbed between his ears. Natsu's smile widened as he watched his cat and girlfriend cuddle, all the family he needed in the world tucked under one childhood blanket and laying in his arms.

"Aye sir," he hummed as he trailed sweet kisses along the side of her face, lips barely touching her skin as he outlined her features from her temple to her chin to her eyelid and the tip of her nose. Lucy's eyes fluttered open when he pulled back, slim fingers leaving Happy's fur to instead run through his hair and tuck the wild pink pieces behind his ear. They continued to run over his jaw and lips, smooth and soft as they moved tenderly over his tan skin.

"I love you," Lucy said quietly, soft voice somehow leaving the quiet in tact that surrounded them. Natsu could never describe her voice, a mix between honey melting and wind chimes blowing gently in a flower field. Did that even make sense? Of course not, but Natsu had read one too many of her work in progress novels and had picked up on some of the weird ass ways she described things. And it made him love her all the more, because only his Lucy would be weird enough to write something like that.

He gently pressed his chapped lips against her soft ones, drinking in the feel of her against him as they cuddled and the way her lips moved so familiarly against his. They had only been dating for a few months now - four months, two weeks, and six days- but they had been friends since middle school, and it felt like that had known each other even longer. Natsu wasn't sure if he believed in soul mates, but he was willing to bet his scarf that he and Lucy were just that. He leaned his forehead against hers and broke the soothing kiss, Lucy's arms wrapping more securley around his neck and Natsu pulling her deeper into his embrace as they looked at one another. Large chocolate brown eyes, full lips, soft features and a heart shaped face all made Lucy a standard beauty, what that wasn't what drew Natsu to her. No, it was the way her right eyebrow twitched when she was angry, or the tiny snort that crinkled her nose when Natsu made her laugh too hard. The way her smile grew lopsided when she was looking at something she loved, or the way she would stick twenty pencils in her bun when writing. The way her eyes would lite up like she had just seen the best thing in the world when she looked at him -or a new book. All of these were the things that Natsu fawned over, and had stolen his heart.

"This may be a bad time," Natsu started, no remorse or regret stopping his mouth as he spoke, "but marry me." Lucy's eyes grew saucer like as she looked up at him, Natsu cupping her face and stroking her flush cheeks with his thumbs. "I love you Lucy, with all my heart. You're the weirdest, loudest, most caring and amazing person I've ever met. I know how much family means to you, and I've considered you a part of mine for years now. I also know how traditional you are with all your rules and manners and crap, so I figured we'd make it official, so you'll never feel lonely again. Because you'll have me, and Happy, and we'll never leave you. Well, Happy will someday, but I'd rather not think about that because that's sad and this is a proposal and oh god I don't have a ring yet I don't know what I'm doing actually never mind forget it you don't have to say anything it was just an id-" Natsu started to ramble, panic growing in his chest as Lucy continued to stare up at him in shocked silence through his speech. He was saved from shoving his foot further into his mouth when Lucy jumped him, pressing her mouth to his roughly and kissing him hard enough to make him forget what he was about to say.

"That's better," Lucy giggled, Natsu smiling down at her in disbelief. He wiped away the beginnings of tears in the corner of her eyes, hand freezing when she spoke.

"Yes."

"Yes?" Natsu repeated, laughing loudly when she said it again, beaming up at him. Natsu felt his own eyes prick as he hugged her tightly, sitting up and dragging her with him so that he could hold her properly. She had said yes. And now, he could bring her with him to pick out a ring.

"Hey Natsu?" Lucy called, Natsu pulling back slightly so that he could look down at her. Joy danced in her eyes, even as fresh tears spilt over the full lashes that rimmed them. "I love you so much, you dork."

Laughter boomed through the room as Natsu laughed deeply, crushing Lucy too him and sealing her mouth with his own, whispering in between adoring kisses.

"I love you too, weirdo."

A/N; This was also adorable and just a little sad. Ya'll got me doing all these proposal pieces, the fluff rotting my teeth ;D