If you saw them together, you could tell the air was awkward. Neither of them had done this before, with anyone. For Lucy, she had been sheltered her whole entire life. The only way of freedom to her was her "family". Sure they were her friends, but they never really "hung out". She only really saw her friends at the base during meetings or during a mission. It was all so very new to her; she wanted to hide.

To Natsu, this was the type of thing he usually hated. He didn't understand why he asked Lucy to go to the park with him. It was usually girls who asked him to hang out with him. Of course he would always decline; or take them back to his apartment just to hit and quit. This was new. He didn't know how to even start a conversation with his former enemy. Even taking and picking her up from her house had been weird for him, he never did that.

%

Natsu drove his truck up to the Heartfilia mansion. He was nervous, kind of shaky too. Was it supposed to feel like this? It felt like someone was punching his stomach. Did her dad hate him for being so rude to her? Would she just not want to go with him? He needed answers. He couldn't just stay in front of Lucy's home all day, it would creep everyone out and he'd most likely get arrested for loitering on private property.

Natsu: I'm here

Lucy: Who is this?

Natsu: It's the man of your dreams baby ;)

Lucy: Sorry, you must have the wrong number because I'm taken by my perfect boyfriend 3

Natsu: Ouch Heartfilia…that stings my soul. It's Natsu.

Lucy: How did you get my number?

Natsu: I asked your midget friend. Now are you coming or not? My car is running, I'm waiting.

Lucy: Yeah hold on…

He waited about five minutes and she still hadn't come outside. Why wasn't she out here by now? Surely her room couldn't be at the farthest corner of the house that takes like 20 minutes to get to. Annoyed was probably the best word he could think have that explained his feelings at the moment. Another minute passed and she still wasn't outside. He was getting beyond pissed now, and he was about to cuss up a storm.

Natsu: Where the fuck are you? My truck is wasting gas. Hurry your ass up.

Lucy: Wow, rude.

Natsu: You're rude for making me wait for about 10 minutes now!

Lucy: I can't go outside

Natsu: And why the fuck not?

Lucy: Because my dad told me not to go outside. He said it's rude for you to make me go out there. He also says you need to come to the door to come and get me.

Natsu: Okay fine…I'll be right there -_-

Sighing in defeat, Natsu slowly trudged his way up to the front door. He rang the doorbell and the door flew open with a whoosh. Now normally, the Heartfilia's butler would answer the door, but because this was Lucy's first official outing, her dad wanted to see her off. So there stood Jude Heartfilia, acting all intimidating with the stereotypical shotgun in his hand. He looked pissed.

"How dare you try and make my daughter walk out to your car. She deserves more respect than that. While I understand you two are just friends, you will come retrieve her from our house door. You will respect her. You will be the perfect gentleman. And you will make sure she's happy at all times son. Do I make myself clear?" Jude aimed his shotgun at Natsu's chest. Natsu gulped and nodded. "While I understand your "history" with the ladies, I am telling you to treat my daughter with more respect than that. She is my gift from the stars above and you will treat her the same way. She doesn't deserve to cry. Not now, nor not ever. Now let me ask you, what are your intentions with my daughter and where do you plan to take her? She should be taken to the classiest, most expensive places. For she is a perfect princess and deserves to be treated as one."

"OOOOOOKAAAYYYY dad, that's enough." Lucy had enough, it was time to get out of there. "We're just headed to the park. We'll be back in a couple of hours, okay love you bye!" She exclaimed while dragging Natsu off, back to his car. Once they were safely buckled and away from her place she sighed in relief.

"I'm so sorry for my father's actions. He shouldn't have-"

"No, it's okay. I should have known better. It's not how I was raised. I guess I just, forgot..." Natsu scratched his head in embarrassment. "With all those girls who tried to get in my pants during my life, I just never paid attention to that. They'd always just come to my apartment, or they'd run out to my car when I picked them up. I never tried to be respectful because I never got the chance to be. All those girls were pretty sure, but I knew they were just using me for my money, my body, or my reputation. Sometimes it was all."

Lucy was shocked to hear that. Sure she knew almost every girl wanted a piece of Natsu's ass, but hearing that they never let him treat them right was news to her. No wonder Natsu is like the way he is. He probably got screwed over one too many times. This is why she chose her relationships carefully. She never realized, but he was way more damaged than she had first thought. The rest of the car ride to the park was in silence.

%

The two had made their way to the empty swings. How does one make conversation? Why weren't words forming? It usually wasn't this hard talking to people. Then again, you weren't the one who bullied a girl who tried to befriend you their whole life. Oh God he felt like such an asshole. How could he not see it? He needed to apologize, as many times as he could.

"Listen Lucy," Natsu started to say. "I know what I did to you in the past was inexcusable, but I want to make up for it. I really do. I don't know why I did it, I just know I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for hurting you as a kids and never letting you get to know me. I'm sorry for bullying you in school. I'm sorry I hurt you so much that I forced you to form a gang to get rid of me. I realize I was such an ass. I want to make it up to you so badly. It's all my fault. I'm such and idiot. I made you turn into the person who you are today. If only had just-"

"Natsu stop!" Lucy exclaimed. Natsu stared at her in awe. Was she going to yell at him about how much of an ass he is? Will she accept his apology? "I don't care what you're sorry for. What happened, happened. I could sit here for hours and tell you about how much an ass you were. You could sit here for hours and tell me how much you want to make up for it, but I couldn't care less about your words. Words mean nothing, actions mean everything. Right now, you being here at the park with me means a lot. It tells me that you're trying and that's more than enough to make up for what you did in the past. And yeah, while you're partially to blame for who I am, there are many other leading factors as to what made me, me."

"Lucy…" was all Natsu could muster out of his mouth.

"Do you remember my mother? She left my father and I for a younger man. It was really hard my dad and I and he actually started ignoring me. I was nothing more than a bargaining chip with my mother's face. He stayed up in his office all the time, working on his business, because of how depressed he was. I got yelled at just for even entering the office to talk to him, when I wasn't allowed. I was only allowed to see him when requested my presence. When he needed me for business reasons. Ms. Spetto, one of my servants, was my only friend for the longest time. I was so lonely. Even visiting with you when we were engaged was welcomed by me. I didn't care how much you hated me and bullied me, because it was the only other human interaction I got out of my house. That is, until I met Levy and the rest of my family. We all became so close and trusting, we decided to start a gang…as a form a revenge to all of those who have hurt us and our families. We trained ourselves as skilled assassins and you know the rest for there. Just two years ago, my father and I got in a huge fight, and I finally got him to open his eyes again. We just recently started to repair all the damage that's happened between us. And honestly? I couldn't be any happier. And about my gang Natsu. I never made it to get back at you. I founded the Celestial Guards because my mother left my father. I was angry and I wanted to hurt all those who hurt my family. Also your gang was in my way to reach my goal."

"Wait, Lucy I don't understand. Who hurt your family?"

"Many people, who I don't wish to talk about. I haven't told anyone this, but my dad runs a shady business on the sidelines. He's the leader of a well-known mafia group in Fiore. My gang managed to surpass him to the top. He's been hurt on several occasions and has had three attempts to end his life. One poison, one sniper and once in the comfort of our own home in his bedroom. It's hard on him to run the family business and his sideline business. I swore to protect him after my mother left, and I will make sure that will happen." What she was saying had shocked Natsu. This girl, had been through so much. She didn't deserve any of this, and he had just made it worse. He never even knew about her mother, and was engaged to her since birth! He clenched his hand in anger.

"Lucy stand up." He commanded her. She did as she was told and stood in front of Natsu. He stood up and wrapped his arms around her in an embrace. It shocked Lucy. Natsu was never the type to hug someone. He got down on one knee and took her right hand.

"Natsu. What are you doing?! People are staring."

"I know Lucy, but right now I don't care. Because I'm making a vow to you. I vow to never let you cry again. From this day forward I will be your knight in shining armor. The one person you can count on. With the shout of my name, I'll be there as fast I can. I will never leave your side. And I will never ever make you cry. You will as much a part of my family as I will be to yours. I promise to be your rock when everything else is as destructive as a hurricane. This, is my vow to you Lucy Heartfilia. Please, let me be your knight." Lucy stayed down at him, when out of the blue she started laughing. She was laughing so hard that she had to bend over because it hurt. Natsu scowled and stood up.

"You're laughing at me? After everything I just said?" He was getting pissed off.

"Hahaha! No- hahaha! That's not why I'm laughing. Hahahahahahahaha" When she had finally calmed down she said, "It just finally hit me. All those years of pain and misery for me just finally rolled off my shoulders and feels great. I haven't laughed that hard in years Natsu. Thank you." She hugged him. "Thank you for being my knight. I know that you'll be there for me when no one else will be. I know you're being sincere and I gladly welcome you into my family, as I would love to be welcomed by yours." She let him go and gave him a smile. And for the first time ever, he saw it reach her eyes. He finally saw the true Lucy Heartfilia. This was the Lucy he wanted to protect for as long as he could. He gently put his hand on her back and led her back to his truck.

On their way home Lucy had said out the blue "Hey Natsu?"

"Yeah Lucy?"

"This is going to sound really weird, but I want to be reengaged to you." Luckily they were back at her house when he slammed on the breaks.

"WHAT?!" He exclaimed. "Look I understand that we're finally becoming friends, but we're not on "that" level yet." Lucy shook her head.

"No Natsu. That's not what I mean. I'm asking you for my father's sake. I just want him to be happy and I know this is what would make him ecstatic. All I want to do is see him smile like he used to when my mom was around. I think this would do it too. Please Natsu, it's all I ask." She looked at him with pleading eyes. Natsu thought long and hard about what Lucy was asking.

"I'll do it, but on one condition."

"What is it?"

"When my "family" welcomes you into my gang, you have get our tattoo insignia on your hand. It can be whatever color you want it to be, but is has to be on you hand."

"Deal!" And just like that, the two newly acquainted friends were once again engaged. Natsu had walked Lucy up to the door and wished her a goodnight. On his way home, he realized he felt happy. Truly happy. Not like with his family; that was different. This feeling was new, and he really liked it.

When Lucy's father had asked her how it went she said it was fun and she had an amazing time.

"Daddy there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it? Is it bad?" He asked slightly panicked. She shook her head no.

"No it's good thing I promise. While at the park Natsu and I came to an agreement. We agreed to get married again." Jude's face lit up like a Christmas tree and he embraced Lucy, spinning her around.

"I'm so happy for you!" This was the way that Lucy always wants to see her father. "You're not just doing this because of me are you? Because I really want you to do this for you."

"I know dad. I am doing this for me. Natsu's really a nice person. I just never realized it until now. Do you know what he told me at the park?"

"No. What did that boy tell you?"

"He made me a promise. To never make me cry and to never let me cry. He promised to be my rock when no one else can be." Jude smiled tenderly at his daughter, noticing the slight blush on her cheeks that she probably didn't realize she had.

"That's sweet of him. I didn't know he was capable of saying such words." Lucy smiled at the memory of what he said.

"Yeah, neither did I."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey guys. It's me with this really overdue chapter. Honestly I was going to make it a filler until I could figure out what I really wanted to do with Natsu and Lucy. You see I had this started but I wasn't really into writing this chapter and left alone for a reaaallllllllly really long time if you haven't noticed. Then I got to the point to where I was almost done with it and left it alone again for about a month. I looked at today and read it out loud and when I read it out loud more ideas popped in my head with how I wanted this chapter to go. Still not fully satisfied but this is the outcome and I'm happy with it, just not fully satisfied. Thanks for reading. Don't forget to favorite, follow and review if you want. If you don't like it, stop reading it.

~VampireQueenLori