Chapter Seven: Corporal Dragneel

A smile worked its way onto Lucy's face as she opened her gallery app, looking over the pictures she took that morning. Her thumb swiped through the photos, remembering how happy and proud she had been at Natsu's promotion ceremony.

Her favorite picture had to be the one right before he got promoted. His posture was pristine, but his eyes shined with a mirth that couldn't be contained. That look he wore showed how proud he was of himself, and he deserved every bit of it.

A soft chuckle escaped her as she looked at the photo of Natsu's father, Igneel, pinning one of his Corporal ranks on. The two looked nothing alike, but that made sense given Natsu was adopted. Igneel had dark red hair, almost as crimson as Erza's had been. He stood a good foot taller than Natsu, and despite the Marine having a muscular body, Igneel's build was bigger, the man towering over everyone he stood near.

However different their appearances were, Lucy could tell they were father and son, even if not by blood. From the brief conversation she had with Igneel, she could tell where Natsu got a good chunk of his personality. Both men were warm and kind, with just enough humor to be charming. She didn't know how Natsu's biological father would compare, but she was glad it was Igneel and Grandeeney who adopted him instead of someone else.

They did an amazing job raising a respectable man, one who Lucy was proud to call her boyfriend and best friend.

Well, best guy friend. Juvia currently held the title of her best friend in general, but she didn't feel like getting technical now.

Lucy leaned back in her seat, glancing at the time in the corner of her screen before sighing. Her beak was almost over, meaning she would need to return to work soon. She was able to come in late so she could see Natsu's promotion, but she had to make up the time by staying later tonight.

'At least I get to see Natsu again soon.'

She had been invited to dinner with Natsu and his family, but first she had to make it through her shift and the few hours in between. 'I wonder if I should wear the same dress I wore this morning? Or maybe something more casual?'

After a moment, Lucy decided on jeans and a blouse, knowing it was supposed to get cold later that night. She wanted to make a great second impression on Natsu's family, and she figured that would be hard if she kept shivering the whole time.

Despite Lucy putting away her phone when her break was over, she couldn't help but recall Natsu's promotion. He had looked sharp in his cammies, putting more effort into his appearance than usual. He had gotten his hair cut the day before, even though he didn't normally get his hair cut until the weekend.

As she stocked cell phone accessories, Lucy skipped through the boring parts of the ceremony, wanting to think of just Natsu's part. A few other Marines had gotten promoted, but Lucy hadn't been interested in them.

He had gotten his father to pin one of his ranks on while his First Sergeant did the other. The man looked absolutely ecstatic as he became a Corporal.

Lucy remembered teasing Natsu before about the blood stripe, but she knew there was nothing to worry about. A past ritual for Marines reaching that rank consisted of them getting kneed in the thighs by their fellow Marines. The idea was to leave a bruise up and down their legs, creating a literal 'blood stripe'.

If someone were to do that now and got caught, they could be charged for hazing, most likely resulting in them losing rank and pay, if not worse. The Marine Corps was trying to get better about catching people hazing others, but their system wasn't perfect.

However, Lucy doubted anything like that would happen with Natsu. She hadn't heard of anyone doing that cruel, unofficial tradition in a long time.

Lucy dismissed those thoughts, instead thinking about when Natsu was given his two red stripes of fabric. He would need to bring them and his dress uniform trousers to the tailor, that way they could get the red strips sewn on, hopefully before the Marine Corps ball.

She smiled, thinking about the dress she was going to wear this year. Her father hadn't bothered to say a negative word about Natsu in a long time, even when he over hear her telling her mother she was going with Natsu again this year. Jude hadn't accepted Natsu, but he was tolerating him, and that was a step in the right direction.

Honestly though, Lucy doubted Jude would ever approve of any partner she chose. He just didn't want to see his daughter grow up, but she knew he would get over himself eventually. He just needed time.

"Excuse me miss?"

Lucy glanced up, seeing a woman in uniform holding up a copy of a video game. "Yes?"

"Do you have this for the Xbox One? I only see it for PS4."

Smiling, Lucy told the lady to stay there while she went to look in the back. Her focus on work kept her from thinking about Natsu as much, but he still lingered in her mind. She couldn't wait to see him later and congratulate him again. She also couldn't wait to see Natsu's family, but this time under less formal circumstances.

From what she could tell, they were nice people, and she hoped they liked her, especially Natsu's mom and younger sister. For some reason, Lucy craved their approval above his father's, but that might be due to the comment she heard Igneel 'whisper' to Natsu right before his promotion ceremony.

"She seems like a keeper."

Lucy had to bite back her grin, not wanting to look weird as she continued her day at work.

"And then there was the time in eighth grade," Grandeeney started, ignoring her son's protests as she told the horrendous story about him setting his jeans on fire. In his defense, he was trying to perform a trick, trying to make it look like he could breathe fire. However, he accidentally spilled the flammable liquid he was using on his pants, but he was unaware of it until it was too late. "At least he got the fire out before he burned himself too badly."

Natsu shivered despite thinking about the heat on his thighs when it happened. He had singed all the hair off in that area, but he only suffered first degree burns, nothing serious.

"Good thing he always kept a bucket of water with him when he was playing with fire," Igneel said, wiping away a stray tear in his eye as he resisted a chuckle.

Lucy didn't bother hiding her laughter, her eyes watering as she struggled to breathe. Natsu had lost count at this point, unsure how many embarrassing stories his family told her. If he didn't know better, he would swear they were trying to get Lucy to break up with him, showing how ridiculous he was in his youth.

At first he thought it was just going to be his parents, but after a few stories, his little sister Wendy jumped in, sharing some of her own.

By the time their food arrived, Natsu's face was as red as the sauce in his spaghetti. No matter how hard he tried steering the conversation, his family found a way to bring up something else dumb he did.

Unfortunately for him, there were a lot to choose from.

He couldn't help it. As a kid he loved exploring and going on adventures, but through that, he also ran into some trouble. Most of it was his fault, but some were just wrong place, wrong time situations, but Lucy didn't seem to see a difference, laughing at each story as they went on.

Natsu sighed before deciding to eat his food, realizing it didn't matter how hard he tried, they weren't going to stop. He was happy his family kept the worst stories to themselves, at least for now. He hadn't done anything too bad, but everyone had embarrassing things they did as kids that they wanted to keep from their significant other, and Natsu was no exception.

Natsu's eyes flashed over to Lucy when he felt something on his leg, realizing she had reached over and settled her hand there. He looked over her features, but her eyes were flitting between his family members, acting as if she wasn't touching Natsu beneath the table. Her hand didn't move, only giving his leg soft squeezes. He smothered his smile, happy she was still willing to show him affection despite his messy childhood.

Speaking of messy, his dad then told a story about how he refused to clean his room for a month, resulting in a mild case of mold growing on the plates he left on his desk. Natsu groaned, dropping his head in defeat. As much as he loved his family, he hoped dinner would end soon, that way they couldn't tell Lucy more dreadful stories of his past.

After one more story, his family finally gave it a rest, deciding instead to get to know Lucy since they had already said enough about Natsu. She kept her answers simple, telling them she was in college now, but she was looking forward to graduating and starting her career.

Natsu didn't know it, but Lucy was glad they didn't bring up her father's status during dinner. She knew Natsu had told them about Jude, but they didn't breathe a word of it. Too many times she had to talk about her dad because people didn't bother to get to know her as a person, deciding to stick to 'safe' topics. She loved her dad, but his career wasn't the biggest thing going on in her life, and she preferred not talking about it if she could help it.

That was part of the reason why she didn't mention it to Natsu in the beginning, but she was also worried he would distance himself from her if he knew. In hindsight, she realized she should have given him a heads up, but she couldn't do anything to change the past. She could only try making better decisions in her future.

"I'm really glad we finally got to meet you," Grandeeney said, her smile just as warm as her son's. "Though, if I'm being honest, I feel like we already know you from how much Natsu talks about you."

Lucy blushed, her eyes flashing to Natsu's before they settled on his mom again. "I didn't know he talked about me," she said, trying to keep the embarrassment out of her voice. She wondered what all he said, hoping it was only good things.

While Lucy and Natsu suited each other well, they were still a normal couple. They had their little tiffs with each other, but it wasn't anything they couldn't handle and work through.

"All the time," Igneel added, snickering at his son. "He sounds like a lovesick puppy when he talks about ya."

"Dad," Natsu warned, but there was no bite in his tone. "Could you not?"

"I could," Igneel started, merely grinning, his voice trailing off. Lucy didn't know if he was going to say anything else, but after a few beats of silence, it was safe to assume he was finished teasing Natsu.

Dinner carried on, the waitress coming by after a while to give them their checks. Natsu offered to pay for everyone, and after a short debate between him and his dad, it was decided that Natsu could pay as long as Igneel could take care of the tip.

When the checks were settled, everyone stood, but they had no intentions on leaving. The restaurant they chose to eat at was a sports bar, complete with a game room off to the side where patrons could play. Natsu had asked before they got there if they wanted to play a few rounds of pool, and the Dragneels had happily agreed.

The first game consisted of boys vs. girls, but after Lucy's team won, they broke into smaller groups to visit the arcade games. Wendy took a particular interest in one where she had to fly her character around obstacle courses while Natsu and Igneel favored the shooting games.

Lucy had some fun playing the claw game, but the only thing she won was a smile when Natsu joined her, hugging her from behind before holding her close.

He muttered an, "I love you," before separating, heading over to watch his mom as she struggled to play Pac-Man.

While Lucy didn't have any deep conversations with Natsu's family, she thought their time together went well, especially when Grandeeney gave her a hug before they all parted ways.

Natsu's family took off to their hotel for the night while Natsu and Lucy went to her car. She figured it would be easier for her to take Natsu to the barracks since she knew how to get there on her own, whereas his family would need directions the entire way. Not to mention, they could get lost trying to get back to their hotel. Sometimes addresses on base didn't work well with GPS.

The drive through base didn't take long, Lucy and Natsu humming or singing to the songs coming from the radio. Lucy couldn't wipe the smile off her face, happy Natsu's family seemed to like her, and Natsu didn't bother hiding his excitement, finding everything in his life going his way for once.

He got promoted that morning, he got to spend time with his family, and now he was hanging out with the woman he gave his heart to. Nothing could bring him down.

Instead of Lucy dropping Natsu off in the parking lot, she parked her car and walked up to his room with him. Despite spending a good amount of the day with him, she couldn't get enough, Natsu making everything feel better just by being himself. Plus, Natsu didn't mind, even letting her wear his jacket since the air had grown colder. He held her hand as they walked, both basking in their comfortable silence until they reached his room.

Natsu furrowed his brows when he opened the door, finding the lights were off. He called out Gray's name, but he received no reply. "Guess he's not here," he mumbled, pulling out his phone to send Gray a quick text.

Where you at?

Natsu turned back, finding Lucy waiting at the threshold. He beckoned her closer, wanting a few more minutes with her before they had to part ways. She hurried inside, bringing her hands up to cup her arms, pulling Natsu's jacket closer to her body. He had to resist the urge to growl. Lucy wearing his clothes was one of the sexiest things he had ever seen.

Before Natsu's thoughts could turn too lewd, he felt his phone vibrating in his hand. He glanced at it before smiling, deciding to read Gray's text aloud. "Over at Juvia's. Gonna be back late. Don't wait up."

Natsu hadn't put his phone away before Lucy was closing the door, her fingers lingering on the knob after she locked it. Her eyes found his, her voice soft but firm as she asked, "What do you want to do now that we're alone?"

"I can think of a few things," Natsu whispered, crossing the room in an instant to get her in his arms.

"Fuck!" Lucy threw her head back as Natsu rammed his hips against hers, his cock stretching and rubbing her inner walls with every rough thrust. She could barely catch her breath, sweat beading down her forehead and neck as her nails raked against his firm chest. That only seemed to drive him further into madness, his moans turning into growls as he increased his speed.

"I love that face you're making," Natsu taunted, leaning in to drag his tongue against her collarbone before pulling back, a salacious grin resting on his lips.

Lucy gasped, her eyes flying open as she gazed at her boyfriend. He had her caged against the bed, his strong arms on either side of her as he fucked into her. Though, caged was the wrong word to use. She didn't feel like a prisoner in his arms. It was the opposite in fact. She felt free when she was with Natsu, like she could truly be herself and not worry about him judging her. It was refreshing, addicting, and above all, breathtaking.

"I love you," she moaned, arms wrapping around to his back before pulling him closer. He went willingly, groaning as her lips found his in a heated kiss. Their tongues and lips moved against each other's as their frantic pace slowed just a bit, allowing them to enjoy the kiss without letting it get too clumsy.

When Natsu pulled away from her swollen lips, he moaned, his hungry eyes set on her and only her. "I love you too," he whispered, voice thick with lust and desire. He sealed his lips against hers a second later, needing to taste her, to be connected to her in every way.

Lucy arched into his touches, her core tightening around him with every flick of his tongue and growl he emitted. She absolutely loved when he let himself go in bed, his actions and sounds animalistic with just enough intimacy to set her heart on fire.

They had grown a lot closer since they started dating, and every time they were together, Lucy swore it was better than the last. The trust she held for him made the sex incredible, knowing she was in good hands.

"God!" Natsu pulled out of her unexpectedly, leaving Lucy gasping for air as she struggled to figure out what he was doing. She half expected to feel a gush of liquid on her stomach and chest, having experienced Natsu cumming on her body a few times before, but instead of finishing, Natsu grabbed her wrist to pull her up too.

"What are—" Lucy's voice cut out when her thighs started spreading over his, Natsu bringing her into his lap. He wrapped an arm around her waist, securing her to him as he lowered himself on the bed, letting Lucy straddle him.

She got the picture, hand falling between their bodies to grab his throbbing cock. As much as she wanted him inside her again, to fill that emptiness within, she couldn't help but take advantage of the moment. Natsu wasn't the only one who enjoyed teasing in their relationship.

Lucy smirked to herself as she rubbed the head of his length against her slit, pulling back every time Natsu tried to buck himself into her. It wasn't long until he figured out what she was doing, but instead of putting an end to it, he set his hands on her hips, squeezing her as he gave her what she wanted.

"Please," he moaned, biting his lower lip when she circled her clit with his tip. His cock begged to be inside her, but he didn't give in, liking the look of power crossing Lucy's face as she dragged her lower lips against his flushed member.

"You want to fuck me?" she taunted, her hooded eyes making her that much more alluring.

Natsu nodded, nails biting into her skin to earn a sharp gasp before he let up, an apology whispered between them before he ran his hands up and down her sides. "You have no idea how much I wanna be inside you!"

He clenched his teeth when she didn't give him what he wanted, instead dragging it out by dipping an inch of himself into her wet heat before pulling it right back out. She was such a tease, but he loved every second of it.

"Luuuushi!" he begged, seeing a blush spreading over her skin, traveling down her neck to cover her chest and the top of her breasts. She was gorgeous, and she was all his.

A wicked smile spread over Lucy's lips as she grasped his cock harder, earning a grunt from Natsu. It didn't hurt, merely surprising him. He grabbed her sides just as tight, waiting for her to make the next move, only to realize he wasn't at all prepared for it.

"As you wish, Corporal."

"Oh fuck!"

Natsu's eyes squeezed shut as she slid him into her dripping core, his mind and body overloading with pleasure as she did exactly what he wanted her to do. She rode him, all while making a fantasy he didn't know he had come true.

"Say it again!" he groaned, pulling her down to make the thrusts that much deeper. "Please!"

Lucy moaned, her voice a mix between amused and aroused as she whispered, "Say what, Corporal?"

While it didn't turn Lucy on much using his rank in bed, she could see how much Natsu enjoyed it. She leaned into it, purposely squeezing his cock as she moved up and down, moaning that title whenever it seemed fit.

Natsu was panting by the time Lucy started rolling her hips against his. He was in heaven, loving the way Lucy bounced on his cock while moaning his new rank. He had worked hard to get it, and hearing it come from her sweet lips made his blood hotter and his cock harder.

"Ooooooh!" Lucy fell forward, her fingers digging into the sheets beside Natsu's head as he started taking over, thrusting upwards into her fast and hard, stealing her breath away with every snap of his hips. She crumbled before him, her voice raspy as she moaned, "Corporal Dragneel!"

"Fuck!" Natsu growled, pressing his lips against her ear. "I fucking love the way you say it!"

Another rough thrust had Lucy seeing stars, her body shaking as she inevitably tipped over the edge, her breath catching as she whimpered, "Natsuu!"

"God damn!"

Natsu pulled her into a fierce kiss, swallowing every throaty moan that tumbled past her lips. He held an arm around her lower back, encouraging her to writhe against his cock as she came. He tore his lips away from hers long enough to growl, "I love that more!" before kissing her again, relishing in the feeling of her pressed tightly against him.

He was proud of himself for becoming a Corporal, but there was something about Lucy moaning his name that drove him insane. Nothing could beat it, his body burning as she moaned his name again and again as he rocked into her.

"Natssuuuu! Natsu! Fuuuck!"

"I could listen to you all fucking day," Natsu groaned, wishing that were the case but knowing it wasn't possible. Even then, he could feel himself wanting to give in to the pleasure, his lower stomach on fire as he tried to hold out. He managed to give her another five hard thrusts before he was teetering himself, needing one more sultry moan from his goddess before he was ready to snap.

"NATSUUU!"

"NGH!"

Natsu threw his head back as he found his release, his body pulsing with pleasure as he emptied himself inside Lucy's hot core. He didn't think it was possible for her to get any more slippery, but he was proven wrong, his cum making her sopping wet, their combined fluids leaking out around his cock to smear against their inner thighs.

He loved the mess, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Their time alone together was usually a chaotic mix of raw passion and love. He wouldn't trade it for anything, treasuring every moment he got to spend with Lucy.

He didn't care if they had been together for a year or a century, she had his heart, and there was no one who could stop him from loving her with everything he had.

"Fuck," Natsu mumbled, arms wrapping around Lucy as she melted against him, putting her weight on him. It was comforting, a smile tugging as his lips as he breathed her in, feeling her press her lips against his bare shoulder. "I love you. That was ama—"

Natsu's voice cut out when he heard the door unlocking. Lucy's eyes went wide as she pulled away, the two having a second to look at each other before they panicked, both scrambling to find and pull the blankets over their naked bodies before Gray could enter the barracks room.

"I'm back," Gray started, not looking around before closing the door. "You still up?"

He turned his head, eyes falling to see the scene beside him. Natsu's eyes were wide while Lucy's head was tucked into his chest, a poor attempt to hide herself from Gray. He blinked, jaw dropping when he comprehended what had been going on moments before his arrival.

"Were you two...?" Gray shook his head, throwing a hand over his eyes before blurting out, "I don't wanna know!" He promptly turned around, swinging the door open wide to make his escape. "You have five minutes to get decent, otherwise I'm kicking your ass Dragneel."

With that, Gray left, leaving Lucy and Natsu a flustered mess beneath his sheets.

They hesitated, their eyes finding each others before Natsu whispered, "It's not as good when he says it."

Lucy snorted before shaking her head, taking the blankets with her as she sat up. They both untangled from the other before searching for the clothes, knowing they would need them before heading to the bathroom to wash off.

Out of all the times they had sex, that had to be the most awkward afterwards, but they held their heads high regardless.

Once Lucy put on her last shoe, the two shared a look before Natsu cracked a smile. "Well, that wasn't weird or anything."

Lucy shook her head, chuckling as she straightened her blouse. "I kind of feel bad. We might've scarred him."

"He'll be fine," Natsu said, waving a hand towards the door. He grinned, walking over to his girlfriend before wrapping his arms around her shoulders, pulling her in for a tight hug. "At least he didn't come earlier. Pretty sure he would've kicked my ass for sure."

Lucy snorted, already imagining it. "Yeah. Guess we're lucky."

"I wouldn't go that far. We're just not unlucky."

Cocking a brow, Lucy pulled back to ask, "So, we're somewhere between lucky and unlucky? What would that be?'

Natsu shrugged, not bothering to come up with an answer. "Should we go tell him we're good? Feels like it's been over five minutes."

"He probably doesn't want to risk seeing us naked. I don't blame him."

Natsu tilted his head before looking down at their bodies. "What? I think we look great!"

"That's not what I mean," Lucy started, swatting at his chest before pulling back. "I mean I wouldn't want to see Gray or Juvia naked, even though I'm pretty sure they don't look bad either."

"Careful Lucy," Natsu teased, already knowing he was going to make that blush on his girlfriend's face darker. "Keep talking like that and I might think you wanna have an orgy with them or somethin'."

Just as he guessed, Lucy's flush burned hotter as she stammered out a response, though her denying it only made him egg her on more. Of course, the two knew he was joking, but it was still too much fun to mess with her. To be fair, she did her own teasing from time to time, but it was mainly him who enjoyed it, even if it often got him scolded.

"You're something else, Natsu," Lucy finally settled with after a long sigh. "I think you might be the death of me."

"Awww," Natsu whined, giving her a pout as he tried to grab her again, only to smile when she let him hold her. "But I wanted to spend a lotta more years with you. You can't die."

"A lotta, huh?" Lucy's frame shook as she held back her laughter. "And how much is a lotta to you?"

Natsu shrugged, not hesitating before saying, "I dunno. Like at least sixty, maybe seventy years. How long do humans normally live again?"

Lucy's body froze as her eyes grew wide, hoping she wasn't reading into things. "C-careful," she started, a hint of anxiety lacing her words. "You shouldn't say things you don't mean."

Natsu's breath caught when he realized the implications of his words. He gulped, hoping he wasn't overstepping as he rubbed a hand against her back, coaxing her to relax in his embrace. "Who said I don't mean them?"

Natsu could feel his nervous energy rushing through him. His palms and underarms grew damp with sweat as he failed to control his heartbeat. He couldn't keep his eyes off Lucy's, even though his mind begged for him to look away. He knew it was rushing things by making such promises, but he couldn't help it.

He loved her, and he wanted to spend his life with her if she would let him. He just hadn't had the courage to tell her that yet, and knowing him, he was surprised he hadn't said something earlier on accident.

Lucy's lips parted, but she didn't respond. She stared into Natsu's eyes, entranced for a moment as her mind raced. Just as she tried forming some words, any words, the two jolted from the sound of a knock at the door.

"You two decent yet?!"

The aggravation in Gray's voice was palpable, both Natsu and Lucy looking embarrassed as they separated from each other. Natsu called out to Gray, letting him know it was safe to come in as Lucy grabbed her purse.

Despite saying he was in the clear, Gray hesitated before opening the door, a scowl present on his face as he examined the room. "Can't believe you two," he muttered, no real bite laced in his tone. "Like two horny teenagers, huh?"

Instead of responding to the insult, Natsu wrapped his hand around Lucy's wrist, gently pulling her towards the door. "Be right back."

"Take your time," Gray said, shooing the two off with a hand. It was hard to see, considering he was frowning, but Natsu caught the slightly glimpse of a smile in Gray's eyes. He knew he'd be in for a world of teasing when he got back, but it would be worth it.

Lucy was always worth it.

The walk to Lucy's car was silent, but the awkwardness died down shortly after Natsu slipped his hand into hers, interlocking their fingers. He loved how she seemed to fit perfectly with him, like they were made for each other. He didn't believe in soulmates or anything like that, but if he did, he would say Lucy fit the bill.

"Thanks for inviting me out," Lucy said as she spotted her car, knowing her time with Natsu was limited. She wished she could spend more time with Natsu, even going as far as imagining how it would be if they lived together, but she had to put an end to those thoughts soon after they formed. It was too easy to lean into the normal military lifestyle, but she didn't want that yet, knowing they needed more time together first.

Many military couples rushed things. Lucy had seen countless Marines get married within the first year of dating and move in together to start their lives. While Lucy would like to spend more time with Natsu, she couldn't see herself getting hitched just for the sake of living together. She wanted to take her time, and thankfully Natsu seemed to want the same.

She wasn't ready for any big commitments, but that didn't mean she wasn't open to them in the future.

"I'm glad you came out," Natsu whispered, his thumb stroking against her hand, creating a small fire in her stomach. His touches brought her comfort and security. She liked being with him. He made her happy.

Natsu smiled, coincidentally thinking about how happy Lucy made him as well. "I think it's safe to say my family likes ya." He wished he could say the same about Lucy's family, but at least he had half of them liking him.

"I hope so." Lucy took a step closer to Natsu, her eyes widening when he let go of her hand to wrap his arm around her shoulders, tucking her under his arm. The warm that consumed her almost made her hum, but she kept quiet.

"I know they did. What's not to love?"

Lucy bit her inner cheek, smothering the smile that wanted to break out. Her excitement still found a way to show, her cheeks warming as a soft blush spread over her face. 'At least it's too dark to notice,' she thought.

They arrived at her car much too soon for either of them, but the night had to end somewhere. Besides, the two were tired, and they would see each other again tomorrow anyway. Natsu invited her to hang out with his family again, and she couldn't deny that offer.

"What time should I pick you up?" Lucy asked, slowly digging through her purse to find her keys.

"Maybe noon?" Natsu said, shrugging.

She snorted, knowing he liked to sleep in whenever given the chance. "Okay, any idea what you want to do?"

"It's been a while since we've been mini golfing. I know Wendy loves to play, so that should be fun."

Lucy nodded, liking his idea. "Sounds great." She pulled out her keys, resisting the urge to sigh. Once again, she found herself not wanting to leave. The closer they became, the more often she wanted him in her life. While she wasn't ready for the big leaps yet, she could see herself taking baby steps.

Her goal was to get her own apartment in the next few months, and the more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea of asking Natsu to halfway move in with her. He could spend his weeknights in the barracks and the weekends with her, giving them all the privacy they would need.

Of course, Lucy was conflicted. The point of her getting the apartment was for independence, but she didn't know if having Natsu around would hinder that. She wanted to be on her own, but she also wanted his good company. Torn, Lucy had yet to bring it up, but she knew she had time before she had to make any big decisions.

"I'll see ya tomorrow," Natsu started, leaning in to give her a soft kiss on the lips. She responded, eyes fluttering closed for a few seconds as she enjoyed his natural warmth and comfort.

Lucy gazed up at him, her heart beaming when he whispered, "I love you, so much."

She smiled, the same words spilling from her lips a second later. When she met Natsu, she didn't think anything would ever happen. She thought he was cute, but the more he came around after that, the more she started liking him. He was a good combination of fun and dorky, and she couldn't resist when he finally asked her out to the ball. She never regretted her decision, loving their journey together.

'And the journey's just beginning.'

"Hey, Natsu," Lucy started, stopping Natsu as he turned away. He faced her again, his eyes holding mild curiosity as he waited for her to say something.

Despite her confliction, there was one thing she was certain of, even if she still wanted to take her time getting there. "I..." Lucy paused, taking a deep breath to give herself strength. "I want to spend a lotta years with you too... If that's okay?"

Natsu's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before he swallowed thickly, caught off guard by her words. He hadn't been expecting them, still wondering if he went too far as to suggest the same thing earlier.

"Yeah?" he asked, voice cautious, worried she might take it back. They hadn't discussed big commitments before, but he had a feeling they were headed that way, sometime in the future.

Lucy nodded, her smile soft as she whispered, "Yes."

Natsu released his breath, his own smile appearing as he took a step closer to embrace her. He was worried he had jumped the gun, but it seemed Lucy wasn't freaked out by his implications. He wasn't the only one wanting them to last for a long time.

Natsu didn't know how long he hugged her for, or when she started hugging him back. All he knew was he felt complete at that moment, happy he had found someone as caring and loving as Lucy.

She complimented him in ways he didn't know he needed, and he hoped he was a good companion for her too. She had a good head on her shoulders, and if she chose to be with him, he figured that meant he was doing pretty good.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Natsu asked despite them already establishing they would hang out.

Lucy nodded, slowly pulling away so she could look at him. "Yeah."

"Can't wait," he whispered, cupping her cheek before leaning in, giving her a kiss so soft he swore his lips ghosted over hers.

Unsatisfied, Lucy lifted herself up, pressing her lips fully to his before dropping back, happy when she saw the gleam in Natsu's eyes. She liked when he was gentle, but she also enjoyed how fierce he could be, and in that moment, she craved passion.

"Congratulations again," she said, letting those be her parting words as she unlocked her car, slipping into the driver's seat.

He waited until she was pulling away before turning to head back to his room, a shit-eating grin resting on his face. Today couldn't have been better, even if he planned it all. He got promoted, he got to see his family, and he got a better idea on how Lucy saw their relationship.

When Natsu went back to the room, he heard the water running, letting him know Gray was showering. He moved to his bed, pulling out his phone in the process. He knew it was premature, but Natsu couldn't stop himself from looking.

There was no harm in looking, right?

He went to Google, typing in two words to start his search.

Engagement rings

Natsu smiled, thinking everything in his life was falling into place.

I've never actually been to a real Marine Corps promotion ceremony, so that part is kind of vague. I've never felt comfortable being around military events, so my anxiety about that usually kept me home for some of them. The only ceremony I went to aside from military balls was my ex-husband's reenlistment ceremony. I couldn't miss that one.

So, when I started this story I was excited and still married to a Marine. Even before we decided to get a divorce, this story was becoming a pain to write. I'm not a huge fan of the Marine Corps and after we decided to get a divorce the whole thing reminded me of my ex too much. He was a Marine for a little over 7 years which was a majority of our marriage. (We were married for 8.5 years, but together for 11 years and 8 months.)

You can leave the story here, or you can read my summaries for how the story was going to end. It's completely up to you. Either way, thank you so much for reading. I appreciated all the support and feedback. Sorry I can't continue this story. It just hurts too much and I don't want to force myself to be in pain just to give it a proper ending.

In chapter eight, Natsu was waking up, excited for his date with Lucy tonight. A few months had passed since the last chapter. Him and Gray were going on a double date with Lucy and Juvia to go see the musical 'Wicked'. (Which by the way, Wicked is awesome, and if you ever have the opportunity to watch it I suggest you do) The guys were going mainly for the girls, but they were hopeful they'd like it too. That morning, however, when they got to formation, they were informed that their unit was being deployed. Natsu was conflicted. While he had wanted to deploy and travel for so long (it was one of the reasons he joined) now he realizes he'll miss Lucy. He decides to tell Lucy after the date, that way it doesn't spoil the musical. They all meet up later, watch Wicked, enjoy it a lot. Then they go to the apartment building where Lucy and Juvia live. (At this point Lucy had moved out of her parents house and rented a small studio apartment in Juvia's building. Gray goes with Juvia and Natsu goes with Lucy. He tries to break the news to her, but when Lucy sees him struggling, she tells him she already knows. Her father told her and her mother earlier that day. Natsu asks how it's going to work, Lucy assures him it's not a huge deal. Back in the old days they could only communicate through letters and the occasional phone call, but she tells Natsu the last time her father was deployed he was able to text her mom and video call with her, so the technology makes the deployment more bearable. She says if he wants to keep seeing her, she'll wait for him to get back and support him throughout. He says he definitely wants to stay with her, so they do. Then the chapter ends with Gray calling Natsu to ask if Lucy can talk to Juvia, the girl is a crying mess after she found out Gray's deploying. They leave her apartment, ready to console their friend.

In chapter nine, it basically covers their departing. Natsu's family is there, as well as Lucy's family. They're all saying goodbye, Natsu thinking he's going to ask Lucy to marry him when he gets back. Already bought the ring, just didn't want to spend the first part of their engagement apart.

In chapter ten, Lucy goes to a bar with Juvia and Gajeel, they're all hanging out, then Juvia leaves and Gajeel gets a phone call, so he steps out for a moment. A guy approaches Lucy, asks her if he can buy her a drink, she says she's taken, sorry. Since it's a military town, the guy asks if she's with a Marine. She says yes, he asks are you the type that's willing to step out, for a night. She gets offended at him, but before she can tell him off, Gajeel shows up and intimidates the guy. He leaves, Gajeel and Lucy talk about it for a moment before leaving. When Lucy gets home, she sees Natsu can video call. They do, decide to have phone sex. After they get off, they talk for a few minutes before hanging up. It's late where Lucy's at but morning where Natsu is.

In chapter eleven, it covers the homecoming. The buses pull up, everyone excited to be reunited with their loved ones. The Marines have a huge party to celebrate, Lucy feels like Natsu is going to propose, just can't shake the feeling, but when he doesn't, she gets a little disappointed but she realizes it's okay. They enjoy the party, then afterwards go for a walk alone, end up in a park in the middle of the night. They sit on a bench, staring up at the stars. Natsu says he was waiting for the right time, and this feels like it. He gets down on one knee and asks her to marry him. She of course says yes, they hug tightly and Lucy starts crying from happiness. Natsu says he doesn't want to live without her in his life, and she says he doesn't have to.

In chapter twelve, it covers the wedding and honeymoon. Sweet vows and some smut, nothing too wild.

That was where the story was going to end this time around. Originally I had like five more chapters where it covered another deployment, an accidental pregnancy, and Natsu deciding two enlistments was enough, he wants to get out and settle down with Lucy properly. I just couldn't force myself to write all of it, and that was before I found out about my divorce. So, sorry for any disappointment with the lack of a proper ending, but I just can't do it. Thank you to those who understand. I will be focusing on my other stories now. Thank you for reading. I hope you have a great day/night!