Here's a chapter that is mildly M in the start, nothing too sexy xP
Sorry for any grammar mistakes.
R&R
Enjoy!
Chapter 9: Castle celebration
Lucy's POV
I found myself leaving the celebration at the bar. I mean, what was the point in staying? Natsu…he was Natsu. My smile faltered as I started slowly to walk towards the bridge. In the middle, I stopped and looked over the edge. Quietly I summoned Plue.
"Hello, Plue," I said softly as I looked to my celestial spirit who was standing on the railing I was leaning on.
My head turned towards the water and I looked down at the stream. A tear fell into the water. Plue's left hand rested on top of my right one in a comforting gesture. I sniffled and wiped my eyes with my left hand. "Thank you," I whispered.
What a day it had been. Or days. I could feel the magical energy within me wanting to explode from what I was feeling. A ragged breath. I closed my eyes and my fists clenched. Then ever so slowly, I started to breath in and out. In and out. I opened my eyes. "I won't get depressed. I'm so silly," I scolded myself aloud. Then I managed to smile, even if it was a small one. Ok, that's a start.
I let Plue return and started to walk again. You would have thought I had gotten tired after the recent events; however, I felt very much awake.
"Princess!" the monotone voice startled me and I jumped a tiny bit as Virgo appeared beside me.
"What is it, Virgo?" I asked, trying to make my heart calm down.
"I am bringing a message from big brother to not worry."
My eyes narrowed. "And why could he not bring me the message himself?" I asked a little bit sharp.
"He is in a secret meeting. Punishment, Princess?"
I raised an eyebrow, but I did not comment on it. Instead I quietly thanked her as she disappeared, leaving golden dust trailing down to the ground, then to disappear.
The air felt fresh as I started on my way back to the Honey Bone Lodge. Most of all I could only imagine that it would rain. I was right. The drops started to slowly fall from the sky. One landed on my cheek. I wiped it away.
Entering the inn had never felt so lonely. Maybe I should have stayed at the bar. I sighed and made my way slowly towards the room. Quietly I unlocked the door and went my way in through the darkness. I did not feel for changing much, and stripped out of my boots, skirt and top. The rest I was leaving on as I lifted the duvet.
My eyes nearly bugged out as I saw a sleeping Natsu laying there. I was on my way to yell, but then he started to mumble.
"Luce…why did you…leave…"
My expression softened as I sat down beside him, not really realizing how I was dressed, and I let a hand rest on his head. Then ever so slowly I let my hand through his soft hair. After repeating the motion some few more times, I laid down. Looking at him.
My eyes closed then to open again. His arm went around me and dragged me closer. "Lu…cy…" he mumbled and tightened his grip. I gave a soft sigh and let my forehead rest against his chest. Welcoming his warmth and his arms. And in that moment, I could pretend that he truly returned my feelings.
3rd person POV
Natsumi stretched the next morning, feeling great, as she had woken up beside the man she loved. As she sat beside her mate she let her gaze slowly wander over his face, then the rest of him. She started to trace a finger from his chin and down to his Fairy Tail mark. She outlined it and then let her finger continue down to his waistline. She was about to go a little bit further when a hand grabbed her wrist. Then dragged her so she landed on top of him.
"Good morning," he whispered and grinned at her.
"Morning," Natsumi chirped as she felt their bodies press against each other.
Igneel brought his mate's face closer to his and his head slowly tilted up so he could meet her lips. Feeling the passion from the previous night, he kept back a quiet chuckle as the make out session got heavier and more passionate.
A soft moan escaped her lips as she felt his hardness against her and in return he loudly groaned.
A sharp knock.
"You don't have time for this!" Anja's voice rung through the tick door. "Would have thought you got enough this night." Then she added in a quieter tone, "If they got any sleep at all."
Natsumi sighed as Igneel pulled away and his head fell back on the pillow. "Where's the fun in that?" Natsumi then asked and made herself comfortable on top of him.
"You heard her," Igneel complained as he more than anything just wanted to stay in bed all day.
"It's not like we have to listen to her," Natsumi suggested.
"If you don't get dressed this instant I am coming in!" Anja threatened.
"Calm down," came Silver's voice.
"No, if they continue like this there is no way we're ever going home," Anja complained.
Natsumi jumped off Igneel and landed gracefully on the floor as she went over to her dress and picked it up. Giving him a nice view.
Igneel sucked in a sharp breath. Damn that woman. He turned and made the pillow cover his eyes as he heard her giggle to the response. With a quiet groan, he decided that he might as well get dressed too.
Natsu woke up to the familiar scent of vanilla and strawberries filling his nose. Feeling very comfortable he tightened the hold around the warmth a bit more. His hand brushed against flesh and his eyes shot open.
That was most unusual to wake up by Lucy without any pajama. He made his arm retreat as he realized that she would most likely get pissed if she figured out he had been touching her, an nonetheless on her bare skin. Quietly he turned and looked towards the windows. No one had bothered with the drapes and the sun was shining through. Lucy moved. He stiffened. An arm went around him and she snuggled closer to him. He felt his cheeks heat up as she pressed herself up against him. Ok, so she could not kill him for this. This was all on her. He relaxed.
"Where is Natsu?" came a voice from the entrance.
"Asleep?" Igneel's voice rung through the room.
"No, duh genius," Anja complained as she stepped into the room. Raising her eyebrows when the other three kept standing on the outside.
"Erza is there, Wendy, Lucy and…" Natsumi quieted down as she saw the blonde head beside a pink one. "Am I seeing things?" she then whispered to Igneel as she dared go closer.
"Wakey wakey!" Anja said as she dragged the duvet off Gray. He was naked. Anja squealed in surprise and threw the duvet over him again then covered her eyes.
"No surprise that he took after you," Silver commented as he met his son's wide eyes. "The stripping habit," he added. Gray simply nodded, still in shock over the harsh wake-up call.
"At least I do not strip until I am naked anymore. I have the decency to stop at underwear," Anja complained.
"What is all the commotion about?" Lucy grumbled as she slowly opened her eyes. Realizing what she had been doing she stared at Natsu's back in shock.
"Aww, aren't you two the cutest," Natsumi cooed as she hung over the two, looking down at them from above.
"As long as I don't turn into a grandpa this early in my life I'm fine," Igneel joked.
Natsu shot out of bed and took in the appearances in shock. Both his father and mother was grinning at him. Lucy did not look happy. Erza's stare was murderous since her sleep had been interrupted. Wendy was confused. Gray was in shock but getting pants on. Anja still turned away from her son, while Silver leaned against the doorframe. Elfman was nowhere to be seen. Happy was still sleeping and Carla seemed to point out the absence of the large man that you could not miss.
"He went out with Evergreen last night," Erza said, not faced at all.
"Aaaand did not return," Anja said suggestively.
Lucy could not believe this, and she quickly made sure that the duvet covered her completely. She was not getting out of bed before at least all the males in the room had left. By listening to the conversation she felt her cheeks heat up as Natsu started to laugh nervously.
"You need to stop sneak into Lucy's bed," Erza scolded.
"Naw, don't be too harsh on him," Natsumi said as she was openly grinning towards Natsu.
"It's a mate thing," Igneel muttered just above his breath.
Gray heard, surprisingly enough and started to feel confused. Something was happening to him, and he was not sure if he liked it or not.
"His dragon slayer senses are finally kicking in," Silver said as he noticed his son.
"Good," was all Anja responded with.
Silver went over to his son and met his eyes. "We'll get you through it, don't worry. But now…" he looked around the room. "…we have to prepare for the ball at the castle," he finished.
"Boys, out, out!" Anja shushed her son and her husband, then Igneel and Natsu. "The girls needs to get dressed."
Natsumi found herself walking together with Lucy in Crocus. They had been in some few shops, but Natsumi preferred to wear something similar to her daily wear. You never knew when a battle might happen. However, both Igneel and Natsu had convinced her that it all would be fine. So now she was looking for a ball gown together with Lucy.
In the end Lucy found one that was light pink, and Natsumi ended up with a darker shade. For some reason Lucy kept saying how much it matched her hair, and to be honest, Natsumi did not know if she liked that or not. However, she let herself lead by Lucy as the townspeople cleaned up the mess they had made, and of course, the dragons.
"Did you find a dress?" Anja asked, as she and Erza joined them an hour later at a café.
"Yeah, strangely enough," Natsumi replied.
"Come on, it will be fun," Lucy said excitedly.
"We don't have much time to get ready; we should head back now," Erza said as she finished her cake.
The other three nodded in agreement and soon they were back at the Honey Bone Lodge.
Anja kept swearing as she struggled with her dress. She had refused to wear a corset, and so did Natsumi. Both got help from Erza and Lucy, and both women felt like they were tightening it too much by purpose.
"If you tighten it any more now I will hit you all," Anja threatened. Lucy sweat-dropped as she noticed Erza's expression. However, Erza could not stand up against Anja, as she was in many words scarier. Natsumi giggled as she worked with the heels she had bought. Problem, she had never wore so high heels before. Her shoes were always with a slight heel, but never more. She started to walk the way Lucy told her to, as the two other females were getting ready. Anja getting a kick out of it and teasing her those times she actually fell.
"You suck," Anja laughed.
"So do you," Natsumi grumbled in response as she helped herself up once again.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"It's time to go," Igneel said through the door.
"Just a minute," Lucy yelled as she was putting up her hair.
Anja opened the door and was greeted by both Silver and Igneel, who informed her that the others had already left. She sighed. She did not like to be late.
"You look amazing," Silver breathed.
"I just hope I won't strip it off," she teased.
"I don't think he would mind that," Natsumi suggested as she came up by her friend.
"Well, hello," Igneel said ever so charming.
"Hello to you too," Natsumi answered and strangely enough blushed.
Igneel stepped forward and embraced her before offering his arm.
"I might as well do the same," Silver muttered as he copied Igneel and offered his arm to his wife.
"Aren't you handsome," Anja teased as they went out.
"Where are your escorts?" Igneel said and turned to the other two girls.
"We'll just go together," Lucy said with a small smile as she and Erza came out after them.
"Very well," was all Silver said, as he started to lead his wife.
The ball was grand, that was honesty. All mages that had been helping with the dragons were there and Natsumi was not sure if she had ever seen so many wizards in one place before. Then the question kept repeating. Where was Natsu?
Natsumi and Igneel danced together. They looked lovely, or so Lucy thought. Then Silver and Anja joined them on the floor. And as they kept dancing, others got more courage to do so too.
She kept looking for Natsu, especially after her talk with the Princess herself. Where was that dense idiot?
"Thank you for keeping me up," Natsumi whispered to Igneel as he balanced her once more.
"I'll always be here to help," he replied with humor.
"Killer heels. That's what they should be called." However, Igneel only laughed as response.
"Killing dress," Anja whispered while twirling past Natsumi, followed by Silver.
"You two should enjoy yourself a bit more. It is better than complaining," Silver said and led Anja further away.
Then it happened. First the fight over which guild Yukino should join. Natsumi, Igneel, Anja and Silver just watched quietly on the sidelines. Then he made his appearance. Crown and cape.
"Natsu!" both Natsumi and Igneel exclaimed as they saw their son walk out.
"Is that really our son?" Igneel whispered, mainly as a joke.
"Afraid so," Natsumi whispered back.
And the rest of the wizards, and especially the ones from Fairy Tail had similar expressions, and all together feelings.
"Give me a boost?" Igneel asked Silver. He nodded in return. Then he was flying through the air, caught Natsu, and jumped down again, landing on the floor.
"Oy! Let me down!" Natsu complained.
Igneel shook his head in defeat. "Don't tempt me to knock you unconscious," Igneel threatened.
The tone was so serious that Natsu took it literally.
"Looks like Gray got female trouble," Anja whispered to Silver and pointed towards Juvia.
The rest of the evening went well and the dancing did again start up. And laughter filled the halls.
It was long past midnight when everyone started to return to their inns. And the first thing Natsumi did when outside the castle was to throw away the heels she had been wearing. Igneel offered to carry her, so he did.
"Why aren't we like that?" Anja asked Silver as they walked slowly hand in hand after the disappearing couple.
"Because we are better in our own way," Silver responded.
"You're right," Anja answered with a smile.
"Your parents are so at ease," Lucy commented to both Gray and Natsu as she walked beside them.
"I don't think I will get used to having them around. However, it does feel nice," Gray said and offered a small smiled.
"Right. I never imagined Igneel to have a human form. Neither to have a mother. Then to see them so at ease…somehow it just feel right," Natsu said with a thoughtful look.
"And they are so in love," Lucy whispered dreamily.
Gray gave Lucy a long look as he noticed her expression. She was a romantic, there was no mistaking that, but then you had Natsu. He shook his head. How long would they keep their feelings to themselves? How long until especially Natsu would understand what was truly going on?
"I can't wait to get home," Natsu started.
"Really? You know our parents are going to work with us. Train us…" Gray muttered.
"That's what makes it awesome," Natsu replied with a grin.
"At least you only have one magic type to work on, I have two," Gray complained.
"The positive side is that both your mother and father use ice magic," Lucy commented.
Gray nodded in response.
Then there was not much more words exchanged as they had reached the inn. Lucy parted with the two males and went to the female bathroom where she undressed and decided to take a well-deserved bath. After that, she jumped into her pajama and walked the hallway to the shared room. Wendy, Carla and Happy was already asleep. She looked to the other half of the room. So was Gray. He had most likely stripped off and crashed right on bed. Erza had yet to return. Elfman was probably with Evergreen again.
Carefully she looked for Natsu. He was not there. She sighed as she lifted her duvet and crept into bed. Then almost as soon as she hit the pillow, she heard the door open and close. There were some sounds, and then either Natsu or Erza went to bed. She closed her eyes. The door opened again. Then closed. She pretended to not notice as she tried to relax. Her duvet lifted. A warm body joined her, and she could only guess it was Natsu.
"Good night, Luce," came a quiet murmur.
She did not respond as the snores started. She took a deep breath. No, she could not let this get to her. To believe so easily that it meant something. The arm came around her. She did not freeze, nor did she relax more. Instead, she let the heat rise within her and her heartbeat started to pick up its speed even more. No, she told herself. She had to relax. Again she took calming breaths and somehow she managed to fall asleep. Not knowing what her dreams would bring.
Hope you liked it : )
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