Chapter Nine
Warning: This does contain some implied sexual material. Be warned now!
Disclaimer: Don't own Fairy Tail of any of its characters, only Haru and all the mess he makes
Lucy groaned in appreciation as the hot water hit her back in a steady, soothing rhythm that made her shoulders relax. She had always loved showers or baths after a hard day. And boy, had it been a hard day, she mused with a wry grin.
Recently, Haru had learned how to crawl. And while that in itself was something to celebrate, the fact that he now caused new havoc on wherever he went was not. She had always heard that boys were more active and curious than girls were, but had never thought they were tiny, ticking time bombs to mayhem!
With a sigh, she began to lather her hair with lightly scented shampoo, making sure that her finger nails scraped gently at her scalp to make sure she got all the sand out of her roots. Just thinking about her latest attempt to keep Haru under control made her grimace.
Natsu had left two days ago to go on a small mission while Lucy stayed back with Haru. And she had been having a horrible time keeping track of the baby Dragon Slayer. She would turn her back for one second and turn around to find him gone. When she went searching for him, it wasn't uncommon to see him shoulder deep in a mess, be it unrolled toilet paper or a pile of Lucy's clothes that he had pulled off the racks. Poor Happy had been scared senseless ever since Haru became mobile, his tail being a subject of fascination for the baby. They didn't see much of Happy anymore.
So, having her nerves frayed to the point of breaking, Lucy had had the brilliant idea that she take Haru some where he couldn't break, ruin or lose anything of value. At first she had considered the guild, as there were plenty of people around at all hours to keep an eye on him, but then the idea of him stumbling behind the bar and discovering the several bottles of booze deterred her. And then she had thought of the beach. Oh, what a brilliant that idea had been.
At first, everything had been fine. Haru had been distracted for the first half hour with the texture and properties of the sand and Lucy had been allowed to relax, even if only momentarily. But then, he had become curious as to what it would be like to throw the sand anywhere he could, most importantly at his mother. That had started a little tussling match between the son and adoptive mother. She had managed to get him closer to the water where there wasn't as much loose sand. And then he had started throwing the wet sand as well.
Damn boys everywhere and their desire to wreak havoc on everything!
Even now, Lucy could feel the sand in places she had never gotten sand before. Only now that Natsu had returned from his mission was Lucy able to get a moment to herself and relax and wrestle the challenge of getting sand out of her hair. It was entirely likely that she would be finding the tiny grains in her locks for years to come.
Her ears perked a little when she heard Haru's tiny squeal of delight and discovery that usually punctured his finding something he shouldn't and grinned when she heard Natsu's answering curse.
"Haru, drop that! No! Don't put it in your mouth!" She heard him shout, quickly followed by the baby's cry of alarm. "I told you to drop it!"
Chuckling, she shook her head. Even as tired and run ragged as she was, even as out of her element as she felt sometimes, she wouldn't trade a second of it. She adored Haru and couldn't be happier with the progress of her and Natsu's relationship, disaster-creating babies notwithstanding.
And, she thought with a small blush, she was pretty sure she was ready to take their relationship to the next level. They hadn't really progressed much passed heated kisses and tentative touches at bared skin. And she was happy to report that Natsu hadn't pushed her at all to take the next step sooner. As distracted as they both were by juggling Haru and taking missions, she wasn't really all that surprised. But that didn't mean they didn't carve out a few minutes for each other whenever they could. And, once they managed to put Haru to bed that very night, Lucy was going to show Natsu her welcome home present that she had prepared for him.
Just thinking about the tiny, sheer lingerie waiting for her in her closet made a blush warm her cheeks and a thrill of excitement make her heart beat a little faster than normal.
She really hoped he liked his present. She'd had to have Cana help her pick it out, as she had no experience in buying the type of things she had required. After much teasing and elbowing, Cana had actually proved to be very helpful in both picking out her outfit as well as some tips and advice on what to expect.
Grinning, Lucy turned the water off and reached around the fogged glass of the shower to grope for a towel. Wrapping it around her body, she stepped from the steaming shower stall, she quickly wiped the condensation from the mirror to peer at her reflection.
She watched as the blond in the mirror grinned, a silly edge to it and a pretty blush dusted across her nose. Her wet hair fell in dripping tangles around her shoulders and face and she could see a hint of darkness under her wide brown eyes, but Lucy had never felt more feminine and desirable in her life. She had never really seen what all the boys growing up had seen in her body. Her sizeable chest had always gotten in her way and hurt her back sometimes. Her hips were bigger than she liked and she had never thought her face was very remarkable, but Natsu seemed to think otherwise. Natsu saw something she didn't and made sure she knew just how much he desired her whenever he could. She didn't remember every being so happy since before her mother died all those years ago.
And now, she was ready to give him a part of herself that she had never given another man before. Not only would she be giving him her body in a way that would be new to both of them, but she was also ready to give him her heart, wholly and without reserves.
She wasn't sure when she had figured out that she had fallen in love with the carefree Dragon Slayer. Maybe it was the first time he had smiled at her as he changed her life forever. Or maybe it was the first time she saw him hold Haru, as if he were looking at a precious gift given to him. Or perhaps it was the first time they kissed.
She didn't know and to be honest, she didn't really care. All she knew was that she loved him, with everything she had and she was ready to give him her heart, trusting him like she had never trusted another.
Just then, she heard Haru begin to cry and heard Natsu's slightly panicked cry, "Lucy! Are you done yet? Haru won't do anything I tell him!" Chuckling, she tucked the towel around her and reached for the doorknob. When she entered the living room, it was to a disaster of what used to be Haru's toys and what looked to be the contents of her bookshelf, Natsu and a very upset Haru in the middle of it.
Crouching down, she peered into the red face of her adoptive son. Quirking a brow at her boyfriend, she could only grin at the hopeless look he gave her in return. Once he caught sight of her, Haru gave a choked cry and lifted his arms towards her.
"Ma," he sobbed.
Smiling, she lifted him against her chest and got to her feet. "What's wrong, little guy? Did your Daddy do something bad?" Though he could not respond verbally, his vocabulary not very extensive beyond 'Ma' and 'Da', he seemed to understand most of what they said and nodded in response.
He was probably the smartest six months old she had ever come across and she couldn't be prouder.
"I was only trying to keep him from tearing your books to shreds and probably set them on fire!" Natsu objected, though he made no move to get up from his seat amongst Haru's mess.
"Well, I know he's just a little cranky because he didn't get to have his nap this afternoon. He was too busy getting sand in Mommy's hair, right Haru?" The red eyed baby looked away from her and silently shoved his fist into his mouth, his tears mysteriously gone. "I thought so. Let's get you ready for bed, little man."
She turned and left, heading toward the bedroom to get the baby changed and ready for bed. Behind her, Natsu huffed and looked around him at the mess his son had created in only a few short minutes. He could always leave it for Lu-
"Oh and while you're waiting, why don't you clean up in here, Natsu." It was not a question; it was a command.
And with that, she closed the door behind her, drowning out any possible objections from her pouting boyfriend.
Much later that night, after a disaster of a bath for Haru and a tiny wrestling match to get him into his pajamas, Lucy had finally managed to get the little mage to sleep in his crib. He had never really liked his crib, preferring to be with Lucy and Natsu in their bed. But they had slowly started making sure he slept in his own bed.
And tonight, especially, she was glad he didn't put up much of a fight in regards to where he slept.
With a sigh, she bent down to kiss her son's plump cheek and walked out of the small room that served as his bedroom.
They had initially intended to stay at Natsu and Happy's house in the woods, but after only a few weeks, they had quickly decided that it simply wouldn't do for their new family. It had been too small and isolated from town and the guild. They still hadn't been able to afford Lucy's expensive apartment, so they had managed to find a cheaper one that, thankfully, was closer to the guild than either of their places had been. It was affordable and it was a two bedroom apartment that, while smaller, was cozy and clean.
The soft click of the door shutting behind her alerted Natsu of her return and he looked up from his clumsy attempt at putting the books back into the bookshelf. Smiling at her, he got to his feet, holding his hands above his head as he stretched with a groan.
"He asleep?" Natsu asked around a yawn.
"Out like a light. And I was thinking…" He blinked his eyes open when he heard her pause and saw as she fiddled with the hem of her tank top, her eyes down cast and a blush on her cheeks.
"What?" he asked with a frown. "Did you want to do something?"
At his question, she could feel her blush intensify but forced herself to take a step toward him. Reaching up, she laid her palm against the planes of his chest, her eyes still down cast and refusing to meet his.
"I was thinking…since he's asleep and you just got home…we could-" She bit her lip and couldn't seem to get the words out.
"Geez just spit it out Lucy."
"I…have a present for you," she whispered, her voice faint and colored with embarrassment, but he heard her nonetheless. His face brightened immediately, his hands coming up to cup her hips as a grin stretch across his lips.
"A present? Really? What is it?" He sounded as excited as a child on Christmas morning.
Lucy managed a weak chuckle and shook her head. "You'll have to wait to find out. Just…go wait in the bedroom and I'll be right in."
He frowned a little. "Why can't I just have it now?"
Frowning, she finally looked up at him, irritated with her embarrassment and with his impatience. "Just do it, Natsu, or you won't get it at all. But I think…I think you'll like it. Now off you go," she added with a small shove against his chest in the direction of their bedroom.
Grumbling under his breath, but secretly pleased that she had stopped being so shy and weird, Natsu did as he was told and went into the bedroom, his mind whirling with the possibilities of what she could have gotten him.
She waited until he had disappeared behind the bedroom door before she let out a breath of relief.
Get it together, Lucy, she told herself, turning on her heel to march toward where she had hidden her surprise. If you're embarrassed now, how are you ever going to do what you want? Just relax. This is Natsu.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled the black box from under the couch and sat back on her knees. Her hands shook a little as she pulled the top off and pushed aside the tissue paper to reveal its contents. Looking down into it, she could already feel another blush warming her face, but refused to back out now. She wanted to do this, damn it. Natsu deserved it, and she did as well. This was about them tonight. She couldn't afford to be embarrassed. He had already pretty much seen her naked before anyway.
Her reserve steel once again, she picked up the box, contents and all, and strode toward the bathroom. Though her heart beat a mile a minute, she felt exhilarated at the prospect of what Natsu would think. She really hoped he liked it.
A few minutes later found her dressed and ready to go. The slip that she and Cana had finally decided on Lucy had fallen in love with almost instantly. It was very simple pink silk with thin spaghetti straps that held up the triangles of silk that cupped her sizeable chest like a second skin with a cute bow tied between her breasts. The silk bunched slightly underneath her chest and billowing out with loose silk, hinting at her curves, but not outlining them perfectly with the hem falling about mid thigh and leaving her long, leans legs bare. It was simple and Lucy had never felt sexier.
She had worn more revealing things to be sure, but never with the intention to seduce, which was what made her hands shake with nerves and her heart beat loudly in her ears.
Turning this way and that, she grinned at the picture she made. She took a deep breath and felt her heart flutter, but the smile never left her face. She couldn't wait to see Natsu's reaction.
Here we go. It's now or never.
Opening the bathroom door seemed harder than she remembered, but she got it done and her feet carried her soundlessly to her patiently waiting boyfriend.
Natsu sighed and pulled his shirt off by the back of the collar, giving a shake of his head when it emerged once again. He spared one more look at the doorway and frowned. Just what as Lucy doing that was taking her so long? How hard could it be to get his present ready anyway?
Flopping on his back in the middle of their bed, he turned his face into their pillow and breathed deep. The soft scent of Lucy's shampoo filled his nose and he grinned. It still amazed him that they had made it as far as they had. They were together after two years of being partners, the seven year time skip notwithstanding, and they were even raising a child together. While he may not be their biological child, he might as well be with as much as they both loved and doted on him. He would die for Haru and he knew it was the same for Lucy. And years ago they had established they would do the same for each other, had actually come close a several times. They were a team and he wouldn't have it any other way.
When he heard her soft footsteps coming toward the bedroom, he turned his head and smiled at her lazily. But when he caught sight of her, his smile froze on his face.
He felt his heart skip a beat in his chest and the air left his lungs. "L-Lucy?" he choked out, his eyes wide and his voice strained. She stood as a vision before him, all pink silk and pink cheeks. Her blond hair framed her beautiful, blushing face, coming down to pool around her shoulders and her eyes were trained on the skin of his throat instead of his eyes.
He slowly gathered his hands underneath him and pushed himself to a sitting position and simply stared at her, trying to absorb the vision she made.
They stayed that way for several seconds until the silence was too much for her and she asked timidly. "Do-Do you like it?"
He took a deep breath and registered the scent of her nerves and a hint of arousal from her. "Do I like it?" he asked, his voice an octave higher than normal. "Are you kidding me?"
At his words, her eyes snapped up to meet his and she searched his face for sincerity. Seeing just how stunned and awed he was, she shifted on her feet and a brilliant smile lit her features.
"Really? I…I wanted to surprise you and-and I was a little worried you wouldn't like it. I even had Cana help me pick it out because I've never bought anything like this before and even then I wasn't sure if you were into this kind of thing and-" She stopped when she noticed that some time during her nervous rambling, he had gotten to his feet and stood close enough to her for her to feel his body heat through the silk. Finally, she noticed that he was shirtless and bit her lip, desire beginning to create heat in her stomach.
"Lucy…look at me," he demanded softly. She did as she was told hesitantly, her bright brown eyes shining with nervous excitement. She saw how dark his eyes were and how his lips had turned up into a smirk she only saw when he caught sight of something he wanted and intended to get. She had seen this expression directed toward her only a few times since they had been dating and it never failed to make her knees weak and her stomach quiver with anticipation. "You…you look-" He cut off and chuckled. "I don't know how to say it, but you look great. Not that I mind, but what brought this on?" he asked as one of his hands came up and his fingers played with the bow between her breasts, his skin brushing hers and making goose bumps erupt along her arms and legs.
Her breath hitched and her eyes became half mast as she struggled to think beyond the feel of his heat so close to her and the roar of her blood in her ears. "I-" she licked her lips, drawing his attention there and she saw his fangs flash with his devilish grin. "I just think…I'm ready." Drawing courage from the heat of his gaze, she stepped closer, closing the gap between their bodies and wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm ready for us to take the next step in our relationship."
Natsu felt his heart squeeze as a rush of desire, of love for the woman in his arms flooded his system. Reaching up with one hand, he cupped her cheek and his smile turned tender as his thumb traced the seam of her lips. "Are you sure? I can wait as long as you want me to. There's no rush." A part of him hated saying the words, because the last thing he wanted for her to do was change her mind. After the image she made in that pink thing, he was sure it was branded in his mind permanently and would cause him many sleepless nights.
But he couldn't stop himself from asking it because he didn't want her to do this with him if she wasn't one hundred percent sure she wanted it. While he would hate to turn himself off after being so thoroughly turned on, he would hate it even more if she regretted this night with him.
She smiled up at him, her nerves lessened, though not completely gone. But her voice was calm and steady when she answered him. "Yes, I'm sure. I love you. And I'm ready to do this with you."
His heart raced at finally hearing her say the words to him. He had known he loved her from pretty much the moment he met her, though it had taken some time for him to realize what kind of love it was. But he'd known that Lucy needed time to realize she loved him back. They were meant to be together and finally hearing her basically agree with that made him overcome with emotion.
Instead of saying something to cheapen the moment, Natsu wordlessly dipped his head and covered her mouth with his, determined to convey just how much he loved and cherished her and all she had given him.
Quickly, the kiss turned heated and Natsu found himself being walked backwards until the backs of his knees hit the edge of the mattress. Thrown off balance, he fell onto the bed on his back and suddenly found himself underneath the woman he loved, her hot, eager mouth once more on his and swallowing any objections he may have had. Not that he would have dared to object of course. What man would?
Distantly, Lucy was a little appalled at her brazen response to him. Sure, there had been passion between them before, but they had always kept it tapered because they knew not to get too heavy. But now, they had no reason to hold back and she found herself wanting him more than she could ever remember. Her body seemed to be possessed by another woman, some lust-crazed, impatient woman that couldn't seem to get enough of her man.
Well, I've been holding back for four months now, not to mention how long I'd been attracted to Natsu before that. So I think it's within my rights to ravish him.
The thought made her grin and she broke their kiss to take big, greedy gulps of air, her legs coming up to straddle his waist as she sat up. Looking down at him, she was pleased to note that he was just as out of breath and dazed as she felt.
Blinking up at her, he felt another powerful surge of arousal at the sight she made straddling him, her mouth bruises and shining and her eyes dark and smoldering, the way her slip had bunched around her hips and gave him glimpses at the skin underneath. God, he wanted her.
Bucking his hips and grinning at her squeal, he rolled them over so that his body pinned her down against the mattress, his face hovering inches above hers. He grinned cheekily at her and she pouted playfully.
"You just had to be on top, didn't you?" she said her tone petulant, but her arms wrapped around his neck to counter it.
"You know it. Do you really think that I would let you control this?" He chuckled at her and when she opened her mouth to protest, he silenced her by kissing her again.
Pulling back after several long, heated seconds, he was happy to note her pout was gone and her eyes were unfocused once more. "No more talking, okay?" he asked. She simply nodded and tugged on his neck to bring his mouth back to hers.
She just couldn't seem to get enough of him. If he pulled back from her mouth, she could feel herself crave more. If he shifted and his body left hers for only a moment, she quickly wrapped both her arms and legs around him to keep him against her. And while her reaction to him scared her a little, she wasn't going to think much on it. In fact, she wasn't really thinking much in general.
Natsu trailed hot, open mouthed kisses along her cheeks, down her neck to nip at her collarbone. She sighed and he felt her hands on his back begin to stroke the muscles there as she arched into him. Her body was soft and pliant under his and she seemed so small compared to him. But he knew however small and weak she may appear, she was one of the strongest people he knew.
He kissed his way down the center of her chest until his lips found the silk bow that tied the two triangles of material together over her chest. Pulling it apart with his teeth, he nosed it aside to reach more of her soft skin.
Lucy arched her back, her eyes closing as her hands came up to fist in his hair. She knew she wanted something, could feel the desire of have it pooling in the bottom of her stomach, but she didn't know what she wanted. It was driving her crazy, this building of sensation and she writhed underneath him with a whimper.
"Natsu…please…" She didn't know what she was begging for, but she did know that he could get rid of this ache, this want that was coiling inside of her. She felt his chest vibrate against her as he answered her.
"What?" he breathed against her skin, peering up at her even as his lips stayed pressed against her chest.
She shifted her hips against his and felt another incredible wave of pleasure and heat. "Please…" she panted again.
He frowned against her. While he didn't mind the sight she made, so consumed by her pleasure as she was, but he didn't know what she was asking of him. She obviously wanted something, but unless she told him, he wouldn't be able to do anything about it. He was just as inexperienced as she was in this department. "What, Lucy?"
Her face twisted when he stopped kissing her and her eyes fluttered open. "I…I don't know…just…keep going," she finally decided, tugging his mouth back down to hers. His frown was smoothed away and he smiled. Pulling back, reached down with one hand while his other forearm held his weight and bunched the hem of her slip in his fist.
"You bet I will," he said, a wicked grin on his face. When she felt his muscles bunch, she gasped and her eyes shot open, her frustration momentarily forgotten in her panic.
"Don't rip it, Natsu!" she cried. He looked down at her with a frown.
"But it's in the way," he complained.
"Then just take it off me, idiot. Don't rip it! It cost a lot of money!"
"Just how much did you pay for this thing, anyway?"
She blushed and looked away. "That's beside the point. Just don't rip it, okay? I like it a lot and I might use it again."
"Well," he mused, smoothing a hand down her front until he found the hem again, then dipped underneath it to further explore her skin. At his touch, she gasped and her head bowed back, a small shock wave crashing over her when he cupped her heat. "I guess I like it too. So, for you, I won't rip it. But get it off before I change my mind," he demanded, his wicked grin back once again as he watched her react to his clumsy touch.
"I can't…" she panted, trying to get the words past lips that wouldn't listen to her. "I can't…focus if you…keep doing…that," she moaned when he dragged one fingernail down the center of her panties, the vibration making her whole body wrack with shivers.
"I'll help you then."
With that, he dipped his head and caught the hem in his teeth and gently began to pull it up her body. She shivered and reached down with impatient hands to yank the silk over her head, tossing it in some obscure corner of the room leaving her in only her white panties. He chuckled above her, and leaned down to kiss her frustrated mouth.
"You've got me all fired up," he whispered against her lips. Absurdly, the way he said it, while she knew was meant to be sexy, just made her giggle. For a moment, he pulled back and looked down at her, affronted. "Why are you laughing?" he asked, a pout beginning to form on his lips.
Her giggles escalated at the sight he made, pouting and half naked above her. She covered her mouth with one hand while her eyes danced at him merrily, all her earlier tension gone.
"It was just so…cheesy," she laughed, her whole body shaking with the force of her giggles. He frowned down at her for a moment before finally joining in on the laughter. He buried his face against her neck and simply laughed.
At that moment, they weren't clumsy, inexperienced lovers trying new territory. In that moment they were just them, Lucy and Natsu.
When their laughter died down, Natsu pulled back to grin down at her with a sheepish edge to it.
"Sorry, it sounded better in my head."
She smiled up at him and reached up to cup his cheek. "I know. But you don't have to force yourself to be something you're not. Just be natural. It's just us."
He nodded and bent down to claim her lips with his tenderly. She sighed against him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him back down against her. While the heat from earlier was something she had enjoyed, this tenderness was something that just felt right, more natural between them.
She pulled back from him and framed his face, her eyes swirling with emotion. "I love you, Natsu," she whispered.
His smile turned a tad bit silly. "I know. I love you too."
She kissed him once on the lips. "Make me yours, Natsu. No holding back."
He grinned cheekily down at her. "Your wish is my command," and he dipped his head to quiet her next words and thoroughly muddle her mind.
The rest of the night was spent as it should have, with just them, together. The way it had always been and always would be.
(AN: I thought about making this a full lemon, but I didn't want to have to change to rating. In fact, I think I pushed it a little too much, but oh well. That 'you've got me all fired up' line WAS intended to be sexy, but when I wrote it down, it just made me laugh, so I thought I would use it to break the tension. I really liked how I ended it. I think it was more in character. Because with Lucy and Natsu, nothing is very serious for very long. I really hope you liked it and I'm sorry it took me so long to get it up! I adore you all that reviewed, you're awesome! Thanks for reading)
Jane
