The next morning our heroes headed back home to Magnolia. Somehow Lucy managed to upgrade their tickets to a sleeper, which would make Natsu's motion sickness a bit easier to deal with.

She also made fast work of rubbing her healing potion into his forehead before they even left the inn.

So by the time the train departed, Natsu was practically passed out on the bunk. Lucy was cuddled next to him, stroking his hair while he clutched her other hand in his. Aside from the rare sleep mumble, he didn't make much noise.

Happy curled up on a cushion, glancing at his human companions with what was definitely amusement.

Lucy spent most of the journey touching Natsu. Tracing over the scars on neck and cheek. Ruffling his hair. Snuggled closer...and was pleasantly surprised when he wrapped his arm around her, half snoring a single word.

"Mine."

She blushed. The dragon was protecting his treasure, apparently. On one hand it was so weird to hear him sleep talking like that.

On the other...it was sweet. Unusual, but still sweet...

So sweet, so comforting, in fact, that she dozed off next to him. All three were awoken some time later by the blaring of the train's horn signaling they were back in Magnolia.

Natsu walked Lucy home, hand clutching hers, not saying much.

They got to her door. She looked up at him, blush spreading across her face.

"Y...you can stay a while if you want." Lip bite, well aware that her heart was racing.

He smiled, touched her cheek.

"I gotta take care of something, but I'll be back later."

He saw the sad look in her eyes at the first half of his response. Decided that he needed to take care of that as well.

"Oh..Okay. I wanted to write for a while anyway..." She bit her lip, not sure how to proceed.

Natsu made his move before she even realized it was coming. Put his hands on her waist, kissed her. Gently, yet with a spark neither could ignore.

She sighed as the kiss broke, a sound that caught his attention and made him smile.

That was a happy sigh, although with a trace of something else. Longing? He hoped. A little sadness that they had to part ways for a while? Likely.

"See ya tonight..."

"Yeah..." Pause. She kissed his cheek, blushed profusely. Waved as Happy carried him off, then went inside to gather her thoughts on paper.

She opened her journal and wrote...well, she wrote about what was on her mind. Which at that moment was a certain pink haired dragon slayer...

Natsu...

Out of everyone in the guild he captivates me the most. Flames, fighting, and chaos. Yet at the same time he can be caring and compassionate.

Especially when friends are in danger.

Especially me.

It doesn't make sense, yet it does.

He's nothing I ever expected.

He's all I can't live without.

I love him...

Meanwhile Natsu and Happy ended up at the hall. Happy immediately took off to attempt to flirt with Carla. Natsu sat at the bar, waiting for Mira to finish serving a customer.

They had a rather long talk, with Mira wanting to know all the details about the mission and their relationship. He faltered a bit, fidgeting with his drink and remembering the previous evening.

Lisanna set a tray down, took one look at Natsu.

"You're in love. This isn't just some schoolboy crush."

"Duh. That's not the problem."

"Chill out, Natsu. I'm only saying what I see."

"I know. Sorry." Swig of beer. "I know I love her. I know I wanna take it further, but I dunno if either of us is ready for that, ya know? Especially since..." gulp. Mira quirked her head.

"Since what?"

"Dragons mate for life. Traditionally, anyway." Brief glance at Gajeel and Levy flirting heavily in a nearby booth. "I think slayers inherited that habit too."

"Ohhh. I get it now." Mirajane had hearts and stars in her eyes. "You want to marry Lucy!"

"Wait, what? No. I just love her and want to be by her side forever."

Poor, clueless Natsu. He didn't see the connection even if it was obvious.

Thankfully Mira was patient.

"If you marry her you can be."

"She'll kick my ass for asking."

"No she won't!" She crossed her arms and glared at him. "I've seen how you two interact. You've loved each other for years, even if it took you long enough to figure that out."

"Yeah..." Just thinking about Lucy made his eyes light up. "I wanna give her something special if I do ask."

"Like a ring?"

"Not just a ring. A gift. So she knows that this wasn't out of the blue, ya know?"

"Maybe a gate key?"

"Yeah! She would love that!"

An hour or so later, the pair had formed a plan. Mira would keep an eye out for any jobs whose payout included a key. Meanwhile Natsu was to look for a ring, something that would be just right on Lucy's finger. Something that suited her perfectly.

It was late when Happy flew Natsu back to Lucy's place. When she didn't respond to his tapping, he opened the window, climbed in...

And immediately saw her sleeping at her desk, pen still in hand. He read what she had been writing, saw the tender words expressing her feelings, and wanted to kiss her then and there.

He DIDN'T want to wake her up, though. So he lifted her up from the chair, cradling her carefully as he crossed the room. Settled her down on her bed, covered her with the blanket. Then lay down next to her, kissed her forehead.

Of course, that's when she stirred. Opened one sleep clouded eye.

"Huh? Nassu? Whazzat for?"

"Oh, nothin'. I just read what you wrote, that's all."

"Oh...you're an ass. But you're my ass so that's okay." She snuggled closer, rested her head on his chest.

Within seconds she was fast asleep again.

He knew then and there, this is how it should be. Laying side by side, cuddling and keeping her safe even in sleep.

If he could spend the rest of his life by her side, he knew he would be content...