Ahhh! So many great comments! :) Hahaha sorry. I just love cliffhangers so much. There is mild lemon in this chapter, full on coming shortly! I hope you guys keep enjoying the story! More coming soon. :)

Natsu shook his shoulder, removing Erza's hand, and walked away from the group, his flames growing brighter from his frustration. Right as Natsu was about to blast through another tree, he felt something.

It was fear. But not his fear. He was confused for a second before he realized that it was Lucy's fear. He had completely forgotten that he had marked her. He could feel her emotions. He knew where she was. Even if he couldn't smell her, he could follow the feeling he got, and wherever it was stronger than before is one step closer to where she was. Natsu turned around to the rest of the group who were still frantically searching the surrounding area, a newfound hope burning in his eyes.

"Guys! I know where she is."

"What?" The team all asked in unison a confused expression over their faces.

Wendy takes a step forward. "Natsu. Did you...?"

Natsu looks down at the ground embarrassed, his cheeks blushing, "Yeah."

"Normally I would chew you out for this... But in this case, it just very well may save Lucy." Wendy said as she walked over to where Natsu was.

"What are you two talking about?" Gray asked as he started at them a few paces off.

"Natsu marked Lucy. He can feel what she feels, and the stronger that feeling, the closer she is. It will help us find her." Wendy turned towards Gray and Erza.

"Marked... Her?" Erza questioned questly, almost to herself.

"We can ask questions and deal with that stuff later, but first we have to find Lucy!" Wendy turned to Natsu. "Lead the way, we will follow you."

Natsu and the team started heading off into the forest. Natsu kept sniffing at the air, hopeful to catch even the tiniest bit of Lucy's smell. Their smell. But there was no trace of her in the surrounding area, it had been too long. He could still feel her fear deep in his own heart. He knew he was getting closer by how much stronger the feeling got. It was only a matter of time until he found her. And he was determined to make it as soon as possible.

Lucy woke up with pain pounding throughout her head. She looked around and saw that she is in a dark cave. She heard soft crying coming from somewhere near her. Looking around, she couldn't see anything.

"H-Hello? Is someone there?" She roughly whispered, her throat coarse and dry.

"Y-Yes." Came a somber reply.

"Where are you?"

"Over in the corner. Who are you?"

"My name is Lucy, and I'm from Fairy Tail. How long have you been here?" She stood up and started feeling along the wall, hoping to get closer to the owner of the unknown voice.

"A few days. I just want to go home." Another cry escaped their mouth.

"How old are you?" She reached the voice, a young girl in tattered, worn clothes stained with dirt.

"I am 10." Another sob. "The monsters came one day and took my mother. The next day my father. And a few days ago, they took me. All that is left in my house is my brother, and I do not know that for certain." She burst into tears, unable to speak any further.

"Don't worry. My friends will come for me, and we will free you and anyone else here! … I hope..." She mumbled the last part to herself. Natsu. Get here soon, please. We all need you. She reached for the little girl and took her into her arms, cradling her as she cried.

The group had walked for about thirty minutes into the forest, taking turns constantly, stopping and doubling back every so often. Suddenly Natsu stopped in his tracks, Wendy nearly bumping into his back.

"I can smell her... I can smell her! She is that way!" Natsu pointed towards a cliffside and started running at full blast. The team struggling to keep up with the dragon slayer that had found new hope. They made their way to the cliffside and found an entrance into a cave. "She is somewhere inside there. And there are others as well. I can smell a lot of different people."

"This must be where they are keeping those that they have kidnapped from the village." Erza said, seriousness in her voice.

"I'm going in." Natsu balled his fists, setting the ablaze to light up the darkness in the cave.

Natsu walked inside, Happy flying right behind him. The others followed shortly. It was cold and damp in the cave, but Natsu didn't care. His mind was focused solely on getting Lucy back. He could feel her sadness from being alone. Her fear of not knowing what was going to come next. Yet there was hope.

Walking into a large room, Natsu looked around and saw cage like doors, large enough for the monsters to easily pass through. He could see several people standing by them, their arms protruding through the space between the bars, reaching for help. He looked desperately for Lucy. He couldn't find her, but he could smell her, and she was close... So he decided to start setting free the people that were in this room.

Lucy heard footsteps in the room just outside of where she was. She was sure that it was just one of those monsters coming to check on the prisoners, so she stayed huddled in her ball on the floor, still cuddling the little girl who was now sounds asleep, exhausted from crying. Suddenly, she heard blasts hit the walls and gates and flashes of light bursting through the darkness. There was only one person she knew of who could do those things!

Lucy got up, carefully placing the young girl on the floor as not to wake her, and ran to the gate of where she was being kept, now able to see where she was.

"Natsu!" She shoved her arm out as far as it would go.

"Lucy?!" Natsu stopped throwing fireballs and turned around looking for his love.

"I'm over here!" She waved her hand frequently. Natsu ran over towards her.

"Guys! Get everyone else out! Step back Luce. It's about to get hot!" He gave her a small wink as he blasted through the lock on the gate, it opening slightly.

He stepped forward and pulled it open. Lucy ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck and pushing her lips onto his. Natsu wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close.

"I thought I lost you." He placed his forehead against hers.

"You could never lose me. I knew you were coming to find me."

They kissed passionately again. The cave growing brighter each second. The other five turned around to see Natsu and Lucy engulfed in Natsu's flames, growing hotter and larger as each second passed. Erza and Gray were completely shocked, their jaws almost hitting the floor. They couldn't understand why Lucy wasn't burning up at Natsu's flaming touch. Happy, Charle, and Wendy just stood there smiling at them, knowing full well why Lucy was completely fine.

"Natsu." Lucy said as she pulled away for a breath, looking into his eyes.

"Yes Luce?"

"We need to help everyone escape."

"Anything you ask."

The team made quick work opening the rest of the cages and freeing the people. Lucy went back into her cell and woke the girl, making sure to stay by her side every step. Erza lead the group of people out to the entrance of the cave, Natsu and Gray defeating any monsters that dared to cross their path. Once outside in the sun again, the group headed back to the village, exhausted after what had happened that day.

"Thank you so much for defeating those monsters and returning everyone back to us safely!" The mayor thanked the group constantly. The families of those kidnapped cheering and embracing their loved ones. "How can I ever repay you! We never expected to get our citizens back! We thought they were lost forever. You have really helped bring peace back to this city once again!" He continued, never taking a breath.

Erza stood up, looking at the mayor. "We will just take our reward and go. We don't need anything else, your thanks are well enough for us."

They got their reward and headed back to the inn. Natsu carried Lucy on his back because of how beat up she was from getting kidnapped and exhausted from all that had happened. She had no energy left in her. She even snored slightly on his shoulder, causing Natsu to quietly snicker at her. But he thought it was cute.

"Luce. We are here." Natsu said, placing her on her bed softly.

"Mmm... Huh? We are back already?"

"Yeah. You kind of fell asleep while I was carrying you."

"Oh..." Blush running to her cheeks. "Sorry."

"It's fine! I thought it was kind of cute." Natsu said, leaning down and kissing her on her cheek.

"Okay. If you say so." She stuck her tongue out at him, winking at the same time. "I think I'm going to take a long, hot bath to try and relax from today."

"Sounds good, I'll just head back to my room." Heading towards the door that connected their two rooms.

"Uhhh... Natsu?"

"Yes Lucy?" Natsu turned around to face her.

"You can join me if you want." She blushed even redder than before. "I could use some help washing my back, I am still sore from being on that hard floor for so long.

"O-Okay." Natsu stammered, surprised by her sudden question.

The two headed to Lucy's bathroom, Natsu turning the water on as Lucy brushed out all the tangles from her hair. As Natsu started taking his clothes off, Lucy stared at him through the mirror. Seeing his muscles ripple as he pulled his shirt of, revealing a perfect six pack and a v-line that disappeared into his pants. Turning sideways he started to slide his pants down, leaving him just in his boxers. Lucy couldn't stop staring at his crotch, knowing what was just beneath that thin fabric. Her cheeks turned as red as a tomato.

Natsu leaned over the full tub and turned the water off. He then turned around and made eye contact with Lucy in the mirror, causing her whole face to turn red. She quickly turned her face away, looking at the brush that was still in her hands. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into him, her back flush with his chest.

"I think you have to many clothes on to properly bathe." He whispered in her ear.

"You think?" She replied playfully, shuddering from feeling his warm breath hit her ear and ran down her neck.

"Yes. I think you could stand to get rid of this." Natsu runs his hands over her abdomen, finding the hem of her shirt and pulling it up over her head. Lucy putting her arms up willing to help him take it off easier. "There. That's one step closer."

Natsu let his hands slide down her shoulders and arms, then over her abdomen, finding their way to the hem of her skirt. He hitched his two thumbs under it and slowly slid them down far enough until gravity did it's job, leaving Lucy in just her lace green bra and lace blue panties.

"I like it when you mix and match your underwear like this." Natsu whispers to her as his hands find their way to her hardened nipples, visible through the thin fabric. He lightly rubbed and pinched them, eliciting a moan from Lucy, before he slid them behind her to her back. Quickly finding the clasp for her bra, he undid it, sliding it down her arms, revealing her perfectly round chest. "But I like it like this much more."

Natsu leaned his head in and started kissing Lucy's neck, one hand on her stomach, pulling her closer, the other finding it way to one of her breasts. He kissed and nibbled Lucy's neck, causing her to moan in pleasure, throwing her head back against his shoulder. She could feel the heat from his breath warming up her entire body. Natsu started massaging her breast, his fingers finding her already erect nipple. He rubbed, squeezed and pulled her nipple.

Lucy arched her back from the pleasure that Natsu was giving her. Natsu could feel her panty clad ass press up and rub against his crotch, causing his member to grow erect, pressing into her.

"Natsu..." Lucy moaned.

Natsu kept kissing Lucy, running his hands all over her body.

"Natsu. We need to get into the bath before it gets cold."

"Mhmmm."

"Natsu." Lucy turned around, pressing her bare chest into Natsu's

"Fineeeee..." Natsu whined, kissing Lucy and stepping away from her.

The two parted from each other. Natsu quickly ripped off his boxers and jumped into the bath, creating a small splash. Lucy shrieked from being hit with water before taking off her panties and placing them with the rest of her clothes. She stepped into the water, taking her time sinking into it, feeling the relaxing effects on all her muscles. But there was something wrong. It was cold.

"Natsu. The water is cold! You distracted me for too long!" She said, splashing him with water as she did so.

"I can fix that!" Natsu thrust his hands underwater and lit them on fire. Little bubbles started forming from his hands and turned the bath warmer. Lucy sighed in relaxation as the water started warming up around her.

"Is that hot enough Lucy?"

"Perfect." Letting out another sigh, closing her eyes and relaxing her head on the edge of the bath.

The two sat like this for several minutes. Lucy submerged up to her chin, her head resting on the rim of the bath, her eyes closed. Natsu stretched his legs out and got comfortable in the pose he always takes. Crossed ankles and hands linked behind his head, the water chest level on him.

Natsu shifted in the tub, looking over at Lucy who seem almost asleep. He glided over to her side and pulled her into a hug. Her eyes snapped open, surprised from the sudden feeling of his arms wrapped around her, but then relaxed when she saw who was hugging her. Natsu pulled her in for a kiss, soft and sweet at first. The two pulled their faces away, a new fire burning in each of their eyes.

Lucy placed one hand on the back of Natsu's head, pulling him in for another kiss, a deeper, more passionate one. She twisted in his arms until she was sitting upright. He grabbed her and pulled her close, once again feeling her plump breasts pressed up against his warm chest. He loved that warm and soft feeling. He let one hand wander around her back, the other holding onto her waist making sure she didn't slip away in the water.

Natsu's wandering hand found it's way down to Lucy's firm ass. He squeezed and massaged it a couple times, running his fingers all over the flesh in that area. Lucy pushed herself up, still kissing him, and positioned herself so she was straddling him. Her warm pussy pressing down on his hard cock. Natsu let out a moan into her mouth as he felt her warmth from down below come in contact with his cock. It was a warmth he had never felt before.

"Mmmm Natsu." Lucy moaned as Natsu started kissing down her neck, his hands on her hips.