A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I really hope you guys are enjoying the story so far. I also hope you guys are staying safe and healthy in the midst of all this crazy out here. Thanks for reading!

I do not own Fairy Tail

Chapter 19

It has been two days since the news of King Jude's death reached the ears of his daughter. Natsu was worried for Lucy as she had hardly eaten or slept since then. The day they broke the news, Natsu consoled her until her cries had quieted and she sat listlessly in his arms. Loke had helped him get Lucy to take a seat on the couch.

"Princess, your father asked me to give you this," Loke said as he held the letter out for her. She just stared at it, not moving, her eyes were blank. Natsu reached for it, taking it out of Loke's grasp and then gently placed it into her fingers. For several minutes, she just held it. Staring at the unbroken seal. Finally she ran her fingers over the dark blue seal, tracing the crescent moon and stars. Tears came to her eyes as she flipped it over to find he had written "To Lucy, My Heaven and Stars."

Natsu, who was sitting closely to her felt her straighten. Standing up, her eyes hard and emotionless she left the study, ignoring everyone who called her name. "She needs a moment, let's give it to her." Natsu commanded, his eyes softening as he watched his beloved walk out the door.

"Natsu is right, let's let her have some time to herself. She needs to digest the situation and quite frankly we need to discuss what's to come. I know the princess has been in training since she is the only heir to the Celestial Kingdom, but is she prepared to take the throne?" Makarov questioned.

Loke stroked his chin, "I think his majesty saw his death as a possibility. As war loomed near, I noticed he had Lucy in the throne room with him to observe and he would ask her questions to see how she would handle particular situations. Jude had also handed over his responsibility of meeting with the citizens of the kingdom addressing their concerns and problems to her. He wanted the people to see her as their next ruler, not as just a pretty figurehead."

Loke took a sip of the brandy he had been nursing for several hours. "The last time we spoke with Capricorn, he said her regal training was almost complete. She'll still need the help of an advisor, but Lucy is ready. That being said, has Capricorn made it here yet?"

"Not yet but give it time. Until then, I will act as an advisor to both King Igneel and the princess," offered Makarov.

A few hours later, Natsu went to Lucy's room. He knocked gently and heard her small voice say, "Come in." Walking in, he quietly shut the door behind him. He saw Lucy sitting at her desk, her eyes were puffy and there were trails of tears on her face. In her hands, she held the letter. The dark blue seal was still unbroken and Lucy traced her fingers along the crescent moon and stars. He walked over and kneeled in front of her, putting his hands on her knees.

"I can't bring myself to open it, Natsu."

"Then you don't have to, Luce."

"That's the thing, I want to. I want so badly to see what he has written to me but at the same time I can't stand the idea that this is the last time. I can't stand the idea of being alone! I have no one! I have no family! And I cannot for the life of me stop crying!"

Natsu stood up, gently taking Lucy's face in his hands, he gave her a small smile. "Lucy, my love, you open that letter when you are ready to. If you want me here when you open it, I'll be here. If you want me gone, then say to me 'leave you idiot.'"

Lucy let out a weak chuckle.

"And you're not alone, you have me. You have my father. You have your friends. You have Metal Head and Ice Princess. We are your family," He wiped a tear away, "And it's okay to cry. It's not bad to cry, in fact I think it makes a person stronger."

He kissed her forehead, "I'll give you some space."

Lucy nodded and he left her in her suite. For several more hours she contemplated opening the letter but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. She got herself ready for bed and drew herself deep into the warmth of the comforter but sleep just wouldn't come. Every time she shut her eyes, she would see her father and it would make her start to cry.

For several days she repeated this pattern. Sit and contemplate the letter, try to sleep, fail to sleep, and then repeat. Finally by day 5, she was so exhausted she finally fell asleep only to have the hellish nightmares.

Every time she fell asleep it would be the same dream. Her trying to run away, she was unable to move, as if some force was making her stay, the flickering of orange and red, the pungent smell of smoke choking her, maniacal laughter, and the image of a man with long gray hair and a long pointed gray beard and an eye patch. Lucy would always find herself waking up in a cold sweat.

By the time a week had passed since the news was given to her, she came out of her room and began to resume some of her normal activities. She was quiet and very rarely uttered a word. Her ladies gave her the space that she needed and no one pushed her to do anything that she didn't want to do.

Makarov had gently guided her into her new role of running a country. The paperwork alone kept her mind occupied and she welcomed it. She seeked distraction, especially at night. She couldn't sleep and didn't want to sleep. She didn't want to have that nightmare again.

One morning, she appeared very sluggish.

"Does Bunny Girl seem a little off to you?"

"Gajeel!" Levy hissed.

"Seriously man, really? She's in mourning, give her a break!" Gray defended.

"No! I mean she looks really tired, like she hasn't been sleeping. Forget I said anything!" He grumbled.

Natsu made a note to check on her, for the past week he tried to not to bother Lucy. She had always been independent and he knew that if she needed him or anything she knew where to find him. But watching her the last couple of days, he might need to intervene.

That evening, Lucy trudged to her room. She sat at her vanity as she removed some of the make up she had put on that morning, revealing the dark circles under her eyes. She looked exhausted. Her face was drained of color, and she looked like a ghost of the woman that was here a couple weeks ago. Her ladies in waiting came into help her dress into her nightgown, Aquarius looked at her with worry but pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

Lucy went to lay in bed and found herself staring at the ceiling. She tried counting the tiles again, to see if it would help her any in her attempt at sleep when she heard a soft noise. It sounded like a knock. Believing she might have just been hearing things, she ignored it. Then she heard the knock again, this time a little louder. Lucy slowly pulled herself out of the bed and padded barefoot to the door. Opening the door, she stuck her head out and saw nothing. Maybe she really was hearing things. Taking one more look around and finding nothing, she shut the door only to suppress a scream.

Natsu had snuck in and startled her. "Natsu! What are you doing here?! Are you trying to kill me by giving me a fright?!"

Natsu snickered, "Sorry Luce, I was worried about you and I haven't really gotten to see you since you've been so busy with Gramps and I've been put in charge of seeing over the knights and training with them. I guess I just missed you."

Lucy gave him a small smile. "I've missed you too, but you shouldn't be here!" She said looking down at her revealing nightgown and covering herself the best she could.

"Lucy, I was also worried about you," he looked at the dark circles under her eyes, "Have you been sleeping okay? Don't even try lying. You can't keep hiding those dark circles from me."

Lucy sighed, "Not really…I keep having nightmares and when I don't have nightmares I see my father."

"Come on," Natsu said as he dragged her towards her bed.

"What in the world are you doing?" she shrieked.

"I'm gonna lie next to ya, maybe that will help you sleep."

"You can't just get in the bed with me!"

"I hate to break it to ya Luce, but if we're going to be married one day you're going to be doing more than sharing a bed with me." He waggled his eyebrows at her.

Lucy felt her face turn beet red. "Stop that you pervert!"

"Just try it Luce, I promise I'll keep my hands to myself." He put his hands up in surrender.

With a huff, Lucy got into the bed and pulled the covers back for Natsu to join her. "Only because I'm desperate and I'm sleep deprived. But keep your clothes on!"

"You're no fun." He pouted as he kicked off his boots and got into the bed next to her. He pulled her body close to him, her surprised 'eep' made him smile. She felt him press his face into her hair and then felt his lips against her temple.

"Just until I fall asleep?" she asked, her eyelids already starting to feel heavy.

"Yup." He said popping the p at the end.

Lucy let out a contented sigh, "You're…really…warm…" and then he heard her breathing soften as she fell asleep. Natsu held her for a little while before he felt his eyelids starting to droop and then he too fell asleep, with his maiden in his arms.

Lucy woke to the sunshine starting to break through the windows, it was time to get up and get ready for the day but the bed was so warm and she was so comfortable. She snuggled back in and then felt her back press against something. Becoming fully aware of her surroundings, she felt someone's arms around her waist. Lucy slowly looked behind her to find Natsu was still in her bed. Her eyes bulged out of her head, she started to wiggle.

"Stop moving, more sleepy." Natsu muttered pulling her tighter to him. And then she felt him stiffen, "Oh no." He said.

"Yes, oh no. Natsu! You were supposed to leave after I fell asleep!" Lucy hissed getting out of the bed frantically.

"It kind of just happened! You were so warm and squishy and your bed was so nice and your hair smells so good." He kept blabbering.

"Enough! Get out! If anyone finds you in here, we're both toast!" Lucy harshly whispered.

Natsu jumped out of the bed and started to pull on his boots. His hair was a mess as he was starting to run to the door.

"What are you doing?! Not the door!"

"Where the hell else am I supposed to go?" Natsu whined.

Lucy opened the doors to her balcony and gestured with her hands out there.

With a heavy sigh, Natsu walked over to her, gave her a chaste kiss on the lips as he stepped out on to the balcony. "The things I do for you." He grumbled before climbing down the tree.

Shortly after, the maids came in to help Lucy get ready.

"You look well rested, your majesty." Aquarius remarked, a smirk on her face as she noticed the other side of Lucy's bed turned over. She decided to keep the musing to herself, she'll embarrass the brat about her sleep over at another time.