Hello, everyone !

I'm back with the twenty-fourth chapter :D

Enjoy~

Disclaimer: I only own this plot

"Lucy, are you really okay now?"

"Yes, Mavis-nee. Thank you." Lucy smiled.

Mavis smiled back. "Now, lie back and get some more sleep. There's nothing better than sleep for treating exhaustion."

"I'm sorry for troubling you." Lucy said as she lied back down.

"Don't worry about it. Although, I can't spend a night here because Zeref will be worried. I must return to the palace before sundown, so I won't be caught up in a sandstorm." Mavis apologetically smiled. "I'm sorry for leaving you. But if Natsu and Gray couldn't take care of you properly, just tell me when you return. I'll beat some senses to them."

Lucy lightly chuckled. "I'm all better now, so please tell everyone not to be worried."

"I will." Mavis nodded, and her gaze softened. She put her hand gently on top of Lucy's. "Lucy, remember, we're a family. If there's anything troubling you, feel free to talk to us."

Lucy still found it hard to accept the Dragon Country's warmth, but she managed to hold it in. She softly nodded.

Mavis's smile widened. "Well then, I hope you have a pleasant dream. I'll tell Natsu and Gray to take turns to take care of you."

"Thank you, Mavis-nee." Lucy smiled and closed her eyes.

A few minutes later, she fell into slumber as her door softly opened. Mavis turned her head and smiled upon seeing Natsu.

"Is she asleep?" Natsu softly asked as he walked closer to the bed.

Mavis nodded. "I have to return before your brother's hair turned white from worry." she chuckled. "Make sure to take care of her."

"Without a doubt." Natsu nodded back. "We'll return as soon as Lucy's all better."

"No need to hurry." Mavis stood up, allowing Natsu to sit beside Lucy's bed. "But I hope you're ready to face Lisanna once you've returned, Natsu. I'm sure she has plenty of things to say since she isn't allowed to come here anymore."

"I know." Natsu quietly said.

Mavis let out a small smile as she placed her hand on her brother-in-law's shoulder. "I don't mean to pry, but… Have you sorted things out with Lisanna?"

"I've said it to her." Natsu answered, his eyes weren't leaving Lucy's face. "But I don't think she listened."

"Talk to her again." Mavis patted Natsu's shoulder affectionately. "What she's doing is hurting herself the most. She should stop before it's too late."

Natsu nodded. "I will."

"Well, I'll return now." Mavis said. "Send my regards to Gray. Don't stay under the sun too long."

"I'll send you out." Natsu stood up.

"No need, no need," Mavis winked. "I don't even think you want to leave her side."

A soft blush made its way to Natsu's cheeks and Mavis softly laughed. "I'll get going. See you back in the palace, little brother."

"Be careful."

Mavis nodded and gave Lucy her last glance before stepping out of Lucy's room. Natsu sat back again, taking her hand into his and intertwining their fingers once more. He laid his head on the bed and closed them, Lucy's warmth putting him into a slumber.

Lucy woke up as the sun's warm light hit her cheeks. She opened her eyes and turning her head, feeling someone's was holding her hand. Upon seeing Natsu's sleeping face, her heart thumped. She stared at Natsu in silence, taking his figure into her mind. His soft breathing, his fluttering pink hair, everything.

Lucy brought her free hand to Natsu's cheek, softly caressing it. Natsu unconsciously leaned into her touch, his sleep seemed to be even deeper. Seeing Natsu's face suddenly reminded Lucy of Sting. Well, she did tell him the last time she met him that she couldn't see him at night for a while because she was supervising at the Sand Country. Sting bailed his eyes out upon knowing that, but Lucy promised him they will spend a whole day together on his birthday.

Ah, how she missed her little brother.

Her train of thoughts broke when Natsu suddenly grabbed her hand which caressing his cheek and slowly opened his eyes.

Lucy's face turned red out of embarrassment.

Natsu's consciousness started to kick in as he eyed Lucy and lifted his head. "You're awake."

"Ugh… Y—yeah. Hey." Lucy muttered.

Natsu smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"All good." Lucy smiled back, her face was still red.

Natsu glanced at Lucy's hand which was caressing him before. "I guess this is the reason why I had such a pleasant dream just now."

Lucy's face turned a notch redder. "H—huh?"

Natsu grinned. "I can really get used to this."

"What?"

"You being all shy." Natsu lightly chuckled and kissed Lucy's knuckles, sending another wave of blush creeping into her face. "See? Your face's all red like a tomato."

"D—don't tease me like that!" Lucy turned her face the other way.

But Natsu quickly let her hand go and used it to gently turn her face to him. His deep green eyes bore itself into Lucy's chocolate orbs. He opened his mouth to say something, but before words came out, Lucy's door was slammed open.

Out of surprise, Lucy yelped and pushed Natsu away, sending him tumbling out of his chair. His butt hit the floor first.

"Ouch!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Natsu!" Lucy crouched to the corner of the bed and peered down.

Gray—the culprit who slammed the doors open—laughed out loud. "Oh, that's such a good laugh." he calmed down a few seconds later and made his way to Lucy. "How're you feeling?"

"I'm all good. Thanks, Gray." Lucy smiled.

Natsu kicked Gray's shinbone as he stood up. "Thanks for laughing your ass off, droopy eyes."

Gray smirked although he rubbed his shinbone while grimacing a bit. "Yeah, I'm a killer for mood-breaker. You're welcome."

"How's the project coming?" Lucy asked, stirring out the topic to elsewhere.

"All good. We're proceeding faster than we thought. Maybe we can start bringing our own workers starting tomorrow." Gray said.

"Good idea. We'll disguise them as merchants, then." Natsu added.

"If I'm not mistaken, there's a gate at the North, right?" Lucy asked. "It's a round farther, but maybe we can use that gate as point of entry to avoid Phantom Country's eyes?"

"We thought so too." Gray nodded. "I'll head back to the palace in a moment before the last sandstorm hit to discuss it wih Igneel jii-chan and I'll return here with the workers early tomorrow morning."

Natsu nodded back. "Be careful."

"Ah, I miss my Juvia!" Gray sighed. "If only I could take her here."

"Don't waste your energy." Natsu scoffed. "This place is no place for a lady."

Lucy giggled. "Then I'm not a lady? I'm here."

"You're a special case." Natsu grinned. "Because you have me and I'm way more awesome than this droopy eyes."

"Come again?!" Gray glared.

"Oh by the way, what about the glass-shards?" Lucy asked, stirring the topic to elsewhere again.

"I'll talk about that with Igneel jii-chan as well to arrange the training." Gray nodded. "I'll give you the updates tomorrow."

"I'll talk with King Scorpio about the North gate, then." Natsu said.

"You can't leave her alone." Gray raised an eyebrow.

"I'll be fine." Lucy quickly said.

Natsu was tempted to let Lucy stay in her room and had more rest, but Gray was right. He couldn't leave her alone either. And what if that Loke bastard used this opportunity to get close to Lucy? No, no.

"Or you can come with me." Natsu offered. "It won't be long."

"Oh, I'd love to tag along! I want to visit Queen Aquarius." Lucy said.

"Well, fine." Gray let out a sigh and lightly patted Lucy's head. "Don't force yourself, though. If you feel tired and need some rest, just drag Natsu away and go back here."

"'Kay, hands off." Natsu swatted Gray's hand. "You should head back now or you'll be caught up in the sandstorm."

"Yeah, yeah." Gray rolled his eyes. "I'll head back now. See you tomorrow, little sister."

"See you, Gray." Lucy smiled.

Gray gave Lucy another pat—which turned into another quarrel with Natsu—before he finally had it enough and stepped out of Lucy's room.

"Shall we get going?" Natsu offered his hand.

Lucy stared at it for a few seconds before gently pushed it away. She shook her head softly. "We shouldn't do this, Natsu."

Natsu stared at Lucy and clenched his fist hard. Now that Lucy was all better, they were back at square one?!

"Lucy, we need to talk." Natsu said.

"We should go." Lucy walked away. "I really need to see Queen Aquarius."

"Wait." Natsu gripped Lucy's hand. "Why are you doing this? I've told you what I want, Lucy. Why won't you tell me what you want? Why are you avoiding me like this? Is it because of Lisanna?"

"Natsu, please just let me—"

"If you don't talk to me, I won't understand a thing!" Natsu cut, his grip on her hand tightened a bit. "All those talks we had, all those things we did together! Why are you treating me like this? One second you wanted to walk with me, then the next second you just vanished from my sight?! Why are you holding yourself so much because of Lisanna? She's just my childhood friend, Lucy!"

"And she's someone who will always be beside you, Natsu!" Lucy said, finally couldn't hold it back any longer. "She's someone who has always been there for you from the beginning! And me? If it weren't because of the peace treaty offer, we wouldn't have met!"

"And what's so wrong about that?" Natsu asked. "Just because Lisanna has always been there with me, does that mean we have to end up together?! Can't I choose someone else whom I just met?!"

"She loves you with all her heart, Natsu! Compare to that, I—" Lucy choked.

"I what?" Natsu pressed.

But Lucy couldn't continue. She bit her lips and turned her head aside.

"Lucy." Natsu called. "Answer me. I what?"

But no words came out of Lucy's mouth. Natsu stared at her for a few seconds, before his free hand placed itself under her chin and gently turned her face to him. "Look at me."

Three simple words and a pair of Natsu's deep green eyes were enough to drown Lucy. She found herself stared at Natsu's eyes and she couldn't leave. She didn't want to leave.

"Look at me." Natsu repeated. "And say that your feelings with Lisanna is different."

Lucy's breath hitched. Why would Natsu say something like that?

"Say it." Natsu said. "Say you don't love me with all your heart."

"Natsu, how could you…" Lucy bit her lips unconsciously. "How could you say something like that?"

"Say it." Natsu pressed. "I want to hear it from your mouth. Say it while you're looking at me."

"I…" Lucy choked once more as her voice faltered. How could she say something like that while staring at Natsu's eyes? How could she… How could she lie about that?

Natsu waited for another few seconds but Lucy stayed silent. She didn't say anything but Natsu could see it clearly from her eyes that his thought was true.

Lucy loved him, as much as he loved her.

"I've told you I want us to get to know each other better, doesn't matter whether Lisanna is around or not." Natsu said. "I've told you Lisanna is just my childhood friend, nothing more."

Natsu's soft voice made Lucy's breath hitched. She choked once more upon seeing hurt flashed in his eyes. She let her heart took control and gently took his hand from under her chin into hers. Just like what Natsu did to her before, she intertwined their fingers.

Natsu's control slipped as he finally felt Lucy's warmth. He let go of his grip and pulled Lucy into his embrace, hugging her tight. Lucy softly rubbed his knuckles and Natsu sighed contentedly as he nestled into her hair.

"I'm sorry." Lucy whispered. "It's just… I can't shake away Lisanna's feelings for you. I can understand why she hates me so much."

Natsu tightened his hug. "I don't want her. I want you."

Lucy closed her eyes as her chest felt so tight. So do I, Natsu., she said softly inside.

"Don't go to a place where I can't see you. Don't run away from me. Don't avoid me. If you have insecurities or any kind of problems, or if you have so many stories to tell, come to me. I'm here. I won't leave you." Natsu said.

Lucy's breath hitched once more. Natsu's voice broke her walls down completely. How could she evade him when he sincerely asked her this way?

Just what was she supposed to do? She couldn't bear to see Natsu like this because of her, but she couldn't let Natsu fall in love with her either. At the very least, not any deeper than this. She promised to leave him at the end, to keep Natsu safe for good.

So, why is fate so cruel?

"Promise me." Natsu's words sent another wave of guilt to Lucy's heart.

But his deep voice was more than enough to melt her heart and mind, along with her rationality. She hugged him back using her free hand, tightening their hug. She softly nodded in his arms and Natsu let out a soft relieved sigh.

They stayed that way for a few more minutes, both unwilling to let each other's warmth go away.

At the end, Natsu was the one who broke the hug first. But he didn't actually let Lucy go, he just put a bit space between them.

"No more avoiding me, then?" Natsu asked.

Lucy nodded. She couldn't avoid it any longer. Staying apart from Natsu felt so much worse than staying with him. She couldn't change the future, but at least for now, she decided to be with Natsu. She decided to spend the upcoming three years by staying beside him.

Because after that, Lucy had to let that happiness go.

Natsu smiled and kissed Lucy's forehead. She was surprised at the gesture, but she quickly melted. She couldn't deny it any longer. Natsu loved her, as much as she loved him.

And she decided to accept that fact.

"I'm still keeping that three years though." Lucy softly chuckled.

Natsu pulled his lips away and scoffed. "I know. All I have to do is making you falling even deeper in those three years."

Lucy smiled and squeezed their intertwining fingers. "I'm looking forward to that."

"Leave it to me." Natsu grinned. "Now that we've settled everything, shall we go?"

"Okay."

"Oh, before that." Natsu took a few strands of Lucy's hair and put it behind her ear. He leveled their orbs once more and let out a soft smile. "I love you."

Those three words were enough to send Lucy's heart into crazy mode. Her face turned into bright red. Even soft blush adorned Natsu's cheeks.

But Lucy didn't turn away this time. She decided to accept it. She would live the most of it in the upcoming three years.

"I love you too."

Natsu's eyes softened as he heard those words coming out of Lucy's mouth and his control slipped away once more. His free hand pushed Lucy's head towards him, bringing their bodies close to each other once more.

Then, he kissed her.

Done !

After 'much' thinking, I decided to cut this chapter at this sweet moment :3 Well, I know Natsu isn't the type of sweet-talking character, but I just can't help picturing him this way in my mind !

And yeah, our couple finally had their first kiss after a freaking 23 chapters :'D

Anyway, what do you think ?

Don't forget to leave your reviews and/or flames :D