As the signing ceremony approached, Lucy's days fell into a pattern reminiscent of those before she'd met with the king the first time. She and Zeref would spend much of the day rehearsing while Natsu would be off doing whatever it was his brother told him to do, though Lucy wasn't ever quite sure what that was. When they were finally able to be together at night, Natsu was never very willing to discuss what he'd been doing all day. Neither of them was very willing to discuss Zeref at all, choosing instead to spend a few hours pretending the black mage didn't exist.

Of course, the rehearsals were much different this time around. Instead of practicing how to act like a powerful queen, the odd couple had to practice how to sell their unlikely relationship to the people. Zeref was a good enough actor on his part, but clearly had little idea of how a loving, married couple should act. Lucy was constantly having to coach him to look at her every few moments as if he wanted to, stand a little bit closer, or call her 'Lucy' instead of 'Lady Heartfilia'. In her desperation, she'd even reached into the recesses of her book collection and picked a few romances to force the black mage to read in the hopes he would learn something.

"You don't need to be gushy," Lucy said with just a hint of frustration. "Not all couples are like that. But you should seem like you care for me, like you want to protect me."

"Protect you from what? I'm the most powerful mage alive," Zeref said, and Lucy resisted the urge to smash her head against the wall.

"Protect me from any kind of unseen threats, from the cruelty of the world! Didn't you read those books I gave you?"

"I glanced through them, but they were quite dull," Zeref drawled.

"The man who spends his spare time drawing up peace treaties thinks my romance novels were dull." The blonde just shook her head in disbelief. "You're truly a mystery, Zeref."

"As you are to me, Lucy," he said, pointedly using her name and she rolled her eyes.

"At least you got that one down," she muttered, though something about the way he said her name made her feel strange and on edge.

"If I remember correctly, convincing the people of our relationship is your job anyway," Zeref said, his black eyes on her. Those eyes still made her want to hide in fear, but through all their time together she had somehow learned to withstand the temptation.

"Yes, but I need you to corroborate my story. The people will trust what they see more than what they hear," she said.

"That's for sure," he scoffed. "I can't believe that story you made up about me. I have half a mind to sue you for libel."

"It makes you look sensitive," she argued.

"You mean pathetic. As if someone like me would be so senselessly enchanted by a simple girl, no offense," he said.

"None taken," she said honestly. Indeed, had the mage truly shown a romantic interest in her, she'd have been at a loss to explain why. A four hundred year old man falling in love with a young woman at first sight was a story so odd, she was amazed the people of Fiore believed it at all. The best she could explain was that they wanted to believe in true love and in the mage's inherent goodness more than they wanted to believe in logic and truth.

"Now again," Zeref moaned languorously. "When we walk up to the palace, you will be by my side as an equal."

Lucy didn't miss how he shuddered slightly at the thought, but found it more amusing than insulting.

"As with last time, there will be no bowing. I will give a small speech about the value of mages and the land I wish to create. Then I will read through the terms of the treaty again and ensure that Fiore agrees to all of them while you stand supportively by my side. We will all sign the documents, you will give in inspirational speech about the value of equality, blah blah blah, and then we will walk out to greet the people before leaving.

"My demons will be with us the whole time as guard, but you, Lucy, are the real protection. If I have to unleash my demons for our protection then this treaty will be for naught. The image of them attacking the citizens will be enough to allow doubt to win over and everything to fail. So, instead, we have to make it so that they don't want to attack us. More specifically, that they don't want to attack you and, by extension, myself as well."

"And that, Zeref, can only be done if you can manage to look at me without disdain for just a few hours," Lucy said with more than a little sass.

"I hardly disdain you, Lucy," Zeref said.

"Then act like it."

Zeref huffed almost childishly.

"I think that's enough for today. We leave at first light, so make sure you are well rested and ready to go."

With that, he turned on his heel and marched most importantly out of the room. Lucy just rolled at his eyes. He might have been the most powerful dark mage ever to live, but he was also a drama queen. And despite the fact she still feared him and his true motives, she couldn't help but come to rather like the man in an odd way. She wondered what he would have been like, had the world not twisted him so much through the centuries. Maybe then she could even have loved him like a proper wife.

Then she thought of Natsu and his warm, childish grin and his soft, hot kisses.

Maybe not.

No matter how tolerable Zeref could have been, it would never have been enough to compare to what she felt for his demonic brother. That was a fire even water couldn't put out, that blazed deep within her. Natsu was more than just an attractive man or a good friend – he felt like another part of herself and it was a wonder she'd lived without him all her life. She didn't know if she could do the same again, now that she'd found him.

After a moment, she left the room through the same door Zeref had just gone through. The hallways were still rather dark and intimidating, but gradually she was beginning to feel more – if not at home – comfortable. She walked leisurely along the red carpet, not really having much more to do now that rehearsal was over for the day. Through a narrow window she could see the sun beginning its descent, though still rather high up amongst the clouds.

Warm, rough hands suddenly wrapped themselves around her eyes and she smiled widely, knowing instantly who they belonged to.

"Guess who," Natsu's deep voice rumbled against her back as he pulled her flush against him.

She twisted her head up to look at him, her infectious smile still upon her face.

"Natsu," she sighed happily, meeting his green eyes with her own. She spun around in his arms and kissed him deeply. It was a gentle kiss, like a warm blanket on a cold night that so softly lended its comfort and protection.

"Hello beautiful," he murmured against her lips.

"I'm always amazed how quiet you can be despite the wings," she said playfully.

"It's a trained art. Took centuries to master," he said pompously with a smirk that Lucy couldn't help but capture with her own lips again.

"I wasn't expecting you until this evening," she said.

"I finished early," he said, a small shadow passing over his eyes for the briefest of moments before he continued. "Besides, I think Zeref wanted to give us some time together now so that you'd get some sleep tonight."

"That dirty old man," Lucy laughed. "But I'd never say no to more time with you."

Their lips met again, this time more fiercely. Needy hands ran over skin and cloth, searching for something more as their tongues twisted together in their own dance. Somehow Lucy was supposed to convince the world that she felt like this for the black mage, and the task seemed daunting to her – no, impossible.

Suddenly, Natsu broke the kiss off and gasped. Lucy looked up in slight alarm, but at seeing the smile on his face settled down.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I've just remembered there's somewhere I've been wanting to take you," he said, eliciting another smile from her.

"Oh really? And where is that?"

"Pshh, I can't tell you, it's a surprise," he chided, grabbing her hand and pulling her up the stairs towards the nearest upper exit, special doors to outside made so that Natsu could jump out and fly off without having to cram through a window.

They reached the door and he flung it open. The fifty foot drop was still a bit terrifying to Lucy, but when Natsu picked her up in his arms all her fears subsided and they launched into the air. Her stomach leapt as they flew over the palace grounds and off towards the south. Most of the area surrounding the palace was undeveloped, retaining its natural beauty that many cities like Crocus had long lost. She settled back against Natsu as they flew and nestled her head against his neck, lightly peppering kisses along the skin and scales there. She felt the demon growl beneath her and chuckled.

"Careful, missy. If you distract me too much I might just fly into a tree," he teased her.

"Natsu and Lucy, sitting in a tree," she sang with a laugh.

"More like lodged into it," Natsu corrected. "Anyway, we're here."

She sat up a bit in his arms and looked around. "Here" turned out to be a small wooded area, though why Natsu wanted to bring her here was as yet unapparent to her.

"And where exactly are we?" she asked.

"Hold your horses, you'll see in a minute," he said.

"I didn't ride any horses here, I rode a demon," she said. Natsu's skin turned as red as his scales at her insinuation, and after realizing what she'd said she would have blushed as well if she hadn't enjoyed watching him do it so much.

He cleared his throat, which had gone mysteriously dry.

"A-anyway, it's right through here," he said, grabbing her hand and leading her through a small patch of trees.

They walked along what was apparently supposed to be a path lined very tightly with old trees until they came to a clearing with a small cabin. The house was surrounded by untamed shrubberies practically dripping with various berries, and the whole structure seemed as old as the woods themselves. Overall it was rather…cute.

"What is this place?" Lucy asked.

"This is my home," Natsu said, making Lucy twist towards him so fast she almost fell over.

"I thought you lived in the palace," she said.

"Well technically I kind of do. I don't have to sleep much and I don't get time off, so basically I live in the palace, but this is my official home. I built it when I first came to live with Zeref after the dragons. Probably needs a little work…" he muttered.

"It's adorable!" Lucy gushed, flying towards the door, excited to see the rest of the house.

"That's my man cave you're talking about, don't call it adorable," Natsu grumbled, following behind the eager blonde.

Lucy froze as she opened the door and was greeted with mountains of clothes and dishes and other more mysterious substances she remained wary of.

"Oh," she said. "Could use a little cleaning."

"Heh, yeah. Like I said, not much time off. I rarely come here anymore, especially since I've been…with you and…yeah," Natsu said, running his claws through his hair.

Lucy looked at him curiously, wondering why he seemed so nervous. Then it hit her: this was his home. A place he likely hadn't brought anyone to. Ever. The sudden weight of that realization laid itself upon her.

"Well, it's not that bad," she lied. She made her way through the mess towards what looked like a kitchen or – at least – the most consistent pile of dishes. She peeked around in the cupboards, but was greeted with nothing but crumbs and a few moldy food items whose original forms were so distorted Lucy wasn't entirely sure what they had been before.

Behind her, Natsu sighed anxiously. "I'm sorry, I really should have cleaned this place before I brought you here," he said, acutely aware at that moment that Lucy was a proper lady and not just some country girl. "I just suddenly remembered about it and didn't stop to think…"

"Natsu," Lucy said, walking over to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly, just to make him shut up. "It's fine. I'm glad you brought me. How about you go find some food and I'll clean up around here. When you get back we can make dinner. It'll almost be like a proper date," she said with a grin.

Natsu bit his lip adorably as he thought over her words. "You really don't have to clean my house for me," he said.

"Oh, but you don't understand Natsu – I really do," she said, pressing her lips against his again.

This time he took charge, moving his lips with hers in a slow ebb and flow of motion. Lucy felt that she could stand there and kiss him all day, even surrounded by junk as she was, but their time was limited. She pulled back and pushed him towards the door.

"Now go! I'm hungry," she smirked.

"As you wish, my lady," Natsu smiled. "If you need me, just yell. I'm not going far."

"I'll let you know if one of your shirts tries to strangle me," she agreed, and watched as he leapt up into the sky. She watched until he disappeared over the trees then turned back to the messy house, ready for battle.

By the time Natsu got back the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon and the house was, maybe not sparkling, but clean. Luckily the place had been more cluttered than filthy, with the notable exception of the kitchen that had been doubling as a petri dish. However, Lucy hadn't really minded. Nobody had ever let her clean anything before besides tidying her own room, and now she felt exceptionally accomplished as she looked around the – nearly – spotless house.

When she heard the heavy flapping of wings, she ran to the door to see Natsu landing with an already-skinned carcass of something and an armful of vegetables she had trouble believing he just miraculously found in the forest. Natsu flipped his wings back, looked up to see her standing in the doorway, and promptly froze.

"What's wrong?" Lucy asked, unable to understand why he'd suddenly stopped moving, stopped breathing.

Natsu just smiled a bit and blushed as a deadly demon shouldn't. "Sorry," he said bashfully. "I just like the sight."

"Of your house?" she asked.

"Of you standing in it," he said. Then he shook his head as if he were being silly, though to Lucy he was anything but. "Anyway, I got some stuff. I thought we could make a stew or something. I think I remember how to make that. Used to be the only thing I made."

Lucy beamed at him and took an armful of vegetables.

"Sounds great!" she said. "Though I'll warn you, my cooking skills are questionable. They never let me in the kitchens back home."

Natsu laughed and followed her into the house.

"Wow…" he said behind her.

"Not bad, huh?" she bragged.

"I haven't seen it this clean in a few decades at least," he admitted.

"Well I hope you'll keep it clean now. That was a lot of work," she said as he placed the meat on a chopping board he didn't even know he owned.

"Hopefully you'll be able to come here and help me keep it clean," he said, bending down to kiss her sweetly.

Lucy blushed, speechless, and nodded. She hoped for that as well.