"Why do you smell so good, like strawberries and cream? It makes me want to gobble you up." I purr to the soft yet supple body below me, I lean closer and inhale that intoxicating sweet smell, I can feel my body reacting.

"Natsu" a familiar feminine voice whispers quietly, there is an emotion that I don't quite understand in their voice. If only I could open my eyes and see what is happening, maybe it would make more sense.

My hands move of their own accord, callused fingers stroking the velvet skin that lies beneath me causing a pleasant shiver to course through my body.

"Who am I touching and why?"

I can hear someone calling my name from afar, it's getting louder. No, I don't want to be pulled away. My hips involuntarily grind into something soft, a surprised gasp echoes in my head before loud shouting brings me almost back to consciousness.

My eyes fly open, all I can see is a pair of deep chocolate brown eyes and a flash of golden blonde hair, "Lucy?"

"NATSU! Wake up dummy!" Happy yells in my face, I swat at him angrily as I attempt to work out where I am.

Still groggy from being pulled from my dreams, it takes me a minute to realise I'm lying on the sofa in Lucy's apartment with one of her bedroom pillows under my body, the sweet scent from my dream still lingers and I realise it is coming from the pillow, her pillow. I gingerly sit up and realise that I have something that needs to stay hidden, my loose pyjama pants are not doing a good job at covering my very prominent erection.

Placing the pillow on my lap to hide my embarrassment, I glare at the flying exseed, "What the hell man? I was sleeping, why'd you have to wake me?"

The blue fuzzball lands on the table before me, his eyes round with worry, "You were making so much noise, it seemed like you were in pain, and then you started thrashing around on the sofa. I've been trying to wake you for ages, I was about to wake Lucy to help but –"

"Let her sleep" I snap. Happy gasps at my unusual sharpness, sighing I smile at him, "Sorry little buddy, it's just that she has been through so much lately, she needs to rest."

My head is pounding, sweat is starting to trickle down my brow. My body normally runs hot, it comes with the territory of being a Fire Dragon Slayer, but this isn't right. Frowning I try to stand from the sofa, I wobble on my feet and quickly must sit again. "What the heck?"

Suddenly a pair of fiery orange eyes flash past my field of vision and disappear as quickly as they appeared, a low growl resonates inside my skull, grabbing my head I grind my teeth at the pain now shooting through me.

"How did I end up on the floor?" panting at the pressure building in my head, I try to stand but it's like all my strength has been sapped away. Someone lands heavily on the floor before me, I can't raise my head, it hurts too much.

As a cool hand strokes my brow, the pain recedes, and my mind clears. The growling turns into a soft purr and disappears into the darkness. Looking up slowly I find Lucy kneeling beside me, her eyes are shining with concern as she continues to stroke my forehead, I lean into the comfort and let the pain ebb away.

"What is going on Natsu?" she asks softly, "you're burning up," her hand begins to move away from me, and I grab it possessively and place it back on my brow. Lucy gasps but relaxes into the touch, I lean into her body as I continue to tremble with painful aftershocks.

"Don't know, feel funny," is all I can manage to say before I slump back against the sofa, pulling Lucy with me as I can't bear to be parted from her.

~.~

The heat coming off Natsu is intense, his fire has never bothered me before, but this is different. Despite his weakened condition, the hand that he has wrapped around me tightens and I don't think I would be able to pull away even if I tried. Natsu moans as I continue to stroke his forehead, "Get me a bowl of cold water and a rag." I urge the flying cat, Happy has been flapping around our heads with an increasingly worried expression, a task might help him regain his focus.

"It's going to be ok; we'll get you some help," I murmur soothingly into Natsu ear, his body spasms and he whimpers in pain. I can't stand this, Natsu is always so strong, and I can't bear seeing him like this. His body is now slick with sweat, Happy returns with the water and rag which I take carefully, mopping his brow and face gently.

"Happy, I need you to find either Wendy or Porlyuscia quickly and bring them here immediately," I command, my eyes never leaving Natsu's pained face.

"Aye Sir!" Happy salutes and wipes a tear from his eye as he glides through the open window and into the distance.

As soon as Happy leaves, an almighty shudder races through Natsu's body and before I can blink, I am on my back on the floor with Natsu poised above me, he lowers his head as I watch nervously. He nuzzles into my neck and inhales deeply; I can feel a deep blush creeping over my face as I realise just how close we are. "What are you doing? Natsu, you need help," I whisper, my palms push against his chest, but it appears some of his strength has returned as I make no impact.

A deep chuckle that I have never heard before rumbles up his throat as he presses one hot kiss to my neck, "All I need is you, Lucy."