This one ended up as an unofficial follow-up to We Can, a monarchy AU which can be found in my profile ^_^

Natsu pressed fluttering kisses along the column of Lucy's neck before coming up to meet her lips again, hands starting on her hips and stroking along her curves.

Lucy whimpered, melting under his ministrations, before she suddenly pushed against his chest and tore away from him. She refused to meet his gaze as she turned away with tears flooding her eyes and whispered, "We can't keep doing this."

"I love you too much to stop," he replied, teeth clenched in anger over their situation. Lucy turned back to him as he took her hand. He used the other to caress her cheek and wipe the tears that had started to fall.

Suddenly, a group of guards burst into the room followed by her father. It was a blur of yelling and crying out as Natsu was torn from her grasp, never to be seen again.

She knew they should've stopped. She knew they'd be caught! And now Natsu was going to be punished because of her.

Lucy darted up in her bed, staring out into the small room before furiously wiping away the tears that were flowing down her cheeks.

It had been over half a year since Natsu and Lucy had left Bosco. They'd taken up residence in a small village named Magnolia located far inland Fiore. They weren't technically legally married, but the two claimed to be so, going as Natsu and Lucy Dragion to at least somewhat hide their identities. The small farming community had been rightfully suspicious when they arrived, but after hearing them out and discerning whether or not they seemed trustworthy, Magnolia welcomed them.

Obviously, Lucy and Natsu hadn't shared their full story, knowing that the manhunt for them would certainly spread even this far away from Bosco, but they'd explained they needed any sort of home or help they could get for the little money they had. They hadn't taken any money with them from the palace (Boscan coin would be useless in Fiore, anyway), so they'd had to resort to whatever odd jobs they could pick up as they traveled through Fiore to support their meals and inn stays.

So many of the people in Magnolia had been incredibly kind. They'd alternated staying with a few couples, including the Fullbusters and the Redfoxes, while a man named Gildarts had set Natsu up with a job on his farm and a woman, Mirajane, had helped Lucy learn how to work at the local bar and restaurant. It had been hard, Lucy never having had to work a day in her life, but she was determined and caught on fairly quickly. They'd saved up for a while and had finally been able to build the small home they currently slept in. With stable jobs, friends, and a new home, they'd been fully integrated into the small community, and it seemed like they could leave their troubled pasts behind.

But nevertheless, Lucy still had recurring dreams and nightmares about back then and how scared she'd been over the consequences of falling so desperately in love with Natsu. They'd left a trail of breadcrumbs. If her father's men came to Fiore and asked the right people… They hadn't revealed their names to anyone outside of Magnolia, but It'd be easy to track them, a mysterious blonde woman and pinkette man that lacked money and practically begged for any simple job they could get.

Lucy was certain if her father's men ever chased her down here that the people of Magnolia would try and protect Natsu and Lucy. But she couldn't let that happen. She couldn't put her new friends in danger. She couldn't let Gray, Levy, Juvia, Gajeel, Mirajane, Gildarts, Erza, Makarov, and so many more wonderful people risk being hurt just to keep her safe. She just wasn't worth it.

"Lu…cy?" she heard Natsu groan beside her as his arms reached for her.

"I'm right here," she quietly responded. His face eased, but his reaching hand didn't rest until he'd found her own and held it.

"What are you doing awake?" he groggily asked.

"I…" Lucy hesitated. "It's nothing…"

Natsu groaned again and opened his eyes to look up at her. "Another nightmare?"

Lucy paused before nodding as she felt more tears fill her eyes. Before she knew it, Natsu was sitting up and wrapping his arms around her in comfort. In the arms of the one she loved, Lucy rested her forehead against his chest and broke down with her tears.

"I'm just a- just a plague upon the people I love."

Natsu combed his fingers through her hair. "No you're not, Luce. You're not a plague to me and you're not a plague to Magnolia."

"You know how my father is, Natsu. He'll- He'll do anything to anyone if it means he'll get his bargaining chip back home."

"Lucy, I hate to see you worry so much, but I really just don't know how to comfort you right now. I've told you a thousand times I don't care what your father might do to me and I've told you a thousand times more that your dream didn't and won't happen."

"I know, Natsu. I just want you to- want you to hold me right now," she croaked out, her tears quickly rolling to a halt. "It could be ten years from now and I'll still probably be scared of my father finding us."

Natsu pressed a kiss to the top of her head and rubbed a hand along her back. "You're okay. It's okay." He felt Lucy nod.

"I just have to keep telling myself that." She raised her head and kissed Natsu's cheek. "Let's go back to sleep…"

Natsu nodded and kissed her again. "We're okay. We made it out of Bosco and we've started our new lives."

Thank you for reading!