The Star Queen

Chapter Three: The Rules of Engagement

For once in her life, Lucy is left speechless. Natsu laid on his side in her bed, grinning at the dumbstruck blonde before him. He was clothed in nothing but his boxers, a sight his fiancee thoroughly enjoyed, his head propped up on his left hand.

"I-I'm sorry, run that by me again?"

"I took care of everything."

"You took care of everything? The catering, the guest list, the venue, the day, the reception date-"

"Luce, I took care of it, all of it. Except your bridesmaids and their dresses.. According to Clara if I so much as attempt to do anything about that, I was going to suffer a very painful day in the hospital."

Lucy had to giggle at that one, Clara was just like Erza, as beautiful and terrible as the sun. She knew exactly who she was going to pick as her Maid of Honor, and her bridesmaids. As she contemplated the order the five women would stand behind her MOH, she brushed her golden hair and went through her nightly rituals of checking the doors and windows, ever since she and Natsu became an item she'd grown paranoid about being used against the Fire Dragon Slayer.

Slowly she climbed into bed beside him, curling up against his side with her arm on his chest, he smiled softly and laid his head back on his right arm. A soft sigh from the woman beside him drew his attention back down to her, and with a concerned look he noticed her frown.

"Luce? Baby whats wrong?"

"It's nothing Natsu."

He pushed himself into a sitting position, his hand resting on her hip.

"Tell me anyway."

"I-I can't... really tell you."

"Why not? "

Lucy bit her lip, suddenly nervous and uncertain.

"It's more... direct, if I show you."

He barely had the chance to look confused before she leaned up and pressed her lips to his. Her hand raised to cup his cheek as she kissed him, growing more relaxed as he began to reciprocate. His hand tightened on her hip and pulled her closer, smiling when her heart rate picked up in response. She climbed into his lap while he leaned back against the wall, allowing his left hand to wrap around her and pull her against his chest. A soft moan erupted from her as he gently nibbled on her throat, earning the light rake of her nails down his arms. She could feel him growing harder under her hips, the feeling of which only excited her further. As she reached down to stroke him, she was stopped by his grip on her wrist.

"No."

"Too far?"

"That's not it Luce, you know I want to, but I can't. Not until you're mine completely."

She groaned and let her head thud against his shoulder, both hands on his chest.

"I am yours Natsu... I have been for years."

"Not like that Lu, dragons only mate once in their lives, and I want you in every way possible. I don't want to lose you, not now not ever. I don't.. I don't want to fuck this up..."

Lucy understood, she really did. But a part of her was growing tired of waiting, she wanted to be with him, she wanted to be with her husband the way a wife should. He'd told her from the beginning, and again after Levy came in the guild with Gajeel's Mate Mark on her and his scent all over her skin. He told her getting the mark would be painful, at first, but in the end it would be a link between them. What she felt, he felt, and vise versa. Since Gajeel didn't believe in marriage, he'd simply gone ahead with the Marking Ritual after Levy had given her consent.

"Hey, look at me Lucy."

She slowly raised her head, looking at him with pained eyes.

"I know, you want so badly to finally tie yourself to me for eternity, and believe me I want that too. But I can't do that until both of us have nothing else to give, on our honeymoon, I'll give you the Mark. I give you everything you want and more, just be patient. Okay?"

Lucy nodded, giving in to the inevitable truth of his promise.

He smiled and kissed her, pulling her back down beside him and into the sweet embrace of sleep. When morning came, Lucy kissed him goodbye and headed to the local Boutique to meet up with the girls and find dresses for them. Her bridal gown was being designed by Evergreen and Lisanna, per request of Bianca and Clara.

She would be presented with it a month before the wedding, to allow time for any alterations needed.

"Lu-Chan!"

Lucy looked up from her musings to see Levy, Bianca, Clara, Erza and Wendy, the five of them waving at her to catch her attention. She smiled at them, hurrying over as fast as her heels would allow her. Today she wore a simple wine-red dress with a black leather jacket and black heels, her hair braided over her right shoulder.

"Hey! Sorry I'm late, Natsu and I had a late start this morning."

"Don't worry, we weren't waiting long. Wendy just got here too."

"Alright, well lets get to it!"

The six women went into the shop and headed toward the Bridesmaids Section of the store, quickly catching the eye of a nearby saleswoman. The brunette hurried toward them, dressed in a simple white button up and black skirt with matching black heels, her only adornments were her name tag and pearl earrings.

"Hi there! Can I help you find anything?"

Lucy looked up at her with a smile, but it quickly turned into a frown as she noticed the woman was asking Erza the question, not her. Shrugging it off, she turned her smile back on and addressed her.

"Uh yeah, we're looking for bridesmaid dresses. Preferably something red or perhaps a dark pink?"

She had posed the question with a polite tone, obviously indicating that she was the one who was calling the shots with the dresses. To her shock, the employee shot her a dark look, as though reprimanding her for speaking.

"I'm sorry, are you the bride miss?"

Anger filled her at the woman's condescending tone, and she shot the lady a glare.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I am. And I think we'll be going elsewhere for our purchases."

She had the great satisfaction of watching the brunette blanch and quickly try to cover her tracks, but it was too late. She had dug herself too deep a hole for her to clamor out of, and it was clear that she knew it.

"N-Now w-wait a second, lets not be hasty here! I-I'm sure we can find something for you lovely ladies, j-just give me a moment."

"No, I think you've done enough here. Have a nice day."

Clara pulled Lucy out of the store before she could say anything else, hoping to avoid a fight between them. As soon as Lucy was out on the sidewalk, all the anger in her left. She completely deflated, and a bit of her quiet sadness showed through. Wendy was the first to notice, the little Slayer gazed up at the hurting expression on the bride-to-Be's face.

"What's wrong?"

It was like a bomb had gone off, everyone's attention suddenly shifted to Wendy, then to Lucy. In unison they looked between the little girl and the shocked face of their best friend. Lucy smiled sadly at her, a vain attempt to quell her suspicions.

"Lu?"

"I-I'm fine guys! Really!"

"No you're not, we can see it in your face. What happened? Was it the bitch in the store?"

Clara frowned at Bianca's words, her emerald eyes flicking over to the boutique in disgust.

"N-No... It wasn't her. I mean yeah, she was rude and disrespectful but a lot of people are."

"So then what is it?"

At Erza's firm, yet gentle press, Lucy finally caved.

"Natsu wants to wait until we get married before he'll be with me intimately... and he won't give me his Mark yet either.."

Levy and Bianca gasped, while the others only had a minor understanding of a Dragon Slayer's Mate Mark, they understood why she'd be a little sad about not being able to be with Natsu the way others are with their lovers. Not being able to sleep with Natsu until she was married was one thing, a lot of mages preferred to wait, but being denied her Mark when it was clear that she was his mate was insulting.

"What is the significance of a Mate Mark?"

Levy was the one to speak first, a dreamy look on her face.

"Its complete synchronization of the pair, their hearts, minds and Souls. Once you're bonded, you can feel everything the other mate is feeling and has ever felt in his or her lifetime. You always know what they feel, what they need. Its how Dragons have mated for centuries."

Erza looked thoughtful, but still confused.

"Let me explain it a little better. Suppose you're colorblind, and all you see is black and white. Getting your Mark is like suddenly being able to see every shade and color on the planet, its perfect understanding of your mate."

With Bianca's explanation, the rest of the group seemed to finally understand why Lucy was upset. Natsu was denying her the one thing she wanted most from him, the physical and emotional proof that she would always have him. She wanted a family with him, she wanted a life with the man she loved, something they couldn't fault her for.

"Well if you think of it, he's denying you completely, he's just waiting to give you the mark until society recognizes you as his wife. He wants the whole damn world to know you belong to him, and that he belongs to you. Its not that he doesn't love you Lu, he just wants to give you the ultimate gift."

Lucy nodded, she understood what they were trying to say, but it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly that familiar pain spiked through her chest again, searing through her nerves and making her flinch as she clutched at her chest. The others took notice of her and immediately moved to steady her, concern evident on their faces.

And once again, as quickly as it was there, it was gone.

"Lucy! Are you alright?"

Clara was the first to speak, her emerald orbs searching Lucy's face for any signs of the previous pain. When she found nothing but mild fear and discomfort, she brushed her cool hand against the blonde's forehead and frowned. Lucy didn't feel warm, it was like she was flash-freezed and then re-heated in a single instant.

Which was impossible.

"I-I'm fine guys, its happened before. It usually passes after a minute or two, it doesn't hurt much, its just surprising."

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure, but it seemed to start after Natsu proposed."

"Wendy, would you mind giving her a once-over?"

The little bluenette nodded, and despite Lucy's protests began funneling her healing magic into her, searching for anything strange. Her eyebrow narrowed as she found nothing physically wrong with her, nothing mentally either.

"I can't find anything.. maybe she should go see Porlyusica. She's much better at finding illnesses than I am."

"No, I'm fine guys. Really. But if it keeps up or gets worse then I'll go see her, for now I'm not really worried about it."

While they weren't pleased about it, nobody could really force her to do anything now can they?

Hey guys!

Sorry I haven't posted much but its getting difficult to write to much with this, I really want to do a time skip to the wedding and set the actual needed events into motion, but I feel like that's a dick move and I don't want to make you guys mad... I mean of course I'm gonna explain things that have happened, but I know its not as good as actually reading it.

Before I forget I'm sorry I can't explain the Mate Mark further yet, but I promise I will in the upcoming chapters. Just bear with me here...

Much Love,

BlackRose999