Turth or Dare:

Lucy glanced over her shoulder at Natsu. He was busy taping up some boxes as they prepared to make the move into their new house.

She sighed as she watched him work and went back to stacking her books into a box.

The kids had been sent to the Redfox's while she and Natsu got a head start on packing. It would be more difficult to get everything put away in boxes with five little ones running around. Nashi was old enough to help, true, and so were Layla and Igneel, technically. But just because they could pack stuff up that didn't mean they would get distracted and probably just cause more trouble down the line. That didn't even take the twins into consideration. Hence, she and Natsu would pack all day today, and then call the kids to help them finish up tomorrow morning before the big move that afternoon.

Truth be told, though, there was more to it than just that. At least, on Lucy's end there was. Ever since Kyri and Luna had been born, nearly two years ago now, her and Natsu's lives had been chaotic. It was mostly good chaos, fun chaos, but there had also been some bad and scary moments in those 24 months as well.

And now they were moving on, going to a new and bigger house. It was a needed change, and she was happy about it. But there was some sadness in it as well. She'd brought all five of her babies home to this house. She and Natsu had raised their children here for the past twelve years. There were several memories and joyous occasions held in these walls. And she wanted to make sure her last moment in this house was a good one.

She wanted to spend her last in this house with her husband.

They hadn't had much time in the past two years to do that. To just be a husband and wife without having to worry about children, or guild issues, or jobs, or the crazy crises that seemed to follow them everywhere they went.

Maybe it was selfish, but she wanted this last night in this house to be just about them.

She wasn't having much luck with that, though. Packing was still a necessity at this point, and it was taking up much of her husband's attention. She sighed, she should have guessed. They were the parents of five now, among other things. Alone time was just going to have to sit on the backburner for a while. But, good grief, did she miss those long nights of just losing herself in Natsu's eyes, his arms encircling her as he showered her in love. Running her fingers through his hair as he kissed her in places that made her insides turn to mush. Gasping as he whispered her name in her ear, his breath hot against her face. Talking until they fell asleep tangled in each other's arms.

It had been a long time since she'd had a night like that.

The past few years hadn't been completely romance-less. She and Natsu caught a short moment here and there as they could. But that's all they were. Short moments. Fleeting appetizers here and there, all fine and good until you became hungry for the main course. And Lucy was starving!

It looked like she was going to have to go hungry again tonight, though, because, once again, she and Natsu were busy.

Still, maybe they could at least have some fun together? Lucy finished putting the last of her books in the box and had begun to tape it closed when an idea came to her.

"Hey, Natsu, wanna play a game while we do this?"

"Sure," Natsu replied. "Like what?"

"Um...how about truth or dare?"

Natsu's eyes narrowed slightly but he nodded. "Okay, you first."

"Truth or dare?" Lucy asked.

"Dare," Natsu answered.

"Of course," Lucy rolled her eyes. She tapped her chin as she thought. She had SEVERAL dares she'd like to ask of Natsu, but she couldn't. Not yet at least. "Put that box on your head like a hat."

Natsu snickered as he placed the box on top of his head, making Lucy laugh. "Alright, truth or dare?"

"Dare," Lucy answered.

"Alright, I've got a two parter," Natsu said as the box slumped over his eyes and he raised a hand to push it back in place.

"Oh no," Lucy's eyes grew wide.

"Part one, go stuff your mouth full of marshmallows."

"Oh, good grief," Lucy rolled her eyes.

Hey, you said dare, no take-backs…"

"I'm going, I'm going," Lucy grumbled as she made her way to the kitchen. She opened the pantry, pulled out a bag of marshmallows, and proceeded to stuff her face with them. She got 21 into her mouth before she had to stop. She turned to Natsu, narrowing her eyes at him as he laughed at her.

"Now, part two," he chuckled.

Lucy crossed her arms, eyebrows still quirked.

"Tell me why you love me," Natsu said.

Lucy's heart skipped a beat. That's not what she was expecting. Natsu smiled at her, his usual mischievous grin, but there was something else hidden behind his eyes, and it gave Lucy hope…

...until she remembered she had to talk with a mouthful of marshmallows. Yeah, that wasn't sexy or attractive at all. Still she sighed (through her nose) and tried to talk.

"Yoush bwave, and-" she stopped and wiped at her mouth as she was starting to drool a bit. "-lo-lovingsh. Yoush belwieve in youw fweinds and...ugh...and fightsh for dem. Cansh I shtop now?"

"Fine, you can stop," Natsu chuckled as he held a bag out to Lucy to spit in.

"Blech!" she sputtered as she wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare!"

"One second," Lucy slipped out of the kitchen and returned with a scarf.

Natsu arched an eyebrow as she handed it to him. "You have to eat four different things that I give you while blindfolded."

"Okay," Natsu shrugged as he tied to the scarf around his eyes and opened his mouth.

Lucy chuckled as she grabbed the salt shaker, unscrewed the top, and dumped a bit into Natsu's mouth. He recoiled, shaking his head as he swallowed it down.

"Ugh! Was that salt?"

"About half the shaker," Lucy laughed.

"Ugh, Luce, that was nasty!"

"And you've got three more to go," Lucy sing-songed.

"I regret everything right now."
Lucy chuckled evilly as she picked up a bottle of hand soap and squirted a bit into Natsu's mouth. He recoiled again, spitting and gagging as he swallowed it down.

"What the heck was that!?"

"Soap."

"Ew! Luce, you're gross!"

"Two more."

"You're going to kill me."

"Oh, come on. I'll go easy on you this time."

"Ugh! Fine!"

Lucy filled a glass with water and poured a bit into her husband's mouth. This was both an act of mercy and self-preservation for the future. Natsu swished the water around his mouth for a little while before swallowing it.

"Thank you," he sighed.

"Last one," Lucy called.

Natsu opened his mouth again.

Rather than drop some food into his mouth, though, Lucy took his face in her hands, pulled him close, and kissed him. He sighed softly, setting his hands on her wrists. She pulled away after a moment, and he asked-

"Can I get another one of those?"

Lucy giggled as she pulled his blindfold off. "Well, it's your turn…"

He gave her his trademark smirk as he asked: "Truth or Dare?"

"Dare."

"Put that on," he motioned to the blindfold.

Lucy's eyes narrowed before she tied the blindfold off behind her head.

"Try and kiss me, and you can't use your hands to help you find your way," Natsu said.

Lucy smiled as she leaned forward. It didn't take her long to realize she'd missed and had gotten his nose. Natsu laughed as she moved a little lower, not hitting his lips again, just his cheek. Her next target was his chin.

"Alright, you're moving way off course, Luce," he laughed.

"No I'm not," Lucy answered.

"What are you-" Natsu's voice suddenly faltered as Lucy pressed her lips against his neck, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Oh," he breathed as she continued kissing him over his scar. As her kissing became less gentle and more passionate his eyes fluttered closed. A small hiss escaped through his teeth, causing Lucy to smirk as she pulled away and removed the blindfold from her eyes. He was just staring at her, breathing a little heavier than before, eyes hooded.

"To be fair, you didn't tell me where to kiss you," she stated.

The corner of his mouth curled up slightly.

She smiled back at him and asked: "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," he all but whispered.

Lucy almost took a step back. She was almost certain he'd say dare. This was Natsu for crying out loud! She didn't have a question prepared for the truth. So she just said the first thing that came to her mind, and immediately wished she hadn't.

"Were you nervous on our wedding night?"

Natsu's eyebrows raised, clearly quite surprised by the question. Lucy felt her face growing warmer as she tried to cover it with her hands. "Sorry! I don't know where that-"

"Yes," Natsu answered.

Lucy removed her hands from her face, a look of surprise etched in her eyes. "What?"

"Yes," Natsu repeated. Lucy's hands fell to her sides in shock as he continued. "I was scared I'd accidentally hurt you."

"But…" Lucy stuttered. "You seemed so...excited…"

"Oh, I was," Natsu smirked, taking one of her hands in his. "But I was still scared of hurting you. That would have killed me."

Lucy felt her mouth curling into a smile. She hadn't known that. Almost thirteen years of marriage and he'd never mentioned that.

"Truth or dare," Natsu asked in a soft voice.

"Truth," Lucy answered. It only seemed fair after he'd answered that embarrassing question for her.

Natsu took in a deep breath, clearly nervous about what he was going to ask. Lucy cocked her head to one side, curious.

"Have you ever been afraid to be intimate with me?" Natsu asked.

Lucy gasped slightly, both by the boldness of the question, and by the look of sheer worry in Natsu's eyes.

"Not afraid," she answered as honestly as she could. "But I have been...worried, before, that...you might not have liked what you saw...or that you might have been disappointed with...with me…"

Natsu smiled softly, shaking his head. "Never."

Lucy let out a small sigh of relief before asking. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"Hold me," the words left Lucy's lips before she'd even had time to think about it. She didn't have time to even consider taking them back, though, because Natsu instantly stood to his feet, pulled her against him, and wrapped his arms around her. Lucy closed her eyes, nuzzling her face against his chest, causing him to tighten his hold on her.

"Truth or dare," Natsu whispered as he set a hand on the back of her head.

"Truth," Lucy answered.

"That last answer you gave me," Natsu said. "About being worried that I wouldn't like how you looked and all that."

"Yeah?" Lucy questioned.

"Is that why you won't be with me now?" Natsu asked.

"Partially," Lucy answered. "We've also just been so busy that when we do find time to be together, it's usually after a long day when I'm not looking my best and I just...I don't know. I just thought you deserved better I guess."

"Deserved better?" Natsu scoffed. "Lucy, you're a dream come true and then some. I couldn't have better. Not in a million years."

Lucy smiled, snuggling closer against him. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"So if all that's true why haven't you initiated anything with me lately?"

"I didn't think you wanted it, honestly," Natsu answered.

"You still could have asked."

"I guess I could have but...I didn't want you thinking I was pressuring you or anything like that. Especially since you've been tired a lot lately with just, well, life in general these days."

"So we're just too busy?" Lucy asked.

"I guess," Natsu shrugged. "We've gotta fix that."

"Hm," Lucy hummed. "Who's turn is it."

"I dunno," Natsu shrugged.

"I'll go then," Lucy said. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"Take this upstairs?" Lucy's eyes narrowed seductively at her husband.

Natsu's eyes narrowed in response as he scooped her up bridal style and began carrying her to their bedroom.

"Gladly!"

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Lucy finished tying her hair up in a ponytail, smoothing her clothes down as she tried to get ready for the day.

So much for getting packed! She fussed at herself as she thought back to the previous night. Yeah, there had been no packing after their game of truth or dare. Now they were way behind schedule.

Totally worth it, though.

Lucy smirked as she adjusted her top, noticing the several lovemarks along her neck and shoulders. She'd have to get a scarf, or let her hair down to cover those up before they went to get the kids.

As she began fussing with her hair again, she saw Natsu in the mirror. He'd slipped his pants back on but was still shirtless as he strode up behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle.

"Good morning," he smiled as he kissed her cheek.

"Good morning," she replied, smiling brightly.

Natsu buried his face in her hair, taking in a deep breath.

"We needed that," he finally said after a few seconds of blissful silence.

"Yeah," Lucy agreed. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Too long," Natsu agreed. "We've gotta fix that."

"Yeah," Lucy agreed again. "Between the kids, jobs, guild business, and all the other chaos we haven't really been making time for just ourselves."

"No, we have not," Natsu sighed, kissing her cheek again. "What time do the kids go to bed?"

"Kyri and Luna at 7:30, Igneel and Layla and 9, Nashi at 9:30," Lucy answered.

"Alright, you and I aren't allowed to go to sleep until 10:30," Natsu declared. "That hour between 9:30 and 10:30 is ours."

"Hm," Lucy sighed, leaning against him. "And what will I be doing in that hour?"

"I dunno," Natsu shrugged. "But something. Of course, I won't be complaining if you'd like a repeat of last night every night-"

"We'd need more than an hour for that," Lucy chuckled.

"True," Natsu agreed. "But we'll do something together as many nights as we can."

He took one of her hands in his, brought it to his mouth and kissed her palm. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," Lucy replied, setting her hand on his face. He closed his eyes leaning into her touch. A blissful silence fell over the couple as they soaked in the moment.

"Alright," Natsu broke the quiet as he gently turned Lucy until she was facing him, and then pulled her close against him once more, eyes narrow. "Let's get back to it."

"Wha-Natsu, we're behind at packing-"

"Eh, we've got three days to get everything into the new house."

"No, we have two now, because-"

"That's still plenty of time."

"And we've gotta go get the kids."

"Not until noon."

"And it's-"

"Eight in the morning, which means we have four hours," Natsu said as he lifted Lucy off her feet and began carrying her to the bed. "And a whole lot of lost time to make up for."

He tossed her onto the bed and crawled on top of her. Lucy quickly held her arms out, though, and asked: "Truth or Dare. Say 'truth.'"

"Isn't that my choice?" Natsu asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Just say it!"

"Fine, Truth."

"Do you like it when I take control?"

Natsu's grin widened as he nodded. "Oh, yeah!" he then smirked as he asked: "Truth or dare. Say dare."

"Dare," Lucy replied.

Natsu wrapped his arms around her and rolled over so that she was now on top of him.

"Help yourself!"