She moved with quiet grace, humming a soft lullaby under her breath as she rocked the little feline in her arms. With a soft, satisfied purr, the blue-furred cat finally drifted off into dreamland, snuggling closer to the warm, cushiony human holding him. Lucy smiled down at the content creature, placing him gently in his bed and pulling the covers over his miniscule cat form. With a fond smile she stepped away, her gaze briefly scanning the bedchamber, landing on her own luxurious bed placed right next to Natsu's equally luxurious and empty one. She glanced over her shoulder at the light streaming in from the living hall of Natsu's chambers. With a curious cock of her head, the young Princess strolled out to see what her friend could be occupied with so late at night.

"Natsu?"

Lucy blinked as she took in her friend's pose, trying to process the scene before her.

"A-are you… doing parchment work?!"

Lucy's incredulous voice roused Natsu from the scroll he had been scowling at. He blinked owlishly at Lucy for a few moments before cocking his head curiously.

"Yes. Isn't that obvious?"

"Oh. Yes. It is. But why?!"

Natsu raised a brow.

"Becaussseee… I'm the Prince of Alagesia and the head of the magical alliance council?"

Lucy blinked before shooting him an impressive scowl.

"Quit being a dragon smart-ass! I know how well you've always found a way to shirk these onerous duties, and I supposed that being the Prince and the Head of a magical council would have made it easy for you to find someone to do your grunt work…"

Natsu let out an ever suffering sigh.

"Alas, that should be true! But no one in Alagesia is kind hearted and noble enough to help a poor dragon like me…"

He gave her his most devastating puppy eyes, his draconic features doing little to take away from his pitiful gaze. Lucy frowned at him for a good moment more before finally relenting.

"Oh, fine! I'll help…"

"Great! You can start with that pile over there, and we'll work our way through this one once you're done with that."

Lucy gaped at him, her eyes narrowing as she took in his all too innocent grin.

"You planned on playing me, didn't you?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Dragon jerk."

He he.

Lucy plopped down into the plush chair beside Natsu, pulling the pile of parchment on his desk closer to herself.

"Well, I guess I'll forgive you this once, and grace you with the assistance of my astounding intelligence… Ohhh…"

Lucy faltered, her haughty look vanishing to be replaced with a worried expression. Natsu looked up from his parchment once more, frowning when he noticed her biting her lower lip.

"Luce? Is something wrong?"

The Princess shook her head, bending low over the table to hide her face with a curtain of golden locks as she picked up a quill to make notes on her scroll.

A few minutes passed in companionable silence as Natsu finished reading the parchment that had been plaguing him, tossing it onto the 'done' pile with a sigh of satisfaction.

"Thank God I don't have to answer any of the damn army reports anymore - I can get 'General Gajeel' to do those…"

Natsu trailed off as he took in the sight next to him.

Lucy was bent over the table, her thick curtain of hair shielding her face from him. The soft, willowy material of her nightgown clung to her shapely figure, rustling every time she fidgeted or squirmed. Her delectable scent floated around her, invading the dragon Prince's senses. He discreetly snuck his arm over the back of her chair, draping it casually over her shoulders - unable to resist pulling himself closer to her.

Sniff.

Natsu froze.

"Are you crying?! Why?!"

Lucy didn't respond, but he could feel her form tremble slightly. His panic skyrocketed.

"I'm sorry! I never ever meant to upset you, Lucy! You don't have to touch these awful reports, I should never have tricked you into doing them, it's all my fault, I'm soorryyyy…"

A snort of amusement interrupted his frantic, self-berating speech.

"Relax, Natsu. It's not you I'm upset with."

Lucy finally leaned back, a smile on her face that did not quite reach her eyes.

"I was just reliving a few bad memories… I seem to be doing that a lot lately…"

Lucy scoffed, her expression wry as she fidgeted with the quill in her hand. Natsu frowned.

"What bad memories? Would you like to talk about them? I can be a good listener when I try…"

Lucy giggled, her expression relaxing even more under his concerned, affectionate gaze.

"You are a very good listener, unless there is a fight about to start or food before you."

"Eh. Can't deny that."

Lucy leaned her head on his shoulder, sighing as she collected her thoughts. Natsu basked in the warmth of her soft, lithe body pressing against his.

"It's these figures in this report that need to be calculated… I can't do arithmetic. All my tutors have tried to teach me, but the entire subject eludes me. I still can't understand why…"

Natsu scoffed.

"That's what you're upset about?! That you can't do a few measly sums? Who cares about that, Lucy?!"

"My father used to." Lucy interrupted him softly. "It was one of the things that disappointed him the most. A decent administrator must have a good grasp of numbers and figures."

Natsu tensed, the arm he had wrapped around Lucy's shoulders tightening. He buried his face in her golden locks and breathed deep, forcing down the rage that simmered within him whenever her sire was mentioned.

"After all I've heard about your father, Lucy, I don't think he has the right to judge you on anything. Not after the way he treated you."

"Natsu…"

"I know he's your father and for that reason... you... being the insanely kind being that you are... would forgive him no matter what... but the truth is, he's a monster. One who dared raise a hand against his own precious child."

"No."

Lucy leaned back to glare at her friend, eyes flashing with fury.

"Whatever he has done, my father is not a monster."

"But…"

"I'm not defending his actions, but I refuse to call him a monster. However misguided, he did what he did for a reason. A reason he believed was just."

"He hurt you…"

"So? He did it in the open, unafraid to face the consequences of his actions. A true monster would have hurt me in the dark, hiding his twisted actions from the world, a hypocrite in the worst sense…"

A low shudder passed through the girl and she subconsciously moved closer to her dragon best friend. Natsu's frown deepened, but he did not prompt her for more. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. She would tell him when she was ready. And he would be there for her when she did.

A few moments passed as the young woman relaxed further in her dragon's arms.

"I know!"

Lucy let out a yelp of surprise as she was unceremoniously dragged out of her chair and plopped onto Natsu's lap. Her back was pressed against his muscular chest as Natsu's arms wrapped around her. He grabbed her quill, coaxing it back into her grasp as his larger, calloused hand enveloped her smaller, daintier one.

"I'll teach you all I know about arithmetic. Mind you, I'm hardly an expert, but I am pretty good at the basics! Here, let's start with this…"

Natsu bent forward, his scaly cheek brushing against Lucy's soft one as he leaned in closer. In a low, encouraging voice he held her hand as he guided her through the steps of a sum. Lucy bit her lower lip, a swell of affection surging within her for her wonderful dragon.

She really did not deserve him.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Moonlight filtered through the gauzy curtains covering the balcony's yawning entrance. The silvery rays bathed the dark bedchamber in its soft glow. The rays illuminated the tawny figure of the Prince of Dragons, who was sprawled on his mattress as a light snore caused his bare, muscular chest to rise and fall rhythmically. In a small, cozy crib at the foot of his bed slept his brave exceed companion - the feline's mouth slightly ajar and a trickle of saliva seeping out as the cat-creature dreamed of yummy fish. In the adjacent bed a far more restless figure lay, her voluptuous form trembling slightly - soft whimpers escaping her periodically as she thrashed around. A sob escaped her and a single tear broke free from beneath her closed eyelids - the almost indiscernible sound causing the Dragon Prince to startle awake with a grunt.

Natsu sat up with a yawn, stretching lazily as he glanced over at Lucy's bed. The sight of her shivering form caused the last vestiges of his sleep to evaporate. He hastily clambered off his cushiony mattress, approaching the young maiden in the adjacent one with silent trepidation.

She was obviously caught in a nightmare.

He heard her whimper in her sleep, the sound louder than before. He made a soft, shushing sound as he knelt down next to her, gently stroking her golden locks as he frantically scanned her exposed back. The treatment his mother and sister had begun had already healed more than half of the ugly scars, and Lucy was responding so well to the treatment that they expected her to be fully healed within the next week. They had warned him that she could be subject to night terrors due to the excessive pain her body was handling during the treatment - removing scars, even with the aid of magic, was not an easy affair - and had ordered him to be highly alert in his nightly vigil of her. Natsu silently cursed himself for sleeping too deeply to hear her first cries of distress - he should have been more vigilant. He could have helped her sooner.

"Natsu?"

Happy's voice - rough with sleep but still heavily laced with concern - easily reached Natsu's sharp ears.

"Yea, little friend?"

"Is Lucy having a nightmare?"

"I think so. I don't know when it started, but it looks like it's getting worse."

Happy whined unhappily at the news, his eyes wide with worry as he gazed at his dragon companion. Wordlessly, he unfurled his wings and floated to Lucy's other side, dropping onto her pillow. With a soft meow, he curled his tail around her wrist and nuzzled against her temple. Lucy's frantic whimpers decreased in volume, as Happy's soft, feline sounds continued to soothe her. Happy looked up from his ministrations to give Natsu a stern look.

"I'm not enough to comfort her. She needs your comfort too, Natsu."

Natsu grimaced slightly.

"I-I can't get into her bed… You know humans are very uncomfortable about such things, and Lucy is even shyer than her kind usually are… I-I don't think she'd be very happy with me if she found me curled around her, come morning…"

Happy just held his stern glare. "She needs you Natsu. It's the only way to halt her nightmares. I know it."

Natsu sighed. As much as he ached to climb into her bed, hold her close and chase away all her bad dreams, he dreaded her reaction in the morning. She would be angry with him, however innocent and noble his intentions…

Another heart-breaking sob from Lucy's lips decided the matter.

Natsu lifted the silk bedsheet as he stealthily slipped in next to her. He curled himself around her fetal position, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her towards him, pressing her securely against his uncovered chest. He raised his temperature to a comforting warmth, radiating heat against her bare back. It would help if the residual pain in her healing scars were the cause of her bad dreams. He began rubbing soothing circles near her hip, making deep, low sounds of comfort as her whimpers finally petered off. With a content sigh, Lucy nuzzled closer to the source of warmth behind her, her breathing finally evening out as she sunk into a deep sleep. Natsu took in a deep breath, relishing her comforting scent and checking it to see if there was even a hint of distress.

She was completely relaxed.

The realization helped him finally relax as well. He minutely tightened his grip around the young woman, letting out a content sigh as he hugged her soft, curvy form. She'd kill him in the morning for sure, but the chance to hold his beautiful bonded in his arms was just too irresistible to pass up. The feeling of peacefulness and joy that radiated through him as he enjoyed their intimate position further strengthened his resolve. Come what may, he would do everything in his power to make her his. He would strive to be everything she could want in a romantic partner - a task that did not seem onerous, for he knew he was already halfway there. She was attracted to him physically, of that he had no doubt, having observed her reactions to him countless times. He also knew that she loved him… although he could not ascertain if her love was more of a friendly nature or… something more. It was up to him to help her fall in love with him now. His love would not remain unrequited for long - not if he had anything to say about it! Natsu grinned as he buried his face in her golden locks, dreaming of pink-haired hatchlings with brown eyes as he drifted off to sleep.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Morning came and the sunlight creeping in through the balcony and windows of Natsu's airy bedchamber chased away every last vestiges of the dark night. Lucy's eyelids fluttered open and a content sigh escaped her as she snuggled closer into the comforting warmth of her bed, her hand squeezing the smooth, scaly arm wrapped around her waist.

Wait. What?!

With a squeak she shot up, her hands smacking a muscular, sweaty chest as she fumbled to get her bearings. Natsu let out a groan, grabbing her wrists in one hand as he sat up next to her.

"It's way too early to get up, Luce, come lie back in bed."

Lucy blushed a deep shade of crimson at his words, rendered speechless for a moment. Natsu merely shrugged and rubbed his eyes before his sleepy haze finally wore off.

He froze.

"Oh. Shit. Lucy, I-I'm sorry… I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable…"

A soft hand on his shoulder halted his panicked words.

"Nay," Lucy replied, a soft blush coating her cheeks. "You could never make me feel uncomfortable, Natsu. I was merely… surprised. I'm not used to having anyone else in my bed…"

Lucy trailed off, her blush deepening as she looked up at him through her long lashes. Natsu gulped, looking away from the unintentionally alluring look. Although it was damn hard to do so.

"I-I thought my presence would help quell your nightmares. As did Happy! See - the little rascal still sleeps on your pillow…"

Lucy glanced in the direction Natsu had gestured, taking in the sight of the dozing exceed. She giggled at the sight of the lazy cat stretched out on the fluffy headrest, a thin line of drool escaping his parted lips.

"Hmmm… Fair enough." Lucy paused, her mirth subsiding as the intent behind his gesture sunk in. "Did I really make enough noise over the night to wake you two? Were my nightmares really that bad?"

Natsu's gaze softened. "It was not a question of how loud you were - you were in distress, Lucy, and both Happy and I could sense it. We wanted to comfort you no matter what. As for whether your nightmares were really that bad… Wouldn't you be able to answer that question better?"

Lucy gnawed on her lower lip, a popular nervous gesture of hers, Natsu noted quietly. The Princess squirmed in her spot as she seemed to mull over something before finally arriving at a decision. With a sigh of resignation she looked up to lock her gaze with Natsu's - the fiery determination in its depths leaving the fire dragon in awe of his beautiful human friend.

"It was yet another dream reminding me of how weak I am."

Natsu made a sound of annoyance. "Lucy, we've talked about this! You are not weak - you have one of the strongest spirits I have ever had the pleasure of knowing…"

"But Natsu," Lucy pouted, the Dragon Prince's eyes inevitably drawn to her plump lips as they curled downward in chagrin. "It's not the same as being physically strong! I may have the will to protect my friends - but there have been so many times when I've lacked the brawn to carry out my wish!" Lucy's pout morphed into a scowl as she looked away from Natsu. The Dragon Prince's sharp eyesight caught the sparkle of frustrated tears at the corner of her eyes just before she turned her face away from him.

"Is that all, Luce? You wish to be physically stronger?"

"It is not as simple a wish as you make it sound, Natsu. I've tried… I've tried so hard to be stronger. I've managed to train myself to be mentally and emotionally sharp, but this weak, delicate frame refuses to become as well-honed and capable a tool as so many of our other female friends possess…"

Natsu smiled a little too knowingly for Lucy's liking. The young Princess took one glance at his expression and turned her face away again to glower at the opposite wall. Natsu chuckled.

"It is your bad luck that most of your closest female friends are all magical. You do remember that their magic helps boost their physical prowess, don't you, strange one?"

"Yes, I do. But it still feels like the gap between them and I is too large. And if I can't even measure up to them, how would I ever measure up to you?!"

With a squeak of distress, Lucy clapped her hands over her mouth the moment after the last words escaped her. Natsu sat still, stunned by the implications of what she had uttered. Slowly his smile morphed into a mischievous grin.

"Why Lucy - did you just admit that you admire me?!"

Lucy's answering growl only prompted Natsu to burst out into a roar of laughter. She continued to glare at him as he guffawed, but still spit out an honest reply.

"Hmph. Maybe I do hold you to a higher standard than I used too… but don't let that get to your head, you arrogant beast!"

Natsu smothered the last of his snickers as he regarded Lucy closely. The young woman looked very vulnerable and wary behind all her put upon glares and scowls. She had essentially opened up to him about a part of her that no one else was privy to. The fact that she was willing to let her guard down to such an extent just for him caused a warm, loving glow of hope and affection to surge in his heart.

"Lucy," He began softly. "If you wish to improve your physical strength, may I make a suggestion?"

Lucy cocked her head curiously and nodded.

"Allow me to train you in the dragon's art of warfare."

A few moments of silence prevailed as Lucy seemed to digest his words.

"You wish to teach me how to fight like a dragon?!"

"Yes."

Lucy gasped, her smile radiant as she regarded him.

"That's an amazing honor, Natsu. I know just how proud dragons are of their techniques, and they do not willingly impart them to other races…"

"You are worthy. I trust you."

Lucy's smile turned watery. She dropped her tear filled gaze to the bedsheets instead. She cleared her throat in order to reign in her overflowing emotions. She forced her tone to adopt a lighter, teasing lilt.

"Why Natsu, you seem to be so willing to take on the role of a teacher these days - did you lose a bet with Gray or something?"

Natsu scowled at the mention of his frenemy.

"Ugh, don't remind me of that pervy popsicle's existence first thing in the morning! And of course I would love to teach you any chance I get - didn't you do the same for me when we were younger?"

Lucy's face fell. "O-oh. This is simply a return favor for all that I did back then?…"

"Nay." Natsu's look was serious and intense as he coaxed Lucy's gaze back to his with a gentle finger hooked under her chin. "Nothing I do will ever begin to match what you've done for me, Luce. If I'm a decent being today, Lucy, the credit all goes to you."

Lucy blushed.

"It's settled then." Natsu exclaimed. "We begin our training first thing tomorrow, Lucy! Now let's sleep in a little more!"

Without further ado, Natsu yanked the young maiden back into the cushiony mattress as she threw playful punches at him - squawking about his laziness and complete lack of propriety.