Above the shops in Hargeon winter faeries danced under the stars, dancing up a snow.

Lucy fidgeted nervously it was a common practice of the two since elementary school to hold hands when walking through crowds as to avoid getting separated but now they were in a restaurant still intertwined tightly.

she looked at Natsu trying to meet his eyes but he just looked forward walking her to their table, he did say he would act like her husband more but she thought he meant around Jude only. Only when they reached the table he let go of her hand and sat across from her. ''May I take your order.'' a half annoyed female voice spoke up.

''Evergreen!'' Lucy jumped on the waitress nearly knocking her over. ''Lucy!?'' ''What brings you here?'' she adjusted her black glasses and flipped her a wisp of long peanut colored hair back into a tight bun atop her head.

''Natsu invited me.'' she nervously her coat and oversized sweater then looked at her hands, Evergreen's eyes darted to Natsu and then back to Lucy. ''First I need to take your order, you two are the last customers before we close.'' ''I'll be back to talk about this.'' Evergreen placed chicken tender sandwiches, onion rings, and peach ice tea down on the wooden table before pulling up a chair for herself.

''Why are you closing so early? the sun's light is barely gone.'' Natsu asked chowing down already. ''Because of the festival, no one wants to eat inside everyone want to enjoy the sky view and shop around,'' she replied watching Lucy intently. ''Why are you working here Ever? I thought you were training to be an investigator.'' Lucy piped up steering the conversation another way.

Evergreen's face twisted in a mocking way. ''Elfman said I have to understand how to serve people before I really become a public servant.'' she scoffed and went to clear the tables. ''basically, he didn't like my attitude and I need to come back and try again later.''

''And you are going to try again right?'' Natsu said through a mouthful. ''Of course, when was I one to give up?'' she straightened her black apron and looked Lucy dead in the eye, Lucy swallowed peach tea and bit into her sandwich slowly trying to avoid eye contact. ''Where are the other staff members?'' ''I'm the only one who works here, I'm taking over for my sister until I learn my lesson.'' ''Oh how is Mickey doing these days?''

Natsu was the only one talking. ''She is well,'' Evergreen answered simply. ''Why didn't you hire anyone?'' he looked around at the empty place filled with stacked chairs. ''I did apparently, I have a bad temper and so everyone quit.'' Natsu giggled gaining a hard glare from Evergreen that made him zip his lips.

''Hey Natsu, I have some heavy boxes in the back and I could use your help,'' Evergreen announced walking toward the staff only room. ''Seriously I'm eating!'' he yelled after her but she could care less, Natsu slurped his kiwi juice making eye contact with Lucy making her turn to look out the window. ''The fireworks are beautiful..'' she said hiding her burning cheek with her hand. Natsu stood up and ruffled her hair. ''Make sure to eat a lot Luce, so you'll get sick less often.'' He trudged off to the kitchen where evergreen was waiting with more patience than she normally had maybe she learned a bit of her lesson? Lucy added hot sauce to her ketchup dip and devoured onion rings. 'What magic did he possess to make her heart somersault from the simplest of things?' it was beyond her.

-The Kitchen-

When he reached the kitchen he found Evergreen sitting on a chair, there wasn't anything heavy in sight and the place was all tidied up. ''Hey don't play with me! There isn't anything here.'' Natsu could feel Jude's sour face taking over his own face right then and there. ''That's not why I called you blockhead,'' she said rising and gesturing him to the seat, he sat still sour.

'I didn't come here to be insulted' he felt like she could hear his thoughts as she peered into his soul through his onyx eyes, so he ceased all brain function. ''I thought you were in love with Lisanna, why are you here messing with Lucy?'' she blurted out clearly annoyed at him. ''When was I in love with Lisanna?!'' he half yelled surprised by the assumption. ''be quiet.'' she hushed looking toward the door worried Lucy might be listening though she wasn't still enjoying her meal alone.

Evergreen was not going to let him know that Lucy had told her that years ago so she pursed her pink lip, trying her best to be composed. ''Then who is it that you fancy?'' she looked at him like she would a child. he squirmed in his chair but she couldn't understand why and it annoyed her gravely. you see evergreen never knew the feeling of being in love so she couldn't see why people didn't flat out confess their feelings. ''I'm waiting,'' she demanded an answer but Natsu just squeaked. ''That's embarrassing.'' he hissed cutely holding his chest tightly and blushing scarlet. That only further confused Evergreen she looked him over cautiously like he was infected with something viral, her eyes widened she had a conclusion. ''Is it really Lucille?''

Natsu averted her gaze he felt as if his heart had been ignited and that hot tears were brimming in his eyes, Evergreen followed his face and the poor boy had no choice but to cover his eyes with his wrists. ''Why do you like her?'' she got on one knee to look attempt to look into his hidden face.

'Why do I like her?' he thought to himself how absurd his thoughts had become when he fell in love. 'It would be crazy if I said I loved her for the fluttering of her invisible wings, but she is an angel to me.' 'I wouldn't doubt her one second if she told be she was an angel that had descended for me.' crazy thoughts were still flashing as hot tears spilled over. Evergreen stood up confirming her suspicions that Natsu was indeed deranged.

''We gotta go before Lucy gets frisky in my sister's shop.'' she turned to leave when Natsu blurted out, ''Every time I see her she finds a new way to mess with my heart, she hurts me so bad.'' ''But I know it's only because she is out of my reach.'' Evergreen turned to look at the boy whose nose turned a slight pastel pink. ''Sometimes I wish I could give her away to someone will make her happy, I don't think she likes me like I love her.''

''Don't give up.'' was the only piece of advice Evergreen could give Natsu as he started to become shy over the tears of frustration he shed. she was astonished at the circles the two danced around each other as friends for so many years without knowing they felt exactly the same. Evergreen was not going to tell either of them the truth she would keep this to herself and let them find themselves in all their hidden love.

before they left the kitchen Evergreen was informed of his impending departure and how he didn't want her to know until she started therapy for the monsters that visited her when she felt alone.

''Hey Luce!'' Natsu said cheerfully feeling like he could float but his feet were still bound. he could float because he had told Evergreen the truth, but he was still bound because Lucy didn't know and possibly didn't feel the same about him. He felt as if a wall was in between them, a wall he had clawed at for years but had yet to make a scratch. in a nutshell, he was lovesick beyond his years.

''What's wrong with your eyes?'' Lucy asked concerned over his partially wet eyelashes. Evergreen said it was sweat from all the 'heavy lifting' though the only thing that was heavy was the burden in his heart and hidden behind the eyes that always smiled in Lucy's direction. he sometimes regretted he didn't even try to dodge 'cupid's arrow' when Lucy laughed aloud in her own alien language trying to tell him she accidentally sneezed on his plate and so she threw it away. ''That is nasty!'' he smiled as she fell into his arms trying to stand up while laughing always made her weak. 'she didn't know all the little things she did drove him crazy.'

''Let's go now.'' Natsu left money on the table and ushered Lucy towards the door, he was afraid to be there any longer seeing as how fast Evergreen broke him and his baby heart. ''Tell Titania I'll visit her soon!'' ''Sure thing, This food holds a special place in my gut,'' Lucy yelled back to Evergreen as they went out the door.

''I was still talking!'' she pouted cutely upward at Natsu gripping his sleeves, she realized how close to him she was right now and thus backed off and swung to his side. ''Are we going home now?'' she asked waiting for him to take a step forward. ''You wanna go home?!'' ''Only if you want to.'' ''Oh.'' he understood she didn't want to go home so soon.

he walked ahead of her still wiping his eyes, ''A special place in your gut though?'' he giggled contagiously. ''Why?'' she couldn't control her new laughter. ''You're so weird.'' but he loved it.

she followed after telling him about her afternoon with Jude and how she wanted to buy Gray and Juvia presents.

Natsu didn't notice how far away from Lucy he was getting with his long strides, he didn't hear her start running to catch up with all the people racing around to all the enchanting attractions, but he did take notice of unfamiliar and faint voices mixed in with her own.

That was enough for him to turn around to go find her before trouble started to brew, ''You're too cute to be single~'' one voice said butter slipping off of his words making Natsu speed up if he was going to give her away the guy who receives her would have to better than him.

''I'm not single, I'm married,'' she said making his heart flutter as she proudly flashed her ring determination in her beautiful eyes, the ring like a ward made all of the men except the one guy back off, he still proceeded in catcalling. ''Come on sugar, I bet he doesn't treat you right~'' Lucy was about to say something when Natsu slung his arm over her shoulder and glared into the man's copper colored eyes.

''Did she not just say she was married?'' seeing the matching ring on his finger only after he said something the man backed off for good. Natsu looked down at Lucy's tomato cheeks he never understood when he made her like this, he cupped her face and bent down to her height. ''Did he hurt you?'' worry was evident on his face but his eyes were still laced with a look she recognized as anger on her behalf.

''I'm alright,'' she said taking his fingers and removing his hands smiling brightly. ''Let's enjoy this night.'' she declared taking his hand and preparing to walk through a crowd. ''I wanna but a couple more things then let's go back, remember we have to walk through that dreadful forest.'' Natsu chuckled holding her close and walking through the crowd. ''I thought you loved the forest and all things nature related.'' ''I do but it was freaky tonight.'' ''now with the stars, I love it when dark sweeps the sky with its brush.''

''Say why do you like the stars so much?'' Natsu knew she couldn't see them right now because all of the extra light being given off by everyone, but he could see them clearly surrounded by wisps of cloud thanks to his phenomenal sight. ''My mother said every time the sun sets and I look at the sky look at those gems shining remember her.'' Natsu hugged her sideways, she returned the nearly bone-crushing hug and patted his arm so he would ease up his hug which he did sorry he asked but she went on.

''Really, a long time ago I thought it was selfish of her to take the thing that I loved so much and turn it into a memorial piece.'' ''But now when I gaze at the stars I can hear her tell me she loves me and to be strong, her last words to me.''

Lucy still involuntarily shed tears though she smiled through the pain that had dulled after all those years, Natsu wrapped her in his embrace and they stayed that way for a tiny bit longer than usual. She had confessed why she loved the stars so much and that struck a match in her heart.

Faeries danced up heartfelt sentiment in the smoky smell of winter as the two walked homeward, hearts lightened by two confessions in one night.

Lucy had bought the presents for Gray and Juvia and a bag of guppies, a small aquarium, and fish food for her father she had remembered in the talk about her mother.

Dried leaves swirled in the suddenly rough wind before being crushed finely underfoot. ''I'm not going to get sicker,'' she said before Natsu started to fret.

she looked at the crescent moon in the sky trying its best to lead her home safely cutting through the darkness with a shining blade.

''I'm telling you Happy won't allow them to live,'' he said to which she replied. ''I have my methods don't worry.'' ''You just gave me goosebumps.'' she laughed evilly at Natsu.

''You shouldn't even be afraid in the forest, you're the creep people should fear in the dark,'' he said eyeing her. ''Are you afraid of the dark!?'' she said in a deep voice which he found to be an ultimately cute attempt. ''I love the stars cause their always there when it gets dark for me.'' she sighed letting warm her breath fly and meet with the night air, it made him feel guilty because he would be departing with others soon.

Natsu carried her items carefully only wishing he could hold her hand while trying to keep the fish safe with all the other things he bought inside of the aquarium including:

the matching hoodies to replace the old orange ones, a box of cute earrings, and a cute phone chain that had a metal flower on it. he had bought that to gift to Lucy and she saw the final gift to which she said. ''You don't need to buy me so many things Natsu!'' ''Why?'' he had pouted still paying the woman basically ignoring what she just said. ''Because even if they break somehow, I won't be able to throw any of it away.''

she said hugging him in defiance to him buying so many things for her over the years. ''It's not like I'm buying you a cannon,'' he said making even the woman behind the counter sweat at his ridiculousness.

-Present-

When the two entered the house it was already clean and dark except the light by the door to guide them in the dark, there was nothing left over from the dinner that took place at home as Lucy expected. ''Natsu are you hungry?'' she asked thinking about how she had sneezed on his food. ''I can go cook something quickly.'' she hung her coat up as Natsu set the things down by the door, he grabbed her arm. ''Nah just help me with the guppies and let's go to bed.'' ''I'm sorry,'' she said crouching to empty the little aquarium of the gifts that filled the brim. ''It's okay.''

he said messing her hair up with his hand. ''Honestly, I'm always hungry so this doesn't really make that big a difference.'' ''I promise, I'll make a big breakfast tomorrow, what type of juice do you want?'' ''Do we have cranberries?'' so they decided on cranberry and pomegranate juice. ''it's great for circulation.'' he was still only caring about her.

The fish were safely inside of their new home in Jude's room, Natsu had snuck past the 'sleeping' man and placed it by his bedside, according to Lucy he always loved fish.

Lucy glared at Happy who got the gist not to mess with the new animal additions, Natsu tried to pet the cat that ran away. ''Why is he so spooked?'' ''I'm going to brush my teeth,'' she said smirking to herself, she was joined by Natsu who went to work on his front teeth. she always watched him brush his canines wondering how he never bit himself with such big and sharp teeth, he caught her staring and she didn't stop. ''All the better to bite you with my dear,'' he said baring his teeth at her. she spit her toothpaste and nudged him. ''Dumbo..'' she was feeling bashful over the words, 'my dear.'

Natsu climbed into bed laying on his side and waited for Lucy before he closed his heavy eyes, he opened his arms to accept her when she tried to climb into his embrace and rest her head on his chest like she always did.

Only tonight she didn't do that instead she hugged him from behind waking him up to a racing heart, she rested her head on his back and squeezed him gently.

rain started to fall from the upset clouds that were releasing their sorrows on the world that hurt them ever so often, ''Hmm.'' she sighed tired rasp flowing in her voice ''Winter rain? We just dodged several bullets coming home early Natsu..'' she trailed his name falling asleep tired from the semi-eventful night.

Natsu wiggled out of her embrace and turned to look at her moon soaked face, he had never seen her in such an entrancing way before she was prettier than a picture as her body rose and fell with every breath. He stood up to go fill up a hot water bottle and then lay back down this time hugging her so her face met his chest and his chin rested atop her head. He sighed the closer he got the more pain he felt in his heart and thus he drifted to sleep.

Leaving Jude to be the last sleeper of the house marveling at the fish and being happy about the safe return of his daughter and the young Dragneel who was still taking cookies off of the counter top in his memories of the past, it didn't feel that long ago that Layla and Grandine yelled at him making him cry in his sensitive youth before offering him two more cookies to atone for their misdeed.

Igneel had laughed out loud when Natsu came back and share the cookies with Lucy and Gray.

When he was asked why he got the cookie he told his father and Jude, he only got the cookie because Lucy would probably want it.

Jude laid back down grateful that a person sweeter than cookies had protected her and guided her graciously while he was away for so long.

he was grateful to the little boy who shone as a loved one in his memory, watching vivid scenes of the duo's childhood Jude went off to sleep listening to Plue chase butterflies in his dreams.

Winter Faeries ride on the wind and leaves, fall with the rain and moonlight, 'Winter Faeries reside here happily.

-Chapter End-

Thank you for tuning in and leaving reviews, they were well appreciated.

I hope you like my try at poetic writing and that the whole meaning flows through your minds.

Excuse my mistakes as always and stay warm and happy with all your heart this winter time.

-Peace