"Lucy! Are you even listening to me?"

"Huh? Oh sorry Mirajane I'm just looking for Natsu, he hasn't been here in a few days and I'm really worried about him".

Lucy looked from table to table repetitively, looking for a mess of spikey pink hair but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Don't you know what's going on? Didn't Natsu tell you?" Mirajane said shooting Lucy a confused glance.

"Tell me what?".

"Dragon mating season has just started".

"What's Dragon mating season and what does it have to do with Natsu".

Lucy was starting to feel ill, whatever season it was she didn't think she would like what she was about to hear.

"Oh Lucy, dragon mating season is a period of time in which a dragon can find their mate, since Natsu is a dragon slayer it applies to him and Gajeel."

"Okay, and what exactly is a mate?"

"A mate is a dragon slayers greatest treasure, the person they will spend their life loving and protecting. They don't get a choice in who it is but they know the moment they see them once the season starts. Gajeel has already taken Levy as his mate and started the courting process although its pretty clear she will accept the bond no questions asked honestly I think she is over the moon about the whole thing".

Yep Lucy officially felt sick, Natsu was going to find a mate? What if it was somebody she hated? Would she lose her best friend?.

"Okay well who is Natsu's mate then?"

"Nobody knows yet, although I think Lisanna hopes it'll be her. I really don't want her to be hurt but I just don't think her and Natsu are meant to be together, he looks at her like a little sister not the love of his life. Time will tell but I just hope whoever his mate is, that she loves him the way he deserves".

"Yeah... so do I".

Lucy didn't mean for the words to come out mumbled but she had an off feeling in her stomach. She was worried. She also wanted to know more about this "dragon mating season" but Mirajane didn't seem to know anything else. Nobody did.

"Its private business, its for dragon slayers and their mates to share together not for gossip amongst guild members" was the only response she managed to get from Gray who was once again walking around without enough clothes to be considered decent.

She debated asking Levy or Gajeel but didn't think they would feel comfortable talking so deeply about something that effected them so closely.

She would ask Natsu if only she could find the idiot.

'Its a lost cause' Lucy thought to herself as she walked back to her apartment. 'He has most likely found his mate and is with her right now, i just wish I could talk to him about what's going on. I just wanna make sure he is happy and safe'.

She walked into her apartment exhausted despite feeling as though she accomplished nothing that day.

She was so tired that she collapsed onto her bed without even noticing the pink haired man on her couch.

Or the way he stared at her; like she was the most precious thing in the entire world.

"She will be mine to cherish...she has to be". He spoke in a soft voice filled with awe.

He stood and walked into her room to see her sleep, it was filled with her scent and he inhaled as much of it as he could before he stroked her face. He was so gentle it was as though she was made of glass and could splinter at any moment.

He sat down next to her bed and watched her. Guarding her, protecting her. He would never leave her alone as long as he was alive, he would be close by ready to destroy anyone that would try to bring her harm.

His mate

His Lucy