Chapter 2

With Lucy leading Natsu as they leave the guild and head back to her apartment not a single word is spoken between the two, they made the whole journey in a less than comfortable silence. When they arrive lucy unlocks the door, her and Natsu enter and she tries to start them off.

"Uhm Natsu... back at the guild it's n-" the blonde is cut off by the pinkette pulling her into a tight embrace, clinging to her as if his life depended on it with his face buried deep into her neck taking in the scent he'd missed so much in the past three months.

"Thank you, Luce," Natsu says barely audible not moving his face so it came out similar to a mumble but the stellar mage understood his words.

"Thank me for what Natsu?" Lucy asks in an equally soft tone laced with genuine confusion as she starts running her fingers through soft salmon locks causing a sigh of content to emit from the Dragonslayer.

"For being you," The pinkette replies not moving from his place. Sensing his partners confusion he decides to explain. "For believing in me," after hearing those words the blonde relaxes into the embrace with saying below a whisper 'always' without his enhanced hearing he wouldn't have heard it, but he did and he smiled nuzzling deeper into the crook of her neck.

Lucy pulls away much to both of their disappointment and looks at Natsu and forces herself to try and explain the situation. "Listen Natsu," she says making eye contact with him with a serious look on her face. Once she sees he's listening she continues. "what happened earlier and what Gray said, that's not how the whole guild feels, it's just everything that happened with Ur and his dad he's kinda become… uh well… prejudice to demons." she says scratching the back of her head looking away. "Maybe it's just because the wounds fre-" she's interrupted once again by the Pinkette putting a hand to gently rest against her cheek soft eyes hold a look of resolve she's only ever seen when Natsu's in battle in battle on his face as he looks her dead in the eyes.

"Luce, Gray and I meant every word we said in the guild today. From his desire to kill me and my threat if he even thinks of touching you to get to me, we won't hesitate to kill the other if it comes to it," Natsu says with less enthusiasm but his determination not wavering. She opens her mouth to try and change his mind and he stops her before she can even speak with a look. "Luce it won't change that was genuine hatred in his eyes, it'd be like asking him to forgive Deliora or the skeleton guy it won't happen. Can we talk about something else… please?"

Fairy Tail's Celestial mage reluctantly nods her head sensing this is a painful topic for him, regretfully she moves to another one. "Natsu I know you don't want to talk about it and I understand why you left with everything that happened but I'd be lying if I said if I wasn't curious. You were looking out for me when I lost my Dad so if you need to talk I'm here," she says looking at the floor. Lucy sees Natsu closing the distance between them without uttering any words, she closes her eyes not daring look at him fearing she crossed a boundary preparing for his rejection. Shooting her eyes open when she feels warmth surrounding her, only to find them Natsu holding her in another embrace with her head tucked under his chin.

"Luce I can't tell you I'm okay because I don't want to lie to you, but I've never been good with words so I can't really tell you about it. You being here with me is all I could ever ask for." With the Dragonslayers soft words the blonde returns the heartwarming embrace and soon after feels a little dampness on her shoulder but decides not to mention it instead decides to change subjects.

"So Natsu, how about I make us dinner?" she offers her partner. His only reply being a nod as he reluctantly loosens his hold on her, which brings a smile to her face as she reluctantly moves away from the comforable embrace and enters her kitchen and prepares their meal. After their Dinner is over and she's cleaning Lucy decides to ask what's on her mind. "So what are we going to do about the guild?" She ask with curios innocence.

"Nothing we can really do, can't make them go back to normal it's up to them what they do," Natsu replies with a shrug. His partner nods and asks a more sensitive question.

"What about Gray? Do you think he'll?" the Dragon Slayer visibly stiffens at her words and she notices. "I-i'm sorry" she attempts to have him disregard but he decides to share his thoughts regardless.

"I don't think he'll try anything at the guild again or at least this soon, didn't go too well for him last time so it should be relatively peaceful where Grays concerned," he explains rather maturely. Lucy notices how much less boyish he seems not that it's an extremely relevant thing but something that dramatic would do it she assumes.

"Well that's enough emotional turmoil for one night how about you go shower? You can stay here for tonight happy will probably stay at Wendy's tonight you can have the bed, probably haven't slept on one as comfy as mine in a while huh?" Lucy offers and jokes at the same time making the pinkette smile at her kindness and understanding of him. He nods and heads to the shower. When Natsu finishes Lucy takes a significantly longer one and comes out of the bathroom to find her best friend already asleep, she looks down and smiles at the pinkette and turns to her closet ready to grab a spare blanket and pillow to sleep on her couch but is stopped by a hand grabbing her wrist. Lucy turns to see onyx eyes looking at her pleadingly.

"Please can we sleep… together?" he nearly begs. Seeing his partner turn a color of a tomato he interrupts her thoughts. "NO! Not like that Luce, it's just don't want to feel alone…" he starts loud and quick and gradually gets embarrassed and shy as he continues looking away at his last word. Lucy quickly recovers and smiles and nods as she hops in bed not trusting her words at this point. Lucy settles in next to the Dragonslayer basking in his warmth, as her breaths become soft and even with her heart rate lowering to a slow and steady pace he knows she's fallen asleep and puts his arm around her and pulls her closer. "What are you doing to me Luce" he says softly running his fingers through strands of soft gold as causing the blonde to hum pleased with the action as she snuggles closer to the Dragonslayer and his comforting warmth. For the first time in 3 months, the son of the Fire Dragon King and the former heiress fall asleep smiling.

A/N: so yeah i originally had this chapter as Natsu just ranting and venting to Lucy but decided that's not his style so i did it this way to hopefully making him seem more in character. let me know how i did still loving writing this story will update when i can. ask any questions and offer input. Cheers 3 Disclaimer: don't own Fairytail or it's characters