Natsu held his beautiful bestie and explained to her all the ins and outs of draconic mating. From setting the mating mark to the sharing of souls, the pain and heightened pleasure of the actual act to the bond and magical container expansion for both once the process is complete. He urged her to do some soul searching while theu finished their lengthy quest. He wanted her to be one hundred percent sure she chose what would be right for both her and the lightning slayer. He told her how Laxus wouldn't, well couldn't, touch another woman until Lucy specifically said 'no' to being his mate. Lucy pulled herself together and stopped sobbing at the words of her best friend and brother. Kissing the fire dragon slayer on the cheek, they both snuggled down and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
Lucy spent the next three months planning, fighting, training, and writing. She hadn't made a decision, but her heart hurt from Laxus' absence. She knew she needed to talk to him, to see him, but knew he was hurting so much more than she was, and she was positive trying to contact him would make it that much worse. Nope, she would wait until she had made her final decision. There was a lingering dark thought in her mind that he didn't or wouldn't want her anymore because of her own actions. Knew he didn't deserve to be tied to a weak willed, wishy washy runaway. She also knew she need to stop running from everything. She made up her mind, for the remainder of the quest, she would work on overcoming her fears and insecurities dealing with the emotional side of intimacy.
Four months later, they were three quarters done with the quest. Lucy had changed so much. She was more confident in her abilities, and knew her own heart. Lucy finished her second book and had already sent it to her publisher. She was an ace tactician, a war goddess and friend in her spirit's eyes, and finally she had made her decision. They had one final battle. Soon, after nine months away from her guild and family, she would see him again.
Clapping her hands together to get her teammates' attention " Alright ladies and gents, it's showtime!"
