Just as she was enjoying her season's holidays, Lucy Heartfilia's father had something else in mind. Unable to do a thing about it, all her plans are about to be ruined and things only seemed to get worse.

~ Playful Banter ~

Anger. Hurt. Frustration. These words didn't even begin to cover what Lucy Heartfilia felt. Throughout the entire journey back to Heartfilia Konzern, she endlessly tried to persuade the two bodyguards to stop the car and turn around but they wouldn't listen. It was not that they didn't sympathize with the girl – in Capricorn's case at least – but they couldn't defy the one pulling the strings. They had no power to go against Jude Heartfilia.

Sooner than she wished, they arrived at the mansion. Lucy got out of the car without any delay and marched into the place. Not making any stops along the way, she headed straight for her father's study. He had a lot of explaining to do and she was going to demand that he send her back immediately. However, when she burst into his study room, she was met with another unexpected obstacle.

"Lucy!" Jude's tone was stern and reprimanding.

The man that was seated before her father stood to his feet at her abrupt entrance and her face fell when she saw who he was.

"You… What are you doing here?" She asked.

But before the man had a chance to answer, Jude told her off. "Where are your manners, Lucy? Dan is our guest."

"What?!" She was on the brink of explosion.

"Nice to meet you, Lucy Heartfilia." Dan Straight enunciated her name with great emphasis.

A million thoughts raced through her mind. Who exactly was this man that could influence her father to drag her back at such short notice? How much did her father know about him? And most importantly, what was his purpose in coming here?

"Dan," Jude spoke. "I need a word with my daughter alone."

"Then, I'll find my way to the dining hall first."

The second the door shut behind Dan, Lucy snapped at her father. "Why have you brought me back early?"

But instead of answering, he boomed, "What are you wearing?!"

"Huh?!" Lucy looked down at herself and realized she was in an off-shoulder shirt and denim shorts – the usual home clothes she wore at Fairy Hills. "Wait, that's not important right now! Why did you drag me back before the 25th?!"

"Watch your tone, young lady," his icy tone was like a slap across her cheek. "I give you everything you need, everything. I owe you nothing, and I most certainly don't have to explain anything to you if you're going to take that tone with me."

"..." There were a few things she could say regarding his statement but she held her tongue. Swallowing her rage for the moment, she acquiesced, "Please tell me why I am here."

"A few days ago, Dan came to me with the brightest proposal I've heard in years," her father began. "As part of the Zentopia management, he came to me, suggesting a collaboration to transform all of their historical churches into train stations run by our Heartfilia corporation. Just imagine; a high-end train line running through luxurious stations, connecting all twenty or so churches throughout the country. Do you have any idea how much revenue this could potentially generate?"

"What does any of what you've just said got to do with me?"

He gave her a cold look expressing his disdain for her attitude. "I admit it's rather strange but he said he wants to meet you before he signs the contract. And he's a fine young man, so I thought why not?"

"You're selling me out? For a contract?" The girl went pale with horror.

"Of course not! What sort of a man do you take me for? It's just a meeting."

It seemed like too much of a coincidence to Lucy that Dan had turned up in front of her again so soon, but at least she knew her father still thought of her as his daughter.

"Alright, if it's just one dinner…"

"Oh, he's staying for the night–"

"What?!"

Jude shot her another look. "He has a flight to catch tomorrow night. So to accommodate his schedule I am throwing the Heartfilia Christmas ball on the 24th this year instead of the 25th. All of the guests and reporters have already been informed."

"Why are you going so far just for one person?" Lucy couldn't understand. "Even if it's a rare opportunity, changing everything to suit his schedule is just…"

"You think I'm doing this for him? For the contract?"

Aren't you? The girl wondered.

"Sure, this will revolutionize Heartfilia Railways," her father continued. "But I'm doing this for you, Lucy. It's not an arranged marriage, but if you come to like him after this meeting, then consider this a matchmaking session."

"NO!" The very thought of being with someone other than Natsu abhorred her. "If it's just one dinner tonight, then fine, but that's it. I'm going back first thing tomorrow morning."

"And just what gives you the right to bargain with me? Have you forgotten that you are only seventeen? That I still provide for the food on your table and the roofs over your head?"

There it was again, his favourite card. Controlling her with money was the thing Lucy hated the most about her father but she had to admit, it was effective. With all of her friends living under his roof, she found herself powerless whenever he brought that up and used it against her.

"...fine." She gave in so as to protect her friends. "But you're wasting your time with Dan."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I…" She said in a trembling voice, not daring to look her father in the eye. "T-There's someone I met."

The look of surprise on Jude's face was fleeting. "Well, I'm not forcing you to be with Dan. I only mentioned it as a possibility."

"Well, okay then," she said as she turned to leave. "I just wanted to let you know."

"What is his name?"

"Um," she turned back. "His name is Natsu."

"Natsu?" Jude put his pen down and gave her his undivided attention. "As in Dragneel? Natsu Dragneel?"

"Oh, do you remember him?" She assumed they had met at the previous ball.

"Do I remember him? When did you even–" He was about to ask but then he recalled the ball as well. "Damned Dragneel, I told him to stay away."

"What do you mean…?"

"Lucy, from now on, I want you to stop seeing him."

"What–!? Why?!"

"You can date anyone you like in this world, but not a Dragneel."

"WHY?!" The girl was torn; She didn't understand. Weren't the Dragneels a renowned family name? Weren't they their business partner? Weren't they even more stinking filthy rich than them?

But her father ignored her and simply busied himself with tidying up the paperwork on his desk. All the while he muttered to himself under his breath, "...shouldn't have sent them an invitation... even as a formality… never thought his son would show up…"

"What are you mumbling about? What aren't you telling me?" Thrown into confusion, her mind was reeling.

"Nothing you need to know." He stood to his feet, adjusting his coat button. "Just stay away from the Dragneel boy and be on your best behaviour these two days."

Lucy had never seen her father so rattled before. She decided to keep her mouth shut about Natsu going to the same school. She watched in silence as he walked towards the door.

"Change into something more presentable before you come down for dinner," was his final order before leaving the study.

Back in her room, Ms Spetto and Aquarius were waiting.

"Ah, milady, welcome home," the maid said with a warm smile.

Lucy smiled back, though it was only a half-smile.

"Sheesh, how troublesome," Aquarius, who was lounging on the sofa, groused. "I could be on a date with my boyfriend right now but here I am babysitting."

"Why are you still here, Aquarius?" The girl never had a bodyguard all those times when she came home.

"Because there's a male stranger staying over in a room down your corridor and your old man is paying me triple the usual rate." One thing Lucy liked about Aquarius was that she always gave it to her straight and never minced her words.

"I see…" Then Lucy's brown eyes lit up. "Do you have a cell phone? Can I borrow it?"

"Yes, and no," Aquarius' brows furrowed at those questions. "I need it to keep me from being bored."

Lucy was over by Aquarius' side in a split second and she grovelled, "Aw, come on! Lend it to me please! I just need a minute!"

"What do you even want it for?"

"I need to– ...never mind." She wanted to send a message to Natsu or any of her friends but then she realized, she couldn't remember any of their numbers offhand.

"Great." Aquarius couldn't care less. "Now stop bothering me and go get dressed."

Ten minutes later, Lucy was wearing a white one-piece, sitting at the dining table with Dan Straight and her father. Both of them kept talking shop so Lucy was glad she didn't have to speak. However, the way Dan would look at her occasionally made her feel uncomfortable so when she finished her main course, she tried to get away.

"I think I've had enough tonight so if you'll excuse me…"

"But dessert is coming up, and you love dessert, don't you, Lucy?" Her father wouldn't let her off.

"..." She sat back down again.

Soon, the maids cleared their plates and served the Yule log. It lifted her mood a little because Lucy always had room for cake. Just as she put some into her mouth, Dan asked a question.

"So, Lucy, do you have a boyfriend?"

She coughed and spluttered, choked by surprise. What is he saying right in front of my father?!

Fortunately, her father intercepted before she was forced to tell another lie with her own mouth. "No, she doesn't."

"Ah, I see." He couldn't say anything about what he saw the other day since Jude Heartfilia still believed that this was his first meeting with Lucy.

Taking a sip of water, the girl braced herself for more of Dan's petty attempts at getting to her.

"I was just browsing through Sorcerer's business edition the other day and I came across a list," he went on.

A list? Lucy never subscribed to business magazines so she had no idea what he was about to throw at her next.

"It was a list of Top 10 Heiresses–"

So THAT'S how he found me.

"–and you, Lucy Heartfilia, are at the very top of that list."

Did he forget he's in front of my father or what? She looked over at the dull-blond middle-aged man. If he was affected at all by Dan's choice of topic, he didn't show it on his face.

"And your point is…?" Lucy prompted when her father didn't speak up.

"Your father is a very capable man."

What a roundabout way of sucking up, she thought.

"But from that same article, I happened to notice something else, which brings me here today."

"And what is that?" Lucy asked, disinterested but trying to sound interested.

"According to that article, my dear, you are single and available. And I came to confirm that."

Her goosebumps rose when he called her 'my dear'.

"And so, if Mr Heartfilia doesn't object," he continued. "I would like to woo you."

"What?" Her fork slipped from her hand and clanged onto the plate. "I object!"

But her father replied, "Sure, go right ahead. This daughter of mine can be stubborn at times but do try to get along with her."

Dan gave a phony laugh.

Lucy listened in horror. Her jaw had dropped and she couldn't believe what her father just did. Don't I have a say in this? Does my opinion not matter at all?

She picked up her fork again and polished off the rest of her cake. Then she wiped her mouth with the napkin, stood to her feet and said, "I'm full. Thank you for the meal."

Disregarding the look of disapproval on her father's face, she took her leave and returned to her room. Aquarius was there when she returned but the bodyguard merely glanced up from her phone. Lucy tried to say hi but Aquarius treated her presence like air and wouldn't engage in any real conversation. In the end, the girl changed into sleepwear and got into bed but couldn't fall asleep immediately. Usually she saw Natsu everyday. And now, even though it's only been a few hours since she last saw him, it felt like a part of her was lacking and she missed him already.

"Aquarius… are you asleep?" She called timidly.

"No," came a scoffing reply. "It's my job not to sleep so that you can sleep."

Lucy thought for a moment before she said, "I miss someone."

"..." Aquarius' heart softened. "Well, that makes two of us."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I'm sorry that you have to be here because of me…"

"...you'd better be."

"But I'm glad you're here."

"Yea, yea, go to sleep already."

"Good night."

…

"Good night," Lucy said again when Aquarius didn't reply.

"Go to sleep."

The next day began with tedious preparations for the ball. The whole routine was such a chore that by the time it was done, Lucy was already tired. Her blonde locks piled atop her head and she wore the same dress again, that pink frilly one her father always picked.

At least it's pretty, she thought as she took a final look in the mirror. Then she headed to the ballroom and watched as the guests flowed in. Heartfilia Christmas balls were a bit more special than their usual in the sense that only the utmost prestigious clients were invited. It usually began with a special ceremony whereby her father would announce the company's plans for the following year and source for investments at the same time. It was all very business-oriented, which Lucy didn't care two hoots about.

This year, the ceremony began with the signing of the contract between Jude Heartfilia and Dan Straight. Picking up the expensive fountain pens which had the Heartfilia name inscribed along the side, they both scribbled their signatures along the dotted line, exchanged copies and did the same. Next, they stood, shook hands with each other and then her father addressed the guests.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming today. Please put your hands together for Dan and my daughter who will lead us in the first dance to commence tonight's ball."

Applause broke out and Lucy resisted the urge to glare daggers at her father. She plastered a smile on her face as Dan walked up to her and placed his arm around her waist. He didn't even ask for her hand; he simply took it and Lucy had to try hard not to show how unpleasant she felt.

As far as ballroom dancing went, the distance between them was normal but for Lucy, it was slightly too close for comfort seeing as her dance partner was Dan. Mundanely, her feet carried out the steps that had been drilled into her since young. She wished the song would end soon and wondered whether she would be able to get away even if it did.

All of a sudden, she felt a hand on her behind and she gasped. Grubby paws, she muttered in her head. Without breaking the dance, she reached round and moved his hand to the middle of her back, where it was supposed to be.

"Keep your hand off my ass," she said in an undertone.

"You have a fine ass, Lucy Heartfilia."

"Doesn't mean you can touch–" She felt his hand slide lower again but before he was able to succeed this time, she caught it and shifted it back once more. "I'm warning you, I will scream."

"You're not the shy person I thought you were when I first met you," he said. "You're feisty, but I like it even better."

"I don't like you." She couldn't stress that enough.

"That's just what you think now because you've got that pink-headed boyfriend. But I, Dan Straight, always get any girl I want."

"What are you really after?" She found it hard to believe he had come all the way to the Heartfilia mansion just for her.

"Whatever do you mean?'

"I'm not the sole purpose for your visit, am I?" She questioned.

"Are you doubting my sincerity?"

"Sincerity? Don't make me laugh." Her hostility was vivid in her acidic tone.

"It's true when I said you make my Fibonacci sequence chirp–"

"What does that even mean?"

"It means I really want to do this."

Suddenly he leaned down and pressed his lips against her lips. Shocked and disgusted, she shoved him away instantly and then her hand cracked across his face, a slap that echoed across the ballroom, causing the music to die and the dancing to cease. Pain spread through her palm that was now red and she was trembling. Biting down on her lip, she told herself, I will not cry. Not for the likes of him.

She looked around and saw many faces staring at her but not one of them did she recognize until she saw her father. His expression was unreadable but she knew without a doubt that he would have more to say to her now. She didn't want to hear it – any of it. No more. No more. She couldn't bear to stay in that room any longer. So she ran.

Out the double doors, over the driveway, past the fountain and into the garden, the girl ran. Away from Dan Straight, away from her father, away from the life she no longer enjoyed. For some reason, she was afraid. Her feet slowed when the grand angel statue came into sight. Now before her mother's grave, the throbbing in her right palm and the pain of her heeled feet amplified, along with the lump that had formed in her throat and the tightness that gripped her chest. She almost lost it then and there but a voice pierced through her jumbled thoughts.

"Lucy?" It wasn't an unfamiliar voice but it wasn't one she could recognize immediately.

The girl whirled; she hadn't noticed there was someone else besides herself.

"...Sting?" Surprised by his presence, thoughts of the night's detestable incident were abruptly pushed out of mind.

"Are you alright?" He asked when he saw that she was visibly shaken.

"Yes," she answered reflexively but then changed her mind. "Actually, no." There wasn't a need to lie to him.

"Oh. Can I help?"

"No…" She turned away from him, her eyes now on the magnificent angel carved out of stone. She stood before her mother's grave, her mind a sudden blank and her heart empty. But at least she could breathe again.

"Is this," Sting spoke. "Your mother's…?"

"Yes." Lucy replied without turning her head.

"...my condolences."

It was quiet again, so silent and peaceful that she could hear the breeze rustling the bushes. Then there were footsteps. They belonged to a pair of men's dress shoes, clacking ominously against the stone floor.

"Lucy!"

Abnormal fear struck her when she saw her father approaching. From the way he stomped and that expression he wore, Lucy could tell he was definitely furious.

"Father." Her voice was small. "Father, please." She had already anticipated what he was going to say.

"You have disgraced me utterly tonight." His tone was harsh. "Get back in there before the reporters start writing gibberish and I lose face completely!"

"No, I'm not going back." She shook her head, frantically backing away. "Didn't you see what happened?!"

"I hear a loud smack and when I turn around, all eyes are on you? I can guess what happened."

"Then why would you still make me go back?" Her voice strained under the weight of her inner turmoil. A lump reformed in her throat and the corset beneath her dress was suffocating.

Jude took several large strides forward and grabbed her arm. "Come with me."

"Please, please, don't make me go back." She struggled against his strength. "Do you think I would hit him for no reason?"

"I thought I raised you better, young lady, but it seems I was wrong."

How could he not believe me? His words were like a ruthless stab to her vital organ. The light in her eyes went vacant and she lost any will to fight. As her resistance died out, her muscles went limp and Jude jumped at the chance. He tugged her along easily, until somebody held her back by her other arm.

A firm, strong hand. It was Sting's.

"She said she doesn't want to go." Moving swiftly, he freed her from her father's grip and then told her, "I got this. Go."

"Who are you to interfere with our family's affairs?!" Jude shouted. Then he saw the back of his fleeing daughter and he bellowed, "Get back here, young lady!"

He even made to give chase but Sting blocked his way.

"I'm just a stranger but she? She's your daughter."

Those words made Jude halt in his tracks and his forehead creased. Without another word, he headed back to the ballroom, worrying about what sort of story he would have to make up in order to pacify his guests.

As soon as Lucy got back to her room, she locked the door behind her and slid to the floor. The tears that she had fought so hard to keep in flowed out all at once as her emotions unravelled. The darkness consumed her and she cried silently, an aching pain constricting her heart. She felt alone. So, so alone. She wished she didn't have to feel this way.

It was only a matter of time before she grew tired and fell asleep, curled up on the cold floor by the door. She next awoke to the sound of someone knocking on and rattling the balcony doors. Her eyelids peeled open and she slowly sat up. But once her vision was focused, she jumped to her feet and rushed to those glass doors. Hastily unlocking them, a burst of cool night air hit her when she flung them open.

"Natsu." She threw herself into his arms. The moment they encircled her, she crumbled to pieces and broke down completely.

Holding her as she wept, Natsu tucked her head under his chin and quietly hushed her. But all that did was make her cry harder, burying her face into his chest. At a loss, he swept her up in a princess carry, set her down on the bed and got in with her.

"I'm here," he whispered, stroking the back of her head. "I'm right here."

It was heart-wrenching to see her like this, her small frame quaking with sobs. His other hand was wrapped protectively around her waist, holding her tightly but gently, and they stayed that way until her cries died down. With his quiet voice and his soothing hand on her head, Lucy felt her grief melt away; All of her thoughts and worries melted at his solacing warmth.

Once she was calm, Natsu pulled away slightly so he could see her face. The hand that was hugging her waist now cupped her face and his thumb stroked across her tear-stained cheek. Black to brown, their eyes met. Then she said, "Kiss me."

Far be it for him to deny her wish, he drew near again and tenderly closed his lips over hers. Her lips were soft and supple and also a little bit salty, probably from the crying.

Finally able to erase the feeling of Dan's lips, Lucy indulged herself with Natsu's kiss. She was his and only his.

Then he pulled back to ask, "What happened?"

"When did you arrive?" How much did he see?

"I came straight here the moment I arrived."

"Oh…" So he missed everything. "How did you know where to find me?"

"I met Sting just outside the ballroom."

"He told you I was in my bedroom?"

"No," Natsu said. "He said you argued with your father and ran off. I assumed you would be in your room."

"And you know where my room is?" Her tone was incredulous. "Wait, how did you even get onto the balcony?"

"I climbed."

"It's three storeys, Natsu!"

He dropped his shoulders in a slight shrug. "Anything for my princess." His thumb brushed her cheek once more and he saw the faint rose return to her cheeks. "So what happened?"

"..." Lucy thought hard. Where should I even begin?

"Start from the beginning," he said as though he had read her mind.

"Hmm…" Thinking back on the day before, Lucy recalled something that puzzled her so she asked, "Did you meet my father at the last ball?"

"No. Why?"

"I think he disapproves of you."

"Huh!? But he hasn't even met me!"

"I know, it's weird," she replied. "When I brought up your name, he got angry."

"You told your father about me?" The ghost of a smile played on his lips.

"I didn't tell him we were dating. I just told him I met someone and he asked for your name so I told him and then he flared up. He told me to stop seeing you."

"Are you going to?" His face fell.

"Am I going to what?"

"Stop seeing me."

"No."

He grinned at her response and she managed a smile in return.

"He's just being ridiculous," Lucy said. "He even tried to set me up with one of his business clients."

"What, who?"

"Ugh," she groaned at the mere thought of that guy. "It's Dan Straight, the person from the lounge the other day when I was with the girls."

"That guy is one of your father's clients?"

"Yeah, apparently he approached my father after we met at the lounge. I don't know whether he's after my father's money or me, but he was the reason my father dragged me back– oh no! Our date!" She had clean forgotten what with all the drama. "I'm sorry I–"

"It's ok," he cut her off. "Don't worry about that now. We can always go on one when we return to Magnolia."

"...I'm not sure if I can return after this."

"What do you mean?"

"He… touched me… so I slapped him," she mumbled.

"Touched you, how? Where?" Natsu's expression changed immediately; he was seething.

"My butt…"

"And?" He could sense she was not telling the whole truth.

"A-And he kissed me…"

"Son of a–"

"Don't." He was about to get up but Lucy clutched at his arm. "Don't go."

Natsu wanted to punch the light out of that guy but at her word, he stayed. "What about your dad?" He asked.

"He doesn't believe me," she said. "And he will definitely throw you out if he sees you."

Settling back down, Natsu comforted his girl in the only way he knew how. He pulled her closer and caressed her. He noticed her hairdo had come loose and he ran his fingers through her hair absentmindedly. Her blonde locks cascaded down effortlessly, framing her face, concealing her delicate neck, and over her full bosom. He put his forehead against hers and shut his eyes. They were close enough to kiss but both of them kept that distance and remained silent. He was stifling the urge to ravage her while Lucy simply stared at him innocently, admiring the details of his face with his eyes closed.

Suddenly he opened them again and said, "You know–"

"Hm?"

"–Romeo and Juliet had sex while her parents were just downstairs discussing her wedding." The second he said that he felt the muscles in her body go tense so he quickly followed up, "Not that I'm planning to do anything to you."

"The last time we were in a situation like this you stuck your tongue in my mouth," she said but didn't move away. She didn't trust him on this but she knew he wouldn't hurt her. Then she realized something. "Who told you that?"

"Told me what?"

"About Romeo and Juliet."

"I read it."

"You read Romeo and Juliet?"

"Yea, I read it." The disbelief in her voice was evident and Natsu couldn't help feeling a little insulted.

"When?"

"Uhh… some time before the exams, that day when I found you in the library."

"No way." She still couldn't believe it. "The whole thing?"

"Yes, the whole thing." He put his hand on her chin and teased, "Close your mouth before I stick my tongue in there."

Lucy didn't realize she was gaping. She swatted his hand away and continued questioning him, "Was it a modern translation?"

"Dunno," he went. "I just picked up whatever you were reading. I didn't know the story was so short."

She always read the classic version. "How did you–? I mean, the words in the play never actually mentioned that they–"

"I read the small words at the bottom."

"Oh." She didn't have much impression of the book from that day but it must have been a study edition or something.

As the conversation died, the tension between them grew palpable. And since he mentioned it, Lucy kept thinking about it and she wondered…

"Natsu?"

"Yea?"

"Do you… want to do it…? With me…?"

His expression was blank because he didn't get it at first, but when it came to him, his eyes widened.

"Yes," he replied honestly.

She saw how his obsidian eyes were darkened and dilated, and she blushed. It had never occurred to the girl that he thought of her in that way, but she saw it in his eyes. He really wants to.

"Um, now…?"

He shook his pink head. "Not when you're like this." He took her hand in his and played with her fingers. "When you're ready." He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

"...Romeo and Juliet got married before they did it," she pointed out.

Natsu chuckled. "Is that a hint?"

"I- I was just–"

"I know," he hushed her. "Seriously though," he put his arm around her waist again casually. "The only reason I haven't attacked you is because I don't know how to take off your dress. So be a good girl and don't tempt me anymore than this." He finished his sentence with a peck on her lips.

"Behave yourself," she giggled. "The door is locked but I'm sure my father has a key."

"What will he do if he finds me here?"

"Not sure. Chase you out definitely, but I wonder what he'd do to me." She sighed. She didn't know what more he could do to her now apart from ground her and cut her off from the world. Aquarius might return too… She thought of it but didn't tell Natsu.

"Hey." He lifted her chin and then trailed across her cheek with that same finger to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was warm against her skin. "I'm not going anywhere without you."

Lucy buried her face into his shoulder and he tightened his embrace. She wished time would pause in that moment forever.

"Maybe we should elope," he joked.

"Sure," she played along. She felt his chest rumble with soft laughter. Inhaling and exhaling his warm musk, she sighed again. "I've thought of running away," she confided in him. "But then I worry about Erza, Levy and everyone else. They won't have a place to return to."

"Lucy." His tone was serious and it made her look up. "As long as it makes you happy, I'm sure the rest wouldn't mind."

"But they would be homeless. Everyone, except you, me and Juvia, are orphans. They won't have a place to go. And Juvia's place is not in Magnolia. She would have to quit Fairy Tail."

"So would I, most likely."

"You? Why? Can't you just ask Master to take you in or something? Or can't you just commute to school everyday from wherever your house is?"

"Err… No." Lucy sensed something fishy from the way he hesitated.

"Why not?" She pried.

"Errrrm," he stalled.

"Natsu, what is it?"

"Nothin'."

"C'mon, spill!"

"Nah, I'll tell you another time, okay?"

"No! That's what you said over the phone last time!" And then it hit her. "Wait a minute, is this the same thing you said you would tell me but never did?!" She sat up now and smacked his side. "Tell me now before I get mad!"

"Maaan," he lazily sat up too, ruffling his hair. "Where to begin?"

"Start from the beginning," she used his own words on him.

"I have amazophobia or something, forgot what it's called."

"Amazophobia? The fear of…?"

"Riding in vehicles."

"Huh?" She thought he was pulling her leg. Nonetheless, when his expression didn't change she realized he wasn't.

"Wait, give me your phone," she said but she was already reaching into his pocket and fishing it out.

She typed 'amazophobia' into the search engine. However, when the page loaded, it showed results for 'amaxophobia' instead.

"Amaxophobia?" She looked up from the glaring screen in the dark room.

"Ooh, yea, that's it!"

"What does that mean?" She turned off the phone's screen. "You can't ride in vehicles?"

He nodded.

"At all?"

He shook his head. "I can if I take this." He retrieved a short strip of tiny pills from the inside pocket of his one-sleeved robe.

Lucy took it from him and examined it. It was a foil packed row of five that seemed to have been cut from a larger sheet of pills. The back of it was watermarked with the company name and she could just barely make out the name of the drug, Troia. She noticed one of the spaces was empty.

"What happens if you get on some transport without taking this?" She asked.

"Panic attack… ...or heart attack."

Thinking back now, the girl realized she had never been on a train or a car with Natsu. Even to and from Akane Resort, he had arrived early and left early.

"Why? I mean, how come…?" She looked at him, bewildered.

"No idea." He threw his hands up in the air, a gesture of 'who knows?', and then fell backwards, sprawled on the bed. "My dad says I got into some car accident seven years ago but I can't even remember that."

She put his phone and the pills back into his pockets before lying down next to him.

"So who drove you here?" She realized he couldn't have come by himself.

"Nobody," he turned to face her. "I walked."

"You walked? But the nearest train station's so–"

"Anything–" He found her hand again and wove his fingers through hers. "–for my princess." And he smiled.

Her heart ached, in a good way this time. Then she drew a long sigh. "All the more I can't run away."

"Like I said, I really don't think Gray and the rest would mind," he said. "But just to make it more exciting, how 'bout I kidnap you instead?"

"You can't kidnap me," she said. "It's only called 'kidnap' if you take me against my will." But I would go anywhere with you, she added silently.

He laughed, a laughter that was burdenless and free, a stark contrast to how Lucy felt on the inside and her mind randomly dredged up the events of that night.

"I might not get to see you again after tonight," she told him.

"Lucy." His voice was suddenly solemn. "No matter what you say, I'm not going to have sex with you now."

She smacked him again as he shook with more laughter. "Geez!" She pouted. "I'm being serious here! When morning comes, you have to leave."

"Don't wanna." He sulked like a spoiled child and grabbed her.

"H-Hey!" She protested when he squeezed her like a bolster. Not only were his arms around her, his legs also hooked over her. But even so, Lucy let him.

"Can I hide in your closet?"

"You couldn't sit still long enough and somebody will end up finding you," she said. "And after throwing you out, my father will ground me. Or cut my friends off. Or cut me off or perhaps, all of the above," she rambled out loud. "Sometimes I wish I could be the one to cut him off, cut away the Heartfilia name and just be 'Lucy'."

"Just 'Lucy'?"

"Mmhmm, just 'Lucy'."

"You can share my last name if you want," he said with a playful glint in his eyes.

"Fat hope, Natsu Dragneel!" She shoved him and laughed.

"Come back here, you!" He caught her again and ambushed her with tickles. She yelled for him to stop but he was enjoying himself far too much. To him, her squealing laughter was the best sound in the world.

At the end of the scuffle, when Natsu finally stopped, Lucy had somehow ended up lying beneath him. She was out of breath and her sides ached from laughing too hard. Her hair was a halo of gold around her face and her honey brown eyes held countless galaxies. Subconsciously, Natsu closed the distance and their lips touched, lightly at first, and then with a stronger pressure.

Her lips parted invitingly and Natsu slowly put his tongue in. She greeted him with a shy lick and then sucked on his tongue lightly. He tasted as intoxicating as wine. She could feel his rapid heartbeat. It matched that of her own hammering heart, and she wound her hands into his hair.

As the kiss deepened, the hand that caressed her face wandered down; Tiny electrical shocks sent pulsing through her veins at his every touch. The back of his rough knuckles brushed across her collarbones but did not stop there. When his hand cupped one of her breasts tenderly, a soft moan slipped from her lips and Natsu found himself losing it. He pulled back slightly, an attempt to break away, but Lucy tugged him back down. She hadn't had enough.

Natsu stayed with her, but took his hand off her boob, realizing now that it was a mistake and that this girl was going to drive him over the edge. Her gorgeous body arched against his and her playful tongue kept toying with him. Her breathing was heavy but his was ragged and she had no idea she was tempting the sleeping dragon. She pressed her tongue ardently against his and mercilessly teased him. Natsu didn't want to stop but all the alarms in his head went off when he felt a twitch down there.

"Dammit, Lucy." He pushed away from her forcefully, sitting up and distancing himself.

"You started it," she talked back, her face flushed as she sat up. Both of them were panting. She gave him a moment before cautiously reaching for him again.

"I can't–" Her hand froze midair.

"I can't promise that I'll stop," he finished his sentence and Lucy was relieved.

"What do you mean?" She kept her hands to herself.

"I don't know whether I can hold back if we go on."

"But I want to touch you…" The look on her face was crestfallen and he could not leave her alone.

"C'mere," he said, pulling her into his lap. His arms encircled her slim waist. "This much, I can handle. But behave yourself, alright? No more tonight."

"Okay." She smiled. She was satisfied just to be held by him.

The couple stayed up all night, just talking with no interruptions, and Lucy realized how fortunate she was to have found someone she could talk to about anything and everything.

Didn't really know where to stop in this chapter. No, actually I knew where I planned to stop but as I wrote, it just got longer and longer. I was considering whether or not to split it into two but there was no good place to cut until it was already nearly 7k words, so here you go~

I think Dan's character went OOC in this one, but I didn't want to create an original character. Anyway, everything is fiction.

Hope you've enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reading! ^^

*edit for clarification: err.. I hope with this chapter, the story is still considered T-rated. If I ever intend to write any M-rated chapters for this story, I would post it as a separate story and just link here or something. It would probably be like e.g. chapter 18.5 or something, so yeap. (Though I have no intention of writing M now.)