A/N: Hey guys, sorry this took so long. I worked on it a lot until I got something I was happy with but I'm still not sure about it. I honestly didn't think the story would get any attention so thank you!

BTW I know the first chapter is written in a different POV than the last two, I just thought they worked better that way.

Sorry for the short story, I'll try to make the next one longer.

Natsu's loud snoring wakes me from my deep slumber. I force my heavy eyelids open to reveal a night sky out my bedroom window, and a pink haired flame wizard sleeping blissfully by my side. His face looked peaceful and calm, two things Natsu seldom was while he was awake. His hand settled lazily on my hip, warming the skin beneath it almost uncomfortably so. I smiled and cupped his cheek, his uninvited presence in my bed not bothering me as much as it used to. The sudden contact of my hand on his cheek caused him to stir and open his eyes, holding eye contact with me before smiling sweetly.

"Hey Luce" his voice was rough and quiet. He sounded sexy when he was tired.

"Does this mean you're not mad at me anymore?" I ask him, moving my hand from his cheek into his hair and scooting my body closer to his. Natsu's sleepy smile faded into sadness and he removed his gaze from mine.

"I'd never be mad at you Luce, never." he moved his hand off my hip, making me shiver as his warmth left my skin.

I find myself unable to argue his statement. I knew somehow that this was true regardless of recent evidence that could prove otherwise. Natsu grabs the hand previously tangled in his hair. He puts it down on the bed and releases it, leaving me unbearably cold without his touch. "Natsu, I'm so cold" I was frozen, unmoving and unable to reach for Natsu as I craved his warmth. I locked eyes with him again, hoping he would see my discomfort and wrap me in his arms. Panic reared its ugly head when Natsu suddenly vanished, taking any small source of heat left. The room seemed to get dark as if the moonlight had abandoned it, and I feared with Natsu absent from my side that I may never be warm again. I squeezed my eyes shut, praying he would return when they opened.

Lucy. Hey, Lucy!

I could hear his voice from a distance.

Lucy!

No.. It was close. So close.

My eyelids were heavy weights when I tried to pull them open again. I could see now that my surroundings had changed, or rather I remembered they were the same and I had been dreaming before. White ice made the floor, walls and ceiling of the cave we had found refuge in. I vaguely remembered now that I had been cradled in Natsu's arms before, but was now laying on the cold floor with only a thin blanket as a barrier between it and my body. I sat up slowly. My muscles cry out with every movement. I let a small cry escape my lips and Natsu is at my side immediately.

"Natsu… Did you follow me here?"

He remained silent, the only the sound was the cracking of fire as it spewed embers onto the cold ground.

"Natsu!" I yelled this time, the cave repeated his name as my voice bounced off it's walls. His eyes shut tightly and when they opened again they were wild with anger.

"Do you care more about your ego than your life? You almost died you idiot!"

I hung my head in shame, my golden bangs falling to hide my teary eyes. I wanted to be angry with him but he was right, I had taken this job to boost my own confidence. I had taken it to prove to Natsu that I didn't need him to save me all the time, and I had been wrong. He had every right to be mad.

I'd never be mad at you Luce, never.

The memory of my dream flooded into my mind making me turn crimson from embarrassment. I turn back to Natsu and lock my chocolate eyes to his onyx ones. I can sense the anger behind them but also something else, something I missed until now. I take his large hand in both my small ones, his face softens in surprise.

"Natsu… Are you scared?" He scrunched his face and turned away quickly, but not before I noticed the wetness in his eyes. He pulled his hand from mine and stood facing away from me.

"I… I watched you die Luce. And it's like I stopped breathing and I can't catch my breath." Natsu wrapped his arms over his chest, hugging himself. "I can't breathe Luce"

I stand quickly, numb to the pain I'm sure still lingered throughout my body. I put my arms around Natsu's waist and my cheek rested on his back as he continued though stifled sobs.

"And the worst part was that I couldn't do anything. I tried to grab the spear, it's like it was in slow motion and I still couldn't catch it. It literally slipped through my fingers. You slipped through my fingers." I removed my arms from around him and pulled him so he was facing me. My hands gripped his shoulders firmly and I stepped forward so my face was inches from his.

"But I'm alive Natsu, and mostly because of the hundred times you did save me. You failed once out of a hundred times." My heart wretched at the sight of Natsu in pain. Natsu was happiness. He was my happiness.

"It only takes one time Luce, what about the next time, the next dangerous job, the next bastard who tries to kill you. It only-

"Then Erza will be there," I interrupt him, "or Gray or Happy. I will always be protected because I am a Fairy Tail Wizard. We are strong because we are united, we are trusting and we are family. It doesn't always have to be you Natsu, you don't have to be the hero." Natsu turned his gaze from mine and instead focused on his now fiddling hands.

"This was different, though. This wasn't about losing a Fairy Tail Wizard. It wasn't like all the times I thought I might lose Erza or that Ice Queen, or even when Lisanna died. It was... " The now crimson-colored flame wizard thought hard, looking for the rights words. "It was like the worst possible thing had happened, and if you had been gone for real Luce, I.. I just.." Natsu put his hands over his eyes and groaned, frustrated at his inability to identify his own feelings. I took both his hands in mine and pulled his hands away from his face, hoping I was correct about what he was trying to say. His eyes met mine and calmed his flustered expression.

"Nats-

"I want to be your hero, Luce." he interrupted me. His face was different than I had ever seen it. It was serious, but not serious like when he was determined during a fight. This was… sincere. And sexy. I leaned up so my lips brushed against his lightly.

"You've always been my hero, Natsu" I whispered against him. And with that, he closed the little amount of space between us, gently pressing his lips to mine. He place one strong hand on the small of my back and the other weaved its fingers into my hair. They twisted and pulled as the kiss deepened. He pushed on my back so that I pressed against him and I wrapped my arms around his waist. I felt his tongue flick against my bottom lip, urging me to let it explore further. I opened my mouth wider, expecting him to invade inside but instead he pulled away. I whined in disappointment. Natsu didn't loosen the grip he had around me and rested his forehead on mine. He wore a bright smile, the first one I'd seen in weeks. Oh how i missed that smile, it was contagious and before long I found myself wearing one too.

"I love you, Natsu." The words flowed out of me unexpectedly but naturally, like I had said it a million times before. I had thought it sure, but I never thought I'd say it out loud with such ease, and no fear of what Natsu's reaction might be.

"I love you too, Luce" he said back, although I already knew it.

Natsu's warmth spread through me as he closed the gap between our lips again, and I felt as if I'd never be cold again.