Chapter 6

After finishing their morning romp, Natsu and Cana walked together to the Fairy Tail guild. Natsu was in his usual one sleeved vest and shorts and Cana was in her capri shorts, high heels and lacey black bra. They weren't holding hands like a regular couple would and that was the issue that they were discussing while on their stroll.

"So, do you think we should tell the others about us?" Cana asked. She had wanted to bring the topic up earlier that morning but after their morning sex, shower, sex and shave, the subject completely left her mind.

"Well, I guess it would be better to tell them. That way nobody hits on you while I'm around. But if you don't want to that's fine too." Cana smirked at her 'boyfriend's' answer.

"Oh I didn't know you were so territorial Natsu. I'm flattered," Cana teased. When they had reached a part of town that hadn't had so many people on the streets Natsu wrapped his arm around Cana's slim waist and pulled her to his side.

"Hey, a dragon has to protect what's precious to him," he said smoothly. Cana felt a jolt throughout her body at his words. Never before did somebody put her at such high regards. Knowing Natsu as long as she had to should've expected as much from him.

"Well then I guess, it's settled. We'll tell the guild that we're together." She wrapped her arms around his neck and moved to seal the deal but before she could the ground shook. Soon more than the ground was just shaking as the buildings themselves were moving. Homes, shops, all the buildings around them had been raised several meters from their original positions due to elevated platforms. The whole town of Magnolia had drastically changed as the city had split itself with a narrow passageway that lead to the most rambunctious guild in Fiore.

"Oh no, don't tell me," Cana pleaded. The town restructuring itself was a dead give-away for one notorious figure. Fairy Tail's ace mage.

"Gildarts is back."

"Gildarts is back!"

The newly formed couple had spoken in unison but in completely different tones. Natsu was excited to greet his fellow guild member/father figure and challenge the older mage in a fight to test how strong he had become. Cana on the other hand wasn't as enthusiastic about her father's return but it didn't mean that it wasn't a welcomed visit. Although she loved her father more than any other person, she could only take so much of his overprotective and overly doting nature over her. She had pleaded for him to act how he used to towards her when before she told him the truth seeing as how she was old enough not to need a father in her life, but the Crash Mage wasn't hearing it. Or rather couldn't hear it over his excessive ramblings of how beautiful and strong his precious Cana was. However although the Card Mage loathed her father's new smothering nature, she couldn't help but enjoy having a father's love as well. That love was also the reason she stopped Natsu was rushing off to fight the older gentleman. With a swift tug on his scarf, that almost choked Natsu in the process, Cana reigned him back to her side.

"What the hell Cana, Gildarts is back. I gotta fight him and-"

"And nothing, you'll lose. Like you always do when you challenge him." Cana retorted.

"Hey, I've come close."

"A sneak attack from the sky when he's drinking doesn't count Natsu." Cana sighed. When he opened his mouth to respond she cut him off again. "And neither does a surprise attack in his house, especially when he's on the toilet. You're lucky he didn't kill since you interrupted him while doing his business." Cana shuddered at the tale Gildarts told the others before she confessed to being his daughter. Apparently Natsu had been squatting in the man's home for day, waiting for him to arrive and finally made his move on Gildarts who just so happened to be in the middle of taking a shit. Needless to say, Natsu aborted his mission prompting Gildarts to start his own and that was to maim a certain pink haired imbecile.

"How was I supposed to know he was taking a shit? I thought he was just washing his hands, I mean who keeps the faucet on while doing that?" Natsu asked aloud.

"Well, it's whatever but his being here changes everything." Cana bit her bottom lip in agitation. Natsu saw how nervous she was and wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.

"Hey, what do you mean it changes things?" He asked.

"I mean we can't tell the guild, well not yet any way. Not as long as my dad is here. After he leaves, yeah, but right now isn't the best time," she explained without looking into his eyes. She nervously ran her right hand up her left forearm and unconsciously leaned into Natsu's embraced, his warmth and scent aiding in relieving her tense nerves.

"Why not? Gildarts shouldn't have a problem with us dating right? I mean it isn't like he hates me, right?" Natsu joked to ease the tension. When Cana didn't laughed he swallowed the lump that had inexplicably formed in his throat.

"Right, Cana?"

"No, Natsu, he doesn't hate you but if we tell him you and I are dating he may flip his lid. You see how overprotective he is of me right…," Natsu nodded in agreement, "…and have you heard of the times I've gone on dates when he was in town and he found out about them…," Natsu nodded again, "…and have you heard about what he does to guys who have gone out with me, telling them what he'll do to them if they make me cry?"

"Yeah the whole guild did. Heard that he made one of your dates cry and shit himself after he disassembled a banana into diced chunks. So badass," Natsu said dreamily. Getting his arm smacked by Cana brought him out of his hero worship.

"Yeah, if I wasn't so sure he wasn't going to hurt me I probably would've done the same but what I'm trying to say is that…if we tell Gildarts we're dating, he may do the same thing to you. You may be a guild mate and his friend but the guy has no chill when it comes to me. If it wasn't so sickening I'd be flattered." Cana couldn't help the blush that spread across her cheeks at the mention of her father's affections.

"Ahhh I think we'll be fine. Gildarts may act tough to try and scare me but he knows that I'll never hurt you. Before you were my girlfriend, you were my nakama, and I promise to never let my nakama cry, no matter what. And now that you are my girlfriend I promise on my life to never be the cause of your pain," he said seriously but with a small grin on his face. Cana felt her heart skip a beat at his words and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, quickly inserting her tongue into his orifice. She knew that they were still in public and could possibly ruin their secrecy but the feelings she had for Natsu at that moment took precedence over all. After a few heated seconds, which felt like hours to them, Cana pulled away and broke the thin string of saliva connecting their lips with her tongue in a very sensual way.

"What was that for?" Natsu asked stunned.

"A reward for you being such a caring boyfriend," she answered impishly.

"Heh awesome!" Natsu cheered, not fully knowing what she meant but going with the flow for getting something out of it. With some internal debate Cana felt that Natsu was right and that Gildarts would nonetheless support their relationship. It may take some persuasion on her part to keep him from turning Natsu into small cubes but she saw it as worth it. Anything that could keep her and Natsu together was worth it in her eyes.

'Who knew that I would be falling for him of all things?' she thought internally.

"Ok, I guess you're right," she said.

"Right about what?" Natsu asked.

"About telling the guild and my dad about us you dumb ass," she sighed.

"Oh right. Awesome well what are we waiting for, the faster we tell the guild the faster I can fight your dad and show him who the best really is." Natsu took Cana's hand and pulled her with him to the guild but Cana once again ceased his actions.

"What now?!" he complained.

"Ok, first, I'm gonna ignore your little statement about how fighting my dad is more important than telling our friends about our relationship. Secondly, before we do tell them let me see how Gildarts will react. Test the waters, you know, to see that he won't come after you in the night for dating his daughter." Natsu wanted to argue that it wasn't needed but he knew it would be fruitless as Cana was just as stubborn as any female in Fairy Tail, if not more. He didn't know what it was about Fairy Tail but it somehow turned women into absolute terrors. Apparently the prettier you were the more dangerous and bull headed. Even cute and timid Wendy had begun to show some back bone that wasn't there before.

"Ok fine, you can talk to him. But when can I fight him?" Natsu was literally jumping up and down in excitement and Cana couldn't help but laugh at his childish nature.

"Hehehe ok spaz calm down, you can fight him before I talk to him just so you can shut up about it. The minute we get there you can fight him but once you lose, which you will," Natsu pouted at her zero faith in him, "I'm talking to him, ok. We have a deal?" She held out her hand. Natsu shook it without a moment's hesitation.

"Deal!"

"Well alright then, let's get going. Wait, when did the ground go back to normal?" She asked looking at the town which was back in its original placement.

"I think when we were kissing," Natsu answered. Cana looked back at the dragon slayer with a sexy smirk and tugged at front of his scarf.

"Oooh, seems kissing you really does make the ground shake beneath me feet. I think you're a keeper~." Natsu smirked and they kissed again but it was chaste this time around as the two hurried to the guild to tell everyone the news.

When they entered they came in at different times. Cana came in first and Natsu waited outside, per her orders, before making his grandiose entrance. Wanting to show off a bit for his girlfriend and his friend/rival Natsu falcon kicked the guild doors, nearly tearing them off his hinges. Those inside were shocked to say the least and when they looked to the front they saw Natsu in a crouch with a sinister smile on his face. His body combusted into flames and when he stood at full height he pointed at Gildarts who was calmly drinking a pitcher of beer. The older guild mate had seen the whole thing and had to say he was impressed with the young man's showmanship.

"Gildarts! You! Me! Now!" Without warning Natsu charged at Gildarts with his fist cocked and moving at speeds others didn't think he had. Natsu was already celebrating his victory when he noticed the Crash Mage hadn't made a move to defend himself and thinking this was an easy victory. However all that came crashing down when Gildarts grabbed Natsu by his face, the dragon slayer's fist mere inches from connecting with his nose. Downing the last of his drink Gildarts wiped his mouth and turned to Natsu with a confident smirk. Between Gildarts's fingers, Nastu's eyes looked showed that he looked absolutely terrified. He wanted to call to Cana to stop her father or even Erza to help him out, but his mouth was too tightly pressed against Gildart's palm. Even the option of licking his hand to disgust him enough to let go was a futile option.

"Natsu, Natsu, Natsu. Glad to see you, but what have I told you about interrupting me when I'm busy? Seems you need another lesson," the Crash Mage said dubiously with a malevolent grin that made audience watching them shudder in fear. Like he was doing the shot put, Gildarts threw Natsu, by his face, into the top floor of the guild. The groans of the young man could be heard from above. Most in the guild gasped at the display and wondered if the young man was alright. Cana was torn between running up the stairs to check on Natsu and bitch him out over his recklessness or bitching out her father for tossing Natsu like that. Before she could decide though, Natsu returned into view from the top floor with a blood coming from his nose and his mouth and a lump on his head the size of Happy. Despite his injury he gave everyone a wide grin and a peace sign.

"I'm ok!" Hearing that the guild burst into laughter and cheers at the two most destructive members' antics and went on about their day. The audio level in the guild had reached its maximum in no time and everyone seemingly forgot that Natsu had just been tossed like a rag doll, Natsu included. Everyone except for Cana, Happy, Carla and Wendy, who was tending to his head injury. Luckily the younger female and her feline best friend had made it back to the guild.

"I wish you weren't so reckless, Natsu-san. You know Gildarts-san doesn't hold back," Wendy advised.

"Tch, don't bother Wendy, that idiot will continue to fight him until he wins." Cana retorted.

"She does have a point, child. This ruffian doesn't know the meaning of quit," Carla added in on Cana's comment.

"Damn right I don't! This is Fairy Tail, we don't give up just because we lost! We keep fighting until we can't anymore." Natsu threw his fist in the air to get his point across.

"Aye sir." Happy mimicked his best friend. The females before them held little resistance to their display and laughed (Wendy) or giggled (Carla & Cana) at the duo. Finishing her work on his head, Wendy stepped away from Natsu.

"There you go Natsu-san all better. Just don't get into any more fights and you should be able to take those off by morning." Natsu gave Wendy a smile and ruffled her blue locks in appreciation. The younger female blushed in embarrassment.

"Thanks Wendy, you're the greatest. Now first things first, I need to get something to eat, I'm freaking starving! Come on Happy!" Natsu rushed towards the door with Happy flying beside him but a hand reached out and grabbed him by his collar, stopping him in his tracks.

"Not right now you don't. I need to speak with you," Cana proclaimed, her amethyst eyes giving Natsu a glare that meant that it wasn't up for discussion.

"Happy you can leave. Wendy and Carla can you leave us alone for a minute, I just to talk to this idiot for a while."

"Hai, Cana-san. Come on Carla, Happy." Wendy called to the white and blue exceeds.

"Hmm, but I want to hang out with Natsu. We haven't seen each other in forever," Happy whined to the blue haired teen.

"If you come with us, I'll get Mira to cook you a steamed salmon," Wendy bribed, playing at the cat's most notorious weakness. And like a charm it worked.

"Yay, fish! Bye Natsu, hope you feel better!" Natsu waved at his little buddy with a tick mark over his eye. Cana had to cover her mouth with her hand to stop herself from laughing at the cat's complete dismissal of Natsu's well-being in favor of his favorite treat. Truthfully it shouldn't be that much of a surprise as it has happened before but she always found it amusing that the duo that was thicker than thieves could be separated at the mention of food. When the trio exited the infirmary Cana let out a sigh at having calmed down and looked at Natsu with a leveled glare.

"So what did you want to talk about-Ow! Dammit Cana!" Natsu nursed the new bruise she had just given him after punching him in the chest.

"That's for being an idiot and fighting my dad!" She punched him in his shoulder causing him to hiss in pain. 'Since when has she been this strong' was the thought echoing in Natsu's mind.

"And that is for making me worry about you so much! I can't tell my dad that I have a new boyfriend if said boyfriend is dead at his hands because he can't hold back!" Cana was ready to punch him again but Natsu caught her wrist. She tried to pull herself away but his grip was too strong so she went for another hit. He caught that as well and quickly, but gently, pulled her to his chest. Cana gasped at being in his arms.

"I'm sorry I made you worry, I just got so fired up that I wasn't thinking," he told her with a chuckle.

"Yeah that and every other time." Cana responded in a snarky tone. Although she was upset with him for getting hurt and worrying her she couldn't stay mad at him. 'Geez, since when have I ever been such a softy for Natsu?' She laughed to herself and Natsu heard it as well.

"What's so funny?" He asked.

"Nothing. It's nothing." She assured him with a pat on this cheek. "Just don't… (sigh) just be more careful next time ok. I know you're strong, and so does my dad, and the guild. There isn't anything for you to prove, to anybody, so just be a little bit more careful. I said I want to see how this relationship goes, and I don't want it to end prematurely because you jumped the gun. So stop showing off!" She pointed a finger at his face, her manicured nail set between his eyes.

"I'm not trying to show off," he started.

"Oh, so you normally enter the guild in such a way?" Natsu chuckled sheepishly at being reminded of his, in his mind, badass entrance.

"Ok, that was showing off, but me fighting and everything. I don't do that to show off. Yeah I do it to prove a point but not to you, the guild or to anybody else."

"So why do you do it? What do you have to prove?" Cana asked, curiosity eating away at her.

"Me, I do it for me. I do it to prove to myself that I'm strong enough to protect those I care about. I've lost Igneel, I lost Lisanna for a brief moment, and I nearly lost the whole guild during the dragon invasion in Crocus. I fight Erza, Laxus and Gildarts because if I can surpass them, that means I'm strong enough to protect them even from themselves. I fight opponents stronger than me because if I can win against them that means I have the power and strength to protect those around me from others that pose a threat. I fight to keep the ones I care about safe. I'm sorry if I worried you but it's just something I gotta do." Natsu had never looked more serious in Cana's eyes until that moment. She had seen his face in battle when he stopped being his immature self and adopted the look of a hardened warrior but right now, his expression was as cold and hard as the toughest steel.

"I had no idea, Natsu," she told him.

"Well you never asked." He chuckled at his joke and so did she. After all these years of knowing him, she could have never guessed that the reason behind his challenges had a deeper meaning to them.

"Well, if that's how you feel I guess I can't stop you. Honestly I commend you for it. Just try to stay safe while doing it ok." She asked of him.

"Sure, it's a deal. Who knew you cared so much Cana," Natsu teased while pulling her close. Cana shot him an incredulous look but it soon turned into an alluring one.

"What can I say, I've grown attached to you, blockhead. Besides," she leaned in close to his ear, "…nobody can make me feel as good as you can, my little dragon. So I intend to keep my favorite toy." To entice him she bit on his earlobe and lightly pulled on it with her lips before releasing it. Natsu shivered at her personal display of affection and looked at her like a deer caught in headlights. He hadn't been expecting her to act like that, especially with the rest of the guild outside the room. But in hindsight he should've expected it as Cana wasn't above some 'mild' flirting, even inside the guild. Cana detangled herself from his embraced and walked towards the door with a noticeable sway in her hips. She looked back over her shoulder at the fire mage who was frozen in place.

"I would like to continue but I need to go talk to my dad real quick. But afterward, maybe we can go back to your place and…get wild," she propositioned with a wink. Before she left she said one more thing.

"Oh, and before you leave, you might want to hide that. I don't want my any competition or for you to be beaten for being a pervert."

Natsu rose and eyebrow at her statement which made her shoot a quick glance down at his person. Getting her hint he looked down and gasped at the tent in his pants. He turned towards the window to hide his shame and shooed her out with his hand.

"Sure you don't want some help with that, I could always talk to Gildarts later-"

"Cana, honey, where are you~! Come hang out with your dear old dad! I brought you some souvenirs!" Cana nearly choked on her own spit when she heard her father's voice and by the sound of it he was coming this way. She made move to warn Natsu but to her surprise the dragon slayer was already gone. Noticing the window was half open she figured that he fled outside. Luckily the room was on ground level. Deciding now was the time Cana turned towards the door and waited for her father. In no time the ace of Fairy Tail barged in with his travel sack and made a beeline for his daughter with his arms outstretched for a hug.

"Cana!" His attempts to express his love were halted when Cana, in a somewhat similar fashion to what he did with Natsu, palmed his face which surprisingly kept him at bay. The older mage comically was still running with his legs pumping like pistons but was going absolutely nowhere with is face pressed into Cana's hand.

"Nice to see you too dad, but stop with all the love, your smothering me." Cana sweat dropped when her father went into a corner to sulk at how mean his daughter was for not letting him love her.

"Stop acting so hurt, we both know you're fine." True to her word Gildarts reappeared in front of her with a wide grin on his face that Cana couldn't help but return. Reluctantly she leaned in and gave him a hug which he returned with a solitary hand on her back, his other holding his bag.

"Welcome home dad." She muttered sweetly.

"Glad to be home, sweetie," he returned warmly. Pulling away the two sat down, Cana on a bed and Gildarts in a chair, and discussed everything that had occurred from Gildarts time away from the guild. When Cana brought up the topic of the Grand Magic Games and Fairy Tail being back on top, Gildarts told her that he had seen her performance and that he couldn't be more proud to have her as his daughter. Cana thanked him with a small blush on her cheeks. When she got to the story of the dragon invasion, Gildarts adopted a serious look on his face which turned to relief when he heard that the guilds that fought the dragon's had all made it out of the battle in one piece. Time seemed to fly as the two caught up with the others past exploits.

"Man, a guy leaves for a few months and he misses out on everything," Gildarts playfully complained after listening to Cana.

"Yeah, that sort of thing happens when you're constantly on the move and never stick around, dad," Cana responded sharply but her eyes told that she meant nothing by it.

"Oh, Cana that hurts right in the old ticker." Gildarts grabbed at his heart in an exaggerated expression to show that he was emotionally wounded. Cana and he laughed at the act. Feeling that the atmosphere around them was calm, Cana decided that now was a good time to tell him. But first she wanted to dip her toes in the water to see if it would be safe to actually tell him.

"Hey…Dad," Cana said shyly.

"Yeah, sweetie?"

"Well, what would you say…if I told you that I'm seeing someone?" Cana had to keep herself composed when she saw the dangerous look in her father's eyes.

"I would say that I would like to meet this person. I know I haven't been around for you Cana, but I'm looking to make up for it now. And even though you are of age, I'm still your father. So if anything I would like to meet the worthless, lowlife bastard who thinks he's man enough to date my daughter! He would have to be a man among men to even get my consideration on the matter! Matter of fact where is the little shit, we can knock this out today! The earlier the better!" Gildarts stood from his seat and made his way to the door. Cana bolted from her spot on the bed and blocked his exit, a scared look in her eye. She knew that he was over protective of her, but she didn't think it would be of this degree.

"N-No, you don't have to meet him now. How about later, I promise! Before you leave again, you'll get to meet him! Hehehe." Cana hoped that her voice didn't sound too nervous but the aura her father was giving off was tearing her confidence apart.

Gildarts fixed his daughter with a steely eyed gaze and kept it for what felt like an eternity with Cana. Closing his eyes, he sighed in contentment and gave her a smile.

"Alright, sweetie, I'll wait until then. I actually wasn't looking to stay in town for that long, just check up on the guild and see how you were doing, but I guess I can stay a little longer. But make sure I get to meet him, I really wanna see how this 'boyfriend' of yours stacks up," he said with a devilish smirk.

"Hehehe, sure dad. But I guarantee that you'll like him." Cana felt her confidence on the issue increase since she knew that Gildarts and Natsu were similar in personality, so Gildarts liking her boyfriend should go off without a hitch.

"Tch, I'll be the judge of whether or not I like him. Now could you move, sweetie, I wanna take a nap at my house," he yawned. Nodding her head Cana stepped away from the door to let her father go but before he left he spoke once more.

"Also, Cana, if this guy ever hurts you, I mean ever, I will come back. It wouldn't matter if he moved town and changed his name. I will find him, never you mind on how, just know that I will find him. And when I do he'll rue the day that he crawled out of his mother and the day he was put inside her by his father. Bye sweetie!" With that chilling statement, Gildarts left the room and headed home.

Cana swore she heard a small shriek from outside but disregarded it as her mind playing tricks on her. She had more problems to worry about as she couldn't get various images of what her father could possibly do to Natsu. Speaking of which she went to the window to see if she could fine any trace of him. Turning left and right she couldn't find head nor tail of the pink haired mage and decided to search for him later. Ducking her head to go back inside she came face to scalp with a head pull of pink hair and white gauze tape.

"Natsu, you've been out here the whole time?" she asked. She got no response.

"Natsu? Natsu? Natsu?!" She snapped her fingers in front of his face but still he gave no response that he heard her or even knew she was above him. Letting her irritation she grabbed him by his shoulders and hauled him inside. Struggling a bit she dumped him on the floor, none to gingerly, and looked at from above. The normally energetic and fearless son of Igneel was a sweating up a storm. His eyes had a faraway look to them and he was shivering from head to toe. Letting concern over take her she drop to her knees and pulled him up so he was sitting on his butt.

"Natsu, are you alright? What's got you so spooked," she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Finally taking into account that she was near, Natsu turned towards his beautiful girlfriend and uttered meekly:

"Your dad is one scary motherfucker."

XxX

[A/N: Here's the latest chapter of Rub a Dub Dub. Sorry for the late update but I was contemplating ending this story here or extending it a few more chapters. I decided with the latter, so expect a few more chapters of this story in the new future. The next chapter will have Gildarts and Natsu having the talk. Not the birds and bees. Don't worry I don't update the next chapter so late. My Bloody Valentine should be posted by this weekend and my other stories should be updated next week as I'm now on spring break. Woooo! So review, favorite, follow and PM me if you want, you know the drill. Blaccdragon out!]