I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters

Chapter 8

For their last day together until he left, Gildarts followed Cana throughout Magnolia. The curvaceous brunette entered the many stores she frequented and bought items from each one. From stores that sold books to stores that sold magical items and charms. Although she was enjoying the time she was spending with her father, she still had her suspicions. With his promise to stay by her side and not venture off in pursuit of a woman, she decided to test his mettle. Entering a lingerie boutique, she had fully expected him to follow her inside and smooth talk the closest thing with a nice pair of breasts. To her astonishment, he stayed outside, instead sitting on a bench. Though he technically wasn't by her side, Cana's heart still swelled with emotion knowing that what he told her wasn't a lie. Today truly was all about her and no one else. All funny business had been put aside to ensure that today would be memorable.

'Maybe he isn't so bad,' she thought fondly.

True to his word, the ace of Fairy Tail paid for everyone of Cana's purchases and he carried every bag as well. Though he was content at seeing his daughter enjoy herself, he was holding back tears at having his funds diminish so much in such a short amount of time. Noticing the sun was setting, Cana thought that a good way to end the day would be with a drink. Yet, Gildarts had other plans.

"How's about we go back to my place. I had planned on making dinner," he smiled. The card's mage glanced at her father skeptically.

"You can cook?" she asked, a slim eyebrow raised high. "Like actual food? Nothing with squirrels, or crows, or maggots right?"

"You mock me now but I can make a wicked squirrel, crow, and maggot stew," her father responded in jest. "And yes, I can cook. A fella has to learn quick when you're miles away from the nearest town am I right. I checked this morning and I should have just enough food to whip something together. It may take a while though, but I guarantee you'll love it."

She contemplated his offer. The only other person to cook especially for her was her mother during her early childhood. The memory brought a wave of nostalgia to the busty mage. Hearing her estranged father offer to make her a meal and have the two of them sit down like a family was one of her childhood dreams come true.

"Hell, why not, I got nothing better to do," she shrugged indifferently. Cana applauded herself for skillfully masking her excitement. "Lead the way old man."

Deep in the forest on the other side of town, Natsu was at his and Happy's favorite fishing spot. He had awoken from his nap feeling refreshed and energized but found himself frustrated once he realized that he still had a couple hours left until he would meet Gildarts. Happy hadn't come home yet, obviously still at the guild and attempting to court Carla. Alone, and with plenty of time to kill, he thought he would try to catch some fish to pass the time. However, as if to spite him, the fish were not biting, not even a nibble. For at least two hours Natsu held his rod in hopes of catching something on his line, even a log, but sadly no fish were biting. Sighing in defeat, Natsu stabbed his rod into the ground and laid on the grass to watch the clouds float by in the red and orange painted sky. At least they provided him with some form of entertainment.

As he watched the clouds fly by overhead, Natsu pondered his relationship with Cana. Of all the females in the guild, she was one of the least likely he ever thought he would have an interest in. True, the two had known each other since they were young children, and they were comfortable around the other to consider themselves friends but that was as far as it went. Outside the guild they were basically strangers and inside they rarely talked to the each other unless a third party was involved. Unlike his team, the Strauss siblings, and his fellow dragon slayers, Cana and him just didn't have chemistry. They never clicked on a personal level for him to find himself attracted to her. Although he can be naïve and incredibly dense at times when it came to the fairer sex, Natsu wasn't completely ignorant. Despite the fact that they could invoke fear into his very soul, Natsu viewed Erza and Mirajane as incredibly attractive females but his feelings for them were merely close friendship. He'd go so far as them being his sisters. The same went with Lucy and Lisanna; as pretty as he thought they were, the only feelings he had for them were platonic. Natsu regarded all the females in Fairy Tail as attractive, Cana included. However, as pretty as they might be, he viewed them as his friends, family, and nothing more.

That was until Cana and his impromptu bath together at Lucy's nearly a month ago. Natsu never would have thought that sharing a bath with her would turn into something life changing. What started out as a misunderstanding turned out to be one of the happiest moments in his life that he wouldn't soon forget. He didn't know what aspect of her being drew him to her that day. Was because she let her guard down and revealed the real Cana Alberona that lay hidden behind the slurring, crude drunk she had made herself out to be? Was it because they had so much more in common than both of them realized up until then? Or was it simply because the sex was too incredible for him to walk away from?

"Could be a combo of all three," he joked as his eyes followed a cloud that looked roughly similar to a dragon.

Whatever the case may be as to why he was attracted to Cana, it didn't matter to him. He loved her for who she was, booze and all, and that was all that mattered to him. Realizing what his inner thoughts just said, his eyes widened slightly.

"Love?" He tossed the word around in his head, contemplating its meaning. Before he came to Fairy Tail, he always associated the word with friends and family, most notably Igneel. Surely, he loved Cana as he loved the others in the guild but he sensed that what he felt for her ventured much deeper than what he felt for anybody else. Lucy, Erza, or Lisanna had been his closest female friends, but neither one of them could bring about the same feelings he had for his drunk of a girlfriend.

"What did the old man say again?" he asked rhetorically.

Flashback X778

"Hey Gramps can I ask you a question?" Taking a seat at the bar next to the diminutive master was a young curious eyed Natsu.

"What can I do for you my boy?" Makarov questioned as he drank from his mug of beer.

"What's love?" Natsu asked. The third master looked at Natsu's questioningly.

"Aren't you a little young for love, Natsu?"

"Mmm, I don't think so. I just want to know because I want to get Lisanna to stop teasing me about it. I remember Igneel mentioning it before but I guess it didn't stick. Can you tell me what it is?"

The elderly man stroked his chin in thought, contemplating how to go about explaining something as complicated as love to someone as thick headed as Natsu.

"Love…comes in many forms. Its when you put someone, or sometimes an object that you hold dear, above yourself without a second thought. Every waking moment you think about that person and you feel incomplete when they are not around..."

"Like how I feel with Igneel?" Natsu blurted.

"Exactly. You love Igneel but you love him as you would a father. That, Natsu, is the love felt within a family. The same feelings you have for Igneel are the same that I have for Laxus, or Lisanna and her siblings. This guild," he gestured to the large crowd of mages around them, "is a family and though we might not be related by blood, we all still love each other as if we are."

"So that's love?"

"Yes…and no."

"Come on old man, give me a straight answer!" Natsu exclaimed in annoyance. His outburst rewarded him with a smack atop the head that made his face bounce off the bar counter.

"Respect your master child! Now, before I was interrupted," he glared at Natsu, who shamefully diverted his gaze to his folded hands, "…that is a kind of love. There is also love between friends, like what you have for Erza, Gray…"

"Like hell I love that ice cube making stripper!" After kissing the bar counter again, Natsu thought it would be best to let the master finish. "Sorry."

"Hmph. Like I said, there is love between friends, but there is also a stronger form of love. Being in love can be both exhilarating but also heart breaking. It can be the greatest feeling you'll ever experience but it can also be the most challenging trial in life. Ones needs come before your own without a second thought. They are constantly on your mind. They make you smile when you feel down, and when you're with them you feel as if its just the two of you in the whole world. Seeing them smile brightens your day and being the reason for their smile brightens your soul. At times, it can be dangerous, but it is a wonderful and beautiful feeling nonetheless. Have I gotten through to you, son?" Makarov peered in Natsu's direction and was enraged at witnessing the boy pick his ear. It seemed he had more fascination with picking wax then listening to a lesson in life.

"Natsu!"

"Wh-what?! Oh you're done already! Thanks gramps, I knew I could come to you for this!" Smiling widely, Natsu set off to the job board. Though he was barely listening to what the master said, Natsu actually absorbed more information than either he or the master realized.

"Huh, I finally understand what you meant Gramps. I hope she feels the same way," he whispered forlornly. Sitting up, he checked his line one last time, only to find it as still as when he placed it. Grumbling a curse under his breathe, he stretched his limbs, took his rod and decided to go to Gildarts. Dropping his gear off inside his house, he went in route to the Crash Mage's residence, all the while wondering how his girlfriend's day went with her father.

"I hope she was happy. Because if he ditched her like he did me and Gray that one time, I'm gonna kick his ass."

Coming up on Gildart's house, Natsu noticed that the man's home was completely dark except for a dim light in the window. He also noticed that the door was partially open.

'He said come around ten right? Did he fall asleep?'

Cautiously, Natsu opened the door to see a lamp on in the corner. Walking into the house, he looked around to see any sign of Gildarts.

"Glad you could make it Natsu." Jumping into a fighting position, Natsu turned around and saw Gildarts by the door, slowly closing it and turning the lock. "I almost thought you wouldn't come."

"Yeah and why is that?"

"Because I saw how scared I made you at the guild. Seems like the lesson I taught you at Tenrou Island worked better than I thought," Gildarts said taking a step forward. Standing less than an arm's length apart, the two males squared each other up. Their eyes burning heated glares into the others. Gildarts was impressed that Natsu was standing his ground against him, especially because he was releasing some of his magic to intimidate him. However instead of backing down like he did so many years ago, the fire mage held his own. He wasn't the same person he was during the trials.

"You must have been seeing things old man. You sure you aren't going senile," Natsu jibed.

"Heh, keep talking while you can you little prick. You're lucky I don't turn you into cubes and feed you to the dogs for touching my precious flower," Gildarts said coldly. Confusion etched across the fire mage's face at his comment.

"The hell are you talking about? I haven't touched your flowers. When'd you start buying them anyway," he retorted. Before Gildarts could give an explanation, exasperated he might be at hearing Natsu's ignorant statement, the lights in the house flickered on.

"Why the hell was it so dark in here?" Natsu instantly recognized the voice.

"Cana?"

"Natsu?" she responded in equal shock. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Gildarts asked me to come over. Why are you here?"

"After we hung out, I came to help him make dinner. I was getting our plates ready." It was then that Natsu noticed that she had placed two plates full chicken curry and rice on Gildarts's circular table.

"…you can cook?" he asked thoroughly surprised. He rarely saw her eat at the guild and whenever they were together, she would eat light snacks. The dragon slayer stood and marveled at the irrefutable evidence presented to him that his girlfriend could throw down in the kitchen. For years, Natsu actually thought Cana survived solely off alcohol alone.

"Yes, Natsu, I can cook. I may not be on the same level as Mirajane or Lisanna but I can hold my own," she boasted, one arm under her bust and the other tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"No kidding, it smells good. And looks good too! You guys got anymore? Please tell me you do!" Cana smiled warmly at receiving his praise on her cooking. Watching him examine her food and peer up at her like a puppy made a light blush cover her fair features.

"I suppose so. Gildarts and I did make a big…portion…" Piecing the information together, Cana turned her head towards her father who was sporting an amused smirk on his face. Arms crossed and leaning against the door, the man was obviously finding amusement in what he was seeing.

'That son of a bitch, does he know?' she screamed mentally.

"Yo Gildarts, can I join you guys!?" Natsu questioned excitedly, practically drooling with his eyes never having left the food.

"I don't see why not. Pull up a chair kid and I'll fix your plate. Cana, honey, why don't you entertain our guest." Walking past his daughter, Gildarts gave her a knowing wink that made her own eyes widen in shock before he entered the kitchen. Natsu quickly sat in his chair, a fork and knife in hand that he seemed to pull out of thin air. Cana took her seat but quickly pulled it close to Natsu.

"Why are you hear?" she demanded heatedly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I told you, Gildarts invited me," her boyfriend reiterated.

"And you didn't ask why?!"

"I couldn't, he was out the door before I could say anything so I just went with it," he elaborated. "And why are you asking? I've been here before."

"Yeah, I know, but don't you find this all suspicious," she pointed out.

"How so?"

"Think about it, before he wanted to know about who my boyfriend was and he wasn't going to leave until he met him. He's been here a hell of a lot longer than he usually is, then out of the blue, he's leaving tomorrow. Today, while we were together, he didn't ask about my boyfriend once. Now here you are coming here right as we're about to have dinner, a dinner I might add that was too big for two people to eat," she ranted.

"So what? Maybe Gildarts is just a good host. Though he's losing points if he doesn't show up with my food in the next minute," he growled irritably. How long does it take to make a plate of curry? 'Is he scooping it in with a fork?' Natsu thought.

"Natsu, I'm serious. I think…I think he…"

"Sorry for the wait Natsu. Food was a little cold so I heated it back up. I also put an extra helping in there since I know how much you love to eat," Gildarts interjected placing the young man's plate in front of him, a suspiciously wide grin on his face. Cana gasped and quickly scooted her chair away from Natsu's which went unnoticed as the dragon slayer inhaled his meal. Tears streamed down his face as the spices of the titillated his taste buds and the savory meat of the chicken exploded in his mouth, each exotic flavor complimenting the other perfectly. He slowly turned his head towards Cana who jerked in her seat and rose an eyebrow at the expression of admiration on his face.

"This is amazing!" he raved.

"Hahaha, that it is! Though I did help a little bit, my lovely Cana orchestrated this delicious masterpiece. She surely has the skills to be a renowned chef. Just like her mother," Gildarts extolled before stuffing his face but with a bit more grace than Natsu.

Listening to their praise caused Cana's cheeks to turn a shade of pink that matched her boyfriend's hair color. She too ate of the food and couldn't help to admit that it was some of her best work. Add a little love and it makes everything taste better.

"I don't know what you guys are getting so excited about, its just chicken curry and rice. And you," she pointed to her father who stared at her with his spoon in his mouth with rice and sauce along the edges. "…you're only contribution was the rice. I had to prepare everything else. You just had to boil water. That's so easy even Natsu could do it."

"Oi!"

"Hey, I'm way more useful than Natsu! I bring more to the table then just swagger, good lucks, and irresistible charm you know, I also have common sense as well as a sense of responsibility. If you left Natsu alone to heat water, you would've gotten a house fire," Gildarts laughed. Said mage didn't take that lob lightly.

"I dare you to say that again you miserable old fossil!" he challenged, rising to his feet but being careful not to knock over his plate.

"Fossil? I'm in my forties you little bastard!" Rising out of his chair himself, Gildarts matched Natsu's glare with his own. Before either male could throw a punch however, an authoritative voice that reminded them of a certain red headed knight broke through.

"Sit down and eat the both of you or so help me…!" Cana raged, refusing to have her hard work go in vain and possibly be used as a weapon. In a flash, Natsu and Gildarts were in their seats, quietly eating their food. Even Natsu's table manners improved greatly after her mood swing. Leaning back in her chair, Cana pinched the bridge of her nose and gave a groan mixed with annoyance and exhaustion.

'Out of these two idiots, one's a man child and the other one is my boyfriend. Dear God, I feel an ulcer forming,' Cana thought despairingly.

Dinner went on without any other incidents. Conversation at the table was light and friendly but Natsu and Cana could sense the awkward atmosphere in the room. Cana especially was aware of how her father's eyes seemed to be studying her and Natsu. His scrutinizing glare made her feel very uncomfortable. Throughout the ordeal, she wished she could hold Natsu's hands, to feel some sort of comfort in such a stressful environment. She could laugh at how the most destructive mage in the guild was also one the person who kept her from falling apart.

Though Natsu could feel the heavy the atmosphere in the room, his theory as to why it was so tense was different than Cana's. This being a dinner among family members, he thought he was intruding. The serious expression Gildarts wore combined with Cana's timid demeanor further proved his point.

'Maybe I should go. I'm probably getting in the way. Cana hasn't seen Gildarts in a while, and this is the first time they've ever been together like this. Its wrong for me to stand between that.' Taking one more glance at Cana, he smiled tenderly at her. She let her guard down for a second and smiled right back but quickly frowned when she saw him stand and position himself behind his chair.

"Hey, thanks for the meal guys, I appreciate it, but I think its time for me to hit the road. I'm sure Happy is at the house and having a panic attack unless he found some fish. Again thanks for everything and I'll…"

"Sit down Natsu," Gildarts boomed. Natsu and Cana both flinched at his tone of voice that left little room for argument.

"B-but…" Natsu stammered but he was interrupted again.

"Sit. Down," Fairy Tail's ace ordered, "…and enjoy the food. I still need to talk to you, same with you Cana." The couple looked to the other for answers but received only confused expressions. "We need to address the elephant in the room." An audible gulp came from Cana who had a theory as to what Gildarts was referring to.

Gildarts lazily rested his chin into the palm of his hand, his eyes glancing between the fidgeting form Cana and Natsu, who was trying to steal some food off her plate before quickly pulling his hand back when she tried to stab him with her fork. Watching the two, he let a smirk cross his grizzled features, one that made Cana's eyebrows shoot up in confusion.

"So…how long have you two lovebirds been going out?" he asked bluntly. The couple stared at him in shock; Cana's jaw nearly hit the table while Natsu's eyes grew slightly wider, his jaw occupied with chewing a piece of her stolen chicken meat. The cat was out of the bag.

"How long have you known," Cana sighed, seeing no point in keeping up with the charade. Internally she was laughing at the irony that Gildarts did her and Natsu's job for them without the slightest hesitation while they, mostly her, had been dragging their feet for nearly a month.

"Oh, I don't know. Say…since day one, literally." Cana stared at him, mouth slightly agape in astonishment. "You two aren't as secretive as you think you are. Well somehow you've kept the guild in the dark about all this but to me it was pretty obvious."

"H-how?! How did you know? We didn't…"

"Yeeeah, you kind of did. I mean, it wasn't so blatant that you guys were turning heads, but you also weren't that discreet. For example, the first day I came back, I knew something had changed between you two." The couple rose and eyebrow at the man before looking to the other, hoping to find an answer. "When I sent Natsu to the infirmary, Cana, you were the first person to see him. Before his team, even before Happy. You've never done that before. Ever. I would've labeled it as you two becoming closer as friends, but some of the little things you did tipped me off."

"L-like what?" Cana nervously asked.

"The fact that you two talk much more often then you usually do. You sit next to each other more often as well. You," he pointed towards Cana, "laugh at nearly anything this bottomless pit says," he pointed towards Natsu who was attempting to get another plate of food but quickly sat down when his he was discovered.

"I also see the looks you two give each other and when you're apart. Gotta say Cana, I didn't peg you for the jealous type. Same with you Natsu," he chuckled in amusement for his comment sent both mages into a stuttering fit.

"W-w-what are y-you saying?! I'm not jealous!" Cana defended heatedly.

"Y-y-yeah me neither! Besides, if flirty bastard wants to get to Cana they have to go through me!" Natsu declared heatedly as he punched his fist into his open palm to emphasize his point. Cana face palmed at her boyfriend's actions while her father clicked his tongue in amusement.

"You can really pick 'em sweetie," he jested.

"Sh-shut up!" she responded so eloquently.

"You just made my point Natsu. To sum up, I've known about your secret relationship for a while and what I have to say on the matter is…" Cana swallowed thickly, scared that her father would disapprove. She had come to for Natsu a great deal in the short time they were together. Although she was a grown woman that didn't need her father's approval on whom she decided to go out with, she couldn't help but feel scared of what his opinion might be. So much so, she closed her eyes in terror, afraid to meet his gaze when he would tell her, "…I don't think you could've picked anyone better."

"Say wha…?" Cana looked up to see her father nodding with a small smile on his face. A grin a mile long crossed her face, elated at having her father's approval. Feeling something poke her side, she turned to see Natsu with a smug smile.

"I told you he'd be cool with it." Cana blushed out of embarrassment.

"Y-yeah, I guess you were right. Thanks Gilda-I mean, thanks dad. I don't think I could've pick anyone better myself. And trust me, I've tried," she joked.

"Oi! What the hell does that mean?" Natsu screamed feeling very offended.

"I'm kidding Natsu. You know nobody makes me feel the way you do," she cooed softly, running her hand down the length of his arm and grabbing his hand.

"Damn right," he commented, giving her soft hand a squeeze. The two moved in towards each other for a kiss but paused when they heard somebody dry heaving.

"Ugh, you two are so adorable its sickening. Have some shame you two," Gildarts said disgruntled. Natsu scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. Cana however grew a mischievous smirk on her fair features. Watching her father become so uncomfortable made a light bulb go off above her head. 'Why not make tonight really memorable for him?' Replacing the seat of her chair for Natsu's lap, Cana made herself comfortable, grabbed the spoon from his plate, and placed it near his mouth.

"Say ahh, Natsu," she cooed. Both males stared at her with eyes the size of their dinner plates. Had the years of daily over indulgence of alcohol finally caught up with Cana thus destroying her last remaining brain cells? A wink from Cana told him to comply as well as the pleasurable sensation of her derriere lightly rubbing against his lap.

"Uhhh, ok. Ahhh." Per her orders, Natsu opened his mouth and let her feed him. As she fed Natsu, she would also feed herself making Gildarts gawk at his daughter's audaciousness. Having seen enough, the ace of Fairy Tail pushed his plate in front of Natsu and stood up from his seat.

"Well I've officially lost my appetite, thanks for that, so I'm gonna go in the kitchen and puke. Maybe wash my eyes with the dish soap so I can erase any trace of seeing this as well." After he left, Cana remained in Natsu's lap. Putting the spoon down, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Clutching her by the waist, Natsu pulled her close making her salacious grin grow.

"Wanna tell me what that was all about?" he asked. Cana pretended to be in thought as she tapped her chin with a delicate finger.

"Hmmm, nope. Let's just say that was my parting gift for my dear old dad to remember us by."

"If you say so."

After finishing dinner, all three mages helped to put the dishes away. However as she was cleaning, Cana found herself alone in the kitchen, Gildarts and Natsu abandoning her with a sink full of plates and soapy water.

"Those assholes! How can they just leave me like that? I made the damn dinner; the least they could do is help out. Ungrateful jerks."

Outside the house, Natsu and Gildarts were leaning against the front door. Natsu hand his hands in his pockets with Gildarts crossing his under his cloak. Being close to midnight, the sky was pitch black except for the plethora of stars and the moon in the sky lighting the city below. Both males stood with their backs against the door, silent as if they were statues with their gaze locked onto the moon and its vibrant silvery hue.

"Do you think we should help Cana out?" Natsu spoke, worried about how his girlfriend was going to act after having kitchen duty dropped on her in a house that isn't even her own.

"Nah, she'll be fine," Gildarts assured.

"So why'd you bring me out here, Gildarts?"

The older mage continued to gaze at the moon, his expression stoic and cold. Reaching into his pants pocket, he took an envelope and handed it to Natsu. Taking it from his hand, Natsu examined the parcel before looking to his girlfriend's father.

"It's a letter, a card if Cana ever wants to get in touch with me, and I added a little something extra that I thought you might need someday. Don't worry about it tonight, open it tomorrow after I leave ok," he instructed the dragon slayer. Natsu nodded and placed the envelope into his jacket pocket. "Natsu, I'm leaving Cana in your hands. We both know how bad I am at staying in one place for too long. Its in my nature to journey out and find adventure. As much I would love to stay and be here for Cana, I got to go. But while I'm gone, I'm leaving her in your hands and I hope you can keep her safe. Can you do that for me pal?"

"Come on Gildarts, it's like you don't know me at all," Natsu said, humor laced in his voice.

"Hehe, I guess you're right. What was I thinking?" he chuckled. The humorous mood would die down when Gildarts stood directly in front of Natsu like he did when he first entered his home. "Natsu, I also wanted to give you a warning. During my travels I've heard your name come out of the mouths of many people who are less than reputable characters. Some I know for sure come from dark guilds. The others I'm not so sure, but they definitely hold a grudge against Fairy Tail, and you specifically. To say they loathe you would be putting it mildly. You have many enemies out there that wish to do you harm and they won't hesitate to use Cana to bait you. With you being as hot blooded as you are, it would be all too easy for you to fall into a trap if she was at risk. So knowing that I want you to promise me that you will be careful and protect Cana, with your life. She's the last piece of family that I have in this world and as much as it hurts to know that I can't be there to protect her all the time, I take some solace in knowing that you are there to do the job. And while you're taking care of her, do the same for yourself and watch your back. I know how strong you are and the potential you have inside you, but even so, keep your head on a swivel. I'm not asking you to do this for me, but rather for Cana. I can see it as clear as day that she loves you." The owlish look Natsu had on brought a soft chuckle to the grizzled Crash mage. "I see that that's news to you. She might kill me for this, but I know she does and I can see it in you as well. You both care for each other. Honestly, Natsu, I couldn't have asked for a better future son-in-law. Just make sure that you keep your word and stay alive long enough so that I come to your wedding," he finished with a smile.

"Wedding? Who's getting married old man," a high pitched voice queried. When she heard talking from outside, Cana knew it had to be her father and Natsu. She was ready to chew them out for leaving her to tend to the dishes but hearing something about a wedding made her curiosity peak. That and the red blush on Natsu's face. "So what were you two talking about?" she questioned, hands on her hips.

"Nothing much, just a few words between men," Gildarts answered smoothly.

"Y-yeah," Natsu babbled. Cana rose an eyebrow at her boyfriend and decided to get answers out of him later on.

"Whatever, not like a care anyway. So when are you leaving dad?"

"Around noon tomorrow. Are you going to see me off?" he asked hopefully.

"We'll see in the morning," she smirked. Choosing now as the best time, she stepped towards Gildarts and embraced him in a warm hug. "Thank you for today. It was amazing."

"Glad you enjoyed yourself sweetheart. I'll see you when I get back." Gildarts returned the hug and rested his chin on the crown of her head. Shooting his eyes up, he nodded to Natsu who smiled and gave him a thumbs up, an unspoken message sent between them. "What do you say when I come back we do it again?"

Cana couldn't get enough of how comfortable it felt in her father's arms. Usually she would be annoyed with him holding her so close, but the only feelings she felt were security and love. The only times she's ever felt such a way was when she was with her mom, when she and Gildarts hugged after she revealed the truth of their connection, and when…

'Whenever I'm with Natsu.'

After a few minutes, the two untangled themselves, albeit reluctantly, and went their separate ways. Gildarts went inside to resume his packing for his next adventure and Cana happily walked down the street hand in hand with Natsu. Due to the time, the streets were barren leaving Natsu and Cana the only souls around.

"So did you have fun today, Cana," he asked cheerfully. He had to hold back his laughter as Cana seemed to be in a very chipper mood. She was playfully swinging their hands and with a noticeable skip in her step.

"…it was ok. Would have been better if you were there." Peeking through her lashes, she smiled demurely at the fire mage. Seeing the look, he smirked and tugged her arm making her body crash into his. Detaching his hand from hers, he brought it around her slim waist letting it rest atop her guild mark.

"Oh yeah, why? So you could have another pack mule."

"Hehe, you know it. Was your day good?"

"It was ok. It would be better if you returned the favor from this morning though," he cajoled, running his hand up the soft, yet tight, flesh of her stomach and stopping under her bra. He tugged at the knot of her blouse causing it to become undone leaving her bra covered breasts fully exposed. Cana giggled at his insinuation and his undressing of her. Seductively running her fingers up his toned abdomen, that was left revealed by his jacket, she stopped at his chin and tilted his head towards her.

"Oh don't worry baby, I intend to," she whispered alluringly into his ear. The predatory growl she heard made her panties wet and her body crave for his touch. She would get her wish when Natsu scooped her into his arm, purposefully groping one of her large, luscious breasts.

"Have I ever told you how fired up you make me?" he smirked. Reaching her hands up to snake around his neck, she kissed him passionately. Their tongues danced together in harmony as they explored the others mouth. Pulling away, Cana shot him a sultry look.

"No, but if you take me to your place I'd love to show you how fired up I can really make you."

"Aye sir!" Channeling his magic into his feet, Natsu jettisoned into the sky, creating a stream of fire in the air with his destination to his humble abode in the woods.

'Please for the love of God, let Happy be either asleep or at Lucy's!' the couple thought in unison as tonight was going to get a little wild. Never before had Natsu been so happy that he lived in the forest. No neighbors to issue a complaint when the noise got to loud. When he reached the clearing with his house on the hill, he dropped to a knee and let Cana stand on her own. Opening the door, he called for Happy but received no reply.

"Sweet he's not here," he said ecstatically. As much as he loved the blue feline, he was not in the mood for either his teasing or inevitable cock blocking. The sensation of two soft, pillowing globes pressing into his back made his blood flow south. Reaching into his pants, Cana licked her lips as she massaged his erecting manhood.

"Don't make me wait any longer Natsu," she pouted before licking the side of his neck and nibbling on his earlobe. The world spun around her before it stopped and she found herself on his couch. Lighting a candle with his finger, Natsu stripped off his vest and stood in front of the seated Cana. The way the light hit off his chiseled abs and pecks as well as the throbbing bulge in his pants made Cana's heart throb painfully in her chest and her cheeks become as red as Erza's scarlet hair. The moisture in her panties had become unbearable and the nipple chafing she was receiving was torturous. But what was a little fun without a little pain.

"Care to do the others," she propositioned him, leaning back on his couch. She thrust her chest forward and brought her legs on either side of her. Smiling devilishly, Natsu dropped onto one knee and dragged his hand up and down her clothed womanhood, the damp cloth clinging to his appendage. Cana let out a ecstasy filled shudder before pouting at his teasing. Hooking his fingers into her the waistband of her capris and panties, Natsu slowly dragged them down her slender legs and tossed them over his head. Taking a leg in each hand, he draped them over his shoulder and pulled Cana forward so that her wet, glistening pussy was right in front of his face. Hearing the sound of something heavy fall on the floor, he looked up and saw Cana's naked breasts.

"Are you going stare at me or are you going to eat me out?" Cana teased her clit and pulled her labia to the side to entice the dragon slayer. Taking in her heady scent, Natsu's libido shot like a rocket. Moving her hand away, he spread her lower lips himself and blew a warm stream of air into her pussy that had her squirming in ecstasy.

"Hehe, come on Cana, you know how much I love to eat!" he smirked in self-satisfaction.

"Well dig in big boy," she ordered, crossing her legs over his back to keep him in place. Lowering his face until his nose grazed her sensitive bundle of nerves, Natsu looked into her violet eye, a gleeful expression painted on his face.

"You don't have to ask me twice."

XxX

[A/N: Holy shit, what year is it! Feels like I haven't updated this story in decades. Sorry to all those that have been waiting for this but I come bearing fruit. Hope you all enjoy this chapter of Rub a Dub Dub and I appreciate those that have stuck around until the end, which I remind you is sadly coming up. But dry those tears for I will return…with another story. Sorry if I teased anybody with the lack of a lemon but before you pull out the pitchforks and torches, know that the next chapter will have one. So for now, I hoped you enjoyed reading and like always leave a review, favorite it, follow it, and PM me if you want. Blaccdragon out!]