All Rights to Hiro Mashima

My sweet precious special cupcakes.

It is that time again, the end of NaLu week (yes, I realise that my days were late but shush) and I know we all would love some more, but alas, it has come to a close.

HOWEVER! I have been messaged by more than one person that they would like this story to keep going after the days are over, and you know what?

I THINK I WILL! Cause that sounds amazing. It was even suggested that I should go ahead with the other prompts from earlier years and that is even more amazing.

SO! My precious cupcakes. This is not the end…it's barely the beginning… :3

BEWARE! RATE M! HORNY DRAGON MEN AND SEXY SEXY TIMES! (also little shorties and cute fluffiness)

Intertwined

In which Lucy takes fucking charge, their family grows a little bigger, and Natsu just wants to save water.

This…

This was not how she wanted her night to go.

Not at all.

She had gone out with friends (friends!) shopping and eating and laughing and having fun for the first time in what felt like a lifetime, buying clothes and trying on outfits, listening to Mira and Erza critique while Levy went on and on about all the books she would lend Lucy.

Then she had slipped away at dinner, ripped open a very special bag that held the most perfect deep red body suit that was made entirely out of silk and lace and left little to the imagination. Lucy threw her regular clothes over top and the entire ensemble made her feel…more powerful, amazing, sexy…as if she had some secret that gave her access to the entire universe.

Which she did.

The secret being lingerie, and the universe being Natsu's penis.

But now…

She was just…uncomfortable. And a bit itchy in her crotch area from being so wet and ready at the thought of her husband and tonight and sex.

Lucy had wanted to come back to the bar with the girls, bat her eyelashes and flirt with Natsu, then drag him to the bathroom or back alley or all the way back home and then seduce the pants off her husband like she had been wanting to do for days.

Their little exploration of each other might have made the waiting easier, but it didn't keep the hunger and need and want from rolling in her stomach at random times of the day. The worst was at night when there was no reason not to, but they had both been so tired.

Tonight was supposed to be free from distractions.

Then, incoming douche nozzle named Lahar followed by his henchmen, and here Lucy was.

Livid that someone would have the fucking audacity to derail her sex plans, eyes blazing and feeling a little too strange and exposed standing here with sexy underwear on berating another grown man on manners.

Mavis, what had the world come to?

And the weirdest part was no one knew that she was wearing the sexiest lingerie she had ever seen just under her shirt and shorts combo. It was exhilarating, but also…annoying because the one person who should be appreciating the tiny bow between her breasts or how the colour looked against her pale skin was currently sitting behind her with the threat of deportation hanging over his head.

"You're husband?"

Lucy bristled, her face a mask of stone. How fucking dare he…

(Unbeknownst to her, Erza was watching the proceedings with a feeling of pride well in her heart. She had found a kindred spirit that would be able to keep these jokers in her family in line for the most part. Especially Natsu. In the coming months, this face was known to come immediately before Lucy laid down the law and dubbed 'Scary Lucy'. It was never said to her face though, no one was that stupid.)

"Yes. Natsu's my fucking husband you idiot. Do I need to repeat myself?" Did this Lahar person think that Natsu wasn't capable of being a husband? Or of loving someone? Or someone loving him because of his brother?

Stupid idiot. I bet he has a tiny penis and all this bravado was just bluster to overcompensate for something. Him and his stupid little top-knot-bun-thing. (She had nothing against the hair style, but this guy was just so put together and stiff that she had nothing else to be petty about.)

"I don't believe you." The ERA leader sniffed imperiously. "I think you're lying to cover his ass and we could take you in for obstruction of justice." He squinted at her. "Who even are you? I've never seen you with Natsu before."

Before she could even think about any of the repercussions, she snarled at the stupid man with the stupid bun-thing in his hair. "My name is Lucy Ashley Dragneel, formally Heartfilia. And I am not lying."

Doranbolt (even though Lucy didn't know his name at the time) jolted when he learned her name, while Lahar seemed unaffected. Which was fine with her. She hated dropping her last name and she hated what it made people think of her, how they would act differently just because she was part of the 'elite' in this world.

A modicum of respect flitted through her mind for Lahar, seeing as he thought the law was nonnegotiable no matter what her last name used to be.

And then he lost that respect with his next sentence. The jackass.

She could feel her blood literally boil in her veins when the man tacked on a sneer to his next words, which prompted some of his little lackeys to let out moronic guffaws. "Do you even know what his brother did? Who he is?"

Oh.

Oh.

That was fucking it! Natsu had never done anything like his brother, been an upstanding member of society, gave her more love than she deserved, had a wonderful family and amazing life here in Fiore with thousands upon thousands of fans, but Lahar had just decided that he was like the dirt beneath his boots.

She had seen that expression on many men in her life before she had run from her gilded prison. The men that had wanted her father's money and thought she was just a means to an end, because she was a woman.

This situation was different, but the enmity was the same. One party had decided that they was better than the other because they had the might of the law behind them.

How…pitiful.

"Cana," She snarled and was so proud to see both Lahar and Doranbolt (that man had yet to say a thing, just silently watching and waiting, funnily enough it didn't feel like he was judging) flinch a bit, it felt immensely gratifying that her anger and fear over the whole situation had caused them a little discomfort. "Hand me my purse."

Erza nodded with a small smile. Lucy was definitely her new best friend.

Lucy could now feel cold tendrils of fear shoot through her heart. If something happened to Natsu and he was sent back to Seven…or Gods forbid prison, would she be allowed to go with him back to his homeland? Would she be able to stay with the one man that had gone above and beyond to know that she was loved? Would they send her back to her father and that cold empty house to be married off once again? Those were selfish thoughts, but ones she couldn't shake no matter what she did.

Truthfully, she was anxious and terrified that she would be left with nothing once again, the family she had just found would be ripped from her grasp and she would be shut out. Sent back to a world full of dresses and facades and pinchy shoes where men ruled all and she was nothing but a pretty doll to be traded back and forth.

The Knights silently watched as Lucy pulled out the proof she would need to support the truth. She slapped the file folder filled with the picture, licence and certificate – both signed and dated by Natsu and her – in front of Lahar. Lucy eyed the momentarily stunned Captain, shoved the papers until they were right under his nose, plopped herself down into Natsu's lap and heaved a great breath.

Strong warm arms, covered with tattoos and memories curled around her and kept her grounded. Her anger and fear and annoyance drifted away until she was only filled with steely determination, her brown eyes filled with ice.

"This can't be real. Fake…copied…counterfeit. Something!" Lahar had his glasses raised to squint suspiciously at the papers.

Lucy just ignored him, choosing silence over arguing.

Finally, Natsu spoke up with none of the usual joy in his voice. He just sounded so incredibly done with all of this. Tired and slightly defeated. "It's real. All of it. I married Lucy Ashley Heartfilia in the chapel on the second floor of Galuna Island Casino. Cana was our witness." The chestnut-haired beauty waved her beer glass from Natsu's other side, where she had plopped down after bringing Lucy's purse over. "This is the proof you need. So…back the fuck off."

Lucy's face twisted into a smirk. There he was, her Dragon. Full of fire and flames and righteous anger.

"Is that all you have to say for yourself Dragneel? Or will you let your wife speak for you instead."

Lucy almost lost it then, but Natsu's arms tightened their hold on her waist to prevent her from flinging her body over the table top and kicking the absolute shit out of Lahar's face. He even made the word 'wife' sound like dirt, like it was obscene, and she hated that fact. There was nothing to hide and she was proud of the name that she had now. "HOW FUCKING DARE YOU—"

Natsu cut her off by covering her mouth with one of his hands. Yes he loved her so much and he enjoyed her fiery side, but insulting the one person who could literally put her in lock up for a while was not the way he wanted tonight to go.

He watched the dark scowls of his family and friends become even deeper. Laxus in particular looked downright murderous. They might fight and bicker with each other, call each other names and what not, but it was all in good fun, the brawls were to release tension.

This…this was not right and needed to be stopped.

Before anyone could commit an actual crime and be sent to jail for defending Natsu's honour – namely Lucy at the moment who was still squirming in Natsu's lap, trying in vain to get her hands on that stupid prick of a man who insulted her husband's worth – Natsu raised his voice above the chatter. "My wife just gave you the proof you wanted, everything you need is in that folder. I'm holding her down because I don't want her to go to jail at the moment, but if you say one more sexist thing I will let her go and laugh while she puts her foot so far up your ass you'll cough up her shoe. So…back the fuck off Lahar."

Mira glided around her gleaming bar to stand sweetly in front of the table, a demented smile on her face and voice sickly sweet like poisoned honey. "Gentlemen, I believe it is time to remove yourselves from my establishment. You are creating a scene and would like you to leave."

"Wait—"

"NOW!" Demonic Mira was surfacing, Lahar was pushing her past her limit and that was not easily done. She kept herself closely in check, but if her bar or her family was in jeopardy, she would step up to the plate every single time.

Dumbfounded and terrified, Lahar shot up out of his seat his chair falling over behind him. He gave it no mind as he stalked off towards the door, leaving a "We'll be watching you closely Mr Dragneel" as a parting gift, to remind him of just who he was, apparently.

The door swung shut behind the last Knight, but not before Doranbolt gave a single nod. Either acknowledging the fighter, or in approval at how the situation was handled by his wife. The rest of the Knights followed silently after them.

Natsu slumped back in his seat, collapsing boneless around the woman still in his lap. "Thank Mavis that's over and done with. I never want to see him or his stupid hairstyle again."

Lucy snorted and carded her hand through his pink hair, ruffling it slightly. "Tch, I know. It was the only thing I could think of to make fun of him. He was just so…straight arrow, not a hair out of place. I bet he plans out all his bowel movements down to the minute too."

Natsu finally laughed, gaining back some of his usual fiery personality. "You're the best Luce." He flagged down Mira and held up an empty plate to signify his hunger. "I'm starving after that crappy confrontation."

Lucy held up two fingers as Mira came around to collect the dirty dish. "I know I need a drink." She eyed Cana who was currently locked in a shot competition with some non-regulars that didn't know that the busty woman could drink them all under the table. "Cana looks preoccupied enough to not challenge us again. I need a scotch, make it a double. Neat please."

"Me too Mira. After the night we've had, I think we deserve it. Oh, and two orders your spicy chicken wings."

"Coming right up you two. It's on the house tonight. Call it a belated wedding present…"

"Thanks Mira!"

As the Demon walked away waving off their thanks and giggling at their cuteness, Lucy laid her head back on Natsu's shoulder, rubbing circles on his forearms with her fingers. He kissed her neck lightly. "Thank you Princess, for speaking up for me. You could've been arrested for that if Lahar wasn't so big on rules and justice. Even if he is a pig."

She shrugged, unbothered. It was strange, she didn't really care if she had been sent away for something like that. Because what she had said was the truth and they had undeniable proof. She was Natsu's wife, sickness and in health, good times and bad. "What kind of wife would be if I left my husband high and dry?"

"A pretty shitty one I guess."

"Exactly."

He nosed her ear, skimming the shell and placing gentle kiss on her tender skin. Ready to move on with his life. A giddy sort of satisfaction sat in his stomach at the thought that he had a wife and he was staying here in Fiore with her. The future stretching on before them without a looming shadow of uncertainty clouding the horizon. "So, Luce. How was…shopping."

She shuddered, glad for the change of subject. Their night could go back on track, she still had time to seduce herself into Natsu's form fitting jeans and then some. She could salvage this. And by the way his hands were starting to wander up her arms and skimming the length of her torso…he was thinking along the same lines as her.

In Natsu's defense, he admired strong women, and he loved it when Lucy got all fired up.

"Shopping was wonderful. I can't wait to show you all the pretty clothes I bought Natsu. I'm sure you'll…enjoy a certain piece I got."

His eyes lit up with giddy anticipation, lust swirling in those emerald depths. His voice lowered and growled out into something so deep that it resonated through Lucy's chest. Such a sexy growl. "Can I take a peek Luce?" He eyed the bags she had dropped when she had confronted the Captain, trying to pick out the one that held his present.

Her lips turned up into a sultry smirk. "Oh. Natsu. It's not in those bags there. I couldn't have you see it for the first time without me in it."

Realisation dawned on him and his face broke into a look of awe. He lowered his voice until it was nothing but whisper, just something intimate for only her to hear. "Are you wearing it Princess?"

Lust jumped and slid over her skin, raising goosebumps in its wake as his hands gripped her hips in a tight hold. She nodded and placed a single, very chaste lingering kiss to his lips.

There wasn't a single thought to whether or not they were making a display in front of their family and friends. No embarrassment about the scene they were creating. Nothing. Because it was only Natsu and Lucy in their own little perverted sexy world.

Natsu nuzzled his nose into her hair, shielding his face behind a curtain of gold, nipping the sensitive lobe of her ear harshly, then kissing it softly in apology. She had to actively clamp her mouth shut to keep the moan in her throat that desperately wanted to come out. A little gasp escaped though, and it spurred Natsu on, letting him know that he was indeed driving her up a wall and down the other side.

"Such a naughty Princess."

She shivered, liquid heat pooling and swirling low between her legs.

Mother of Mavis, he knew what words did to her! That bastard, using his sly tricks in public. But, she knew that she wasn't the only one affected by their little game. She could feel everything about him getting hard and so, so hot caught in his pants and rubbing so deliciously on her ass.

She hoped that her face wasn't too red, wasn't too obvious that her breathing that dwindled down to harsh staccato breaths. Lucy was so turned on that a quicky in a bathroom stall sounded amazing right about now.

Why hadn't they left yet? She couldn't remember, Natsu's lips and tongue and teeth scraping against the sensitive skin of her neck – still shielded behind her hair – was making her mind fuzzy.

He growled once most as she squirmed on his lap, crashing his lips onto hers in a fiery kiss that pushed all rational thought out their minds. He ripped his mouth off hers just as quickly, panting with blazing heat in his eyes. "Screw the food. We need to get out of here now. I can't hold myself back anymore. I need you Princess."

Lucy was in complete agreement, but the fates were not on her side this time. As they were gathering up all her belongings and trying to slip out of the bar and away from the prying eyes of the patrons so that she could ride her Dragon all night long, an exclamation split the air.

One of pain and agony.

Then the sound of a lot of falling liquid, as if someone had spilt a glass of water on the floor.

Lust temporarily abated allowing for confusion and trepidation to push through the haze, Natsu parted the gathering crowd to find a cringing Levy holding her extended belly while squeezing the life out of Gajeel's hand, her pants dark and wet. "Damn Lev, you have an accident?"

Lucy wanted to smack her husband, sometimes he was just such an idiot. She still loved him, but damn. "Natsu! She didn't pee herself! The baby's coming!"

Natsu had the wherewithal to look embarrassed and tuck himself into his scarf, cheeks ablaze. "I knew that."

"Course you did, but that's not important right now because Gajeel looks like he's about to faint and Levy's about to push her baby out onto the floor." Lucy hissed as silently as possible to not make matters worse. But they were already pretty bad, so it didn't really matter.

"Fuck! This fucking hurts! I BLAME YOU, YOU STUPID WALKING TAKLE BOX!"

It was a bit surreal to hear something so crass come out of the usually optimistic woman's mouth, but the pain must have been crazy for her to resort to swearing. But hey, her uterus was committing heinous crimes against her, so she was allowed to be a little testy.

Lucy could see that Gajeel, for all his blustering and intimidation tactics, was actually terrified. He had locked up and was opening and closing his mouth silently like some sort of fish while all the others either mopped up the mess or flitted around the group like overprotective butterflies. His one hand was going red as Levy gripped it so hard they could practically hear the tendons groan and snap, while his face was completely white.

No one knew what to do. Alzac and Bisca weren't here and they were the only couple with a young child at he moment.

So, Lucy decided to take charge…even if that made her heart stutter and her stomach drop her as well. This baby was coming whether she liked it or not and Levy needed to get to the hospital.

A bar wasn't sterile and there were too many people around. This was definitely not the ideal place for her to give birth.

"Natsu, Gray! Calm down Gajeel and get Levy's coat. Lisanna, call the hospital and tell them we're coming. You there! Orange hair with the stupid little ponytail! (His name was Jet and she would find out later that he was one of Levy's best friends from childhood, which she would apologize later for the mean hair comment, she was just hating on that particular style at the moment) Flag down a taxi." She whirled around while Natsu planted a kiss to her forehead, then went to smack some sense into the father-to-be, letting Levy hold onto her hands securely.

Damn did she need to hold so tight? Holy Mother of Mavis she had some strength to her.

Lucy cringed lightly, wondering if her hands were suddenly broken and feeling a bit sympathetic to Gajeel. "Come on Levy. Let's get going alright? Time to meet your baby eh?"

Levy could only nod and laugh with tears in her eyes. She could feel another contraction coming and goddamn was it painful. "Yah. Okay. What about Gaj? I need him there. He's got to be there."

She hadn't known Lucy for all that long, but the bond they had immediately could only mean they were meant to be best friends for life. Levy trusted the blonde to do everything she could for her while her body was rebelling against her.

"He'll meet us there Levy. Right now the only important thing in you and your baby okay. He'll be there I promise."

"Okay…okay let's go. I can do this."

"That's the spirit. Follow me and breathe deeply okay?"

Levy nodded and they started for the door.

"We'll meet you there!" The cry from Lucy as she rushed out the door fell on many ears who were scrambling to get their coats and drain the last of their drinks. The waiting room was going to be filled to capacity tonight, everyone silently vowing to stay with Levy for as long as she was in labour. A new little addition to their family was coming and they wanted to greet him as soon as possible. Laxus and his Grandfather would contact all those who weren't present and catch up to them, while Mira left the bar in the capable hands of Kinana.

Natsu threw the double down his throat that Mira had placed on his table while him and Lucy had been…occupied and handed the second one to Gajeel, who belted it back like it was water, grimacing at the taste.

"You ready man?" Natsu shook his head to rid himself of the burn from the alcohol. Damn that shit was strong.

"I don't have a fucking choice. Let's just get there. Shrimp needs me." His eyes were wild and scared, but he was determined. "I'm going to be a father and the baby needs me there."

Natsu clapped his friends back silently happy about the man's determination even though he looked down right scared and a little sick, and rushed through the crowd to hail a taxi. He gulped down the rising nausea and rolled his eyes. The things he would do for his family…

-ooo-

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRGGGGGGG!"

The waiting room in the hospital closest to were Levy was currently trying to push something equivalent to a pot roast through nostril, was filled to capacity, and then some.

There were so many people that most had to double up in the chairs, which was fine for Natsu because that meant that he got to hold Lucy more. Some had to lean against the wall or squat on the floor.

That was until Levy's Hulk-out screams started to filter down the hallway to their ears, making them cringe and wince in sympathy. It prompted Lucy to jump up and start pacing like a caged animal. A caged animal hiding sinfully amazing things under her clothes.

Natsu quietly lamented his lost night with his wife (dammit his luck sucked ass) but he knew that Levy and the baby came first. That didn't stop him from fantasizing about just what Lucy looked like in lingerie. He knew it was red. And he knew it was sexy. But that was it, and it was slowly killing him.

But she just kept pacing and walking around in a circle.

She started three and a half hours ago, four hours after they had all arrived in a flurry of activity and worry. But now they were stalled. Or…at least Levy was.

Everyone was getting antsy, and tired, and a bit grumpy from not being able to rest or sleep properly. But no one complained after Erik had whined about needing something to do because it was so boring. Erza, in all her glory, and knocked him out with a simple right hook and not a peep was spoken after that in a way of complaint.

They had all left Erik to his own devices on the floor and simply ignored his prone form. He should have known better with Erza around. He awoke with a headache a couple hours later, but he was just fine. And silent.

After all, Levy and by proxy, Gajeel had it much…much worse.

"Luce." Natsu had been trying to get his wife to calm down for the better part of twenty minutes, but he quickly figured out that she was an empathetic person. So, while her friend was in pain she was uncomfortable and fidgety.

"Lucy. Come here."

She shot him a look that screamed "what the fuck! I'm busy! Can't you see I'm doing something important here?" But he really didn't care because her pacing was starting to make him anxious and nervous and he desperately wanted to hug her. It had nothing to do with the fact that he wanted her to just…sit still.

"Princess, please." And now he had resorted to begging. Gray was never going to let him live this down. (If the snort from the man in question was anything to go by) But whatever, that Ice-Princess didn't even have a girlfriend and he had a wife. So he was winning in the grand scheme of things and could afford to beg a bit.

With a shake of her head, Lucy continued to wear a path down in the bland white linoleum.

So, Natsu sent a quick prayer up to the Gods then reached out and snagged his stubborn little wife and caged her on his lap.

She squirmed.

He held her tighter.

She pouted.

He kissed her cheek.

"Natsu…" Her voice was low in warning, but he didn't care. And he didn't care that most of his family was shooting them amused looks. To them, this was an adorable exchange. They didn't know that Lucy was one step away from kicking his balls clean across Fiore, never to be seen again.

And he really wanted kids, so that wasn't an option.

"Luce. You've got to calm down and save your energy. You don't wanna be asleep when Levy's done do you?"

Another scream, this one higher pitched rent the air, but it didn't sound the same as Levy. Perhaps it was another person having a baby. (No one would know except the doctor, two nurses and Levy that it was actually Gajeel who screamed when his fiancée broke two bones in his hand) Everyone cringed in tandem and mentally told themselves to be completely ready before becoming pregnant, or getting someone pregnant. While Levy was doing all the hard work, it was mentally exhausting listening to one of their closest friends in pain.

"No. But…what if she's not okay Natsu? I just…I – I only just found you all…"

He knew exactly how she felt. She wasn't ready to lose anyone, and neither was he. Natsu bundled her up in his arms and brushed her bangs away from her forehead, tucking her under his chin. She curled up into a little ball and fit herself perfectly against him. "I know. But our bookworm is made of the toughest shit out there. How do you think she puts up with Gajeel all the time? The guys basically a giant dick twenty-four-seven. She'll be fine."

Lucy nodded and snuggled closer.

Twenty minutes later, light snores drifted up to his ears and those around Natsu and Lucy couldn't help but be amazed that she had fallen asleep with all the raucous around her. From Levy's high pitched blood-curdling screams, to just the noise of the MMA fighters and the regulars from the bar chatting and arguing around them, there was a great deal of sound.

Natsu smirked. Of course, she fell asleep, and she was snoring again. Now he had undeniable proof about it and best of all…witnesses. She couldn't deny it any longer.

At least she wasn't pacing anymore.

-ooo-

Fourteen hours and thirty-six minutes into labour and Levy popped out a very healthy baby boy – who was a little roll of chub, but super adorable in his own right – and was almost a spitting image of his father, with blue eyes, wild and crazy ebony hair that featured not one, but two spectacular cowlicks.

Poor kid.

After the customary show off of the baby, while Levy was zonked out in her bed after being up for so long, the family had filtered out to head home and sleep, vowing to meet everyone later at the bar.

All that were left was Natsu and Lucy, with Gajeel and little Tyler – cute ass name for a cute ass baby. Black Steel was sitting in a chair with his head in his hand – only one hand because he had a broken hand – his eyes closing and jerking awake as he fell asleep over and over again.

Natsu – who had been hesitantly named Godfather, and Erza Godmother – couldn't put the little guy down. He was just so small and cute and damn he wanted one of these so bad.

Lucy could see the sparkle in her husband's eyes, one that desperately wanted a child. She did too, but not right away. So she patted his arm as if to say "later" and Natsu was fine with that. As long as they could talk about it and it could happen in the future, he wouldn't care when it was.

Tyler was sound asleep like his mother and yep…there went his father. "Natsu, come on, let's go home. We can come back later today after everyone gets some sleep."

"But…Luce…he's just so cuuuuteeee…."

"I know. But he's asleep, and I think it's time we go to sleep as well. We've been up for a day and a half already." And she was still wearing the lingerie that she had wanted to show Natsu, and it was getting…a little…uncomfortable to say the least.

"Fine. But we're coming back tonight."

"Alright. That's a good idea actually. I wanna talk to Levy anyways. Maybe I'll bring her a couple of books or something."

Natsu pointed at all the babies in their individual cribs inside the nursery, his nose smashed against the glass like an excited child. "I want one. Do you think anyone would notice if I just…"

"What? Went inside and took a baby?"

"Yah?"

"Yes. They would notice, then you would go to jail and then I would be on my own out here in the big cruel world without my husband to keep me warm at night."

Natsu huffed and scuffed his shoe against the tiles. "You're right. I know you wanna wait Luce. It's just…"

"I know love, you want a family. But you have me? For now right? And you have all our friends at the bar, and you have a little Godson you can spoil within an inch of his life now. You get to be 'cool Uncle Natsu' the guy he comes to for advice and comfort and when he wants to run away and go fishing for a whole week he'll show up on our doorstep." Gods help the world…Natsu was going to give someone advice. He was a massive child at heart…so possibly…little Tyler would benefit from having someone like her husband being there for him.

"'Cool Uncle Natsu' eh? I like the sound of that. Thanks, Princess…you know exactly what to say."

"Don't worry too much about children at the moment. I've always wanted them, you know that, and stealing one isn't in your best interest, even if they are cute."

"I know."

"Will we?"

"Course."

"Promise?"

"I promise, Natsu. I also know that practising will definitely be fun, and you know what they say, practice makes perfect."

His ears had pinked endearingly at that as she had hailed a cab, ready to go back home. But his laugh warmed Lucy from the inside out, glad that she could waylay his fears. She knew that he would be an incredible dad when the time came.

(In the coming years, they would get a lot of practice in, and Natsu would always be all for another round, quoting Lucy's words back at her. The saying would always sound dirty in his ears and never failed to make him think of his wife all spread out on the bed underneath him.)

-ooo-

They had fallen into bed and slept for damn near eleven hours.

Natsu, who could have probably slept for another twelve hours and then some, was woken by a huffing Lucy peeling herself out of her clothes that she had worn yesterday. They had passed out completely clothed as sleep was the priority and striping down was just too much work.

Sticky with sweat – but not the good kind – Natsu forced himself from the bed with a groan and sleepy eyes, and slouched off to the bathroom to relieve himself. He was starving and still tired, but he needed to pee goddamn it.

After washing his hands, Natsu peered into the mirror, happy to see that the bags under his eyes weren't the worst he had ever seen on himself. (The winner for that contest had been years prior when Gray had turned twenty one, and the gentlemen had gone on an all day and night bender bar hopping. His hangover had lasted almost a full day after that. The headache alone had probably left him permanently brain damaged.)

He stripped out of his shirt and pants, leaving him standing in the middle of the cool bathroom in only a pair of black boxers, before his tired mind woke up enough to insist on a shower. He reasoned that he would probably wake up faster with a quick blast of cold water to the face. It was a tried and true method perfected in the earlier years of living in Makarov's household when he and Laxus couldn't rouse the pink-haired teenager for school.

The door opened with a slight squeal – he would need to oil that noise soon, if he remembered that is – while his back was turned, and was holy unprepared to have two petite arms wrap around his torso in a tight hug while bare breasts complete with hardened peaks pressed up against the naked skin of his back.

He grunted in surprise – which made Lucy snigger quietly into his back – but he entangled the hand that wasn't busy with the temperature dial with one of her own. She was so warm and soft and was doing wonders to his alertness all on her own if his half-awake member was any indication.

Even if he was tired, he would never get enough of his Lucy. Even last night, he was sure that he could have sucked it up and pleased her before passing out if she had wanted to. Lucy had started snoring as soon as her head had met the pillow so he had seen that as a sign and oozed under the sheets as well, welcoming unconsciousness as his old friend, willing himself not to be awoken unless it was a life of death problem.

And maybe not even then.

But now…he was re-energized, almost fully awake and starting to get all fired up.

"Care to join me Princess? There's always room for two in here. I never did like showering alone you know…"

"I'd love to. I need a shower, and it's always good to save water." Lucy lamented the fact that she hadn't even gotten to show her husband her amazing red lacy undergarments yet, but decided to use those on him tomorrow. Right now, she had a horny Dragon in her arms and she wasn't about to let go.

He twisted in her arms, relishing the feel of her skin sliding against her own. He bent down slightly to place a single kiss on her lips, nothing more than a slight shifting of his own chapped ones over hers. "Of course, I wasn't thinking about anything other than the environment when I asked." He murmured against her mouth, connecting his own to hers again and again as he spoke.

She sighed breathily, unwrapped her arms from around his waist, and gently led him under the spray by his right hand. "Come on then, it's always better when we're together."

They spent a languid twenty minutes – they would have stayed longer had the hot water not gone icy – washing each other, touching and exploring skin with fingers and mouths and tongues. Lucy revelled in the sensation of Natsu washing her hair for her – something that she would ask him for again and again as the man had absolutely magic fingers that she was sure could rid even the most stubborn of headaches – while Natsu just enjoyed the feeling of holding her wet body against his as he massaged down her neck and shoulders. Every so often she would nuzzle her nose into his collarbone and place a little kiss there, close to his heart and he loved every movement she made.

He wrapped her in one of his huge black towels as she hugged him, even when they were standing still and dripping on his bathmat. Lucy had hummed then, a small sound of pleasure as he had systematically dried both of them off – not as well as he usually did, seeing as his wife was still wrapped around his front like a spider monkey – that sent his blood roaring, but not into a usual frenzy that she had elicited time and time again from him.

This was something…different. It was the same in some aspects, but the need to pound her raw against the wall wasn't there.

He wanted to fucking worship her, slowly, all night long, all day. As long as he could. Even if he knew that idea was stupid because no one had that kind of stamina in reality and his life wasn't a porno, it didn't make that idea in her brain go away.

So he would love her like a man like he hadn't had a chance yet to do. He had scoffed at the idea of 'making love' for years, listening to the 'manly' ravings of Elfman and the stories of quickies in back alleys and bathrooms and one-night stands from that Ice Princess.

But now…as Lucy snuggled into his chest and looked up at him with wet hair plastered to the side of her face, make-up long gone and those big amber eyes that had caught his attention the moment he had seen her for the first time, he couldn't even think let alone tell her how much she had done for him. How his life had changed in only a week's time. How many barriers and walls she had shattered and rebuilt in his mind, how just her presence alone had made his empty house into a completely different place, into a home. How he could dream about having a big family and wake up and feel happiness and anxious anticipation instead of longing and slight bitterness as all his friends moved on around him.

But now, he had the makings of his own family, right in his arms. His best friend was his wife and he was almost certain that he was going to wake up from this dream any day now because his good luck had never been that good before.

Maybe…he was due for something good in his life, and she was just a little spit fire of a blonde that liked to kick and took charge and made him spicy food and who his cat loved more than him.

He bundled her up in his arms, smirking at her shocked squawk when he surprised her. She was just too cute and seriously weird, but he wouldn't have her any other way.

Natsu lay against the pillow, propped up against the headboard, legs spread on the sheets with Lucy resting against his torso, her back to his front arms banded around her waist and nose stuffed in her hair. She smelled extra amazing now, all clean and fresh and so Lucy that it made his insides tingle a little.

"Natsu…?" Lucy had reached up and tried to run her hands through his damp hair that still defied all the laws of gravity, but he hand gently pushed her arm down.

"Let me, Luce. Please…" He wanted to her relax and just feel this time. He kissed her neck as she nodded, pleased that she had listened to him and allowed him to do what he wanted to. "I love you, Princess."

XXX

Her reply was cut off by a small shuddering moan before it could get out of her throat as his sharp teeth had tugged on her ear lobe. He placed a wet, hot kiss to her cheek before her head was turned, her eyes slipping shut ready and waiting in excited anticipation for his lips on her own.

The next kiss was staggering in its softness, and built to a heat that felt like Lucy had a warm ember sitting in her stomach. Natsu didn't increase the speed, but kept everything slow, exaggerated each motion of his hands that swept her still wet hair over her shoulder and rubbed every piece of exposed skin.

They had all the time in the world for this, and he knew that.

He had memories, stunted, shattered memories from their first and second times on the night they made the single best decision in their lives and he was more than pleased that she liked it rough, she enjoyed teasing and goading him on, she shuddered when he spoke lewdly in her ear.

But now, in this moment, it wasn't the time for taking her hard and fast as if they would die without the other and the pleasure would be the thing to kill them.

With every kiss and stroke, he poured every single emotion that she made him feel for the very first time.

Devotion.

Adoration.

Belonging.

He let one of his hands trail down from where it had been only moments before teasing her nipple, and felt it circle her navel teasingly, slowly, so damn slowly that she was sure she was going to melt into a puddle of overheated mush before he really did anything to her at all. She whimpered into his mouth, the noise needy enough to make him chuckle softly.

Lucy knew that she wasn't the only one affected – his erection was poking her in the back periodically, as if to remind her that he was there and her body and sounds and everything that she had was keeping him on the brink of sanity – but at the moment, his self-control far outweighed her own. She wanted that hand to keep going down, to push all her buttons at the right moment so that she would go soaring, and to have those magic fingers push in and out of her folds so that she could cry out in relief from all the tension that was coiling in her gut.

Only Natsu could do this to her, and she knew. And the bastard behind her knew it as well. "Shh, Luce. I promise. I'll make you feel so fucking good. I promise Princess."

She whined lowly as that traitorous hand – the other one still plucking and pulling at her breast, circling her nipple with light touches that drove her insane – as it traced where her thighs met the junction of her core.

Lucy squirmed letting her legs fall open wider, lewdly inviting him in to just fucking touch her already, but instead the hand around her breast gripped tighter for a moment and he hissed and panted into her ear. "Don't move Princess. I want to give you everything but I can't if you move like that against me."

Unknowingly, she had rubbed her ass against his needy length, the friction pushing his control to the limits. She wanted everything and didn't think it was a bad thing if he lost his control and fucked her hard and fast, but that thought was blown out of her mind when those meandering fingers delved into her slick folds ripping a relieved sigh from her chest. "Ohhh…Natsu…"

Her mouth found its way back to his own, kisses building into something fiery and hot, tongues twining and circling, completely in opposite to the slow sensual movements of his fingers inside her, his thumb barely brushing her throbbing clit with each pass.

She bucked her hips so that his wrist hit her on that special button every time. Lucy gasped his name and threw her head back delighted when that pool of heat in her abdomen grew hotter and stronger. Nirvana was close in her grasp and she wanted it. Wanted to dive head first into it with complete abandon.

Natsu's mouth latched onto her exposed neck and suddenly she wasn't the only one moving. His control was snapping as he watched as she fucked herself on his fingers, her hands grasping his legs to give her move leverage as she moved against him. He was hot and thick and needy on her ass as he ground into the supple globes and the soft nakedness of her lower back.

Every part of his wife felt amazing to him.

"Natsu—I'm…I'm so c—close…"

Thank the Gods for that, because he wanted to see her undone by his hands, but he was getting close to coming as well, but he needed to see her in the middle of a toe curling orgasm if it was the last thing he did.

He pawed gently at her breasts, tweaking her nipples until they rose into sharp peaks. Her quiet groans and stifled sounds guiding him at every turn. Essentially, he was learning what drove her to the brink, again. But Natsu didn't mind, he would explore her body and pull every single rapturous movement out of it.

"N-Natsu…" It was an almost silent plea for something, anything more.

"You're beautiful Lucy. I want you to come for me, Princess. I need to see you fucking come."

So she did as he asked and broke apart a long moan of his name passing through her kiss swollen lips.

He shuddered as he felt her walls closing in around her fingers, half-formed memories in his mind remembering just what that felt like around his cock.

And that was what did him in, essentially.

He flipped them over, until Lucy was laying on the pillows, spent and sated and happy, but seriously confused about the sudden change in position. "Natsu? What—?"

He reached around and deftly grabbed a condom out of his night stand, ripping it open and hissing out between clenched teeth. "I can't wait any longer, Luce. I need to feel you come apart around me."

Those words brought the fire in her veins raring back to life from where it had settled before. She was needy and slick again, just for him in a matter of seconds. "I need you too, my Dragon." Her nickname made him fumble while he rolled down the rubber barrier, and his fingers twitched in his sudden need to make her scream his name.

He had wanted to make love to her slowly, carefully, but she was just so good at riling him up, pushing him past the brink of control that he didn't know how he was going to be able to not burst immediately upon him entering her.

Natsu had barely rolled down the condom before he had shoved himself completely into her waiting heat and groaned at the warm tightness that was waiting for him there. "Goddam it. Shit. Just…fucking hell Lucy."

She had already started to buck and grind into him, her eyes pleading and hands grasping at his shoulders for him to just move and take her already. He breathed out long and deep once, a bit shuddery as her walls clenched with her mounting pleasure before he pulled almost all the way out and slammed back in quickly.

The wail she gave of his name, head thrown back and eyes clenched, was instantly the sweetest sound he had ever heard, and he wanted to hear it again. And again and again, as many times as he could.

"Fuck yessss. Natsu…more…"

So he gave her more, gave her everything he had. He still made love to her, but in a way that he knew how. He wrapped her warm arms around her, pulling her arched back closer to him and buried his nose in the crook of her neck while he plunged in and out of her as fast as he could, angling himself in that special way that made the cried of his name raise an octave higher than usual.

It was gratifying and the closeness made her lungs feel like she couldn't take in enough air. He completely surrounded her.

The pace was maddening, but Lucy could feel everything like this and all she could focus on was the feeling of him filling her completely then the emptiness when he was gone.

But she didn't mind, he was warm and with his big strong arms around her, she felt loved and safe and protected. She caught his lips with her own, the heat building and growing between them as they rocked together, her hips starting up in a rhythm that brushed her needy clit against his hard muscles.

A cord, or possibly a spring started to wind up within her, but somehow, tonight, it wasn't the focus of her attention.

The groan they shared was lost in the movement of their dancing tongues and wandering hands. His strayed down her sides to rest on her lower back, taking sneaky squeezes of her ass, while hers sifted through his gravity defying hair and massaged his arms and neck. He was nearing the edge while she stood there waiting for him this time.

That spring wound tighter, threatening to snap with every pass of his arousal into her folds, every brush of her clit against him, every time he pinched her nipples between his teeth in such a way that made her toes tingle.

And then he started to kiss her face, in a way that made her feel so loved, in startling contrast to the way he was pounding her aching pussy down below. Every kiss was absolutely soaked in affection as if he couldn't say the words, but the actions would be enough.

You are treasured. Her forehead.

You are loved. Her cheeks.

You are mine. Her lips.

Then, when she thought she couldn't go on any longer, her skin and blood and mind started to burn with unexpected pleasure. She had been so focused on every move Natsu made, on everything he was doing to her, she had failed to realise that she had been so close to the edge that one movement pushed her clear off the side.

So, with a quiet groan and a spine-tingling shudder, she succumbed to the euphoria and drowned in the feelings of her husband prolonging her orgasm until her walls sucking him in was too much and he followed her into that abys of pleasure.

XXX

They gasped for air beside each other, sprawled on their backs hands clasped between them, their only link between their sweaty bodies for the moment. Condom disposed already in the small waste basket beside Natsu's side of the bed.

"Holy shit." Natsu breathed deeply, trying – and failing – to get his heart under control.

"…yah…"

"That was…"

"…amazing?"

"Fucking fantastic."

Lucy giggled. "I need another shower Natsu."

Her pink-haired husband laughed, the sound deep and strong. Then there he was, up on his feet and pulling her back into the bathroom by one hand while gazing at her with happiness in his evergreen eyes. "Come on then. I want to go see my Godson again."

She smiled at his joy, the giggled as Happy – who had sneaked in through the crack in their door only moments before – joined them in a quick shower to get rid of the sweat off their bodies.

Lucy watched her little family with a content feeling in her heart that only grew when Levy cried tears of joy when she had handed her still hospitalized friend a leather bound book, when she saw Gajeel link fingers with his fiancée, when she saw Natsu's eyes light up like fireworks when Tyler had grabbed his pinky finger in a surprisingly strong grip.

This…this was where she belonged, she knew it deep down in her heart, with all these amazing people. She had friends and family, a husband and blue cat that was more friend than animal. She had someone to come home to, someone to chase away her loneliness with, someone how loved her for herself.

Someone who had thrown on a Band-Aid over her cracked little heart, had patched her up and kissed her wounds, then told her she was still beautiful even if she was broken.

Natsu paused in his baby-talk with his Godson for a moment to flash her that stupidly amazing smile that made her melt every time, and she knew that she had so many more adventures with him before she was finished in this world.

She smiled back at him, happy in the moment, never more glad that she had agreed to take a chance with this man, even if all the steps were out of order and they had been married almost immediately. But she had found her best friend, and there was no other place that she would rather be.

Thanks for all your support for this story, love you all long time. Look for my next update of Stolen sometime on the weekend. Papa Igneel is back in action everyone, and he is pisssseddd.

Stay crazy,

LoadedEel