Lucy blinked, gasped and lifted teary eyes to stare at Natsu. "Are you proposing to me while I'm wearing my rattiest nightgown?"
"That's a monkey, not a rat." Unrepentant, Natsu grinned, slipping the ring off his pinkie and displaying it in his palm. "Doesn't matter what you're wearing, you're still you. I want to spend the rest of my life as your husband just as much as I want you to want to be my wife." He cupped the diamond ring and sat silent, watching Lucy.
"Yes." A tear slid from Lucy's eye and ran down her cheek, along her jaw and dripped onto her old nightgown from her chin. The wet spot grew as Lucy tried to blot her tears. "Yes, I'll marry you."
Natsu held out his hand and blinked a few of his own tears into submission, smiling as his fiancée extended her left hand. With trembling fingers, Natsu eased the sparkling diamond onto Lucy's ring finger. "No taking backsies."
"When I tell this story, I'll be leaving out 'no taking backsies.' However, I will have to regal all my friends with how precious you look right now." Lucy smiled, the warmth of it igniting a new storm of passion inside Natsu. Last night had been wonderful - but now was an opportunity to celebrate their engagement.
"Our story isn't over, not by a long shot." Natsu stood and pulled Lucy to her feet. "Even if we live for a hundred years, I want to keep having adventures with you. Our happiness will be the stuff of legends." Natsu slid an arm around Lucy and crowded close. "All my tomorrows are yours."
"Deal." Lucy smiled. "Ditto."
Slowly, inexorably, Natsu leaned closer. His lips found and brushed Lucy's; slid with delicious friction until they parted, consuming her heartfelt sighs. They kissed passionately until they had to stop for breath - regained breath and kissed again. Natsu and Lucy moved to the bed in a flurry of discarded clothes, pledging their love with whispered promises and joyful souls.
The late check-out was an extra fee, but ever so worth it.
A/N: Thanks for the views and reviews!