AN: still don't own Fairy Tail

"I could never hate you, Erza, because I love you."

Natsu's confession had been just as gentle and soft spoken as the rest of his words had been during their conversation, but Erza had no trouble hearing them. Years later she would still swear that her heart had stopped beating for a couple of seconds.

Erza couldn't believe her ears. Surely they had to be playing a trick on her. How could Natsu love her? He was always so happy and outgoing. He had a bubbly personality and exuded confidence and strength and hope. He never stopped smiling and was always picking a fight. But he also cared for his nakama with his whole being. He was never one to give up.

And Natsu never lied. So if he was telling her now the he loved her, then it must be true.

"Y-you l-lo-v-ve me?" she questioned, stuttering. Erza hated how weak her voice had sounded.

"Of course I do, you silly girl."

Erza felt her back straighten. Crying or not, whether he loved her or not, no one called her a silly girl. She was Erza "Titania" Scarlet, Queen of the Fairies. She was in no way a silly girl.

"How could I not love you? You're a perfect dragon's mate."

'Mate. Dragon's mate.' Those two words rattled in Erza's brain. Just what the hell did Natsu mean by mate?

"Mate?" she squeaked. Erza cursed herself mentally. She had meant to tear strips into him and beat exactly what he meant out of him, not sound like a mouse that had been trodden on.

"Mate: the one person perfect in every way. It's specific to each one of us, but each dragon, or dragon slayer, only has one perfect mate." He gave her an intense look that made her feel like he had gained the ability to read her soul. "And a dragon mates for life."

'Mates for life. Together forever.' She could certainly see why that would be appealing to someone like Natsu, who grew up alone until he was taken in by Igneel. And the dragon hadn't stuck around long.

Erza couldn't help but wonder if he was waiting for her to say something. Was there some sort of dragon mating ritual? Did she have to accept that she was his mate? Was she really the only woman out there for Natsu?

Sure, she cared for Natsu. She cared for every member of Fairy Tail. Even when they never failed to get on her nerves, most often in the most spectacular and troublesome ways, more often than not and could not help but cause destruction and chaos wherever they went.

But did she care for Natsu more than she did for anyone else. Or did she care for him in a different way?

Erza didn't know.

She trusted the dragon slayer, with her life if it came to that. Natsu was a brilliant fighter, and his persistence always made her feel like he would always being there to defend her back. He wasn't one to do things halfway, and he had never failed to pull her out of her famous moods with his ever present smile and happy attitude.

And he wasn't a complete knucklehead. He didn't always fool around. The pink haired male knew when to be serious. He could be level headed and collected. He had moments of charming and sweetness that he never seemed to realize.

The more she thought about it, the more Erza could see Natsu as a constant presence in her life. He was at the present, even though it was as her best friend slash rival and not her life partner.

But perhaps, one day, maybe even soon, he could be. It wouldn't hurt to give him a chance, and he clearly wanted her. He thought she was perfect for him.

Natsu was still talking about dragons and their habits when it came to their mates when she refocused on the conversation. "Dragons are wise, compassionate creatures. They have an indomitable spirit and strength, and they protect what is theirs until their dying breath."

Erza wondered what this had to do with him picking her as his mate. Did he intend to stalk her and protect her on every mission she took? She didn't think he would go that far. Not that he would have to stalk her, being on the same team and all.

"But why did you pick me, Natsu?"

The pink haired dragon slayer blinked at her as if he didn't understand the question.

"Why am I your mate? The perfect one for you. I'm impatient, always criticizing you, threaten you on an hourly basis, insecure without my armor, socially awkward, strict, and domineering, and demanding, and bossy, and . . ."

Natsu placed a hand over her mouth to stop her uncharacteristic rambling.

"You're perfect for me because you are intelligent, compassionate, courageous and so much more. You have a strong will like me, and you're not afraid to beat some sense into me when I'm wrong or being idiotically reckless. You're strong willed and proud. You inspire and command respect.

"But most importantly, you balance me out. You're calm, level headed, and a leader. I'm brash, reckless, and tend to act without thinking. You're mature and full of wisdom where I'm childish and, well, an idiot most of the time.

"You're just as powerful as I am, both physically and magically. And that's what I need. Someone who isn't afraid to tell me when I'm wrong. Someone that could look out for me and be my equal in every sense of the word.

"Not to mention you're beautiful. I love your red hair."

Erza couldn't only stare at him in silence. Did he really think that highly of her? Did he really believe her capable of being equal with a dragon slayer? Being a forbidden magic, it was one of the strongest types out there. Did he really believe she was on his level power wise? She conveniently forgot that it was her that was a S-class mage and not Natsu.

Her composure was falling apart. Natsu had found a weakness in her armor and had forced himself past the steal she wore to protect her heart. After Jellal's betrayal when she first escaped the island and her servitude to the wizards trying to resurrect Zeref, Erza had sworn to never let anyone else close to her. To never let anyone find a place in her heart like Jellal had, so they could never hurt her again when they turned on her.

But, somehow, Natsu had slipped past her guard, worming his way into her heart. And now, now that she had seen what life was like without him, Erza never wanted to let the pink haired mage go. She didn't want to feel that pain ever again.

"You don't have to say anything. I love you, Erza. And if you're not ready yet, I'll wait for you. There will never be anyone else for me."

It surprised Erza how well the fire dragon slayer knew her. Had he always been able to tell what she was thinking just by looking at her? Did she know him well enough to be able to say what was on his mind before he spoke?

Before the whole R-System fiasco she would have said yes. All Natsu had ever talked about was his next challenge, who he would lock fists with and fight next. Now looking at him, however, the red head knew she couldn't do that, and it surprised her with how disappointed she felt. Erza would have enjoyed having one person in the world that knew her better than she knew herself and that she knew as equally well.

That was when she mentally slapped herself. She could still have that person. If she just took a chance with Natsu, it was possible that Erza could have love that transcended the ones told in fairy tales and romance novels.

And that was all Natsu was asking for. Once chance to prove to her that she was the only one for him and that he would love her like no other was capable of. One chance to show her that he truly loved her. He was expecting her to love him back just because he had proclaimed that she was his perfect mate. He just wanted one chance to shower her with love and maybe earn her love in return.

She grasped both his hands in hers. "I'd like to give us a try."

The expression on Natsu's face was radiant, making Erza confident that she had made the right choice.

The tension that she hadn't realized was there faded, and both wizards relaxed into the dragon slayer's comfy broken in couch. Natsu fully explained everything that had happened since he took her place in the lacrima.

To say that Erza was astonished was an understatement. She had quite the extensive vocabulary, partly from teaching Natsu when he first joined the guild, and partly because she enjoyed insulting both him and Gray in ways that they couldn't understand. But all her words failed her now. Just the idea that he had seen her totally break down because she thought he was dead was mortifying. Her face was quickly changing color to the point where it was darker than her hair and Erza thought she would have to name the new color she sported.

But that hadn't been all he had seen.

"Igneel? Igneel spoke to you?"

Apparently he had also had a vision of his father, well the dragon he considered his father, and he could actually talk to him. Igneel had told Natsu that he was now the first dragon slayer that possessed the potential and capability to become the world's first true dragon slayer and unlock the true power of a dragon.

Igneel, following some ancient rules long ago set in stone, couldn't say much other than that Natsu had to discover the true power on his own.

Given what little information they had, Natsu and Erza reasoned that whatever this true power was, Natsu was the only one that could unlock because he was the only idiot on the planet that would eat Etherion. They would just have to wait and see what new powers came from his absorbing the Etherion.

After exhausting their brains on the many possibilities, they switched topics and started reminiscing. Erza shared more about her past and being used as slave labor to build that horrid tower. Natsu told her what it was like growing up with a dragon as a guardian. Erza explained as best she could, since she had spent the majority if not all of the time since he had died hole up in his house, what had happened in the last seven weeks. In return, Natsu described his adventure from waking up on the unknown island to his new spell that created wings out of fire to his journey home.

They talked well into the night. Erza fell asleep first, leaning her head on his shoulder and unconsciously snuggling into his side. Natsu smiled softly as he wrapped one arm around her shoulders pulling her closer, and threaded his left hand through her scarlet locks. He closed his eyes, inexplicably glad that he was home.