Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, nor anything else associated with Fairy Tail. I only own the plot of the following story and my OCs who help move the story along. (Of course, some of the ideas for my OCs come from research on certain things, or if I found nothing on that, I created it for the sole purpose of this fanfic.)

Author's Note: Alright guys! Sorry for the long wait. I've been uber busy with conventions and the start of a new semester. I'm double majoring in EE and Music Performance so I'm quite busy during the semesters. I know that the fighting scene isn't the greatest. I'm still working on those. I have some for future chapters that I'm starting on... they're really hard for me. :/ Ah well, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Comments are always welcome and thank you to those you have commented and such! Enjoy! 3 :)

Chapter 7

Erza smashed through the hole in the brick wall donning her Heaven's Wheel Armor. Hundreds of sharp steel swords flew towards Vesper's men. They fell left and right. Only six of Vesper's men were left standing, ten of his best mages.

"You have caused me a lot of trouble." Vesper stood across the room from the group. "So much trouble that my dessert has run off. If you can beat my men, then maybe I'll think that you're worth my time to battle." With that, Vesper disappeared.

The mages prepared to attacked.

"Let's go guys. Ice make lance!"

"Juvia will help too!"

Two of the mages fell to the ground. Gray and Juvia turned to fight another mage. This one had such an impeccable strength and tough skin that they found themselves having trouble.

"You two!" The mage roared, his muscles ripping his shirt apart. "I, Aloin, will avenge my fallen brethren, and bring you to my master for… services." His eyes gleamed viciously.

Wendy stepped up to help them, but another mage attacked her before she could help. She hit the wall behind her, not knowing who had attacked her.

"You're mine little one." A small, speed devil stopped 10 feet in front of her. "I think that we'll be a perfect match."

"Sky Dragon's Roar!" Wendy responded.

The speed devil dodged her attack.

"Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!" "Sky Dragon's Claw!" This last attack brought her out towards the middle of the giant room.

Her opponent moved quickly, gliding in and out of her attacks easily. He flashed behind her, ready to grab her and run off. He almost succeed if Gray's ice hadn't covered the ground from one of his attacks. The mage slipped, sliding into a mage whom Levy faced.

"Gajeel!" Levy sent a flying 'Iron' over to him. He turned around just in time to eat the 'Iron' in one bite.

"Thanks Squirt! Now," he turned to his opponent. "You're gonna tell me where Lucy and that flame brain are otherwise I'm going to shred you into a million pieces."

Saying nothing, Gajeel's opponent disappeared, reappearing behind him. He pushed Gajeel forward. Gajeel turned around quickly and sent the silent one flying through the wall out into the forest below with his roar.

"Alright! Only 5 more to go!"

As the night continued, Natsu found he couldn't sleep. Lucy had lain curled up against him for quite some time now. He looked at her sleeping face, her soft plump lips... He shook his head and faced away from her.

Since when had he looked at her like this? Since when had he begun to feel these emotions? When had he stopped thinking about Lisanna and started thinking about Lucy? Since when did he think about things like this?!

Natsu stood looking at the blonde he had met earlier. He hadn't realized it until now, but he was on a boat as he slunk to the floor. But that blonde girl taken captive by an imposter... He did not only wanted to punish the imposter; he wanted to help this gorgeous blonde haired babe, yet he couldn't figure out why.

Natsu sighed. The rise and fall of his chest caused Lucy to stir. Natsu froze. He could feel her readjust, her right hand skimming across his chest down to his waist, pulling herself closer to him. Her chest pressed up against his side, her head fitting perfectly in the crook of his neck. Her eyes fluttered open for a brief moment before closing again.

Once he thought she had fallen back to sleep, he slid his right hand from her shoulder to her waist. For such a busty, and slightly heavy girl, he felt as if she was tiny laying next to him.

To be honest, he had thought this ever since he had saved her from the faux Salamander. He had to admit to himself now, that she wasn't just anyone. She was his. He felt responsible for her. He wanted to take care of her and protect her, more than he wanted to protect any of his other friends. He...

"Stop it." He muttered to himself. He nudged Lucy's head until he could turn his head to face towards hers. He let all his thoughts, normal and abnormal, flee his mind, leaving only his feelings. He slowly leaned his head towards hers, his eyes softening and closing the closer he came.

Lucy opened her eyes slowly, barely getting a glance of Natsu before she felt his lips brush against hers. "N-Natsu..." She stated softly. When he had begun to pull away at the sound of her voice, she wouldn't let him. Her right hand quickly shot up to hold the back of his head and neck, bring him back to her for a kiss.

The kiss was long and passionate. Once they pulled away to breathe, they began to kiss over and over again. Their tongues eventually met with Natsu turning his body to pull Lucy closer to him. They lay chest to chest for the longest time, just kissing until Lucy pulled away.

"Natsu, I..." A rosy blush crept up to her cheeks. She rolled away from him quickly as she was saying, "I l-l-l..."

"...love you…." Natsu pushed her onto her back as he finished her sentence. He leaned in to kiss her again, his hands holding her wrists to each side of her head. He let go of her wrists and began to explore her body, carving out her curvy sides and hips. His hand wandered back up her side, hesitantly heading for her chest.

Her bandeau top, horribly torn, came completely undone as Natsu's hand crept underneath. He slowly moved his head, kissing her, until his mouth was right next to her ear. "I want you," he whispered. "Only you." Chills shot up her spine, causing her to gasp.

Natsu pulled his head away from hers, looking into her eyes. Right as he began to caress her, they heard a loud crash outside the cave. He pulled back, glancing at Lucy's worried face. He listened to the sounds of someone scrambling to their feet, muttering about some "bloody mages". Whoever it was had crashed into the trees, roughly half a mile away from the cave Natsu and Lucy were in.

"I'll be back okay? You should be safe here." Natsu's voice sounded so gentle, yet so impeccably worried.

"Natsu..." Lucy grabbed his jacket. "You know that you can't do anything either. Why don't we go check it out together?" She smiled at him.

Natsu shrugged uneasily. "I guess..."