Part 2

They clung to each other for minutes, relishing in the other's presence. Lucy hummed in contentment at the warmth radiating from his body, a stark contrast to the chill of the morning, and she felt his breath on her neck. He inhaled heavily, and she belatedly realized that he was smelling her.

"Natsu?" she asked.

"Hmm?"

She pulled back a little, and he mirrored her, his dark eyes catching hers. She could get lost in those eyes, she realized, and she didn't know if she should be wary at that truth. But she reached up a hand to brush through his wild pink locks and asked, tentatively, "What… what happened to you?"

His eyes narrowed for a split second before his face became a blank slate. Lucy couldn't read his emotions, and she nervously considered taking back her question. He cut her off before she could.

"Are you scared of me?"

She tilted her head slightly at the question, eyebrows furrowing together. "Of course not! You're my friend. I know you."

He pulled away from her grasp and took a step back. "You knew a twelve-year-old. How do you know I won't hurt you now?" He raised his clawed hand and sneered at her, his upper lip lifting to reveal a set of white fangs.

Lucy shook her head, confused at his sudden change in mood. She studied his face, which revealed nothing, but when she looked in his eyes she saw no malice. Only… fear. With a start, she understood. He was the one who was afraid. Of what, she did not know.

"Natsu," she started, grasping his outstretched hand. He flinched, but did not retreat. If anything, he held on tighter. "You could never hurt me. I'm not afraid of you."

He scoffed and said, "then you'd be the first." He didn't release his grip.

She swallowed against a lump in her throat when she looked back down at his chest, at the scars that littered his skin. "Natsu," she tried again, "what happened to you?"

He exhaled heavily and closed his eyes before speaking. "After I realized Igneel was missing, I didn't leave to go find him. I figured that the second I did, he would come back and wonder where I was. And I thought that you'd be there in a month or two, anyways. But he never did come back. And you weren't there." She squeezed his hand. "I stayed through the winter—I didn't know what else to do. That was when these started growing," he said, eyes opening when his free hand reached to tap his horns. "And I guess everything else kind of followed. Well, except these." She jumped a little when his wings stretched slightly behind him, and his sharp eyes didn't miss it. "These took more time. I think I could fully stretch 'em out only three years ago.

"Igneel taught me how to live off the land, and that's what I did. I guess my body changed to make things a little easier. I don't actually know," he huffed, running his free hand through his hair, skillfully avoiding the protruding obstacles. "I ran into some predators, here and there. Some of them I don't ever wanna see again. That's where I got most of these, really," he gestured to his chest, and she followed each ragged scar until it ran into another. He opened his mouth to continue, but stopped when she looked at him again, her eyes shining with emotion. She couldn't help but imagine a young Natsu, struggling on his own, facing off against monsters she couldn't even begin to imagine…

Natsu leaned forward, looking just as shaken up as she was, she guessed, but for another reason. "Luce, it's okay, I could take care of myself. I wasn't helpless."

She closed her eyes tight for a second, willing back her tears. He was so quick to ease her pain, but she needed to hear of his. "You said 'most of them.' What about the others. Scars, I mean."

He stood straight again, a pained look flashing across his features until he schooled his expression once more. He wouldn't meet her eyes. "After a while I couldn't tell one day from the next. I was lonely, I guess. I don't know. I left this forest—I told myself it was time to search for him. I think I was just sick of living here without him or you, though. So I left, and it didn't take long to find a village. I wanted to ask them if they saw a dragon recently, but I found out the hard way that people don't welcome strangers with horns."

He swallowed then, and her eyes caught a scar she hadn't seen before across his neck—this one was smooth around the edges instead of jagged like the others. A clean cut. She couldn't stop the tears this time, but he went on.

"I was young, and stupid, and tried again after I escaped the first time. I thought that maybe they were crazy, 'cuz you were never scared of me, so I found another town. And then another, and another, and another. The last one I went to tried to cut off my horns. At that point, I knew that if anyone was crazy, it was you, because obviously I was some sorta' monster." His voice choked off at the end, and she couldn't stop the sob from escaping her throat. She threw her arms around his waist and crushed herself to his chest.

"You— you are no monster. They were the monsters. Not you. Never you."

She felt his hand tentatively rub her head when he said in a softer voice, "Eventually I was convinced you were a fairy, actually."

She pulled back enough to give him an incredulous look, and between her tear stained cheeks and puffy eyes she must have looked ridiculous, because he threw his head back and laughed. When he looked back down at her his eyes twinkled with something she didn't recognize, but it made her heart flutter. "No, really. I figured the only thing stupid enough to play around with a dragon would be a fairy. I'd never seen one before, and I thought they were supposed to have wings or tails or something—"

"Tails?"

"I don't know! But after everything, I decided to stick to forests. I lost myself for a little bit, I think, and then the wings grew in. Every summer, though, I came back. I looked for Igneel, and for you."

He ran his thumbs carefully across her cheeks, wiping the tears away. She knew he wasn't accusing her anymore. "I'm so sorry," she said anyway, and he was already shaking his head.

"Is it… does it look bad?"

She couldn't help but gape at the question, but she blinked and smacked his arm, earning herself a 'Hey!' which she ignored. "After all that, you want to know if you look bad?! I'm not answering that."

Natsu didn't answer her teasing retort, and she knew he wasn't satisfied. Sighing, she tried again. "You look as if you were turning into a lion, with all this hair." It seems she couldn't keep her hands out of his pink locks. "I can help you out with that, actually. As for these," she said, rubbing the tips of her fingers over the base of his horn, missing the way his eyes flashed in that peculiar way, "well, they're certainly new to me, but not in a bad way. You are Natsu to me, wings and all. I wouldn't take you any other way."

She gave him her brightest smile, hoping she made her point. Her skin tingled where he touched her, and a shudder went down her spine when he breathed out, "Lucy…"

Of course, her stomach decided to announce itself a second later, and she her face lit up in a blush when she realized how close they were. He blinked in response, and the moment was broken when he stepped away, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck. "I, uh, brought you some apples," he said lamely, gesturing to the fruit on the nightstand.

Lucy could barely think a coherent thought, let alone speak. "Uh-huh."

His lips twitched as he failed to hide a smirk, and she thought she might combust. He saved her, though, when he said, "I'll go and grab something bigger for us to eat, if you want. Is that okay?"

She nodded in response. "Yeah—yeah, that'll work."

"Alright, I'll be back in a bit, then," he said slowly, yet he didn't move an inch.

She smiled softly, and said, "I'll be here."

He nodded, and finally turned to leave. She watched as he ducked to avoid hitting his wings against the door frame, and sat down on the bed when he was gone. Breathing slowly, she tried unsuccessfully to sort through her emotions. In the course of a few days, she had fled from her home, from her father, and reunited with her childhood best friend who looked fairly different than she remembered. And not just the draconic bits, either. Another blush grew from her collar when she recalled the feel of his strong arms around her, and the way his jaw moved when he spoke.

Groaning, she grabbed an apple and fell back onto the bed. This would take some getting used to.

Natsu found her, an hour or so later, carrying a bucket of spring water through the side door, and he hurried to hold it open for her. She gave a small smile in thanks, which he returned, before spotting the limp rabbits he held in the other hand. Stumbling on her feet, she took a second to right herself before opening her mouth, but no words ever came.

He blinked at her pale face, then followed her line of sight to the carcasses in his hand, then immediately hid them behind his back with a sheepish smile. "I'll, uh, I'll be right back."

By the time Lucy collected herself (with an internal scolding at her childishness as well), she found him in the kitchen cooking the skinned animals. She had to suppress a laugh at the way he towered over the small stove, but was quick to help, at least by chopping some vegetables from the overgrown garden. Her fumbled work with a knife exposed her inexperience with the trade, but he wasn't faring much better with the meat. "Don't see why we can't just set a fire like normal people," he had grumbled, and she held her tongue with a smirk when she thought to remind him that he was the one to start with the oven in the first place.

But when they sat on the front porch and ate the charred meal, it was forgotten as they recounted the last few years away from one another. She was enraptured by the tales he wove of godly monsters, towering landscapes, and magical ruins. His hands moved with his words, and she couldn't help but lose herself in his stories. In turn, she showed him the keys she stole from her father's study, and let him feel the hum of magic that she found comfort in.

"How do they work, anyways?" He asked while studying Capricorn's key, looking cross-eyed.

"I haven't actually figured it out yet. But I hope to find someone who knows one day."

He quit studying the key and looked her in the eye. "I could take you to one of the villages nearby. The one to the east has a guild of mages there, and I bet they could help you."

The gravity of his offer did not escape her. "I think I'd rather stay here for a while longer, if that's okay with you."

His shoulders relaxed a little, but he said anyways, "The offer stands whenever, Luce. But there are some things around here that I know you'll wanna see." And with an excited grin, he told her about a nearby spring that seems to run uphill as well as a number of other small marvels. (None of which required any human interaction, Lucy noted with relief.) By the end of the night, she finally relinquished to her exhaustion after he caught her nodding off during one of his stories, and he returned to the trees after making sure she made it to bed.

The next day the two set out on a journey to explore the wonders of the land he'd called home for so long. They returned at twilight, and ravenously shared another hastily put together meal before retiring to sleep.

Over the next month, Natsu showed her a nearby forest with trees taller than mountains, a smelly bog with frogs that croaked funny words, and an abandoned castle with scorch marks on its walls. She could only guess why he was fond of the last one. One day, he introduced her to a family of mountain lions. He placed a squirming carp in her hands, and when she whined he said, "Shhh. It's either this or the momma will chase you out." Lucy relented, and was glad she did. When they approached what looked like a large pile of rocks, a giant cat jumped from above to land right in front of her, its gleaming eyes locked onto her own. She would have run if Natsu didn't have his hand on her shoulder in a reassuring grip. Instead, she offered the fish, and the cat didn't hesitate to swipe it from her. She watched as it disappeared behind the mass of rocks, and noted the way its fur gleamed blue in the sunlight. After a minute, it reappeared, followed by a smaller, pristine white lion and her three kittens. Only then did Natsu let go of her in favor of tussling with the father. "It's been a while, huh Happy?" The cat growled in response, and Lucy absent mindedly stroked the purring mother while watching the two.

Lucy felt more excitement over her adventures with Natsu than she had in her whole life, but they did slow down every now and again. Although she rarely complained, she was not as fit as he, and he would declare a lazy day whenever he saw her try and stretch her sore muscles. Today she found herself in Ms. Spetto's old chair, stitching together a new skirt from the curtains after Natsu claimed his wings needed a break. Her stuffy dress had been salvaged into something more breathable a while ago, but she needed more clothes to keep up with their adventures. She felt his eyes on her from where he lounged on the couch, but did not hesitate with the needlework. She had spent too much time with him over the last month to be flustered by his gaze. Of course, then he opened his mouth.

"Lucy?"

"Hmm?"

"Why'd you run away?"

Her hands stopped. "I already told you, Natsu."

She avoided his gaze, and knew that he could tell. Heavy footsteps slowly made their way to her side before she saw him crouch next to her in the corner of her vision. Her hands shook ever so slightly before he grabbed them, and she sighed before she met his searching eyes. "Your mom passed, and your dad was an asshole. That's why you left the first time. But I want to know why you're here now."

She flinched, but he stayed firm. They'd avoided this topic for the better part of their reunion, but time ran out, apparently. "I… got in an argument with my father."

His brows scrunched together as he asked in a deep voice, "Did he hurt you?"

"No, no he never touched me."

"Then what did he say to make you run away? Lucy, you didn't even bring more clothes with you. You must've left that night."

She looked at his face, at the concern in his eyes, and the way his pink bangs hung to the side of his face. She would need to give him another hair cut soon. Sighing, she answered, "I did. He called me to his office that day, and I was kind of excited, despite myself. He hardly spoke to me for years, he wouldn't even eat dinner with me, and yet I thought he wanted to talk." She huffed. "He did talk, I guess. If you consider discussing a business contract 'talking.' I sure don't."

Her dragon squinted at her. "I'm confused. He wanted you to get a job?"

Lucy laughed shortly, but there was little humor behind it. "No, Natsu. He told me about a deal he had been working on with another company. It would save him so much money, he said. All it required was a marriage."

She felt him tense, and she continued before he could interject. "He told me that I would be engaged to the owner's son. He said it like I should be happy. As if I should look forward to being traded away for a stock." Her voice wobbled a bit at the end, and she bit her lip.

His jaw flexed. "You, you're—" He couldn't ask the question, but she knew what it was anyways.

"No. It's not the Victorian age, anymore, at least. He needed my consent before anything was official, and I sure as hell didn't give it." The venom in her voice bit, but it didn't sting as much as the memory did.

Natsu's eyes had darkened considerably, and she did not miss the tense set of his shoulders, but he took away her sewing with the utmost care before grabbing both of her hands and kissing them. Tears swam in her vision, and she gazed at him as he knelt before her. "He was so ready to give me up for a few jewels. All those years, and that was all I ever meant to him. Another bartering chip. But I refuse to go back. I want to stay here. I want to stay here with you."

When she cried, he held her to his chest from his place on the ground. "Shhh," he murmured, "you're not going anywhere."

They rocked together for a while until her sobs turned to hiccups. When she pulled back, he wiped her tears away from her cheeks ever so softly. Her gentle dragon. She blinked a few times and brought her own hands up to meet his face. He leaned into her touch.

While they were together, he never touched her like that first day. Like he was now. Aside from carrying her as they flew to their next adventures, he kept a respectable distance, and she couldn't help but wonder if her own feelings were misled. But when she looked in his eyes she saw more than just friendship. He looked at her as if she meant something.

Then he opened his mouth.

"I won't let anyone take you from me, Luce. Not unless you wanna go."

His piercing gaze and stunning candor struck her heart. She shook her head. "Never."

Still holding his face, she pulled gently and he leaned forward. But not close enough. When she glanced at his mouth, he breathed out, "Lucy…"

He didn't get much farther when her lips touched his own, just barely. She held herself there, and shoved all her insecurities away, waiting for his reaction.

It didn't take long.

He breathed in shortly and then pushed forward, moving his mouth against her own. His hands moved to cradle the back of her head, and hers to his solid chest as their lips danced together. Her eyes fluttered shut, finally, and she felt him whisper her name before he continued with added vigor. It was clumsy at first—neither of them knew what they were doing—but she wouldn't have it any other way. One kiss melted into two, three, four, until she lost count.

At some point, she couldn't help but smile against his lips, but that didn't deter him as he peppered the corner of her mouth with kisses before returning the smile with a blinding one of his own, the two breathing heavily together. She thought her heart might jump out of her chest with its rapid beating, but she wouldn't mind. Opening her eyes, she found his heavy gaze on her, and she couldn't help but blush. Nevertheless, she repeated: "I want to stay here. With you."

His breath shuddered slightly, and she felt the smallest amount of pride well up inside her at the wild look in his eyes. But he blinked, and uncertainty bled in his features. "You don't mind… all of this?" he asked, and his wings ruffled behind him. She almost giggled at the sight of her dragon amongst the feminine design of her summer home, but knew this was important.

He held her as she rubbed her thumbs against his chest, and by the look on his face she thought he might start purring. "Natsu, I told you before. You are perfect to me. You could turn into a full-fledged dragon and I wouldn't leave you." She paused for a moment. "On second thought, don't do that. Because then we couldn't do this."

She leaned forward again, and this time he met her halfway. This kiss was shorter, and sweeter, but just as wonderful as the last.

"I'll try not to," he said in a drug-like haze, and she giggled. Standing, he pulled her from the rocking chair and onto the couch where he held her after maneuvering so his wings would fit comfortably. She tucked her head under his chin and relaxed into his heated grasp as he rubbed her arms slowly. In that moment, she felt safe. The two of them whispered to one another in the cozy home, wrapped tightly in their own world, wishing that time would still.

But time, of course, would not.

And the summer must end.

I'm back! I won the award for slowest writer ever in the meantime, but thanks to CosmicDragonWizard I am back in action. There will still be a third part, so stay tuned.

I hope you don't mind the fluff. I have a sweet tooth, so that's that. Maybe they're OOC, but it's an AU of sorts and I'm relatively new at this so bear with me.

Special thanks to EchizenRyoma, CosmicDragonWizard, RoboStar, and oxmangacrazexo for your reviews! You don't realize how happy those make me.