Lucy and Natsu gaped at the little blue-haired mage. She was happy, excitedly telling Lucy what had happened, although she toned down the more exciting parts of the night. When she finally finished, the couple had been left speechless.

"And… who initiated this?" Lucy asked, trying to gather herself.

"Well… me…" she smiled meekly, blush coming to her face, "Anyway… what do you think I should do now?"

"Mate with him," Natsu said casually, taking the two female mages by surprise.

"Wha-?! She can't do that! She doesn't even know what she's getting into!" Lucy shrieked, "What happens if he's still… you know…"

"He's not bad anymore," Levy said gently, "I've seen him at his worst. Even then he put my safety first… and he said he loved me…"

"Levy, just because he says he loves you doesn't mean he's completely changed," Lucy chided motherly, "Don't you remember what he did to you and Team Shadow Gear? You can't tell me you've just forgotten,"

"No, I haven't forgotten," Levy sighed, looking off into the distance, "I just… I can tell he's changed. I feel it in here," she motioned to her chest.

"He doesn't smell evil anymore, hasn't for a while," Natsu said, sitting behind Lucy and pulling her into an embrace. He laid his head on her shoulder and let out a noise that sounded like a purr or hum.

Levy's curiosity peaked, "What was that noise you just made?"

"Hmm?" Natsu perked up and Lucy blushed slightly, "It's just kind of a noise… dragons make it when they're establishing a territory and I guess dragon slayers, I dunno, do it when they've claimed a mate?"

"Claimed a mate?" Levy's brow furrowed as she thought, remembering where she'd heard that before, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Natsu yawned, "Gajeel's done it a few times, for what I thought was the same reason. I think the only reason Wendy isn't doing anything like that is because she's not old enough yet,"

"Gajeel?" she tilted her head to the side, "I heard him do that once… when we arrived at the train station when we went on that mission together,"

"He must have sensed someone else was after you,"

"Yeah but… you said he's done it a few times,"

"Mostly just at the guild," Natsu continued, giving her a curious look, "I'm surprised you hadn't noticed. He did it a lot around Jet and Droy, not that they paid attention,"

She turned to Lucy who just shook her head, "I still don't think this is a good idea, but if it makes you happy, then go for it. But he'd better not hurt you or…"

"He's not going to hurt me," Levy smiled, hugging her friend.