Gotta first send some love to Link and leoslady4ever for their continued support! Thanxs for the reviews you two!

The early afternoon sun shone brightly in the sky but did nothing to sooth the nerves of the man seated at the base of a tree. Leaning back aforementioned man looked into the budding branches of the tree. He had to laugh sitting under it all these years later. This was the very tree he and Happy had uprooted just to see Lucy smile. Given they got into some major trouble over it but it was still worth it. Maybe if he had made sure it was sitting straight when he re-planted it he wouldn't have gotten in so much trouble? It really didn't matter now though. The tree was still living and the punishment long over.

Sitting forward once again Natsu started to pick up random twigs and leaves setting them on fire. He was restless and just sitting here waiting wasn't good for him. However, per the plan and story, sitting here waiting is just what he had to do. He'd give her until sunset before he would give up and hope to try again tomorrow. With that thought he realized he would be waiting for several more hours. Damn he should have eaten on his way here. Last thing he had was Lucy's yummy pancakes. He frowned.

What if she didn't read the story? What if he somehow had gotten Wendy in trouble with her? He would definitely be a dead man if that was the case. It wouldn't matter much though if Lucy wasn't going to talk to him again. Normally he could hobble over to her after Erza kicked his ass and she would lightly scold him all the while patching him up and getting him something to eat. That was the best. Lucy always knew what he needed when he needed it and loved that about her.

He pouted at that thought. He never should have listened to Wendy and let her leave in some of the stuff she wrote. Part of him really hoped that Wendy was right and Lucy would realize that all that stuff was true and all his fears about her reaction were stupid. Another part of him hoped that if she didn't she'd at least just think it was something to add to the story, either way he wholly hoped she'd come.

Taking a deep breath to clear his thoughts he cursed. Great now he was imagining things. He swore he could smell food and her scent but there was no way she would have left the guild that fast already. Given she could read fast and all but this was Lucy, she read stuff a thousand times over. He stared at the last page in his hand hoping that it would be just as true as the rest of what he had Wendy write.

So lost in his own thoughts he had totally ignored his surroundings. Damn Lucy has his mind fucked up! Looking to his right at the new presence his jaw dropped. "L-luce?" he stuttered out.

Lucy took in the state of the man sitting under the tree. He looked miserable and she felt even more guilt then before. Shaking her head at him in a silent way to tell him not to talk yet she took a seat next to him. She couldn't trust her own voice just yet and so she would rather compose herself and remain silent.

Natsu tried to swallow the lump that formed in his throat. He watched silently as Lucy sat next to him making a few things clear. The runes were gone since they were close enough to almost touch. However he didn't know whether to celebrate the fact that they were gone and she had actually come or cry because she still seemed to not want to talk to him. At least she was here, that was something, right? Also whatever she had set down smelled delicious! Lastly he noticed she stared ahead at the trees in front of them as she stuck her hand out to him in an asking gesture. Glancing once more to the page crinkled in his hand he gulped and gave it to her continuing to wait for something. Looking back to the ground he continued to pick random lawn debris and burn it.

Lucy looked to the page Natsu placed in her hand and smiled briefly. Straightening it best she could she was curious as to how Natsu wanted this all to end up.

The princess smiled seeing her dragon, but then frowned when she noticed that he looked so distraught. The dragon hadn't eaten the whole time he couldn't talk to his princess and had done nothing but worry. The princess had felt so guilty over this she managed to lift the curse and embraced the dragon telling him how sorry she was and how much she missed him as well. To this the dragon smiled and forgave her hoping that in the future she would no longer be cursed to hear weird things and think he didn't want her around.

The princess promised the dragon she would do her best to listen to him from now on. Not only that but she decided to cook him a great feast and let him and the cat once more stay with her.

Lucy couldn't help but smile slightly at what she read. Something bothered her though. "This is the last page right?" She asked Natsu. Noticing he kept his attention still on burning foliage while he nodded his affirmative. Tears welled up looking at him, she was a horrible person. Trying to hold them back she smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder.

Natsu stiffened at the sudden contact. She had been so quiet this whole time and the way she asked if that was the end of the story or not left him unsure. Her voice was even and he couldn't tell if she was about to walk away or say more, he just didn't know. He stayed still a moment longer until she seemed to move closer to him, in that second his body responded before he could think and pulled her into a tight hug burrowing his face in her neck.

Lucy squeaked in shock and blushed a violent shade of red at his quick movements but relaxed eventually hugging him back. "Natsu, I don't know if saying sorry is enough." She began tears finally falling free, "Your story is right I feel so incredibly guilty. And I promise that from now on I'll do my best to not overreact or at least let you explain before I freak out." She paused waiting for a response but when he offered none she bit her lip in worry.

He was obviously happy to see her but why wasn't he talking? For a moment she thought he fell asleep but that was pushed aside when he seemed to try to pull her closer. "Natsu, I really am sorry. And I get if you don't want to talk to me," she sniffled at that. The thought hurt but she trudged on, "but please know that I really thought that… Well the way you were talking it sounded like… Well you know already..." she sighed. Calming down slightly she felt compelled to say more.

Chuckling she continued, "I don't know if it was you or 'the creepy walking popsicle', as it was put, that figured it out but honestly this whole idea of a story was really quite inventive and to think that even if Wendy was the one to come up with it, it was you that knew I liked fairy tales the best. You're much more clever and apparently perceptive than people give you credit for."

Her once faded blush resurfaced as she decided now would be as good a time as any to tell him a few more things, "You know, I'm really quite lucky that you and Happy found me that day in Haragon. Without the two of you I'd most likely be married to some rich, creepy, pervert and miserable. Even if you invade my home daily and act like it's yours, even though you have no clue what the word privacy means, and even though you and Happy both take way too much joy in messing with me, I wouldn't trade you guys for anything."

When she still received no response she started talking again hoping this time he would say something, "I don't know if I can cook a feast but I'm sure that if you want to help me eat all the food I brought it would be fun. And I would bet that when Happy, you and I get back from fishing we could stop in the market and I could pick up some stuff that would go great with what we catch. Then maybe tomorrow morning after we all wake up and the two of you help me clean the kitchen we might be able to find a really fun mission."

Natsu was finding it hard not to laugh and cheer as he kept his face buried, a huge smile hidden from her view. He got everything he hoped for and way more. Given he hated when she cried, but since the tears had seemed to stop he was as happy as he could be. Her holding onto him like she was, was all the apology he had ever needed but she said so much more and he was at a loss at how to actually respond with words. So he chose to pull her closer hoping that the silent message would get across. He had to wonder if she realized how much her words meant. He almost protested when she talked about being married and was going on about privacy and what not, but she more or less admitted she liked their intrusion so he continued to smile.

Lucy always knew what he needed and this moment was no different. His whole being was relaxed with her in his arms and not to mention she brought him food! It wasn't her cooking but she had already said she'd cook dinner and he and Happy could spend the night! So his perfect day didn't pan out how it should have but he'd get a re-do hopefully in the morning. After that thought his stomach protested, having been ignored for so long. He could feel and hear Lucy giggling and that's when he finally pulled away enough to laugh with her.

Having never given up his hold on her fully, as the pair's laughter subsided, he pulled her forward once more so their foreheads could press together. Looking her directly in the eye he demanded, "Don't ever pull that stupid shit again on me."

Lucy was a little shocked at his tone but smiled back all the same. She went way over board this time and she was ashamed of it, "I promise." She vowed.

Natsu brightened and finally pulled away looking behind her, "Good now what did you bring me because I'm starving!"

Lucy giggled once more, "Who said it was for you. I said you could help me eat."

"Tch, I smell spicy stuff and you don't like spicy stuff. So it's obvious, you weirdo, that the spicy stuff is for me." He stated as he helped pull things out, drooling the whole time. Noticing he had a perfect moment to mess with her he added, "I'm just clever and perceptive like that."

Lucy scrunched her nose a bit in order to lessen her blush, "Yeh whatever, "she mumbled, but continued to set different trays of food in front of him none the less.

Ok shoot me! I couldn't help to give the two a happy ending to a morning of insanity! This is Lucy we're talking about here and she is always feeling guilty for being mean about anything so I had to give some fluff and mush to the pair. I'm pretty sure if I didn't Natsu would have jumped out of my computer and beat the hell out of me!

Seriously people... I did not want to be on the receiving end of one of his punches! Don't tell him though but I have some evil in store for the pair later on. MMUUHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

SSHHHHHHHHH! It's a secret *wink*

~Gemi