I'm BAAAAAACK!

Snickering brought Lucy out of the fairy tale world she was reading about. Slowly lowering the book she looked to the blue exceed causing the noise. "What?" she questioned daringly, already knowing what was coming.

Happy continued to snicker as he rolled out, "You lliiike each other!"

Lucy gritted her teeth. Just because she was prepared for it didn't make it any less annoying. Huffing she slumped a bit in her seat and glanced down to the sleeping man in her lap. Looking back to Happy she said, "You should really just give up Happy. I already told you what I think this morning."

Happy straightened and crossed his arms. Looking pointedly at her he took on his serious face once more, "And I told you that you shouldn't be so sure."

Lucy rolled her eyes, "Whatever you shitty cat." She grumbled out while returning to her book again.

Happy slumped. Lucy wasn't being any fun. Then again he really had nowhere to hide at the moment and Natsu was to out of it to save him. "Lucy I'm hungry."

Once again she ignored her book and looked to Happy. "Go ask the driver how long until the next village." A break from sitting for so long would be good for her. Not to mention it would be best to have Natsu get a break as well. If they kept this up it would take forever for him to come out of it.

"Aye Sir!" A few minutes later Happy reappeared inside the carriage with a strange look.

"What did he say?" Lucy asked a bit worriedly.

For a second Happy considered telling her everything the weird creepy guy said. Happy was a cat and it didn't bother him when people talked like that except he was bothered because this guy was talking about Lucy. Happy knew if Natsu found out he'd be pissed. Fidgeting for a moment he realized Lucy would get mad too. Mischief suddenly played in Happy's eyes as he spoke, "Well… He wouldn't tell me at first because he said to send you up front alone and he'd be sure you would 'enjoy the ride' the rest of the way there or something like that."

A growl that was emitted by Natsu went ignored.

Lucy on the other hand flushed and shook with anger and disgust, "Fucking creep!" she ground out.

Happy mentally snickered. This trip was about to be anything but boring, "I told him you seemed to be ok with reading he laughed at me and said he'd give you 'something worth telling stories about'. Then I asked him what it was and he said it was just what a girl like you 'needed'. When I told him I was a cat and didn't know what that meant he said that he'd let me watch as a 'learning experience'."

"WHAT!?"

Happy tried his best to not laugh as he said, "Aye!" He knew what the pervy guy had meant but it didn't mean he couldn't act like he didn't. Sometimes it was fun to ask humans silly questions, this time though it left Happy feeling uneasy and so now he'd tell his partners and they would beat the guy up and he'd feel better!

Reining in her anger was proving difficult. Taking a deep breath she said, "Did he ever tell you how far to the next town?"

"Aye!"

"And?"

"Just before sunset."

Lucy paled a bit. She almost felt like a hostage. Then again she had her keys and if worse came to worse Natsu might actually come to enough to do something. Rubbing her temples she sighed. "There's some fish in the cooler over there Happy." She said pointing. "I'd rather not stop in the middle of nowhere with that creep around. So help yourself and if you're still hungry I've got some snacks in my bag next to me."

Happy's eyes sparkled, "You're the best Lucy! You brought me fish!" After rummaging through the cooler and reclaiming his seat he looked to his other partner and back to Lucy, "Aye Lucy?"

"Yeh Happy?"

"Natsu's going to be mad when we stop."

Misreading what he was getting at she chuckled, "Yeh but it can't be helped. I mean I didn't bring enough stuff with me to feed his bottomless pit. I thought we'd be closer to a town when lunch time came." Frowning a bit she added, "I do feel bad though poor guy isn't going to get a break. I'll have to make it up to him."

Shaking his head Happy said, "He's going to be mad at the driver Lucy."

Finally catching what he was saying she blushed a bit, "I honestly doubt he cares what some weird pervert has to say about me."

"But Lucy he lliikes you!"

"GAAA! Say it again and I'll have Cancer make you bald!"

"WAAAAA! Lucy's going to eat me!" Happy wailed as he flew in circles.

Huffing at his antics, Lucy once more went back to her book while mindlessly running her fingers through Natsu's hair. Slowly the action calmed her down. Between what she knew had been said about her and what she could only guess Happy didn't tell her, she had become livid. She would have to apologize to Natsu when they finally stopped. She shivered slightly thinking she'd have to deal with the nasty jerk when they did stop. Hopefully she could just pay him and make her escape without too much said between them.

She couldn't help but wonder if what else Happy said was true. Would Natsu actually be mad at what had been said? A small smile graced her lips at the thought. Even if she didn't need him to act like her own personal guard against perverts it would still be nice if he took the job out of more than just friendship. Mentally she scolded herself at the thought. This was Natsu she was thinking about. The man didn't have a romantic or chivalrous bone in his body.

Then again he did have Wendy write that incredibly sweet story yesterday. But at the same time who knows how much artistic liberty Wendy had taken with it. Although, she had said he knew what was written word for word. Chancing a look down at the sleeping man in her lap she couldn't help but wonder just what was going through his head or what he had said while with the girl. Looking back to her book she bit her lip in thought. Maybe she should just ask him? She dismissed that idea as soon as it came. Natsu would never understand the implication of such words, he only proved it by acting the way he did lately. Sighing tiredly she closed her book. Adjusting to a more comfortable position she rested her head on the wall beside her. A good nap is what she needed.

Felling the woman he was laying on relax, Natsu relaxed slightly as well. Ever since Happy came back and told Lucy what that fucker said he'd been tense and pissed. Happy was right, there was no way in hell he'd let that guy get away with having said what he did. When they stopped finally he couldn't wait to beat the shit out of him! Who the hell did he think he was daring to even think about his Lucy like that? It was bad enough the way the bastard looked at her before they took off, but to actually say shit like that, and to Happy no less! Fire! Lots and lots of fire was in this pricks future. Natsu didn't give a damn how pissed Lucy would get either. Sure she could take care of the ass herself but that didn't mean he was going to sit by and let her. It was his job to protect her and that was in all manner and ways.

And what was this shit about her not believing he would? Seriously did this woman not read what Wendy had written? Or was it just that she didn't care? Natsu frowned at that thought. It could be she classified it into the 'adds to the story' list? Maybe he should suck it up and just finally tell her? But if he did that he risked losing her. Then again the last two days, minus her freak out, she hadn't really ever pushed him away. She almost seemed just as content and happy as he did. Given this morning he probably shouldn't have told her about his dream, but he wasn't fully awake and didn't think about it when he said it, not to mention it couldn't hurt to drop a hint here or there. At least he didn't have time to tell her everything that happened in the dream. He was pretty sure if he had she would have done more than just punch him and push him off the bed.

He smiled slightly remembering that dream. Damn what he wouldn't give to get back to it. Sadly though his stomach wouldn't settle enough for him to sleep, at least he could think clearly. Lucy was the next best thing to Wendy's magic. Another thing to add to his 'reasons Lucy is the bestest' list. Damn that list grew daily it seemed. Trying to mentally shoo the thoughts away he sighed. He was so confused. He really, really did want to be with Lucy but her freaking out wasn't the only reason he hesitated if he was honest with himself.

Something that Igneel told him a long time ago popped in his head when these crazy thoughts showed up forever ago. Dragons and dragon slayers only get one mate. Given it was almost impossible that they ever found that one in their lifetime. Dragons by nature were mostly soldiery. They only sought out another to procreate. That's it. So the likelihood of ever finding their mate was slim. So most lived life all alone. That was part of the reason Igneel took him in, a small part but still part. Since dragon slayers were given their magic by a dragon, part of them was no different than a dragon. Igneel had speculated that the whole mate thing was included. He was never sure though since he had never even found his mate. If it was almost impossible for a dragon to find theirs it was most likely improbable for a dragon slayer since there are a million times more people then dragons in the world.

But if he ever did find her what would he do? Instinct would demand he was with his rightful mate. He would leave Lucy. He knew a huge part of him would be devastated but he was pretty sure it wouldn't hurt him nearly as bad as it could Lucy since his instincts would tell him he was doing the right thing. There was one sure way to know if someone was his mate. Igneel had said, "If by some small chance you ever find them they will remind you of your element." That was the most cryptic thing in the world! Did that mean they used the same magic, or looked like fire, liked it even? It could be so many things and there was no answer to be given. Even Igneel didn't know when he had asked all those years ago. He never once gave a damn if he found his mate or not but now it worried him that he could. He never wanted to leave Lucy but that one 'what if' was enough to keep him at bay more than the possible fears of rejection.

He groaned. This was so unlike him to not take chances. But if he failed in the slightest he risked everything. Maybe, just maybe if he tried hard enough he could override his instincts. That could work. He's ignored them before. Not often, and it usually ended in disaster, but it has still been done. Groaning once more he pushed his thoughts away. He'd gone round and round thinking these things over so much it was redundant. In the end he had two choices go for it or don't. He needed something different to think of.

Oh he knew! He'd think about all the terrible things he would do to that piece of shit of a drive once they stopped instead. Yes he'll take out all kinds of aggression on the bastard.

But first thing is first… They need to stop this torture device.

Sabrina~~ Tyvm! I try hard to keep my story goin so ppl don't loose interest LOL I'm glad you like it though! *bows in thanx*

rxpertsven~~ *blushes* TYVM! I prefer stories where the characters are in character so I try to write that way :) And I LOVE pervy Natsu too! He's so far and in-between but he's the best! So I have to add him in once in a while! HAHHAHHA

Link~~ you better of been cryin in my absence! LOL And Lucy isn't the perfect fix but she's better then nothin! LOL

SO yeh here's the chappy! I'm home and all happy again and will be all over my normal daily updates! This story is seriously never endin but you guys seem to love it so it's ok! LOL

Keep yur happy thoughts commin!

~Gemi