Rose- LMAO

Riven- HA! look at that some one actually beat you to a review! LMFAO! No he doesn't he talks like a kid when he gets all excited or nervous Something I've noticed a lot.

Link- I'm so gonna beat you one of these days -_- But yes... Nervous or excited the two kindda go hand and hand.

lilpumpkingirl-Ty for the offer! It's frustrating to have a vision in yur mind but not be able to express it in words. I've deleted and re-written so many lines it isn't even funny. It's one of those. I'll type then read over and scrunch my nose. Verbal vulgarity is one thing for quotes or thoughts but it's not my taste to describe body parts or actions when in the act so to speak LOL I've been re-reading through a few fics I'm following trying to gain some different incite so to speak. But when I'm done with the one I might be knocking on yurs next. Characters aren't so important because I know what I want them to do, I'm just looking at word flow and descriptive possibilities.

Celt- LOL yeh he can actually be incredibly sweet at times without thought. I saw that as more of a way of consolation prize LOL Like yeh I took this from you but you got mine instead! HAHHAHA

rena- MMMUUUHAHHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH You NEVER know with me :D

Melime- LOL TY!

Asuna Yuuika- *cries* YOU HAD A PITCH FORK!? *tee hee* Yeh I'm not really that surprised LMAO I was ready for the hate with that. There they are perfect moment... BAM totally fucked! LOL I had to, I couldn't help myself when writing.

Panda- LOL It's ok. And yes eventually there's just a few things that need to happen first LOL this week though you'll find out!

Groves- LMFAO At the VERY bottom of 37 I gave a challenge that since I had posted that chap so early in the day if I could get 15 reviews by 10pm EST I'd post a second chap for the day... That's where the extra came in. And TY! He deff would just fuck up when he's trying to say something awesome. In true Lucy fasion she has to freak out over it. But with my theory on mates and such honestly either could have been plausible. So no more "Ugghhh" for those chaps then?! YEY! LOL

So now on with chappy 40...

Lucy watched as Natsu fidgeted. She continued to let the question hang in the air a few moments relishing in his unease as a form of payback for her turmoil. "Hmm? What about it?" she asked biting her inner cheek to keep herself from laughing out as he visibly slumped slightly.

At a loss for words he stumbled, "Well ya know… I mean do you? Are we?" flustered he shot forward and pulled at his hair in frustration. "GAAA!" Leaning in closer and pointing accusingly at her he started ranting, "Damn it do you love me too or not? Cause I'll have you know it's going to be really hard for you if you don't because I'm not going anywhere now for sure and I'll be damned if I let you!"

She blushed at his close proximity but didn't give him any other reaction at first. She could fully understand now why it was he and Happy chose to mess with her constantly. This was just too much fun! With his feelings and views out in the open it was like a huge weight was lifted off of her thus giving birth to this new found playfulness over the situation. "Didn't Igneel ever tell you it is impolite to point?"

Doing his best impersonation of a fish he retracted the finger quickly and eventually let the hand fall. Staring into her brown depths he caught the mischief and merriment dancing together. Glaring and pouting slightly he huffed. "You're mean. Really mean." Seeing the smug expression on her face made him pout further, "Just tell me already."

"Tell you what?" she asked innocently.

He was about to retort when an even better idea formed in his mind, "Oi, Happy?" he called to the all but forgotten exceed.

"Aye?"

Making sure to keep eye contact with Lucy while he spoke, he smiled evilly and said, "Go down to the guild and tell Mira to do that thing we talked about yesterday." Slowly moving forward causing Lucy to lean back against the seat of the couch he continued, "And when Erza and the rust bucket get there tell them to help until this afternoon cause Lucy said so."

Happy had been sitting on figurative pins and needles during the exchange of his partners. He was hopeful Natsu really could fix the situation but at the same time he was ready to help. He had been so worried he had eaten seven fish without thinking. When Natsu called out to him he didn't know what to expect. They had been laughing that was good right? Then again this was Lucy and she was weird so who knew. Being told what he was though made him the happiest ever. Somehow Natsu knew he fixed it all and now things would be the bestest! "AYE SIR!" he yelled rushing out the window.

"OI! Who said you get to use up my bet?" Lucy asked ignoring how close Natsu was to her.

The man shrugged and continued forward until she was trapped under him. "Well I'm not letting you leave until you tell me. So someone has to put them to good use right?"

Taking in the fact that Natsu had an almost predatory gleam to his eyes and was now caging her in, she gulped. What had she gotten herself into? Raising her hands almost defensively she attempted to push him back while stuttering out, "Wh-what are you p-p-planning?"

Natsu's features changed for a moment back to his normal childlike grin, "It was originally Happy's idea but then I thought about something else that would make it better but it's a surprise!"

Lucy glared, "That's not what I meant and you know it."

He shrugged. "So are you going to tell me or do I have to make you?"

Ignoring the sensation running through her at having him this close her stubborn nature rose up. "First off you need to get off me. Secondly, you of all people cannot make me do anything. Thirdly," she finished while raising a brow in defiance, "why should I tell someone who still wears children's underclothing anything?" she smirked.

Looking down between them he took note of his choice of boxers. Once again they had chibi style dragons all over them but they were on clouds or flying in the night sky. What was wrong with them? Stars and dragons, these were one of his favorites, right next to the ones that he owned with flames. Looking back to Lucy he scowled, "Oi, I like these ones! Stop changing the subject!" Sighing frustrated at her giggles he flopped down on her wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Ugghhh… Natsu," she whined, "You're too heavy!" Attempting to squirm out from under him but failing she groaned, "Get off you lug. Are you trying to suffocate me?"

Chuckling at her protest he shifted down slightly leaving him to use her chest as a head rest. "Better?"

Lucy sighed, "Yeh at least I can breathe again."

"Hmmm you really are cumffier than your bed." He purred while holding her a bit tighter and nuzzling her chest.

Growing red for several different reasons she growled out, "Natsu, get off of me!"

Ignoring her he asked, "Is it that bad? Why won't you tell me?" unable to hide the hurt he felt.

"Natsu," she cooed trying to sooth his hurt. Placing a gentile hand in his hair she said, "I was just teasing you. I couldn't imagine my life without you." Biting her lip and steeling her resolve she continued, "With everything that's happened this last month it made me realize something."

"What's that?" he mumbled against her.

Smiling she answered, "I realized that no matter how much I tried to deny it, I had fallen in love with you. The thought of losing you was physically unbearable. I was having nightmares too. I'm ashamed to admit it but I honestly enjoy you guys staying here." Blushing twenty shades of red she whispered, "I enjoy sleeping with you every night."

Snapping his head up he scrambled to hover over her once more so they were face to face again. His heart was racing and felt like it would burst, "Really?"

"Yes really."

"So you love me too?"

Lucy smiled lovingly up at him, "Of course I love you. How can I not?"

"No more teasing?"

"Nope, I promise I mean it."

He moved with speed that was inhuman as he crashed his lips to her own. It had taken a moment for Lucy to respond but when she did he was in heaven once more. She loved him, she was kissing him. What more could matter in life? Pulling back he was once more left with a breathless vision of Lucy and he smiled. It was a pure unadulterated smile of happiness that swept over his features. All this worry, all the drama he developed in his own head, it had all been for nothing. "Now that I know you're my mate we're going to be together forever and ever and we'll get married and we'll have like fifty kids and they'll be able to beat the shit out of the stripper and tin can an-"

Blanching she cut him off, "Wow, wow, WOW! Slow down! You're getting way ahead of yourself." She couldn't help the giggles as he pouted, "One step at a time. Besides can't we find a more normal name besides 'mate'? I'm not a dragon so it sounds weird."

"You're weird." He grunted. Seeing the look she was giving him he relented, "Fiiiinnnneeeee. What do I call you then?"

Blushing at the thought for some reason she stuttered out, "G-g-girlfriend?"

He frowned at the pettiness of that word. But if it made Lucy happy he didn't care because he knew what she was and that's all that really mattered. "I still get to beat the shit out of any guy that get's to close."

Rolling her eyes she said, "Just stick to the glaring you already do."

His eyes widened slightly, "You noticed?" He smiled a bit nervously at her comment.

She shrugged, "Yes, I just thought you were annoyed because you wanted to go do something."

"Whatever, no promises." he mumbled. "But I still get to do this whenever I feel like it." He said with a smirk while he claimed her lips once more.

When they finally pulled apart Lucy couldn't help but return the smile Natsu was giving her. For as wonderful as the moment was though she couldn't ignore the pain she began to feel. Groaning a bit she asked, "Can you get off of me now? My back is starting to hurt."

Smile still in place he obliged by leaning back to a sitting position pulling her with him and seating her in his lap. Making sure to keep his arms wrapped around her waist he buried his face in her neck and let out a contented sigh. Her response was to relax into him further and gently run her hand through his locks while holding him with the other.

They sat like that for several moments until his muffled voice broke the sweet silence, "Hey Luce?"

"Yeh?" she answered lazily.

"I'm hungry."

Lucy laughed at him and pulled away slightly seeing his goofy grin back in place. Rolling her eyes she gave him a quick peck on the lips and said, "I guess I need to make those omelets you asked for last night huh?" as she pulled away fully and headed to the kitchen.

For a moment Natsu sat there confused. When realization dawned on him as to just why he asked for omelets, a light dusting of pink spread across his face. Pushing the thought out of his mind, for now, he hurried to follow her to the kitchen.

1...2...3... AAWWWWWWWW And there you have it they FINALLY had the wonderful lil talk and it all works out. BUT WAIT! There's more! LOTS MORE! I mean what are Natsu and Happy planning? What's to come of Gajeel and Erza? What about that saucey lemon I promised? So many questions and more!

MMMUUUHAHAHHAHAHAAHAAHHAHAHAAH

*couch* Sorry about that... ANYWAY! So I'm this should keep the fan girls from trying to kill me for now at least! Keep on sending me love and happy thoughts! I think I'm gonna take a nap in Happy's mind once again. Nibble on a fish or two... Yeh that sounds good...

~Gemi