See darling, Im a good little author and posted something as promised. Still getting back in the groove so please forgive the rusty skills. Enjoy my darling readers.


~ Lucy ~

"The roar shook the forest, sending leaves spiraling from their fragile perches. Id stopped at a clear little stream to fill my thermos when it happened, the sound terrifying and familiar and sending my heart racing. "Its just a hallucination, just a hallucination." Shaking fingers fumble to put the cap back on the steel thermos, my calm scattering in the wind. Don't panic. Its just the delirium. Just get to a hospital. Talking to myself was NOT helping. Jittery now I close my eyes and listens only to be petrified by the sound of something tearing through the forest towards me.

Gulping thickly I bolt, stumbling over roots and rocks and god knows what else as I flee. My breath is coming in pants and as the sounds grow ever louder it strikes me that I cant outrun my own mind. The thought is not a comforting one. A growl cuts through the panic and suddenly shes on the ground, breath gone from the force of impact and eyes screwed tightly shut. "Its just a hallucination. Its just a hallucination." Another growl responds to her babbling but she refuses to look.

"Open you eyes."

"No."

"Now!"

"NO! Its just a hallucination, its just a halluci-"

"Luce, look at me."

"No. Your not real." Her voice is whisper soft, desperate even.

"Oh Im very real Lucy. Very real and very angry."

"Angry?" Did people usually hallucinate angry people?

"Oh yes. Angry. I just got you back only to have you run from me. Angry is a good word for how I feel."

"The hurt tone in his voice breaks her resolve and she peeks one eye open, the other following as both pop wide and her mouth opens in awe. My delusions were pretty fucking realistic. Natsu hovers over me, wings spread wide and eyes glowing like hot coals. His fangs dig into a full lower lip, tempting me to lean up and run my tongue over them. But feeding the delusion was a bad idea. Recovering quickly my own anger rises, anger at myself for being crazy, anger at him for not being real, anger at her fantasy for being so hot. With it comes the tears. Damn.


~ Natsu ~

"Her tears tear at my heart, cracking through the anger and leaving me hurt and upset but considerably calmer. "Oh baby, don't cry." My claws brush at the tears, trying to wipe all the pain away along with the water. Ive always hated seeing her cry.

"W-ant you-e rel." Her voice is muffled and cracks so much I cant understand a word.

"What?"

"Why cant you be real?!" To my confusion and slight panic the tears turn into sobs, those small hands coming up to cover her face and break my fractured heart that much more.

"Lucy, look at me." She doesn't respond and I try again, this time the demand in my voice clear. "Look at me!" The hands lower and the lids lift, her eyes watery and weary. What the hell went wrong? After last night I thought things between us were good, complicated but good. And what the hell does she mean by real? I decided I may as well ask. "What do you mean by real?"

Her sad little watery laugh makes me want to cry. "Your not real. The real Natsu is in Magnolia fighting at the guild and being happy and clueless as usual."

"Uh..." I don't know how to respond. Dammit Natsu say something! "What?" ...brilliant.

"I'm delusional. Your not real. Nothing from last night actually happened and I'm going crazy."

"Well...Id have to agree with the crazy part but I'm telling you Lucy, I'm real and so is that mating mark on your shoulder. Everything that's happened is very very real."

"That's just what a delusion would say." Ok...now I'm starting to get seriously pissed.

"Dammit Luce how can I prove to you I'm here and real as you?" I'm fuming but I can practically see the wheels spinning in her head so I keep quiet for a bit and its some times before she speaks, her husky voice vibrating over my ear drums and making my blood hum in arousal. "Pinch me."

Wait, what? "Huh?"

"Pinch me. That's how you wake up from a dream so it should work here too."

"O...okay...I guess." Reaching out I wince myself before pinching the skin of her arm, claws tapping together though I'm careful not to hurt her with them. Her yelp makes me grin but the look of absolute astonishment on her pixie like face is just too much. My laughter rings through the trees, earning me a glare and a shove from my strange little mate. When she struggles out from under me I hop up and scoop her into my arms, the solid weight doing much to appease my still agitated dragon. He was NOT happy that she left us.

Looking down at the bright blush on her gorgeous face I keep my voice soft, wanting her to take me seriously. "Lucy." Chocolate eyes meet my own onyx gaze, the apology in them dismissed with a loving grin. "Your not delusional. I'm no dream. We are no dream. I'm your mate, just as you are mine. Ill follow you to hell and back to prove it to you but I'm hoping you'll take my word for it this time. No more running on me. Twice is twice too many." Her blush goes nuclear but she raises her face to seal our lips together and the relief staggers me. I groan when she pulls away.

"I wasn't running from you." My eyebrow raises but I keep silent. "I was going to a hospital. I honestly thought Id gone crazy. No way could any of this be real, especially since you weren't there when I woke up." Lips stretching into a feral grin I lower my voice, my desire coming flooding back now that shes in my arms again.

"Oh baby, just wait. When we get back I'm gonna show you just how real we both are." The smile that lights her face almost makes all this craziness worth it.