~Lucy~

How can any of this be real? The nagging worry for my sanity hounds every step we take back towards the cave, my lip caught between my teeth as I argue with my own mind. Sure, it seems too good to be true, like a dream. Natsu being here, Natsu going dragon on me, Natsu loving me, claiming me...everything. But it just seems so real and I so desperately want it to be. I'm sure my mental state still needs to be examined but with the solid feel of Natsu's arms around me as he carries me back for breakfast, chattering animatedly, I find my realist side overpowering the paranoid voice in my head.

"...and Grey and Erza are going to be thrilled when I show up with you and one of the wolves gone! Yosh! Plus..."

"Natsu."

"...Wendy can take a look at'cha to make sure you didn't do any permanent damage and heal all those scrapes ya got..."

"Natsu!" His eyes flash to mine, dimming at the tone.

"Yeah Luce?"

"..." He watches me quizzically as I grapple for words. " Are...are you sure?"

"About?"

"Me. Us. As embarrassing as it is that I thought Id gone crazy you have to admit this is a little far fetched even for us."

"What is?" He sounds confused and it only serves to frustrate me more.

"Natsu this isn't a fairy tail! I'm no princess, just a regular girl, and regular girls never get the prince." Stopping abruptly Natsu looks down at me incredulously before anger flashes into those dark eyes.

"That's gotta be one of the dumbest things you've ever said." His tone is dull and annoyed and my temper spikes sharply.

"Hey!" A quick jostle silences me as I squeal and cling to my slayer while he waits until my eyes raise again before speaking.

"Who says that regular girls can get the prince? Whats so great about princesses anyway? They always need rescuing, they never stand up for themselves or anything they believe in and they have to be prim and proper all the damn time. For that matter whats so great about princes? Pansies who rely on everyone else to do the work. Now dragons on the other hand...there's a creature worth the stories, and I know for a fact that dragons love brave, fun and slightly crazy regular girls."

I'm fairly certain that if I hadn't already been madly in love with this obnoxiously sweet slayer...this would be the moment I would have fallen. Every time he says something sweet and profound I'm reminded that there is so much more to my best friend then anyone else knows. Tears escape the confines of my eyes for a second time that morning and I bury my face in his shoulder, touched beyond words at this powerful dragon slayer saying something so damn poetic for my sake.

"Besides, who needs a fairy tail when we've got our own magic Luce? We can write our own story." As Natsu once against begins his trek through the words I whisper my thanks against his skin.

~Natsu~

I watch Luce over the fire, slowly spinning a stick skewering a piece of meat so it cooks evenly for her. Wed both been quiet since getting back and though I still want her like crazy I know the mood isn't right at the moment. So ill feed her and we can talk through whatever is rolling around that overactive mind of hers. Gives me time to notice things I'd missed last night.

Shifting my wings so I can settle back against one of the large rocks scattered bout the cavern I prop one knee up to support my arm and settle my gaze on my mate. Shes used a hairband to pull the thick mass of bleached blonde hair into a messy bun on her head, the weight making it sag rather adorably. I still want to bury my hands in all that silk. The lengthening had caused it to curl and as pieces escape to frame her face it only serves to improve upon the look and accentuate her slimmer face. Gone is the roundness and innocence, giving way to an elfish beauty to her features and making her eyes appear twice as large, piercing to my soul with each glance. Scattered scars harshen what would otherwise be cherubic beauty, hardening her into a warrior princess and I find my eyes glued to her.

Wait...when the hell did I get so poetic? Hell who am I kidding, I've always been soft for Lucy.

"How did you know?" Her husky voice pulls me from my musings and I quirk a brow in question. Clearing her throat she answers me, cheeks flushing.

"How did you know I was your mate?" Thinking for a moment I grin sheepishly, eyes far away as the memory surfaces.