Zeref's jaw almost dropped when he heard Lucy say that she cared about him. Never before would he have expected anyone to care about him, especially Lucy. He definitely didnt' expect her to care enough to stay alone with him on an island until the end of time, not when she had friends here who were offering to take her home, risking the wrath of the Masters of their guild.
Mavis, after all this time, I think I finally found someone who means more to me than anything else in this world ever has. I think I finally found love.
Lucy grinned at him as she turned back to her friends, leaving him to sort through the confusing thoughts that whirled around inside his head even as Natsu glared at him from his seat beside Lucy. Zeref knew, perhaps better than even the pinkette, that Nastu cared deeply for Lucy. He watched the two in silence, settling his own feelings as he watched the two interact. Lucy seemed to care for Natsu as well, but Zeref wondered if she cared in the same way as the dragon slayer did.
He hadn't seen her this happy and his heart squeezed at the thought that she could be happier if she went back with them. He would be alone again, that was true, but he was used to it and didn't mind so much if she would be happier with them. The thought of that smile never crossing her lips again made him hang his head in sorrow. Even if he couldn't see it, at least he would know it was there.
Lucy chatted with her friends while watching Zeref carefully. He seemed conflicted about something and she desperately wanted to know what it was. She hoped that her friends weren't bothering him. She would send them away if they were, but something told her that wasn't what he was struggling with. Managing to break away from the group she crawled over to him, studying his face with the same intense gaze that she had once bestowed upon Gray when he'd hurt himself on Galuna Island all those years ago.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" She teased after a moment, deciding it was okay to speak.
He looked up at her in surprise, "I was just wondering about you and Natsu."
She looked at him in confusion, her head tilting to one side, "What about us?"
"Do you love him?" Zeref asked softly.
Lucy could almost feel the room still behind her, knowing that Natsu and Wendy would have heard the question, even if no one else could have. She blushed and looked down at her hands as she sat down properly.
"Can we discuss this later?" She whispered, trying hard not to look back at her friends, where she could feel Natsu's gaze on her back.
He nodded, though she could see the slight clench in his jaw, "Sure."
She smiled, "When they go to bed, we'll talk, okay?"
He nodded once more and Lucy crawled back over to her friends, sitting between Erza and Levy, chatting once more about the guild.
Zeref didn't miss the glance that Natsu shot him, nor did he miss the way that Wendy kept glancing at Lucy every few minutes with a thoughtful expression on her face. Though she was the youngest of the group, Zeref was sure the petite blunette was wiser than her years. Natsu walked over to him a few minutes later, sitting beside the dark-haired man.
"You must realize that I heard what you asked her."
Zeref nodded once, looking directly at Natsu, "I do."
"Then you had to know that I'm just as curious about the answer as you are. Why would ask her such a thing, knowing I could hear every word?"
"Because I want to know the answer and because you deserve to know her answer one way or the other. I have to know, Natsu," Zeref looked at the man with desperation in his eyes.
Natsu inhaled sharply, he knew that look. He had, in fact, seen it in the mirror almost every day that Lucy was gone. He'd never imagined that anyone else could care about the celestial mage as much as he did, but now the evidence was laid before him and he couldn't refute it. Zeref was just as much in love with Lucy as he was.
"I understand," He whispered.
"If she choses you, I'll do my best to make her go with you," Zeref said softly. "I couldn't stand the idea of her being unhappy."
"But you'll be alone again," Natsu protested, knowing how much being without Lucy hurt once you fell for her sweet charm. "I can't let that happen."
Zeref shook his head, "I'm okay with that. I've been alone for this long, I'll get used to it again."
Natsu shook his head, "But what if she choses you? There's nothing I can do to help you."
He shrugged, "Don't worry so much."
It was only a few hours later when Erza announced that they would sleep in a cave about twenty feet away from where the two were living.
"We'll be back in the morning," She said, eyeing the two of them. "We still have to figure out what we're going to do about Lucy."
She walked out, dragging the rest of the group with her as Zeref and Lucy watched on in amusement.
"Why did you ask me about Natsu?" Lucy asked, stretching before changing into her pjs, sliding behind the makeshift screen they'd made.
Zeref shrugged, then, realizing that she couldn't see him, "I was just curious. He seems to care deeply for you."
Lucy blushed as she stepped out in a white t-shirt and a pair of pink boxer shorts.
"To answer you're question, no, I don't love Natsu. At least, not in that way," She blushed as she looked down at her hands. "I love someone else."
Zeref looked away, nodding as they settled in, "Then you should go back with them. You need to tell this person how you feel and you should. You should be happy."
Lucy snuggled into him, "But if I go back with them then he'll never know."
Zeref's heart started racing as he considered her words. Everything she was saying was pointing in one direction, a direction that he had hoped for but hadn't dreamed could be true.
"Who is it?" He whispered, breathlessly.
Lucy giggled before turning to face him, "I love you, Zeref."
AN: 3 *Dances around with stars in her eyes * Oh they are going to have to the cutest children! I don't care if it's not possible either! It's still going to be beautiful! Now they question is - how will he react now that Lucy's dropped the Love Bomb? ;)