Act 3
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

44

The Secret Garden

"It made her think that it was curious how much nicer a person looked when he smiled. She had not thought of it before."
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

It turned out that Natsu declaring he was going to tear down the doors to Tartarus and actually doing so were two very different things.

It had taken Jellal approximately half a second to ask where Tartarus was and less than that for Natsu's face to go blank as reality hit. Jellal had shaken his head and gone to recruit some help to find it. It was, unfortunately, not something he could ask Cobra about. Even if the poison dragonslayer knew, which was debatable, the information would be useless thanks to the demon base always being on the move.

That had left Lucy and Natsu without much to do, so she'd taken the opportunity to sneak off and take him home. The guild rebuilding could wait a bit longer.

"Are you alright?" She asked once she'd gotten them home and him settled in their bed for some badly needed alone time.

It was pretty clear to her he wasn't, but except for snuggling up to him, which she was more than happy to do, she couldn't quite decipher what was going on in his head. Though she could guess quite a bit given the information they'd just been given.

Still, she wasn't going to push her thoughts and opinions onto him. It would be better if he talked about it. So for now she would wait.

That didn't stop her from softly placing a comforting kiss on him though.

It wasn't just Zeref though. Sure, he was a whole new slew of problems Natsu didn't know how to deal with, but he wasn't the only one.

Cobra's words whispered in his mind, fueling that ever dubious voice in the back of his head. The one that breathed doubt and fear Natsu was too weak to overcome.

The one that told him this was all a lie. That he couldn't - didn't belong here.

He sighed into Lucy's soft lips, feeling his hesitation and fears melt away for the time being. How rare was it for him to simply feel with her?

How could he doubt this? Doubt her?

Angling his head, he nosed into her cheek and nipped at her plump mouth, fangs tugging lightly on her bottom lip. Every motion was slow. Unhurried kisses, comforting and gentle, were exchanged between them, the exhaustion from their battles drawing energy from their limbs.

This was fine though - in fact it was perfect.

It was just what Natsu needed.

He smiled into her kiss, letting Lucy chase away the shadows plaguing his mind. This was enough right?

So he could tell her what Cobra told him. He could tell her the bond was gone.

His stomach suddenly twisted at the thought and he pulled away from Lucy, tension coiling back in his shoulders and at the base of his neck.

Lucy's confused eyes met his, her hand smoothing down the hard planes of his chest, fingers tangling into his scarf. The other lifted to press into his cheek, cupping the curve of his jaw.

It was a touch so gentle it made his heart ache with the desire to tell her. But his own fear was too great.

Natsu felt disgusted with himself, unable to put to words what was bothering him.

Unable to trust what they built.

"It's okay," Lucy assured him, her eyes meeting his, a smooth thumb pressing into his hot skin.

What was okay? Did she mean Zeref?

He opened his mouth, but she shook his head, "Don't push it Natsu."

The chide came soft, her hand smoothing through the locks of his hair, pushing his bangs back and scooping around to cradle the back of his head, pulling him into a hug. It was both awkward, but comforting.

And once again he felt that knot loosening in his stomach.

"I'm not sure what's going on that's bothering you, but that doesn't matter," She breathed in his ear.

Slowly, his body went lax in her arms, his hands resting at her waist, "You'll talk to me whenever you're ready. Okay?"

The warmth of gratitude filled Natsu, and he felt some more of the pressure on his shoulders lessen.

He snorted a little, bumping his nose against her neck, "Lucy aren't you the one that's got three dark guilds breathing down your neck?"

"One of those guilds is gone now thank you very much," Lucy replied saucily, leaning back enough on her heels to give him a wicked smirk.

Natsu rolled his eyes and leaned over to yank the pillow out from under her, causing her to cackle when she went flailing down back on top of him.

His arm caught her around the middle and he gave her a mischievous smile, "You're not so hard to catch."

Lucy giggled softly at him and shifted into a more comfortable position, "Not for you." She purred and pulled him into a deeper kiss than before.

Alone time was still a rare and precious thing for them to get, and she wasn't about to pass up the chance now. Even if all they did was kiss and cuddle she was happy. She just wanted to be near him without Happy or anyone else looking at them.

Natsu smiled in response as she began working her way along his mouth towards his jaw and nuzzled him. So that was what she had on her mind huh?

Well he was more than willing to oblige.

Ever since that glorious night the least little thing she did tended to ignite a fire in him he had difficulty in keeping hidden, and suddenly it seemed like a great idea to at least show her how much she meant to him.

He was better at actions anyway.

So he curled his free hand around her face, pausing to admire the beauty in it, before pulling her into a sweet and tender kiss, "Thanks Lucy." He murmured, though he wasn't entirely sure what he was thanking her for exactly.

It just seemed like the right thing to say. And the answering smile from her told him he might've gotten it right for a change.

He smoothed his hands gently down her sides, enjoying the feel of her curves and cocked his head slightly at her, a raised eyebrow asking just what she wanted.

She just grinned at him, somehow both saucy and loving, "Whatever you want to give me."

He pressed his mouth against the valley of her breasts, just under her collarbone. Her skin trembled beneath his curious lips, the unique flavor of Lucy coating his tongue and filling the back of his throat.

His heart flopped in his chest, like a beached sea creature. Slim fingers ran through his hair, drawing a lazy and contented growl from Natsu's chest.

Slowly his hands skimmed along the curve of her waist. Warmth buzzed under his hands wherever he touched. Clever hands slid along his shoulders, Lucy's slim arms curling around him.

He looked up at her, a smile gentling his face as he bent up and kissed her.

He slid a warm hand under Lucy's shirt, letting his palm flatten against her stomach. It did him the favor of drawing a surprised gasp from Lucy, one Natsu quickly swallowed.

Deepening the kiss, Natsu rearranged their bodies so he could lean Lucy back. He pulled away enough to look into her eyes, his arm snaking around her waist when he laid down next to her.

Perhaps laying them down hadn't been the best course of action though, because as soon as he sprawled down next to Lucy, the exhaustion of the day began to catch up.

Lucy's eyelids were already drooping, trying desperately to stay awake in their new position. Natsu barely managed to smother a laugh when she let out a jaw cracking yawn directly in his face. She managed to hold up a dainty hand to try and block it from Natsu.

However it was still contagious, and Natsu let out a wide yawn right after her, his limbs beginning to feel heavy.

Lucy snorted as Natsu opted not to cover his mouth at all when he yawned, "Real nice." She teased

Natsu rolled his eyes and leaned over her body, snapping off the lights on their bedside.

"Whatever, you started it," he grumbled.

He sank back down next to Lucy, cupping the back of her head in his palm. Natsu couldn't help but marvel at her. She was so fragile. Not as breakable as most humans, but still easy to snap. But the fragility of her physical form belied the power that surged beneath that sweet exterior.

And Natsu supposed... he didn't just mean her magic either.

Lucy's lips found his in the dark and he returned the kiss, shifting their bodies so her arms would wrap around his torso and his could mantle around her smaller frame.

As sleep encroached on them, interrupting all their half-baked plans for the evening, Natsu couldn't help but think this was far more intimate than anything else they could have done.

There was something so personal about holding and being held by someone.

Something Natsu knew instinctively he wouldn't tolerate from anyone but Lucy and the rare exception.

As he closed his eyes, sleep overtook him, an echoing voice calling in the back of his head. The one which always went ignored.

'Good night Natsu...'

Lucy slowly came to as the early morning light filtered through the curtains. She didn't really want to get up though. Despite still being in yesterday's clothes she was warm and comfortable and snuggled up to Natsu, and that was more than enough incentive for her to not do anything except smile sleepily and snuggle closer.

Her dragonslayer, it seemed, had the same idea as he tightened his grip. However, his hands shifted a little when he did and one came to curl around her butt. A flush of heated pleasure coursed through her at the contact, and Lucy sleepily kissed his neck in approval.

Natsu purred softly in his sleep, his dreams of battling hordes of enemies shifting into something considerably warmer as his dream Lucy started kissing his neck.

He growled happily at the attention, heat melting his insides, and let his hands roam curiously while she kissed him, his own kisses peppering her shoulder.

He'd explored her before of course, but after that one night they'd taken it slow and even then he hadn't had a chance to really study her. So he was more than happy to take the shift in his dream to exploring her.

He didn't realize that outside his dream his actions were being mirrored on the real Lucy. She certainly didn't mind though as she gasped softly, still not entirely awake herself, and arched into his warm touch.

The sound of her quiet gasps pressed into his ear and slowly dragged him into consciousness. To say he was pleasantly surprised to find his arms filled with a pliant Lucy was an understatement. Her lips were skating across the thick scar on his neck, chin buried in his scarf as her mouth moved in lazy circles.

"Morning," She mumbled, limp against him and not looking like she was moving any time soon. Natsu hummed in response, a shiver of pleasure running down his spine at the gentle way her breath fanned against his hot skin.

Natsu's hand flattened against the curve of her rear, crawling up her bowing back. He smiled sleepily, and leaned into her, nuzzling the side of her head with his cheek.

"'m tired..." His hand drifted upwards under Lucy's shirt in unhurried circles, his thumb brushing slow, inquisitive strokes against the sides of her breasts. Natsu's cheek lifted at how Lucy's body twitched on top of his at the sensation, her hand fanning out towards his waist.

"Me too..." She snuggled into his neck, but her fingertips travelled nonetheless through the hard ridges of his chest and sides. Her touch, as light as a butterfly's wings, fluttered down his muscled thighs, under the bend of his knee and back up.

Tension slowly heated in Natsu's body, a tired smile lifting his cheeks and his eyes slid closed. Lucy's touch deliberately ghosted over his groin, sliding up through the folds of clothing he was still wearing. Not that it was much.

He hadn't bothered to change after his fight with Cobra, the clothing he wore was mostly in tatters now so Lucy had enough freedom to map out wherever she wanted to go.

The early morning light shone through the window and warmed them, Lucy sliding up against his body to capture his lips in a sleepy kiss.

His hands braced her thighs as they melted into one another, simply enjoying one another before the rest of the world woke up.

Lucy hummed softly with pleasure as they continued exploring each other slowly and gently. The heat gradually built between them as they moved against one another. She liked this. A lot.

She'd always been a bit of a hedonist. The pleasures of life were meant to be savored after all, and despite his high energy it seemed Natsu was rather enjoying it too.

She smiled lazily at him and dipped her head to start trailing her lips over his chest only to jump a mile when Happy suddenly flew into the window. The loud thump jarred them out of their early morning explorations rather suddenly, and Natsu was turning his head towards the glass in worry.

Lucy toppled off Natsu with a frightened yelp, while Natsu himself shoved the window open and gently collected his dazed flying kitten.

"You alright little buddy?" He asked in concern, shifting to hide his current state from the small Exceed and trying not to laugh as Lucy buried her face in his shoulder. He could hear her softly swearing under her breath at Happy for scaring her so badly, and her sulking that their fun was interrupted.

It was quite hilarious as she couldn't seem to decide what to focus her irritation on.

"Aye!" Happy chirped with a grin as he shook off the effects of his collision, "Sorry I didn't come home Natsu." He said sheepishly, "I fell asleep at the guild."

Natsu grinned at Happy, smoothing his thumb over his fuzzy head. He didn't know why Lucy was all but hiding behind him at the moment, but it was still funny.

"Are you sure you didn't stay behind on purpose?" Lucy smirked at Happy from over Natsu's shoulder. Her chin settled on his warm skin and she favored the kitten a sly look.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Happy said shiftily, settling himself in the crook of Natsu's elbow. He was giving Lucy a falsely innocent look neither of them bought for even a moment.

"You sure you weren't hanging around the guild to try and play with Carla?" Lucy teased, causing Natsu's eyebrows to climb up into his hairline.

"Ohoho, is that so?" Natsu's grin split into something distinctly wicked.

"You liiiiiiiike her?" Natsu trilled at Happy, causing the kitten's blue cheeks to purple under his fur.

Happy let out a giddy sigh before giving Natsu a strange look, and pressed his paws to either side of his head, "Aye!"

"Carla is the prettiest kitten ever!" Happy sighed dreamily, already being swept off in day dreams of fish and the proper feline.

Lucy giggled at that, mollified now that her heart wasn't pounding from fright, "How cute!" She teased and scratched Happy gently behind an ear as she moved out from behind Natsu.

"I'm going to get a shower." She told them as she slid out of bed, but leaned over to pull Natsu into a lingering kiss as she did.

"You liiiiiiiiiike him!" Happy sang, hoping to get a rise out of Lucy.

Unfortunately for his plans, Lucy just smirked over her shoulder at him, "Well yeah!" She exclaimed, tossing them both a wink before vanishing into the bathroom.

Natsu watched her go, an odd fluttering in his chest at the words she spoke so easily and at how the door closed behind her. His eyes followed, long after the shower was running.

The guilt and worry from the previous night niggled distantly in the back of his mind, but he was able to ignore it in favor of the warmth making his heart feel all fuzzy.

It was strange, but he thought...

That warmth that suffused him. Her smile and her inviting touch. Did he-

Happy's soft paws prodded at Natsu's cheeks and he blinked down at his cat's black eyes. He tilted his small head, his gaze curious on Natsu.

"What about you?" Happy asked innocently, "Do you liiiiiiike her?"

Oh that was going to get old real fast.

But Natsu considered his question, his eyes falling on Happy and his deceptively wise gaze meeting him. His small jaw was set in an easy smile.

"No," He murmured to Happy, reaching the conclusion that eluded him.

Whatever he felt for Lucy, it wasn't summed up as a mere 'like'

"It's more than that," He tapped his little friend's belly.

Happy looked positively thrilled by this answer, his tail twitching attentively, "Really?" He asked, enthusiasm pouring off him.

"What can be more than 'like'?" He asked Natsu.

The dragon didn't have an answer for his cat. He wasn't sure what was the appropriate response anyway.

"I'll let you know when I figure it out," Natsu grinned, shooting a look at the shower door, "C'mon Happy. Let's go bother Lucy!"

"Okay!"

Everyone please be safe this holiday season! I hope it's a good one! No review responses this time, I haven't been able to get onto the computer with my family in town!

Alas, no sneak peek this time either :'D