The sun was high up into the sky and the town was busy as usual, the crowd of people going down the streets to do their shopping or daily walk leaving it to be a normal day in Fiore, Magnolia. The only difference was that Lucy Heartfillia wasn't in the royal kingdom for once but now, in her home. She's actually been in her home for weeks now, today marking her fourth week as for when she officially migrated to Magnolia to start her life.

Life was great for now since it seemed like things were going smoothly and not so frantic when she first arrived to Magnolia.

Opening her eyes to wake up to a new fresh day, Lucy made a noise from the back of her throat as she threw her arms up, stretching her body for her awake.

"Good morning," a deep voice mumbled against her ear leaving her shivering. "you look rather ravishing today." His toothy grin was enough to have her smiling.

The blonde turned around to face her lover who was watching her as he laid on his side, his arm supporting his head. A bright smile was already present on his face as his eyes followed her every movement. His odd-colored hair stuck out everywhere and his bare chest was enough for her to melt in her spot, the soft expression on his face allowing her to relax.

"Good morning," she whispered as she leaned in to press her lips against his. "have you been up long?"

"Not long," he shook his head. "probably ten minutes before you woke up."

"You should have woken me up,"

"Nah," he smiled. "I love watching you sleep."

"You creep,"

"Who you calling a creep?" He leaned over to wrap his arms around her, pressing his lips against her neck leaving her giggling and squirming around. "I'll show you what a creep looks like,"

"Natsu—!" The blonde squealed as she tried to push the male away but he only continued making her grow louder. "Natsu, you—"she pushed him back slightly for him to lean down and press his lips against hers to shut her up.

It immediately did as she hummed against his lips, wrapping her arms around his bare shoulders as she melted into the sweet kiss.

"Natsu," she moaned as he leaned down to press hot kisses down her neck and bare shoulder. "we need to get up... you have to get going."

"Soon," he mumbled against her skin making her giggle.

"No, you have important stuff to do!"

"I have important stuff to do everyday." He went lower making her throw her head back and sigh.

"B—but, you have a signing to do... and—oh god," she arched her back into his touch making him smirk. "don't you have... suitors to meet today?"

"I don't give two shits," he finally got up to hover on top of her. "why would I need to see suitors when I have a perfectly good one right here?" He placed his hand on her chin to brush his thumb against her flushed cheek. "So, no, I don't have to go and see my 'suitors' because I frankly could not care less."

"You can't have people knowing about our little secret activities,"

"I know," he let out a sigh as a slight frown made its way to his mouth. "I wish I could, though."

"You know well that it wouldn't be good for the both of us,"

"I know," he leaned down to kiss her forehead. "but this is enough for me."

"Me too," she said happily. "but you really need to go or else you might have to face some deep consequences."

"I'll face some deep consequences if I leave you here like this," he leaned down to kiss her exposed bruised neck once more. "it's a crime to leave a beautiful naked woman in bed so early in the morning!" He cried out making Lucy laugh as she tried to push the Prince away. "I mean it!"

"I'm serious, Natsu!" She sounded like she wasn't. "And quit giving me hickeys, I look like I've been abused and beaten!" She squealed as she felt Natsu sucking on her neck again before he pulled away with the smack of his lips, a wide smirk decorating his face as he looked at his new creation. "C'mon, enough! Don't you think that's enough?"

Looking at her neck, shoulder, and down her body, Natsu left trails of hickeys and marks making it look like she was covered in bruises.

Natsu was proud but on the other hand, Lucy was bound to wear long clothing and scarfs for weeks.

"Quit it and get up!" The blonde ordered making him pout.

"But Lucy—"

"No," she put a finger to his face. "I am not going to have Happy yell at me again for having you late or whatever. Besides, I have a job interview today so you can't stay long."

"Job interview?" The male furrowed his brows as Lucy pushed him off leaving him laying up against his elbows. "Where?"

"At a family restaurant down the street," Lucy threw the covers off as she reached the the shirt she had on the previous night. "it's called, Island 8, and I heard its a fun place to work at."

"Why don't you just work in my kingdom?" He asked as he got up as well, his naked behind being flashed to the entire world. "I told you I'll give you a room and everything," he grinned. "and then we can see each other more often." He winked making her shake her head and laugh.

"And how many times have I told you that it'll never work?" She gave him a look making him frown.

"Why not?"

"It's obvious and people are bound to suspect something. Anyways, I don't want to work for my boyfriend."

"I'm the prince of this country, Luce," he buckled up his pants. "wherever you work, you'll still work for me because I basically own everything."

Opening her mouth to close it right after, Lucy pressed her lips into a tight line as she realized that he was right.

Natsu scoffed at her face leaving her to flush and look away.

"Well... I just don't want to work under you!"

"Why not?" He walked over to where she was to wrap his arms around her from behind. "We could have meetings in the broom closet every hour," he whispered in her ear making her blush. "and then have check ups every other hour," his hands starts to slide down her thighs making her grab his hands and push him away.

"No," she shook her head at the frowning Prince. "get out."

"But Lucy—"

"No," she said once more. "I'll see you later but you really need to go and I really need to shower."

Letting out a sigh, Natsu only stood right in front of the blonde as the two just stared at each other, knowing looks on their faces.

"Shower party?"

"I'm right behind you."

—X—

"Your majesty, where have you been?!" Happy quickly rushed to the side of the Prince who only had the look of pure happiness and content on his face while the two walked down the halls together. "You are an hour late for your suitor meetings and they all have been patiently waiting for your arrival, your highness!"

"It's alright," he shrugged. "I'm here, now."

"Sir, you really need to stop doing this,"

"Please don't tell me what I need to do and don't," he threw a look at his butler making him shut up instantly. "at least for this matter."

"My deepest apologies, sir. I did not mean to offend you."

"It's alright," he sighed as he yanked on his vest to adjust it while Happy guided him towards a room. "where are the suitors?"

"They are right here," he opened the door for the pink-haired Prince as the two entered the room.

All lined up for the handsome Prince's arrival, seven Princesses stood up for Natsu to evaluate every one of them to become his future wife.

But in the entire room, Natsu only looked for one woman and one woman only but she wasn't in the room. She was at a stupid job interview.

.

.

.

.

Opening the door to the bar where she was having her job interview at, Lucy heard the ring of the bell as the door opened and shut right behind her. The entire place was bright and full of life. There were people talking and eating as if it was late at night and Lucy never believed that a restaurant could have lots of costumers in the mornings.

The place didn't smell like sweat and rotten wood like any other old restaurant would but it smelt like hot chocolate and cinnamon, a couple waiters, waitresses, and hostesses lingering around the place.

Somehow, the place felt heart-warming.

"Welcome to Island 8, how can I help?"

Turning around to face a woman with long brown hair, Lucy offered a smile her way.

"O—oh, hello, uh, I'm here for a job interview?"

"You are hired."

"And I was wondering who I—wait, pardon me? Did you just say I was—?"

"Hired? Yes, you are hired."

"But I didn't even—"

"You qualify," she just continued to smile making Lucy blink in confusion. "welcome to Island 8! You can start tomorrow and we will have your uniform and schedule figured out with all the other staff, thank you for coming!" She was quick to say leaving Lucy speechless.

She didn't know what to say or do next as she just stood there, staring at the woman who just smiled right back.

"Alright then..." she eyed the woman suspiciously, slowly walking away. "thank you, I suppose?"

"Have a great day!" She offered a wave as Lucy finally left, unable to shake the weird feeling away.

That was definitely the weirdest thing she has ever encountered while she lived in Magnolia and she's encountered pretty weird things while living in the area for a month, now.

But she wasn't expecting such a short job interview and now she had nothing to do.

What could she do, now? Walk around town? Go back to her empty apartment? Natsu was doing his own things and now that she had such time, she realized how lonely she really was.

She needed friends. And fast. Where could she make friends in Magnolia?

Going with her heart, Lucy immediately made a bee-line to the town's library where she was bound to meet somebody who loved books as much as she does.

She's only been to the library twice while she's been in Magnolia and it was very disappointing. It was small and the books were bound to be older than her as stains and rips were on every book. Most of the books were donated from people who didn't want them anymore, anyways, and the library rarely gets any new books which makes her hesitant to go but a library was a library, no matter the quality.

And so stepping towards the small run down library where it was just down the corner of her house, Lucy opened the door where the small bell rang allowing the ones inside to be notified when someone came inside. And the only one there was the librarian who was reading a book along with a single person in the corner browsing in disinterest.

It made Lucy cringe as she entered, walking up to the counter where a blue-haired librarian sat.

"Uh, hello," the blonde spoke making her look up in surprise. "hello... uh," she glanced around her as she didn't know what to say. "by chance, so you have books by the author Kirby Melon?"

"Kirby Melon? He is my favorite author," the librarian beamed as her tiny red framed glasses slide down her face making her push it right back. "we only have one book and I'm currently reading it." She showed her the book on her hands making Lucy blink in surprise. "But you are welcomed to borrow it because I've read it more than ten times!"

"M—me too," the blonde gaped. "I mean, he's my favorite author and I've read that book more than ten times."

"Really?" She looked surprised as well as she didn't think there would be such a big reader in Magnolia. "What's your favorite book?"

"Oh, that's easy," Lucy scoffed. "daybreak."

"No way!" She slammed her palms down on the counter to look at her with wide eyes. "That's my favorite, too!" She pulled her glasses off to lean against the counter while thrusting her hand out in front of her. "My name is Levy McGarden, what is your name?"

"I'm Lucy," she grasped her small hand. "Lucy Heartfillia."

"Well, Lucy, I hope you have some time to chat because we have plenty to talk about!"

"I have plenty," Lucy watched as Levy around the counter to come over to the blonde. "I actually came here to make new friends... I'm new to Magnolia and I need some new friends." She smiled sheepishly.

"I'll be your friend!" Levy said immediately, her hazel eyes bright and wide with excitement making Lucy smile right back. "C'mon, let's go talk some! Nobody comes to this run-down library anyways so closing wouldn't be too big of a problem," she went over to the door to switch the sign to show that the library was closed. "Library is closed, please exit!" Levy told the one customer who was about to leave anyways, the two females watching as she left without a second thought.

Once she was gone, Levy grabbed the blonde's hand and pulled her behind the counter, the smaller one pulling out a stool from out under the table.

"Here, you can sit here," she said as she sat back down in her seat. "it's been so long since I've met a fellow book lover as myself. Especially somebody that loves Kirby Melon as much as me."

"Oh believe me, I know what you mean. Coming to Magnolia was exhausting and it's only been a month of my arrival," Lucy got comfortable. "and I was really disappointed that the library was so small," she looked up to see the frown on the woman's face making her eyes widen. "I—I mean, it's a lovely place! I still love it and I didn't mean to insult—"

"Oh no," Levy laughed. "I don't mind, it is a dump. I just wish we could get a better library but nobody really comes by. I think it's because nobody really knows about this place because it's so run down and small... I bet a lot of people would come then." The twinkle in her eye made Lucy smile as she could see the passion behind her eyes. "I really wish we could do something about it but no matter what I do or how many letters I write to the royal kingdom, they never say anything. So, this library has been like this for almost four years, now."

"The Royal kingdom hasn't replied back or said anything about this?" Lucy asked in surprise making Levy shake her head. "Huh... better tell Natsu about this," she muttered.

"Pardon?"

"Oh, nothing!" The blonde it off as she grabbed the book that was on the table. "Did you know that Kirby was thrown into jail and forced to write a book about his kidnapper?"

"Oh please, those are basic facts! Let me tell you about his secret book."

—X—

Dropping his pen down on top of his many papers, Natsu leaned back against his chair to stretch and groan.

All day he's been meeting with people and signing papers and reading requests which made his body ache and his eyes sting with all the reading and concentrating he had to. He absolutely hated doing paperwork and meetings but being the Prince of the country did have it's downsides. But on the bright side, he was going to go see his lovely girlfriend in a few more hours and then the entire bullshit day was worth it.

Just thinking about his beautiful girlfriend made him smile, his heart warming up as he imagined her in his arms once more.

Weeks ago he would have never thought this would have worked especially since she was just a commoner and he was royalty but the two let it work out.

It all started with them going grocery shopping and the following night after the two having a little celebration with alcohol for all the hard work they've managed to do.

They were in love with each other and they knew that it was risky but Natsu liked risky.

He was first to kiss her in their drunken state and somehow, they both ended naked on her bed with Lucy screaming his name throughout the night.

He didn't mean for it all to happen but was he glad it did. Now three weeks later, the two met regularly and continued to love each other in secret as the Prince of Fiore snuck out of his Kingdom to go down to Strawberry street to meet his lover.

He's never felt such emotions for someone as he loved the thrill of meeting Lucy late at night and making love to her till the crack of dawn.

Unable to break the grin, Natsu grabbed his pen once more to continue his work so he could finish quickly and made his way over to Lucy's house where he knew she was waiting for him.

As he continued to read through such requests, he heard a knock on his door making him look up, seeing it was Prince Gajeel stepping inside without him even allowing the male to enter. The grin on his face was immediately wiped off as Gajeel smirked.

"Did I wipe that grin off ya face, your majesty?"

"What do you want, Gajeel? I'm busy," the pink-haired Prince huffed as he continued his work as Gajeel walked over to one of his couches to sit down.

He traced his finger against the clean surface. "I dunno, just wanted to see what my favorite Prince was up to."

"Cut the crap," Natsu said without even looking up. "what do you want?"

"Fine, I can see that you don't want me to be nice about this so I'll go straight to it," the Prince cleared his throat. "you gotta stop meetin' up with that blonde chick."

"Blonde chick?" Natsu looked up to furrow his brow before he realized who he was talking about. "How do you know about—?"

"I know, ya dumbass and I also know that you're going to be in deep shit if you get caught so I'm telling you once again, stop meeting up with the bimbo."

"Don't you dare speak about her to me like that," the Prince snapped, fire burning inside his eyes as Gajeel just sat in silence. "you don't know anything about any of this so I advise you to leave, now, and don't ever speak about this ever again."

"Y'know I'm just trying to help you out."

"I don't need it so leave my presence, you fiend."

Never breaking eye-contact with the pink-haired Prince, the steel Prince stood up and smirked.

"I gave you a far warning," he shrugged as he started to walk away. "but don't come crying to me when something happens."

"I don't need you telling me that," he snarled, narrowing his eyes. "mind your own damn business."

And with that, the Prince was gone leaving Natsu in his room all by himself once more. Prince Gajeel's words rang inside his head and he knew that Gajeel was right in some way. There is no way that he could redeem this if he was caught in his affair but he just couldn't help himself. He was in love with Lucy and if he was to be separated with Lucy, he would lose it.

Now, he had to be more careful.

I promise I won't let them take you away from me.

notes: yes, yes, it is I who return from the dead. deepest apologies to everyone and i want everyone to know that i will be continuing this story bc i am learning about kings and queens and such in history and i just got a spark of interest of royalty bc of it so enjoy it while it lasts.
notes2: id probably have the second chapter up by tomorrow lol
notes3: i'm sorry for the awkward time skip that happened between chapter 5 and this? but i swear it's good. i have great ideas
notes4: how are my lovely lays? school is stressing me out and i will grow bald soon but how are you? :-)
notes5: don't forget to leave a lovely review for me