Chapter Twenty Two

We were able to secure passage to Fiore when we got to Reino. We got train tickets to Ermina, returned the cart and booked passage on a merchant freight scheduled to leave Ermina the next day. By the time we got to the inn we were all too tired to explore the town, instead going straight to the welcoming beds waiting in our rooms. We left early the next day, arriving in Ermina before our noon departure. It seemed like everything was going smoothly for us for once. Erza was even able to fit all her luggage on the ship under the weight limit. She and Jellal only had four bags with them when they met us in Bargo, the fact that they now had five times that amount was a real testament to that girl's commitment to shopping.

The captain had told us the voyage to Fiore would take 8 days, apparently the ship was heavier and more cumbersome than the passenger ship we took at the start of our trip. He assured us he'd do what he could to speed the trip along, Jellal's somber expression probably encouraged him to do everything he could to shorten the length of the trip. So here we were on day 3 and what had been a cramped and uncomfortable journey, hanging hammocks in the cargo hold to sleep, eating meals with the smelly sailors, huddling in designated areas of the ship so we were out of everyone's way. We could all hardly wait to get back to Fiore, back to home. It had been over 2 months, almost 80 full days since we left Iceberg, and I couldn't stop thinking about my bed back in Crocus.

It was getting kind of late and I knew I should try to get some sleep, but I was too busy enjoying the fresh air and open space, for once not feeling suffocated or like I was in the way. I was leaning on the deck railing, watching the waves gently rock the ship and I couldn't help but remember that night on deck with Sting. When we were doused in that freezing cold wave. I felt like we had come a long way since then. Since we first gave into that mutual attraction. Talking to Aquarius, and even to Loke, actually made me feel better about trying to let go of Natsu. If he ever came back I still wasn't sure what I'd do. If I would want to be partner's again, if I would be able to even be around him. But I knew that I wouldn't leave Sting. Not if he still wanted me…if he meant what he said back on that mountain, back in the hospital. When he said…when he said he loved me.

I'd noticed over time that my heart was letting go of Natsu little by little. The more time I spent talking to Sting, the more I learned about who he was and the more he learned about me, I could feel us growing closer, feel my heart opening up to him. Loke was right, I couldn't close myself off to the potential because I was holding out for Natsu, what had Natsu ever done to earn that and would he even want me too? Would he notice? He was my best friend, that wouldn't change. But at the end of the day, he chose to leave, he chose not to take me with him. He chose not to share his grief with me. He chose not to get stronger together. While he may love me I now realized he may never love me the way I wanted him too, and even if he did it may not even be the way I needed.

Yeah, the more time I spent with Sting, the less time I thought about Natsu. The more time I just enjoyed being in the moment with the blond slayer, the less often my heart ached for my best friend. It was strange to me, it wasn't like my feelings for Natsu lessened, more like they…shifted? I could confidently say that I loved Natsu, as a best friend, as a team mate, as a member of Fairy Tail. But I wasn't in love with him…I was in love with Sting. I hope he always deserves you, Aquarius had said. And I truly thought he always would. Besides, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to seeing what else those lips could do without a damn interruption. The thought brought a heat to my cheeks and a smile to my lips.

"I could get used to a sight like that," I felt two warm arms wrap around my waist and lean into me.

"A sight like what?" I leaned into him too, resting my head on his collar bone, enjoying the feeling of his fingers stroking my stomach through my open jacket.

"You," he said, running his hand up my side, fingers barely grazing the side of my chest, up my neck, resting on my chin and turning my head to look at him. He leaned in and stole a soft kiss from my lips. "And whatever brought that beautiful blush to your gorgeous face." And he kissed me again. I sighed into it, my lips parting to give him better access, he slid his tongue across my bottom lip, sending shivers down my spine and little electrical pulses across my skin. I moaned into his kiss as he held my lip gently between his teeth, I could feel his sharp canines dimpling my skin.

"And I could get used to this," I said when he finally broke the kiss. I turned in his arms, and he slid his hands beneath my coat, pressing his palms to my bare skin. Things had been great ever since he woke up. Not only was I not weighed down by anxiety and worry about when or if he actually would wake up, but we'd also been able to spend real time together. Sure, none of it had really been alone. But we'd manage to sneak off once or twice, steal five minutes here and there to ourselves. We hadn't managed to talk in private yet about everything that happened, and I was sure he wanted to. But we both had better ideas on how to spend our stolen moments, and none of them involved talking. And whenever the battle was brought up around the others it was quickly pushed aside, pretty much everyone just wanted it to be over. No one wanted to rehash the details, no one but Sting. But maybe we'd have time now? Maybe I could ask…about what he said just before he passed out. We hadn't spoken of it and he hadn't said it again…I couldn't deny that I was burning to know if he really meant that. The problem was whenever we had a minute my body burned hotter for his touch. We'd have time, I thought. Maybe we had time right now.

I wasn't quite sure how to go about it. I mean, how did you bring up that kind of topic? Hey, so when you said you loved me right before you almost died did you mean it or did you just say that because you thought you were dying? Not real smooth, Aquarius was right I suck at talking to boys. Whatever, I'd thought I screwed up before, waiting to tell Natsu. I wasn't about to let Sting slip away too. I hugged him a little tighter, letting his warmth seep into me, strengthen me, make me brave.

"Sting–"

"Hey Lucy–" we talked over each other, making us laugh.

"Alright," I said. "You first?"

He pulled back a little, lifting my face with a calloused finger. Then his lips were against mine and I forgot how to speak. His tongue moved gently against my mouth, demanding entry. I gave into him, and felt his tongue meet mine, a gentle push, his fingers left my face and tangled in my hair. He pushed me back against the railing, his lips never leaving mine, his other hand caressing me under the soft fabric of the Celestial coat. Running his rough, but somehow still soft, fingers up and down my back. His lips moved to my cheek, then trailed soft kisses along my jaw, moving to my neck. I felt his hot breath on my skin, I felt hot all over. My breathing was heavy, my mind was blank and my heart felt like it would beat right out of my chest. I swayed a little, my legs getting weak, his fingers moved along my side, past the hem of my skirt. He grabbed my thigh, his fingers digging into my skin and it was like my body erupted in desire. I felt myself getting wet in response to the sinful touches of the holy dragon slayer.

I wondered, briefly, very briefly, how far this was going to go, right here on the open deck, when he dragged his tongue over the pulse point in my throat and his teeth pressed down into my skin. I had no room for coherent thought after that.

"Oh gods, Sting," I moaned and I swear I felt him smirk against my skin. Jerk.

This is not what I came out here for, honestly; I swear. Guildmaster's honor. I came out here to finally steal a few minutes alone with her. So I could say what I needed to say. I was nervous, I didn't want to come off too strong or too fast, didn't want to scare her off. But when I was fighting Khavary, when I consumed Lucy's spell, I think I knew. But when hers was the first face I saw when I woke up in that fucking hospital room, when I saw the way her face lit up when I smiled at her, like when she looked at him…better even. That's when I knew for sure, no question. I was in love with a fucking fairy. I knew with perfect clarity exactly what I wanted, Lucy Heartfilia. Not Minerva, not some random hook up, not some no strings arrangement with that Mermaid Heel mage. Just Lucy. I loved her. That was what I wanted to tell her.

But the second I saw that flush on her face and that sexy smile on her lips, it was like I lost all control of my body. I couldn't pull my lips away from hers long enough to use it to form words. And when I did pull back I just moved to her throat. Tracing her heart beat with my tongue, running my hands across her sexy curves. My brain was almost completely non-functioning and I didn't know why that would be a problem. Currently the only thing on my mind was what interesting noise I could pull from her if I bit her juuusttt there.

"Oh gods, Sting," her moan was like music to my ears and I couldn't help the satisfied smirk it brought to my face. I could get used to this. I slid my hand down her thigh, then up the hem of her ridiculously short skirt, grazed her hip then settled my grip on her perfectly shaped ass.

"Mmmm," she said, squirming against me and I felt myself harden even more in response. Fuck, what was this woman doing to me? Her hand settled on the back of my head, fingers twisting in my hair, tightening her fist in a not so gentle pull. Fuck, that felt good. She arched her body even more, giving me better access to her neck and chest. I wondered how far she'd be willing to go right now until I felt her hand slide down my stomach and press against my painfully hard cock. Oh fuck. I pushed my hips forward, grinding myself against her hand. Gods I felt like I would come from just this little contact, like a fucking little boy. I couldn't let our first time together be like this, that would be embarrassing. Besides, I wanted her to know what she meant to me before this went any further. Reluctantly, so, so reluctantly, I put my hands on her upper arms, took one last delicious kiss from her lips, and took a step back. Gods, she's beautiful, I thought as I took in the sight of a thoroughly kissed Lucy Heartfilia.

"So…umm…" she was trying to catch her breath, maybe get her mind working again. I could only hope I'd successfully kissed her senseless. "Is that…is that what you wanted to say?"

"No," I laughed. "But I just couldn't stop myself."
"Good," she said. "Don't."

"Don't what?" I asked, smiling at her gorgeously flushed face.

"Don't stop yourself," she said, reaching out to me.

"I have to," I told her, and the cute little pout on her full lips made me hard all over again. "I do have something I wanted to talk to you about."

"After?" She asked, perking up.

"Now," I laughed. "I don't want to run out of time."

Her face got more serious at that and she leaned back against the railing gesturing me to go on. I walked up to her again, placing one hand behind her on the railing, one hand moving the hair off her shoulder, running my fingers through it. I couldn't touch her more than that. Not if I wanted my mind right, but I also couldn't keep my hands off her. And from her response to my nearness she didn't want me to. I just stood like that for a minute, holding her, inhaling her scent, enjoying the feeling of having her close. She had this way of calming me down, making me feel strong, brave. And I knew now was the perfect time to tell her, with Aquarius shining bright above us, the others kept safely in the cargo hold, distracted by Rogue, my wing man.

"Lucy," I made sure to meet her eyes. I wanted her to see that I meant it, that this wasn't a game to me, that she meant everything to me. "We haven't known each other that long and I guess maybe we don't have a really good history. Fairy Tail and Sabertooth are rivals too, even though we get along better now," I was completely rambling now, my perfect fucking speech completely ruined by my nerves. But gods that fucking look in her eyes, and the scent of her arousal that my sensitive nose absolutely did not fail to pick up was scrambling my thoughts. "We've got really different reputations, you know? And-and I didn't forget what you said, last time, about…about Natsu. A-and, and maybe what we're doing doesn't really even make sense–"

"Hold on," she interrupted me, slapping her palm against my lips. Oh fuck, I knew I was moving too fast. She looked confused and extremely pissed. My mind was racing, trying to figure out if I should back track. Why'd you stop kissing her you fucking idiot!?

"Sting, are you breaking up with me?"

The thought of that being where this fucking conversation was going made me break out in hysterics. Until I saw the anger clouding her face and I got a slap straight to the face. Ouch.

"Fuck, Blondie! That hurt!" I yelled, my hand pressed against my stinging cheek.

"Well it serves you right, lightbulb! How dare you!" She was raising her voice and I thought back on my words and realized that I completely fucked this up. Gods you are such a dumbass. "How dare you come out here and-and touch me like-like that! And make me, make me feel like that just before you break up with me!"

This was not how I wanted this to go, but gods if it wasn't gonna make for a good story later. I wasn't brave enough or stupid enough to fuck with her about this right now though, so when she raised her hand for another good slap to the other cheek I grabbed her wrist and held it tight.

"I'm not breaking up with you, Blondie. Relax," I told her and watched all that righteous fury drain right out of her face. Now she just looked embarrassed. Still fucking hot though.

"You're not?"

"No!" I said, laughing again, hoping it wouldn't earn me a hit to an even more sensitive part of my anatomy. "No, but I'm an idiot. I'm no good with words, not like you. This is coming out all wron–wait? Break up with you? So are we…together?" Ok, maybe I'd fuck with her a little.

"Yeah, you big dummy," she shouted, gesturing at the two of us. "We're standing right here!"

You know, she was not as good at that dumb blond thing as she thought.

"Lucy," I said seriously. "Would you be my girlfriend?"

I knew from what she said it was a pointless question, I didn't even need to ask. Plus girlfriend just didn't sound like enough for what she really was to me. Partner, maybe? Soulmate? Nothing sounded right, she was…everything. But she also deserved the full experience. And I'd call her my girlfriend from now until forever if it's what she wanted.
"Of course….dummy."

"Good, because I love you." There. Done. Said it. No taking it back now. Sure I didn't get to say it in the romantic way I had planned but, fuck it, it wasn't coming out right anyway. I'd always done better at being direct.

"No shit, Sting," she said, like I'd just told her the most obvious thing in the world. "I love you, too." And that was it. That was all that needed to be shared. The sweet stories and promises could come later. Right now all I wanted were those lips.