Natsu sighs deep in content, arm securing around Lucy who's laid against his side where they're sprawled out on his couch. They happened to have the same day off during the week today and Natsu asked if she would be up for spending it together.

He'd still been wanting to do something special for her, other than the small dinners or quick lunches at each other's shifts, but said jobs had been keeping them both busy the past two weeks so this was a good chance to start. He picked her up and took her to get some good brunch by the lake and they walked along by the shops where Natsu insisted he'd get Lucy whatever she wanted, despite her initial reluctance. He very much enjoyed all her pretty smiles, laughs, and how bright they all made those chocolate eyes he always got lost in. Mainly just making up for lost time and enjoying being by her side.

Natsu may have stopped them several times along the way to kiss that happy smile.

They picked up some more quick food before heading out, more for his stomach's sake, and stopped back at his apartment to relax before Lucy had to pick up Kade later. Before he knew it, they'd apparently both dozed off for a few episodes of a new show they were watching and Natsu blinked awake first to her arm secured around his waist, legs tangled, and her head on his chest, making him smile softly.

To think they could be here together like this. Especially after he thought Lucy didn't want anything to do with him, scared her away by pushing his feelings on her too soon.

While he was spending days wallowing in his room with an aching heart, it turned out Lucy felt the same the whole time too. He really should've known better and expected them both to need some time to process feelings and everything with both of their complicated pasts. But all their overwhelmed feelings, leading to her finding him just when he was thinking he lost the best things to happen to him for good, kissing him and telling him she loved him too? It was all almost too much for his poor heart.

Lucy loves him ! He still couldn't believe it, or feels like he deserves it, but he was trying to be the man she deserves. But just thinking through everything still makes his heart swell with so much joy and equally strong love, it could burst. Something he was still getting used to allowing himself to feel fully.

He can't help the wider smile that crosses his face and he hugs her a bit closer with a soft kiss to her temple. Natsu almost falls asleep again with the warmth and comfort of it all, holding her in his arms, but Lucy ends up stirring awake a bit after too.

Groaning as she stretches, Lucy turns her head up to look up at him, cute sleepy expression. "Did I fall asleep? Oh I'm sorry," she rasps, shifting to detangle herself and sits up, running a hand through her hair. He already misses her warmth against him.

"Seems like we both did, but don't worry. Guess we must'a needed it," Natsu chuckles, stretching himself. "Gotta take advantage of it on a day off."

"I hardly take naps, so I must've," Lucy laughs. "You're always sleeping the days away on the other hand," she teases playfully.

Natsu gasps dramatically at the playful glint in her eyes. "Well, I do tend to need my beauty sleep after all," he smirks. "And today, I especially couldn't help myself, I was just sooo comfy with you here." He wraps his arms back around her to pull her back down to lay against him, not letting her go.

"Natsu!" He drinks up her bright laughs as she squirms, straight to his heart.

He relents and they catch their breaths with wide smiles.

"As much as I would love to just enjoy relaxing the rest of the day away, I should head out to pick up Kade in a bit," Lucy sighs, looking at her phone for the time, but not quite getting up yet, like she doesn't want to leave.

Not that Natsu wants her too either.

Natsu smiles warmly. "Yeah of course, I can drop you back when you're ready."

Lucy's quiet for a moment before she turns to him and asks, "Did you… did you want to come with me?"

"Are you sure?" Natsu says softly. "I-I haven't quite made things up to you completely like I want to yet, I'd get if you're not ready for me to spend much time with him yet," he swallows thickly.

As much as they've been mending things, he's been careful not to push to ask her for more time with Kade yet. As much as he missed the boy, he still didn't wanna mess anything up yet now that they were in this good place.

Lucy's expression softened, reaching over to squeeze his hand. "Hey, I really appreciate all the effort you've been putting in lately, but you've done more than enough even if you don't think so," she says softly. "We're both fully in this now and moving forward, so you don't need to keep punishing yourself. Yes, I'm sure. He really misses you."

Natsu nodded, hand moving over hers. "I've been wanting to make it up to him too, but just been worried about pushing too quickly with him if you didn't want me to yet. If he was still upset, but I... I love him and miss him a lot too."

Lucy smiles brighter, eyes affectionate as she leaned against him to kiss his cheek sweetly. "I know you do, and what happened wasn't intentional. He loves you just as much as you love him. He's so much more understanding than I even realize. C'mon, he's going to love this surprise and is just going to be so happy to see you."

She pulls him up along with her as she stands. Natsu laughs warmly and can't help but drink in the sight of her standing there just happy, and he's determined to make sure she always is.

"Sounds good. But first," Natsu pulls her close, cupping her face to place a slow, lingering kiss to those addicting lips.

Lucy sighs and smiles into him, kissing him deeper for a few longer moments. "What was that for?" she asks after, soft palms smoothing up along his back.

Natsu hums. "Mm, just love you and love seeing you happy is all."

It's still thrilling every time he says it and he enjoys the pretty flush on her cheeks when he does.

"Well, you make me happy and I just happen to love you too," she smiles warmly, cute pink on her cheeks.

It's just as thrilling every time to hear her say it back.

Natsu takes a deep sigh, wringing his hands as he waits at the edge of the front yard of the daycare while Lucy went in to get Kade. He hopes this isn't too soon...

But before he can let his insecurities and doubts fill his mind about this too much, the door is opening and there's a small flash of blonde running towards him.

"Natsu!"

Natsu can't help the wide smile that takes over his face as he quickly kneels to catch the boy in his arms, hugging him tight.

"You're here!" Kade yells happily. Then Natsu feels the soft sniffles on his shirt and his heart aches. "Really missed you."

He pulls back, seeing those hazel eyes a little glossy and looking at him with so much happiness.

Natsu's eyes sting already too, heart swelling with warmth. "I really missed you too, Kade," he smiles softly, brushing away a couple stray tears. "Hey, I'm sorry for letting you down before and being gone for so long. There was a lot of stuff I had to fix, but I'm not going anywhere now. I promise," he says warmly, strong conviction welling in his chest.

Kade nods and smiles brighter at that, wrapping his arms back around Natsu's neck tight.

Natsu looks over to see Lucy drying her own eyes, giving him a warm, loving look. He stands and holds Kade close as he spins them around, the boy giggling brightly.

"Let's get back to mom and see if she wants to get some food, huh?"

Kade eagerly agrees, running over to Lucy across from them to hug her waist when Natsu sets him down.

"Best surprise ever, Mom!" He smiles wide. "Can we get some food with Natsu?"

"Hm, I think that sounds good," Lucy says, walking them back over to Natsu, and Kade instantly taking both their hands between them, making them share a soft look. "Maybe Natsu will want to hang out with us for a bit too."

"Yeah! Please, Natsu!" Kade pleads, tugging Natsu's hand.

It didn't take much for Natsu to happily agree.

Natsu drove them through their favorite burger place before going to Lucy's and were quick to dig in. He just took everything in as they sat at the table, Kade's contagious happiness, Lucy's relaxed and content smile over at him, letting it all fill his heart with love. He really missed the comfort of being here and just being around his favorite people.

Kade's now dozing off between them on Natsu's shoulder after a filling dinner, running around showing Natsu all the new things he'd collected since the last time, and starting one of his favorite movies but sleep was quickly catching up to him as much as he's trying to fight it.

"Guess all the excitement took a lot out of him," Natsu chuckles, softly patting the boy's hair.

"It really did," Lucy smiles affectionately.

"I'll help put him to bed."

Kade wakes a little when Natsu tries to move him.

"Are you going? Nooo, please stay, Natsu," Kade protests sleepily, rubbing his eyes, gripping Natsu's arm. "I'm not even tired."

"I dunno about that, bud," Natsu chuckles warmly, expression soft. "But don't worry, I'll see you soon and we'll do something fun. You need some good rest first though, ok?"

"Okaayyy," Kade accepts with a wide yawn.

Letting Natsu pick him up, he meets Lucy in the bathroom where they go through the routine of getting him freshened up, changed, and into bed where, sure enough, he was out in minutes.

"Thank you for today," Lucy sighs, when they settle back on the couch after Natsu helped her clean up around the house a bit too. "Not just for everything with Kade today, which made me happy seeing him so happy again, but just us enjoying simple time together… I loved and missed that with you."

Natsu's expression softened, reaching over to lace their fingers together. "I really enjoyed today too. As much as I love our fun adventures out some place, I really missed being able to enjoy a relaxing day like this with you too… and I'm sorry again for-"

Soft lips against his interrupt his words for a moment. "Stop. Know you keep wanting to knock yourself down for everything that happened, but you can stop being so hard on yourself," Lucy reprimands softly, thumb smoothing along his jaw. "If I can't keep apologizing to you and trying to make it up to you , then neither can you," she taps his nose.

Natsu smiles sheepishly. Lucy had tried to be the one to treat him to a big breakfast on one of their quick outings before work recently and he put the money right back in her palm and waved it off. Even though she showed her stubborn side and went and snuck off to pay before he got a chance to argue anyway and he graciously accepted. He appreciated it, but her own apologies just didn't feel right. He was the one who put at the distance and hurt between them in the first place, he just felt like he should be the one to keep making it right, but she did have a point.

"Ok, ok," Natsu accepts with a laugh. "I just… can't believe I let things reach a point where I almost lost you. Both of you. Guess I can't help but wanna do everything I can to make sure you know that I'm... I'm all in this and you really do have my whole heart, Luce," he says, voice shaking a little. "And just knowing you love me is more than enough." Opening up his heart like this was still a bit scary, but to see such strong affection reflecting back at him was worth it.

Lucy's expression softens, reaching up to thread her hand through his hair and rest on his jaw. "You're too good to me," she whispers almost to herself. "Hope you know you have all of mine too."

Natsu leans into her touch with a deep sigh, closing his eyes and content to just enjoy the comforting moment for a long moment.

"Now, I can't say I won't stop wanting to spoil you and treat you like the princess you are," Natsu says with a smirk after a bit, making her roll her eyes playfully. "But for now, how 'bout just one more somethin' special and fun for all of us before Kade starts school? Since it's still pretty warm, I was thinking we take a drive and go to the beach tomorrow?"

Lucy laughs warmly. "That does sound fun. We've never been, but he'd love that." Her expression turns reflective. "But you're right, I've been so busy getting things ready for him, paperwork and everything, but it's really sinking in now that he's going to be starting that whole journey soon. He's growing up so fast," she sighs, smiling lovingly.

"You've done an amazing job raising a great kid so far, Luce. Getting him to this point. He already gets his smarts from you, now they're really gonna shine."

"Hopefully he's not gonna pick up all the rowdy and troublemaking skills from you," Lucy teases playfully, laughing at Natsu's dramatic gasp. "But really, thank you. That means a lot," she says softly.

"Of course. Anytime you need me to hype you up, I'm here," he grins wide and toothy.

Lucy shook her head fondly, tugging him closer to kiss him warm and slow, making him sigh into her. Letting the loving feeling wash over him.

"Hmm, I've wanted to do that all properly night," Lucy smiles against him, caressing his cheek.

Natsu hums, leaning into her touch. "Yeah? Sorry for keeping you waiting then," he smirks before threading his fingers through her hair and pulling her back in for a deeper, lingering kiss, Lucy melting against him.

"That's a start," Lucy grins when she pulls back to catch their breath, thumb along his jaw. Natsu huffs a laugh, but he catches her expression shift. "It's not that I'm- I just… I haven't had a true partner in my life with Kade around, and I'm not sure how to do this… transition? About us showing affection and everything around him just yet?" she sighs, hands coming down to lace them together between them. "He knows you're important to me, to both of us, but we still haven't told him officially yet either, and what if it confuses him, becomes too much?"

Natsu's heart aches at the worry in her eyes as she looks over at him. He squeezes her hand. "It's ok, Luce. Don't gotta worry about all this now, telling him anything you're not ready for, or for my sake. We can still enjoy this together, take our time and we can tell him together when you're ready? He's gonna have a lot to get used to with school soon too?" he suggests warmly.

Lucy nods and smiles softly. "I… I do love you and would like to allow myself to show that around him, but that's true. We'll get there, my brain just tends to like to go into overdrive too often," she chuckles, skin tingling as she brushes her thumb across his knuckles.

"Hey, don't worry, I know that all too well," Natsu laughs before his expression softens. "I'd love to show off all my love for you too, but I'm happy to go at whatever pace you want and need. As long as we're together." He reaches over with his other hand to curl some of her hair behind her ear.

That pretty pink flush crosses her cheeks again as a bright smile grows on her, leaning in to give him a chaste kiss before settling against him again. Head into the crook of his neck, arm draped across his waist.

"Thank you."

Natsu's heart swells with a strong warm flush of affection at the emotion in her voice. He secures his arm around her, holding her flush against him, tossing up his feet onto the ottoman in front of him with a sigh and a kiss to her temple.

They stay that way for a long while, talking softly into the night. As much as he wishes he could stay that way forever, he eventually calls it a night when Lucy starts yawning more and making him yawn.

She's reluctant to let go too, but his promise to get all her favorite foods and snacks for the beach trip tomorrow seems to work.

The lingering kiss and soft loving words she gifts him with, keeps a smile on his face all the way home and until his head hits the pillow.

Kade is all smiles and boundless ball of energy as soon as Natsu is back at their house and he and Lucy told him about the plans. Luckily he'd thought ahead and had prepared his truck with coolers of enough drinks, snacks, chairs, and whatever else he could think of early this morning. It'd been a long time since he'd been to the beach too and he couldn't help but feel excited to have fun day with his favorite people.

Natsu helps Lucy get Kade wrangled up with his swim clothes, bag of toys, Lucy's own bag and they load up into the truck and are on their way. Half the way there, there's a break in Kade's exciting stories of all the things they can do as a nap gets the better of him.

"He wore himself out already and we haven't even got there yet," Natsu laughs, glancing at the sleeping boy in the rearview mirror for a moment before sharing an amused look with Lucy.

"He'll spark up enough energy once we do, don't worry," Lucy laughs. "It's such a nice day out for this by the way. Good idea." The bright smile she turns and gives him makes his heart almost burst.

"Well, I was due for a good one soon," Natsu winks.

He enjoys more of her warm laughter as they talk more along the way, which helps the time fly by and the normally long drive feels like a couple minutes. Kade woke up by the time Natsu pulls into a free space in the parking lot, and once he sets his eyes on the large ocean ahead of them, the boy's buzzing in his seat.

Lucy manages to keep Kade close as they unload, Natsu going ahead and carrying the heavier things and they set on the trek through the warm sand.

"Woah! Look at the big water!" Kade exclaims happily, quickly running ahead of them.

"Careful, don't go totally in the water until we're ready!" Lucy warns, setting some bags down when they find a good spot.

"Ok!" He says, jumping onto some wet sand instead.

"That boy," Lucy shakes her head in amusement.

"You were definitely right about him getting his energy right back," Natsu chuckles, setting his stuff down with a huff. "But with any luck, he'll wear himself out and knock right out on the way back too."

Lucy agrees with a laugh and they work together to get the umbrella, chairs, cooler, and towels set up. She pauses to take in the view. "Wow, this was so worth it. It's beautiful out here," she sighs, fixing her hair in her bun before giving him a happy smile that lights up her eyes, making Natsu lose his breath a little.

"Yeah, it really is," Natsu says softly, unable to take his eyes off her.

That pretty flush that's probably not just from the sun spreads across her cheeks, smile turning soft as she manages to wrangle Kade back over to get him set with sunscreen.

That's a pretty good idea, Natsu thinks to himself as he tugs off his shirt that was already sticking to his skin from the strong sun. He pauses when he catches Lucy biting her lip softly and averting her eyes from him when they meet his, keeping her hands busy with Kade who was giggling as she patted his cheeks with the lotion.

Natsu smiles wolfishly. Oh, liked what she saw did she? Good to know. His pride doesn't last long, when own sunscreen bottle slips from his hands as soon as he sees Lucy slip from her flowing wrap, revealing a tasteful dark navy two piece, making him swallow thickly. Ever since their first trips to the pool before, seeing her like this never fails to make him all flustered.

"Did you need some help there too?"

Natsu focuses again to catch Lucy's own smirk this time.

"Yeah, c'mon, Natsu! We wanna go in the water now!"

"Ok, ok! Yes please," Natsu laughs, holding his arms out so Lucy can spray him with better coverage.

"Still like what you saw, huh?" Natsu whispers a tease with a wink while Kade is still distracted when she comes around in front to get his chest, holding himself back from pulling her in closer.

"Maybe. Looked like you liked your view too," Lucy smirks.

"Hm, maybe. Think I'll need a closer look to be sure."

He laughs brightly at the roll of her eyes and when she messily pats his face with some lotion too.

They share a playful look, quick squeeze of her hand, and soon enough, Kade's pulling them out to the cool water, and they help him jump over the small waves.

Once they all got used to the water, Natsu smirks at an idea that just pops into his head.

"Ok, ready, hold on!" He secures Lucy in one arm, Kade in the other, picking them both up and running a bit more into the water, getting them all drenched with one larger rolling wave crashing through them.

"N-Natsu!" Lucy shrieks, trying to squirm from his hold while Kade is just laughing brightly.

Natsu cackles loudly as another wave catches them at the waist.

"Again, again!" Kade cheers, wrapping his arms around Natsu's neck.

Lucy giggles through a shriek from another cold wave. "Enough for me!"

Natsu relents and lets her go. Her bright smile shines through more than the annoyed look she tries to give him as she attempts to push her wet hair from her face.

"Can't say that wasn't fun, Luce," Natsu grins wide.

"Hm, maybe. But so is this." She reaches down to start splashing them too.

Natsu grins, setting Kade down as he tries to block her. "Oh, three could play at that. Let's go, bud!"

There's bright laughs all around as they run around all trying to splash each other along with the rolling waves for a while. Natsu catches Lucy in his arms again, spinning her around in the water and enjoying her happy laugh.

"Ok, ok! Enough for real this time, I need a break," Lucy giggles, catching her breath when Natsu sets her down again.

He can't help but admire her flushed cheeks, damp hair falling from her bun and framing her smile so wide that it reaches her eyes reflecting warm happiness at him. Just as he hopes she always is.

Natsu nods, catching his own breath too, unable to help his own toothy smile. He gives her hand a squeeze before she waves them off to head back to her chair. He takes a moment to admire her before Kade splashes him good again. Natsu laughs and is happy to run around chasing waves with Kade for a bit before they play some catch with the ball and gloves they brought. He's glad there's not a lot of people here today either, enjoying more space for themselves.

He's in need of a break too after a while and he gets Kade over to their chairs with Lucy.

"Finally got tired too, huh? Or just hungry," Lucy says, setting her book down.

"Both!" Natsu huffs, dropping down into his chair. Kade eagerly agrees.

Lucy chuckles and Natsu helps her set up their lunch. After they fill up on their food, they're content to just relax and watch Kade play with his toys in the sand, excitedly showing them his creations. Natsu rests his head back on his chair and looks out to the soft waves rolling onto the shore in front of them for a while with a deep breath. Steady white noise helps to ease his mind, easy content warmth welling up in him. Being here, happy with his favorite people was all he could ask for. To think he could've lost all this...

A soft touch on his hand brings him out of his thoughts, looking over at Lucy beside him.

"You doing ok?" she asks softly.

Natsu breathes in deep again and smiles warmly, lacing his fingers with hers with a squeeze. "Yeah, I'm… I'm just thinkin' how glad and happy I am to be here with you both."

Her brighter smile reaches those honey eyes and he craves to kiss her right now, but doesn't want to cross a line for her with Kade with them.

"Me too."

But then she moves close before he realizes it and presses a warm kiss to his cheek, making his skin tingle.

"Moommm, it's not mushy time yet," Kade whines, nose scrunching a bit.

Lucy laughs warmly. "Really? What's a good time then?"

"Our bedtime book time, fun days, birthdays."

"Well, I think today counts as a fun day right, Luce?" Natsu grins, sharing a playful with Lucy.

"I'd say so."

Natsu quickly moves to wrap Kade up in his arms between them and they both press kisses to his cheeks.

Kade giggles brightly. "Too much mushy!"

They relent after a few more and Kade falls over dramatically, all of their bright laugh filling Natsu's heart.

"One more for fun!" He leans over to kiss Lucy's cheek before adding one more to Kade's head, making them giggle. "How about one more jump in the water and we check out the pier before the day ends?"

That gets Kade jumping back up excitedly, making Natsu smile wide. Lucy's content to sit this one out, getting comfortable in her chair with her book as she waves them off.

"Get me when you kids are ready for the pier."

Natsu gives her hand another warm squeeze before heading back out. Kade laughs happily as Natsu tosses him up into his arms on their way through the sand.

"Ok one more for fun!" Kade the one to press a quick peck to Natsu's cheek this time with another bright giggle and Natsu's heart swells.

"See, I knew you liked the mushy love!" Natsu laughs. The boy's smile turns sheepish and Natsu squeezes him in a hug. "Don't gotta be embarrassed, just shows how much family love each other."

Small arms wrap around Natsu's neck. "That means you're our family now too right, Natsu?" Kade asks softly.

Natsu pauses his steps, question catching him off guard. For being so young, Kade's so insightful and always able to pull at just the right strings to flip Natsu's heart.

"Absolutely. Always. Love you, bud." Expression softening and catching those open vulnerable eyes. He kisses Kade's head again with a ruffle of his hair for good measure. "Now, let's show mom how much fun in the water she's gonna miss, yeah?"

Kade matches Natsu's wide smile as they turn back to wave at Lucy, who gives them a warm smile and wave before Natsu says to hold on as he runs the rest of the way back into the water until it's waist deep and Kade's bright laughs as he picks him up and over the rolling waves fills his heart.

Natsu's thoroughly exhausted now after a while longer in the water, chasing each other, helping Kade jump over the waves again, keeping the boy entertained. Now, they're both dragging their feet through the sand by the time they make it back to Lucy.

"Aw, you boys officially tired now?" Lucy asks playfully, setting her book down. She laughs as they both pout and nod their heads. "Alright, lets pack up. We can get some ice cream at the pier before we get back on the road."

That's enough to get Kade perked up a bit.

Natsu huffs as he gets everything hauled back in the truck, grateful he parked close by the pier. Brushing off what sand they could for now, Natsu shares a laugh with Lucy as Kade tugs on their hands over to the boardwalk.

They go through a couple shops getting a few souvenirs. A happy laugh lights up Lucy's face when she puts some funky sunglasses on Natsu's face.

"That's totally your look."

He smirks and gets her back with an equally big and bright set over her eyes, making her giggle more. Lucy gets a pair for all of them and they end up finding a photo booth where she can't help but pull them into before finally getting their ice cream that they enjoy on a bench at the end of the pier, just taking in everything.

"It's been a long time, I forgot how exhausting the beach can be," Natsu huffs once he and Lucy get settled back in the truck after getting Kade all buckled in, feeling the wear of the day catching up to him already.

Lucy chuckles. "Well yeah, you were in the water most of the day. And maybe you're not as spry as you used to be," she teases.

"Always chose to wound me, Luce," Natsu pouts playfully at the teasing smile she gave him. "Kade and I had fun out there all day right, bud?"

Kade nods tiredly, sleep already seeming to tug at him, head slumping against his chair.

Natsu laughs softly, getting them back on the road. Sure enough, the boy is fast asleep again once they're back on the highway and he and Lucy enjoy comfortable talks along the way, their favorite music in the background. Natsu can't help but get a bit distracted by the view beside him most of the way home, grinning wide whenever their hands would find their way to each other.

Their stomachs are grumbling by the time they get close, so he stops through a local place to pick up some food and finally making it back. It was always a bit hectic process getting things unloaded, unpacked, getting Kade all cleaned up and changed, and the boy has just enough energy to join them for a bit of food, a bit of one of his cartoons after before he's nodding off again.

They settle back at the dining table after putting Kade to bed, and taking refreshing showers themselves, washing off all the sand, sunscreen, and salt of the day, much more comfy in soft clothes.

Natsu sighs in content when he takes a bit bite of one of the leftover cookies, making Lucy chuckle.

"So... I kind of tested out us showing a bit of affection in front of Kade today," she says eventually, fidgeting with her fingers.

"I picked up on that," Natsu smiles warmly. "How do you feel? I wasn't pushing too much was I?"

Lucy smiles softly, reaching over to grasp his hand. "No, we managed to make it fun with him, so think it was a good step for all of us."

"I'm glad." He gives her hand a supportive squeeze back. "We'll get there. I just enjoy any time we have fun together... especially when it involves getting to see you all beautiful in the sun like today," he grins wide.

Lucy shakes her head, affection in her eyes. "Why, thank you. I can say the same for you."

"Thank you, here any time for your eye candy needs."

Natsu drinks in her warm, happy laugh.

"Anyways," she chuckles, "You were also so great with Kade today, I loved seeing him so happy again and both of you just having fun together." The warm love in those honeyed eyes still makes his stomach flutter.

His expression softens. "Of course. I'd do anything for him and I hope I was able to make things up to him a bit."

"It was more than enough, his ear to ear smile all day said that," Lucy insists warmly.

Natsu nods with a soft chuckle, feeling her conviction in his heart.

"Oh, um, when we were out by the water again earlier, I was teasing him a bit saying that he does like all our being 'mushy', 'cause he copied me and kissed my cheek too and I said it's just how family shows they love each other and he asked me if… if I'm part of this family now," Natsu whispers. "That boy just always manages to surprise me at how much he can just see right through me," he chuckles, running a hand through his hair. "But I-I said I always will be… hope that was ok? It just felt right."

Lucy's expression softens, reaching to squeeze his hand again. "He really does pick up on so much that I don't even think he would," she smiles fondly. "But of course it was…" She pauses, seeming lost in her thoughts for a long moment. "My own family was always small, no siblings, and after my mom- and now I only have my so-called father left, so it's just being Kade and I since he was born so he's never been able to experience the whole family thing," she sighs, expression turning affectionate. "Until we met you. You and your amazing family were just so warm, welcoming right from the beginning and just opened that all up for us. So, it does feel right. You really have become part of our own little family and I'm so grateful. We both are."

Lucy didn't talk much about her parents, but enough to know her mom had passed and she wasn't on great terms with her dad. So, to think Natsu and his family could be a part of making them feel like they could have that and feel like he's a part of theirs, makes Natsu swallow past thick emotion, so much love making his heart swell.

"You both have become just as much a part of my family too, which has meant so much," he rasps. "So much more than I can say. Especially since... I didn't have the best support system when I was younger either and I know how much it meant to me to find that, and I just… I love you. So much, Luce." He squeezes her hand before lifting their hands to press a kiss to the back of hers.

Lucy stands and moves around the table and Natsu shifts around to meet her. She winds her arms around his shoulders and he lets out a deep breath, melting into her touch when she threads her fingers through his hair, his own arms securing around her waist.

"And I love you ," Lucy says warmly, and when Natsu meets those honeyed eyes that hold all that love reflected back at him is almost too much for his heart. He grins wide and meets her as she leans down, soft lips capturing his for a slow, delicious kiss.

Natsu lets the words and feeling wash over him completely, he pulls a soft moan of a sound from her as he deepens the kiss, her fingers tightening in his hair. It fuels something simmering deep in him, and he pulls her in closer to step between his legs, gripping her waist tighter. A slip of his tongue along her bottom lip makes her gasp and break the kiss.

The moment catches up to him and he immediately worries if he pushed too far. He stands, but still keeps her close. "I-I'm sorry, I got a little carried away," he rasps, catching his breath. "You ok?"

"Yeah," Lucy reassures warmly, catching her breath too, pretty flush on her cheeks. "I got pretty caught up myself," she chuckles, palms shifting down to his chest where she most likely feels his pounding heart. "But I… I rather liked it and wouldn't mind revisiting this sometime soon," she whispers, smile a bit sheepish but playful.

"Yeah?" Natsu grins wolfish, the worry in his chest melting into something warm, pulling her back flush against him now that he's at ease. "Good to know, and I definitely wouldn't mind either."

Lucy hums, pulling him back in for a softer kiss that Natsu sighs into. Just this will always make him feel tingly all over.

"For now, how about we get some sleep," Lucy sighs, pulling back to stretch. "You're staying over right? Don't have to drive if you're too tired, it's been a long day."

"Are you sure? It's ok if you just want some space to relax or have plans tomorrow?"

"Yeah of course, I'm exhausted and it will just be a lazy day for us tomorrow," Lucy offers, slowly wrapping her arms around his waist. "We could spend it together?"

His heart swells. "Well, can't say no to that then," Natsu chuckles. He brings her in for a seemingly hug, but really slumps over and puts some of his weight on her. "But I'm pretty exhausted though too, you'll have to carry meee," Natsu groans playfully, mixed in with a large yawn.

Natsu drinks in her bright laugh and whine of his name as she tries to hold him up, shuffling over to her room.

Man, does he love her. There really is nowhere else he'd rather be.

Hi! Hope you all enjoyed this one! I'm sorry it's been so long, but everything has just been one after the other ugh :(
Our faves are getting more comfortable in their love, and a hint of wanting to spice things up a bit? ;)
Baby boy Kade starting school soon too and they're all starting to feel like a warm little family ❤️
With all this fun fiction, in reality I don't have kids or have any idea how to handle telling kids about a new romantic partner or anything like this so indulge me and I just hopes all this comes off decent lmao
Thanks for reading, till next time!