Lucy was always someone who loved to learn. Whether it was from experience, books, or people, she was always eager to learn about anything and everything. She had been like that since she was a little girl and that did not change throughout the years. So for Natsu to be presenting her someone who was someone who could learn and teach her more about her magic and heritage than those back at her own kingdom, the princess was as excited as his scholar to finally meet one another.

Lucy already thought of her so highly since she was so educated and did this for someone she didn't even know, princess or not, and she already made sure to file away the thought of doing something nice for the scholar.

Following the dragon king with their hands laced together, Lucy was feeling a lot better after being told what she wanted to know. Sure the outcome doesn't really change since there isn't anything she could try to do but she was content enough learning about what has happened in between to now.

And seeing how Natsu confessed his secret of spying on her kingdom before their treaty, she could see he really meant every word and tried to make things right.

At least he didn't rampage through her kingdom and tried to at least give them a chance.

Maybe the stars really were looking out for her.

Coming into another massive room, Lucy was in awe of the beautiful architecture and decor, seeing how she was now inside of a two story library where hundreds and thousands of books and scripts were laid. Lucy felt like she was in a whole other world, twirling around in circles while she took in the beauty of the library. Velvet curtains that hang from the windows, shielding the room from the light from outside. Dark obsidian flooring with marble designs where her heels clicked with her steps. Tall and wide bookshelves that hosted books that could be centuries old.

Lucy felt like she was in heaven, seeing how she was surrounded by the one of the things she loved the most in this world.

"This is beautiful, Natsu," she cooed, eyes wide and sparkly.

Natsu chuckled at her expression, a smile spread on his lips. "I'm glad you like it, princess. I did not realize you enjoyed such simple things like this."

"Oh, I do love reading and books, my lord," her eyes gleamed with mirth. "Besides the very stars above, books were my comfort and solace."

Natsu hummed, watching her take in his library. "Noted."

Lucy walked further into the place, letting her hand slip from Natsu's as he allowed her to roam. Her fingers ran across the spines of the books, reading the titles and feeling the fabric of the literature. The bookshelves were nearly ten feet tall, towering over her small figure and hosting so many ancient scripts and stories.

It excited her to be surrounded by such things and she wondered how long it would take her to read through all these books. Certainly she could hopefully make a dent in one before the year was over.

"Is your scholar going to meet us here?" Lucy asked while she came around to a very large table where tons of books, scripts, and documents lay. It looked like this place hadn't been cleaned and she frowned, shifting through some of the books that laid around.

"She's already here."

"Really? Where—?" Absentmindedly placing her hand on the table as she was still going through the piles, her hand came brushing against a lump she mistook as books and nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt something that definitely was not a book or paper.

She quickly pulled her hand to her chest, squeaking out in surprise when the said blob moved.

"Wha..? Is it already morning?" A groggy voice came from the lump and Lucy squealed, jumping towards Natsu where he began to laugh out loud. She hid herself behind Natsu, pouting out in embarrassment as the little blob revealed herself to be some blue-haired woman with wild blue hair that looked more like a bird's nest than anything else. She had dried drool stain running down the corner of her mouth and what looked to be a pen shape indent on the side of her face.

"Why didn't you warn me?" Lucy hissed at the king who just flashed her a grin.

"Because I knew it would scare you and it was funny."

Lucy huffed out in annoyance, giving him a nasty look but as soon as he leaned in to kiss her on the cheek, it disappeared and her face burst into flames, crimson painting her pale skin. She scowled as he began to laugh again and she turned her attention back to the one who was seated at the massive messy table, a sleepy look on her face as she rubbed at her eye and let out a yawn.

"This is Levy, my scholar." Natsu finally introduced, using his hands to motion between the two.

"Hello," the small one offered a sleepy smile, waving at the blonde who shyly waved back.

"Levy is actually one of the very few non-dragons that reside at the Dragon kingdom."

"Ehh?" Lucy blinked over at him before looking back at Levy who flashed her a wolfish grin. "How is that possible?"

Levy simply held up her left hand, showing the metal band that was wrapped around her ring finger.

Lucy's eyes widened at the sight, taking a few steps forward to see if her eyes were deceiving her. "You married a dragon? H—how?"

"Well," Levy's eyes turned over to Natsu, what looked to be a smile she was trying to fight off twitching on her lips. Lucy turned to look at Natsu, confusion written on her face as he also looked amused, one hand held up to his mouth to cover it while his other hand was tucked into his armpit.

"What?"

"He kind of attacked me in the forest and I nearly died but he brought me back here so princess Wendy could heal me and it kind of sort of went from there?" Her head tilted to the side and Lucy found herself mirroring her actions.

"He what?"

Natsu bursted out into fits of laughter at the sight of her expression and Levy was soon giggling with the king making Lucy wonder if she was being punked.

Lucy didn't know how to respond or even react as Natsu continued to laugh, her cheeks blooming with color as slight embarrassment and shock coursed through her.

How scary was this dragon of hers? She had so many questions. She just hoped she wouldn't ever have to meet him.

"Is that not how you met Natsu?"

Lucy was now gawking, unsure if she was serious or not. Natsu's laughter obviously didn't help the situation and she didn't know what to do or say, gaping like a goldfish out of water.

"N—not necessarily… he, uh, he just kind of… kidnapped me.. on my wedding day…"

Saying it out loud made it seem so much worse than it truly was. Her face was in flames as she looked between Levy and Natsu, seeing amused expressions on their faces.

"How cliché of you, Natsu, kidnapping a princess and bringing her back here. Very dragon of you."

"Yeah, yeah," he rolled his eyes, crossing his arms across his chest while scoffing at the smirking scholar. "It's not like I went right into kidnapping her. I asked her first and she rejected me."

"It wasn't by choice." Lucy scowled at him where he quirked a brow.

"You literally said: "I choose the duke" in front of me and everyone else and then were heading to the altar when I took you."

"Ah, you were engaged to a duke?" Levy turned to look at Lucy who's scowl deepended.

She turned her head away, a pout to her lips. "Yes, I was. And before Natsu puts anything else into your head, it's not like I wanted to pick the duke over him. Natsu challenged him into a duel for my hand in marriage and I couldn't allow the two of them to brawl it out and potentially destroy my kingdom or hurt one another so I had to act fast."

"Ooh, a challenge?" Levy's eyes brightened in glee while a scoff from the dragon king followed right after.

"And I would have totally won by the way."

"That's not the point," Lucy hissed at him and he leaned in towards Levy, holding a hand up to his mouth as if he was hiding his true intentions.

"Totally is and I would have kicked his ass, too."

Lucy rolled her eyes, giving the dragon king a hard stare where he countered it with a grin of his own. She couldn't be mad at him for long as a small smile appeared on her lips when he approached her and placed a hand on the small of her back, giving her the comfort he always brought along.

"So… you said your dragon attacked you?" The princess worryingly looked at the scholar who had a smile on her lips.

"Clearly I am not in any danger nor am I held here against my will so do not look so worried, your grace." The blue haired one stood from her spot, the blanket that was draped around her falling off her shoulders. She came around the table, dropping into a curtsy in front of her. "The name is Levy McGarden. I am the one and only scholar of the Dragon Kingdom. Pleasure to be in your presence and must I say how honored I am to finally meet you, your highness."

Lucy gave a smile towards the shorter one and dipped her head down, nodding her greeting. "Please, call me Lucy and it is I who is honored to meet you. I thank you for your service and I hope I can repay you one day."

"No need! I was actually very happy to do this! Allow me to show you everything I have already discovered!" Levy rushed over to the table, shifting through the many documents and books on the table.

"I shall leave you to your studies, princess," Natsu leaned in to purr into her ear. She turned to look at him, seeing how he was smiling at her.

"You're not going to stay?"

"Unfortunately, I have some business to tend to. I am sure you will be occupied for a few hours so while you learn about your heritage and magic, I will be working. I'll return once it is lunch time so we can eat together." He held her hand, bringing it to his lips to press a kiss on it.

Lucy felt a pout coming to her lips but she could only nod bashfully. As much as she wanted to be with Natsu and only Natsu, he was a king and he had duties. He couldn't just put everything on pause to entertain her. She was the same back at her own kingdom and she knew with how everything happened, he probably had a lot of damage control he had to do.

"Promise?"

A soft chuckle came from his lips and his hands came to wrap around her small waist, bringing her closer. He brushed her hair behind her ear, smiling warmly at the bashful princess.

"I promise," he leaned in to press a kiss against her forehead. "And before I go," he pulled away slightly to dig into his pocket. Seeing how he pulled out a napkin with a small danish wrapped around it, he held it out towards the blinking blonde. "A little snack."

"But we just ate—"

"Your promise, princess, don't forget it." He sang, holding his finger up in the air while Lucy reluctantly accepted the pastry into her hand. She had a pout to her lips, shooting the king a glare while he grinned at her. "I will see you later, my star. I will miss you terribly."

Her cheeks bloomed in color as his hands cupped her face. She looked up at him to see his grin never left his face but his cheeks were blooming in color, leaving her feeling more flustered than ever. When he leaned in, she closed her eyes and met him halfway where his lips left her feeling more alive than ever, tingles rushing down her spine and to the tips of her fingers.

She wanted to spend her entire day just kissing him and being in his arms. He was the only person who could ever make her feel this way.

"You liiiiike each other." A giggle came from behind and Lucy's face grew ten times hotter. She whipped around, expecting to see Happy but seeing how it was now Levy who was giggling with a hand over her mouth, her embarrassment grew worse.

"I—is this a Dragon kingdom thing?" Lucy turned to look at Natsu who looked amused at her question.

Instead of answering her, he turned back to the scholar, giving her a nod. "Take care of her, Lev. Try to not overwhelm her at once."

"Aye, sir, I shall ensure princess Lucy is well taken care of." Levy saluted towards the dragon king and Natsu nodded once more before turning back to the princess.

"I will see you for lunch."

"Don't work yourself too hard, my lord."

"I won't," he leaned in to kiss her temple before he turned to walk away.

Once he was gone, Lucy turned back to look at Levy who was leaning against the table, smirking at her. It made her heart pound, her eyes widening while they darted away from the cunning smile the scholar had.

"Apologies for being so direct, your highness, but are you planning on being our new queen?"

"P—p—pardon?!" Lucy squeaked out, her hand flying to her chest to fist at the fabric while her face nearly matched the color of her jewelry. "Q—queen?"

"It seems like our king really fancies you. I am not surprised you have yet to be declared future queen."

"W—well, I…" Lucy casted her head down, her own questions and thoughts swirling inside of her head with Levy's.

She truly had no idea. She never spoke about it with Natsu and Natsu certainly was not in a rush. It had only been a day so she truly had no idea what the dragon king intends to do with her. Would she accept if he asked for her hand in marriage? Would she be a queen fit to rule over such a magical place?

Biting down on her bottom lip, Lucy could only squirm in her spot at the thought of her future brought her down.

Levy must have noticed the change in her demeanor and approached her, reaching out towards the princess who didn't even notice her presence till she touched her.

"I do not mean to offend or upset you, my lady, I was just curious."

"You don't have to be so formal with me, Levy, please, call me Lucy." A small smile appeared on her lips. "And you did not offend or upset me. I… just do not know myself, either. Natsu sort of just brought me here and I don't even know what his intentions are."

"If I may?" Levy quirked a brow while dragging out a chair for the princess. Lucy took the seat, turning to look at Levy who came back to her own while she placed the pastry down in front of her on the table. "The Dragon kingdom had yet to have a queen in over three hundred years. The last queen was a fierce woman who ruled alongside our almighty Dragon King, Igneel. She tragically passed when she was captured and poached for her scales and magic." A sad smile came to Levy's face which Lucy mirrored.

"I found out that Natsu is over four hundred years old. Why has he not taken a queen?"

"I think he was just waiting for the right person to come," Levy offered a reassuring smile her way, placing her hand on top of hers. "And I think Natsu truly does adore you. If he asked, would you accept?"

"Well, I…" Lucy turned her head away, feeling her cheeks blooming with color again. "I already rejected him once, I don't know if he will again…"

"But would you? If he did?"

Would she?

"I—I am not so sure," Lucy let out a nervous laugh, tucking her hair behind her ears while her eyes darted to everywhere else but the scholar's face. "Um, so you said you have discovered a lot?"

It was as if a switch was turned on and Levy was instantly focusing on other things, her animated voice nearly a blur. She spoke so fast that Lucy was getting dizzy, seeing the excitement on her face and seeing how she brought so many stacks of paper over towards them.

"Your heritage is very ancient and powerful. Celestial magic is only passed down to those of Heartfillia blood since you were the original descendants of the very stars."

Lucy nodded along, listening to the tales Levy had. She leaned in closer, the sweet scent of her pastry filling her nostrils for her to look down at it before grabbing for it. She offered some to the scholar who accepted, splitting the pastry down the middle to hand off to her new friend.

"Normally at the age of ten, you begin to feel your magic and start practicing. Natsu had informed me of some of your background and notified me that you never had the chance to because of the late queen. I come to an understanding that there is nobody else in your kingdom that could teach you?"

Lucy shook her head, confirming Levy's words as the two continued to eat and go back and forth.

"So with that being said, with celestial magic, the main magical source pertains to the twelve zodiac golden keys."

"Keys?" Lucy echoed which Levy nodded.

"Are you aware of any golden keys laying around?"

"Errr.. no?"

Lucy remembered very small bits and pieces from her childhood and she remembered her mother speaking about keys and zodiac but she didn't know what she was talking about. Could this be what Levy was referring to?

"Well, they have to be somewhere in the Heartfillia kingdom. Without these keys, you're essentially powerless. These twelve magical keys are the source of your celestial magic but it's not to say you do not have any power without them. You should be able to host great amounts of magic and even call out to them without carrying the keys around at all times. You could essentially force open gates for them."

"But the issue is the keys… we do not know where they are."

"Correct," Levy stated as she began to open up a book. "But with how powerful and ancient your magic is, your mother may have hidden them away where nobody but you can find and obtain. The magical keys are yours to keep since it's part of the celestial world but that does not mean someone else cannot use them. But the keys are a very big part of you. You will essentially feel a lot weaker, drained, and a bit lost without them because the celestial spirits are supposed to be your guides. Your guardian angels in a way."

"Natsu mentioned something about me.. feeding off of his energy?" Lucy felt her cheeks dusting pink again. "What does that pertain to?"

"Ah, Natsu told me about that," Levy was flipping through the massive book, her face nearly buried into the thick novel. Lucy wondered how much Natsu had told her since she didn't react to it. "It could be likely because of how weak your energy and life force could be. Dragons are naturally givers and because of their abilities, they could essentially feed others their force to help. The first time could be because Natsu's energy was so strong and the connection between you two had broken that barrier or simply because your body lacked so much that it just forcibly fed from him."

"Could my bloodline be mixed with succubus?"

"Hmm, there wasn't anything about possibly succubus in your bloodline but like I said, it could just be because of the connection you two have or it was your body's desperate cry for help. Dragons, with or without knowing, will release energy and magic out to help those around. This especially is strongest to those of family or mates since the connection is so strong."

Lucy blinked stupidly while looking at Levy and she wondered if this little one even knew what was coming out of her mouth. Mate?

"B—but I'm not Natsu's m—mate so how could that be?"

"It could be from the strong connection you have. Feelings are very important in things like this. That's how I know the dragon king adores you like no other because if you can feed off his energy even without him allowing you to, it could be possible you two are connected in more ways than one. Such as emotions, children, magic, blood, or even being near death could trigger such things."

Lucy was in awe of how much this scholar knew. She was truly grateful to have met someone and it was even more remarkable that someone like her could know so much about her heritage when she herself did not.

Could her connection with Natsu be so strong that he truly helped her? Was Natsu's feelings that strong for her?

"Bathing in starlight is most critical for you. Since you are descendants of the stars, you gain most of your life force and energy from them. So I suggest you try to bathe in it as much as you can."

"I feel like there's some kind of… blockage with my magic. Is there any way we can remove that?"

"Usually when there are blockages to magic, it could be due to someone casting a spell or forcing you to be in a bubble of non-magic. Sometimes it could be due to protection or even simply because the host cannot call forward to their magic."

"How could I tell?"

"Well, have you ever tried to use your magic?"

"Err.. no… but there were times Natsu said my eyes would glow."

Levy began to write the information down, scribbling messy scripts onto a blank sheet of paper. "And how does it.. feel?"

"Like a soft feathery touch stroking inside of me. Almost like a light I would say?"

"Makes sense," she continued to write a bunch of stuff down. "Can you tell me anything about your mother or experience with magic?"

"I wasn't exposed to a lot as a child and my memories are kind of a blur. I don't remember much."

Levy hummed, tapping the pen against her cheek. "Well, we know that your magic pertains to the golden keys and you're strongest with starlight. It would probably help if you were a bit… healthier." She laughed a bit nervously as Lucy squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. "But don't worry, Lucy, I'll do my best to uncover some more details to help you. I think it'll be best if we go forward with getting you healthy and focusing on getting your energy back up. Your magic is very powerful and you can host a lot at once but that also means you must be at a healthy weight and pace to withstand such strong energy."

"Could you be saying that I may not be able to host such magic because I am so… thin?"

"Usually when it comes to strong magic, the carrier must be strong, too. That way, it's leveled. It's about balance. Think about… how you can fill a glass cup with liquid and it's supposed to take ten ounces but the cup can only hold eight… it'll just spill over or just not be able to carry anything at all. So it's important to keep the body healthy and strong. Think of how a mother carries a child during pregnancy."

Lucy could only nod, absorbing the information. Clearly her options were limited to certain things and it would take her longer than she would like to move forward with such a task but it was more than she knew before. Could someone at the Heartfillia kingdom have known this and possibly starve her of her magic and life force?

Ladies always must be thin! Nobody would want you otherwise!

There was no way Fairs would have known how to do this… she was just some noble woman from the countryside that her father by chance met. She couldn't have done this to her knowing it would block her magic (if that is truly the reason).

The princess felt dizzy with all the information Levy was giving her and she let out a small sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Seeing how Lucy was looking a bit off, Levy reached forward to place her hand on her arm to catch her attention.

Offering a small smile, Levy tilted her head to the side. "Would you like to see the collection of books the Dragon kingdom has about your kingdom and heritage?"

At this, Lucy beamed, smiling at the smaller one. "Yes! Please!"

Levy could only offer a grin as the princess brightened up. "I am a bit of a bookworm myself. I practically live here and though my husband wouldn't agree, I think it's much nicer than my place."

Remembering how this little one told her how her dragon husband attacked her to the brink of death before saving her made Lucy go blank, staring at such a cute tiny woman. "Um… so, are you a mage as well?"

"Yep! Script magic is what I do," Levy winked, poking her tongue out of her mouth. "And part pixie."

That, Lucy could believe.

"Would you say you enjoy living in the Dragon Kingdom?"

"Oh, one hundred and ten percent!"

Levy's exclaim made Lucy stare at her in surprise, seeing how she spoke without a hint of hesitation.

"Everyone is so welcoming and nice here… and you can't forget about the protection. Pretty much the safest place anyone can be, that is, if they're welcomed in." She flashed a grin at the blinking princess. "And with how Natsu runs the place, there's never room to ever doubt your safety or security here. With the expansion of the kingdom, we just get better and better."

"How long have you resided here?"

"Hmm, a little over four years, now."

"Wow," she blurted out, surprised how a human had been living in the Dragon Kingdom for so long without a word going around.

"You're not… thinking about going back, are you?"

The question itself was a hard one and Lucy truly had no idea.

She loved her kingdom. It was the one place she knew all her life and she had pleasant memories with her mother back there. It was her home.

But did she want to go back?

If she had the choice, would she return or would she stay here with Natsu?

"I… don't really know," Lucy answered after a moment of silence and she let out a soft uncomfortable laugh. "I don't even know what I am supposed to be doing here so I don't know what Natsu's plans are for me."

"Would you stay? It would be great to have you here. I'm sure everyone would agree."

Laughing awkwardly, Lucy could only look away from the eager face of the scholar, thoughts of the dragon king and her home country swirling inside her mind.

"Maybe, I have yet to decide."

—X—

Lunch came by a lot sooner than anyone expected. Lucy was so absorbed into listening to tales and having a female companion close to her age, time flew by faster than it ever has in her life. She didn't even really think about the dragon king as much as she thought she would during his absence. She was more surprised to see him strolling into the library, blinking stupidly at his direction while she held a rather large thick book in her hands.

"Is it lunch time already?"

"Yes, my love," he laughed lightly, smiling at the pouting one. "You possibly could have not had that much fun that the time slipped away?"

"It apparently did so, my lord," Lucy turned to face her newest friend, a small smile and blush rising to her face. "Could we return to this once lunch is over with? I feel as if I did not have enough time with you."

"Of course, Lu!" She squeaked excitedly while Natsu's eyebrow shot up at the nickname she had received. "I had so much fun! You can come find me anytime, whether it is for simple pleasure or for knowledge, I am always here! I really enjoyed getting to know you!"

"As did I, Levy! I am so happy to have met someone like you. Truthfully, I do not have many friends or girls my age back at the Heartfillia kingdom so I am grateful to have made my first girl-friend."

The watery look Levy had made Lucy stare at her in wonder if she had insulted her while Natsu cringed, not wanting to see someone cry, especially if that someone was his scholar.

"Oh, Lu, please come back anytime! Make sure you bring her around, Natsu!"

"She is free to do what she pleases so don't blame me if you do not see her again," he snickered, seeing the look Lucy gave him while Levy rolled her eyes. "Are you ready? I am quite famished. I believe I can eat a whole kingdom if I try." He flashed his teeth at the princess who scowled at him, flushing pink at his cheekiness.

Bidding a goodbye to the scholar, Lucy followed the dragon king down the halls once again. She did not think she would ever get tired of following Natsu around the halls, hand in hand, while she got to carelessly trace the curves and patterns of the walls and decor. She felt like a little kid, almost, as she was in awe of the walls more than she was anything else.

"Were you able to find out new things from Levy?"

"Yes, it is very fascinating how much she knows," Lucy sighed dreamily as she walked beside the rosy-haired king. "I cannot believe she is married to a dragon and resides at the Dragon Kingdom for so many years. I didn't think it would be possible for anyone but dragons to live in the Dragon Kingdom."

"Of course," Natsu snorted. "As living proof, you can also see that non-dragons can peacefully reside here. We even host many exceeds."

"But I have only seen Happy?"

"You will meet more as time comes," Natsu brought her into yet another room, seeing how a wide table spread out for the two of them. Unlike the other ones, this room looked to be yet another drawing room with a large piano push to the corner. Couple of couches and a desk adjacent to the dining table with an unlit fireplace smack dab in the middle of the room.

She knew Natsu liked to eat a lot but truthfully she was still pretty full from breakfast and that one pastry Natsu gave her earlier. She did not remember the last time she had eaten so much and she felt like she might even burst. How could Natsu possibly eat like this every single day for three meals a day? She was full from breakfast alone and now hours later, she did not know how she could eat lunch with the spread that was laid out in front of them.

Pork, chicken, and beef dishes. Finger sandwiches with meatballs and fruit littered in bowls. What seems to be a soup with rolls on the side. Pasta salads, regular salads, rice, and even what looked to be two different types of cooked vegetables.

Her step-mother would have a heart attack if she saw how much food was set out just for the two of them.

"You cannot possibly believe I can finish all of this?"

"Of course not," Natsu scoffed as he held out a chair for her before pushing her in. "But we can."

"More so you than I." Lucy grabbed at her napkin to tuck into her lap while Natsu sat down beside her, dragging his chair in closer. "This could feed a family of five."

"Well good thing I can eat for four."

Something about getting into the routine of this sounded nice for the princess. She had not spent so much time with someone else beside her maids so it was actually nice to have her company. Whether it came from the dragon king, the scholar, or even someone like Happy, Lucy was very happy to be part of the Dragon Kingdom and it made her think a lot about Levy's question.

But first, she had to figure out her purpose for being here. Natsu had yet to talk more about what was to happen but he also did say she could ask whenever she wanted. She was sure Natsu wasn't going to hold information from her but how much did she truly want to know? Was being blissfully ignorant something she rather do than worry herself to death that the duke or her kingdom could be coming for her? For Natsu?

Even doing something as domestic as eating breakfast and lunch together and sleeping together in one room, anyone would think she was Natsu's lover.

She didn't blame everyone's curiosity for her status and why they kept asking if she were to be the new queen of the Dragon Kingdom.

She never thought so much about becoming queen of any kingdom since she had a plan from the beginning but seeing how she was now thrusted into yet another troublesome situation, Lucy could only let these thoughts plague her. She had only been here for a day and she had already learned so much. For now, she had to be patient and if that meant doing things that were out of her comfort zone like Levy mentioned, then so be it.

Try to feed off Natsu as much as you can… it seems to be more effective than starlight right now and the stars aren't as strong as they are back in your kingdom. You look like you really need it.

Her cheeks felt warm as she remembered Levy's advice and she wondered how she could seduce the man. How could she just outright ask Natsu to… feed her? He was already doing so much by taking time out of his day to whisk her around and for her to ask if he could help her more… It felt wrong. Especially since Natsu had not been the one to initiate anything and she truly did believe Natsu did not find her as attractive since she was so rail thin.

She couldn't blame him, she did lose a bunch of weight and Natsu had been just watching her break down over and over again so why would he want to be someone as manic and miserable as her?

So far, they have only shared simple soft kisses and embraces. He had yet to push anything and a little part of her was a bit sad that he held back but she couldn't lie and say she wasn't a bit relieved.

Having Natsu see her battered body the other day was a nightmare enough and then having to be healed nearly had her dropping dead. She couldn't imagine what her body might do if she felt his hands come down on her body. Would she react differently since she was with Natsu or would she continue to think about Jose's clammy hands? Would the air leave her lungs and force her to gasp for air as if he was pinning her down again? Would she feel her soul leave her body if she were to be bare in front of a man, again?

No, not for Natsu. She would have already screamed bloody murder the moment he was touching her and his warm touch could never compare to someone like Jose.

Natsu loved her and she loved him.

He wouldn't allow her to wither away. Not anymore.