Rated M
M is for MATURE, people.
If I can pretend to be, then you can too!

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING! *sob* However sometimes I wonder if Mashima-sama used to follow me and my friends around to help him dream up a few of his characters!

At least let a girl dream!

Oh, and to answer the one particular guest that I cannot pm... I'm actually pretty great at answering questions—but not if the answer contains spoilers.

The One I Love

Damn that Hatter... If he'd just taken them through customs upon entering town, Lucy was sure she'd be able to find her way back without his assistance. The last thing she needed was to be dragged off to a cell as an illegal alien. So... since he'd finally agreed to help her return, she followed him. Watching him from two paces behind, the star maiden entertained herself concocting 'games' that might leave him as frustrated as she now felt. How rewarding it would be to give him a taste of his own medicine! Ignoring the fact that she was far too shy to actually act on any of the plans, just knowing she had plans B through J would have to be enough.

The sky had turned from pink to twilight by the time they'd reached the outskirts of town, though turning one of the last corners met with an unexpected sight.

A multitude of hup, hup, hup, hup's were heard coming from a swarm of card soldiers that were stacking themselves up to form a wall. A wall that looked to stretch all around the town. "Aww," Natsu groaned. "What the hell is this?"

Even though he hadn't actually asked anyone in particular, one of the faceless cards, a Jack of Spades, turned to answer him anyway. "Head back to your homes, citizens. The queen has reason to believe brigands are about and has sent us to protect this good city. Never fear! You're safety is why we're here!"

"We don't want your protection! Just get outta our way!" Natsu sneered, offended of the very idea of his path being blocked like this.

"Every one of the queen's beloved subjects are welcome to come and go as they please, just pass through customs and be at ease."

Rolling up his singular sleeve, Natsu started a challenge, "I'll show you something I can do with ease..."

Lucy grabbed onto his arm and tugged him back, smiling politely—albeit nervously—to the Jack of Spades. Her words poured over themselves in her rush to get them out. "Thank you so very much for keeping us safe, sir! We'll head in for the night, and sleep easy knowing you're watching over us."

"You'd do well to watch your love muffin, else he'll get a concussion repercussion!"

Natsu started to stomp past her to get at the obnoxious card, but Lucy spun around and placed both hands on his chest, pushing him back. "Yes, of course! I'll do just that! Thanks again!"

"Juice!" Natsu whined, "I can take'em!"

Once they were far enough away, or at least Lucy prayed they were, she pleaded, "I'm sure you can, Natsu, but there has to be a better way than just blasting through them! The last thing we want to do is put unnecessary strain on the people of this town by starting a fight!"

"But—"

"Please Natsu!" Lucy implored, curling hands still on his chest into fists. "If the queen angers as easily as Bisca says, do you really think she wouldn't tear through these townsfolk's homes under the guise of keeping the peace?"

The Hatter opened his mouth to retort, but as confusing as it was... he had nothing to say to that. What his Juicy said made sense. But what fun was that? Closing his eyes, he wrapped his hands around her fists and took a deep breath. Her scent soothed him, helped separate his thoughts from his anger. After another moment of indulging in her presence, he consented. "Alright Juice. I won't turn the cards into cinders." Then one golden eye peeked open as he shone a glimmer of pointed teeth, "but it woulda been a sight to see."

Granting him a relieved smile, Lucy stifled a chuckle, "I believe it."

Lifting one of her hands to his lips, he first inhaled her skin, then pressed a kiss right into her palm. "So what does—Love Muffin—suggest?"

Lucy was already blushing at his forwardness, but at his words, her brows raised and she laughed, "Oh gods, he called us that didn't he?"

"Aye, he did." Natsu smiled right back.

Lucy pulled back her hands, catching herself before wandering deeper into his eyes this time, and looked back over her shoulder at the Jack of Spades directing more cards.

Scratching the back of his head, Natsu offered, "So you're thinking we should shack up here tonight?"

Turning back to him with a raised brow, Lucy spoke with warning, " 'Shack... up...?' Master Dragneel?"

Natsu's eyes rounded innocently, "No?"

The blonde chewed the inside of her cheek as she walked past him, deeper into town, "Hmm..."

Curious to know what she was thinking, Natsu followed her.

"I really need to get back." Lucy murmured softly, "I had hoped I could be there when Jellal asked his questions. I wonder if we're already too late... If we stay here for the night, then I'll definitely miss it, but by now those soldiers have probably walled off the entire town... Ugh! Good grief Natsu! Why couldn't we have just gone through customs?!"

Natsu paused when she rounded on him, but simply shrugged in response. Unless he was arriving for one of the queen's jobs, he never checked through those pompous booths. Just because the queens were at war didn't mean they had a right to know the comings and goings of an Inbetweener.

Rolling her eyes at his shrug, Lucy turned about, examining their surroundings. So they were trapped within a house of cards now hmm? Idly, she considered how humorous it would be should it rain. Would the card wall all fall at once? Or maybe they would curl up into each other? If that happened, who knows how far down hill they'd roll! Perhaps that's why the queen kept this Rain Woman employed. Cards and water surely don't mix. A smile suddenly popped onto her face. "I've got it."

Natsu hummed a question.

Quickly grabbing his hand, Lucy took off down the red pavement and around several buildings. Once she made it back to the creek they'd rested at, she bent over the rail, peering down the canal. "How far does this go?"

"Hmm..." Natsu thought for a tick. "There aren't any bodies of water nearby, it must flow downhill into the Pool of –" The Hatter went silent and raised an arm in front of Lucy, backing them under the shadow of a brick building. Once her back was against the wall, Natsu leaned his forearm next to her head. Then as he lowered his forehead against hers, he whispered, "Shhh..."

Off in the distance and getting closer, Lucy heard voices all in unison. "Hup, hup, hup, hup!"

Why were soldiers walking the streets? She'd spent most of the day all over this town and had never seen a single card, yet now that the sun had gone down she'd seen far more than a full deck. Was there a curfew in effect? The soldiers weren't looking for them, were they? What if they were found? Exactly how much trouble would they find themselves in if they were discovered in this strange world? Lucy began to shiver at the idea of being locked away in a dark, dank dungeon. Guards would most certainly steal her keys away.

"Juice," a warm hand cupped her cheek just as a tear began to fall, fizzing once it landed on the Hatter's finger tip. "Everything's fine. I've got you."

Tensed muscles eased under his reassurances and Lucy quickly brought both her hands to cradle his as she nodded slowly.

The 'hup-hup-hups' were fading further down the street now, having completely passed them up. Lucy let out a breath that she'd been holding and leaned her head onto Natsu's shoulder, bringing her hands to cling onto the front of his coat. She now realized how silly it'd been to become so scared, but the realization did not help dismiss the lingering emotion. She needed to take a moment, just a moment to lean against Natsu's strength.

The Hatter wrapped arms around her waist and let her be. Enjoying the blessed silence swimming about his own head. When he'd realized that his Juicy had grown scared, all the knick-knacks and whatchmacallits, whispers and screams, bobs and weaves, had stopped. Every part of him had focused on one singular task. The woman he hoped to make forever his was frightened, and he would banish those fears or turn the world to ash trying.

Once Lucy felt that she'd borrowed enough courage, she lifted up, apologized, and thanked him coyly.

Natsu simply raised a hand back to her cheek and shook his head, "You gotta stop apologizing, Juice. There's nothing for you to apologize for."

Lucy couldn't help but think, he's lying, but it's such a sweet lie... and before her senses came back to her, she cupped his cheek, lifted up onto her toes and kissed his opposite cheek. While her lips lingered, Natsu's eyes widened, and his mind broke apart again, demanding he do any number of things. He had to grip his fists together tightly, nails biting into palms in an effort to remain a gentleman.

When Lucy released him, she wore a stunning smile and rosy cheeks, "Thank you, I'll try to remember that."

Natsu could have stared at her until the stonework around them crumbled to dust, but a fish splashing in the creek pulled his gaze away briefly. When he turned back, the Hatter fell down with surprise.

Lucy was unhooking her corset.

"Ju-Juice?!" He scrambled back a few steps. Didn't she know self-control and dragons didn't mix?!

Below her corset was a thin shift that showed every tantalizing curve, and as she bent over to shimmy out of the blue skirt... the shift showed quite the bosom gap. Her whispered words came out in a rush. "Stop playing around Natsu, we've got to hurry."

"Hurry?" His voice hadn't cracked, not from a dragon such as he. Certainly not.

The petticoats were next, bringing more Juicy leg into view than Natsu knew what to do with. Lucy then carefully folded the thick skirts into themselves in a way that best protected Jellal's flask and the mirror Natsu had bought her. Once that met her satisfaction, she picked up the corset and wrapped it around her makeshift bundle. Finally, she packed it all away in the discarded skirt and used its bountiful fabric to tightly tie it all around her slender waist. Upon discovering Natsu still on the ground—still where he'd been—Lucy rolled her eyes. "Come on Natsu! Before they come back this way!"

Rising to stand slowly, he watched her climb over railing. "Oh, OH!" Natsu bolted to the rail as well. She meant to escape Castle Town via canal. "Brilliant!" With one hand on the bar, he tossed himself over to stand next to her as they prepared to leap in.

Lucy giggled at his compliment, riding on an adventurer's euphoria. "I hope a dragon can keep up with the girl taught to swim by Aquarius herself!" Taking a deep breath, Lucy jumped into the water.

Natsu grinned nefariously at the challenge, and dived in after her.

There's something to be said about underwater swimming in the moonlight with a mad dragon hot on your heels. The canal weaved through alleys and it was only by the moonlight's good graces that Lucy was able to see a thing. Once her breath started to run out, she slowed and (as quietly as she could) lifted her head out of the water. The Hatter followed only a tick later, though (unfortunately) not quite as quietly. "The wall those guys put up is just ahead."

"It is?" Lucy asked, "I don't even see them."

Natsu tapped on his nose. "I can smell'em. We're gonna have to stay underwater as long as we can to get enough distance. You gonna be able to manage that?"

Lucy nibbled her lip, wishing she'd seen anything resembling a reed around. But no, nothing gets to be easy around here, apparently. With a sigh, she replied with, "Gonna have to."

Natsu smiled at her stalwart attitude. "I'll be right behind ya Juice."

Later, Lucy would find herself in a quandary. She'd review all the things that had happened this day and wonder exactly when she had grown to trust this man so completely. Until now, the only people she'd put so much faith in were the spirits that had bound themselves to her. But for now, the summoner just nodded to him with a light heart, huffed out three times before inhaling as much air as possible, and dipped back into the water.

She made sure to angle her swim deeper as she pressed forward, lest a wary card have eyes on the water. It was darker, much darker near the creek's bottom, and Lucy found herself praying that there weren't any abrupt turns now that they were so near the town's edge. She couldn't speak for the hatter, but Lucy knew she was not disciplined enough to keep from panicking and rushing back to the surface if she crashed her head into a wall.

Further, and further she swam. Her legs ached and her lungs burned. She had no idea if she'd cleared the wall or not, so she pressed on—growing more and more anxious. Fear gripped her when she felt something clutch onto her, and started pulling her in a direction she had not meant to go. When struggling did not bear her freedom, instinct betrayed her and she opened her mouth to scream. Though just as water began to fill her mouth, her head and Natsu's broke the water's surface.

The realization of the thing wrapped around her being the Hatter's arm hit her at once, and the several different versions of terrible lagoon monsters dragging her to a watery demise dissipated as delicious, life giving air filled her. While she coughed and wheezed, Natsu pulled them both to the creek's now grassy edge with no man-made walls to be seen in the ebbing moonlight. Once the hatter had the woman up onto the grass, he crawled out and lay flat on his back, breathing deeply and staring at the night sky.

Between coughs Lucy lamented, "Alright... you were right... we should've just... gotten a hotel."

"Are you nuts?" The Mad Hatter grinned up at the sky, "that was amazing!"

^.^

When Natsu guesstimated that it would roughly be a two hour walk back home, her stomach growled at the same moment she sighed in defeat. She'd missed the Cheshire's honest answers, just like she'd missed breakfast and now dinner.

Hearing Natsu offer up a place to sleep it off was a godsend.

So they set up camp a bit further down the creek, near a structure so dilapidated that it might be best to simply call the remaining pieces of said structure ruins. Yes. They set up camp within the remaining ruins at the edge of what Natsu had called the Pool of Tears. Once he'd helped her get a fire going, he'd dived into the water (that looked rather deep to be called a pool) to try and nab a fish or two; while Lucy had busied herself by draping her soaked garments on whatever she had found. When he rose from the water with an impressive sized fish, Lucy was sitting near enough by the fire that her shift clothes had nearly dried.

The proud dragon stalked out of the water carrying a fish nearly a meter long. "A juicy fish, for a Juicy lady, comin' up!"

As Natsu sat cross-legged across the fire from where she hugged her knees, she squinted her eyes at the fish he'd begun to gut. "That's not a... is that a marlin?"

The Hatter shrugged as he continued prepping dinner. "Just a little one."

Lucy shook her head at the oddity, hugging her legs. So this Pool of Tears held ocean life. Exactly how deep was this salt water pond? Her eyes shifted to the water dripping from Natsu's hair. "You're soaking wet. Would you like me to do that?"

He looked up at her and tilted his head, "You know how to?"

Shrinking a bit, punishing herself for her inadequacies, the blonde shook damp hair, "...No."

The Hatter, bless him, just flashed her a smirk and continued his work with the sea creature.

"Well..." Lucy bit her lip, chasing away the humility of only being in her thin shift as she stood. "At least let me dry your coat."

Natsu's eyes followed her as she walked around the fire. The light bounced off her skin, teasing the shadows that clung to her. Was his mind playing tricks on him, or was she actually walking right up to him? Had he slipped into a dream? Quickly sticking a now skewered marlin into the ground, he rose to meet her while eyeing the woman much like a cat would a mouse.

Pink colored Lucy's cheeks as she fumbled at the latches of his coat. She'd never done anything remotely close to removing a man's garment, and despite how she mentally kept repeating that she was only helping him as payback for all the times he'd helped her—the back of her mind screamed for his touch. That warming up in his arms would have much more rewarding than having dried by this dumb fire. Perhaps he might have even tried to steal another kiss, like when they'd first met...

Her body was warm all over as she slipped the coat off his shoulder and through the sleeve. Her eyes ate in every muscular curve that glimmered from his dip in the pond. Once his first arm was free, Natsu pivoted to the side and pulled the other arm from his coat's sleeveless side. Feeling more shy than usual after gazing upon the Hatter's... simply awe inspiring, statuesque back, Lucy quickly turned away to drape his coat over a broken wall. Then proceeded to straighten out all the wrinkles. In her effort to seek out a distraction, the moonlight glinted onto something falling out of Natsu's interior coat pocket. "Hmm?"

Lucy bent over to retrieve it, believing it to be a coin, and became stunned in disbelief to find the Nikora key instead. Lifting it up slowly, she turned, "...Natsu?"

Natsu had just finished blowing fire onto both halves of the fish when he turned to look at her. She stared blankly at him with the key in both hands and he pointed one of the skewers at her, the accusation in his voice. "That was meant to be a surprise!"

Eep! Lucy nodded, eyebrows raised, "Surprise? Yes, yes, Natsu, I'm surprised!"

Stepping up to her in an intimidating manner caused Lucy to instinctively take a step back, but he reached her all the same. Natsu half squinted at her with a disgruntled expression, "You are?"

Nodding again, but growing anxious over his reaction, Lucy hummed the affirmative.

Slowly raising a brow, the hatter carefully watched her for a tick more, then offered her one of the fish skewers, "Good."

Now with key and dinner, Lucy blankly watched Natsu stalk back to the fire, plop down and begin eating. Maybe he was grumpy. After all, it had been a long day.

Stepping lightly, Lucy walked to the spot where her clothes were hanging. A little to the side, she'd salvaged a beaten up table where the flask and mirror now sat. Placing the key next to them with a soft smile, she rejoined Natsu at the fire. She did not sit across from him this time though. Her feet brought her around to his side and sat next to him. Not wanting to offend, she bit right into the fish like he was doing. It certainly wasn't fine dining, but even though it lacked spice, butter—and salt, she'd been prepared for it to taste much worse. After a moment of chewing, she commented, "Not bad."

"Me and Happy used to come here all the time to fish. It's a great spot."

"Happy?" She knew that name. "Oh, the White Rabbit?"

Natsu grimaced, "That's what they're callin' these days. Yeah."

"He wasn't always the White Rabbit?"

"Who, Happy?" Natsu shook his head with a breezy smile and tossed his now empty skewer into the flames. "No way. Raised that guy right out of the egg, ya know. We thought he was going to be another dragon. Eehe," his smile raised to a carefree grin. "Ole' Ironeyes was so mad when it turned out to be a cat!"

Lucy chuckled, imagining it well. "I can believe that." Cats hatching from eggs. Huh. Only in Wonderland. "So what happened? You've never talked about him."

Now Natsu stifled a chuckle at that. He'd tried to be happy for Happy, but it'd been hard. Real hard. The funny thing was... was now that the Juicy had waltzed into his life—he could shine a brand new perspective on it. Happy had accepted the title of White Rabbit so that he could stay close to Charle. The Hatter let himself fall onto his back and wove fingers behind his head for a cushion. "The things we do for love."

Lucy's throat hitched and waited for him to say more, but no more words came. Once again, there would be no true answer. With a decent portion of her fish ate, she did as him and tossed the stick into the fire. Curling legs up to cradle her chin, she watched the flames cackle as they consumed the rest of Natsu's hunt. She'd taken a while to go over her words before she spoke, hugging herself tightly. "Thank you... Natsu. Even though we didn't make it back, I just want you to know that I really enjoyed spending the day with you. Learning about your world, it makes me feel, well, like less of an outsider. I... I don't think..." she paused, the next part being more difficult. "I know it's wrong, and completely irresponsible, but... I don't think I want to go back." Her body tensed, ready for a reaction. Still nothing though, so she went on. "If we all put our heads together, maybe we could help put the world back together. You know, let Mest close up shop if he wants to, and let Bisca and Alzack take their home back. And if we make this place whole again..." Lucy pressed her lips together. She'd digressed. This was not what she'd rehearsed in her head. Get it together girl, you've had crushes before—not like this—but you got this. Take a deep breath, and try again.

"I want to stay because I just know I'd miss you too much if I left again." Lucy braced herself for the poorly placed laughter Natsu tended to respond with.

Still nothing.

Finally mustering up the courage to turn her head, she gaped at the man laying down beside her. Sleeping. With a soft smile and a shake of her head she whispered, "Damnit Master Dragneel, didn't you know you're supposed to pay attention when you're being spoken to?"

A chilled wind rose from the pond, blowing past them and Lucy shivered, stifling a yawn. Perhaps he wouldn't mind if she borrowed his warmth for the night. Practically holding her breath, she scooted closer and slowly laid her head down onto his chest.

Natsu curled an arm around her and spoke sleep-riddled gibberish, something about how lucky that tea was to be passing such delicious lips.

~.~

A bothersome squirrel is what finally opened the Hatter's golden eyes. It sat there in its tree, knawing, knawing, knawing on an acorn. He'd already managed to lull himself back to sleep twice, unwilling to disturb the brown-eyed treasure in his clutches, but now he was about ready to make that sweet, little forest creature extra crispy. Idly, he wondered how Lucy felt about squirrel bits for breakfast. However, the squirrel seemed to smell the dragon's murderous intent on the breeze, so it leapt from tree to crumbled wall and scrambled down the opposite side. Hopefully running to its own adventures and fruitful life—far away from the wrath of dragons.

Even though Natsu could feel the woman's welcome weight on his torso, the soft breath against his chest, he still felt concerned that she may have faded back into her previous incorporeal state. Truly it was an obligatory duty to investigate. With the same hand he was about to use to shoot down a noisy squirrel, he splayed his fingers onto the small of her back. This part of her was certainly still solid. Slowly, he slid the hand upward until he felt shoulder blades. He rested them there for a while, enjoying the rise and fall of her breaths and memorizing the contented hum she'd made in her sleep from his touch. Mavis but he wanted to taste her... but he'd pushed his limits yesterday, and was relieved beyond measure that her form still had substance today.

"Mmmmmph." Lucy muttered, shifting her head inward, away from the light. But she didn't sink into a pillow (which was odd) so her eyes popped open and she shifted again to look up into eyes of a dragon.

"Morning." Was all he said, his heart beating much faster than before now that he could see and feel her bosom pressed against him.

She blinked once, twice, chasing away dreams from reality. Once it finally dawned on her that she was still laying over his chest, her face turned from slightly pink to deep red and she scrambled off of him. Unable to look at him as she spoke, she sputtered, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Dragneel! It was getting chilly last night and I just—"

Natsu laid a hand on her shoulder, scooting up behind her, "I was delighted to see you this morning, stop apologizing." With his nose a lick away from her neck, he breathed her in deeply. "Or next time I might bite cha."

Lucy's eyes went wide as her body went hot. "Um... yes, Master Dragneel, I will try to remember that..." Why were her clothes so far away? She couldn't possibly walk all the way over to where she'd hung them with him watching.

Natsu stood and stepped around to squat in front of her, "What's up with you?"

"Nothing!" She blurted, all the while staring at his half naked body. Gods why hadn't he put a shirt on yet?

With the back of his fingers, Natsu felt her cheek. "You sure?"

"Yes," she sputtered, shutting her eyes tightly. If this kept up, she might do something unspeakable and be unfit to wed! She'd never experienced such a desire to just... pounce on another person before. She was not a woman of loose morals!

Natsu cupped her chin and raised it to look at him again, "You're acting funny."

"No I'm not," She responded all too quickly. Removing her face from his hand, she added, "we should get going."

"Sure." The Hatter agreed, suspiciously, and raised to his feet.

Lucy watched him until his back was turned, then scurried behind a broken wall and snatched up her clothes. As she slipped her skirt over her shift, she started at the sound of a loud splash. Peeking around the wall, she saw Natsu's head pop out of the pond. Weren't they heading out? Why would he get all wet again?

How could she have known how badly Natsu needed to cool off?

^.^

The Hatter led the way, stating that it might be best to avoid the tiled path. Neither of them were sure what those soldiers walking about the town were searching for, but it might be best to avoid them just in case. As they walked hill over hill, Lucy mulled over all the ways she could, and couldn't manage all these feelings that swam about her head when around this man. It was a conundrum she was maddeningly unequipped to deal with. Ever the one to welcome distractions, Lucy asked, "So how long have you lived in the forest with Levy and Gajeel?"

Natsu looked over his shoulder at her, his hands cupped behind his head. "For a while, not sure for how long though."

"Did you ever live in the town?"

"Nah," Natsu turned to watch ahead of him again. "Most people are pretty wary of us shifters."

"Shifters? You mean how Levy transforms from mouse to woman?"

"Yup. Levy tried living there for a while but when she met the March Hare, she moved right in. A perfect match."

"So..." Lucy rubbed her arm shyly, "Levy and Gajeel are together?"

"So far as I can tell. She's been his plus one since before the war. Thick as thieves, those two."

"How wonderful for them." Lucy smiled, "Levy seems so happy."

"Funny how these things work out. We never felt welcome in town, so we didn't stay there. Now, cuz of the war, we're more free than anyone else in the kingdom." The Mad Hatter snickered, "must drive Erza crazy!"

"I'm not sure it's a great thing, driving the monarchy crazy." Lucy stated, matter-of-factly.

Quick as a flash, Natsu held her around the waist and spun her around. "Aye, but it sure makes for some great fun!"

Lucy yelped as he lifted her off the ground as he continued spinning. She may have giggled and enjoyed the ride, had it not been for the concern she had for Natsu in that moment. "Natsu! I'm serious!"

He slowed to a stop, but still held her aloft. "Serious...? Bout what?"

"Don't upset Queen Erza. I don't... I don't..." She trailed off.

Seeing fear in the star maiden's eyes, Natsu adjusted his hold on her so that he held her like the princess he believed her to be and kept on walking, "Don't worry Juicy, I won't let either one of the queens do anything to you."

"Damnit Natsu! Put me down!" Lucy struggled back onto her feet and rounded on him, "don't you get it! I'm not worried about myself, I'm good with both queens!"

Natsu tried interjecting, but Lucy called out, "No!' And continued, "they're alright with me, I might even become friends with them. But you, and your incessant playing with fire will get you burned!"

"Not a chance Juice! I—"

"The fire is metaphorical Natsu!"

Natsu closed his mouth, confused.

Lucy groaned. "Don't you get it blockhead? I'm worried about you! If, if... Ugh!" She turned away from him with folded arms. "How much farther?"

"Just down the next hill." Natsu answered quietly, scratching the back of his head, wondering what a 'blockhead' was.

"Finally." Lucy quipped, and headed down in a rushed walk.

The Hatter watched her for a moment before following, still scratching his head. Their stroll through the countryside had been going so well too. His Juicy worried too much. Perhaps he should show her exactly how immune to fire he really was. Yes. She seemed to be a person who valued education.

^.^

When Lucy finally entered the Mad Tea Party's clearing, Mouse Levy leapt from Gajeel's shoulder. Transforming back into a girl mid-leap, she tackled Lucy in a hug. Spinning around her with arms tightly around the blonde's shoulders Levy cried, "Oh Juicy I'm SOOO glad you're back! You should have seen it!" The lady was talking so fast it was hard for Lucy to keep up as Natsu stopped beside them. "Jellal was all like: You're gonna answer me now Cat! And Cheshire was all cool with: We should have tea first, what kinda tea would you prefer? And then Jellal was all like, whaddya got?"

"That's not how it happened!" Jellal grunted at them, throwing on a blue cloak with yellow stitch work around its edges.

But Levy kept on talking, "And just like that, BOOM! One question gone! But none of us realized it yet—that was the thing! Even though Time was trying to be smart, she had him talking and got him to burn THREE questions just like that! Oh man it was CRAZY! She's such a slick slice 'a cheese—and packs a ton of tea too! Anyway, when Jellal got tired of her stalling he was all mad and shouted," Levy's impersonation of a Jellal angry voice was simply too adorable. " 'WHERE IS MAVIS!' And Cana started laughing and answered sooooo sweetly, 'same place's she been all along.' "

Lucy glanced at Time, who growled to himself while lifting a hood up over his head.

Levy wasn't done with her story yet though, " 'She's at my place, been staying there all the while you've been playing with the humans,' So then Jellal was all, 'answer my question fully, cat,' and she was all, 'the deal was to answer truthfully, not fully.' And OH MY GOSH! Time got all red and tried to ask her where her place was, but she started to vanish with a cheeeeeese eating grin. Jellal started yelling at her that they weren't done but then Cana's voice called out the four questions he'd asked and, and, and..." Levy finally took a breath, "And then he got all quiet and sat down at that tree," Levy pointed over Lucy's shoulder at the tree next to Jellal. "And pouted until Gaajie said that he smelled you guys."

This version of the tale tickled Natsu something great. With smug grin, his eyes glided over to the March Hare, "That really how it happened?"

"Geheh." Gajeel smirked back, "Pretty much."

"I was not pouting." Jellal grunted. "Come Lucy, we've no more time to waste."

Natsu smiled darkly as Time approached. When the man dared take Lucy's hand, Natsu punched him squarely in the jaw, shooting him back into a tree.

"Natsu!" Both Lucy and Levy yelled, running after Time.

"And if ya don't know what that's for, then you're crazier than me, Tick Tock!" Natsu yelled after him.

"Gah ha ha!" The March Hare laughed, marching over and slapping the Mad Hatter on the back.

Lucy knelt in front of Time with handkerchief already in hand, but he waved it away. Levy bent over them, "You okay?"

Trying again, but this time offering him the handkerchief, Jellal lifted up, ignoring it. With a glare that might bore holes through Natsu's skull, Jellal spit a mouthful of blood out of his mouth. "That's the only cheap shot you'll get from me, Hatter. Next time I'll be boxing your ears."

"Just you try." Natsu glared back, "I know how to break a clock or two."

Levy sweatdropped nervously, and Lucy shoved the handkerchief onto Jellal's nose this time. "Oww!" Time grimaced, his voice nasally from where she pressed it.

"Oh hold still, you big baby," Lucy chided. "Honestly, why must you goad him on like that?!"

Jellal took the handkerchief, but edged his face from her hand. "It's really quite simple. I am an entity of time, my dear, few things humor me."

Then, he looked directly at Lucy and spoke directly into her mind. A chilling experience she hoped to never have again. :But teasing a dragon... especially by taking what they think belongs to them? Never stops being funny.:

Again with the blushing, Lucy made the extremely bad choice of turning back to look at the Hatter.

"Gah ha ha ha!" The March Hare bellowed when he saw her face.

Natsu practically snarled, pushing up his one sleeve and crouched down. Lucy couldn't help but think of how a snake might coil before striking. However, the always clever Dormouse jumped in front of Time right before the fire dragon pounced—and since the March Hare's lady was in the way, Gajeel grabbed Natsu up by the collar. "What, HEEY!"

"Precious cargo, Salamander. Ain't happenin."

Time straightened his cloak, readjusted his hood, and tried again. "Come Lucy, let's get you set up."

"Damnit Ironface! Lemme down!" Natsu yelled, resulting in him getting dropped onto the ground. "Oof!" Leaping to his feet, the dragon yelled at Time, "we just got back! She ain't going anywhere with you!"

"Yea!" Levy spun around to tilt her head at Lucy, "Aren't you hungry? How about some lunch?"

The blonde looked from Jellal to Levy. The fish from last night was wearing thin after a two hour walk. She looked up at Jellal and shrugged.

Time sighed, what trouble mortals were. "Did you get anything from town?"

Lucy's eyes widened and a smile grew, "I did, actually!" Lifting her skirt up to grab the mirror from one of her pockets, she showed it proudly.

Levy ohh'ed at it, "So pretty..."

As Natsu walked up to stand next to Lucy, she lamented, "I'm sorry I stormed off yesterday. I didn't even know what I actually needed."

"Natsu got you this?" Levy asked.

Lucy nodded coyly at her friend and Jellal took the mirror from her and looked it over carefully.

"That ain't yours, Pocketwatch," Natsu growled.

Curious at his careful inspection, Lucy ventured, "Will it... is it what you needed?

"I would have chosen something much less breakable," Jellal began, "but so long as there isn't a crack in it, it should do fine."

A brilliant smile blossomed onto the Celestial mage's face, "Really!?"

Leveling the mirror to his eyes, Jellal made one final check for minuscule cracks around its edges. "Dormouse? Would you be a dear and find us something large enough to place this in?"

"I can do that!" Levy jumped merrily, and dashed off to the large table, crawling all about it; she decided on a large appetizer platter and held it up high, "will this do?"

"Marvelous." Jellal approached the table as Levy sat it back down. Setting the mirror into the platter, he held out his hand. "Flask, if you would, Darling?"

Lucy started fishing out the water he'd given to her while Natsu growled, "You can stop callin' her that now. She ain't marrying you."

Taking the flask from Lucy with a nod, he spoke while unscrewing the lid. "Do you think she'd rather wed a cretin like you? Lacking in the most basic of manners?"

"I've got manners!" The Hatter retorted.

"Mmhmm," Jellal poured the canister's contents directly onto the mirror until the platter was filled, the mirror being completely submerged. "Brilliant manners, to strike a guest."

"You ain't no guest."

Lucy groaned, "He's my guest, I'll have you know!"

Natsu ran a hand through his hair, groaning as well. A smile curled onto Jellal's lips as he capped his flask, slipping it back into his coat. "Leave that there, until the mirror has absorbed all the fluid." Raising his deep ocean eyes to look into Lucy's, "then you will have what you need to find your way home."

"Home?" Natsu's eyes widened, this whole time she'd still been searching for a way to leave again?

Lucy looked at the dish full of water, then back up to Jellal. "So I'll never be 'lost' in this world again?"

"By this world's standards, no." Lifting a wrap to cover his mouth and nose, he added, "Though you should still take care, as to where you place your feet."

Time turned to leave, his contract with the human girl complete, but Lucy called out, "What will you do now?"

Jellal turned back around for just a moment, raising a hand that materialized a massive spear. Its blade etched in roman numerals, "Hunt." He then ducked under a hanging branch, and was gone.

The silence was broken when Levy asked, "You... you don't think he meant Cana... do you?"

"Psssh," Natsu waved it off, "Cheshire is the Card Master. She can out fox that old man no matter what the hour is."

"Shoulda turned him in when we had the chance," Gajeel frowned.

Lucy whispered out into the woods, "Please be safe."

Two dragons and a mouse watched as she pulled up a chair and stared into the dish filled with water.

Levy looked to Natsu after watching Lucy for a tick. Her ears wilted when she saw how thin his pupils were and her heart went out to him. It was obvious to her that her dear friend was terrified that the Juicy was about to leave him again.

All the licks, all the love!

Seriphia
aka
Lick

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