Natsu's Last Proposal

Chapter 4: A Proposal?!

She found the note on her bed. It read: "Meet me under the sakura trees, I have a surprise for you - Natsu "

 What? Lucy puzzled. Why didn't he just tell me in person? This isn't like him, unless...he's asking me on a...date? Lucy's heart rate quickened and she could feel her face flushing at the thought of it.

"Well....I guess I should look nice," Lucy pondered. "I don't really understand why he left a note instead of telling me in person, but it must be something big for him to leave a note."

She put on the little black dress with white ruffles that she wore the last time she thought Natsu had asked her out on a date. But this time she wore a necklace with a little yellow star charm, rather than the heart.

"Maybe I shouldn't wear this dress again, it might be jinxed," Lucy fretted, but she didn't have much time to worry, Natsu might be waiting. "Oh who cares, maybe this necklace will bring change things around." She pulled out her celestial keys.

"Gate of the Giant Crab, I open thee!" Lucy called, "Cancer!"

"Ebi!" Cancer appeared. "How would you like your hair today-ebi."

"Cancer, can you style my hair like this?" Lucy showed him a magazine that contained a glossy photo of a young woman with a complicated up-do.

"Of course-ebi!" Cancer immediately got to work, his scissors flying, styling Lucy's golden yellow hair into a her desired style.

"Done-ebi!"

"Thanks Cancer."

And he was gone in a flash.

"It's time to go and meet Natsu for the...date!" The word felt strange on her tongue, and it made her pace quicken and her face turn bright pink as she thought of a future with Natsu, in which they have many pink haired children.

"What am I thinking?! It's just Natsu! He's probably just asking for another silly favor," Lucy shook her head and left her apartment, heading for a night that she would never forget.

"Natsu?" Lucy saw her pink haired friend, his face illuminated by the rainbow sakura blossoms falling around them. She had forgotten that it was cherry blossom season.

He turned and she could see a light blush forming on his cheeks. He waved for her to come over and she approached slowly, unsure of what he was going to ask.

Natsu was dressed a lot nicer than usual. He was even in the outfit that he had worn when they went to the ball at Balsamico Castle. This made Lucy suddenly feel very under-dressed.

When Lucy got within arm's reach of Natsu, he held her hand tightly in his and looked up at the tree they were standing under wistfully. "Remember when I dug up one of these trees and sent it down the river to you when you were sick during Hanami?" Natsu smiled.

"Master Makarov was furious," Lucy laughed, remembered her joy that night of seeing that beautiful tree from out her window.

"I wanted to do it here, under the tree that made you so happy."

"Do what Natsu?" Upon hearing this, Lucy's head began to pound. Is he going to propose? Right here?

"We've been friends for so long, and I can't deny that I feel all fluttery and happy inside whenever I see you, and I want to be able to wake up to that magnificent fluttery feeling every morning," Natsu-still holding on to Lucy's hand-pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and blushing ferociously, asked, "Will you be mine? My-my wife I mean," he stuttered.

He opened the box and inside was a gorgeous silver ring with the snow stone that they had found inlaid in the center, surrounded by tiny diamonds that glittered like stars. "I went in and traded some of my reward money for one of the stones and used my other savings to buy the diamonds and silver. It's what I was working on when I shooed you guys out of my house," Natsu stared down at the ground, "I didn't mean to sound so harsh, I just wanted it to be a surprise. Sorry if the band is a little loose, I'm not really good at ring making."

Lucy's hands flew to her mouth and tears sprung in her chocolate brown eyes. "Yes! Yes! It's perfect!" she squealed as she flung herself into Natsu's arms, sending them both tumbling to the ground.

The happy couple laughed as they both lay in disarray in the grass. Natsu helped Lucy up and slipped the ring onto her eager ring finger and pulled her in for a long and passionate kiss.

"I love you Lucy," Natsu whispered.

"I love you too Natsu," Lucy breathed as she leaned in for another kiss. "Please don't ever leave me," she said, and suddenly, tears were streaming down her face.

Natsu pulled away from the kiss and wiped away her tears with his hand. "Don't worry, I won't," and he pulled her into a tight embrace. "Come on, let's go home."

"Okay."