The Dragon's Mark

Why Would Someone Take You From Me?

Lucy smiled at him. "No, it's a nice day for a walk, don't you think? Plus, you can work off everything you just ate!" she teased, although it was unnecessary. The dragon slayer's metabolism burned just about everything off he ate, which is why he ate so much, so often.

She picked up the meal she had ordered to go as they left the restaurant. She was not going to be putting up with a whiny, hungry Natsu walking home! Plus, she had a great idea of having a picnic in a nice spot - a place where they could take a break and rest before heading the rest of the way home!

"That smells good!" Natsu commented, eyeing the basket.

"You just ate, knucklehead!" Lucy shouted at him, exasperated. Okay, so she was jealous of his metabolism! Still, it would be nice if he would think of other things besides food!

"Aw, Luce, you know I'm just teasing you!" Natsu grinned, draping an arm around her shoulder. "This has been nice - just you and me. Why don't we do this more often?"

She gave Natsu a smile as they walked out of town. "Aren't you forgetting someone?"

"Who?"

"Happy!"

"Oh yeah!" he grinned. "You, me and Happy! We've done so many team missions lately, I can't remember the last time it was just the three of us!"

"So, um, Natsu," began Lucy after they had walked along awhile in comfortable silence. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine. How are you feeling?"

Lucy sighed, realizing she would have to be blunt with Natsu. I guess it's part of his charm, she thought, rolling her eyes. "I mean, how do you feel about the two of us? Are you feeling more secure that I won't be leaving you or someone else will be taking me away?"

He frowned. "Why would someone take you from me? If they did, I'd have to hurt them," he growled, clenching his fist.

Lucy sighed again. She dropped Natsu's hand that she had been holding the last couple of miles. "I'm talking about what happened before, with Grey. Are you still feeling like something or someone will separate us, or are you feeling more secure? I mean, you know I'm not going anywhere, right?"

Natsu continued to frown. "I'm not sure what you're getting at, Lucy."

Lucy gave him an exasperated look. She noticed a nice shady tree in a grassy area and decided they needed to take a break. She grabbed his hand and led him over to the area. "Sit," she ordered, and he obeyed.

"Natsu, how can I make you understand?" she began, biting her bottom lip out of frustration. She sat in front of him, with Natsu leaning back against the tree. She took both his hands in hers and looked him in the eyes.

"This is not easy for me and it's one reason we got the book since you're not sure of what's happening to you, either. You know I've never had a boyfriend before and now all of a sudden, I have a 'mate' - someone I'll be with my whole life."

He started to speak, but she squeezed his hands and continued. "Don't get me wrong, Natsu. You're my best friend. That friendship has grown into love and I am so happy we are together like this," she said softly, blushing. "I just want you to know that. I trust you. I've always believed in you. I want to know if you believe in me, too."

Natsu looked at her incredulously. "Of course I believe in you! Luce, I chose you as my mate. I know that sometimes I don't always understand what's going on and what people are saying. I can be sloppy and goofy at times," he grinned. "I love you. I'll always believe in you!"

Lucy felt the tension in her body ease - a tension she didn't realize she had until just then. "So, Natsu," she continued in a soft tone, still holding his hands, "you trust me that I don't want to be with anybody else but you. You have my heart and soul. Always."

Natsu pulled Lucy closer to him so that they were embracing. "Luce," he whispered, overcome with emotions. "You mean the world to me. You have my heart and soul as well. I will never let anything ever happen to you. I swear!" he finished in a firm tone.

Lucy wondered if this was the time to bring up her training. She was nervous - if it backfired, they still had several hours to get home. Well, nothing like the present! She tried to encourage herself.

She allowed herself time to snuggle up next to Natsu's warm body. A leaf drifting down from the tree reminded her that cooler weather was coming soon. She snuggled in closer with that thought. Natsu's hand reached up and started stroking her hair.

They sat like that for awhile before Lucy reluctantly pulled away. She looked at Natsu and started to speak, but thought better of it and closed her mouth. Glancing at the sky, she noticed too much time had passed and they needed to get moving.

I'll look at the book with Levy, figure things out, then tell him, she thought determinedly. After all, he left for a year to train. Yeah, but another voice inside her head reasoned, but you weren't mated then, were you? Think about how upset you were when you read his letter?

Oh yeah? Lucy argued back with the voice. I guess the fact that my world was falling apart at the time didn't factor in at all, she thought sarcastically. Aquarius's key, the guild disbanding...Natsu's leaving was the last straw in a long line of events!

"You okay, Luce? You're frowning again," Natsu observed, helping her up.

"I'm fine," she smiled back at him, picking up her bag. "Ready?"