Chapter Text
Five
“How much do you like me?”
Natsu’s shoulders stiffened and his heart began to thump an erratic rhythm against his rib cage as the love of his life stood in front of him with her hands clasped in front of her and a grin on her face that was a touch too feral for him to even consider her question being asked out of anything other than her need to see him suffer.
His eyes locked with hers, taking immediate notice of the mischievousness in the brown orbs he loved so much.
He fucking adored playful Lucy. Just, maybe not so much when it was at his expense.
“I like you just as much as I love you,” He said slowly, honestly. “But, if you think for one single second that any of this means you can just bat your pretty eyelashes at me and get me to do stupid shit, you’re wrong.”
Her snort told him what she thought of that. And, honestly, she was right. He was a complete liar. All she had to do was breathe in his direction and he would do whatever the fuck she wanted, the good, the bad and the downright fucking dumb.
He growled lowly, shaking his head already resigned to doing whatever she wanted.
“Okay, fine. What is it this time?” He sighed, reaching out and pulling his ridiculous girl to his side.
She sunk into his arms, her face nuzzling into his chest and arms wrapping around his waist tightly. He felt more than heard the contented sigh that she exhaled against him, letting him hold the majority of her weight up.
“Well,” She murmured, shivering as he began trailing his lips across her temple and down towards her jaw. “Hisui told me about an old stablehand of hers that now owns a Christmas tree farm, and we did say we wanted to do Christmas properly this year. So, I think we should go and pick one out.”
He grunted, dread already curling in the pit of his stomach. “What if I set stuff on fire though?”
She pulled back immediately, staying within the circle of his arms but making sure he could see her face as she frowned in reprimand at him, one of her fingers coming up to tug at his hair.
“Stop that,” She murmured, pulling his face down towards hers so their foreheads met and noses brushed. “I know you always hear everyone say about how destructive you are and the damage you’ve caused. I keep telling you that you never, ever set out with the intention to cause any damage. You’re in so much more control of your power now, Natsu. You just need to trust in yourself more and stop letting what the others had to say get in the way of you doing stuff just because you’re afraid you might go overboard.”
He sighed heavily, guilt making it hard to swallow. “Luce,” He breathed, holding back a shiver as his lips brushed just slightly against hers. “You know they were right though. I used to cause so much trouble when we went on jobs, that we even had trouble getting enough jewel for your rent.”
“Yeah, you used to go overboard but I never blamed you for it. Did I get irritated? Sure. Not at you, not really. Just at the amount of jobs we used to do just to pay rent and pay for damages. And it wasn’t just you. I caused a fair amount of trouble with my whip, Erza was the same, as was Gray and Wendy. We all went overboard sometimes. I’m just sorry that it seems like you were the only one who got blamed for it though and that it sticks with you now because of it, when it was all of us.”
He let her words wash over him. They weren’t enough to completely chase away the dread and insecurity he felt at his own control, but they warmed him from the inside out and soothed the hurt he still felt over the words their guild had used when talking about him.
Over the top. Destructive. Trouble.
The thrill of the fight had always swept his control out from under him, no matter how tightly he’d tried to keep himself leashed. The excitement had sent his blood roaring through his veins and fire that begged to be released into the world so that he could show how powerful Fairy Tail was. How powerful he was. But, he had never figured out the balance between just enough and overboard.
“Besides,” She continued, grinning cheekily at him, a sliver of her tongue poking through at him. “I like it when you go overboard.”
Natsu watched as she tilted her neck back slightly, giving him full view of the marks he’d left from her collarbone down into her cleavage.
He groaned softly, fingers clenching and unclenching against her hips as he fought not to dive right back in and cover her in even more marks.
“Lucy,” He sighed, sliding one of his hands around the back of her neck and clamping his hand down, his fingers twisting in her hair and pulling, tipping her head back so his lips could meet hers.
She hummed happily against his lips, her teeth nipping at his bottom lip before she ran her tongue along it to soothe the ache she left behind. He opened his mouth up for her, letting her lick her way into his mouth, groaning deeply as a spark of arousal flooded through him as every sense in his body was suddenly overwhelmed with his beautiful, precious girl.
“I wanna go,” She gasped out in between kisses, sucking and licking deeper into his mouth before speaking against him. “In elf costumes.”
He reared back as soon as her words registered in his sex-addled brain.
“Please,” He groaned hoarsely. “Please tell me you’re not trying to get me to dress as an elf in public with your hand currently being shoved into my pants.”
Her nails scratched across his swelling length, a wild grin on her lips as she carefully worked her hot little hand up to the tip.
“I’m just joking,” She laughed softly, her beautiful eyes flashing as her amusement and pleasure began to fight for first place. “But, we do have to cut the tree down ourselves. It’s a thing, apparently.”
He huffed out a relieved breath before shivering as she began backing him towards their couch, mouthing at his jawline and neck.
“I would’ve only agreed because your hand was on my cock, not for any other reason.” He grumbled, shaking his head at her as he fell onto the couch.
“Oh, of course.” She practically cooed, both of them well aware of his lie. Lucy could convince him to go Christmas tree shopping while naked, if it was something she genuinely wanted.
He reached out and pulled her hand out from his pants before yanking her down onto his lap and rocking his hips up into hers, his lips twitching into a salacious little grin as all amusement fled from her face and her mouth dropped open and her eyes rolled in pleasure.
“This wasn’t - ah,” She whined breathily as he twitched up against her clothed center again. “Wasn’t my plan.”
Natsu rumbled in the back of his throat and gripped at the strings holding her top shut with his teeth and pulled, her little gasp and ass wiggle making him grunt as his own pleasure rolled through him.
“Liar.” He hissed out teasingly, using his nose to nudge her top open and expose her breasts to him loving the fact that this top tied up tight enough that she could go braless. His tongue darted out immediately to taste her, teeth nipping at her skin over purple bruises he’d left behind already before his tongue swirled over an already puckered nipple, pulling it into his mouth.
She whimpered, arching into him, her back pressing into the hands he’d pressing into her spine to keep her steady and her hips rocking into his as she searched for some friction to ease the heat rapidly pooling in between her legs.
He was fucking obsessed with how responsive she was.
He had made love to her for the first time a little over a week before when Happy had decided to visit Princess Hisui because she’d promised to help him with something he was trying to do in secret for Lucy and Natsu for Christmas.
He had fucked her exactly an hour after he’d made love to her.
Since that first taste of sex, Natsu couldn’t get enough of her. He was fucking addicted to the taste of her, the sounds he pulled from her when he teased her until she came apart around him, the scent of her arousal that grew rapidly during their activities.
They had become quite steady with where they made love. Natsu usually saved that for their bed when Happy was out doing his own things, or even in the bath where the hot water just pulled her body deeper into the ecstasy he helped her chase.
He fucked her everywhere he could, though. It was always rough and quick, whether it was on the couch or on the kitchen counter, or he’d press her up against the wall in the bathroom and take her to her peak within five minutes while Happy was none the wiser in the bedroom getting ready for the day.
He was just entirely addicted to her in every single way.
“Na - Natsu,” She sighed out, letting him slide one hand down her back and around the curve of her ass.
He trailed his fingers underneath her skirt, tickling at her skin and pressing against her twitching muscles as he worked his way around to her front where he could feel just how drenched she was.
“Look at you,” He praised softly, completely enamoured with her and everything she gave him. “You’re so wet for me already, Luce.”
She just pushed closer against his palm, trying to urge his fingers closer to where she wanted them.
He slowly pulled her panties to the side, his fingers playfully skirting around where she was most sensitive making her groan low and deep in the back of her throat. Her fingers gripped the hair at the back of his head and she tugged sharply, letting him know how impatient she was.
He grinned darkly, his eyes locking with hers.
“What, baby? What is it you want?” He twitched his fingers closer to her core, his length twitching consistently as her heat began to overwhelm him, her scent floating up to meet him and only serving to send his own lust through the roof. “Use your words, Lucy. Tell me.”
She whimpered and leaned down so her lips were near his.
“I want your fingers, Natsu. Please.” She rocked forwards again, trying to urge him closer. “Fuck me, Natsu.”
He twisted his hand into her hair and gripped it tightly, making sure she was exactly where he wanted her before he finally brushed his finger against her.
She was fucking soaking, it wouldn’t take much before she was ready to take him.
He gathered her juices on his fingers before sinking his middle finger into her heat, pushing in quick and deep. His thumb pressed against her clit as he pushed in, the combination making her cry out his name.
“Na - ah! Natsu!” She babbled, her face flushed.
She was a fucking beautiful picture.
He surged up and brought her lips back to his, not giving her a moment before he plunged his tongue deep into her mouth and began the now familiar path of tasting every inch and crevice she gave him.
Adding a second finger, he pushed in up to his second knuckles and rubbed his thumb along her bundle of nerves quicker and harder, wanting to make her fall apart against him before he chased his own pleasure.
“Fuck,” She sobbed out, dropping her forehead to his and meeting his fingers for each thrust. “Fuck.”
Her walls were fluttering and tightening around his fingers, pulling him in deeper and deeper with each push. The muscles in her thighs were jumping with every sweep of his thumb across her clit and he knew she was close to her first orgasm of the afternoon.
He was so fucking thankful that Happy was at the store. It gave him time to fuck at least three orgasms out of his girl before he got back, and he would enjoy every fucking one of them.
“Come for me, baby,” He ordered, voice low and raw with lust. “Show me how much you need this.”
He added a third finger, and she immediately crashed over the edge with a sharp cry that ebbed and flowed in volume as her orgasm rippled through her.
Natsu kept pumping his fingers into her as she rode the wave of her pleasure, working her through it as she clamped almost too tightly around him making him groan wantonly into the juncture of her shoulder.
He waited until she pushed slightly against his shoulder before he pulled his fingers away from her, immediately shoving them into his mouth and lapping up her juices like she was his favourite drink.
She was his favourite drink, honestly.
“I really love you,” She breathed against his cheek, hot and sweaty from the movement of her body against his. “And you are really fucking good at that.”
He grinned before standing up and sweeping her into his arms, laughing quietly at her squeak of surprise before she clung on to him, her legs wrapping around his waist and her uncovered core pressing against his stomach.
“I’m gonna fuck that pretty little smirk off your face, Lucy.” He warned her softly, biting and sucking a mark into the mating mark on her neck.
The only time a dragon could give or receive a mating mark was during the first mating. It would happen during an orgasm only, and after that first one you couldn’t mark your mate again. Not permanently, anyway. The bond would still be there, one that tied their souls together forever, but the physical reminder wouldn’t be.
Lucy was the owner of her very own mating mark just underneath her left ear, while Natsu was the proud owner of his right over his heart.
He’d be lying if he said he was surprised Lucy had been able to mark him at all considering she hadn’t been a dragon slayer, but after all, it was Lucy, and she thrived in life when she exceed expectations.
He carried her into their bedroom and dropped her onto the mattress, both of them sharing a soft laugh as she bounced a few times before settling, her body already wiggling with anticipation as he peeled her skirt and panties away.
“I’m gonna fuck you, just how you like it,” He promised, leaning over and pressing kisses across her body. “And you’re not gonna tease me anymore, are you baby?”
He trailed his tongue across her abdomen before dipping it into her bellybutton, grinning against her skin as she jolted and shrieked with laughter underneath him.
One of his favorite things in life was making her laugh.
“Can’t promise you that,” She giggled, before yelping as he bit a mark into the underside of her breast.
He growled playfully, steadying himself between her legs. “Guess I’m gonna have to show you how to be a good girl for me, huh Luce?”
His grin turned positively mirthful when she whined at his words, her body twisting and arching as she tried to line her core up with him.
“Tell me what I wanna hear, Lucy,” He urged softly, lifting her leg and pinning it to the bed so she was spread all wide just for him. “Tell me what I wanna hear and I’ll make you feel so good.”
She sobbed out his name, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes as she tried valiantly to chase her pleasure that only he could give her.
“I’ll be a good girl, Natsu,” She babbled, her fingers gripping and twisting at his hair. “Promise. Promise.”
He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and sunk into her with one sharp snap of his hips, her walls immediately fluttering and tightening around him drawing out simultaneous groans from both of them.
Fuck. He could spend forever buried inside of her.
He set a brutal pace, peppering her face and chest with kisses as his fingers gripped her hips tight enough to bruise. He was panting against her, smirk steady against his lips as she splintered apart again with a scream.
“Na - ah!” She sobbed, body twitching against him in the aftermath of her second orgasm. “I can’t take anymore!”
He kissed the tears away that had leaked from her eyes and nuzzled his nose against hers.
“You can. Give me one more, sweet girl. One more.” He urged, one hand gripping her ass and tilting her hips up which allowed him to angle himself in deeper, his cock hitting that beautifully hot, warm spot inside of her that made her scream.
“N - Natsu! Natsu! Fuck!” She cried, nails biting into his skin as she scrambled for purchase. “Fuck, right there, Natsu!”
He brought his hand up to her sensitive clit and pinched it, and she immediately flew over the cliff once more sobbing and babbling his name, her legs clenching around his hips as she tried to ride the wave.
With a croon of her name, Natsu thrust upwards once more before falling apart at the seams, her walls literally milking him for everything he was, drawing out his own pleasure as wave after wave of pleasure bounced between them.
He fell on top of her when he finished coming inside of her, both of them laughing and panting into each other's mouths as they kissed lazily, tongues brushing softly and noses bumping into one another’s.
“So,” Lucy finally spoke as Natsu whisked them both off to soak in the tub. “Will you come cut a Christmas tree down with me?”
Fuck.
How was this her life? How was she actually at a Christmas tree farm, picking out a tree with Natsu and Happy for their apartment?
She’d only spent one Christmas in Magnolia with Natsu before everything went to shit with Tenrou and then Tartaros before Christmas the year before, and she hadn’t wanted to bother with a Christmas tree before. Mostly because Magnolia didn’t offer Christmas tree farms and the idea of traveling just for a tree seemed stupid.
Sure, she could’ve bought an artificial tree in Magnolia, but she wanted her first tree to be real.
Her Christmas morning the year they did spend together was spent alone, Natsu having been roped into helping out at the guild under threat of Makarov and Erza’s wrath if he didn’t comply.
She would say it was lonely, but Lucy had been spending Christmas alone since her mother died, so it was hardly a shock to her system. It had been nice spending the day at the guild opening little presents from everybody (most had gifted her writing materials or bubble baths) and enjoying a nice meal.
Natsu had gifted her with a gorgeous leather-bound notebook that had a little pen holder to take with her when they traveled to jobs so she could write whenever inspiration struck her. And also, Christmas bedding. Because according to him, her apartment had been too bare and void of Christmas joy and it made him sad.
Happy had gifted her a drawing he’d done of the three of them and a bandana that matched his little green one so that they could be matching. She still used the bandana, using it as a hair bow to tie her hair up when she felt like changing her scrunchies.
Princess Hisui had told her about the Christmas tree farm that her old stablehand now owned and Lucy had immediately been enthralled by the idea of decorating a tree with her little family for their first proper Christmas together.
So, here she was. Dragging Natsu and Happy through rows and rows of trees on her hunt for the perfect Dragneel-Heartfilia Christmas tree to cut down.
“Am I…” Natsu trailed off and tugged at his scarf around her neck, bringing her to a complete stop. “Luce, slow down for a minute. I don’t even know what I’m looking for!” He laughed at her softly, eyes bright with what she’d come to realize was love. For her.
She flushed and tucked herself against his side to try and settle the overexcited energy she was feeling for long enough to explain to him what kind of tree she was hoping to find.
Natsu brought his hand up to her face and gently tipped it back so she was looking up at him, and her eyes fluttered shut immediately already knowing that he was leaning down to kiss her.
Kissing Natsu had quickly become her favorite thing to do.
She hummed happily as he pulled away, tucking her face right back into his chest and letting the feel of him and scent of him surround her and calm her.
“According to the sign at the front of the farm, the best tree is called a Fraser Fir,” She rattled off, eyes looking around as she took in the other families and couples searching for their tree. “I have no fucking clue what that is, so I just want one that’s really big and full. And then we get to go to the little store in the middle of the farm and pick out all our decorations!”
She was tugging at the bottom of his one-sleeved jacket, excitement beginning to swell up inside of her again.
Natsu’s hand swept across her back and Happy floated up to her face, his wet little nose poking her cheek and making her giggle.
“Okay, we can do that.” Her partner hummed, taking her wrist and pulling her into a run and making her and Happy almost collide as they all stumbled their way through the Christmas trees.
“I’m so excited!” Happy practically squealed, flying in between trees and above their heads, soaring through the cold air without a single worry.
She grinned up at him, silently echoing his statement.
Lucy didn’t know how long they ran through countless trees both already cut and still rooted to the ground, their eyes in search for what would be their perfect tree. Their tree that they would spend the whole next day decorating once it had been delivered to their apartment, considering the owner of the farm offered delivery for locals.
Running through the trees with Christmas music playing in the background and her senses filled with all things Christmassy, Lucy felt an excitement she hadn’t felt since the last Christmas she’d spent in her apartment in Magnolia.
She missed running through the streets of Magnolia at Christmas time, lights dangling from every window and decorations flooding every street lamp and shop doorway. It had always looked so magical, and in a world where she lived and breathed magic, it had been Christmas that had made her feel like a little girl again. The happy version of little Lucy, when her mom had been alive.
Crocus wasn’t like Magnolia because it was far too big. It didn’t have the little town Christmas vibe, only the odd decoration stretched far and wide between storefronts. The only place that was covered head to toe in Christmas stuff was the castle.
Her princess friend was an actual Christmas elf and wanted to spread her joy far and wide, so they held an annual Christmas Eve light show, which is how Lucy found herself in this Christmas tree farm in the first place.
She’d been unsure at first, not knowing whether she was even capable of feeling excited for a holiday that used to bring her so much loneliness. But, Hisui knew her. And she’d dared Lucy to find the best tree for her apartment and decorate it well, and if Hisui liked it then Lucy got to press the big button on Christmas Eve to light the whole castle up.
And Lucy - and by default, Natsu - couldn’t turn down a dare. No, sir. Not one that came along with the possibility of flooding the kingdom in bright lights.
The excitement had been steadily building since that afternoon when Natsu had agreed to go with her and cut their tree down. Now, surrounded by nothing but Christmas joy and squealing children and adults drinking cider and cocoa, Lucy was ready to do anything to make Christmas special for her little family.
“I found it! I found it!” Happy’s voice screeched from somewhere, she wasn’t entirely sure where. “Natsu, Lucy! Over here!”
Natsu must’ve spotted their little Exceed because he turned on his heel and tugged her with him, taking them in between people and trees until they found Happy peering up at a decently sized tree that was greener than anything she’d seen thus far and full with so much life.
“Oh,” She breathed, scooping Happy up into her arms and leaning into Natsu’s chest as the three of them surveyed the tree Happy had found. “I think it’s perfect.”
Natsu nudged her forehead with his chin and purred softly in the back of his throat. “Yeah? This the one you guys want?”
Happy was squeaking and clapping his hands in joy, reaching out with his paw and bouncing it off one of the many branches. “We got a tree! We got a tree!”
Lucy’s chest ached in the best way possible. It was something she was learning to live with after realizing that her heart lived outside of her body in the form of her fiery dragon and silly little Exceed. Every happy moment she spent with her boys made her ache.
“I love it. I love you.” She breathed, tipping her face up so she could see Natsu. She wanted to etch this moment into her memory forever.
His eyes locked with hers and he smiled the soft little smile that was for her only before he nuzzled their noses together in what he’d explained was the dragon equivalent of a kiss.
“I love you, Lucy.” He promised softly, before his face twisted into a grimace. “Even if I am about to cut down a Christmas tree.”
Natsu woke up to the bed shaking, and he knew immediately who the culprit was.
He reached out without even opening his eyes and snagged his girl around the waist and pulled her to him, grinning impishly as she collapsed against his chest with a quiet grunt.
“No,” She groaned, wriggling to try and get out of his arms. “You and Happy have to get up now! It’s Christmas, Natsu!”
He huffed out a laugh, soaking up the warmth of her body on his.
“Then, can my present be a lay in? Because we had a late night doing that weird light festival and I already know without looking that the sun isn’t up yet, you heathen.”
Lucy and Natsu had won the weird bet Hisui had given Lucy after he’d cut down their tree - without burning it - and they’d spent the day after decorating it in pretty lights and ornaments. It felt like the first real Christmas Natsu had ever had, considering Igneel didn’t celebrate it and trying to celebrate Christmas properly with a guildhall full of kids had been more stressful than fun when he was younger.
This year, it was him and his girl and their cat. His family.
They’d gone to Hisui’s annual Christmas Eve light show, and Lucy had been allowed to press the big red button that flooded the castle grounds in Christmas lights and fake snow. It had been amazingly fun, more than Natsu had thought it’d be considering it was a royal event he had to wear a tux for.
Though, Lucy had more than rewarded him for that particular clothing choice a few times.
She growled, dropping her chin onto his chest and glowering up at him. “Natsu.” She poked at his side. “I have been very patient and didn’t give either of you the gifts I got even though I really wanted too. Now it’s Christmas. It’s socially acceptable to give you gifts. Now. Get. Up.”
He shrieked out a laugh and arched away from her prodding fingers as she got him right in his ticklish spots.
“Okay! Okay!” His laughter had roused Happy, so he was now wide awake with a grumpy girl and a grumpy cat.
“Wha’s happening?” Happy whined, crawling down the mattress until he was curled up into Lucy’s chest which only served to make her grin victoriously at Natsu as she held their Exceed like a prize.
“It’s Christmas, Happy!” Lucy giggled, peppering his fluffy little face with kisses.
Natsu had the sudden urge to grab the cat by his tail and swing him all the way back to Magnolia. Lucky fucker.
“Christmas?” Happy purred, leaning into Lucy’s affections. “Wait, presents!”
He was left to watch as his little family took off back towards the front of their apartment where they’d placed their wrapped presents underneath their tree the night before.
Yawning, he shook his head fondly and hurried after them, their own excitement fuelling his own and waking him up.
Natsu was a morning person, he always had been. But, he was a reasonable morning person, which meant from six onwards. Not at the ass-crack of dawn before the sun even began to shine. But, if his future Christmases were going to be like this, he could definitely get used to it.
“Can I go first? My one is for both of you!” Happy was practically vibrating in Lucy’s arms, his eyes wide with excitement.
Lucy had settled on the rug near the tree, her back pressed up against the couch and Happy in her arms. Natsu quickly grabbed a cushion from the couch and tucked it behind her back so she was more comfortable, flushing slightly under the warmth of her gaze when she smiled at him.
“You can go first, Happy,” She smiled, pressing a kiss to his fuzzy head and then letting him go before she all but flopped into Natsu’s side, making him grunt at the sudden added pressure of his girl attempting to be a koala.
“Merry Christmas, love.” She hummed happily, pressing her lips to his neck before trailing them up to his cheek and grinning cheekily at his blush that she’d caused by pulling out the term of endearment.
He buried his fingers into her hair and held her to him, contentment thrumming underneath his skin as he was reminded once again just how fucking lucky he was that this was his life. That Lucy was his life.
“Merry Christmas, sweet girl.” He murmured, dropping a quick kiss to her lips before they both turned their full attention to their little blue Exceed who was currently squealing with happiness, tail swishing and paws clasping a rather large gift that Natsu knew full well his Exceed had wrapped himself, if the copious amount of tape around it was anything to by.
“Can I explain it before you open it?” He was bouncing in front of them, paws tapping against the present and eyes bright with so much excitement that Natsu genuinely wondered if he was about to self-combust right in front of them.
Lucy reached out and swept a hand down his back even as he continued prancing around, grinning. “Course!”
“Princess Hisui helped me get all the magic stuff for it. It’s for all of us. It’s got our names on it, and when we’re near it, our names light up so the rest of us know that we’re near it.” Happy babbled, clearly trying to explain the gift without outright giving it away.
Natsu had a very funny feeling; he already knew exactly what Happy had made for them, and he had to tip his head up to the ceiling to blink the tears gathering in his eyes away. Sometimes, the life he was living felt so incredibly surreal.
It had taken so much pain and trauma to get here, to be sitting here right in this moment with his best friends. With the love of his life tucked against him, listening to their Exceed explain his gift to them.
He had been the reason there had been so much pain, and he didn’t think there would ever be a day he didn’t feel guilty about that. He just knew that for all the pain he suffered, all the anguish and abandonment he’d felt throughout his entire life, it would all be worth it to him. To love and be loved by Lucy was the greatest gift he’d ever receive.
Not that he’d tell that to Happy, of course.
He let Lucy unwrap the present, not even wanting to touch the stupid amount of tape because he knew he’d just set fire to the whole damn thing as soon as it refused to cooperate the first time.
She gasped as soon as the present was open, revealing a beautifully carved sign in the shape of a star that read, Natsu & Lucy & Happy. Natsu’s name was coloured with red, Lucy’s was pink, and Happy’s was green. Happy had picked their Fairy Tail colours and the shape of the sign was no secret either, the star being a symbol for their very own personal star with golden hair and the best hugs.
“I thought it would be nice to have something that was both the past and future. Me and Natsu had one for the house in Magnolia, but this one is for us. For here, or Magnolia or wherever.” Happy shrugged. “It’s us. Our family.”
“Oh, Happy,” Lucy reached out and grabbed him, her shoulders shaking with sobs. “This is perfect. And so, so sweet. Can you tell me about the enchantments again?”
He pulled them both into his arms as Happy explained how their names would glow with their colours whenever they were home, they just had to tap the top of the sign and it would activate their names.
“It’s perfect, little buddy,” Natsu murmured, ruffling his blue fur. “And I think it’s about time we got an updated one anyway, considering we were with Lucy long before Crocus.”
Lucy snorted and nudged against him with her shoulder, no doubt remembering all the times she’d woken up to two extra bodies in her bed, or less food than she’d had in her apartment the night before.
She carefully dropped the sign onto the couch behind them, and Natsu knew the conversation they’d kept pushing off about their lives going forward was steadily creeping closer, the sign only serving as a reminder.
Natsu truly didn’t mind what they did. He was happy in his little bubble in Crocus with his family, with Lucy going to work a few times a week and him helping out with the guards at the castle and not having to worry about making him and Lucy spend money paying for damages he’d caused on their missions.
Yeah, he missed their adventures. He probably always would for as long as they lived life on the slow path. But, he wouldn’t give up the way he lived recently for anything. It was thanks to their slow living in Crocus that he finally got time to show Lucy just how loved and wanted she was.
He would be fine with either choice, whether they stayed forever in Crocus or if they went back to Fairy Tail. So long as his little family continued to thrive and be happy, Natsu would be happy with whichever path they chose to go down.
They went around in a steady circle giving each other their gifts until there was only one left under the tree, and it was the one Natsu had been most excited for.
Lucy had given him an enchanted lighter that had unlimited fuel and some sort of wind protection, so he could use it to feed his fire powers whenever and wherever. Happy had given him another vest to wear in summer, this one had his name stitched into the inside pocket which was nice.
He had bought all of them their own Christmas colouring books and pencils after Lucy had told him about the tradition she used to have with her mom when she was younger where they would spend a few hours on Christmas day colouring pictures and then steadily work through the book until it was finished, ready for a new one for the next Christmas.
He’d had to let her cry for about twenty minutes after she’d opened her one, not that he minded.
This gift though, was one he’d brought back with him when he’d been away for ten months. He’d gotten it about two months after he’d left after coming across a pendant in a small store that reminded him of Lucy. When the owner, who had been a mage herself, had explained the idea behind the pendant, he knew he needed to get one for both of them.
Happy took one look at the present and grinned at him cheekily, the blue cat already well aware of what the gift was considering he’d been with Natsu when he’d purchased it. He flew under the tree and grabbed it, handing it to Natsu with a little wink before making an excuse about needing to have a bath before he took off to give them some privacy.
His palms were sweating as nerves settled deep in the pit of his tummy.
“Natsu? I thought we were done with presents.” She tilted her head up to look at him from where she was splashed out on their floor colouring in the second page of her book.
He huffed out a slow breath, and pushed it towards her.
“This is the last one. It’s one for both of us, really.” He explained carefully, keeping a hold of his emotions as he studied her. “I got this two months after I left you, Luce.”
Her eyes watered immediately at the reminder, pain twisting across her face before intrigue took over.
“It must be special if you waited this long to give it to me then.” She smiled at him softly, reminding him without words that she had forgiven him even if the reminder did still hurt.
He dragged his hand through his hair roughly, fighting against the anger that always settled within his very soul whenever he thought about the pain he had caused the one person he never wanted to hurt.
She carefully opened the box and pulled out a black wristband that had a golden key stitched into it and a gold necklace with an orange fire pendant hanging from the chain.
“Natsu,” She breathed, amazement plain in her eyes. “What are these? They’re beautiful.”
“The necklace is for you, and the wristband is mine.” He held up his bare wrist to show her that he wasn’t wearing the plain black one he usually always wore, the one she had the matching band too since the first week he’d met her. “I got them personalised, hence the key and fire.”
She carefully slipped the hand around the wrist he’d held up, her fingertips blazing a path down his arms as she used his body weight to carefully tug herself towards him without letting go of him.
“Your fire pendant will feel warm on your skin whenever I’m thinking about you, and mine will do the same. But, if either of us are in any danger, they go really hot and glow brightly so we can see it.” He explained, brushing her hair out of the way and carefully clasping the necklace around her neck. “That way, whenever we’re not together, you will always know how much I love you. Because, I’m always thinkin’ about you, Luce. No matter what I’m doing, you’re always on my mind. And I’ve wanted you to know that for so long, even before I got to tell you I love you.”
She was crying again, but her smile told him just how happy she was.
“These are amazing.” She sobbed softly, collapsing into his chest. “And the fact that you got them long before you even came back is nice. It sort of feels nice knowing that even though you were gone, you did still think about me. You telling me is one thing, but this is proof that I can keep with me forever that I was important.” She explained through her tears, being completely honest with him.
He held her tightly, dropping kiss after kiss on top of her head to soothe her as she cried.
“I’m always thinking of you, baby.” He murmured, nuzzling their noses together. “You are everything. And now, you can have a daily reminder of that.”
She fiddled with the band around his wrist and sniffled. “And so do you. You’re everything to me, too, Natsu. I always think about you, even when you’re annoying as hell.”
He flushed at her declaration, not having really considered that she might think about him as often as he thought about her but it made him feel loved knowing that he was just as important to her.
“Merry Christmas, Lucy.” He dipped down and pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose, the rise of her cheeks and then her lips all in quick succession. “I’m really glad we’re here.”
“Merry Christmas, my love.” She sighed, pressing in even closer. “Our first of many. Now, I have a whole year to figure out how to top this.”
He laughed brightly, a weight feeling like it had been lifted now that she finally had the gift he’d gotten her so long ago.
“Well,” He began, soaking in her warmth in his arms and the slight warmth that was emitting from the band on his wrist. “We’ve got forever to top it.”