paradisalogs | you'll be looking forward to the morning

[That causes him to make a face, pretty confused] You shouldn't of even had to think about that, dummy. Of course they would. They do.

[He brightens up though] You did? Ain't he great? We're a lot different but we still get along, heh. [All the fondness]

Hrmmm, you think so? [He's really too naive and trusting sometimes, and he's busy looking at that spot so Lucy gets a head start by the time he notices. When he does, his jaw drops]

H-Hey! Wait up! [And he stumbles a little at the get-go, but then starts running after her, gaining ground pretty quickly]

[ D'awww. Lucy grins - it might have been weird, but she had been nervous about meeting such a big family! Figures Natsu wouldn't have worried. ]

Yeah, he's much calmer than you are. After all, you're so weird. [ AAAAAAAAAAAll part of his charm. Of course she was plenty weird too, sprinting off like that, like it was a race or something. As if she had a chance of outrunning him pff. She glances back at his cry, ready to toss a teasing comment, only to 'eep' when she noticed he was already hot on her heels. ]

Slowpoke! [ She can't help but laugh. Slowpoke - riiiiiight. ]

[He makes a mock-hurtful expression at that, but it soon lapses into a grin. He really can't argue with that fact]

Well, you're weird too! [Uh huh, that's right. It's probably why they got along so well in the first place in all honesty]

You're not the one who should be saying that! [Not when, yup, he's caught up to her now and reaches to grab a hold of her hand]

Gotcha!

[ She snorts at that expression, thoroughly amused. Wait whaaaaaaaaat. Weird? HER? Also he's getting mighty close! ]

Am not! [ She fibs because she totally totally is. But she glances away briefly to see how close she is to the spot Natsu had indicated, laughing. Then EEPing as Natsu catches her hand, stumbling to a halt. Darn it, she almost made it that time! (not even clooose, Lucy.) ]

Are too! [Really, haven't they had this argument before? Countless times? It still never fails to make Natsu laugh though.

He cheers happily at catching her, slowing down as well, but he doesn't let go of her hand as he starts walking]

You're never gonna beat me in a race, Luce! [Grinning cheekily, he just decides to continue walking without knowing where he's going, oops]

I might one day!

[ Lucy giggles, but naturally she's not going to try to pull her hand away or anything. By now they were close enough to the ... ... is that even a trail? She wasn't so sure, but hey, if it led them into the forest, it was good enough for her. ]

Watch your head. [ So you don't smack it on any branches on the way through. Cuz she'll laugh. ]

[He's a little too preoccupied with looking around that he doesn't hear the warning. So, being the oh so considerate person he is, Natsu turns his head to look at Lucy and ask her to repeat herself]

Huh, what'd you-

-WUOAH! [Oh hello branch, nice to meet you. He whines and rubs his forehead, glaring at the tree it belongs to as if offended]

Stupid tree. [Mutter mutter, something or other about burning down that particular one with a sparkler from last night, mutter mutter]

[ Neatly stepping along, ducking under the branch, Lucy stops and whips around at the sound of pain from Natsu, eyes wide in surprise. ]

N-Natsu, are you okay?

[ Oh good, he's fine. The muttering is not helping her keep from smiling though. And the smile gives way to a soft chuckle, which in turns gives way to laughter. Oh god she's dying over there, arms wrapped around her middle as she just -doubles over- giggling. ]

I-I-I tried to warn you -! [ She sputters in between giggles. What an insensitive fiancee! ]

[He's still rubbing at his head - there's a mark even! Though really it doesn't hurt that much]

Hrrrmmm it's not funny, Lucy! [Only he can't keep a straight face when she's laughing like that, so his frown is, in no time, gone]

Shoulda said it louder then. [So it's all her fault! Only not really, he should have been listening better.

Tugging her along again - quit laughing, would you!! - he's now prepared and totally on the look out for dangerous branches. They're not going to sneak up on him a second time]

[ Awww. Lucy is at least trying to get her giggles under control, though the amused grin isn't going away anytime soon. ]

Does it hurt? Let me see. [ As hilarious as it was, if he really had been hurt, she amusement ended there. Still it didn't seem that he was hurt that badly.

A few more giggles bubble up as she's tugged along, her free hand clapping over her mouth to muffle the noise. HEE. Ahem. Okay, she's good, she's good. ]

PFFf ...

[ Okay NOW she's good. Enough that she steps, tightening her grip on his hand affectionately. ]

[He waves his other hand as if to ward her concern off physically]

It's fine, it's fine. [He's a tough guy okay! Okay, maybe not all the time but that's besides the point]

Hrmmm. [He hears those giggles, Lucy! And he's pretending to ignore them, mostly.

Squeezing her hand back, Natsu glances at her a moment, flashing a warm grin] Now which way do you wanna go?

[ Lucy stifles the worst of her giggles as best she gan, settling on grinning in fond amusement. Yeah yeah tough guy. Ah, a tough guy who was nearly taken out by a branch. Her lips twitch against another giggle - Natsu you always make her giggle. Even when you don't intend it. ]

How about over there? [ Pointing in a random direction eagerly. She was actually hoping they'd come across a deer or some trail bunnies. That would make her day. Also there appeared to be fewer low hanging branches that would attack poor Natsu in the direction she indicated. ]

[Branches are sneaky didn't you know, Lucy?]

Sure! [He's not picky at all, he's just happy to be walking around with her. It's enjoyable, to also be outside peacefully like this]

Are you having fun here so far? [He means more the reunion itself than this little expedition, but knowing the answer to both would be nice]

[ She had no idea branches were so devious! And just like Natsu, she was content to wander along the trail, enjoying his being there, pausing to point out an animal when she caught sight of it. Look Natsu, BUNNIES. ... okay he probably didn't get excited over them like she did, but. ]

Of course I am. Your family is really boisterous and varied, but a lot of fun too. [ Seriously how do you keep them all straight? ]

But I always have fun with I'm with you. [ So that's an answer on both counts, as she glances at Natsu with a warm grin. TOTALLY. MISSING. The deer picking its way past on the path behind her. ]

[He doesn't get as excited but he does try to catch one of them and... fails miserably, returning to Lucy's side only a bit dejected. Darn it]

Heh, yeah. I love my family, even if I don't know them all that well. [And his voice is as caring and fond as ever, as always when he talks about friends and family]

That's great! [And it really makes him happy to hear it. Oh no the deer... (though it's probably better off if Natsu doesn't notice it...)] 'cause if you didn't then I'd have to try harder!

[ PFFHF Lucy does her best not to laugh at the bunnycatching fail. ]

I think it's a little too fast for you, Natsu. [ He WOULD try to catch one. She smiles fondly as he talks about his family. If she realized she missed the deer she'd be kicking herself, but she simply wandered along, looking up into the trees pensively. ]

Try harder, hum? [ She laughs, leaning over to wrap both arms around his waist in a hug. You're just -so- cute. And oh! She lets go to step back with a smile. ]

Oh, I have something for you. Close your eyes and count to ten.

[He makes a disappointed whine at that but bounces back from it in no time. Especially when Lucy hugs him, because then all other thoughts vanish from his head and he focuses on nothing but her]

Something for me? Uwuuuh, really?

[Childish delight brightens his gaze and it takes him a couple of moments to do as she says and close his eyes. Though he's still bouncing on his feet a little, excitedly]

[ AS IT SHOULD BE. Ahem. Lucy chuckles at how excited he is, but she tucks her hand into her pocket, withdrawing a small thing. She moves her arms from around his waist to around his neck this time, going on tiptoe a little as she leans forward against him for a second. With luck, by time he reached the tenth count, Lucy had released him and was stepping back with a pleased look on her face. Pleased and a tiny bit hopeful since she just fastened a manly chain around Natsu's neck - but at the center of the chain on the bottom was a pendant in the shape of a coiled ~~DWAGO~~ dragon. ]

I wondered if I should have held it for your birthday, or Christmas - but ... I wanted to give it to you now. Do you like it?

[The feeling of her hands moving to his neck makes him curious. He doesn't seem to really get what might be happening even though she told him she's giving him something.

After the count to ten is done, he opens his eyes and looks down and sort of just... stills. If he's honest, he'd thought maybe it would be something silly or some playful trick, but this...]

I... Lucy... [His voice is quiet, and he stares at the pendant in particular for a long time, before he glances up at her.

Then he's stepping closer and pulling her into a tight embrace, a laugh bubbling out of him]

I love it. I love it, really, of course I do. [He buries his face in her hair at the crook of her neck and shoulder, smiling blissfully] Thank you so much, Lucy.

[ She had briefly thought about dashing off while he has closed his eyes, but discarded the idea as cruel. Or for another time, she hadn't decided which. Truthfully, seeing his reaction to learning she had a gift for him had been too cute. Although how quiet he is when he stares at the pendant makes her a bit nervous.

What if he didn't like it after all? The smile falters a bit, but doesn't vanish, if only because she squeaks a bit in surprise at the tight hug, grinning, privately relieved. She wasn't sure what she would have done if he didn't like it. She returns the hug, tightly, grinning from ear to ear. ]

I'm glad that you like it, Natsu.

[ C.. can she just stay like that forever? It was just so comfortable, and safe, and warm when he held her like that. But there was no such thing as magic to make time stop (Pff). So after a reluctant moment, she mmrs. ]

... hey, let's go check out that ice cream shoppe in town. I'm getting kind of thirsty, you know?

[ God Lucy, just... just ruin the mood why don'tcha. ]

[He always treasures anything and everything given to him by people important to him, and it's no different when it comes to Lucy. In fact, it's more so; precious items from his precious person are especially cherished.

And besides, he knows she put a lot of thought into this, like she always does, and that means a lot.

Well, when you're engaged to the King of ruining moods and moments, perhaps it rubs off. Not that Natsu seems to mind at all - though he wouldn't mind staying like that forever too]

Okay, sure thing! It'll be my treat. [He squeezes her a little, lifting her up in his arms and spinning around, laughing, before he lets her go gently]

Let's go! I wanna try a bunch of flavours!

Eee! [ Lucy bursts into giggles, caught off guard by being swung around like that. You silly. ]

Okay okay! But Natsu, I'm not carrying you back if you eat too much again.

[ Yes she will. But she sets off down the trail to get back to the main road, only to run ahead a little bit abruptly, grabbing hold of one of the low hanging branches and tugging it back out of the way with a super serious expression on her face. You know, so you can pass without getting harassed by branches. ]

[ ... yes, she is making fun of how you got smacked with the branch last time. WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT HUH? NOTHING, THAT'S WHAT. HA! ]

You can just roll me! [And he actually means this, completely. It'd be fun actually]

Mn? [Why is she running ahead and... pulling back... Oh. He pretends like he doesn't know what she's doing, continuing on his way passed without even glancing over.

Only he can't help himself and looks over his shoulder to make a face at her and huff immaturely]

Coulda handled it myself, you know. [He's tough enough to handle that stupid tree!]

All the way back to our cabin? [ He must be insane - but she laughs because somehow she expected that kind of response. Her expression is -totally- innocent when he makes his way past her. The immature reaction earns a laugh as she slips away from the tree carefully herself, trotting after Natsu. ]

I know, but that way you don't have to. [ So childish Natsu! Lucy shakes her head a bit. ]

Have you been there yet? To the ice cream shoppe?

Uh huh, you can do it, you're strong! [He believes in her! And he's glad he made the comment since it got her to laugh. Natsu, naturally, slows down his pace so she can catch up to him]

Mnnn, thanks then, I guess. [He's still a bit huffy but the mention of ice cream is enough of a distraction - he hadn't actually been that upset about it in the first place anyway]

Nope. I've heard of some of the others going though. Ain't that far from here. [He folds his arms behind his head, glancing over at Lucy as they walk] Have you?

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