She slowly opened her eyes, blinking several times. A tired groan escaped her mouth as she rolled on the other side of the bed. This bed felt different though, and its smell too.

Why was his scent filling her nose as she breathed in the soft blanket? More importantly, where was she and what happened last night?

Lucy's eyes shot open and she instantly sat down on the unfamiliar king-sized bed, causing a wave of headache coursing through her. She rubbed her temples as she looked around the large room. She wasn't sure how she got there, but she was sure this room was Natsu's.

It was different from hers, it was...manly.

Totally not a trace of femininity in sight. Everything was neat and the entire room only had three colors: black, gray, and red. Black flat screen tv, red carpet, thick gray curtains that hung on the huge glass window/wall...etc. You get the point.

She was alone.

She guessed the house was empty since the time read 10:30 AM. The black wallclock said so. Natsu was a business man like he told her, so he must have left for work already.

He was a grown man, 26 yrs old, so he couldn't be living with his parents anymore, right? So the house was probably empty already.

Lucy stood up, fixed her hair that possibly looked like a bird nest.

She closed the door of the room quietly when she got out. The halls were empty like she thought.

She started walking around, looking for the front door. She already got to the living room, kitchen, more doors that looked like they had bedrooms inside, more salas, a room with a coolpool table and etc. If the bedroom she woke up at was big, well, the entire house would then be humongous.

Finally, she found two giant dark brown doors.

She pushed them open and prepared herself to smell the fresh air from the outside and the greeting of the bright blue sky.

That was what she hoped to see.

But what greeted her eyes were a number of black tables and chairs, leather couches on different corners, and a bartending area at one side of the room...and the eyes of the people occupying them.

Lucy froze.

She was completely wrong.

There were people. Lots of them. It was like she just walked into the lions' den. Only they weren't lions, but people wearing suits. Some had loosened neckties, loosened buttons, cakes smeared on their face, coats removed and sprawled on the couch and many more. A man even had his entire upper off, oh he liked stripping. They all sat there, facing her.

She was intimidated by them. Who wouldn't? A bunch of men and women dressed like that staring back at her at the same time, nobody gets to see that everyday.

As if the woman on the counter noticed how uncomfortable the blonde felt, she broke the silence in the atmosphere.

"Hello, I'm Mirajane Strauss Dreyar. We are Natsu's friends, but we consider ourselves a family," the woman with white curly hair said as she gestured to the others, a sweet smile was on her beautiful face.

"And you must be Lucy Heartfilia," Mirajane added.
.

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BLACK CAR HEADED TO DRAGNEEL COMPOUND

Natsu rubbed the side of his jaw as he sat on the backseat, sitting as majestic as always.

He and his brother just finished meeting the press. Interviews and statements for the paper weren't new to someone as well known as him. Be it a statement regarding their company or a statement for the people raising suspicion on the Dragneels.

"Any stops before we reach home?," Laxus asked as he drove the car.

"No, just head straight back," Zeref in the front seat answered. Always a smile on his face. Didn't he ever get tired just smiling? Nope. He was a natural.

The ride was mostly silent. Zeref and Laxus conversing from time to time, and Natsu having a shuteye. After almost an hour of driving, they arrived.

They entered the Main House.

It was the largest building and the heart of the Dragneel compound. It was where everyone at this time of day would be at. Where she was at.

As they walked deeper into the house, loud noises echoed throughout the halls. Natsu traced it with the others following him. They could hear loud laughter and conversations. They opened the giant dark brown doors where these noises came from.

And behold, it was the entire family.

All of them were having what seemed to be a pleasant chat...with Lucy. It looked like they've all known each other for a long time. To sum it all up, they got along pretty well.

As they entered the room, everyone turned their attention to the three. The noise slowly died down. A fake cough sounded somewhere in the room. It was Elfman, Mirajane's 'manly' brother.

Laxus made his way to the counter, to his wife.

"And Lucy, this is Laxus, my husband," Mirajane said after giving the man a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Lucy acknowledged with a slight bow of her head.

Natsu walked to her and gently gabbed her wrist and headed back to the door, leading her out of the room. It was obvious, he wanted to talk.

Lucy couldn't make up her mind whether to be scared or not. His face was calm, but his aura said something else. He was very hard to read.

"Mira, did you-," Laxus turned to ask her as soon as Lucy and Natsu left the room.

"No. I didn't tell her about the Mafia. Natsu made it clear last night that nobody must speak about it when she's around. I personally think he wants to be the first one to let her know. So relax." Mira answered even before he finished asking his question, poking his nose as she did so.

Zeref sat down on one of the couches, placing his briefcase filled with papers and documents on the table. He loosened the buttons on his suit as he rested his back on the couch.

"So, the way I see it, you guys got along with Lucy very well. That's good news," he said.

"Who wouldn't? She's a wonderful person," a redhead answered. Smiling at the cake as she ate the last piece of it.

"Ah, of course she is, Erza," Zeref turned to her, showing off that ever famous smile again. Then he reached into his pocket to get his phone. He was going to call his wife that he'd be home for lunch.
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NATSU'S OFFICE

Lucy sat on a chair with her head bent down, staring at her hands rested on her lap. He had led her into a room which seemed to be an office.

Natsu already had his black jacket off. Everything he wore was black except the tie. He loosened his white necktie as he leaned against his desk.

A few seconds passed by, Lucy looking at her hands and him looking at her.

"Talk to me," he said, cutting off the deafening silence.

She didn't answer.

"Do you remember what happened last night?," he asked.

Lucy thought hard.

What did happen last night? She remembered going to this bar and getting drunk and wanting to go home. But what happened after that? Wait, how did she bump into Natsu? A tiny memory flashed back to her, it was dark, she heard chuckling and suddenly she was hugging someone. Someone with Natsu's scent. After that, swoosh, blackout. She did not remember her scene at the backseat with Natsu at all. If she did, she'd die of embarrassment right about now.

"I'm asking you again, do you remember?" He asked again. His patience getting thinner.

Lucy still didn't answer.

And that was it, he's had it. First, she told him she hated him. But then she said she didn't. Now, she was ignoring him. What the hell was going on?

"Answer me, damn it!" he shouted.

Lucy flinched and her hands formed into fists.

Weak little fists. She was scared, but she wasn't going to back down. She wanted to give him a piece of her mind.

She stood up and shouted back.

"NO I DON'T! I DON'T REMEMBER!"

"YOU ALMOST GOT RAPED YOU HEAR ME?! IF I WASN'T THERE, WHO KNOWS WHAT KIND OF SHIT THOSE LOWLIVES HAD IN STORE FOR YOU!" Natsu shouted back, his hands moving in the air as he did. This was'nt like him. He wasn't one to lose his composure just like what was happening already.

"THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE COME FOR ME AND LET ME HANDLE THEM MYSELF!" she knew that was impossible but she didn't want to lose.

"OH COME ON! ARE YOU EVEN THINKING RIGHT NOW? YOU WERE DRUNK! FOR FUCK'S SAKE YOU WERE VERY DRUNK, LUCE! WHY DRINK ALCOHOL WHEN YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T EVEN HOLD IT?!"

She got mad. Angry at him.

Angry because she knew he was right. She started slamming her fist with every strength she's got into his body. His chest, his arms, anywhere she could hit. But lets be honest, this had no effect on him at all.

"BECAUSE I WANTED TO FORGET WHY I EVER FELL INLOVE WITH SOMEONE WHOM I THOUGHT WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS! BUT IT TURNS OUT HE WAS COMPLETELY THE SAME! YOU'RE ALL THE SAME!
IT'S YOUR FAULT NATSU, IT'S YOUR FAULT! STILL, NO MATTER HOW MUCH I DRANK AND DRANK, I STILL CAN'T FORGET THE FACT THAT I LOVE YOU!"

With every single one of those hurtful words that left her soft lips, she slammed her fists into him.

And after hearing everything she said, Natsu was speechless. He had nothing to say.

Her arms slowly got tired and she started crying. Her hands covered her face as she tried to hide her obvious sobs. Her head faced the floor, refusing to let him see her that way.

Natsu slowly embraced her, resting her head on his chest.

Lucy struggled to get away. Pushing him but he wouldn't budge.

"Stop that," he said calmly this time.

She didn't listen and continued to struggle.

"Get off me. I...I hate you," she said, still trying to break free.

"No. You don't," he replied.

"Yes I do. Now let go."

It took a moment before Natsu spoke up again.

This time his voice had a mix of sadness in them.

"Stop it. You're hurting me," he said.

Lucy stopped struggling. She was silent. They both were.

After a while, Natsu loosened his hold on her, Lucy noticed this and immediately walked fast towards the door. She really didn't want him to see her like that.

But before she could even touch the knob, a hand had slammed into the door, pushing it so it couldn't be opened.

"Don't leave," Natsu said simply as he watched her back.

Lucy wiped away her tears but still did not face him.

"Why? Why did you go to daddy? I know I did not give you a proper reply that night. I just wasn't used to it. I was scared. You were the first one whom I've fallen inlove with...and the first one to propose to me. But you...I thought you were different," she said holding back her tears that threatened to fall.

Hearing her say that she loved him, again, made him feel...he couldn't explain the feeling. This girl loved him.

Knowing that was good enough. But he still wanted more. He wanted her to be his.

"I went to your father because I wanted to have you. I thought you'd never agree to it the night when you left me. That's why even if you said you didn't want me, I'd still get to have you," he explained.

"I was going to meet you that same day. To tell you I wanted to marry you. But you ruined it by showing up at the company," she said.

"Lucy, I-,"he started and then it struck him, "Wait, what?"

Lucy instantly turned and entangled her arms on his neck.

She whispered in his ear as she tiptoed.

"I want to marry you, Natsu."

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