As I watched Natsu work at his desk my head swirled with different memories; I had almost completely forgotten what happened before the Royal Guard took us in. Heat rose up my neck and flooded my cheeks as my eyes darted nervously from Natsu to my fidgeting hands. He was currently scribbling things down on paper and marking places on a map, his face illuminated by the lamp anchored on the corner of the wooden structure. His onyx eyes slid sideways to look at me curiously and I quickly averted my gaze.

"Is something on your mind?" He murmurs as the scratching of his pen on parchment continued.

"N-no! Nothing...really..." I squeak a response.

"Lucy, you ought to know by now that I can tell when you're lying," he stops and turns to face me, "right?" I stare at him dumbfounded for a moment before dully nodding my head and averting my eyes from his. Feeling his gaze on me, I shifted on the bed uncomfortably.

"So, what is it?" He inquires, and I flick my glance back his way. I clear my throat and stand up, my skirt swaying with the motion.

"I was just thinking I really needed some fresh air. I've been cooped up in here most of the day," my voice falters as I think of the reason why I was cooped up all day. I had been thinking of a place to bury Cana's things, in place of her body. It wasn't exactly the most favorable thing to think about, but I had begged Erza to give me the responsibility. Cana had died in my arms, I ought to help put her to rest properly since I couldn't pull her from the water.

"Alright," Natsu's voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and without responding, I open the door and step out, letting it close behind me. Slowly, I moved across the deck where I saw Erza manning the wheel and Levy who was leaning on the railing, looking down at Gajeel. He had a burlap sack tossed over his shoulder so it appeared he was moving supplies. Momentarily I forgot the whole reason I had seeked refuge outside Natsu's cabin.

Levy's eyes scanned the deck and her eyes met mine, immediately making them light up as she rose her arm to wave at me, "Lucy!" she called my name and I continued my way towards the stairs, a bit more resolve in my steps.

"Hm, I see Bunny Girl is out and about," Gajeel remarks and I look at him in slight annoyance, a small laugh escaping me as well.

"My name is Lucy, not Bunny Girl," I inform him and he grins.

"Alright, Bunny Girl," he teases and I roll my eyes as I ascend the steps towards Erza and Levy.

"Don't mind him," Levy looks at me apologetically. I shake my head.

"It's alright, it isn't much of a bother really," I say as I join her at the railing. I throw my gaze over my shoulder to the resident Second in Command and give her a small wave. She acknowledges it with a nod and I turn back to face the place I had just come from, which made memories flood back over me.

Natsu had kissed me... and not far from this spot!

My heart fluttered at the thought, and I found myself wondering if there was something more to that... I shook my head, drawing Levy's attention. She rose a quizzical eyebrow at me and I blushed in embarrassment.

"What did Natsu say this time?" she asks, making my head snap in her direction.

"Who says Natsu said something?" I stammer and she smirks.

Erza chimes in, "It's pretty obvious Lucy, so what did he do? You can tell us, we are your friends you know." Her words bring a smile to my face and I sigh, folding my arms over the railing in front of me.

"It isn't anything he said, more rather it is something he did," I tell them.

"He didn't do anything perverted, right?" Levy interjects and I shake my head.

"No! God, no he didn't."

"Have some faith in him Levy," Erza chuckles and slight tones of red cover her cheeks.

"A-aye... anyway, tell us Lucy!"

I release a long sigh as I turn and press my back against the railing to look at them both. "You have to promise not to mention this to anyone," I say as my eyes move between the two of them as they nod. "While trying to hide me from the Royal Guard, well... he kissed me." Erza coughs for a moment and Levy looks at me completely awe stricken.

"No way," she murmurs.

"Natsu did that?" Erza asks as she recovers herself.

I nod, "But I almost completely forgot about it with everything that happened, and he hasn't brought it up so really I don't think it means anything."

Erza shakes her head. "Natsu wouldn't do something like that if he didn't feel something for you. He isn't one to just kiss a girl on a whim."

"Even if it's to try to protect her?"

"Yes, even then," She replied to me evenly and I chewed my lower lip.

"I don't know what to do," I picked at the fabric of my dress, the silky material doing little to comfort me.

"Talk to him about it," Levy suggests. I nod, my eyes moving to the open water. I wasn't sure if I should bring it up though; ever since I asked about the last person he had been with--whom they had also told the crews secrets to--he had seemed a bit on edge around me. It was as if he had to tiptoe around me; I was a delicate glass structure that his touch might shatter into non-existence.

"Where are we headed?" I ask, changing the subject rather clumsily.

"Some territory outside the government's reach. It's a safe haven for pirates and mages, since so many frequent the area. Though there are all kinds of people there, both good and bad, so we all must be very careful. Although it is unlikely that anything major will occur," Erza grimaces as she says major, as if she was imagining the smaller infringements that would undoubtedly take place.

"Why are we going there?" I ask her, straightening up a little from my position at the railing.

"Natsu wants to start gathering information on the traffickers who seem dead set on finding you," she says, her eyes fixed on the horizon before her.

"I thought they would lose interest over time?"

Her grip tightens and her eyes meet mine. "We heard the guards talking about it. You are one prize everyone wants, Lucy." My blood runs cold at her words.

"W-why would people want me?" I gesture at myself. "I'm no longer to be considered a princess, if anything I am an enemy of the state by now."

"Didn't Natsu tell you? Your abilities, and your beauty, along with a bounty on your head by the government now... that makes you out to be a gem to any scum willing to use you for their own benefit," Erza's jaw tightens and I can tell she is unhappy to be saying any of this.

"What are we going to do?" I look at her with frightened eyes.

"Everything we can to keep you safe," she tells me unfalteringly. The wind suddenly picked up and blew my hair forward, making me close my eyes for a moment. Erza shouted commands at the crew, telling them to adjust the sails. Someone above shouted the wind speed and she cursed under her breath as I reopened my eyes.

"Storm clouds off the port side!"

"What's the distance?" Erza asked, her voice booming.

"About fifteen miles! Moving fast too!"

"Alright, you all know what to do!" More shouts filled the air and Levy grabbed my arm.

"You should head back inside now, things are about to get rocky," she says, slowly turning me. I don't respond, moving my feet down the wooden stairs and weaving through the chaos of people throwing ropes, moving barrels and swinging about above me. Natsu had already stepped out of his cabin and was giving orders as well when I dashed past him. My heart pounded as I leaned against the wall, once I was inside. My eyes settled upon the scarf Natsu always wore, which was surprisingly draped over his chair. Pushing myself off the wall I walked over to it and lifted it up, gently running my thumb over the material and smiling slightly as I remembered how he had given it to me as a pillow after the explosion at Mira's. We had yet to find out who was behind it. And the reason why they did it.

"I should ask about that too," I mumble to myself, setting the scarf back down as the door opened. I turned quickly and saw Natsu, his head turned as he finished talking to someone. I quickly folded my hands together behind my back and shuffled slightly away from his chair. Finally, he turned and looked at me.

"I'm going to be out most of the evening helping the crew, please stay in here during the storm. If you need anything I suggest you get it now," He says quickly and I feel words on the tip of my tongue, about to slip out as he closes the door. I sigh, deciding that it was best if I leave them unspoken anyway.

Moving swiftly I grabbed his scarf and tossed it on the bed, and I changed into a clean shirt from the chest at the end of the bed; my dress tossed lazily atop it until morning when I would fold it and put it away. Gently I undid the braid that Levy had put in my hair a few days ago, now unkempt and windswept. Having eaten earlier and having nothing to do, I found myself staring endlessly out of the small window, watching the dark clouds creep over the ship and the waves grow larger. I looked at Natsu's desk and decided to stack the papers and place them in a drawer, shaking my head at the fact that in his hastiness he left things scattered about.

Thunder cracked overhead and I jumped slightly in surprise. I sang softly to myself to fill the silence of the room, only accompanied by the sound of the rough waves and rolling thunder. I settled down on the bed, Natsu's scarf tangled with my limbs as the ship was thrown back and forth more violently. I had blown out the lamp and was blanketed in darkness--the only thing breaking it being the flashes of lighting.

I was drifting off to sleep when the door flew open, frightening me. I recognized Natsu's figure standing in the doorway and I quickly sat up, moving to help him as he relit the lamp on his desk. "What are you doing back in here?" I ask him as I move to the chest, pushing aside my dress and digging out a towel for him to dry off.

"Erza and I are taking shifts--she's taking the graveyard shift," Natsu says. I look up to see him pulling his shirt off, his skin glistened in the lamp light; it was if the water was doing him a favor. I bit my lip and had to pull my eyes away from his exposed chest. The sudden movement of the ship being thrown to the side startled me and I yelped as I clutched the edge of the bed. Natsu looked back at me and I quickly held the towel out to him. "Thanks." His gaze quickly moves away from me and he adjusts himself to be almost completely turned from me.

"You should really be more careful with what you wear to bed Luce," He speaks up and I look down at myself in confusion. I realize the shirt was unbuttoned and I wasn't wearing much beneath it.

"O-oh! I swear I remember buttoning it..." I fumble with the buttons and I hear Natsu chuckle at my dazed state.

"Sit down sleepyhead, I'll do it," he says and I look up at him in surprise. "Go on," he moves his eyes between me and the bed. I plopped myself onto the bed, moving carefully as the ship continued to jostle. Natsu squats down in front of me and quickly buttons my shirt and I puff my cheeks out in slight annoyance. I could have done it.. I am a grown woman! But I give him a small thanks anyways.

"Alright, I'll finish drying off," he stands up, but as he does he loses his balance as the ship rocks and he catches himself on the edge of the bed, his face right next to mine. His arms were around me but he had moved to the side slightly to avoid my face, if he hadn't we'd have surely...

"I guess kissing me was that bad then?" I blurted without thinking, and immediately I wanted to shove the words right back into my mouth.

"What?" He straightens slightly and was now facing me directly--although his arms were still around me. I was really wishing that I hadn't said that now.

"I mean if you hadn't moved to avoid me we would have ended up kissing again," my face flushes slightly and I look away from him, my voice growing quieter.

"Or I could have hit your face and hurt you," he tells me, eyebrows raised and my cheeks heat up even more in embarrassment.

"That too," I mumble and the ship sways more but Natsu stays firmly in place now.

"Did you want me to kiss you?" He asks and my breath stops.

"I... well I wouldn't have been upset if you had kissed me, but ever since we got back it's as if nothing ever happened. I was beginning to think you regretted kissing me before," I admit, my words fading into a mumble.

"That wasn't my question Luce," he says in a low voice.

I don't speak for a moment, hesitating to answer, but finally gather the courage and I speak up. "Yes, I–" there was a knock at the door before I could finish and Natsu kept his eyes locked on mine as he answered them.

"Yes?"

"Erza needs to help with a loose sail, we need you out here Captain," the voice says and he sighs.

"I'll be right out," he responds and you can hear the person hurrying away. He gives me an apologetic look. "Sorry Lucy, I have to go."

I shake my head, "It's fine, this is your job." He hesitates for a moment before backing away, pulling on a new shirt from the trunk. As he passed by me he leaned down slightly and kissed my forehead before leaving, the pouring rain and darkness enveloping him as I watched him close the door.

For the second time that night, after stumbling to blow out the lamp, I laid tangled in his scarf. This time though, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

• • •

I regret nothing~ haha

Ah, writing this chapter was rather enjoyable! I figured I should give them a little break since they had hall just been through hell..

I hope you enjoyed the fluff :3

– Kels [fluff queen]