A  few days later, Natsu and Lucy are both out of the hospital.  The two are aboard the cruise ship once more.   They are glad that no matter what they still have one another.  Happy is rather well, happy for them as well!   

      "Natsu, do you think we will ever find out if our relationship will  ever be something more?"  Lucy ask.

     " Luce, what kind of question is that anyway?  Why if I did not know any better you want me to leave  you alone for good once the trip is over is that it?"  Natsu blurts out.  He looks at her sadly.

     "Wait, Nastu that is not what I meant.  I just want to know where we are in all this?  I mean do you ever wonder if we will still be a part of the same team when we get back to Fairy Tail?"  Lucy ask.

     "Lucy,cannot you see how this hurts him?"  Happy says.  He shakes his head at the blonde girl who is more hopeless than he thought if she really thinks that Natsu will her let quite the team that easily.  It is not as if his buddy here has any really reason to wish this to be so.  If anything, he clearly sees now that he loves Lucy.

        The captain makes an announcement over the loud enter com system, "Attention everyone!  Attention!  No matter the craziness of these past few days, The Trip Must Go On!"   He smiles.  He thinks, well, that went well.

         Now back to the others, in their cabin.  Natsu glances over at Lucy as she has her nose stuck in a book. He smiles at her.  He sighs. He thinks, must I really let her go when we reach home?  He does not want to think of such things now.  He wraps an arm around her.  He hears her soft sigh, and whispers, "Lucy, I would not dream of you being apart of other team?  Can you not see how important you are to me?"

       Lucy looks over at him. She sees the look in his eyes that could only mean one thing.  She was mistaken he did not just act all upset when she was in the hospital because he felt guilty that she almost did not make it.  No, it is way more than this.  This is real, so real she feels she might burst from the realness of how close he is to her.  To how they have grown since the start of this vacation! 

     "Natsu, I  promise not to join another team.  At least not if I can help it !   I mean if our boss says I am to I cannot refuse to, but I shall always be a part of your team!"  Lucy says.  She sees his face turn beet red.  Wow, she thinks, who knew I could have this sort of effect on him?

      "Luce, you do not know how much this means to hear you say this.  I  only wish that I knew towards the beginning of the trip how much you really mean to us, to Happy and I.  I wish I could have seen it that I did not need Lisanna here to make it a fantastic journey beyond the guilds job assignments for us.  I should have seen that you are the one I love!"  Natsu confesses.  He stares into her eyes. He looks deep into them as if he searches for answers.

      "N-Natsu, I-I, do not understand.  I mean sure you were upset when I almost bleed to death, but that is because we are best friends, right?  I mean, you told me yourself as much over the phone the day you made the call about all this." Lucy says.

      "You never once gave me a single reason to believe anything more and now you expect me to just jump for joy is that it?  Well, mark my words, Natsu Dragneel you are not gonna drag me off my feet that easily."  Lucy continues.

       Happy just sits in the chair quietly.  He is  not sure if he should try to interfere or not.   Should he speak up there is no telling what response those two might give him.  For all he knows they might accuse him of minding their business to much.  He decides to remain the on looker who does not say anything.  Not a single solitary word.  

      Natsu stands up. He walks over to her and picks her up.  He sets her down in the middle of the room. He leans in close so that he towers over her.  He looks into her lovely eyes.  He feels like he could just drown in them as they seem to draw him further.  He feels like a fish caught on a hook,a  bird in a net, or a  bug in  a frog's mouth.  No matter what way he looks at it he sees no way he can turn back time now.  There is no way he can let things go back to the way they were before all this.  He want!  He refuse to do so if it is the last thing he does!  

     "Now, listen here Lucy!  I love you!  I love you ever so much!  I wish you would understand." Natsu says. He pulls her close so that he has her in his arms.  He has her full attention now.  He is just sure he does.  He can tell as she looks at him in surprise. He can see she is not sure how to react to the closeness.

     Happy nods his head in approval.  He thinks, go Natsu!  Show her how it really is man!  Come on show her!

      Natsu cannot stand it the far away look he gets from her!  He believes perhaps she wishes to reject me because she feels she will not be able to be with me later.  He thinks, I have to stake my claim on her for good!  I must!  I will!   It is with those thoughts in mind that he presses his lips into hers. 

     Lucy feels something touch her mouth. She thinks, wait!  What?  What is happening?  What?  She feels the kiss deepen. She thinks, why?  Why do I not pull away?  Why cannot I move?  It seems as if all time stops for this moment and I remain frozen in place.  She finds it ironic that all her life she should want Natsu to kiss her and when he finally does she is to much in shock to know the proper response.  Whoa, she really is a hopeless girl is she not?

     to be continued in Chapter  15   Happy Sneaks Away!