A much needed author's note:

I'M BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER

I just couldn't leave this story unfinished after all of the love and support you all have given me since I started this story in 2015. I was just a sophomore in high school and my writing was mediocre at best. I'm real sorry for all those grammar mistakes, my Kentucky public education hasn't done much for me in that department. So I'm coming back to this story as an incoming junior in college who literally writes for a living.

Thank you for coming back as I attempt to wrap up Natsu and Lucy's story. I started writing this chapter literally 2 years ago when I got inspired to write again, but I never finished it to upload it. I'm sorry for my long hiatus but I'm here now. I really enjoyed re-reading it and going through all of your comments. You guys crack me up.

A much needed recap:

Loke just smiled at me. "Looks like we will have to take some more...drastic measures to ensure your complete cooperation. Let's start with your little sea leech.

"Don't you dare touch Gray!" I yell at him.

With his smile still on his face, he looks at the floor and chuckles. "Oh sweetheart," He says with his eyes darting back up at us. A glint of metal flashing from his pocket

"I won't lay a single finger on your precious Gray."

Now:

***Lucy's POV***

Before the scream would escape my lips, Loke dashed forward plunging his dagger into Gray's abdomen. Gray lurched forward, gripping Loke's arm for support as his knees gave out, blood spurting out of his mouth.

"See?" Loke asks, grinning up at me. "I didn't lay a single finger on him."

Rage fills my body and my vision grows red. "You bastard!" I scream. "You're going to pay for this. You all will pay for this."

Loke shoved Gray off of him and smirked at me. "It's a bit late for that, sweetheart. But don't worry about him. Your father is setting a deal with that sea urchin to compensate him for what he's now lost."

"Do you mean Natsu?" I asked, my heart swelling at the mention of him. He's going to come here. He's going to save me and our baby. I'll fall asleep to his loud snores every night and our sweet baby nestled between us. Everything is going to work out and everything will be fine.

"Don't you dare mention his name to me!" He snarled, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards him.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Gray coughed out, grabbing at Loke's pant leg as an attempt to stop him.

"Get your hands off of me, you filthy leech." He said, kicking out at Gray to make him let go.

"Please leave him alone." I beg, pulling Loke close to me and away from Gray in hopes to distract him. "I'll do whatever you say if you save him. Don't let him bleed out."

"Anything I say?" He asks, a huge smile etching across his face.

My heart plummets and I swallow the knot in my throat. I force a smile on my face as I look up at him. "Of course. Anything you want. We could get married and forget all about this fiasco. I just couldn't live with myself is someone died for me, even if it is just some pirate scum. If you just do this one small thing for me, I won't cause you any trouble at all." It hurt for me to say those things, but I had to save Gray. If Loke attacked him much more, I don't know if he would be able to make it, especially with his stab wound.

Loke, liking my answer, yells for the guards. "Guards! Bring that leech to infirmary and make sure he doesn't die. We wouldn't want anything like that resting on the lady's conscious now do we?"

"No, boss." The two guards answer, dragging Gray rather harshly out of sight and to the infirmary.

"Now that that's taken care of, where were we, my darling?" Loke asks, leading me down the hallway away from the blood soaked rug and broken glass.

***NATSU'S POV***

The king's throne room was decked out to the nines. No expenses were spared on the lavish furniture pieces that were inside. Glad to know where all the tax money goes.

"Now, Natsu, as you know I am the king of Magnolia. I am a very busy man and I do not have time for any shenanigans. Is that understood?" Jude asks after he situates himself on his throne.

"Of course, your Majesty." I answer, playing along with his little games as I smirk to myself. He was more stupid than he looks if he thought he had the upper hand here.

"Good, good. I'm glad we understand each other. With that being said, I first must apologize." Jude says.

"Whatever for, your Majesty?" I ask, feigning innocence.

"When I made my last deal with you I was grieving. It was a terrible mistake that I wish I never had done. So, I regret to inform you that I will be taking my daughter back. I know you must have really enjoyed her by the looks of her growing abdomen, but that will be taken care of. You won't have to worry a single bit." Jude says reassuringly.

I could feel the anger bubbling up inside me at the threat of my unborn child, but I forced myself to calm down. I can't ruin my perfect opportunity. "If you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by 'taken care of'?"

"Medical professionals will be involved with the disposal of it. We can't have an illegitimate child coming for the throne later on, now can we?" Jude stands up and crosses the floor to me. "I am very glad that we understand each other, and that we don't have to make such a big fuss about these matters. All we needed was a little discussion."

"Of course, your Majesty. I was only coming to take what belonged to me. I had won Lucy fair and square when you gambled her away." It hurt me to say those things about Lucy, but this was saving her life by me not making a huge scene. I couldn't blow up like I usually did. Lucy's life was on the line, I couldn't put her in any more danger than she was already in.

"Now that we have settled things, won't you come have a drink with me before you depart?" Jude asks, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I couldn't think of anything better." I say, following him to the royal family's dining hall.

It was decorated just as heavily as the throne room, gold incorporated in everything. Not a penny was spared with the furnishings. The king always ignored the people's desperate pleas for him to lower taxes, and by the looks of the castles, it would be possible with a bit of a cut from his own salary. He took his seat at the head of the table, and I sat on his right. Within seconds a servant boy came out with goblets and poured us wine.

The taste was tart and very different from the rum I was used to. It wasn't bad, but I definitely have my preference. "Now, Captain," Jude started. "Compensation is key for this problem to be resolved as quickly as possible."

"I absolutely agree." I said. "I'm taking a big loss by losing your daughter. I had actually grown quite fond of her during our time together, and my crew has taken a liking to her as well. It'll be hard to find a way to fill the Lucy-shaped hole in our hearts." That was an understatement. Lucy could never be replaced. I will do anything and everything to have her in my arms again.

"Your crew has taken a liking to her, eh? I knew you pirates were nasty but I never pegged you the type to share." Jude said with a chuckle, taking another swig from his cup.

My blood boiled at the mention of sharing Lucy. I wouldn't let them hardly look her way, much less actually put their hands on her. "No, sir, not like that. I just mean that they will miss seeing her in the kitchen. Her cooking has improved nicely since taking it up on my ship." I don't know how much longer I can keep this act up. It almost made me hurl to talk about Lucy this way.

Before Magnolia's king could reply, the grand doors were thrown open. Two guards rushed in, panting in exhaustion. "Your Majesty!" They exclaimed, holding their chests as they tried to catch their breath.

"What is the meaning of this interruption?" Jude said, slamming his goblet down on the mahogany table. "I am the king! What on earth made you think you had the right to run in on my private meeting? State your names immediately!"

"Royal Guards Jimmy and Danny reporting, sir." The lankier one of the two said. "We have important news to report. Some of the pirates have breached our security and are currently in the palace as we speak." He said with a grimace, already anticipating the monarch's reaction to the bad news.

"WHAT?" King Jude shouted, throwing his half full, or half empty, (it all depends on what kind of person you are) cup across the room. The red wine was already seeping into and staining the thick white rug that lead to the main dining table. "How could you incompetent fools let this happen? Do you have any idea of what these hoodlums could do to our castle?!" He was seething mad, I had never seen him this mad before.

"I-I'm sorry, sir! There isn't much we could do! That one used his ice powers and got away from us." The shorter one said. Ice powers, huh? So Gray must have been able to make it into the castle. He must have made it to Lucy by now. They're probably already back on old Fairy Tail waiting on me, I hoped.

The king shifted his furious gaze to me. "Call off your men, Dragneel. Bringing your scum in and trashing my palace was not a part of this negotiation. If you wish to keep your life and still receive compensation for losing my daughter, you'll tell them to head back to that measly raft on my shore."

"Let me see her, Your Highness. Let me see Lucy and I will personally tell them all to leave the grounds immediately." I said, turning to face him. I needed to see that she was okay.

"Absolutely not, Dragneel. This is not up for discussion. Seeing you again will only confuse her more. She's been so relieved be off of that garbage dump of a ship. She would relapse and go into a hysterical fit if she ever had to look at you again." Lucy's 'father' said, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't have all day. Make your decision now before I throw you and those filthy pirates out of my castle."

I snapped. "Don't you dare act like you care about her! You never paid her any attention until you were throwing her out of her and into my arms. Bartering Lucy away was one of the only acts of kindness that you have ever shown her. The only person she should never see again is you. Well, and that guy Loke too, he gives me the creeps. I'm getting off track." I said, pausing to gather more of my thoughts.

"Loke is a far better fit for her than you ever could be. He is a man who has respect and morals. That's a lot more than I can say for you. You're never seeing my daughter again as long as I live. She will live out the rest of her life here. With Loke. They will get married. She will be a queen. She will have lots of beautiful orange-haired babies with him. She will be safe and she will be happy. Are you really that selfish that you would take that away from her?" He pushed every single button I have. I was fuming mad at his little speech he gave me.

"I won't see her again as long as you live, huh? Well, I guess that can be arranged." I said, a flame covering my fist.

"I'm all fired up now."

Another author's note:

Eeeeeek! I finally finished it! Maybe one or two more chapters left before this book is finally finished. We're nearing the end and I don't want to drag it out anymore than I already have. Please let me know what you think! I definitely have my fair share of criticism of this story, but I'd love to hear other opinions.

Looking back on this story there's definitely many things I wish I could change. I wish I made Natsu more true to his original character in the beginning. I also wish that I just didn't write the *ahem* scenes at all because I clearly didn't know what I was talking about at 15 lol. Honestly, the list goes on and on, but those are the main problems I have with this story because the plot holes. I definitely don't plan on waiting another two years to update this book again. I am going to try my best to finish it before I move back into college in mid-to-late August, so keep an eye out for more updates on me!

Also I have collectively decided to stop doing my whole "stay nerdy, bros" outro thing because I do find it very cringey now.

Goodbye for now and I'll see you soon :)