Lucy didn't try to run from the voice she heard. Instead she sank further down into his arms. She had questions for him, and she was going to get answers for those questions, but right now she just wanted to feel his warmth. She had missed it so much. It felt so natural her being in his arms. She didn't want it to end. She felt his arms wrap tighter around her, and his head sink down into the curve of her neck. He didn't try to kiss her or be provocative in anyway. Instead he just stood there holding her, breathing in her scent. They stood that way for a while before she finally spoke.

"N-natsu...." She hesitated, unsure of what she really wanted to say, or hear at this moment. "Can we talk now please?"

She tried to turn around so she could see his face. He resisted at first, but after a moment he let her go. She wanted to be able to look him in the eyes. She wanted to see how he really felt about everything. How he really felt about her. She turned to face the man she loved, and as she looked into his eyes she noticed how they weren't the beautiful onyx color that glistened like a gem, instead they were a dull color. Lifeless and full of pain. 

They starred into each others eyes for a moment before he finally spoke. "Lucy, I don't know how to really say any of this." He said averting his eyes and looking at the ground.

"Well you can start with the truth," Lucy said folding her arms in front of her chest. "Apparently, everyone has heard it except for me." 

"You're right, they have," He answered plainly. "But I didn't know how or what to say to you, and it didn't help that you constantly ignored me either. I couldn't have talked to you if I wanted to because I dont believe you would have listened."

"You're right, I probably wouldn't have, but I'm listening now, partially because I suspect I have no choice because I have a feeling I've been left out here," She stated rolling her eyes at the thought that Gray left her out here in the woods alone with him. That sneaky bastard! She was gonna kill him when she saw him again. "But also because I want to hear what you have to say, Natsu." 

Natsu looked at her quietly for a moment before he got down on both his knees and looked up at her with nothing but sincerity in his eyes. "Luce, I know I can't ask enough for your forgiveness. I know I made a mistake, the biggest mistake I could have ever made in my life, but know this. I never meant for any of this to happen. I never wanted that girl. And more then anything, I would never want to harm you in any way. I would rather suffer a life of torture then to ever see you shed a single tear." She starred into his eyes reading his honesty. All of his emotions were laid on the ground in front of her, as if each were a book that she could read. She silently listened as he continued. "The night everything happened, I could have been more alert, not drank as much as I did, I could have questioned the situation more. There are a million things I keep telling myself I could have done differently, but I didn't. I was a fool, and my lust for you got the best of me." He looked down at the ground clinching his fists. "And because of my stupidity in that moment, I lost you." He looked up at her as tears filled his eyes. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. 

"Natsu..." She started to speak but he cut her off. 

"Let me finish please." He said taking her hand and pulling her down in front of him. He lifted his hand and caressed her cheek. "For years I prided myself on being a playboy, on never loving anyone. Just using them and letting them go, because I lost my love once and I never wanted that pain again. I would rather have had a million nights I couldn't remember then to have to suffer the pain of my heart being ripped from me again. But then you- you came back into my life and reminded me what love was. I was complete with you. Then I lost you again, but this time I realized I don't want that same life. I want my life with you Luce. I want to see your smile everyday. I want to hold you in my arms every night. I want to kiss you every minute of everyday. I'm not me without you Lucy." 

Lucy starred at this man in front of her who no matter how hard he tried couldn't stop the tears from falling. She loved him so much, and as she looked in his eyes she knew he was being honest with her. He had never lied to her before. Well, he had tried a few times as children, but she always could tell when he lied and she always spent the rest of the day on his case about it, so eventually he had given up. "Natsu," she finally spoke grabbing his hand in hers and holding it close to her chest. "You have always been my heart." She spoke so quietly as her eyes mimicked his and tears started to fall. "When I saw you that night with her it hurt my heart so bad. I thought I would be better off anywhere but here. That you would just break my heart again and again. I don't want that pain again. I can't take that pain again. Especially from you." 

Natsu moved his hand and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Lucy, I made you a promise right here under this tree. And I told you once since that day that I would protect you. I love you. I need you. I want my life with no one else. Only you. It has always been and will always be you." He leaned his head towards hers. " I want to marry you Lucy. I want to have a family with you. I am going to do whatever it takes in this lifetime to show you that. Just please, Lucy say you'll forgive me and that you will give me that chance."

She starred into his eyes as their faces got closer and closer. She could feel his breath against her lips as she closed her eyes taking in his scent. She knew she had to give him this chance. Her heart wouldn't let her do otherwise. Finally she spoke, "Okay, Natsu, show me the way you love me."

With that statement his lips pressed against hers in a moment of passion the two would never forget.