Everything about him was familiar in a way Lucy could not explain. As if he were a specter that had come straight from her dreams. Her hand fit in his as if it had always belonged -and she noticed, subconsciously, the rough calloused skin and warmth that spread through her at contact- while his arm slid around her waist as they moved across the hall in a dance as if they they had practiced many times before. He wore a mask and gave her no name, but the fanged smirk and onyx eyes captivated Lucy like long-forgotten memories. .

She knew him, but her mind was not willing to accept the implications of how. The heat that spread from his worn, leather jerkin, seeped into the silk layers of her dress and the bone of her corset. It eased a constriction on her chest and heart that was more than just the binding of fashion. Like the bellows in a fireplace, it brought comfort.

The world fell away in the instant their hands had met. His bow had been stiff, almost mocking - not towards her, no, never towards her: she could sense it.- and the grin he gave as a voice, suffused in mischief and nature, asked for a turn around the floor. How could Lucy refuse him when so many others hand danced her feet away?

Lucy didn't even feel the aches of her shoes, not anymore. "I am Lucy Heartfilia." She said quietly during a small spin.

"I know who you are, princess." The voice came out within the next beat, his legs never following the proper steps, but somehow more graceful than anything she had ever seen. " - but do you know me?"

She felt jarred, uncertain, but everything in the way he moved, spoke, told her that yes, she did know him. But why do I know? Who is he? The confusion was apparent on her face, studying bronze of his cheeks and the wisps of unkempt hair that fell upon his eyes. A memory of a flickering fire seemed to flash before her, in the depths of his onyx hues- flickering flames and a smiling, toothy grin, asking her not to cry.

"If you do know me," she challenged, eyes misting with a sudden emotion she couldn't name, fingers tightening their hold against his as they spun together, ignoring the whispers of those around them, "Then you know I am no such thing."

She was Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia. A noble family of high esteem, but that was all. Snorting, the man who she felt should have been a boy, pulled her closer - against all propriety- and allowed heated breath to dance across her ears.

"You're not their princess, but you've always been mine, Lucy."

It was like having a heavy book slam into the back of her head. Scenes of a time long gone came to the surface of Lucy's mind. Moving photos of the fireplace and a chilled room slowly heated by a dwindling fire. Her old fairy tales littered the floor as she read and a boy from across the flames reacted at all the right moments.

A tear slipped down her cheek and Lucy's feet stumbled in the dance. Hopefully no one noticed. "You- I thought…!" A dream. A long, wonderful dream that had been ripped away from her. She had convinced herself long ago that her pain was merely caused by a childhood fancy, nothing real, nothing tangible. Yet here he was and the last words she remembered coming from his mouth rang inside her mind like a clock tower chiming.

'You're like a Princess t'me -'

The name she hadn't said in years passed through her lips in a sigh, "Natsu… you're really here?" Weakened legs had caused their proximity to dwindle further, strong arms supporting her while Lucy's face was quickly hidden against his shoulder. A shudder trembled through him at the sound of his name and she knew she had hit the mark. "- N-no… Natsu wasn't, you can't be… how?"

So many questions. Too many questions. Sorrow and hope tangled together inside her chest and Lucy no longer cared how they may look to the rest of the room. Hands settled on onto his shoulders, creating just enough space for her to look back into his gaze, mouth running dry as the answered she demanded fell from her lips in a tidal wave.

"Shh, shh- " One finger placed across her lips and her words fell silent. His own gaze, staring into her own, quickly swept around the ground, assessing the area while lips quirked into the smile Lucy had always known. "It's me Lucy. I found you."

"You can't prove that-" She didn't have to finish- words dying in her throat as he loosened the opening of his doublet to reveal a gleaming key, resting against his skin, tied by a single thread: a skeleton key. "That's my-!"

"You still have my crystal, don't you?" Curl of the tongue and he reached for the chain around her neck, fingers dancing along the side of it, never quite touching. "You can't think I wouldn't see it, did ya'?"

Her mouth opened and closed, trying to think of a proper reply, but the only sounds heard between them was Natsu's own chuckles. A little lower, huskier even, but still reminiscent of the tones she used to hear so many years ago. Lucy couldn't come up with any answers, but as impossible as it seemed, she had to accept the truth. Natsu was there. Right before her, and his gaze was scintillating.

Unfortunately, the real world was still moving along and they were making quite the sight in the middle of the room. Not only too close to be proper for a woman's first party, but far too familiar at that. Had that man brushed his hand along her neck? The scandal that could cause… so many whispers and they reached Lucy's ears in a slow rhythm forcing her cheeks to turn a flustered, shameful red.

Proper Lady's did not dance so long with one man. Nor did they allow such physical, familiar touches. That was saved for their future husbands. If this continues… my reputation will be ruined before it can even begin….

Her thoughts screamed. Lucy's mind and body knew this. Agreed with it. Knew her actions would cause whispers, questions: anger. Eyes darted across the room, stunned to not find her father nearby, but rather than step away from Natsu, her hand only sought to grab his. Stability. Comfort. Safety.

Fingers enclosed with his and without commentary, warm digits entwined with hers, the heat spreading through her skin once more. How his touch managed to calm her instantly was a miracle to the blonde, but the small moment erupted when one of her previous dance partners cleared his throat, stepping towards them. Lucy remembered the man- his leading was forced, he barely looked towards her, but chose to keep his gaze lowered towards her bust, and half the forming blisters upon her feet were caused by his inability to wait.

"Lady Heartfilia," He said, offering a gloved hand towards them with narrowed brows. It was clear his thoughts were of the joined hands she and Natsu shared: no gloves between them. No space. "It has been awhile since this gentleman asked you to dance, perhaps you should rest? I could lead you to the refreshments."

Lucy knew what he was doing. A perfect guise of fake kindness offered to reveal his wondrous standing to be a candidate for husbandry down the road. Lead her? As she had been lead to this point her entire life. Fingers tightened their hold and indecision burned inside. What was the correct option? Take a possible suitors hand to save face or-

"Pardon my thinking," Natsu interjected, voice low, darker than she remembered as it brushed along behind her and filled the air like smoke. A strange sensation, "I can't help, but feel your offer is for more selfish desires than to help her. If not, wouldn't you have ASKED if she was tired, before deciding for her?"

An unknown tension that flowed through her every limb (and had for years) snapped. Lucy felt release and thoughts click into place that had never been allowed to connect before. He was right. Decisions had been made for her since she was a child. Everything was laid out into a direct path that she had been forced to walk upon. This man was no different. Every action he took, a perfect facade of propriety while her own masked his in mere imitation

Never happy, never truly Lucy.

""Mr. Gosswick." Her voice rang out in a simple, terse tone. No traces of her original, demure nature were present and the man in question froze in place, blinking at her as if he'd never truly seen her before. "I think I am more than capable of getting rest when and if I need it, but thank you for your timely concern."

A nod of her head and before the gentleman could speak further, she faced the wall of heat behind her, lips slowly curving into a tiny smile. "Would you be so kind as to escort me to the veranda? I could use some fresh air before I…. tire."

Something in the way she spoke lit Natsu's eyes much like a bonfire and his own smile matched hers, sweeping into an exaggerated bow while he held his arm out. "Of course, M'Lady, you need only ask."

Without a thought as to 'why not,' Lucy's arm slipped into his and they both walked through the doors, ignoring the way the night are struck across their faces. She thought she heard Gosswick shout after her as others gasped in the crowd, but gave them no attention. Word would pass on to her Father, but she wasn't allowed fear of rejection change her decision.

Like a breath of fresh air, little Lucy, now an adult, felt as if she had finally come above water and knew exactly what direction she wanted to go. "I think I've been playing to their fiddles for so long, that I forgot how to play my own."

A glance towards the miracle she once knew behind a wall of flames made her wonder if he understood what she meant, but his gaze held her fast. Frost was in the air and puffs of breath escaped every time he breathed, but a heat she had only felt while near flames engulfed her. The cold did not touch her. Many things began to click into place. His odd grace, the gleam in his eye- the wall between them and his miraculous appearance now.

"You always looked alive when you could be yourself." And the way his grin revealed rows of teeth far sharper than they should be. Alarm bells ran inside her head, but Lucy did not move, eyes widening as her body stiffened. She felt she should recognize these signs, but the part of her mind that screamed common logic, refused to admit the truth.

"Are you -" The question never finished, silenced by a finger placed upon her lips. Natsu understood her train of thought, eyes narrowing while his grin grew ever sharper.

"You want answers, I know." He breathed, arm lowering from hers to wrap around her waist again, pulling her into another dance across the wooden patio and ignoring the beat of music inside the walls. "I promise you will get them, but first, I have to ask you a favor." As natural as breathing, she fell into step with him, enraptured and unsure, but the light in his gaze was far too familiar to distrust.

"You've found a way to be here." She answered, voice a mere whisper. "It's the best gift I could ever wish for. Ask me anything."

Their voices fell silent. She, waiting for him to finish while he spun her about towards the corners of the deck. Pulling them into the shadows until his back was to the railing and the rest of the world dropped away. A hand raised to brush along her cheek, soft and slow while he appraised her face, noses leaning in to brush each other as breaths mingled.

"I didn't know." He began, voice suddenly a wavered version of one she heard years ago, through a wall as it choked through a promise to see her once more. "-What I'd do when I saw ya' again. I didn't know how I'd handle it." Another brushing of their noses and the warmth of his eyes were hidden away as Natsu shut them, breathing in deeply. "Treat you as we once were? Or would there be… more?"

The way he spoke made her stomach twist into knots, chest squeeze tight and cheeks flush. If one of the many party guests chose to leave just then, the sight of them would be an even greater scandal than the way they had danced among the crowd. Lucy was enchanted, fingers moving to mimic his own, framing the sides of his face. "What- what was your answer?"

Natsu gave her no words, not audibly. The sounds of laughter, chatter, dancing and more, disappeared as warm, heated lips brushed against her own, a soft flutter before an impatient escape of breath left him. A new angle and he held her against him, as if he could transfer every thought and feeling he held within him through her. It was dizzying. Fingers clung against his jerkin, a small whimper escaped as inexperienced tongues and teeth clashed for but a moment and every, lucid thought within her head scattered about like a fallen deck of cards.

It ended as quickly as it had begun, but the after effects clung to them. Natsu pulled his head back, nuzzled his nose behind her ear and sighed while her trembling form leaned against him, panting for air that had been stolen away.

Heavy footsteps fell from the inner halls, taking her attention- she knew those steps, hearing them for most of her life. Before she could prepare herself to part from him, Natsu's grip tightened, a hoarse, low growl dancing in her ear. "- meet me by the fireplace. Before Midnight."

"Wait, Natsu-" Would the party be over by then? Could she do it? A hot kiss fell against her ear and she shuddered.

"Don't worry." He whispered. "If you go, I'll make sure you get there."

Confusion fell as a flurry of movement came next. His presence, the heat, dissipated from her as if he'd never been beside her. The pressure of lips on her own still tingled as the night air bit against her face and Lucy wondered if she, perhaps, hallucinated the whole thing. Natsu had flipped over the railing, but she heard no sounds of a saw no sign of his departure. There was just… air?

"Lucy!" The doors swung open and she whirled about to meet Jude, who looked none too happy to find her, eyes darting across the veranda for her 'partner.' Lucy easily feigned ignorance, claiming to have been alone the entire time. What rumors of a man joining her? Nonsense. She merely had been escorted and asked to have some time for herself. The lies fell from her lips far too easily. It rose a sense of guilt in her stomach, but her persisted.

Followed her Father back into the party, where the chill of the air could not longer bite against her apple red cheeks, the daughter of Heartfilia fell back into a rhythm she could not choose. The feel of Natsu's lips against hers served as a reminder or something to look to. If she had to fake until then: so be it.

She refused drinks, unless they were water. (Claiming that a woman of her constitution couldn't possibly handle a glass of wine. Many believed her.) A few more dances came and went; Mr. Gosswick had another dance with her, keeping them both at a respectable distance as he lead her about. Many believed the two looked wonderful together.

Perhaps they will dance together for Spring parties, as well? They wondered. Lucy thought she heard a few whisper, claiming them to be a perfect match. It was near impossible to hide the disgust that tried to reflect upon her scrunched nose and furrowed brow. She waved it off as an ache in her heels and was quickly given a chair to to rest on.

Every chance gained, Lucy looked to the clock. The closer it came to midnight, the more her apprehension grew. As guests finally began to depart, it was her role to see them out, but how could she make it on time? The answer came in a way she did not expect. Standing to join a couple as they gathered their things to leave, a strange shudder of heat washed through the air between them. The Sir and Lady walked by Lucy without a second glance.

Minutes later, it happened again. As if no one truly realized she was there. Again and again until she began to wonder if some sort of magic was afoot. She had grown up to believe magic couldn't possibly be real, despite all evidence to the contrary- made to see it as a dream. There were no more dreams to cover the truth.

Another wave of heat that circled about like a caress and soon, the many revelers of the Heartfilia Annual Christmas Party, had made it out the doors, still chatting on the porch. She was left alone. Just her, an open foyer-

And a fireplace she refused to look at for many, many years.

The old, Grandfather clock ticked, taking her attention- ten minutes before midnight. Was she too early? Or too late? Or perhaps, this is what Natsu meant by making sure she would get there. She had begun to believe there was more to him than her childhood memories could tell: now, Lucy felt she had struck an epiphany.

Natsu, or some part of him, wasn't human. "You chose to stay? That's a relief!" The sudden appearance of his voice made Lucy stiffen, eyes alert and checking around the room, she could not see him. His laugh, no longer low, but loud, echoed from the walls like heated crystals. "The other way, look over here!"

The playfulness in his tone felt as warm as the burning fire and Lucy realized with surreal clarity- that his voice was coming beyond it. Turning towards the flames, the confusion of the night flooded over as she noticed the open wall- no brick, but a view to the other side, much larger than she could remember. The mantle could no longer be seen, falling through to the other side.

There stood Natsu, but not. A tall, broad shouldered man with dark eyes, singed in green, smiled back at her through the flames. Sharp teeth glimmered as he laughed and a face, tanned from sunlight, glowed in a light from within rather than out. What stood before her, was both the boy and man she had come to know, and something else entirely. Tilting his head, he tweaked his ears, oddly pointy and elongated, mischief dancing on the tongue of his chuckles.

"What… what ARE you?" She questioned, stepping forward, shock, a tinge of fear, slipping through her voice. Natsu's laughter died in an instant, eyes flashing as a familiar concern took them over. "How are you back there? How is- how is this possible?!"

"- Hey, please, don't be scared!" His words came out quieter, soothing, a light panic filling him as he reached out, over the flames, not even wincing. "I'm sorry. I couldn't tell you. It was against the rules, but today was the day. It was luck you happened to be here for it."

"Luck-?" Her voice drifted. Unreal. Impossible, yet somehow, completely, irrevocably true. "What rules? Natsu, I don't understand-" Another step forward and she was feet away from the flames, frozen in place. Would it be the same now? Could they no longer touch?

His own steps answered. "The three Hundred and Fifty-Seventh Day of the Seventieth Year- the walls fall down. That's what Miss Anna said." Passing through the flames, clothes as fine as day- cleaner than they appeared hours before. " - but they come right back up at the end."

He meant… "Midnight." She supplied. He nodded.

They would be separated again when the clock struck twelve. A different wave of apprehension filled her veins, body shaking in reflex. "- that would mean we couldn't…" Lucy's voice cracked and she froze, stunned by her own disappointment. Natsu stepped closer, hands reaching out as if to draw her into his embrace once more, but paused before contact.

"It's all right." He soothed, eyes gleaming while he reached inside the pocket of his breeches. "I didn't come for us to never see each other again. I came here for you."

He extended his hand, revealing a small twig of wild-berries, fresh and clean- shining in it's own strange light. Lucy eyed the berries between them, searching for the answers she so desperately wanted while Natsu's expression slowly melted, forlorn. "I wanted us t'be friends forever when we were children. - but it's more now. I want to take you away. Keep you happy and alive and free of these chains you've been tied to for so long."

Reaching out to touch the berries, Lucy was stunned when he jerked back, keeping them just out of reach, hissing as he did. "Think carefully, Lucy. No matter how much I want to keep you with me, the rules say I can't do as I want. I have to wait. For you to decide."

"For me to decide what, exactly?" She questioned, looking between him and the fire place. Her eyes narrowed curiously, almost certain she had seen other figures just beyond the flames. She couldn't be sure. "Tell me plainly, Natsu."

"You have to want me to take you." He finished. Extending the small twig once more. "You have to choose me. Choose us."

A hint of a memory, from many old stories, passed through Lucy's mind. Whispers and warnings of eating food gifted to others. Fingers moved to grasp the berries from his hand once more, lip quivering. He would take her away, from all of this?

"I could never come back, could I?" She asked, eyes searching his own for an honest answer. He couldn't lie, could he? Natsu's gaze met her own- fear and apprehension gleaming within warm irises. Nervous, but his silence spoke volumes. "Will I be happy?"

A slow smile spread then, filled with the heat he carried as he stared upon her like his very own treasure. "For as long as I breath."

Everything fell into place. The empty, hollow Lucy that existed, merely following protocol day after day, faded away as soft fingers accepted the small branch. Plucked the tiny berries from their stems, and popped one into her mouth. Delicious, sweet flavor danced across her tongue and Natsu's gaze turned to awe as he stepped forward, sweeping her into his arms, laughing in relieved mirth.

Another berry, and his lips found hers- passing sweetness and glee from one to the other as warm fingers slipped through tresses of golden hair, releasing hair pins to the floor and letting it tumble free across Lucy's shoulders. Flushed and gasping for breath, she pulled him closer. Her best friend. Her love- and through each dizzying kiss, felt him lead her towards the fire.

One step- and her mind distantly realized the chimes of midnight were sounding off, like faint echoes.

Two steps. The kiss broke, fingers grasped her own and Natsu lead her through the flames.

Three steps. Lucy thought she heard someone rush into the room- though she heard her name called, but she stepped forward, into the heat, the light- and the fading chimes of the Grandfather Clock, dispersed into the air like birds.

A fourth step and Lucy Heartfilia faded from the world and an open, fireplace wall, filled with bricks, sturdy and cold. All traces of heat, of two figures locked into passions embrace, gone- all except two items hanging from the mantle place.

As Jude watched his daughter disappear into a flash of light, his eyes widened when he came across the necklaces that hung there as parting gift: A small crystal.

Entwined with a skeleton key.

'Come along, little sprites, and I'll tell you a tale. Humans merely believe the Vale to be Myths or fantasies. A thing to be imagined. We know better, don't we? Our world is real and has always been connected to theirs. Connected through the veil.

The tale I tell you is of a fireplace, just like the one you see here. It is a very special place: an entrance from here to there. Once Upon a time there was a family of gold who lived alongside us. Through the fire we watched and they were unaware of us. We watched them in fascination for their children were beautiful and pure of heart. Many of us loved them.

Eventually, humans die and this saddened our kind. Attempting to save them from their own mortality, we began to take these children through the veil. To keep them safe. The consequences of those actions were not considered. Loving their children so dear to their hearts, the Family fell to despair. The light that once attracted us grew dim and their bloodline dwindled through the generations.

One day, the King of us All caught wind of their plight, feeling the loss of their heart- and he swore to mend what was broken. He tried to return the children, but many had been gone so long, they could not remember the family they once had. Or their parents had aged and passed away. Some refused to return to such a sad life.

Saddened by this revelation, the King chose to bless the family instead. With good luck and riches, they were given the ability to move on from their grief, to begin anew. The Golden Family began to grow again, but we were punished for what had been done.

The King cast a spell upon the fireplace, so that no Sprite could pass without passing specific conditions. Every seventy years, the spell lifts for a day, allowing us in- but we could only watch until that day. If we ever found a child that we wished to save, we could not keep them unless the Seventieth year was upon us, but only if the child chose to come through- accepting a single branch of wild-berries from our very hands.

Time came and went, and many of us lost interest in the Golden family. Not all, some of us still watch. Some of us still wait, hoping to catch a glimpse of that golden family, to find a new child that may come to be with us one day. At times, it is said that one of them does pass through- and those children are most beloved of all.

Seventy years ago, I passed through that veil and came to live here and now I tend and take care of all you, my little Sprites. The ones that came before me were my ancestors and those who may come now, my descendants. For myself and those who will come, I can assure you: we all lived happily ever after.

Welcome home, Lucy Heartfilia- may your stay be blessed with Love and Happiness beyond your very dreams.

Welcome home, my darling niece.

Thank you all for the wonderful reviews/theories and thoughts that you sent me for this little story of mine! Sorry to say, none of you were quiet correct, but I hope this chapter answered a few, if not all, of your questions. (And maybe raised a few others, but that's part of the fun!) Inspiration for this story came from my love of Fairy Tales as a kid. Not just the general ones like Snow White and Cinderella- but Fairy Tales about "Fair Folk." Eating the food of a Fairy and being stuck in their world- stories like that.

Anyway, I hope you all Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays- Happy New Year! Updates to my other stories will be coming soon! (You can always find more news about story updates via my tumblr at Rougescribe.)

Thank You!

Mira