23 (epilogue)

Adoration

Yes, he adored every little part of her. Because she was his everything.

A/N: Hey there people! Thanks a lot fro sticking with this story since the very first chapter. To be honest, I was so cryptic about this one, and thought it would turn our bad and boring, but you guys actually loved it the most. Thank you for making my dream of having more than 1000 reviews come true. This would never have been possible if you guys didn't help me. I'm genuinely proud of my work, and happy that you read it whole. I can't believe I'm finishing this story... It was my favorite to write so far, and I've grown used to it... Oh well, all good things come to an end, right? MAKE SURE U READ THE NEW STORY'LL BE POSTING IN A WEEK OR SO!

Now, this is where I normally give shoutouts, but there were so many readers this time around that I can't seem to manage to pick out only a few. So yes, you who are reading this right now, I'm talking to you. Thank you for being here, supporting me, and making my amateur work seem important at least to me. If it wasn't for you, I'd still be on the first chapter of this story, wondering where I went wrong. Thank you, for existing.

Without any further delays, we go onto the last chapter, in other words, the epilogue...

Chapter 23:

Epilogue

Warmth.

The only thing I could feel right now, was this unexplainable warmth surrounding my body and enveloping my senses. Being overtaken by some cosy feeling of security, I felt the need to exhale loudly only to express my content, as I snuggled closer to the source of warmth. The only thing in my mind right now was the image of plain nothingness and the amazing feeling of floating. I felt as if I was lying on a cloud in the sky, free from all the worries in life. And I really was. I had finally got the girl of my dreams to like me, and I didn't have to think of a way to get closer to her anymore. My problems had disappeared in a flash, and the only magic spell I needed to make that happen was just to tell everything to her.

Her.

That amazingly cute girl with insanely stunning looks and perfect character, impossibly beautiful voice, and warmth, she was the best thing that had ever happened to me. I was always on the verge of yelling at her because I knew she was right, or patting her back because I know she needed it. She was the sun in my sky, the cookies in my milk, the peanut to my butter, water to my ocean, spring in my step, gaze on my donut, flip to my flop, cherry to my sundae, sweet in my dreams, blue in my sky, best to my friend, twinkle in my eye, love of my life...

Lucy.

The girl for which I'd swim every ocean, climb every mountain and run across every track. The girl I loved ever since I first laid eyes upon, and yet never had the courage to even admit it to myself. Afraid of what other would say, afraid of my popularity dropping, afraid of making me look stupid. And yet, it was I who ruined my reputation, and she who made me feel like a valuable person again. She saved me. She was the only one who came to my rescue when I felt like I wasn't needed anywhere anymore. She was the only person who lent me a helping hand even though I didn't ask for it, and pulled me out of my misery.

I felt the corners of my lips twitch into a smile at the mere thought of my princess. That's right, she's the princess and I'm the butler who swore his eternal loyalty to her. I'm the one who will spend the rest of his life trying to make up for all of his mistakes, and never leave her sight.

Feeling the rays of the sun ghost over my face, making the warmth even more pleasant, I stretched my hands, still too tired to open up my eyes and check my surroundings. Come to think of it, what really happened last night after I conveyed my feelings? My mind can't seem to recall the events after that.

But I didn't need that info. I was happy just lying here, hugging something warm and cuddly. My right hand reaches out to stretch, falling down on the warm surface, being greeted by something nice and soft. A pillow. Toying with the warm pillow, my hand grips it even tighter, as I lift up my head to lie down on it.

But the birds chirping outside wouldn't let me get my rest, and I decided it was time to start the day. Finally opening my eyes, I was greeted by the familiar curtains on Lucy's windows. Ah, so I'm in her bedroom, huh? I guess I passed out or something yesterday, and she had no choice but to bring me here. I'm always being saved...

Smiling to myself, I looked down, only to be greeted by two pairs of legs. Wait a minute... I don't remember being an octopus! And don't they have eight legs? Hmm, but I once read that there was this mutation and—ugh, getting distracted here.

My eyes flew up that instant, only to see Lucy's sleeping face just inches away from mine! I would've jolted back if I wasn't deathly holding on to the pillow from earlier. I look towards my right hand and...

HOLY MOTHER OF—

WHAT THE FUCKING—

OH SHIT—

THIS IS NOT HAPPENING. I REPEAT: THIS IS NOT HAPPENING.

Slowly, like my life depended on it, I hesitantly released Lucy's b—... body part, and retreated my hand at a safe distance. Hyperventilating as if I'd just seen a ghost, I looked towards my hand, quaking in fear. She was there, right there, lying next to me so tired, and so... defenceless. I swallow down my own spit, carefully taking out my left arm from underneath her back, as I untangled our legs, and slowly slid out from beneath the fumbled covers, standing on the cold bedroom floor.

What the fuck happened here..?

I was in the same bed with her?! The covers were all messy and she looks really tired... but more importantly, why was my hand freely cupping one of her b... GAH I CAN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT WITHOUT BLUSHING LIKE A JAPANESE SCHOOLGIRL!

Alright, calm down Natsu... calm down...

Just look around carefully and think of the possibilities.

Okay, hmm... so we were lying in the same bed. I can see her tank top down on the ground and—oh my fucking spicy cheese balls what is she even wearing?! I look towards her, only to find the upper part of her body covered by the blanket, so I can't see if she's wearing something or not. I feel sweat dripping from my forehead as I look down to inspect myself.

I'm wearing my shorts. Good.

...

JUST MY SHORTS?! WHY THE FUCK AM I TOPLESS?

I exhale loudly, looking towards the bed once more. Lucy's hair is a mess, but she's wearing the shorts from last night. I walked closer, staring at her bare stomach, the pointer finger on my right hand sliding across it, as if leaving some trail behind to mark her being mine, when my mind finally realizes what I'm doing. I'm acting like some creeper touching a girl's naked stomach while she's sleeping?!

Slapping my face as hard as I could, I ran downstairs in a frantic manner. Finding her phone on the table, I quickly dialled Gray's number, feeling a sense of relief once I heard his voice from the other side of the line.

"What's up, flame head?" He asked, as I tried fumbling with my words.

"Hey bro, I didn't wake you up, right?!" I asked, as if that was the important thing here.

"Uh no? It's like, 2 PM." He mumbled, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"It is!? I just woke up!" I yelled, looking at Lucy's clock to confirm what he said.

"You did? Did something keep you up late last night?" He asked, and I felt my face heat up.

"Uh.. Lucy's still sleeping too.." I muttered.

"Really? I guess she was probably up all night doing something."

I slammed my head on the nearest wall, trying not to think of those things.

"But listen here Gray, that's why I'm calling. I'm in deep shit man. Like, really deep shit."

"Huh? 'sup?"

"Well, I woke up in Lucy's bed... topless... and her t-shirt or whatever is down on the floor along with mine... and um... my hand was touching a certain soft spot..."

"YOU GROPED HER BOOBS?!"

"ASDFHJSGFGHJHSDUEHUEWHU YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO YELL IT OUT LIKE THAT!"

"WHAT THE FUCK MAN?"

"I DON'T KNOW!"

After some heavy breathing, Gray finally grasped his sense of reality, and I heard him exhale loudly, "So... you had sex?"

"..."

"I mean," he continued, after I gave no reply, "That's the only logical explanation, right? Both of you lying shirtless like that, in the same bed, probably hugging and—ugh I think I'm going to barf..."

"Dude... I think she's going to kill me once she wakes up... oh shit, I think I hear something moving upstairs!"

"You do!? Uh, I gotta go man, I'm uh—I'm going into a tunnel! Choo choo!"

"Choo choo? What the fuck!? Stay with me man!"

But the line was dead a few moments later. I sighed in defeat, slamming the phone back on the table before slowly walking up the stairs, to check up on Lucy. And there she was, completely sprawled across the bed, making it impossible to lie anywhere next to her.

Giving into temptation, I kneeled down next to her, my right hand moving up to slowly lift the blanket up from her torso, as I started sweating more than ever. Feeling a small sense of guilt in the back of my throat, I peeked underneath the material, to see—

"What are you doing?"

My hands froze in place, as I awkwardly turned my head to look at the now fully awake girl, staring at me. Releasing the blanket, I immediately bounced back to my feet, laughing hysterically, "AHAHA I WAS JUST CHECKING TO SEE IF HAHAHA YOU UM AHAHA WERE MAYBE COLD HERE LIKE THAT AND STUFF HAHA I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ULTERIOR MOTIVES PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!"

She stared at me blankly, as if she had no idea what I was talking about, slowly pushing her upper body up, and supporting it with her elbows. The blanked slid down from her torso, revealing a comfortable-looking sleeveless shirt, as she stretched, and got up as well. Just as I thought was into clear, she suddenly clutched her stomach and moaned in pain.

"Ouch, my stomach hurts! Oh well, I guess it's because of that."

Feeling my cheeks redden and my hands sweat, I looked away from her, putting on my shirt from yesterday. She told me she was going to the bathroom, and disappeared.

Defeated, I walked down in the kitchen, watching as she walked in, and started making breakfast. She quickly fried some eggs and bacon, and we started eating in mere minutes. Deciding to investigate further, I spoke up first.

"So uhm, about yesterday..."

"Oh, you mean that"

"Y-yeah... so... how was it?"

Her eyes brightened up, "Oh it was simply fantastic. You really knew what you were doing, huh? You made it look like it wasn't your first time."

I started choking on the piece of bacon, and Lucy quickly bent over the table to give me some water. Getting a good look at her cleavage, I felt my cheeks redden once more, as I tried looking away.

"S-so... I guess that means last night was good..." I mumbled, a bit sad.

"Yep, just great."

"But..."

"simply the best!" She smiled, and I felt like I couldn't take it anymore.

"BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING!" I suddenly shouted, catching her attention, as she dropped her fork and stared at me, "You said it was great but, I can't recall the feeling! I mean, was I good? Were you happy? Is that why you're hurting? How could I forget my first!? I WANT A DO-OVER!"

"Natsu, what are you talking about?" She asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"I mean, if we already did it, WERE WE AT LEAST USING PROTECTION!? I'M NOT READY TO BE A FATHER!"

"What the—"

"DID WE REALLY SLEEP TOGETHER?!"

"WHAT!?" She shrieked, her face turning completely red.

"I mean," I started, having finally calmed down, "You said your stomach hurt, our clothes were all over the place, and we were in the same bed, so I figured—"

My little speech was cut short from the loud fits of laughter that suddenly erupted from her, as she clothed her stomach, "What were you even thinking? You passed out last night, so the first thing I thought of was taking you up to my bedroom, and when I finally managed to drag you all the way there, you clutched my hand, and begged me to stay in your sleep. So, I decided there was no harm to be done since you were already asleep, and lied the upper half of my body on the bed until you fell asleep, but somewhere along the line, I fell asleep as well." She explained, but there were still unsolved puzzles.

"Well that explains a part of it, but what about my clothes?"

"They were soaked from the rain, so I took your shirt off. When I tried to make you put on my cousin's sweater, you pushed it away, so I left you like that. I changed my shirt though, since I didn't want to catch a cold."

"Oh... But why were we sleeping like that?!"

"You have a tight grip, so I wouldn't be surprised if you had pulled me up on the bed with you."

"But you said I was good at it? Like it wasn't my first time!?"

"I was talking about the romantic confession."

"Okay... but wait, you said your stomach hurts because of that!?"

"It's my monthly 'event'? You know, the thing girls have?"

"oh... ooooooooooh"

She started laughing, and this time, I joined her. I can't believe I was as stupid as that, to allow myself weird delusions.

We continued eating happily, enjoying our first day as 'boyfriend and girlfriend'. I guess fun times like this are just beginning huh... who knows what sort of adventures we'll have next? I really, honestly, from the bottom of my heart, love this girl as much as I can.

I looked towards my right hand, blushing at the thought of where it used to be an hour ago...

"Hey Lucy, I love you."

"I love you too."

The End

~With Keys, Through Flames! Aye!~

"...we can do it anytime you're up for it though"

"NATSU!"