midnightstar | Happy Holidays Charlie Brown! .. oh wait wrong canon

Christmas and Thanksgiving were going to be difficult holidays for Regina and the kids. They had, for the most part, mended from the deaths of their friends, but this would also be the first Christmas slash Thanksgiving without them. So for that afternoon, she decided to let Natsu distract the kids and the dog for the time being. More than likely they were bundled up and jumping in piles of leaves outside, or begging Natsu for more demonstrations. As for herself, she went to help distract Regine with preparing food. Happily, Regina only took Lucy's bright smile for her natural demeanor and not for any other reasons.

On the other hand, Lucy hadn't been able to stop smiling since the night she and Natsu were.. er.. very intimate together. Assuming she didn't drift off into a dreamy spacey mode when she thought no one was looking. And if she actually saw him, forget it - it took everything she had not to grab him and hold him close. Heck, before that night she had difficulty keeping her eyes off him - it was more so now. SO it was probably for the best that she had something like cooking and entertaining Regine to occupy her attention.

If Regine noticed the way Lucy's conversation chatter kept turning to the topic of Natsu unconsciously, she didn't mention it, though she did seem amused for some reason. Currently the ladies were discussing options for the dinner - the kids wanted to start eating spicier food to - obviously - be more like Natsu after all.

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"Well you weren't in my arms soon enough either." Natsu answered back before leaning into her touch a bit more, his hands slowly moving around to pull Lucy in close as well.

She smiled at that, leaning against him with a blissful sigh as she closed her arms around him in turn. "And now?" Still took too long to be in his arms? The thought made her chuckle a little -- wait he wasn't going to let her go as easily this time was he? Well she 'supposed' she was okay with that, honestly.

There it was. That closeness he yearned for almost every moment of the day. He tightened his hold ever so slightly before cradling Lucy cheek as he leaned in close enough for his nose to touch LUcy's

"Now's much better~"

Her body pressed against his, hugging him close, "Hmm, I think I'll have to agree." She murmured. "You pass the test by the way," she added a moment later, tilting her head up and nuzzling her nose against his with a smile.

He grinned as he felt her close enough for their noses to touch like that. "In that case lets get in bed before we get any funny ideas~" Because it was so easy to get sidetracked and she wasn't the only one with this predicament.

That was true. Heck she was having a hard enough time pulling away from him, "In a minute." She murmured against his chest. First, she tightened her grip around him in a hug, before she pulled away, fixing her robe to close it around her body better. That should take care of the temptation and funny ideas thing, but she walked to her side of the bed, before getting ready to settle in.

Honestly that only did a little to stamp out the temptation. Natsu pulled her back in when they were next to the bed, pressing his lips in a light kiss to her right cheek before moving over to his side of the bed. He laid on his side and waited for Lucy to join him before he would cuddle up against her.

She giggled softly at that little kiss, climbing into the bed and tugging the blankets over them. "A bit delayed," she murmured, snuggling against his warmth, "But I kept my end of the bargain. See?" She grinned, draping an arm over his side. She'd even go so far as say it was almost even better when they were apart for even a moment.

Not that she'd advocate being away from him just to make hugs warmer. Or at all.

He snuggled up closer, his hold tightening faintly over Lucy's form. His hand lightly pressing against the small of her back as he tucked his head in under her chin with a smirk.

"Yeah you did. Eventually~"

"Boy there's just no pleasing some people," she teased, giggling. "Even if I say it, I can't ever stay away from you for long. I need you always by my side, after all." She grinned, gently petting her hand over his back.

"I'm happy to hear that. Cause I'm in the same boat on that." Natsu grinned and nuzzled softly against her chin while his hands idly moved over her back and hip pulling her closer still.

Lucy giggled, thoroughly pleased as he pulled her closer. She pressed against him in response, shifting to cuddle against his warmth with her arm secure and snug around him. "Hmmm, I don't know, I could hardly tell that." She grinned, nuzzling against his head. "Guess you'll just have to hold me until I'm convinced."

"Who said I'll let go even after you're convinced?" That was Natsu for you. Always trying to surpass himself like that. But when it came to making Lucy happy in the process he was twice as determined in that regard. And she reaped all the benefits.

She grinned, "Are you saying you're never going to let me go?" She could definitely live with that. Being in his arms, with his warmth - there was no where she'd rather be. She almost didn't want to go home, not knowing how long it would take them to get to this point there. Another two years? Still, worth it. After all, she wanted to be sure he would be just as happy as he made her.

"That's the idea~" Natsu all but purred playfully. Honestly it didn't matter how long it would take, Natsu had no doubt they'd get to this point. The fact that it had happened once was proof of the possibility. But that was the last thing on Natsu's mind now, finding himself much more preoccupied with the lovely girl cradled in his arms right now.

She tightened her arm around him, tilting her head down to rest closer to his. "I kind of like that idea." She giggled, "Although in reality it'd probably be really silly if we never let go of each other."

She paused. "Well, it might be okay while cooking." She certainly wouldn't mind having his arms around her while she made dinner or breakfast, feeding him little treats over her shoulder --oh lord Lucy your imagination is running away with you again.

"I'm sure we could make it work~" Of course he didn't mean to actually follow through with that literally. But talking about it was a no expense required luxury so he could allow his imagination to run rampant. Though it still couldn't match Lucy's.

"Oh while cooking hmmm? Maybe I could if one of the kids isn't hanging around you already~"

"I'm sure you'd -try-." Lucy giggled. "Knowing you you'd probably manage it somehow." And boy would that be weird. Though she grinned a bit more at his latter comment. "Only 'maybe'?" He did have a point though, it might be tricky finding her when the kids weren't around them. Nev was so attached to Natsu while his sister tended to follow Lucy around - it was terribly cute. Especially when she watched him with them. He spoiled them so much.

"Hehehe I'll be sure to not disappoint then~" Natsu chuckled and met her grin with his own. She was just such a bad influence on him. Yes totally her influence that was the problem. No he was not lying and no his nose was not growing. Though in all honesty they were both pretty bad in that regard.

He hardly spoiled them. After all he was only doing what his dad had done with him, showing him magic and tricks aside from teaching him about things though in that regard Lucy and Regina had their education covered. "I didn't say I wouldn't try~"

Lucy grinned at the sound of the chuckle, "As if you could ever disappoint in anything." She stated with a teasing scoff. They influenced each other to be bad - or not so much -bad- but they certainly had a big influence on each other. Natsu thought things through more, Lucy took risks more.

Except when the kids - especially Nev's sister - tried to get him to agree to some random silliness, he was rarely one to say no. Nev and Justyne had him wrapped around their little fingers. ... then again Lucy was just as bad.

That only proved how much of a perfect match they were in the end. Natsu dug his fingers in very slightly against Lucy's ribs as he laughed for a moment just unable to contain that happiness she brought in him even when teasing.

The kids were special little bratlings. Dear and important to Natsu in a way that he couldn't quite put into words yet.

They were like their own little kids in a way. Though Lucy wouldn't say that - she wouldn't want to step on Regina's toes; after all, Regina was the one that had looked after them for so long. Lucy and Natsu were more like surrogate parents.

She was okay with that. "Heiek!!" Lucy squealed in surprise, feeling his fingers against her ribs. Of course, Lucy being Lucy, figured that it was Natsu being Natsu tickling her or messing with her in general, and retaliated with a poke at his ribs in return. "Take that~!" She giggled.

Natsu made a surprised noise before narrowing his eyes with a playful growl. "Oh is that how you wanna play huh?" Natsu asked and started trying to get at her ribs in earnest. He would have stopped at that first time but she just had to go on provoke him.

She'd swear he started it. She'll never say otherwise. "That's my line," she grinned, before 'eep'ing and trying to fend his hands off with little giggles, "You started it besides~!"

All I did was poke you once!" Natsu laughed and quickly returned fire with a flurry of fingers digging into Lucy's sides as he rolled in the bed with his dear princess as she tried to escape his villainous claws.