There was just something about timing that Natsu didn't get. Why did asking a girl to marry you have to have perfect timing? Everything else he asked her was just on the spur of the moment. He had never had to actually think about how to ask a question to someone before. It was a new thing for him. He would have never guessed it would have been hard to do. He had tried to get her to sit still to ask her, but every time he tried she would talk about something other than what he wanted. He even watched romance movies to try and get a reference, but every time he tried to make plans with her they always ended up on a mission to pay for their rent. She was always worried about being able to pay the rent for up to three months in advance. One time she was almost evicted from her place, so from that day on she went on missions almost every day to make sure she could pay for rent. The only time they had to be a couple was when they had payed the rent and a weekend had come alone. Natsu had to figure out what weekend he could ask her the question. Then it came to him. He would ask her on the day of the Fantasia Parade. They would both be in town and Lucy will be happy. And not stressing about the rent. All was left to do was find a time to ask and how to ask. Natsu knew the perfect place to practice his speech.
As Natsu walked through town, he was spotted by the one person he didn't want to see him, Lucy. She saw him as he went to the big oak tree in the middle of town. Lucy had nothing good to do so she followed him. When he reached the tree he pushed a button and the tree opened. Wait, the tree opened! What the hell was going on here. Lucy waited for Natsu to get inside the tree before she came out from her hiding place. She had just barely slipped into the tree before the door had closed. As she made sure she didn't lose any hair before continuing she had paused. "What could Natsu be doing down in a tree? What could he have to hide that he could not just go home?" As she was thinking that she decided to find out exactly why he was in a tree. She followed behind him not to close because she knew that if she got to close he would smell her and her plan would be spoiled.
As he neared the end of the long tunnel, Lucy began to think of all the things he could be doing in a tree. For all she knew he was just taking a shortcut home, but what if it was something worse? What if he was actually keeping a person down here? What if it wasn't actually Natsu? Lucy's mind ran through all the situations and decided that she would make her mind shut up and continue forward. As she got farther in the tunnel, she realized that the end was a room. The room had brown walls and a hardwood floor. There was food and wrappers everywhere. Once Lucy saw this room she knew it must have been Natsu's man cave, or was it a "man tree"? Lucy saw a spot she could hide in so Natsu couldn't see her. She watched him pace the room mumbling to himself. She couldn't quite make out the mumbles, but she did hear one thing, her name. He was saying it over and over again. She had no clue what he was doing, but she would find out sooner than later.
After a while of just watching him pace, Lucy got board and was about to leave when she heard him sigh and plop onto the couch in the room. "Why can't I just find the words. Lucy I love you and I always will. I just need to know if you will love me the same way that I love you. If you do I will ask you this question." Yes Natsu, of course I do! "Alright, since you do I have this one question. Will you marry me? I know we haven't had the most normal relationship. Our dates turn into missions and our nights together turn into workout nights. I know you might not want to take this step so fast, but I will always love you. Even if you say no it is ok. I will love you forever and always. So let me ask again, will you marry me?" Lucy could not believe what she was hearing. Natsu was practicing proposing to her! Before she could think her body moved to the man on the couch. After Natsu sensed her he snapped his head up to look into her eyes. He had a mixture of many different emotions on his face. There was suprise, angry, but mostly embarrassment. He stood up and ran to try to reach the exit but was stopped by a little hand on his shoulder. After stopping he turned to the woman that had caused his embarrassment. "How much of that did you hear?" "Enough." "Well... It was all a joke! I was just playing!" As the words left his mouth the look in his eyes said the opposite. After he was done fumbling with his thumbs, he turned to leave. As he was walking away I said something out of nowhere. "Yes!" "What did you say?" "I said yes." "What are you saying yes too?" "To your proposal." The look in his eyes after I said those words spoke for him. He was so happy that he ran over and through me in the air then caught me in a tight embrace. "Are you serious! I love you so much Lucy! You are the best thing to happen to me in all my life!" "I love you too Natsu!" After he was done with his hug he pulled out the ring. It was beautiful. It was made of not just diamonds but of jewels that looked like stars. "I had the guild and Loke help make it. Loke said that the other stones were stars that fell long ago that he has been saving for something like this. So, do you like it?" "Natsu, it is beautiful! The most beautiful thing I have ever seen!" "I'm glad you like it now let's get out of here before Happy comes down here to look for the both of us." As we go to leave Natsu grabs my hand and leads me out. As we reach the entrance we are met by Happy, Gray, and Erza. As we walk up to them Erza spots the ring on my finger, "OH MY GOD!! NATSU PROPOSED TO LUCY!!" After she said that the whole guild showed up in that one park. Everyone was there to congratulate the two on there engagement. The very last person to congratulate them was the master. As he walked up to us we both froze. "I wish you both love and joy as you start this family. Just make sure it doesn't interfere with work got it." After he said that we both laughed and then he brought his tone down to the point only we could hear, "If you need any help with money I have some saved up for things like this. Just don't tell the other members, I would only do this for a select few of you because you are like my own children. Just come see me if you need any help." "Thank you so much old man. You are the best." As he walked away, Natsu felt someone bump into him. It was Gray. Natsu turned toward him and said, " Hey, Popsicle, do you want to be my best man?" After Natsu said that the while guild gasped. Gray's response was even more surprising to them, "Sure. What do I have to do? Just plan stuff and be there for you right?" "Yeah." "Ok, I'll do it man!" After his response the two hugged. As the night was ending the two walked to the home that they both shared. Hand in hand, silently, they walked with synchronized steps and heart beats. Natsu was emitting a heat that kept Lucy warm in the cold night. As they reached the house, they walked into the room they shared and got into bed. After both where tucked into the bed Lucy turned to Natsu as he turned to her. "I love you so much Natsu." "I'll love you for forever and always Lucy, now go to sleep we have to start planning tomorrow." As he said those words Lucy moved toward Natsu and snuggled into his side. In the room the only thing you could hear was the sounds of breathing and a heart beat. It was the heart beat of the love birds.
