Days turned into weeks as Lucy and Loke grew closer, there was no denying that what the two of them shared was real. The way Loke talked to her and when he talked about her his eyes lit up, and Lucy was rarely frowning anymore, anyone could see that they completed each other. Weeks turned into months and they became a force to be reckoned with on jobs, the romantic tension that Lucy had been so worried about distracting them, ended up motivating them to fight even harder and do each job that much better. Whispers flew around the guild about if they were going to tie the knot, they never gave the question a straight answer but laughed and changed the subject whenever it came up. Loke passed through the gate regularly to surprise her when she wasn't expecting it.

Lucy lounged under the big tree in the park, spring had just sprung and the buds were beautiful, dancing lazily in the breeze. She loved it here and used it quite a bit for inspiration in her novel which she had laid in her lap, a pencil tucked behind her ear. To be honest, the story she was writing was coming along much easier now, she pulled so much from her relationship with Loke and found that putting herself into the story was what she was missing. She smiled, playing with a loose charm from the bracelet he had given her a month ago, a key charm and a lion charm hung delicately from the thin silver chain. He had given it to her after a particularly difficult job.

The dust had finally settled and the grotesque creature lay silently among the boulders. Loke held onto her tightly, both silent and breathless. Her head was on his chest and she couldn't focus on anything except for catching her breath and trying not to pass out. She had received a nasty gash on her arm and the pain was excruciating. But they had done it, they had rid the small island village from the thing their nightmares were made of. The creature had stolen so many people's lives, destroyed their crops and made it hard for them to survive. Loke believed it had been a wyvern of sorts. Loke had finally been able to stand, he was in pain but he couldn't go back to the celestial world and heal until Lucy was ok, he scooped her up and started the hike back to the village. Many of the villagers used magic, but their skills revolved around growing crops and healing, and they were more than happy to heal the blonde wizard who had helped them so much.

After they had returned home, Levy and Wendy had offered to stay with her while he went and healed himself. He healed slowly and was impatient, he had just wanted to be by her side and help her. But during his healing Aries had stayed with him, telling him stories about her and Lyra. When he had healed he went to visit an old friend of his, a talented jeweler who agreed to commission the piece Loke envisioned. It was gorgeous when he picked it up, delicate and perfect, just like Lucy. He had presented it to her during a walk around the city one night, much like the night that everything started for them. Under the tree in the park with the moon shining through the leaves and the crickets chirping around them, he had pulled the velvet box from his pocket and given it to her. She was shocked to see the delicate bracelet nestled inside and she had thrown her arms around him after he had put it on, "Now, no matter what, we will always be next to each other my love." he had whispered into her hair, hugging her tight and planting small kisses over her head.

The memories were still fresh and she had written a chapter in her novel based loosely off of them. Without thinking, she brushed her fingers over the large scar that stretched from her shoulder to her elbow, it had healed slowly and it was just now getting to the point where she had full mobility back. A warm hand covered her own and she looked back to see her lion smiling warmly at her.

"I think it's beautiful you know," he said quietly, sitting down behind her and pulling her back onto his chest. She scoffed and rolled her eyes leaning back on him, grateful for his warmth. Even though it was spring, the breezes could get a bit chilly and she had opted to leave her sweater at home today, "I think it shows the world how brave you are." he nestled his face into her neck kissing her skin tenderly.

"It'll be there forever so at least you like it." she joked, in truth, she didn't mind it. The scar did hold memories and the way it flared out on the bottom like lightning had struck it, make it almost look like loke's key, something she kept very near and dear to her heart even though she didn't even need it to call him anymore. He chuckled and held her close, he'd never admit to how happy it made him to see her wear the bracelet, he really loved Lucy and that small act meant everything to him.

"I love everything about you Lucy, don't you ever forget that."