A/n: I don't even know why I'm starting a new story when I have so many others that need to be finished, but ahh...what can I say? My brain's in an ErLu shipping mood, and after watching more of the anime, who am I to say no eh?

Enjoy.

Summary: Erza would have to start inviting Lucy to come and train with her more often...especially if it got the Celestial mage to fuss over her.

"Thanks again Erza for letting me come and train with you," Lucy praised the older mage, as she followed the redhead to a clearing. "And you're positive I won't get in the way of your usual routine?" she inquired once more just to be sure.

She assumed the redhead's training would be vigorous, given not only what she had seen of the taller woman's strength, but also due to everyone's reaction in the guild when Erza offered Lucy to come and train with her, upon hearing that the Celestial mage wanted to become stronger physically.

The offer had taken her by surprise if she were being honest with herself. Lucy knew just how seriously the members of their team took their training; all of them going to lengths Lucy couldn't imagine herself achieving in a hundred years. Still, their drive and motivation pushed the blonde to push herself as well, as she didn't like that her nakama were constantly having to come and save her.

It wasn't fair to them, thus she wanted to become stronger for their sakes as well as her own.

Erza looked over her shoulder at the younger mage before responding with, "I'm certain. I would not have offered otherwise," she pointed out. "Plus, we are nakama Lucy, and I will always help my nakama." Feeling pride swirl within her chest when she saw Lucy blush from her words.

The knight was quick to shake her head to clear it. She was out here to help Lucy on her journey to becoming stronger, nothing more. Forcing her more...private thoughts from her mind, as she thought about the task at hand. "We're here," she announced as she stepped out into the clearing.

Keeping her eyes forward as she heard Lucy emerge from the foliage in a gasp of surprise. "This...this is where you train?" came the question, as the Celestial mage stepped further inward to better take in all she was seeing, turning around in a slow circle. "It looks like the barracks of a military outpost."

Looking around a bit more before turning her attention toward Titania. "Did...did you set all this up yourself?" she inquired of the light skinned girl, as she was even more amazed by the knight than she already was.

A nod. "I considered building my training ground a large part of my training," Erza replied as she moved over toward the stuffed dummies. She would probably have to make new ones once this training session was over. "I welcome the challenge of having to gather all the materials I need, while having to be on alert for any potential dangers." Moving over toward her weapons cache or wooden swords, staffs, lances, and more.

She usually only used them for warmups, but with Lucy, Erza would have to stick to non-lethal weaponry (though, granted anything wielded by the mighty Erza could prove lethal, even a blade of grass).

"Today's training will be simple," the S-class mage announced, regaining Lucy's attention as she picked up two wooden swords. "I know how strong you are as a Celestial mage, but I what I want to know is how strong you are, Lucy Heartfilia." Tossing one of the wooden swords the blonde's way.

Lucy immediately fumbling to catch it, before holding it poorly in her hand, showing that she had never held a weapon in her life-Erza figured as much.

"Come!" Erza urged getting into a fighting stance while ex-quipping her armor, opting for her training gear which was her samurai outfit.

The shorter woman looking between her own sword and Erza several times in rapid succession before her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "What!?" her shriek loud enough to send nested birds flying from their trees. "You want me to fight you!? Erza are you insane?!" Taking a step back away from the scarlet haired woman, as her survival instincts kicked in full force.

"Lucy, you said you wished to become stronger, yes?" Erza asked, coming out of her fighting stance. "In order to become stronger, you must first know where you are now. I need to see how you fight, from your opponent's standpoint, so I can know where to begin with your training."

Still, Lucy did not look convinced and her next words proved that. "Erza, I've seen you cut through a stone building with nothing but the wind from your swing," the shorter of the two brought up. "You didn't even touch it, yet you cut through it as if it were as thin as paper.

If you can do that to a building, imagine what you could do to me!"

"I would never hurt you Lucy," the Fairy Queen stated with conviction as her eyes narrowed to show she meant those words. "However, what I am doing here is for your benefit. I will not pull my punches, as your enemies would not, nor at the same time will I use my full strength, but you are not my enemy.

I will simply fight you fairly."

The heiress allowed those words to roll around in her head. As much as she wanted to fight it, Erza was right. With Lucy as she was now, she would always end up facing opponents stronger than herself, and, while she did have her spirits, she only had so much magic to summon them forth to fight by her side. At some point, she would have to rely on her own physical skills.

Hesitantly, with her heart pounding in her ribcage, she took a step forward, while tightening her grip on the sword at the same time. "O-okay," Lucy agreed even as her body trembled with fear. "I'll fight you."

A fond smile coming onto Erza's lips from Lucy's bravery, as she forced herself to face the knight instead of running, which it was clear she wanted to do from the looks of her. "Now, come!"

"Oh Erza, you really need to be more careful," the Celestial Spirit mage told her guildmate as she wrapped the woman's knuckles in bandages.

Their battle, if it could even be called that, had concluded long ago. Lucy found herself sore in places she didn't even know she had, and she found herself amazed she was even able to move after all that. Still, once that was done, Erza had concluded Lucy's training for the day and opted to focus on herself.

Lucy choosing to watch her from the sidelines, and by the stars was Erza amazing-it was no wonder the woman had earned the moniker of Titania.

At some point during Erza's training session, the woman had ended up busting her knuckles, the tops of them bleeding, not that the crimson haired mage was aware. Had Lucy not been there to notice, Erza would probably have remained oblivious to her injuries. The blonde had all but freaked out when she saw the blood and demanded that Erza sit so she could patch the wounds up.

"It's not as bad as you're making it seem Lucy," Erza commented in amusement, watching as Lucy had to use both hands to wrap Erza's larger one. "These are just scratches." Swallowing thickly as she tried to calm her heart down not only from the touch, but the concern with which she was being treated.

It felt different from all those previous times Erza had found herself bedridden after battles.

"They could get infected if you aren't careful," came the chastisement, as Lucy finished bandaging up Erza's left hand. Immediately reaching for the opposite and getting to work on it. "And how sad would that be if you got taken out by a cold? I'm sure Natsu would did you up in a fit of rage because he'd wanted to have been the one to beat you." Looking up at smiling at the requip mage.

Erza returned the gesture and couldn't help chuckling herself at the mention of Natsu, because it was certainly something he would have done. "It would be very sad, and Natsu would be very angry indeed." She agreed as she closed her eyes and allowed Lucy to work.

Her eyes snapping open in surprise when she felt something wet against her cheek. Lucy...Lucy was kissing her. Erza felt her whole body was about to implode in on itself. "I know it sounds silly," the younger started as she drew back just enough to look Erza in the eye. "But, I worry about you, and I just want you to be more careful if you can."

The knight finding herself entranced, as she found herself only capable of nodding towards Lucy's request (was it even a request?). Her body going rigid once more when Lucy surprised her with an embrace. Tone arms going around her neck as Lucy rest her head beside Erza's. "Arigato," came the whispered word against the taller's ear.

All too soon their embrace ending as Lucy drew back and turned her gaze toward the night sky. "I'm sure the boys are looking for us," she commented, before focusing back on the toffee skinned mage. "We should probably be getting back."

"H-Hai," Erza struggled to speak her agreement as she pushed herself up off the ground. Allowing Lucy to take her hand as she took lead, even though Erza was the one who knew how to get back to the city the fastest. For now, the knight was content with Lucy taking the lead and spending this time with her.

Eagerly looking forward to their next training session.