Hello, and welcome to my story! This is actually my first shot at a Fairy Tail story, so I'm excited. I'm pretty new to the fandom, but already absolutely addicted! All of the characters are just so amazing! Anyway, this story will include NaLu and GaLe, two of the cutest parings ever if you ask me. :D

Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1: The Beginning

My eyes scanned the room, watching everyone present in the guild carefully. The guild was oddly desolate, but then again it was a Friday night and I knew everyone would either be out on jobs, at home, or at some trashy club. Well, Cana would be anyway. I nodded to myself slightly when I had assured no one was looking my way and then focused my gaze on the one person I wanted to watch. Natsu.

The normally active Dragon Slayer was now stretched out across one of the guild's tables, asleep and snoring loud enough to wake the entire town. Happy was lounging next to him, looking almost identical as a high pitched squeal of a snore left his mouth.

I sighed, my eyes focusing on Natsu's face. He looked so different when he slept. Peaceful, calm, two things I never saw when he was awake. I reached behind myself, not taking my eyes off of Natsu as my hand felt around on the counter behind me clumsily. Finally I felt the handle to my drink and grasped it, pulling it around to take a sip.

I set my drink back down after a moment and quickly looked around the room, again making sure no one was watching before continuing my stare-fest. I didn't know what I would do if someone caught me blatantly creeping on Natsu. I knew that by the look on my face it wouldn't be hard to figure out I had feelings for him, and that I did. Over the months as I got to know Natsu, and as we got closer, I began realizing exactly how much I liked him. However I hadn't realized until lately that I in fact liked him as much more than a friend or a partner, and now, for some reason, everything he did was fascinating to me. I didn't know what I'd do however if someone in the guild found out. Rumors and gossip seemed to travel like wild fire and I vowed to do everything in my power to keep that from happening.

Natsu rolled to his side slightly, a puff of smoke spiraling out of his mouth. He was so cute when he slept.

I couldn't help but blush at the thought. I had fallen for one of the most obnoxious and clumsy boys I had ever met. Correction, the most obnoxious and clumsy boy I had ever met, but what really made it worse was exactly how oblivious he was. I thought for sure with the subtle signals I would send him that he would pick up sooner or later on how I felt, and yet somehow he never did. Apparently not suspicious in the least.

I felt a frown tug down on my mouth. Natsu's obliviousness was starting to be a pain.

"It's not polite to stare!" A voice quickly pulled me out of my thoughts.

I jumped a mile and froze in my chair before whirling around to address the culprit head on. Mira. Of course.

Mira gave me a kind smile, reaching down underneath the counter to pull out a washcloth and an empty jar to begin cleaning.

"W-what do you mean?" I stuttered, my eyes landing on anything but the woman in front of me.

Mira let out a small giggle, "Oh Lucy, pining after our resident Fire Dragon Slayer are we?" she asked, an amused smile on her face.

I crossed my arms, figuring denial would be my best strategy. "What are you talking about?"

Mira rolled her eyes, shaking her head and placing the now clean jar under the bar to then pull out the next and begin cleaning it as well. "Oh come on Lucy; you're practically drooling. You can't hide those kinds of things from me."

I eyed the white haired female in front of me for a moment, contemplating how quickly Mira would blab out my secret and when I had decided that I was safe for the moment, collapsed onto the counter, resting my elbows on the surface and laying my chin on my hands. Mira stayed silent, cleaning the jar with a sly smile. I watched her carefully. It was more than a little obvious she was already forming a story in her head, and I didn't want to be the last one to hear it.

"Alright," I sighed, "What're you thinking?" I regretted the question the minute it left my mouth. Mira always had a mouthful to say whenever it came to something that involved a relationship.

"I'm thinking…," Mira started, placing the cloth and the jar in her hands below the counter before leaning forward, mimicking my position. "Well, I'm actually wondering why you two aren't going out yet."

"Mira!" I squeaked, my face turning a bright shade of red at only the thought. What if someone had heard that?

"It's true Lucy," Mira continued, shaking her head, "I'm baffled. You two kinda act like you're together and yet somehow… you're not. How come?"

I sighed again. "I'm just too much of a chicken to ask him how he feels. And he has the mental capacity of a two year old when it comes to anything romantic," I said, sensing the disappointment in my tone.

When I didn't hear an immediate response from Mira I glanced up at her, her eyes scanning me carefully.

"What?" I asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

Mira shook her head, "Nothing. I just think you underestimate Natsu's maturity level, that's all."

My eyes widened with that statement, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Mira cracked a smile, "Nothing. I just think deep down Natsu loves you in a more intimate way, he just doesn't know how to show it."

I rolled my eyes, setting my arms down on the counter flat and laying my chin on them. That wasn't much help, and it was stretch. I doubted Natsu's emotional range held more than fighting and friendship. I for a moment contemplated how he'd react if I ever told him. Most likely he'd laugh it off, telling me what a weird sense of humor I had. He was hopeless.

"What's wrong Lu-chan?" A voice pulled me out of my wallowing.

"Fire boy over there," Mira answered before I could, nodding toward the sleeping Natsu.

I turned to my right as Levy hopped up on the stool next to me, her eyes glued to Natsu as well.

I groaned, peering over at Mira, "Careful, you're starting to sound like Gray," I said, noting the odd nickname the barista had used.

A giggle was the only response to that comment.

"Hmmmm."

My gaze again swept to Levy where she had her hand stroking her chin, a look of deep though on her face. What was she thinking about so hard?

Levy turned to me quickly, "So he still hasn't made a move?"

I shook my head. Levy was the only one I had told about my little obsession. I figured if anyone could keep a secret it'd be her and so far I had been right. She was a great friend, slipping hints to Natsu when she could, but even with her help the pink haired mage seemed to stay in complete and utter unawareness.

I looked over to his sleeping form again, his blank face looking like he didn't have a care in the world.

"I guess ignorance really is bliss," I thought half-heartedly.

I turned my head which was still lying on the bar, to look at Levy. How had she done it? Somehow she had gotten Gajeel, someone almost as oblivious as Natsu, to recognize his feelings. She had to have some sort of trick to pull off something that amazing.

"How did you bag Gajeel?" I asked quickly.

"Eh?" Levy squeaked, her cheeks already flushing a bright pink as she shot a look of surprise in my direction.

"Oh come on, you know he was just as…. unknowing as Natsu and yet now you two seem to be inseparable. How'd you do it?"

"Yeah, I'm kinda curious about that too," Mira piped in, leaning on the bar toward Levy.

"Well, uh," Levy stuttered, her eyes flicking from me to Mira and then back again. She was obviously intimidated by the interrogation. "We went on a job together and somehow…. he just… came around?" she said, her sentence trailing up at the end like a question, due to the pressure.

I jolted up in my seat, "A job huh?"

Levy nodded, looking over her shoulder for a moment to find her Dragon Slayer who was sitting in his usual small and dark corner, lazily munching on a nail.

"Do you think it might work with me and Natsu too?" I asked, hopefulness etched in my tone.

Mira made a small scoffing noise. "Don't worry Lucy. If someone as oblivious as Gajeel can recognize how he feels about Levy, I'm sure Natsu's confession will be soon to follow."

A small pitter patter of hope sounded in my heart. If I could just go on a job with Natsu and secure an extended period of time alone with him then maybe he would figure out his feelings. I hadn't been on a job with only Natsu and not out entire team in ages. Maybe it'd be good for us to revisit the olden days.

"How about I come too?" I heard Levy speak up happily.

"Eh? Why?" I asked. I had figured the trick was to be alone, not with some tag-along third wheel.

Levy puffed out her chest with a smug smile on her face, "As someone who has successfully…" she paused, looking over to me carefully before she repeated what I had said earlier. "'Bagged' a Dragon Slayer. I think I can be of some help!"

I nodded. She had a point. Surely she would be able to give me some tips. Plus it might be fun to go on a job with Levy. I hadn't ever gotten the chance to before.

"Alright!" I said excitedly, "It'll be fun!"

"Why don't you bring along Gajeel as well?" Mira asked.

I gave Mira a confused look. We were just adding more people now, this seemed to be getting way bigger than I had originally expected.

"Yeah!" Levy sang, "Maybe if Natsu sees an example of a couple, he'd be more apt to want to be in one himself!"

"Um, alright, I guess," I muttered. Now we had four people. Two other than Natsu and I, one being Gajeel. And if I knew anything from experience it wasn't going to be any easier to keep those two from fighting than it was Natsu and Gray.

Levy seemed to sense my hesitancy. "Don't worry Lu-chan, this will be the perfect opportunity for you and Natsu to get closer. I know he has some sort of thing for you, so we just have to find a way to bring it out!" she exclaimed, pumping her tiny fist into the air.

I nodded, this time with conviction. Indeed it might be the perfect opportunity.

"Yeah," I said, my smile already growing in size. This would definitely be an adventure.

Okay so there it is! I hope you enjoyed it! I hope it doesn't seem too cliche. I'm hoping to make it unique with the job and whatnot. I also hope it wasn't too boring as this was just the first little bit/prologue/I don't know what to call it so I just continue to ramble. XD

I would absolutely love to know what you thought of it! Any feedback is greatly appreciated. But go easy on Foxtail-chan please, this is her first attempt. XD

Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful week!