Welcome everyone to CoLu week.

First off, I will apologize for the lack of updates on my other stories. A quick announcement that is made with a very heavy heart. I will be taking a step back from fanfiction for a little while. No, not permanently, but a small break none the less. I will work on Sound Pod when I can because that story is so dear to my heart and it's so close to being done. But after an unexpected setback and much deliberation, I decided that I needed to focus some of my time on the personal venture of working on my book that's been calling my name.

This entire week is set in an AU and each post is connected, little peeks into their relationship if you will.

But, onto the reading.

Day 1 - Eternity

Lucy glanced around at the emptying store, her head resting in boredom on her hand as she leaned on the cologne counter. I'm so getting a drink after this. Lifting her head, she glanced down at the watch on her wrist and sighed. There was still an hour left to go before her shift ended and the store closed. How she'd allowed her brother to schmooze her into this god-forsaken job was beyond her. She'd only been back in the country for a solid damn week before he was throwing her ass to the wolves.

"It's a great way to earn money during your last semester," he'd said.

"You'll get a paycheck and have fun," he'd said.

What the fuck ever. The only saving grace was that he so kindly placed her on the same shift with her bestest friend and drinking buddy, Cana. Okay, so yeah. She was earning a much needed paycheck. There was partying to be done, shoes to buy and the allowance she was given was clearly not meant for that. Her grandfather had insisted she not take the paid internship with the small editing house over in Oaktown, to focus on her studies. She was pretty sure that he wasn't aware that her brother, the lazy bastard that he was, had suckered her into filling one of the much needed seasonal worker positions.

It was one of the hazards of being a part of the family. Dreyar's department store was one of the oldest and most respected establishments, catering to the elites and middle society alike. They had stores in most major cities now and had recently expanded into a few of the outlet malls in smaller towns. While she'd been granted the ability to pursue her dreams of an English Lit degree, it was with the understanding that one day she take her seat in running the company.

"Ya know, it's awfully quiet for being only a week out from Christmas."

Cana's voice brought her out of her reverie and she cast a glance over only to give a roll of her eyes. She'd known the brunette since junior high when her father had married Tyra Dreyar and moved her to Magnolia. They'd become instant friends and hadn't missed a beat yet, but there were times she had to wonder about her card-shark, alcohol consuming friend. She was sitting on the ground behind the counter, painting her toenails as if they were sitting in their little two bedroom apartment. "You could always get a headstart on closing procedures," she replied dryly. "And that cra-"

Her words died in her throat when she lifted her eyes and locked onto the most delicious looking morsel that had just walked through the doors. Easily six foot tall, lean build but the tailored slacks and button up dress shirt fit well enough to reveal muscular arms, well-defined shoulders and very toned legs. Skin the color of dulce de leche, thick burgundy maroon hair that was fashionably styled in that messy bed head look.

His face… A strong, narrow jawline and high cheekbones. A thin straight, almost button-like nose topped a wide mouth that was naturally downturned with a bottom lip that begged to be bitten. His narrowed, wide set eyes fit with his latino appearance. He was fucking beautiful, even more so than her step brother and she could freely admit that if they hadn't been raised together she'd be all over that like white on rice. Okay, and if he wasn't of the gay persuasion. Laxus loved men more than she did and that was saying something.

"What are you drool - OHHH!" Cana exclaimed. "Now that's yummy as hell."

"The villages are well aware," Lucy breathed as she followed him when he made his way towards the men's department.

She was pretty sure it was a lot more than just a village that was wiped out in the tidal surge. It was an instantaneous reaction, her panties suddenly damp with arousal. That was a new record, the previous one set by one silver haired, cold as fuck, bundle of sexy as hell that was also known as Lyon Vastia. They'd still be knocking boots if it hadn't upset her close friend and his brother, Gray. And if she hadn't opted to take the semester long course being offered in Italy.

She couldn't help herself as she not-so-subtly eyefucked him as he made his way around the store, her gaze only averting momentarily in the form of dropping from sight when he'd look up as if he could feel the weight of her gaze on him. Great. I've become Gajy's sister. That was a clusterfuck from hell, one that her brother still bitched about and she couldn't blame him. Who wanted to pull out, ditch a perfectly good condom and get dressed just so you could go with your boyfriend to bail his sister's ass out of jail? Again? Gajeel was still trying to convince the DA's office to sentence Juvia to a mental facility so that she could get the help she needed. Whatever. This guy was totally worth gawking at and it wasn't like she was going to follow his ass home and sniff his underwear. Him, hell yeah but his underwear? She had standards.

Tall, dark and totally fuckable apparently made a selection and she watched the painful exchange between him and the dumb bitch that worked in Men's Accessories. The woman was the worst kind of trifling whores that she'd ever met with her fake platinum blond hair, plastic tits that practically spilled from her top and corset-squeezed waistline. Jenny had been one of Laxus' experiments with heterosexuality and his dumb ass had felt sorry when he ditched her for his current flame of three years. He'd offered her a job and she'd been there since. Guess the corner wasn't good enough.

"He's totally coming this way."

She glanced over at Cana before her head snapped back up to see that Fuckable was, indeed, heading her way with a bag in hand. She'd been so preoccupied with shutting out the craptastic flirty grins that had been tossed his way and the way he'd so easily smiled with Crack Alley Barbie that she missed him leaving the register. She watched him walking towards her, her tongue sneaking out to wet her suddenly dry lips and her mind scrambled for a way to get his attention when he appeared way too involved with the receipt in his hand. Turning towards the counter, she grabbed for the first tester she came across. Being the innovative bitch she was, she didn't bother to grab for the spray strips before turning back and point blank spritzing the man as he passed by.

At first she thought that perhaps she'd missed him until he paused mid-stride and stood there for a moment, a few too many breaths if truths were told. She suddenly felt bad, wondering if perhaps she'd caught him in the face. That was all she needed. Laxus would have her ass, Gramps would give her a three hour lecture on something completely not related and she'd be forced to work in the office. Probably seated right across from Gramps' office which would mean she'd have to watch his old, pervy ass hit on his secretary. He was harmless, but still. Makarov was her grandfather, that was just gross. "Excuse m-"

"What. The fuck did you just spray on me?"

Lucy was pretty quick on her feet and her wit honed to the sharp dagger it was from years of being the younger sister of Laxus Dreyar. But she wasn't quite prepared for the gorgeous eyes that glared at her. They were a unique shade of amethyst and suddenly purple was the color of the dynamite that demolished the dam between her thighs. The only thing that kept her from acting like the trollop she declared Jenny to be was the sheer amount of hatred filled anger that shot from those bedroom eyes in her direction and venom that tainted his deep, gravelly voice.

She pulled the bottle back up to glance down at the name before turning it in his direction, her hand displaying the small black bottle Vanna White style. "Eternity for Men," she said as cheerfully as she could muster.

He gawked at her, shock evident on his face before his upper lip curled. "Are you a fucking cat in heat? You don't go around spraying people."

What a complete fucktard. Figures. He's too beautiful not to be. She gave a nonchalant shrug of her shoulder before turning back for the counter. "Well, if I had a dick then perhaps I would," she called over her shoulder. "They just gave me a bottle."

"Are you sure you don't have a dick?"

She saw Cana's brows raise with a smirk in her direction before taking the cue to get lost and knew that look well enough to know the guy was probably looking at her like she'd lost her mind. Turning back to find him blinking at her only confirmed it. "Last time I took a piss, yeah," she smirked. "But feel free to find out for yourself."

He blinked again, his lips moving long before two syllables finally made it out. "Did you…"

"Hardly," she laughed. There was no way she was going to admit now that she'd been daydreaming about ripping the rest of the buttons open on that crisp white dress shirt open. The collar and top buttons were undone enough to make her mouth water, but he just had to go all asshole on her. "Just making pleasant conversation."

"They actually let nutjobs like you work here?"

The man actually grinned with his words and her knees buckled a little. Damn dimples got her every time and on him… Yeah, she could clearly envision kissing all up on those deep set indentions on his cheeks. "Not necessarily, special circumstances."

He nodded, a deviant gleam settling in the amethyst depths as though he knew something. "Oh, so you're Laxus' charity case?"

Lucy's face fell and her eyes narrowed. Had he just confused her with the whore he'd just been talking to earlier? "That would be a big fat no," she growled. "Incest is just wrong and I don't have the right plumbing."

"Wait... You're…" he gasped, the color draining from his face as his eyes dropped to her name tag. Those beautiful eyes of his closed and he let out a groan. "Ok, forget that I fu-... That I cursed at you."

Aha, Motherfucker! His instant discomfort in recognizing who she was gave her way too much joy, but it served him right. "Why would I do that?" she smiled.

"Because you're a nice person?' he winced and glanced at her a little too hopefully.

She laughed and gave a roll of her eyes, her arms crossing over her chest. "You have met my brother, right?"

The man let out another dejected groan. "Intimately."

In-intimately? Seriously? Fuck my goddamn life! It was her turn to groan in disappointment. Just how many times would she come across another one of her brother's earlier conquests? "Oh," she grimaced. "Well… That, um, that's a damn shame."

His eyes narrowed before a small smirk tugged at his lips and that panty dropping gleam returned to his eyes. "Erik Fernandes," he said as he reached out to offer a handshake.

Lucy started to grab his hand but stopped just shy of contact. The name was instantly familiar and she racked her brain, trying to discern why. She certainly had never met him before. She'd definitely remember that and it just didn't sound like someone Laxus had dated. Laxus… Why the hell... Her mind came to a screeching halt and her eyes widened. "Erik Fernandes?" she repeated as she deftly accepted his hand. "As in, Dr. Fernandes? Like... Laxus' anger management therapist?"

"The one and only," Erik grinned.

She snatched her hand back, desperately trying to push the tingling that shot from her palm directly to the apex of her thighs and narrowed her eyes. While the idea of him having been one of Laxus' lovers was erased, he still qualified for the do not touch list. "And here I was thinking…"

He chuckled and gave her a wink of his eye. "Yeah, sicko."

She reached up to scratch her nose, purposely using her middle finger to do so, before she started to turn back for the counter again. She did have a job to do, unfortunately. At least that was the story she was force feeding herself. "Sorry, I'll just go back to spraying people now."

"But you've already sprayed me, isn't that like marking territory or some shit?"

She placed the bottle back on the tester tray and had every intention of making herself look busy but his words were just begging her to play. She turned her head to glance back over her shoulder. "Could be," she shrugged. "If I had a peen, remember?"

His gaze dropped, his pink tongue darting over his lips to reassure her that he was indeed checking out the merchandise before they returned. "I've got a pretty good fucking memory, Alley Cat," he smirked. "And if it serves me right, you did offer to let me check for myself."

She blinked once. Twice. Five times. Had he just called her an alley cat? His smirk spread into a grin that held all the promise she needed in that very moment. She could care less what he called her as long as she got to see that expression later while he bent her over said alley wall and mounted her like the tomcat his grin implied he was. She turned around and leaned against the counter, a challenging grin spreading across her face. "That was before I knew you were a doctor."

His dimples set even deeper as he slowly closed the distance between them, stopping just short of pressing his body against hers. "Even more of a reason to let me check…."

She visibly shuddered and her breath caught, the drop in his voice going straight between her legs. "C-Cana," she called out. "Tell my brother I had to jet early. See ya at home."

I know, not as long as my usual stuff and for that I apologize. But, this is how our lovely couple met. Snarky little things they are.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Day 2 - Excuses.

As always, please remember to Follow, Fav and Review.

Big Hugs,

Princess Nana