Based on this PROMPT: *We're co-parenting a kitten we found in the parking lot even though we can't have pets in the dorms.

A NaLu story. Hope you guys like it!

"Natsu, what the heck do you want?" Lucy hissed. The boy had been trying to get her attention for the last ten minutes of class. The class had only been going on for fifteen minutes! The boy fidgeted, his scarf pulled over his mouth. He kept looking around as if someone was going to come crashing into the room and attack him. To be fair, that had happened once—Natsu had pulled a prank on his roommate, Gray Fullbuster, and the man hadn't been happy about it. He had found Natsu's lecture hall, shouted that he was going to kill him, and proceeded to beat on Natsu in the middle of the lecture hall. Thankfully, class hadn't started yet and Gray had left before the Professor had arrived.

"This is your last class for the day, right?" He whispered holding his backpack like it contained explosives.

"Yes." Lucy asked cautiously. She didn't like this situation at all.

"Can I come to your dorm after this? I need to talk to you." Natsu was really freaking her out. He never asked to come to her dorm. He just showed up. Sometimes she wasn't there though, so she guessed he was just ensuring that she would be.

"Okay, yeah. Do you need help in a class?" Lucy couldn't help it. She tuned out the Professor—she was just going over last week's test, which Lucy had aced—and focused on Natsu. He was acting stranger than normal.

"No." He said, looking offended. He was dense, Lucy knew, but when he put his mind to it, he was actually quite smart. "Just need to ask you a favor. We'll talk in your dorm."

With that, the hyperactive boy slipped out of the room, Lucy staring at him in shock. Natsu rarely skipped class and he'd never walked out on one, except for when he was sick. The professor ignored Natsu's departure. Natsu had aced the test too. Lucy couldn't concentrate for the rest of class. Natsu was usually upfront about things. He never lied and he'd become a good friend of hers. Once class was finally over, Lucy booked it out the door. She'd never wanted to leave so fast. She waved at Levy, who looked surprised that Lucy hadn't stopped to talk. She left the school behind, smelling the crisp air that was drenched in autumn. The leaves had begun to change and some nights dipped dangerously close to freezing.

But for now, it was warm enough for shorts and a T-shirt, and winter seemed a long way off. Lucy speed walked the hundred or so yards to the Dorms, smiling briefly at Erza, Head of Security.

She found Natsu sitting in front of her door, still holding his backpack strangely. He jumped up when he saw her, and she unlocked the door, knowing he wouldn't say anything until they were in the room. Shutting the door behind her, Lucy ditched her backpack in her room and sat on the couch. She was lucky. Her dorm was fairly new, and thus, wasn't like college dorms of old. Each dorm room had its own bathroom. Most had their own kitchen and some had their own living room of sorts.

It was more like a small apartment than a cramped dorm room for which Lucy was grateful. Natsu sat on the couch and looked at Lucy with a serious, straight expression. He opened his bag, slowly, and reached inside.

And pulled out a blue kitten.

"Oh, Natsu no!" Lucy said, horrified. Animals were strictly forbidden. The only that was allowed was a fish, and really, what kind of a pet is a fish?

"I couldn't help it Lucy!" Natsu protested. "He was in the parking lot, and was dodging cars! Look, he got into some of the paint that's by the construction! He made himself blue! We can't just leave him out there. Winter's coming and he's so small."

"Natsu, if Erza sees him, she'll take him away!" Lucy said. "And we might get kicked out of the Dorms! She's really strict. Do you remember what she did with those kids who had thought it was a bright idea to bring a dog into the dorms? They only got off with a warning because the Dorm director gave them a second chance."

Fairy Tail Community College was the best Community College in the state. The Dorm Director, Makarov, was rich and helped many poor kids get into the college. Mirajane was his assistant and his grandson, Laxus, worked at the school too. She wasn't quite sure what his job was, but he seemed to have authority over most of the Professors.

"Yeah I know!" Natsu said but he didn't seem to be bothered by it. "But I can't leave him, okay? He's just a little guy. I'm not gonna take him to the shelter." He said it before Lucy could say that option. "They won't take him. I looked some stuff up. The shelters around here are so over packed that some cats that come in as kittens die of old age in the shelters, waiting to be adopted. I can't let that happen to him. Besides, look at this guy."

Natsu held up the kitten. The kitten meowed, struggling against being up so high in the air. What was it about kittens, Lucy wondered, that made their movements seem so delicate and awkward at the same time? The kitten locked its dark green eyes on Lucy and mewed pathetically. It was only a ball of fluff and about three months old. She could tell that the cat had once been dark gray, but the bright blue color overrode it easily.

"If we get in trouble, I'm blaming you." Lucy said, finally defeated.

"You hear that buddy? You can stay!" Natsu's glee had him jumping up and spinning, the kitten letting out a loud, protesting meow. Lucy jumped up and snatched the cat from Natsu.

"Listen!" She said. "We have to be quiet! And he can only stay until we can get him to someone's house, okay? If Erza or Bisca find him, we're dead!"

"I know, I know. I'll ask around, see if anyone can't take him home." Natsu's eyes lingered on the cat, who was resting comfortably in Lucy's arms. She could see that he'd fallen for the cat already.

"Natsu…" She hesitated. "Can you take him home? I mean…you're kinda attached to him."

"Maybe." Natsu brightened a bit. "I'd have to ask my dad. He, well, it'd be awhile until he could come up and get him. I live two hours away from here."

"Thanksgiving break's in a month," Lucy said. "you'll go home then, right?"

"Yeah." Natsu grinned at the cat. "But can we hide him for that long?"

"Probably not. We'll have to ask someone who lives closer to hold on to him until you can go home…but who?"

"This'll be easier." Natsu seemed confident. "Someone will take care of this little dude for a few weeks, knowing they won't have the responsibility for the rest of his life."

"True." Lucy knew that college students didn't like any more responsibility then what they already had. Besides, most parents didn't want any more pets or simply couldn't afford it on top of college bills.

"'Kay, well I'm going to the store. Back in a bit!" Natsu ran out the door, leaving Lucy with a blue kitten.

"What the hell have I gotten myself into?" Lucy asked the cat.

The cat didn't answer. He was fast asleep.

It wasn't a week later that disaster threatened.

Room checks! How could she have forgotten! She had a litter box and cat bowls! Room checks were in an hour. Her roommates—Levy, Juvia and Laki—had taken to the kitten quickly, helping Lucy keep it hidden from guests and smuggling in food. But Laki was at a night class, Levy was in the library, and Juvia was studying with her boyfriend, Gray.

What was she going to do? Erza was a drill sergeant when it came to room checks! She made the occupants stand in the living room while she and an assistant checked the rest of the dorm. She stared down at the kitten. What. To. Do?!

There was a tap on her window. Startled, Lucy stifled a scream. Natsu was there, grinning. He held up a cat carrier. Lucy unlocked the window and threw it open at the speed of light.

"Quick, put him in here. He'll hide in my car until this is over." Lucy didn't question him. She grabbed Happy—Natsu had named him—and placed him in the carrier. Natsu hopped into her room—through the window—and grabbed Happy's bowls and his tiny, make shift litter box. He placed them in a laundry basket, along the cat carrier, he placed a blanket over it and grinned at Lucy.

"Gray's an idiot," Natsu said. "but his ideas aren't half bad." Gray had known about the cat from day one. He'd helped Natsu catch it.

"Well, thank him for me. I was freaking out. Here, take his food too. There's nothing else here to give him away." Lucy said, having shot down Natsu's idea of getting Happy some toys. They would make too much noise and draw unwanted attention to the dorm.

The room check went without a hitch, and Happy was returned to the dorm after Erza had finished up the first floor. Natsu lived on the second floor, so Erza didn't even know he'd been his car for the last hour, playing with a kitten.

Disaster almost struck again two days later, when Bisca, the RA, came to hand out event flyers.

She'd been chatting Lucy up when Happy had barreled into the hallway and straight into Laki and Juvia's room. Bisca had stared and started to say something, but Alzack, her boyfriend, had distracted her by walking up and giving her an unannounced kiss. He'd then proclaimed that he was going to help her pass out flyers and had dragged her away from Lucy's dorm, winking at Lucy as he did so.

She had sent him a heartfelt thanks later that night. It turned out the Natsu had many people on his side, helping him keep the cat under wraps.

The day of break finally came—much to Lucy relief; it was stressful hiding a cat for so long. No one had been able to take him. Lucy was beginning to think that Natsu simply didn't want to take the chance of someone falling for the cat and not giving him back. She'd packed up all of Happy's things, and was surprised to find that she was going to miss the little ball of energy. He was just so cute! She'd given him a bath, but the blue paint still stained his coat.

Natsu knocked on her door, and she set Happy down on the couch.

"Hey Luce!" He grinned. Somewhere along the way, he'd started calling her 'Luce.'

"Hey Natsie." She grinned back. And, somewhere along the way, I started calling him Natsie she thought. It had become common for him to pop in daily, sometimes for hours, just to see Happy. One of Natsu's roommates was allergic to cats—was it Loke?—so Happy couldn't stay there.

"My dad'll be here in an hour to pick up Happy." Natsu said, strolling past her to come in.

"Who's Happy?" A voice asked. Both of them froze.

Erza Scarlet, Head of Security, stood in the hall, her head cocked in confusion. "There's no student here called Happy."

Happy chose that moment to walk into sight, meowing at Natsu. Erza's eyes locked onto the cat.

"Natsu." She said. The boy cringed. "Lucy." She felt the blood draining from her head. "Why didn't you tell me you rescued that poor kitten from the parking lot!"

"W-what?" Lucy said, staring at an equally shocked and confused Natsu. Erza walked in and picked up Happy.

"Oh I was so worried about this little guy!" Erza exclaimed. "When I stopped seeing him in the parking lot, I thought the worst had happened."

"We-we're not in trouble?" Lucy squeaked out.

"No." Erza smiled. "You rescued a defenseless creature. Pets may be against the rules, but saving them isn't. The boys that brought the dog in didn't save him. I assume you've been keeping him until you can find him a home?"

"Y-yeah." Natsu had finally found his voice. "My dad's coming in an hour, he's coming home with me. His name's Happy."

"Ah." Erza touched her nose to the kittens. "He's so cute. I'm glad he's going home soon, that way I don't have to report him. Take him out quietly, and do not mention this to anyone."

"We wouldn't dream of it." Lucy assured.

The hour passed quickly. Erza left, winking as she did, and Lucy and Natsu hid Happy in a laundry basket again. They carried him and more of Natsu's things right out the front door, straight passed Security. Still, Natsu and Lucy didn't relax until they started putting stuff into Igneel's car. Happy, in his carrier, was placed on the front seat. Igneel smiled at Lucy.

"Thanks for helping my son." He said. Lucy stared. His hair was dark pink, leaning more towards red, and his smile—it was Natsu's smile. Or, she thought, Natsu had his father's smile. Igneel's face was lined with age, but it only added character. It was strange; it was like looking at a future Natsu, a Natsu in twenty or so years.

It wasn't a bad thought.

"You're welcome." She said. Igneel climbed into his car, after giving Natsu a look Lucy couldn't interpret. Natsu grinned and nodded at his father.

"See you-"Lucy was cut off by Natsu's lips on hers. He—he was so warm. The air was chilly, and she'd been close to shivering. Natsu filled her with warmth. He pulled back, and before she could think, she grabbed his ever-present scarf, and yanked him back to her. One hand stayed on his scarf, the other buried itself in his glorious hair. Hair that he had let grow out, which gave her an excellent grip. She stepped into him, and after a moment he wrapped his arms around her. Pulling back, she grinned at his expression.

"See you after the break."

With that, she turned and started to walk back to the Dorms. She looked back and gave Igneel a wave. He was grinning gleefully, mischief alight in his eyes. Natsu was still standing on the sidewalk, staring after her. Laughing, she turned back to the dorm.

Maybe this winter wouldn't be so cold.

So this idea was given to me via a Tumblr post. My roommate, AshesofMegan, added this prompt to a list and then gave me the idea to write it out because I thought it was cute. She was like 'why don't you do it for Natsu, and his little kitty?' and I was like YES. So this came to be. Of course, she gave me this idea of few weeks ago but whatever it's done now isn't it?

Hope you guys like it! Oh, and AshesofMegan gave me the title too. ^^ OH! BY the way. Her Tumblr is AshesofMegan, her Pen name on here is: Meganisnotgraceful! She's got a couple stories too. ^^ ((She reviewed, so if you can't search it, just go up, click on "Reviews" and find her name.))