~Hey y'all, I don't own any this jazz, that would be the illustrious Hiro Mashima~

Chapter 1

Lucy had just come from a mission that took entirely too long and entirely too much energy for her liking. It was supposed to be a simple go to Crocus, help the old librarian she always visited while in the capital city, and come home feeling better, rested and able to pay her rent ahead of schedule. For once. But alas, when she arrived in the beautiful city she see saw to her decent paying reorganization job. Making her way to the train station back to her precious nakama, she was immediately taken in by the guards of the city, only to be taken to her fellow Celestial Mage, Princess Hisui. There had been reports of beasts prowling around the outskirts of the city at night, never stepping foot inside the boundaries, just watching those waiting to leave the safety of the borders of the city limits before striking. Disappearing in a tarnished brassy puff, taking the traveler with them, only to have them return through the shadows of early dusk, disoriented and confused. The strangest part of it all being that every one the victims seemed to be none the worse for wear in physical aspects, but Lucy knew better than to trust these mysterious creatures had benevolent intentions for the poor random citizens stolen in the night.

After spending two weeks trying to sort of any information that may be helpful, she realized there wasn't any information to be had. The sweet mage talked to everyone she could think of, the victims, the guards on duty, any witnesses she could find all regurgitated the same unhelpful, vague story; brassy poof in the night, returned dazed at dawn, not able to recall anything from the time between. The spunky blonde, refusing to be stumped, tore through every book in the library and even talk to Grampa Crux to see if he's ever heard of anything like this happening but it was all to no avail. So she told her royal friend she would head back to Magnolia to see if maybe there could be more information found by one of her guild mates and speak with Master Makarov to try to get some protection to the city to give her some semblance of peace of mind for her and her people.

Lucy trudged up the steps to her little apartment, hoping some sleep would maybe give her enough clarification to know what the next step should be to help Crocus and its dilemma. Exhausted and deflated, all thoughts were on cleaning up and falling asleep. She reached the door to her sanctuary, stopping dead, intense gaze boring holes through her front door. Why the fuck do I hear snoring coming from inside my home? Taking a deep, soothing breath, she unlocked the door, ready to unleash two weeks of sleep-deprived, unholy terror upon whichever guild mate decided to crash at the tiny pad. When she opened the door, imaging the worst possible situation, charred furniture, precious pages of her book strewn about the place, kitchen a mess from her teammates lack of respect for her things and especially, her food, she was shocked to find not a single thing amiss. Narrowing her eyes at the suspicious lack of chaos and following the sounds of soft snores to her bed, Lucy all but trudged to find the offender. Coming to the edge of the white metal bed frame, she finally noticed the unruly salmon hair sticking out at odd angles from beneath her floral patterned quilt she slept under.

I guess I really should have known Natsu would find his way into my bed even without me being here. At least my apartment is in one piece and I can cuddle up to his warmth. I need a shower first though, that train ride was uncomfortable to say the least. She had spent the whole ten hours shoving some neanderthal from her shoulder, wiping his gross drool off as she shoved the man away unceremoniously every twenty minutes.

"Luucccceeeeee...is that you?" came sleepily from beneath the lump on her bed.

Aww, he's so cute when he uses that sleepy voice. Wait, what? Natsu isn't cute. He's a whirlwind of oblivious chaos and he eats my food. Snapping her from her inner monologue, his hand came from nowhere and pulled her into the cocoon by her wrist.

"Ooofmm...Natsu!" She gave a surprised huff, being pulled into a hug by her best friend, still not awake enough for her to count him conscious. His arms wrapped around her tightly and she felt his nose run along her neck, breathing deeply, he let out a sigh before stiffening abruptly.

"You smell bad Lucy, why do smell like dirty socks...and spit." His voice becoming harder, concerned and...a tinge of something she couldn't quite place. He sat them up, putting Lucy firmly in his lap, Natsu seemingly not noticing the very promiscuous position he put them in, he placed his hands on her biceps and blatantly sniffed at her collarbone, inhaling deeply.

She Lucy kicked the shit out of her best friend, clutching her chest, face heating to very uncomfortable levels, "WHAT THE HELL NATSU?! YOU CAN'T JUST SNIFF ME LIKE...LIKE THAT!" I didn't mean to kick him that hard, but what the actual hell was that? "I'm going to take a shower and you are going to...I don't know, be less weird when I come back. I'm dead tired and I just want to sleep in my nice comfy bed with my nice, non-weird, personal cuddle heater, okay?" She ran her hand through her waist long wavy blonde hair, feeling just how long it had been since she properly washed it and grimacing at the grime. Natsu sat up from the spot on the floor where he had landed, watching her very closely, seeing her erratic breathing even out, before nodding and crawling back into the still-warm blankets.

After a thoroughly enjoyable hot shower, scrubbing every inch with her sugared honey wash and washing out her golden locks with honeysuckle shampoo, the woman stumbled to her bed and passed out.

When the blinding light became too much to ignore from behind her eyelids, she shifted only to pulled tighter into Natsu's chest. "Quit moving, you're comfy and I don't want to leave the bed yet." he mumbled into her hair. It was then Lucy realized she had become the little spoon in their cuddle session sometime in the night. Since when did he get so much...taller?...broader?...hot. Damn it, he isn't supposed to feel good and I definitely am not supposed to think my best friend is attractive.

"Natsu, I have to pee and get to the guild," putting a hand on Horologiums key lightly, "Mavis, it's already one! We need to get up now." Finally feeling his hold loosen, arm releasing the grip on her hips and she was free to use the restroom and get ready for her walk to the guild. Gods, I hope Levy is there, I really need her help for this one, and also Crocus. Levy might know about all the weird happenings in Fiore of late.

After putting half her hair up out of her face, leaving two wisps down below her temples, she found a maroon cropped tee and a black skater miniskirt, and went to find her best friend.

She found him sitting on the edge of the mattress, hunched over, elbows on his knees. He looked older than he usually does, the slight frown on his face so unlike the overzealous mage. "Are you going to tell me what happened on your job? I thought you said you would be back within a week and I," stuttered for a moment before barely stating, "I was worried about you." His cheeks turning a faint pink, before she could really form a response, she was again, swept into a hug by the pinkette.

Feeling how tense he was, she smiled at the concern he was showing before looping her arms around his shoulders and squeezing, "Natsu, I promise I'm fine. The job just became much more complicated. I have to talk to Master when we get to the guild but if you want to come up to talk to him with me, I'd really like that." Her smile reached her beautiful honey-drenched eyes, finally making the Fire Dragon Slayer break the embrace and giving his signature toothy grin.

"Let's go then slowpoke!"

"Hey! You were the one that didn't want to get out of bed!" She huffed out.

"But you were the one that took seven years in the bathroom. You don't even look any different." He stated, pulling her hand and leading her to the door. She managed to put on her combat boots, before he practically dragged her to the guild.

Halfway there, Lucy managed to slip from his grasp to teeter on the edge of the canal, Plue in her arms. She gave the little spirit a lollipop causing a little wiggle to emerge.

"Be careful Miss Lucy! We wouldn't want you falling and hurting yourself!" one of the workers yelled from the other side of the water.

Smiling and waving at the familiar voice, "I'll be extra careful not to lose my balance sir!" Plue struggled to get lose enough to send his own wave at the sweet man.

Lucy looked fondly at the big double doors of Fairy tail. Feeling the swell of emotions she wasn't aware was building in her chest, she stopped directly in front of them. Smiling softly, she had to take a moment to get through the rush of relief to finally be home.

She felt Natsu's unusually warm palm on her lower back, the sliver of skin exposed where her top didn't quite meet her skirt, "Luce? Are you okay?"

He has never done that before. His hands feel so good there. The familiar callouses on her smooth porcelain skin stayed gently to steady her. She ignored the butterflies in the pit of her stomach at the intimacy of his touch, instead turning to his onyx eyes, "I just really missed you guys. I don't think I've ever been away from everyone this long. I'm so happy to be back, it kind took me by surprise is all." Natsu could see she wasn't upset, and removed his light grip, and he shoved open the doors, announcing Lucy's return in true Natsu-fashion.

Before the blonde took her second step into the familiar building, a blue blur smashed into her voluptuous chest. "LUSSHHEEE...WHY WERE YOU GONE SO LONG?" The little cat cried, clutching her shirt tightly.

Happy's dramatics causing a giggle to escape her lips, "I was only gone for a few weeks. I promise we can find the biggest fish in the market before we head home and I'll make dinner. We can have a sleepover," smiling widely, "Does that sounds like fun?," she paused, ducking her head lower to whisper to the blue exceed, "Maybe I'll see if Wendy and Carla want to join?" She watched his eyes widen and nod enthusiastically. Just as she released Happy, she felt familiar small arms wrap around her stomach, deep blue pigtails bouncing at the sudden contact.

"Hey there Wendy, just the slayer I was looking for." Lucy's smile turning blinding at the contact from the young mage who she has grown to look at as her own little sister.

Detangling their limbs, they walked toward the bar as Natsu wandered to the table they usually occupied. "Why were you looking for me, Lucy-nee?"

"Well I am feeling awfully homesick so I was hoping for a great big sleepover with my favorite people, and it wouldn't be the same if you and Carla weren't there. Would you like to come over for dinner and movies? I'll be sure to make that cake you like, the white one with sweet almond icing." the older mage sing-songed.

"Oh, of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world." Wendy bounced back to the table where Romeo was trying to get Natsu to fight him to no avail, much to the relief of the guild as a whole.

Lucy turned back to the silver-haired beauty behind the bar, sitting up on her usual stool. The blonde caught the pink smoothie before it could tip over the counter, putting the straw to her lips, practically inhaling the frozen deliciousness. "Thank you so much Mira! I've been dreaming about your strawberry and cream smoothies since I left." Moaning at just how good the drink felt on her tongue, causing Mira to laugh at the sweet girl before her.

"Well, we were all getting a little worried about you Lucy, the job you took was a simple one. Cana tried to tell everyone you probably decided to have a spa week or a shopping spree, but you usually let me know if you'll be taking longer than expected."

"Oh I wish it was that simple, speaking of the job, is Master here? I'd really like to speak with him."

"Yes dear, he's up in his office. I think Laxus is up there as well, being tortured with stacks of paperwork." The image of the hulking blonde behind a desk, surrounded by towers of papers, scowling at it all caused the younger mage to burst out in laughter.

"I'll be sure to tread carefully then." She searched for salmon-colored locks to no avail, before giving up and heading up to the second floor. She rarely ever came up here so she took a second to take in the loft like space with a few scattered tables. One being occupied with the rest of the Thunder Legion. Meeting Evergreens eyes, Lucy smiled and waved a hand at the seemingly antisocial woman, and much to the blondes surprise, Ever waved back, albeit a little hesitantly. This strange occurrence causing Bickslow and Freed to turn and watch the smaller mage with a mix of shock and...approval? Well this is embarrassing. I should just go find Master before my face melts off. The two males noticing the tomato-esque tone of her face, they laughed and turned back toward their female team member who proceeded to smack each of them with her fan, yelling something about scaring her off.

Soon, Lucy found her way to the Master's office, knocking before hearing a quick "Come in" from through the door. Opening it, she found their small statured Master asleep on the couch and Laxus' huge frame hunched over a desk. Scowling at the stacks of paperwork surrounding him. It's nice to know my imagination wasn't wrong. The image causing the twenty year old to smother her laughter, trying to not disturb the elder mage. Not even looking up from whatever paperwork he was sorting through he, not unpleasantly, rushed out, "If you were hoping to talk to Gramps, he probably won't wake for another hour or so. He's been drinking and decided to graciously dump his shitty work onto me."

Shit, now what should I do? I really need to talk to Master about Crocus. I guess Laxus is in line to become master so I could tell him and then maybe I could find Levy to make some actual progress on this hilariously frustrating job. She moved forward, taking one of the padded armchairs in front of the desk, tucking her legs under her, showing an alarming amount of her creamy, thick thighs which did not go unnoticed by the Lightning Dragon Slayer, as he looked up from the report he had been trying to decipher for an hour. After clearing his throat from the sudden lump that formed there, he stared into her face waiting for her to say well, anything at this point. Laxus was surprised she sat down and got comfortable with him instead of turning tail and bolting from the office actually. They really didn't have the best history, much to Laxus' chagrin.

"I need to tell someone the situation in Crocus before I can see about actually doing something about it." She meet his stormy eyes and was halted momentarily by the emotion caught there. He wasn't throwing his usual 'don't think about talking to me, I will fuck you up without even trying' glare, instead it was wide and full of confusion and apprehension. Well I really don't know which is worse so I should just hurry it up. I'll just tell him what happened and ask him to inform the passed out wizard saint and leave. Yeah, that is a great plan, that is what I'll do. So she told him everything she knew, getting more frustrated as she realized after repeating the information out loud just how little she had.

"That really isn't much to go on, Blondie." He gruffed out, leaning back and stretching his shoulders out. Lucy's brown orbs couldn't help but notice the strain put on his deep purple dress shirt, the top three buttons undone and sleeves pushed up passed his very buff forearms. Unfortunately for her, the ogling did not go unnoticed by Laxus and this caused the muscled mage to smirk. "See something you like?" his voice turning husky velvet, dripping with amusement.

What the fuck is with today? I'm pretty sure my face is just going to permanently turn beet red with all this...this bullshit. Trying to compose herself, she snipped out, "You are also blonde you know, you overgrown Spark Plug." Narrowing her eyes at her fellow blonde mage. "And I practically killed myself trying to get any more information out of any place that might have something I missed. That's why I came home. I was hoping to get some help for Crocus. Princess Hisui is frightened for her people, and I promised to help so that's what I'm doing." Her voice growing more determined as she continued, "These people are losing pieces of their lives, going unaccounted for and they've lost security in their own skins." Voice softening, "I can't imagine how frightening it must be to just not know what's been done to you or what you've done to someone else." Tears forming in her hardened honey eyes, her gaze fell to her hands clenched together in her lap. She softly sighed, seemingly gathering herself, "Laxus, I have a terrible feeling about the whole situation. I just can't help but feel sick at all the possibilities of just what could be happening. I know I can do something to help them, I just don't know what." He watched her glistening eyes come to meet his own dry steely eyes. "I was hoping Master would send some mages to help watch the borders until I could get back to Crocus to take another look at what little we have."

The defeat in her voice had Laxus tense; he didn't fully understand why Lucy being so upset would upset him in response. He really didn't understand why a part of him loved hearing her say his name and it made him want her lips to say it again but he shoved the unfamiliar feeling down before anything could come of it. Slightly adjusting the uncomfortable tightness of his black slacks, he focused back on the celestial mage in front of him, "I agree that this is serious, after all the fucked up shit you've seen, I trust your instincts. I'll talk with Gramps when he wakes to see what he thinks the best course of action would be."

Eyes turning owlish at his open statement of trust in her, she nodded, content to leave it at that for now. Taking a closer look at the man in front of her, he so different than how he was when she first came to Fairy tail. Still arrogant and smug, but he seemed so tired now, exhaustion seeping through the expanse of his upper body. Without really thinking she blurted, "H-have you eaten yet today? It's nearly dinnertime and by the way you are glaring at literally everything around you, you could use a break." eyes filling with genuine care for the mage in question.

He looked up at the now standing curvy figure, knowing she was right about needing to escape the office he holed himself up in since early that morning. Not passing up on the opportunity to see her get flustered again, he teasingly asked, "Are you asking me to dinner, Blondie? How forward of you." Shit-eating grin taking up residence on his face, he moved to stand too close to her, stooping down so he could be eye level with the blonde beauty in front of him. Much to his surprise, she didn't submit to his teasing and her eyes turned playful, full of mischief.

Smirking back him, she teased, "If you want this to be a date, you'll have to ask me like a proper gentleman, Sparky," her hand softly coming to rest on his chest, looking up at him through thick lashes, "and you'll definitely try a little harder if you want it to end happily for you." She laughed openly at the way his mouth gaped and shut repeatedly at her suggestive words. "Now let's go see about whatever Mira is cooking up, it smells heavenly."

She turned to head down to the bar, leaving Laxus' mental capacities stuttering for a minute before following the sway of her hips out the door to the rest of the guild.