Author's Note: Ok, so here's my first Fairy Tail fanfiction. I just finished reading what there is so far of the manga, and I love the whole thing so far. There will probably be some love triangle action going on in later chapters, but not for a while.

:Rant mode initiated: I dislike the whole love triangle idea though, the actual wording of it. Shouldn't it be a love V, or something? To me love triangles mean that each party loves both sides of their part of the triangle. Or at least have strong emotions for them. To me the term 'Love V' has a better feel for the whole idea that goes into it.

Though, I guess hatred or rivalry can also go into the whole love triangle thing too, so I guess in that aspect love triangles can work...but then wouldn't it be considered an 'emotion triangle'?

Who knows? :Rant mode deactivated:

But anyways, love triangle possibility between NatsuXLucyXLoki. It will make for some interesting friction.

Warning: Things that are true in my story probably aren't real/won't come to terms in the actual manga, so to anyone that dislikes my opinions and is willing to flame, chill.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. If I did I would probably screw it up, or add more plot devices. No offence, the characters are lovable, and the main idea (along with action sequences) are epic, but there isn't any actual hard core plot to grow the characters greatly. Oh how it pains me so...but even still, I love the story with a passion. T_T Even with it's minor growing skills.

Now onto my FT story!

Trials of Love

Ch 1

Lucy sighed heavily as she watched her pink haired friend, ignoring the unintentionally snide comments from the blue cat walking along the table top she was leaning against. She then looked down at the piece of paper she gripped dreadfully, anxiety kicking in as she felt her friend's giant grin press against her forehead, etching itself into her brain subconsciously. One million jewels, along with a bonus key, for a job up in the mountains-to transport a special item from one mountain town to another.

She shivered, and sunk lower into her seat. It was about winter time, and the monsters would be even ferocious. That was the main, and probably only, reason Natsu wanted to do this mission in the first place. Her eyes slid up, past the paper, to see Natsu's excited face, grinning like an idiot, and she stared dryly.

"Can't you do this with Erza, or Gray, or Gazelle, or someone other than me? I kind of just want to relax…" She sighed, her nineteenth birthday coming up in the next couple days, and she didn't want to let him, or anyone else know. She cringed at last year, when they tried to celebrate her last birthday. The whole guild practically burned down with celebratory cheer. She smirked lightly at that.

Natsu blinked at her random smirk, and mentally shook it off, his face shifting to a sort of scowl. "Ezra and Gray are off doing their own missions. Ezra's doing missions with…what's his face…Geeeerraarrrddd." He said in a mocking tone, rolling his eyes and swaying in a mocking way. Lucy smirked at that. Gerard had joined the guild a bit after the…Nirvana…incident, back to his old, childhood self, and Erza and him had been inseparable ever since. No one had seen Erza happier, and it gave Lucy a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.

Lucy sighed happily and leaned against the table, propping herself from her elbow, and smiling as she flattened the piece of mission paper onto the wooden table. She watched as Natsu ranted a little. "Gray's off with Juvia." Then he sneered and looked away, crossing his arms and his shoulders stiff. "And I'm not teaming up with that ass." He said darkly.

He then turned his attention back to Lucy, his shoulders relaxing, but his arms still crossed. "Besides, I want to go on a mission with you, just the three of us." He said rather innocently. Lucy just stared at him wide eyed, pushing back the blush that tried to creep up on her face.

"A…a..mission? You and me? Just the two of us?..." Her voice trailed off, as her mind wandered. Natsu blinked and leaned over the table, waving a hand in front of her face. He snapped his fingers, only to have the friction create a small flame in his fingers. He looked at it, and then waved it in front of Lucy, successfully snapping her out of whatever day dream she was having. He then shook the flame from his finger and sat down in his seat.

"Nah, not just the two of us. Happy will be there." He said, pointing to Happy, who 'Aye'd in agreement. Lucy just blinked at Happy, and smirked, hiding her embarrassment for thinking otherwise. She stood up, leaving the paper where it was.

"Well, thanks for the mission offer, but I think I'm good. As I said, I want to relax for a bit, since I'm good on rent and all. But you should definitely take that job, you and Happy could use the bonding time." She smiled at them both, before leaving the giant guild. Natsu watched after her, a little defeated. Happy looked at him, and then at the mission paper.

"Natsu, we should make sure she gets home safe, it's getting late." Happy said, looking up at Natsu. Natsu looked at Happy, and smiled.

"Yeah, who knows? Maybe we can convince her to take the mission with us!" Natsu said, jumping over the table, grabbing the paper in the process, and chasing after Lucy, Happy following cheerfully.

---

Lucy was walking along the mini wall that scaled alongside the river she followed to get home, enjoying the sun set as Plue said his usual one-word vocabulary. She greeted the boaters, who were making their usual return trip back to dock, as she set her eyes on her home.

She stood in front of the door, nervous about what would be on the other side. Usually there would be two to five people gathered at her place uninvited. She loved them, and all, but a girl needs her space! She sighed and opened the door, walking in and turning on a light. She looked around; there was no one in sight. She checked behind the couch, under it, in the gap between the book shelf and the wall, in the kitchen, in the cupboards, in the sink drawers, in her bedroom, in her bed, in her dresser, in her closet, and in the vanity cupboards.

She sighed and sat down, finally starting to relax.

"Hey Lucy!" Natsu cried from the ceiling, where Happy was holding him up. She flinched and stared up at the laughing ceiling boy and cat, and her anger level rose.

"What do you think this place is?! A hotel or something?!" She yelled at the boy, who dropped his laugh and stared at her.

"Geez, no need for a heart attack Lucy." He said, dropping from the ceiling and landing on his feet. He then walked over to Lucy and sat on the bed, laying back on it. Lucy became angrier.

"Seriously, get out, had a long day." She said, biting back her on-coming fit, and pointed to the door.

Natsu stared at her shaking frame, and frowned. "You looked stressed out…seriously, you look like you're about to break down or something…come here." He said, sitting up and watching her.

Lucy stared at him dryly. "No."

Natsu sighed and leaned back, propping himself up with his hands. "Come on, I won't bite." He said monotonously, and Lucy hesitated. She then sighed and finally gave in, scooting back to him.

"Ok, now what?"

"Turn your back to me." He said, sitting up right.

She thought about that for a second. "No."

Natsu just stared at her, and then shrugged. He grabbed her by the hips, turned her around forcefully, and pulled her closer, her back almost touching his chest. She stiffened up even more, her eyes as wide as saucers.

"W-What are you doing?!" She asked, her face heating up as Natsu watched her reaction from behind. He then put his hands on her back, rubbing it.

"Getting the knots out of your back. What did you think I was doing?" he asked, rubbing roughly.

Lucy blushed deeply and quieted down, enjoying the soothing feeling of his hands. They felt warm, almost therapeutic. Happy watched her expressions, then turned his attention to Natsu. "She thought she was going to get some action, Natsu." Happy said innocently, and Natsu blushed lightly at that. He then leaned his head back and laughed deeply at that, his blush still on his cheeks.

"Aren't you a pervert Lucy?" Natsu mocked, getting the last of the knots out of her back, and Lucy scooted away in embarrassment.

"N-NO! That's not what I thought!" She snapped and stood up, almost tripping in the process. Natsu and Happy watched in amusement, smiles wide on their faces. "So why don't you two get out?" she asked crossly, walking to her kitchen. The two of them followed the raving girl.

"Well we were actually thinking that you would reconsider taking the mission with us." Natsu said, putting the paper in front of her as she sat down in the kitchen. She stared at the paper, and pushed his hand away gently.

"Natsu, can't you understand that I really want to relax, and not take missions for a little bit?" She asked, looking at him. His smirk dropped when he looked at her, he then looked away and put the paper on the table, then crossed his arms.

"Well I want to take a mission with you. We haven't done a mission together in a while." He said, and Lucy tilted her head in confusion.

"But, Natsu, we did a mission together last time, with Ersa and Gazelle."

"But not with just you." Happy said, matter of factly, and Lucy blinked at Happy. She looked at Natsu, who had a small blush hidden in his cheeks, and Lucy blushed deeply, watching at Natsu turned his back to her. Probably to hide his blush.

"Besides, why do you want to stay home alone anyways? It gets boring that way." Natsu said. Lucy shifted in her seat.

"N...None of your business." She said a little sharply, and Happy came to a realization.

"Hey, Natsu, wasn't Lucy's birthday this time last year?" He asked, as he looked at Natsu, who twitched in realization, and dropped his arms, turning around to face Happy and Lucy.

Lucy's eyes were wide, and she shifted again. "NO!"

"Yeah, it was." Natsu mumbled. He tilted his head. "Was that why you wanted to stay home?" he asked, watching Lucy.

Lucy was uncomfortable under their eyes. She crumbled. "Y-yeah. I just wanted to have a non-destructive time on my birthday. I was glad that everyone celebrated my birthday so vigorously last year, but it almost destroyed the guild, and that left us vulnerable."

"So you decide not to tell anyone at all? Isn't that even worse, to celebrate your birthday alone?" he asked, pulling a chair up and sitting in it backwards, watching Lucy.

"I wouldn't be alone; I would celebrate it with Loki and Aeries." She smiled at Natsu, who rubbed his chin in thought. Lucy and Happy looked at each other, slightly worried that steam would start to come out of his ears, from too much thinking.

Natsu then sprung up, his usual wide smile on his face. The two companions flinched at the sudden movement. Natsu then grabbed Lucy's wrist, and pulled her up. "We're going to the festival." He pronounced.

Lucy just blinked at him. He smiled at her, chuckling at himself for thinking of the great plan.

"The winter festival! It's going to start up an hour after sunset. The towns' folk hold it once every five years. I've only seen it once, but it was something." Natsu said excitedly. "We'll celebrate your birthday there." Natsu smiled widely and happily at Lucy, who couldn't help but smile in return.

"Alright then, I guess I'll get ready." She smiled and went to her room. Natsu smirked and sat back in his chair. Happy looked at him.

"That festival? Really Natsu? Oooh, you're sly." Happy teased and smiled. Natsu blinked and tilted his head at Happy.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing." Happy whistled, and Natsu shrugged.