Lucy got dressed and walked out of the bathroom. To no surprise she found happy and Natsu sitting on her couch. "What are you doing here?!" She cried, although the reason was fairly obvious by the sound their stomachs made.
"We're hungry Lucy!" they cried in unison.
Not in the mood to fight, Lucy immediately gave in. "Oh all right. Just stop whining and I'll make you something."
"Yay!" Happy extended his wings and circled the room, Natsu merely stretched out on the couch, placing his hands behind his head.
Lucy went into her small kitchen and started preparing a small meal. She found some fish and rice and immediately decided to prepare the two, knowing Happy's obsession with fish. As she busied herself making food she listened as Happy rambled to Natsu about the most random things. She smiled and asked herself how the two of them always made her feel so good.
She came out of the kitchen, food in hand to discover a sleeping Natsu. Happy immediately buzzed over to his food and lost himself in fishy heaven. Lucy went to Natsu's side and questioned whether she should wake him or not. She decided to give him a little longer to sleep. Happy ate as contentedly as his name. "Thanks Lu!" he grinned.
"Of course, Happy. Don't tell Natsu, but it's my pleasure." She smiled down at her strange little feline friend. He smiled back but went still as a clock somewhere chimed the hour.
"Oh no!" he cried, rising in the air, "What time is it?"
"Seven O' clock" Lucy replied.
"I have to go Lucy! I promised Charle that I would take her somewhere tonight…I forgot to tell Natsu!" he flew over to Lucy and grabbed her face, "Please explain to Natsu, tell him I'll be home tomorrow night." And with that hurried explanation Happy flew out the window.
Lucy stared after Happy, wondering what she was going to tell Natsu when he woke up. Natsu hates being home without Happy, and she hated the idea of him being alone. She worried about this as she walked back to the kitchen with Natsu's food, looking for a place to keep it warm.
"WAAAIT!" A voice suddenly yelled from behind. "Don't take my food away…I'm hungry!" Lucy snapped around as Natsu, eyes suddenly open, looked after her retreating figure with panic. She faked annoyance as she walked to him and shoved it under his nose. It didn't take him long to eat, he really was hungry. She waited to take back his plate, but he wouldn't let it go. "I can take it" he said with a smirk. "Happy!" he said, looking around the room for his cat, "We'll do our own dishes tonight. Happy?"
"He's not here. He took Charle somewhere, says he'll be back tomorrow." Natsu's eyes grew wide, and then he pouted.
"But I don't wanna sleep at home without Happy." He looked all sad for a moment and then, with a sparkle in his eyes he said, "So I'll sleep here!"
"Wha-"
"It's perfect! I'll do the dishes and then you'll owe me and I'll stay here!"
"But, Natsu, I cooked so you owe me already!" he didn't seem to hear her, only brushed past her with the dishes towards the kitchen.
Lucy watched his back with panic. He was going to stay here tonight? No way! Maybe a few months ago she didn't mind. But things were a little different now. Her feelings had transformed. Being alone with Natsu at night, no matter his oblivious state to her feelings, did not seem like a good idea. She skulked into the kitchen. Natsu, in his excitement, was already halfway done. "You really think I'm going to let you stay here just because you're doing the dishes?" Natsu looked up with a big grin.
"Yep!"
"I'm not going to let you, Natsu."
Natsu glanced over once more, his face contorted in a puppy dog pout. "Pwese, lucy-lou. Don't weave me awl awone…" Lucy was done for. She couldn't compete with Natsu like this. Sighing, Lucy responded, "Fine. But you'll have to do more than the dishes."
"Oh forget it." Natsu finished his last dish and walked out of the kitchen. "I'm not in the mood to work." He slowly started working his way towards the window, preparing himself to jump out.
"Wait!" Lucy cried before thinking about it. "You can stay here, all right!?"
He turned around with a huge smile, "YAY!" he jumped over to hug Lucy. "You're the greatest Lucy!" Lucy pushed away from his hug, uncomfortable with her own unrequited feelings. "We're gonna have so much fun tonight!" Lucy sighed as Natsu started running around the room. "What should we do first?" He looked at her desk, "read one of your manuscripts?" He ran to the open the closet, "play some cards?" Lucy groaned as he opened her dresser, "play dress up- woah. What's this for?" Lucy snatched away the thong in his hand, blushing crimson. She really needed to get rid of her old wardrobe. She looked at Natsu but he was already moving on in his hyper activity. This time he walked in to her bathroom, "I figured out what to do first!" She followed him inside vainly hoping his plan involved cleaning supplies. Suddenly Natsu's jacket flew into her face. "I'll take a bath!" Natsu's jacket fell into her arms but his words didn't quite register in her brain until he started to unbuckle his pants.
Taking his jacket with her, Lucy left Natsu in the bathroom holding back a scream. She slammed the door and leaned her back against it. That was close. She thought to herself. She blinked back the image of his bare back, chasing it from her mind. Grateful that was all she'd seen. She held his jacket up to her nose, breathing in his smoky scent. A splash from inside the bathroom interrupted her thoughts, and she bolted away from the bathroom. She moved to sit on the couch, wondering what to do about her current predicament. A breeze blew through the window, sending a shiver through her body. She instinctively slipped into Natsu's black jacket. His coat only had a long sleeve for the left arm, but it was warmer than nothing at all. Actually, it was really warm, as if carried within it was a hint of Natsu's flames.