I'm happy to say that the worst of the summer is over now for me. I'm hoping the rest is smooth sailing :) It feels strange to be writing about New Year's in June, but here it is anyway! This chapter is very silly because after the last two weeks that's what I needed. Hope it brightens your day as well!

*I don't own fairy tail or any of it's characters*


"Natsu, which shirt?" Lucy held up a blue and a green one, alternating which one was in front of her body.

"For what?" Natsu asked. He didn't bother to look up. Instead he shoved a handful of popcorn in his mouth and continued staring down at his phone.

"The New Year's Party tomorrow!" Lucy cried. She turned the shirts in her direction and frowned down at both of them. "Maybe I should just go get a new one."

"Or maybe don't wear a shirt and we just stay home," Natsu offered.

Lucy sighed and ran back in the bedroom, Natsu heard the tell-tale clicks of hangers, meaning she was raiding the closet again. She called out to him from the other room, "Natsu, why wouldn't you want to go to the New Year's Party? We have to go, Yukino is coming with Sting and I promised I would be there. She still doesn't really know everybody all that well yet."

Natsu shrugged. "It's not that I mind going, it's just that I'd rather stay here. You're the only person I want to spend New Year's with anyway."

Lucy came running out holding up a leopard print dress. "What about this one? It shouldn't be as cold this year!"

Natsu wrinkled his nose. "I didn't realize this was a costume party. Should I wear a loin cloth and carry ya in on my shoulder?" Natsu made an angry face and deepened his voice, "Lucy mine!"

Lucy turned it back, her eyes scanning the gold and black fabric, "Is it really that bad?" She frowned. "Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking." She ran back into the bedroom. "Hey, did you tell Laxus you need off on the third?"

"Why am I doing that again?" Natsu asked. He shoved another large handful of popcorn into his mouth.

Lucy gave a tell-tale sigh, this must have been something he was supposed to remember. Then she ever so calmly answered, "We're going to go meet with the club's wedding coordinator and see the locations they have available for the reception and the ceremony."

Natsu groaned loudly and fell over on the couch dramatically, spilling popcorn everywhere. "Do I have to go? Don't I have to dress up to go to that place?"

Lucy came out of the bedroom with two dresses in hand. "Of course you have to go! It's your wedding too, you should see where it's going to be. It's not that dressy, just a collared shirt and khakis. Don't be such a baby!"

"You guys will start talking about floral arrangements and centerpieces. I don't care about that stuff! You should just do it without me, it's going to be so boring!" Natsu grumpily shoved another messy handful of popcorn in his mouth.

Lucy frowned and set the dresses on the back of the couch. Then she came around and sat down next to him. "Natsu, do you not like the idea of having it there? If you don't, we don't have to. You realize that right?"

Natsu sat up and eyed her carefully, "But I thought you wanted it there."

"Well, I think it would be really pretty and nice, but this is our wedding not my wedding. It wouldn't do to have it someplace you don't like." She smiled and took hold of his hand.

Natsu looked at her sunny smile and found himself smiling too. He really didn't care about where they had this one event, on this one day. It was the after part that mattered to him. So if she was happy, he could be happy. "Nah Luce, I don't care, let's have it there." He gave her hand a little squeeze and then pulled his hand free to stretch his arms behind his head and lean back on the couch.

"Great!" Lucy grinned and patted his knee. She popped up and ran around the couch to retrieve her hangers, then came back in front of him and held them up. "Alright, dress one or dress two?"

Natsu gave her a lazy grin and said, "I don't know, I'd have to see 'em on." Lucy huffed in frustration and started towards the room. "Where are you going?" Nastu asked.

Lucy rolled her eyes, "To put on one of the dresses."

Natsu furrowed his brow. "What do you have to go to the room for? I'm the one judging."

Lucy's eyes went wide and her cheeks reddened. Then she grinned, "Alright then." She pulled her shirt off quickly and tossed it on his face. By the time he managed to free himself from the cotton trap she was in the emerald colored dress.

Natsu pouted, "No fair, you changed too fast!"

Lucy put her hands on her hips. "This isn't a strip tease, you're supposed to be helping me pick an outfit!"

"That sounds like I'm doing all the work Lucy! I should get something in return." Natsu crossed his arms.

Lucy raised her brows, "Seriously?"

Natsu made a breathy chuckle. "Alright, alright, put on the red one."

Lucy smiled, "Alright." She pulled the green one off and gently set it aside. Just as she was reaching for the second dress Natsu grabbed her and pulled her into his lap, upsetting the bowl of popcorn next to him and spilling it all over the ground. "Natsu! What a mess!"

Natsu pulled her lips to his and kissed her gently. Then he murmured, "Nah, don't worry 'bout it Luce, I'll get it later."

Lucy frowned. "We didn't pick a dress yet."

Natsu chuckled and pushed her hair out of her face. "Sure we did! Wear the green one, it looks good on you. Then all night when I see you in it I can think about what we did after you tried it on."

Lucy wrinkled her brow. "What did we do after?"

Natsu grinned again, "this." Then he kissed her fiercely. He ran his hands down her sides and stopped at her hips to grab her firmly, and pull her down close to him so she could know exactly how he felt about how she looked in the dress.

When he released her, she looked down at him with bedroom eyes and a knowing smile. "The green dress it is then."


Jellal poked his head into the bedroom. "Are you ready yet?"

Erza blew out her cheeks and looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Just about. I'm having trouble deciding." She turned in her fiance's direction and asked, "Should I wear it up or down?" She turned back to the mirror, pulled her hair away from her face into a knot on the back of her head, and then let it fall back down. Erza ran her fingers through the long red locks to smooth them. Then with a frown she pulled it back up again.

Jellal wrinkled his brow. "Is this really what you have been doing for the past hour?"

Erza looked down at her watch. "No, only the last forty-five minutes."

Jellal sighed. "Erza, you know you look lovely either way. Does it really matter? Which way is going to be most comfortable?"

Erza returned to trying out hairstyles in the mirror. "That response doesn't fix my dilemma at all Jellal! Of course it matters, do you not care if I look beautiful? This is my last New Year's as a single woman, the pictures of this night will be with me for a lifetime!"

Jellal chuckled, "Then since this is apparently the last New Year's of your youth, wear it down."

Erza smiled and smoothed her hair down and over her shoulders. She frowned and wrinkled her nose. Then she pulled it back up into a high, neat ponytail. Erza fixed her bangs to her satisfaction, then stood and grabbed her purse. She strode over and stood in front of him as if waiting for inspection. "Okay, I am ready," she said with a small nod.

Jellal tilted his head and grinned, "I don't know why you asked my opinion if you weren't going to listen to it."

Erza placed a hand on his chest and looked up at him. "I did listen to it. It made me realize I didn't want my hair down."

Jellal shook his head and kissed her lightly on the lips. "It's a good thing you're cute when you're being ridiculous."

Erza wrinkled her nose and made a little pout. "Ridiculous, what did I say that was ridiculous?"

Jellal laughed and put an arm around her waist, then led her gently in the direction of the front door. "Nothing my dear, just ignore me."


"It's really a shame Orga couldn't come with us," Sting lamented as he took Yukino's coat and placed it on one of the hooks by the front door.

"Well, at least he seemed excited to go spend time in Crocus with Rufus. I don't think it would be appropriate for him to come to a party at his ex's restaurant anyway." Rogue scanned the crowd that filled Fairy Tail's dining area.

"Poor Orga, I hope he meets someone nice at Rufus' party." Yukino smoothed her skirt.

"Eh, don't worry about him. It's his fault since all he ever does is sit in a corner making unapproachable faces. Maybe one of these days he'll find a girl who finds that attractive," chuckled Sting.

"Oh my god!" exclaimed Rogue.

"What?" Sting stepped over next to him, trying to catch a glimpse of what caused the reaction.

Rogue pointed into the crowd. "Is that Gajeel Redfox?"

Yukino nodded, "Yes, he's married to Levy, she owns the bookstore next door to our bakery."

"I can't believe he's here." Rogue turned around quickly, "How do I look?"

Sting raised a brow and grinned, "Seriously? He doesn't really look like your type."

Rogue huffed in frustration, "Oh shut up. It's just he used to be part of that Martial Arts Gym I trained at when I was younger. I looked up to him so much, he was amazing!"

"I don't remember him," Sting scratched his head.

"By the time you started coming with me, he had already left. He fell in with a bad group of kids and got arrested or something of that sort. He never came back after that." Rogue stared off thoughtfully. "I thought I would never see him again."

"Listen to you, you sound like a little fangirl!" Sting chuckled. Then his smile dropped and his eyes widened. "Oh my god it's Natsu!" He grabbed Yukino's hand, "Let's go say hi."

Yukino giggled when she heard Rogue mutter, "And I'm the fangirl." They shared a little smile and let Sting lead them on into the party.


"So Mira does something like this every year?" asked Bacchus. He filled four shot glasses for the bouncing girl in front of him. It surprised Cana that he wasn't more distracted by the girl's extremely low cut shirt, even Cana felt distracted by it.

Cana handed a beer out to one of the customers in front of her, then nodded over to Laxus where he held up one finger asking for another. "Yea, we always have New Year's at Fairy Tail." She filled up a mug with a dark draft and slid it over to Laxus.

Her attention shifted to Macao who waved at her from the other side of the bar. She put a few ice cubes in a glass and covered it with his favorite whiskey. Then as she entered the drink onto Macao's tab on the computer, she felt Bacchus's hand on her hip as he slid past her. "Is this party the one I have to thank for you calling me last year?" he murmured.

Remembering last New Year's eve brought a slight flush to Cana's cheeks. She looked up at Bacchus and he was wearing a surprised grin. "Is Cana blushing? I didn't even know that the great Cana could blush!"

"Oh shut up, it's not from you, it's from the shot I took a bit ago with Mira." Cana pushed by him and gave Macao his drink with a smile. She took Wakaba's order and returned to fill another glass.

"It was a pretty good night though, wasn't it?" Bacchus' voice purred in her ear. She didn't need a mirror to know her face was bright red now. She still couldn't understand how Bacchus could get under her skin so easily. She pushed by him and avoided his gaze.

After giving Wakaba his drink, Cana turned back to Bacchus. He gave her a wink and she narrowed her eyes. She was going to have to come up with a good punishment for him getting her so flustered at work, maybe something involving handcuffs. She was drawn out of her musings when she heard a commotion out in the crowd. Cana searched and found the source in the middle and grinned. She reached under the bar and pulled out the cheapest clear crap Mira kept in stock.

"Can you hold down the fort?" she called to Bacchus.

"You got it babe," Bacchus grinned.

Cana leapt over the bar and headed towards the fun. She was in just the right mood to stir things up.


"Gajeel?"

Gajeel turned and looked down at the vaguely familiar dark haired man. "Yeah?"

"I'm Rogue, do you remember me? I used to come by Phantom Lord when I was younger."

Gajeel paled, that was not a place that held fond memories for him. He frowned, "Nah, don't remember ya." He started to turn back to his conversation when he felt a strong hand on his arm.

"How do you not remember him? He was like a tiny prodigy when he was little! There wouldn't have been anyone else his age who could compete with him!" exclaimed the blond standing with him.

"Really Sting, it's fine that he doesn't remember," started Rogue.

"No, that's completely insane. You know, I bet if Rogue took you on now he would beat your ass!" Sting threatened.

Rogue grimaced, "Sorry Gajeel, I think Sting's already had too much." He placed a hand on his friend's arm, "Really Sting, you're being a little too enthusiastic."

"Who's starting a fight?" Natsu popped out from around Gajeel. When he saw Sting's face, his expression dropped, "Oh, just you. That's not a challenge at all."

Sting's eyes went wide, "What did you say?"

"I said . . .you aren't a challenge. It would be a waste of time," Natsu shrugged.

"You take that back," snapped Rogue.

Now Gajeel grinned, "Natsu doesn't have to take anything back. He's only saying the truth."

Just as the men were about to exchange blows, Mira's smiling face popped between them. "Now boys we weren't thinking of getting rowdy were we."

"No, of course not Mira," answered Rogue.

Sting was still scowling at Natsu. "Natsu's just writing checks he can't cash is all."

Natsu snapped to attention, nostrils flaring, "You wanna go teen bop?"

Mira grabbed ahold of Natsu's arm and her smile turned manic. "I have a solution, how about we solve this in a more pleasant way?" Natsu deflated slightly and nodded.

Gajeel cocked his head, "And what way would that be?"

Mira stepped to the side to reveal a table with ten cups set up at each side. "A little beer pong of course."

Gajeel raised a brow, "Aren't we a little bit too old for that?"

Sting snorted, "Yeah, Gajeel might be too old to see the cups on the other side."

Gajeel narrowed his eyes. "Fuck it, I'm in."

Cana appeared out of nowhere, a massive gallon of liquor in hand. "Did we finally find someone to play?"

"Cana are you going to go grab us some pitchers so we can fill the cups?" asked Mira.

"Fuck pitchers, that's child's play. I brought the real stuff." Cana started filling the cups with the clear liquid.

Natsu groaned, "No way Cana, that's a stupid idea."

"What are you scared?" taunted Sting.

Natsu snapped his head in Sting's direction, "Hell no! Doesn't matter what's in the cup cause you guys sure as hell aren't sinking anything!"


Lucy felt a warm arm drape over her shoulder, "You sure you want to let him drink like that?"

She shrugged and looked up at Gray, "I guess it's his turn, I was a mess last year after all. If he wants to do it, I'm not gonna stop him."

Gray chuckled, "Have you ever seen Natsu drunk Lucy?"

She looked up thoughtfully and wrinkled her nose, "You know, he doesn't usually drink very much. I don't think he's drank to excess in the entire time I've known him."

"Yea, Natsu isn't really the biggest drinker, and it's a good thing too. Getting that guy drunk is like giving a toddler redbull. He goes nuts."

Lucy grimaced, "Well, I'll have to hope that he wins then."

Sting sunk another ball in one of the cups in front of Natsu and Lucy watched with a worried expression as Natsu downed the vodka like it was nothing.

"Let me go first this time Salamander, yer gonna make us lose," said Gajeel, trying to bump Natsu out of the way.

"Like hell I am metal face! Why are you even trying? I can do this myself, you're just slowing me down!" Natsu pushed him back to the side.

Gajeel stepped right up in front of Natsu and glared down at him angrily. "You wanna go Salamander? Maybe I should put ya in yer place."

"Really think you can make me!" growled Natsu. He stared right back, puffing out his chest and getting as tall as his tiny stature would allow.

Drawn by the commotion, Levy finally came through the crowd and noticed her husband glaring down at Natsu. She walked over and looked in the cups, then frowned. Levy turned and gently tapped Gajeel on the arm, drawing him out of his staring contest. "What's in those cups?"

Gajeel shrugged, "Whatever Cana put in 'em."

Levy raised her brows. "Do you really think it's a good idea to play a game that Cana had a hand in?"

Gajeel frowned. "Levy, I'm a grown man, don't go trying to tell me what I can and can't do."

Levy licked her lips and made a patient smile. "While I know that proving you can throw tiny balls into plastic cups is extremely important, I have a better idea. Maybe you would prefer if we . . ." she lifted up on tiptoes and pulled his head down to whisper in his ear. Gajeel's face turned red and his eyes went wide. He looked down at his tiny wife in surprise and then a lazy grin pulled up one side of his face.

In a smooth, quick motion, he lifted her over his shoulder, causing Levy to let out a tiny squeak of surprise. He grinned at Natsu, "This game is dumb anyways. I've got better things to do. Give em hell!" Then with a high five he turned and headed for the door of the restaurant.

Natsu turned back to Sting and Rogue and pointed to them. "I can take both of you by myself! I don't need any help to make you two look like babies, I'm all fired up now!"

Lucy covered her face with her hand, attempting to hide her embarrassment. Natsu was in full fight mode now, there would be no stopping him.

She could feel Gray's body shake with laughter. "He's going to be such a mess! It's going to be awesome!"

Lucy looked up at him out of the corner of her eye, "Gray?"

"Hmm?" Gray looked back.

She pointed to his legs. "You do realize that the entire time you've been talking to me, you haven't been wearing any pants right?"

Gray removed his arm and looked down at his legs in disbelief. "Damn it! When the hell did that happen?"

A voice rang out from the crowd, "Don't worry Natsu! Juvia will protect Gajeel's honor and help you defeat these naughty children!"

Gray completely forgot his pants and hurried to intercept his girlfriend. "Like hell I'm letting that happen." He gave Lucy one last sympathetic grin, "Good luck!"

Lucy grabbed her cup from the table and took a sip. She couldn't help but be proud when Natsu sank two cups in a row. It was definitely going to be an interesting night. Unfortunately, she couldn't see any way for Natsu to come out of this sober.


"I love you man," Sting said as he pulled his best friend into a tight hug.

"I love you too!" Rogue exclaimed.

Yukino shook her head and laughed, "How am I ever going to get these two home? I think when midnight hits I'm going to be stuck kissing myself!"

Lucy hugged her friend and then gestured to a table, "You think you've got it bad, look at mine!"

Yukino's eyes found Natsu, crouched on the floor looking ready to pounce. His eyes shifted back and forth, and then he quickly rolled out from under the table to the safety of the table next to it.

Lucy groaned, "He thinks he's a ninja hiding from the CIA. When I tried to pull him out, he karate chopped my hand while yelling fire dragon chop. I'm probably going to have to get Laxus and Elfman to help me load him in the car!"

Yukino covered her mouth as she giggled, "I'm sorry Lucy! That's terrible, but look at him! He's hilarious!"

Natsu was slowly creeping up behind Gray, like a lion stalking it's prey. At the last moment he struck, leaping in the air and attaching himself to Gray's back. Gray spun, pulling hard at Natsu's arms, "What the hell man! Get off of me!"

"No! First, tell me why you are chasing me! Who sent you?" Natsu yelled.

Erza stormed in their direction. "Natsu you are ruining everyone's evening! Stop this at once or I will put you in time out!"

Natsu jumped off of Gray's back, throwing a handful of napkins at Erza's face and yelling "Smokebomb!" Then he sprinted off in the other direction.

Just as he was about to pass them, Lucy reached out and grabbed him by the collar. He looked at her in surprise. "How did you see me?"

"Natsu, that's enough!" Lucy scolded.

He looked up at her with a pleading expression, "Lucy you have to hide me! The CIA is going to find me!"

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Natsu, the CIA does not fight ninjas. You're being completely ridiculous!"

Natsu snorted. Then he slurred, "Right Lucy. Let me guess, you think they fight Russians and terrorists from the middle east. Wrong, Lucy. They fight ninjas. It's all a conspiracy so you don't realize how real the danger is. You watch too many movies Lucy." Then he collapsed on the floor in a fit of laughter.

Lucy turned to Yukino in panic, "Oh my god!"

Yukino grinned down at the giggling mess. "Is he always like this when he drinks?"

Lucy put her hands to her cheeks, "I don't know, he never drinks like this! Damn it Cana!"

From across the bar they heard a shout of, "You're welcome!"

Hearing this Natsu leapt to his feet. "They are on to me! I must hide or they will steal the secrets of the dragon!" Then he scampered off.

Lucy leaned into Yukino's shoulder and groaned. Yukino laughed and patted her friend on the head.


Mira plopped herself down in Laxus' lap, enjoying the way his strong arms immediately encased her. It had been an extremely good year for her, she was looking forward to the next one. It was less than a minute until the new year began and she found herself right where she wanted to start it. She leaned into his chest, enjoying the way his voice rumbled as he continued his conversation with Freed.

The ball began dropping on the screen Mira had put up for the evening and everyone turned to count down. Gray stood with his arm around Juvia, Mira noted she had made it the whole evening without weeping this year. Gajeel stood with his arms wrapped around Levy who stood in front of him, Mira was happy they were able to get a night out on their own. Jellal and Erza sat happily cuddled at one of the booth tables. Cana was giggling at something Bacchus whispered in her ear as she entered something into the register. Yukino sat wedged between a happily singing Sting and Rogue. Lastly, Mira found Lucy and Natsu, giggling and hiding under one of the tables.

Mira laughed to herself, seeing everyone's happy faces brought her so much joy. Noticeably absent was Elfman and Evergreen, but she had a feeling she knew exactly where the two had disappeared too. Hopefully one of these days, the two of them would feel comfortable sharing their relationship with everyone else. This year it would be another night of sneaking kisses in the parking lot.

The bar erupted with "five, four, three, two, one!" then everyone cheered. Mira didn't have a chance to see who was getting their New Year's kiss because Laxus distracted her by gently lifting her chin and kissing her firmly. He pulled her tight up against him and she sighed happily into his kiss. This was going to be a good year.


Lucy rolled her eyes when she noticed the tuft of pink hair at the edge of the bed. "Natsu, stop being ridiculous and go to sleep!"

The hair disappeared and Lucy couldn't help but feel slightly nervous in anticipation of what he might do next. Natsu was still a bit of a mess. Suddenly he leapt up into the air, his arms and legs out wide. He fell in her direction yelling, "Flying squirrel attack!" Then landed on top of her with an excited grin.

"Natsu!" Lucy exclaimed. She pushed hard trying to get him off of her, "Stop being annoying!"

Natsu quickly rolled away, "I don't know what your talking about Lucy, I'm not doing anything." Then he looked up at her with a mischievous grin.

"Don't even think about it," Lucy warned.

Natsu didn't listen, he rolled quickly into her, "Alligator roll!"

"Natsu stop it!" Lucy fought hard to push back with all her might but his strong body's motion couldn't be stopped. He inched her farther and farther until she fell off the bed with a thud.

His head appeared over her with a toothy grin. "Hey Lucy! Whatcha doing down there?"

"Natsu!" Lucy shrieked. He cackled and rolled away. Lucy stood and jumped onto him, grabbing his leg and pulling him in her direction.

"No!" he cried, "it can't end like this! I'm too young!"

Lucy began to feel triumphant, she was going to drag his crazy butt off the bed and then cocoon herself in the covers. Unfortunately, just as she was about to have him where she wanted him, he flipped, that crazy grin still on his face, effectively rolling her underneath him. Lucy pursed her lips and breathed out loudly through her nose. "Damnit Natsu, let me up!"

Natsu dropped onto her, no longer supporting his weight. "Aww but Lushi! I'm so tiiiirrrrreed!"

"Natsu! Get off of me! You are so heavy and you stink!" Lucy gasped.

Natsu propped himself back up on his arms and frowned down at her, "That's not very nice Lucy, you know I'm trying to watch my figure!"

Lucy just scowled back.

Natsu grinned and lowered his face to her right ear. "I might stink but you sure smell good," he purred. He sniffed in her hair then nibbled on her earlobe. His lips moved slowly down her neck and Lucy smiled thinking maybe drunk Natsu wouldn't be such a bad thing. Then the kisses suddenly stopped and he became extremely heavy. When the first snore came out Lucy wanted to scream, but instead she shoved him roughly off of herself and onto the bed next to her. Natsu was dead to the world, he simply snuggled into the mattress and returned to snoring.

"You silly boy," Lucy chuckled as she ran her fingers through his hair. He had been a wild man for most of the night, but now that it was over, Lucy could look back at it and laugh. Her love might be crazy but he was certainly always fun.

She righted the blankets on the bed and made herself comfortable. She closed her eyes and sighed into her pillow, she could get him back in the morning. Then Lucy opened her eyes one more time and looked at his peaceful sleeping face. She thought of the marker she had on her desk in the office. Maybe she would do one last thing before going to sleep.


Thanks so much for reading! I suppose next chapter will be hangovers and meeting the wedding planner.

So lovely to see all your comments again! Thanks so much: akamagerain, crazydasiy-in-tha-house, MJJK46, quite-a-riot, animequeen100, crazi4muzik, kuki, enchantedbeauty1(so sorry to cause your heart more pain!), Lodemai04, Phiafairy, Weasleyoffairytail, fictionalhearts, tjgangg, mogar, ladyritsu, sassykitten1701 and lovely guests

*thanks kccb16 for the editing help :)