The sun shone brightly through Lucy's room as she laid on her bed, finishing off one of the many novels Levy had listed for her to read. It was perfectly quiet in the apartment she shared, with her three closest friends. From what she knew Erza had met up with Levy at the Library, and Juvia was at work. Lucy took a deep breath. She hardly ever had days to herself since the four of them moved in together, but she was thankful for them.
The feeling of her phone vibrating on her lap, startled the blonde. She peered at her phone, as a message box flash on her screen. Lucy pursed her lips as she placed a bookmark in the novel, picking up her android, she swiped her finger across the screen. Fixed eyes scanning over the message.
Guess whose back from Crocus! Meet me at the cafe ASAP xx
"Cana," Lucy laughed. Before she swang her legs over her queen size bed, Lucy pushed her shoulders back stretching her whole body. She adjusted her skirt and ran her fingers through her hair, taking a look at herself in the mirror she nodded her head in approval. 3pm, she sneaked a quick look at the time, before she placed her phone in her oversized wallet and walked out of her room. With a click the apartment was securely locked, and Lucy made her way down to the Town Square.
The young heir had moved to Magnolia Town over three years ago and she had to admit, it was one of the most beautiful cities within the country of Fiore. The only possible exception was Crocus the capital city. Even though Magnolia Town was a lively place, the city was much more peaceful compared to the capital and the other major cities of Fiore.
It was one of the main factors as to why Lucy Heartfilia, had decided to move to Magnolia. That and the fact The University of Magnolia, had the best literature program out of all the other university she had received offers from. Magnolia was also far away from the Heartfilia Konzern, meaning her father wouldn't be shadowing her twenty-four seven.
When she reached the park Lucy continued on to Mane Street, one of the three streets that surrounded the park. Stopping in front of Mane Street Café, in other words Lucy's current work place. Pushing the door open Lucy smiled as her manager greeted her, he was sitting at a table with a few friends.
"Lucy, how are you?" the well-built blonde haired man who had just turned thirty, wrapped an arm around her shoulders. For someone who had recently became a father to twins, he didn't look a bit tired. Unless he was hiding it really well.
"Hey Laxus I've been pretty good," she poked his chest teasing the man in a friendly manner. "Been catching any sleep recently? Oh and Rina comes home today, you must be excited."
He chuckled at the mention of his five year old daughter, for the past two weeks she was the name on the tip of his tongue. Rina had gone to Crocus for two weeks with her mother for the annual Fiore fashion week, where Cana was the star of the show. She was the most wanted and celebrated supermodel within Fiore, behind it girl Mirajane Strauss-Justine and her mother, Cornelia.
"Have you seen Cana yet? We're meeting up for coffee here," Lucy asked as Laxus shifted on his feet. The smell of Jamaican coffee beans finally filled Lucy's senses causing her eyes to flutter close, what she didn't expect was the husky laughter that also filled her sense immediately after. Her eyes shot open looking over busy café, all the costumers where chatting and laughing giving the shop the enjoyable and comfortable feeling it always had. But Lucy's eyes only searched for the laughter, which made something within her to bubble.
"Hey Lucy?" Laxus called her name.
"I'm sorry I kind of blanked out for a second, what was it you where saying?" she blinked a few times.
"I was saying I haven't seen Cana yet she was supposed to drop Rina off here thirty minutes ago," he shook his head. "I planned a full day out for just the two of us," Laxus peered out the window trying to catch sight of long brown hair.
"She'll be here soon," Lucy stopped searching the café for the mystery man to give her superior a warm smile.
"That's hilarious!" Lucy's smile faulted as her eyes begun searching again for that voice, she had never heard such warmth and joy from someone speaking and laughing. Yet there was more to it, something she couldn't quite pin.
Her eyes became frantic as she searched the room once more, finally resting her gaze on the table where Laxus had been sitting. Her warm brown eyes rested upon the young man with rose pink hair. He had handsome features with a strong jawline, sharp deep green eyes and a toothy smile that made Lucy's breath hitch. He was sitting with three men and a woman. The large built white haired man, had his arm draped over the woman crushing her into him as they continued laughing. The woman who had golden brown hair didn't look too please with whatever they were joking about. Her gaze trailed back to the pink haired man, bitting her bottom lip when his eyes met hers. He smirked at her giving her a wink, which caused Lucy to blush slightly.
The twenty year old hadn't noticed how quiet the café had become, she was too focused on calming her body down from reacting the way it was. Just because some extremely attractive guy, gave you eye contact and winked at you means nothing! She told herself.
"Lucy!" arms wrapped around her waist.
"You're late," Lucy managed. Thankful those arm belonged to Cana, at her words the brunette beauty happily laughed.
"You're extremely late," came Laxus' booming voice.
"Sweetheart," Cana mockingly greeted Laxus.
"Where's Rina?" Lucy had looked at Cana, realising their daughter was no were to be seen.
"I left her with Gildarts for the weekend his going to bring her back Monday," she licked her lips. As soon as Laxus was about to mouth off to the brunette, the attention she placed on her ex disappeared within seconds, as she turned to look at Lucy.
"Lucy I have someone I want you to meet," Cana patted Laxus chest giving her friend a knowing smile.
"Seriously remember the last time you tried this," Lucy rolled her eyes finding her gaze turned back to the pink haired man. What she didn't expect, was for him to get out of his seat and walk over to where they were standing. Raising an eyebrow, Lucy shrugged it off. He was probably letting Laxus know he was leaving or something.
"Cana it's good to see your back," his arm slunk around her shoulders.
"Natsu," she elbowed the man. "How've you been," that smile didn't falter as Cana kept her gaze between Natsu and Lucy.
"I've been pretty good, but my day was especially turned upside down today when you called me and asked me to come down here," he sounded a bit conspicuous as his eyes flickered over Lucy every few seconds.
"Yeah she has a habit of doing that," Laxus muttered as Natsu let out a small chuckle.
"Oh really?" She rolled her eyes letting Laxus know she heard what he has said. "Well I so happened to bump into my dear friend Lucy here," she paused. "How rude of me, Lucy this is Natsu Dragneel, Natsu this is Lucy Heartfilia," Lucy snorted at Cana's words.
The blonde knew what was happening Cana was trying to set them up, Natsu also caught on but didn't say anything. Instead he gave Lucy his hand, hesitantly she placed hers in his giving him a firm handshake. She tried to ignore how warm and strong his hand felt wrapped over hers.
"It's nice to meet you Lucy," he gave her another toothy grin.
"You too Natsu." Neither of them noticed Cana's disappearing presence.
Natsu was not happy that Cana Alberona-Clive, the daughter of one of his father's closet friend and the girl he grew up with was calling him at seven in the morning. He had Lisanna, Ace, Gajeel, Gray or Happy to do that for him, he needed no one else.
"What," he answered the phone groggily.
"Oh did I wake you up?" she teased. He could practically feel and see her smirking through the other line, "It's just such a beautiful morning here in Crocus I just got back from a morning run." Natsu moved from the position of laying on his stomach to his back, flinging an arm over his eyes as the woman rambled on.
"Anyway I'll be back in Magnolia Town by three, I want you to go down to the café," Natsu growled he knew exactly what she was doing.
"Cana I don't want you to hook me up with one of your ignorant model friends," he spat out. He could hear her click her tongue on the roof of her mouth, and sensed her roll her eyes at his words.
"Why would you think that? I want to see you Natsu it has almost been a month, I miss you," at her words he immediately felt bad for what he said. "Why do you always think the worst of me," she was clearly upset.
An upset Cana meant an angry Laxus, "I'm sorry Cana," he paused. "I didn't mean to sound like a jerk I've just had an off week," he was telling her the truth at least.
"Trouble with the coach or with Lisanna? I'll meet you there at three," excitement come back to her voice.
"You guessed it,"
"Exes they take up a majority of your time rig…."
"Yeah see you later," before she could comment on anything else he hung up the phone and let out a deep sigh.
Knowing Cana she probably wouldn't get to the café until three thirty, so Natsu opened his contacts. Freed and Elfman had been wanting to catch up for a while, so he sent them a message to meet him at the coffee shop at two. Once the messages where sent Natsu got out of his bed. Making his way past the kitchen, up the stairs and crept into his son's room. Sleeping on his bed was their cat Happy. He carefully sat on the bed placing a hand on his son's forehead, the little runt always looked so peaceful when he was asleep.
He'd always hope that Ace would look more like Lisanna than him, even now they weren't together anymore he still hoped he'd look like his mother. But he had Natsu's outstanding features, salmon hair and green eyes. Lisanna said he did have her nose and personality and in the end that's all that mattered. The four year old didn't flinch at the kiss his father placed on his forehead.
"You're up early," Natsu turned his gaze to the door way where his teammate stood.
"So are you," he replied.
"Went to the gym," he shrugged taking a step into Ace's room.
"Well I'm meeting up with Freed and Elfman at two, Laxus might swing by. Do you want to join us?" Gray ran a hand through his hair, contemplating the invitation.
"I'll probably swing past," with that said Gray backed out of Ace's room making his way down to his. Sitting for a while longer, Natsu soon made his way to the shower. It was going to be a long day.
...
He hadn't expected them to be at the café earlier than him but they were, Elfman had brought his girlfriend with him and even Laxus was there. They each greeted him when he took his seat, laughter filled the table immediately after.
"So where's baby Ace?" Evergreen asked, her elbow rested on the table as her hand cupped her chin. Elfman had his arm around her waist, her spare hand rested on his leg.
"He's with Igneel," Natsu smiled as they continued chatting.
He was enjoying himself, but kept his sharp eyes on the door for Cana. People walked in and out, no one with particular interest. Freed started telling them about the time they went into the mountains for a small family holiday, Natsu remembered because Ace hadn't stopped talking about it the week after he came back. But he never heard this story.
Freed was talking about how Evergreen, Mira and Lisanna were locked outside of the house. Freed, Elfman, Laxus and the kids had gone down to one of the parks, not knowing the girls had gone out for a walk leaving their keys and phones inside the house. Laxus chose that moment to excuse himself, Natsu watched him walk up to a young woman with blonde hair. The last part of him that was actually paying attention to Freed, disappeared the moment his eyes landed on her.
She was absolutely stunning, shapely with long elegant legs, her blonde hair was shiny and looked soft, her eyes where a welcoming warm brown and her plump lips where wide with a smile. She wore a tight red skirt with an off white sleeveless blouse, which hugged her figure perfectly. He hadn't noticed he was staring at her, and was shocked when Laxus went up to the girl and gave her a hug.
"Hey Natsu?" Freed called out to the star stuck man.
"I'm sorry what were you saying," he shook his head.
"Um… Oh yeah Evergreen needed to go toilet really bad, but had no way of contacting us. So the only way of getting into the house was by jumping the fence, Mira and Lisanna did so first. But as Evergreen went next, she felt something wet down her legs the moment she jump over." Evergreen was blushing a bright red, muttering words under her breath as the four men started laughing.
"You guys are arseholes," she coldly said.
"You pissed yourself?" Natsu barked laughing harder, "that's hilarious!"
Evergreen just crossed her arms shaking her head.
"Its okay babe it only makes me love you more," Elfman said crushing her into him.
Feeling eyes on him Natsu looked up making eye contact with a beautiful blonde woman who looked flustered, especially once their eyes met. He smirked at her, – she was probably one of his many fans –giving her a wink, which caused her to blush slightly and turn away from his gaze. Damn she was cute.
The door to the café opened once more, finally long brown hair moved through. It was as if Cana knew Natsu was sitting there, the moment she turned her head towards him. She gave him a smile that rang foul play, as quickly as it happened Cana was walking up towards the two chatting blondes. Her arms wrapping around the girl, he watching the trio talk for a moment. Natsu finally stood up from his seat, excusing himself from the table. The blonde girl rolled her pretty brown eyes, the same brown eyes met his seconds later.
Natsu noticed how shocked the blonde was, especially after he wrapped an arm over Cana's shoulders. Cana on the other hand was giving him a large grin, which he knew only meant one thing and one thing only.
She was trying to set him up on a date.
"Cana it's good to see your back," he had to give it to her she was sly.
"Natsu," she playfully elbowed him in the gut. "How've you been," she tried to look as innocent as possible. Keeping her gaze between Natsu and Lucy.
"I've been pretty good, but my day was especially turned upside down today when you called me and asked me to come down here," he was going to get her back for this for sure. Natsu tried not to look to suspicious, his eyes flickering over the blonde every few seconds.
"Yeah she has a habit of doing that," Laxus muttered. Natsu let out a chuckle.
"Oh really?" it was as if she was oblivious to the whole thing. I want to see you Natsu it has almost been a month, I miss you my fucking ass.
"Well I so happened to bump into my dear friend Lucy here," she sweetly stated. "How rude of me, Lucy this is Natsu Dragneel, Natsu this is Lucy Heartfilia," Lucy snorted at Cana's words. He smiled, it was so weird. It was like she was completely unaware of who he was… like she was she set up to.
Moving his hand towards Lucy, Natsu though he might as well be friendly. She slowly placed her hand in his giving him a solid shake, but Natsu was stuck on how soft and petite they were compared to his.
"It's nice to meet you Lucy," he gave her his best smile.
"You too Natsu," her voice was like honey.
He hadn't noticed that Cana was no longer there, but from that day onwards Natsu would always be forever thankful that she introduced him to Lucy. The one woman who'd change his life for the better.
/TBC/
AN: Updates and further info will be on my Bio Page.
Hope you all enjoy
xx
Jeshia
