[A/N] HELLO i know after reading this it looks like I'm dragging this out but bear with me as the story continues. To compensate for that Chapter 3 should be up within the next 48 hours. Please leave a comment or constructive criticism because I really do appreciate it.

Chapter 2 My New Friends

"Natsu do you even know where your going?" Lucy sighed wearily as the trio trudged onward. They had been keeping a brisk pace since making a run for it back at the port. The darkness has begun to descend over the forest which would soon make navigation impossible.

"Of course I do, Lucy just relax already." Natsu answered for the umpteenth time today. "We're just a-ways outside Magnolia and we'll be there by tomorrow. C'mon we can set up camp under those trees there." He stated as walked about ten feet off the road and unceremoniously dumped his heavy bag much to Happy's dismay as the cat was just resting on top of it.

"Why didn't you guys tell me this was a camping trip! Lucy, Lucy, Lucy, can we make S'mores!? PLEASE? PLEASE? PLEASE?" Caboose questioned as he bounced up and down sounding more like a kid in a candy store than some stranger that blew up a ship by punching a guy's head through it. This behavior easily earned a giggle from Lucy while Natsu and Happy were once again left as confused as ever; their eyebrows nearly tearing themselves off with how high they were.

"Oh... I'm sorry Caboose. I wish we could but we don't have the stuff to make them. We can still get a fire going right Natsu?" She looked up just as the Dragon Slayer tossed a fireball into a pile of would he had been collecting while Caboose had been distracting her. The fire roared to life casting a warm, welcoming glow. "So Caboose what kind of magic do you use?" Lucy asked intrigued as she sat on a nearby log.

"Wait your a wizard?!" Natsu blurted out as he dropped onto the log next to Lucy with Happy on his shoulder already out like a light.

"Ooh... My friend Tucker once tried to teach me this trick with his playing cards but after five minutes he kinda just jumped off the base yelling something about stubborn bulls... which is odd because i don't remember us seeing any... Oh well." He answered completely oblivious to Lucy's meaning as well as Natsu's question as he plopped down spread legged on the ground.

"No, no I mean back on the beach when you punched that guy you had a Magic Circle on your wrist. and when you charged those others there were two more on your ankles." She said pointing to his armored boots.

"You saw that too! I thought I was going crazy!" Happy exclaimed suddenly joining the conversation. Lucy only nodded in response.

"Beats me. Maybe it's because I ate my veggies like my Mom told me to?" Caboose wondered out loud, staring off into the sky.

"WHAT?! How could you not know about your own MAGIC?!" Both Natsu and Lucy yelled, wide eyed at him. Caboose flinched at the sudden outburst but then just shrugged his shoulders.

"Caboose why don't we test this out. Go punch that tree as hard as you can." Natsu told him. Caboose got up and sauntered over humming an unfamiliar tune. The tree Natsu pointed to was easily five feet in diameter and too tall to see the top. Caboose wound up and went for a right hook and once again the Magic Circle appeared as his fist tore through the trunk ripping a massive gaping hole. After a few seconds the tree could no longer take it's own weight and dropped with a loud crunching thud.

"OK that was cool... remind me to not start a fight with you Big Blue." Natsu was grinning ear to ear while Lucy was simply awestruck at his strength.

"How odd... this guy has the strength to tear apart a city without hardly any effort yet he's seems to be nothing more than a sweet innocent kid." Lucy pondered to herself as Caboose took his place on the ground on the other side of the fire once again humming to himself. Her thoughts were interrupted when a huge clap of thunder blasted overhead. A huge thunder storm had rolled in from the west and began it's downpour. Thankfully the trees blocked out the rain with their thick canopy. What really caught her by surprise was what Caboose did.

"AAAAHHHHHHH... Lucy HELP, the sky is angry!" Before she could react Caboose was already at her side hugging her waist with his helmet pressed to her stumuch. She was about to give him a serious smack down like she had done with so many other perverts when she realized... this wasn't an act. She could barely feel him trembling slightly in his armor. For a moment she froze not really able to react to a situation she never even could have imagined. But then out of the blue it clicked. "You poor thing..." was all she could think as she slowly wrapped her arms around his massive form as best she could. Patting his back and whispering that everything was okay was all she could do to comfort him as he flinched slightly at every clap of thunder. Looking over to Natsu he was dumbstruck at the sight of the massive powerful behemoth seeking comfort from Lucy from a little storm. He simply shrugged as he was just clueless. She shifted her and Caboose's position so she was leaning back against the log with Caboose still clinging to her as if she'd disappear if he let go. With both the fire and the storm dying down Natsu dropped onto his sleeping roll and they all drifted off to sleep.

With the rise of the sun, Natsu awoke to a real sight. Lucy was still snoozing against the log while Caboose seemed to have unfurled himself from her waist and was softly snoring through his helmet with his head in her lap. Then a thought popped into Natsu's head... well two actually. The first was "this is actually kinda cute" and the second was; "how the hell did he sleep in that armor?" A question for another time. He quietly went about packing up his sleeping roll letting his new friends snooze a bit longer.

The next to one awaken was Lucy who opened her eyes to see Natsu and Happy looking at her with soft smiles. She gave them a questioning look, still too tired to strike up a conversation. They only responded with Happy chuckling to himself while Natsu shook his head smiling and pointing to her lap. That's when she finally noticed the weight on her legs. Looking down she found Caboose laying next to her using her lap as a pillow. Which seemed redundant considering he still had his helmet on. She couldn't help but smile; "he seems so relaxed and peaceful as opposed to last night."

"Caboose... It's time to get moving." She said softly while gently shaking his shoulder. Or at least the armored plate covering it. Surely enough he came around lifting himself to a sitting position next her. He looked up at his surroundings and as his gaze fell on Lucy he suddenly remembered everything that happened last night. He immediately looked down and started fiddling with his hands.

"Thank you Lucy." He spoke just barely above a whisper. She gave him a warm smile as she stood up bringing him into a hug which he reciprocated happily yet gently due to his size. As they pulled apart he continued "Usually my friend Freckles would help me out keep me distracted and everything but we got separated when we got here. I hope he's okay."

"Don't worry Big Blue we'll help you find your friend once we get back to the guild." Natsu stated slapping Caboose's shoulder... and immediately regretting it. His hand turning tomato red and grinding his teeth. "Owe..." He whimpered sadly holding his hand up.

"OKAY! Let's GO!" Caboose cheered; his mood had improved dramatically at hearing his new friends would help him find his old buddy,as he walked off... in the wrong direction.

Natsu and Lucy shared a look, eyebrows raised before calling out."Caboose the guild is the other way."

"I knew that... just got turned around that's all." He said as he turned arround and walked back without missing a beat.