"So… She doesn't remember Erza or the snowman… just me?" Natsu questioned the elder Dreyer. Makarov nodded, letting Natsu know that he hit it right on the head. "Now the question remains, who's going to watch her?"

Everyone fell silent, as Lucy partially hid behind Natsu's vest. Mirajane tenderly walked up to the small blonde. "Do you want to stay with me? My name's Mirajane." Lucy slightly swayed at the demon's presence. "I don't know who you are."

The barmaid's smile vaguely twitched before turning around and crying. People immediately surrounded the emotionally wounded model, uttering things like, "It's okay Mira" and "I'm sure she didn't mean it."

She quickly regained her confidence, realizing that this was an opportunity to set up the future couple she had desperately hoped for. "Then it's settled, Natsu will take care of Lucy." Erza commanded sternly.

"WHAT?!" Everyone shouted in disbelief at the red-head's declaration. The air was filled with statements about Natsu's caretaking skills. Erza's eyebrow convulsed at annoyance, "Natsu is the only one Lucy is familiar with, she is comfortable with him around and she'll be safe nonetheless."

Natsu breathed out in aggravation, he didn't know a single thing about taking care of someone, much less an eight year old girl. He thought about the teachings that Igneel had taught him, but soon dismissed it seeing as how it wouldn't work on a girl.

The dragon slayer felt a tug on his vest; he looked down seeing two big brown eyes staring right back. He looked back up and groaned. "I don't know how to take care of someone!"

Erza glared at him from a distance, Gray agreed with Natsu about his babysitting abilities. "It has to be you, Natsu; Lucy wouldn't feel comfortable with anybody else." Mirajane simply stated, smiling softly.

"Maybe hot head isn't up to the challenge." Gray smirked coolly, earning a growl in his direction.

"I can take care of Lucy! Just watch me!" Everyone smiled at Gray's incite. "Yeah! I'm all fired up!"

"You better take her home, it's getting pretty late." Erza said calmly, glancing over at Lucy who shuddered. Natsu re-focused his gaze back on his little partner, who was now messing with the scales on Igneel's scarf.

He patted her head gently, grinning. "I guess I'll be taking care of you Luce!"

Lucy's smile was small, "You can't even take care of a rock, Natsu!" Natsu's eyebrows strained at her remark. "I guess you can take care of yourself then!" He started to turn around before feeling another tug on his vest; Lucy's tiny grip held on to the fabric firmly. "No! Take care of me!" Her pout was extra cute with her small features.

"Fine but you have to do everything I say, okay?" The dragon slayer grinned once again, and Lucy was reluctant to say 'okay'. Everyone smiled at the makeshift father-daughter pair. They soon dispersed as Natsu held Lucy's hand and walked out of the guild.

They arrived at Lucy's apartment quickly; Natsu became annoyed at the constant complaints of being cold on the way there. The two entered, Lucy remained silent the whole time.

"I remember this place too; this is my apartment, right?" She questioned the young dragon slayer as he sat on her couch. "Yeah, this is your home; you pay 70,000 jewels for it every month." He explained.

She walked over to her bed to sit on it, a smile crossing her lips. "I always kick you out of here."

He groaned at the reminder, before peering over to her clock. "Okay, time for bed!" He remembered that she was still wearing his scarf as a cover. The fire mage opened Lucy's closet to scan her clothes. He saw pajamas that she must've worn when she was younger. The young Heartfilia watched as he walked over with train footsy pajamas.

"Okay, now take off your clothes." The dragon said impatiently as Lucy looked up at him with reddened cheeks. "I can dress myself you pervert!" She took the clothes abruptly and headed to the bathroom, closing it all together.

"I am not a pervert!" Natsu finally recomposed from his shock. He walked back over to the couch and waited for the blonde to come out. "I can't believe I have to babysit Lucy." He grumbled to himself, shifting in his seat uncomfortably.

After five minutes, Lucy came out with her night clothes on and a smile, walking to the bed and climbing on top of it. She pulled back the blankets and fitted her body into it.

Natsu salvaged the little caretaking skills he had, "So um… Do you need anything? Water? Er.. Fish?" Lucy giggled at the last part, shaking her head and murmuring 'thank you though'. She soon fell asleep after saying goodnight, along with her pink haired baby sitter.

Lucy shivered violently under her blankets. She sat up holding herself in her arms, then looked at Natsu who was snoring softly.

"Natsu." Her small voice called out to the dragon mage, but fell useless.

She pouted while still trembling from the lack of heat.

"Natsu!" Her whisper-yell resulted in his small movement. He opened his eyes slowly, trying to adjust them. He noticed the big brown orbs staring at him in the dark. "What?" He tried to disguise his irritation.

"I'm cold." She pouted vividly, pushing out her bottom lip for emphasis.

"Go find a blanket." He suggested agitatedly.

"It's too cold to get out of bed." She whined. "You're supposed to be taking care of me!"

"Ughhhh" He groaned as he got up and searched around her room. He was surprised that she didn't keep any extra blankets on or under her bed, not that she'd remember. After minutes of searching he couldn't hide his irritation any longer.

"Why don't you have any blankets in here?!" He questioned, she just shrugged before continuing to whine.

The pinkette sprung up with an idea as he ran into her bathroom. He brought back two towels, grinning at the brilliant thought he came up with.

"I'm not sleeping with towels! Those are still wet!" She pointed as said towels dripped water on the floor.

"Fire dragon palms!" He warmed the towels, evaporating the water. Lucy eyes widened when he didn't stop the fire, and disintegrated the towels completely. "My towels!"

He laughed while rubbing the back of his head, "Sorry about that haha."

"I'm still cold!" Her voice just made the annoyance in Natsu grow; as he came to the only solution he could think of. He walked over to her bed.

"Move over." He looked at her with slight disdain, Lucy complied aversely. He got into her bed and motioned for her to come closer to him. Her little body moved instinctively to the source of heat, hugging his arm.

She still felt cold despite the exuberating warmth her partner was exerting. She needed to get closer. Natsu froze when she climbed on top of him, gently placing her head onto his chest. Lucy could've sworn she felt him get warmer when she clambered onto his torso.

The fire mage let out a sigh and put an arm over her as she fell asleep.