A/N Just want to clear this up: In one of the specials in the manga, Lucy snuck in to Natsu's house while he and Happy weren't there. She saw the maid outfit from the infiltration of the Everlue Mansion, and a lot of other mementos from missions that Natsu kept. She ended up cleaning. That explains the maid outfit from favor one... You'll see why that's -slightly- significant (not really) to this chapter in just a moment :)

"I CAN'T believe it!" stormed a certain belligerent blonde. "I spend four hours cleaning the damn place, and when I'm gone for five minutes, it's back to the way it started!" She had the same look on her face as Aquarius when she's being summoned in the middle of a date. "Y'know, for someone with a handicap, you sure are lively!"

Still moaning, she grabbed some energy drink from Natsu's refrigerator and plopped onto his house.

"You really don't like the place, eh?" the bandaged dragon slayer asked.

"Of course I don't like it! It's just too much to handle! This place was way easier to clean the last time."

Natsu laughed. "You're so weird. Seriously, who breaks into a house and CLEANS? But if you really don't like it here, why don't I stay at your place until I get better? That's favor number two."

Lucy wasn't sure whether she should be glad because she gets to enjoy the comforts of her home again, or upset because she'd have Natsu bunking with her for three months.

SIGH... "Okay, let me lift you into your wheelchair.."

After resting him in the movable seat, she went to go pack basic necessities for him, and after that, they were on their merry way to Lucy's house.

When they got there... "So, Luce. I guess we'll have to sleep together," said Natsu, in the most casual way possible.

"Don't say it like that! And what makes you think I'll sleep in the bed with you? I'm going to the couch!" She tossed a pillow and a light blanket onto the couch.

"For three months?" he questioned, with a serious look on his face.

Lucy gave a fake smile. "Fine. You win. We'll share the bed."

Trying to maintain a cool appearance, Natsu hid his secret "YAY!"ing on the inside.

"I'm going to take a bath now, so don't come in!" he heard her shout.

"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't anyway!" he yelled back.

Slamming the bathroom door behind her, Lucy switched the water on hot, undressed, and started picking out which scented soap to use.

"Hmm... vanilla sounds nice."

Meanwhile, Natsu was lounging on his shared bed, waiting for his friend to return. Vanilla... like ice cream, right?, he thought. His thoughts, which were now about ice cream, were suddenly interrupted by a certain blue cat entering through the window.

"NATSU! Thanks for leaving me a NOTE telling where you're at!" he ululated sarcastically, "but seriously, how did you get Lucy to allow you to stay here? Wait... what happened to you? Why are you so bandaged?!" Happy had been absent during the past events, because he had been on a mission with Gajeel and Lily, so he had no idea what was going on.

"Eh, it's nothing, really...," Natsu muttered, not wanting to stress out or upset his friend.

"I can tell it's more than 'nothing'!" upon those words, the slightly oblivious exceed flung the door to Lucy's bathroom open to see if she could tell him anything.

"LUCY! What happened to Natsu?!"

Although he shouted as loudly as he possibly could, Happy's lungs were no match to Lucy's.

"HAPPY! Get out! AND SHUT THE DAMN DOOR!"

His poor mind started spinning from the screaming.

"It's okay, Lucy! I'm a cat!"

She quickly searched for a towel. "Yeah, but NATSU isn't, and what if HE sees?"

Too late. He saw. With the bathroom door still wide open, and him lying on the bed in front of it, he had a pretty good view. His face was burning—more than usual-, and for some reason, his eyes refused to leave from the sight.

"Happy...," Lucy hushed under her breath, "get out..."

He headed out the door, and carefully closed it.

I am no longer fit to be wed... The blonde sobbed to herself.

"Happy, what the hell was that?!" Natsu scolded the exceed.

"You don't seem to think it's such a terrible thing when YOU barge in on her!" Happy retorted.

"Well that's different! I've never actually... you know... seen her." The shade of his blush darkened.

"But you liked it, didn't you? You like her, don't you?"

No answer.

"Natsu, you can tell me!"

Still no answer.

"I thought I was your best friend?"

After another moment of silence, Natsu opened his mouth. Before he could say anything, Lucy flung open the door, in only a towel.

"L-luce... I didn't mean to.. to see anything. I'm sorry?"

SIGH... "It's not your fault... It's that damn cat."

Even though she wanted to seem forgiving and nonchalant, she gave off an aura that clearly stated: "I want to kill you."

Leaning in to Natsu's ear, the blue furball whispered, "Natsu, we probably should say or do anything.."

Walking to the kitchen, Lucy was about to prepare a tray of tea for Natsu and herself.

These next three months are going to be hell...

A/N Does anyone hope to see more of a -slightly- perverted Natsu? Oh yes, and Lucy is still wearing her towel. She doesn't care anymore. But I think Natsu likes it that way. ;)