Chapter 4
After that embarrassing encounter with her fiancé, Lucy quickly got dressed and opened the door, seeing Natsu was back in his original position. She sighed heavily, trying to avoid eye contact with him at all costs. That was so stupid of her to forget a towel!
"Hey," Natsu called, making Lucy jump as she whipped around. She swallowed the lump in her throat; all of her pride was going down the drain. What was he going to do?
"Yes?" she managed to get out, her voice at a squeak.
"Erza came in to tell us dinner's ready and to come down when you're done," he informed, Lucy's sweat dropping. He was actually being sophisticated about this! "Oh, and Lucy?"
"What is it, Natsu?" she asked.
"I'll pretend our little incident never happened," he spoke, the tips of his ears turning red, Lucy smiling as her cheeks dusted in pink.
"Thanks a lot, Natsu," she said, "You have no idea how embarrassing that was."
"You and me both," he muttered in a low voice.
"What was that?" Lucy asked, not hearing a word he said.
"Nothing!" he assured, Lucy getting suspicious of him as they walked down together.
"I don't trust you."
"IT WAS NOTHING!"
-X-
"So, Lucy," Igneel started, turning to the blonde before the meal was served, "How do you like our home so far?"
"I love it," she replied, "It's quite beautiful. Though I'm afraid I'm going to get lost in it."
Igneel laughed at her. Lucy smiled; this was a good sign that he approved of her. She wouldn't want to live in a house with a family she barely knew only for them to hate her.
She looked at Natsu, her idiotic fiancé, who was impatiently tapping his fingers on the huge, long wooden table, waiting for the food. Wendy was conversing with her mother, a cheerful smile on their faces. Igneel was talking to her with an interest other than power, business, or money. Lucy wanted to break down and cry. Is this what a real family was like? One that enjoyed each other's company and actually stayed together? It's been so long since the blonde has seen this in her own residency that the memory seemed so far away and faded. She really, really missed it.
"You alright, Luce?" a voice called out to her, a large, tanned hand waving in front of her face. Lucy blinked multiple times, startled at the voice that belonged to Natsu. He stared at her intently, a look of worry on his face. "You kind of zoned out for a bit."
"Yeah," she answered, giving a small smile, "I'm fine. I was just thinking about something."
"Do you want to talk about it?" the pinkette asked, Lucy shaking her head no. Before he could open his mouth to speak again, Mirajane walked in with two silver trays of food, several maids following her actions as they set the plates down on the table.
"Eat up!" she exclaimed, Natsu immediately diving for the food once it was on the table; he put several large servings on his plate. Lucy's eyes widened on the unusually large amount of food on his dish, her fiancé devouring it quickly to get more. She looked down the table, seeing Igneel doing the exact same. Wendy and Grandeeney didn't eat as much, but they still had quite big appetites. Who knew the Dragneels could eat like...pigs almost?
"You're not going to eat, Lucy?" Natsu mumbled, talking with food in his mouth, Lucy groaning in disgust. That's when she realized she didn't have anything to eat herself. Trying not to be rude, she started grabbing food off the silver trays and lifting her utensils to eat it. When she took her first bite, Lucy felt like she was in heaven.
"Who cooked this?" she asked.
"Mira and a few others," Natsu replied, downing his fifth plate already, Lucy still in shock over his appetite.
"How are you eating that much?" she questioned, making Natsu shrug and go back to consuming the euphoric delicacy of Mira's cooking happily. Lucy just sighed and went back to eating herself, enjoying the flavors of the dishes as they melted in her mouth.
"You don't want seconds, Lucy?" Igneel asked between bites, "You barely ate anything."
"No," she replied back politely, "I'm quite alright. Thank you though."
"Your fiancé is too proper and polite, Natsu. Why don't you get your idiocy to rub off on her?" the businessman joked, Lucy trying to stifle back giggles.
"Ha ha. Very funny, old man," Natsu countered sarcastically.
"Natsu, don't speak to your father like that!" Lucy scolded, partially trying to embarrass him.
"Shut up," he grumbled, going back to eating and ignoring the taunts from Lucy and Igneel. His old man was one thing, but Lucy? Come on!
When dessert was brought up minutes later, Erza quickly glared at Natsu before serving the strawberry cake. Lucy giggled; Erza looked really reluctant to serve it.
"You may have some, Erza, if you like," Igneel said, "I know it's your favorite and all."
"It's quite fine, sir. Mira made my own, considering of what happened the last time," she answered, giving another cold stare to Natsu who cowered back in his seat.
"What happened last time?" Lucy asked curiously, having a feeling that she didn't want to know.
"I accidentally knocked over Erza's last piece of strawberry cake," Natsu confessed, shuddering at the thought of the memory, "She nearly killed me for it. I ended up with a broken arm."
"And a severely sprained ankle," Wendy added, her melodic giggles filling the room which Lucy found adorable.
"And he will never do that again. Am I correct, Natsu?" the redhead growled, hands on her hips as she glowered at him.
"A-Aye, sir! I mean ma'am, uh, sir! UGH!" Natsu stuttered shakily.
"Wonderful reply," she approved, nodding her head seriously. Everyone in this household was crazy.
"Well, I'm done," Igneel announced, "I think I'll turn in for the night."
"Night, Dad," Natsu said as the redheaded businessman walked up the stairs, Wendy and Grandeeney following shortly after.
Lucy and Natsu quietly made their way up the stairs, too, not saying a word to each other as they walked to their room. They were exhausted from today's events, so tired that even Natsu had nothing to talk about. Changing quickly into pajamas, they flopped on their bed, Lucy's eyes going wide as she noticed the pinkette was still next to her, a mere few feet away, hands folded on his stomach.
"Oh, no!" she yelled, "I am not sharing a bed with a stranger!"
"Lucy," Natsu mumbled in his pillow, "Just go to sleep. How I am stranger to you anyways? We're like best friends!"
"I barely know you," she scoffed, "and plus, you're not my best friend. Levy is."
"Luce, I'm hurt!" Natsu cried dramatically, turning over, lying on his stomach, Lucy rolling her eyes as she got up, "Where are you going?"
"If you're not going to move, then I will. I'm not going to sleep in the same bed with you yet. Instead, I'm sleeping on the ground," she muttered.
"No," Natsu volunteered, rushing to the blonde, taking the pillows and blankets she was carrying, "I will. If I make you uncomfortable, then I'll sleep on the ground."
"Are you sure?" she questioned, her tone almost panicking, "I don't want to be a burden, Natsu. You don't have to do this. I shouldn't have brought up the problem in the first place. I-"
"Weirdo," he chuckled, "You talk too much. Don't worry about me. If this is what you want, then so be it. I'm doing this for you, Lucy, you weirdo, because I want to. Now please move out of my way so I can set this up before I collapse."
Lucy moved out of his way, their shoulders brushing against each other as he walked by. She followed him, helping her fiancé lay down the layers of pillows and blankets until it was comfortable enough for him to sleep on. When they were done, he laid down on the makeshift bed, pulling the soft blanket over his body as Lucy stared at him. Why did he want to do this? Even she knew the floor was quite uncomfortable to sleep on, especially if it was wood.
"Goodnight, Lucy," Natsu murmured, flipping over to his other side so he could see her.
"Goodnight, Natsu," she whispered back. She could see the grin on his face before she walked back to the bed. Lucy couldn't help but smile back at him; he made her feel happy whether she liked it or not.
"Goodnight, Natsu," she whispered again when she was sure the pinkette was asleep, a bashful smile crawling up her face.
Little did she know Natsu heard it as well, a grin on his face as well as the duo fell asleep with smiles on both their faces.
-X-
"Luce! Lucy! Lucy! Wake up!" Natsu hissed, shaking her arm as the blonde groggily awoke from her slumber. Looking around her surroundings, she forgot for a second where she was, instantly remembering at the sight of Natsu.
"What do you want?" she yawned, her voice still heavily coated with sleep, stretching her arms as far out as they could.
"Come downstairs with me," he coaxed, trying to persuade her.
"Why?" she asked, rubbing her eyes, "What time is it?"
"5 A.M.," he answered casually, the blonde's eye twitching as she angrily got out of bed.
"This better be good," she snapped, annoyed at the pink-haired boy standing in front of her, arms crossed as she huffed out a breath of frustration.
"It is," Natsu promised, "Just come on and follow me."
He took her by the hand as they quietly exited their bedroom, sneaking away silently through the halls together, never letting go of each other. Natsu led her through a confusing maze of passageways-it was a lot harder to memorize than her own house-to the end of a random hallway where a ladder that led to a hatch where the roof was at the top. He climbed up first, unlocking the hatch and climbing to the top. Lucy shortly followed afterwards, grasping the hand that Natsu offered to her as he pulled her up gently.
"Okay," she spoke, "Why are we here?"
"Because I wanted to show you the sunrise," he replied sheepishly, walking to the edge of the rooftop and sitting down, "I know you live on the other side of Magnolia, and that you've probably seen this before, but I want you to watch it with me."
"That's really sweet of you, Natsu," Lucy admitted, sitting next to him, "No one's ever done anything like that for me before."
"You're welcome," he added, making her punch him lightly in the forearm, giggling as she rested her head on his shoulders, "I wanted to make your first day here special."
"Idiot, I was here yesterday, too, remember?" she chuckled.
"Yeah, but this is your first morning here," he countered, trying to defend his logic.
"Whatever you say," she sighed, looking down, "I've never actually seen the sunrise before."
"Why not?" he questioned curiously.
"No one has ever woken me up at 5 A.M.," she sighed, "They never really had time for me anyways at my old house."
"Then we'll watch it together," the pinkette offered, making Lucy smile.
"I'd like that," she said, a smile on her face as the two sat in silence.
They sat there for about an hour, enjoying each other's company as time ticked away while entertaining themselves with each other, watching the color of the sky turn from pitch black to shade of orange and pink streaking the sky. Lucy gasped at the beauty of the sunrise, Natsu smiling as he saw the expression of awe on her face. It was adorable in his mind, seeing Lucy's face the way it was.
"Wow," she breathed, "I had know idea Magnolia looked this beautiful in the morning."
"You must have missed out on a lot," Natsu told her, Lucy nodding her head in agreement as she continued to stare. He chuckled, standing up as the regular day was about to start. "Lucy, c'mon, let's go inside."
"Thank you, Natsu," she said, making the boy stop and turn around.
"What for?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"For showing me what life is really like," she answered, "I never knew it could be so much...fun. None of these events ever occur in my house. I've learned a lot from the short time I've been living with you. If you don't mind, maybe we could do it again?"
"Of course we could! It was my pleasure, Luce," he stated, "Now come on, Erza's going to kill at me if she finds out. We're not supposed to be doing this!"
"Wha-Natsu!" Lucy scolded, "Why would you do this?! I would hate to get in trouble for something so stupid!"
"Because my job is to keep you happy," he shrugged, brushing off her scolding like it was nothing, Lucy's cheeks turning the color of Natsu's hair, the blonde standing up to follow him back down.
Climbing their way down the metal rungs of the ladder, Natsu and Lucy snuck their way past many of the maids and made a beeline to their room. Opening the door, they were terrified to find everything already neat and tidy, Natsu's makeshift bed gone as well. They looked at each other in horror; oh, no they were dead!
"Welcome back!" a gentle voice greeted, the two sighing at the fact that it wasn't Erza, but Mira. "You showed Lucy the roof, didn't you, Natsu? You're going to get in trouble for that one day, you know?"
"Mira," Natsu begged, "Please don't tell Erza or my parents! You know what they'll do to me if they found out where I was!"
"I won't say anything, silly," she assured, "Just make sure that they don't find out for themselves. Besides, you two are already attached at the hip, and I wouldn't want to change that."
"We are not!" they protested simultaneously.
"Ah, ah!" she cried, wagging a teasing finger at them, "I don't want to hear that. Natsu, did you forget I'm cooking for the wedding? I don't have to, you know!"
"No! Mira!" he pleaded, "I don't care if you tell them; you have to cook!"
"Natsu," Lucy sighed, "She's not going to tell."
"Promise?" Natsu asked the maid childishly, a small smile appearing on her face as he grinned.
"I promise, Natsu," she replied.
-X-
"Where are we going?" Lucy complained, sighing as she was once again be dragged out in the afternoon of the next day. It's been two days now, and Lucy felt like she was in a paradise. Especially without her father.
"The outdoor pool," Natsu replied.
"I should have known," Lucy mumbled, mentally calling herself an idiot since she was wearing a swimsuit and was barefoot while Natsu was in swim trunks without a shirt. Quite obvious, Lucy. Of course they would have a pool.
Stepping outside, the two caught a glimpse of the others on the other side, trying to cool down in the blistering heat of the summer. Erza had taken the pleasure of dunking Gray in the cold water of the pool, or she was trying to drown him, Juvia watching from afar as she glowered at the redheaded maiden. Levy was calmly reading a book on one of the poolside chairs, her eyes flitting from page to page as she seemed more engrossed in it by the second. Wendy had joined them, too, getting playfully splashed by Mirajane as the two played games together. Lucy saw a few staff members who she did not recognize, but then again the house was huge and it had only been two days.
"Lucy! Natsu! Come here!" Mira called, waving at them cheerfully.
They walked over to Mira, seeing two other people, a boy and a girl, with her. Natsu waved at them.
"Hey, Elfman! Lisanna! You guys haven't met Lucy yet, right?" he greeted, only to be grabbed by the wrist and dunked into the cold water of the pool. Shivering, he glared at the younger girl. "Ah! Lisanna! What was that for?"
"You clearly are an idiot, Natsu," she teased, giggling to herself, making Lucy laugh as well, "Your face was bothering me, too, and you deserved it. I only did it for the greater good."
"What greater good?" he wailed, "Lisanna, you better-"
She totally ignored every insult, threat, and curse he swore, waving him off like it was nothing. The white-haired girl turned to the blonde, Lucy becoming nervous as she examined her for a few moments.
"You're Lucy?" she asked, Lucy nodding as she gulped. A face-splitting grin appeared on her face seconds later, Lisanna jumping out of the pool, standing up, and tackling Lucy in a hug.
"It's so nice to finally meet you!" she cried, pulling away, "We're totally going to be best friends! I can also tell you anything about Natsu. There was this one time where-"
"Shut up!" Natsu growled from a distance.
"No!" she countered simply, "I'm trying to have a conversation with Lucy! Unless you're going to kiss her, let me speak!"
Natsu and Lucy blushed at Lisanna's sentence. Obviously, that wasn't going to happen, so she just kept talking as Lucy listened intently, Natsu trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. He heard a few bits here and there, and he got angry every time Lucy would laugh, thinking that Lisanna told her something embarrassing. Man, Lisanna really, really liked embarrassing him, even if they were best friends.
Meanwhile, yes, Lisanna did say a few embarrassing things about Natsu, but she honestly just wanted to get to know Lucy without her best friend getting in the way and saying something stupid. They even walked to one of the chairs on the side so the pinkette was out of earshot. Natsu looked pretty disappointed until it was his turn to be drowned by Erza and become distracted.
"Stop staring!" the redhead barked, "It's rude to stare without having anything to say! You moron!"
"So, Lucy," she laughed as she watched them, "How long have you known Natsu?"
"About two days actually," Lucy replied, "I didn't even know him until he came over to my estate."
"Oh, so then you're rich, too," Lisanna inquired, "Wait...what? Two days? Then why are you marrying him? Is he blackmailing you? Is forcing you?"
"More like our fathers are forcing us to," Lucy replied, "I mean, it's okay for now, I guess. My father has chosen worse suitors than Natsu. He's not the most sane one, but he is the sweetest."
"Oh, so you like him?" Lisanna asked smugly, a smirk on her face as she poked Lucy.
"No!" the blonde exclaimed, "I'm just saying that Natsu's okay! I don't mind him, but of course I would have preferred to marry out of love!"
"So you do love him!" Lisanna pushed even more.
"Lisanna-"
"I'm just messing with you," she teased, "but of course you're going to fall in love with Natsu someday. Just you wait."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Lucy sighed.
"Because it's true," Lisanna giggled, the snow-haired beauty grinning wildly.
"You're definitely Mira's sister," the blonde pointed out, "You two are really alike."
Meanwhile, after getting his head splashed in the frigid water multiple times (and finally swimming away from Erza) Natsu swam over to the edge of the pool, resting his elbows on the dry, concrete ground, propping his head up on his hand, half of his body still in the water as he watched Lisanna and Lucy. He saw Lisanna laugh and Lucy sputter furiously, and Natsu couldn't help but notice how cute she looked angry. Still, she did always seem angry at him. He wondered what they were talking about. What if Lisanna was telling her the story of how he broke his ballroom dancing (don't even ask)? What if she was telling the story of how he set the guest house on fire (which is why the Dragneels have no guest house)?
He tried to push the embarrassing memories out of his head when his mouth, which had a mind of its own, started to speak without him knowing.
"Lucy! Come swim with me! You're being boring!" he whined. Why!?
"You should try being nice for once in your life, Natsu," Lucy snapped as she walked over to him, hands on her hips.
"Fine," he huffed, "Please?"
"That's more like it," she approved, jumping in next to Natsu.
"You can swim right, Lucy?" the pinkette asked, turning to his fiancé.
"Yes," she replied as she shuddered, "You have no idea."
"Who taught you how swim?" he questioned further, "Igneel taught me. Well, he pretty much teaches me everything though."
"Aquarius," Lucy answered, her voice at almost a whisper.
"Who's that?"
"That woman is crazy. She was one of my mother's friends -yet I don't know how-, but she wouldn't teach me how to swim at all," she continued.
"What do you mean by that?" Natsu asked again.
"She'd try to drown me until I learned how to swim," Lucy spoke, a blank look in her eyes.
"Well, at least you didn't drown yourself on your own," Natsu chuckled.
"You've drowned yourself before?" she laughed, trying to contain her giggles.
"Why do you think I was taught how to swim?" he half-joked.
"Natsu, you're hilarious," Lucy sighed.
"I know," he sighed back mockingly, "Race you to the other side!"
"Ah! What-Natsu! That's not fair!" the blonde cried, chasing after him.
Mirajane and Lisanna watched from afar as Lucy desperately tried to keep up with Natsu, no match for his speed as they raced, afterwards splashing one another. Then after tricking Lucy to get out of the pool with him, Natsu wrapped his arms around her waist as he jumped in, taking Lucy down with him. It almost made them look like a couple. Almost.
"What was that for?" Lucy coughed as she arose from the water.
"I don't know," Natsu shrugged.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW!?"
"This marriage will totally work out, Mira," Lisanna pointed out, looking at her sister, exchanging mischievous grins.
"I agree, Lisanna; I agree."
Author's Note: Failed attempt to create fluff! Anyways, sorry I didn't have time to update last week. I'm super busy, and my birthday is on Sunday! Yay! I'll try to update next week, but don't really expect it. It's the last week before winter break next week and all, so...yeah. I promise if I don't update next week, I'll try to make the chapters a little bit longer like this one.
I think my mind has gone mad. I was about to have Natsu set their kitchen on fire during the dinner scene. Maybe next time.
I've got to go now! I'm leaving for my band concert! Don't forget to review (please! I thought I could get more than two in the last chapter!) and follow and/or favorite!
Happy birthday to one of my best friends in the world!(Don't know if she reads this story!) Have a great day!