Chapter 7

Normal POV

After a few more hours at the Guild, Lucy decided it was getting late. She and Natsu gathered the exceeds, with the exceptions of Bernie, who was on a mission to Aclypha with Laxus, and Celes, who was currently staying with Wendy and Charle. The large group then left the Guild and flew to Lucy's apartment. When they arrived, Lucy frantically began running around the apartment gathering all possible bedding materials so the exceeds would sleep comfortably. She made sure to set aside places for Bernie and Celes too for when they come back. Natsu, much to Lucy's surprise, was cooking dinner, and he wasn't burning everything. The exceeds were all sitting on Lucy's bed and talking to "Uncle Happy" about their adventures at the Guild. Soon, Natsu called everyone downstairs for dinner. The exceeds were the first to arrive. Like Happy, they all had monstrous appetites, except for Toni, Flight, and Loy. While the exceeds were feasting, Natsu was getting impatient. Lucy still hadn't come downstairs. Natsu promptly ran upstairs to find Lucy laying pillows out on the floor. Natsu snuck up behind her and wrapped a cloth over her eyes. Then he picked Lucy up and carried her bridal style down the stairs, through the kitchen, and to the garden. He put her down and told her she could take the blindfold.

Natsu POV

Luce took her blindfold off and I waited for her reaction. After a few seconds of staring, Luce hugged me tightly and whispered, "I love it," into my ear.

"I'm so happy to have someone like you Luce," I told her as I led her to her pagoda, "That's why I did all this." I had strung lights around her pagoda and weaved roses in the wires. It looked wonderful, like the roses were glowing! On the little table in the pagoda, I placed a candle, a bouquet of flowers, and some freshly cooked pasta. All in all, it looked magnificent, like something that would only happen in a fairy tale. Well, Luce is my princess after all, so she deserves this!

"Natsu, you're just full of surprises!" Lucy sang, "This food is actually edible! Where did you learn to not burn food?"

"Luceeee!" I pouted, while eating my pasta, "You're supposed to be praising me! I'm awesome!" I exclaimed boldly.

"Pfft…Pfft…Sure, glorious pffft…dragon pfft…powered Natsu of Fiore!" Luce chimed, with a wide grin on her face.

"What's so funny Luce?" I asked.

Luce burst out laughing. I am so confused. Why is she laughing? I didn't say anything funny… "It's you, Natsu! You have pasta sauce on your nose! You look like that reindeer that people sing about…Uhh…Rudolf!" Luce squealed loudly. She leaned over the table, cupped my face in her hands, and licked the sauce off my nose.

Wow, Luce! I didn't know you were this feisty. I smirked, "Well, Luce, I didn't know you were into that sort of thing." I made my smirk wider and attempted to wink seductively at her. I can play this game too, my Luce. I failed though, since Luce burst out laughing for the second time in five minutes.

"Natsu! You looked like that Ichiya guy when he's all like 'MEN! SMELL MY PARFUM!'" Luce continued to laugh for a while. Then she drank a glass of water to calm herself down.

We finished our dinner in silence and Luce excused herself from the table. She walked into the house and began to clean up after the exceeds. I quickly grabbed the dishes and ran in after her. I put the dishes into the sink and forced her upstairs. "Luce, take a night off! I'll clean up after them!" I yelled. I did the dishes and began to take the exceeds upstairs. A lot of them were sleeping, so I had to carry them upstairs. After five trips, they were all upstairs and tucked in. At that moment, Luce stepped out of the shower. She was wearing a pink nightgown that stopped mid thigh. Fuck. Think unsexy thoughts. Think unsexy thoughts. Uhh…Gray. Gray. Elfman. Gray. NAB! GRAMPS! ICHIYA! There, that's better. I almost had a nosebleed there. Luce and I climbed into her bed and fell asleep.

Lucy POV

I woke up the next morning feeling amazing. I feel so refreshed! I guess this is what Natsu's cooking does to a person. I'll thank him again later. I removed Natsu's arms from around my waist and got out of bed. Then I grabbed some clothes and went into my bathroom to take a quick shower. After five minutes, I reappeared in my room and woke up the exceeds. Then we went downstairs and I made breakfast. I cooked the rest of the fish for them, and made Natsu and myself some omelets. After that, I went upstairs to wake Natsu up.

"Natsu, wake up," I cooed into his ear. He looks so adorable when he's asleep! He looks nothing like a person that could destroy entire cities! Natsu didn't respond. I leaned in closer and kissed him softly on the lips. He pulled me on the bed and wrapped his arms around me.

"Five more minutes," he groaned.

"No! Natsu, the food is getting cold and I already let you sleep in. C'mon! We're going to the Guild to get a mission after we eat," I chirped. That ought to wake him up! I'm so smart!

I was right, after hearing that, Natsu bolted up, threw on some clothes and hopped down the stairs. Then he ran into the kitchen and began to eat. How does he go down an entire flight of stairs in one jump? Then again, he is Natsu. I went downstairs and gasped at what I saw. Natsu was shoving plates of food into his mouth, even the exceeds food. This caused a massive fight between Natsu and the exceeds. I went into the kitchen and shoved a metal pan into Natsu's mouth. Thinking it was food; he bit down on it hardly. The color drained out of his face and a single tear came out of his left eye. I guess that was a little too extreme.

"Sorry Natsu! You were a little out of control, so I didn't quite know what to do. But how could you steal our children's food?" I exclaimed.

"Heh. I was hungry?" Natsu grinned and began to pet Flight and Loy. Toni flew over to me and sat on my head.

After about an hour, Natsu, the exceeds and I were almost at the guild. Natsu was looking around for 'suspicious people that would harm us.' Suddenly, he shouted something I thought I would never hear out of anyone's mouth.

"Look! There's a platypus in that tree over there!" he childishly screamed, pointing at a tall tree that had lost its leaves.

There actually is a platypus! Wow! I…I want it. No, Lucy! You have the exceeds! "Silly me, how could I think of that," I mumbled to myself. Then I started thinking about my future with Natsu and the exceeds. We're like a real family! I started smiling to myself.

"Thinking what, Luce? And you're smiling to yourself weirdly again. Just saying," spoke Natsu.

I began to blush. I should stop smiling to myself if people will think of me as a weirdo for it. We reached the Guild and quickly ran inside, dodging flying chairs, tables, and boxers. "Gray! Stop stripping in front of children! Nobody would want to see you naked! You'll blind Wendy and the exceeds!" I screamed.

Natsu POV

I ran up to the request board and picked one at random. Then I walked over to the bar, ignoring insults from the Stripper, and showed Mira the request to be approved. "I'm doing this one with Luce and our exceeds, not the entire Team Natsu," I said to clarify.

"Are you sure they'll be safe? This one looks a little dangerous. I just don't want anyone to get hurt, including yourself," Mira spoke with a worried look on her face.

I haven't even looked at the request. Whatever, it can't be that bad. "Don't worry Mira! We'll be fine!" I said confidently.

"I'll let you go," she said sweetly. Then she transformed into her satan soul and gave me a glare that said 'you will die a painful death very soon', "If you dare let Lucy or your children get hurt, I will make sure you get a terrible punishment."

"N-no problem Mira. I won't fail you!" I shouted. Then I ran over to Luce, grabbed her hand, and ran out of the guild. We ran to the park, and then stopped so I could show her the request.

Request:

Defeat and Capture the rogue mage "Reaper." He has been terrorizing people in Bosco, East of Fiore. Lately he has been seen in the village Joya where he killed ten people. We will send any further information through telepathy. He must be stopped as soon as possible.

Reward: 1,000,000 Jewels

-The Magic Council

Lucy POV

"Natsu, this looks a little dangerous. Are you sure about this?" I asked.

"Of course, Luce! We're both really strong, and the kids can all fly, so they'll be safe from harm. Plus, I've never heard of this guy, so he can't be that bad. And the reward is so big that even if we destroy stuff, we'd still get a lot so you could pay your rent!" he spoke, a toothy grin plastered on his face.

"Well, if you put it that way, let's go! I don't think we need to pack much, so let's go to my apartment and grab a bag of food and maybe some clothes. You left some clothes there a few weeks ago, so we don't need to stop at your house," I said.

The exceeds nodded, "I'll bring a bag of fish!" shouted Coal and Loy.

We walked back to my apartment and packed. I asked Virgo to hold some supplies for me in the spirit world so I could have access to them without carrying them. When we were done, it was one in the afternoon. I gave Natsu a motion sickness pill, which he gladly accepted, and we walked to the train station. I managed to get us a large private booth for only three thousand jewels! At least this way I wouldn't have to pay for individual seats for all of the exceeds. We would be on the train for two days, since Bosco was an entirely different country. Then we'd have to walk to Joya. I hope it isn't too far. I don't know if the exceeds will be able to handle it if it's more than a few miles.

TBC