A/N: Thank you so much everyone for the reviews I got from the last chapter! You guys are so understanding :') But, because of what happened, I've decided to change up my schedule a bit because it looks like my workload of essays and stuff isn't going to lessen anytime soon. Yay *sarcasm*. So, instead of updating on the Friday, I'm going to write the chapter on Friday night, leave it, proofread it in the morning after my brain has had a rest and then update it the Saturday morning. Basically, my updates will be coming a day later or, if you live in America, it will be later on in the evening I think? (I'm not very good with time zones and stuff). Woo, now that I've explained that to you, onto the story!
Disclaimer: Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail and he refuses to give it to me *sniff* :'(
Lucy turned around to see Erza standing in the doorway, a massive cart of luggage behind her and a huge decorated axe over her shoulder. For a moment, Lucy was reminded of the first time she saw Erza, standing in the guilds doorway with a giant horn over her shoulder. She was shook out of her musings, however, when Erza's voice travelled across the room to her.
"Lucy? Where are you and what is this that I hear about you and Natsu hugging?" She demanded, "If he harmed your virtue there will be hell to pay!"
Lucy sweat dropped.
"I'm at the bar Erza, and my virtue is fine." She sighed. Why did she have such weird friends?
Erza made her way over to the bar, dragging all of her things with her and sat down in her usual seat. She looked around, confused for a moment.
"Where are you Lucy? I can't see you anywhere."
Sighing, Lucy stood up off her barstool and clambered onto the bar to stand on top of it. Obviously nobody had bothered to tell Erza about her and Natsu's...situation, so she was going to have to do the explaining for her.
"I'm here Erza," she started off gently, attempting not to startle her.
Quick as a flash, Erza's head snapped round to stare at Lucy who was standing on the bar next to her arm.
"Lucy!" she exclaimed, "What happened to your body!?" She paused after seeing Lucy's sheepish smile, "Did Natsu do this to you? Where is he?"
A murderous look grew upon her face as she unsheathed her sword and began looking for Natsu round the guild hall. She was distracted from her search, however, when Gray slid into the seat next to Erza and in front of Lucy.
Lucy hadn't really seen Gray since she'd been shrunk down, apart from when he was making fun of Natsu of course.
"Hello Gray!" she greeted, "I didn't see you much yesterday with everything that happened."
"And what did happen?" interrupted Erza.
"Ahaha," Lucy chuckled nervously, "Well it's kind of a funny story when you think about it..."
"Sure, being weak and defenceless is funny." Interjected Gray.
Lucy shot him a look and then started telling the story of everything that had happened yesterday. By the end of the retelling, with Gray's comments added in everywhere, Erza was furious.
"That idiot!" she shouted, standing up and turning to face the guild, "Natsu! Show yourself right now so that I can punish you!"
In the background, Gray and Lucy both shivered a little in fear.
"She does realise that Natsu was affected as well, right?" Gray whispered behind his hand to Lucy.
Lucy just shrugged, not wanting to say anything that might incur Erza's wrath.
When Natsu didn't make himself known, Erza sat back down at the bar.
"That's strange," commented Lucy, "He was here just a minute ago. I wonder where he's got to."
"He's probably hiding like the weakling he is." Snickered Gray. Lucy hit his arm before hotly defending Natsu.
"Hey, it's not his fault he's like that."
Gray looked at her in disbelief, "Yes it is. He was the one who cast the spell."
"Well, yeah," Lucy fumbled for a retort to give, "But he didn't know what was going to happen,"
"But he knew that something was bound to happen from reading a magic spell!" Gray gave her an incredulous look.
"He didn't know it was going to be anything bad. We didn't even know if the spell was legitimate!"
"Even more reason for him not to read cast it then!"
"It would have been read out eventually because that was the request!"
By now they were both shouting at each other, with their faces close together. Even Erza was staying out of their argument as she watched from the side, eating a slice of strawberry cake which she ordered off Mira.
"Geez, stop defending him so much. What is he, your boyfriend?" The words were said with a teasing tone to them, but to Lucy, they were anything but teasing.
Instantly, Lucy's mind went back to what had happened that morning, causing her to turn bright red and start spluttering as she tried to think of something to say.
"Hahaha," she gave a false laugh, and started shifting her eyes, trying to look anywhere but in Gray's direction, "Me and Natsu going out? Yeah right. I bet he doesn't even know what that means. Or even what a girl is! He doesn't think of those type of things, he's too simple minded for that! Hahaha."
Obviously, her attempt at lying didn't work on Gray.
"Wait. Did something happen between you two?" His eyes widened, "Did he finally confess?"
"Finally?" echoed Lucy, "What do you mean finally?!"
Instead of answering, Gray stood up from his barstool and called for Mira.
"Sorry guys, I need to talk to Mira." With that, he left to go and find her in the kitchen.
In an attempt to try and stop herself from dwelling on what she had just heard from Gray, Lucy turned to Erza and tried to strike up a conversation.
"How come you're here by the way Erza?" At Erza's offended look, she quickly changed what she meant, "I mean, the mission was supposed to be a week long one, but you completed it in one day."
"It was a lot easier than what the request made it out to be. All I had to do was defeat a nest of Forest Vulcan's, find the kidnapped villagers and then get them through the forest safely." Lucy sweat dropped. That was all was it? "Because I finished it in such short time, they paid me the full reward and also threw in this decorated axe."
"Aah," said Lucy, "I did kind of wonder where you got that from."
Erza, having finished her cake, put down her fork and shifted in her seat in nervousness. "Um, Lucy?" she asked.
"Yes Erza?"
"I was wondering. Um, could you maybe...Ur, I mean, could you perhaps." Erza was getting a little rosy in the cheeks now. She took a deep breath and then looked directly into Lucy's eyes, "Would you please come shopping with me today?"
Lucy sighed in relief, she had been mentally preparing for the worst there when Erza first started out the sentence.
"Yes Erza. I would love to." She smiled warmly. "But I have to be 'supervised' at all times so you'll have to put your name down on the 'guard duty' list first before we can go."
By the time she'd finished speaking; Erza was already speaking to Mira about it, who was pocketing some cash which Gray had just given her.
"Right, we can go now!" With that, she picked Lucy up and walked out of the guild with her slung over her shoulders.
Natsu was sitting outside the guild doors when Erza marched out with Lucy thrown over her shoulder. He had been sulking after being told that he was too weak to even join in guild fights now, so he had gone outside to avoid the teasing and mocking.
When they had walked past, Natsu had instantly been alarmed to see his partner over Erza's shoulder. Was she hurt? What was Erza going to do to her?
Natsu shuddered as he thought of all the times Erza had knocked him out, only to find himself swinging from her shoulder like Lucy was now. She was in danger if Erza was involved, so he had to do something to save her!
He started following them until, not too far from the main shops, he was distracted by an all you can eat buffet. Instantly forgetting about saving Lucy from Erza, he ducked inside and started to have second breakfast.
When they got to the high streets, Erza put Lucy down on the floor.
"So Erza, what did you want to buy?" Lucy asked. "Pervy lingerie?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Going to see Jellal anytime soon?"
She started giggling when Erza's face turned bright red.
"M-me and J-Jel-Jellal aren't like that Lucy!" She stammered out, as sweat drops rolled down her face. "We're just childhood friends!"
She cleared her throat, though her face was still red. "No, I wanted to go shopping for you."
"Me?" questioned Lucy, "Why do you want to go shopping for me?"
Erza smiled sadly. "I never had a proper childhood so I've never worn or bought cute children's clothes before. I was hoping you'd let me go shopping for new clothes with you while you're stuck with this adorable, squishy body."
Lucy sweat dropped at hearing about how Erza viewed her new body but she gave her a sympathetic look when she explained her reasoning behind the shopping trip. Lucy could kind of relate after all. Growing up in a home like she had, her and her Mama had never been shopping together or gone for mother-daughter bonding trips. Their dresses and clothes had been tailor made and fitted to them and they never had to leave the house for any reason so instead they had stayed in the estate all the time.
"Okay Erza," she said, "I'll go shopping with you. I've never gone shopping like this either so it'll be fun to see what sort of clothes we buy!"
They both smiled at each other before walking into the nearest shop.
Shopping with Erza was actually really fun. Normally when the girls of Fairy Tail needed clothes, they all went as a group and used it as an excuse to buy the latest fashion. The only time Lucy had ever gone shopping alone or with one other person was when she went to buy new books, whether on her own or with Levy.
Thinking of Levy, Lucy cast her mind back to her break down in the library that morning. Stupid Gajeel, making Levy cry like that. He needed to get over himself and just confess to the girl already!
Lucy's thoughts were interrupted when Erza held up a cute black skater skirt to Lucy.
"What do you think about this one?" she questioned.
"It's adorable!" squealed Lucy, "Let me just find a top to go with it."
She finally found the perfect top and they both went to the changing rooms to try it on. Lucy went into the stall while Erza waited outside.
"Erm Erza?" Lucy called, "Can you come and help me please?"
Erza walked into the changing room to find Lucy standing sheepishly, still fully dressed in what she was wearing before she went to get changed.
"I thought you were trying it on?" Asked Erza.
"Well, I would if I could reach it." Deadpanned Lucy.
"Ah."
Now Erza could see where Lucy had her problem. She had put the clothes on the built in rails they had in the changing room by habit, but obviously Lucy wouldn't be able to reach it because she wasn't tall enough. Erza smiled, that was just too cute.
"Sorry about that," she chuckled, "Just a force of habit I guess."
"It's fine. It'll just take some getting used to." Lucy replied.
After getting the clothes down off the rail, she tried them on and decided that she had to buy them. They were the cutest clothes she'd ever seen.
Along with the black skater skirt, she had put on a ¾ length sleeved white top and combined everything together with her tiny key belt and the same black knee high boots she always wore. She then took out her hair from the single pony tail she usually had it in and instead put it in cute bunches. Looking at herself in the mirror, she decided she would make an adorable toddler.
"I'm going to buy these." She told Erza.
"Good," she agreed, "Because if you hadn't I would have bought them for you anyways."
Lucy laughed, and they both went to pay for the clothes.
After visiting tons of shops together, the girls decided it was time to take a break and have lunch. They found a small cafe and sat outside in the sun as they waited for their food to arrive.
"This was fun." said Lucy, "Considering I've never done this before."
"We should do it again sometime before you turn back to normal." Smiled Erza. Lucy smiled back.
"Yeah, we should."
When their food arrived, Erza decided to break into a topic she'd been putting off all morning.
"So Lucy," she started, "What did I hear this morning when Happy said you and Natsu were having 'morning hugs'?"
Lucy nearly sprayed her food all over Erza as she tried not to choke.
"Oh it was nothing Erza." Lucy laughed nervously, "You know how Happy likes to joke about things like that."
"I know Happy does, but Mira doesn't. And she wasn't freaking out at all when she heard that."
Mentally, Lucy cursed. She'd got her there. Mira only fangirled when she was imagining scenario's. When one actually happened, however, she just enjoyed the moment.
Lucy sighed. She wasn't going to get out of this one.
"Fine, I'll tell you," she sighed, "but you have to keep it a secret from the other guild members." she warned. Truthfully, she'd been wanting to talk to someone about what had happened all morning, but her only option, Levy, had run off to find Gajeel instead. She needed another women's advice about her dilemma!
As she went over what had happened that morning, Erza's face went through a mixture of different emotions; first shock, then awe, then surprise, then annoyance until she finally settled on just being blank.
"...but I don't know how I feel about it!" finished Lucy, "Erza, what do you think I should do?"
"How did you feel when he kissed you?" she answered with her own question.
"Well, it was nice I guess. But it was my first kiss, so I don't have anything to compare it with!"
Erza's blank face was briefly shattered with mutinous fury, before she masked herself again.
"Your first kiss you say?" she asked with a slightly menacing tone. Lucy just nodded in reply. Erza took a deep breath to calm down and, when she had gotten herself under control, she asked the important question.
"That wasn't what I meant. What I meant was how did kissing Natsu, the person you are closest to in the world, make you feel? Don't think about what his technique was like, think about what it felt like inside."
Lucy sat for a moment, thinking about her answer.
"I was very happy." she started. "I love Natsu; he's my best friend so it's kind of impossible for me not to love him in some way. But I had never thought about him in that way because he's too dense to think about it himself and he definitely wouldn't want to change anything in our relationship."
Erza nodded, that was definitely true.
"But, when he kissed me...I don't know. I suddenly remembered all the good things that make him Natsu and all the times he's looked out for me, or rescued me, or been stupidly kind to me." Lucy had a small smile of her face as she went through all the things she loved about Natsu. "He was the first constant in my life, you know? Everybody else either left or changed so much that I couldn't even recognise them anymore. But Natsu, well he crashed into my life, acted honestly the entire time, never did anything to hurt me and brought me to my home. I'm not sure how I feel about him completely, but I know that there's at least a small part of me which would want nothing more than to stick with him and be by his side for the rest of my life."
Lucy finished her little speech and then looked at Erza to see what she thought. To her surprise, tears were running down her face as she dug into a strawberry cake she had just ordered.
"That was, *sniff*, the most gorgeous thing I've ever heard, *sniff*." She cried, taking a massive bite into her cake. Lucy sweat dropped as she watched her antics and Erza continued to cry as she ate her cake.
Erza thought about Lucy' expression as she talked about how Natsu made her feel. She was telling the truth when she said it was the most gorgeous thing she'd ever heard, nobody else who had confessed their crush to her had ever spoken with the open love on their face which Lucy had as she was talking about Natsu. She didn't realize it yet, but Lucy was completely and irrevocably in love with Natsu. This wasn't just a small part of her which was in love with him, like she suspected, instead, all of her was in love with him. Now she just had to realise that that was how she felt.
After she had calmed down, Erza stood up. I'll go and pay for the bill-my treat-" she warned when Lucy was about to protest, "you go stand outside with the bags and wait for me. I'm going to go freshen up and then we can get onto round 2!"
Lucy smiled then dragged their bags with her as she went to stand outside the cafe door.
She didn't know why, but she felt a lot better about her confused feelings after confessing them to Erza. Maybe the whole 'a problem shared is a problem halved' thing was true.
So lost in her thoughts, Lucy didn't notice when a particularly large group of shopping women rounded the corner. By the time she looked up, it was too late and she was swept away with them as they passed the cafe.
Natsu had been kicked out of the all you can eat buffet when he cleaned them out of food, so he decided to go and save Lucy again. The only problem was that he had spent a couple of hours in there so they could be anywhere by now. This was when a dragon's nose came in handy!
He started sniffing around, following Lucy's familiar scent of strawberries and cream. When he finally found it, he tracked it through several children's clothes shops, a women's changing room (where he was kicked out after being called a pervert) and a cafe.
At the cafe, he could strongly smell Erza inside, and a pile of bags at the front door had their scents mixed all over them. For some reason, however, Lucy's scent was leading away from the bags and down the road, getting fainter as it went.
That made Natsu worry, he had been trying to save her from Erza but instead she had gotten herself kidnapped! He quickly started running after her disappearing scent until it stopped around a group of middle aged women with larger shopping bags. They were huddled in a group and seemed to be talking.
This was where his small size was his weakness, he decided. Now that he was small, he couldn't see what it was they were looking at and he couldn't push through them to get a look himself. Instead, he started weaving his way through the women's legs, occasionally being knocked into by the large bags they were carrying. When he finally got to the middle, it was to see a quivering Lucy being bombarded with questions.
"Where's your mother little one?"
"Are you all on your own?"
"A mother leaving a child alone, disgraceful!"
"It's okay, we'll help you."
"Don't be scared."
With every question, Lucy was shrinking smaller and smaller, unable to get an answer in before she was cut off by another women's question. Finally Natsu had had enough and he burst through the women's legs to stand next to Lucy.
"Natsu?" She sniffed.
"Hey, stop bugging her!" He shouted, "Can't you see she just wants to get back to her friend!?"
He turned to Lucy.
"C'mon Luce," he offered his hand, "Let's get back to Erza."
With a watery smile, she took his hand as he led her through the parting women, who now looked a bit embarrassed. Stupid women, they should be embarrassed! If Lucy actually had been a little girl and not a 17 year old woman, she would have been terrified!
They walked back to the cafe hand in hand without speaking to each other. Lucy was too nervous to, after everything she had just confessed to Erza, and Natsu was too annoyed to speak.
When they finally got back to the cafe, Erza was still inside paying so Natsu decided to escape while he still could-who knew what Erza would do to him if she found out he'd been spying on them?
He shuddered a little and was about to leave when Lucy threw her arms around him.
"Thank you for saving me Natsu." She said, with a little blush on her face.
Natsu wrapped his own arms around her and hugged her back. "It was no problem." He answered.
They stood like that for a minute before Lucy finally got up the courage to speak.
"Hey Natsu, about this morning-" She was cut off by Natsu suddenly letting go and whipping his head round to the door of the cafe.
"Sorry Luce," he apologised, "But Erza's just finished paying!"
With that, he rushed off down the street, leaving Lucy standing in the doorway with a shocked, and slightly disappointed, look on her face.
Erza opened the door of the cafe and picked up the bags which were next to Lucy.
"Are you ready to go?" She asked.
"...Yeah, I'm fine." Lucy answered, sounding slightly sad.
"Great!" Erza didn't notice Lucy's lack of enthusiasm, "Onto round 2!"
She turned around and started marching up the street towards the other shops they hadn't been to with Lucy trailing behind her, casting glances over her shoulder the entire way.
A/N: OMG I ACTUALLY FINISHED THE CHAPTER ON MY DEADLINE. That is amazing! I really think that Lucy and Erza's relationship isn't as well portrayed as it should be. They spend the most time with each other in terms of with girl friends so I think they should be a lot closer than how they are shown! So, I threw in some girl-bonding time for them. Did anyone catch Gray giving Mira money? I wonder what that was about *wink wink*. And Lucy confessed how she felt about Natsu to someone else! Yay! Read, review, favourite and follow! Tell me your thoughts on this chapter!
