I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Especially as I saw a pic of Totomaru after the time skip.

Can we say total hotness? Don't believe me? Go look it up for yourselves!

For Baclya- hope this was all your heart desired!

Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail.

NOTICE ME SENPAI

It had only been about a week since the events on Tenrou Island - well seven years plus a week, Lucy supposed – and everyone was settling back in at Fairy Tail. Some seemed to have no trouble getting back into the swing of things like Natsu, but Lucy had struggled.

A good portion of it came from knowing her father had died while she was away, but there was also a sense of disconnection. So many of their old friends had aged, moved on with their lives, and yet she was still the same girl she'd been when she'd left. She wondered what else had changed, and if she'd continue to find it difficult to adapt.

She sighed and was abruptly drawn from her musing by the voice of a young man. It was startling still to turn and find that it was Romeo, that the slightly deeper tone had come from a boy who, three weeks ago for her, had been a small child.

"But Dad, I don't want to miss a lesson!"

"Romeo, I can't do it today. I just don't have time," Macao answered. "You can go again later this week."

Lucy watched Romeo's face fall and with a huff of impatience, he turned to walk away. "How am I ever supposed to learn if I keep missing classes?"

The blonde frowed at his dejected face. She hated to see him so upset, but she'd heard from Erza that Macao was heading out on another job today, something about an unexpected bill or whatnot. Lucy could understand why Romeo's father was denying him, but it still bothered her.

"I wonder..." she hummed, then stood to her feet with a grin. "Macao!"

He looked back, his expression open with curiosity, and she hurried over to him. "Macao, I heard your conversation with Romeo, and I know you can't take him to his classes. But he looks so bummed about it...I was wondering if I could maybe take him."

She waited as his brow wrinkled and then he smiled. "That would be great Lucy. He'll like that."

Lucy beamed and was about to race after Romeo when Macao added, "Besides, showing up with a girl with such big ti-"

His words cut off with a yelp as she drove her foot up into his face. "Lucy Kick! Don't be such a perv!"

She nodded in satisfaction as his body slumped to the floor and called out to Romeo. He glanced over at her with a bored look, and Lucy couldn't help but giggle. In that moment, he was like a miniature Natsu, pouting because he couldn't join a fight.

"Romeo, guess what? You're going to your class today!"

His forehead wrinkled. "Huh? My dad said he couldn't take me."

"That's right – I'm taking you today," Lucy chirped, then laughed as Romeo hopped to his feet with an excited "Really?"

She nodded and an instant later, Romeo had her hand and was dragging her right out the door. Once again, it was oddly reminiscent of her partner, barely giving her time to plant her feet on the ground before tugging her into the next step.

A short five minutes later, they came to a stop in front of a small building. By that time, Lucy was panting. She couldn't believe he had made her run the whole way. Sure, she probably needed the exercise after seven years of sleeping, but now she was all sweaty and about to meet Romeo's teacher. What a horrible first impression to make.

But the antsy boy didn't give her time to fuss at him. They'd barely halted before he was dragging her again right through the double doors and inside, forgetting to mention the small dip in the floor at the entrance to his classroom.

To her immense embarrassment, her foot caught on that little ledge, and down she went. A squeak shot from her mouth as she threw her arms out in front of her, but an instant from her knees making impact with the floor, someone reached out and grabbed for her.

"Here you go," a deep voice said as the strong hands steadied her back on her feet.

Lucy looked up and nearly groaned in humiliation. The man was gorgeous. Of course he was. She'd just made the biggest fool of herself, so of course the man seeing it had to be sexy as hell.

He was tall with broad shoulders, and - she couldn't believe she was thinking it - he had some of the most unusual hair she'd ever seen. It was quite literally half white, half black and pulled up into a pony tail at the back of his head. Between that and the black stripe that stretched across his face, he should have been strange looking, but in spite of all that – or maybe because of it – he was hot.

She barely stopped herself from licking her lips as she noticed the slight bit of stubble that ran along his jawline and chin. Holy Mavis, he was a sight to see.

"Oh goodness," she mumbled, using her hands to smooth her clothes and hair, trying to make herself look more presentable. "I'm so sorry. Thank you."

She knew her face had to be a hideous shade of red, but there was nothing she could do about it. She was thoroughly embarrassed by her clumsy entrance, and seeing this handsome man, this very fit and toned man was only making it worse.

She wondered if he was a parent of one of Romeo's classmates. The thought had her almost facepalming herself. What did it matter? She'd taken a dive right in front of the man. Wasn't like he was going to be throwing himself at her after that.

"Romeo," the man said, turning to face the young boy with a frown. "You shouldn't have come running in here like that. I've told you that plenty of times. You nearly hurt your...friend."

Lucy watched as Romeo bowed his head. "I'm sorry sensei. I won't do it again." He then glanced up at her sheepishly. "Sorry Lucy. I didn't mean to make you fall."

The boy looked so ashamed that the blonde couldn't hold onto her annoyance. She reached out, touseling his hair a bit, and assured him. "It's okay Romeo, but let's try walking next time okay?"

A wide smile lit his face, and he spun around to race off towards his friends when the man, his teacher it appeared called out, "Romeo...walk."

Ducking his head, he nodded, shuffling quickly away from the two grown ups.

Lucy watched him go and had to laugh. "Well, that didn't last long."

"It usually doesn't. I'm fairly certain they'd forget to breathe if their bodies didn't do it automatically," the man chuckled, then reached his hand out in greeting. "I'm Totomaru, by the way."

"Oh, I'm Lucy," she answered, taking his hand and internally cheering herself for not swooning. "But I guess you already knew that."

A quick laugh left his mouth, and he nodded. "I do. It's nice to meet you. Are you staying to watch?"

"Yeah, if that's okay."

"We'd love to have you. You can have a seat over there," he said with a smile as he pointed out several benches in easy view of the room.

Lucy grinned back at the intriguing man before making her way over to her seat, and within minutes the class was starting. She watched as Totomaru got their attention and then he was pointing at her. "Class, please welcome Romeo's friend, Lucy."

Lucy flushed as the handsome man smiled over at her and offered a small wave to the boys in Romeo's class. Would that count as flirting, she wondered? Could he be interested in her?

The blonde shook her head, discarding the moronic notion before it went any further. He was simply being nice. Anyone would have done the same.

But not just anyone looks like that...her mind taunted.

Brushing it aside, Lucy sat back and watched as the class got down to business. Totomaru took them through the basic stances, a refresher from what she could see, and then he let them try each form out. All too soon, he was calling an end to the class, and the boys began to scatter.

She'd like to say that she had spent the entire time seeing what Romeo was learning, but truthfully, she hadn't been able to take her eyes off his teacher. The man enticed her, and she couldn't quite figure out why. Maybe it was because he'd been so kind to her when she'd fallen. Or maybe it was how good-looking he was.

She had no idea. All she knew is that she fully intended to offer to bring Romeo to class more often, because she definitely wanted to see Totomaru again. Maybe she could sign up for his class too.

The thought sent a giggle up her throat, and she bit her lip to hold it in. How ridiculous.

Suddenly, Romeo was there, his face lit with excitement. "Hey Lucy! Did you see how great I'm doing?"

"Yes, I did," she laughed, inwardly cringing at the lie she'd just told. She would make it up to him, she promised herself, the next time she came with him. "You're doing great!"

"Woo! Oh, hang on. I'll be right back. Gotta tell Haru something," he shouted, then ran off again.

Lucy yelled after him, "Romeo! Slow down!"

His steps slowed marginally, and she shook her head. "Boys..."

Totomaru stepped up beside her, his face turned toward Romeo and his friend, and he laughed. "Yeah, they're just a little bit wild, huh?"

Lucy laughed and agreed. "Just a little."

"Lucy..." he mused, and she turned to look at him. "Do you intend to come back and visit us again?"

The blonde blinked up at him in surprise, and before she could school her words, they slipped out. "Did you want me to?"

Her mouth dropped open in disbelief. Had she actually just asked him that?

But he just grinned at her. "Yes...I think I do."

A/N: I just had to do that for the title. My daughters say it all the time. lol