A/N: So much for a side project, I think Online Offline is now longer than Reverse Flame, or, at least, has a bigger word count. Anyway, I feel as if this chapter is kind of short but thats just because it wont fit with the next one... something I'm kind of trying as a bit of an experiment to see how it goes.

Lucy wasn't quite sure what she should be doing, Wendy and her mother, Grandeeney, stood in front of the stove and bench, chattering to each other as they put the finishing touches on what Lucy assumed to be some kind of curry. Natsu was grumpily setting the table, yelling out in pain as Happy climbed up his legs, back and onto his shoulder, looking quite pleased with himself once he was able to sit there, while the sound of running water coming from upstairs led Lucy to assume that Igneel was washing up.

"Umm... Is there anything I can do?"

"Help m-"Natsu was cut off;

"No, no, Lucy. You're our guest, relax hunny."

Grandeeney gave Lucy a friendly smile as she looked up from the stove, and this just made Lucy feel even more out of place, rocking on the balls of her feet.

"Ah! Happy, that hurt!"

Natsu growled at the cat on his shoulder as he clawed at Natsu's ear, the expression on the cats face making him look at if he was laughing. Figuring it was better than just waiting around doing nothing Lucy walked over to Natsu and gently lifted the cat off his shoulder, Happy squirmed at first, giving a little mewl, but began to happily purr when he noticed it was Lucy holding him, nuzzling himself into Lucy's amble chest, and if had have been anyone other than a cat Lucy might have smacked them for it, but the way Happy made himself at home in between her breasts almost made her let out a small "aww" in cuteness. Sitting down next to the seat that Natsu took after he'd finished setting the table, giving Happy a light scratch on the head as Lucy sat, again, anyone else and she might have slapped them, but she had long since realised that Natsu was far too dense to realise that by doing his he was also rubbing his hand against her breast, too busy looking down at Happy to notice that a pink flush had made its way onto the boys cheeks.

Lucy set Happy down, the cat giving a small meow as she did so, before giving her thanks to Wendy who had placed a decent sized bowl of rice and a orangey coloured curry, vegetables and what looked like chicken stained the same orange colour.

"This looks really great, thank you Mrs. Dragneel."

Grandeeney smiled at Lucy, setting a bowl down in front of her husband;

"Call me Grandeeney, please, and you're more than welcome Lucy."

Taking a spoonful into her mouth Lucy was able to enjoy the way the curry tasted for only a moment before the heat hit her, it was rather warm but nothing she couldn't handle, but she almost choked on her mouthful as Natsu began to pour what looked like tabasco over his own, larger, bowl.

"It's not too hot is it, Lucy?"

Wendy's sweet voice spoke from the other side of the table.

"Cough, No, it's fine… but," She looked over at Natsu who now had his own spoon hanging out of his mouth. "Isn't that too much?"

He swallowed; "It's great like this, Luce'. Try some!"

He took another spoon full and hovered it around her mouth;

"Natsu!" She closed her mouth tight when he had tried to put the spoon in there and wiggled away; "Don't~"

"Aww, come on, don't be a baby!"

He tried to get the food in her mouth once more, only to have Lucy wiggle away again, batting his hand away softly. This went on for a while only to have the little game stop when there was a deep chuckle from the head of the table, causing Lucy to look back down at her food, her face bright red, Natsu doing the same, his face only slightly flushed compared to hers, Igneel laughing once more, Grandeeney's own lips curved into a smile.

"So, tell me Lucy, do you attend Magnolia High with Natsu?"

"No, I go to Era Academy."

Igneel seemed impressed with the answer;

"Ahh, I see. How did you both happen to meet then?"

She opened her mouth to reply but Natsu beat her to it;

"Friend of a friend." His voice sounded a little horse as if he had forced down his mouthful to say it, the answer confusing Lucy for a moment when memory popped up in her mind.

"Yeah. I mentioned her once and Dad kinda freaked out. He doesn't want me talking about her online." - "Dad's a cop. He's seen and heard some bad stuff, so he kinda goes a bit overboard sometimes."

They didn't know that Natsu had not only met people he'd only known online, but taken his little sister with him. Lucy decided it would have been a bad idea to correct him and tell the truth, she'd already seemingly gained his parents trust and would hate to think what would happen if they found out where Natsu actually knew her from.

"Any plans for the future, Lucy?"

"Uhm… My father has already reserved a place for me at a business school in Crocus." Natsu's face darkened at the mention of Lucy's father. "I suppose after that I'll end up working with him."

"Hmm, I see. Is that what you want though, Lucy?"

Lucy's spoon clattered on the side of the bowl at the question, glancing up at Igneel quickly, that searching look in his eyes once more.

"I – I guess I've always wanted to study the stars. Astronomy and stuff, my mom was an Astronomer She used to get me up late at night if the sky was clear and she'd show me the constellations and tell me their stories."

"You should do that instead, Luce'."

Natsu's reply was blunt, not conveying the feeling mixture of feelings that were swirling in his eyes and Lucy took a mouthful of food once more, her mouth now numb to the heat.

"In any case." Igneel's voice was crisp and clear; "I think either are noble goals Lucy. At least you have plans."

Lucy didn't have to look up from her bowl to know whom that statement was directed to.

"I do have plans Dad."

"Oh?"

"I'm gonna be like you."

The statement caused Lucy to smile, it was kind of cute how Natsu looked up to his father like that, even though the interaction she'd seen between the two was brief, she could already tell they had a best friend kind of relationship, and she was kind of envious, along with a sharp feeling in her chest.

"I miss you, Mama."

A/N: Naughty Natsu for using Happy for a chance to touch Lucy's boobies :P