A/n: Now I know what you're thinking. "R3al, it's been 84 years! I know and I'm super sorry! Life has been a bit crazy and I'm doing my best give you guys more!

xxx

Lucy expected a lot of things to happen tonight. Choking on appetizers or even spilling wine on herself, but not hiding out in a bathroom stall fighting the urge to commit sin with the guy currently pressed against her.

It all started ten minutes ago.

"Zeref Vermillion?" Everlue questioned as he stroked his chin.

"I've never heard of Zeref Vermillion." Jose said with mockery dripping from his voice as he spat out the man's name. It was clear that Jose was not fond of the potential competition. The man in question only smiled holding out his hand to Jose.

Jose eyed the man suspiciously before taking his hand for a firm handshake. "I am just a humble scientist that had the pleasure of being invited to this event." Everlue's eyes narrowed at the man before him.

"Tell me, Zeref, how exactly do you know this young woman?" Jose motions over to Lucy who was still trying to piece together what was going on. Lucy looked up at the man and he responded to her stare with a wink and smirked.

The man known as Zeref returned his attention to the two men. There was a hint of smugness that played across his face as he watched the look on Jose's expression change from annoyance to anger.

"Ms. Heartfilia and I grew up together. Our families were very close until we moved out of the country. Germany to be more specific."

"Germany…" The words left Everlue as he rubbed his chin in deep thought causing Lucy to tense up. He opened his mouth again ready to ask a few questions of his own, when Jose intervened.

"Then it is safe to assume that you're a part of her past?"

Zeref looked over at Lucy again and smiled softly. "Well, I was hoping we could pick up where we left off."

At this point Jose was seething, but Zeref was completely unbothered by this. In fact, he wore nothing but an amused look.

"And where exactly is that?" Jose sneered.

Lucy sighed heavily. At this rate Jose might challenge him to a battle for her hand in marriage. While it would have been a sight to see Jose make a fool out of himself, it was time to break this up.

Lucy finally spoke for the first time since Zeref presented himself.

"It's been so long since I last saw you! Why don't we catch up in private?" She hooked her arm around Zeref's and pulled him away from the two men. She could hear Jose call out to them as they pushed through the crowd.

They rounded a corner and Lucy found an open door that lead to a secluded area. The less people around them, the better.

Once in the room she furrowed her eyebrows and set her lips into a small frown.

"What are you doing?" Lucy finally asked.

Zeref looked at her confused. "I believe I was saving you?"

If he thought she wouldn't figure him out then he had another thing coming. "No, what are you doing here, Natsu?"

The moment she said his name he froze, but quickly regained his composure.

"I don't know who this Natsu person is, but he has a badass name. I bet he's good looking too."

She glared at him, clearly not amused by his words. "Natsu."

"Zeref…" He responded.

Was he serious? Did he really think she wouldn't recognize his face? "Natsu Dragneel!"

There was silence between the two and stare down that could have lasted for ages. They both knew he couldn't keep up the lie forever.

The man in front of her took a step back and folded his arms over his chest.

"I wanted to talk to you." He said flatly.

Was that really all he wanted to do? "A simple text would have done the trick."

Natsu looked as if he had just been slapped in the face. "Simple? It's like you don't know me at all."

"Apparently not! Out of all the names in the world you had to choose Zeref? Any book lover knows you stole that name from 'A Cursed Love.'"

His pouted. "I thought it was really clever!"

"It would have been if you weren't talking to Duke Everlue, who has probably read that book from cover to cover!" Maybe it was a good thing Jose's jealousy prevented Everlue from conducting an investigation of his own. If he started asking all the right questions Natsu would have been exposed.

"And yet, he didn't pick up on it. That one semester in Drama came in handy! I was probably the perfect Zeref." He grinned triumphantly.

Lucy shook her head. "Last I checked, Zeref doesn't have unruly spiky hair." She points to the black wig on his head.

"In my defense, you and I both know I wouldn't be able to pull off that stupid Alfalfa look."

"He doesn't have a…" She pauses and blinks blankly at him.

He blinks back at her. "What?"

Natsu was not one for literature. "How do you know so much about Zeref when you've never read the book?"

"You act like you didn't spend hours talking about that sappy love story between Zeref and Mavis back in college. I might not pay attention to a lot of things, but I do pay attention to you when it counts." A small blush surfaces against Lucy's cheeks.

Lucy might have had a small obsession with the book. If Levy wasn't around to gush over it with her, Natsu was always the next best thing. In all fairness, she figured he tuned her out for the most part.

She looked away slightly embarrassed. "G-go home, so I can get back to my date."

Natsu looked at her skeptically and she knew where this was going. "You mean your date who is currently nowhere to be found?"

Lucy looked away from his dubious gaze. "He had to take care of something."

"So, he left you alone to fend for yourself?" He made it sound like she was stranded in a jungle... which was pretty much what these parties were like.

She desperately wanted to give Dan the benefit of the doubt, despite her annoyance after he left her alone. "Natsu, cut him some slack. Dan's a busy man."

"Busy leaving a beautiful woman in a sea of old ass horny men. I saw the way that other guy was ogling you." Lucy cringed remembering that Jose was ready out there and trying to win her affections.

Natsu always had a knack for reminding her how much he cared about her. He was willing to go to great lengths and as crazy as he was, his selfless acts warmed her heart every time.

It took her a second to realize he had complimented her. Her cheeks grew warm at the idea of him thinking she was beautiful.

She had to make sure she heard correctly. "Y-you think I look beautiful?"

When they were in her apartment, he was so nonchalant about her appearance.

Hearing him complimenting her was something she wanted to hear more often. She could only dream of the day he would look at her awestruck and call her gorgeous.

He frowned clearly offended by her question. "How could anyone not?"

The way he said it sounded so simple and yet felt powerful all at once.

Lucy's eyes softened.

"Natsu, I appreciate you coming to my aid." He smiled at her, but his happiness was short lived when the blonde reached out and tugged on his ear to bring him down to her level.

Lucy gave him her best scolding look.

"However, I don't need you crashing any parties on my expense."

Natsu winced but refused to be affected by her words. "I'd do it again."

So much for her scolding method.

She released his ear and placed her hands on her hips with a frown. "Why are you so defiant?"

He gave her his trademark boyish grin. "It's all part of the Dragneel package. You get rambunctious Natsu Dragneel tied to your hip for the rest of your life for a lifetime payment of food and your affection"

She rolled her eyes. "Lucky me…"

Lucy could tell he was ready to tease her further, but the sound of heavy footsteps and male voices heading in their direction caused both of them to freeze.

It was at this moment Lucy finally notice her surroundings. The sight of urinals and bathroom stalls filled her line of vision.

They were in the Men's restroom. Of course. Why wouldn't she be caught in the Men's restroom? It's been a few hours since her last embarrassing moment, so she was about due for another one.

"I doubt I'm supposed to be in here." Lucy said in a hushed tone as she looked around frantically.

Without a moment's notice, Lucy felt herself being pulled into one of the stalls.

The stall was small. A little too small. It didn't take her long to realize just how close she was to her best friend. She was completely aware of his hands that were firmly wrapped around her waist. Her breasts were pressed against his chest along with her hands and was that cologne she smelled? It smelled really good.

Lucy looked up at Natsu who stared down at her with an uneasy look.

Her eyes glanced at his lips and her breath hitched.

He was so close. All she had to do was stand on her tiptoes and… Nope! She wasn't going to do this herself. Tonight was not the night to explore her crazy impulses. She bit down on her bottom lip and looked at the fascinating spot on the stall door.

If fate would just let Lucy breathe, that would be great.

xxx

A/n: Oh boy! Natsu and Lucy are in quite a pickle, right? What's going to happen next?! Stay tuned for more and review to get me motivated!