A/N: Not gonna lie to you guys this is pure filler! Just needed to get from A to B, and I'm not entirely happy with this chapter! I saw someone reviewed saying that some of the parts are really OOC, I'm trying my best, but Juvia for instance, I'm trying to make her more...well her. More than just Gray's groupie really. As for the others I'm trying my best but I'm new to the FT fandom, so I'm sorry if some parts aren't that good.

Also, to the really polite Guest who asked me if I'm updating today...ta-daaaaaahhh! ;)

A/N: Update: I forgot to tell you guys I won't be able to update on Monday so the next update will be Thursday but it's a REALLY long chapter so I'm hoping you guys won't mind!

A/N: Update 2: Okay so the guest reviewer who said some parts are OOC just sent me a really lovely review and I totally get what they mean now, so thank you for clarifying and being nice about it 3 It totally made up for the other thing I want to talk to you guys about. I probably shouldn't be doing this when I'm upset and angry and I wouldn't mind if it was actually constructive but whatever. I'd like to go off on my break without having to look at anymore of these comments for a while.

I had one reviewer on the last chapter saying "WTF you did with Natsu. Now he is so weak and Juvia so annoying aghhh" I get that Natsu isn't his usual self, but the way I see it after watching all the times he's been given shit for destroying things...it's gotta be bugging him and there is like no-one who's actually trying to be there for him, so I figured it was okay to allow him to open himself up to Juvia, someone who he would potentially find easier to talk to about it than Lucy or Gray or Erza. Natsu's a badass but still, he is allowed to have feelings other than intense rage. So I kind of shook this comment off but that same reviewer has come back and said...

"No. One thing is Juvia without Gray and you just made Juvia hit Gray for a stupid reason. That isn't 'Oh wow Juvia' she was rude and disgusting and Natsu indefense for thw same ridiculous reason. lughhh"

Then we have another Guest who may or may not be the same one as above: "Your fic is so OOC since they left Natsu for destructive. Really stupid and OOC reason"

I have never had such a bad review before, everyone's actually been really nice and supportive so it's a bit of a downer that someone feels my writing is this shitty. I don't even know how to respond to this. She didn't hit him. She just told him off for being horrible to Natsu. I'm sorry that I wanted to make there be more to Juvia than her obsession with Gray. That I wanted her to actually have a friend. I'm sorry you feel like you need to read this and berate me for not having Juvia worship Gray every waking moment of the day. I could make a comment right there about you but I'll restrain myself. If you don't like it then don't read it.

Now I thought I'd reasoned it out pretty well, but evidently not. So. If this fic is so dire, and stupid, and you guys aren't enjoying it, I can just pull the plug on it? If you don't want me to carry on then I won't. Just let me know because I actually work really hard on this and right now I'm feeling like why should I bother. Seeing as the nasty reviews keep rolling in, I'll see you guys Thursday and we'll go from there. Thank you to all the supportive members of this fandom who have brought a smile to my face with their lovely reviews, it's incredibly appreciated.

Natsu burst out of the guild and looked around, Juvia wasn't too far away, and he jogged to catch up with her.

"Juvia! Are you okay?"

"Juvia is fine. Juvia just think that Juvia went too far"

"Well Natsu thinks that Juvia was AWESOME!" Natsu fist pumped.

"Aye sir!" Happy chimed in.

"But….but…..Gray will never speak to Juvia again" she sniffled. "Juvia wanted to defend Natsu, but Juvia got so angry and Juvia couldn't help herself. Gray was so horrible, Juvia thinks that Gray is….not who Juvia thought he was"

"Juvia it's okay. After you left frosty apologised to me, something made him mad and I was just there. He said he was sorry and I punched him" Natsu finished matter of factly.

"You punched him!?" Juvia's water magic flared dangerously around her.

"What? He said I could, it would have been rude to refuse, duh" Juvia stared at him before bursting in to peals of laughter, her magic dissipating.

"Juvia thinks Natsu has the strangest logic sometimes!"

"Thanks!" Natsu replied cheerfully. "But listen, don't worry about the icicle, he looked all sad after you left, I think he felt bad for how he treated you and that was before I threatened him….."

"You did what!?"

"Hey, did you think I wouldn't defend my friend too!? He can't talk to you like that! The old Juvia would have agreed with whatever he said but you….you told him off and you insulted him and your eye didn't even do the twitchy thing"

Juvia sighed and looked down. "Yes…it did"

"Nah that was an anger twitch, that's allowed"

"Natsu would know" Happy sang. Natsu chose to ignore him.

"You did good Juvia!" Natsu said, reassuringly.

"Juvia doesn't feel like it. Juvia is glad to have defended Natsu, Juvia is just…."

"I get it. You're sad Gray acted like a jerk and you had to fight with him. But you where a real friend Juvia! Plus you totally scared the crap out of everyone" Natsu laughed.

"Juvia did, didn't she?" she smiled.

"Trust me, Gray's not gonna be mad at you, okay?"

"He liiiiiiikes you" Happy chimed in and was ignored.

"Okay." Juvia nodded, "Juvia would like to go home now"

"Happy and I'll walk ya! C'mon" Natsu said tugging Juvia along behind him as they set off in companionable silence.

The next day…..

Natsu was sitting in the guild with Juvia, the pair of them eating breakfast and recounting all the action from their job to various different guild members, who stopped by the table to chat. Lucy hurried in to the guild and looked around for Natsu. She was worried about him, he hadn't shown up at her apartment like he usually he did and he hadn't been there this morning. She finally spotted him. Of course. He's with Juvia. But…he's just being a good friend. It must have been rough for her going up against Gray like that, it took a lot of courage. Remember Lucy…be nice. Lucy bounced up to the table, smile fixed in place.

"Hey guys!"

"Yo Lucy!"

"Hello Lucy"

"Juvia….I didn't get the chance to yesterday, but I want to thank you for my books!"

"Oh…it was Natsu really-" Juvia said, bashfully.

"Yeah but you helped him pick them out, so thank you" Lucy said sincerely. Juvia looked flustered.

"You're welcome Lucy" Lucy nodded and sat down next to Natsu. Lucy listened while Natsu, with the occasional comment from Juvia, recounted their battle with the Leviathan to Romeo, she couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. Although some of the other guild members could have done without Natsu's wild gesturing. She winced as he nearly hit Elfman. Twice.

"Juvia is going to get a fresh drink, would you like anything?" she asked Lucy politely.

"Oh no, I'm good, thanks though!" Now was her chance. Romeo had just moved off to greet Wendy and there where no other members lurking in sight. She had Natsu alone. "Hey Natsu, I need to talk to you about something"

"Sure Lucy" he turned to her expectantly.

"Are you okay?"

"How do you mean?" his brows where creased in confusion. She forced herself to ignore how adorable he looked.

"It's just that, usually you guys are in my apartment when I get back, but you weren't there last night, and then you weren't here this morning and I was worried, I guess" she tried for a nonchalant shrug.

"Oh that, don't worry about it Lucy! Happy and I walked Juvia back to Fairy Hills, and it was so close to home, and we where so tired, we decided to head there instead of bothering you" You don't bother me. Lucy thought.

"And then I said I'd have breakfast with Juvia in case Gray showed up, some support kinda thing ya know?"

"Oh. Oh that's…great" Lucy finished feebly. She'd actually missed Natsu and had been disappointed when he hadn't shown up. "So…do you wanna go on a job?" she asked hopefully.

"I thought you got all the jewel you needed from the one you took with Erza, Wendy and Gray?" Natsu said, Lucy had to give him credit for not sounding the slightest bit bitter.

"Well I did, but you know…I thought you might want to….uh…..go on another one?" she finished feebly. Happy snickered and before he could open his mouth Lucy shot him a look.

"Aren't you tired?"

"No!" Lucy answered quickly, "I've rested up, I'm good to go! Whatever you wanna do….fight monsters, catch bad guys…I'm totally ready!" Natsu was eyeing her strangely.

"Lucy…..are you okay?" Lucy flushed.

"I'm fine" she said in a squeaky voice.

"You don't usually want to go on jobs unless it's for your rent" Natsu stated.

"Well yeah, but I figure I can build up some jewel and be better prepared for next time!" It can't have been this hard for Juvia to get Natsu to go on a job with her, why was he being so difficult, didn't he want to spend time with her? I bet Juvia asked and he said yes with none of this interrogation. Yeah. He probably did…because you upset him and he wanted to get away, and take his mind off it. He's not wrong though, I do only beg him to go on jobs when I need jewel and I do act like he bothers me...but not for the reason he's thinking.

"She totally wants to spend time with you…..because she liiiiiiiiiikes you" Happy snickered then moved out of reach when Lucy turned to scowl at him.

"Oh if you wanna hang out we don't have to take a job!" Natsu said excitedly.

"No, no, I want to! I know you had a tonne of fun with Juvia so I thought-"

"We could go to the-" Natsu and Lucy cut each other off as they spoke at the same time, and before they could try again, Juvia's panicked voice rang out.

"Natsu! Gray is here" Juvia said as she reached the table, drink in hand sloshing over the sides of the cup from her speedy trip. Lucy and Natsu twisted in their seats to see Gray enter the guild and start to approach the table. They turned back to face Juvia who was not so subtly freaking out.

"Juvia doesn't think she can do this, Juvia knows what Natsu said but now that Gray is here-"

"Juvia calm down, it'll be fine. Lucy and I are here!" Natsu threw his arm around Lucy's shoulders. She had to stop herself from snuggling in to him and she thought she felt Natsu tighten his initial hold a little bit when she didn't jerk away. She focused on Juvia.

"It's fine Juvia, Gray knows he was a jerk last night! I think he was actually impressed that you stood up to him, I know I was...and the rest of the guild!"

"Really?" Juvia asked hopefully. Lucy smiled back. I'm an idiot. Of course there's nothing going on with Juvia and Natsu. Juvia's totally obsessed with Gray. She can't have feelings for Natsu too. But then…I did read that book about that girl who-STOP IT.

"Juvia" Gray's voice shook Lucy out of her thoughts. The three of them turned to look at Gray. Natsu still had his arm wrapped around Lucy's shoulders and while he was distracted she allowed herself to shift a little bit closer to him. Gray took a breath and when he spoke it was as if he'd been practising his little speech a while.

"Look, I'm really sorry for last night. I already apologised to Natsu. I just….took out my anger on him and I shouldn't have because you where right. I was being out of line and Natsu didn't deserve it, not when I've lost track of how many buildings I've destroyed with my magic. I was rude to you because I knew you where right and...and...because...I uh.." Gray looked like he was steeling himself to say something but at the last minute he changed his mind, "and you didn't deserve that either. You where only sticking up for your friend." Gray attempted a smile, "I also wanted to thank you for my gift, Natsu said it was your idea...I love it" he said quietly. Juvia flushed.

"It's…it's okay" Juvia said quietly. "Juvia is glad you where pleased with your present" she said, not looking at him. Gray sighed.

"I'm not mad at you or anything okay? I'm glad you made a friend besides Gajeel cos he-"

"I'd watch what I say if I were you, I'm right here" Gajeel rumbled from his usual corner, munching on a pile of iron. Gray grimaced.

"Uh..yeah. So uh...it was uh..." Gray stumbled over his words, while Nasu and Happy smirked at him. "I uhh...I think it's pretty cool you wanted to defend your friend. Even if it is Natsu" Gray finished lamely, throwing in an eye roll.

"HEY! Too soon buddy" Natsu cried, outraged. Juvia chuckled, then smiled at Gray.

"Juvia hopes everyone can get along now"

"I hope so too" the four of them jumped as Erza's voice came from behind them. Lucy taking the opportunity to move that little bit closer to Natsu, his arm still a comforting weight around her shoulders.

"How did you not know she was there ya idiot?!" Gray cried.

"Because I don't have eyes in the back of my head ya pervy popsicle!"

"I thought you where supposed to be a dragon slayer, what happened to your super sensitive nose and your freaky hearing huh?"

"WHY YOU-" Natsu lit up his free fist, but made no attempt to get up or remove his other arm from Lucy. Something that didn't escape Lucy or Juvia's notice. Happy opened his mouth and Juvia turned to him with a menacing look that had the cat fleeing towards Carla.

"You two wouldn't be arguing….would you?" Erza said menacingly, having moved around to stand at the side of the table, fingering the hilt of her new sword.

"No m'am" they said in unison.

"Aaaannd everything's back to normal" Lucy laughed.

"I've found a job, I thought we could use the experience to make up for the last few days. Do some bonding." Erza slapped a flier down on the table.

HELP!

Our village is being terrorised by a gang of bandits and we urgently require assistance in their capture and arrest.

Reward:

6,000,000J!

"Bandits? That doesn't sound too hard, let's go!" Lucy said eagerly. Natsu gave her another funny look.

"Since when do you get excited for bandits?" he questioned, but Erza didn't give Lucy a chance to respond.

"I believe the bandits have some sort of magical power, but that's all I know. It's not going to be as easy as it sounds" Lucy's excitement didn't falter.

"Are you okay Lucy?" Gray asked, looking at her questioningly. Lucy was sure she felt Natsu's hold tighten that time because she ended up being tugged in to his chest. She looked up at his face, but his expression hadn't changed. Huh. Lucy turned back to Gray.

"I'm just excited to go on a job with you guys!" Gray raised his eyebrows, looking between her and Natsu, but he didn't say anything. Juvia's had more fun with him on one job than I have in a while. I want to have that with Natsu, I don't want him to hate going on missions with me. I don't want him to think I only want to spend time with him when I need Jewel. Juvia can fight with him and hold her own, I need to show him that I can too. I know he doesn't care about that kind of thing, but I do. I don't want to be second choice to Juvia. Lucy thought sadly.

"Natsu?" Juvia's voice pulled Lucy from her thoughts. Lucy looked at Natsu who was being suspiciously quiet and studying the flier.

"I'm not sure you guys, I might sit this one out"

"What?! You have to come!" Lucy cried in to his ear, making him remained silent studying Natsu.

"I'm not really feeling like it. You guys go, I'll stay here" he shrugged removing his arm from Lucy's shoulders.

"What's wrong with you?" Gray chimed in.

"Juvia thinks you are what's wrong with Natsu" Juvia said carelessly. Gray looked at her with surprise.

"Pardon me? Are we going to fight again? I thought we'd resolved this"

"You didn't really fight the last time, cos if you had Juvia would have totally kicked your ass" Natsu commented. Gray ignored him, completely focused on Juvia.

"No. Juvia means that last time Natsu went on a mission with you-"

"OH! No Natsu, it's fine!" Lucy said reassuringly, reaching to touch his hand.

"Yeah, until I destroy something and you guys get all angry at me again"

"That was a one time thing okay, we where all exhausted and frustrated and under a lot of pressure and...worried about you" Gray explained, the last part costing him. Natsu just shrugged and fidgeted in his seat.

"I'll go on another job with Juvia, it's fine guys" Lucy felt a stab of jealously. Oh so he'll go on a job with Juvia with no fuss. Gray wasn't sure he liked how casually Natsu threw that comment out there either.

"Juvia would love to go on another job with Natsu" Juvia said promptly. Gray and Lucy scowled and Erza surveyed them all, missing nothing. Dammit Mira.

"We are all going on this job" Erza said with finality. "Juvia is a part of our Team now, remember Natsu? Everything will be fine" Erza tried to sound reassuring rather than commanding.

"Juvia's on our team?" Lucy said blankly. Well….so much for spending time with Natsu.

"You joined our team?" Gray asked, surprised.

"Natsu wanted Juvia to join…." she trailed off uncertainly at the look in Gray's eyes. Oh so she joined for Natsu. Great. Gray clenched his fist.

"I couldn't break up Team NaVia! Besides, I'd never abandon a friend!" Natsu said cheerfully, and harmlessly. He hadn't meant the comment as a jab, he'd just said how he felt. But Lucy, Erza and Gray felt that comment strike home. They'd abandoned him…the one person who would never abandon anyone. He'd never have abandoned any of them. They all felt guilt wash over them.

"So it's decided? We'll take the job?" Erza asked. Natsu looked at Juvia, who nodded at him encouragingly.

"Alright, I'm ALL FIRED UP!" Natsu cheered, mood restored thanks to the thought of another job with his new friend. All his previous worries forgotten.

"Juvia will go too"

"Yeah, I'm in" Gray said. Someone needs to keep an eye on Juv-that pink haired idiot.

"Sure" Lucy just nodded. She'd wanted to spend some time with Natsu, even taking a team job would have been nice because she'd still have had Natsu to herself without Juvia hanging around. But now Juvia was coming too. Juvia who could help Natsu in a way Lucy couldn't. Well…..Aquarius probably could but…she shuddered at the thought. No, be positive Lucy! Juvia will be fawning all over Gray as usual, she won't be with Natsu that much. You can still hang out with him, bond…it'll be fine. Probably.