Lucy settled into a plush seat in the private compartment they had just entered. She crossed her legs and demurely folded her hands in her lap. Natsu furtively locked the door and set down their luggage in a corner. "I'm going to let you set the pace, Natsu." Lucy patted the seat next to her. "It was your idea..."

Natsu stalked over next to Lucy and stroked the side of her face. He let his fingers work into her hair and pulled back lightly. She squirmed in her seat and uncrossed her legs. "You said we'd go at my pace, right, Luce? I want to feel you up and down my body." Natsu grasped her hands in his and pulled her to her feet. He licked the side of her neck and ran his tongue into the shell of her ear. Lucy shivered at this treatment and let out a breathy moan. Natsu nipped her earlobe and abandoned that for her parted lips.

His lips hovered over hers, almost touching. His arms snaked around her body, one stroking her back and the other caressing her buttocks. Deep brown eyes stared into onyx orbs. Hesitantly, Natsu pushed forward and allowed his tongue to press into Lucy's mouth. She gasped and curled her fingers into his vest. Their tongues duelled for long minutes as their breathing laboured. Suddenly the train jerked forward, making both mages stumble.

"I have even more reasons to hate trains now." Natsu mumbled. "Let me put my head in your lap Lucy." He groaned piteously.

"One minute, gotta unlock the door before the conductor comes to collect tickets." Lucy turned the bolt and returned to a faintly green and moaning Natsu. She sat down and gestured for Natsu to lay down. She ran her fingers through his pink hair and hummed as he settled his head into her lap. Both partners lightly dozed off and on until the train conductor announced Magnolia.

Lucy shook Natsu's shoulder. "Hey, time to get off the train." He grumbled and groggily sat up. "I wonder if Wendy, Charle and Happy are back from visiting the rest of the exceeds?"

"Yah, He usually never takes off for more than a week. It's been, five days or so? We have maybe two more days before he's up in our business." Natsu sat up and grinned at Lucy. "Want to hang out together?"

At the same time Lucy asked, "Natsu, you want to come home with me?" She giggled and exclaimed, "You want I should cook for us? I need to stock up on perishables, though...We can grab something for dinner or go out?"

"Calm down weirdo, like you even need to ask Luce." Natsu picked up both pieces of luggage. "Let's get something fresh you can cook for us. I miss your bed."

"You sure know how to flatter a girl, Natsu!" Lucy pouted. "Let's drop off our baggage and run to the market and see what's available." She led the way out of the train station, reflecting how different things were before the mission to the hot spring. I've waited so long to belong to someone, I never considered being with Natsu as seriously possible. Sure, I fantasized, but how could I not? All those muscles...Bad Lucy! "Natsu, how do you think the guild is going to react when they figure out we're together?"

Natsu shrugged, "We're almost always together, weirdo. I like being with you - and now it's even better being your boyfriend." He paused in mid-step and flushed. "Oh, you meant together in the relationship sense." Natsu scurried to catch up to Lucy's pace. "To be honest, I'm only concerned with how you feel."

Lucy stopped walking abruptly and whirled around. "Really? So when Happy teases us and Mira gets match-maker crazy and Levy tries to pry information from me..."

Natsu dropped the bags and embraced Lucy, patting her back and stroking her hair. "Hey, Luce...if they bother you, we'll deal with it together. Remember, they're nakama and they care about us. You gotta admit they've been waiting a long time to see us hook up. The betting pot must be ginormous!"

Lucy swatted Natsu on the chest. "I had no idea you paid any attention to that sort of gossip!" She tossed her hair and started walking again. "We're almost to Strawberry street. Can't wait to pay the landlady and get her off my back!"

Natsu watched Lucy's swaying hips as she marched in front of him. He tried to widen his focus, but his gaze kept returning to her amazing ass. The last time I was in Lucy's apartment I could only watch, but now...I think she'll let me touch...Why did I never notice before how awesome stairs are?

Lucy fumbled briefly with her apartment keys, then unlocked and opened the door. "What the hell!" the blonde shrieked. The kitchen area was a mess, empty cans were scattered on the counter, the garbage can was knocked over and flour dusted every available surface.

The dragon slayer quietly dropped the bags and gestured at Lucy for silence. He whispered, "You want to catch the culprit red-handed?"

She frowned and pondered why Natsu looked so unconcerned. "Oh, I think I know why there's a fish-head on my coffee table now." Lucy crossed her arms and glared. "Happy is gonna be sorry!" The celestial mage quietly made her way over to her bedroom and slowly opened the door.

A small blanket covered lump was in the center of the bed, snoring and sleep talking. "Yummy fish for you Charle! I made you a fish cake!" The snoozing cat rolled and flopped about. "...fish!"

With a rueful grin, Lucy took Natsu by the hand and led him back out into the living room. "I guess I don't have the heart to scare him awake. He sounded so cute!"

"That's just one of the things I like about you Lucy. You are very kind-hearted." Natsu surveyed the mess Happy had made. "If you want to get the food, I will start on cleaning up this mess."

Surprised, Lucy turned to her partner. "I don't think I've ever heard you volunteer to clean anything. I've seen your house, do you even know how to clean?"

Natsu smiled. "This is different. I want you in a good mood to cook." And a good mood after for 'dessert'. He picked up the fish-head and flung it in the trash. "Don't forget I like meat. It looks like Happy was into a lot of your canned goods. Use the jewels I earned for the groceries, okay Luce?"

Lucy nodded and exited after grabbing her market bag. Two steps outside the apartment door, she retraced her steps and re-entered her home.

Natsu looked up from picking up the scattered garbage in the kitchen. "You forget something?"

Lucy blushed scarlet. "Yes, come here please." Obligingly Natsu dropped the bit of rubbish into the container and walked over to Lucy. She grasped his face and kissed him sweetly with closed lips. Natsu gasped and Lucy took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, slipping her tongue into his mouth. A passionate groan from her partner reminded Lucy of her mission. "See you in a bit!" Giggling, she left.

"Weirdo..." Natsu mumbled under his breath. He turned back to the kitchen and noticed Happy standing and staring at him with widely rounded eyes.

"You liiiiiiiiiiiiiike her!" The blue cat jumped up and down excitedly. He clapped his paws and did a little jig. "I saw her kiiiiiiiiiissss you!"

"Yes, I do like her and she kissed me. How about you help clean up this mess?"

Happy giggled and flew around the room. "Natsu and Lucy! Sitting in a tree! K - I - S - S- I - N - G!"

"How happy do you think Lucy will be to see you doing that when she gets back?"

Suddenly all the joviality drained out of the exceed as he imagined Lucy yelling and giving him a Lucy-kick to the head. "Mean Lucy! Wah!" Happy ran into the kitchen and started cleaning furiously. "Hurry and help me with this mess! Do you want me to die?" Within ten minutes the kitchen was spotless and even the living room and bedroom had been tidied.

When Lucy got back with the food, Natsu and Happy were engrossed in a conversation. She closed the door behind her and they jumped up from the couch and greeted her.

"I missed you Lucy!" cried Happy. "I cleaned your kitchen for you!"

"That's great Happy, I got you a new fish." Lucy patted the exceed's head as Happy flew over and hugged her. "Do you want to eat supper with us?"

Happy exchanged a look with Natsu, who gave a slight shrug and a half smile. "Yah! I love how you cook! But I'm meeting up with Charle later for a romantic moonlit stroll." Happy jumped off and rummaged in the bag of food. "Oh boy! Salmon! Can we fire roast it?"

Both Lucy and Natsu laughed at Happy's antics. Without too much discussion, Lucy started prep work on supper and Natsu put away various dried goods. Happy perched up high and shouted out orders randomly. "Don't use too much salt! Leave on the head, it's the best part!"

Lucy glared at Happy. "Then why was there a fish-head on my coffee table when we got here?"

The cat eyed the knife in her hand as she kept cutting vegetables. He gulped and fidgeted. "I changed my mind! I forgot! I'm meeting Charle now!" Happy flew down from his perch and landed on Natsu's shoulder, whispering something in his ear and then addressing Lucy, "Can I have my salmon to go?"

With an evil grin, Lucy wrapped the fish in a newspaper. "Why yes, you can have it to go!" She flipped it at the startled cat who caught it mostly with his face. "That's for breaking into my house and making a mess!"

Crying crocodile tears, Happy flew away with his treasured fish. "Don't wait up for me! I'll let myself in later!"

"Whatever." Lucy grumbled as she kept working on preparing supper.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Natsu was slouching up against the table, just watching Lucy.

"Well, I thought we'd grill the meat on the brazier. Can you manage to light it, safely?" Lucy tempered her words with a soft smile. She set out the instrument in the centre of the table, putting the platter of meat off to the side and another of vegetables.

"Wow, this looks great!" Natsu used his flame magic to light the grill. "My mouth is watering already."

The blonde nodded, "We can start grilling as soon as the rice is cooked, in five minutes or so. What were you and Happy talking about when I got home with the groceries?"

"Nothing much, Luce. I asked him how his visit went and how things were with Charle." Natsu chuckled and Lucy stared questioningly at him. "He never gives up on her. Every day he tries to give her a fish she doesn't want, but he never gets discouraged. Oh yah, Happy saw you come back in and tickle my tonsils."

Lucy's mouth gaped open and her face went chalk white. "Urg...ah...W-what?"

Patiently Natsu repeated himself. "Happy saw you come back in and kiss me. Don't worry, I had a little talk with him and he understands." He stood up straight and went to the cupboard where the plates were stashed, picking up two and the cutlery to go with them. Natsu put them on the table beside where Lucy was sitting and leaned over her shoulder. "I told him to talk to you before he runs off at the mouth."

"Oh! That's very thoughtful! I'm going to take a page out of your book and try to not worry about what other people think." Lucy blushed and fidgeted with the cutlery. "I'm concerned with how you feel, too."

Brushing his lips to her ear he whispered, "Play your cards right and you can find out after dinner how I feel."