21 Is my favorite number :D

This chapter is longer~ :3 Hope you enjoy! Also, to all those faithful reviewers and faves and story alerters~I can never thank you enough! :3

Disclaimer: I own nothing~!

"Gate of the Water Bearer! Aquarius!"

A flash of light and a swish of blue hair, with it the swift motion of a wave and the lake was torn asunder. When the typhoon settled, it was a distraught mess. The contents of the lake were sprawled along the shore and the pine trees surrounding were soaked to the bristle.

Lucy spat out a mouthful of water as she slowly rose to her feet, pushing off the sandy earth and swiping off the debris. Nearby, a lake trout flopped helplessly to the nearest puddle. Her opponent laid baffled and immobile several feet away.

Sighing, Lucy turned, jumping when she was met with Aquarius who, not only hadn't closed her own gate as usual, but was smiling.

"Word around town is you got yourself a boyfriend, finally," The spirit teased, Lucy frowning as she noticed how Aquarius specifically had thrown in that last word. Aquarius narrowed her eyes dangerously, and Lucy shuddered.

"H-he's not my boy-"

"No doubt there's something wrong with him," Aquarius shrugged, ignoring Lucy completely.

"Wh-what's that supposed to mean-!"

"But it is an accomplishment at all that you managed to find someone willing to put up with you..."

Fuming, Lucy decided against arguing with Aquarius. Instead, she raised the spirit's key, ready for a forced gate dismissal.

"But now that you do have a boyfriend, I suppose we can go together!"

Lucy paused.

"What?"

"A double date!" Aquarius chimed, her rough demeanor disappearing as she thought of her own boyfriend.

Lucy jumped.

"D-double date?"

"That sounds perfect! That way, I can meet this chump of yours, and you can see what two people in love really are like," The spirit smiled smugly, Lucy avoiding her glance as she decided against correcting or arguing with anything the spirit said.

Aquarius raised her hand in dismissal. She also pretended not to hear the spirit when said woman mumbled something about "how much pay", no doubt in disbelief Lucy had found anyone that would tolerate her, in her opinion.

"Saturday night, then. We'll meet you, Scorpio and I, and I'll judge for myself this boyfriend of yours."

"W-wait, Aquarius, I don't think-"

But Aquarius was already mid-vanishing, closing her own gate (Like anything she ever did, on her own terms).

"We'll see you then!" She retorted, vanishing in a glimmer of bubbles.

Lucy was left gawking, irritated by her spirit's self invitation, not even listening as Natsu ran towards her to see how her end of the job had faired.

"The beach, huh?" Hibiki smiled, his hands buried in the pockets of his shorts.

"Aquarius's idea..." Lucy mumbled, her chin buried in her knees as she sat, pouting. The sound of crashing waves rolled over the silence between herself and Hibiki. Her toes wiggled impatiently through sand, and the distant cawing of seagulls also added to the atmosphere. The air held a strong scent of salt and sea, and the beach was littered with seaweed and shells.

Hibiki, remaining silent, looked about their spot a top a small sand dune, overlooking the sea.

"So, Aquarius and Scorpio..."

Lucy sighed.

"Again, Aquarius's idea...l-look, before you even meet them, I think I should warn you-"

Lucy squirmed uncomfortably, fumbling at the two keys in her hand. What's worse, she wore that accursed pink bathing suit underneath her loosely tied shirt and shorts. (The memory of that day in the dressing booth was still a daunting thing that she avoided thinking about, when she could). Hibiki wore shorts and a white shirt. She blinked, noticing this fully for the first time.

"You're not in a suit...actually, you're in nothing remotely like a suit!"

Hibiki smiled, secretly glad that the tension of Lucy's apprehension had disappeared a moment, distracted, before remarking,

"Lucy, it'd be a bit funny to be at the beach, in a suit, don't you think?"

She almost retorted when the flash of light and a stir in the breeze alerted the two to the newest arrivals. Standing just at the shoreline, where the waves rolled gently in, was Aquarius and Scorpio.

Being within the presence of her boyfriend, Aquarius was bubbly and all smiles as she waved energetically,

"Lucy-! Over here!"

Lucy jumped to her feet as Hibiki followed her towards the spirits.

"You sure two spirits at once won't tire you?"

Lucy shook her head.

"They're here of their own accord..."

"We are glad to see you again, Lucy!" Scorpio called as the couple approached.

Aquarius, startled, eyed Hibiki, giving him a thorough look before smirking in approval.

"He's not bad, Lucy...I'm surprised you snatched one this good looking."

Lucy snapped.

"Though, no doubt, there's something off about his personality...or, perhaps, he has-"

"We are Scorpio and Aquarius," Scorpio greeted towards Hibiki, ignorant of his girl friend's teasing and Lucy's quickly-building anger towards said remarks. Hibiki smiled, bowing.

"Hibiki Laytis." Hibiki flashed a grin between the two spirits. "I'm honored to be in the presence of two of the golden zodiac keys..."

"Nonsense! Any friend of Lucy's is our friend, too! Shall we?" Scorpio smirked, motioning towards the waves.

Lucy smirked, nodding as she shed her shorts and shirt, kicking them onto the beach. Hibiki eyed her suit and, well aware that he was doing so, Lucy avoided facing him herself. She was conscious of his glance as she shed the shorts and shirt, but kept her chest fixated forward, walking right past him as he, too, threw aside his shirt. To Scorpio, she added,

"Really, I'm honored you both joined us, I hope this isn't too much strain on you two-"

"Nonsense! We're glad! Aquarius, babe, if you will?"

The woman slinked her arm about Scorpio's, falling in step beside him (More like leaning into support as her tail swished amongst the waves, following his step). Hibiki held out his own arm towards Lucy, following the protocol. She silently took it, the two stepping behind the spirits as water rose and fell around their ankles.

"The water is perfect! Don't you think, sweetie?" Aquarius cooed from the waves, Scorpio nodding in approval. Lucy smirked to herself, grateful that for once the spirit wasn't solely focused on irritation directed towards her master. She took a step further towards the water, her toes barely being licked by the waves, and instantly felt her feet sink in the soft sand.

She recognized that all sorts of shells and whatnot crawled every time the waves receded. Noticing such, she bent to pick at a peculiar shell, blue and cream colored, before the waves or sand could bury it forever.

Lifting it, she peered just as whatever slimy critter slunk back into cover, before smiling, admiring the shell, and dropping it again.

"Do you know how to find sand dollars?"

Lucy jumped, startled, to face Hibiki.

"Sand dollars?"

He nodded, wadding a bit past her in the ocean.

"You bury your feet in the sand, feel for them, and you can almost always find one. Here, I'll show you."

Taking the hand held out to her, the two trudged forward as the waves intensity increased. Standing waist deep in the water, Lucy clung to Hibiki's arm as a roll of waves barraged her backwards. Hibiki stood firm.

"It's c-cold..." She shuddered, to no one in particular.

Hibiki just smiled, firmly adjusting himself to face Lucy, his back to the ocean as he blocked the waves.

"Here, I've got you."

Lucy blinked, noticing how his grip tightened on her arms. She tried not to look down and stare at his chest, silently hoping he was doing the same. She did, however, notice how his blonde locks clung to his face, framing his eyes which softly looked at her. That, and that they were standing close, so Hibiki could protect Lucy from the waves. Blushing, she looked down at their feet, though saw nothing past the sea foam and dark ocean water.

"S-so, I just dig my toes in..?"

She wiggled under his grip, as another wave pushed him into her.

"We have to be a bit further out. Here, follow me."

He slowly turned, switching her hand into his other free hand to tug her along behind him as he pushed forward. She hovered at his back, hesitant to touch his arm or shoulder anymore so than necessary. When he stopped, she jolted a bit to keep from hitting him as he again turned to face her, instead trying to focus on finding a sand dollar.

"Oh! I think I got it!"

She bent to pick at it, but the waves hit again and Hibiki surged forward. Startled by the impact, Lucy swayed back to avoid crashing awkwardly into Hibiki, loosing her footing and any chance at the sand dollar. Hibiki reacted quickly to catch her, but a second wave sent him down with her. Crashing, Lucy landed on her bottom, sitting up as Hibiki awkwardly bent into her lap, sea foam receding around them.

"I-I lost it..."

Hibiki and Lucy stared at one another, frozen in their compromising position until a third wave rolled over them, crashing Hibiki head first into Lucy's chest as she herself was pushed onto her back. Despite this, they both burst into laughter as Hibiki stumbled to stand, trying to lift Lucy simultaneously before a fourth and final wave conquered the couple.

By this point, Lucy was holding her stomach from laughter.

"Here! I think I got one!"

Without wasting a moment, Hibiki bent at Lucy's feet, just as the waves settled, and came up with a round, rough textured mineral-looking thing. He handed the peculiar shape to Lucy, who finally had managed to stand.

"A sand dollar!"

Lucy eyed the peculiar star-flowered design of the creature, before smiling and taking it from Hibiki's hands.

"Now what?"

Hibiki shrugged.

"You dry it out, keep it."

"D-dry it out? Isn't it a creature?"

Hibiki laughed.

"Or...you can let it go."

A loud plop announced Lucy's decision, and Hibiki laughed.

Slipping his hand in her own, he tugged at her to follow him further into the ocean.

"Come on. Jump when the waves crash, alright? Just follow me..."

Lucy nodded in faith.

Aquarius and Scorpio were distant dots, playing further out in the ocean. Lucy's head bobbed just above the waves, Hibiki swimming nearby. He smiled, nodding his head for her to follow him.

"C'mon, there's a sand bank over here!"

Lucy followed him, stroking to where he was before she felt sand rise under her and she could comfortably stand. Now stepping, she walked over to where Hibiki stood, the water hardly at their waists.

Hibiki smirked as Lucy approached, and she cocked a brow.

"What?"

"I got you in the water again."

Lucy scowled.

"This," she motioned to the suit, "Is meant for the water. Those dresses weren't!"

However, the invitation for Hibiki to check out Lucy's attire and, additionally, body, was a mistake on Lucy's part.

Hibiki's eyes trailed from her shoulders down, lingering at her legs before traveling back up to her face and eyes. She blushed at the distant smirk that graced his mouth, and she subtly angled her body away from him, not liking the hungry look he was currently bestowing upon her. She heard the water crunch and stir as he approached her, cautious as he reached to right where she was standing.

"The look suits you."

She blushed further when he lifted a hand to her face, hesitating just above her eye as the tips of his fingers traced along her wet hairline, the wind suddenly seeming much colder as it blew past. Lucy then got an idea.

Just as Hibiki leaned in, Lucy dove for his stomach.

With a crash, the two fell back into the ocean, Lucy's tackle winding Hibiki as foam circled around him. He emerged, throwing his head back and running a hand through his soaked hair as Lucy laughed a little way from him.

"That's pay back For pushing me into the fountain!"

"You sure you want to start this?" Hibiki smirked.

"P-put me down!" Lucy laughed, pounding her fists on Hibiki's back. He had lifted her onto his shoulder, locking his arms around her legs as he carried her, thrown onto his back, towards the beach.

"You're heavy!" He laughed, stumbling over waves, careful not to drop her. Lucy jammed an elbow into his spine, but he refused to drop her just yet, laughing as she fussed harder.

"Hibiki!" She whined, just as he stumbled the final few steps where the waves reached the sand. He fell to his knees, practically throwing Lucy onto her back in the sand. The foam settled in around them before backing out again, Hibiki trapping Lucy under him as he planted either palm above her shoulders. Lucy smirked playfully, final remnants of a giggle rolling out from her throat as she looked up at Hibiki, who in turn smiled back.

Then it dawned on Hibiki the position they were in exactly.

Glistening from just emerging from the water, Lucy's entire body was a shimmering showcase of flesh, smooth and teasing. The suit clung heavily to her body, and Hibiki couldn't recall if it ever had showed that much skin before either. Her hair was wet and clung to her face, her eyes closed unsuspectingly and her lips parted in a small pout, panting in exhaustion that only added to the allusion.

Her eyes flickered open and her expression seemed to embody innocence. Hibiki felt the beat of his heart as everything else in him stopped, his pulse rising as Lucy didn't even squirm underneath him. The suggestive angle of Lucy beneath him only did wonders in his favor, and he felt the blood rush to his face. Water rose, just to his wrists, and seaweed settled not far off.

He was straddling Lucy, his knees on either side of her hips, and he felt her adjust her legs, squirming slightly, which only caused to rub her hips against his thighs. This tiny action startled Hibiki, but he refused to move. Too tempting, with what little sunlight was left, hitting her so perfectly that she seemed to glow. Like all those times before, the moment had come and it was long overdue.

Lucy continued to stare, waiting for his next move. Not wanting to disappoint, he leaned in, his body pressing down with him.

A cough startled the two, and Hibiki almost cursed out loud, jumping away from Lucy.

Looking behind them, Hibiki caught Scorpio eyeing him, a glint of tease in his eyes while Aquarius clung just beside him, an equally mischievous look flickering on her face as well. Lucy blushed, immediately standing to her feet and brushing sand off her back. Hibiki remained squatted in the water, biting back any remark or word he had for the spirits' interruption. He very well knew Aquarius could send him, and inadvertently Lucy, far from shore, with the ocean as her vessel.

"You two up for some friendly sport?"

Lucy perked up, her eyes opening.

"Sport..?"

"Beach volleyball?"

Hibiki eyed the ball, looking between the net, his partner, and their opponents.

"It's only fair, evening up the playing field this way, no?"

Scorpio winked from beside him. Hibiki frowned, eyeing the two girls across the net. Lucy nervously looked to Aquarius.

"Don't go easy on us just 'cause, Babe!" Scorpio called, smiling towards his significant other. Aquarius giggled in response before throwing Lucy a death glare.

"I better not loose because of you!"

"Hii!"

Hibiki took a stance, preparing the ball.

"What exactly are the rules to this...?" He thought out loud, serving the ball across the net.

A crushing wave spiked the ball at his feet in reply, Hibiki jumping to narrowly avoid the meteor.

Aquarius smirked victoriously, water basin in hand as the unnatural surging wave settled back, a soaked Lucy standing irritably on her hands and knees beside her ("How'd I even get caught up in that?")

"There are no rules!"

Hibiki learned early on that it was best to not be anywhere near Aquarius, whether she was serving or spiking or setting. In fact, if Aquarius went for the ball at all, it was best to step back and let Scorpio handle the counter attack. Lucy, while nothing compared to the supernatural strength of her counterparts, also had quite the arm and her sets were usually clean and carried out effectively.

Hibiki was no natural, and his dives for the ball usually ended badly. However, when he got in the hang of using Archive shield to solidly block or bounce the ball back, he slowly came to the conclusion of how to properly play the game.

That still did him no good as the girls won, a wide margin of victory as Scorpio shrugged at the loss and Aquarius acknowledged Lucy in their celebration.

"You put up a good enough fight," Aquarius belittled him, Hibiki smirking at the compliment. Scorpio clapped him, harshly, upon the back.

"We are a good team!"

Lucy giggled, approaching the now cringing Hibiki as the spirits stepped aside for some intimate compliments.

"You weren't so bad out there..."

Hibiki tried to smile through his aching back.

"C'mon, we're heading towards the beach now."

The driftwood dropped at Lucy's feet before she let out a sigh, plopping to sit beside Aquarius, who sat up with her fin curled beside her, as Hibiki fiddled with the wood, attempting to start a spark. Scorpio was constructing some immense structure that neither Hibiki nor Lucy could identify.

The sun had set completely by now.

"He's not a bad catch, Lucy," Aquarius chimed, her voice low so only Lucy beside her could hear. Lucy shot a glance to Hibiki, avoiding facing Aquarius.

"H-he's very...nice. He's just a friend, though-"

"Ohohoho!" Aquarius laughed maliciously, Lucy shivering at the sound. Frightened, she eyed Aquarius, worried at what went through the scarier woman's mind.

"Is that so? Didn't look that way earlier..."

Lucy blushed and hid her face from Aquarius, but the spirit already got the reaction she wanted, and was going to run with it.

"If it wasn't for us spirits looking out for you, who knows what would've happened." She smirked wickedly.

"I-it's not like that!" Lucy exclaimed, a bit too loud as it caught the attention of both Scorpio and Hibiki.

Aquarius let out a low guffaw, smirking as she sat back, satisfied with how flustered Lucy's reaction had become.

"No shame in finally becoming a woman!"

Lucy snarled.

"I told you," She kept her voice low this time, "It's not like-"

"I say it how I see it," Aquarius shot back, her eyes blazing with fury. Lucy quickly backed off, determining it wasn't worth it to strike a fight with Aquarius over, sighing in defeat as Aquarius swooned, waving at Scorpio (Who designated his sand sculpture to Aquarius).

"Lucy is great, isn't she?"

Hibiki looked up at the approaching spirit.

"Y-ya...She is."

Scorpio winked, squatting beside the nonexistent fire.

"We saw you two..."

Blushing, Hibiki said nothing.

"We know, you really like her!"

Hibiki jumped.

"I-I-!"

Laughing, he shook his head.

"Is that something to be embarrassed about?"

Pausing, Hibiki smiled, eyeing a flustered Lucy who currently was shaking her head at Aquarius.

"No, it's not."

The two watched the unsuspecting girls a moment before Scorpio added, as an after thought,

"We wonder what they're talking about..."

Both males turned their attention back to the sound of a spark.

"Ah! The fire!"

A brief gust of wind took care of that.

Dejected, Hibiki sulked, giving up.

Lucy smirked, watching Scorpio spin Aquarius out and back into his hands, then flailing about with his tail gun swinging violently behind him. Aquarius laughed, splashing above the shallow water as the two went about their makeshift dance. Despite the dim light (Courtesy of Scorpio, the small fire was), their faces lit up.

Lucy jerked when she felt something fall over her shoulders, turning to see Hibiki draping his shirt over her as he plopped beside her in the sand.

She said nothing as he sighed, leaning back to admire the dark stretch of ocean before them.

"She's not as bad as you made her out to be," Hibiki smirked, Lucy scoffing.

"When she's on a date, she's fine..." She muttered, the back of her mind cautious of whether Aquarius would hear her or not.

Hibiki leaned forward, setting his elbows on his knees.

"I'm glad we did this...this double date."

Lucy flinched.

"We should do it again sometime!"

Hibiki laughed at Lucy's glaring reaction, before a wicked retort came to mind.

Smirking, Lucy countered, "I don't want to show favoritism amongst my spirits...perhaps I'll call out Loki next time."

It was that moment that Hibiki sternly forced Lucy to make a binding contract that they would have no more spirits present on one of their dates.

(They didn't keep that promise)

A/N: Random facts: My ex and I only ever went on dates to the movies, with his family, eveyr weekend practically. I only other "special" date we ever had was one time I went to the beach with him. Not that our date went anything like Hibiki and Lucy's, but there was a bit of influence from that experience in this chapter ;p (Not that any of ya'll wanted to know that! XD)

I knew from the beginning I wanted a double date between Scorpio and Aquarius, and I of course ahd to do the cliche beach date. But I liked how I combined the two. I'll admit, I'm terrible at writing those two however, and I'm kinda sad they weren't as prominent in the date as I'd originally intended...

Also, the ending is a bit weak to me, but :/ Oh well...And what kind of chapter of mine would this be without a tease moment thrown in there followed by soem third-wheel interruption? :p ;) Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'm working on the next couple, hopefully I'll update later this weekened maybe..? Otherwise, Happy Easter!