Chapter 14: A Day at the Beach

When Lucy Heartfilia woke up in her bed, she found a note pinned on the wall beside her. She recognized Natsu Dragneel's penmanship.

"Hey, Luce! We're sailing to Caracole Island. I'm a little bummed that you're not coming with us, but you take care, yeah? Natsu."

Lucy glanced at the clock that hung above her bedroom door; it was already past seven. So, she had slept for about six hours or so. She took a deep breath and was satisfied that her lungs didn't hurt anymore from sleep deprivation. In fact, she felt well-rested.

Wow, Caracole Island! Isn't that a famous tourist resort?

A wave of regret suddenly washed over her. The thought of her friends enjoying their time in a fancy beach and eating mouth-watering treats that couldn't possibly be sold anywhere in Fiore made her groan in annoyance.

Well, then. Maybe I should go to Akane beach myself tomorrow morning!

Lucy smiled to herself and got up from the bed. Then, she started rummaging for different pairs of swimwear and some clothes in her closet.

Yeah, there was no need to get all gloomy. She should spend a couple of days in someplace where she could relax and recharge. Her rent wasn't due until next week, so she still had time to find a job after her vacation. Maybe, she could take solo missions.

"There!" she said brightly, looking at her luggage for tomorrow's trip to Akane beach. She was all set. All her favorite bikini pairs, beach clothes, sunscreen, and hair blower—the important things—were packed.

Now, she should start making dinner. As she stepped outside of her bedroom, the first thing she saw in the main room of her apartment was her fluffy couch. For some reason, it made her stomach do a backflip.

"Laxus," she murmured. Then, she blushed and shook her head, wondering why she had said the lightning mage's name out loud.

Why else? I miss him, she thought, sighing as she made her way into her kitchen.

Lucy luckily fell asleep again after she had her dinner, and it was barely sunrise when she woke up in her bed. She was feeling all fired up since Akane beach was the first thing that came into her mind. She quickly got up from her bed and jumped into the shower to get ready.

Later, she donned a yellow tank top paired with white shorts and pink slippers. Then, she placed a sun hat on her head and wore a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses. She checked herself in the mirror—she looked like a girl who was about to have some fun!

After dragging her luggage with her to the main door, she stopped for a moment. Then, she strode over to her bedroom, picked up a pen and paper from her desk drawer, and began to write:

Hey, neighbor. I'm off to Akane beach. Sorry, I won't be able to fix you anything in the next couple of days—if you're home, that is. Lucy.

She read her letter a few times and decided that it sounded okay. It seemed casual, yeah? She thought that was more appropriate for now.

Lucy found herself hoping that Laxus would go after her at the resort, and maybe they could spend some time together and talk… or do stuff.

Cut it out, Lucy, she thought to herself exasperatedly, feeling her blush crept up her cheeks again. Don't get your hopes up. Unlike you, he's probably busy with other things.

Lucy's trip to Akane beach went smoothly. Well, sort of. She had to summon Loke to take care of the leering old perverts along the way, which she regretted later because her celestial spirit had started flirting with her and refused to return to his world.

It was already nine in the morning when she spread her beach blanket over the white sand and lay there. Moments later, Leo the Lion joined her.

"Okay, Loke," she said irritably, "I don't need your assistance anymore, so why don't you return to the celestial world?"

"That's cold, Lucy," said Loke mockingly, adjusting back his azure-tinted sunglasses on his nose. He was wearing a white sleeveless shirt and a pair of orange board shorts. "I don't want to miss sunbathing with my wife."

"Yes, yes," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "Why don't you go get yourself a drink at the beach bar?"

"Are you sure that'll be a good idea?" he asked, his eyes gleaming. "Because if I go over there now, I'm not sure if I can resist the ladies."

"Don't worry, Loke," she told him, deciding to play along, "your wife won't get jealous. Now run along."

Grinning, Loke got up and went off to the beach bar. Sighing contentedly, Lucy continued to bask herself in the sun. She closed her eyes behind her sunglasses and inhaled the salty breeze—how relaxing!

All of a sudden, she sensed something blocking the sun. She frowned slightly and opened her eyes, but it took her a moment to focus on the figure standing above her head. At first, she thought Loke had returned to her spot, but then she realized that this person's stature was taller—and his build was much larger than her celestial spirit.

After blinking a few times, she could finally see a large tribal tattoo on the person's bare body above his Fairy Tail emblem. He was wearing a pair of black board shorts and white sneakers.

A lump formed in her throat when she realized who it was. He came.

"I just got back from Oshibana, and you're already someone else's wife?" asked Laxus Dreyar, crouching on the sand to take a closer look at her. Then, he removed her sunglasses so that his gray eyes could pierce into hers.

"Laxus," she gasped, feeling worried that the he would misinterpret her and Loke. "It's… it's not what you think."

"I'm just kidding, woman."

Before Lucy could react, the lightning mage leaned in for a reverse kiss, sending tingles all over her body. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth, wondering if she would melt under his lips.

It seemed like a perfect beach date for Lucy. She and Laxus swam through the waves, laughing and then embracing each other. When they kissed, she could taste the saltiness in his lips, and she found it thoroughly enticing. His muscular body kept her warm in the cold waters as he never seemed to detach himself from her.

At lunchtime, they went to the beach bar and ordered some food and fruit shakes. They were sitting on the barstools when she saw Laxus nodding at Loke, who was surrounded by beach beauties that a man could probably ever dream of having.

"Aren't you jealous that your husband is hanging out with other women?" asked Laxus after taking a bite at his hamburger.

Lucy snorted. "Okay, stop it, you," she told him, stirring her straw in her glass of fruit shake. "Loke and I are not like that."

He nodded. "So, how was your talk with Natsu?"

"It went well. I, uh, finally told him about us."

"So, you're no longer moving out of your apartment?"

Lucy laughed. "Wow, so many questions at once!"

He blushed and looked a bit sheepish. "Sorry," he said. "It's just…"

She raised her eyebrows at him and tilted her head to the side. "It's just what?" she prompted.

He hesitated for a moment. Then, he started mumbling incoherent words without looking at her. A few moments later, he contented himself by sipping his fruit shake.

Despite his looks, he sometimes acts like a kid.

"I missed you, too, Laxus," she told him softly, taking his drink away from him and setting it down on the bar counter. Then, she leaned over her seat and brushed her lips against his lightly, surprising him this time.

Did I ever tell you? I like you so much.