Hiya! Here's 23!

You've been waiting to see what the birthday plan is, so I won't leave you hanging much longer!

It's not quite Monday yet where I am, but I won't be uploading tomorrow since I'll be away from home and probably out of cell reception. So you get a bit of an early one for a change!

Happy reading!

Friday morning, Lucy woke up alone in Natsu's bed. She could hear faint clatter in the kitchen and steps rushing about. She looked at the time. It wasn't even 7:30. What was he doing? She pushed the blankets off and opened the door, watching Natsu. He had his back to her, quickly and quietly putting breakfast together.

"Morning," she called out. He jumped, far more than she would have expected him to, spinning around to look at her.

"Crap. Did I wake you up?"

"No, I just… woke up. What's the matter?"

"I was trying to get you breakfast in bed," he admitted, turning back to take care of the food.

"Really? That's very thoughtful of you, but I'd rather eat here with you," she smiled. "Can I help?"

"Nope, almost done here. Just have a seat." Lucy did, watching curiously as he worked around the kitchen.

"What's the fuss about?" she asked.

"What's the fuss about?" he repeated, dishing out some food, then grabbing a bowl from the fridge, placing both in front of her. He grinned wide. "Happy birthday, Luce!"

Oh, right. She had forgotten it was today. "Thanks!" she smiled, looking at the food. "Woah, that looks awesome! When did you learn to make that?" He couldn't possibly have known that benedict eggs were her favourite.

"I had a whole week to learn," he grinned. Well, that explained why he had bought so many eggs when they last went to the store. And he did know, if he had practiced.

"Who told you?" He couldn't have guessed that smoked salmon, avocado and tomatoes was her absolute favourite.

"Levy," he admitted with a wide smile. "Come on, dig in." She did, and it was delicious. The bowl he had grabbed from the fridge were freshly chopped fruits with a drizzle of chocolate. The eggs were poached to perfection. The hollandaise was divine. Everything was the perfect mix of flavour. She moaned in satisfaction. Natsu brought his own plate over, but his also had hash browns. Lucy was glad he hadn't made any for her – she couldn't eat that much in the morning. "To your liking?" he asked.

"Natsu, this is wonderful," she thanked. "It's been so long since I've had that, and you totally nailed it." He grinned, digging in his food. Despite the fact that he had more food, he still finished before she did and started cleaning up the kitchen.

"Alright, Mavis is coming to pick us up at 10AM," he informed her, and Lucy looked startled.

"Where we going?"

"Did you really think I only got breakfast planned for today?" he asked with a conspirator's grin. Of course, Natsu would go above and beyond. She should have expected that much.

"If you remember, you refused to tell me anything about the plans," Lucy told him, and he chuckled. "So where are we going?"

"There." He gave her a list. Lucy recognized Levy's handwriting and gave him a curious look. "I don't know what you need for the day. I don't even know what one of those is." Lucy read over the list. Sunscreen, swimsuit, hair ties (with the recommendation to braid her hair), summer dress or sarong – Lucy guessed it was the one Natsu didn't know –, sandals, conditioner, hairbrush, a change of clothes for the day and a warmer dress for the evening.

"That's not an answer," she argued, looking back at him.

"You'll see when we get there," he grinned.

"Are we going to the beach?" she asked. Was there even one nearby?

"If I didn't tell you before, why would I tell you now?" Natsu questioned, because he couldn't give her a yes or no without her knowing he was lying.

"So that I know how to get ready!"

"That's why Levy made the list for you," he countered. She was surprised he actually thought of it.

"Can you tell me who else will be there?" Natsu pondered a moment.

"Levy, Cana, Juvia, Gray," he said that one with annoyance, "Mavis, Laki, Wendy and Shelia."

"Shelia?" Lucy repeated. Had she met her before?

"Wendy's girlfriend," Natsu explained. "I don't think you've met her yet."

"So you and Gray are gonna be the only guys?"

"I guess."

"Alright, one more question," Lucy requested. "Inside or outside?"

"I'm pretty sure sunscreen's on the list," he replied. Lucy glanced down.

"Do you even own sunscreen?" she questioned. Natsu was naturally tanner than she was, she doubted he was as prone to sunburns as she was – even if he was, she didn't take him for the type to bother.

"Never did before, but it was on Levy's list, so I gotcha some, it's under the counter in the bathroom." He was so thoughtful…

...

Halfway through the ride, Natsu finally started gaining some colours again, the medicine Mavis had given him finally kicking in.

"Seriously, Levy, you can't tell Cana about this," he almost begged her. He, Lucy, Levy, Shelia and Wendy were in Mavis's SUV while Juvia, Gray and Laki were in Cana's car. Both trunks were packed with their bags. Natsu was sitting on the front seat, Levy and Lucy were in the second row, and Shelia and Wendy in the last one.

"I'm sorry to break it to you, Natsu, but Laki probably told her," Lucy pointed out.

"Or Gray," Levy added. He groaned and this time, it had little to do with motion sickness.

"You're the one who planned this," Mavis reminded him.

He groaned again. "Tell me you're still on my side, Wendy," he called to her.

"Sorry, I wasn't listening," Wendy admitted, leaning forward. "What's going on?"

"Natsu's worried his friends are gonna make fun of him for his motion sickness," Shelia explained.

"That wouldn't be very nice," Wendy replied very seriously.

"Thank you!" Natsu exclaimed.

"Knowing Cana, she's having Gray spill out everything that makes you tick," Levy admitted.

"I should have beaten him before we left," Natsu groaned.

"I don't think you can take him on with your injuries," Wendy said. "He's really good." Natsu spun around to look at her.

"I can take him!" he argued.

"Oh, I forgot he trained too!" Levy recalled. "You've seen him?"

"I sparred with him on Thursday," Wendy nodded. "It was a good match."

"Don't you even think about it," Mavis stepped in, glancing at Natsu. "You're not going back until I say so."

"But Mavis!" Natsu whined.

"She's right and you know it," Shelia agreed. "It's gonna be at least two weeks before you can try to go back."

"That's pretty close!" Mavis beamed proudly. "But because I know Natsu can't take it easy, I need him to wait at least three weeks."

"Three more weeks?" he argued. "The bruises are already gone!" Like for Lucy, the injuries on his wrists from pulling at the ropes were still visible, but the rest of the bruising was gone. Most of the cuts he had had from Midnight's ring were pretty much healed too and hadn't scarred.

"You know it's not the bruising I'm worried about," she replied starkly. She glanced at him. "Erza won't let you back until I give the okay," she added, her voice softer, "but I know how much you like going. I won't keep you out longer than needed, trust me." Lucy reached for his arm from the backseat, giving him a gentle squeeze, and Natsu's expression softened when he looked at her and he sighed.

"I trust you," he assured Mavis, feeling bad when he saw her relax – she had really thought he was angry with her. "I know I can be difficult, and I appreciate that you care enough to force me to be more careful, even if I'm being impatient."

"Thank you, Natsu," she smiled brightly. "Now I know I shouldn't have to tell you again but be extra careful today if you don't want to be delayed again."

"I will," he assured.

"Great, cause we're here!" she announced. Lucy leaned forward to see out of the windshield and felt excitement wash over her.

"The waterpark!" she exclaimed. "Oh, I love this place so much!" Natsu shot her a toothy grin from the front seat.

"See? I told you you'd love this surprise!" Levy had told him how Layla would take them all to the waterpark a few times throughout the summer and come pick them up at the end of the day, but it had been two years since they last were here.

...

Soon, all ten of them were through and carrying their bags to the change rooms. The girls watched Natsu and Gray head off to the man's room with apprehension, but they were both already waiting out when they finally made it on the other side, and they weren't fighting – anymore. Lucy was glad she had had enough time to coax Cana into not making fun of Natsu's motion sickness.

"Holy shit!" Cana exclaimed. All the girls paused with a gasp. Except this time, it wasn't Natsu or even Gray's toned body that caused their reaction. It was Natsu's uncovered side, the still healing X-shaped wound angry red on his side. "Are you sure you shouldn't cover it?" she asked, glancing toward Mavis.

"It's fine," he shrugged it off.

"Honestly, there isn't much we could do to cover it when we're gonna be in the water all day," Mavis replied. "I still have bandages in my bag if needed, but…" she sighed. Lucy understood. It was Natsu and there was no forcing him to do something he didn't want to.

"I'll help you convince him," Lucy assured her. Mavis smiled, grateful.

"Come on, we're not gonna stand around all day!" Natsu called, taking the lead. They had no choice but to follow him.

They did most of the slides. Mavis advised Natsu against a few of the more intense ones, but since Lucy didn't want to go down those, she didn't have to argue too much. They spent time in the huge wave pool, hanging in the deep end, where there were less people, and the girls laid down for some tanning when they stopped for lunch.

Natsu reluctantly agreed not to do the Tarzan rope into the lake, because even he could see how it could worsen his injury. Taking Lucy's advice, he had stopped arguing with Mavis's recommendations. "You need to show her that you can listen, and maybe she'll let you get back to your regular activities sooner," she had told him. Not wanting to have to wait three more weeks to go back to classes, Natsu agreed to follow Mavis's advice.

He watched Lucy grab onto the rope and swing off the platform, letting go at the perfect moment, and splashing in the lake below. Later in the afternoon, they stopped for ice cream. Lucy had her sarong wrapped around her hips as she walked back to their group after going to the bathroom. The sheer clothe was pretty much already dried, despite having been wetted consistently in rides and activities. She paused to adjust it, stepping off to the side of the path.

"Gorgeous!" someone exclaimed so close from her that she startled. "You, my dear, are the incarnation of perfection itself!" Lucy saw a guy, probably a few years older, staring directly at her. He had dark auburn hair and brown eyes.

"Oh… uh… thanks?" she hesitated when she realized he was talking to her.

"I'm Dan!" he introduced himself. "Would you grace me with your name?" A year ago, Lucy would have laughed at his mannerism and agreed to give him her name, but she was rooted on the spot, trying her best not to freak out.

"I'm not interested," she declined with as much confidence as she could muster, glancing back toward her friends. She was relieved to see Natsu making his way to her already. "I have a boyfriend," she added.

"Bah!" Dan shrugged it off. "I'm not scared of a mere mortal, especially not for a goddess like you." Lucy barely managed not to curse. She had hoped the boyfriend bit would do the trick.

"Hey, Luce!" Natsu called as he neared her. "You okay?"

"Gotta go," she told Dan, turning around to rush to Natsu's side. "All good, babe," she replied, wrapping her arm around him to steer him in the other direction and trying not to be awkward about keeping it around the small of his back.

"Did you just call me babe?" he realized after a few steps, looking at her with confusion.

"Sorry, that guy was hitting on me, I didn't want him to follow us. Don't look!" she ushered him before he could glance behind them. Natsu pulled his arm from between them and draped it over Lucy's shoulders, giving her a broad smile and looking behind her from the corner of his eyes. There was someone coming their way, but he hadn't been paying enough attention to whoever was by Lucy to know if it was the same guy.

"Wait up!" he called. Yep, it had to be him. Natsu stopped, much to Lucy's dismay, to look at Dan over his shoulder. "Not you, her," Dan clarified. Natsu gave Lucy a look and removed his arm from her shoulder, turning to face him. Dan's eyes darted to the wound on his side.

"Move it along, pal, she's not interested," he growled.

"I don't care about what you have to say," Dan retorted.

"Obviously don't care about what she has to say either, cause she's already told you to get lost."

"A beauty like her deserves a real man."

"Let's go back to the others, Natsu," Lucy pleaded. "He's not worth it."

"I bet the two of you aren't even dating," Dan pushed. Lucy felt worry rise. If Dan could see Natsu was lying, she'd have a harder time shaking him off.

"Then when does she sleep in my bed every night?" Natsu snapped back without missing a beat. Lucy fought against a blush. He wasn't lying, but it wasn't the whole truth either. "Get lost, loser," he snarled, draping his arm around Lucy once more to lead her back to their group. And then paused, cause said group was just behind them. This time, Lucy couldn't help a blush and she and Natsu stood intertwined in front of them. Dan must have decided he didn't like those odds, because he finally backed away, muttering something about a tragedy.

Her friends had the good sense not to tease them yet. But as they were queuing for the next slide, as soon Gray and Natsu were gone, Cana leaned into Lucy. "So you guys are sleeping together now, are ya?" Lucy blushed. Of course, they had heard that. It would be too easy if they hadn't.

"We were just trying to get the creep away," Lucy retorted.

"I've seen Natsu trying to lie before and that wasn't it," Laki stepped in.

"Not you too!" Lucy exclaimed.

"You can't blame us for being curious," Juvia added. Wendy and Shelia were already gone, and Mavis was stepping in, waiting for the light to change before jumping in.

"Come on, give her a break," Levy intervened. "She just had a face off with a creeper."

"Thank you!" Lucy exclaimed as Levy moved to take Mavis's place.

"I'm disappointed in all of you," Levy added, shaking her head. "Really, you should know it'll be a lot easier to get the truth out of Natsu" Levy launched herself down the slide. She laughed when she heard Lucy call after her. Cana rushed to go next.

"I'm definitely asking him," she grinned, jumping in as soon as the light changed. Neither Laki nor Juvia were fast enough to prevent Lucy from going next.

"That answers that," Laki chuckled, motioning for Juvia to go next. "Uh… I guess that's why she's sleeping better now," she mused to herself, following after Juvia.

...

Lucy was ready to roar Cana's name as soon as she straightened up, barely managing to hold it in as she noticed Cana and Shelia and Levy talking. Natsu was laughing with Wendy, seemingly un-bothered, while Gray and Mavis chatted. Had they not asked him? Cana moved to help her up and out of the slide before Juvia came barrelling down.

"I'm surprised you're not yelling," Cana admitted.

"And I'm surprised you're not harassing Natsu," Lucy confessed.

"Lucy, you know how much I love teasing people. I trust that you would tell me if Natsu and you actually started dating."

"It's not gonna happen," Lucy argued.

"But if it did…" Cana insisted.

"Of course, I would tell you. But it's not. We're friends."

"But you are sleeping in his bed? With him?" Lucy thought of lying, but she just sighed.

"I don't get nightmares with him," she admitted. They didn't move away fast enough to avoid being splashed by Juvia's arrival.

"I'm happy for you," Cana assured, holding out a hand for Juvia. When Laki made it down, they all moved on to the next thing, and soon returned to the wave pool. Mavis told them she would go get changed and retreated. Cana, Laki, Wendy and Levy decided to stay out of the water to start to dry off since they would be leaving soon, while everyone else went to the deep end.

Lucy and Shelia were beginning to tire and they soon all left. Mavis gave Natsu a pill to help with his motion sickness before they parted way in the different changerooms. Natsu and Gray were long ready when the girls finally came out.

"Took you guys long enough," Natsu complained. "We're starving here!"

"Speak for yourself," Gray scoffed, even as his stomach growled. "Let's just get going."

And so, they loaded everything in the cars and split between the two vehicles, the same way they had on the way in. Before she or Natsu got in, Mavis asked how his side was and inspected his abdomen with surprise. After a day in chlorine water, the injury seemed to be faring a lot better. The scab had paled and the scar tissue creeping around the side of the wound was more obvious. He seemed to be healing faster than she had anticipated. Or was it because he actually took care of dressing his wound properly, which she had half expecting him not to do?

"I might tell Loke to increase your shifts through the week," she told him as they sat in. "But only if you won't overexert yourself."

"Promise," Natsu assured seriously. "I just want to be able to get back to training ASAP." Mavis saw Lucy's smile in the rear-view mirror as she drove off.

So that was 23! Just in case you forgot, that's Lucy's 18th birthday here.

I loved having Natsu plan the day for her. I mean, it's not unrooting a giant sakura tree and sending off on a boat in front of her apartment, but that's still quite the gesture. And the encounter with Dan. I always hated dealing with creepers. Had to ask one of my ex to threaten my stalker for him to stop harassing me at work. It was the worse. If someone says no, just back off. It's super easy, I swear.

Valerioux: They're adorable. I just can't get enough of them.

SummeryNights: Your review also made me smile while on the toilet haha

Copperreign12: I'm glad it made your day! This chapter is lighter on fluff, but it has its moments.

Bookwork129: Well, here's the birthday, at least you didn't have to wait to long!