Lucy groaned as she flopped down on her bed. Her entire body ached, her muscles having a deep-seated ache that spread through her body when she moved. "Stupid Laxus, if he hadn't made up that stupid battle game then we wouldn't have had to fix the town, again!" She grumbled, staring up at her ceiling and trying not to move.

"It was pretty cool that Loke and I could take down Bickslow, that was probably my most impressive battle yet." She muttered to herself, "Maybe I could…"

"Lushi!" Happy cheered, flying through the window and tackling Lucy on her bed.

"Ugh." Lucy groaned, giving the cat a halfhearted Exceed a half hearted glare. "What do you want Happy?"

The small cat looked up at her, with tears pooling in his eyes. "You are mean!" He yelled, making the blonde groan and she made herself sit up.

"I'm sorry Happy, I'm just sore from cleaning up. How can I help you?" Lucy said, trying to give the blue cat a smile that she hoped looked genuine.

"Natsu and the others are at the guild. Gray has an announcement but wanted to wait till you were there so come on Lushy we gotta go" he said, tugging at my hand to make me move.

What could his announcement be? Lucy thought, her eyebrows drawing together as she tried to figure out what on earth her Ice Mage friend was up to. She was drawn out of her musings by an incessant Happy, pulling on her arm, making a dull pain snake through her sore joints.

"Okay Happy hold on, I need to have a bath first before we go anywhere." Lucy said, glaring at the cat when he went to complain.

"Yes Lucy" he said, looking down at the floor.

Satisfied, Lucy got up and padded over to her bathroom. A few moments later and her bathtub was filling with hot water, the liquid slightly cloudy from the bubble bath she squirted into it. Quickly shucking her clothes, Lucy tested the water with a finger, almost moaning at the heavenly temperature. Her body protested as she stepped in, her muscles letting out a metaphorical sigh of relief as the heated water massaged them. Knowing she didn't have much time, Lucy sipped her head under the water. Her hair floated around her like a golden halo, softly billowing in the water. Once her lungs started to protest, Lucy sat back up, her hair transforming into a dark gold sheet down her back.

"Looking beautiful as ever, my Princess" Lucy screamed, scrambling to cover herself with the bubbles that floated like little icebergs.

"Loke! What are you doing here?" Lucy screamed, "I didn't summon you!"

"Oh I know you didn't my princess, I summoned myself. No need to thank me." Loke said, a smirk on his face as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with a single finger.

Lucy seethed, glaring daggers at her spirit. A furious blush coated her cheeks, and all she wanted to do was to get out of the bath and give him a Lucy Kick. However, she realised he might need to talk to her, so after looking at him suspiciously and moving more bubbles to coat her naked form, she gave him a warning glare before quietening for him to say whatever was on his mind.

Loke saw she was frowning and saw the slight glimmer of co-operation in her gorgeous brown eyes. He did however notice the tension in her form and decided it best to not say anything that would push the blonde. Well, not push her too much, anyway.

"I could feel your exhaustion from the Celestial Realm, and I wanted to make sure you were okay." He said seriously, clearing his throat at the end to try to cover up some of his emotion.

Lucy looked at him, her mouth open slightly. Sure, she and Loke were closer now as she saved his life and he had helped her with Bickslow, but she didn't think he cared that much. Slowly, the tension seemed to drain from her figure like water down a drain and a genuine, unguarded smile crossed her face. "I'm fine Loke, a bit tired from the battle still and the cleanup. I hadn't pushed my magic that far before." SHe explained, a thoughtful expression taking over her face.

"Something on your mind, Lucy?" Loke asked, kneeling by the bathtub so he wasn't towering over his Celestial Mage.

Lucy sighed, averting her eyes. "I guess I just… I dunno." she sighed again, before meeting his eyes. "I guess I just feel weak." she saw him open his mouth she hurriedly explained. "We won, and that was great, but I used up all my magic and am still recovering, I just feel like if I was stronger, then not only could I do more in a fight I could protect you, my spirits, ore from harm."

Loke's jaw became slacken and his eyes bulged. Never, in all his time, had a Celestial Mage wanted to protect him or his comrades. Sure, a few wanted to fight with them, but never protect them. A warmth bloomed in his chest, spreading through his veins like a languid liquid fire. "Lucy, look at me." He said, moving his hands to her chin and making him look up at him. "We are your spirits, it is our job, no our honour, to serve and protect you-"

"I understand you feel that way. However, I want us to be a partnership, all of us, and to do that I want to be strong on my own rights, not just be able to summon you guys from the spirit world. I want to be able to protect myself if my magic ever fails me."

Loke just stared at her in amazement. How he was ever afraid of her, she was like a walking, talking beam of pure sunshine, she lit up everywhere she went. "If that is truly how you feel, then we can do some training together, maybe even get some more keys for you." He said, causing a large radiant smile to appear on his mistress's face.

"I'd like that, thanks Loke," The blonde mage said, reaching out to clasp her friend's hand and squeeze it in thanks.

"I better go, I've got to go to make preparations to see your desirable body all sweaty-"

He disappeared in a golden glow, with a bath loafer sailing harmlessly through the golden light, and leaving a growing Celestial Mage glaring at his retreating figure.

"Stupid perverted lion" Lucy growled as she stormed through the guild doors. People looked at her steaming figure before subconsciously moving backwards, not wanting to anger the already irate female. Mira smiled fondly before preparing her usual milkshake, knowing the girl would want it as soon as possible.

Lucy walked over to the table her friends were at, all sporting annoyed and concerned expressions. Erza was more concerned and Natsu, well he was literally smoking. "There you are!" Natsu hollered, throwing his hands up in the air. "Ice Princess wouldn't tell us what's going on until you got here." Natsu whined, with Happy mimicking his movements.

"Oi you stupid cat! Why didn't you wait for me?" Lucy snapped, glaring daggers at the quivering blue feline.

"You took too long, Lushy! And you had no fishies" he tacked on, making the blonde growl as she sat unceremoniously on the seat next to Erza.

Rolling her eyes, Lucy said a quick hello to the humans at the table. Gray quirked his eyebrow at her, a ghost of a smile on his lips. Natsu groaned in impatience, resting his head on his folded arms. Just as he was going to hassle Gray to tell them what was going on, Mira appeared, placing the strawberry milkshake in front of Lucy.

"Thanks Mira," Lucy said, smiling genuinely before taking a sip of her favourite beverage.

"Can I get anyone else anything?" Mira asked, and the others shook their heads.

As soon as she was out of earshot of everyone except Natsu, Natsu rounded on his icy friend. "Alright you snow cone, what is going on? Everyone is here, no more distractions" He hollered, whacking his hand on the table for good measure.

Lucy moved her drink a bit closer to her, so it didn't spill in the inevitable fight between the friends. Instead, Gray just rolled his eyes, a seriousness overtaking his expression instead of the expected anger. He looked at them all, before opening his mouth and starting to speak.

"After losing to Bickslow, I did some thinking." He surveyed his friends. "I know he is powerful, but I should have done more, I should have been stronger."

Lucy glanced at the others to gauge their reaction. Natsu looked like he was ready to rib his friend and tease him for his performance, Happy looked confused and Erza… well, she was as expressionless as the armour she wore. Lucy had no idea what she looked like, but she kept staring at Gray, waiting for him to elaborate.

The Ice Make Mage took a deep breath, before looking at each of them. Lucy felt like his eyes were boring into her soul when he spoke,

"I'm leaving Fairy Tail"

Hi Everyone, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. It will be a slow-burn romance with eventual Lucy\Gray. Lucy\Natsu and Lucy\Loke at the end. I hope you enjoy the ride and enjoy seeing Lucy and the others getting stronger and falling in love.