Chapter 16

Weeks have passed since their arcade date, Natsu and Lucy went on a couple of more dates since then and have made it a weekly routine to go to the arcade and see who could win. The outcome was an odd batch of wins and loses for both of them. Lucy decided to invite Natsu over for dinner, which Kade, ever the cheerleader, had no qualms about. He began cleaning his room in preparation, while Lucy began preparing for dinner. "Kade, have you finished cleaning your room?"

"Not yet Mommy, almost done!"

"Alright make sure to pick up your toys and make your bed."

"Okay." he said, dragging out the word as he continued to tidy up. Lucy looked back to her task and began making a mental plan of what she planned to do for the three of them. Natsu would arrive around six, the time now being four. The sun was still high in the sky but not for much longer before it started to make its descent. Since this man decided to be a bottomless pit when it came to food, she tripled her batch. Kade and her didn't eat that much and with her getting paid this week it made affording their dinner all the better.

With her mind made up about what she wanted to make, she began the prep for dinner.

o0o

Natsu looked at himself in the mirror, he wore a crimson collared shirt, and dark jeans. It seemed these days that this outfit was the go to when he was hanging out with Lucy. he found it amusing. Natsu sucked in a deep breath. Today was a big day for him. He was going to ask Lucy if they wanted to become official. He felt like a total teenager again. It sounded childish even to his own ears. But he felt ready to be in a relationship, especially if it was with a certain blonde. Natsu stepped out of his room entering the living room where he found Gray watching a soccer game.

"How do I look." Natsu said, tugging at the hem of his shirt nervously.

Gray keeping his eyes on the television relipied wryly, "Stupid."

"You haven't even looked at me!"

"Don't need to."

Natsu huffed and stepped into Grays line of sight. "Look man, I'm just really nervous."

"Exactly, that's why you're stupid flamebrain."

Natsu tilted his head in confusion, arms slack at his sides. "What do you mean?"

"You really need me to spell it out for you?"

"Well not when you put it like that." he rumbled to himself.

"C'mon dude, we practiced I don't know how many times this past week. You guys have been dancing around each other for how long now?" he tapped his chin in mock thought, "four months? Yeah it's about time you got your big boy pants on there. It doesn't take much to see how much she already likes you. Though I question her choices in men." Gray said the last part over his shoulder although Natsu seemed to miss that part as he repeated,

"She likes me?"

"You mean to tell me that you didn't pick up that much?"

Natsu shifted his weight, "Well I assumed she kinda liked me you know? But not-I don't know. Like-like me, if that makes sense."

"You rarely make sense, but yes I understand. But just trust my judgment on this one man. I have a sneaking suspicion she won't say no."

Natsu sucked in a breath, "Yeah. Okay"

"Natsu."

"Yeah." he looked up at Gray.

"Breath."

Natsu let go of the breath he was holding. "Okay. Yeah. I got this."

"You do. Now do me a favor and get out of the way of the game, I'm about to miss half time."

"Fine, fine. Finish your stupid game."

Natsu stepped out of the way, though reluctant to do so. Gray giving him his honesty definity helped with his nerves. It wasn't everyday that Gray was as honest and sincere as he was just now. He'd have to thank him later if things went well.

With that being the last thing they spoke about, Gray wished him luck and headed out to his car. He went over his speech in his head multiple times, Natsu knew himself to be spontaneous in all regards to life, but this. He wanted to get this right. He was risking a lot for this, this friendship meant everything to him. He didn't want to mess it up because of his stupid feelings. Or even worse that he scared her away. 'You got this. You guys talked about it before too and you both weren't ready.' A little part of him in the back of his mind fed him information that she wasn't ready yet. And if she said no, he would respect her wishes, but what he couldn't stand was if she didn't want to be friends if she said no. He liked Lucy, he did. But he also cherished her as a friend. All his friends were precious to him. If she needed time then he would give her all the time in the world.

Natsu clicked his seatbelt into place and sent a quick text before he started the engine. "On my way."

A response came back seconds later, "Sounds good! Dive safe please!"

"You make it seem like I'm an unsafe driver :p"

"You said it, not me."

"I am too a safe driver."

"If your GoKart skills have anything to say I say that it's quite the opposite sir."

"Umm, you mean that I'm AMAZING!"

"Uh huh, sure."

"At least I don't drive like a grandma XD"

"I do not!"

"Yes you do! When you drove to the arcade you took twice as long as I did."

"I would have made it at the same time if I didn't have to make pit stops for your motion sickness."

"Low blow Luce. Low blow."

"You started it saying I drove like a grandma!"

"I don't know when we started playing the blame game ;)"

Natsu could practically hear her fuming, she was so easy to rile up.

"I would love to continue this conversation but I have to drive over."

"Whatever, I'll see you over here."

"See you then."

Natsu drove at a decent rate, giving himself ample time to rehearse what he wanted to say. Taking several deep breaths he exited the car with a bouquet in hand that he stopped to get. Gray said, and he quote, "Chic's loved flowers."

He hoped he was right.

Natsu gave a soft knock to the door, answered with a "Coming!"

Instead of expecting Lucy at the door, he was greeted with the sight of Kade. His honey eyes shining in excitement. "Natsu!" he preached.

Natsu scooped him out of the air and held him at his hip with practiced ease. "Hiya bud! How's my little man doing!"

Kade squealed in elation, his smile so wide that his eyes crinkled at the corners. So much like his mother. "I've waited forever for you!" he leaned out of him, Natsu kept him steady and decided to ease him while he was at it. Natsu pitched Kade forward and hung him upside down.

"You did, did you? Well I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused." All Natsu got in reply were giggles and some lighthearted screams.

"Natsu let me up!"

"Not until you say the magic words."

Kade looked up from his vantage point, chin touching his chest straining to see the man, "What magic words?"

"You'll have to start guessing."

"Open Sesame."

"Nope, not quite."

"Abracadabra."

"Mmmm no." Natsu began bouncing him, pushing him up and down from the floor. "C'mon pal you should know this one."

"Dragons."

"Good guess but nope!"

"I don't know then. What could it be!"

"Who's your favorite person in the world."

"Mommy!"

"Okay fair enough, I guess Mommy is good enough to be first! But who's your second favorite person in the whole world?"

"You!"

"There it is, now what are the magic words?"

"Natsu is the bestest, besides Mommy!"

Natsu hoisted Kade up, earning another round of giggles and squeals. Placing Kade on the ground, Natsu strode in and took a deep breath. "Smells good in here." he bellowed. Following the smell to the kitchen he found Lucy preparing what seemed to be the rest of dinner.

"What's going on Luce."

"Hey!" She half hugged him, becoming more familiar with personal touch with him. It still sent shockwaves through his veins when she hugged him. Or gave him attention for that matter.

"It smells good, whatever your cooking." he repeated.

"Thank you! Tonight we're having pork chops and roasted veggies."

"Sounds yummy to me."

"KNowing you, you'll eat anything."

"Guilty."

Lucy gave a soft laugh, "well at least I don't have to worry about you being picky or anything."

"Nope! Not me!"

"Well if you don't mind, could you put the veggies in the oven for me?"

"Sure thing."

As Natsu put the cooking sheet full of an assortment of veggies into the already hot oven, he closed the door and turned back to her, "Looks like a lot of food, who else are you feeding. An army?"

"Nope, just you."

Natsu scratched the back of his head, "You really didn't need to make that much for me."

Lucy leveled him a look, "Natsu let's be honest here. You have a black hole for a stomach, I've never seen anyone eat as much as you and still retain their body weight afterwards. Plus I like cooking, it's a new recipe that I looked up. It should turn out good."

"Well, thank you anyways. You didn't have to do all that. I would have eaten anything you served me."

Lucy just nodded, her brown eyes shining with an emotion he couldn't decipher. "Good to know."

"Well now that dinner is almost ready and it'll take maybe another 15 minutes, do you wanna watch a show?"

"Sure." he offered a half shrug and followed her out of the kitchen, where they found Kade playing with his dragon toys. Making voices for each individual dragon and sound effects to follow.

"Whatcha got there."

"My dragons. We're on an epic quest to find secret treasure!" Kade said in hushed tones. "Wanna play."

Natsu gave an audible gasp, "I would be honored."

Lucy decided to hang back and watch her boys play dragons, melting her heart more than she thought humanly possible. By the time dinner was ready the boys had found the secret treasure, which happened to be one of Lucy's necklaces that Kade had grabbed from her room.

"Okay boys time for dinner!" she hollard.

"Dinner!" they yelled in unison. They scrambled to get into their chairs as Lucy plated everything on the table.

"Wow Lucy this looks amazing can't wait to dig in."

"Thank you Mommy!"

"You're welcome! Alright let's chow down."

The only thing you could hear was the sound of faint laughter and possibly Natsu inhaling as much food as humanly possible.

"I knew I made enough food." she smirked.

"Thanks for the food Lucy! It was delicious!"

"Mommy is the best cook!" Kade agreed.

"Well thank you. Alright shall we settle in for a movie."

"Yes please." Kade affirmed.

"Why don't you go pick the movie sweetie, Natsu and I will clean up."

"Okay."

As Kade went to go find his movie, Natsu and Lucy began cleaning up after themselves. Bringing the dishes to the sink they found a rhythm to get everything done. The task mundane, but surprisingly normal for them to fall into.

"What movie do you think it will be?"

Lucy cast him a look from the corner of her eye, "My guess either How to Train your Dragon, or Tangled."

"That's my boy. Became my favorite movie when it came out."

"Fair enough. I loved it as well, though maybe not as much as either of you."

"Favorite movie of all time. Go!"

"The Princess Diaries."

"Eragon."

"What?" they said at the same time.

Natsu hip bumped Lucy, "Your favorite movie of all time was the Princess Diaries?"

"And your's was Eragon?" she raised a brow. "Fake fan."

Natsu looked absolutely appalled, "What do you mean," he mimicked with a weird voice that was too high pitch to be serious, "fake fan."

"I bet you never read the books."

"So what if I didn't."

"The books were so much better."

"I don't have the patience to read."

"Who are you to critique me, when you pick a movie that doesn't even follow the book series correctly."

"I mean, out of all the movies as a kid. You liked that one?"

"Well yeah, my situation was reversed for Mia, but I could still relate to her. Plus I loved her grandma."

"What do you mean reversed?"

"Lets just say as a kid, my family was...well off."

Natsu pointed a finger at her, "Oh so you were rich. Cause only rich people say," he air quoted, "Well off."

"Kinda."

"Like I believe that for a second. I bet you lived in a mansion and had maids and a personal chef."

Lucy stared at him for a long moment. "You know what, I don't need to be attacked like this in my own home." she flung her hands up, and aggressively tossed the dish rag at him, "I'm going to see if Kade needs any help with picking a movie." She started to turn away, mad that he had her pinned so well.

Natsu let out a hardy laugh pointing at her clutching his stomach, "Oh you soooo did."

"What has any of that have to do with being rich."

"The fact that you pay someone else to make your meals everyday is rich rich in my opinion,"

"Whatever." she crossed her arms.

"I don't know how your dishwasher works by the way so unless you want dishes in the sink, you may need to help me."

"Yeah yeah." she grunted.

They finished dishes with idle chat and a hip bump competition. After they had set the dishwasher and pressed start they checked to see how Kade was doing and what he had picked for movie night. Little shock there that the choice had been How to Train your Dragon. With everyone settling in on the couch, Kade was leaning against Natsu while Lucy rested her head in the crook of his shoulder, which seemed to be her favorite place to go when they sat down like this.

As the movie started, they all relaxed and enjoyed each other's company. Little did Lucy know what the rest of the night had in store for her.

Hello again everyone! Happy Saturday! Nothing new this week, this will have to be split into two parts again cause I like getting ahead of myself. Wanted to give a big thank you to those that reviewed again.

Kinakina, Copperreign12, MaraDragneel3113, Amanny, rao hyuga 18, and last but not least Wadeparker.

Thank you again and see you in the next chapter. Get ready for some Angst XD

~Baccei