Lucy felt her body finally relax and pace slow as her feet hit the cobblestones of Magnolia's busy streets. They had been on a mission for over a week and she was ready to be home. Gray and Natsu never behaved on long missions and it always turned into something closer to babysitting by the end.

"I'll go and collect," said Gray as they neared the turn that would take them to their separate destinations. In their team's early days, they used to go together to split up the reward evenly. Now, they just traded off who would walk all the way to claim it while the others headed home. They always worked out the money later. It was just good to be home sometimes.

"I want my whole share this time!" Natsu shot at the retreating ice mage's back.

"Depending on how upset their Mayor is that you burned down two buildings in their historical district, you'll get whatever is left over," said Gray dully.

Sensing Natsu's temper rising, Lucy intervened, pulling him the opposite direction from Gray. "C'mon Natsu, you know he's going to give you your third of the reward. Don't be such a pest."

"The reason Ice Freak has such a nice apartment is because he skims off the top, I know it," Natsu skulked as he turned from Gray.

Lucy rolled her eyes. She just had to get him out of eye shot and his attention would invariably go elsewhere. She turned and met Gray's eyes, who nodded a goodbye as they turned away.

Natsu's stomach growled loudly as they made their way to Lucy's place. "You have any food at home Luce?" Natsu said, with a bit of a faux-helpless whine to his voice. She'd stopped falling for his sympathetic ploys years ago, after he cleared out her fridge entirely more than once.

"Depends on what you left in there when we left," she said, glaring at him meaningfully.

He cracked a knowing smile at her annoyance as he bounded up the steps to her place. She pushed past him as she unlocked the door, letting him slide past her toward the kitchen. She was headed straight to the bathtub, like usual. Natsu wouldn't bother her. He always spent the first day home eating and napping.

She ran the tub as she slipped out of her clothes. Sinking down into the warm, rising water, she began to relax. She let her mind wander to Natsu as she listened to him clank around her kitchen. Sighing, she slid down further, dipping her head under.

Natsu. What was she going to do about Natsu?

The truth was, Natsu was really turning into something else. Or maybe she was just finally letting herself admit it. Either way, things had started getting complicated, even if it was just all in her head. She found even the smallest things, like his stupid, toothy grin, were making her feel different. She found herself wanting to be closer to him. Which was silly, since her and Gray (not that either of those two would admit it) were easily his closest friends. The only way to be closer would be to…

She pushed it from her thoughts as she broke the surface, wiping the water off her face. No, she refused to go there. As much as she wanted it, she wasn't sure Natsu did. Sometimes, he seemed to flirt with her, at least she thought. It was always when they were alone, or when they were drinking. But maybe that was just her imagining it. Putting meaning into actions where there was none. She knew better. The fire dragon slayer hadn't shown interest in anyone. People thought he would end up with Lisanna once she came back, but he didn't look at her any differently than Erza. If he was interested in her, he would have shown it by now.

Slipping out of the tub, she dried off and changed into lighter pajamas than usual. It was always hotter when Natsu stayed over. She could hear him still in the kitchen as she got in bed, sliding beneath the covers. She was already sleeping when she felt the bed shift as Natsu joined her. This was normal these days, even Gray stayed over often. After years of staying in the same room on missions, they really didn't have many boundaries anymore.

She waited in the dark. Not moving.

Foolish, Lucy she thought to herself. What was she doing, hoping tonight would be one of those nights where he slept just a little closer than normal? Where she swore his arm not-accidentally would wind around her waist?

Still, she waited.

Not long, her hopes were met with snores. Her heart sank a little as she adjusted her pillow, getting comfortable again.

Just another normal night.

"We've split them up on purpose. Someday, he will come into your care when he needs you."

Makarov watched a small pink-haired mage sleep in the crook of the great red dragon's tail.

"He's going to wonder, Igneel. What if he asks?"

The dragon looked almost sad as he looked down at the boy.

"Never tell him, Makarov. It's important for hi-.. for all of their safety that they do not know their fate until it's time." Igneel's eyes seemed to soften. "He will become strong. They all may be too strong someday. We have done what we can, but we cannot have another Acnologia. Layla Heartifilia will help when the time comes. Until then, wait for him."

"More, more!" Asuka yelled as Natsu dashed around the room with her on his shoulders.

Lucy was barely listening to Gray as he was talking with Loke. Instead, she took the opportunity to watch the fire mage continue to entertain the miniature gunslinger. Natsu's smile was as big as Asuka's as she soared around on his shoulders. Lucy smiled to herself. Natsu always had a special spot for kids. Suddenly, she found herself blushing as she watched his stomach tense, abs flexing as he lifted Asuka in the air.

She shook her head to herself. Ugh, it's not like he made any of this easy on her. Running around with his vest open all the time. Sneaking into her bed. She sighed as she looked away and pushed herself up from the table.

"I'm heading out for the rest of the afternoon, I want to get some stuff done before tonight." Gildarts was expected to come back tonight, so as always they were planning a huge party. Saying goodbye to Loke and Gray, she turned toward the doors, just missing the sidelong glance from the fiery slayer watching her leave.

Cana and Mira, who had been watching from the bar, did not miss the look. "I hope those two figure out they like each other soon. They would be so perfect!" crooned Mira from her spot behind the bar.

"Tche," grunted Cana, "We'll see."

In normal Fairy Tail style, Gildart's return home party was loud and out of control. Gray was seconds away from passing out across the table as Juvia hovered menacingly nearby, probably looking for the first opportunity to grab him and run. And as much as he proclaimed his manliness, Elfmann had passed out long ago. Bickslow was playing some drinking game with Cana and judging by the lack of clothing, Lucy was pretty sure both of them were losing. Happy was sleeping on the table that Lucy, Erza, and Natsu sat at. Lucy swore Erza had as high of a drinking tolerance as Cana, because she seemed far too sober. Although, everyone seemed far too sober when the room was spinning slowly.

With the last few pieces of clothing coming off in the Bickslow-Cana corner, Lucy thought it was a good time to leave. It took all of her effort to push herself up from the table with some stability. The room tilted a bit as she started orienting herself toward the door. Suddenly, a mess of pink hair appeared beside her as an arm slumped around her shoulders.

"Are we going home, Luce?"

"Either that or I'm going to fall asleep on one of these tables," Lucy said as they passed Macao who had clearly done just that.

Natsu laughed as he stretched his arms out before him, pushing the doors open and drunkenly leaping out into the night.