Chapter 11

Lucy Heartfilia is walking the street of Magnolia heading towards the building of Fairy Tail Corp., a magazine company that focuses on different people from elite families to outstanding people of the world. She is one of the senior feature writers of the company wherein she is partnered with a short blunette feature writer as well.

"Yes, Levy-chan, I know that," Lucy said as she spoke to her phone which was clipped between her ear and shoulder, while she was fumbling something inside her handbag, "but having to feature Jenny Realight again in the same year would be quite an unwise move"
"Lu-chan, Jenny is getting married to Hibiki Lates which is one of the known bachelor's of Fiore" Levy replies on the other side of the line
"Alright alright, we'll just talk about this when I get there. I'm just…two corners away!" Lucy beams as she notices the familiar corner going to her work, and soon, Levy said her goodbyes. When the call ended, Lucy immediately decided to put her phone away but then her phone suddenly rings again and this time, it was her other best friend.

"Natsu?" Lucy utters after answering the call
"Lucy, we have a problem," Natsu said with a voice of worry and seriousness. Hearing her best friend's tone, she couldn't help but roll her eyes as she thought that the pinkette was just talking about something childish, "What did you do this time?" Lucy asks as she turns to the next corner
"I didn't do it…you did" Natsu replies back, making Lucy raise her brow
"Excuse me? What did I do?" She then halts from her pace as she places a hand on her hips and waited for Natsu to answer, "You made us engaged?"
"We-well…you agreed last night!" Lucy loudly exclaims making other people around the street look at her. And with the sudden attention, Lucy had her cheeks redden as she turns away and looks at the direction she just came from, "I know. But that's not exactly the problem…" Natsu replies and this made Lucy's forehead furrow, "Natsu will you just tell me!" She shouts again but this time in irritation, forgetting about the attention she was getting from the passer-bys, she continued, "Stop fooling around and tell me!"
"Moms on the way to Fairy Tail…with your mom" Natsu said after a few seconds of silence
"What?!" and with that, Lucy whips around to look at the direction of Fairy Tail. When she did, she saw a familiar black Mercedes Benz making a turn and she was not mistaking it, "I can see their car!" Lucy shouts before she starts sprinting towards the building. Realizing that she was still on the phone with Natsu, she quickly shouted to him, "I hate you Natsu for telling me just now!"
"See ya!"
"NATSUUUUU!" Lucy growling said as she continued to run in her high heels.

Soon enough, Lucy was running for the entrance of the building when she heard the screeching sound of the tires, indicating that her mom's car has arrived. And so, Lucy frantically looked at the guard and grabbed his shoulders, "Sir!" Lucy hysterically called the attention of the guard
"Ma-Ma'am!" The guard replies with alarm in his voice and face
"I need you to stall those people coming out of the black car…" Lucy then made a quick glimpse at her back and immediately sees a familiar blonde woman talking to a blue haired woman. With that sight, she gave a stern look at the guard and said, "Please…Just do it!" and with that Lucy breaks into a run again inside the building and went straight for the stairs, knowing that many of the employees are waiting for the elevator.

After a good 20 minutes of climbing the stairs, Lucy has finally reached the 15th floor of the building. With a disheveled hair and loose blouse, Lucy breathlessly stood at the top of the stairs, carrying her heels and handbag.

"Are-are!" the receptionist of the floor surprisingly exclaims after coming out of a nearby conference room and saw the newly arrived blonde, "Ms. Lucy?" She anxiously called
"Don't ask…" Lucy said as she slips onto her heels then runs her hands through her hair and face. After taking a moment to compose herself, she starts to walk away from the front desk when the receptionist called once again, "Oh! Ms. Lucy!"

Before Lucy could turn to look back at the receptionist, her name was called once again but this time from a familiar female voice, "Lucy?"

Turning her attention to the more familiar voice, Lucy's eyes enlarges as she saw her mother and auntie Grandine stand before her, coming out of the conference room.

"…Mom…Auntie Grandine…Hi" Lucy greets trying to conjure a smile on her face while her mind was starting to panic, "Do you mind?" She asks the two women

"Sure dear," Grandine answers as she returns the smile, "Take your time" and with that Lucy sprints past them to go to her office and fix herself.

When the younger blonde disappeared and a loud slamming of a door was heard, Grandine looked at the blonde friend next to her and ask, "Did she know we were coming? Or does she go to work like that?"

"I hope the first choice…" and with that Layla turns to enter the conference room once again, which was followed by Grandine after shrugging off the idea.


"Good morning!" Lucy greets as soon as she opens the doors to the conference room, where her mother and auntie Grandine was staying while they waited for her, "I didn't expect your arrival at the office…" She continued as she watched her mother and auntie.

When the two didn't make any comment, Lucy looked at the two middle-aged women with curiosity, "What?" She asks and this time Grandine answers back, "So you go to work looking like…you've gone to war every morning?"
"…No!" Lucy shook her head, "I knew you two were coming…I had to run…with my heels…used the stairs…ok, so what do you need from me?" Lucy asks as she quickly changes the topic and the two older women gladly accepts the change of topic

"Well, we came to ask you about the engagement…" Layla answers before she turns in her seat to pull out her planner from her bag, "My friend who is a designer is busy for the whole month of March but I can ask for a schedule…" She then looks at her daughter who had a tensed face, "You okay dear?"
"Hmmm," Lucy hums as she nods her head
"Oh and also!" Grandine suddenly speaks as she claps her hand to catch the attention of the two blondes, "One of my amigas owns a garden venue that is usually used for weddings. I can ask her for a reservation. You want?" Grandine expectantly looked at the blonde, who still kept a stiff look
"Hmm?" Lucy hummed in question as she tilts her head at the two women before her.

Seeing how Lucy was reacting, Layla couldn't help but sigh in exasperation as she drops her back to her chair and gave a worried look at her daughter, "Please tell me that you at least have an idea of your wedding…"
"Hmm?" Lucy repeats her questioning hum
"Oh, Layla!" Grandine then clutches the shoulder of the older blonde and gave it a little shake, "Relax…we are probably shocking Lucy right now…Right dear?"
"Hmmm" Lucy affirms as she nods at the two women
"See…" Grandine then smiled at her future daughter-in-law before looking back at her friend, "Okay Layla, why don't you hand out to your daughter the contacts that you have for the fashion designers?"
"Right!" Layla then beams with the suggestion of her daughter's soon mother-in-law, "I know a few wedding planners too!"
"Perfect!" Grandine states and the two then giggles in excitement. As the two women did, they suddenly notice the lack of excitement from the soon-to-be bride. And so, they looked at the blonde who still held a firm face.

"Lucy, would you please speak up…" Layla warningly says at her daughter who immediately sighed after her short lecture. When Lucy slumps back to her chair, she started massaging her temple and closed her eyes, "Mom…"
"Oh, when you start your sentence like that I know there is something wrong…" Layla's back then stiffens in alarm, "What's wrong?"
"Is it something Natsu did?" Grandine quickly adds
Slowly opening her eyes, Lucy looked at the two worrying women before her and gave another sigh before she sat up straight and place her hands on the table.

"Can we not talk about the engagement yet? I don't feel like talking about it yet…" She timidly asks
"Oh dear…why we can't…your wedding is in three months…" Grandine says disagreeing to the blonde, who suddenly became tense again, "Wait…what? Three months?"
"Yes… that's what Natsu said. Your wedding would be in three months" Grandine then looked at Layla who was both curious as to what was happening, "Is there something wrong?" Layla slowly asks as she watched her daughter have a scowling face. When Lucy suddenly looked at the two women, the two couldn't help but be nervous with the glare of the younger blonde.

"Nope…" Lucy said with a smile on her face, making the two middle-aged women uneasy after seeing the quick shift of mood of the blonde, "Everything is fine…"

"O-okay…" Layla then looks at her blue-haired friend who was also looking back at her. Looking away to look at her daughter, she asked, "Well, what can we do to help? You know, you have a short time left to prepare…"

"Don't worry mom, auntie Grandine. Everything will work out…" Lucy then stood up, "Why don't you just give me a list of what needs to be done for a wedding and I will take care of it. Natsu and I will take care of it…"
"Umm…" Grandine then looked at the blonde who was mentally asking her if they should leave things to the couple. When they realized it would be the best instead of defying the bride-to-be, they looked at Lucy and said, "Of course!" and with that, Grandine slides a piece of paper to Lucy who quickly snatches it and bows her head.

"Thank you for helping us…I'll just contact any two of you if we have some questions," Lucy said once she finished bowing before the two mothers, "If you don't mind, I have to leave for a meeting already."
"Oh, it's fine Lucy. Call us okay? Give us updates" and with that Layla and Grandine stood and took their bags. As they bid their goodbyes to Lucy with a kiss on her cheek, the two finally left the conference room, and Lucy let herself drop to her chair and whimper in frustration. But before she could do so, the door to the room opened once again, but this time, it revealed a short blue-haired woman, "Lu-chan, enough whining and more meeting. Come on, we're late" and with that Levy disappeared. After a short whining, Lucy stood up and said, "Coming…


"So, now that we have discussed the new events we would be organizing for the next three months. We need to talk about now our featured stories…Levy?" The editor-in-chief asked, clicking her pen to the table before glancing at the blunette

"About that Ms. Enno, me and my partner thought that maybe we could feature Jenny Realight again but this time with Hibiki Lates, the famous baseball player of Blue Shires" Levy answered as she looks up to her editor-in-chief
"Jenny Realight huh?" Enno then began to scribble it down to her notes, "Even if it seems to be an eye-catching couple, I feel like there are some couples out there that are far more interesting…" She then looks up to her team and she sees that they were all agreeing with her, "Who else recently got engaged?" She asks the group
"Um, how about Ren Akatsuki and Sherry Blendy? They recently got married…" one of the junior writers said and the editor-in-chief scrunches up her face as she thought about it, "Nope! Who else?" Enno glances at her team once again.

When Enno looked at her group, she immediately notices her blonde feature writer being oddly quiet. And so, she called the attention of the writer, "Lucy? Do you have some ideas? What's on your mind?"

Lucy, not mentally present at the meeting, unconsciously speaks up and says, "My engagement…" and once she said that the room became silent. But before Lucy could even take notice of it, a loud clap resound the meeting room, making Lucy startled in her seat, "Are!" Lucy exclaims
"That's it!" Enno cries out as she points at the blonde, who was now confused to what was happening. And so, Levy asked, "Enno-sama, what exactly are you talking about?"
"Levy! Lucy! I know what you will be featuring!" Enno enthusiastically said as she looks at her writers, "The Heartfilia and Dragneel engagement!"
"What?!" Lucy and Levy chorally bellow as their eyes widen. Soon the two best friends look at one another then back to their editor, "Wa-wait! Enno-sama! Why would you think I am engaged to a Dragneel?! From the last time I checked, no media has discovered my fiancé!"
Enno then grins mischievously at the blonde, "Don't you think I have some pretty bird to tell me those kinds of secrets?" Lucy and Levy then glance at the white haired event coordinator, who innocently looked away
"Right…of course…" Lucy mumbles as she wrinkles her face in realization that it would be Mira who would tell Enno about her engagement
"So! We have a topic now…I want the whole Heartfilia and Dragneel Family to be the topic for the next three months. April issue would feature the power couple Grandine and Igneel Dragneel, then for May issue it would be Layla and Jude Heartfilia, and lastly Lucy and Natsu for the next generation powerhouse couple!" Enno then claps in excitement, which the whole team did as well.

While Lucy stunningly gazes at nothing after hearing what her editor has just said, Levy couldn't help but give a slow clap. She actually didn't know if it was for her best friend or for their career, but either way, their dilemma deserves a slow clap.

After all the brainstorming they have done, Lucy, Levy, and Mira decided to have an early lunch just outside the Fairy Tail building. The three went to a homey-feeling diner, wherein they would usually have their meals whenever they wanted to unwind.

As the three settled in a booth located at the back of the diner, Lucy immediately let herself whine in her seat, "Uhh~!" Lucy childishly stomps her feet to the floor as throws her arms in irritation, "I can't believe this!" She shouts before she drops her arms to the table and glaringly looked at the silver-haired woman in front of her, "Mira! Why'd you even tell Enno-sama about that engagement?!"
"It was a slip of the tongue?" Mira innocently replies as she batters her eyelashes to convince her friend
"Uh! Mira~!" Lucy then crumples her face again in frustration, "What am I going to do?"
"Oh Lu-chan, don't worry about it too much…it's just a story" Levy says as she tries to comfort her best friend
"Exactly!" Lucy suddenly replies madly, "This whole engagement thing is a makeup story!"
"Lucy, relax…all we need to do is make it sound realistic. I mean, you have Levy there to write it…right?" Mira then looks at Levy for an affirmation and just as expected Levy nodded before looking back at her blonde friend.

"Lu-chan, you don't have to worry too much, I and Mira will help you out. Don't worry, everything will be fine…" Levy then places her hand to the forearm of the blonde and gave it a gentle rub
"No you guys don't get it…" Lucy glanced at her two friends, "We can't feature our engagement…"
"Why not? Because it's fake? No one knows it but us…" Mira replies, trying to convince the blonde that she doesn't have to worry
"I know that no one will know it as fake…but, remember? Three months? My engagement scheme is to last for three months as well, which means the engagement would be canceled right on the same month the story must be published"

Mira and Levy then widen their eyes in realization with what Lucy has just said. Expressing her shock, Mira places a hand to her lips as she looks baffled, "Oh my god, I forgot that the scheme would be three months…"
"wa-wait, how about just adjust the supposed date of the wedding?" Levy asks back to Lucy
"I'm not sure…Mom and Auntie Grandine are pretty much aware now that the wedding is expected in three months…though I can still try telling them that I want to adjust the wedding schedule…"
"That would be a bad idea…" Mira then looks up to her blonde friend
"Why's that?" Lucy asks
"Bad omen…Knowing Ms. Grandine and Grandma Porlyusica I doubt they would permit it because it would mean bad things will happen within the marriage…like, things would continuously have mishaps" Mira answers, which made Levy and Lucy, raise their brows
"Really? There are people who still believe in superstition?" Levy unbelievingly questions and Lucy just drops her back to the couch as she thought, "I believe you...Grandma Porlyusica wouldn't allow it. I'm sure"
"Then what do we do?" Levy urgently asks
As the three thought of what they would do to solve their problem, their food suddenly arrives making the three surprised, "I'm pretty sure I didn't come here like a ghost," a girl with purple hair said after placing the meals in front of the three beauties
"Oh, sorry Kinana...it's just that, we have something in mind..." Levy says as she smiles at the familiar waitress
"It's okay...so, what's the problem?" Kinana asks as she pulls out her hand towel to dry her hands, out of habit
"Not really much of a concern, I guess..." Levy answered, denying the truth to the waitress
"Well if you say so, guys..." Kinana then gave a skeptical look to the trio, which made them gulp in nervousness, "Just kidding!" Kinana then breaks into a smile before she turns and says, "Don't forget to give me a copy of the new issue!"
"Got that!" Mira shouts back after some time when the waitress left. Just when she said that, Mira suddenly had an idea, making her exhilarated looking up to her friends, "I know now!"
"Know what?" Levy asks before she glances at the sulking blonde
"If we can't touch the wedding date, we can always adjust our magazine," Mira beamingly said, "We choose the topic we discuss in the magazine,"
Lucy finding hope in the words of her friend, she sat up straight and intently listened, "Right! Lu-chan, what is the safest we could discuss in the article if we will feature you and Natsu as an engaged couple?"
"Topic?" Lucy repeats, "...Life before engagement" Lucy then looks up to her friends and when she realized what she said, she perks up and repeats, "That's right! me and Natsu's perspective about life being single and now our transition to engagement!"
"Oh my! You're right Lucy! It's your chance to clear up things about the cliche idea of being single!" Mira adds, which made Lucy even more ecstatic, "I know...now I can at least set things right before I even break the lie..."

And with that, Lucy receives a warm comfort to her hands as Levy and Mira gave her hand a gentle rub and squeeze, "I guess this is the hidden purpose why the lie existed..."
"I guess so..." Lucy then smiles at her friends, when suddenly their stomachs simultaneously growled in hunger, "Enough drama! More eating!" Levy says then the three laughed before they began to dig into their food.


The day ended in a blur for Lucy. She barely even noticed that it was past 5 in the afternoon already until Levy knocked on her door and bid her goodbye, "Lu-chan! I'm going ahead,"

"Huh? Is it five already?" Lucy asked as she glanced at her wall clock, "Oh my...it is,"
"Hey, are you still bothered about the article?" Levy gently asks as she slips inside the office
"Not really...just thinking about the whole ordeal..." Lucy smiles as she drops her back to her chair
"Don't worry Lu-chan, this will end..." Levy then gave an assuring smile
"Yeah, like in three months..." Lucy then gave a tired smile which Levy copied, "Anyways, what are you still doing here? Don't you have a date with Gajeel?" Lucy then gave a snickering look to the blunette, who immediately blushed at the mentioned name. But as confident as Levy is, she just shrugged it off and said, "Technically not a date. He just said he needed help in finding new curtains for his apartment. Lily made a big tear right after that loud thunder sounds last storm..."
"I'm pretty sure it's a date..." Lucy then grins at her best friend who was about to complain but Lucy swings her hand as if she was shooing Levy, "Come on go! Gajeel is a grumpy man when he waits..."
"Fine, fine...see you tomorrow Lu!" Levy said as she turns and leaves the office, "Bye Levy-chan!" And with that, the blunette disappeared, leaving Lucy all by herself.

"I guess it's time to go home too..." Lucy then stood up and gathered her things. And soon, she left the building to head home.

In less than an hour, Lucy was already in her apartment front door, unlocking it. As soon as her door opened, she felt a warm breeze greet her and her mood quickly shifted to annoyance. Closing and locking her front door, she drops her keys to her key bowl and quickly took off her heels. Walking barefooted, she made no sound as she walks up to her living room. And there, she sees her pink-haired best friend sprawled on her sofa, giving soft snores while a small drool is coming out of his mouth.

"Uh," Lucy softly groans as she watches the pinkette sleep. Soon, Lucy walked closer to the man and when she was standing over him, she lifted her arm that was holding her handbag. And without a second thought, she drops her bag.

"OOOOOOHHHFFF!" Natsu loudly howls in pain as he clutches his pubic region when the bag of Lucy directly hits his groin. As Natsu stumbles off the sofa, Lucy just stepped back and watched her best friend wince in pain. When Natsu got hold of the tingling pain, he dangerously glared at the blonde and scowled, "What the hell was that for, Luce?!"

"That is for leaving me baffled this morning, for trespassing in my apartment, and for almost dropping a drool on my new cleaned sofa," Lucy apathetically replied as she places her hands on her hips before she plunks down to her sofa and sighs in tiredness.

"Was it that bad this morning?" Natsu asked looking up to Lucy while he still sat on the floor massaging his groin
"Are you seriously doing that in front of me?" Lucy asks back, ignoring the question of the pinkette. Natsu then looks down to his hand and just continued to circularly massage his pubic region, "What? It hurts..." Natsu then pouts as he looks down at his lower region but was then covered by a throw pillow when Lucy groans in annoyance.

"You didn't answer my question, though...how was this morning?" Natsu asks, keeping the pillow in place
"Horrible..." Lucy replies as she lies down to her sofa, hoisting her feet to the edge of her couch
"Why?" Natsu continued
"Let's say, my fake fiance just blurted out to my mother and soon mother-in-law that our engagement was in three months when technically the whole scheme hasn't been polished yet..." Lucy then turns her head and glared at Natsu, who quickly gave a sheepish look, "Sorry," He said, as he batted his eyelashes at the blonde, "Uh, it doesn't matter..." Lucy wails as she closes her eyes and drapes her arm over her closed eyes. Before Lucy could lurk to slumber, her head was lifted and soon felt cushion under her head. So taking a look, she sees that Natsu sat on the couch and used his leg as her pillow.

"What can I do to help? I pretty much caused you trouble..." He said once he held the gaze of the blonde, "Don't worry, it's been handled. You just have to help me making those wedding plans because if we don't make them, they'll be suspicious about it..."
"Noted!" Natsu then made a salute gesture as he grinned at his best friend. But then Lucy still looked troubled and this made Natsu confused. Right when he was just about to ask, Lucy beat him to speaking first, "Are you hungry?" she asks, changing her aura to reassure Natsu not to worry
"Well…yeah" Natsu replied trying to hold back his wonder
"Let's eat out…how about tacos?" Lucy then sits up, looking at her best friend expectantly
"…okay…Macao and Wakaba's?" Natsu says, and when Lucy smiled at him, Natsu didn't stop himself from smirking back, "Taco house it is!" Natsu then promptly stood and hoists Lucy and drags her out of the apartment.

MacKaba Taco house is a homey small time restaurant near the village Lucy is living in. The place is just nearby that the two best friends would usually just stroll going there. Within minutes, the two arrives at the place with a smile on their faces.

"Oh! Natsu! Lucy!" a middle-aged purple-haired man calls as soon as Natsu and Lucy came inside the restaurant, "Long time, no see!" the man then leaned over the counter as he smiled at his loyal costumers
"Hey Macao," Natsu greets as he and Lucy raise their hand to wave at the restaurant owner, "We miss your famous tacos!" he added
Laughing at the faint compliment of the pinkette, Macao couldn't help but be thrilled how his dishes were being patronized. So just grinning back to the newcomers, Macao said, "Well who doesn't?!" and with that they laughed
"It's surprising to see you here Lucy!" another older man's voice was heard, making Natsu and Lucy turn their heads to the source of the voice. And there they saw a man with a tobacco on his lips "Hey Wakaba, I missed you too" Lucy then walks up to the man and gives him a friendly hug, "The business looks good…Can we have a table?" Lucy then smiled after she quickly inquires when she realized how packed the place was
"Of course! For my blonde girl," Wakaba then winks at the blonde who just chuckles at the antics of the old man, "Hey watch it Wakaba!" Natsu then darts his two fingers to his eyes then to the old man before laughing along with the man.

Soon the two were settled on their table and their orders have been taken by Macao himself. Of course, Natsu had to order every dish available that night, while Lucy settles to a cheesy chicken quesadilla. When Macao left, Natsu and Lucy instantly converse again about their day.

Natsu started telling Lucy about how his day went. He told her about how he fell asleep during a meeting and that he was instantly reported to his dad but then his father just laughs at him. Then he started sharing about how he almost burned the whole mechanic room where Gajeel managed. He was playing with a lighter when suddenly he drops it in a pool of gasoline oil and this time when he was reported Igneel punished him with a three months salary deduction.

"Woah-woah-woah!" Lucy alarmingly raises her hands to stop the pinkette from talking, "So you're saying…"
"Yep, Luce! This is your treat!" Natsu then grins at the astonished blonde. And right when she turned to a stone, a waitress finally arrived placing their meals before them. And soon, the food was served, "Alright! Dig in!"
"Wait!" Lucy shouts but it was too late because Natsu started munching all of the food that was served. Scowling at her best friend, Lucy couldn't help but grumble, "You are so going to pay…"
"Okay, Luce!" Natsu said after swallowing a big bite of burrito, "After three months"
"Uh! You're hopeless!" Lucy exclaims as she throws her hands in the air. Ignoring the whining of Lucy, Natsu terrorizing gazed at the cheesy chicken quesadilla as if he was ready to devour it. But before he could, Lucy quickly pulls the plate close to her and she said, "Hands off. This is mine,"
"Aww Luce~…" Natsu whines
"No! You made me bankrupt!" Lucy then grabbed her meal and gave a big bite. With that bite, Lucy's food then oozed out some cheese and made Lucy a big mess. Seeing how her situation is, she started laughing, which was joined by her best friend.

Later that night, after having a good meal and good conversation, Natsu and Lucy called it a night. And soon, they headed out of the restaurant. Walking the sidewalk of Magnolia, Lucy suddenly felt the cold breeze of the night, making her wrap her arms around herself. Seeing the slight shiver of his best friend, Natsu immediately takes off his scarf and pulls Lucy to a stop.

"What?" Lucy questioned once she was pulled to stop. Without answering her question, Natsu stepped closer and gently wraps the scarf around her neck. Natsu then said, "I guess it's quite late already that the wind is too cold for you…"

Normally, Lucy would have scowled at the mean teasing of Natsu. But with their close proximity and the gentle hands of Natsu resting on her cheeks to give her warmth, she couldn't bring up to be mad. Instead, her cheeks turned red and she abruptly felt grateful that she could make it an excuse as a sign she was warming up, thanks to his weird warmth.

"Do you still feel cold?" Natsu whispers as he straightly gazes at the brown eyes of the blonde then looked down to her pink lips. When Lucy wouldn't answer him instantly, Natsu unconsciously steps closer, making his face even closer to the blonde. And without notice, he has tilted Lucy's face upward, pulling her up while he leans down. Not aware of what is happening, Natsu all knew that he just had to lean down and at least touch the pink lips of the blonde. And so, he let himself do it. While Lucy, she was just lost in a trance that she closes her eyes and waited for the soft touch on her lips.

"I didn't know that you two kiss in public," a teasing man voice suddenly boomed, making the two jumps out of their trance and look up to their intruder.

When Natsu and Lucy looked at their intruder, they saw a raven-haired man with a blue-haired woman clinging to his arm, "Hello Lucy-san!" the woman greeted
"Juvia…" Lucy astonishingly called the name of her friend despite the redness on her cheeks
"What the hell Ice princess?!" Natsu immediately growls at the man, who just chuckled at the red face of the pinkette
"Wha-what are you two doing here?" Lucy hurriedly asks, trying to divert the topic
"Oh, Juvia and Gray-sama just had dinner at a nearby French restaurant. Juvia has been craving for her home country's delicacies…" Juvia then sweetly smiles at her friends
"Ahh, so you two usually date now?" Lucy simply trying to get back on her friends, who still had a smug look on their faces
"Oh, Lucy-chan, you know how Juvia and Gray-sama always eat out even if Gray-sama hasn't accepted Juvia's love yet…" Juvia tightens her grip on Gray's arm and made Gray suddenly blush, "Are-are? Is Gray-sama blushing?" Juvia then tips toes as she pokes the tinted cheek of the man, who quickly brushes away the hand of the blunette, "Juvia stop,"
"Ayiii~" Juvia cooed, "Gray-sama makes Juvia happy tonight!" Juvia then hugs the arm of the man before she contently rests her cheek to the bicep of Gray.

"So where the two of you supposed to head to before you both decided to smooch?" Gray then gave a snickering look at Natsu
"Shut up! We weren't smooching!" Natsu scowls back before he looks away anywhere aside from Lucy. Feeling embarrassed for even doing such thing to his best friend
"We were heading home," Lucy calmly said to Gray after seeing how Natsu was avoiding her gaze. When Gray nodded, he knew that he has brought enough misery to his best friend/ enemy, and so he bid his friend goodbye, "Well, we better go. I have to drive Juvia back home. See you around Lucy. Good luck fire head!" and with that, Gray and Juvia turns to cross the road.

When Natsu and Lucy were left alone in the street once again, the two were now in an awkward situation. Unsure of how to explain what happened before Gray interrupted, the two just kept their gazes away from one another. But the longer they let the awkwardness exist, the more they didn't feel comfortable. So, Natsu did his best to act normal as he said, "Come on let me take you home…" and with that, Natsu started walking away.

Catching up to the pinkette, Lucy wanted to get mad for being left behind. But then she thought, Shouldn't I be madder that Natsu tried to kiss me?

"What?" Natsu suddenly looked at his side and saw the furrowed brows of the blonde, telling him that she was in deep thoughts
"I didn't say anything," Lucy hastily denies, and when Natsu nodded they fell to another silent treatment.

Couldn't handle anymore the awkwardness, Natsu suddenly stops in his tracks and looks at the staggered blonde.

"Luce, can we just forget what happened? I think I just did that because of some little alcohol we drank back at the taco house" Natsu reasons out. Watching the face of the blonde, Natsu couldn't place if he saw a frown on Lucy's face or if he was just imagining it because when he blinked again, Lucy was smiling at him and said, "Don't worry, I'm quite aware now that you use public affection as a means to imply to people that we are engaged…don't worry, I don't mind" Lucy then taps the shoulder of the man before she walks past him and made bigger strides.

When Lucy was gaining distance, Natsu immediately catches up to her and without warning, Natsu holds onto the hand of the blonde and gave it a gentle squeeze, "Thanks, Luce…" Natsu said looking at the blonde who was glancing at their entwined hands. When she looked up to him, she gave a tight smile before looking away. Not wanting to see Lucy the way she was acting, Natsu gave another squeeze to Lucy's hand and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Why do you always hold my hand?" Lucy curiously asks back, looking straight into Natsu's onyx eyes. With the question of his best friend, Natsu lifted their entwined hands and gave it a good stare before answering, "Whenever I hold your hand, it always remind me of how small your hands are..."
"Hey!" Lucy then pulls Natsu into a stop, "What's that suppose to mean?" She was then giving a menacing look to the pinkette but then he just chortled as he pulls her to continue to walk.
"Well, what does small mean? Isn't-" Natsu answers but was quickly interrupted
"I know what small is, baka! What I'm saying are you mocking my hand?" Lucy glares at the man next to her but being unfazed to her death glare, Natsu just chuckles again as he replies, "Who knows..."
And with that, Lucy slaps the man on his shoulder. Not bothered by the physical attack of the blonde, Natsu just chuckles as he lifts his arm and drapes it over Lucy's shoulder while keeping their hands entwined.

Looking up to the pink-haired Dragneel, Lucy couldn't help but wonder why Natsu could be so insensitive whenever he acts like the way he does. Every time he interacts with her in a physical manner, she could feel her heart accelerate but then he still wouldn't notice.

"You have a monstrous hand..." Lucy blabbers while looking up at the man. And when Natsu grinned widely, he looked down at her and said, "Right—bwaah!" Natsu loudly shouts as he snappingly brought his other hand and wagged it to her face, making Lucy surprised and shrieked aloud in astonishment.

"What the hell Natsu! Stop that!" Lucy bellows back as she stopped and stomped her foot. Natsu just then laughs at his best friend. Looking down at her, he gave another heartfelt laughter before he wipes his eyes when tears began to form.

"Yeah, just keep laughing..." Lucy sarcastically said as she snarls at the pinkette, "one day I'll get you too"

Without warning, Natsu levels his head to Lucy's and gave a short distance between them, "Looking forward to it..." He whispers before he grins wide. Soon, Lucy pulls away from his hold and stumbled away from him, giving them a good distance. Their faces were too close and she could feel her cheeks warming up again. The incident moments ago all started with her cheeks burning and the next thing she knows, they were about to kiss. And the least thing she wants right now is for that to happen again.

"Baka," Lucy's only response as she continually felt her heart race. And so, without waiting, she turns and walks away from the pinkette. Getting the laugh out of his system, Natsu finally ended his laughter and soon chased after the blonde. After all, all he wanted was to walk her home as he ends his day.

Finally, the two arrived at the doorstep to Lucy's apartment. Natsu no longer stood next to the blonde as he just stood at the bottom of the stairs and waited for his best friend to get inside, while Lucy fished out her keys to unlock her door. Once she opened it, she turned to look at Natsu and asked, "Are you coming in or are you going home?"
"I better get home...I'm pretty sure Happy would be attacking me again for not coming home earlier to feed him," Natsu then smiled at the thought of his pet, which Lucy copied.
"Alright," Lucy then descends the stairs and quickly gave a hug to Natsu, "Take care, okay..." Lucy then pulls away but kept her arms on top of Natsu's shoulder, "Natsu?"
Tilting his head in wonder, Natsu replies, "Yeah?"
"You know that in my job, we feature stories that are quite the topic of the people...right?" Lucy says, being shy about breaking to her best friend about one dilemma she has been thinking about. When Natsu nodded, she continued, "Well, we had a meeting this morning discussing our topics for the next three months and Ms. Enno decided that we feature power couples..."
"Okay..." Natsu remarks, getting confused as to where Lucy was going
"She wants us to feature your mom and dad...and so as my parents..." Lucy says, waiting for any violent reaction from her best friend but then Natsu just kept a confused look, "Okay...I don't think you have to worry about it. They'll be fine with it,"
"Yeah, I guess so...but there is one more couple that Ms. Enno wants to feature..." Lucy then became silent as she watches the face of Natsu, "Well, who?" Natsu asks, quite impatiently
"Us..." Lucy blurts out and Natsu was just silent. Lucy wasn't sure if it was because, Natsu was surprised or he didn't get it, "Okay. Let me make it clear...Ms. Enno wants us," Lucy then switches her point of a finger to herself and Natsu, "to be the cover feature of Fairy Tail mag for the month of June. We are to come out as an engaged couple"

With what Lucy said, Natsu just kept quiet as he pondered on the words of his best friend. He observed her face and waited for her to continue. But then the blonde just kept quiet as well and so, Natsu said, "Will it be okay with you?" He concerningly asks
"Me?" Lucy points to herself, obviously shocked with the question
"Yeah...I mean, it doesn't matter to me because all I care about is you," Natsu then gently took Lucy's hand and gave it a soft squeeze, "As long as it's okay with you, I'm go for it. I wouldn't mind to be interviewed and stuff...Just make sure we're together when interviewed...I might mess up" Natsu then shyly chuckles which Lucy followed after.

When the two have calmed down, Lucy held Natsu's cheeks and directly said to him, "I can't believe I even felt nervous telling you that..." Lucy then squishes his cheeks making Natsu moan in agony and his lips started puckering. When Lucy laughed at the cute face of the pinkette, she releases her grip to his cheeks but kept her hands on it.

"It's better when we're together, right?" Lucy happily asks, smiling widely at her best friend. When Natsu grinned back, he nodded, and said, "Better when we're together..."

To be continued...