Juvia looked down at the floor sitting on the bed she shares with her beloved swinging her bare legs back and forth while she fidgeted as always the blue haired beauty allowed her locks in to be free rather than the usual curls she does and her attire was one of her swimsuits being a snow blue bikini "Juvia."

She turned around hearing her name as well as the voice of her boyfriend who wore his regular trunks as he approached the bed and sat next to her as he began massaging her shoulders while she snuggled his neck as he pushed her down on the bed kissing her lips, chin and neck before they transitioned to cuddling.

Gray snuck his tongue inside Juvia's mouth before her face cried out for air which he allowed, Juvia took in a much needed breath as she clung on to her beloved running her fingers through his chest while he played with her locks "The gauntlet for Laxus's title is nearing."

"Well you did a whole lot of training so tonight let's keep cuddling" Juvia pleaded placing a kiss on his cheek.

Gray chuckled "C'mon I can relax unlike that knuckle head."

"Juvia hopes Lucy is faring well."

"I doubt it."

(…)

True to his prediction Lucy wasn't having an easy time evident by her collapsing on her knees while her skin turned pale and her breath turned rigged all because of him, Natsu was causing ruckus with his training shouting and generating fire like nobody's business 'Why am I doing with this?'

It all started with that phone call she received from her boss Erza asking her if she was up for extra work and that it's urgent, since her boss has been kind to her Lucy agreed which just so happened to be related to Natsu the same guy she had cost him his match and is now being more persistent in his training due to an upcoming event.

The main title held by Laxus Dreyar is being put on the line with a gauntlet being planned amongst the best of current months which included Natsu while it did put Lucy at ease she didn't cause too much damage then it's a nightmare now, she watched as he continued pushing himself even when his body is ready to give in with no regards normally in these times Erza would stop him but since she had something else she asked Lucy to do so instead since she was able to gain his attention once she can do it again "Natsu please stop."

"Sorry" he breathed raggedly himself but kept standing and steeling himself "This's a rare opportunity for me I can be the youngest champion of FTFC and I'm not wasting it not to mention Gray will be there too and we can settle the score once and for all."

He was about to throw in another punch but he was caught from behind by Lucy who pressed her chest against his back while slumming down on his shoulder "Then take it easy Gray is resting now so why aren't you?"

Natsu looked back at her with a raised eyebrow "How can you be so sure?"

Lucy glared at him with her tired eyes "It's past midnight! No human being would be up this long!"

"That is what he wants you to think" Natsu fired back with an accusatory finger.

Lucy forced herself off bringing her phone out showing him a photo Juvia took of herself and Gray getting ready for bed, thankfully her fellow ring girl got the memo of the extra work hosted on her by their boss and offered her help by taking the photo of Gray resting so Natsu can believe her "See?"

Natsu eyed the photo with a narrow calculation before he giggled "Yeah sleep there ice princess while I get ready to win."

Lucy clutched her phone as she gritted her teeth "Luce?"

"FINE I'M GOING HOME!" Lucy yelled as she sighed deeply "But the train had already left and I doubt I can find a trusty cab drive around this hour."

Natsu stopped as his grin fell and his eyes darkened "Hey Luce would you like to stay here?"

"What?"

"Sorry I kept you here with my training and now you can't go home until later so stay at my place" Natsu repeated with more clearance "I guess my body can't keep up so c'mon."

He offered her his hand Lucy looked on it then to him gulping "Won't I bother anyone?"

"Luce we're friends and besides I live alone unless you count Happy."

"Happy?"

"My pet cat."

"You have a cat?" Lucy asked shocked that someone like Natsu so fiery and energetic would have a cat an animal known for napping as a pet.

"Yeah you can see him now" Natsu took her hand before he dragged her along.

"Wait I didn't say anything" Lucy protested but he didn't listen.

After some miles were taken the two finally stood before the house which Lucy admitted looked nice it was a small hut nearby the park as Natsu opened the door "Welcome to my man cave."

It was a man cave being filled with manly stuff such as a giant tv connected to many game devices, rock music signs everywhere but also messy and dirty with many clothes thrown on the floor accompanied by wretched smell and something definitely burning in the kitchen "Meow."

Looking down Lucy found a small blue furred cat with a white belly jumping up and down "Hey Happy this's Lucy, Lucy this's Happy."

Lucy smiled as she offered her hand to the feline "Nice to meet you."

The cat returned the gesture placing it's paw at her hand as Lucy shook it, the cat dropped the paw before looking over to his owner "Meow?"

"She's a new friend that got a job with us" Natsu answered understanding his pet surprising Lucy who looked between the two with widened eyes.

"Meow?"

"Training's done."

The cat then looked to Lucy up to bottom before gazing back to the owner "Meow?"

Natsu shook his head "No she's a friend."

"Well make yourself at home" Natsu offered.

Lucy nodded as she made her way to the kitchen hoping to satisfy her stomach with something, all those attempts to keep Natsu under control had left her hungry.

Opening the fridge she was in for a pick of the least worst which included a frozen pizza, left over chickens and lots of meat "I guess I'll just go to bed."

The blonde turned around and made her way to the living room's coach to lie on it once she did she felt great pain, shooting up she looked down to see that the coach is in tatters and many metal springs sticking out "Why am I not surprised?"

She took in a deep breath to lie back down but was caught by her shoulders looking back Lucy saw Natsu's face way close for her comfort "The coach is in a bad shape."

"I-I can manage" Lucy replied looking away as she attempted to lie back down but Natsu lifted her up by her waist "Woah what is it?"

"Well you can use my bed and I'll sleep here" Natsu replied as he carried the flailing Lucy back to his bed and laid her down "Consider it a compensation for keeping up so late."

Lucy looked back at him "Where are you sleeping?"

"The coach."

"Can you sleep on it? You know what it looks like right?"

"Not to worry I'm made of tougher stuff" Natsu proclaimed slapping his chest "Besides I can use it as endurance training."

Lucy sighed internally as this didn't help the guilt of robbing someone of their own bed as Natsu was leaving Lucy grasped his hand with her own "N-Natsu I'm sorry but please sleep here in your bed."

"Hmm where are you sleeping?"

Lucy gulped harder this guy sure is tough but he sure is slow "I'll sleep here as well."

"Wait so together in bed?" Natsu asked with a raised eyebrow Lucy nodding was his only answer "Sure."

Lucy's eyes widened "W-wait what I meant-"

Natsu took his place in the bed next to her as he began to snore, this comforted Lucy letting out a sigh of relief as she too drifted to sleep.

(…)

Waking up slowly Lucy stretched her arms feeling the bed being more spacious, looking to the side she noticed that Natsu wasn't in the bed.

Alarmed the blonde looked around until she heard the door open and in came in Natsu holding a grocery bag "Natsu where have you been?"

"Getting breakfast" he replied handing over the bag to her "Didn't know what kind of food your into so I just bought pancakes and syrup."

"You really didn't have to go that far" Lucy lightly shaded.

"It's fine and besides you haven't eaten anything since you came to me, right?"

Lucy nodded with a red face especially when her stomach growled "Thank you."

"It's alright no need to be so stiff" Natsu patted her shoulder.

After a quick breakfast and a light shower Lucy waved to Natsu goodbye as she left for the train station to go back to her apartment.

"Meow?" Happy suddenly came to his owner.

"I'm sure she'll come back again" Natsu assured patting the feline.

Meanwhile Lucy glanced back at Natsu's house with soft eyes unable to believe that she had slept in a man's house and on his bed with him no less 'If dad ever finds out about this he'll kill me.'

Pushing that thought back the blonde beauty trekked about towards the station when her phone buzzed pulling it out of her pockets she received a couple of messages one from Juvia and the other from Erza, since Juvia's came first Lucy opened it.

Juvia: Good morning Lucy Juvia hopes your alright, did you stop Natsu?

Lucy: Yeah after a whole night and me unable to go home he snapped out of his funk

Juvia: EH? Lucy are you okay? Where did you sleep?

Lucy: At Natsu's he allowed me to sleep in the house with him

Lucy's eyes widened when she realized what she wrote but before delete it Juvia already replied.

Juvia: So you guys had a second date?

Lucy: NO! He just felt terrible about me being stuck because of his training, I got a message from Erza so talk to you later.

Juvia: Alright

Lucy shook her head before she opened the other message from her boss.

Erza: Thank you again Lucy for looking over Natsu I hope he didn't cause too much trouble.

Lucy: It's alright I managed to stop his training frenzy.

Erza: Good I was afraid he would take advantage of me being busy and work himself till he can't compete.

Lucy: What?

Erza: It happened once and made a blow to business and since then I was monitoring him, again thanks and sorry but I got more stuff to do.

Lucy: Bye.

Lucy placed her phone back in her pocket as she bought the train ticket and got inside her ride, she ensured to keep a safe distance since she believes she still has the stench on her from her clothes but as she retreated back she pumped into someone "Sorry, eh."

The person she pumped was a man of a mountain of muscles with semi long white hair and a stitch underneath one of his eyes if her memory served her then he's "Good to see you Lucy."

"Elfman right?" the man nodded the two didn't interact much since Lucy was the new girl "Good to see you so what are you up to?"

"Well I'm just going to hit the park for a jog and then have coffee with big sis" Lucy still found it difficult believing this man is actually the younger brother of Mirajane a literal angel "I heard you were saddled with Natsu he didn't go overboard again did he?"

"No somehow I was able to stop him."

"That's manly!"

The train came to a stop as the two exchanged goodbyes and went their separate ways.

(…)

Romeo had a smile on his face as he went shopping for treats as he planned to meet up with Wendy again after another showing when he was about to grab one bag a hand gripped on it and pulled it away, the youth turned to the side to see who beat him to the punch and was met with a familiar face "Hey Asuka."

Beneath him was a cute little girl with semi long black hair done in a ponytail dressed like a cowgirl "Romeo great to see you."

"Romeo" an adult woman's voice called looking up he met another familiar being an adult stacked woman with green hair.

"Bisca it's been a while."

"It had so what brought the sweets in?" Bisca asked since Romeo had been mostly trying to imitate Natsu by eating good food.

"It's for a friend" Romeo replied with a gulp looking away "So what brought you here?

Bisca chuckled "Well Asuka wanted to get many sweets for my upcoming return."

"Yes mama is going back to shape and is facing a new girl that recently made a wave" the cute little girl spoke with pride.

Romeo smiled as he patted the little girl "Really who is this person mama is going against?"

"Her name is Wendy" Asuka revealed shocking Romeo who gulped hardly.

Bisca noticed this "Something wrong Romeo?"

The boy snapped out of his trance "No I'm fine, I just remembered something important."

"Well we won't keep ya so go ahead."

"Thanks" Romeo began walking away feeling dread.