At the moment Natsu was trying everything he could not to start sweating all over. He was no better a dancer than Gray yet here he was dancing and with his longtime crush too. He prayed that he wouldn't do anything stupid.

"Are you okay?" She asked. "You haven't said much since we started dancing."

"I'm just a little nervous, it's not everyday I get to dance at a party especially with you as my partner."

That made her giggle.

"Shouldn't you be dancing with Loke? Not that I mind you dancing with me." He said.

"Oh he couldn't come. He's been blowing me off a lot lately and he never says why."

"I'm sure he has his reasons."

"I guess."

"So anyway I...I didn't know that you were now working as a model."

"I'm not this is just volunteer work. You know to help raise money for the animal sanctuaries they're building in various conutries."

"That's very noble of you."

"Really? My dad thinks that's kind of silly."

"Clearly he doesn't understand how incredible and amazing animals are."

"But you do I bet."

"Well I do give to chairties that support animals but if you really want to meet someone who appreciates them you should talk to Gray. He's been studying them almost his entire life."

"Oh is he here?"

"Yes he's right over there, dancing with one of the other models." He pointed to across the room where Gray and Juvia were dancing.

"Oh so he's Juvia's new crush."

"You and Juvia are friends?"

"Not exactly. I mean we met while rehersing for the show but I've heard her go on and on about this new boy she's met. I had no idea it was Gray though I can't say I'm surprised she's interested in him. He is awfully cute."

"I didn't think she was that crazy about him. Then again I don't think any girl is that crazy about Gray." He joked.

"Don't be mean, he's a great guy."

"I know he's a great guy, I live with him now but he hasn't had much luck with the ladies but then again neither have I."

"You know I think you have a lot more potential than you realize. Any girl would be lucky to date you."

"Thanks Lucy. That means a lot."

He couldn't believe how well things were going but his seemingly perfect night was about to have a disturbance. Just outside the building where the party was being held was Jellal. After failing to track down Erza he decided to track down the two heroes who had whisked her away from him. He followed Natsu and Gray's scents all the way to the party but there were so many people there that night that he couldn't decipher Natsu and Gray from the other guests. So he decided to do something to draw them out.

He came crashing through the windows, getting everyone's attention. He started to grab various tables, chairs, and other furniture which he threw around and broke. Panic rose and the guests started to flee out of the room. Gray quickly escorted Juvia outside where it was safe.

"Juvia you wait here, I'm going back in to look for Natsu." He told her.

"Gray wait!" She objected but he had already run inside.

Meanwhile Natsu and Lucy couldn't reach the exit due to the crowds of scared people blocking their way. Natsu gently pushed Lucy to the side and into a nearby dressing room.

"Lucy lock the door and don't come out of here until it's safe."

"What about you?" She asked.

"I have to look for Gray."

"Alright but please be careful."

Both Natsu and Gray went to a private area to change into their costumes.

"Red Dragon! Blue Tiger! I know you're here!" Jellal shouted angrily. "Show yourselves!"

"We're up here!" Natsu called from the ceiling where he and his partner stood.

"What have you done with Erza?!" He demanded.

"Calm down, she's safe." Gray said.

"Where is she?!"

"Sorry but we feel that it's in her best interest that we don't tell you."

"We also feel that it's in your best interest that we get you to a hospital somewhere." Natsu said. "Preferably the nearest psychiatric ward."

"You two aren't taking him anywhere!" The confrontation had been interrupted by several cops led by Captian Jude Heartfilia, the chief of police and Lucy's father. "Freeze!"

The police pointed their guns at Jellal, Gray, and Natsu.

"All three of you are under arrest!"

"All three?" Natsu said. "What did he and I do?"

"You're probably in lead with this freak! Now all of you put your hands up now!" Jude ordered.

But Jellal had a trick of his sleeve. He pulled a smoke bomb from his belt and threw it on to the floor filling the whole room with a smokey mist. It made it hard for everyone to see what was happening but Jellal didn't just rely on sight, using his hearing and sense of smell he found Jude and knocked him unconscious.

"Dad!" Lucy cried out when she saw the mad man hold her father's body.

"Let him go Jellal!" Natsu demanded.

"If you do not want an innocent man to die you will bring Erza to me!" Jellal said before disappearing out the window.

"Dad no!" Lucy screamed.

Natsu and Gray tried to follow him but he cleverly evaded them by throwing some gas in their faces that were made from herbs known to confuse the senses. By the time the smoke and that gas had cleared Jellal was gone and so was Jude. No one was hurt but poor Lucy was in tears and sick with worry over her father being taken.

"You have to find him!" She sobbed to the other police. "There's no telling what that lunatic will do to him!"

"We'll have the whole force looking for him Miss Heartfilia." The police sargent told her.

"We'll look for him too." Natsu told her. "You have my word that I will bring your father back alive."

"Please do. I don't know what I would do if he...If he..." She couldn't even think about it let alone say it. It was just too horrible for her to imagine.

"Go home Miss Heartfilia and get some rest. Leave everything to me and my partner."

"Just don't let anything happen to him."

"I won't."

With that said the two heroes slipped out the window and to begin their next move.

"Now what do we do?" Gray asked. "We can't hand Erza over to that menace."

"I know but we can't just let him hurt Lucy's dad. "

"Why not? He's tried to hurt us a couple times. Last week he shot at me."

"Gray!"

"I'm kidding! You're right we have to do something but what?"

"I don't know. Maybe Erza has a solution, let's go talk to her. Where did you take her?"

"To her friend's apartment on the other side of town."

"Do you still remember the way?"

"Yeah."