Modern AU

Rating: T

"I don't think we're going to be able to knock this wall down, Salamander."

"Why not?! It's not holding up anything, I made sure it wasn't a load bearing wall. What's the issue this time Metal-face?" Natsu grumbled, resting the sledgehammer in his grip against his shoulder. "Luce isn't going to like me telling her I can't knock this wall out."

"There's a crack running from the wall," Gajeel motioned toward the initial crack then followed its path to the ceiling, "to the ceiling a way. Could be nothing serious or…"

"Could be an issue involving the flooring upstairs." Natsu finished with a groan. "Fuck! This house is going to ruin my marriage."

"This house could only ruin our marriage if you tell me there's another problem," Floated through the space, accompanied by a giggle. Natsu started, spinning around quickly with a look of panic on his face which sent Lucy into a fit of laughter. "Just kidding."

"Luce! I told you its too dangerous for you at the location right now. We're in the middle of demolition," the pink haired man said around a frown. He was swiftly pulling his hardhat off and placing it over her neatly braided hair. "You need to wear a hardhat!"

"I'm not made of glass," the blonde sighed, her hand lifting to show her husband the light pink hardhat in its grip. "I wanted to see if the wall was knocked down yet so I could get a better idea of the space and start my kitchen design." Lucy hummed with a shrug, readjusting the hat on her head, and handing Natsu her hardhat. The second he took it and put it on, Lucy smiled; her hands reaching up to play with a stray lock of pink hair sticking out at an odd angle. The reach caused her gently rounded stomach to brush against Natsu's. "So, what's the problem now? Gajeel?"

"Heya Lucy." Gajeel grunted, looking anywhere but at them, "not sure if it's nothing or some sort of damage." A shoulder shrug in the direction of the crack.

"That hadn't been there yesterday," Lucy mumbled with a frown, pulling away from Natsu to dig around the bag slung over her shoulders. "Well damage or not the wall can still come down…" Her frown deepened as she pulled out her ipad to pull up the digital floor plan of the house, "have we checked out the floor upstairs yet? What room is that?" The blonde continued to talk as she made her way to the stairs. "Hopefully it's nothing too pricey."

"Woah, slow down there," Natsu cut Lucy's progress short with a gentle grip and tug on her arm. "I was headed up there, so why don't you wait down here with Gajeel. Better yet you could sit outside in the yard at the little table you like so much."

"You really don't want me in the house huh?" said around a half smile. The snort from Gajeel turned it into a full one. "I'm fine, I'm tired of being cooped up at the house while you two knuckle heads take forever with this demolition. We have a time limit here! I swear if I didn't come here to check, nothing would ever get done!"

"I understand Luce, really I do." The pink hair man moaned, an arm sweeping around her waist. Natsu also retained his hold on her other arm, slowly leading her back out the front door. "It's not just you I gotta worry about anymore though. So please? It'll make me feel better."

"You promise you'll tell me exactly what's going on?" Lucy looked up into Natsu's face and smiled immediately upon seeing his grin. She didn't notice Gajeel slipping up the stairs with a disgusted look on his face.

"Promise Luce," was punctuated with a kiss.