Welcome new readers and readers who have been there from the start thanks for your support. Your reviews keep me going.

In case anyone is wondering it's been about 12 days since Lucy has joined Fairy tail. The job they went on took them about 6 days to complete. Now they are back in Magnolia, Lucy gets to move into her apartment in a few days. It's almost July in my timeline. Summer shenanigans are around the corner.

Here's chapter 9, told you I wouldn't make you wait long.

I do not own Fairy Tail

9.

It had been two days since they got back from the job. Lucy was soaking in the bath taking some time to herself. She thought back to when they got back to Magnolia after they completed the job. They stopped at the guild hall to let everyone know they were back and to grab a bite to eat before they all went home to rest up.

Flashback

MiraJane brought rounds of beer for everyone. Celebrating their return and Lucy, for completing her first job. "Lucy, tell us, how was it?" Mira asked.

"I will admit it was challenging, I couldn't have done a job like this alone. I am so thankful for the help I got and for the new friendships I made." She looked to Erza and Gray and smiled. She looked to Natsu last who was sitting by her side. "A big thanks to Natsu, if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here today." She got Natsu to blush.

"Lu Chan, tell us all about your adventure" Levy asked interrupting the two, she was sitting across from her with Jet and Droy by her side.

Lucy was so happy everyone cared so much. She was surrounded so many guild members.A few she recognized from her first visit and some were new faces. Canna, Elfman, Macao, Warren, Wakaba, Alzack and Bisca too. She shared her story, letting Erza, Gray, Happy and Natsu cut in when needed. It wasn't just her job. Everyone had a part to play.

They had stayed at the guild until Lucy started nodding off. "Let's get you home, Luce," Natsu finally said.

She agreed and stood up, she said goodbye to her friends and followed Natsu out the door.

"Natsu, I think I'm gonna take a day or two off to myself, that job really took a lot out of me." She admitted.

"Sure, take your time, the guild will always be there and jobs come and go."

"AYE" Happy added in agreement.

Flashback end

It was late afternoon when she finally got out of bed. It had been so long since she slept in that long. It was needed. The bath started to run cold, she finished up and got out. Once dressed she left the bathroom with her hair up in a towel. Natsu was laying in the hammock sleeping with Happy curled up next to him. She giggled at his snoring.

She decided to make something to eat, careful to not make to much noise, not wanting to wake the sleepy dragon. But it was too late, as soon as she opened the fridge. "Hey Luce," he said sleepily.

"Hey you, sorry I didn't mean to wake you." She said juggling a few things she pulled out of the fridge.

"Its okay, I needed to get up anyways, so whatcha got planned today?" He asked.

She pondered the question, she didn't really have any plans besides relaxing and catching up on some reading. She cracked a few eggs into a pan. "Uh, not much, just some reading. Thought I would go outside and enjoy the view and a good book."

Natsu nodded, he got up and leaned against the counter next to her as she cooked. "You hungry?" She asked, "yeah, I'm always hungry" he told her.

"I'll have some fish if you're cooking, Lucy, but make sure it's raw," said a voice. Happy had finally rolled out of bed and joined them in the kitchen. Lucy pulled out a fish from the fridge and handed it to the sassy feline. "Here you go Happy," she said handing him his favorite food. He accepted it and immediately put it in his mouth.

"So Lucy, if you are up for it maybe we could do some training?" Natsu asked,

Lucy looked at him, she definitely needed to get in shape, though she wanted to relax it would be a good time to start. She had already picked up a few things from Erza. She nodded, "Sure, Natsu that sounds like a good idea."

He didn't have a routine or anything, but he did train more often then people thought. He would run along a trail by his house or he would do his weight training with Happy. He took on a lot of jobs which helped him build his strength, even fighting with Gray.

"How about we go on a run later, build up that endurance then we can focus of weights to gain some muscle." he said poking her arm.

"Hey!" she said with a laugh, "Well that's exactly what this girl needs." She flexed her non existent muscles. Doing so made her laugh, getting a laugh from both Happy and Natsu. "I really want to get stronger."

"Alight, we should also go by the guild later, maybe eat dinner there?" Natsu suggested.

"Sure, I really want to finish my book first and then we can go, okay?"

They finished the meal Lucy had prepared, she cleared the table and went to the bedroom to grab her book. She grabbed a blanket off the couch and left the house. Outside she laid the blanket on the ground in the perfect spot. It overlooked all of Magnolia and had just enough shade to block the sun from the pages of her book.

Natsu and Happy followed her outside staying out of her way. "So Natsu? Are you going to take Lucy to the spot when you go on your run?" Happy asked

"Oh yeah, the spot, I guess so."

"Are you going to ask her out yet?"

"HAPPY, she might her you."

The feline snickered dodging a small fire ball that Natsu sent his way.

"I plan on asking her all that but when the time is right, I like the way things are now."

Natsu sat back watching Lucy as she read her book. She was laying on her stomach with her feet crossed in the arm. He noticed that she was plaiyng with her hair as she flipped the pages of her book. He watched her for a moment when he got a nudge from Happy. "What?"

"You should go over there" Happy encouraged. Natsu didn't know what that would do but he did anyways. Once he approached her Lucy looked you, "Can I help you with something?" she said looking back to her book. "Uh, no, you keep reading." He laid down on his back next to her and closed his eyes. Lucy paused but didn't say anything. Natsu noticed a smile on her face as soon as he laid next to her.

...

Lucy changed her clothes into something more fitting for a run. She found a pair of black shorts and a pink crop top. She put her hair into a pony tail and grabbed a water bottle. Natsu had changed to her surprise, he was in a pair of shorts and t-shirt. "You ready?" he asked her. She stretched her legs real quick and gave him a thumbs up. "Yeah, i'm ready."

They began with a slight jog down a small dirt path. The sun was shining through the trees. "let me know if we are going to fast okay?" Natsu said looking back to her.

"Sure thing." There was a slight breeze in the air which helped cool down the blonde mage. They path was straight and there wasn't much to see just trees and Natsu who was running ahead of her. She liked the fresh air, this was exactly what she needed. She couldn't believe it took her this long.

Natsu wasn't too far ahead, Lucy was able to keep up for the most part, she couldn't go any faster than she was moving now. They made it to a fork in the road and Natsu took the left path. They had been running for about a mile when Lucy started to loose wind. She needed to stop for water.

"Hey Natsu, think we could slow it down for a water break?" she called out.

"Yeah" He slowed his pace to match hers, "Think you can make it until we reach the bend just up ahead?" he asked her pointing ahead of them.

She nodded in response not wanting to waste any energy talking. He matched her pace until they reached the bend. The slow jog turned into a walk. Lucy opened her water bottle and chugged half and passed it to her running partner. He took it and drank.

"We need to do this everyday." Lucy said "Want to do it with me?" she asked

"Yeah, i'll be your running partner," he said giving her back the bottle. "Hey, there's a place not far from here I want to show you."

"Oh yeah? What kind of place?" she said curiously.

"You'll see" He grabbed her hand and lead the way. "Happy and I found this place when we first moved in. We come here every once and a while."

"Do I hear water?" Lucy asked

They walked a short distance and stopped. Lucy was amazed. There was a clearing filled with flowers in the middle of a forest with beautiful giant water fall.

"WOW, this place is amazing." She let go of Natsu's hand and ran closer to the water. She took her shoes off and put her feet in. "Sit with me?"

Natsu copied her by taking off his shoes and putting his feet in the water. They sat on the lakes edge letting the cold water cool them down. "Thanks for showing me this place, it would be a great place to read or write." she said

"Lucy?" he asked looking her way, she was beautiful in the sunlight.

"Yeah?" she looked at him with her big brown eyes.

"Uhh, i've been thinking, you asked me to go on a job with you, just the two of us, did you still want to do that?" Lucy had forgot she asked him that. Of course she still wanted to do that.

"Yeah, I think it would be fun and give us a chance to get to know each other better too. Do you think Happy would be okay with that?"

"Happy will be fine, lets pick out a job when we go to the guild later."

"Yeah, it's a date." Wait did she just say date? Lucy's face turned red. I mean I guess it could be considered a date.

"Why are you blushing Lucy? It doesn't have to be a date if you don't want it too." he teased.

Her face was still red. "I want it to be though." she whispered knowing that he heard her.

"oh, well then it's a date." he blushed, "isn't the guy supposed to ask the girl though?" she laughed.

"What? A girl can't ask a guy out?" she smirked. "besides, I just asked you to go out on a job with me, I didn't ask you to dinner or a movie."

Natsu, was getting nervous, he was arguing with himself. Just ask her out dummy he thought to himself.

They were silent for a moment. "Lucy, I gotta ask you something..."

"What is it?"

"After our job date would you go on a real date with me?" He came right out and said it. He stared into the big brown eyes of the woman sitting beside him.

Her eyes softened and she put her hand to the side of his cheek. "Yes," she started to drop her hand but Natsu gently caught it and held it. With a gentle squeeze he broke the moment not be good at expressing his feelings and emotions.

"Should we continue our run?" he asked

"Race you back" she teased the dragon slayer.

"You're on"

Putting their shoes back on Lucy was up first and got a head start back to the house. Natsu caught up in seconds. "HEY, NO FAIR" he ran right past her. She tried to pick up speed but her feet couldn't go faster.

Back at the house Happy was taking a cat nap. He woke up to the sounds of his best friend and Lucy entering. "How was your run? You were gone a while"

"It was great! Natsu showed me the waterfall, we need to go there more often, we should have a picnic there sometime." Lucy was already excited about their next adventure to the spot.

"We are going to head to the guild for dinner, you coming buddy?"

"Aye sir, I wonder who will be there tonight"

...

They passed Lucy's Apartment on their way to the guild hall. "I can't believe I move in, in less than a week."

"Why don't you want to live with us Lucy?" Happy asked.

"I have loved staying with you guys but I need to have my own place. You are both welcome anytime."

"You better have your fridge stocked with delicious fishes."

"I can do my best."

Lucy's hand brushed Natsu's who immediately intertwined his fingers with hers. He did ask her to be his and she said yes. She didn't pull away so he didn't imagine what happened earlier.

They walked like that until the reached the guild hall. Happy pushed the doors open and they both let go. They didn't talk about going public to the guild. Everything was all still new and they needed to talk about things more before they made it official.

Inside the guild hall sitting at their table was Gray and Erza. Canna was sitting at the bar talking to Mira. Elfman was playing pool with some of the other guild members. She noticed that Levy was gone as well Jet and Droy, maybe they were on a job.

"Hey guys" Lucy said as the approached the table.

"Well, well, look who it is." Erza said, "It's good to see you. What brings you here this late?"

"Dinner" Natsu said. "Want me to order you something Lucy?"

"Sure." she sat down next to the firey red head.

"You trust him to order you food?" Gray gasped

"Yeah, should I not?"

"Anyways, how are you?" Erza interjected

"I'm great, Natsu and I went for a run, I finished my book and now we are here. Natsu insisted on coming for dinner. We are also going to pick out a job for tomorrow." Lucy told them.

"Oh really, I could clear my schedule." she started to say.

"Actually, Natsu and I are going on a job together alone."

"Ooh?" Erza said suspicisly.

"Yeah, we made promise that we would hang out once we got back from Mount Hakobe and what better way then to go on a job."

"I see." Erza said, "So like a date.."

"uhh, err,"

Just then Natsu came back with three drinks. She was saved. He handed one to Lucy and Happy took the other. "Mira said you would like this one so I got it for you. Food should be right out."

"Natsu, I didn't know you bought things for other people." Gray teased.

"Lucy, isn't other people" Natsu said taking a seat next to Gray across from Lucy. She took a drink of her beverage. It tasted so good.

"Thanks for dinner Natsu, I can totally pay you back," Lucy said

"Nah, don't worry about it." There was an awkward silence until Lucy spoke again.

"Anyways guys, how have you all been?"

"Well, Lucy, I have been great, I took a job with Gray yesterday and it was great wasn't Gray?" Erza said staring a the ice wizard across from her.

"Yeah, yeah, it was great, not a lot of cash though."

"So what did you do?" Lucy asked.

"Well I got to perform a one man show to a real audience. It was supposed to be a security job but the actress go sick and I stepped up to the plate." Erza was off in her own world, she started to recite her lines from the play.

Food finally arrived and it looked great. "Enjoy you guys, this is my own recipe." Mira said putting the plates down in front of Lucy and Natsu.

"Mmm, it smells amazing. I haven't had lasagna is ages. Thanks again for dinner Natsu."

"No prob"

The five wizards talked for the next hour or so before both Gray and Erza decided it was late and they had things to do. "Goodnight, lets go on a job soon okay?" Erza said.

"Yes, I would love that. Goodnights guys." Lucy called out.

They three were left with full bellies. Lucy got another round of drinks.

"Shall we look for a job for tomorrow?" Lucy suggested

"Sure"

Over at the job board their were so many jobs to choose from but Lucy wanted something easy. "How about this one?" She held up the flyer.

Reward 50,000 Jewel

Wizards needed to perform at the Fire Festival in Crocus

Report to festival manager Maggie Lore on

Friday, June 29

"Iv'e never heard of the Fire Festival, that sounds like a lot of fun. lets tell Mira." Natsu took the flyer and they walked to the bar to let Mira know about their plans.

"I have you guys all signed up. Good luck." Mira said handing them back the flyer.

A fire festival sounds about right for Natsu, hopefully things don't get out of hand. Lucy was the one to choose the job this time. Hope she knows what she's getting herself into.

Thanks for reading!

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