Disclaimer; Fairy Tail and all it's characters belong solely to Hiro Mashima!
A/N This chapter has been edited due to spelling, grammar mistakes and to improve this story for all you readers and fans!
*Lucy's p.o.v *
What the hell was happening? I was serious could someone explain something to me please! Why was Natsu still holding my hand? Why was he dragging me back towards my home on Strawberry Street...Why was this happening in general? Was I dreaming?...Yes that's right this must be a dream because there is no way on earthland that Natsu Dragneel would ever say he would treat me like a princess...was there?
"Um Natsu," I finally managed to get out as he pulled me through the front door of my apartment building.
"Yeah Luce?" He replied finally stopping in front of my door.
"What's going on?" I questioned. Seriously I needed answers before my already addled brain started going into overdrive at the fact that my partner and longtime crush had technically just asked me out on a date.
"Like I said, I'm gonna treat you like a princess today." He beamed his heart stopping smile at me. Why did I have to fall for such a goofball.
"But why?" I mumbled fiddling with my house key, not wanting to look at him as there was a high likelihood that my face was a new shade of pink.
"Well you've been looking a bit wiped out recently and I thought maybe a fun day out would perk you back up," He continued grinning as he rubbed the hair at the back of his head. He looked so hot when he did that, it never failed to make my heart race. Just as Natsu seemed to pick up on my accelerated heart rate I unlocked my door and went into my room quickly.
"So what's the 'treating me like a princess' thing about?" I asked, as I busied myself with putting the kettle on. I needed something to do and with how pale the dragon slayer still looked, I'd better he needed more coffee too. What had happened last night?
"Well..." Natsu trailed off thinking about his answer, most probably. "I heard Bixlow explaining how Freed treats Mira like a princess and most of your spirits call you princess so I thought what the hell." He laughed coming over to me.
"Oh okay,"I felt my heart sink. This wasn't a date it was just two friends hanging out, well one friend trying to perk up another friend who was looking a bit down, nothing more nothing less. Why had I let myself get my hopes up? This was Natsu we were talking about here! The guy didn't notice girls at all so why should I ever think that he'd come to love me as more than a nakama? Stupid Lucy! But at least he had noticed I didn't look like my usual self that, in its own way, was a step in the right direction. Normally I'd have to be sick in bed before he'd notice something was wrong with me. I sighed,regained my composure as I turned to face him. I was desperate not to let my emotions get out of control and ruin what could be a fun filled day!
"You do know why Freed treats Mira like a princess don't you?" I asked teasingly. I sure as hell wasn't going to let him get away with being a dense idiot forever you know!
"No why?" He asked stupidly, with that naive look on his face. Oh my god seriously!
"You are kidding me right?!" I wanted to throttle the guy for his cluelessness at times.
I'm serious, why does he Luce?" He asked again looking all childish and innocent. Why did I love this guy again?
"Because their dating Natsu as in their a couple..boyfriend and girlfriend and all that!" I sighed hoping he'd get the picture as I couldn't spell it out much more plainly for him.
"Huh." He crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side. His classic 'that information is slowly sinking in' pose. I couldn't help but giggle lightly even if he was an idiot he was an adorable one at least."WHAT! When did that happen?"
So it finally twigged hey? Jeez, everyone else knew and they didn't exactly hide it how had Natsu missed it?
"Just before the grand magic games," I explained busying myself by setting up the coffee cups on the kitchen counter, and watching out of the corner of my eye, as Natsu started counting out how long ago that was on his fingers. When he finally figured out they'd been together the best part of 10 months he eyes went wide and his jaw dropped, probably at how he'd missed what was going on for so long. As much as I loved to tease my teammate, didn't we have a fun filled day to get to?
"So what do you have planned for our day?" I asked, getting back on to the subject of why we were currently sat back in my apartment instead of at the guild. Handing him a fresh cup of steaming caffeine.
"Oh well, do you have food?" He stated looking gratefully at the cup and downing it in seconds. I sweat dropped the dude was only interested in my fridge contents! And he had somehow managed to already forget our conversation from just moments earlier.
"Yeah," I replied skeptically raising an eyebrow. Where was he going with this?
"Good, can you pack up a picnic for us then we can head out for NaLu's day of fun and rest!" He grinned at me as I turned around to start sorting our picnic as there was no arguing with this guy when he set his mind to it.
"NaLu?" I questioned while starting to raid my fridge and putting enough food to feed 10 people in an old basket I had too hand. Well if I wanted to eat then I'd have to pack loads as Natsu was an eating machine.
"Yeah a combination of both of our names." He beamed as I walked back out of the kitchen with basket in hand. "LuNa just didn't have the same ring to it."
"Well it's not the worse combo in the world," I smiled back grabbing my jacket and headed towards the door. "And you're right it beats the second one you just said."
"Wait," Natsu called before I could even open the door. I stopped and turned slightly to see what he needed now. "Grab your writing stuff as well for later," He blushed slightly at this statement. I felt utterly confused, why did I need my writing gear?
"Erm okay," I muttered as I walked back towards my desk, shoved the basket into Natsu's arms and then continued my way to grab a backpack so I could carry all my writing equipment with me. "Right anything else?
"Nope we're all set now!" He cheered and headed towards the door. I felt my heart start fluttering in my chest as I headed out after him, excited to see what he had planned for us.
*Natsu's p.o.v*
Damn that Bixlow for making me do this! Damn Cana too for that matter, for whatever she put in those shot glasses! Lucy was my partner why did I have to treat her like a princess for the day? I was starting to regret not becoming a soul, it couldn't be worse than maybe making Lucy believe I wanted more with her than just our working relationship. But I did have to agree with Lisanna, Lucy hadn't been looking her usual self for the past couple of days so maybe I could turn this penalty thing into a way to perk her back up. I mean I'd never seen the girl look so tired unless she was sick, but looking after Asuka couldn't be that hard could it? Meh I'd ask her about that later.
As I lead my blonde teammate towards our first destination of the day, spying on Levy and Gajeel. I wondered how she was taking this situation. I mean her heart had speed up as we'd entered her apartment while I had been explaining things to her and then it had dropped off dramatically after I'd finished..Hmm wonder what that was about? Knowing Lucy something weird was my guess. I saw the park come into view and decided to drop all those mundane thoughts and concentrate on making today a good day for Luce.
"We're here." I proclaimed as I pointed to the park ahead of me.
"The park?" She questioned, looking up at me slightly confused.
"Yeah the park, we're going to be spying on some nakama of our's who have come out to play today." I chuckled somewhat darkly. Lucy just looked at me again tilting her head to the side waiting for me to explain further. Spotting our targets I pointed straight ahead and waited for her to catch up.
"What are Levy, Asuka and Gajeel doing here?" She gasped looking back at me. Are those's stars in her eyes?
"Gajeel lost to Cana in a drinking contest last night and his penalty was to take Levy out for the day seeing as she had Asuka. It was decided that they'd go to the park." I grinned mischievously before realizing that we weren't supposed to let the girls know that this was all because we'd lost to Cana last night. Shimata, shimata, shimata! I gulped please don't let Lucy tell Levy that and please don't let Lucy figure out that this is all because of a dare. I was sweating as Lucy turned around to face me again, a weird expression on her face to boot. Yep those were definitely stars. She'd gone into that weird mode she always entered when she was reading those sappy novels of hers.
"Gajeel asked Levy out on a date? FINALLY!" She squealed, loud enough that even Gajeel couldn't have miss it. Although it looked like I was off the hook seeing as Lucy hadn't picked up on any of the more important information that I had revealed relating to today. Thank god!
"So what do you say, Ready to play ninja's?" I asked hopefully. I hoped she agreed because ninjas was my favourite game in the world to play.
"Oh I wouldn't miss seeing this for the world!" Lucy exclaimed jumping up and down with excitement. Even I had to admit she did look pretty cute when she got like this. What was I thinking this was Lucy for heaven's sake!
"Then lets go," I smirked, grabbing Lucy's hand as I started to drag her to a place where we could watch and listen without been caught by the metal head and his dragon senses.
Several hours later *Lucy's p.o.v*
Wow what a day! We'd followed Levy around without being caught and I had to say from what I'd seen things were working out extremely well on their date. Gajeel had been very un Gajeel like, its the only way I could explain it. He'd been tolerant of Asuka and only growled at her lowly every time she'd pulled his hair. He'd been pushing her on the swings and playing with her, all be it rather ruffly but oh well. Levy had looked like she was in paradise the entire time grinning her head off and enjoying her time with the iron grouch bag. I was definitely looking forward to hearing the entire thing from Levy tonight! As we'd come away from our game of ninjas, Natsu had notice that it was getting close to sunset. I did have to admit I'd immensely enjoyed playing ninjas even if I'd never utter that fact out loud hehe.
So now we were heading god knows where, well obviously Natsu knows where too but he wasn't disclosing that piece of information just yet. When I suddenly felt a little woozy as if I'd been using to much magic power... Crap Loki and Aries were still here no wonder I was starting to feel weird. They'd been out for at least 6 hours if not longer! But so long as they're having a good time and it's going well I didn't care. And in a way it was training my magical stamina at the same time, two birds with one stone haha. But at this rate I wouldn't have any power left to summon Aries later to spill all the juicy gossip to all us girls and she couldn't pop up on her own like Virgo could...
"Luce we're here." Natsu said sticking his face way too close to mine, snapping me outta my inner thoughts and back to reality. I hummed lightly (trying not to break out in blush at just how close our faces had been) as I looked around to see where I was and I had my breath taken away. We were standing on one of the higher hills that surrounded Magnolia, under a Sakura tree. You could see the entire town from up here and with the way the setting sun was casting oranges, reds, purple and pinks across the sky and town it looked just downright magical! I couldn't believe how beautiful everything looked from up here, I really couldn't. I turned around to face Natsu to thank him for today and for bringing me here only to be brought up short again. While I had been basking in the glory of the view Natsu had set up our picnic blanket and food under the sakura tree and was patting the space besides him for me to sit down.
I walked the short distance to sit down next to him feeling tears well up at the corner of my eyes making everything turn into a misty haze, as I sat down I felt Natsu's gaze fall on me. Best first date ever!
"So what do you think?" He asked, his features enhanced by the setting sun making him even more handsome...if that was possible!
"It's just...so...words really can't describe it Natsu it's beyond beautiful," I whispered wiping the stray tear that had escaped from my eye. He had made all my stresses and worries from the last few weeks, melt away in the space of a few hours. The emotions he could stir from me with just the smallest of things was mind boggling at times.
"Hey, why are you crying?" Natsu started to panic, he probably hadn't thought his gesture would make me cry.
"I'm just really touched is all. Thanks Natsu I really needed this," I lived my head to show him my beaming smile and saw how his face relaxed at the sight.
"Glad to be of service." He winked as he started to chow down on the food and I followed suit. We sat like that for a while eating and watching the sunset. After a while I got inspired for a chapter of my novel, reaching into my backpack to pull out my pen and paper I stopped and looked at Natsu again.
"So this is why you told me to bring this stuff," I said raising an eyebrow at him for the 10th time today. He was really surprising me today.
"Guilty as charged." He laughed, until I glomped him to the floor in a bear hug. " whatcha doing Lucy?"
"You're the best friend a girl could ask for," I mumbled into his chest taking in his familiar scent, that made me feel safe and at ease. So what if this wasn't the type of date I wanted, it was still the closest thing I had ever gotten, date wise, outta my dragon slayer and I was so grateful for this. I really was.
I pushed myself back up into a sitting position after several minutes and looked at Natsu apologetically, before picking up my writing gear and starting on my latest chapter. Natsu hadn't moved from where I'd left him after our hug, he just stayed there looking at the stars from what I could see out of the corner of my eye.
"Natsu," I said some time later as I started packing my stuff away now that I was finished with it. He grumbled to let me know he'd heard me. I smiled and bent over him having a absolutely wicked idea come to mind. I decided to be wild and just do something I'd normally be too shy to do.
"I'm so glad I met you," I whispered leaning in and kissing him gently on the lips before getting back up and walking away from the shell shocked pinkett.
What have I just done?! was the only thought running through my head as I jogged back to the guild to grab the girls for some advice, as I was most definitely sure I needed it. Me and my bright ideas I scolded myself as I sighed and pushed the guild doors open only to be greeted by...