Lucy and Juvia lean against each other in front of us as we wait in line.

"Yeah and then these older couples were dancing and singing to each other and it was so sweet." Lucy sighs. She looks good in her, what did Juvia call it… romper. It's gold and sparkly and these loose see through sleeves. Lucy looks really good in gold. It makes her look like an angel.

"You got a crowd of people to watch you and Lucy dance in the park?" Grey backhands my shoulder.

"You purposed to Juvia." I point out.

"Juvia is going to dance in every park now trying to get a bunch of old couples to dance with her and people to applaud us." Grey slaps his hand over his face and shakes his head. "how am I supposed to top that?"

"You purposed to Juvia." I hiss at him, trying to keep my voice low so the girls don't hear us. "You didn't even give me a heads up."

"Juvia wanted to be the one to tell Lucy and you can't keep secrets from Lucy." Grey laughs "You can't even wait to give her her Christmas presents."

"Lucy doesn't celebrate." I roll my eyes at him "I just like getting her stuff, so I give them to her early so she won't get upset with me."

"What's that thing Lucy's wearing?" Grey asks.

"Juvia called it a romper." I move closer to Lucy as the line moves forward.

"I need to get Juvia one." Grey nods appreciatively.

"Dude," I elbow his arm back, missing is side "are you checking Lucy out?"

"No." He shakes his head "I'm imagining my girl in that outfit." Grey smiles, I walk up behind Lucy and wrap my arms around her anyway.

"Ready to dance?" Lucy asks, resting her hands on mine.

"With you?" I squeeze her to me "always." She giggles and Juvia glances back at Grey, she's pouting at him. Grey scowls at me.

" ." the bouncer holds his hands out, he gives both girls and appreciative once over and I try not to let it get to me. the girls grab their IDs from their tiny bags and flash their IDs while Grey and I flip out our wallets.

"Go ahead." He jerks his chin toward the door. I step between the bouncer and Lucy and wrap my arm around her. I catch Grey doing the same thing as he leads Juvia past the guy and she giggles and tiptoes to kiss him. Grey lifts her off her feet to give her a boost.

"Come on!" Lucy drags me forward, straight toward the center of the dance floor. She slides through the crowd, dodging elbows and drink, I elbow through the crowd and try to stay on my feet. She stops almost as suddenly as she started and she turns to her, her eyes sparkling in the multicolored strobe lights. She raises her arms and swings her hips and let her lead because the best part of this is for me is just watching her. I love watching her dance.

"Dance." She smiles and takes my arm and raises it over her head so she can spin under it. She sways and flips her hair and I don't even know how she moves sometimes, so fluid and connected.

"You left us!" Juvia drags Grey and squeeze between the people dancing next to us and forces them to move back. Juvia is a much more aggressive dancer as she and Grey actually dance together. Grey and Juvia look like choreographed dance scene straight out of Step Up.

Lucy just watches me as I do a poor job of following the rhythm and she dances around me. She never makes fun of me or pushes me to learn, she just smiles and she dances and it's good.

Grey and Juvia already have a few drinks in them, their dancing getting sloppier with every passing drink. Lucy hasn't had even a sip, she rarely does. She likes to be alert and happy on her own. I've had a beer or two but Lucy doesn't try to control that either. She just smiles and giggles and dances and my phone buzzes in my pocket.

Lucy pulls it out and holds it for me. WORK flashes in all caps on my phone screen. Lucy pouts a little.

"Do you have to take it?" She asks.

"Yeah, I got to check it out." I take the phone and head toward the bathroom to get away from the noise. I glance over my shoulder and see Lucy and Juvia dancing together. Grey must have gone to get another drink.

"Hey, Makarov." I walk to the far back of the bathroom and cover one ear.

"Hey, Natsu." He says, the restraint sounds crazy.

"I really need you to come in, Amber, Josh and Pete are all no shows." Makarov barks orders at someone.

"I mean, I really had plans tonight." I glance at the door as man stumbles in and smacks his hand against the wall.

"I really need you here, Natsu." Makarov sounds stressed,

"I'm already out with Lucy and our friends." I sigh, I really need the money, especially since Grey already got Juvia a pretty big looking ring. I should know more about rings.

"Look can you come in at ten?" Makarov barks someone else.

"I-"

"Thanks, Natsu, I owe you one." Makarov hangs up and sigh and shake my head.

"Dang, Lucy was having fun." I push my bangs back and head back out, better just rip the Band-Aid off.

I elbow my way through the crowd and dodge flailing arms. I break through an especially thick cluster and spot Lucy and a guy reaching for her. He slides his hands onto her waist. She turns and her smile falls when she see the guy is not me. I hesitate for just a second how am I gonna handle this? I think, I'm not all that strong, I've never even been on a fight,

"No, I'm here with my boyfriend." Lucy offers a halfhearted smile and steps away. His hands fall away and I sigh, relieved, he's not gonna bother her.

"I don't see him." He steps toward her again "I'll just keep you company." He puts her hands on her shoulders and she puts her hands on his chest, she's trying to hold onto her smile. Lucy is too kind.

Where are Juvia and Grey? I want to yell.

"No, he'll be back any minute." She steps away again and bumps into someone else.

"Sorry." She apologizes but the guy doesn't even look at her.

Move you idiot! I order my feet forward, my hands are balled into fists and I don't remember doing it.

"It's okay, really." Lucy says.

"I don't mind." The guys' hands slide down her arms.

"hey!" I shout grabbing his shoulder.

"What do you want." He snaps at me.

"Don't put your hands on my girlfriend." That sounded more intimidating in my head.

"Natsu," Lucy smiles at me and wraps her arm around my arm. She offers a smile to the guy.

"Thank you for waiting with me but my boyfriend is back now." She squeezes my arm, pressing closer than usual.

"Yeah, how about some gratitude." The guy moves closer to Lucy again, Lucy steps back hiding behind my arm.

"Knock it off." I grab his wrist, his wrist feels freakin thick.

Where are you Grey?

"I was talking to the lady." The guy scowls at me. I push his hand back.

"She's my lady and she doesn't want to be talking to you." I draw myself up to my full height, which is still not as tall as him.

"Let her tell me that." The guy takes another step, Lucy is half hidden behind me now and Grey is still nowhere to be seen.

"Please, I just want to have some time with my boyfriend." Lucy laughs her nervous laugh, her nails are digging into my arm.

"Come out here and tell me that." The guy says. Lucy shrinks behind me, I feel her chest fill with air as she sucks in a breath and starts to inch out from behind me. I can feel her pulse in her fingers. She holds onto my hand, her eyes flashing over to me for just a second. She doesn't want to fight but she wants this guy to leave.

"What wrong, you don't think I'm good looking." He smiles at her like a predator.

"Enough." I snap pulling her back behind me. "you're scaring her." I step up to him this time, he's good few inches taller than me.

"Got yourself a big man here, huh?" the guy ignores me, his eyes still on Lucy.

"Natsu, don't." she whispers trying to keep her voice low enough for just me to hear.

"Sorry, sweetie." The guy leans past my shoulder cupping his hand around his ear toward Lucy, Lucy ducks her head behind my back.

"Say that louder, I couldn't hear you." He sneers.

"I said back off." I shove the guy back, he stumbles a few steps back but doesn't fall.

"Natsu!" Lucy squeaks trying to trap me against her but I hold her back.

"Leave her alone, she's good here." My knees are shaking but I can't let this guy bother her. I don't care how big he is.

"Big man!" the guy hoots planting his hands against my chest. I fall back into Lucy, Lucy stumbles but catches herself and me.

"Do something, big man." The guy shoves me again.

"Stop it!" Lucy shrieks, her eyes wide. Lucy hates conflict.

"Come on, do something!" The guy shoves me again, Lucy grabs my arm and keeps me up.

"I thought you were gonna do something." The guy advances on us, Lucy's breathing faster.

"Stop it!" She moves between us.

"Lucy." I grab her arm and pull her back with me. I hope I didn't grab her too hard.

"Get back." I nudge Lucy back but she doesn't budge, the guy grabs a fistful of my shirt and yanks me back.

"Do something, come on!" he yells, my hands flies out of its own accord and cracks against the guys jaw. Pain shoots up my hand and the guy jut stands there, as if I didn't just hit him. he lets my shirt go and smiles.

"Natsu!" Lucy shrieks.

My vision goes black and my ears are ringing. I'm on my back staring at the flashing lights and Lucy's face right above me.

"Natsu?" She looks worried, she's pushing my hair back.

"Grey, come on!" Juvia laugh/yells somewhere nearby.

"Don't mess with my friends again." Grey sounds angry.

"Come on, Lucy." Juvia appears above me, she's smiling, her eyes wide with excitement. "We have to go, security's coming."

"Can you get up?" Lucy slides her arm under my shoulders.

"Yeah…" I push myself up, Lucy helps me. my left eye is starting to ache.

"You good?" Grey slaps me on the back, I glance around and find the guy that was bothering Lucy on the ground.

"Good, cause we gotta go." Grey grabs my arm and hauls me forward. We weave through the crowd, Grey keeps me on my feet, Juvia is laughing as she drags Lucy with her through the crowd. Lucy keeps glancing back at me with her big worried eyes. She's so cute when she's worried. I love that she worries about me. She's always so considerate.


Dear…,

I did it, I left and I feel empty. I feel like I have too much time even with a full time job, even with spending time with Juvia, even with walking the dogs in the evenings and early mornings. I guess this is what freedom feels like. That or no purpose because that's what I have now. I'm a ticking time bomb with no purpose.

Lucy


Author's Note:

Thanks so much for reading i'd love to know what you think so far

see you tomorrow

XOXO