Staying with Natsu is tough for Lucy. His little antics are annoying her, but she's got to make the best of it since she's got nowhere else to go until she can get her own place. Lucy entered the kitchen and made some coffee with Natsu waking up.

"Morning." Lucy said. "How's sleeping on the couch?"

"I'm doing fine." Natsu said.

"Sorry that I took your bed." Lucy said. "Don't worry. I'm looking for a new place for me to stay."

"You don't need to do that." Natsu said. "You're free to stay as long as you want. It's actually nice having you here."

"I bet." Lucy said, but Natsu heard some sarcasm in it.

"I'm sensing your not enjoying your stay as well as I am." Natsu said.

"I'm just saying is that I'm sure you want to get back to your "fabulous" bachelor lifestyle, womanizer." Lucy said.

"For crying out loud. I'm not a womanizer." Natsu said.

"Oh please. You slept with multiple woman and I've never once seen you in a real relationship." Lucy said as she leaned against the counter. "What else would you call that?"

"Speaking of which, if you knew what I did on the counter before you moved in, you wouldn't be leaning on it." Natsu said and Lucy felt disgusted.

"Eew." Lucy said as she patted her hands.

"Besides, I haven't been with a woman, her place or mine, since you moved in here. That's got to count for something." Natsu said.

"Not really." Lucy said. "My point is that I've never seen you commit to real relationship and I'm sure me being here is just wrecking your game, as you would call it. You still act like we're in high school and I've grown up. Well, you don't have to worry. Once I find a new place for me to stay, you can go back to your bachelor life and get or bring whatever sexual disease there is."

"Are you still upset about me seeing you naked the other day?" Natsu said. "I'm sensing there's still some tension there." Lucy just rolled her eyes and put her coffee in a travel mug.

"I need to get to work." Lucy said as she was on her way out.

"Wait. Lucy, come on." Natsu said. "You really need to lighten up. I want you to feel comfortable here. Just tell me what I can do." Lucy didn't really answer him and just left the door. Natsu feels bad Lucy isn't happy with these circumstances, but he doesn't want her to leave like this.

...

Lucy

Lucy went to work and tried to focus on just that. However, Natsu kept popping in her head and it keeps annoying her.

"Morning, Lucy." Levy said as she came over.

"Hi, Levy." Lucy said and Levy heard some annoyance in her voice.

"What's the matter with you?" Levy said. "Is Natsu getting on your nerves or something?"

"Something like that." Lucy said. "Hopefully I won't have to put up with it much longer. I'm going to look for a new apartment and try getting my life back on track."

"Wow. That's a little harsh when you seem to be doing just fine." Levy said. "A friend has been letting you stay with him and it doesn't seem like it's all that bad. What? Has been trying to flirt with you, seduce you into sleeping with him like you claim he does with other women?"

"Not exactly, but we did get into a little argument about it." Lucy said. "Natsu and I might be friends, but he can be so annoying. I especially don't like seeing those poor ladies fawn all over him."

"Why is that a problem? It's only a problem if you make it a problem." Levy said. "Besides, you're friends with him. Why would it bother you so much?"

"It just bothers me seeing guys like that and he knows it." Lucy said. "He makes it seem like he doesn't really value or respect women. On top of that, he doesn't have respect for personal boundaries."

"But it sounds like he values and respects you." Levy said. When she mentioned it, Lucy didn't really think about it like that. After all, he didn't mean for what happened the other day to happen. He also did seem greatly concerned when she was in the fire. Some of Natsu's good qualities do outweigh the bad. "You've been friend with this guy for a long time, right? Maybe you should stop acting like you don't want to be anymore."

"Maybe you're right." Lucy said as she was starting to feel bad for another reason. Levy was glad to hear that and walked away. Lucy was starting to think she was being unfair to Natsu. That's when she pulled out her phone and kept some old photos from years ago. She looked at some from high school with her and Natsu.

...

Flashbacks

Lucy remembered all the great times they had together ever since they went into high school. They've had some ups and down, but they really were great friends. There was the time for cheerleader auditions...

"Check it out, Lucy. Cheerleader auditions are going on. You should sign up." Natsu said.

"I don't know." Lucy said. "Being a cheerleader is a big commitment. I'm not sure I really have the time."

"Come on. An organized girl like you would have something figured out to make the time." Natsu said.

"Are you sure this isn't some attempt to see me in a cheerleader outfit with a skirt and such." Lucy said and both of them had a laugh.

...

There was also the time when it was Lucy's fifteenth birthday party and she was up in her room. She was doing some studying until she heard something tapping against her window. She opened up and saw Natsu down in her yard.

"Hey, Lucy." Natsu said.

"What are you doing here at night?" Lucy asked.

"I got something to show you." Natsu said as he hurried to a plug. She saw something set in her yard, but it was too dark to see it was. It wasn't until Natsu plugged in and she saw it was a series of lights that flashed "Happy Birthday Lucy" and it was well presented. Lucy couldn't believe Natsu did that for her. Her father wasn't happy about it, but Lucy loved it.

...

There was even the time they were going to have their first high school dance. Lucy wanted to go, but none of the guys she liked back then really asked her out. She was pretty upset about that.

"Hey. What's with the long face?" Natsu asked.

"Nothing. I'm just bumped about the dance. All the guys I wanted to go with are already taken." Lucy said.

"That doesn't mean you can't go." Natsu said.

"It was going to be our first high school dance. I wanted it to be special." Lucy said.

"It still can." Natsu said as he held a bouquet of roses to her. "Let's just go together. We'll still have fun and I know how much it means to you." Lucy was touched that Natsu would do that for and she learned that a night can be still be special even if it's not with who you think it is.

End of Flashbacks.

...

Lucy looked through the photos and remembered all the great times those two had back in high school. She could barely hold back a laugh.

"Oh god... What am I doing?" Lucy questioned as she felt like she was the idiot now.

...

Natsu

Natsu was just walking through the streets of the city. He feels bad about how he's making Lucy feel. He doesn't want her to leave, at least on a bad note, but he isn't sure what to do. He snapped out of his thoughts when he saw a little dog running his way and stopped right at him.

"Where did you come from?" Natsu asked playfully.

"Natsu! Hi!" Natsu looked ahead and spotted Lisanna heading his way. He grabbed the dog and handed it to her.

"Hey, Lisanna. I take it that this is your little guy?" Natsu said.

"Yeah. He's one of the animals I take care of at the shelter." Lisanna said. "How have you been?"

"I'm fine, but I'm not sure how Lucy is." Natsu said.

"Yeah. I heard she's living with you." Lisanna said.

"Only because her apartment caught on fire and she has nowhere else to stay." Natsu said. "Although, she's looking for a new place and I feel bad. She doesn't really seem happy staying with me and I want her to feel like she is welcomed, no problems or anything."

"Well, it can be hard for a man and a woman to share a place. It makes your qualities seem more annoying than they already are. Not to mention there are other difficulties." Lisanna said. "Even actual couples have a problem, but since you two aren't dating, it's probably harder."

"True. After what happened in the bathroom, I can't say that I blame her for being mad. Still, it wasn't that big of a deal. We're both adults." Natsu said with Lisanna not sure she even wants to know what he's talking about.

"You and she have been friends for a while, haven't you? What exactly is your relationship with her?" Lisanna asked.

"We've been friends since our first year in high school." Natsu said. "One of those arrogant and cocky jocks kept bothering her and it seemed like it was about to turn into harassments. That's when I stepped in. Ever since, we've been friends, but..." Natsu wanted to say more, but he couldn't.

"Sounds like you and she have some history." Lisanna said. "Still, if she's not happy, there probably isn't much you can do."

"Yes there is. I need to make it up to her." Natsu said. "I'm not letting her escape from me that easily! Thanks for the talk, Lisanna!" He said as he took off and left Lisanna there. She's just glad she was able to help him.

...

Lucy

Lucy went back to her apartment. She was looking for some apartments on a computer, but she was also thinking about the times she and Natsu had. She heard the door open and Natsu came in.

"Hey." Natsu said.

"Hey." Lucy said.

"Please don't tell me you're still mad. You looking for places right now?" Natsu said.

"Yeah, but I think we should talk." Lucy said.

"Same here." Natsu said as she held a bouquet of roses between her and her computer. Lucy was surprised to see that.

"What's this?" Lucy asked.

"When a girl is mad, I learned that flowers are always a nice gift." Natsu said with Lucy taking them. "I gave you these flowers before, remember? It was our first high school dance and neither of us really had dates."

"I can't believe you remember." Lucy said as she thought that was so nice with Natsu sitting next to her. "Natsu, I want to apologize. I really am grateful that you're letting me stay here. You might be annoying, but you've been a great friend for all these years."

"I guess I can see why you would think and say all that stuff about me." Natsu said. "Let's just say that I have my reasons for acting the way you don't like. Lucy, I want you to stay. I get you need your own place, but you can stay for as long as you want here. I just want you to feel that you are comfortable."

"Thanks because I actually want to stay." Lucy said. "I've been unfair to you and I don't want this to mess with our friendship."

"Great." Natsu as he grabbed Lucy and pulled her into his arms. "Because there's no way I'm letting you leave that easily. Do we have enough clothes for this to be comfortable?"

"Yeah. Okay." Lucy said.

"What about this." Natsu said as he began to tickle her and Lucy kept laughing. It might have been hard, but they were able to rekindle the good parts of their friendship. Flames are mixing together and these flames are only going to grow bigger.