"This dinner is absolutely fantastic!" Erza gushed as she took another bite of their meal. Lucy smiled gratefully as she watched the redheaded mage chow down on the food that was prepared. Lucy's father had insisted that the Fairy Tail mages be well fed, having his best chefs cook all of their meals. Lucy turned her head to Natsu and Gray. They didn't eat any better than Erza did.

Lucy couldn't help but giggle, they were all so silly. Seeing this, her father cracked a smile while he took a bite of the turkey that was made. He was glad his daughter was in better spirits. After the attack, she just seemed so emotionless. He patted himself on the back for choosing Fairy Tail. For some odd reason, he felt she had a connection to the guild.

"So I see you are all enjoying it," Lucy smiled. "I hope you all have room for dessert. Our finest chefs baked a strawberry cake!" Lucy's mouth watered just talking about it. Erza was far worse off than her. She was actually drooling. Lucy gasped slightly, seeing the shift in expression from Erza. The woman must like her strawberry cake.

"So anyway, Lucy," Levy coughed, glaring slightly at the three next to her. "Is it okay if we all talk to you about something after dinner? Erza found out something and wanted to speak to you about it." Levy told her calmly. The king narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything. Lucy studied everyone's suddenly serious expression. They weren't joking around, were they?

"Uh yeah, sure." Lucy mumbled. The air suddenly became tight. What was going on, why was everyone so serious? She gaze drifted to Natsu. He was staring at her. But it wasn't at all creepy. His eyes bore into hers with...guilt? She gave him and weak smile and continued to eat.

"I should start heading to bed. Don't stay up all night Lucy. I don't want to have Gajeel start hunting after you again." The king chuckled. Lucy rolled her eyes and nodded. It was a couple minutes after dinner was wrapped up. She bid her father goodnight and crossed her arms. Turning to everyone else, she said;

"Okay what's going on. Does this have something to do with those dark guilds." She gave them a worried look. Erza stepped forward.

"We hope not," Erza sighed. She stayed quiet for a moment, before speaking out. "Last night, I got up from my room to go to the bathroom. And I overheard you and Natsu talking. You mentioned...having magic. Is that true?" She lied. Erza didn't mention that Natsu had told her. She wanted Lucy to keep her trust in Natsu for now. Lucy gaped and looked at Natsu. The boy just shrugged pathetically. Lucy shook her head and looked at the ground.

"You can't tell my father you know! He'll skin me alive. And you can't tell Gajeel either. He'd be so disappointed in me if he knew I couldn't keep my mouth shut." Lucy's bottom lip quivered. She must look so weak right now. She hated feeling that way. Levy went up to her and put a hand in her shoulder.

"We promise we won't tell. We just want to know something. Your magic, does anyone else know you have it. Were you ever caught by someone while using it?"

Lucy blinked for a few times. "Why do you want to know? How is this important to the mission?" She didn't understand. What does her magic have to do with anything? It's not like celestial spirit magic is all that special. She hated to admit it, but it wasn't useful at all if she were to use her keys. She loves her spirits, but her magic could be unreliable a lot of the times.

"Just answer the question." Erza stated.

Lucy rubbed the back of her head. She tried to think of any time she could of gotten caught training. "No one else knows as far as I am aware of. Besides, I've only trained out in the open a few times. And it was usually in the woods, and I made extra sure no one would stumble across me." Lucy explained. Everyone looked at each other in contemplation. That's when Wendy gasped.

"But maybe Gajeel knows something!" She yelled. Lucy furrowed her brows.

"Why would my advisor know anything?" She was beginning to feel frustrated. She was being left out of what they were discussing firstly, and on top of that, she was being accused of something she would never do. Natsu stepped away from the group and stood next to Lucy.

"Luce, remember you telling me that Gajeel used to search for keys for you. Gajeel is known for being your advisor, he's pretty famous. Someone could of caught him scavenging a key for you." Natsu told her.

"That doesn't make any sense. You guys are a famous wizard guild and you guys never met Gajeel until a couple months ago. How could he possibly famous? Plus, he wears a cloak when he goes out and he makes sure no ones follows him."

Overhearing the conversation, Levy chimed in. "That's not neccesarily true. It's true we never met Gajeel before but he is famous. Eveyone knows about the princess's advisor. He's one of the smartest men in the kingdom. But Gajeel isn't prone to mistake. The wind could of blew back his hood, he could of accieenly dropped a key, or someone could of managed to take a picture of him with a key in his hand."

Lucy scoffed. "But no on knows what he looks like. Only us. And his magic, if someone happened to see him get a key, they could of thought he has celestial spirit magic, not me." Erza hummed at Lucy's words. The princess had a point. No one had ever seen her advisors face. Nor did they know his magic. Only now does Team Natsu know.

"That's true, but we've heard news of a cloaked man that leaves iron rods in his wake. People may not know his magic, but they know it certainly isn't celestial spirit magic." Gray said as he crossed his arms. Gray also had a point.

"But they still don't know he's my advisor. Or that it's me that had that type of magic."

"Maybe they don't know," Levy narrowed her eyes as she stared at the ground. "Maybe their acting on a hunch. It could be possible a small fry dark wizard stumbled across Gajeel with a key while he was heading back towards the castle. He could of told his boss, and the boss is now making a claim that it's your advisor and that the use for a zodiac key is to give to the princess. Leading them figure out your magic." Levy shrugged.

"That's a lot of ifs. I highly doubt that scenario happened. It's almost impossible." Lucy muttered, glaring at them. She didn't like the way they were viewing Gajeel. Her advisor doesn't just make "mistakes". He's smarter than that. A lot smarter.

"We won't know unless we ask him." Erza said finally. She turned her attention to Lucy. "Do you know where he would be at this time." Lucy contemplated not telling them. She seriously didn't want them in Gajeel's business. But...what if they were right? What if Gajeel made a small mistake that led to all this. He did seem sort of standoffish after what happened that night.

She caved. "Probably the library. You should go now, he might be leaving soon," She turned on her heel and walked away. Only to stop when she heard footsteps run after her. "What Natsu?" She growled. He stood behind her and said nothing for a moment.

"I just...sorry about that interrogation back there. I know we aren't the most sensitive type but we mean well." He chuckled awkwardly. Lucy turned to him with a sad face.

"I know you guys just want to figure this out. I do too! But I just can't see this all happening just because Gajeel made one teeny mistake. It just, it doesn't seem right." She sighed and turned away once more. From where she could standing, she could feel Natsu's nervousness. It was practically oozing out of his body. She almost laughed.

"W-Well, we know he cares about you. He'll tell us if there's something going on that might hurt you. He's a jerk but he's not a psychopath." He tried his hardest to console her. But it really didn't work. It came off as so awkward and weird. He sounded so strained to get out those words. She put her hand over her mouth to stop the laughter from spilling out.

Well, he did cheer her up like he wanted. She turned back to look and him. He stood there and waited for her to say something. The longer she stared, the more nervous he became. Finally, she cracked a warm smile. It did something weird to his heart.

Why was it beating so hard? That only happened when he was in a fight. He wanted to ask her about it, but that didn't feel like the right thing to do. It felt so...personal. refocusing, he noticed her lips moving.

"Thanks Natsu. You sounded uncomfortable but I'm happy you went out of your usual comfort zone to try and make me feel better. It means a whole lot," she paused. Should she say it? Would he think she was weird if she said it? Well, her mother always told her to live life like it was her last day on earth. "You know, I sort of assumed that I would be hanging around Wendy, Erza, and Levy more. Never expected to even talk to you. I'm was wrong. I'm sorta happy too." She giggled.

"I uh- I um, yeah..." Natsu stuttered. What the hell was going on!?

"Would you mind walking me back to my room?" She offered, giving him a toothy grin. He nodded wordlessly and followed her. The silence was comfortable, but Natsu was having an crisis inside his mind. He couldn't talk! Whenever he tried opening his mouth, his words died out. What did he want to say? Hell if he knew. He just wanted to say something.

"Were here." He finally forced out after standing in front of her door.

"Yeah. We are." Lucy hummed. She was tired after a long day of nonstop studying and having half-assed arguments with Gajeel, but she wanted to stay with Natsu. He made her feel so at ease. But, she supposed he really should get back to his group.

"So, see you around?" Natsu said as he rubbed the back of his head. The corner of her lips twitched upwards. She engulfed him in a hug.

"Let's hope so." She let go and ran into her room, shutting the door gently. Natsu stood outside of her room, his mouth open like he was going to say something. He didn't, and just walked away. He chuckled to himself. He was being so silly over a hug. But he couldn't help it. His heart leapt with joy and his ears burned.

It was such an innocent act, yet it was powerful and nerve wracking. He's been hugged before. Wendy and Erza hugged him a lot, but when Lucy did, he could feel her warmth. A type of heat that attracted him. Like a moth to a flame.

He was so stupid. If Gray could see what he was feeling, he would never let him live it down. Hell, Natsu didn't think he would let himself live it down. It was outright ridiculous. His body was betraying him..

Over a hug. Over a girl.