Thanks for the reviews! I really forgot to put everyone in here last chapter because I was sooo sleepy when I uploaded. Special thanks to my reviewers

J.C. - dumamojo - NaluFTfanatic - Emperor Zeref Dragneel - Phiafairy - sarara1.8 - T-tawny - meiliani - Kei

Chapter 12: Brawl on main street

I'm going to have to kill them both, thought Lucy crossly.

The slight jostle from the wagon's wheels hitting the cobblestone caught her attention. Without realizing it they had made it to the city. People waved to her from the sidewalk. Lucy returned the motion hesitantly before glancing back at her companions who still had clouds of darkness hovering over them.

The long ride had given her enough time to witness the mounting tension between Jellal and Natsu, leaving the blonde irritated. She should have been firmer about leaving him back on the ranch. The ranger was causing an ever mounting headache to take root in her skull.

Lucy absent minded brushed her hair down as she took off the bonnet she threw on before leaving.

Jellal for the most part had started the trip in good spirits. Lucy saw the bags under his eyes, but he tried to keep an upbeat attitude. Seemingly poking fun at the other man with his raised eyebrows and his knowing expressions. Natsu had responded with the promise of death in his face. If looks could kill than Jellal would be left in a blistering lump of coal.

The unfortunate girl had tried to hold up a conversation until she realized their responses were limited to "Ya," and "Hmmmm."

She hated to be ignored so she just closed up. Honestly, she wouldn't be surprised if they decided to have a peeing contest.

Marking their territory.

Or even comparing the size of their manhood.

Just flop right out and measure.

She rubbed her head.

Men…

Lucy failed to notice the wagon stop, and the two climb out. When Natsu asked if she would like help in getting down, Lucy agreed almost instantly until Natsu held his hands up.

"Wait what?" She asked with a tilt of her head. Natsu's eyebrow furrowed. The blonde glanced to see Jellal moving toward unhitch the horses for a bit.

"Oh we have stopped?"

"That's why I asked if you wanted help out."

"Oh. I apologize. I didn't hear you."

"Sure must be fun living in that head of yours. How entertaining was your imagination to be as distracted as you are?"

Lucy snorted as she grasped one hand in an attempted to stand. She sniffed, "How rude."

"Lucy! I was just picking."

"Yea. I get it." She sighed but before she could climb out, he stopped her by placing a hand on her outer thigh. Shocked, Lucy could only stare at such an intimate touch. Especially in public!

"No. Do you actually understand that it was a joke. Don't shrug it off. You have been very serious today."

How could I not with the way you to acted? She sighed. "Just stressed."

He then grasped her hips in order to pick her up.

"Wait!" The startled girl could barely squeak out.

Natsu's hand lingered on her hips as he waited for her to move away. When she didn't, he helped her down from the wagon. Lucy's face blushed as he slid her down his body in an entirely inappropriate way. Quickly she looked around to make sure nobody had notice the touch. By the time her feet touched the ground, she was about to burst into flames.

Pouting, she mumbled, "I could have gotten down by myself"

Leaning in close, he ruffled her hair before sniffing.

"I never noticed before, but you you smell nice. Like pine after a rain and... Honeysuckles? Gardenias?"

Her heart hammered loudly as she stared into his eyes. She had noticed that they seemed to change color based on his mood. They were normally a light brown. When he was angry they seem to go pitch black. Once she even noticed they turned into a light hazel green when he was happy.

Right now, they were dark and half hooded but not in anger.

She stuttered out, "It's the homemade lye. We make it with pine ash and flowers around the house." Almost immediately, Lucy wanted to smack her forehead. Making lye soap was one of the most disgusting chores around the house. Great Lucy! You couldn't make the moment sound any less romantic?

"Well, well, well…."

The girl gritted her teeth in frustration at the familiar voice. She turned to see Eric "The Cobra" Bellsione step from the porch of Bracker's Saddle Shop.

"Don't stop because of me. You two look hotter than a cat on a tin roof during the summer day."

Natsu's hand locked into her wrist, pulling her around him.

With a flint of mischief, Cobra walked toward the pair glaring at him. Natsu seem to bristle at the comment. His eyes became practically predatory as they settled on the snake before them.

"Natsu, why don't you go find you a hat?" Lucy asked trying to deviate the man's attention. Lucy could see Jellal heading around the wagon out of the corner of her eyes. Cobra was a bit of a hot head, but usually good mannered. If the three men could be separated, she would have to worry about a fight. She glanced at the clock over city hall.

"Cobra, I really don't have time. We have an appointment that we will be tardy…"

"Who's the greenhorn, Lucy?" Eric asked instead of greeting the newcomer and introducing himself like a normal person. The girl made little effort to stop her eye roll. She wasn't going to rebuke him for using her name. She supposed he could call her by that since he use to be Laxus's friend before the whole thing feud began.

"Natsu, this is Eric." She stuck to first names, not wishing either to figure out who the other was. Natsu's name was a tad bit famous. The Bellsiones didn't need to know a ranger was staying at the ranch. Last thing she wanted was the impression that Love and Lucky was trying to fight back legally. They really couldn't afford Laxus's name to be dragged back through the mud. Especially when the ranger in question would be leaving soon. He'd go...

...and her home would be in a bigger mess than it already was.

Lucy also didn't want Natsu know that one of the owners of Phantom S was standing before him. He was an officer of the peace, but she also knew he had a temper. And even before he was an officer. He was a soldier and a gunslinger.

"He's just a drifter." Lucy announced as she moved around to shield Natsu so he wouldn't openly argue. He glanced at her while she placed a hand around his side and slightly squeezed his belt hoping he would get the message. Cobra seem to notice the small movement with avid interest.

"That is news." Eric narrowed his eyes on Natsu. Jellal was beside them at that point. Cobra tipped his hat to the newcomer, "Jellal"

"Eric."

The two glared at each other. Lucy turned to Jellal. "Why don't you go on to the mercantile, Jellal? Take Natsu with you."

Both shook their heads. Natsu didn't even glance in her direction when he said, "And leave you with a drunkard?"

That's when the smell of whisky radiating from Cobra hit her.

"Eric, are you inebriated?"

"Nah. Bacchus wouldn't make me any more drinks if I was drunk. And Kinana wouldn't serve me. She looks out for me. MORE THAN MY OWN SISTER!"

Natsu and Lucy covered their ears. Jellal folded his arms in annoyance.

"She can't hear me." Cobra smirked to the blue haired man. "So I can BS her all day long." Lucy was almost sure Jellal growled, but she wasn't sure. "Anyway. I'm more interested in you two about to make babies on main street. So you are a new hire? How you liking town?"

Natsu shrugged. "I guess it is fine."

"Don't you know? Hey Heartfilia, you got a fast one here?!" He leaned to slap her shoulder good naturedly with a chortle.

But his hand never touched.

Instead it hovered about an inch from her sleeves.

Natsu had reached around to grip Cobra's wrist at the last second.

Like a viper striking.

"I'm fast enough when I want to me." Natsu stated with deadly intent.

Lucy then notice that Jellal had also moved when Cobra's hand had stretched toward her. He had taken a step toward Cobra and as now standing besie him.

The three's aura darkened.

Cobra was the first to throw a punch.

That was after his elbow had been blocked by Jellal's forearm. Natsu at the same time grabbed Lucy and shoved her behind him so she couldn't see what Jellal had done in retaitaion for the punch.

Then Natsu launched himself at both. Soon the three were rolling on the grounding. People stopped to stare at the sight.

Lucy sighed exasperated with the three. At least Sting and Elfman weren't around to join with them. She would have thought better of Jellal.

She stared at the townspeople's eyes.

Well it was too late to claim them? Witnesses had seen her come into the town with Natsu and Jellal

"Would you three act you age and not your IQ?!"

Lucy didn't wait for an answer, stomping away, leaving no doubt that she did not agreed to their skirmish.

If they wanted to fight, than they damn well could.

Halfway to the bank, the girl slumped. She had forgot to bring her gun with her. Levy and Mira had forced her not to wear her vest holster or a gun belt with her pretty dress. Mira was suppose to give her a small pistol to fit in a satchel, but with all the confusion caused by the boys, she must have not gotten a chance too before she left.

Lucy turned to look at Natsu and Jellal who had finished and now were slapping each other on the back.

"Well I guess they are friends now."

Jellal seemed to disappear them while Natsu stared straight at her. When she realized he knew she was watching him, Lucy turned back with her nose in the air, and continued to her destination. She could feel the heat of his gaze on her back, and it strangely comforted her knowing that he was watching.

If only…

The dang pink haired man got her so riled up and confused that she could hardly make a decent thought any more. Carrying no weapon inside to meet Bora was just for him to make unwanted advances to him.

Sure, Lucy was planning on using his perverted nature to aid Love and Lucky's financial status, but the she would lack the comfort of knowing she was in control if she had her Colt or even a knife on her body.

At least Bora wasn't as bad as Cain or Jacob.

Lucy shivered at the thought of the two.

She hadn't seen any of the Bellsione hires around town, but she hadn't been paying attention. Since Cobra was there, the hands probably wouldn't do anything to warrant attracting the attention of their boss. At least, she hoped.

For all Cobra's bluster, he was mostly a hothead that tended to act out but was still pretty decent even if a bit underhanded at times. The ones that Lucy truly worried about meeting was Jacob. Cain wasn't as bad by himself, more bully than anything. They were the reason she didn't want to be found alone and unarmed again.

Normally, Lucy didn't travel into town alone. At the very minimum, she would have Mira or Levy with her. One experience was enough for her to learn the consequences of being a lone woman against those brutes.

The two hadn't been employed from the Bellsiones long when they got into trouble in town because of their rowdiness about a month ago. It was right after laxus had gotten home. They weren't the type Erza and Eric normally hired. Basically hobos wanting temporary work for the season. Fowl and ugly. The two made just enough during the week to raise hell on Saturdays.

It had been a Saturday when the two had cornered her in the livery stable behind the blacksmith. She hadn't even really been alone. Elfman had been there. He had just left to get some supplies at the feed store. Cain shoved her into the door of a stall while Jacob tried touching her in places he shouldn't have. Jacob's face promised more if he ever found her alone again. Lucy was fairly sure that Cain being around probably helped her as well. For all his meanness, he was more of a stupid bully and a follower type. Cain had more been trying to frighten her. Jacob had been unsatisfied with the playing. Lucy could tell he would have enjoyed more.

Nothing like that had happened before. Even when she traveled from overseas. Sure, she had been dressed as a boy for most of the trip, but Lucy knew that the experience changed her. She was going to make sure to never be at a man's mercy again. She had never told a soul. Laxus and Jellal didn't need another murder on their hands. Elfman, Mira, and Levy also would be storming the Bellsione fortress to bring justice down on those boy's heads if they ever found out.

Lucy wasn't paying attention as she tripped over her skirt in front of the bank. Landing in a heap on the ground. She missed Erza Bellsione exiting the bank carrying a large bag of bottles with Jenny close at her heels.

Next Chapter: Jealousy