A/N: One very long chapter that I had to separate into two shorter ones, update with second part will come soon.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

That was by far the most dreadful sound she knew. Louder and more menacing than any siren in existence, it was the hot blade that pierced her head, woe of banshee that cried in silent, moonless night. It was the sound of a perfect predator that never lost its prey… the sound of a new day.

Her hand rose and her first slammed against the nightstand… she missed and with fingers she searched for the little plastic bastard that was biting her eardrums. A little to the left, more… more… there it is, she found it and with the press on the top button the hated stalker has been silenced. Her head now rose to read digital numbers on its display… it was 6:30, never misses a single second and it was ready for another round. She was still sleepy, barely looking through her eyes that were covered by her messy hair. She didn't slept well last night… again. Sabertooth had a nasty habit of making her exhausted to a point that she never had the time to even shower after coming home. This night was no exception.

Lucy sat up on bed slowly and moved head from side to side with her right hand squeezing her own neck. She didn't sleep well… that was already established but she really didn't sleep well… her head felt heavy, neck was stiff and the burp that she allowed to escape smelled like old eggs. Another perfect morning and what a lovely hangover she had right there without a single drop of alcohol.

There is no rest for her and with that little knowledge in her head, Lucy stood up and walked to the mirror that was in the room, trying to see what wreck managed to crawl into bed last night. White cotton panties and tight pink T-shirt that spelled Kiss me! in front, elongated and bent due to her more than ample breasts. I'll have to thank Levy for this one she thought… only kisses she gets are ones placed on her ass made by various hands that couldn't wait to cup a feel.

Lucy looked across the room, noticing that it is silent and the fact that crib was silent confirmed reason for the silence. Elizabeth probably took Michelle down after she cried. She didn't hear her again it would seem and that thought made Lucy's start even worse. To be older sister huh… How to accomplish that when she couldn't hear a cry of a baby? The feeling was nothing short of a pure disgust.

She closed her eyes and scratched her own head, making the hair even messier than it was. Self-pity will not solve the day so she should at very least grab every straw she could get, first one being… breakfast. Doors opened and she left her room, walking down the stairs and looking at the already set table with her still sleepy eyes. She desperately needed a hot meal but first craving for water needed to be satisfied.

"Good morning Luce." A greeting reached her and she responded with just some mumbling, proceeding to take a glass and fill it with water, drinking. "Did you sleep well?"

You could actually see the little clock in her head ticking. Tick tock tick tock tick tock, ding ding ding! That was the first of two alarms that would make her almost jump out of her skin.

"Natsu?!" She turned and looked at pinkette with her wide brown eyes. The man in question simply smiled at her and in his lap there was Michelle, seemingly not very much interested in what was happening around her. "What are you doing in my house?!"

"It's Saturday. You told me to come. Don't tell me you changed your mind because that would be teasing."

"I told you to come at 7! And how did you got inside?" She was still shocked, managing to place the glass into the sink before she could drop it or worse… toss it in his general direction. "Where is Elizabeth?"

"First thing first, the old lady let me in after I knocked on the door, I didn't just got through the window if that is what you think. Second, she left to buy groceries I think… so now I am the resident babysitter" he grinned wide as he gently took Michelle's hands and waved at Lucy.

It was the time for the second alarm to sound in her head but it occurred after Natsu let out a whistle while looking at her. At first Lucy was confused but she quickly realized in just what state she was.

"Hey! Don't look at me!" she yelled at him, pulling edge of shirt down to cover her panties, her cheeks began flushing.

"Where am I supposed to look?" Natsu smiled, moving head slightly to his right but his eyes were glued on the blonde.

"Anywhere! Look away!" she moved with quick pace up the stairs. The amount of embarrassment was way beyond measure and the slight blush that painted her cheeks was now nothing less than full red. A stranger saw her in panties and shirt with hair that resembled a bird's nest. Well perhaps not a stranger, more like stalker who occasionally does a good deed, but that didn't change the anything regarding her situation.

Natsu on the other side was grinning from ear to ear. His eyes were down on Michelle who had her fingers stuck in her mouth. For the first time he saw her in this light, he could even swear he saw her blushing a little bit just as she pushed her shirt. Hard to believe she had this girly side in her, after everything he witnessed, after seeing her gruff mask… there was a blush, there was weakness; there was girl who felt this uncomfortable. There was no denying, he found it completely irresistible and the simple fact that Kiss me! became even more stretched made things even better.

Lucy felt nothing that Natsu did at this moment, for her this was weakness that she had no luxury of keeping. This morning started as a nightmare, continuing torture from day before but perhaps… just perhaps, a shower might reset this bad luck. She took a towel and peeked through the door, making sure he is not standing beside and then made a quick run to bathroom. The cool shower was what she needed now so desperately and water did small miracle for her tension. Every drop that fell on her skin felt like a miniature massage that she enjoyed. This was her moment, just hers… In here no one existed, in here no one ever saw her cry and she did so many times but today… today was not one of those days.

Fifteen minutes were sufficient for her to relax, not much but enough to at very least start believing again that day just might turn out to be better than it started. She wrapped towel around herself and made way into the bedroom but Natsu's presence inside made her yelp.

"Natsu! Why are you in my bedroom?"

"Just taking a look." He responded as he was looking on her desk that had few papers and books on it, not even paying attention to Lucy in her towel that was barely enough to cover all the goods "I didn't had enough time when I brought you so I am just taking a little tour."

"Where is Michelle?" She asked, starting to panic.

"She is in her crib." Natsu pointed and Lucy looked immediately in that direction. Michelle was sitting, holding in her hands the plush duck, still not remotely interested in the world that happened around her. Natsu on the other hand was interested and he picked up a framed picture. There was a girl, blonde, lying on the bed with surrounding that resembled hospital, holding a baby and on her face there was a smile, warm and caring as she held a little miracle in her arms. "Guessing this is you with your mother."

"Yeah…" Lucy said softly, her hand held the towel to avoid it slipping down.

"Wow, you two look a lot alike."

"I know, can you leave the room now?" She asked, now beginning to become a little annoyed by his presence.

"Why?"

"So I can change."

"You can change, I won't mind." He grinned wide at her finally noticing her little 'situation' that was presented before him "there is nothing you have that I haven't seen already."

"That one is painfully obvious but I would like to preserve what little dignity I still have. So… please… leave the room." He groaned but complied, leaving the picture back where he took it from and left the room. At that moment she remembered that he was supposed to be helping her and all he did so far is made things worse. Lucy was beginning to realize that this might have been a mistake, to allow him to come. She dressed up, last pair of clean jeans and a yellow shirt. It was good time to realize her fashion sense might be a little dull but she still chose comfort over look and in this she felt most comfortable in… that and the fact that her stressful life kept her line in check, more than it would do so to other girls.

Clean and freshly changed she left the room with Michelle in her hands, walking down where Natsu was waiting, sitting on the chair. Table was already set with breakfast.

"Well you took your sweet time, come, sit." He said, standing up and pulling a chair for her to sit.

"Please tell me you didn't make all this…" She responded, taking the seat although she was still very much skeptical.

"I helped, if that counts." Natsu chuckled as he took her plate and in it he placed several pancakes, pouring syrup over it and filling her glass with orange juice. "Nothing like a good breakfast to start your day."

Lucy felt slight amusement, it wasn't about situation but rather the way Natsu completed each of these tasks as if he was a servant of a lord. Perhaps day could be salvaged a little bit.

"You do realize I need to feed Michelle first right?"

"Allow me, Miss Lucy, I shall do it in a jiffy!" He walked over and gently took Michelle from Lucy, as he sat down he looked at the table, confused.

"Pancakes?" He asked looking at Lucy and she waved head

"She cannot eat processed food."

"Right right… milk?" He asked again and Lucy waved head yet again.

"Baby food."

"Of course, I should have thought of that… right baby food…" he nodded sagely before looking at Lucy again "Where do you keep baby food?"

"In the fridge." She responded and her lips curved into smile realizing the hopelessness of his attempts to act like an adult. Natsu got up and walked but quickly returned "Here, hold her for me please." He said and gave Michelle to Lucy before walking into the kitchen. Lucy was now very much amused at his lack of knowledge but she could give him a solid 3 out of 5 for effort. She could hear fridge open but she kept her gaze down at Michelle as he rummaged through it and soon he returned, bringing 6 small jars with baby food, labeled with various fruits. He looked between all of them and picked one with apple on the label and just as he was about to open it Lucy spoke.

"You don't really think to feed her with cold baby food, do you?" her voice was lower, slightly frowning.

"No! Of course not… I will… heat it up…" he nodded again sagely but in reality he had not a single clue what he was doing. "Sooo… miiicroooo…" he elongated the word as much as possible and she waved head again, sporting her previous smile "No of course not, I pour it in pan and heat it? Right?" He asked and she waved head yet again. Smile turned into giggle.

"Natsu you are not preparing a last meal. Just let me do it." Lucy was about to stand up but his hand quickly reached her shoulder and pushed her down.

"You will not, you need to eat, I'll do this…"

"You don't even know what to do." She giggled a bit more but managed to straighten her face.

"Then you tell me what to do and I'll do it."

Maybe it is 4 out of 5 she thought "Alright, first, you will fill the pot with water and heat it up, when water is hot, you will put the jar inside and make sure water does not exceed the height of jar."

"Yes, ma'am!" he saluted and moved into the kitchen, finding the pot and doing as instructed. All the while Lucy was content to play with Michelle. Baby was still very much confused but Lucy's voice kept her calm and happy.

"I know. He is silly." Lucy spoke to her in higher, playful tone, leaving pinkette to battle with pots and pans that fell. It appeared to be a titanic battle, one that required advanced knowledge of engineering and chemistry to heat up water. He is usually not this clumsy but this vigor amd eagerness pushed him to the point of wanting to prove that he is capable, he couldn't exactly understand for what reason… but he felt that his labors worthy of Hercules himself, have only just began.

Ten minutes later and water was ready and he quickly ran over to table, taking the jar with baby food and slowly submerged it in the bot.

"Make sure the jar is open!" she said in loud voice and he let out a slight groan as he now had to pull it out of hot water. Nevertheless he did it and opened it before returning the jar inside. "And you have to stir all the time!" Lucy added as she glanced over her shoulder, enough to see him desperately trying to find small spoon. His ordeals were nearing end and he came back with the jar, sitting beside Lucy. At first she objected but with some of his persuasion he managed to convince her that he is capable of feeding Michelle himself… She would lie to say she didn't want to see that so she placed Michelle in Natsu's lap and decided to focus on her own breakfast, leaving pinkette with yet another labor.

Michelle was uncooperative to say the least. Hungry, yes, but not used to being fed by anyone who isn't Lucy or Elizabeth, so she gave Natsu quite the trouble. Half the time she wouldn't even open mouth or other she would just stick her tongue out and the small bit of food would just roll down and fall on her lap or… his.

"You are not being a lady you know?" Natsu dipped spoon into the jar and attempted to feed her again, poking with tip of spoon to her lips to make her open up. Never before has he met a girl this stubborn, even Lucy eventually softened up but this little cutie? Nowhere near that point. All the time Lucy was eating her own breakfast and her amusement was now obvious as two of them were deep in the battle of wits. Ten agonizing minutes and jar was empty, Natsu emerged victorious at the price of his shirt and pants being dotted with baby food, a result of Michelle's decision to wipe her fingers against them.

"See? I know my way around girls." He gloated as he took small napkin and started wiping her mouth and face. Lucy just nodded, impressed at his determination. "What do we do next?"

"Next is for me to change her and I get to do laundry." She responded as she stood up and decided to tease him "You can clean the table, mister butler."

"Aye ma'am"

"Not aye, yes" Lucy corrected him and took Michelle from him, taking her upstairs for a change. She really did make a mess out of herself… little Miss Piggy Lucy said in soft tone as she smiled and changed her. Diapers, pink pajamas and small socks to match. Now she looked like a proper young lady.

Lucy walked down and table was already cleared. Natsu didn't need instructions on what to do, he washed the dishes still in elevated mood from his grand victory and it was noticeable to Lucy.

"Diligent are we?" She asked, making him look over his shoulder.

"So what's next on the list?"

"Natsu, I think you are approaching this the wrong way…" Lucy sighed softly "this isn't a game in which you have quests and get reward for completing them…"

"I know, but whenever I ask you anything about yourself you deny me the answer. So, I figure, if I am to learn a bit more about you I can start with learning about your day. How else can I do that if not ask you what comes next?"

"Alright, I guess you are right." She responded, letting out a slight sigh "Next we do laundry."

Natsu has finished with dishes and followed Lucy who opened large plastic basket and started creating multiple piles… one for whites, one for colors, one that was strictly Michelle's clothes. Task would have been a lot easier if Natsu didn't stop every time he would see Lucy's panties but more than that it amused him in what colors they came. White, pink, even red and purple, each time Natsu would show to her, waving and she would quickly snatch it from him.

"I don't understand one thing." He said as he collected first pile where white laundry was.

"Only one?"

"Yeah I mean… you girls have no trouble walking in swimsuits with hundred eyes looking your way but the moment someone sees you in underwear that reveals less, you freak out!"

"That's because swimsuits are designed for everyone to be seen, underwear is our privacy. It is part that we hide from everyone. Intimacy."

He just nodded, things were not much clear, intimacy, privacy… terms he knew, terms he actively practiced but if that is the fact, if it is so important to her… then he just peeked deep into her intimacy, right? Washing machine has been filled and turned on, Lucy made sure of that but Natsu did watch, as if he was interested to learn how this magical contraption works. He was not idiot, washing machine is not a miracle but he never really understood what had to be pressed and this… separation of whites and colored… A little bit of knowledge that he gained and the odd thing was, he enjoyed it.

But Natsu's labors were far from over and Lucy decided that today is good day for some cleaning and her 'butler' seemed more and more like a gift.

"Very well then my trusted knight, you shall be given the honor of riding the mighty steed of Vacuum Cleaner!" she said rather cheerfully and pointed to the corner where it was located.

"Please tell me you are joking." He responded, narrowing his eyes at her.

"You said it yourself, you wanted to help. Are you backing down?"

"No, I mean, please tell me you are joking with the speech… kinda cheesy, you know." He scratched back of his head as he moved to collect it, looking around for electric socket.

"Well if that doesn't motivate you, if you do your task well you may receive a reward." She winked his way and in that very instant there was nothing cheesy left in his head. Instead he rose the pipe up as a knight would raise his lance and proceeded downstairs to begin his draconic quest. All that made Lucy giggle, he is a solid 4 in effort she can at least admit that and cleaning has never been this easy. Perhaps she could employ him every week but then again… she knew this was all temporary, a fleeting moment.

Natsu was thorough, the very idea of reward has renewed his dedication and each spot was passed ten times before moving on. He was indeed thorough and while he was busy with his 'steed' Lucy took on herself to wipe the dust, above the area of Natsu's jurisdiction. Everything was being cleaned except Lucy's room where Michelle was sleeping. In the meantime, Elizabeth returned, bringing bags of various groceries in her hands, ones that Natsu was more than happy to take form her. She was curious about his assistance but Lucy quickly reassured her on his 'motives'… but that didn't mean old lady didn't have ideas of her own and those ideas only brought her smile on face as she watched young ones clean so vigorously. Hours passed quickly for them… Hours, otherwise spent in heavy thoughts, were oddly relieving for her and she wondered if his motives were truly in correlation with his own words. Was he aiming to be friend or was it just another step.

Noon came and passed, 13… 14… 15… the house was clean, with more than few breaks that they used to chat, a simple chat about anything that came to them. Mundane topics that made her feel as if she is chatting with Levy and she could have sworn she was around. Was Natsu always this easy to talk? Of course that little trait could always be interrupted with a simple question.

"So, what is my reward?" He asked, grinning at all the possibilities and his mind truly could go far.

"Well as a reward you get to escort us on the afternoon walk." She replied as she walked upstairs, taking already awake Michelle from her crib and walked down.

"A walk?"

"Yes. It has been a while since I had the time to take her out myself. You can come with us."

"Alright." He nodded and brought the stroller. It wasn't difficult to notice it as it was standing by the door and Lucy started preparing the needed items she was to bring. Of course, Natsu was the one who was running up and down to bring the rest that Lucy remembered she was missing… one by one on purpose. Everything was set and they left the house.

Walk was slow, every now and then a passenger would kneel down to take a better look at Michelle who now often decided to be on verge of tears… it wasn't difficult for Natsu to notice that she wasn't that fond of all the strangers so he was the one to shoo them, politely, but it was in fact shooing.

They reached the park. Warm day attracted many people to walk by, walking among the shades of birches and linden. Fresh smell of green leaves made the place popular and often would elderly come to sit on the benches and enjoy the day.

"Oh no…" Lucy said as she looked in bag, rummaging through items.

"What, what?" He asked, frantically.

"I forgot to bring the formula, can you run back and bring it?"

"Oh, ok, I'll be back before you know it." He started running in opposite direction but she called him back and he stopped and turned "It is in the fridge so make sure you warm it up! Same as you did before!"

He just waved and started running again. Lucy thought it would take him at least 30 minutes to go back, warm it up and return so she could take this time to sit on bench and take some time alone. Fortunately book was always essential part of the travel bag so she took it out and started reading.

"Lucy?" A voice came, right in front of her actually. She looked up, noticing a boy in white shirt and dark blue jeans. He waved as soon as she looked him into the eyes.

"Oh, hello Gray." She greeted him.

"Fancy meeting you here. You brought Michelle out for a walk?" He asked and she frowned slightly.

"How did you know her name?" She asked and Gray was… well busted, left without words of excuse "It was Natsu, was it?"

"Yeah…" he scratched his head feeling uncomfortable.

"Well I guess that was to be expected" she sighed "You came with Juvia?"

"Yeah she met some old friends and I escaped before I became exhibit. She'll find me eventually." he chuckled as he took a seat on the bench. Chat somehow turned into another direction and landed on Natsu. Lucy didn't have any conflicts in telling Gray what Natsu did this morning, starting from entering her house and all the chores. As story progressed, Gray had more and more difficult time controlling himself and at one point it was impossible for him contain the laugh.

"Hold on hold on…" he cleared his throat "You mean to tell me you turned him into your bitch-boy? Natsu? The Natsu? Pink hair, head the size of Moon?"

"Yes, I mean no, not like that, I didn't turn him into bitch-boy, he volunteered to do them himself."

"You are shitting me!" He moved closer his eyes widened "He volunteered? As in, he proposed it first? Did you tempt him with some reward or something?"

"Yes he wanted it by himself… is that so hard to believe?" She asked, confused at Gray's reaction that now yet again turned into laugh.

"Oh this is gold, this is pure gold…" he wiped tears coming from his eyes.

"What is?"

"Lucy, you don't understand, he is the guy who runs to hide into my room at the dorm when spring cleaning starts… I have him almost every weekend there and I have never seen the guy wash the glass he was drinking from and you are now telling me… he made pancakes..."

"Well more like helped making them…" she corrected him

"Helped making pancakes… fed your sister, washed the dishes, vacuumed the house and did the laundry?"

"Well there is still carpet left…" she added

"Please please make a picture, I'll pay you any price you want just please… make one for me." Gray pleaded, making the face of a child that just saw chocolate.

"You are one odd friend…"

"Look don't get me wrong, I stand by my words that Natsu can be… reliable when he is not an asshole… but I have never seen him act like this for anyone." He wiped remaining tears from his cheek and looked at Lucy who was smiling as another woman, maybe 5 years older approached the stroller and took a look at Michelle. She was pregnant and Lucy couldn't but find it oddly pleasing to see her reaction.

"What week?" Lucy asked and woman returned the smile.

"Almost 30." Gray glanced at Lucy as she was asking but there was something else that bugged him and he waited for woman to leave before he decided to ask

"Tell me, did he invite you to come to his house?"

"A couple of times. Yesterday actually he asked me before I went to work. He said that since he saw my room it would be fair for me to see his… Why?"

"Huh…"

"What 'huh'?" Lucy was more and more confused by Gray's questions and reactions.

"Didn't expect that…" he leaned back on the bench, looking up at the leaves of tree that covered the sun.

"Are you going to tell me what you are thinking or will you just leave the cryptic messages?" Lucy asked and Gray looked at her, taking few seconds of silence to collect these little bits of broken thought into one idea.

"Natsu is like… well he's like Superman" Lucy snorted at hearing this; as if he needed more ego boost "No no, I can't deny. He can barge in like he is bigger than life, he is best at what he does but no one knows where he hangs his cape. I can tell you he scored more girls than he scored in game but not once have I heard from him that he brought girl to his room."

Lucy felt slightly out of place, she couldn't understand this reasoning. Why was she so special? Surely there are many other girls, better girls but he is fixating on her right now and she felt conflicted… Should she think this as another trick to get her into bed, or was he true to his words? While she was thinking and Gray looking in Juvia's direction and soon Natsu was seen running back, panting heavily as he extended bottle with formula toward Lucy.

"You came back quickly." She said as she took the bottle, inspecting the warmth "I think we could get something soon."

"There is a hot-dog stand at the other side of the park." Gray added and then grinned wide at Natsu "Oooh Sebastian! Why don't you run along and bring us something classy and yet tasty to eat?"

"Bite me, popsicle"

"Hey be nice to Gray." Lucy interjected as she placed bottle inside her bag.

"Since when have you two became pals?"

"Since five minutes ago." She added, making him drop his jaw slightly.

"And you are making me run around and give him easy time?!"

"Well he is not the one who was rummaging through my underwear." Lucy's voice showed her annoyed side, still not forgetting his 'deed' however her tone quickly changed "But I could go for a hot-dog."

"You heard the lady! Mush you fiery lizard!" Gray said again, enjoying his newly found position. Natsu stood by him and leaned down enough to whisper.

"Don't forget we have practice on Monday, you watch your back ice-princess."

"Scaaary." Gray mocked him as Natsu ran through the park, looking to find the food stand that Gray described. Lucy said nothing, instead she just looked toward running Natsu, wondering just what exactly is pushing him so far beyond his own limits and reason for Lucy. She dared not think the worst but then again, she couldn't deny it a possibility either.