Crickey I haven't posted anything in a little while. Just a notice, these filler chapters will soon be coming to an end; I hope you guys have enjoyed the fluff as the story continues and remember to R&R

Tsukki086 K x

Lucy rolled over on her side away from Natsu's chest as the early morning sun streamed into the cabin. Yawning, she pushed some blonde hair out of her face and pulled the covers off her legs. The long red nightgown had ridden up in the night and Natsu's hand was now tucked under it on her sternum. Lucy blushed and extracted the foreign object, before padding across the rug and stretching her arms, as the crimson folds covered the rest of her body. She heard Natsu grumble sleepily and turned around; watching his arm pat the empty space she had left on the bed. Lucy chuckled softly and picked up a black bodice, a soft pale blue shirt, a pair of matching black trousers and some underwear; before entering the washroom.

Natsu lifted his head lazily and whined when he saw Lucy had got up and left her side of the bed empty. He groaned and sat up listening to her humming quietly in the bathroom; grinning evilly he tiptoed over to the washroom door, waiting patiently. Lucy examined her appearance in the mirror. She could have sworn Mira had swapped her more modest clothing for ones that showed more cleavage. The top of the blue shirt peeked over this particular confection; panels held together with suede lacing, pulling the bodice up as far as it would go, she exited the room, deciding to keep her hair down for the day.

"Ahhhhh!"

Lucy shrieked as Natsu swung her up in the air

"Oh my god! Put me down Natsu!"

He giggled maniacally tickling her sides; making her squirm.

"Cut it out Natsu!"

He grinned, dumping her on the bed and looked down at her flustered face; he smirked continuing to tickle her stomach and neck, deftly with his rough hands. Lucy scowled at him and tried swatting them away.

"NO!" He looked at her stubbornly, black eyes gleaming with mischief.

Lucy grit her teeth and decided on a new tactic.

"But you've got to get dressed and get some breakfast...you know food."

I can't believe I'm babying him! He is such a child!

Natsu pouted at her and grinned, "NO!"

Lucy seethed and scowled at the perpetual gleefulness on his face, then smirked evilly.

Natsu looked down at her a worried expression on his face, "Luce...what are you-"

Lucy pressed her lips against his and Natsu's body slackened almost instantaneously. That was easy. She pushed hard against his shoulders and leapt off the bed a triumphant grin on her face; she patted down her mussed hair and turned to look at a very dejected Natsu.

"That was cold Luce."

She frowned at him, her hands on her hips; "What do you mean?"

Natsu frowned at her growling slightly, "You took advantage of the situation!"

Lucy grinned and tossed her hair over her shoulder, "You didn't give me a choice and I'm a pirate sweet heart."

She smirked at his angry expression, "Oh come on Natsu, I was only messing around. I can't have hurt your feelings that much?"

Lucy glanced at him as he flushed slightly and hid his face in the red blankets, his pink hair poking out the folds in soft tufts. She sighed and shuffled over to the bed, plopping herself down next to him.

"Sorry Natsu I was only messing with ya."

She gingerly rubbed soothing circles over his uncovered back; he whined slightly and the muscles in his back tensed and relaxed. His black eyes peeked over at her; she could tell he was grinning widely into the soft bedding, by the gleeful light in his eyes, as she gently patted his back. Lucy grinned back at him and raised her eyebrows.

"You know how to guilt trip me too well."

Natsu chuckled darkly and sat up, his abdominal muscles contracting; Lucy gulped dryly a faint blush dusting her cheeks. He leant forward and pressed his forehead against hers; she stilled when his hand brushed across one of the laced panels of the bodice.

"Nah, what gave ya that idea?" He grinned at her wide brown eyes and winked smirking. "My girl just loves me..."

He lightly kissed the tip of her nose and nuzzled the crook of her neck. Lucy felt like she was going to melt, but she suppressed her spiking emotions and pulled at his hair insistently.

"Your girl, wants you to hurry up and get ready. She's hungry."

Natsu felt very smug, despite Lucy's deadpanned expression a heavy blush coated her lightly freckled cheeks and nose. She sat up off the bed and turned to find her boots; Natsu got up and stretched.

"Alright, if that's what my Luce wants..."

Lucy froze as she felt his warm hand playfully slap her butt, when she bent over to pick up some black boots with a thick tread and pewter buckles around the ankles. She scowled as she heard him chuckling to himself in the washroom. Muttering under her breath she looked down to check her shirt after his groping session. Cursing wildly she glared at the bodice which now hung loosely on her slight frame; the sides had been undone by a certain someone. She hastily re-laced the sides as tightly as she could, tying the bows twice before pulling on her boots and buckling them. She was securing her belt and sword when Natsu re-entered the room, fully clothed in a black shirt and dark maroon pants; albeit the shirt showed a lot of his well defined chest. He grinned impishly at Lucy while she bent down and stowed some throwing knives on the straps attached to her thighs. Lucy scowled when he pointedly eyed her cleavage, curse these clothes! And chucked a small knife feebly in his direction; he caught it easily and hoisted her over his shoulder. Ignoring her squeals and yelps, Natsu sauntered out of the door and down the hall.

"Come on Luce, you've obviously got a bad case of hanger." (anger induced by being hungry)

For once Natsu didn't steal Lucy's food at breakfast, he let her eat her fill and watched as her hanger subsided; she was slightly more tolerant of his behaviour. He tugged her onto his lap as Happy bundled himself onto Lucy's shoulder. Laxus stomped past their table with his usual stoic expression.

"Oi!" Natsu nodded his head at Laxus; the pirate turned around with a scowl.

Natsu grinned at him with a smirk. "Have ya talked ta Mira yet?"

Laxus went very pale and strode over to the chair opposite them. "Keep it down, ya idiot. I'm working on it!"

Lucy chuckled into Natsu's shoulder and smiled at Laxus.

"What'cha laughin' about Lucy."

"Nothing!" Lucy grinned wider, "I just don't think I've ever seen you blushing before."

Despite his heavy scowl, Laxus's face turned a deeper shade of red. Lucy chuckled at the uncomfortable way he shifted in his seat and glanced in their general direction.

"You know I think that Mira likes you too..." Lucy tapped her index finger to her chin.

Laxus raised an eyebrow, "What makes ya say that?"

Lucy giggled and looked over to see Mira watching them nervously from the counter; the silver haired pirate had just missed a mug and poured rum all over the rough wooden counter top.

"She blushed a lot when we talked about the prospect of her relationship with you. It's real cute really, considering she interrogates us about ours."

Lucy nodded her head in Mira's direction; Laxus turned his head briefly watching the woman blush heavily and duck behind the counter. Laxus turned back to them and smirked, "Expect to hear about my end of our bargain soon Natsu."

Natsu scowled, "Now you've made 'im confident Luce. It was funny watching 'im squirm."

He tugged insistently at the loose fabric of her sleeves; Lucy smiled sweetly at Mira and turned back to him, "Yeah well it's funny to see Mira squirm too."

They chuckled evilly at their table, attracting some concerned looks from the other occupants of the tables surrounding them.

Gray shook his head in disapproval as he gripped his mug of grog, "You two are twisted."

"We are not Stripper!"

Lucy spent the rest of the day gossiping with Levy in the small library as they organised the haphazardly piled books. They searched for any references to the Urano Metria, but to no avail. Levy agreed with Lucy about the link between the sword and the children's story, but with the lack of resources and her mother dead, Lucy was left to just thinking they would have to wing it when they got to Tenrou, despite the time limit.

That night in the crow's nest, as Natsu snoozed Lucy mapped the root to Tenrou.

She muttered to herself as she wrote some rough calculations at the bottom of the page. Only several days till we get there... Lucy looked up at the stars outlining the Aquarius constellation with her finger; it was the first constellation her mother had ever taught her. For some odd reason she felt like crying, she bit her lip and returned to the map. Damn emotions.

Warm breath fanned across her neck, as Natsu nuzzled it, yawning loudly, "Are ya done yet Luce. I'm tired."

She scribbled down the last coordinate and nodded wanly, "Yeah. Let's head back to the cabin."

Natsu noticed that Lucy seemed a bit flat as she handed Erza the scrolls and walked quickly back to the cabin. She kept tugging nervously at her hair and biting her lip.

Back in the cabin Lucy grabbed a short purple nightgown and rushed into the washroom. Natsu waited in to room, listening anxiously as he heard Lucy sniffling and whispering to herself. He roughly pulled his shirt over his head and tugged off his baggy trousers and boots, leaving his undershorts. Lucy slammed the washroom door shut and threw herself on her side of the bed; the nightgown riding up her slightly tanned legs. Natsu chuckled and pulled her to his chest; the night air had turned muggy and the blankets felt sticky against their skin. Lucy's brown eyes were glassy and slightly red. Natsu pressed his lips to her forehead tenderly as her fingers drew swirling patterns on his chest.

"I know you're worried Luce."

She hid her head in his shoulder and mumbled incoherently, he rolled his eyes at the ceiling. Trust her to stay strong and hide her feelings.

He dipped his head to her ear, caging her in his arms, "Let me shoulder some of the burden Luce...please."

A small smile quirked her pale lips, "Alright."

"We're gonna find your mum's treasure Luce."

A wide grin spread across his face, "You can get that badass sword too."

Lucy bit her lip again and looked away, "What about my father?"

Natsu grimaced and sighed uncomfortably, "He isn't here now, let's worry 'bout 'im later kay."

Lucy didn't look too convinced, but she nodded regardless and yawned. She leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss against his lips. Natsu felt a shiver run down his spine, when she cupped his jaw in her small hand.

"Night Natsu."