A/N: "Oooh? Are they or aren't they? Isn't that the question the entire series tortured us with? They certainly tested the line a few times from what I read. These two really are frustrating to read and/or watch.

A/N part 2: Are my author's notes still running into the chapter bar? STILL?! Last I checked they were...I think I fixed it...maybe...

A/N:THEY ARE STILL RUNNING INTO THE CHAPTER BAR! Omg why?! *Head desks and chucks the expensive matcha and pours whisky into her chawan instead.* "Attempt number 35 here we go..."

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail is still not mine


Chapter 4-Jax

Morning came and Lucy wasn't surprised to find Natsu in her bed with one arm draped across her hips intertwining their legs. Blushing because he was only in his, thankfully clean, boxers remembered what she told Juvia. There was one part of her statement that needed to be taken back; somethings did change. Their touches, accidental gropes or embarrassing incidents increased dramatically. Chemistry between them definitely shifted into something more intense the longer they went without delving deeper. Lucy sat up and pressed her lips to his cheek. After prepping for the day left a note for the deep sleeping man that she was going to the guild and would see him there. She dressed in short shorts, a v-cut blue stripped shirt, and her long hair partially up to the side with boots.

Once arrived at said guild, Erza practically bulldozed her to the floor just outside of the entrance way.

"Lucy, it's good to see you. I have the utmost important news."

The red head's smile started to creep her out because the re-quip mage had a look. "What news Erza?"

"I have tickets for us to go to a mixed bath. It's on the other side of the mountain where we left off on our quest." Placing a fist on her hips, with the other holding tickets an inch away from Lucy's face, proved how happy these made her.

"How long are we planning to stay here till we leave for the quest again?" Taking the tickets from Erza so she could read them normally, felt unease about this particular endeavor.

"We will stay for two more weeks, before leaving again." Crossing her arms over a plated chest, nodded rather factually. "Besides we can meet up with friends."

Lucy quirked a brow and smirked. "Jellal gave you these tickets didn't he, he's the one we're meeting there."

Her eyes widened pulling her face away, embarrassed at being caught."It's not what you think, there are interesting rumors about the bath house."

"Alright, it shouldn't be too terrible, an Onsen will be relaxing!"

Before Erza could respond, she had been interrupted by none other than a certain dragon mage.

"Lucy, you left early. I wanted to snuggle for a while." Completely oblivious to how that even sounded, drowsily scratched the back of his head.

The taller of the two females looked like her mind went into overdrive, "When did you two? Wait congratulations, when was the wedding" She shook Lucy's hand vigorously while babbling nonsensical words.

He bent down quite a bit to address Erza's inquiry, "Sleep together? We do it all the time, Lucy's bed is comfortable."

"Natsu…." Managing to pull out of Erza's iron grasp, gave the pink haired man a mean right hook, landing him to the pavement, "That's NOT what she meant!" then proceeded to stomp inside. "She was asking if we had SEX, you IDIOT!" Followed by a slam of the guild doors.

Happy was rolling on the ground laughing at the exchange.

Natsu rubbed his jaw admirably, cracked his neck and dawned a rather cunningly sharp grin. Still starring at the doors where Lucy boldly took her exit, draped his arm over a propped up knee while the other leg stretched in front, deciding he'd get back at her for this one later.

"Where we goin'?" He did catch the tail end of their conversation before he started to complain about Lucy leaving him that morning.

Erza took this chance to show Natsu the tickets. "It's on the other side of the same mountain we had that lead."

"What did Lucy say?" He was hoping for a longer stay, but the sooner they can finish the quest, the sooner they can pick up the next big job.

Beaming with joy put her hands on her hips. "She thinks it's a good idea."

"Hell yeah!" Natsu almost set the tickets on fire from sheer excitement, causing Erza to beat him till he was unconscious.

SsS

Twenty minutes later, it wasn't until Happy shoved a live fish from the river in his mouth, before he woke up gagging and spit the slimy thing out as it died from lack of oxygen. He knew his fuzzy friend would eat that later.

"Happy…" He held his head groggily "Where's Lucy?"

"She's talking with someone who keeps dropping by the guild, his name is Nero? Pero? Persquire? Pickle?"

"Bout what?" Sudden apprehension rose in his gut.

Happy looked at his blue paws dejectedly "He keeps asking her out on dates, he's a celestial mage and wants to talk about their keys together." Unsure if he should continue, looked at Natsu's very agitated expression.

"And?"

"Well, it sounded like she finally caved and said…" Happy sat down as he saw Natsu stand up, fire swirling around him.

"Said, what, Happy?" It was not a question anymore as more fire started to circle around his feet which lifted his long, now clean, tunic.

"She finally agreed, after years of saying no."

SsS

From inside the guild, all you could see from the windows was a sudden burst of fire going in either direction which set the surrounding shrubbery aflame.

This tore Lucy's attention away from Jax, a fellow celestial spirit mage who she's been keeping at arm's length in respect for Natsu. Jax was a man of excellent stature, very tall broad shoulders, with bright sapphire eyes, long messy jet black hair, narrow waist, intellect that could match Fried's and a voice that could smooth over any girl. He asked her out at least once a week, every week for a year before she left on their quest. Here again was Jax asking her out, after wind swept through Magnolia of the group's return. For a year she turned men down out of respect for her and Natsu's possibilities. Four years of waiting for what they could be, but never became.

"Really? You'll go?" He gazed at her through half lidded eyes that would make most woman swoon.

Lucy's expression betrayed her on some level.

"My darling if you really don't want too, I'll stop here and now."

Closing her eyes felt the bitterness, frustration and hurt swell over the reminder she waited for so long and looked at Jax without any hesitance. "I can't break a promise, once I say I'll do something, I'll do it."

"Excellent, I'll pick you up at 9 tonight, dress nice." Jax leaned over with elegance and pressed firm lips to the back of the hand dawning Lucy's guild mark.

Pulling her hand away nervously, had zero desire for Natsu to witness it and because the gesture made her uncomfortable.

Natsu watched the entire exchange as he leaned against the doorway. Once he saw Jax come his way, decided to block the exit. He was ready to burn this guy to ash.

"I don't recognize you. Been comin' round here for long?" He didn't even spare the poor bloke a glance, instead he looked ahead rather uninterested.

"Ah Salamander! I hear exquisite tales of your conquests all over Earthland, in fact I believe you are rated highest of most desirable male in "The Weekly Sorcerer" now, we should duel sometime."

The fire dragon practically laughed in his face, "Doubt you could last five minutes with me, Persquire."

"Jax, my name is Jax. I'll have you know I'm an exceptional celestial wizard. I want to duel Lucy sometime. Though I really would love to fight you."

Jax's stuffy attitude was driving him up a wall. "That would be my pleasure Snacks. What about... right now?" He grinned ear to ear in a very dangerous and feral way.

Lucy however caught that look, and knew immediately how quickly the situation could turn from bad to worse and intervened before Jax got himself killed.

"Jax! I see you met Natsu. Natsu you are blocking the poor man's way." She placed one hand on her hip, as she motioned to the door with her guild hand. "Please move so he can leave."

"No sweat Luce, can't wait for the duel Picks." He finally moved from his location to stand behind Lucy and waved at the man, only to grab her by the wrist and pull her off to the side out of everyone's view. He didn't see the glare that Jax shot him as they walked away.

SsS

Eventually Natsu came to the sick bay, discovering that it was empty, dragged her in there and locked the door. He put both of his arms over her head to block any escape and leaned into a hairs breath from her face. Lucy would have found this incredibly sexy, if it weren't for the reason as to why he had her pinned to the wall.

"Who, the hell, is that?" When Natsu was mad his eyes burned brighter, more passionately.

Being defiant, pushed one of his arms away, leaned against the wall more comfortably and steeled her gaze with just as much vigor, as though she were giving a child a scolding with an eyebrow raise. "Who do you think it was, Natsu?"

"Don't look at me like that Luce." Stepping back crossed his arms.

Lucy stepped forward and proceeded to poke his chest with each emphasized word "You, brought me in here. You started to make demands, like you own me, when I had done nothing wrong. He asked me out on a date over and over again for a year after the war. I told him no, and now he came back three years later to ask me out. So I agreed."

That was the last thing he wanted to hear, in retaliation grabbed her shoulders forcing fierce brown eyes to look up at him, as he voiced his concerns. "What if he's a rapist, or drowns your apartment? You've got me and our Nakama. That's all you need."

Her voice was stern, however it wavered in uncertainty at the end of her sentence."Really? Taurus or Loki can handle him if he tried anything, but what if he drowns my apartment? Why do you care this much Natsu?"

Still holding on to her, dragon eyes looked away for a brief second unsure of how to answer properly. "I…" The question brought him an unsettling amount of trepidation. "He'll keep you from being able to perform jobs with us." He thought that was as good an answer as any.

Lucy became crestfallen, it sounded like he was finally going to confess, and he didn't. Stupid stubborn Natsu once again, failed to confirm he had any feelings for her. All these years of waiting, seemed wasted. Maybe all those incidents were just her wishful thinking. Water brimmed, finally giving up.

Questioning if her actions came from despair, that final spark of hope snuffed out, desire or a combination of the three; Lucy lifted her hand with the guild mark and gently brushed the side of his face with the back of her finger tips. She came in close, hesitated for a moment, then continued to place her lips to his with as much softness as kissing a petal.

Natsu's eyes widened from this new form of contact that made his heart stop for a second, causing a very red blush to creep from his ears to his cheeks. He had no idea how to respond, or what this officially meant. His reaction times in fights had been flawless, this was the first time in his life where he was too flabbergasted to react at all.

Unshed tears from earlier began to fall from his lack of response, looking away in anguish, soundlessly shoved the Dragon slayer to the ground, then bolted out after unlocking the door which she left wide open.

He watched her run out, then brought his own fingertips to touch his lips. He made Lucy cry, from what he wasn't sure. What he did know was in that one simple kiss, he wanted more. Now he knew was not entirely immune to the charms of females, he knew he felt something for Lucy, just never sure what. Now he understood a tiny bit what Gray and Laxus were talking about and it all stemmed from his first kiss.

Happy flew in which distracted Natsu from his troubled thoughts.

"Why are you on the floor?" Happy saw Lucy running away with her arm over her eyes. Looking at Natsu, then the door, then back at Natsu, dawned with realization as a blush formed on blue fuzzy cheeks. He covered his mouth to stifle a laugh then bee lined towards the exit so he could tattle on him to Erza. However his tail was snagged in the last second.

Pink hair hung his head low while still holding on to Happy's tail as gears began to turn. After a few moments, much to the Exceed's relief, let go of his tail and smacked his right fist into his left palm as fire went ablaze. "Happy, we're crashing Lucy's date!"

Happy looked absolutely thrilled to hear the idea. He didn't need any explanation for the sudden outburst or his father's weird disposition. Any time to mess with Lucy, was a good time indeed, "Aye, sir!" and fist bumped Natsu who had an equally mischievous grin.