It was odd that she dreamt of him. What was not odd was how he made her blush. She hid the secret that she was flustered by him and blamed the flustering on the fact she just wasn't used to actions like this. Lucy had never experienced the rush of heartbeat so suddenly, she didn't like how it made her feel, like she had no control.

The morning came quickly for her, she let herself lounge in her bed for a few more minutes than her alarm had sounded; a simple luxury. The comfort of the warm duvet was too welcoming. She didn't have specific plans, she told herself. Hypothetically, she could stay here all day.

Something nipped at her to rise from the warmth, to leave her bed and make her way out from the bed. She smiled as she saw Plue in a deep sleep on the couch, it was littered with small tufts of ruffled white fur. Lucy moved and sat down beside him, stirring him from his own sleep as he rushed to his owner and lapped at her cheeks.

"Good dreams, Plue?" She laughed as she enjoyed the simple bliss of being with her pet. "We should go for a walk before it starts to rain." She commented, the small dog happily jumping down, recognising the word 'walk'. He didn't whine as she knelt down to attach the leash. They walked beside the river that led her to Fairy Tail.

"Eh, Miss, be careful!" The voices from the nearby boatmen called out, like always she paid them no heed, simply waved to show that she was okay. She liked to watch as Plue scurried ahead of her, he would sniff at a rock and give her a little 'Boof' at her. Lucy liked that her dog found something special in a pebble that everyone else would ignore as they passed.

She was at Fairy Tail just after noon, it was silent but still had a small handful of customers. Mirajane waved to her and she led Plue in so that he could meet with the bartender.

"How are you, Mirajane?" Lucy asked, sitting down at a barstool as Mirajane came around to meet with the animal, he enjoyed the attention he received from the regulars.

"I'm well Lucy, I'm glad you and Plue were able to visit, it was getting a bit boring." She confessed and looked away from the dog to her friend. "I didn't think you'd be drinking this early." Lucy blushed as she tried to defend herself.

"Ah! Just a water for me, I was thinking I could get Plue out for a walk and work on some writing before Levy and Erza popped over." She rubbed the back of her head, hoping Mirajane wouldn't think of her as the next Cana.

"I'll go grab that for you now."

Lucy had promised to Mira that she could watch Plue, she was more than pleased to babysit her little visitor whilst the bar was lacking customers. It was the perfect opportunity for Lucy to write about the dream, yet she found her hand trembling slightly as she opened her laptop. She scanned her eyes quickly over the already written paragraphs and found them still lacking the raw emotion she wanted to push in her writing.

She tapped at the keys fast. A rhythm was made as her nimble fingers moved and danced from one side of the keyboard to the other, making words that spoke to her.

"Where did you come from?" She hissed at the intruder, she recognised his face, it was hard to forget such a handsome composition. He didn't ask, he just moved and kissed her, taking away her next words of anger. Anna was stuck against his frame, but she found she wasn't pushing him away, he was fierce, and she was attracted to his danger.

"The stars were mocking me for leaving you be, who am I to cross the stars?" His voice was sultry and caused a spark to trickle down her spine to her knees, she didn't want to admit she was weak for him. The words were frozen on her tongue, yet his fire was melting her.

"Lucy!" The blonde looked up and shut her laptop down as she placed it in its bag and grinned as her friend came over to her. The blue hair of Levy made her stick out like a sore thumb, but Lucy adored her cute charm.

"Where's Erza?" She asked, the absence of her very noticeable, especially as the pair of them lived very closely to one another, they frequently would walk to the pub together.

"Erza got in contact with an old friend, Simon or something, she said she'd message us when she'd be free to hang out again." Levy was smiling as she said this, Lucy couldn't help but think that she was also happy for their friend to be re-connecting with her past. Erza was a mystery to most, she held herself up and rarely let anyone in.

"That's okay, we can go out for some ice-cream, just us!" Lucy said enthusiastically, as she went to collect Plue. Mira protested slightly, hugging the small dog in her arms, but Lucy explained he still needed to go to the bathroom, Mira reluctantly gave him back as she didn't want to have to clean up in Fairy Tail.

They were lucky Spring was on them, the cold nights were easing up with each passing day and Lucy was enjoying the sunlight again. As they exited, Lucy heard a cough and turned her head to find Gray leaning against the wall with a smoke between his lips. She glared at him and watched as he rolled his eyes, bringing it out from his mouth.

"You caught me." He said sarcastically as Lucy held out her hand. Gray was no pushover, he was a strong and proud man who was more than capable of standing up for himself. That being said, he handed over the packet of cigarettes. He cursed to himself silently on how there were still ten left. Lucy didn't care.

"I thought you quit!" She yelled at him, Levy began shifting her feet, uncomfortable in this situation.

"I did, things are just," he paused, and Lucy waited, expecting him to finish "a little stressful." His confession caused Lucy to frown, she looked back to Levy who grabbed the dog's leash from her and told her she'd meet her at the Ice Cream parlour. Lucy turned back to him and folded her arms across his chest.

"What happened?"

"Juvia's a bit much, she's very clingy. I don't know what to do." Lucy was saddened her friend was struggling in a relationship, she honestly thought he was happy. "I just don't want to lead her on, but I don't know how I feel." Lucy reached up and touched his arm, a small sign of her comforting him.

"Feelings are confusing." She admitted as he scoffed at that, nodding like it was the understatement of the century. "But, I think it's worth all the messy feelings when you find that person who makes you feel warm." Gray wasn't looking at her, she wanted to push him to talk more to her, but she didn't know how to word it.

"I just think it's rich coming from you." Lucy snatched her arm back and looked at him at shock, she wasn't sure what he was implying, but she knew it was about her failing relationship.

"What?"

"Why are you with Natsu, Lucy?" She was angry, Natsu was her best friend, they supported each other, she was frustrated that people kept on telling her how she was supposed to feel.

"We get on so well!" Gray threw his arms in the air and placed his cold hands on her shoulders, she resisted shivering, he was always cold.

"Exactly! Natsu's a nice guy, and you're great friends, but you're too much alike. He doesn't challenge you to be a better person." She moved a small step backwards, glaring at him. Lucy didn't want to challenge Gray on what exactly he knew about being with someone, she knew to keep her mouth shut at insulting him.

"Why would he have to?" She asked.

"Because when you don't feel you're being a better you, it means you're settling." He was quiet, as though he had answered his own question. He looked ready to apologise, but he kept his lips tight together, he knew he had to be honest with her. Lucy sighed, bringing her hand to her chest, holding it her in a fist.

"I'm confused, I admit. We can talk later, I have to meet Levy." She said quietly, giving a small wave as she walked away from him. She looked at the cigarette packet she had taken from him, she didn't understand the meaning of the brand or the colour it was, all she knew was it belonged in the bin. She heard a small rustle as she threw it in a passing trashcan.

Levy asked about Gray and Lucy found herself talking about him and Juvia, she used them as silhouettes for herself and Natsu, complicating Gray's problem into her own.

"So Gray's still confused on how he feels?" Lucy nodded, a cheap, plastic spoon stuck in Vanilla ice cream, she had lost her appetite. "I think the best he can do is be honest." Levy shrugged, Lucy wished such a simple answer could be easy to act out. She didn't let her emotions stop her from enjoying time with her friend as she made herself enjoy the soft and sweet flavour of the treat.

They made their way back to Fairy Tail after a quick walk around a park, Lucy looked around as they passed it, there wasn't any spiked hair that caught her attention. She allowed Plue a moment off the leash as he ran around in the grass, a slight tinge of green dusted on his white furry paws. Lucy and Levy laughed as they finished their ice cream and Plue was put back on the chain, Mira would be happy to see him again.

As the pair entered, Lucy noted that Gray was absent from the premises, she briefly wondered where he was, whether he was off buying more smokes or talking to Juvia. Mirajane still looked happy as ever, especially to see her dog again, but she called Lucy over for another reason. Apparently there was a woman here to see her, she pointed over to a booth where a timid woman was using her hands to shield her face from the stares she was receiving. Lucy let Mira play with Plue as Levy hugged her and took off, leaving her to meet with the strange girl by herself.

"Hey, Mira says you were asking about me?" She looked at the girl and noted just how cute she really was, everything about her was the epitome of innocence. Lucy motioned to the booth and she nodded frantically as Lucy slid in. "My name is Lucy." She smiled, introducing herself as she noticed the sheepish behaviour of the woman was slightly stopping.

"I'm Aries." Lucy stopped herself from asking her to repeat that, her soft voice was so low, she almost missed the words that left her lips. Aries' hair was a pastel pink, curled short as her locks barely reached her shoulders, Lucy had never seen such clearer skin before, she was slightly jealous at how beautiful she was.

"What can I help you with?" Lucy asked, beyond intrigued as to what this woman could want with her.

"I'm a friend of Loke's." She admitted, and Lucy gasped slightly, her gut twisted as a nasty thought toyed with her as if Aries was really just a friend. She gulped down the accusation and told herself it didn't matter, yet if Loke was with Aries, how could she possibly tell her that he tried to kiss her? She looked at her, slightly sad, though she was unsure why.

"Is Loke okay?" She asked, Lucy looked over and watched as Aries' face grew redder and covered her face once more.

"I'm sorry for making you think something was wrong." Lucy smiled at the purity of Aries, she felt the rude pull of emotions leave her. "Loke told me all about this place and you- I hope that was okay!" Aries was worried about her reaction and Lucy laughed and nodded.

"I didn't think I was worth talking about, honestly." Aries' eyes widened as she slightly let her guard down, slightly more confident in her words.

"I've never seen Loke talk about someone like he does you." She looked away, Lucy frowned and stayed silent. "It's nice…" She trailed off. Lucy worried that it was Aries who held the resentment for her.

"I'm dating someone, Loke is helping me, there's nothing going on." She reached out and grabbed Aries' hand, holing it and rubbing at her soft skin with her thumb as it soothed circle motions. For the first time she watched as Aries' smiled and let out a very small giggle.

"Loke and I love each other as best friends, I promise we don't see each other like that." Lucy let her hand stay holding Aries for a moment more before pulling back and letting it rest at her side. "I see why he likes you, you're very nice."

"I'm not special, I'm just a pretty girl who didn't fall for his charm." She said, adding a wink as Aries smiled at her fondly.

"I know you're with someone, but the reason Loke can sometimes be…" She trailed off, looking for the right word.

"An ass?" filled in Lucy, though Aries blushed, nodding, but not allowing herself to say the word herself.

"He has walls. There was once an awful woman who hurt him, I've never seen him smile like he has been lately in such a long time." Lucy's stomach dropped, she knew all about having walls and having a troubled past. "I would like it if both of you could stay friends at least." She looked down at her lap and Lucy thought about it, Aries only request was to ask to keep her friend smiling. It was nice that Loke had a friend like her, yet she found herself thinking she would do the same thing for Natsu, do anything to make him happy.

"I will be his friend. I'll call him soon." Aries was so gracious she bowed at Lucy for ten minutes before Lucy had to hug her to stop. Lucy smiled, she loved how Aries had done that for him, all she was asking for was that Lucy not give up on Loke, she found it such a simple request that she found herself complying.

Lucy held Plue's leash gripped in her hand, one more small walk for the day, then the pair could rest easy on the sofa and watch TV for the rest of the day. That was the plan at least. When she opened her door she found a pink-haired menace already stuffing his face. "Natsu!" She yelped, letting Plue run straight towards him. He didn't look ashamed in the slightest to have been caught in her apartment, it was the norm for them.

"Welcome home, Darling." She grimaced at the nickname and shut the door behind her as she went to collapse on the sofa. Natsu stayed at her table, though she did catch him feeding plus small pieces of chicken as well.

"Do you think this is a good idea, Natsu?" She asked, looking down at the floor, though by the silence she knew he had heard, he had stopped eating at the food and was just staring at her.

"What is?" He asked, though they both knew what Lucy was talking about.

"Us. Don't you think it's weird we knew each other for so long but never dated? It only happened when prompted." She dared look up and found he was in thought as well. He left the dinner table, moving towards her as he sat next to her, placing her legs over his lap.

"I thought about that too." He acknowledged, she smiled encouragingly at him. "I just don't see the problem with two friends trying though." She sat up on her shoulders. "Why don't we have one more date, and see what happens?" He wasn't scared, but he felt the same as her, that's what mattered, they were figuring this out together.

"Do you ever forget this isn't real?" She asked, the brutal honestly caused him to sigh.

"Yeah, I guess along the way of knowing you I just presumed one day we would get together." Lucy frowned, the trope of two people just getting together because it seemed apparent didn't sit well with her. As she found herself looking at Natsu, he pulled her legs back and sat up on them.

"Why don't we make this next date a real one?" Natsu smiled at her, with Natsu's smiles they radiated joy to the world, she always enjoyed seeing his smile. "We'll see if we want to continue or end it." He agreed and nodded along with her, though his only request that was that he decided what they would do.

"What are we going to do now?" He asked, and Lucy threw a couch pillow at him.

"I'm going to my room to nap, me and Plue did a lot of walking with Levy." She got up from the couch to move back to her bedroom. "Don't break anything!" She called out as she left Natsu in the living room, she heard him laughing as the TV was switched on and she felt herself sink into the bed's duvets once again, it was like she never left.