The morning after, I found Lucy typing on the balcony. Peace was written across her face. I watched her fingers dance across the keyboard. She was already most of the way done with her paper. From what I saw, she was writing an article style piece on the skyline of magnolia. She picked up the cup of coffee from the side table and sipped on it.
After I went back in, I changed. My coffee was in my hand and I sipping from it when she stretched. "I need clothes" she told me. "Well we can go buy you some. I'm going to stop by my parents and get some. Besides, mom would like to meet you. Dad might be outta the house and my sister would be at school by now. Lucy smiled. "Sounds good, your place first though" she suggested. I nodded and she got dressed.
We took a cab to the house. Lucy looked confused. "I thought you said your dad is a V.P. ?" She asked as we got out. "He is. But my mom bought the house" I told her. She looked over the two-story house. "My mom thought it would be better if we grew up without the materialistic side of being rich. Instead, we live comfortably" I reassured her. We walked up to the front door and I twisted the handle. The house instantly smelled of apple pie. "Smells good mom!" I yelled. She leaned out of the arch of the kitchen. "Oh Natsu you're home!" She cried. "I have to pick up clothes, mom" I told her. My mom hugged me. Lucy stood awkwardly behind me. "She is beautiful Natsu. But did you have to bring her here?" She scolded. I moved to the kitchen with mom and motioned to Lucy. "She didn't want to leave and she has been having fun mom. Plus she helps out" I said. I dipped my finger in the pie to taste it and Mom smack my hand. "Ow!" I yelped. "I'm sorry dear. My son is rude and doesn't have any manners. I'm Grandinee Dragneel" she said putting her left hand out. "Mom and I are left handed" I told Lucy when she started to get a weird look on her face. I tried to dig into the pie again and mom hit me on the head. "I'm-" Lucy started. I got another hit with the spatula. "I know dearie. I pieced it together the morning I called Natsu" she said raising her spatula preemptively. "I need clothes" I grumbled sliding off the bar stool giving up on my goal of getting pie.
I was in my room rummaging through drawers and closet. Lucy walked in and gawked. "Wow, its red and clean" she said. "Of course, better to have places for things the first time then a giant mess. Just so happens red is my favorite color" I told her searching for my red shirt. I heard a soft bounce when she laid on my bed. "I'm jealous. Comfy bed. Fresh apple pie. What's the downside?" She asked. I chuckled as I heard my dad come in. A bellow came from down stairs. "Where is my son?" He asked. "There is the downside" I murmured under my breath. "Up stairs with his guest" mom called sweetly. I heard stomping up the carpeted stairs. A throat cleared and a deep voice. "Well now. The pretty Heartfilia girl. I do apologize about the ruckus" I heard my dad say. I spun to see Lucy wide-eyed as my dad bowed and kissed her hand. "That explains the hair" she said. Both dad and I busted with laughter. My dad had red hair and I pink. "Are you two staying for dinner?" Dad asked. "Lucy needs clothes" I told dad. "Remember your credit limit, son. The your car is in the shed. And if you need I could make an exception for you two to occupy my apartment" he said. Lucy looked shocked. "You aren't going to turn me in? Or yell at Natsu to give me back?" She asked. Dad frowned. "I've spoken to your dad and attended one of your dinners at your mansion. Quite frankly my dear, I don't blame you for staying away. Also if you have managed to revive my son, you always have a place with us" my dad lectured. My eyes rolled. "Dad?" I spoke up. "Can we use the apartment? So that way we aren't running the credit up?" I asked. Dad smiled at me. "Of course. The keys are gonna be on the same ring as the car keys" he said.
We opened the shed door to see my car. With one swift motion, I pulled the cover off. Lucy's jaw dropped. She ran her hand up the hood. "1970 Chevy Chevelle, mint condition" she said. I smiled "you like her?" I asked putting my suitcase in the trunk. Lucy bent over to stick her head inside. I looked in the driver's side window. "Like it? I love it. It's my dream car" she spoke. I opened the door and held my hand out. She sat down on the leather seat and smiled. I climbed in and cranked her over. She roared to life and we rolled out the shed and down the drive. I put it in park and jumped out. "Where are you going?" She asked. "I forgot my guitar!" I called.
We drove to the mall. Lucy leaned out the window and waving her hand. As soon as we parked, we locked up. We spent 3 hours shopping. She was more than happy then. We ate at Fairy tail, were Gray gawked at my car. Everyone was more than conversational. We were on the patio when I was the guy Lucy was with at the Club. She sunk down. Mira's face went from smiling to angry. Suddenly glasses and plates went flying and Laxus came to the bar to restrain his wife. "It's okay. We told you that we would never give you up." I told her with a smile. The guy and his friend walked by.
With the hotel canceled we pulled into a gated community. Dad's apartment was really a small two bed house. Mom and him had bought the apartment when I was a baby. But they updated it when I graduated high school. The kitchen breakfast bar was re-marbled. New bar stools bought. Same with the stove and fridge. "Welcome to Casa de Natsu!" I told her throwing my arms out. "Natsu this is amazing. How?" She asked. I shrugged. Her eyes rolled. "Mom told me that the second room is yours. Tomorrow she is sending over my grandma's book-case and my dad was on the phone with your school. Everything is paid for the next 15 months" I told her. She ran over and hugged me. "I don't know what to do to pay you guys back" she cried. "Don't worry about it. I am taking care of a friend. Besides, it's about time I got serious" I told her. She looked up at me with tears still in her eyes. "What about Friday?" She asked. "Don't worry. I'm a shareholder and head stock analyst. Work is on my terms. Besides if my parents didn't like you, you'd be stuck in a hotel with me" I said with a grin. She buried her face again. And o held her.
I watched Lucy start typing as Netflix run in the background. She wore the pink fuzzy lounge pants we had bought earlier and her white t-shirt. Her chocolate reading glasses framed her intensely focused eyes. "Whacha doing?" I asked poking her with my foot. She jumped and I laughed. "Emailing my father. He needs to know that I'm done with him and sting" she said. "So that's the fucker's name" I said laying back on the arm of the couch. "Natsu" she growled. "Look, he only seems to be interested because it was arranged right? So I need to know his name to give to Levy and Gajeel. They run the prestigious Iron Scripts" I told her. "The Iron Scripts? Not the same ones that have contracts with the élite families of Crocus?" She questions. "The same" I grinned. "What don't your friends run?" She asked. Drawing my finger up to my chin and rubbing it. "All the east side. That's someone else's territory" I said. "Sting's family and friends own that side" she murmured. I laughed at that "then he can stay on his side." Lucy turned red. "Wanna go to the club?" I asked her. She jumped up and ran to her room.
The music was pumping as we walked in. Gray had cascada playing. The club want terribly busy. We sat down at the bar and Cana slid a fireball and horseman to us. Her, Ever, Juvia and a new girl work the bar tonight. "Why is it quieter? It's a Friday" Lucy asked. Juvia leaned over "that's why, most of our weekend clients don't come in till 10 maybe 9:30 earliest it's only 8:30" She informed Lucy. Lucy bounced in her seat. "How good are you at cleaning?" Juvia asked the blonde. Lucy looked at her "Cleanliness is next to godliness" she said. "Come in tomorrow, our bar back quit" Juvia told her. "I didn't even-" Lucy started to protested. "Didn't need to. We've become good friends quickly. Elfman, Gajeel, Laxus and Guildarts are the bouncers" she said pointing out the guys by the door. "Guildarts is back?" I asked excitedly. "Yeah, surprised your dad didn't say anything" Juvia told me. She wolf whistled her husband while I went to find my psudeo-uncle.
The guys migrated to the bar to talk with everyone. Guildarts and Lucy started talking. "You're Natsu's uncle?" She asked. "Well not by blood. Igneel and I were best friends growing up. We had each other's back when someone picked a fight. Iggy also was the one to find out that my old high school sweetheart was pregnant. It took 22 years to track down Cana. Now that I am around she has made me proud" he told Lucy. I took another shot and whispered in her ear "wanna dance?" She nodded. We spent the rest of the night matching Gray's beat with our bodies.
Around 4 am, we busted in the apartment giggling. "Shhh" she hushed. "What do we need to be quiet for?" I asked her. She giggled as I locked the door behind us. "Natsu, you are funny" she giggled. "And you m'lady are drunk" I told her. I hoisted her up bridal style and took her to her room. I laid her down in the wide fluffy bed. She fell asleep only moments after with a smile on her face.
As I lay down, my mind drifted to the blonde in the next room. Maybe, she was the one.