Natsu walked along the river as the noon bell chimed from the cathedral. Happy walked beside him calmly with a content expression that matched one another's attitudes. Lucy was being carried on Natsu's back since she hadn't woken up after the publisher left Natsu with the good news she had waited so long to hear. Her fatigue, of all the late nights she had, caught up to her and she passed out before Mr. Crymph could deliver it to her.

"This is great Natsu! We can hang out with Lucy more now that she doesn't have to keep saying she's working on a book!" Happy said with his tail flicking in delight.

"I know, right! I can't wait to get out on another job. We're running low on money for food." Natsu added adjusting his grip on Lucy's legs. Somehow she seemed to sleep peacefully in the blinding sunlight that had appeared while they were inside, and the crowds of people that would walk by them loquaciously.

She practically had a death grip around Natsu's neck that tightened any time she started to slip. He would bear with it though; not minding that he was being strangled and barely even noticed it.

"Natsu, why don't we just wake her up? You look like you're about to suffocate." Happy stated as his expression turned to mild concern.

"Why? I don't mind. If she wants to sleep she can sleep, as long as she wakes up later so we can hang out at the guild." Natsu said.

He looked forward as they approached Lucy's apartment.

"Happy, take Lucy and bring her in through the window to her bedroom."

"Aye" Happy shouted as he flew up grabbing hold of Lucy, and flew her up to her room as Natsu asked. He then flew back down and hovered in front of Natsu.

"Don't you want to go inside?" He asked.

"Nah, I've been bored enough for one day. Let's go back to the guild for now." Natsu turned around placing a large smile on his face and throwing his hands behind his head.

Lucy's eyes slowly opened and she began to wake up. Her eyes started to adjust, as she looked around realizing she was- in her room? She popped up into a sitting position, confused.

"Wha-? How did I…?" Lucy asked herself wondering when she got home. The last thing she remembered was being in the waiting area with Natsu and starting to feel drowsy. Did I fall asleep?! She mentally screamed at herself as she realized she missed Mr. Crymph's review on her story. Her mind panicked and pulse sped rapidly. Would it be published? Or did she do all that work just to be an amateur write once again?

Lucy sulked at the thought of having failed once again. Her hand gripped her blanket tightly then tossed it away from her and stood up, her boots hitting the floor with a short scuff. She clenched her hand into a fist in front of her. No, I don't know that yet until I hear it for myself. Realization then sparked into her head that Natsu may know already. If not she could visit Mr. Crymph on her own time!

She left for the guildhall assuming Natsu would already be there. She was becoming anxious to know. All she could hope for was that Natsu actually paid attention to Mr. Crymph, no doubt the man told him. She broke into a sprint excitedly toward Fairy Tail. No, she knew that Natsu had the answer. It wasn't a mere assumption, she just had a feeling. Natsu must know already.

Lucy walked into the guild to see Natsu in the middle of another fight with Gray. As much as she wanted to talk to Natsu, she decided to wait until they were finished. She didn't exactly want to intervene considering the last time she did; she was nearly burnt and half frostbitten. Needless to say, she learned not to get between them during one of their brawls. Doing so may end up being the end of her.

Lucy glanced around for Levy then went to sit beside her and chat while she waits.

"Hi, Lu-chan!" she greeted Lucy cheerily as she sat beside her with scattered clashes heard in the background. Lucy responded with a hello as well, with happiness in her voice. "So, I heard you were working on your book last night? Did you finish?! I can't wait to read it!" the blue-haired mage asked with a little sparkle in her eye. Lucy choked for a second realizing her mistake. Crap, I was supposed to let Levy read my novel before anyone else… She became filled with guilt as the next couple seconds passed. She felt awful for forgetting to show it to her before it got published. So now, with it at the publisher, she couldn't forgive the mistake of breaking her best friend's promise. All Lucy felt she could do was apologize.

"Oh, no, I'm sorry it's being reviewed for publishing right now." Lucy looked into her lap, her fingers intertwined with one another. She then looked up and noticed Levy's expression. She didn't seem sad or upset, which Lucy didn't expect anyways because Levy wasn't one to get upset about these things, but she looked neutral. Lucy then felt her guilt pop all at once thinking that she may feel disappointed. "B-But! But I promise the moment I get my novel back; you'll be the first to read it. Promise." Lucy used her pointer finger and made an 'x' motion across her heart, swearing by crossing her heart.

"Okay, Lu-chan!" Levy changed back to her cheery self once again, "I trust you will."

A large blast soon followed by a sudden silence in the guild grabbed Lucy's attention. It was quiet enough for Lucy to think and understand what had happened. The fighting had stopped. I guess they finished. She thought to herself. They could never go a day without fighting and it always ended either like this or with one of them thrown halfway across the guild. Her chest then tightened with anxiety as she remembered why she came in the first place. Her eyes wandered around until they fell upon Natsu's silhouette on the ground.

She turned to Levy and waved goodbye with her usual smile across her face, then stood to walk over to Natsu. She passed by Juvia just in time to hear her shriek. I guess neither of them won this fight. Lucy thought to herself as she knelt down next to Natsu's beaten head. He was wincing a little from the impact, and lying on his back with one arm on his chest, the other next to him.

"Damn it… I could have beaten him." He sat up rubbing the back of his head, then looked over to Gray who was now being consoled by Juvia. "Don't you dare even think this is anywhere near ov-" Natsu was interrupted by a tug on his scarf and an irritated voice dragging him to his feet. Shit! Is that Erza?! He thought as he was held face-to-face with the great Titania herself.

"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT FIGHTING?!" She yelled as she sent him flying back toward Gray's motionless figure and landing with and "oof" from the both of them. "S-Sorry, Erza…" the two stuttered as their heads spun trying to get to their feet. Erza sighed while mumbling something about not knowing what to do with them before turning back towards Lucy who was still on the ground, sending chills down Lucy's spine. "Lucy…" Erza began. "Um-Yes!" Lucy felt her confidence suddenly shrivel up with fear. "I'm sorry, were you trying to talk to Natsu?" Erza said apologetically calming Lucy a bit. Lucy stood to her feet and nodded to the redhead. "I apologize for interrupting then." Erza apologized and walked over to the two boys. She picked up Natsu, again, and set him down in front of Lucy before walking away. "Um- It's no problem!" Lucy shouted her way once her mind unfroze.

Lucy looked down at the dizzy and weary dragon slayer with pity. Would he even be able to talk after being thrown around like that? She sat down and pushed a finger to his forehead pushing his head up so she could see his face. His eyes opened as her hand moved away and focused on her face. His mouth formed the large, toothy grin that he wore every day.

"Sup Luce! Glad to see you're awake!" He said as if the entire fight he was in never even happened.

"Hey Natsu," she began in a serious tone, which he noticed and changed his attitude to a more neutral tone, "what did Mr. Crymph say to you when we were at the publisher?" She asked with a hint of hope in her voice. Natsu's expression changed to a confused look as he tried to remember who Mr. Crymph was. "Uh…" He said as the gears in his mind started to shift. Lucy suddenly felt disheartened believing he was trying to spare the answer that it wasn't a good one. Her heart sank to her stomach as she waited for his answer, expecting it to be that her book wouldn't be published. She couldn't take it. It hurt.

"Oh!" Natsu said, snapping Lucy out of her depression. "He told me to tell you they're gonna publish you're book! Isn't that great Luce?" He said excitedly as he helped her up off the floor. Her mind went blank. Was this really happening? Was it REALLY happening?! All of her excitement built up at once and she leaped toward Natsu with a suffocating embrace forcing him to take a few steps back in surprise. "Oh my God, thank you!" She released him, leaving him slightly stunned, then turned toward Levy, who had heard the whole thing, and embraced her as well with excitement practically bursting from the two girls. "Congratulations, Lu-chan!"

Ch 7 coming soon. I just wanted to post this before Christmas. I'm currently marathoning Fairy Tail to see how long it will take me to finish. Unfortunately I have to help with cooking since the Christmas party will be at my house this year (it's never been at my house before). Hopefully I'll finish the next chapter before the New Year, and if not, under a month this time.