Here it is! Chapter three! Hoooooraaaaaay!

It was like a bullet to the head.

"Ugh... feel... bad..." Lucy groaned quietly as she toppled out of bed, stumbling over her own two feet. She slowly made her way toward the bathroom, swaying back and forth and back and forth. By the time she got to her bathroom, Lucy felt the nausea build up inside her and slowly rise.

'Don't throw up, don't throw up!' she mentally chanted.

In the end, Lucy Heartfilia did not throw up. I repeat, she did NOT throw up.

Though satisfied with her mini victory, Lucy groaned again as she scrambled through her medicine cabinet and searched for the bottle of Advil she had stashed away.

What exactly had happened the night before? For some reason, yesterday was a complete blur to Lucy. As far as she could remember, Wendy had brought her to the popular Fairy Tail, where she had met the beauty that was Mirajane Strauss and had indulged in the other beauty that was rich merlot. Lucy was sure she had drunk a lot more than she should've, and that's where her memory ended.

For some reason or another, she remembered a chilly, yet comforting, presence. Maybe she had talked to someone and their hands were cold... Yes, that was probably it.

Lucy quietly tiptoed toward Wendy's room, hoping the younger girl was safe and sound in bed. She peeked through the crack of the door and was relieved to find that, indeed, Wendy was lightly snoring away in a deep sleep. Lucy had no doubt that Wendy would feel as terrible as she did.

Lucy yawned and made her way toward the kitchen. Maybe if she had something to eat she'd feel a little better.

To get to the kitchen, one had to pass by the living room which consisted of a small coffee table, an even smaller television set, and a comfy yet worn-out couch.

It was then that Lucy noticed something was different about said living room.

Namely the half-naked man who was sleeping on their comfy yet worn-out couch.

Lucy knew what to do.

She went to the cleaning closet, where all her disinfecting supplies and the such were kept. She grabbed the broom and swiftly held it up above her head. What happened next wouldn't surprise anyone.

Lucy beat the shit out of the stranger.

"AHHHH! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, WOMAN?!"

Lucy didn't dare listen to the man. "What does it look like I'm doing, you pervert?! I'm beating the shit out of you!" She gave him nine more hard whacks of the broom.

"Stop—OW!—it."

Whack whack. "Oi, listen—OOF!—to me!"

Whack whack. "You're misunder—GAH!—standing!"

WHACK WHACK WHACK. "I'M FROM—OWWWW!—FAIRY TAIL!"

Lucy instantly paused. Fairy Tail?

She glared at The Stripper (as she had decided to call him) and kept the broom aimed at him. "Explain."

The Stripper kept a wary eye on the weapon pointed right at his head. "Look, when you bumped into me at the bar last night you were drunk out of your mind. Same goes for your friend. I had just gotten your address out of her before she started giggling like a child. She never answered a single question after that. I got a friend to help me get you two into your apartment. I ended up staying over as I was a little drunk myself."

Lucy narrowed her eyes. "How'd you know which room was mine and which was hers?"

He smirked. "We went through your closet."

"Excuse me?"

"We simply compared bra sizes," said The Stripper, quite smugly I should add.

Lucy turned a beautiful shade of dark cherry red before giving The Stripper what he deserved.

WHACK.

The man's eyes started tearing up in pain. "Okay, I'm sorry! White flag! White flag!"

"Do you repent?" she asked, her hollow voice full of warning.

The Stripper gulped. "Yes, ma'am."

Lucy nodded her head. "Good." She then sighed and motioned for the man to sit down. The Stripper frowned but did as he was told (gestured?) to.

Lucy propped the broom against the wall before turning back to The Stripper. She took a deep breath. "Thank you."

He blinked. "Uhh... what?"

Lucy gave him a tired smile. "For bringing us home. You didn't have to, but you did so anyway. Wendy and I are in your debt." She bowed her head ever so slightly.

The Stripper grinned. "Don't mention it. We couldn't leave two young ladies such as yourselves to the mercy of the wilderness that is Fairy Tail. Especially you, who's never been to the bar before."

Lucy tilted her head. "How'd you know I was new to Fairy Tail?"

The Stripper laughed. "Oh, come on. I've been going to Fairy Tail since I was a teenager. I know every single person there by heart and I know for a fact that it was your first time there."

"How so?"

"Your friend told me in her drunken ramblings," said The Stripper. "She talks quite a lot when inebriated."

Lucy hung her head. "Ahh, that she does." She glanced at the man and raised a brow. "You... do have a shirt? Right?"

He looked down at his bare torso and yelped. "When did that happen?!" He immediately got up and started searching the premises for the hidden shirt.

Lucy took the time to study the man carefully. He was no doubt one of the most attractive men she had seen in a while. In fact, he might have been the most attractive man she had seen. And met.

His hair was dark, sort of sticky-uppy, and his eyes were the deepest blue. She didn't even know a color like that existed. She blushed slightly as her eyes roved over his muscular chest and his abs. The man was fit, there was no need to say it. He had the Fairy Tail mark on his right pectoral in a dark blue that almost matched his eye color and on his bicep was a small tattoo of a...

Was that an ice cream cone?

Lucy couldn't suppress a giggle. The Stripper turned to her and raised his brows. "Something funny?"

She grinned and pointed at his arm, giggling again.

The man didn't even have to look where she was pointing to know what was wrong. He sighed. "Yes, that really is an ice cream cone. The result of a drunken dare gone wrong. Note: never challenge Fairy Tail's resident alcoholic to a drinking game."

Lucy couldn't help it. She doubled over and laughed out loud to her heart's content. It was the most childish yet most unique tattoo she had ever known to exist. And she thought her own tattoo was corny.

"You have a beautiful laugh."

Lucy's laughs subsided as she looked at The Stripper, unsure of what he had just said. "Huh?"

He smirked. "You heard me. You have a beautiful laugh. And a gorgeous smile, for that matter."

This time, Lucy turned ripe tomato red. "Wh-what are you saying?! Pervert!"

"And how exactly is that perverted?" he asked in amusement. "T'was simply a compliment, my lady."

Lucy turned her head away from him in a huff. "Just find your shirt already, Stripper."

He face-palmed. "Why does everyone call me that? Why? You're just like the flame-brain."

Flame-brain? "Who's that?" Lucy wondered aloud.

He sighed. "Never you mind. Look, I'm not a stripper and I'm definitely not a pervert."

"Oh, yeah?" Lucy crossed her arms. "Then who exactly are you?"

"Gray Fullbuster, CEO of Ice-Make Corporation."

There was a moment of silence before Lucy scoffed. "I don't bel—" She was interrupted by a small voice.

"Lucy-san, why is there a stripper in our living room?"

"OH, FOR GOD'S SAKE! WHY DOES EVERYONE CALL ME THAT?!"

"Because you are?" Wendy blinked blearily, still a bit sleepy. "Are you joining us for breakfast, Stripper-san?"

Lucy gaped at her little sister, unable to believe the question she had just heard.

Gray (if that was his real name) rolled his eyes. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm already late to work as it is." He turned to Lucy, grabbed her hand, and kissed the back of it. He grinned, watching her face go pink. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Lucy Heartfilia."

And with that, he sauntered out of their apartment. He never did find his shirt.

Lucy stared after him and idly wondered if she would ever see Gray again.

"He was cute, ne Lucy-san?"

Lucy turned to face Wendy, only to find her smiling knowingly.

Lucy scowled. "Oh, hush."

"Um... Lucy-san?"

Lucy looked over her shoulder after she flipped her third pancake. "What is it, Wendy?"

"You might want to look at this."

Lucy frowned. There was something off about Wendy's voice. Something akin to excitement and disbelief. "Let me finish making breakfast first, okay?"

Wendy nodded, a smile gracing her lips. "Sure, sure. It can wait. I think."

And with that, breakfast was served.

Lucy stared at the blue-haired girl as she scarfed down her blueberry pancakes at a speed Lucy had never seen before.

"Wendy..." she said carefully. "You might want to... slow down. Just a bit."

"I lied."

Lucy blinked. "Excuse me?"

There was a gleam in Wendy's eyes. "You absolutely have to see what I found. Immediately. It's important."

Lucy glanced at her plate, eyed the last bite of pancake she had left, stuffed it in her mouth, and stood up. "Oke. Lesh shee it."

Wendy ran off, only to come back with something small and brown in her hand. Was that leather?

"The guy, Gray, left his wallet here. Look, look! Look at the driver's license!" prompted Wendy.

Lucy raised a brow at the younger girl, but did as she was told.

Gray Silver Fullbuster

"Huh. What do you know," said Lucy, smiling slightly. "He was telling the truth. Well, partially."

"That's where you're wroooooong~" sang Wendy.

"What do you mean?"

Wendy clasped her hands together in anticipation. "There's a business card behind it. Pull it out."

Lucy did, only to turn pale as she read its contents.

Gray S. Fullbuster

CEO, Ice-Make Corporation

1234 Surge Road

Magnolia, Fiore

Lucy dropped the card and the wallet. "Oh, dear God."

Lucy gawked as she looked up at the high-rise that towered over her.

The building was a sight to behold, to say the least. Glass windows sparkling in the sunlight, almost fifty stories tall, and a glinting pristine spire at the very top.

People were rushing in and out of the building. Those who were simply passing by all gazed up at the tower in admiration. Why wouldn't they? Ice-Make Corporation was the pride and joy of Magnolia, Fiore. Their reputation had reached every city in the country, as well as a few foreign ones. Their work was well-known to all, from their delicious ice cream and gelato all the way to their nature reserves in the snowy regions of Fiore.

Even Lucy couldn't help but be awed by the successful company.

She gulped as her eyes found the double doors that led into the building.

'Okay, Lucy. You can do this. You can do this. You are a calm, confident author with a goal in mind. Nothing is going to stop you from completing it.'

Except the receptionist.

Lucy felt her stomach drop at the elder woman's words. "There is a six month queue to see the CEO?"

The receptionist nodded sternly. "Correct, madam. And even then, you are not qualified to meet with our esteemed leader. He's an important man who has no time to entertain those without official business."

Lucy narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me? What makes you think I don't have 'official business' with your 'esteemed leader,' huh? Answer me, lady."

The woman looked appalled. "How dare you! I demand that you leave at on—" She was interrupted by the ring of the phone. She humphed. "Excuse me for a minute."

One minute later, Lucy watched the receptionist's face turn a ghastly white as she hung up the phone. She never met Lucy's eyes.

"Mr. Fullbuster will see you now, Miss Heartfilia."

Score.

Thank you for reading!