Here it is. Chapter number nine!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. Hiro Mashima does.

She didn't find any comfort in slapping him. In fact it probably just hurt her hand more than it did him. But in all honestly, now that she thought about it, she should have called on one of her spirits and kicked his ass. For her to be in an intoxicated state and for him to proceed to do…..dirty deeds with her was just too much! Her eyes started to water again. He shouldn't have even been here! What was he even doing here? How did she get home? What had happened at the banquet last night? Last thing she could remember was drinking with Cana. Oh. That was it. She got drunk with Cana. But that doesn't explain how Sting got into the picture. She held her head in her hands. Everything was a blur in her mind and she hated it. Sure she's been drunk before. But never this bad. Lucy's head pounded in short intervals each one seeming more painful than the last. Her throat was raspy from the consumption of alcohol and from all the yelling. She probably shouldn't have yelled that much. But he was pissing her off and didn't seem to mind it one bit.

She started to brew some coffee. When she heard the door of her apartment slam shut she shrieked out in frustration. He just had to have the last move didn't he? Next time she sees him she going to teach him a lesson. She doesn't care if he thinks he is the all mighty tiger of Sabertooth. He was going down. He dared take some of her innocence while she was drunk?! She was lewd at him and far beyond crying at this point. No. She was planning revenge. But first. Waffles. Strawberry waffles topped with whip cream and coated in maple syrup. She started cooking up the delicious crispy yet fluffy treat. Though she made a little mess with the batter and spilt some on her shirt. A huge blob of batter landed itself on the upper right part of the shirt. With a hot wet cloth she tried her best to clean it up. When there was only a trace left of the batter Lucy noticed it. This wasn't her shirt. She doesn't wear white dress shirts to sleep. Who's was it? She mentally slapped herself at how long it took her to realize it was Sting's. It even smelled like him! She roughly ripped the shirt off her and threw it in the corner of the kitchen. She huffed as she continued making the waffles in her underwear. When she finished she sat down at the table and ate her waffles, fully indulging herself in their sweet and savory flavors. When she was done she looked down at herself. Her body still felt sticky and she felt gross.

It was bath time. Placing the dishes in the sink while promising herself she'd wash them later, Lucy headed towards her bathroom. She turned on the steaming water and filled the tub up. Ultimately she deemed herself worthy of a long bubble bath. She scrubbed away at her skin wanting to rid herself of all the terrible events that have occurred lately. Her life sucked she concluded and her headache wasn't helping. She jumped out of the bath and wrapped herself in a pink fluffy towel. Grabbing a T-shirt and black shorts, she changed into them and decided she should stay home today. No doubt the guildhall would be dead since everyone is either suffering from hangovers and or all partied out. Which reminds her. Where did she put her aspirin? She looked in the kitchen where she normally had it only to see it missing. Looking around her apartment for it was her next step. She came across it on the table close to her bed….along with a glass of water..? When did that get there? Her mind brought up an imagine of Sting. Lucy shook the imagine away.

No way he would do something like that. He only cares for himself.

Popping two pills in her mouth, she chased it down with the glass of water. She started mulling over what she was going to do when she sees Sting again. She touched her lips again and a pang of sadness hit her. It was going to be a long day. She needed something to distract herself with.

Meanwhile at the guild, Lucy's suspicion was right. The members who did decide to come to the hall were either laying around lifeless, nursing a hangover, or sleeping. Only a few people were actually up and about. Mirajane was one. She was silently polishing some drinking glasses while overlooking the guild. Bodies were lying on tables, floors, and other people. Groans could be heard every now and then. Goes to show that Fairy Tail parties hard….especially when put together with other guilds and supplied with unlimited food and beer. Mirajane just smiled at the sight.

The guild doors opened and in came Gray. He had huge bags under his eyes and looked a little worn. Then again who didn't? He came straight to the bar and order a glass of water with ice. Mirajane served him in silence and immediately Gray started playing with the ice in his drink. The white haired barmaid sized him up. Was he worrying about something? The ice mage caught onto Mirajane's stare and only replied with,

"Girl trouble." This sparked something in Mirajane's eyes. Gray only groaned. He knew he shouldn't have said anything.

"Oh really? Does this have anything to do with a certain rain loving blue haired mage?" Gray was about to explain when the guild doors opened again. A rather moppy looking Natsu came trekking in, his feet dragging. Happy was flying above him with a look of worry on his face.

"Looks like things didn't go well with him last night either." With that Gray stood up drink in hand and started walking towards Natsu who had collapsed on one of wooden chairs. Mira probably thought he was escaping from explaining his troubles. She would be partially right. Gray took the seat across from him. No words where spoken between them in the first ten minutes. Natsu just had his head in his arms and Gray fiddled with his ice. Natsu was the first to speak.

"I failed."

"I assumed." Gray responded. Natsu however took it as fighting words and glared at him. "With the way you came in it was only obvious." Gray restated. Silence ensued between them once again. It was Gray who broke it this time. "What are you going to do now?" Ah, the million dollar question.

Natsu had no idea. He did all the things Gray suggested...right? And yet it feels like he just made everything worse. They were having such a great time. It was how they normally were. They laughed, they smiled, they swing dance even! It was so fun! And he had to ruin it with that slow dance. What he found out though was there was in fact something wrong. He just couldn't get her to admit it. The look of loneliness that came across her face for a split second made his chest hurt. Why hide things? He could help her if only she told him what's wrong, couldn't he? He voiced his thought to Gray. He responded with a sad smile. His friend was so dense. It was hurting others around him and himself. Still he couldn't tell him the real situation. That wasn't his thing to tell.

It made him a little confused though. How could Lucy not noticed that Natsu cares for her? More than anyone else. Of course he cares for his Nakama, but he cares for Lucy just a smidgen more. Everyone in the guild could see….all but the actual two involved. This was too sad. Natsu needs to put two and two together soon seeing as he might have some competition coming up soon. The way Sting was dancing with Lucy and the way he would always be close to her was a little unnerving. Gray knew the guy wasn't bad...maybe a little cocky and insensitive, but not bad. Was he for Lucy? Gray didn't think so.

The ice mage thought carefully about the situation. The only real semi-solution he could think of was just spending more time with Lucy in hopes that either the flamebrain realizing what he needs to do, or Lucy finally just getting her feelings out into the open. Both events were slim. But better than nothing right?

"Take her out on a mission."

"Weren't you listening last time? She escapes every time I try and go on one with her." Natsu said distressed.

"I'll go with you. You said she wouldn't go alone with you. If I'm there you won't be alone," Gray loved himself as soon as he said it. Not only would he be helping Lucy and Natsu, but going on a mission will create distance between him and Juvia. He shivered as he remembered last night with the bluenette. She clung to him despite his now obvious protests and even scared off all the other ladies who came within speaking distance of him. It irked him to his breaking point. He pulled Juvia aside, which got her hopes up he now realized, and told her to stop bugging him. He knew he sound harsh and well he meant it at the time. But when he saw her crestfallen face and heard her somber agreement, something didn't sit well with him. For the rest of the night he was stuck in that moment of confrontation with her. He didn't dance with anyone. He didn't drink a lot. He just kinda was there. And Juvia? He was sure he ruined her night seeing as she probably went home right after that. He spent the night also trying to justify his actions.

She was clinging and scaring away others. Others who I wanted to talk to. It was a little annoying. I know she meant well but still….

He shook his head to rid himself of his thoughts. Gray downed his drink and looked at Natsu. He was looking at him with wide eyes. He looked like he was about to cry his eyes out.

"You'd really do that for me, Gray?!" Natsu yelled with streams of tears running down his face. Oh no….here we go. Gray just face palmed and nodded his head. Natsu jumped up and hugged Gray lifting him up in the air and spinning him around. Gray yelled at him to put him down and eventually punched Natsu hard in the head to make him release. He did all while exclaiming out in pain. Natsu rubbed his head and just gave a big goofy grin up at the ice mage who was now looking away kind of embarrassed.

'Natsu is an idiot.' He thought. He was grateful that all the other guild mates were passed out so they couldn't see the exchange between the two males just now. However he felt dread when he saw Mirajane smiling at the scene, a camera in hand. She honestly probably had so much dirty on everyone in the guild. Gray didn't want to mess with her anytime soon.

Gray then proceeded to tell the fire dragon slayer that he would invite Lucy on a mission and all would work out. Natsu agreed whole heartedly, now in a wonderful mood. Happy flew over the two and asked why Natsu was so happy now. Natsu replied with a grin and just asked Happy if he wanted to go fishing. Happy's eyes went wide and he exclaimed yes. Natsu left to go fishing with the now salivating Happy. Gray just sat back at the bar with an all knowing Mira.

"So want to continue talking about last night?" Mirajane prompted while waving the camera as a threat. Mira in matchmaker mode is a scary person indeed.

It was a while before the barmaid let Gray go. Luckily Wendy was there to distract the white haired girl from constantly pounding Gray with questions and eventually Gray escaped all together saying he had to talk to Lucy. He went to the job board and picked one that was best suited for the group. A simple request from a hotel to take care of a rowdy group of criminals mugging the guests. It didn't sound too dangerous so Lucy would probably like it. But it had some action for both Natsu and himself.

He walked over to Lucy's house. Absently he entered the apartment. He sat on her couch and waited for her to appear.

She will have to show up sooner or later right?

No sooner did he think that did Lucy enter the main room from her kitchen in mid-bite of a chocolate bar. When she noticed Gray casually sitting on her couch she screamed, dropping her candy bar in the process.

Why is she screaming?

He looked around for anything that she could be screaming at but found nothing. Lucy threw a blanket at him.

"Cover yourself, won't you?!" Lucy demanded while covering her face with her hands.

Oops….How did I get naked?

After a few minutes of the sounds of shuffling clothing, Lucy asked if he was decent.

"Yeah, sorry about that." Lucy uncovered her eyes.

"Maybe you should just learn how to knock!" She belittled him but made no move to actually punish him. She picked up her chocolate bar and went back in the kitchen. Gray followed her. What he saw next though shocked him. Plates were littered about each with a different dish on them. He saw waffles, seasoned fish, fruit salads, hamburgers, soups, cupcakes, and several pastas. All the different food scents assaulted his nose. The cabinets were splattered with sauces of all different types and the sink was full of pots and pans she previously cooked with. What stood out a bit more from the rest though was a lone white dress shirt crumpled and thrown into a pile in the corner of the room. Normally she is very clean so this disaster in front of him was a little unnerving. He picked up the shirt and examined it. Lucy was busying around the stove stirring a pot of gravy.

"Uhhh, Lucy?"

Why is she cooking all of this miscellaneous food? And why is a single shirt here?

She however didn't answer and only looked inside the stove and gasped. Quickly she pulled out a hot pan with the oven mints.

"Gosh dangit, Gray. You made me burn the biscuits!" She grumbled at him as if the biscuits were all that mattered.

"Lucy." She continued cooking. "Lucy!" Gray yelled. He finally gained acknowledgement.

"What's with all of this food? Its like you are cooking for a dragon slayer." As soon as the words left his mouth he saw Lucy ever so silently finch. "Is Natsu coming over soon or something?" He prodded. There it was. Another flinch.

"No one is coming over. I just thought I'd practice my cooking skills today." She proceeded to toss away the burned biscuits efficiently avoiding Gray's eye contact. The ice mage decided he should test the waters first.

"So how was last night with Natsu?" He abruptly asked. Lucy just paused in her stirring of the gravy only to reply overly cheerful.

"It was great! We had so much fun! I wished the banquet was longer." She wasn't technically lying. She did have some fun. You know before her feelings started getting in the way. She stared at the shirt Gray had in his hands. And before a light dragon slayer came along with his too big to fit through a doorway ego. Her grip tightened on the stirring ladel.

"Glad you had a great time." He said while putting the shirt back down noticing her irked look at it. It was a men's shirt by the size and design of it Gray deducted.

How strange. Why would Lucy have something like this? It doesn't look like Natsu's.

Gray cleared his throat and subtly slipped in his real objective.

"Which reminds me, let's go on a mission. It will be just like old times. You, me, Natsu, and maybe Erza….that is if she isn't drowning in all the cake she had last night…" Gray recalled how the scarlet haired mage always had a slice of cake on her plate at all times and smiled a bit. Lucy caught onto his smile and grinned as well. It seemed nice going back to the old ways for once. And with Erza there she felt….secure from her feelings. She didn't want to ruin everything. Before she agreed to the mission however she had to ask.

"What kind of mission is it exactly?" She asked with a raise of her eyebrow. Gray held up the job listing for her to see.

"Taking care of a couple of muggers. Nothing too difficult." Gray said nonchalantly eyeing some of the cupcakes. Lucy's eye glinted with amusement while she walked over and handed Gray a cupcake. He in turn gave her the job flier.

"Sounds good. I'm in." Lucy was glad she wouldn't have to spend any more time overthinking alone in her house. She needed a different distraction that wasn't depleting her food source and taking on jobs and getting jewels seemed like a great one.

"We will be leaving at noon tomorrow. We'll take the train to the town and be staying at the hotel in need of help." With that being said Lucy turn off the burner for the gravy pot and thanked Gray. He then went off and said he better go prepare for the mission and left, not without taking a few more cupcakes though. Lucy laughed and sent him on his way out.

She wrapped up the food she cooked throughout the day and store it in her fridge. At least she won't have to cook for a while she supposed. Lucy spent the rest of the day packing and preparing for the mission tomorrow. She faintly wondered if the hotel would have an open air bath. Those were her favorite. When she was done packing, the celestial mage noticed it was only 7:00 in the evening and decided to write a little in her novel. She still had yet to use all the writing techniques and tips Levy had told her about. With that she got down to work and wrote some chapters and plots. It felt wonderful for her to stretch her writing skills more and more. Before she was through she also decided to write a letter to her mother about the banquet. She of course left out some parts. Her mother didn't need to know about certain events. Lucy didn't even want to know about them. When her yawns got too distracting she went to bed. Her last thought before sleep took her was about her protagonist's resolve in love. She wondered what her's was.

The following morning came and passed. It was noon in a blink of an eye and Lucy was waiting at the meeting point at the train station. Gray was there to met her first. Then Natsu came along with happy trailing behind him. When the two males started to board the train, Natsu complaining about the whole thing, Lucy questioned,

"Wait! What about Erza?" Natsu looked at her confused. Gray however just nervously laughed.

"She already went on a mission with Wendy and Carla…"

So much for feeling secure…..at least I'll still have Gray…..right?

Lucy reluctantly got on the train and sat across from Natsu and Gray. Happy sat on Natsu's head. The train's whistle rung in the air signalling its departure. Immediately Natsu's face grew green and he looked sick. The pink haired maged started leaning on Gray's shoulder involuntarily. Gray grimaced.

"Lucy. Take care of Natsu, will ya?" Before Lucy could deny any such actions Gray had pushed Natsu over to sit on her side. Happy flew up from the said person's head only to land beside Gray again. Gray looked much more comfortable and satisfied without a sickly Natsu hanging over him. Lucy was about to reprim Gray when Natsu groaned and laid his head on her shoulder. Lucy stiffened but relaxed realizing her friend was in pain. She let Natsu continue using her as a support beam and stared out the window. Gray took subtle peaks at the two. He caught Lucy's glance and smirked a bit. Lucy stiffened once more and looked out the window intensely with a slight blush on her face.

"He liiiiikkkkkessssss yoouuuu~"

It was going to be a long mission

I ended it in a little bit of Nalu...I suppose I'll add in more next chapter. Kinda want to even out the playing field I guess.

Also I want to say to all of those who reviewed that I appreciate you. Honestly when I read through them I get all happy and bubbly. So thanks. :D