Hello again! Sorry my updates are infrequent and not quite as orderly as they used to be! Until I can get my writing device fixed it will be a littld bit off but hopefully soon I will be back in business and can go back and edit these! Anyway, I decided to come back and work on some stories and I was really excited for this one so here you go! Onto the story!

~naluhedgehogs

Envy Part 2

Natsu rolled uncomfortably in his hammock a couple more times before Happy finally had enough. "Oh. My. Gosh Natsu! For the love of fish, stop that! You are drivint me crazy!" He snapped.

Looking foggily at the exceed, Natsu nodded noncommittally. "Yeah, yeah. Soery buddy." Happy looked at his partner confused, placing his paw on his forehead. "Are you feeling alright?"

The pinkette shook his head. "No. They HUGGED Happy. I just don't like it."

Happy's eyes widened. "You're still on about that? Man, you do have it bad." Natsu just shrugged. "You don't think Lucy will leave us for Gray do you?"

Happy shook his head furiously. "Of course not Natsu! She loves us!"

Natsu felt his cheeks burn a bit but decided to ignore it as he always did. "Yeah, of course." Just the thought of Lucy spending time with Gray without him made his insides twist. Whether with anger or sadness, he couldn't quite tell. Maybe both. Either way, he just didn't like it.

Sensing his partner's discomfort, Happy laid his paw back on Natsu's shoulder. "Let's try and get some rest, okay?"

Natsu just sighed again before rolling back over. Floating back up to his bunk, Happy could only think I hope Lucy's plan works out.

Taking the spoon from Plue's hand, Lucy patted her little spirit on the head. "Thanks Plue! You have been such a good helper!"

Plue wiggled. "Puun pun!"

Laughing, she continued carefully icing the cake. Red Velvet just seemed fitting for Natsu and she had worked extra hard to get the cream cheese frosting the perfect shades of red and orange. Grabbing a small shaker full of golden sugar flecks she dusted the cake with a light layer before setting it aside. "Phew! That was exhausting! What do you think Plue?"

The snowdog toddled carefully around the cake once (much to Lucy's amusement) before giving Lucy a thumbs up? (It's hard to tell when he doesn't really have thumbs)

"Thanks! The topper doesn't look too.. well..." Her cheeks flooded with color as she looked closer at the fondant cake topper. She had spent a long time trying to craft the perfect topper to go on the cake before finally settling on making Natsu, Happy and herself sitting together. However, the more she looked at it, the more it looked like they were a family. Which, well, wasn't a bad thing at all but..

Her cheeks became another shade darker, before she shook her head vigorously. "No, it looks okay!" Her little dog nodded at her and she smiled again. Pulling out a pink lollipop she handed it to her little pet. "For your help!"

Plue wriggled happily and sticking the sucker in his mouth, disappeared in a poof.

Lucy placed the cake carefully away in it's box before retreating to her living room. Flopping on the sofa, she sighed. "Why is it so hard to decide what to get you, Natsu? I want to show you that I care but I just don't know!"

After sitting on her couch for about an hour, Lucy stood up. "Well, it doesn't do me much good fretting over it. I want to be up bright and early tomorrow - This will be a birthday he will never forget!"

The sun had barely peaked through Lucy's curtains but she was already up and moving. Early morning showers weren't really her thing but if she was going to finish everything in time for Natsu's arrival, she had no other option. The original plan was to surprise him at the guild but for some reason everyone seemed to think Natsu would enjoy it more if the party was at Lucy's apartment.

Which she couls kind of understand - it was like a second home to him. What she couldn't understand was why everyone had just dropped off their gifts and left the rest up to her alone.

That was probably Mira's doing. Sometimes she regretted how adept Mira was in reading her emotions.

But, no time for that now. The next couple of hours were spent tying up balloons in various shades of red and orange, tidying up and stacking the gifts and, of course, making sure there was plenty of firefood and fish. And sending out her little messanger to deliver the invite.

Natsu groaned when he heard a harsh rapping at his door. Knowing his luck it was Gray, coming to challenge him to another fight which would inevitably lead to his house being destroyed. Again.

Which also meant Lucy would have to come, scold him for his carelessness, and help him fix it again. Not that he minded two out of the three - his house always smelled nice after she left. Very... Lucy.

But, after the rapping continued for a few minutes, he finally convinced himself to get up and answer the darn thing. But, to his surprise, he found Loke standing at the door instead.

Lucy sat uncomfortably by the door, tapping her foot. The more she thought about it, the more she regretted sending Loke as her messenger. Happy had planned to slip out and spend the day with Charle and Wendy so Lucy could spend the day with Natsu (no doubt Mira's idea as well) and Loke, knowing about her growing feelings for the pyro, probably would take the chance to make a comment about it to him. But, being as he was, he hopefully wouldn't notice. Hopefully.

But, as the time ticked on, she slowly started to feel her hope drain. It was about 30 minutes past when Loke promised Natsu would arrive and she began to panic. What if he told him? What if Natsu felt nervous around her now? What if-?

Jumping at a loud crash, Lucy turned and sprinted, panicked, back to her room. Laying on her floor in a heap, she saw the pinkette, looking a slight bit rattled, but grinning at her all the same.

Seeing his grin, she knew she didn't have to worry.

"That dang cat! He taunted me and took off without any warning! And somehow I ended up here!" Natsu ranted, patting a sore spot on his head. Lucy laughed, and he looked at her, grinning wider, before bursting out in laughter.

"So, what's with all the balloons?" he piped curiously. "Oh, right!" Lucy chirped, dashing off to the kitchen. Returning with a box, she held it out to him.

Carefully, Natsu opened the box and stared.

"Happy Birthday Natsu!" Lucy beamed. "I spent a long time trying to find a present with Gray bur that ended up being the best I could.." Lucy trailed off, rubbing her head.

Natsy felt his face warm as he looked at the dessert, taking in the happy figures of him and his favorite partners.

"It's perfect." He murmured before sending her the widest, brightest grin she had ever seen.

And she smiled just as brightly back.

Aaaaaaaannddddd done. Did I just cliffhanger you guys? Yes, yes I did. But you can use your imaginations to fill in the rest ;) Hope you enjoyed and please drop me a review to let me know what you think! New chapter is hopefully coming soon so get hyped! Love you all so much! Until next time,

~naluhedgehogs