Natus and Igneel woke up and were up already, but they were in for a surprise. When they got up, they noticed something outside and couldn't believe their eyes. Their chicken coop was repainted and it looked like Lucy was trying to remodel it. They found her sleeping right on the roof in her attempt to try and remake the chicken coop. It wasn't pristine, but the fact that she even tried was impressive.
"Lucy?" Natsu said, but she was still asleep. "Lucy!" He screamed and it spooked her to fall right off the chicken coop and right on some hay.
"Are you okay?!" Igneel asked as they both helped her up.
"Barely. I can't believe I didn't even sleep in a bed last night." Lucy complained as her body felt so stiff.
"Did you really do this?" Natsu said as he gestured to the chicken coop. Lucy got a good look and saw it didn't look great, but it seems better than before.
"I tried to." Lucy said.
"You must have been up all night, and you did this in the dark?" Igneel said as they were impressed that Lucy even made an attempt to do something like this on her own.
"Yeah. I tried to giving it a fresh coat of paint and tried putting on some fresh wood on." Lucy said.
"Well, it's going to take a little more than that, but I'm amazed you would help us out like that." Igneel said. "Thank you, Lucy." He claimed as she was flattered her work was being acknowledged. "Why don't I go and get you a nice hot breakfast ready for you, and maybe take a shower. It will warm you up after sleeping out here."
"Okay." Lucy agreed as Igneel went on back into the house to get Lucy what she needed.
"I can't believe you really did this." Natsu said as he was amazed. "What made you do this?"
"Well, I don't want you to lose a piece of your mother." Lucy said with Natsu amazed once again. She did this from their little talk last night? Natsu is starting to think Lucy really is something incredible. It would seem being out here is doing her some good.
"I... I don't know how to thank you for this." Natsu said. That gave Lucy an opportunity. This wasn't what she planned, but she's taking it.
"Well, there might be one way." Lucy said. "I was thinking a picnic...just you and me. We could head back to that favorite spot of yours and have a nice picnic together. What do you say?"
"You and me?" Natsu said as he actually liked the idea. After what she did, it was hard for him to say no. "Wait! This isn't some sort of ploy for you and me to..." He said as he was gesturing to his pants.
"Seriously?!" Lucy said as she seemed a bit offended. "You think I did this just for that?!" She turned around and was marching out.
"No! Wait! I'm sorry!" Natsu called as he stopped her. "I'll do it. I wouldn't mind going at all. I was just asking given what happened last time, but I'll go."
"Great." Lucy said as she was glad he was going to do it. "Of course, there's no reason we couldn't since it will be just us." She said as she actually tapped his nose to tease him. Lucy is still a little difficult for Natsu to figure it out, but he's starting to find some enjoyment out of this himself. He's actually starting to like her.
...
Later
Natsu and Lucy were both able to go on the picnic that Lucy wanted, and they were both rather excited to go. For once, they're both going to be able to enjoy the other's company without any other problems. Once they were both clear to go, they headed over to that spot near the stream with a basket and some food. Once they got to that spot, they placed a blanket on the ground and the two of them could enjoy themselves. Lucy wasn't even trying to seduce him with her appearance since she just wore simple clothes. Looks like she really did just want to hang out with him. Of course, there's no reason they couldn't have some fun.
"You know, I never had a picnic out here." Natsu said he had himself a sandwich.
"Never? Not once when you've lived here your whole life?" Lucy questioned.
"It's usually just me and my dad, and one of us is always working." Natsu said. "It's actually nice. I never knew this spot would be an ideal spot for a picnic either. Good call."
"Well, it seemed like the perfect spot." Lucy said as she was enjoying it as well. She even took an apple and walked over to Oscar. "Here, Oscar. Thanks for helping us bring all of this here." She said as she gave the apple to the horse and it ate it up. "Such a good horse you are."
"I think he's starting to like you too." Natsu said as Lucy sat back down. Everything just felt so nice and peaceful. Since it was just them, they felt like they have nothing to worry about. "So, what else do you got?"
"Well, how about a little dessert." Lucy said as she pulled out a chocolate stick. Natsu reached for it, but Lucy pulled it away and placed one end between her lips to indicate what she would like for dessert. However, Natsu seemed a little hesitant to take that invitation. "Natsu, why does it seem like you're looking ways to pull away? You know I like you."
"It's just... I've had a few girlfriends, but... I haven't really so gotten close to anyone." Natsu said. "It's just... You're rich and I'm..." To put it simply, Natsu thinks Lucy might be a little out of his league, but he also feels kind of close to her and it makes him feel a bit nervous.
"That doesn't matter. It doesn't to me." Lucy claimed as she's making it clear she does like him and would want him. As she placed the chocolate back between her lips, Natsu took that invite this time. He nibbled away at the stick until he hit her lips and they kissed each other with some passion. Lucy even allowed their tongues to press against each other. When Natsu pulled away, she was breathing a little hard. After that one kiss, they both wanted more as they smashed their lips against each other, Lucy climbed on to his lap, and the two of them went at each other with some passion. It would have progressed further, but Oscar seemed a little upset about something.
"Oscar?" Natsu asked as he got Lucy off and went over to the horse. "What's wrong?" Something was making Oscar unsettled, but Natsu couldn't tell what until Lucy spotted something further down the land.
"Natsu! Over there!" Lucy said. Natsu took a look and saw another wild horse, but it too seemed upset.
"That doesn't look good." Natsu said as he and Lucy hurried over to see what was wrong. When they got there, Natsu spotted a large hole in the ground. They both took a look inside and saw a baby horse stuck inside.
"Oh no. The poor thing must have fallen inside." Lucy said and the mother was really upset. Natsu hurried over to the horse and tried getting it to calm down. "Should we hurry back to the barn and get some rope or something?"
"Maybe. I don't know how else to get it out of there." Natsu said. They needed to get that baby horse out of there soon, but how? Lucy wondered about that until an idea came to her.
"Wait! I have an idea! Just get down there and get ready to help it out!" Lucy said as she ran off. Natsu trusted her and climbed straight down with it being a tight fit.
"Don't worry, little guy. We'll get you out." Natsu said as he tried to keep the baby calm.
"Here!" Lucy said as she came back with the picnic blanket. "Get this around the baby horse and we can use it to lift it out."
"I get it! That's pretty resourceful!" Natsu said as he wrapped the blanket around it and handed it back to Lucy.
"I'll lift up here, you push the baby up." Lucy said.
"You sure? This horse here looks like it weighs a good one-hundred pounds." Natsu said.
"That doesn't matter." Lucy said as she just wanted to get it out of there. Natsu trusted her with it as Lucy had a firm hold on the blanket with Natsu getting his hands underneath the horse. "Okay... Lift!" Lucy said as she tried pulling with all her strength while Natsu tried lifting it. Their combined strength seemed to be just enough to lift it out of there. It was heavy for a baby, but the two of them pushed and lifted as best as they could to get it out of there. They were just focused on getting it out of that hole. It also didn't help that the horse was flailing around because it was rather anxious.
"It's okay, we got you." Natsu said as they were using all of their strength while keeping the horse calm. They lifted it up as best as they could.
"Come on! Just a little more!" Lucy groaned. They both gave it one more good push as they were able to get part of the horse above the ground and was able to push it back on the ground. "Got it!" She said with much relief as she fell back with the parent and child glad to see each other again. Natsu climbed out and helped Lucy up. When he got her back up, she was so excited about what they did was that she just tackled a hug against him. "Oh my gosh! We actually did it!" She claimed as she seemed so happy and excited. Without even thinking, she just planted a kiss on him. That was unexpected, but Natsu certainly welcomed it as he pulled her back in for a gentle genuine kiss. They thought it would turn into something thrilling, but this time it was just sweet and gentle. They just stood there and held each other. Lucy really was resourceful in getting that horse...and getting closer to Natsu.
...
Sorano
As time went on with Lucy's stay at that farm, she kept in touch with Sorano. She's been sending Sorano photos of the area and what's been going on. Lucy's starting to get accustomed to her stay there, but Sorano was seeing things differently.
"Eck. That place looks so dirty and low-class." Sorano said as she looked over the photos Lucy sent on her computer. She kept searching until she spotted Natsu without a shirt on. "Ooh... It certainly doesn't look all that bad."
"That better not be what I think it is." A businessman said as he looked over her shoulder.
"No, Daddy. They're photos that Lucy has been sending me of this farm she's been staying out." Sorano said. Sorano's father took a look at the photos himself. "Oh my gosh! Is she actually milking a cow?! I think she's sweating in some of these! She looks great in those outfits, but ooh... That poor girl. She must be so miserable staying in a place like that." Sorano believes Lucy is miserable considering they live a similar lifestyle, but there was something else about those photos that got her father's attention.
"That looks like quite the location." Sorano's father claimed as seeing those photos was sparking something in his brain.
