As Lucy stumbled along through the street, at god knows what hour, she saw up ahead of her was the building Levy had described to her. It took her a minute to fully realize it was the place she was looking for due to the tears muddling her vision.

But there stood the bright orange sign plain as day that read "Fairy Tail", the place she was looking for. She never planned to look back on her old life, her father, his stupid expectations and a future planned out for her. For god sakes it was the twenty-first century, she should have had some say in her life, and now that she was free she would have her say in her future.

Climbing up the stairs, she wiped the tears from her eyes before looking for her friend's apartment number.

"What was it again?" she mumbled to herself "376? 278?" Counting the numbers she stopped at one door and noted how it was painted blue unlike the rest of the doors. She hazily remembered her friend saying something about her door standing out against the others. Deciding this must be what she was talking about she knocked on the door before looking at the number, 277.

The door was opened a few minutes later by a person Lucy was not expecting. In front of her was a male, with weird pink hair. He raised his eyebrow while he looked her over. He was as confused about this as she was about the situation. She never remembered Levy saying anything about a boyfriend so she ruled that out, the only other option was-

"Uh, hey do you have a reason for knocking on my door at" he said, pausing to look inside at a clock and then continuing "three in the morning? What kind of weirdo is awake at this time?"

"Um, well you see-"she said before she was cut off by the man.

"Please don't tell me Metalhead paid for another stripper to knock on my door in the early hours in the morning cause I have no interest and will pay you money so you can go home" he said.

"Woah, whoa, whoa! Who said anything about strippers?" she asked.

"Sorry last time I had a girl knock on my door this early it was a prank from my lovely brother."

"Oh uh well I was kinda looking for Levy Mcgarden's apartment."

"Oh, you have the wrong apartment and well Levy left yesterday for some book fair or somthin' and won't be back for a week."

"Wha-? Where am I gonna stay?"

"Wait if she knew you were coming to stay with her, why did she go out of town?"

"Well….she kinda didn't know."

"Oh well…uh how about you come inside and I can get you a drink or something and offer my couch to you for the rest of the night" he said opening the door wider, inviting her inside.

"That would be great, as long as I'm not intruding."

"Nah, I've had worse. I'll get my brother to call Levy and tell her you've arrived in town" he told her as he turned on the coffee maker.

"Thanks. But I have one question, well actually two but…"she asked as she sat down in a chair.

"Shoot"

"Well first what's your name? You know I'm kinda in a stranger's house so it'd be nice to at least know your name."

"Natsu Dragneel and your name would be?"

"Lucy Heartfilla."

"Well now where aquatinted. What would that second question be?"

"Why are you being so well hospitable to me?"

"Well a random girl shows up at my doorstep and after assuring me she is not a prostitute says she know someone I'm kinda friends with and is planning to stay with her. But said friend is out of town, so me taking sympathy upon girl decided to let her stay the night. Simple as that."

"So this is out of sympathy?"

"Say I was to show up at your doorstep with a similar situation, what would you do?" he asked as the coffee finished and he began to pour it into two cups.

"Well, I guess I'd take sympathy and would let them spend the night, as long as they didn't look like perverts."

"See, same as me" he said handing her a drink before sitting in the seat directly across from her.

"Aren't you gonna go back to sleep or are you scared I am a creep?"

"Nah, I have to leave for work in two hours so you did me a favor."

"Hmm, I take it your in law enforcement or some crazy job. "

Laughing he answered "You'd be surprised, half the cops and firefighters of the town live in this building."

"Why are you all clumped to one place? Any particular reason?"

"Nah, just coincidence."

"Hmmm or some conspiracy."

"How did you get conspiracy from coincidence?"

"I don't know. You're talking to journalist here so I always seem to jump to conclusions. Or at least that's what my last ex said."

"Hmmm, jumped to conclusions?"

"Okay he was totally sleeping with that one girl. I had like a bazillion points and evidence. Plus they got married five months later!"

"Okay so maybe you don't always jump to conclusions."

"Eh, I have a problem with expecting the worse."

"Don't a lot of people have that problem?'

"You have a point."

Looking at the clock he got out of the chair and said "There are blankets in my bedroom if you want to sleep. I should head out in a few."

"Thanks Natsu" she said.

"No problem, I like helping people out."

"Even complete strangers."

"Yeah, I mean, they do spice up your day. Not every day I meet a girl who needs a place to stay and just happens to knock on my door and not Erza's or Popsicle's."

"I take it those are your neighbors?"

"Yeah you'll probably meet Popsicle in a few minutes when he comes barging in her demanding that we'll be late if I don't move my ass."

"Can't wait to meet him."

"If you think he sounds bad just wait to you meet Erza."

"I've heard of Erza from Levy."

"And how did she describe her?"

"Pure terror."

"Well that hits the head spot on."

"Oi, Flame Brain, if you don't move your ass we'll be late" came a cry as the door to the apartment was flung open.

"What is it Ice Pick?" Natsu called.

"We'll be late if we don't get mov-"he said before seeing Lucy "What the heck, when did you pick up a girl last night?"