When Natsu walked into the lobby of his apartment building, the first thing he noticed was a guy carrying a bag of Chinese take-out that looked like it was going to feed a family of ten. The poor delivery guy looked absolutely distraught as he looked at the paper that must have held the room number and floor and considering their elevator was out it looked like it had to be one of the higher floors. Taking pity on him Natsu decided to go over and figure out who he was taking all this food to.

"Hey I couldn't help but notice you don't look to happy about what room number you got to take that to. You mind telling me what number?" Natsu asked the guy.

"It's on floor seven" he began and Natsu gave him a sympathetic nod, that was the floor he lived on and just walking up those stairs with nothing was borderline hard "and it's room 776." That made Natsu stop his nodding, that was his neighbor Lucy's apartment, and since he wasn't planning on going over to her place tonight he didn't know why she would need so much food.

"Oh well that just happens to be my neighbor, I wouldn't mind taking it up for you" Natsu said cursing himself the entire time, he did not want to carry that bag up seven flights of stairs. But he did want to know why Lucy needed so much food.

"Really?" The guy asked.

"Sure" Natsu said right as the guy shoved the bag in his arms and ran off. Looks like either Lucy paid for her food over the phone or she was getting free food. Either way there was way more food in there then Lucy would ever eat, so it looked like he would be getting a free meal.

When he finally reached the top of the stairs after his trek he thanked his lucky stars that his job required him to be in good shape, otherwise he might have given up a couple floors back. He stood in front of Lucy's door for a couple seconds before knocking.

When she opened the door he instantly realized something was up. Not only did the apartment smell like alcohol but so did Lucy. She was swaying from side to side and when she finally realized what was in front of her she exclaimed "Natsu, I didn't realize you were a delivery person, I thought you were a cop cause you have nice muscles. But you must have got them from carrying boxes of food." Even though she hadn't started slurring her words she was definitely talking weird, if he had to call it anything he would saying she was talking in a coy voice. But if that was how Lucy flirted it explained her lack in boyfriends.

"Hey Lucy what have you been up to? I uh brought your food up for you cause the delivery guy looked like he was about to pee his pants when he saw where you lived" he told her.

"Ohhh so you're still a cop then. I still haven't seen you in a uniform" Lucy told him, well more liked purred but still, Natsu could tell that Lucy was most likely a flirty drunk.

"Uh huh, so can I come in?" he asked hoping he could figure out was he normally sunny neighbor had decided to try and get herself drunk.

"Of course, but only if you promise to wear your uniform the next time you come over."

"OK" Natsu said uneasily as he stepped inside, he saw what looked like two wine bottles on her coffee table and one was definitely empty. "Hard day at work?" he asked as he continued to examine the room as he put the food on the table and noticed how there seemed to be what looked like photo albums littered on the coach and table.

"No, Minerva was a stuck up bitch as always" Lucy said as she plopped herself down on the couch and patted the spot next to her until he sat down "And my article got praise from my boss so no, it was decent" Lucy told him as she leaned against his shoulder.

"Then what's with the wine Lucy?" Natsu asked her sending her a questioning look.

With a pout she said "Can't a girl drink to have some fun, it's the holidays and it's not like I'm doing anything."

"Well yeah I guess, but what do you mean you're doing nothing. You have family right, I've seen that picture on your desk. It looks like a picture of you and your mom."

Lucy sat quiet for a minute before say "But that picture was taken years ago, it was the last picture I took with her before she….before she..." she began sniffing.

"Hey if it's too painful to talk about then don't talk about."

"But you told me about how your father abandoned you. That had to be painful so you deserve to know what happened to my mom" Lucy said before getting quiet for a bit again.

"Lucy" Natsu began.

"She died when I was eight from some unknown sickness. The doctors told us there was nothing they could do" Lucy said quietly.

Natsu saw the tears beginning to stream from her cheeks and was quick to try and comfort "I'm so sorry Lucy" he said wrapping his arm around her, looked like his thought that she was a flirty drunk was wrong.

"It's not your fault. It was just the world doing what it does best."

"Well, it could've been worse right?" Natsu asked.

"Not really. My mom was three months pregnant when she got sick, the baby died with her. My dad turned stone cold after that. He became all about work. I couldn't even talk to him about her. I was raised by others. I haven't seen him for years. Christmas is the worse cause it was my mom's favorite holiday and my dad hasn't celebrated it since my mom's death."

"Lucy, I don't know what to tell you, I know saying sorry won't make it better. I don't really know what to do" he told her as he tightened his grip around her.

"You could wear your uniform" looks like his theory did still stand.

"Well you could always just spend Christmas with friends" he suggested.

"They all have family."

"Then you can spend Christmas with me then."

"Really? But don't you have family" she sniffed.

"Not really, there's Gajeel and Wendy but we really don't do much for Christmas anyway. Besides you could just come with me Christmas day for presents that's all we do any way."

"Thanks Natsu, you're nice. Do you think you could spend every Christmas with me?" Lucy asked him.

"Sure Lucy. Whatever you want" he said smiling down at her. She sent him a small smile back before they sat on the couch in silence.

The silence was broken when Lucy asked "So about you in your uniform.."