Ok first off a HUGE thanks once again to Link, krikanalo, and rariccia for once again sending me some love via reviews!

Also Thanks to TivaNaluKick4evs for reviewing as well!

Lucy hummed as she poured the batter she had been mixing into the muffin pans. After fishing for a couple of hours they had caught more than enough for dinner and headed to the market. She had decided to buy the things she'd need to not only finish up a wonderful dinner, but make snacks for their trip in the morning, since Natsu hadn't paid attention to just where their mission was taking them in the morning. It would take them two maybe three days by a mix of carriage and train to get to Mining Cailys all the way on the other side of the country. Sadly, knowing Natsu it would take them the three days or longer because he would refuse to ride in any form of dreaded transportation and would force her to have to walk until she convinced him otherwise.

"Luuuccyyyy… I'm bored," Natsu called from the other room pulling Lucy from her thoughts. Hearing her open the oven and close it caught his attention. She was baking something! Getting up and strolling into the kitchen he asked, "Ohhh what ya making?"

"You really are a bottomless pit aren't you?" She huffed in response while setting the timer for the muffins. Noting his pout she giggled, "If you must know I'm making muffins for in the morning so that we can leave first thing."

"Aww but Luce I wanted omelets in the morning!" Natsu whined.

"Well that's too bad now isn't it? You're the one that chose a mission on the other side of the country. We have to get an early start if we're going to make it there in reasonable time."

"Whatever," he mumbled continuing to pout childishly. Noticing she was pulling more things out he asked, "Now what are you making?"

"Cookies."

His eyes lit up, "Let me help!"

Lucy turned to him and laughed, "I suppose by 'help' you mean eat most of the batter before I can even bake it?"

Laughing nervously he said, "Well umm, NO! I mean I figured I could at least get a taste or two though."

Lucy shook her head at him, "Get out of the kitchen. If I let you 'help' we won't have any cookies at all. Go take a bath or something while I finish up in here."

"OI! You trying to say I stink?"

"No dummy. Bathing daily is proper hygiene! Besides once I'm done in here I want to take one and go to bed. Now go." She finished shooing off the still grumbling man.

An hour later left Lucy with a bag packed full of treats, a clean kitchen, her clothing packed, and extremely exhausted. As she trudged through her apartment to the dresser to retrieve sleep ware she couldn't help but smile a bit. Sitting at her table Natsu and Happy seemed to be in an intense game of 'go fish'. How those two could make it such was beyond her. With fresh clothes and a shake of her head at the pair she headed for the relief that was her tub.

Lucy groaned pleasurably as she sank into the warm bath water. After a tension filled day and busy evening this is just what she needed. She would enjoy this to the fullest extent she could knowing that in the week to come a bath would possibly be hard to get in. Although she was looking forward to going on a mission and having some extra money she wasn't looking forward to the trip. There were not many places to stop along the way leaving even less inns to stop at. For the first time in a while things had been good on the money end and she would have no issue at all spending the extra on a room for the night when the option presented its self. Missions were in overload and because of such she had her rent paid for the month as well as a nice savings put up for the months to come. Yes things had been looking up for the whole of the guild as well as herself.

A loud bang followed by, "Luccceee, are you done yet?" startled her out of her thoughts.

Huffing Lucy sat up and began scolding, "What was that noise and NO I'm not done yet I haven't been in here that long!"

"Ummm… you've been in there like an hour." Natsu replied on the other side of the door, choosing to ignore her question.

Lucy, "EEP," to herself when he told her how long she'd been in the water. "I'll be out in a few." She called. Suddenly though she yelled, "You guys better not have broken anything!"

A few minutes later produced a fully prepared and ready for bed Lucy. Scanning the room for anything amiss she sighed in relief as she noticed everything looked fine. Something was wrong though. Looking around once more she didn't see either of her partners and had to wonder where the hell they went to. When her gaze landed on the lump in her bed she quickly figured out where they were. Pouting to herself she grabbed the spare blanket and pillow out of her closet and tossed them on the couch.

Natsu was lucky she still felt guilty for everything that had happened that morning or he would be getting an earful. Shaking her head she walked around the small apartment blowing out the lanterns and padded her way back to her couch. Another thing added to her home thanks to the extra funds she had. Originally, she purchased it in hopes it would help keep Natsu and Happy from stealing her bed, but most times it turned out to be her sleeping space for the night. At least she got the softest one she could find. Just as she was settling down Natsu's voice broke the silence of the room.

"Oi, Lucy? What are you doing?"

Frowning to the obviousness she replied, "We need to leave early so I'm going to sleep."

Natsu paused for a moment feeling a slight heat on his face at what he wanted to ask. Taking a deep breath to try and push the unnatural blush away he said, "Yeh I know that. But I thought…" he stopped. Why was it suddenly so hard to talk? Shaking his head he decided to just say to hell with it, "What the hell you doing over there?"

"AYE! Lucy come to bed so I can sleep on your squishy tummy again!" Happy added.

At first Lucy blushed from the question Natsu posed. Didn't he realize that last night was a onetime thing? Did she really have to explain the implication of such a thing? However she was saved from such a fate by Happy's little comment. Now red from a mix of frustration and anger she gritted out, "My stomach is NOT squishy you damned shitty cat!" Huffing and rolling over she grumbled, "Now goodnight."

Natsu and Happy both pouted and looked at one another. The pair sighed but nestled into bed themselves, both calling out,"Goodnight." Before they let sleep claim them as well.

Natsu's eyes shot open. He blinked several times trying to clear the haze away, for his gaze to only be met by the ceiling of Lucy's apartment. Why was he awake? Scanning his surroundings he noticed he had kicked the blankets to the end of the bed, also Happy was no longer next to him. Glancing at the clock it showed it was only shortly after eleven. He'd only been asleep an hour and now he was awake. Sitting up he frowned. Maybe the absence of his partner is what caused him to wake up? Taking a quick sniff he realized the exceed was still in the apartment, but now he was on the couch with Lucy.

His frown turned into a pout quickly. It wasn't fair that only Happy got to curl up with Lucy. Wasn't she supposed to make up her freak out to him? Her being curled up with both of them was part of his plan but how did he not get that? Standing he quietly made his way over to the couch and took in the sight of the two. It was so not fair. Lucy was curled into a ball with Happy snugly pressed into her stomach both sleeping peacefully. While he glared at the traitorous exceed an idea came to him. Gently he picked up Happy and brought him to the bed placing him on a pillow. For a second he thought his plan would be wrecked when the little guy began to stir but he breathed a sigh of relief when Happy burrowed into the new spot and settled.

Smiling at his triumph he made his way back to the couch. Slowly he pealed the blankets from Lucy's form as he hoped she wouldn't wake up. Once that was done he lifted her off the couch cradling her to him. He only made it two steps before the sleepy call of his name caused him to panic. Tensing he looked down to the woman he was holding and hoped he was not about to get his ass handed to him by her. After a moment of nothing he let out the breath he was holding and continued to take her to the bed crawling in with her and tucking them both in.

This felt better. The two of them were all snug and curled up together and he couldn't be more comfortable. Not to mention the added bonus that Lucy subconsciously was burrowing into him further. Oh yes this was so much better then waking up alone had been. Yawning, Natsu buried his head further into the pillow and let sleep finally reclaim him.

Oh my... MMUUUAHAHHAHAHA. Sorry for a late day update! EVERYONE BLAME Link! We've been a impromptu crack fic war thinggy all day! Don't forget I STILL have Mr. Cursey! MMMUUUAHAHHAHAHAHA

Ok on to other things! So I'm headed outta town this weekend and therefor I can not promise daily updates! Don't hurt me or I'll sick my muse on you and he apparently LOVES chains!

BTW does anyone got a GOOD forum with a disscution on latest FT chaps? I'd like ppl to bounce my own predictions and such off of. If so msg me the link or something!

Thanks again all! Hope you enjoyed! Keep the love comin!

~Gemi