Riven- YEY! More cuddles! And yes poor Gajeel is right!
Souring- Yeh the island sux anyway LOL I had way more fun in the city... Sadly Link stole my cocoa and refuses to return it -_- Idk what was he going to say... I wonder? And yes I like to randomly drag things back in *tee hee*
Celt- LOL He seems like he does doesn't he? And TY!
Exxcal- It is! I laughed the whole time writing that part!
Link- GIVE ME BACK MY COCOA! I'm gonna beat you!
Frost- PUT THE RAZOR DOWN!
Groves- LOL It is a shame isn't it... Might have been something to finally get under her skin... But oh well! Yeh I start crossing stories if I focus on more than one. Besides I have like zillions of ideas in my head all the time so meh
kimikopl- TYVM! Always nice to hear from some one new! Glad you're enjoying!
rena- LOL
And now on with the show... err story...
Lucy smiled as she balanced on the edge of the river wall. Seeing the boatmen she waved as they called, "Be careful Lucy-chan!" and "My son loved the autograph!"
Looking to Natsu and Happy who were trailing along beside her on the cobblestone walk way she said, "Thanks you guys! Tonight was fun! And now I have enough jewel to pay my rent for a year!"
"I told you you'd kick their asses!"
"AYE!"
"So what are you going to make Erza and Gajeel do?" smiling evilly Natsu added, "I can give you suggestions!"
Scowling at him as she hopped down and headed to her door she scolded, "Oi, it's my win not yours! I'll do whatever I like!"
"Aye but Lucy we could help you pick out funny things!" Happy whined while following her up the stairs.
"Yeh besides you only won cause we told Mira to do a game night!" Natsu pouted while flopping on her couch after entering.
Rolling her eyes Lucy set her belongings on the table and made her way to her dresser to pull out some sleepwear for bed. "Yes and I already told you thank you." Smirking as she walked past the pair and saw their pouts she called out, "Maybe I'll listen to a few of your suggestions." She giggled as she shut the door to her bathroom and went about her nightly rituals.
To this the pair smiled evilly once more. Yelling out to make sure she'd hear them they started their lists.
"You should make Erza be my foot rest and tell me how much stronger than her I am"
"Aye! Have Gajeel buy me all the fish in town!"
"Make the tin can do all my laundry!"
"Erza should have to buy me fish too!"
"OH! Then you can have both of them do all kinds of errands!"
"AYE! I know make them build the biggest fish cooler ever!"
"And how does any of this involve me? Let alone give me some kind of reward for winning?" Lucy said exiting the bathroom. "The only decent idea was making them do errands, but they would be my errands not yours."
"But Luucccyyyy think of the fish!" Happy whined.
Natsu's response died on his tongue as he looked at her. It wasn't uncommon for him to see her in an oversized shirt and short cotton shorts for bed, however she was wearing his shirt. He had to swallow the growl that started to rise as the memory of a particular dream came back. "Hey Luce will you make omelets in the morning?" he asked unconsciously.
Lucy looked at him like he was insane, "Eh? Sure I guess." Frowning at his trance like state she asked, "What's with the spaced out look?"
Forcefully shaking his head to clear it he smiled, "You're wearing my shirt weirdo."
Confused she looked down, "It is? How do you know?"
Pointing to a mark near the bottom he said, "Cause of that blue mark there is from when Erza made me help paint the guild forever ago."
"Oh," Lucy blushed. "Umm sorry… I've got a guild insignia shirt the same colors. I'll find my shirt and change." She mumbled making her way to her dresser once more.
Grabbing hold of her wrist as she passed, he continued to smile looking up at her and said, "Don't worry about it! I like it better on you." hearing Happy's snickers he swiftly reached over with his unoccupied hand and tugged his tail trying to get his attention.
Happy was about to cry to Lucy when he noticed that both his partners were wearing blushes. For once he kept quiet and made his leave to the kitchen where he could find some fish and watch silently. Maybe Natsu would finally listen to him. Then he could tell the gossiping women of the guild and they would give him fish for the news.
Lucy was at a loss of what to say. It was a rare occasion when Natsu ever gave her a complement about her looks. Actions, skills, and abilities were one thing but not appearance. "Umm thanks… I guess." She whispered pulling her hand away from his grasp and looking away. Trying to force her racing heart to settle she rushed over to the bed. "Well it's late and we've had a long day. So umm… yeh goodnight." she rushed out while putting out the lamp and burying herself in her blankets up to her chin.
Running his hand over his face he growled out, "Damn it," to himself as he too stood and headed to the bathroom to change. Staring in the mirror at his own reflection he had to laugh. How was it so hard for someone like him to just not blurt out something? He did it on a daily basis but with this he just couldn't do it. Sighing deeply as he changed he realized just why it was so hard. Lucy made everything harder, weirder, and she was always so difficult, but she was also sweet, caring, loyal, wonderful, and she made everything seem just better. Chuckling at his own insanity he tossed the dirty clothing in the hamper and made his way out of the bathroom.
Lucy watched silently as Natsu entered the room again. Holding her breath she begged anything that would listen that he would just take the couch for once. However her silent pleas went unheard as he made his way to the bed lifting the blankets and crawled in next to her. Her heart began to race once more and every muscle tensed when he curled up against her side much like that first night that lead to these new sleeping arrangements. The only difference she noted was that Happy was curled up on the unused pillow rather than her stomach.
"Hey Luce?" Natsu's muffled voice broke the quiet.
"Wh-what?" she stuttered still damning herself and trying to regain control of her muscles.
"Remember when you left the guild earlier today?"
Confused she said, "What about it?"
Grateful that she couldn't see the blush rising he swallowed thickly and asked, "What did you say to Mira and them? They were all super quiet after you left."
Lucy's eyes bulged and her heart thudded loudly. Why was he asking a question like this? "Wh-why do you a-ask?"
Frowning, Natsu could physically sense her unease. For as much as he wanted to know, this moment was not the time. Sighing he spoke, "I thought whatever it was must have been something good to get them so quiet." He said lamely.
Lucy breathed a sigh of relief. Leave it to Natsu to not pick up on the gravity of the situation. "It was girl talk. Nothing more. It's defiantly nothing you could use or should be concerned about." She lied quickly while praying she wouldn't be caught.
"Oh," he mumbled but was grinning. The way she was fidgeting and the sound of her heart told him it was something good. Between her actions lately, that dream, and the part of her conversation he picked up on he knew it was good. Taking everything into account he figured out that there was hope after all. "Hey Lucy?"
"Now what?"
"You know, I meant everything that's in that story." Pulling her closer he grinned mischievously as he slipped his hand under the hem of her shirt resting it on the bare flesh of her side. Slowly he let his thumb rub soothingly back and forth. Feeling her shiver he smirked and asked, "You cold?"
Lucy's mind raced at his random declaration. The feel of his hand on her caused her to hold her breath in an attempt to not moan out in contentment. She was unable to physically restrain the shiver that ran through her at the contact so when Natsu's idiotic question was asked she mentally groaned. She seriously needed to drill it in her mind that Natsu was not someone that thought about things sexually at all.
Sighing and relaxing she said, "No just tired." If she was realistic he had been talking about sleeping like this and he more than likely viewed this as some form of replacement for curling up with Igneel. Smiling fondly she placed her hand on his head stroking the locks of hair that jutted out in every direction. "Goodnight Natsu."
"Hmmm night Luce." He mumbled against her. He'd let her sleep for now. The morning would be something different. Feeling contented he let sleep take his mind over as well.
Bumm BUMM BUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMM... Aww no bet paying yet and no confessions... Well almost none... I wonder what's in store for them in the morning? I'll tell you this... It's SO NOT what's you're expecting! MMMUUUAHAHHAHAAHHAHA
Will Natsu and Lucy finally have their conversation that's desperately needed? What fate is going to befall Gajeel and Erza? Will Happy get his fish? All these questions and more shall be revealed or not at all on the next installment! Tune in tomorrow viewers... err... readers!
*cough* Sorry my announcer voice came out... Anyway... Keep reading and reviewing!
~Gemi
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So I'll make a deal... Since I'm posting early today you guys give me... Idk... we'll say 15 new reviews by 10pm (EST) and I'll post another chapter tonight... It's Friday and I'm in a good mood :)