Author's Note: Chapters 2 and 3 are a bit shorter than most of the others. After this, they get at least a bit longer longer. This should be a fairly fluffy chapter overall, but might also start to illustrate just why Natsu is hesitant to get Lucy caught up in the crazy, tabloid fodder part of his life. There's more setup than action in this one, though things will start rolling more in Chapter 4. I also happen to think Lisanna is pretty fantastic, so you'll see a bit of her being a good friend in this one.
In case anyone is wondering about it, the lack of Japanese terms is purely personal preference. Things like honorifics and a few other words make sense in the right context since they're hard to translate well, but since this is a modern AU I just did what felt right to me. This isn't a knock on people who prefer to write using them, but it's why Juvia doesn't refer to Gray with the 'sama' suffix. I decided against getting rid of her habit of self-addressing since it just seems like such a 'her' trait and kind of an interesting quirk for a delightfully oddball gal.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Fairy Tail. If I did, we'd all be drowning in main pairing shipper feels all the time. The only things that are mine are the song Starlight and the annoying, unnamed reporter guy. Reporter guy is available for loan, but please don't steal the song.
Shout-out!: To my beta reader axlorg89. Thank you for the help and encouragement!

CHAPTER 3: MISTAKES ARE MADE

July 15, X793

"You're listening to 94.5 FM! This is Sugarboy, and today we've got some pretty spicy guests on our show. Juvia Lockser and Jellal Fernandes from the insanely popular band, Fairy Tail! Say hello to our listeners, you two."

Jellal adjusted his headset again with a firm greeting as Juvia scooted her chair slightly closer to the microphone. "Juvia is most honored to be here."

"We've got some questions for you. Fairy Tail seems to come from some pretty diverse backgrounds. Juvia, I understand that you were trained in classical piano?"

"That is correct. Juvia studied music from an early age," the bluenette said in her habitually even tone.

"Did you ever think that you'd end up playing in a rock band? That's a pretty big leap!"

She shook her head before remembering that no one could see her through the radio. "No. Juvia was told she would be a concert pianist and had to work very hard all the time. But… she likes being in Fairy Tail better."

"No doubt. And Jellal, is it true that you're entirely self taught?"

Smiling, the musician tipped his head slightly. "Everyone seems quite surprised to find that out."

"Well, you are consistently ranked as one of the top five guitarists in the world. What inspired you to take up music?"

"Ah, I started learning as," he tugged on the collar of his dress shirt, feeling slightly edgy talking about himself, "part of my therapy…"

"Most of your fans have heard stories about your troubled past. It's a pretty remarkable journey you've made. Has Fairy Tail played a big part in that?"

"Oh yes! I have no doubt that I would've ended up somewhere far different if it wasn't for my friends." Smiling softly, Jellal thought of the rambunctious group.

"Juvia too!" she affirmed. "She owes them so much. And without them, she never would have met her darling Gray."

The blond radio jock chuckled. "Sounds like love is in the air for you guys. Which leads me to the question everyone is dying to know the answer to." Jellal and Juvia exchanged quick, anxious looks. "Who's Lucy?"

Awkward silence dragged on as the two stars desperately tried to think of a way to deflect the question. The extended dead air made their host frown. "I'm sure your fans would really -"

"Jellal and Erza are engaged!" Juvia blurted out, clapping her hands over her mouth as soon as the words were said.

"Juvia!" her friend hissed, icy dread prickling his body. Erza would murder him for sure.

"What?!" Sugarboy exclaimed, "Really?!" He leaned forward, eyes wide and fingers clutching the edge of the table in his surprise.

Tugging more aggressively on his collar this time, Jellal let out a nervous titter. "Ah hah hah... Yes, you see, we were trying to keep that a bit more… private." Juvia cast him a look mixing apology and terror.

"Well, congratulations! I'm sure all our lady listeners are going to be heartbroken."

Erza hit the pause button to stop the recording that played on her laptop, turning slowly to stare at the pair of bowed, blue heads in front of her. She remained silent with her arms crossed, waiting.

Finally, Juvia broke. Her hands came up over her still lowered head, pressed together in supplication. "Juvia is sorry! She panicked! Please do not kill her."

"No one is dying. At least not today," the redhead relented. "I do wish we could have kept this information to ourselves for a while longer, but Evergreen seems to think it was inevitable. The press would have gotten wind of it sooner or later."

Jellal tried to keep his sigh of profound relief as discreet as possible while Erza continued. "At the very least it served the purpose of distracting everyone from Lucy. It will give them something else to talk about for a while."

"They might not be as interested in her connection to us now, but have you guys seen this?" Gray waved a newspaper in the air. "Apparently everyone thinks she's going to get hitched to this Junelle guy."

"What?" Natsu sat up from where he had been watching Erza menace his two bandmates with mild amusement, grabbing for the gossip column. Next to the pleasant article about the annual Magnolia summer fair was a picture of Lucy and a very unattractive man sitting in a restaurant. "No way! I remember this guy. Her dad tried to hook them up when she was in high school." He made a sour face at the memory. "He's, like, fifteen years older than Lucy and was creeping all over her."

Watching his friend wrinkle the newsprint with agitated hands, Gray shrugged. "According to that, they were seen having an," he paused to make air quotes, "intimate lunch." Natsu ground his teeth together, crumpling the paper completely.

Levy frowned. "Do you mean Sawarr Junelle? That would be strange," she murmured. "I'm pretty sure his family are the ones instigating the hostile takeover of Heartfilia Konzern and Railways."

"Seriously?" Gajeel scoffed. "And she's supposed to be marrying that asshole?"

Jellal hummed in thought. "It might make sense if…" Casting a glance at an already seething Natsu, he hesitated. "Maybe he's trying to make a deal."

"What? If she marries him, she can keep the company?" the studded drummer threw out with a harsh laugh, but his expression morphed into one of revulsion as soon as the words passed his lips. "Wait. You don't think…"

"But that's… that's…!" Levy looked stricken.

"I don't think it's wise to jump to any conclusions here," Erza said reasonably. "The media has a tendency to blow things out of proportion, as we all know. It may just have been a simple business meeting to discuss options."

"That someone is stupid..." Natsu muttered darkly, thinking of Lucy's loose hair shining in the sun at the park. The sound made the others look at him, and he shook his head with a deep frown. "She might be talking options, but that guy… I know she can't stand him. She wouldn't…"

He stood and paced a few steps, trying to ignore how everyone in the room had their eyes trained on his every move. Was that why Lucy hadn't been willing to see him again? Because she was thinking of marrying Sawarr? Or because the bastard was threatening her… He scrubbed a tanned palm down his face. "Augh! I don't know what to do!"

Lisanna reached out a hand to catch his sleeve, effectively stopping the rock star's restless motions. "I don't know that there's anything you can do, Natsu, except give her your support." She smiled warmly, skin around her eyes crinkling. "I bet she could really use a friend right now."

"Aye!" declared Happy, pleased to finally contribute something positive to the tense conversation. "Nobody can cheer Lucy up like Natsu!"

He stared at the blue exceed for a moment before a grin spread across his face. Unfolding the mangled newspaper in his hands, he scanned the page briefly. "You know, I think I might just have a plan. Thanks, Lisanna! Happy!" Natsu called as he dashed out of the room.

"Why does the thought of him having a plan make me really nervous?" Gray asked after a long silence. No one seemed inclined to answer.

"No, please," Lucy begged over her cellphone, free hand clenched in her once carefully arranged blond locks. Cancer would definitely be having words with her later. "We really do need your support. I know it's taking a bit of time, but I'm sure…" She paused, listening to the voice over the phone and biting her lip. "I understand that, but we're definitely…"

The other party spoke again, and the youthful CEO let her head hang. "No, I understand," she said dejectedly. "You have to think of your own position, of course. I appreciate you sticking with us this far. Please take care…" With a groan she pushed the button to end the call, glaring at the screen with what little ire she could muster.

"Another one bites the dust?" Loke asked.

Lucy sprawled her torso, face down, across the huge wooden desk that used to be the focal point of her father's office. "Yep. Another investor gone. We lose any more and the rail expansion is totally sunk." She sighed gustily, breath fogging up the lacquered surface. "If we could just get enough capital to get started, we might be able to get around the Junelles' stalling. But no one trusts me enough…"

Capricorn set his index finger against her forehead, giving a gentle push to force the woman back into a proper sitting posture. "Confidence will come in time. You are doing an excellent job rallying support for our other projects."

"But this is the big one!" Lucy cried, hands flinging into the air. "If we can't get the rail expansion through, it could tank the entire company! Dad tied so many of our resources into it, I'm not sure I can unravel things."

Loke cut in, "It's not so different from when you renegotiated the contract for the new engine construction. You managed to cut apart and rewrite that disaster of a deal without breaking a sweat."

She smiled crookedly. "It was pretty fun. Had those guys eating out of the palm of my hand…" Shaking herself out of the memory, Lucy's expression became serious again. "But that wasn't the same. We didn't have so much riding on the contract even if it was predatory."

"It's always unwise to put all your eggs in one basket," the goat spirit agreed. "But the railways are just one part of this corporation. Even if we lose that facet, there are other, smaller, arms that could keep us afloat."

"I just don't know where else we can focus our efforts. We're stretched so thin on all fronts." Lucy spun her chair to stare out the picture window at the skyscrapers making up downtown Magnolia. "I'm running short on ideas."

The two spirits shared a look that betrayed mutual concern. Loke made a gesture towards their boss and raised an eyebrow at Capricorn. The goat adjusted his sunglasses before speaking. "Perhaps you should take a break, Lucy. You've spent the last ten days working right through lunch and even stayed late nearly every day. Some distance might give you a fresh perspective."

"I think that's a great idea." All three turned to look at Aquarius who strutted passed her male colleagues to stand in front of Lucy's desk. She dropped a bundle of clothing in front of the young woman. "Put these on."

"Wha…?" Lucy said dumbly as she picked up the t-shirt and shorts. "I get that these will be more comfortable, but how is it supposed to -"

"Well, you can't go to the fair dressed like that." She gaped at the familiar lean figure lounging against her office threshold. "I'm pretty sure you'd look even weirder than normal if you went wearing a fancy suit." Natsu held up a baseball cap similar to the one he was sporting with a wide grin. "Plus, this would just look plain goofy with it."

After getting badgered by four of her spirit assistants - even Aries joined in - Lucy finally caved and changed into the casual clothes. Natsu dropped the cap on her head with a satisfied pat to set it in place, stating that her look was complete and no one would recognize them now. She had pointed out the distinctive scarf he wore, but Natsu, as usual, brushed it off. Of course Aquarius had to add a parting shot of "Don't do anything I wouldn't do" with a suggestive chortle.

As skeptical as Lucy had been, an uncomplicated bus ride, even with a motion sick Natsu, made her consider that he might have a point. No one even looked twice at the duo. Well, maybe twice when they saw Natsu stagger off the bus and actually kiss the ground in relief.

"Still can't handle transportation, huh?" She favored him with a sympathetic grimace.

"Urgh, yeah… It's not so bad when I drive, but it sucks the rest of the time," he admitted. "Being on solid ground is definitely helping though. What do you want to do first?" The pink haired man smiled and swept his hands out to indicate the fair grounds filled with booths, rides, and people.

"The ferris wheel is out unless I want to ride by myself," Lucy commented, "Which I don't. So, do you mind if we check out the craft booths first?"

"Anything you want," he grinned. "This is your break time."

The two headed out, quickly being absorbed by the press of people. When Lucy stopped, leaning forward to admire some wire wrapped jewelry, she felt Natsu crowd in behind her for a look. A gentle nudge with an elbow earned her a temporary bit of breathing room. But as they maneuvered down the causeway, Lucy was quickly reminded of Natsu's poor understanding of personal space.

Bumping hips from walking too close, peering over her shoulder, grabbing her arm to get her attention… How could I forget? He'd always been such a physical person, seeming to prefer experiencing the world through raw senses and action.

I'm just holding on tight so I don't lose you, Lucy!

She suppressed a shiver of awareness as he spoke into her ear to be heard over the thrum of the crowd. The puffs of hot air made her skin prickle. "You getting hungry yet? I'm starved!"

Just as always, he seemed entirely unfazed by the close contact, but she could swear he lingered a moment as his nose brushed the shell of her ear. No! Bad, Lucy. Focus! "Sure. Oh! Can we get some chicken-on-a-stick? I haven't had that in forever. I can almost taste the sauce," she hummed in anticipated pleasure, eyes closing.

Natsu laughed heartily. "You make the best faces, Lucy. Let's get some." He grabbed her hand, tugging the young blonde behind him eagerly.

She hadn't given much thought to the hand holding at first. The crowd was heavy, and it did make it easier for them to stay together. But as they ate their food, played games, and stopped to listen to the various musical acts over the next few hours, she noticed Natsu seemed reluctant to let go of her fingers. He reached out to capture them again as he tugged her over to watch a trio of drummers perform. I'd forgotten just how warm his hands are… It feels… nice.

By now the sun had already set and people were congregating in the open field area beyond the main thoroughfare. The first boom of fireworks reached them, mixing with the rhythmic thud of the drums, and Lucy smiled to herself. Craning her neck back, she watched the splashes of color and light in the sky accompanied by 'oohs' and 'aahs' of the other people gathered around them. Maybe it's okay to enjoy being like this just for now.

"Hey, Natsu?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks," she whispered, and it was only his ridiculously good hearing that let him catch it.

"For what?"

Lucy let her eyes slide closed, still smiling. "I had fun today."

His breath caught, taking in the way the intermittent bursts of light from the fireworks illuminated her face. Opening his mouth, Natsu suddenly found he couldn't quite piece together all the things clamoring around in his skull into a coherent sentence. I forgot she does that to me...

Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, the rose haired star stepped closer so that they were shoulder to shoulder. He gently weaved their fingers together, wanting to savor the cool, soft feel of her hand in his. Finally, he said the only thing that was solid in his mind, "Me too, Lucy. Me too."

July 16, X793

Natsu had always been a deep sleeper, but also prided himself on being very aware of his surroundings. It wasn't easy to get the drop on the Salamander. That did nothing to stop him from jolting awake with an undignified thrashing of limbs when Evergreen dropped a magazine on his face. "What the fuck?!" He narrowly avoided plunging off the edge of the bed.

"I think I should be asking that. Are you stupid?!" she demanded, picking the magazine back up and waving it in his face.

Dark eyes still fuzzy with sleep traced the erratically moving publication as Natsu tried to figure out what had the woman so worked up. It took a bit, but something leapt out at him and sank like a stone into his stomach. "Wha… Wait! Is that…?!"

"I have to assume so, since I can't imagine you being with some other woman."

Plastered on the cover of the tabloid magazine was a picture of Natsu and Lucy at the fair from the day before. Someone had caught a photo of the star with his cap pushed back and holding hands with the woman at his side. Lucy, thankfully, had her head down and her hat low so her features weren't visible.

"Oh shit," Natsu muttered, taking in the stupidly blissful grin on his own face and the bold, obnoxious text above it that declared 'Salamander and Lucy? Exclusive photos inside!'

Evergreen rolled up the magazine with efficient twists of her hands. She paused for a dramatic moment and then promptly began smacking the pink head with the paper. "Ow!" Natsu cried, as much from surprise as pain, trying to deflect the repeated attacks with his hands.

"You. Are. An. Idiot!" Each word was punctuated by a thwap against his skull. "If they didn't get any new information, they would've forgotten about her! But now you've given them pictures, and it's going to be that much worse!"

The now very awake star scrambled to the other side of the bed to get away from the irate public relations agent. Happy had taken to the air by this point and was drifting around the room, not wanting to get caught up in the violent scene. "I didn't mean to! I didn't think anyone would recognize me with the hat and different clothes."

"It doesn't matter whether you meant to or not," Evergreen sniffed. She tossed the rumpled magazine onto the bed before turning away. "Those pictures are out there now, and you're going to have to deal with the fallout." Pausing in the doorway, she cast a serious look over her shoulder as she left. "Just hope that Lucy doesn't have to deal with it too."

Natsu gingerly picked up the bound pages and smoothed them out to take another look at the article promised by the exuberant cover. Landing, Happy hung over his shoulder to peer at the cause of the early morning ruckus. There were more photos inside, but none of them actually showed Lucy's face, and the few that came close were blurry. Thank God.

On the other hand, Natsu's love-drunk grin was evident in every single one.