FAIRY TAIL CHRISTMAS WEEK ~ DAY FIVE

I love seeing everyone's homes decorated around this time of year. I do believe it stems from how my dad decorated our house before it started to get annoying. He went all out too. We even had our Department 56 Snow Village set up in our garage with the carriage doors open and a large piece of plexiglass. We still have those houses, but we don't set up like that anymore. There was a lot more too. Anyway, this is something my friend and I would do to each other if I had my own place. Christmas hijinx are always fun, right?

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Deck the halls with boughs of holly

Tis the season to be jolly

Don we now our gay apparel

Troll the ancient yuletide carol

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DECORATING

Title: Christmas Capers

The day after the party, Lucy woke up with a splitting headache. She got up, freshened up and changed. She made sure she had everything organized for what she and Levy had concocted.

While she waited for Levy to show up, Lucy tidied up her apartment a little to waste some time. Not too long after Levy showed up.

"You're looking chipper." Lucy noted.

"Eh. Not really. I didn't get much sleep last night, but for some reason I am not that tired."

"I know the feeling." She agreed and then paused. "Something wrong?"

"I know you want to decorate Natsu's place for him, but you're place is…baron as well." Levy observed as she looked around. "No decorations for you?"

"Nah. If there's any left from today, I might put something up." Lucy eventually replied. "Ready to go?" She asked as she grabbed the bags.

"Yes. Let's get this surprise on, although are you sure he and Happy won't be home?" Levy inquired as she took the remaining two bags and walked out of the apartment.

"He told me on our walk over to the guild last night that he had some running around to do today so he couldn't hang out. Happy would be with Charle and Wendy, so he won't be a problem either." Lucy said and then paused. "This is going to be great!"

"You know, I have never been to his house. This will be a first."

"Just don't go squealing where it is. I don't want Natsu to be mad at me."

"No problem. Oh and I asked Gajeel about helping to get a tree. He agreed and will meet us, although now that I think about it, I don't know if he knows the way to Natsu's house."

Lucy smiled.

"Well, I am pretty sure he can sniff out the trail if need be." Lucy replied as she looked at her friend and then bumped into something hard. "Oomph." She said and then jumped back. Levy was laughing. "Sorry…Gajeel." Lucy apologized sheepishly.

"Hey blondie. I'm walking with you since I have no idea where I am going." He bluntly stated.

Lucy had no problem with that because then she could make him promise not to squeal about the location, especially since she was sure Natsu didn't just let anyone over. Gajeel followed Lucy and Levy to Natsu's home and she sneakily opened the door to make sure he wasn't home. Once she knew the coast was clear, she ushered the bluenette and the iron dragon slayer inside. The three slightly rearranged the one room house to be more presentable for the holidays and for decorating before Gajeel agreed to head out into the local forest and find a decent sized tree for Natsu's home.

Lucy and Levy were then left with starting the decorating process. Levy took out all of the garland in the bag and hung it around the windows inside and Lucy started to organize the tree items such as the lights and ornaments. Once all of that was organized and ready until Gajeel returned, Lucy helped Levy with the remaining interior decorations.

"Is there still some garland left? I wanted to put it outside around the door." Lucy asked her best friend.

"Uh…yeah. I don't know how much though. There still might be a full strand somewhere."

"Okay. I'll check. You good?" She asked making sure Levy wouldn't fall off of where she was standing.

"I'm good." Levy said with a grin.

The door slowly opened to reveal a grinning Gajeel.

"Did you find a tree?" Lucy asked hopeful.

"Sure did. Make a path." He kindly ordered.

Levy came down from where she was and help Lucy clear a path for Gajeel to walk.

Gajeel reentered the house bringing with him a tree about two feet taller than himself.

"This good?"

"It's perfect!" Lucy said excited. "Although I may need your help with the top section, if you don't mind."

"No problem."

While Gajeel was walking behind Lucy and Levy following the two to Natsu's house, Natsu and Happy were making their way, unbeknownst to her, to Lucy's house. Natsu had arranged to meet Gray and Juvia there as a surprise to Lucy.

Once they arrived, and noted that Gray and Juvia hadn't arrived yet, Natsu climbed through her window to be able to unlock the door.

"Happy, keep an eye out for Gray and Juvia."

"Aye!"

Natsu then started to pull out items from a bag he had brought with him and put them into one large pile on the floor.

"Natsu! They're here!" Happy said as he flew back inside.

"Great!"

After letting the duo in, they organized a plan to attack and decorate Lucy's small apartment. Once each job was designated, the quartet started to decorate and fast.

"I can't believe you convinced me to help you." Gray said under his breath.

"Shut it! You're her friend too, aren't you? It should just be something I should do." Natsu whined.

Juvia rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"Already you two are fighting? Juvia doesn't approve." She stated causing the two boys to stop their bickering and continue.

"What are you doing after this? Didn't you tell Lucy you wouldn't be home until late?" Gray asked trying to make civil conversation with the fire dragon slayer.

"Yes. And I have no idea. I may just go to the guild and get food. Mira's cooking was awesome last night, and her leftover sandwiches are just as awesome." Natsu said and then grinned. "Hey, once we're done, you two want to join me and Happy? My treat."

Gray and Juvia looked at each other and smiled.

"Sure." They agreed.

After hanging the lights that Natsu bought, and trimming the three foot tree that Gray had found, the four finished in a decent amount of time.

"Let's go! I don't know when she'll be back and I don't want to get caught here." Natsu stated as he started to clean up the mess they had made with all of the packaging.

Gray and Juvia agreed and helped before heading out of the door. Natsu locked the door behind them and met them outside by going out the same way he came in – the window.

The trio trimmed the tree with the lights, ornaments, star and the tree skirt that Lucy found in the specialty store.

"That's…a…great skirt, there, Lu." Levy complimented unsure.

"It fits Natsu though. It has a fire on it, even if it has a fireplace as well." Lucy stated. "I couldn't find a dragon one, so this one will have to do."

Levy shrugged as they put the finishing touches on the tree and house. Right before they left, Lucy programmed the timer to when Natsu said he would be home approximately and Gajeel hung the remaining garland over the door and attached some lights as well.

Not too long after, they three were heading home. Once Lucy was dropped off, Gajeel started to walk Levy to the girls' dorm at Fairy Hills, but stopped once the two heard Lucy let out a shriek.

"Should we check on her?"

"Knowing Lu, it might be Natsu."

"LEVY! GAJEEL! GET BACK HERE!" Lucy yelled out of her window at the two. "YOU GOTTA SEE THIS!"

Levy and Gajeel turned to look at each other and then made their way back to Lucy's apartment. They were greeted with it being entirely decorated as well.

"Salamander?"

"It's gotta be!" Lucy replied and then looked at her blue haired friend. The two busted out laughing and Gajeel let out a small chuckle. "Would you two like something to drink before you head out again?"

"Sure." Levy and Gajeel said in unison.

Lucy made her way to her kitchen and pulled out three glasses. She then went to the fridge and pulled out her container of iced tea before opening the freeze and gasping.

"You okay, Lu?"

"Yes. Apparently Gray was here too." Lucy answered.

After pouring their drinks, she came out with them on a tray and a little Fairy Tail logo ice sculpture.

"I am guess Gray was here since this was in my freezer." Lucy stated as she showed her partners in crime.

"The Salamander and Ice Boy working together in your apartment? That seems odd."

"Eh, it's the holidays. I am sure Natsu owes Gray big somehow." Lucy said shrugging it off.

"I wonder how Natsu will react once he sees his place." Levy questioned. "Like, will he know it was us?"

"With the nose of a dragon, I am sure our scent is all over the place, right Gajeel?"

"Well, the tree might throw him off a bit." Gajeel said after thinking about it. "I know my nose was going crazy with it."

After Gajeel and Levy finished their tea, the two headed back out leaving Lucy to stand by her door in amazement at the decorating that Natsu and Gray had done to her apartment. She let out a small giggle after imagining his expression at his place when he got home. She shook her head and then proceeded to get ready for bed.

Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and she actually had a lot to do before then. She needed her rest for all she had in store for herself.

A/N: Just a little fun story...I broke 200 views but have yet to receive any reviews on this venture of mine, which really saddens me. It's kind of bringing me down right before the holiday and that's not right. Day One had 109 views, Day Two had 46, Day Three had 26 and yesterday had 20. =( I realize that most people still have school, but that's depressing that my count is going down. Maybe after today I'll get a surprise for tomorrow and Friday...