I don't own fairy tail or any of it's characters

"What do you think?" asked Lucy, coming out of her room in a slinky metallic red dress with tall black heels.

Cana rolled her eyes and took a sip of her beer before answering, "Hot, just like the last four. Lucy what are you trying so hard for? It's just Natsu; he wouldn't know the difference between that dress and a parka."

"Well which one would you wear then? I just can't decide!" Lucy was so nervous. She had not been able to see Natsu since the she had sent him home the day they kissed. He and Laxus had been working so hard to finish in time that all she received from him was a text here or there. She couldn't wait to see him again, but what if it was awkward? What if he regretted it?

"I still think you should just wear the jeans with the sexy top, it's freezing outside and it makes your rack look great," Cana winked.

"Aww, but that's not as much fun as the dresses, I don't have many opportunities to wear these anymore," Lucy frowned, looking down at her adorable outfit. It was snowing outside and absolutely frigid. It was awful when she left the bakery at noon, after finally finishing scrubbing every nook and cranny of the place, and now that the sun was down it was bound to be even worse. These heels in the snow would be miserable too, but really wasn't it worth it?

There was a knock at the door. Cana got up to open it, and before Lucy had a chance to run back to the bedroom, Natsu stepped in. He was as dressed up as he got, still in boots, but his jeans were clean with a button up on beneath his scarf and coat. He looked up at Lucy and his mouth dropped, making her think she was right in picking this dress for tonight, weather be damned. But then he raised his eyebrow questioningly, "You look great Lucy, but won't you be cold in that?"

"Oh for the love of god!" She said, throwing her hands in the air exasperated. She stomped back in her room to change once again.

Cana doubled over in laughter as Natsu looked at her confused and asked, "What did I say?"

Cana put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder, "Nothing Tiger, but you did prove me right!" She gave him a hug hello and whispered in his ear, "Make sure you tell her that her rack looks great too."

Natsu rolled his eyes and shoved her away. "Geez Cana, I think you've already had too much!" and he headed towards Lucy's room to attempt to find out what was bothering her.

"So you're saying they don't look good?" called Cana after him.

He flicked her off over his shoulder and said "I didn't say that," not bothering to look at her snickering face.

Lucy huffily put back on the sexy silver top with the tight dark jeans, zipping up her high heeled boots and throwing on a scarf and her cutest winter coat. She struggled to tie the belt to it as she walked out of her room; her hands were shaking and clumsy either from frustration or nerves. Distracted by her fumbling, Lucy bumped right into Natsu. He gently grabbed her hands and after moving them to her sides, he helped pull the tie tight. She looked up at him surprised and he smiled. Chuckling at her, he gently kissed her on the lips. "You didn't have to change Lucy, you looked amazing! Really, you look great no matter what you wear. I just worried 'cause it's like 10 degrees out there."

Cana made a loud wolf whistle. Natsu and Lucy both turned to her irritated looks, annoyed that she had ruined the moment. She laughed and tossed her bottle in the nearby trash. "If you guys are gonna tear each other's clothes off, could you please drop me off at the party first, I'm out of booze here!"

Lucy laughed as Natsu got flustered and red, "Oi Cana, why are you always so annoying!" He grabbed Lucy's hand and pulled her to the front door. She grabbed her purse off the couch on the way.

Cana walked up behind Lucy, "Hey Natsu, you almost forgot." She opened her eyes wide and pointed to Lucy's breasts. Cana quickly pulled her hands away before Lucy could see what she was doing.

"One more word Cana! Just one more word and you won't be getting a ride home with me! You can walk home in this shit for all I care." Natsu dragged a giggling Lucy out the front door towards the warm, running car. Cana followed behind laughing, extremely amused by Natsu's blushing face.

At first, Gajeel had tried being his regular self, stating that he would not be attending the party. Then Levy had looked up at him with her honey brown eyes and asked, "You're really going to make me go on my own? Who am I going to kiss at New Year's then?" Which had made him realize a flaw in his plan, he didn't want anyone else to even consider touching Levy. And for some reason New Year's Eve made every asshole think it was open season on every unattended woman at the bar. There was no way in hell Levy was going by herself.

Then he had tried telling her it was stupid and that they shouldn't go. Why go waste time with those idiots when they could have just as much fun here alone? But Levy was adamant, "We've spent all week alone Gajeel, I want to see my friends!"

That afternoon he had tried to drag her back to bed with insistent kisses and she had just batted him off saying "Gajeel I have to get ready for the party and Juvia will be waiting for us, remember you promised to give her a ride?"

While she got ready, he had sat on the couch and glowered, he absolutely screwed. All week long he had blown off work, not wanting to miss a second with her. He had turned off his phone after the third call from Laxus and never turned it back on. So how was he supposed to just turn up, out of the blue, at a party where all of his coworkers would be? He couldn't admit his issue to Levy, she'd be absolutely livid and it would put a dampener on the amazing time they had.

So now he found himself, shuffling in the freezing snow to his execution. The two excitedly chatting blue-haired women in front of him completely ignored his sullen behavior as they practically skipped into the bar.

Gajeel took the girl's coats, and took his time following them all the way in. Fairy Tail tavern was a shit show as usual. Mira's brother Elfman helped man the bar, while Mira and Kinana ran from person to person, probably serving drinks with twice the recommended liquor content. Gajeel looked around for the source of his future demise but only saw his band the Thunder Gods drinking at the bar. Could he dare to hope that Laxus was going to skip out on the festivities?

Cana sat in a corner, contently sipping on a pitcher, happily watching Natsu and Gray wrestle like idiots. Of course Gray was already stripped to his underwear. Juvia began tugging Levy and Gajeel in that direction. "Oh look it's Gray-sama! Juvia wants to go say hello."

Gajeel couldn't help but sigh. He really didn't understand why his beautiful, intelligent cousin could be so obsessed with that tiny, emotionally stunted nudist. Her affection for his friend was almost embarrassing. "I don't think you need to address him so formally ya know. You don't even address your boss like that. And for god's sake Juvia, he's in his damn underwear."

"Gray-sama is just comfortable in his body, it's one of the many things that makes Juvia love him so," Juvia sighed and brought her hands to her face, looking at Gray with a far off look in her eye. She was a lost cause. Gajeel felt a light pat on his arm; he looked over to see Levy smiling up at him. It was so nice to have someone understand his pain.

A blond cheerleader looking girl arrived, fresh from the bar with two drinks. She set them down on a nearby table and practically threw herself at Levy. Levy hugged the blondie like they hadn't seen each other in years. It's only been a damn week, Gajeel thought huffily to himself.

The blond girl turned to him and said "Hi Gajeel, nice to see you again!" What was her name again? He always called her bunny girl because the first time he saw her she had been wearing this large bow that looked like ears, and she literally hopped away from him, like a frightened rabbit. But he couldn't call her that here, Levy would be mad if he called her that. He kept trying to think of her name but all that came to him was Bunny Girl, Bunny Girl, Bunny Girl.

Levy turned and seemed to notice his confusion. "Isn't it great that Lucy is here? I haven't seen her all week!"

"Yea, hey Lucy," thank Mavis for Levy, he could just kiss her. A thought that only made him pissed off all over again that he was at this stupid party and not home alone with her. She went back to discussing who knows what with bunny girl and Gajeel just got lost in watching her excited facial expressions. How could she be so adorable, and why did that make him want her so bad? He couldn't help but sigh, this was going to be a long night.

He was torn from his musings by a fist to his face. "Where the hell have you been all week metal face?"

Crap, Laxus. "Hey to you too," Gajeel rubbed his jaw. He decided ignoring the question would be the best way to deal with it. Unfortunately, an unimpressed Laxus just crossed his arms and stared bullets at him.

Gajeel swallowed deeply; there wasn't really anything to say. He scratched the back of his head. "Well, you see man. I . . ." What the hell could he tell him? A tiny shrimp let me in her bed and I didn't want to leave? He really didn't think that would be enough. Laxus was going to make him hate his life.

Mira stopped by just in time and patted Laxus on the shoulder, holding her tray out to him so he could take his drink. "Now Laxus, it is New Year's. Why don't you just relax and have a little fun for once?"

"Well this asshat . . ." Laxus started to explain.

Mira's face turned to something from a horror movie, "Do I need to say it again?"

"Jeez, chill out Mirajane," Laxus put his arm around Gajeel's shoulder and gave her a cheesy grin. "See all's well!" Mira smiled a sweet smile again and walked away. "Sometimes that woman terrifies me" whispered Laxus, taking a sip of his beer.

Gajeel grunted in agreement.

"Hey!" Natsu came over putting his arm over Gajeel's shoulder. "Where were you all this week numb nuts?"

By some sixth sense, all three men looked over at the bar where Mira sat glaring at them. She slowly lifted her finger and pointed at them, mouthing "have fun" in the least fun way possible. Then she put her finger to her neck and mimed slicing it open. Her face went back to a smile quickly, as if they had imagined the whole thing.

Natsu dropped away from Gajeel with a grimace, "So scary," he breathed out, but in a second he was back to his cheerful self. "No worries, we got it done. More cash in my pocket right?" Gajeel looked down at him confused. Wasn't this the same Natsu who, just last week, hit him with a 2x4 for eating his sandwich?

"You're a lucky bastard Gajeel," Laxus waved and headed over to the part of the bar where Bixlow, Evergreen and Freed sat. Gajeel breathed a sigh of relief and flagged down Kinana who was waitressing that evening. If he was going to get through this night, he was going to need a drink.

Lucy was having a great time, she was so glad she had somehow found her way into this tight knit group. Natsu had found a way to stay by her for most of the night, except for the fight with Gray when she had left him for a minute to get them something to drink. At the moment his discussion with Gray, Gajeel, and Elfman was starting to make her eyes glaze over, she just really wasn't all that interested in what happened at an MMA fight two weeks ago. She politely excused herself and went to the ladies room.

On her way there Cana attempted to flag her down. "Blondie," she slurred, "we're playing asshole, you in?" Erza, Levy, and Juvia all sat with her at the table in the corner.

She didn't want to admit that she had no idea what that was, she had lived a little bit of a sheltered youth. Lucy also thought, from what she'd learned of Cana over the last couple months, playing her in a game that involved drinking and cards was probably not a good idea. Not to mention, Erza already had a terrifying competitive glint in her eyes. Lucy politely declined. "Sorry Cana, not right now. Maybe later?" and continued into the ladies room.

After adjusting her top and her makeup in the mirror, Lucy was ready to head back to Natsu. She fixed her hair one last time and thought Cana's right, I do look fantastic in this top! She hoped they had changed topics by now, especially since all the girls seemed to be playing a game Lucy had no business being in.

She left the bathroom with a huge smile on her face, but one glance at Natsu and it was gone. His back was to her so she couldn't see his face, but she could see the face of the skank hanging all over him. The woman was wearing an outfit very similar to the one Lucy had put back in the closet, only her dress was blue and Lucy was sure she looked ten times better in it than Lucy ever could. This woman looked like she had been peeled from the page of a magazine. The flirt tossed her hair said something coquettish in Natsu's ear with a little grin, and Lucy felt her world spin. How was this happening again? She could almost imagine Loke's orange hair on Natsu's head. Fuming, Lucy spun around. "Cana! Deal me in!"

Unfortunately, Lucy had picked the worst time to stop watching, because at that moment Natsu took a large step away from the desperate housewife who had attached herself to his side like a leech from the moment she stepped in the door. He had been so surprised at her presence that he didn't even have time to escape before she had grabbed his arm and whispered "You look sexy tonight Natsu."

"Jenny what are you doing here?" Natsu asked, not even trying to hide the irritation in his voice.

Jenny looked around; as if she thought the guys standing with them would find Natsu's reaction as odd as she did. Gray, Gajeel, and Elfman suddenly became very uncomfortable, all excusing themselves at the same time.

"Umm, I think I left my pants somewhere?"

"I need to go get another drink."

"A real man would help you get that drink!"

Frustrated that no one came to her aid, Jenny turned back to Natsu and pouted. "What do you mean why am I here? It's New Year's, am I not allowed to go out on New Year's?"

"I didn't say that Jenny, I wanted to know why you were here. As in, here at the bar I'm at," he looked around, "without any of your friends or husband. It's just a little bit weird."

Jenny crossed her arms. "Well maybe I just wanted to come see you, is that so wrong?"

Natsu looked at her like she was crazy. "Yes! I would say definitely yes! I just do your floors Jenny; I wouldn't even really consider us all that close of acquaintances! People don't spend New Year's with their contractor; they spend it with their friends and families." Her lip started to quiver, but Natsu didn't lose his resolve. He was going to have to stop this behavior now. "Jenny I am flattered, but I am not interested. I'm with someone, and I care a good deal about her. I mean seriously Jenny, is this the usual type place you would spend New Year's?"

"No, not really," she said quietly.

"Exactly, you should be at one of those fancy places having dinner or a party on some boat. Not in a dive bar in Magnolia."

"I guess so," she admitted.

"So where's Hibiki then, why aren't you with him right now?" Natsu asked.

"He didn't want to go out, he just got back this morning and he said he was tired," Jenny pouted again.

Natsu ran a frustrated hand down his face. "God Jenny, you can't use me to get back at him. I don't want any part in it! You should go talk to him and tell him what you're feeling. He might have no clue!"

At this Jenny became angry. Apparently he had overstepped his bounds by attempting to give her advice. "What would you know you fricking moron! Like you said, you just do floors!" She started to stomp away but she turned suddenly, fury in her eyes, "You know, don't worry about the closet, I'm sure I can find someone else. Hell, my dog could do your job!" She stomped a few more steps, turning back again. "I hope you get a good look Natsu Dragneel, because all of this," she motioned to herself like a model on the price is right, "is walking out the door, and you will never have a chance with it again." She threw her nose in the air and stormed out the door.

Gajeel came and stood next to him, sipping on a scotch, "That woman was scary crazy man."

Natsu nodded dumbly, in disbelief that the whole thing had just occurred. He looked over his shoulder and saw that Lucy was sitting, with her back to him, playing cards with the girls. That looked like fun. He was about to head over there when Gray slapped him lightly on the back.

"Damn Natsu, you're just knocking them down all over the place, and here I was starting to wonder if you even really liked women" he laughed, a snide look on his face.

Natsu turned to face his rival, "What did you say you stupid exhibitionist?" Lucy's card game could wait; he would take out his frustration on Gray's face.

Lucy had made a terrible mistake. This game was impossible! And then the worst possible thing happened.

"Yes! I am president again!" Erza said triumphantly. Somehow Erza had been president the last five rounds! The game was starting to seem rigged! Cana just seemed amused, laughing in her seat in the corner, and Levy was beyond gone so she just cackled on with her.

"This round any time someone says your name you must take a shot!"

"What? That's ridiculous!" Lucy protested.

Erza glared at her fiercely, "Do you question the rules of the president?"

Terrified, Lucy started to back down, "Well . . . ."

"Lucy, Lucy, Lucy," Erza said with a satisfied grin. Then she snarled, "Now drink!" pointing a butter knife at Lucy's head.

Levy poured three extremely messy shots and slid them towards Lucy, "Looks like it's going to be a real party now huh Lu . . . haha Lu. Wait can we say nicknames, or does she have to drink for that to?"

Erza smiled, "I will allow it."

"I hate you all," Lucy scowled as she tipped the burning liquid down her throat. They could have at least gotten something slightly tasty. The cheap vodka Cana had picked was like drinking gasoline.

Juvia practically fell on her, crying into Lucy's shoulder. "Juvia feels so bad for Lucy! Why question the president's word. Oh it's just so sad!"

"That's a drink for both of you," Erza's smile disappeared.

Levy fell out of her seat, laughing in a ball. "Juju said her own name, and Lu's name!"

"Damnit," Lucy grumbled. Her cheeks were starting to flush as the drinks from the previous rounds hit her bloodstream. This was definitely a terrible mistake, but not wanting to look like a coward, she took the shot Cana slid over to her. Juvia took hers as well and sobbed into the table.

Natsu had finished victorious, only because Gray slipped on his own shirt, but it was a victory none the less. Gajeel joined them when they wandered over to find what the girls were doing. What they found had them all frozen, mouths open in surprise.

Lucy and Levy sat hugging each other and singing, while Erza stood on the table shouting at them, butter knife in hand, trying to regain order. Juvia rocked herself Cana's soothing arms while crying something about not being a Juju.

"What the hell?" Gajeel said.

"This is worse than last year," breathed Natsu.

"Do you think they've noticed us? Maybe we can slip away quietly," Gray whispered.

The three men started to back up slowly, but it was too late, Erza caught them in her sights. "And where the hell do you think you're going?"

This alerted all of the drunken women of their presence. Lucy ran over to Natsu and didn't even attempt to slow down when she went to hug him. The force of contact caused him to fall back in surprise, taking Lucy down with him. She started nuzzling in his neck, but everyone was watching and his head was throbbing from impact. He struggled to get up, how did she get so heavy? "Lucy, come on, cut it out!"

Gray started to laugh at him, but his merriment came to a screeching halt when Juvia grabbed him by the waist and started sobbing into his abs. "Gray-sama was going to leave Juvia. Does Gray-sama not care about Juvia anymore?" She fell to the floor grabbing his knees, "Now Juvia will never get her New Year's kiss!"

Levy sidled up to Gajeel and bumped her with her hip. He looked relieved that she was acting so normal and smiled down at her, "Hey Shorty." Levy looked up at him and grinned. Then she pursed her lips together, shaking slightly, until finally a large guffaw came bursting out.

"Ga . . .ga . . Gajeel. Haha Gaga-Gajeel!" Levy was making absolutely no sense. "How you be so tall with a name like a baby!" She struggled to stand her howls of laughter racking her tiny body.

Gajeel sighed and lifted her up over his shoulder. "That's my cue, we're out of here. Frosty you get Juvia home."

"Wait, what?" a surprised Gray called out to Gajeel, who waved over his head not even bothering to turn around.

Gray tried to follow, but the blue haired woman attached to his legs wouldn't budge. "Gray-sama, Juvia ruined New Year's! It's just so sad!" Gray groaned in frustration.

Natsu had managed to maneuver Lucy up off the floor, but she had leapt into his arms, wrapping her legs around him, purring into his neck.

"I'm suddenly having flashbacks," said Cana snidely, playing on her phone.

"This is your fault, you damn lush!" Natsu yelled at her.

"It's not my fault you guys have ladies who can't hold their liquor, and technically it's Erza's fault. She was a little power crazy," Cana made a face up at Erza who looked down at them furiously, seemingly oblivious to everything they were saying.

"How dare you all act so grossly lovey dovey when Cana and I are here all alone," she fumed.

Cana held up her hands, "Don't lump me in with you, I'm meeting someone after this." Cana went back to texting on her phone.

Erza looked down at her, anger forgotten. "You're meeting someone? Who?"

"Eh, just Bacchus," Cana said nonchalantly.

"No, that guy is the worst," Gray and Natsu groaned in unison.

"Whatever, he's a good lay," Cana shrugged.

"Gross," Gray said scrunching up his face in disgust.

Natsu managed to pull his phone from his pocket when he shifted Lucy, who had started nibbling on his ear. Only a minute until midnight, thank god.

"Ah," said Erza, falling into the seat next to Cana. "That is a good idea. I will arrange to meet someone too." She began furiously typing in her phone.

Knowing exactly who Erza was texting, Natsu and Gray both attempted to get towards her in time to stop her. But by the time Natsu managed to place Lucy on the table to reach for Erza's phone, she held it up triumphantly saying "Done and sent!" Natsu knew for sure that she wouldn't look so pleased with herself come morning. He looked at Gray who was staring at the ceiling, defeated. This party had gone downhill fast.

Everyone in the bar started counting down 10, 9, 8 . . .

Gray sighed and pulled a sobbing Juvia to her feet saying "Quit worrying about that kiss."

Erza leaned over on Cana, "It's just unfortunate that they couldn't be here now!" she said with a frown.

3, 2, 1! The bar erupted into cheers!

Gray kissed Juvia lightly and was relieved when she smiled brightly at him. The relief was short lived though, she quickly fell to a puddle at his feet sobbing, "Gray-sama is so good to Juvia, Juvia doesn't deserve him!"

Lucy attacked Natsu; her kisses were anything but gentle. He couldn't help but kiss her back, his body stirring to life from her desperate open mouth assault, but she tasted like pure alcohol. He pulled away from her and looked her in the eyes, she could barely open them. "Aww Lucy! Why'd you have to get so drunk?" Lucy just smiled and cuddled into his shoulder again.

Cana grabbed Erza's face and kissed her hard. Then she pulled back and winked, "There you go sexy, I gotcha covered." Erza fell into her seat, putting her hand to her mouth, completely flabbergasted.

Cana ignored her reaction and slide out from the booth. "Alright Natsu, let's get going. You need to get big knockers home and Erza's got me all hot and bothered for my date back home."

Gray had managed to put his shirt back on and had Juvia scooped up in his arms, "Yea, we're gonna get going too. Did you want a ride Erza?"

Erza awoke from her blankness, finally removing her hand from her mouth. "Oh? Yes, I am ready to go now if you all are leaving."

When they all had shuffled to the front door Mira called out to them, "Where are you all going? The night is still young!"

Natsu and Gray both motioned to the wasted women in their arms. Juvia was still crying and Lucy had begun purring. Mira just laughed. "Of course, have a great night you guys! Be careful out there in the snow!" With a wave they all headed out into the cold night air.

Cana had kept to herself for most of the car ride, which was good because Natsu was pissed. Sure Lucy was an adult who could make her own decisions, but Cana had a way of convincing you to drink way more than you could handle. Natsu knew this first hand. He also knew from his conversations with Lucy, that she wasn't a very big drinker. A glass of wine with dinner here and there, but that was it. Who knows how much cheap vodka his dark haired friend had shoved down Lucy's throat? Now instead of having a fun evening with her, he was going to have to be Lucy's babysitter.

"She didn't want to play at first you know," Cana said, not looking up from her phone.

"Well thanks for convincing her" Natsu stated dryly.

"Oh, I didn't. She saw blue dress all over you and came right back."

"Blue dress? Jenny? You can't be serious, why would that make her drink herself stupid?"

"Natsu, that woman practically had her tongue in your ear," Cana scolded.

"Well that's not my fault! That woman is out of her mind!" Natsu defended.

"I know that, but does Lucy know that?"

Natsu looked down at the blond on his shoulder and frowned, "Well she should know . . ." Had she not seen him push Jenny away? Or the look of disgust on his face when Jenny had grabbed him in the first place?

When they arrived Cana leapt from the not quite parked car to meet Bacchus, who waited out front of their apartment complex. Natsu couldn't help but sneer at the guy, with his ridiculous man bun. He waved at Natsu and Natsu waved back with a false grin, saying to himself "Still a douche bag." Cana could really do better, but she always went back to that loser.

Natsu wasn't eager to leave the warm cab of the truck, but Lucy had opened her eyes. "Are we back home already?"

"Yea," he answered quietly, pushing the hair back away from her eyes.

"K," Lucy smiled and curled back in closer. Guess he was going to have to carry her. Natsu turned off the truck and stepped out. He placed her arms around his neck and hefted her up onto his back, pulling her out into the cold night air. She snuggled in close to his warmth as he shut the door with his foot and they started the long trek back to the apartment.

When they arrived to her door he gently whispered "Lucy, keys?" She fumbled around to get them out of her pocket.

He reached up to get them from her and she batted his hand away, sliding down his back. "I got it," she slurred. After trying five times, she finally got it and stumbled into her apartment. She turned to him and pouted. Swaying, she poked her finger firmly in his chest "I'm mad at you."

Natsu held up his hands, "Lucy I didn't . . ." She placed her finger to his lips while making a shushing sound.

She turned and started to walk away from him. Natsu couldn't help but grin when she wobbled. Then she started to remove her clothes, first the jacket, then the boots, then the shirt, and lastly, after a clumsy hop or two, her pants. Natsu wasn't grinning anymore, he had never been so mad at Cana in all his life, because there stood Lucy in the sexiest red lingerie he had ever seen and he couldn't do a damn thing about it because she was drunk out of her mind.

As if sensing his thoughts, she turned and narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't even look, all of this . . ." she started to motion to herself, but became suddenly distracted by the floor, "needs to take a nap." And she lowered herself, extremely ungracefully, onto the carpet in the doorway of the bedroom.

Natsu sighed, what a mess. He removed his jacket and set it on the couch. He went over and placing one arm under her shoulders and another under her legs he lifted her now sleeping body and placed her under the covers in her bed. He picked up her discarded trail of clothes and threw them in the hamper. He searched her cabinets until he found the motrin and filled glass of water. After drinking a glass himself, he brought the full glass and the pills and set them on the stand next to the bed. He stood there for a moment staring at her, unsure of what to do. He didn't want to leave her here alone in case she got sick, but he wasn't so sure she would be happy to see him in the morning.

Natsu decided it would be prudent to sleep on the couch, he reached over her to steal a pillow and she grabbed his arm. Looking up at him she asked groggily, "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to sleep on the couch Lucy, do you need something? There's some water here," he whispered.

Lucy frowned. "But I want you to sleep here, I want to snuggle."

Natsu grinned; he didn't need to be asked twice. He stripped to his briefs and hopped in next to her, enjoying the feel of her soft, warm skin against his as she snuggled into him. Her bed was like a soft cloud and he buried himself in her hair, smelling the sweet fragrance of her shampoo. She might be mad in the morning, but her little sigh of pleasure and the feeling of her up against him made it all worth it.

Across town a man sat in his car looking up at the small bungalow house, trying to decide if he should go ring the bell. He looked at the text on his phone one last time. "I miss you, come over." Did she really mean it? Could he dare to hope?

He knew she was home, even at this late hour, the light from the TV flashed in the living room. He took a deep breath; he was going to go up. He couldn't let this chance pass him by. Worst case she would apologize for the message and send him home.

He turned off the car and stepped out into the night air. His feet crunched in the snow, his breath coming out in long puffs of fog. After navigating the deep snow on the steps, he stomped the snow off his boots onto the cement stoop. He knocked gently and leaned his forehead on the door. When she began to turn the locks he could feel his heart race, he struggled to keep his breathing normal.

She opened the door and stood there looking at him, wide eyed. She was wearing a long button up sweater that she held closed over god knows what else. He swallowed deeply, his eyes taking in the sight of her. She reached out and touched his face as if she couldn't believe he was real. "You actually came."

"Of course I came, I would go anywhere for you," he replied quietly.

Her cheeks reddened to almost the same color of her beautiful hair. She pulled her hand back slowly "I probably shouldn't have sent it. . ." she started.

His heart dropped, but he knew he deserved it. He had lost her and he wasn't going to get her back. "It's okay, I'm just happy to see you. Don't worry I'll go." He turned and started back to his car. "Happy New Year's Erza."

When he was halfway to the car she called out "Jellal wait!" He turned and looked back at her; she had stepped out onto the stoop, the wind blowing her hair and her sweater causing it to open showing, just as he had thought, she wore only underwear beneath. Erza had to be freezing out here with her bare feet and bare legs, but she looked completely unfazed. "I don't want you to go."

She ran out into the snow like a mad woman and leapt into his arms. She kissed him deeply, tears running down her cheeks. He wrapped his arms and coat around her, in complete disbelief at his good fortune. When he started walking back towards the house, she pulled away and wiped her face, "I'm so tired of missing you, I'm so tired of hating you, I can't to do this anymore. " She buried her face into his neck and whispered, "I still love you, spend the night with me. Please don't go."

Jellal brought her into the house and then stopped, looking her in the eyes. Needing to know she wanted this, needing to know that her words had been real. "Are you sure?"

She gently touched his cheek and smiled. "No, but I don't care." She kissed him savagely and Jellal knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself again. He growled and lost himself in the beautiful woman above him, who owned him, mind, body, and soul.