A/N: Hi everyone happy Valentine's Day! 3 Hopefully by the time I upload this it'll be Valentine's Day, but whateves. Please enjoy and leave a review. Thanks!

Natsu, Lucy and Wendy didn't realize how hard it was to get to Hargeon on foot. First because Lucy was out of commission, and Natsu and Wendy didn't really know a lot about the danger beasts in the Northern region they had a hard time fighting them off. Second, Natsu was carrying Lucy on his back which made it even harder to fight monsters. Now they were on the outskirts of Hargeon. "Natsu you know you could have set Lucy down when you were fighting. Right?" Wendy said looking at a very tired Natsu with concerned eyes.

"I know I just didn't want to set her down and have her be in danger. I'd rather her be on my back so I know she's safe." Natsu said nonchalantly stopping momentarily to readjust an ecstatic Lucy on his back.

"Wow didn't know you cared for me that much." Lucy said with a sly smile. Natsu blushed and looked away, taking one of his hands that was holding Lucy on his back and scratched the back of his head. He felt Lucy squirmed a little; she was trying to readjust, squeezing her legs together to stay up. Natsu's face started to turn a light shade of pink.

He maneuvered his hands to return to supporting her legs. Lucy's legs were soft considering she was a slave for so long. He felt bad for her, it must have been the first time in forever that she got to be out and about and do what she wanted. It must have been hard to be a slave, accommodating to someone's every whim, doing unnecessary things and odd jobs, and being treated like a dog. He certainly would want that kind of life, he would take any change he got to break free if that were the case he thought as someone interrupted them.

"What are you thinking about Natsu?"

He jumped a bit and turned his head slightly to see Lucy. "Just about...life I guess."

"You were thinking about my enslavement huh?"

"WHAT!? That's ridiculo-. How did you know?"

"I like to call it intuition." Lucy said with a wink. "And plus you get worry lines on your forehead when you're thinking about something serious."

"Wait! I do? Wendy how come you never told me?!" Natsu exclaimed turning to Wendy. The blunette giggled and said," I actually never noticed because you're never normally serious or think that hard about much. So this is a first for me."

"I feel insulted." He simply said making Lucy and Wendy laugh. "So Lucy how was being a slave? I'm sorry for prying I'm just curious." Wendy said after her fit of giggles.

"Oh! Um...well" She started off saying. "I've been past from person to person they always end up getting hurt or worst because of me. Because of my race, Salamander unlike the others was the nicest out of all of them; I still didn't like him though. I had actual meals and a bed. And when he got mad he let it out all on me not Karin, sometimes he would punish me if he was really mad." Lucy finished, she noticed Natsu wasn't moving from his spot on the trail, neither was Wendy. "Sorry if I'm being a downer, but I've never really confined in anyone so..." Lucy said tugging at her blond locks.

"Natsu?" Lucy asked after he hadn't said a word for the past minuet. So she bridged her back and slipped her feet from his grasp, standing on one foot her injured leg tucked under her. Natsu turned around and he looked pissed. "He did what to you?" he venom spewing out of every word. Lucy backed up but realized she had only one foot to use. "Kya!" she yelped as she feel backwards falling to the ground. "Natsu calm down it isn't anything important!" she exclaimed hold up her hands. "Of course it is you idiot! People shouldn't be treated like that no matter how bad they are, no matter their physical appearance or race!" He yelled in the blondes face.

Wendy watched as Natsu scolded Lucy. Her face look so misconstrued and confused, someone so strong looking so terrified then Wendy realized. "Natsu stop your scaring her." Wendy said throwing her body around Natsu, tearing him away from the blonde. Natsu stared at Lucy.

She was curled up, knees up against her chest hands on her head making it look like she was trying to protect her head. The light from her chocolate colored eyes had fled and was rimmed with tears and a terrified look. Then he felt bad, like really bad. "I'm sorry for yelling at you Lucy. I was being inconsiderate."

"No. I'm sorry you were right I was being an idiot. I'm sorry." Wiping away her tears she stood up, Natsu held out his hand and helped her stand. "Its fine I lost my temper. I just didn't like the way you were talking like you didn't care about hurting yourself." Lucy stood there and looked down realizing that, that was what she sounded like. "Again I'm sorry for worrying you."

"It's fine. Now let's get to Hargeon!" Natsu said pick up Lucy princess style this time and rounding down the road leading to their destination. Wendy followed was a smile plastered to her face.

-^/\^-

"Wow it's so big. Don't you think Natsu?" Wendy asked looking bewildered at the sight of the port city. The buildings had a sort of warm and cozy vibe and they looked like they had some character. Unlike the town Natsu and Wendy stayed in, people dressed Victorian style and it looked interesting. "Hey there's a market place!" Natsu exclaimed. Lucy clung on tightly to him as he ran for the food stands. He blushed slightly but continued forward. When they got there, Lucy realized that the place was really lively and colorful. She smiled and talked to Natsu and Wendy as they ventured through the market, even though people were looking at the odd bunch. After a while of walking through town, Natsu noticed Lucy sleeping in his arms it was cute. "Hey Natsu aren't you tired of carrying Lucy like that?" Wendy asked. Natsu shock his head to deny still looking at Lucy's peaceful face. "No she's actually pretty light."

"And she can hear you too." Lucy said unexpectedly with a smirk on his face. Natsu and Wendy jumped. Then Lucy fell out of his arms. "Ouch." She said before getting up and dusting off her dress. "Sorry." He said quickly helping her up. "It's alright it was my kind of my fault too."

"Kind of?! You scared us half to death." Natsu yelled. Lucy shrugged and turned around. "Well its getting dark, I think we should head for an inn." She said. Wendy trotted off in front saying that she spotted an inn when they first entered Hargeon. Natsu carried Lucy and on his back again till they got to a doctor in the morning.

When they got to the inn it turned out to be a bed and breakfast inn which was good for everyone. Lucy walked in and asked how much a night would cost and were a doctor or physician could be found. She paid for a two bedroom room and got her information. The inn was sweet and cozy the walls were a light shade of pink which stood out against the oak wood interior.

Lucy walked up the stairs to the room Wendy in tow. Natsu was a few feet behind them having being bored and wanted food. He noticed that the pink walls of the inn complemented Lucy's honey blond hair. When they got to the room Wendy immediately chose a room for later tonight and Lucy wandered into the living space sitting on a cushion, hands over her head in a relaxed position. "You take the bed in the other room I'll be fine here." She said with her eyes closed. Natsu shook his head and retorted, "no your leg hurts doesn't it? You take the bed."

"Are we really going to argue over this?"

"Yes if we have to." Lucy opened one eyes and glared at Natsu. Natsu glared right back. This went on for a while until Wendy walked into the awkward atmosphere. "Hey Lucy there's a spring in the back do you wanna sit in there and relax? It might ease the pain a bit." Lucy sat up and nodded. Standing up with the aid of a table near her she walked slowly to Wendy, who supported her back leg and walked out the door. Natsu was left alone with his thoughts. One of them being hungry so he ordered room service. Only a moment after he ordered, the food was brought to him. "Two boxes of pizza. That's good." He said sitting down devouring half of the first pizza and his mind wondering what could the girls be doing that can be taking so long. So he went to check up on them.

He walked down stairs and snuck into the girls locker room and snuck into a nearby bush hopeful he wasn't making any sound. He peeked at what the girls were doing. Lucy and Wendy were just getting in and he got a pretty good view. He looked at Wendy then to Lucy. He had to hold his excitement as he felt a nosebleed coming on. He blushed and looked for a way out of the mess he had gotten into.

On the girls side of things Lucy and Wendy were sitting on opposite sides of the spring relaxed and calm. The spring was just a hole in the ground surrounded by wooden walls to separate them from male and female, and a line of over grown bushed handing over the edges. "This was an awesome idea Wendy. I really needed this." Lucy said with a sigh. Wendy nodded and sunk further into the steaming water. Lucy had never experienced anything so pleasurable before this. She had only seen other people enjoy and wondered to herself what it felt like. And now she knew.

She let out another sigh till she heard a rustling in the bushes her head swung around looking for the thing making the noise. She was about till she saw a patch of familiar pink. She stood up and walked gingerly to the bush and kicked it. To her surprise Natsu came out of the bush with a bruise on the left side of his face and a bloody nose. "Lucy what the hell!?" he exclaimed as he held his hand up to the bruise. Lucy and Wendy jumped at the sight and ran for cover. They covered themselves and looked at Natsu with a murderous glare. Natsu slowly back up holding out his hands, "wait wait it isn't what it looks like!" he spoke frantically. Lucy and Wendy ignored him as the night was filled with screams and yelps of a pink haired boy

-^/\^-

Once the whole ordeal was settled they went back to their room. All three of them looking at each other with embarrassment. Lucy looked around and played with the black sash over her shoulder. 'Why would he do that sure there were towels covering us but still' she thought to herself. She sighed and decided the drop it and go to bed. She stood up and limped to the bedroom plopping down face first and almost immediately falling asleep. But she felt a burning pain in the back of her head as she slept, like someone was watching her.

-^/\^-

Wendy and Natsu were left to themselves as Lucy left for her room. "You know you could share a bed with Lucy if you want to." Wendy said bluntly. Natsu chocked on his own spit and coughed dramatically as he finally said, "what are you crazy Wendy! I just met the girl and you want me to sleep with her?!"

"I was only suggesting it and I wasn't thinking!" Wendy whimpered at her attempt to appease Natsu. She bowed her head in shame and stood up. "Say Wendy?" She stopped and looked up at Natsu.

"Yeah?"

"What do you like about Lucy?" Natsu said bangs covering his eyes. Wendy had to think for a moment and she finally came up with an answer, "she's an extremely strong and reliable friend who I find as more of a sister figure. I like her and I approve." Wendy said simply not waiting for a response from the pink haired boy wearing the black turbine. She walked into her room and smiled and heard a delayed, "HEY WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!?" she giggled to herself as she fell asleep.

-^/\^-

Natsu shook his head and laid down on the couch. His fast was reddening fast from the thought of Lucy. She was pretty, no gorgeous, with her rounded heart shaped face and her pale pink skin, her eyes dark as coffee and her honey blonde hair behind her like a sheet of gold. He smiled to himself and fell asleep, well tried to.

In the middle of the night Natsu was woken up to something warm pressed against his back and something squishy. He opened his eyes slightly and realized he was on a bed, and then he turned around and saw Lucy with a peaceful smile on her face. Then it disappeared and her eyes opened, "hey is it morning?" Lucy asked drowsily. Natsu chuckled and replied with a shake of his head and a, "No not yet just go back to sleep." She did as she was told and snuggled closer to his back curling up and falling asleep again. It wasn't long till he fell asleep too, and he enjoyed it.

But not long enough. It felt like a few minutes had gone by and he was woken up with the smell of food. To him it smelt like pancakes, bacon, sausage, assorted fruits and eggs. He bolted up and ran for the living area. Lucy and Wendy were walking around in the kitchen making food. "Oh hi Natsu, Lucy can apparently cook and I wanted her to teach me! Isn't that great?" Wendy asked leaping over to Natsu her light brown eyes tracking him as she moves across the room.

"Yeah that's great but didn't you set the house on fire the last time you cooked?" Wendy's mood did a three sixty, "hey that was your fault you left me to cook dinner. So it was your fault."

"Nope you said that you wanted to cook so I let you!"

"And then you walked away and left me to do it without any instructions!"

As the two continued with their squabble Lucy had finished making breakfast and then there was a knock on the door and Lucy went to go answer it. Natsu and Wendy hadn't stopped their pointless banter to hear. She opened the door to find a man about 19 years old with spikey black hair and dark eyes, who also didn't have a shirt on. Lucy looked at him realized something and said, "Hey I know you from somewhere right?" The man looked confused then his features led up and he smiled, "yeah your Lucy right? Yeah we met before down at the harbor with my brother."

"Yeah your brother Lyon was doing a job right? Grey." He's smile grew even bigger. "Well I heard you were in town and that you got yourself hurt and my brother's friend Chelia is a healer and would like to help so came by to deliver the message."

"Well I think I'll take you up on that offer." Lucy said. Then she notice Grey's eyes trail past her shoulder to the people standing behind her. "Who are they?"

"Oh that's Natsu and Wendy. Their travelling buddies." Grey looked at Lucy with confusion then let out an exasperated sigh. "Well I think I can take you to Chelia now and then-''

"Who the hell are you?" a voice said from behind Lucy. Both she and Grey stepped back as Natsu looked at the two intensely. Lucy nudged Grey slightly and Grey said, "Hi I'm Grey Fullbuster and I'm here to accompany Lucy to a Doctor." Natsu looked at Grey, then at Lucy.

"Luce is he your boyfriend?" Lucy's face gradually turned a cute shade of pink as she frantically tried to deny it. Natsu smirked and then said, "Well how do you two know each other?" Lucy looked at Grey, Grey looked at Lucy and in sync they said, "We met at the harbor while we were on a job."

Natsu rubbed the top of his covered head and said, "Well Wendy and I were going to accompany you but it seems you two have some catching up to do so..."

"Oh no it's not a problem you can tag along, right Grey?" Luce said as she tilted her head slightly to look at Grey. Said boy felt his face redden at the cuteness of Lucy. 'Doe she even realize how cute she looks right now?!' he thought in his head. "Well let's go. See ya later Natsu." Lucy said with Grey in tow. Natsu scowled at the door as it shut and he threw his hands up in the air in frustration. Wendy pecked up from behind and asked, "Who was that? And where did Lucy go?"

"She went to go see a doctor with an old friend of hers." Wendy looked at Natsu and noticed the small look of sadness in his eyes. Then she smirked, "Aww is Natsu jealous of the man that took Lucy away?" She teased. Natsu's green eyes widened as his face turned red. He whirled around and exclaimed, "No I'm not jealous of that bastard. He can do whatever to he wants to Lucy, I don't care." Wendy waited a few seconds for him to realize what he said then he was gone with the door open.

Hey look at that I uploaded at the right time (that's a first). The next chapter will be up by March 2. Anyway there was a bit of Gralu in there but don't worry this will be Nalu! 3 Happy Valentine's Day XOXOXO3

~Casey

P.S.: Plz review :D