Hey guys! As always, I want to thank you, the reader. My story is barely over a week old, and 42 of you have chosen to follow my tale, and 21 of you actually favorited it! Many of you have shared your feelings with me throughout the chapters, and have shown me love. I pray that I can reciprocate the feeling. *LICK*

Rated M.

M is for MATURE people.

If I can pretend to be, then you can too.

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING! *sob* However sometimes I wonder if Mashima-sama used to follow me around and take character ideas from me and my friends.

At least let a girl dream!

Chapter 13

My Lucky Number

Lucy couldn't remember the last time she'd had some of the girls over to visit. It was so refreshing that it had turned into a sleepover without much words on the matter being said. Levy had just gotten out of the shower and dressed in the oversized T-shirt Lucy had set out for her. The shirt was gray with a black thirteen printed in the upper right chest on the front, and a large thirteen in the middle on the back. Lucy was already wearing the gray shorts that matched it, so she'd located a tiny pair of black shorts for her to wear tonight. Erza had simply requipped into her usual pajamas, dressing was always a breeze for her.

It was so wonderful! Just to sit and talk and giggle! Erza had placed herself at the window sill, lounging there peacefully, tossing popcorn at Levy while she tried to catch it in her mouth. Lucy was finishing up her costume. Her friends had flipped out when they'd seen it half complete on her desk. They had kept going on and on about what a wonderful gypsy Lucy would make in a dress like that. Levy had pouted, wondering how the hell she knew how to make such lovely dresses. Yes, Lucy's Heartfillia heritage had her brought up learning many... ladylike skills. Dress making had been but one of them.

Lucy let out a sigh as she finished sewing on the last touch, a silky black band that was sewed onto the skirt in a tilted circle. The dark maroon farbric really was a beautiful material to make a dress from. It had tiny black plus shaped twinkles embroidered all throughout it, and really added a nice zing to the dress. *COVER ART! COVER ART!*

Erza and Levy congratulated her on a job well done, extremely well done, and helped her tuck it away in her closet so it would not suffer from wrinkles.

"The night is still young ladies. I propose we do an activity to honor this night of October the 13th."

Levy smiled. "Why don't we play truth or dare..?"

Erza frowned, "It would seem that game typically branches into unlawful acts when the game consists of only girls.."

Levy frowned, "Hmm. Since it's just the three of us LEVEL HEADED ladies, we might be able to keep the dares law abiding..."

"I think we could." Lucy replied.

Erza frowned at them.

"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeze?" Both Levy and Lucy begged earnestly.

Erza chuckled. "Very well, but it will stay lawful!"

The other two mages cheered rather adorably.

"OkayOkayOkayOkay," Lucy grinned, "Levy! You go first!"

"Erza!" Levy turned to her scartlet haired friend, "truth or dare?"

"What else? Dare." Erza smiled.

"I dare you to go the entire game blindfolded!"

Lucy squealed and jumped up to find something to use as a blindfold.

Erza raised an eyebrow. "Really Levy? Is that the best you can do?"

Levy smiled at her sweetly, "Just a little bit of prep work is all."

Lucy returned with a pink and red handkerchief. Erza tied her hair back into a high ponytail while Lucy rolled up the cloth. Levy giggled the a kid in a candy store when Lucy placed it over Erza's eyes and tied it snugly.

"A proper warrior knows how to fight even with her eyes closed. This will not waver my resolve." Erza said smugly.

Lucy and Levy bit their lips, their tongues, anything they could do to keep from giggling, but despite their best efforts, the giggles fell from their lips just the same. Erza shook her head, but a slight smile graced her mouth as well. "Now it is my turn, heh."

Even blindfolded, she pointed dead on at the Celestial wizard, "Lucy! Truth or dare!"

"Eep! Uh... er," Lucy was suddenly wishing she hadn't just laughed at her friend... Erza was very good at waiting for one's just deserts. "...Truth."

Sighing, Erza leaned her back against the window. "Why didn't you ask Natsu to Mira's Ball?"

Lucy turned beat red. "Can I choose dare..."

"NO," yelled Levy.

"Oh absolutely," grinned Erza mischievously.

Lucy eyed the battle maiden warily, more convinced than ever that Truth may be the better route.

The blonde sighed and hugged her knees, her cheeks still red. "I guess... I guess it was because... well..." Lucy turned her head away from her friends and stared at her desk, a cheek resting on her knee. "He's just so... intense." She recalled their game of hide and seek. The fire in his eyes, the tone of his voice, the smile that teased his lips. Of how he would whisper in her ear, …...of how he watched her as though she'd been his prey instead of his friend. "He's, Natsu is... he's a predator sometimes. I'm embarrassed because I can't decide if it's exciting, or degrading when he acts that way towards me. And, if I had asked him—things might have changed between us..." Lucy looked back at her friends. "I'd just end up finding some way to mess up our partnership."

"Lulu..." Levy sympathized.

"Ludicrous." Erza frowned. She brought a hand to the front of her face, and slowly closed her fingers to form a fist. "Natsu is a warrior. Not just any warrior, but trained by the noble fire dragon Igneel. You say you worry about him being a predator? Then you'd best search for your man elsewhere." Lucy blushed, but Erza wasn't done, "The world calls them dragon slayers because their power grants them the ability to slay a dragon, but that is not what they are. Natsu is the adoptive son of a dragon, as such, is not privy to many of the civilized frivolities us humans take for granted. Anyway you look at it, a dragon is and will forever be a predator. He lives for a fight, so I would assume that he'd live for the hunt. It is as much as what makes him Natsu as his own beating heart. I do not approve of your answer, but I will accept that it was indeed, the truth."

Things were quiet for a while. Erza retrieved her bag of popcorn without effort even though her vision was gone and said, "It's your turn Lucy."

"Umm... Levy, truth or dare?" Lucy lowered her knees, and leaned back against her bed.

Levy thought for a moment, "...Dare."

The evil smile on the star maiden was priceless. "I dare you to use every wit in that big brain of yours to get Gajeel into the guild."

"WHAT?" Levy squeaked, "LULU! What am I supposed to do! You're giving me an impossible dare!"

"No she's not." Erza budded in before Lucy had formed words. "It may not be easy, but I'm sure you can figure it out. You seem to be the only one he's been interested in talking to, so you are probably the best candidate for such a task."

The solid script mage couldn't help but blush. "He does seem to try to bug me every time I come and go."

"Yea," Lucy added, "He just ignores us."

"Really?" Levy puffed her cheeks, "That's so rude!"

"It's Gajeel!" Lucy said, causing Erza a chuckle.

The game carried on late into the night. Erza and Levy had raided Lucy's sake supply, but Lucy—who feared Aquarius' wrath—stayed heart numbingly sober. Although, with her sobriety came a wonderful idea for a dare.

"Okay! My turn! I think this may be the last one of the night, so I want to make it good." The blonde rubbed her hands together, "Erza, truth or dare!"

Erza's cheeks were a delightful tint of red and she smiled devilishly, "Dare of course."

"I dare you to..." Lucy leaned in close to the other two girls, "sneak into Natsu's house, and 'borrow' his scarf."

Erza's eyes widened from under her blindfold and Levy rolled onto her back laughing. "Breaking an entering is not lawful."

This is where Erza's drinking benefited the Celestial mage, "Ahh," Lucy held up a finger, "where Natsu's concerned... would it not actually be considered fair play?"

Levy stopped and thought about that, "He does break in here all the time!"

"And eats my food."

Levy repeated, "And eats her food!"

Erza frowned, "A touch of cruel justice, that's true... but I cannot. It's unlawful."

Lucy cupped her hands behind her head and smirked. "Oh well... probably for the best anyway. With his heightened sense of hearing and smell, and your lack of sight... I'm sure you wouldn't have been able to pull it off anyway..."

Levy and Lucy stared at Erza. The requip mage's eyebrow started to twitch. "You don't think I could do it huh?"

Got her... Lucy held a big, closed more grin. "I wonder what your penalty should be for refusing a dare..."

Erza stood up, determined would be an understatement. "That won't be necessary. I will do it. Natsu has yet to best me, and it will. not. be. this. day! REQUIP!" Suddenly Erza was wearing midnight blue ninja gear. The pink and red from the blindfold was visible only from where the ninja mask opened for her eyes. She had a katana sheathed behind her back and soft slippers that wound up her pants all the way up to her thighs. "Let's go..."

^.^

Restless as ever, Natsu laid on the roof of his cottage staring at the stars. Occasionally he would point to a star and draw a line of fire down to other stars to make the constellation images Lucy had taught him. The fire would dissipate shortly, but it made for a good, if fleeting, visual. Even here, the wizard did not feel at peace. He felt conflicted. It was an uncomfortable break in routine to be here instead of at Lucy's, and he couldn't stand it. Natsu constantly rebounded back to being angry with her. How could she ask Gray? If she had of just kept her damn mouth shut, then I'd be with her right now, instead of being locked up like an animal in a cage. Damn she's a pain in the ass.

That grated him to no end. One doesn't lock up a dragon, but... she was his pain in the ass. Not Gray's. His. No matter how he tried to stay mad at her, that seemed to make all the difference.

Mine.

As though his thoughts triggered some sort of memory, he smelled her again. The sweet smell of Strawberries and vanilla came flooding to his senses again. His nose twitched..

Wait a minute... I smell citrus... Levy? His eyes widened as he smelled someone else as well... ERZA? He sat up, looking off into the distance. Fuuuuuck! I smell sake! Sake and Erza? Hasn't my day been bad enough? Why is she here? He'd have to take the good with the bad. Lucy was coming... Natsu took to the trees. What are they up to...

It took far too long in the dragon slayer's opinion for the three of them to come into view. Erza's dressed like a damn ninja? What's the deal with that? Ninja-Erza pointed Levy to the back of his house, and pointed Lucy to the front. The two of them split from her and hustled to hide with eyes on both sides of his home. Then Ninja-Erza stealthily swept up to the cottage and entered through a window. Natsu wasted no time when the requip mage disappeared from sight. He jumped from the tree and made his way behind Lucy. Finally, she was in reach..

Natsu squatted down behind her and put his chin right on her shoulder, "What's going on?" He whispered.

As soon as she started to jump and yelp, Natsu yanked her into his arms and covered her mouth with his hand. His other brought a finger to his lips. "Shhhh." He found the blush that rose to her cheeks very rewarding, and her wide chocolate eyes teasing his playful side. Everything was right in the world again. He had her in his arms, and Nastu found himself at peace.

Lucy rearranged herself to be knelt down in the grass rather than sitting on him as he asked again, "What's going on?"

She smiled up at him, her eyes reflecting the moonlight as only Celestial beings should be able and said, "I got a few drinks in Erza and dared her to steal your scarf."

Natsu blinked at her, "You did?" He was confused, "Why?"

Lucy then looked away and bit her finger. He supposed that was probably just a nervous tick that she was displaying, but he found himself wishing that was his finger instead of hers...

"I... well, I wanted to see you. You haven't come by lately and... you weren't at the guild..." Her face had lowered to the point that all he could see were her bangs.

If only you knew... I was there..

He tilted her head back up to his from her chin and smiled that happy Natsu grin, "I missed you too Luce."

She smiled as well, though he could tell it was tainted by a hidden sadness. He couldn't stand it, he needed that sadness banished from her now, maybe even ten seconds ago. He buried his face in her neck and wrapped his arms tightly around her. "Please don't be sad Luce." His voice was muffled as he spoke into her neck, "I'm so glad you came to see me."

"Even at the cost of your scarf?" Lucy fretted.

Natsu lifted his head from her neck and grinned playfully again, touching noses with her, "She won't find it." As he spoke, he trailed his nose up the bridge of her's, and rested his lips on her forehead when he spoke the obvious: "I'm wearing it, it's not even in there!"

Lucy covered her mouth to stifle a giggle, "Of course it is!"

Natsu grinned at her again and looked back towards the house, "What's taking her so long... She's gotta know I'm not in there."

"Well," Lucy chuckled, she hadn't felt this happy in what seemed like ages, "she... might be blindfolded..."

"Ge-HAH!" was heard off from the other side of the house.

"What was that?!" Lucy jumped.

Natsu grimaced, then looked at her and smirked, "Gajeel's back there. Messin with Levy I'm sure." He then stood up and held his hand out for her. "Let's ditch these guys."

Lucy watched as a playful twinkle danced in his eyes. She had identified Provider Natsu and normal Natsu in their short interaction, and came to the realization and they were both just Natsu, Just Natsu. "What about our friends? Ditching them? Seems so mean!"

"Well," Natsu turned back to the house. "Erza can take care of herself, she'd know if you were in danger... and Levy... heh."

The blonde quirked an eyebrow. "And Levy?"

"...Gajeel's carrying her off. We can go get her if you'd like," Natsu pumped his fists, ready to brawl if she gave the word.

Lucy chuckled, "Levy will be fine. Fairytail wizards don't need babysitting."

"Aww, so we're not gonna go beat Gajeel's ass?" Natsu pouted, "but he's on my turf! A dragon should know better!"

"Oh Natsu." Lucy stood and put a hand on his shoulder. Without hesitating, he lifted a hand up and placed it over her's and was rewarded with another blush.

Natsu grinned at her and pulled her away from the house, "Come on, Luce!"

Lucy had reservations on leaving Erza to blindly grope around Natsu's home, she was about to speak of it when she turned to the Fire wizard and saw him with the biggest and sweetest puppy dog eyes she had ever seen. "Oh Mavis, Natsu!"

Suddenly footsteps were heard behind them. Natsu immediately stepped between Lucy and the newcomer. Jellal stepped into sight, only a mere ten paces away. The fire dragon slayer growled, "I never smelled you comin, what's the matter? You stink so bad you just smell like the dirt you're walking through?"

"Natsu!" Lucy fwacked his head, "be nice!"

He turned back to her with another pouty face, "But Luce! He's not supposed to be here! I can't smell him!"

Jellal cleared his throat in an effort to regain their attention, "I have spent years in hiding. I've learned a few things about hiding my scent from beasts."

Natsu leapt into a fighting stance, "Who you callin' a beast?!"

Jellal walked past the two of them, only stopping briefly to say, "I have been waiting for Erza to come out in the open. I have a little payback of my own to dish out. I will see that she knows her friends are well taken care of."

Lucy started tugging Natsu away this time. He was whining about the possibility of Jellal going into HIS house. Lucy sighed and let go of his arm, "Fine. You go argue with him then. I'M going home," and started marching off.

The fire wizard looked off to his home, looked over at Lucy leaving him. Right, left, right, left. "Gah!" He scrambled after the blonde and lifted her up in one sweep, holding her hunched over his shoulder. The squeak she'd made had been music to his ears.

"Put me down Natsu!" She pounded his back a few times.

"Nope. Can't do it Luce." Natsu grinned, "it was my idea to ditch'em, You're coming with me."

The way he took charge over their actions reminded Lucy a little of Predator Natsu, and that thought made her conclude that resistance was futile. She surprised herself by smiling about it.

It didn't take long until he set her down on her feet, they were at his fishing spot! Without words, Natsu kicked off his sandals and started stripping off his vest. Lucy's eyes widened as the moonlight danced off his muscular bare back. Okay... that's new. I guess I'm a back kinda girl. He tossed the vest to the side, then pulled off his scarf and set it on top. Then he looked over his shoulder at her and grinned. "Come on Luce!" With that said, he canon balled into the water.

Lucy laughed hard when she heard him yelp about the water being freezing. He looked so cute for that split second of surprise before he closed his eyes and ignited his body. All of a sudden there was something majestic about him. His hair wafted in the air and his brows lowered in a look of concentration. Lucy saw no more point in denying that this man in front of her was incredibly attractive. She'd seen it before, but never really delved into it much. He was Natsu. She was watching him intently when his golden slitted eyes opened to lock onto hers and held a hand out to her. His smile held a hint of mischief this time. "Water's great now Luce. Come here."

Her feet took a step toward him before her mind caught up, and once it did, she got fidgety. "Are you kidding knucklehead? I'm just wearing this T-shirt and shorts! I'm not getting in there!"

Natsu groaned, "Damnit Luce! Just dive in! It'll be fine! You'll dry off in no time!"

Lucy just puffed her cheeks stubbornly and folded her arms.

Natsu's eyes narrowed with that playful twinkle again and submerged himself in the water. When he lifted himself back up he was, of course, completely wet—and he started marching himself out of the water. "Come'mere Luce! Gimmie a hug!"

"Eep!" Lucy jumped and started running away.

"You know that's not gonna work!" He hollered at her.

She'd made it about five trees in before he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her feet off the ground. Lucy giggled, but still kicked and screamed, trying to pry his slippery hands away.

"Damnit, you always make things so difficult!" Natsu grunted, holding her tightly with both arms and tried walking backwards, back to the water. When he'd nearly made it back to the warmed water, he tripped on a blasted stone and both their eyes turned the size of dishes as they careened into the liquid that reflected the moon. The splash was so loud, a few birds flew from the nearby trees. Natsu's back took the worst of the fall, crashing onto the uneven riverbed. Lucy's weight pushing him further into the ground. He released her and she promptly lifted herself off, and he raised himself as well, rubbing his head and wincing.

"Natsu! Are you okay? Wait, strike that! Serves you right! I told you-"

"Geeeeeeeeeeze Luce!" Natsu groaned over her. "How many times do I have to tell you that you think too much? It's gonna be fine!"

Lucy glared at him for a moment, then got her own mischievous look in her eye, and splashed him.

The fire wizard's eyes widened, and grinned back with his canines showing, "Oh really?"

She splashed him again.

He shielded himself and promptly splashed her back. She yelped and they started going back and forth with this until Natsu delved underwater to snake around Lucy, grabbed her and dunked her under the surface. She turned around in his grasp under the water and pushed him deeper, using the momentum from her push to get herself back above the surface.

Lucy took a deep breath and scanned the water. She didn't see him anywhere, growing accustomed to his tactics, she turned around, thinking he'd come from behind. As soon as she turned though, he popped out of the water from behind her (which would have been in front just a second ago) and wrapped his arms around her waist again. She squeaked as he tilted them both down back into the water again. She laughed and righted herself, which let Natsu right himself as well. He kept his arms around her and flipped her around gently so that he could watch her as she laughed. A smile frolicked on his lips as he watched her. Lucy leaned her forehead on his chest as her laughter started to die down.

"Thank you Luce." Natsu sighed, reveling in the feel of her so close to him.

She surprised him by wrapping her arms around him as well and laying her head against his chest. The Celestial wizard turned her head slightly to look up at him, "For what?"

Natsu's eyes softened in a way she had never seen, it filled her with questions—yet he only answered the one: "You came for me today. Luce, just... thank you."

He attempted to memorize the way the shadows danced on her face as he stroked through her hair, "You're not... sad anymore are you?"

Lucy bit her lip in an effort to keep from grinning ear to ear, and shook her head.

"Damn..." Natsu lowered his lips intensely close to her's. "Don't bite your lip like that, some of us find it very distracting." She felt his breath on her lips and he felt her body tense.

Am I scaring her? Like Erza said I might...?

He unwrapped her arms and placed her hand in his. "Come on. Let's get you home."

Lucy tilted her head, not sure what had caused him to pull away, weren't they actually having a moment? Like in the romance novels? Oh Mavis... what am I thinking!

Natsu walked her with him to where his vest lay. He put it on then glanced around. "Fuck!"

Twisting her shirt to wring out some of the water, Lucy asked, "What?"

"My scarf! What the hell happened to my scarf?"

Lucy covered her mouth, "Oh Natsu! Erza wouldn't have given up!"

He turned to Lucy and frowned, "You think she took it?"

His partner smiled and gave him a sidelong glance, "Hmm, I dunno-you really think it sprouted legs and walked off itself..?"

You could see a vein throb on his forehead as he muttered about thirteen different curses. He threw his head in the air and cried out, "DAMNIT ERZA!"

Just a little side note, 13 is my lucky number. Throughout my life the number has followed me around. I was even born on the 13th, so I just thought I'd name the chappy for me, instead of the story. :)

Much love

Stay naughty

Seri! ( aka *Lick* )