Warning: Minor 100-Year-Quest Spoiler

Rated M for sexual content

Lucy is sitting in her bathtub trying to relax after a mission that wasn't too difficult. Keyword: Trying. It is proven futile when she can't stop the tears from falling.

'Jeez Lucy you're heavy. You could stand to lose a few pounds.'

'I don't think you need that Luce, unless you want to get heavier.'

'We don't need a plan, Lucy is so ugly she can scare away the enemies with just her face.'

'But Natsu, it's hard for me to fly carrying Lucy, she's so heavy.'

'If you lost some weight maybe you could get a boyfriend.'

Why must that fleabag continue to point that out to her? Why doesn't Natsu scold or reprimand Happy? Does he agree and that's why he doesn't point out to Happy he's being really mean?

She's been trying to lose weight; she has but she just gets heavier. Capricorn says it's because as she's losing the fat, she's gaining muscle which is what's causing her to get heavier. Her breasts also don't help. She drains the tub and when she gets out she stands in front of the mirror looking over her body. She doesn't see the fit toned body Capricorn says she has. She just sees a fat, disgusting blob.

Maybe it's karma for being so egotistical and sure of herself? She just sighs and looks through her wardrobe trying to find something to wear. She looks at all of her usual outfits and decides against them. Someone her size shouldn't be wearing that kind of stuff. She summons Virgo and asks for something similar to what she wore when she first joined the guild. A loose t-shirt and capris with an addition of socks and sneakers. Everyone always says what she wears is impractical might as well change up the wardrobe.

When she walks out of her apartment, she is stopped by the landlady asking about rent money.

"Oh no, I don't have all of it. You see, the mission…"

"This is your last warning Lucy. If I don't have your rent money by the end of the week then I'm sorry to say you have to move elsewhere."

Lucy solemnly nods her head. "Yes ma'am. Don't worry." Dang it, that gives her three days.

As she walks to the guild, she summons Plue to walk with her. He catches her up on what's been going on in the spirit world. She talks to him about going out on a mission WITHOUT Natsu and Happy. Plue stops walking and gives her a pun. Lucy squats down to pick him up and then continues to the guild.

"I'm all right Plue. I'm thinking I should go on a diet."

"Pun-pun."

"Yes, I know Capricorn put me on a diet, but I'm talking about the kind that will help me lose weight."

"Pun-pun."

"Thanks, Plue." When she walks into the guild, she greets everyone before heading to the bar and sets Plue on top. "Hi, Mira!"

"Hi, Lucy! How was the mission?" Mira is taken aback by Lucy's choice of clothing. She normally doesn't cover up so much of herself. Mira shrugs her shoulders thinking maybe she's just having one of her rare casually dressed down days. She turns to start on Lucy's milkshake.

"It went well, I'm going to need to go on another mission though. Hey Mira, I'm thinking just a water today and a salad, if that's all right?"

"O-Of c-course," Mira says surprised. Lucy never eats so little. Sure, Capricorn put her on a diet but even then she ate more than this. It doesn't take long for Mira to realize what's going on. "Lucy, is everything all right? You're not trying to lose weight are you?"

Lucy rubs the back of her neck nervously and before she can utter a word Happy is there.

"It's about time, it's difficult to carry you." Happy laughs, however, his amusement doesn't last long when something tackles him off of the bar. "What the- Ow! Plue what are you- Ow! Stop!"

The guild can't help but stare as her sweet, little Plue beats up Happy. Everyone watches in curiosity. What in the world happened that caused Plue to be so violent against his friend? They've always gotten along…

Lucy wants to pick him up and scold him but at the same time, she can't bring herself to stop him from defending her.

"Luce! Are you going to get Plue off of Happy or what?" Natsu asks as he stalks over.

Lucy looks at Natsu and then back down at their brawling little buddies. Plue now has a fish in his hand, which he probably snagged from Happy's sack, and is slapping the cat with it. A hand reaches out and picks him up. She watches as Natsu picks Plue up to hold him at eye level with him.

"Bad Plue! Apologize to Happy."

Oooh that pisses her off and just as she's ready to Lucy-Kick him, Plue beats her to the punch by slapping Natsu in the face with the fish.

"Puuuun Pun Pun!" (Pluuuue Fish Slap!) Plue continues to slap Natsu with the fish.

"Ow! What the- Luce-Ow dammit Call him off."

Lucy opens her mouth to but then decides against it. "You know what? No."

Natsu having enough of being hit in the face with a fish, yanks it from Plue and whips it across the room. Happy is too stunned and hurt by the events to even care about his fish at the moment.

Natsu yells out his questions, "Why is Plue being so mean to Happy Luce? Why didn't you stop him? Why aren't you having Plue apologize?"

Lucy's body vibrates in anger and tries her best to hold back the tears that are welling up.

Natsu smells Lucy's tears, he didn't mean to yell. He looks to Plue for answers, and he's shocked by the glare and growl he gets.

"Pun pun pun puuun Pun PUN PUUUN PUNN!" Plue then proceeds to peck Natsu's eye with his cone nose.

"Ow! What the Hell?" Natsu drops Plue to the ground but the little dog spirit isn't finished.

When Plue lands on the ground he proceeds to peck like a chicken at Natsu's sandal-covered feet. The guild can't help but find amusement at the situation as they watch Natsu dance around trying to dodge Plue's pointy nose.

Lucy bites the inside of her cheek trying to hold back her laughter. She can't take it anymore and starts laughing, the guild joining in with her.

Happy finally snaps out of his stupor to help his friend out. He grabs Natsu by the back of his scarf and flies up into the air.

"Lucy! You and Plue are so mean!"

"Yeah, Luce! What did we do?"

"Pun Pun Puuun pun pun pun." Plue gets out.

"He's only joking, aren't you Happy?" Natsu grins.

Happy sniggers, "Yeah, jeez Lucy you can't take a joke?"

Lucy pulls out her Flueve D'toiles and the pink-haired idiot and blue furball don't dodge the attack in time. The river of the stars coils tightly around their bodies, squeezing the life out of them, "We're mean? Since we met, you have told me I'm heavy when you carry me. EVERY TIME! Every single time, along with how I shouldn't eat this or that because I need to lose weight. And you have on occasion as well Natsu, and you don't realize... you don't... and you just let Happy, you don't you argh!" She manipulates the whip to toss them into the side of the guild building. She's torn between running out of there crying or beating the snot out of them. Her anger wins and proceeds to attack.

The duo slides down the wall and lands in a heap.

"She's mad Natsu."

"Yeah," Natsu says as he sits up. "Be ready for the Lucy-Kick." When they look forward no Lucy is charging after them. They hear a drilling sound, and they go pale looking all around to figure out where she may be. Natsu doesn't get a chance to sniff her out because she's already popping out of the ground.

"Spica Hole!"

The guild is torn between stopping the fight or letting it continue. They should stop it since they just fixed the guildhall the day before, but on the other hand, Natsu and Happy have had this coming if it's been going on for that long. Where were they and why didn't they stop it? Team Natsu knew it happened, but they didn't know it had been a long going thing and for it to cause Plue to snap, they must do it frequently. Not to mention, this is the first time she's brawled in the hall so they can't help but watch her beat up Natsu.

Natsu and Happy are crushed into the guild floors, the wooden floor splintering and shattering. Okay, they were not expecting that, but now that she got that out of her system she should be-

"Star Dress: Taurus Form." Lucy grabs Natsu by the front of his scarf and hoists him into the air, "Lucy Gut-"

"Luce Wai-!"

"Punch!"

Natsu doubles over and groans, "Luce, why are you beating me up? We could just talk, you know?"

"I do talk to you! But you never listen!" Lucy gives him an uppercut, "I tell you to stop eating my food. You eat it anyways." She then points at a cowering Happy, "and you always say," Lucy mimics Happy's voice, "'we're doing you a favor Lucy, we don't want you to gain more weight.' I tell you to use my door, and no matter how many times I Lucy-Kick you, you still break into my home through the window!"

Natsu stands up straighter, "Lucy-"

"No!" Lucy shouts as she gives him a roundhouse kick which sends him flying across the hall.

The guild winces at the sound of a crunch and Wendy doesn't have the urge to rush over and heal him. It can wait until Lucy is done. When Lucy pulls out her whip and it gives a loud crack against the floor, a lot of the men can't help but get nosebleeds.

Lucy stalks over to him, "Last but not least because you can't contain yourself on missions, I always leave without what I need for rent. You know my home!"

"Luce, I'm sorry. We can take another mission. Ms. Landlady will understand."

Lucy stops in front of him and crosses her arms, "I will take another mission without you."

"B-But Lucy, I'm your partner."

"I'm sorry Natsu, Ms. Landlady isn't being so understanding this time. I have three days to come up with 45,000 jewels or else I'm evicted. Homeless! Do you know what it's like to live with that worry over your head? Wait, no you don't."

When Lucy drops the star dress Natsu takes notice of her attire. What in the-

"Not everyone lives in a little cottage in the woods rent free Natsu!" Lucy storms over to the request board and yanks off the one she originally wanted to take. She makes her way to the bar and slams it down on the counter.

As Mira takes care of Lucy, Natsu stares at the floor. He looks up when he feels something nudge his leg. He flinches when he sees Plue.

'Good', Plue thinks to himself. "Pun Puuun Pun pun Puun. Pun pun Puun pun pun puuun." Plue says before he leaves. It was an empty threat, but Natsu doesn't need to know that.

Natsu pales at what Plue just told him. As Lucy storms past, he reaches out, an apology on the tip of his tongue but it never comes out. He knows Lucy's fury all too well and what just happened was not Lucy's typical fury. He shudders, he does not want to experience that again. He thinks back to how it all started. Plue beating Happy up, then Plue yelling at him 'I won't apologize until you and Happy do. AND MEAN IT! You and Happy, made Lucy cry.' That never got to register because not too soon after that the little guy stabbed the hell out of him. Lucy isn't the only one who has gotten much stronger since the beginning when they met.

She could have told him or Happy to knock it off. 'I do talk to you! But you never listen!' He rubs his chin and winces at the pain from the uppercut. Damn did that hurt. He's always known she can kick ass with more than just her infamous move, but he's never experienced it. If you don't count when she was turned into a yokai. He stands up and brushes himself off thinking about getting something to eat. 'We're mean? Since we met, you have told me I'm heavy when you carry me. EVERY TIME! Every single time, along with how I shouldn't eat this or that because I need to lose weight. And you have on occasion as well Natsu, and you don't realize... you don't... and you just let Happy, you don't you argh!'.

That reminds him of the other thing Plue yelled at him. 'Happy tells Lucy she's fat and ugly so much she believes it!' Lucy isn't fat and ugly though. She's always been beautiful, and her body is perfect. He plops down on the stool lost in thought forgetting about food. Mavis, he is such an idiot.

As much as everyone would love to pummel him for everything they heard, they leave it because Lucy has already done so. They look around the guild hall and take in the damage Lucy caused. When was the last time anyone had seen her so angry she unleashed hell like that? On someone who isn't an enemy?

They watch Natsu, deep in thought and it scares them. Natsu? Deep in thought? Happy is sitting on the bar top next to Natsu. The last time he saw Natsu in thought like this was after his fight with Gildarts during the S-Class Trials.

"Happy?"

"Yes, Natsu?"

"We need to have a talk and apologize to Lucy."

Three Days Later

Lucy hops off of the train, in a lovely mood. She got the whole reward and not only can she pay off rent but do some food shopping. "Pfft, food that will only last a day before the two garbage disposals eat it all."

Lucy asked her spirits if she was too hard on the two and she received an immediate no. It's about time they received her ire. Plue left Lucy super shocked that day. While she didn't like that Plue outed her feelings, it made her heart swell to watch and listen to him defend her. It shouldn't have come as too much of a surprise since he is a dog spirit and dogs tend to be protective. He's not much of a fighter but will if the situation calls for it.

When she gets to her apartment building she heads straight for the landlady's apartment. After giving her what is owed, Lucy heads across the hall to hers. She walks into her home and notices magic upon entering. It's familiar and she can't put her finger on it. Sensing no malice she continues entering her home.

On the way to her bathroom, she gets a change of clothes. Just as she's about to turn on the shower, there's a knock on her door. Confused, she walks over and then slowly opens the door peeking out. She's shocked to see Natsu and Happy. They look so downtrodden.

Opening the door fully she asks, "What are you two doing out here? Why didn't you come in through the window?"

"Well, you don't want us breaking into your home and even if we wanted to, we can't."

"Why not?"

Natsu steps forward to walk in and gets shocked, falling to a heap on the ground twitching. Purple runes show up. "No one is to enter without Lucy Heartfilia's permission. Should they attempt to do so they will be punished."

Lucy turns her attention to Happy since Natsu can't answer any questions.

"Natsu asked Freed to put runes up around your apartment making it so intruders can't invade your home. It also includes the window and chimney."

"Okay, but why did Natsu get shocked so badly?"

"He remembered you telling him that you were going to get him and me a shock collar for when we do something bad. So, when he asked Freed to put runes up, he asked him if he could make it so the runes shocked him and not just any kind of shock. He asked to make it equivalent to a shock from Laxus when he's mad."

Lucy sighs, "You two didn't have to do this, but thank you."

"Of course, we did Lucy," Happy spreads his wings and flies to Lucy, "We love-" Forgetting about the runes he's shocked and falls onto the ground right next to Natsu.

Lucy grabs both of them and before dragging them into her apartment she says, "Natsu and Happy have permission to enter my apartment." She places Happy on the bed and then hauls Natsu up to set him next to the exceed.

When she goes to the bathroom she finds something Natsu left for her and a note 'Take your time and relax'. She smiles, "What a sweet thing for him to do."

After her bath, she walks out in the robe Natsu left for her, a little self-conscious, and goes to grab a snack and there's food in her cupboard. She checks the others along with the fridge and they're all full of food. She does notice that some stuff isn't anything she likes. They bought food for themselves and stored it at her place.

"We restocked your cupboards and fridge too." Happy says.

Lucy turns around and there's both Natsu and Happy in the doorway to her kitchen.

Natsu blushes at the sight of the robe he got her. A blue silk robe with stars scattering all over it. He managed to get a deal on it by helping the merchant in any way he could.

Lucy blushes as well when she notices the way Natsu is looking at her.

Happy wanting to get out of there because Natsu has some other plans flies to Lucy and hugs her. "I'm really sorry Lucy. I didn't mean to make you feel that way."

Lucy sighs, "I know, but when you repeatedly say something to someone, even if it's meant as a joke, eventually the person feels like it's the truth. Let me go get Plue so he can apologize too."

"Oh, that's okay. It can wait until later. Carla and I have plans to go to the exceed village."

"Thank you for everything Happy, it was very sweet of you two to do this." Lucy lets him go and watches as the blue exceed actually uses the door to leave. She turns her attention to Natsu who is watching her intently and it's making her nervous. "Thank you, Natsu, for what you left in the bathroom as well. That was really sweet of you to do. I didn't know you remembered my favorite bubble bath." She gestures to the robe, "but uh isn't this a little much? I mean the material feels nice against the skin and all but-" She's caught off guard when he's right in front of her, his hand gently cupping her face.

"It looks great on you." His eyes can't help but drop down. He makes eye contact not wanting to check her out for too long. "I'm sorry Luce, for making you feel so bad about yourself."

Lucy places her hand on his and leans into his touch, "I'm not innocent either Natsu. I tend to call you an idiot and other names. You get that enough from everyone else."

Natsu rubbed his thumb along her cheek, "I can be though."

"You're a lot smarter than everyone gives you credit for." Lucy watches his eyes drift to her lips and then back at her eyes.

"Yeah well, I was dumb enough to not realize I was hurting my best friend. Someone I cherish very much." He can hear her heart beating very rapidly and if she could hear his it would be the same.

"Natsu…" Lucy trails off.

"I don't want to lose you, Luce."

"Why would you lose me?"

"Plue said that he and the other spirits can go to Stacheface and ask to break the partnership I tricked you into if Happy and I kept making you upset. He said that Stashface would grant it if that's what you wanted."

"Plue said that?" Lucy asks bewildered.

Natsu chuckles, "Yeah the day you and him kicked mine and Happy's ass." His smile drops, "Have you thought about it? Breaking our partnership?"

"I-" Lucy bites her bottom lip, she doesn't want to lie and say she hasn't. "I-I have. Back when you left after Tartaros." She places her hand up to cut him off, "I was never really that mad at you Natsu, hurt yeah, but not mad. Once I was in a better frame of mind, I couldn't be. Had I watched one of my parents die…"

Natsu cups her face with both hands swiping away her tears with his thumbs, "But you lost Aquarius and I wasn't there for you."

"There was a big difference though Natsu, I had hope to see Aquarius again. But you, you spent years looking for Igneel and once you found him, you just as quickly lost him. I never once thought about breaking our partnership again."

Natsu rests his forehead on Lucy's, "I'm glad to hear that." He then plants a kiss on her forehead. He wraps his arms around her waist to hold her close and rests his chin on top of her head.

Lucy has her arms wrapped around him and has her face buried in his soft scarf. Now that she's closer she can hear the heavy rhythm of his heartbeat and wonders what has him so nervous.

"You're beautiful Luce," Natsu says softly.

"Wh-What?"

Natsu pulls away so he can look at her face, "You're beautiful. I always thought you were, and I still do. Please don't let what Happy and I have said to you in the past get to you anymore. And if he says anything like that again I'll burn him into a crisp."

Lucy chuckles, "You don't have to go that far." She gives him a soft gentle smile. "I appreciate it all the same."

Everyone at the guild made this seem easier than it actually is. He's putting everything on the line and coming straight out with it instead of 'we're always gonna be together now'. The women of the guild assured him that she feels the same way, but no matter the outcome, this is going to change everything. Natsu takes a deep breath and then releases it. "I love you, Lucy."

Lucy's jaw drops. Did she hear right? "Can you please repeat that?" Runes to stop them from barging in. A sweet gesture from Natsu. Restocking her food. A love confession. She has to be dreaming.

A joke is at the tip of his tongue, but he bites it back. He tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and gives her a loving smile, "I love you, Lucy. I always have but haven't had the guts to come straight out with admitting it. The women at the guild said 'we're always gonna be together now' isn't going to cut it, expressing my feelings. But you know me, I'm the kind of man that expresses how he feels with actions, not words. So, I thought this whole time you knew how I felt and didn't need to come out with it."

"I'll admit, I wasn't sure if you meant romantic or mission partners."

"But couples are partners, aren't they?"

"Yes that is true but I thought that maybe you meant mission partners."

Natsu caresses her cheek with the back of his hand, "I want to be both." His hand glides down to cup her neck and the other grabs a hold of her hip, "By the way, I've always loved your body too. It's perfect."

Before Lucy can respond, Natsu crashes his lips to hers. Lucy remains frozen in shock for a couple of beats before responding. She stands on her tiptoes, wraps her arms around his neck, and plays with his hair. She tilts her head to take the kiss deeper.

Natsu slides his hand down until it reaches her breast and when he gives it a squeeze she gasps. Natsu invades her mouth with his tongue cutting off any protests. He had many questions for the women because he wanted everything to be good for Lucy. There were some things that they would much rather not explain so Mira discreetly asked Laxus if Natsu could borrow his porn collection and if he told any of the guys he would be cut off for a month.

That being said, as he massaged Lucy's tongue with his, he played with her nipple being gentle about the pinching and rolling in between his thumb and forefinger. He smirks when he hears the noises coming from her. He pulls away from the kiss and pauses when their lips are barely touching, breathing in her air, "Do you like that?"

Breathing heavily, Lucy nods. Is this really happening? Anyone else she would think they're moving too fast. But this is Natsu, the man who she's been in love with for years, the man who has been by her side throughout almost everything. A man she trusts with all her heart, mind, body, and soul.

Natsu, not liking that response removes his hand from her hip to give the nipple on her other breast attention. He pinches and tugs gently at the same, "Do you like that?" He asks again.

"Yes, Natsu." She has her hands on his shoulders, fingers curled, gripping onto him.

Natsu leans in to kiss her lips then moves down her neck to her collarbone. His hands travel down to the knot of the robe. When she tries to stop him from untying it, he gives her collarbone a nip. "I want to see all of you, Lucy."

"It's nothing you haven't seen before."

"Not like this." When it's untied he opens it up and looks her up and down soaking it all in. "I've never been able to look at your beautiful, perfect body without a high possibility of getting punched or kicked." He can sense her nervousness and doesn't like the shy insecure look on her face. He cups her chin to pull her head up so he can look into her eyes. "I will tell you over and over again how beautiful you are, how perfect your body is, everything I love about you a million times a day until you believe it." He slides the robe off of her and picks her up. Her arms and legs instinctually wrap around his neck and waist. He walks them over to her bed. "I'm going to show you just how much too."

"But why am I the only one naked?" Lucy pouts.

"Because this isn't about me, it's about making my girlfriend feel good," Natsu says as he lies her down. "But if it'll make you feel better." Natsu kicks off his sandals and strips off his vest and pants. He even unwinds his scarf and places it on the table.

Lucy's face heats up and she has to be as red as a tomato while she takes in the sight of Natsu nude while he's staring at her nude body. She is at a loss on what to say and where to go from here. He seems pretty confident as he climbs onto the bed and hovers above her in between her legs. Before their lips meet for another kiss Lucy breathes out, "I love you too Natsu."