Lucy

Jellal sat us down the next day after dinner in the same lobby. It was time for us to choose the substitutes we wanted for our positions. He'd list off names and we chose. He started from the goalie, Jura, on up. The goalie that I scored on was chosen. He was good, his instinct was good just a little slow.

The defenders were chosen shortly after then mid-fielders. Wendy was hesitant because she thought all her candidates were nice... she ended up having Erza choose for her.

"Now how about you?" Jellal looked at Erza.

"Rita McDorman," Erza said it as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

I raised an eyebrow, "Seriously?"

"Sure she's cocky..."

"Rude." Natsu

"Ignorant." Gray

"Annoying." Lyon

"Cocky." Ren.

"But," Erza looked at all of us in turn. "She has skill and I like the fire she has for competition. We can teach her about discipline as we play."

"She completely forgot that Rita's older than us," Wendy whispered.

I sighed, "Erza's mature in her own way. Plus, she's scary."

"Lucy?" Jellal called, signalling my turn.

I smiled, "Owen Benwood."

"Nice and easy," Jellal jotted the notes down. "That's good for now. Go rest now, we are going to have an all out killer scrimmage tomorrow so you need your energy."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Natsu fell onto the bed, stomach first after his shower. So he belly flopped the poor mattress, nearly sending me over the edge.

"I'm so tired!" He groaned into the blanket.

I pulled my legs up to my chest, "Well, your fault for trying to outrun everybody on the team. Let me see your legs."

He back rolled until his legs were on my now crossed lap. My hands grabbed his muscular legs, squeezing and pulling.

"Hey, Luce," Natsu started.

I looked at his calming posture, "Yees?"

He didn't say anything more. I looked at his face, a little confused with what he wanted to say. But all I saw was him laying sprawled out, eyes on the ceiling.

Just as I looked down, I felt his forehead gently touch mines.

Slowly, I met the familiar dragon like eyes staring into mines. The orange shampoo kissing my senses, dulling them in the process.

"What's gotten into you?" I pushed him away but he came back.

"Stop it," I pushed him again but he returned... again.

"Natsu," I giggled a bit.

A smile planted itself on his lips, "I'm just happy."

"Happy?"

"That I can do this," Natsu kissed my right cheek. "This," Then my left cheek. "And this."

His warm lips touched my forehead and stayed there for a few moments longer. I closed my eyes, absorbing, enjoying that yeah Natsu can do all of this to me now without any restrictions (except around our friends, the world, that little chihuahua next door).

Ruining the moment for yourself, sweetheart, just embrace it...

Suddenly, all of Natsu weight was on mines.

"Uh, uh Natsu?" I called, my arms supporting his body.

"So tired," Salamander groaned into my shoulder.

My whole world was suddenly flipped. I had no idea which way was up, down, Natsu anything. I just knew by the end of the whole ride, I was gently crushed against a buffed chest. An arm acting as a pillow under my head, and another resting on my waist. The overwhelming smell of his body wash making me dizzy instead of the whole rag doll ride.

"Nat-"

"Shh," Natsu soothed. "Let's just sleep, alright? Like this because it's so cold outside."

I'm actually burning, thank you very much. Of course, I didn't tell him that.

He moved once, I felt a muscle flex against my curled up arms, causing my whole face to turn pink.

This is gonna be a hella long night.

~~~~~~~~

There's such a weird dimension for those who fall in and out of sleep. I'm a light sleeper that's why that dimension is like my second room. But last night, I slept through the whole night without any issues (I know for sure that Natsu's the cause of that). I just felt so safe in his arms that sleep came so naturally for me.

Then, a soft poke at my arms woke me a bit returning me to that dimension. I knew who I was, maybe. Lucy Heartfilia... right? Or was my last name is Dragneel? Nope that's Natsu's; not mines yet. Wait, hold up -

"Lucy-san," an urgent whisper made my eyes open. "Lucy-san, Natsu-san you two have to get up right away!"

I was faced with Natsu's plain white shirt. One more poke hit my back, making me turn half my body to look at Wendy?!

"How did you get in here?!" I whispered so fast.

She held up a finger, "Erza and Cousin Jellal were planning a surprise check on you guys. You're lucky I was up and wanted to see what was for breakfast so when I saw Erza about to stick the card key in, I took it from her and told her I'll check on you guys."

"They're what?!" this is not good, this is not good at all!

"Natsu!" I turned to my beat up idiot. All throughout this whole conversation, he's been sleeping?!

With two kicks, Natsu was off the bed; stumbling a bit before landing on his butt head up completely alert and finally awake.

"What the hell Lu-" I flung myself across the bed and covered his mouth, a finger to my mouth. The sudden beep of the lock echoed into the room. "Get into the bathroom, now!"

Natsu blinked once, still comprehending what was going on.

"Now you fried brain idiot!" I pushed him over once for motivation. Natsu stumbled on all fours.

"Lucy! Natsu!" Dammit, dammit, dammit! That's Erza. "Where the hell are you? Wendy?"

The bedroom door rattled.

Natsu's eyes finally widened.

"This is one weird doorknob," Erza murmured mainly to herself.

He tucked and rolled into the bathroom.

The bedroom door swung open, the bathroom door closes.

I have just lost 10 years of my life. My heartbeat signalling that I have seen a ghost. Or in this case, avoided seeing a Lady Satan by a few mere seconds.

Immediately, Erza's eyes swept the room. Wendy was frozen in her spot, watching Titania investigate the area. Her whole tiny body shaking a bit.

"Where's Natsu?" she finally focused on me.

I raised an almost shaking finger, "B-b-bathroom. Peeing."

"That's too much information," Jellal came up behind Erza, hands in his jean pockets. "What are you still doing there? Get up, we have to head down for breakfast in a few."

I nodded, "Uh yes, of course."

"Then I should leave you to change," Wendy met my eyes, the relief in them reflecting my own.

"Wait," one simple word dripping with venom, that's all was needed for the worry to return to the atmosphere.

I sat up straighter awaiting Erza's question. Nervous sweating despite the freezing Colorado weather.

"Why is Natsu's bed made?" she asked, pointing a thumb over her shoulder at the little bed I made for Natsu two days ago. "He never makes his bed."

She can really be a good detective...

"Ever since we started staying together I-I made strict house rules that he needs to make his bed every time he wakes up," I chuckled once, a little too nervously. "So before he went into the bathroom, he must've made it."

Please be convinced. Please be convinced.

She crossed her arms over her black turtle neck, eyes closed contemplating on my answer. All the while, making me feel ten times guiltier for lying to her so easily.

"I guess you do teach him good discipline," she smiled at me warmly. "We'll be waiting in the hall. Tell him to hurry."

I nodded again, "Yes of course ma'am."

"Come Wendy," Jellal smiled at his younger cousin.

"Yes sir," just as Jellal and Erza turn their backs. Wendy flashed me the 'OK' sign with her tiny fingers, a huge grin on her face. I smiled at her, mouthing thanks because seriously, this little girl saved our asses like her life depended on it. (Well it did, we were just questioned by Erza Scarlet.)

I heard the front door closing and the bathroom door opening, revealing a better dressed Natsu. He changed into his warmer and jeans.

"That was too close," he sighed, fixing his pink hair a bit. "I thought I was going to be fried alive. We owe the kiddo some ice cream later on."

I sighed loudly, "Wendy is our Savior!"

Natsu chuckled at my exclamation.

"Hey," I turned to him. "Leave so I can change."

"Just do it," he said. "I've seen you naked plenty of times."

I chucked a pillow, hitting him square in the face, "Out you damn pervy Salamander!"