Sorry about the delay in posting!! It's finally up!
~Natsu~

We were on our way back to the warehouse, our supplies for tomorrow's baseball game stored in the trunk. I was actually pretty excited about the game and looked forward to eating all of the food there--even if it was all over priced.

The car ride was pretty smooth, but Lucy's head eventually found it's way to my shoulder.

I glanced down at her, a bit surprised to find her eyes closed. I guess she must have fallen asleep.

I inwardly sighed, my thoughts tracing back to the other night as my arm snaked around Lucy's waist.

"You knew, didn't you Erza?"

"Knew what?" She asked almost innocently.

"About Lucy."

"We can talk about this later, now is not the time. But Natsu... Take care of her," there was a pause in her voice. "She needs you more than you know."

We hit a bump in the road, and I felt Lucy's head fall off of my shoulder and onto my chest. I glanced back down at her again, her expression peaceful as she slept. "I need her too." I replied, more to myself really than to Erza.

I looked out the window to my left and watched the buildings fly by. I silently debated whether I should actually confront Jellal and Gajeel about the subject of the MPD, but I didn't think it was really worth it. If Erza knew about it--and I'm pretty sure that she did--and hadn't taken any action about it, than I should just leave it be.

As I reached my decision to leave the subject of the MPD alone, the buildings began to familiarize and I knew we were almost back at the warehouse.

It's been a while since we've been back there, and undoubtedly we would be starting patrol again tonight. I inwardly groaned at the thought. Patrol was one of my least favorite things to do, but sadly, it was also a necessary thing.

"Should I wake her up?" I asked after Erza had pulled into the garage. The garage was a foreclosed auto body shop that was only half a block away from the warehouse. It was a convenient place to park your car whenever you came to the warehouse, but because it was convenient, it was also always full. I don't know why Erza always got lucky though.

"No. Just carry her up to the infirmary once we get there and let her sleep. We still have things to discuss." Erza supplied.

I nodded, opening my door and getting out before lifting Lucy out. I carried her in my arms, her head lolling to rest against my chest. It was only about a five minute walk back to the warehouse, but the silence was a bit heavy. I knew there were things Erza and I needed to talk about, and right now wasn't exactly the best time to hash it all out, but I don't think I wanted to hold it in any longer. I'd ask her about it the first chance I got.

I could hear the cacophony of of noises before we even reached the warehouse, and I scowled at the thought of everybody's rowdiness waking up Lucy. "Hey, Erza," I started as we came to a stop just outside of the warehouse, "do you think you can tell them to shut up? They're gonna wake up Luce if we go in, and I don't want her to wake up."

She nodded, a determined look crossing her face. She slid open the door enough for her to squeeze through and closed it behind her after she had entered. That was when a loud crash sounded, but silence soon followed and I took that as my cue to head on in.

Upon entering the once rowdy guild, I wasn't surprised to see everybody was cowering in the corner with all the tables and chairs overturned with throwing knives embedded in them, but it didn't really matter to me as long as everything and everyone was quiet. I looked towards Erza--who had taken a seat at the bar and was currently being served a slice of strawberry cake--and nodded towards her in thanks.

I walked casually towards the metal stairs towards the infirmary, Lucy's dead weight beginning to pull on my arms. She really wasn't that heavy, but after a while my arms had began to grow a bit tired. I could feel everybody's stares on me as I walked, but I payed them no mind. Besides, she was just tired, no need for them to be curious about that.

When I entered the infirmary, I wasn't surprised to see Gray and Juvia. Juvia had been recovering, and she was doing fairly well. She was currently sitting up in bed--a giant teddy bear flanking her right side--with a deck of cards on her lap while Gray was stationed on a stool along her bedside. I guess they were playing go fish or something. It was nice to see her as active as she could be, and she probably only needed another treatment from Wendy before she could get up and walk around again.

I set Lucy down on an available cot. Her hair had splayed out around her and I couldn't help but to stand there and just stare for a second before making a move to take her shoes off before throwing a blanket on her. "Hey, flame brain."

I turned around to face Gray, a slight tint of red on my cheeks. I had forgotten they were in the room as well. "Yeah?"

"Did you ask her out yet?" He nodded his head towards Lucy, and I looked back at her sleeping form.

"No. I don't like her that way."

"Juvia thinks you do. You just don't know it yet." It was a simple statement, but it was one that definitely resonated with me.

I walked towards the door with no intention of replying. Besides, it's not as if I actually had something to say to that. But as I had my hand on the doorknob, I suddenly found myself asking them to the ball game with us. "Yeah, that'd be cool. You think you'll be up to that Ju?" When did ice for brains start calling Juvia 'Ju'?

"Juvia would love to go!" She gushed at the thought and I couldn't repress a smile. I walked out of the infirmary after that and quietly shut the door behind me. I wasn't surprised to see everybody cleaning up the mess Erza had made, and so I took it as my chance to ask Erza about Lucy. I knew she had to know something was up, the way she handled the news was the way someone who was in the know would react.

So as I descended the stairs, my mind was on hyper-drive as it tried to sort out the amount of information that it had gained into something easier to understand. I just didn't understand why she still did the things she did for us even though she was just undercover. She didn't need to go to the extreme lengths that she did, yet she still did and that was what had me confused. Did she really care about the gang, or was it all just a ploy and impeccable acting skills?

But as I found myself sitting next to Erza at the bar, I was unable to voice my questions.  I didn't know what it was, but I just couldn't find it in me to ask her.  I guess I was being really obvious within my confusion, but I felt her gaze as she glanced at me and creased her brow in worry.

"Is something bothering you Natsu?" She asked, setting down her fork.

"What do you know about Lucy and her involvement with the..." I lower my voice to a whisper.  The next thing we'd need is everyone figuring out her secret.  Yeah, like that totally wouldn't cause any panic. "..the MPD?"

Erza sighed softly. I could tell she'd rather not talk about it here, but she was crazy if she thought I was going to wait any longer; I wanted answers.  "I don't know the full details, but from what I know, Lucy hasn't been reporting much of anything to their Director."

"What about Gajeel and Jellal?" Erza pauses for a moment before responding to me.

"They've been with us since I found out about Jellal's involvement.  When he was explaining it to me, he mentioned something going on behind the scenes at their headquarters, but that he didn't care for much of it--only what would personally effect him.  He's the one who requested Lucy to join them." She tells me and I run my hands through my hair with a sigh. All of this just seems so complicated, yet not so complicated at the same time.  What a mess Lucy's gotten herself into.

I took a quick glance behind me, a bit paranoid that someone might be dropping in on our conversation.  "Does Gramps know about any of this?" I look over at her and watched as she took a bite of her cake, probably trying to stall her answer.

"He's aware they work for someone else, but he didn't press for anymore details," Erza stood up after a slight pause where she handed Mira her empty plate and looking at me. "But I think he has his suspicions.  And now that we know Lucy is Jude's daughter, we need to think about telling him everything soon.  Everything has just gotten a bit more stickier than it was before with her involvement."  I watched as she walked away from the bar, probably to go find Jellal.  I heard someone greet him a moment ago, so I guess he must be back from his mission. 

But she was right though, that everything has gotten a lot more complex with Lucy's involvement.  I didn't want to admit it, but she was in real danger now that someone knows about her involvement with us.  I took another minute to take all of this new information seep in before standing up and making my way to an empty table.  I wasn't in the socializing mood and just wanted to reflect on this whole mess.

So first came the mess with Jude, something that seems quite irrelevant now that I really think about it.  He doesn't seem all that important now that Lucy and the MPD have come into the picture.  Sure he still was a huge problem, but the complexity of this ordeal sort of washes that feeling of dread down the drain.  Then after Jude came the undercover cops from the MPD.  I don't what's worse about it, the fact that we've been infiltrated or the fact that Jude's daughter did some infiltrating.  And lastly, the unfinished business between Lucy and Jude.  That's three problems all smashed into one.

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration.  Damn, really couldn't get any worse than it's already gotten.

Just as I looked up from my frustrated position, I saw Lucy descending the stairs from the infirmary.  Just at the sight of her I could feel all of the stress and tension leave my body.  She'd be safer if she were to stay with us, but how safe would that really be in the long run? "How long was I asleep?" She asked as she took a seat adjacent from me.  She still seemed to be a bit sleepy, and her hair was looking a bit tangled.

"You where only out for an hour," I tell her as a small smile crossed my face. "How are you feeling?"

"A lot better actually, but I'm ready to just go home and relax.  I feel like I've been on edge all week!" she exclaimed with a sigh and I nodded in agreement.  I could definitely feel all of the stress building in my shoulders just waiting to get released. "Since your place was trashed... Do you want to stay at mine?" She asked me almost shyly.  Her cheeks had stained red and I could see her cheeks slightly puffed out in slight embarrassment. 

I nodded my head in agreement accompanied by a verbal response, and I watched as a smile broke onto her face.  I stood up from my seat and pushed my hands in my pockets.  I knew it was still early in the afternoon, and since we weren't currently doing anything, I wondered if Gramps had some work for us.  "Hey, you think you're up to go back to work?"

"What work?" Lucy asked as she stood up.

"Patrol, the most boring job on the planet," I tell her as I shake my head. "Everyone who isn't on assignment has to do it." I finished explaining just as I felt my phone vibrate.  I knew it was Gramps, but I secretly hoped it wasn't as I pulled it out of my pocket and checked the number. "And speak of the devil," I groaned before putting it away.

"So you have patrol..." Lucy bites her lip and I crack a small smile.

"Correction, we have patrol."

• • •

"Whoa! The view here is amazing!" Lucy gushed as we found our seats.  We were sitting a couple of rows away from the home team's dugout, but we were also close enough to have to be on the lookout for foul balls.  At least we were in good enough seats to get some free merchandise.

Erza was completely decked out in her gear, silver and black face paint and everything, but she wasn't the only one.  Jellal and Gray were both shirtless (despite it being pretty cold outside) and both contained a flag with the Magnolia Knights logo on it.  And to be honest, it wasn't just them.  I was wearing the exact same thing, save for different shorts.  I don't believe in wearing pants unless necessary or if it's to go to bed.

We hadn't been at the game for long--we were only at the second inning when we all heard a girl's voice call out to Lucy. "Lu-chan!" And our attention turned to a petite girl with short blue hair, and  accompanying her was none other than Gajeel who stood behind her.

"Levy-chan! I didn't know you where coming!  And you're with Gajeel." I was a bit confused as to what was going on.

I looked over towards Gajeel, who was only wearing a black t-shirt and jeans.  He didn't even bring anything at all to show team spirit and I found myself reaching to my backpack to grab that extra flag I brought for Lucy in case she changed her mind about wearing it.  "Y-yeah... And didn't you know we where coming?" She looked towards Gajeel who only shrugged.

"I don't think any of us knew you would be here." Erza told Levy, who's cheeks only flamed with embarrassment.

"I think I mentioned it to him before Luce and I left for patrol earlier." I spoke up, and Gajeel nodded in agreement.  That loser better thank me later for saving his sorry ass.

Levy nudged Gajeel slightly as she tried to get his attention.  "I thought we actually got invited!  Why didn't you tell me?" She was hushed as she chewed him out, but it was still loud enough for me to hear.  That girl must be his girlfriend or something. 

"Come on, don't be mad.  I heard they were going and wanted to come too.  Besides, it's not as if you haven't been buggin' me to take you somewhere, and now we're here gihi." I watched as Levy puffed out her cheeks in annoyance and glared up at Gajeel.  It was a sight to see, a tall grizzly looking man being scolded by a petite woman.  He totally looked whipped too and I could help but to guffaw at his obvious discomfort with the way she glared up at him.

But she eventually looked away, and as she did, a smile graced her lips. "So, are you going to introduce me to your friends or not Gajeel?"

"This stripper here is Gray, and you already know Juvia.  That tatted guy here is Jellal, and his partner Erza and that stupid idiot next to Bunny-girl is Natsu."
I shot a glare towards Gajeel as he got around to introducing me, and I couldn't help but notice Gray doing the same.  "It's nice to meet you!"  Levy quipped before moving to sit next to Lucy.

"So...Gajeel is your boyfriend huh?" Lucy asked, and I could totally see the sparkle in her eyes as she asked.  Apparently this was news to her too.  Even Erza was leaning in closer, no matter how subtle it seemed, to hear the poor girl's answer.

"Well.." Levy fiddles with her fingers.

"It's okay Levy," Lucy laughed much to Levy's relief.  But the disappointment on Erza's face said it all.

"Oi, metal face," I exclaimed before he could take his seat next to Jellal.  "Put this on before you ruin the spirit!" I tossed the flag at him, and he caught it with ease.

"You might as well go to the restroom and put this on as well.  We will not tolerate a break in the spirit if you choose to sit with us." Erza informed him as she shoved her spare supplies at him.  He looked down at all the body paints before hefting the bag over his shoulder.  "Jellal, go with him so you can get his back too."

As the two walked away to find the restroom, we all turned our attention back to the  game, and just in time too because just as we did, a very audible crack came right before a foul ball plummeted right into Erza's abdomen.  There was a chorus of 'ooh' as everyone in the stadium began wondering if she was okay.  She was slightly hunched over, and her hair was fanned out to shield her face from view, but just as we thought about going to get a medic, she suddenly shot her hand in the air and screamed with excitement.  It was truly a sight to behold, and I couldn't help but to laugh.  She was more excited about catching a foul ball than she was concerned about her injury.  It truly was a thing only Erza could pull off.

Jellal and Gajeel came back an inning later, and as Erza began to explain to Jellal about the foul ball,  she couldn't help to to keep her tears of excitement away.  It was really quite comical, but hey, that's Erza.  Sometimes drama queen, sometimes really scary.  There really was no in between.

"Oh, come on blue!  That was totally a strike!" Lucy shouted as she joined the chorus of boos echoing throughout the stadium.  "Ugh, did you guys see--what are you looking at me like that for?" 

"Well, Juvia wasn't expecting such anger at a bad call from you."

"I didn't even think you knew anything about baseball at all actually." Gray confessed next.

We all watched--except for Levy who had a smug look on her face--as Lucy crossed her arms and pouted.  "I play softball on my spare time." 

"Really?  I had no idea." I scratched my head as I looked at my partner with a whole new perspective.  "What position do you play?"

"I catch, and I play second, sometimes outfield.  Levy here pitches of course.  Don't underestimate her size, she has a mean fast ball."  I was about to reply, but doubled over as I was slugged right in the stomach by Erza.  And as I looked up to see what her problem was, I saw that we had somehow made it on the the jumbo screen.  Erza's face was completely red with embarrassment, but after Jellal whispered something in her ear, probably something about cake, she was more than determined to show her full spirit. 

"Yeah! Go Knights!" I screamed as I began fist pumping.  But alas the glory of the jumbo screen was short lived, and within a matter of seconds a new victim was being broadcast.  I was having an awesome time, and it looked as if everyone else was having an awesome time as well.  I really wished everyday would be as carefree as we were in this moment, but life somehow always finds a way to screw you over.  So I decided that I'd spend it the best way I could, and hope that it would last just a little bit longer.