Lucy didn't even realize the time as she wasted the day away with her new friends. She discovered all about them and even talked about some of her own life, although she kept quiet about her Mom. She learned that Levy was a huge bookworm like herself and would probably have most classes with Lucy, Mira was actually her Grandpa's like secretary, and Erza was student Council president. She learned about Lissanas and Mira's brother, Elfman, and Mira told her that Laxus had a group of followers that practically worshiped the ground her cousin walked on. They ate together and exchanged stories, telling Lucy all about their experiences. Despite never having been there, Lucy didn't feel like an outsider. She enjoyed herself so much, that by the time Laxus called Mira to ask where they were at, it was completely dark outside and most people had left. Lucy had been too caught up with her friends to notice, and it seemed the others were the same.

"I can't believe it got this late," Mira sighed as they exited the mall.

"I know. Time flies when you're having fun," Levy giggled, turning towards Lucy. "It was great to meet you Lu-chan!" She gave Lucy a hug.

"It was nice to meet you too Levy. I can't wait to see you again," Lucy replied, waving as Levy walked off. The bluenette called out goodbyes to everyone else before disappearing behind a car.

"We should get going too. I'll see you at home, Mira-nee," Lissana said, waving to Lucy.

"See ya, girlie," Cana winked towards the blonde before following after the younger white haired girl. Lucy huffed out a laugh and turned to face Erza and Mira with a smile.

"Thank you guys, really. This was a lot of fun," Lucy said, hugging the two. Mira laughed and Erza pat her back as she pulled away.

"What are friends for, Lucy? Now, let's get you back home before your cousin freaks out," Mira said, heading towards the car. It was significantly colder in the BMW without the sun warming the leather, but thankfully Magnolia wasn't a very cold place. Lucy rested her head against the seat and watched as the view of her new home went by.

When Mira pulled into the driveway, the house was dark. Lucy hopped out of the car, thanking the two again and waving at them as they pulled away and disappearing around the bend. Lucy smiled and turned, heading towards the house

Just as Lucy realized she had no key, she turned the doorknob and was relieved to know it was unlocked. Silently thanking her caring cousin, Lucy pushed the door open and closed it behind her. The lights were off, although she heard Laxus and Gray's voices talking from upstairs. Feeling thirsty, Lucy blindly felt along the wall as she entered the living room. She stumbled through and into the kitchen, flicking on the light. She blinked as her eyes adjusted and headed for the cupboard. She reached up, grabbing onto a cup and setting it on the counter. She turned the water on and waited for the little stream to chill. She tapped her fingers on the counter, humming tunelessly. After a moment she grabbed the cup and filled it up, the water creating little bubbles as it filled up her cup. She hummed out one last note and took a big gulp of her water, turning off the faucet.

"That's an interesting song."

Lucy jumped in surprise, her eyes widening, and choked on her water. She swallowed it harshly, coughing and spinning around ready to kill whoever snuck up on her. She opened her mouth, but froze when she saw the person behind her. There was only one thing she could say to him...

"Pink," Lucy said, instantly clapping her hands over her mouth in embarrassment. The boy behind her raised an eyebrow, a pink eyebrow, curiously before tugging self consciously on a pink lock. He laughed lightly, a deep rich sound that made Lucy shiver, and darted his onyx green eyes up to meet hers. He smiled slightly.

"I take it you're either Lucy or a very thirsty thief," he joked, smiling a bit wider. Lucy quickly dropped her hands and made a gun with her fingers.

"Give me all your water," she teased, shaking her finger gun. The boy laughed a short, harsh laugh of surprise. He smiled largely at Lucy, his eyes sparkling under the fluorescent lights.

"Laxus didn't do a good job of describing you. He made you sound like some whinny little nine year old," he said, giving her a once over. "You certainly don't look like you're nine."

"So I've been told," Lucy said dryly, extending a hand towards the boy. "I'm Lucy Heartfilia, supposed whinny nine year old."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Natsu Dragoneel, boy with pink hair, at your service," he took her hand in his significantly larger hand. His palm was rough and his fingers slightly calloused, making Lucy shiver again as it rubbed against her smooth palms.

"So I guess you're the other regular Laxus was talking about?" Lucy asked, taking her hand back. She was glad for the distance as she busied herself with putting away the dishes in the sink. Natsu gave her an odd look and leaned against the table.

"That's me," then, as an afterthought he added, "what else have those bastards said about me?"

"Hmm?" Lucy coughed in surprise, "not much...not anything really, just your name and that you and Gajeel stay over time to time..." She paused, thinking back. She remembered Laxus' comment about how he was too dense to mess with her, but she doubted he would want to hear that.

"Hn," he murmured skeptically before turning towards her and giving her a huge smile that had her cheeks heating up. "Same goes for you! I guess we'll both get to know each other, huh?"

"Y-yeah," Lucy agreed, feeling uncharacteristically flustered. Why was it she could act totally cool when Jellal came and popped up all mysterious-like, but this weird boy smiled at her and she couldn't stop the furious beating in her chest.

"Well, I'm looking forward to get to know ya, Luigi," Natsu waved, turning away as he walked out of the kitchen. Lucy stared after him in surprise, frowning when his words dawned on her.

"It's Lucy, Baka!" She screamed after him, her only response the sound of deep laughter. Lucy huffed, touching her cheeks and cursing Kami when she found them burning. She quickly dunked her hands into the cold water and slapped her cheeks. She huffed, frowning at the counter. Japan was so weird.

~

Lucy quickly finished up the dishes before trudging up the stairs. She was surprised that no one besides that annoying Baka had come to talk to her, but at that point she was too tired to care. She didn't know what time it was, but she knew it was late and she had a warm bed calling her name. She sighed as she finally stood before her door, pushing it open to reveal....

"Nani....What are you doing?" Lucy grumbled as the door swung open to reveal the boys that polluted the floor of her room. She noticed the pink haired Baka instantly, and quickly turned away so her back was to him and her front to the blonde menace grinning at her.

"My, you look tired. We're you perhaps hoping to get some sleep?" Laxus said cheekily, tossing a card into the center pile. "You're turn, Jellal."

"Is there a reason you're doing this?" Lucy growled, glaring with her best look she could muster. Laxus merely laughed and glanced down at his cards as Gajeel picked up a card from the center deck. The porcupine impersonator grumbled something before tossing the same card back into the pile.

"Wanna join us, Lucy?" Gray offered, patting the floor beside him.

"No, I wanna sleep," she whined, glancing at her clock. "Come on, it's past twelve already!"

"Where's your party spirit, Luigi? It's not like you got stuff to do tomorrow," Natsu said cheerfully, smiling. Laxus have Natsu a weird look at the nickname while the blonde glowered at him.

"Ah! Lucy doesn't like to party," Gray added on helpfully, discarding a card. Lucy puffed out an annoyed breath, regarding the game coldly. She recognized it instantly, a simple American card game called rummy.

"Best of two?" Laxus offered, noticing the spark of familiarity in his cousins eyes. Lucy bit her lip, mentally going over her choices. The boys stared up at her as she went over the options.

"Alright," she conceded, "but if I win, you're all leaving."

"Deal," Laxus smirked. Lucy huffed and crossed the room, settling down beside Gray and stretching out tiredly.

"Alright boys, let's make this fast. Id like to beat your asses before it turns 1."

~

"Is she really asleep?" Jellal asked, glancing at the blonde. After winning both rounds of rummy, Lucy had been too pumped up to fall asleep. She declared they should watch a movie, so they had all moved into the "chill room" to sit back and enjoy some good o' terminator. Laxus, Gray, and Lucy had taken the couch while Natsu had pounced on the arm chair and Jellal and Gajeel had pulled up beanbags.

"Yup, she's out," Gray murmured, glancing down with a smile at the blonde sleeping on his arm. He didn't know why he didn't find an attraction to the busty blonde; she was funny, cute, had a good body, and an attitude that would keep him on his toes for sure, but every time he looked at her he couldn't help but think of her as his little sister. Nevertheless, he didn't mind the fact that she had her knees curled by his and her face pressed into his bicep.

"I can't believe she fell asleep on you, ice pop," Natsu grunted, looking at the sleeping blonde. Gray wasn't sure if that sharp tone the pinkette had used was jealousy, but the thought made him smirk.

"Would you rather it be you, flame brain?" Gray teased, and Natsu puffed his cheeks out indignantly.

"That's not what I'm saying. I just feel bad because she's gonna wake up to a nasty frostbite on her face," he said, making Gray glare.

"Let's not start a fight, alright?" Jellal asked, motioning to the blonde. "I have a feeling she'd be super pissed if we woke her up now."

"Sleep is like her God, she'll kill you if you mess with it," Laxus warned through a yawn, tossing his head back.

"I think Blondie has the right idea," Gajeel said, stifling his own yawn. "I'm gonna stay here, Lax."

"That's fine. Natsu?" Laxus glanced at the pink, but said boy was already standing up.

"Nah, Wendy'll kill me if I'm not there to make breakfast tomorrow. I'll bring her by tomorrow afternoon, introduce her to Luigi," he waved at the boys before walking out.

"I'll drop off sleeping beauty," Gray volunteered, scooping up the blonde as easily as if she were a pillow. He nodded to the others before stepping into the hall, surprised to see Natsu there. "I thought you just left."

"Had to say bye to Luigi," he murmured tiredly, walking up to the two. Before Gray could step back, he leaned forward and tapped Lucy lightly on the forehead. He smiled as she wrinkled her nose in her sleep.

"Are you trying to kill us all?" Gray hissed, stepping away and turning the sleeping blonde away from the pinkette. Natsu just giggled and turned away, waving over his shoulder.

"Later, Luce."

Gray stared curiously at the boy as he left. In all his years of knowing the idiot, he'd never heard him give a girl a nickname with the exception of Erza, but red she-demon wasn't exactly what he called a friendly gesture. However, in just two hours he'd seen Natsu give Lucy two nicknames and show overwhelming interest in her. It was odd.

"Are you planning to stand out here forever?" Gray jumped and looks down at the blonde in surprise. Her eyes were only half open and she stared up at him disorientedly, but the scowl on her face was prominent.

"G-Gomen. I didn't know you woke up," he apologized, turning towards her bedroom.

"Of course I did, that Baka poked my forehead," she grumbled.

"Lucy, have you met Natsu before?" Gray asked, opening the door to her room. Lucy was silent as he approached her bed, not speaking til he set her down.

"Nope, but it feels like I have. All you guys make me feel like I've been here forever," Lucy murmured, throwing her blankets over her. "Thank you for bringing me here."

"It was a two foot walk, not a problem," he teased with a smile but she shook her head.

"I mean thanks for picking me up, you know, from the airport. I'm kinda glad I got to meet someone kind right from the start," her eyes began to drift close as she explained.

Gray froze in the doorway, his chest warming at her words. He smiled to himself and glanced back at the blonde as he closed the door.

"Your welcome."