Lucy had a plan to open Natsu's eyes. It had some holes in it granted. But she wanted to do something now. She had been putting a stopper on her feelings for so long now she was sure that they fermented and were overly potent. If they fermented too long they would probably explode...

Her plan was actually quite simple. She had remembered how just before the Grand Magic Games the girls had their own little party and gotten quite drunk. That night Lucy had no problems flirting with Natsu. So she was going to do it again, except this time she was going to be making a more conscious effort on the flirting.

Lucy double checked her reflection in the full length mirror before heading to the guild hall. She wore black buckled knee high boots, a cropped black t-shirt with a pink rose on the front, and short jean shorts. She had originally debated on a dress that she had quickly hung back in her closet. The dress probably would have screamed her plan, at least this outfit was basically her normal attire.

She headed her way to the guild hall. She contemplated if she should actually get drunk or just pretend to be drunk. But she quickly shook off the thought of pretending. She was just too genuine for that.

Once she arrived she sat down at the bar and smiled at Mirajane. Mira approached her. "Hey Lucy, how are you doing tonight?"

"Other then my writing I'm good. I think I just need to unwind. Perhaps, er, could I get a drink?"

"Sure, what do you want?"

Now this was the part where she was stumped a bit. Lucy didn't drink often. She had been challenged by Cana a few times. The problem was Cana's choice in drinks tasted bitter and overly powerful. She knew Cana would rag on her later but she wanted more of a feminine fruity drink. Fruity that's it!

"Got a good strawberry drink?" Lucy asked. "I don't want something blended. I think I would prefer something over ice."

"I think I know just the drink. Gimme a sec to get that ready for you."

While Mira got the drink ready Lucy looked around the room for a certain pinkette male. She didn't see him but she did see a Happy. "Mira, I'll be right back you can leave my drink here." Mira nodded to Lucy to let her know that she understood as Lucy vacated her seat.

Lucy strolled over to where Happy was attempting to give Carla a fish. She almost wished that she earned a jewel every time Happy tried that. She definitely wouldn't be broke anymore. Heck, if the cat could remember Carla's weakness for Darjeeling tea he would be set.

As expected the blue exceed cried and flew into Lucy's arms. "Lucy! Carla won't except my fish!"

Lucy pet the blue exceed between his ears and waited until he purred contently from her affectionate embrace. Once Happy seemed quite content she took a deep breath. "I haven't seen Natsu recently, Happy. Where is he?"

"He'll be here in a little bit. He told me to fly ahead."

Lucy nodded at Happy. She then disentangled him from her body, sat him down, and headed back to the bar. A pretty pale pink drink with sliced strawberries was sitting in her spot. She smiled at Mira, "Oooh this is pretty. What is it?"

"It's called Cherub's Cup."

Pretty drink, pretty name, hopefully it tasted nice too. Lucy took a sip and was pleasantly pleased at the sweetness.

Cana walked over to Lucy and thumped her a little too roughly on the shoulder. "That's too girlie of a drink! Want some of mine?" She offered.

"Cana, I don't drink like you and frankly that's too buff for me."

"Well at least wanna do a shot with me? Mira bring a list of the shots"

"No Mira that won't be necessary. Actually there is something I always wanted to try. I personally want to try a jell-o shot."

"Oh Jell-o shots are still girly but fun. Yeah I agree to that idea. Anyone else wanna do Jell-o shots with us?" Cana shouted across the room.

There were several takers so it wasn't long before the guild was hopping with drunken merriment. After about 3 Cherub Cups and 5 Jell-o shots Lucy was definitely feeling it. She nearly fell off of her bar stool when a pair of hands reached out for her.

"Whoa Luce!" Natsu caught her before she could fall to the ground.

Lucy turned to his voice and smiled a drunk crooked smile. "Natsu! Sit wif me. Have a dwink!"

"Lucy, how much have you had to drink? Your speech is slurry and..." Natsu caught her again as she just about slipped off the stool. He couldn't fight back the half chuckle that lept from his throat. "And you can't stay in your seat."

Lucy smiled at Natsu. "Okay then you sit, and I'll sit on your lap. I can't fall then." She shook her head at him. "Nope, I won't fall then."

Natsu sighed. He didn't hate Lucy drunk but she was not herself and really hard to deal with. But the drink she was drinking had increased her strawberry smell exponentially, and she looked adorable tonight. Her bare stomach just begged to be caressed. Lucy interrupted his internal reverie. "Natsu, I want to play a game."

"Game?"

"Yes a game." She put her finger to her lips, thinking of a game.

"What game, Luce?"

"Iono yet...can you suggest one?"

Natsu thought about that. He smirked up at her because he had a clever idea. It would be a good way to get her sober too. "The game I want to play has to be played outside in the park."

"Okay," she stood up and when she started to fall she smiled up at him sheepishly. "I not so sure I can walk though, Natsu."

"Well, if you can't walk you can't play." Lucy pouted at Natsu. He had to admit he disliked Lucy drunk but he adored her pout.

"Can we comwo...cump...compromise?"

"How so?"

"I will gwadly walk when we get to the park, but you cawry me on your back there."

Natsu didn't think that was a good idea. But he wanted to get her sober and if it got her into the fresh night air faster so be it.

After walking a little bit however Natsu realized the mistake he made. Lucy was plastered to his back, nuzzling his neck, and the breeze was a tad chilly. Because he never got cold his proof to that was the two twin points poking in his back from where Lucy's body was reacting to the cold. Natsu groaned aloud.

"Natsu, you okay?"

No, no I'm not okay but..."I'm fine, Luce. We are almost there."

He was so thankful for the fact that the park was only a block away. Once he arrived underneath the tree at South Park he put Lucy down. She looked around and got an odd expression on her face.

He would stop at this tree, she thought to herself. "So what are we gonna play, Natsu?"

"Tag, Luce, and you're it."

He immediately ran away from Lucy. She looked at him oddly before she called out. She didn't run after him but walked a bit before calling out to him. "If I catch you what do I win?"

Natsu turned and jogged backwards. "One wish." He seriously doubted she would remember this conversation nor did he think she would actually catch him. The point of this game was to get her to sober up and be normal Lucy again.

Luce walked towards Natsu. "One wish is bogus. Genies grant three wishes in stories so I say three wishes, no less."

Natsu stopped jogging and turned towards Lucy. He thought about what she could wish for that she needed three wishes. But honestly she had him stumped. He inwardly debated back and forth on going along with the request. His brain annoyed him because it was playing ping pong too much with the choice on whether to give her three wishes or not. He physically threw his hands up in the air hin surrender and just gave in. "Fine, three wishes."

Lucy was now only three feet from him. She ran at him and tackled him to the ground. "Yay! I caught you. Now I get three wishes."

Natsu smirked up at Lucy. The girl was clever.

"For my first wish," Lucy shifted so she was beside him with her head on his chest looking up at the sky. "I wish to stay here for a bit and look at the stars."

Natsu smiled. He remembered how she had told him that she would often do this just to relax. Natsu's left arm curled around Lucy and without realizing she even did it Lucy had found his left hand and curved her fingers through it. They just laid there in silence for some time when Natsu noticed her hand went slack in his.

"Luce?" Natsu called out to her but she didn't respond.

Natsu played with her hair a bit and thought for a few while the girl he loved was in his arms asleep. I don't understand how something so simple can feel so right. I hate that she was drunk earlier, but she smells so good and just laying here with her is calming. I want to do something special for her...but what...

Natsu got to thinking about the last time he saw her drunk. Then he remembered how the guys tried to get back at the girls for their outlandish drunken behavior by spying on them while they were in the outdoor bath.

Natsu had listened to her story about how she found his house and cleaned it for him. It made him smile. It was true he was more often at her place then his. Her small apartment was nicer then his one room house but at least he didn't have to worry about rent. He owned his house. Then it dawned on him...what he could do for her...and really it would be for the both of them.

Natsu shifted Lucy so he could pick her up and take her home. Once he arrived at her apartment he gently laid her in her bed. She shifted in her sleep. "Natsu?" she blinked up sleepily at him.

"Yeah Luce?"

"Wish two, I wish you would stay here beside me tonight."

The wish caught him by surprise. He didn't think she would remember the remaining wishes, and it wasn't like they hadn't slept together before. But things were different now. Now he had to fight to keep his hands off of her and claiming her before he even had a chance to talk to her about what that entailed.

"Natsu?" He shrugged it off. If he didn't agree she was going to know something was up. She was pretty out of it anyway. He grudgingly climbed into bed beside her and they both shifted until they were comfortable. "Natsu?" She asked again.

"Wish three, I want a goodnight kiss." Natsu sucked in probably half of the rooms oxygen. She wanted him to kiss her? That was...promising. But it was also risky.

He turned and kissed her on the cheek. She made a cute grumbly noise. "That wasn't much of a kiss, Natsu." Then she turned toward him and kissed him on the mouth. It wasn't much more then a peck really but it pierced his resolve. He had to get started on his project so he could get things going in the right direction. If she had kissed him more then a peck. Well, he probably would have lost it.