"Mira, let me do that." I said, coming out from the kitchen to see Mira back and mopping the floor with, what smelt like, straight bleach. I hadn't had the chance to see how bloody I'd gotten the area after my crash, but if Mira was still mopping, it must have been a lot.

"I'm already done, sweetheart." The albino beauty said, assuring me with her signature smile. The hot blush on my cheeks didn't fade, however. "How do you feel?" She asked, her voice calm, but facial expression desperate and embarrassed.

"I'm fine," I promised, "Laxus stitches faster than any doctor I've had."

They both chuckled.

Natsu, Levy, and Happy came back in through the living room's screen door. While Levy and Happy hurried to my side, Natsu stayed back with an emotionless expression.

"C'mon, honeybun, let's get you freshened up." Levy cheeked as Happy carefully settled on to my shoulder. Her gaze snapped down to my ruined outfit and quickly back up to my eyes before I nodded and followed her up to her room.

Once there, she shut the door behind us and speed-walked over to her vanity makeup-desk. She opened a drawer and pulled out a stylish pair of red glasses. I smiled as she put them on and pushed them up the bridge of her nose.

"Cute shades." I commented, taking a seat on the foot of her bedframe. Happy floated down to sit next to me, not making a peep.

She smiled softly, "They aren't just for show." She said, walking to one of her tall bookshelves to search for a specific text, "They're called Gale-Force Reading Glasses. They help the wearer read any text at phenomenal speed... Which comes in handy when dealing with Spell Books."

I rose an eyebrow as she unearthed her desired book. It was as thick as the average novel, and when she opened the cover, her glasses switched on and a crystal blue, holographic ring stretched out from the outside of the lenses. Natsu told me about those... They were called Magic Circles. Only ancient spells and magic items caused them. Those glasses must have been rare.

Levy didn't touch the book again. Instead, the magic in the glasses flipped its pages speedily and Levy looked on in concentration. The crystal blue words within the ring flew by like encryptions being decoded, and before I knew it, Levy blinked and closed the book.

"Got it." She said, removing her glasses and putting her book back.

"Got what?" I asked humorously, still in shock of her casually using magic in front of me.

"There's a spell for just about everything. Even the frivolous stuff." She chuckled, "I couldn't remember the spell for renewing someone's clothing. It's been so long since anyone here has had a wardrobe malfunction with our superior reflexes."

I nodded, and she stood in front of me and Happy before chanting something foreign to me. My clothes were illuminated and my hair began to float up from the magic weaving its way around me. Soon, the light around me snapped down into the clothing and the beautiful lights died out.

My once messy and slightly torn outfit was brand spanking new. Jude wouldn't notice a thing... Except for my bandaged arm... possibly.

My eyes were wide as saucers, "Thanks, Lev."

"No prob." She said simply. I thought of something.

I hesitated before saying, "Hey, if you could fix my outfit this quickly with magic, how come Laxus didn't use it to patch me up?"

"The few spells we have for healing wouldn't work for someone who's not a mage. They're too powerful." Levy explained, "Plus, Laxus has never considered healing humans with magic. Doing so would expose us, so we've never looked into finding safer spells for such things."

I nodded in understanding before slowly turning to look down at Happy with his head hung. He had been quiet this whole time. "Happy..." I called. He didn't meet my gaze, but I could see his big black eyes.

They were forlorn. I rose a hand to pat his head gently as he fiddled with his paws.

"What's the matter, bud?"

"It's Natsu." Levy answered, and I looked up at her as she looked down at Happy. They held the same solemn expression, almost hopeless. My heart dropped as I remembered Natsu's blank expression downstairs earlier.

I looked off in space, "How bad is it?" As much as I tried to whisper, and we were upstairs with the door closed, I just knew he could hear us.

"I don't know yet." She replied softly, and my heart sunk even more. Levy knew just about everything with her abilities. Fuck.

"What about Gajeel?" I asked quickly, not wanting to linger on the idea of Natsu.

She sighed, "He's... pissed... with himself." She said, "Not only for nearly hurting you, but for feeling so weak... so incapable of restraint."

"It's not his fault." I stated, "You'll tell him that, won't you? And that I'm not at all upset with him?"

"Of course." She said dryly, and I had a feeling she knew it wouldn't change much. I looked down.

"None of this is anyone's fault, Levy." I told her, looking back up to lock eyes with her. I could tell she felt a weight on herself. A guilty itch that was exposed from the dullness of her chestnut eyes.

Had she not have thrown this party, this wouldn't have happened... She couldn't have believed that.

She didn't respond to my statement, and I surmised that she probably did.

***

It was dead silent.

All I could hear were the car tires rolling against the streets and the air coming through the vents. Levy and Happy's faces burned in my head. As did Gajeel's. It didn't help that my arm was beginning to lose its numbness and the tightness of my stitches and bandages were becoming more pronounced.

Or even worse... Natsu hadn't said a word since we got into his car.

My mind was going crazy as I sat next to him, trying to keep my emotions in check as he drove me home. I felt like I was going to explode from the anxiety of what he must have been thinking.

I couldn't take it anymore, "Natsu, please say something." I begged, my voice almost hoarse as my eyes watered slightly.

"What do you want me to say?" He replied right after, his voice detached.

I thought for a moment, "That... That I'm a total klutz, but it's okay." I stole a gaze at him to see his blazing green eyes staring through the windshield and his fist firmly gripping the wheel. His elbow was bent by his window, and he propped his face up with his hand. His expression was ominously calm, and his eyes honestly looked a bit tired. "Tell me you forgive me, Natsu." I continued when he didn't reply.

"You gave yourself a papercut, Lucy." He said just as flatly, "That hardly deserves the death penalty."

"But it was still on me." I retorted, battling between gently and forcefully getting him to talk to me.

His jaw clench tightly, and he looked like he was about to cry out of anger, "If you had a normal party... the worst that could have happened would be you bleeding on the carpet. Or your friends not being able to find you a band-aid." He rambled, more and more life coming back into his voice the further he went... Although his emotions were anything but good. "Ren Akatsuki could've fixed you up without a problem. He could've driven you home while you two dished about what a great party it was... He damn sure wouldn't have to fight the urge to kill you-"

"Stop!" I exclaimed, feeling my eyes well up even more than before, "How the hell did Ren Akatsuki become part of this conversation?"

"Because Ren Akatsuki would be a hell of a lot healthier for you than I am." Natsu deadpanned. I swallowed the lump in my throat, noticing the tear that slipped out of his eye from his words.

"I don't want Ren Akatsuki." I said quickly and firmly, "I don't want normal, Natsu... I want you."

He didn't reply, instead he kept his gaze on the road ahead.

When he pulled up to my house, I hadn't found any way to save the night.

"Will you stay with me?" I asked, feeling like my mind was off somewhere and my mouth was speaking for me.

"I should go home." He said blankly. Back to being emotionless, I see.

I sighed, "For my birthday?"

Natsu turned to look at me in irritation. Oh my God, he's looking at me. "What the hell, Lucy? You literally told me to ignore your birthday all week."

"Well, I've changed my mind." I stated, unbuckling my seatbelt and climbing out of his car. I heard his door open and he was by my side in the next millisecond as I walked to his trunk.

"You don't have to take those." He said with a frown, referring to the contents of his trunk: the gifts he and his family got me that Mira insisted on me taking back home.

"What are you talking about? I want them." I said in ridicule. He looked at me with his eyebrows furrowed and his lips pouting slightly. If it weren't for the situation, I would have told him how cute he looked. And he would have smiled, no doubt.

Hesitantly, he opened his trunk and I began to gather my things. As I walked up my driveway, awkwardly carrying my gifts, Natsu walked up behind me and grabbed my good arm gently, "At least let me carry them." He mumbled before grabbing all of my presents, "I'll be in your room."

I smiled as blush crept on to my face, "Thanks." I said softly.

"Happy Birthday." He sighed before leaning down to peck my lips. I stood on my toes and pulled him by his collar when he started to pull away to kiss him longer. I could feel his lips curl slightly under my lips and he snatched his mouth away from me with a boyish smile on his face.

As he disappeared behind my house, I made my way inside.

"Luce?" Jude called over the television, which presented some car-show with loud, fast-talking announcers.

"Hey, Dad." I responded, holding my arm close to my side as I came around the corner. I ignored the burning sensation that shot through it as I pressed it closer and walked into my father's line of sight.

"How was it?"

I sighed, "Levy went overboard. Balloons, candles, cake, confetti... presents."

"What'd they get you?" He asked, chuckling at my annoyance.

"A couple of things. The boys got me a stereo for my Beetle."

"Aw, that's sweet."

"Yeah," I nodded, "I'm gonna call it a night."

"Okay, I'll see ya in the morning." He smiled softly.

I waved. "Night."

"What happened to your arm?"

I cursed silently, "Nothing, I just tripped."

Jude rolled his eyes and began to sit up, "Lucy..."

"Goodnight, Dad." I said, scampering up the stairs and into my bathroom. I quickly changed into some of the clothes I kept in there: black pajama shorts, fuzzy socks, and one of the t-shirts Natsu so graciously gave to me. I smiled as I breathed in the scent that still lingered around the collar. His scent.

I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and slid into my bedroom, closing the door behind me.

Natsu sat in the center of my bed with one of my presents in his hands. He and Levy's present. The one whose wrapping paper caused all this.

"Hi." He said softly to me, his eyes trained on the silver box in his hands. I got on to the bed and pushed the box out of his hands, climbing on to his lap.

"Hi." I replied sweetly as his gaze rose up to mine, "Can I open some presents now?"

"Oh, look who's suddenly excited." He said with his eyebrows furrowed and lips pursed.

"You've gotten me curious." I shrugged as our gazes fell on my gifts. I picked up a small rectangular box that was tagged with Laxus and Mirajane's names.

"Let me." He ordered before grabbing the box from me and opening it himself. I watched him as he did, not even irritated by his overprotectiveness, just happy he was talking again.

Inside the box were two long, thick pieces of paper with a lot of fine print. However, it didn't take long for me to get the gist of them.

"We're... We're going to Lamia Scale?" I exclaimed as quietly as possible. The two slips were extravagant train tickets for me and Natsu.

"That's the plan." Natsu said simply.

"Oh my gosh, my mom is gonna flip." I giggled in excitement, "I'm gonna have to thank them."

I set the tickets back in their box before reaching for Natsu and Levy's. He grabbed it from me and unwrapped it like the first one. He handed back a crystal clear, bedazzled CD case (most likely Levy's contribution) with a blank CD inside. I looked at him in question.

"What's on this?" I asked with an excited smile on my face. His eyes brightened up at the sight, and the corner of his mouth turned up slightly. He turned to reach behind him, his fiery hand wrapping around my waist to steady me as he placed the CD in the player on my bedside table.

He hit play, and we waited in anticipation as the music began. He turned back to catch my reaction and my eyes widened at him as I recognized the song. My hand came up to cover my mouth before tears started welling up in my eyes.

"Is your arm hurting you?" He asked worriedly. I chuckled. He could be so dense sometimes.

"It's not my arm, Nat. It's beautiful." I said, "I can't believe it."

It was the song he composed for me. Lucy's Lullaby, he called it.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"I didn't think you'd let me get a piano so I could play it for you here." He said softly when the track finished.

"You were right." I chuckled, wiping away my traitor tears.

"How's your arm feel?" He asked. I could hear the anxiety behind his tone.

"I'm okay, Natsu." I assured. Even though it felt like the bandages were rubbing against burning skin.

"Where do you keep your Tylenol?" He pressed.

I sighed, sitting up, "Below my sink."

He easily pulled me off his lap and got off the bed.

"Jude." I warned him. My father had no idea about Natsu's nightly visits here, and if he found out I was certain he'd have a stroke. Even if Natsu and I hardly did anything to provoke such a reaction. My boyfriend had just about as many rules as my father did.

"He won't catch me." He replied, sending me a wink before slipping out of my bedroom. He was back a few seconds after with the pills and a water-glass from my bathroom counter.

I took the meds without a fight. For one, I knew I'd lose, and for two, my arm was really killing me.

"It's late, love." Natsu said, his jaw clenched as he scooped me up and tucked me under my comforter. He laid back down next to me, and I laid my head on his solid, blazing shoulder.

"Thank you, Natsu." I whispered.

"You're welcome." He relied lowly.

We were quiet for a moment... Which never happened... At least not with tension in the air.

"What are you thinking about, Nat?" I asked after about ten minutes.

"Right and wrong actually." He replied casually. My heart stopped, a chill going down my spine at his tone.

I took a deep breath and rested a hand on his chest, "Remember how I decided I didn't want you to ignore my birthday?" I hoped it wasn't too clear I was trying to distract him from whatever thoughts he'd been entertaining.

"Mhm." He agreed, skepticism laced in the length of his hum.

"Well... I was thinking, since it's still my birthday, I wanted you to kiss me again." I said slowly, trying to silently decode his silence.

"Well, aren't you greedy tonight?" He replied, and I couldn't help the mischievous smile that crept on to my face. I looked up at him, resting my chin on his chest.

"Oh, please don't do anything you don't want to." I sighed sarcastically.

His gaze stayed on my ceiling, but his lips curled into his signature smirk, "God forbid I do anything I don't want to do." He chuckled, and I giggled, raising my hand to graze his jaw and bring his attention to me. His eyes were almost neon green as they locked with mine, and his grip around my waist tightened before he pulled me closer to himself.

The kiss was hesitant, cautious. Natsu had the tendency to be cautious when being intimate with me, but I could tell he was barely holding himself together this time. His restraint faded more and more as the kiss deepened, and I knew it broke when he pulled me completely on top of him. My fingers knotted in his hair while one of his hands gripped my bare thigh and the other grasped my back. Our mouths became almost frenzied, molding together and breaking apart for air over and over.

When we pulled apart again, his teeth pulled at my bottom lip and a moan slipped out of my mouth before he claimed it again. I heard a low growl rumble in his chest, and suddenly the immense heat of his body dissipated. I gasped, having thoughts of pulling away from him but losing them as he continued to passionately kiss me.

He took ahold of the back of my knee, securing it beside his waist before sitting up and flipping me over. His large frame hovered over my smaller one and his hands began to roam my torso. My breaths disappeared into his mouth, and he began to groan into mine. My whole body felt on fire. Amazing. I fisted clumps of his shirt, and I felt his fingers dig into the exposed skin of my hip.

Abruptly, he tore his mouth away from mine, pushing himself away from me with gentle, firm hands.

My breath was ragged, and I let my head fall back on to my pillow while my chest rose and fell.

"Sorry," He said harshly, breathless and wild-eyed as well, "That... That was... out of line."

"If you say so." I breathed, knowing my face was as red as a tomato. He sighed and sent a frown my way.

"Go to sleep, Lucy."

"No." I said defiantly, "Come back here."

I could see a hint of a smirk on his lips, but his eyes stayed stern, "You overestimate me."

"Which is tempting you more, darling?" I asked, sitting up to be at eye level with him, "My soul... Or my body?"

His smirk stretched out, "Is it too much to ask for both?" I laughed, and he leaned in quickly to kiss my cheek before I could turn to lock lips with him again, "Now, go to sleep. Stop pushing your luck."

I sighed, "Fine."

As I laid back down and shut my eyes, I remembered what that kiss reminded me of.

A few months ago when Natsu took me to watch him and his family play baseball, and he "tampered with my memory." That kiss held about as much fire as this one... But it was more innocent. Less... dangerous. How?

Natsu's temperature didn't drop back then... His normal, fiery body heat remained... He was in control of himself, not in his predatory state.

I shuddered, causing Natsu to wrap his now blazing arms around me. I wondered...

Just what would have happened had he not pulled away as abruptly as he did?