"I'm so stuffed I feel like I could explode!"

I chuckle alongside Happy who pats his belly with a content smile on his face.

"My belly's gotten three times as big...that's how I know I ate real good!"

We both bark out in laughter and the few people around the streets give us weird looks. Both of us are oblivious as we reach the big doors of the guild and I stop walking.

"The question is Happy...did you save room for dessert?"

Happy mockingly wipes his paw across his forehead.

"I'm up for the challenge!"

I nod to him and push open the doors.

"Let's get Mira to get us something sweet then!"

We both barge in the doors, both of them swinging into the walls with a loud bang that resonates through the room.

Everybody pauses for a moment before returning to what they were doing after seeing who it is and understanding the cause of the disturbance.

Happy and I both make our way straight to the bar where Mira is, laughing as we do so.

"Hey, Natsu."

My feet stop in their tracks and I turn to Erza who stands beside me with her arms crossed. Happy doesn't stop and goes straight up to Mira.

"You just missed Lucy. She waited for both of you for a while but got tired and left."

She takes a few steps forward and I shrug my shoulders. My eyes continuously glance to where Happy is, impatience in my gaze.

"That's too bad. Did she go home already?"

Erza shakes her head.

"No, she left on a job less than an hour ago."

I direct all of my attention to her.

"Alone?"

Erza looks at me with those soft, sisterly eyes I see quite often.

"She did."

I bite the inside of my cheek.

"Why didn't you go with her if you were here?"

She sighs and looks at me with slight sad eyes.

"She wanted to go alone."

My hands tense and they clench into fists to keep the rest of me from showing any reaction.

"Then you shouldn't have le-"

"It's a short job, Natsu. Just one town over. She'll be back tonight."

A soft smile appears on her face and she puts a hand on my shoulder.

"She can handle it."

I let out a breath and my fists unclench.

"Okay. I'm going to..."

I take a step towards Happy and away from the conversation.

"..go to Happy now. He ordered us food."

Erza shakes her head and laughs.

"Typical, Natsu. If you stay long enough you might catch Lucy when she comes back from the job."

I nod and flash a smile.

"Yup!"

I run towards the bar and sit beside Happy.

"I got us a big old cake, Natsu! Want to see who can eat more?"

Happy rubs his paws together and stares towards the cake with sparkling eyes.

"How about instead we see who eats their half the fastest?"

He nods his head and stares at the cake with determination.

"You're on!"

I glance at the clock on the wall and then back to Happy.

"Okay, on three. One..two...three!"