midnightstar | (no subject)

I will~" Natsu all but purred back at Lucy. At NEC's question he flashed an even bigger grin.

"Of course you can. Here's the key." No sooner did he say the words that he tossed the item at Nev.

Neveren grinned, reaching up to catch the key, only to be knocked out of the way by his sister, "Me me! ME first!" She giggled, the two play-fighting over ownership of the One Key. Herb bounced back and forth in front of the two, barking excitedly, until Regine laughed and reached over to pluck the key out of the air when Justine held it up out of her brother's reach teasingly. "That's enough you two. *I'll* open the door." She sauntered off with Herb, and both kids dashed forward after her.

Lucy couldn't help herself, and moved over to Natsu at that point, slipping her arms around his waist in a hug, "Hrrm, you wiill will you? How much?" she teased.

It was just a small key and yet it was getting treated as such a treasure by the two kids until Regine decided to grab the key herself to settle it.

Feeling Lucy put her arms around him he leaned back against her ever so slightly.

"More than I could ever say~"

Lucy giggled, watching the kids chase off after Regine to Natsu's cabin, where they bounced around until she got the door open. And then they both charged in, all squealing excitedly and pointing out various things - Nev must have seen the hammock because his voice lifts in a squeal as he suddenly cries "DIBS!" followed by Justine's 'Awww!'

Lucy grinned - she might not be able to hear them, but she knows Natsu can. She just stays behind him, squeezing her arms around him when he leaned against her. "Hmmhmm, sounds like me." She pressed her lips against his arm. "Well we'll have all the time and then some, to relax when we get back home, and unwind." And just be together the way they're meant to be.

Before she can add onto that, Nev pokes his head out of the cabin, "Natsu! Lucy! Come on already!"

"Oops." Lucy laughed, "I think we took a little too long lingering."

"mmm?! Yeah it seems so. Lets get going. It'ls gonna be a while since hte last time we here here no matter what we find." Natu agreed with a grin before he grabbed Tiara's hand and pulled her into building itself with him.

Lucy laughed, "Time does seem to stand still when I'm with you." She teases affectionately. Still when he took her hand, she gave his a squeeze and trotted on into the cabin, glancing around. Regina was looking around with a thoughtful expression - it may not be tidiest place, but she obviously was considering some things to make it cozier.

Nev was trying to climb up into Natsu's hammock, while Justine was investigating the part of the room that had his 'treasures', and the sight of it made Lucy smile at the reminder. He'd probably be bringing that to her apartment since they'd be officially living together.

"Hmhmmm I thought for sure that was your power~" Natsu purred as the two stepped into his old home. It was still as cozy as last time. The collection certainly stood out but it was an important part of their life too. Moving it wouldn't be easy but first they would have to find a bigger apartment or get their own house.

"So what do ya think?" he asked peering up at Nev who had claimed the top hammock.

Lucy chuckled softly, "I can take credit for that, if you take credit for being too addictive for words." She murmured back. Leaning a little against his side, she idly stroked her fingers against his hand, watching the children. Nev wobbled a few times before he managed to settle in the hammock properly. Justine glanced over to her brother, giggling when he almost rolled out of the hammock to turn to Natsu.

"This place is so COOL!" Nev beamed, "We can really stay here?"

"You got yourself a deal~" Natsu admitted shamelessly before he turned his attention to the kids.;

"Yup that was the idea~ We can probably get a few more bits of furniture later too." Since he doubted Regine would want a hammock too. Still seeing Nev so utterly ecstatic with living in his hero's old abode was heartwarming to say the least.

Lucy giggled at the shameless agreement, "I thought you'd say that." She teased.

And nooo, Regine was definitely not a hammock girl. Lucy could definitely see the appeal of it though, if they had a hammock big enough for two. Maybe if they opt to get a house, it could be something for the back yard or something.

"We can't thank you two enough for everything you've done," Regine smiled quietly, looking .. overwhelmed, honestly. She'd feel a little bad about putting Natsu out of his home if he hadn't said he'd be staying with Lucy. "I think we'll have a look around the city and see what sort of furniture we'd like."

"Do you want us to come with?" Lucy asked, eyes lighting up at the idea of SHOPPING. She hasn't gone shopping in forever. And if she and Natsu do move into a bigger place or house, new furniture!

But Regine grins, shaking her head, "Now that would be too much!" She knew the kids would jump at the chance to have Lucy and Natsu come with them, but she wanted to have time with the kids alone herself. Also Natsu and Lucy have given 150% of their time, so she wanted to give a little back. "I think we'll just relax here for a while, and get an idea of what we'd like."

"Aw.. Okay if you're sure." Lucy smiled.

"Well if you're sure. But in that case." With that Natsu looked over to lucy and whispered something in her ear briefly before pulling away and going over to a hatch in the floor board. After opening it up he pulled out one of two sacks. The label on it said Natsu.

"Here. You're gonna need this then."

Inside was quite the amount of Earthland currency. Needless to say it was Natsu's share of the savings he had with Happy.

Lucy gives a small nod in response to the whisper, but even she's surprised by how much Natsu had stashed away. Whoah.

Regine stared at the sack incredulously, "I.....we ... couldn't possibly..."

"You know better than that, Regine," Lucy smiled, watching Natsu with a fond expression. "We want you to get on your feet and make this place your home as much as you did back in that Genessia place. And besides, it's impolite to refuse Natsu's generosity." She said with a teasing grin.

Regine slowly sat down on the couch, staring at the sack - she might start crying, she was just so floored by the kindness of her friends. "Thank you... thank you both.."

"That's right. You guys are more precious to me than a hundred thousand million of these sacks." Natsu said reassuring Regine until she finally accepted it. After all they had come into this world out of the blue and with no real possessions of their own. It was only natural they would need a bit of a leg up to get settled. So naturally Natsu would do his best to help. Not like he couldn't earn it back easily with Lucy around to help prevent damage when on the job.

Regine rubbed her eyes with a soft smile. "We feel the same way," She glances over her shoulder to where the children were by the hammocks. "Isn't that ri.." Oh. They fell asleep.

Regine laughs softly, "I guess they wore themselves out with everything that's happened, and playing with that cute little girl and Herb earlier."

"Not to mention that whole mess in the other world. They've earned their sleep. You should probably take a quick nap too you know since you were worried sick about them until we managed to get here." Natsu suggested. Luckily he did have a rather roomy couch she could use until they got a proper bed.

Regine chuckled, nodding with a soft smile, "I suppose you're right." She /was/ feeling exhausted and the couch was surprisingly cozy and roomy. "Thank you both again.."

Lucy shook her head with a smile, "None of that. You're family now, and it's the least we could do for family. Get some rest, and we'll check on you later." She took a step backwards, poking Natsu gently in the back. Come along, they have to let the poor woman get her rest.

"Don't worry about it." Natsu added to Lucy's words before he followed his partner out of the house, gently closing the door behind them before he looped his arm with Lucy' again and walking down the path to Magnolia again.

"That went about as well as I was hoping it would." He chuckled softly.

Lucy chuckled softly, leaning against him, "I'm glad everyone took to them too. IT'll make adjusting for them a lot easier." She laughed, "I bet it won't take long at all for them to start visiting either." Dropping in unannounced and everything.

"Hahaha well at least they are not likely going to use the window like I do~" So Lucy could take some comfort in that at least. getting a door bell ring and everything to give them a head start to try and get decent and the like.

Lucy laughed, "I don't think Regine would let them. I could see Nev trying if she was less strict with them." She laced her fingers through his, leaning against his shoulder as they strolled, and remaining oblivioujs to the looks they got. Some people even stopped to stare. That poor canal driver was going to fall into the water everytime he saw them like this. She didn't care - she was in heaven.

Edited 2017-12-28 02:47 (UTC)

"hahaha well I think he'd try once he got some practice doing it though. There's plenty of trees around the house to improve his skills on now." Natsu pointed out with a grin. His house was after all surrounded by woods despite being rather close to Magnolia anyway.

Natsu didn't even react when he heard that splash as the man went overboard watching the two of them.

"You're right, he would. Especially if you keep influencing him." Lucy grinned. She nuzzled a little closer to tuck herself under his arm, wrapping her arm around him.

*Splash* And that poor dude had JUST gotten out of the water too.

"Did you hear something?" Lucy murmured a few seconds after the splash.

You say that like it's a bad thing~" Natsu retorted shamelessly before he completely ignored teh splash and coughing sputter he easily picked up with his extremely accurate hearing.

"Nope I didn't hear anything at all~"

"It's not the worst thing that could happen," Lucy admitted with a soft grin, "So long as he turns out like you did." And there was a pretty good chance that he would, as much hero worship as he had for Natsu.

Briefly she pulled her gaze from his face- reluctantly - to glance up at the sky. "Aww... it looks like it's going to rain." Pout. "... guess we won't be able to camp out tonight after all."

"Hehehe well I'd say he's well on his way to that~" Natsu exclaimed proudly, his chest puffed out a bit before breaking into soft chuckles. Hearing the regret from Lucy had him leaning towards her ear and whispering softly.

"We can still camp out inside your place. Just the two of us under a little cave of blankets listening to the rain~"