Lucy made her way to the guild, walking on the edge of the canal. Plue, her celestial spirit pet, skipped in front of her.

"One day you're gonna fall in, girl!" The guy who usually rowed people across the canal yelled. Plue waved at him.

"For once, I've paid my rent on time, Plue. That's definitely a first," She said, smiling at the little snowman-dog.

"Miss Lucy!"

Lucy turned around. It was her landlady, calling out to her. She walked towards the woman.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Ah, miss, I forgot to tell you. I've decided to put the house for sale."

"WHAT?!" Lucy's eyes widened.

"Yes, I'll be moving to Lijeo district, and I really do need the money," The woman said, her eyes sad.

"But if you sell the house, I'd have to leave, wouldn't I?" Lucy said.

"Yes. It's why I thought you'd like to buy it, maybe?"

"Buy...it? You mean, the house itself, or just my rooms? How much would it be?"

"The whole house. I've fixed the price at 350,000J, actually."

"But I don't have that kind of money!"

"Well, if I reduce this month's rent from it, it'll be.... 280,000J. I'll put the house on the market in about a week, so I hope you buy it, miss. If you decide not to buy it, you need to move out in three days' time, and I'll give you back the rent."

Lucy remained quiet, thinking.

I am nearly nineteen. I could do with a place of my own. Besides, I've got so many good memories here.

"Ma'am, I'll try my best to buy it. Could please consider this month's rent as an advance? And maybe hold it for a few days?" She asked.

"Yes, but I'll need the money in two weeks' time. I really need it, you see."

Lucy agreed, and hurried towards the guild. If she needed to make 280,000J in fourteen days, she needed to find a job. A good job.

_______________________________________________________________

Natsu was sitting at one of the tables in the guild hall, stuffing his mouth, when he saw Lucy. He waved at her. She weaved through the tables towards him, and sat down next to Happy.

"Hepho, Lushie," Natsu said, his mouth full.

Lucy rolled her eyes.

"My landlady's moving," She said, reaching out for a glass of orange juice.

"So? Hey, that's mine!"

Ignoring him, she sipped it, toying with the straw.

"So, I might have to move out."

"But I like your place! Your bed is so soft!" Natsu protested.

"Well, she's planning to sell the house, but she told me I could buy it. Thing is, it's nearly 300,000J. I don't think I can afford it."

"Whoa, that's a lot of money for a house," Happy said.

Natsu grabbed the glass back from her and drained it. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he got up.

"We should go find you a job, then." He grinned at her.

"What about Gray and Erza?" She asked.

"Oh c'mon, we don't need them. It'll be like old times!"

"We're a team, Natsu," Lucy said, standing up. But he'd already reached the request board. She sighed. Happy put down his fish and flew behind her.

Natsu was staring at the requests in front of them.

"What about this?

'Mages needed to help in getting rid of lake monster near the town of Kyusho, Nakai district.

Reward: 150,000J.' Sounds good, Lucy?"

Lucy moved forward, her eyes scanning the board.

"Reward's not big enough."

Her gaze landed on a small flyer.

"'Our town has been taken over by a guild, please send us help. We offer you 400,000J as payment to release us from their clutches,'" Natsu read from behind Lucy's shoulder. "Sounds very dramatic."

"It's a very good reward, though. More than what I need."

Natsu ripped off the flyer from the board. He grinned down at Lucy.

"Let's go, then!"

"Go where?" Natsu turned around. Lucy smiled in greeting.

"Erza!"

"On a job?" She said, eyeing the paper in his hands.

"Yeah."

"Without me? Without Gray?" She asked.

"Actually, I was thinking it'd be just Happy and Lucy with me. Lucy's buying a house, and she needs a lot of money, so. You guys coming along would mean splitting the cash, right? So Lucy wouldn't get enough," Natsu said, avoiding Erza's eyes.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Nonsense. Lucy can have the money she needs, and we can split the rest between the three of us!" She smiled at Lucy.

"Yo!" I called out, making my way towards them.

"Heya, Gray!" Lucy grinned.

"Natsu's found a job for us, and Lucy's buying a house," Erza said, reading the request.

"That's cool, Lucy. And I'm glad we have a job, I'm bored as hell," I said. I looked at the flyer.

"Huh. Sounds promising," I remarked.

"So we're all in!" Erza said.

"Aye!" Happy pumped his fist. Lucy smiled, and shook her head, as if talking to herself.

The only person who wasn't happy was Natsu.

"Great. Just great," He muttered under his breath.

_______________________________________________________________

Hey guys, so I still haven't got a cover yet. I know this chapter is kinda boring, but I wanted to set things up a bit, you see. Besides, it's four a.m and I'm so sleep deprived, it's sad. I need your suggestions. Also, is having Gray narrate weird? Let me know!

~T.