Together Through Thick and Thin

Chapter 22

Lucy's POV

I rinsed the plates, watching as Linna and Silvia sat in front of the lacrima TV, the newest thing in stores. My mom gave it to use as a present when we came over... the kids love it. I dried the plates, loving the aroma of the soup Juvia was making. Nashi and Luke are so sick... I don't know what's wrong with them... Placing the porcelain plates and metal cutlery away, I dried my hands on the towels. Crocus was close to the coast, only separated by a few miles. but the walls were expanding, new housing units were being placed around the walls, the richest living closer to the see with highly guarded houses. We planned to move there, construction has been pushed back so it might take another week or two before we should start packing. I was so lost in my shouts, the sudden arms wrapping themselves around me made me jump for a moment, but all surprise quickly melted into love. "What's got you so worked up?" My little bluenette asked, her words soft as well as her embrace. I saw that I'd been looking down, my left hand clutching the counter. I slowly looked over my shoulder, using the hand I'd almost crushed the countertop with to clear my long blonde hair. "I was just thinking, about how perfect life with you is." I mused, picking her up by the waist and spinning her around so I could hug her face to face. 

Juvia giggled, kissing me on the cheek, her hair tied up into a ponytail behind her. "I'm being serious! But if you can't tell me, at least help me with the bread! I need you to bake it." She chuckled, slowly letting go and heading to the chopping board she had been chopping at.  I sighed, heading over to bowl, covered with a food safe wrap. Carefully I readied the pan, buttering it thoroughly, before sprinkling on some coarse cornmeal. Even if Juvia's the better cook, I still made food for myself when I lived alone, I thought softly, remembering directly after I had run away... I bought my own ingredients and cooked them well enough... Sighing I carefully place it into the bread pan, before getting my oven mitts and opening the preheated oven bellow me. Closing my eyes at the blast of heat, I centre the pan inside and close it quickly. "That was hot.." I grumble, smiling at the soft snickering of my lover while I fixed my messed up hair. Grabbing a violet timer, I wind it to 45 minutes, before placing it down and hearing it's soft ticking. 

I turn around, looking as Juvia was continuously chopping. "Cold towels.." I murmured, placing my hair into a short bun with the hair-tie that sat on my peach toned skin. Squatting to the floor, my pink shorts decided to twist as I moved. Adjusting it with a short grumble, I opened the cupboard and grabbed two normal sized bowls, the clay sculpted into a grooves and swirls. I stood up, the apron around my waist hiding my pink t-shirt. Juvia had a matching one so I refuse to wear anything else during the night - luckily she bought me multiples. I walked over to the sink and poured cold water into each bowl, making sure it was only 2/3 full. Pushing them carefully to the side, I pulled out two white towels and let them soak in the water. Quickly I grabbed some ice from the fridge and plopped five into each. I started humming to myself, pouring water into the kettle and letting it boil. I got out a tray, a light golden colour and got out two mugs. One was a golden colour and the other a deep, magenta like pink. In the cup for Luke, I put ground green tea and ginger root into a cup, in Nashi's peppermint and white tea grounded together inside. The smell was stranger than usual, but that's probably because I added a lot. Smiling slightly, I grabbed the jar of honey and a tablespoon, reaching into the silver fridge for a fresh lemon. The sound of boiling water filled my ears, as I grabbed the smaller, heart shaped chopping board we owned to cut the lemon into precise slices. Hooking my hand, I sliced slowly, the sound of me and Juvia's chopping in sync for a few short moments before my lemon had been thoroughly diced. 

"Hey Juvi? Since I added more than usual, do you think I should add more Lemon?" I asked,  placing all but three slices inside. "Probably the best Idea. Also, make a pot for each of them, I can always reheat it with magic. I'll make us a batch of our own to share." She answered back, her chopping pasting as she placed the freshly cut carrots into a larger bowl. "K'ay," I grabbed two pots, parts of this lovely tea set we bought. We got two because we could. I started placing the ingredients into the pots, as soon as I get them ready, the kettle stops boiling. I grab it and pour it into Luke's drink first, then in Nahsi's then in both of the pots. I put a teaspoon and a half into each cup and 4 teaspoons into the teapots. Grabbing a slice of lemon, I squeezed it into Luke's drink and then squeezed the remaining two into the teapot. Grabbing two teaspoons, I stirred the drinks in sync with both hands, watching as everything combined as their scents did too. Ginger, peppermint, honey and lemon wafted as they mixed with Juvia's drinks. I put the lids on the teapots and placed them both onto the tray, the cups going on afterwords. Two small bowls filled with various fruits, blueberry, raspberry and strawberry to name a few. Only then did I remember the towels. "Linna, can you help with the towels!" I called and heard a quick 'Okay!' from the young Ice mage. She walked into the kitchen, freezing the bowl till it turned to a mushy kind of slush. "By the time you're back it will have melted." She smiled, turning to Juvia once she'd finished. "Can we have biscuits with the tea!"Linna chirped, earning and smile and a small nod from her mother. She let out a quiet yay and skipped back to the living room.