Chapter 1: Uptown Girl

Hello, readers! I am Imakecakes! You may used to read some of my stories they used to get a fair amount of reads. I took them down for various reasons but I am now working on getting them back up and running and actually FINISHING them. It may take me a little bit of time between uploads with editing all the existing chapters and then I work two jobs but I will try my hardest! Thank you so much for clicking on this story to read it. Happy reading! I hope you enjoy my story.

In uptown Magnolia:

Lucy Heartfilia, heiress to the wealthiest company in the States, Heartfilia Co., sat at the long dinner table of her family's mansion completely and utterly bored out of her mind. She had been waiting for her father, Jude Heartfilia, to leave his study and accompany her for dinner. He was supposed to be down 45 minutes ago but of course Jude Heartfilia being the self-absorbed, work fanatic that he was, was often late for dinner or didn't bother to show up at all.

Trying to remember the all times that he hadn't shown up to the dinner table was like trying to count the stars. He didn't care that he would keep anyone that he considered 'beneath' him waiting. Including his own daughter. He had never cared or at least not since her mother, the lovely Layla Heartfilia had passed away from cancer. Those were dark days in the Heartfilia household. What made it worse than the pain of losing her mother at such a young age was that her father couldn't even bother to really look at her anymore. The pain of looking at the spitting image of his late wife was just too much for Jude to handle. So instead of face to face contact, Jude settled for anyone other than himself to deal with his daughter. And with all that free time that he got from not raising his own daughter, he managed to build a massive business empire.

The heiress stared blankly at the wall at the far side of the table, imagining being anywhere else. Today was boring as usual. Nothing about her schedule rarely changed. It was usually wake up at dawn, then a light breakfast, then lessons until 3, then tea time and lessons again up until dinner. During lesson time she learned about literature, history, proper etiquette, blah blah blah. The list goes on and on. Her brain usually hurt at the end of the day from all the information that Aquarius tried to cram into it. Well it hurt from that and from Aquarius bonking her on the head for asking any 'stupid' questions. When did asking to use the restroom become a stupid question? Lucy tapped her perfectly manicured nails against the wooden table and slouched in her seat.

"Princess, you know your father would be upset by your unlady like behavior." Virgo gently scolded her. Virgo was Lucy's personal maid for as long as she can remember. Which is kind of weird to think that Virgo's appearance hadn't changed at all since she was young. Same bubblegum pink hair. Same bright blue eyes. And the same maid outfit. Geez she aged well. Virgo was always by Lucy's side and oversaw Lucy's well-being, whether it be a personal body guard or to nag Lucy about her habits.

"I know, Virgo. I know." Lucy replied, straightening up in her seat and delicately folding her hands in her lap. "Do you think he will show up soon? You remember he hasn't even bothered coming downstairs to dinners the last few times. Or more like the past few years." Lucy mumbled the last part.

"Yes Princess, he gave his word this time." Virgo assured her. "And Princess, you know it isn't Lady like to mumble. If you have something to say, you should speak up."

"Ahem."

The two ladies whipped around to see her father's head servant. He was a man of tall statue but was thin in frame. He had white hair that was carefully combed back into place and he sported a goatee the same color as his hair and just as well kept.

"Oh hello, Capricorn. How are you today?" Lucy asked with a smile.

"Lovely Ms. Heartfilia. Almost as lovely as you. Thank you for asking." He replied, with a bow. His serious eyes crinkled behind a pair of dark glasses that he always seemed to wear. "If you will pardon me, miss, I must have a few private words with Virgo."

"Of course." Lucy replied, nodding to Virgo to follow Capricorn. The two briskly walked off to be out of earshot of their mistress.

"Yes, Capricorn?" Virgo said, tilting her head to one side. "What did you need to speak to me about?"

"I need you to start preparing Lucy for extra lessons." Capricorn told Virgo. "She needs to wake up extra early to get started as soon as possible. I've already instructed Aquarius to heighten the curriculum. So, make sure that she gets enough rest. I've talked to the Taurus as well to make sure that her meals will be both nutritious and prepared on time. So, with all this cramming there will be no more goofing around. Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir." Virgo bowed. "But may I ask, why are we intensifying Princess's lessons now?"

"We have something very important coming up that we need to ready Ms. Lucy for. And Mr. Heartfilia will not be able to attend dinner." Capricorn said, plainly. "That will be all."

Capricorn shooed Virgo back towards the dining room.

Lucy was currently playing with her silverware, attempting to stack them so that they would stand up against each other. It was childish, but she had had enough of today so why not goof off a little when there was no one in the room?

"Princess."

CLANK. CLANK. CRASH. The silverware that Lucy had been playing with fell onto the oak table, knocking over her glass of water.

"Oh goodness! You startled me, Virgo!" Lucy replied, her hand on her chest. Virgo had a habit of always popping out of nowhere and scaring the bejesus out of Lucy. Luckily, she didn't manage to break anything this time. Last time that Virgo randomly appeared she knocked over one of the vases in the hallway on the 2nd floor. It was expensive, but a little rearranging of this and that and now you can't even tell that anything was supposed to be there.

"Princess, I regret to inform you that your father is unable to attend tonight's dinner." Virgo told Lucy. Virgo brought out a rag from the pocket of her maid's outfit and twisted it before handing it to Lucy and kneeling on the ground before her master. "Feel free to punish me for being the barer of bad news."

"Oh." Lucy said, clearly crestfallen. "Figures. And no punishment, Virgo." She said, untwisting the rag and handing it back to her.

"Very well. The chef has prepared you a delicious meal that will be ready to take up to your bedroom soon. In the meantime, I shall escort you back and we will go over the 10 rules of being a proper lady." Virgo said, pulling Lucy's chair back so that she could stand up.

"Oh joy." Lucy mumbled.

"What was that, Princess?" Virgo asked, tilting her head to the side.

"I said, "Oh Joy!" "Lucy said, plastering a smile on her face. "I absolutely enjoy your lessons Virgo."

"As do I, Princess." Virgo nodded. They passed Capricorn and nodded in his direction, showing they recognized his presence. "Now! Rule number 1 of being a proper lady. Can you tell me what it is?"

"Be sure to sit promptly to assure that a gentleman with proper etiquette is not left standing." Lucy told her.

"Now I'll say the next one." Virgo said, smiling widely at Capricorn. "Number 2: Your language is a representation of your mind and heart. So, there shall be no rude or shocking language, especially at the table."

"Number 3: A lady never talks with her mouth full." Lucy said as they began their journey up the grand stair case.

"Number 4: Always dress tastefully. A lady always dresses appropriately for any occasion." Virgo said, motioning to Lucy's elegant gown that was bunched in Lucy's hands so that she didn't trip up the stairs.

"Number 5: She always says "Yes, please" or "No, thank you". She does not say, "yep" or "nope"." Lucy said with slight breathlessness as they made it to the top of the stairs. This dress was so stinking heavy.

"Number 6: A lady always offers help to someone in need." Virgo added in as they continued down the hall to Lucy's room.

"Number 7. "Lucy sighed. "Her word is her bond."

"Number 8: A lady is always a good listener and conversationalist." Virgo said. "Go ahead and finish off with the last two, if you will, Princess."

"Very well." Lucy responded. "Number 9: The attributes of a great lady may still be found in the rule of the four S's: Sincerity, Simplicity, Sympathy, and Serenity. And finally, number 10, which is to always have a heart of gratitude."

"Very good, Princess!" Virgo beamed, as she held the door open for her. "You are going to be the most proper lady out there!"
With that, Virgo briskly closed the door behind them.

"Do you think that Capricorn fell for it?" Lucy whispered to Virgo.

"I think so." Virgo sighed. "I hope so. Feel free to punish me if it doesn't."

"I'm sure everything will be fine, Virgo." Lucy breathed out with relief. "No punishment."

Virgo and Lucy were very good friends that the whole master/servant label didn't bother them. What bothered them was the fact that Capricorn watched over them like a hawk. Since they were just like friends and didn't have the proper relationship they were supposed to have with each other. Virgo was often scolded by Capricorn for teaching their mistress bad habits. Like when he caught Virgo trying to show Lucy how to blow bubbles with chewing gum when Lucy was younger. Or the time he found them jumping on her bed. He about gave birth to a baby goat on that one when he discovered the small bump on Lucy's head from falling off mid jump. And what had them on their toes now, was the fact that Capricorn threatened to make Aquarius Lucy's personal maid. Which scared the two into, as Capricorn liked to say, "Ship shape". Virgo didn't want to lose her friend and position and Lucy didn't want her terrifying lecturer to be around her 24/7. Her everyday lessons with her were enough to handle.

"To believe that we stayed up all night memorizing that for 10 minutes of relief." Lucy sighed, laying down on her bed, face first. "It was worth it though." She spoke into the soft pink comforter, her voice muffled.

"Now that the show is over, I better get back downstairs to grab you some food." Virgo announced. "I'll be back with your dinner shortly."

"Thank you, Virgo. You're the best." Lucy thanked her friend.

… a few nights later…

"Are you alright, Princess?" Virgo asked. "You hardly touched your dinner tonight, and it was one of your favorites. And you don't seem to be enjoying you bath as much as you usually do."

It was Lucy's nightly bath and it was usually the highlight of Lucy's day. Getting to be in that mildly scalding water with the rose scented bubbles always managed to put Lucy at ease but it was different tonight.

"I just have a lot on my mind, Virgo." Lucy replied, pulling her legs up against her naked body to hold as she sat in the rose hued water. "Thank you for your concern."

"You know as your personal maid, I oversee your well-being. So, it is up to me to make sure you are okay mentally and physically." Virgo added in, as she gently washed one of Lucy's arms with a wash cloth. "Are lessons going well?"

"Yes, they are going fine. Although Aquarius is sure cracking down the whip on me lately." Lucy said, continuing to hold her legs to her chest with her free arm. "And my mind just seems to be a little preoccupied these days."

"With what, Princess?" Virgo asked.

"It's nothing, really." Lucy tried to brush it off. "Forget I said anything."

"As one of your friends, you know you can tell me anything right?" Virgo made eye contact with her.

"Yes, I know, Virgo." Lucy sighed and averted Virgo's gaze. "It's okay. I'm fine I promise."

Virgo sighed in defeat and continued to quietly assist Lucy in bathing. She made sure to thoroughly scrub the heiresses cream colored skin carefully, making sure not to rub to hard that it would leave red marks. Cracking open a bottle of floral scented shampoo, Virgo lathered the soap in her hands before reaching out to massage her master's scalp.

Lucy let out a long sigh as she let Virgo shampoo her hair.

"Virgo do you ever get bored of doing the same thing every day? Or living this lifestyle?" Lucy asked as Virgo picked up a small cup to rinse the soap out of Lucy's hair.

"Sometimes." Virgo replied, slowly filling the cup up with fresh water from the bath's faucet. "Why do you ask?"

"Don't get upset with me." Lucy said in a small voice. "I just want to be truthful to someone."

Virgo nodded and gave a reassuring pat on Lucy's back.

The blonde inhaled deeply and furrowed her brow before speaking again.

"It just feels like I'm stuck. I'm stuck in this endless cycle of lessons and lonely dinners. And I can barely go outside. I can't eat certain things. I'm not allowed to raise my voice, even if I'm angry. I'm not allowed to do anything. Even if I'm bored! It's just rules, rules and more rules!" Lucy groaned.

"You live in a very different society then most of the world. You have an image to uphold. Proper ladies don't involve themselves with anything dangerous or childish or…."
"Proper ladies don't really involve themselves in anything!" Lucy huffed. "What if I don't want to be a proper lady anymore? What if I don't want to be in this house anymore living this so called 'life of luxury'? Where has it gotten me? It's given me nothing but pain." Lucy let the tears slip out as she released all the pent-up emotions. "What if I just want to be normal?"

"Princess….." Virgo exhaled sadly.

"I'm tired of all these so called 'suitors' that have been coming here since I was 15, with their offers of beautiful jewelry and dresses in exchange for my heart. Why would I ever give one of them my heart? I'm tired of feeling like all I'm going to be good for is to make babies with some stuck-up man for the good of the company. I don't want that, but it appears fate has me stuck here. I'll never know what it's like to live and be adventurous like all those stories Mama used to read me." Lucy cried, her breaths beginning to come out in short gasps as she tried to control her crying. She was finally to her breaking point after all these years after all these years.

"I'll never even know what it feels like to fall in love." Lucy sharply inhaled, choking back more tears.

"Please don't cry." Virgo cooed, gently patting her friend on the back. "It will get better, I promise. Who knows maybe you will hit it off with a suitor? And then you will get married and live happily ever after. And then Master Jude will be happy to and go back to the way that he was before Mrs. Layla passed."
"It's been 6 years since all the suitors have been coming here. My mom wouldn't want this for me." Lucy whimpered. "I miss her."

"I'm pretty sure all of us do, too." Virgo said, reaching out to wrap her arms around her friend, not caring in the slightest if she got wet.

…

This must have been the millionth time that her father had stood her up for afternoon tea again. She knew he would never show up. After her break down in the tub the other day, she thought about her mother would want her to keep trying to spend time with her dad. So, she tried. Why she would still hand make an invitation for him even though he wouldn't come, she didn't know. Lucy sighed to herself as she daintily held a teacup and saucer and gazed out the window. She was lucky enough to have a bedroom that overlooked the garden. It was yet another beautifully sad reminder of her mother. It was the most gorgeous, lush garden that anyone would probably lay their eyes on. There were seemingly endless amounts of colorful flowers that were everywhere you looked and majestic greenery that snaked up whatever it could. Lucy liked to imagine as a child that the garden was a magical place where fairies lived. And so, she always called it her mother's fairy garden.

"Princess? Would you like me to take any of this food back to the kitchen so that the servants can have some since your father is unable to attend?" Virgo asked.

"Nonsense. I'll just share with them here. You're only job is to make sure to set some aside so that the rest of the staff may enjoy them later." Lucy instructed Virgo, which Virgo smiled at. Lucy cleared her throat slightly before projecting her voice so that the servants scattered around the room could hear her. "There is absolutely no way I can eat all these things by myself so, please feel free to sit down and have tea with me." Lucy smiled to the few servants that were in the room with her.

"We don't want to intrude. We can just eat in the servant's kitchen." Said Lyra, one of the servants. Lyra is a very talented harp player and singer. Lucy remembered the songs that her mother would sing to her and Lyra would be in the background with her harp, lulling a sleepy young Lucy to dream land. At one point, Lyra was Lucy's harp teacher but that didn't really work out too well because Lucy didn't have a musical bone in her body.

"Again, I say, nonsense! You are all my friends. You get to have a lovely afternoon tea with me." Lucy smiled at all of them.

"Thank you, Miss Lucy!" said Cancer, as he helped himself to the crab cakes on the edge of the table. Cancer was her personal hair dresser. She had called him to do something special with her hair. You know just in case her father decided to show up.

"Thank you so much, Miss Lucy!" said the twins, Gemi and Mini. They were her clothing specialists. Gemi was very good at picking out everything from the top up, including any and all accessories. And Mini was an expert on everything fashionable from the waist down. Her favorite thing was shoes. Of course, the two always had fun with all the fancy and VERY expensive clothes that Lucy had in her closet. Lucy was an heiress, and nothing wasn't too expensive so being able to browse through her closet filled with designer clothes like Gucci, Prada and Chanel was everything to Gemi and Mini. And nothing was complete without all the pairs of the infamous red bottom Christian Louboutin shoes which Mini broke down in tears when she got to hold a shoe in her hand for the first time. So, as you can see, it was always fun when they all got to play dress up when Lucy didn't have a lesson to attend.

"T-thank you, m-miss." thanked her 2nd personal servant, Aries. She sat nervously down next to Lucy and began to pour Lucy a cup of tea as well as herself.

"Please, Aries. No need to be so skittish around me. I promise I won't bite." Lucy told her gently. Aries was fairly new. Her father had hired her for when Virgo had other responsibilities to attend to, like housework and garden duty. Which seemed like Virgo was busier nowadays. "Now everyone help yourself! Don't let Taurus's delicious cooking go to waste!"

Everyone began to help themselves to the assortment of pastries and sandwiches in front of them as they happily chatted with each other. Their happiness was short lived when there was a series of loud knocks on her door.

"I'll get it." Virgo said, getting up from her seat to answer the door. "OH, HELLO, CAPRICORN! WHO CAN WE THANK FOR THIS SURPRISE VISIT?" Virgo said in a very loud voice. Catching her obvious hint. Everyone quickly scrambled from their spots at Lucy's table and went back to their posts around Lucy's room.

"I came to inform Miss Lucy of something very important." Capricorn said to Virgo with a raised brow. She was up to something and he was ready to bust into the room to find out what.

"Well I am Miss Lucy's personal maid, so you can tell me, and I will relay it to her." Virgo said, blocking his path into the room.

"And why is it that I cannot come in to tell her myself." Capricorn questioned, trying to lean to look into the room only to be blocked by Virgo's body.

"She's naked. And that wouldn't be proper for a gentleman to look upon a naked woman. Especially a naked virgin." Virgo said, nonchalantly. Lucy's eyes widened at Virgo's words and she nearly choked on her tea. Capricorn turned a bright shade of red and had to bring out his handkerchief to dab his temples.

"Very well. Tell her that her father will be attending tonight's dinner and that she should be on her best behavior." Capricorn said, before turning to briskly walk away.

Virgo quickly shut the door and turned to Lucy with an excited expression.

"Princess! Did you hear that?!" Virgo asked excitedly.

"Is it for real?" Lucy asked with a hopeful expression, tears started to brim in her eyes. "I actually get to see Daddy?"

….

Lucy began her slow decent down the staircase. Not only did she have to be careful not to trip but she was shaking so hard with anxiousness that her father was actually going to be at dinner this evening, but the skirt of this dress was so long that one wrong move and she would topple downstairs. It had been weeks since she had last seen her father, and even then, it was only a glimpse of his face. She needed to impress him in the short hour she probably had with him. Her hair was twisted up in an elegant up-do, her makeup fresh faced and dewy, and her skin was clean and clear of any imperfections. And not to mention, but she was in her most elegant dress that she owned. She looked and felt her best. She felt ready and prepared, but nothing could prepare her for what laid behind the doors to the dining room.

"Princess." Virgo bowed. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, I believe I am. Please open the door." Lucy asked her faithful servant and beloved friend.

Virgo knocked and waited for the signal that she could hold open the door. Once she received a sign she held the door open, so Lucy could walk through. Lucy's smile was huge when she laid eyes on her father that was seated at the end of the table, but it slowly grew into a look of confusion as she tried to figure out who the two men that were seated to his right were.

"Ah! And here she is!" her father boomed. "The jewel of the Heartfilia family and the apple of my eye. Gentlemen, this is my beautiful daughter, Lucy."

"My, my, Jude. Quite the treasure you've been hiding here." Said, the older man. He was a broader built man like her father but he sported a very odd mustache that stuck out in different directions at the ends. "She looks just as stunning as her mother did at her age. God bless Layla's gene pool."

"Magnificent. She is simply the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on." Said, the younger man. He was dressed in a tailored suit that was obviously designer. He looked quite dashing it and he was handsome with his untamed orange colored spiky hair and green tinted glasses.

All three men, stood up at the sight of Lucy making her way around to where she would need to be seated. She immediately sat down in the seat to the left of her father.

"Please sit." She smiled, and motioned for all of them to sit. "Father? Who are our visitors?"

"I'm glad you asked my dear!" her father smiled. "This is one of our greatest family friends and our number one competitor!" he said, motioning to the older gentleman. "And this fine gentleman next to him is his son and your new fiancé! I've organized all the proper paperwork and you two will be married as soon as possible!"

Lucy's heartbeat skyrocketed, and her eyes widened.

"Would you kindly repeat that one more time?" Lucy asked with an unsteady smile.

"I said you're getting married!" Jude boomed happily.

The orange haired young man got down on one knee in front of Lucy's chair and pulled out a massive diamond ring. He smiled at her before gently grabbing her left hand to slip the ring onto her finger.

"Hello, Ms. Lucy. My name is Leo Celestial. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever set eyes on. I'm so happy that you will be my future bride." he said, gently kissing her hand before returning to his seat.

Lucy's ears rang. She looked around at everyone at the table, dazed and confused.

"I'm what?" she choked out.

"Daddy, Daddy!" a little blonde girl giggled out as she ran down the hallway to her father's open arms. "Daddy your home!"

"There's my little angel!" A younger Jude Heartfilia scooped up the little girl in his arms and gave her a loving hug.

"Honey, your home!" Smiled a stunning Layla Heartfilia. She glided across the hallway to embrace her husband. She smiled dearly at her husband and tiptoed to kiss him.

"Ewww Mama." The little girl squealed at the sight of her parents kissing.

"Lucy, darling, when you're old enough you'll kiss your husband." Layla said as she teasingly pinched her daughter's cheek.

"I don't want to kiss anybody." The little girl remarked.

"Oh, I'm sure when you find the love of your life you will want to kiss them every minute of every day." Jude said, his eyes twinkling as he looked at his beloved wife.

"When your older I hope you will find a wonderful man that will love you like how your father loves me." Layla smiled at her daughter before kissing her on the tip of her nose.

"And I hope you'll love him as much as your mother loves me." Jude said softly.

The little girl giggled with delight as she watched her parents kiss again. She dreamt of a time when she would be old enough to do that with the love of her life.

The world suddenly became blurry and wobbly. It began to darken, and the voices of her father and their guests turned into dull murmurs. Her head was reeling so hard that she could hurl but before she could everything went black.

What did you think so far? I'm sorry for any grammar errors and any mistakes. This isn't my strong suite. Please leave a review! I'll answer reviews at the bottom of the next chapter!