A/N: Fairy Tail does not belong to me in any way, shape, or form.

Duchess Suzuno (née Clark) Heartfilia looked into the happily smiling face of Mirajane Strauss for a long moment, eyes narrowed on the woman while her daughters looked over every piece of fabric in her store, excited over the prospect of new gowns. She was the best seamstress, to be sure, and always did well by them, but her request—no, it was hardly a request, it was a demand. The former Countess couldn't help but feel like if she refused the silver haired beauty, her life would be in danger. "You want," the older woman began slowly, trying to make sure she understood what she wanted, "those four to come into town, to your shop…" she paused and Mirajane's smile grew as she nodded enthusiastically, "so you can measure them for new dresses." Again, the woman nodded. "Because excess fabric came in on the last delivery." Her smile brightened. "And the fabric isn't for ballgowns, but rather, work clothes. So, you thought," the younger beauty's smile flashed at the sudden dip in the Duchess's tone. Suzuno quickly righted it, "You thought of them."

"Exactly~!" the woman clapped her hands together and proceeded to show the Duchess the plain, sturdy material. Work clothes, as she said. "See, it's not very expensive and when they realized they made the mistake, they offered it to me and I accepted. And then, I thought of them~! I thought to myself, why let it go to waste? This material lasts forever," the Duchess's brow rose at the word, "and it's very durable, so it hardly needs mended~!"

"How much will this all cost, may I ask, Mirajane?" Mira's smile dipped a little and Suzuno's widened at the challenge. "As it stands, the dresses that have now work well. A patch or so hardly matters."

"For all four of them, 30,000 jewels. Like I said, the material is very inexpensive." The older noblewoman eyed the material and then the seamstress's happy smile. Her mind worked rapidly; 30,000 was rather expensive for work dresses, but for four of them? And considering her daughters' own dresses would be each be at-least 50,000…

"Acceptable. They will come tomorrow."

"Perfect~! Alicia-san, Cecilia-san, have you found anything you like?" and the Duchess followed after her, listening to the three of them discuss the latest trends and what would look best on them.

"Mira, it's good to see you again," Erza remarked as the four entered her shop the next day. The older woman squealed, rushing at them and gathering them all in a hug. Erza seemed mildly alarmed at the gesture, but relaxed into it, patting her shoulder while Levy was squished between their rather generous bosoms. Juvia seemed uncomfortable being so close to them all and Lucy merely laughed. "The Madam said you were making us dresses?" Erza was curious, as were the others. Understandably so.

"Mhm! Lisanna!" Another head of pale silvery hair popped out from the doorway and the younger Strauss sister entered, smiling fondly at them. "I asked my cute little sis to come help~!" Levy squeezed away, taking hold of Lisanna's hands and greeting her warmly. "Since I have so much work coming up. Luckily, she agreed~! It's too bad Elfman can't sew…" she mused as she released the rest of them. Lucy snorted at the mental picture of Elfman at a sewing machine, happily creating a ballgown. "So let's get started!"

"Wait, Mira, how did you convince her?" Lucy asked, curious. Her stepmother was surprisingly stingy unless it was getting something for her daughters.

"I appealed to her common sense, of-course!" The blonde inched away from the woman, recalling that she was once called the She-Devil.

"I-I see…" Lisanna pulled out a measuring tape and a pad of paper.

"So, who's up first, Mira-nee?" Since Erza was the closest, Mira took hold of the red-head's arm, pulling her towards the backroom. "Juvia, how about you?" The blue haired woman blinked, then offered the younger girl a smile.

"Juvia doesn't mind, Lisanna." And the two moved towards the work room. Lucy and Levy were left alone in the main room, quietly making their way towards the wall of fabrics, taking in the colors.

"Do you remember wearing things like this?" Levy asked her softly, her fingers trembling as they trailed over the fabric, much like Lucy's had four days prior.

"A little. I was just a kid, they weren't as fancy." Levy smiled over at her. "I remember how Mom looked though. She was so beautiful…" Levy rushed quickly over, hugging her best friend as tears began pooling. "I-I'm sorry, I'm alright, sorry!" she wiped at her eyes, smiling fondly at her friend. "Sorry, sorry…"

"It's nothing to apologize for, Lu-chan!" The bluenette held onto her tightly, smiling up at her.

The nice scene was broken by a loud voice. "Hey, Luce!" Both turned, blinking at the pink haired male in the doorway. He raised a hand in greeting. "And friend." Levy pulled away to step closer, tilting her head lightly, taking him in. Then she looked back at Lucy quizzically.

"Natsu. What're you doing here?" To say she was annoyed might have been an understatement. Levy backpedalled, inching behind the blonde.

"Killing time. Saw you and thought I'd come say hi. Hey," he tilted his head, gazing around the shop with sharp eyes, "is that demon woman here? Mira?" his voice was a whisper, as if saying her name would invoke her presence.

"Yes." And he was out the door in an instant, waving brightly and telling her he'd talk with her some other time, he'd just leave the delivery on that table and he hoped they had a nice day. Then he was gone.

Levy snorted as he ran. "W-who's he, Lu-chan?" she was able to manage. Lucy shook her head, running her fingers through her hair.

"I met him a few days ago. He was bored, so he followed me for a little bit. I guess Mira told him off for it." Levy's laughter trailed off as they both wondered at Mira's reputation and what she would do to someone who annoyed her.

They decided it wouldn't be good.

"Isn't this a pretty color, Lu-chan?" Levy changed the subject quickly, pointing out the dark magenta once more. Lucy smiled at the material that reminded her so much of her mother.

"It is. What about this, Levy-chan?" Lucy pointed out the orange satin, knowing her blue haired friend adored the color. It had the desired effect: Levy's eyes lit up as she rushed forward, feeling the smooth coolness of the fabric. "I wonder if we'll ever get to wear such pretty dresses…" Levy either hadn't heard her or was choosing to ignore the sad tone the blonde held. So Lucy perked herself up and pointed out other materials she thought her best friend would like until the Strauss sisters returned, Erza's face almost as red as her hair while Juvia was blushing lightly.

"You girls next~! Come on, Lucy~!" Mira pulled her away while Lisanna ushered Levy into the work room. "Hopefully you remember how it's done, yes?" Lucy gave a small smile and a nod, stripping to her underthings while Mira began the process, the tape cold against her skin.

"Natsu stopped by. He said he dropped something off for you." Her face lit up and she pulled away to clasp her hands to her chest, jumping up and down in joy. Lucy blinked at her response. "H-he left it on the table?"

"Oohh, I knew he'd come through for me! This is perfect, just perfect!" And she began measuring at such a frantic pace that Lucy was almost worried that her custom made dress would end up terribly wrong. But such fears were misplaced: Mira was the best. She didn't make mistakes. "Get dressed, okay? I'll be back!" and she left the blonde heiress standing in the room alone, wondering just exactly what was going on.

"Lucy." The blonde righted herself quickly, curtsying to her stepmother and employer, lowering her gaze. "Alicia and Cecilia's dresses are complete. And… I suppose yours' will be as well." The woman didn't seem pleased at the idea and Lucy kept her thoughts to herself. "Be a dear and pick them up, won't you?" Lucy dipped into a quick curtsy once again and was just about to turn, just starting to leave, when the Duchess's voice spoke again: "And inform Mirajane we'll need additional dresses for the Prince's ball. Two more should do. Tell her to use the styles and colors they discussed last week." Lucy bobbed her head and when her stepmother made her way up the stairs, she hurried out.

Freedom. Not true and complete, but freedom all the same from that deathly quiet, depressing house.

Everything had changed when her mother died, but when her father remarried, Lucy had finally thought things might go back to normal. And they had, for two years, before her father passed away as well. It came up quick and took him away before they knew it, leaving Lucy an orphan with little money to her name. Her father's will had accounted for Suzuno and his new step-daughters, but he hadn't accounted for his premature death, which left Lucy with a meager dowry and a few items that had been her mother's. Having nowhere else to go, the blonde had stayed with her step-family. They could be much worse, she mused as she hurried down the long drive that lead to the Heartfilia estate. So much worse. But they were treated fairly and the former Clarks weren't overly demanding. She heaved out a breath as she realized things would get harder once the Prince's ball got closer and the two began panicking.

"Hey," she looked over, distracted, at the boy with pink hair. He grinned. "Off for more flowers?"

She couldn't help but smile back. "Not this time. Though, you're welcome to buy some for me~!" She fluttered her lashes and he laughed. "I'm picking up dresses from Mira." It did the trick as he paled slightly.

"O-oh… It that so?" She nodded, clasping her hands behind her back.

"Lucy-nee!" a small voice called out before she could respond to the pinkette. A child, a boy no more than seven, ran to greet her, launching himself at her waist. She held tight to him as she twirled, the both of them laughing when she set him down, kneeling to look him eye to eye. "I missed you!" her threw his arms around her neck and she hugged him back.

"I missed you too, Romeo. Have you been helping your dad?" He avoided her eyes, pouting a bit. "Romeo, we talked about this…"

"B-but I don't want to be like dad! It's not cool!" A weak protest came from inside the shop and Lucy had to bite her lip to keep from laughing as Wakaba consoled a now crying Macao.

"But, where else will I get the best flowers, Romeo, if your dad didn't run his shop, hmm?" The boy glanced at her from the corner of his eye, then noticed Natsu, immediately letting go of his blonde haired friend to stare up in awe of the man. "Ah, this is Natsu, Romeo."

"Yo, Romeo," the man still beside her raised a hand in greeting. Lucy could see the sparkles in his eyes. She straightened, dusting off her skirt. "Did you help with Luce's flowers last time? It was a real pretty set." Lucy let it go, despite the fact that the term was bouquet.

Romeo blinked rapidly, trying to process his new hero's words. "W-what?"

"I came last week for flowers. Did you help your dad arrange them?" Lucy clarified. Romeo tilted his head lightly to the side as he thought. "I got my normal ones." His eyes lit up as he nodded enthusiastically.

"Keep up the good work!" Natsu ruffled the younger boy's hair and Lucy could see the stars in the younger Conbolt's eyes.

"I have to go now, Romeo. Tell your mom I say hello, won't you?" The child nodded. "Oh, Romeo, if there are any scraps—"

"I know, Lucy-nee! I'll put them out for you! I know it's really important!" The boy puffed up his chest and Lucy cupped his face in her hands, smiling down at him fondly.

"Thank you, Romeo." She kissed his forehead and he flushed, running to the store's doorway and waving as she continued on her way. She was smiling as she clasped her hands behind her back.

"You're really popular, you know?"

"Mhm. I grew up here, so I know everyone," she looked over at him. "But I don't know you. Though, if you always lived at the palace, I wouldn't." She shrugged a bit. "It's not often you guys come down and this is, what? The third time I've seen you? In the span of two weeks?" She voiced it as a question, curious. But he merely grinned.

"I got bored." She gave him a look that told him she didn't really believe that, but said no more on the matter.

"What's the palace like then? I've only been there a few times." He seemed surprised and she raised her chin a bit, smirking. "What? You thought I'd never been outside the town limits? I'll have you know I used to travel a lot when I was a child."

"No, just surprised you've been to the palace. It's not often…" he trailed off, biting his tongue. He wondered, briefly, if she would stop talking to him now.

"That a commoner goes up there?" She didn't seem angry so he chanced a nod. "Well, I used to be someone. A long time ago." Her shoulders lifted and dropped in a shrug, showing indifference. "But, things happened. So, we lost a lot."

"And now… you're a servant?" She nodded.

He was so confused right now. Anyone else he knew would be bitter, but her? No, she was smiling. Was she entirely right in the head?

"One of six, actually. So, I'm kinda important now too~! After-all, I'm here in town, aren't I?" He gave her that. She could be trusted to take care of things in town. Impressive, for a girl who barely looked eighteen. "Do you run errands too?"

"Nope. They try as hard as they can to keep me up there." She grinned and nodded, almost as if she expected that answer. "You're weird, you know that, Lucy?"

"So you've told me before, Natsu." He laced his fingers behind his head.

"So you know everyone, right? Even the royalty?" She scoffed and he wondered how she was handling the 'miles of ruffles'.

"I know their names, but not them. Obviously."

"Oh yeah?" She raised a brow at his challenge.

"King Igneel and Queen Calida. They have a son named…" she trailed off and he paused when she stopped. "Huh… I know his name… he'll be eighteen in a few weeks… Jeez, what is it?" he laughed at the face she was making. "Oi, you, shaddup! It's something with… along the lines of summer… Hmm…"she tapped at her chin. "Ah well. Not important."

"The Prince isn't important?" he stifled his laughter, following after the blonde that was amusing him.

"I suppose he is," she mused, stepping into Mira's shop. "Since he'll be King one day. But for me, it doesn't really matter. All I know is I have to carry those," she pointed out the fluffy gowns in the corner, ready to be wrapped up to take home, "and four more like them for his party in a few weeks. And then make whatever changes Cecilia and Alicia want. So, ruffles." She made a face at the word and he grinned, finding her pain amusing. "Mira! I'm here!"

"Lisanna'll be right out!" and it was a few moments before they both heard the soft footsteps of the younger Strauss moving towards them.

The short haired woman paused in the doorway. "Natsu?" Her eyes showed confusion. Lucy raised a brow, but ignored it, going to her stepsisters' dresses.

"Did Mira finish ours, Lisanna?" the blonde questioned her friend.

"O-oh, yes, she did… Natsu?" Lisanna pointed out the wrapped package of their work dresses and when Lucy moved towards them, the younger Strauss practically pounced on the pinkette and the two whispered furiously back and forth for a few minutes while Lucy scanned over the dresses.

They weren't the prettiest things they would ever wear, but they were for their work. They would be fine. "Should I just wrap these up?" she motioned towards the ballgowns and when she turned around, she saw Lisanna holding the boy by the collar. "Um… Lisanna?"

"Sure, go ahead~!" and Lucy quickly did it, leaving the two to their own devices. She'd been in Mira's shop enough to know how to fold the dresses up and wrap them. And how to carry them and hang them up when she got back home. "Do you need help taking them back? I'm sure Natsu here would just love to be useful!" Lucy didn't want to know what was going on and quickly raised her hands up.

"N-no, it's fine! They aren't heavy!" And to prove it, she gathered the three packages in her arms carefully, smiling at her. "See?"

"Fine." Did she seem… upset? "Well? Go on! Walk her home!"

"Lisanna!"

"Really, I'm fine, Lisanna, thanks!" Lucy eased herself past the two—who were glaring at each other—and out towards the street. "Thank you for the help, Lisanna, have a good day! Oh, Mira!" she called into the shop and smiled at the answering call. "Suzuno wants two more, in the styles and colors you all discussed last week!" There was a huff and a groan and Lucy could see Lisanna roll her eyes. Then the older Strauss called out in the affirmative. Lisanna hurriedly pushed Natsu out the door, frowning at him. He scowled, shoving his hands in his pockets and following after Lucy, who tried not to laugh at the look on his face. "What did you do to her to make her so mad?"

"Like I know…"

And she let it go, moving down the street and responding to those who called out to her. When Romeo rushed out, brandishing two bouquets, she shoved the packages into her new friend's arms, crouching down to appraise the flowers. "Romeo, these aren't scraps," she informed him, almost scolding.

"Most of it is!" the child argued. And yes, she did see that, but there were some in there that obviously didn't belong. "Besides," he pointed into the shop where Wakaba and Macao were watching. "Dad said it was okay! You're our favorite, after-all!" the two men waved and Lucy waved back. She turned her eyes back to Romeo. He was watching her expectantly.

"Thank you, Romeo. They're very beautiful." He beamed at her and she patted his head. "Whenever your dad gives you the go ahead, I'd appreciate it if you could take them down."

"Anything for you, Lucy-nee!" she gathered the dresses from Natsu's arms and called out her thanks to the older men, who winked and waved. She started on her way again and when Natsu continued following her down the main road and towards her home, she looked over at him.

"You're following me."

"She did tell me to walk you home." She raised a brow. "What? I'm a gentleman!" She snorted, lips curling up in an attempt to stop her laughter, but the thought of him, him who she barely knew, as a gentleman—she couldn't help it. He pouted, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. "O-oi…"

"If you say so~!" she titled her head towards the Heartfilia manor resting atop the small hill, still some distance away. The long road winding up to it was visible. "But, as you can see, I'm here." He blinked slowly at it. "Impressive, right? It's been in my family for generations, dating back at-least five. One day, I hope to buy it back, to have it back in my family."

"What?" She smiled softly, stopping in the road as she gazed at her home.

"The estate. The Heartfilia manor. If I ever get enough money, I can buy it back from Suzuno and take up my father's business. I've spoken with his old partners, in the next town over. I've shown the aptitude for it, so, I can start there whenever I chose. That's my dream right now—doing my family proud!" she didn't look over at him and starting walking once more. "But, I'd be lucky to even start working over there, so, for now, I just take care of my home."

"Are you telling me you're Duke Heartfilia's daughter?"

"I am." She paused then, looking over her shoulder at him. She copied one of her mother's expressions, soft and graceful. "I'm Lucy Heartfilia." He was glaring at her home.

"Lady Lucy Heartfilia."

"No, just Lucy. I have no title, no lands, no retainers," Even though they tried, she thought silently, thinking back at her family's loyal servants. "Like I said, things happened. And I lost everything. So, now I'm just like you, like everyone else." His eyes were dark and narrowed, hands balled into fists. She couldn't help the gentle expression that came over her then and it threw him. "Thank you for your concern though, Natsu, but I'm okay. I have my friends helping me, after-all. I don't need money and fancy dresses to be happy. My friends are what's most important now, after-all."

Her smile brightened and she tilted her head lightly to the side.

"Luce…"

"Thanks for walking me back, but I'll be okay the rest of the way. I hope I see you again~!" And she started the long walk back to the manor.

Chapter two, end! Success!

These are getting progressively longer… and I'm not sure if that's a bad thing.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed! It really made my day! Ah, as for Cobra and Kinana, I totally forgot about them, but now that you've reminded me, hisuichanxx, I have ideas on how to include them!

If anyone wants to see a certain character in a certain role, plus, feel free to suggest them! 'Cause I have very few ideas for them.

Until the next time, ciao~!