I just want to thank all you readers and reviewers again. You make me feel so positive with your kind words. On another note, are you as excited as I am to read the next chapter of the manga tomorrow? I wonder how Fairy Tail will be saved and I want to see Lucy's reaction to a naked Natsu running around with Lisanna. I think Loke should witness the scene too.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. If I did, it wouldn't sell cause I'm a crappy artist.

Lucy was having a great day. In fact, it was the best day she'd had in a while. She hadn't been this happy in two months, three weeks and a day. Before she was engaged. It was almost funny. This was supposed to be the happiest time in a young girl's life. In a few days she was going to have a fairy tale wedding. A beautiful white dress, thousands of flowers, romantic music, the best food and wine, and even a handsome groom. She tried, she really did, to be happy about her situation. However, there was one big problem. She didn't love him. She was going to marry a man she did not love. Hell, she barely even knew him. The first time they met was at her debutante ball when she turned sixteen less than a year ago. Then there were a handful of times when his family did business with hers, the last being when it was decided she would marry him. That's what this was after all, a business deal. Not a romance out of one of her fairy tale stories with a wedding and a happily ever after for a reward, but instead she was expected to give her body and soul to further her family's wealth and consequence. As a Heartfilia she had to do her duty. After all, she gave her promise. In return she was allowed to meet some wizards (a lifelong dream) from her favorite guild that was often featured in her favorite magazine, Sorcerer's Weekly.

So far Lucy had shown the mages most of the rooms within the mansion while introducing them to any of the servants they happened to meet. While she gave them the tour, they talked about nothing important, but that didn't matter to Lucy. It wasn't often that she got to speak to people her own age and even less often to those below her social status.

She really liked them; she knew she would. Erza was so beautiful and stately. She really admired her stoic strength and leadership skills. Gray had a quiet coolness about him that she liked. She felt that he was the type of person that you could trust to keep a secret. Plus, she found his apparent stripping habit to be very amusing. Imagining how her father would react to it made her laugh every time Gray unconsciously took off his shirt and pants. Then there was Natsu and Happy. They were just so cute together—like brothers. They had questions for her in every room they went to. True, the questions weren't always about the room. Happy, for example, often asked if there were any fish to be found. When she'd say no, he'd pout so cutely that she couldn't help but smile. Natsu's questions were a bit more personal—like he was trying to figure her out.

"This next room is my favorite in the whole house." Lucy said as they stepped into the library.

"Whoa...more books! There must be five times as many here than your dad's room! Have you read all these Lucy?" Natsu asked with wonder in his eyes.

"No, not all of them, but quite a few. I have a pair of gale-force glasses to help me." she admitted.

"Why is this your favorite room? It's just books as far as I can see." Natsu asked perplexed.

"Well, I love reading of course! I can lose myself in a story. Adventure, mystery, romance, friendship—I can experience all of that in these books."

"Oh." Natsu looked like he was about to say something else when they were interrupted.

"Miss Lucy, I wasn't expecting to see you again today. Are these the Fairy Tail wizards?" a strange-looking man asked.

"Yes, that's Erza and Gray and this is Happy and Natsu." she said pointing them out. "Everyone, this is Ribbon the librarian here."

"Pbbt." Happy said holding in a laugh "Natsu, that guy has hair that looks like a book."

"Happy, don't be rude." Erza warned.

Before long Lucy realized she needed to get back to her room to dress for dinner. When she was ready she led them to the dining room. Erza and Gray had actually dressed up and even Natsu was wearing a shirt under his vest.

"Now, remember to use your fork." Erza reminded Natsu.

"Boo" he whined "I hate forks."

Dinner was an interesting event. In hindsight, perhaps Natsu and Gray shouldn't have been seated next to one another. Lucy had been having a pleasant conversation with Erza about magic swords when Gray suddenly yelped.

"What the matter?" she asked concernedly.

"This fork burned my hand." Gray said as he looked at Natsu.

"I wonder how that happened." he said innocently.

"I wonder...indeed!" Gray said as a stomp could be heard from under the table.

"My foot." Natsu groaned quietly.

"Boys." Erza growled.

Natsu and Gray started shivering. Happy and Layla were shaking with laughter. Lucy's father, she noticed, was shaking too, but it wasn't with laughter.

After dinner Lucy invited the group back to her room. Erza and Gray started looking around while Natsu and Happy headed straight for her bed.

"That was good food Lucy, but there wasn't enough of it." Natsu said.

"Aye, and the fish was cooked!" Happy said making a disgusted face.

"Not enough! You ate enough for four people!" she said in disbelief.

"You should see him when he gets serious." said Gray casually.

"Lucy, is this your wedding dress?" Erza asked form inside her closet. "Can you try it on and show us?"

"Erza, I didn't know you liked wedding dresses." Gray said with shock in his voice "How girly of you."

"I know, right?" said Happy.

"S-sure Erza." Lucy said resigned to her fate.

When she emerged there was complete silence.

"Wh-what, does it look bad?" she asked worriedly.

"No. Far from it. You look really beautiful, Lucy." said Gray. "Your fiance is a lucky guy. Isn't he Natsu?"

Natsu said nothing. He just stared at her.

Erza cleared her throat. "So Lucy, tell us about this man you're going to marry. What's he like?"

Lucy sighed. "Well, his name is Auguste Flavia and his family lives in Logres, that's south of here. He's twenty-two and is tall with brown hair and blue eyes. He's a minor noble."

"How did you fall in love? How did he propose?" Erza asked with hearts in her eyes. Lucy thought she should get this dress off. It was making Erza act weird.

"Um...I'm not." Lucy said quietly.

"Not what, Lucy?" Erza asked.

"I'm not in love with him."

"What!" Natsu shouted startling Lucy "Then why are you marrying him?"

"Heartfilia Railways. It's my duty to marry and strengthen the business."

"So for money then." Natsu sneered.

"It's not like I had much choice! I have to marry eventually and at least Auguste is good-looking. You should have seen the man my father wanted me marry first." Lucy shuddered at the memory of Duke Sawarr Junelle.

"I can't believe this." Natsu huffed "I'm going to my room."

"Wait for me, Natsu!" Happy said flying after him.

"What's his problem?" Lucy asked sadly.

"Don't worry about it, Lucy." Erza said patting her on the back. "Natsu just doesn't understand how the world works sometimes."