AN: I'm so very sorry this took so long. I ended up having to stand in a wedding last minute, and the travel time to get to the wedding ate up all my writing time over the weekend. I really am sorry this took so long. I haven't given up, there's was just a hitch in the plan.

Either which way, here is the chapter. It's 2399 words long. I hope you enjoy!

Special thanks to westerngoddess! You are amazing and kind. Thank you for your wonderful words of encouragement. :)

Lucy stood, dumbfounded, at the amount of Rune Knights that surrounded her and the rest of Team Natsu. Natsu was boasting about saving the town from the dark guild that had been terrorizing them. That's why she and the team were even in a desert village somewhere northwest of Crocus.

Closing her eyes with a sigh, Lucy coiled her whip up and placed it at her feet before raising her hands high into the air. "I am peaceably surrendering!" Her voice was loud and clear, ringing out across the burning, smoking desert. Stepping forward, the last vestiges of her clothes fell away, leaving her bare to the world.

Sighing, she hung her head as she continued to walk. An armor-clad arm entered her vision, blocking her path. "I cannot allow you to fall into the hands of the council in such a state of undress." Lucy was irritated with Erza. The redhead knew Lucy had already popped her cherry, so Lucy was confused as to why Erza continued to act as if Lucy was an innocent child.

Clenching her teeth, Lucy locked eyes with Erza. "Erza, I'll be fine. Please get out of the way. Unless you're surrendering too?" At the look on Erza's face, Lucy's brow pinched in anger. "I thought not. Now, I need to get by, so…" Lucy let her sentence trail off. She knew Erza would figure it out.

With head hanging, Erza requipped a cloak into her hands before handing it to Lucy. Wrapping the cloak around herself, she stepped around the redhead, arms raised, hands open and at shoulder height. "I am still peaceably surrendering." She watched the Rune Knights for any signs of aggression as she waded through the shifting sand.

Lahar watched her body move as the cloak edges fluttered, revealing glimpses of her full breasts, her wide hips, and her shapely legs. Gods! Control yourself! Now is not the time for- His internal rant stopped the moment she placed her hands behind her back to be cuffed. She was across the circle from him, which gave him a perfect view of her pushed out breasts.

Her face was blank, and unless you knew what you were looking for, her eyes seemed dead. He strode over to collect her whip and keys, all the while keeping a wary eye on the Fire Dragon Slayer. He had a bit of hope for a peaceful surrender of the Sword Mage. He wasn't sure how much the Ice-Make Mage would fight. He might holler a lot and only resist a little if Titania doesn't fight. Please don't let her fight.

Suddenly, a sword was mere inches from the back of his head. Without thought, he pulled his Light Pen from his breast pocket and bound the Sword Mage in an instant. Scooting out from below her terrifyingly sharp sword, he rose to his full height. Looking at the situation from a different angle, he was surprised to see Natsu's fist wrapped up with Erza's sword.

Dusting himself off, he released Erza from her bonds, having them snake up and over the Fire Dragon. "My apologies, Miss Scarlet. I hope you understand my reaction. He watched as she nodded and dismissed her sword. She held her hands behind her back, her jaw clamped tightly shut, anger sparking in her deep brown eyes.

"Gray. Natsu. This is very serious. You will surrender. Am I clear?" Lahar watched as they both nodded. Gray held his hands behind his back as he waited to be cuffed. Lahar still held Natsu, just in case he tried to free his friends. Cuffing Erza, he patted her armor clad shoulder. Helping her through the sand, he sat her next to Lucy as Justice brought over Gray.

"Thank you, Miss Heartfilia, Miss Scarlet, and Mr. Fullbuster for your cooperation." Turning, he studied Natsu. "I am going to release your arms. Will you cooperate and let us cuff you?" Natsu nodded, so he released the bonds around the youth's arms. He seemed hesitant to be cuffed, but eventually put his arms behind his back. Walking behind him, Lahar reached for the boy's wrists, only to have them erupt into balls of fire.

"NATSU! KNOCK IT OFF! SURRENDER! If you don't, there will be no fire chicken for you at the guild for months." At Erza's threat, the fire instantly went out. "Very good." Lahar quickly cuffed the Fire Dragon Slayer, cutting off his connection to his magic. Once the cuffs were secure, he led the pinkette to sit with the rest of the group.

Lucy watched as 5 carriages arrived. Happy had shown back up after having been flung off into the desert. He was quickly cuffed and currently wailing loudly to anyone who would listen. "Lushy! Why are we being arrested?! What did we do wrong?! Charla will never date me, not now that I'm a criminal! LUSHY!"

Rolling her eyes, she looked to Lahar as he approached. "Miss Heartfilia, if you would come with me, we are going to transport your party to Council Headquarters." Lucy nodded as she struggled to stand. After a moment, a firm hand gripped her elbow as he helped her stand. "Your carriage is at the front." Lucy nodded as she began walking.

"Captain Lahar, if I may?" He studied her face for a moment before nodding. "What are we being arrested for?" She hoped he remembered his part in all of this. Thinking back to her carefully crafted plan, she knew what he was supposed to say, she just hoped he did too.

"All of you are being arrested for grievous destruction of property, civilian endangerment, and being menaces to society. Each of you also have individual charges as well. For example, you have an indecent exposure charge as well as a flagrant use of dangerous spells in civilian presence charge." He gently squeezed her arm. She wasn't sure if he was trying to comfort her or warn her.

"Dangerous spells? What spell? Urano Metria? That spell is perfectly safe! I can control it perfectly, and I no longer need Gemini to help me. Haven't for a while actually!" Lucy started flailing slightly as her 'ire' raised. I have to make this believable, otherwise, it'll never work! "This is bullshit!" Using her erratic momentum, she managed to trip Lahar. Play along! Play along!

"Lucy kick!" She kicked him to the ground. She only used enough force to get him on the ground, but she made it look like a full power kick. Kneeling over his chest, she held his arms down with her knees as she hooked her bare feet over the joint where his thighs met his body. Leaning close, she whispered as quietly as she could. "Hit me. Take me down and cart me off."

After his momentary shock wore off, he nodded. "Miss Heartfilia, if you would please just get into the carria-" He hadn't expected her to spit on him. She knew he hated bodily fluids when not in the act. He also knew they needed to convince Natsu that Lucy was never getting out of jail. "I see. If that is how you want it…"

Bucking his hips up, he sent her face first into the sand above him. Grabbing her ankle as she fell, he pulled her down next to him as he rolled on his side. Anticipation her next move, he blocked her free leg with his hand. Wrapping his hand around her recently caught ankle, he twisted her legs together as he rose to his knees. She screamed and bucked as he struggled to tie her feet to her hands.

He couldn't use his Light Pen, as it required a hand. Raising his hand, he balled his fist and struck the thrashing blond. He wouldn't realize until much later, that he had just bruised her kidney. Her scream filled his ears as he watched her body go limp. He quickly bound her feet together and then tied them to her hands.

Looking at the remaining members of her team, he saw mixed emotions from all of them. Erza was concerned and enraged. Gray was furious, as well as frustrated. Happy was scared and confused. Natsu. The look in Natsu's eyes truly frightened Lahar. There was a quiet rage simmering deep below the surface as shock held supreme. For the moment. It was that quiet rage that frightened him. He truly looked like a demon in that moment.

Lahar turned to his men. "Get the rest loaded into the carriages. I will take Miss Heartfilia to her carriage." The men gave a prompt 'Yes, sir!' Before jumping into action. Catching Lucy's eye, his own held sorrow and concern. When she smiled at him, he had to fight his own smile. Walking over, he reached down to pick her up.

"DON'T YOU TOUCH HER!" His head snapped over to see Natsu fighting to break free from the guard holding him. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH LUCY!" Sighing, he leaned down and scooped up the blond. When she whimpered, he heard a body hit the sand. Turning to look, he noticed too late the foot coming at his head.

Holding tightly to Lucy, he made sure he hit the ground, while she landed on top of him. Looking up, he saw another foot flying down at his face. Squeezing his eyes shut, he braced for an impact that never came. Cracking his eyes open after several long moments, he saw the most amazing sight.

Erza and Gray had both tackled Natsu and had him in leg locks so he couldn't escape. Gray had managed to get a foot between Natsu's torso and arm, while Erza had managed to intertwine her legs with Natsu's. effectively immobilizing him. Natsu was still struggling and screaming about him hurting Lucy and payback, but Lahar was more concerned with Lucy.

The plan had worked beautifully. They had gotten Natsu to attack a member of the Rune Knights. Sadly, both she and Lahar had sustained injuries. Closing her eyes, she tried not to whimper as he set her down on the bench in the carriage. Smiling weakly, she watched as he closed the door and left her alone.

After several long, painful minutes, the door opened again and Lahar climbed inside. Closing the door tightly behind him, he pounded on the roof twice. At this, the driver took off. She felt him untying her bonds as she breathed through the pain of the jostling carriage.

His hands were slipping around her as he pulled her into his lap. Her knees pulled to her chest as she wrapped her freed hands around them. His arms slipped around her shoulders. "I'm sorry I hurt you. I never intended to seriously damage you." She smiled through the pain at his tender concern.

"I'll live. I've had worse. Pretty sure I'm going to be pissing blood for a few days, though." She watched as his brow furrowed. Smiling, she reached up and gently ran her fingers over his swelling face. "Natsu got you good, didn't he?" At his nod, she too furrowed her brow. "Did he break anything?" He shook his head as he leaned into her gentle caress.

"As you say, I'll live. I too have had worse." Leaning down, he gently pressed his lips to her hair. The comfort the kiss gave her was immense and went a long way to settling her nerves. "Your plan worked brilliantly. Now all we have to do is put him on 'trial' and go through with his punishment." Lucy smiled up at him.

"So, Captain, what are you going to do with me now that I'm a convict?" She wiggled her hips in his lap, brushing her full hips against his hardening cock. His hands shot to her hips as his body tensed. Shaking his head, he held her still. Motioning with his eyes, Lucy saw true fear in his eyes

Turning, he placed her gently on the seat as he made his way across the cabin to the opposing bench. He pointed above himself as he sat in the corner. Looking out of the corner of her eye, she saw a small recording lacrima embedded in the wall. Smiling sadly, she nodded almost imperceptibly as she settled into the bench.

"So, once we get to headquarters, everyone gets split up and put on 'trial' individually." He nodded, indicating that everyone involved understood the plan. "Once trials are over, Natsu gets his magic taken away with a magic canceling collar, or whatever you guys came up with that he can't break easily. He is remanded to small jobs within Magnolia until he proves he can complete a job without destroying anything." Again he nodded.

"Yes. Hopefully, he learns quickly, otherwise, you and your team will be very poor for quite some time." She nodded sadly. "I must inform you, though. The council has decided that this method is going to be used on your whole team." Her jaw dropped. "That includes you." She felt her mouth gaping, opening and closing as if she couldn't get enough air.

He understood that without her magic, Lucy was pretty much helpless. She was not physically strong like Erza or Natsu. She wasn't as agile as Gray in a fight. She was top heavy, which made most forms of martial arts inaccessible to her. He wrapped his finger and thumb gently around his chin as he thought. Each form of martial arts he could think of was arm and fist based.

"Captain Lahar?" His eyes snapped to hers as his hand drifted back into his lap. "Maybe this is a good thing. It'll give me time to focus on more defensive maneuvers. I've got an entire guild of people that would be more than happy to help." Her soft smile warmed his heart.

"I see. Well then, Miss Heartfilia, I would suggest working hard on your defense." She nodded firmly as a brilliant smile broke out across her face. His own soft smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. Her joy and enthusiasm were infectious. Her beauty was the only spot of light in his bleak world. He didn't understand how one person could change his entire life so completely that he barely recognized himself. He wanted more of her in his life. He wanted her to be his, and him to be hers. Forever.

AN- Thank you for reading! If you find any mistakes I missed, please let me know. I'll correct them right away!

The title means 'Secret Plans'.

I hope you enjoyed it! Happy reading! :)