Chapter 4
"As we say goodbye to our dearly departed Lucy Euclair. We wish to say goodbye Lucy. We will miss you and love you so much. I commit your memory to our hearts as your body remain on earth. Rest in peace dear Lucy," the priest said and the crowd left the headstone dedicated to the memory of Lucy.
A week prior
'Almost there. Swim to the red buoy then to the lamp post with no light on,'Lucy thought as she pushed her body to swim the distance.
"Lucy! Where are you!" Sting's voice carried through the howling wind.
Lucy kept pushing and paddling like she practiced in her swim classes.
Moments later she made it to her sandy stairs that took her to the back of her glass prison house. She quickly got a towel from the front closet that was in her packed duffle bag.
She went to the guest bathroom and took off her wet clothes and placed it in the plastic bag she had. She then dried off getting the excess water off. She quickly cut her shoulder length hair to her neck making it into a bob. She placed her cut hair into another plastic bag putting it in her duffel bag and making sure no trace of her departure would be noticed by her husband's watchful eye.
She put a stocking cap on her head and then placed a brunette wig on top of her head. She fluffed out her hair and placed a white plain shirt and dark blue colored jeans on. She took out a plain blue baseball cap and placed it on her head.
She then quickly slipped on some tennis shoes and a jacket on. She placed her wedding ring in her bag and made her way out of the house making sure to mop up the water with the towel she dried off with. She walked quickly to the ferry to wait for the last crossing to the other side.
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"All aboard! Train leaves in 10 minutes! Make sure you have your tickets ready to verify! We will be in Scotsman by seven in the morning," the train conductor informed the weary travelers.
Lucy made her way to her seat and placed her small duffle bag under her seat. She placed her head on the window to calm down and know she was almost home free.
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"Changing trains. Please make sure you have your belongings and thank you for choosing Stallion Explorer as your mode of transportation,"the automatic voice said over the intercom.
Lucy felt her body being shaken to wake up. She jumped and looked around.
She placed her hand over her heart to calm her heart.
"Sorry to startle you. The train is stopping and it's the end of the destination. Didn't think you wanted to go back from where we came from right," a kind elderly man said to Lucy.
"Ye-yes. Thank you. I was having a crazy dream. Thank you," Lucy said and re adjusted her hair and cap.
She looked outside of her window and saw corn fields rushing past and two dairy cows eating in a small green pasture.
Lucy gathered her duffle bag and hugged it to her chest.
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"Ah, we meet again," the elderly man's voice from early broke Lucy out of her stupor.
Lucy looked up and smiled at the man.
She was trying not to panic and seem like it was normal for other people to notice her.
The elderly man sat down next to her and exhaled from exhaustion.
"My name is Makarov Dreyar. I'm visiting my nephew and his father. Good people. Just need a vacation," Makarov said trying to make conversation with his travel seat companion.
"That's nice,"Lucy said politely.
"You are headed to Magnolia? You have family there?"Makarov asked.
"Uhm, I have my mom there. She grew up in Magnolia,"Lucy said trying to keep her answers short.
"That's nice. What's your name I don't think I caught it,"Makarov continued.
"My name?"Lucy questioned.
'Sting couldn't have guessed I faked my death. He couldn't have sent a private investigator on me...right!,'Lucy thought panicking.
"My name is Lucy Heartfilia,"Lucy said and adjusted her body to give the man a nonverbal clue she was done talking.
"A lovely name for a beautiful woman. Nice to meet you,"Makarov said and leaned back in his chair to take a nap.
Lucy was grateful that he stopped asking her questions and decided to do the same and take another nap.
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With Sting-Present time
"Yukino, I don't want to move in with you,"Sting said on his phone.
"Why not? Your son wants to be a family. I want that too don't you?"Yukino yelled on the phone.
'I did have my family but she was lost at sea,'Sting thought and took another swig of his alcoholic beverage.
"Sting, Sting, Sting! Are you there?"Yukino asked on the phone.
"Yes I am and stop screaming at me,"Sting said and hung up the phone.
"My Lucy knew her place. She was almost perfect. I just needed a child from her or two. A boy to raise like me and a girl to bring up to cater to her future husband. Damn! I should kill that idiot Dan! He basically killed my wife! My beautiful, perfect wife!" Sting cried out and threw his beer bottle against the white fireplace mantle.
He placed his cellphone on vibrate in case someone else of more importance called him.
Sting walked staggered to the glass window that overlooked the lake that fed out to the ocean. He couldn't believe it has already been a week since he lost his wife. He still refused to believe his Sunflower perished but washed up somewhere with memory loss. That's what he hoped for and held on to. His job had let him take a few weeks off to let the shock wear off and give him time to mourn.
He walked to his study and grabbed the paper their primary caregiver mailed to them. He had taken Lucy to the doctor for her woman's exam and got the results of her test.
She was pregnant with their child. He cried the first time he read it and almost burned it. But something inside told him not to. That's how his resolve that Lucy being dead was unlikely. He just didn't know where to begin to search. Then a light bulb came on.
He grabbed his coat and left for the ferry to get to the mainland.
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A month later
"Lucy you can take your break. I'll read to the kids for storytime,"Levy Redfin said the head librarian.
Lucy learned that Makarov basically owned the entire town and pulled strings to get Lucy a job and a place to stay. Lucy was very thankful for Makarov generosity along with his helpfulness.
A week on her own, Lucy was satisfied with her decision to leave and wished she did it earlier. But stopped thinking that because it could have been possible she could have missed out on this opportunity.
Lucy ate her sandwich and apple. She took a swig of her apple juice and began reading her book she was leisurely reading.
Getting to the good part she heard her name being called that startled her.
"Hey Lucy,"a now familiar voice called out to her.
Noticing he startled the woman that didn't give him the time of day he quickly apologized.
Lucy giggled when she saw it was Makarov's nephew Natsu.
Lucy was developing a crush on the guy but was told he was dating another chick named Lisanna. According to town gossip or Levy's gossip. The couple were very serious and he had a ring to propose to her on her birthday that was weeks away. So Lucy stifled her longing to be with the man and just remain good friends with the guy.
"Hey Natsu what brings you here?"Lucy asked after she dogeared her spot in her book.
"I was wondering if I could take you out for dinner sometime this week. I know of a restaurant that serves good Italian food. That's your favorite right,"Natsu asked confidentially.
"Yea. How did you know that?"Lucy asked.
She had a good feeling who. Either Makarov or her roommate Levy. She noticed that they asked her random questions periodically as if trying to get to know her. Now she knew why.
"That sounds lovely! Is Lisanna coming as well? I guess I could bring Levy as well," Lucy said thinking about her wardrobe in her room.
"Uhm...no I was thinking just the two of us. Since you've been here I haven't shown you any of the sights here personally," Natsu said seemingly trying to flirt with Lucy.
Lucy hasn't been too out of the realm of dating even if her marriage was hell on earth. She knew he was flirting with her.
"I-let me think about it, okay. Besides I need to get back to the kids. Hi ! I'll go get Mira," Lucy said and quickly left to go to the back.
Natsu had his mouth open to object but felt a big hand clasp his shoulder and squeezed it. Natsu rolled his eyes and turned to greet his cousin, Laxus Dreyar.
"So Natsu, I see that you continue to get shot down as usual," Laxus pointed out and chuckled.
Natsu rotated his shoulder getting Laxus off of him.
"Whatever man. You know I'm the epitome of persistence. I'm just wearing her down, she'll come around. Just you watch," Natsu said and walked away whistling a tuneless tune.
"We'll see. Don't forget your girlfriend, Lisanna is coming back into town from grad school in two months. I would think it inappropriate for a taken man to openly flirt behind his girlfriend's back," Laxus said.
"I guess that would be kinda weird. I'm not trying to date Lucy. I'm just a friendly guy who is trying to be friends with her. There's nothing else," Natsu said.
"So if she goes with you on one outing because it's not dating. Then you would leave her alone? Is that what you're saying?" Laxus asked for clarification.
"Well yeah and no. I would like to believe that she would want to, you know, hang out more since she is new. I'm a fun person," Natsu said.
Laxus shook his head with a smirk plastered on his face.
"What's up with the smirking?" Natsu asked.
Laxus looked at his younger cousin. Natsu had on washed out skinny dark jeans, a pressed red button up shirt, and black loafer style shoes on. Natsu's salmon colored hair was spiky and all over the place as if taking on a life of its own. Laxus wondered if Lucy even found Natsu mildly attractive. Back in high school it wasn't like Natsu was beating girls back with a stick.
In Laxus' opinion, Natsu was a good guy that he had fun tormenting since both didn't have any siblings. Laxus felt as if Natsu was his little brother even through the banter they exchanged. He loved the idiot.
Laxus took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I'm going to regret doing this," Laxus said.
"What are you talking about? Then why were you checking me out? I don't roll that way. I didn't know you did," Natsu said and pretended to shiver and laughed.
"Oh shut up. Do you want my help or not?" Laxus asked after he shoved Natsu.
"What do you mean? The last time you helped me my hair turned pink. So excuse me for being a bit hesitant, "Natsu said.
"Yet you continue to dye it. But that's not the point. I'm going to put in a good word for you with Lucy. Actually Mirajane is going to. She's friends with Lucy and Lisanna's sister. Lucy should feel at ease with Mirajane's "blessing" and guarantee that you are looking for a new friend and not a new side piece. That your intentions are pure and not trying to get in her pants," Laxus said.
"Ye-yeah that's the truth. And that's actually not a bad plan. We could go to the county fair and ride some rides, there's a good bar in that part of town," Natsu said and started to plan the whole day out.
"Well I'm not free until after three and I think Mirajane and Lucy can get off together. I bet Levy would want to go," Laxus said rubbing his chin. This was the other part of his idea.
"Wait, wait just a damn minute! Why would I care about anyone's schedule conflicts other than Lucy?" Natsu asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Take it as to ensure Lucy that you are trying to only be friends. Of course you would invite your close friends and cousin along. Unless it's really a date and therefore you have the intention of cheating on my soon to be sister-in-law," Laxus said with that smirk that was getting on Natsu's nerves.
"Fine! But y'all are finding y'all own way there and back. Plus paying for your own food and entertainment. I'm only paying for myself and Lucy," Natsu said.
"Well wouldn't that be a date if you pay for her way?" Laxus asked trying to still bring out that Natsu really wanted Lucy in a serious way. He was ready to beat some sense into his dense younger cousin.
"Well it's my treat. If she wants to pay after I offer I won't make a big deal out of it. So Saturday we meet at my dad's house since it's centrally located to everyone?" Natsu asked.
"Also show that he's quite wealthy," Laxus jabbed and laughed.
" Whatever I can't help that. Are you going to talk to Mirajane and get everything setup or not?" Natsu asked.
"No," Laxus said.
Natsu gave him a confused stare.
Laxus pointed his thumb towards the other side of the room where there were three women listening intently to the conversation at hand.
Mirajane Strauss a white-haired slim woman with robust breast, blue eyes, and pale skin. She had on a maroon tunic and black leggings and black riding boots on. She was giving the boys the thumbs up. She works a bartender called The Guild, that the Dreyar and Dragonel family owned.
Next to Mirajane was the head librarian Levy Redkin. She's a petite average height woman, with slight tan skin, big blue eyes, dark hair that almost looks blue with an orange headband, and a smile for everyone she encounters. She had on an orange maxi dress with white ballerina shoes on. She's married to her high school sweetheart and town mechanic Gajeel Redkin.
Lucy was turning red a bit and messing with her long blue plain skirt and her white pressed sleeveless blouse.
Lucy took a deep breath and walked towards an embarrassed Natsu.
"I remember you wanted to ask me something," Lucy asked looking everywhere but in Natsu's eyes.
Natsu gently turned her head by her chin and lifted her face to look into his eyes.
"Why does it seem we are prying in a very private moment?" Levy asked stage whispered.
"Because we are," Laxus said and cleared his throat breaking the moment.
"Lucy, do you want to hang out with us Saturday after work?," Laxus asked got hit on the arm by Mira.
Natsu and Lucy jumped from the sudden interruption between the two.
They both turned red and split apart quickly.
"Hey!" Laxus yelped.
"Really? Seriously I don't even know you sometimes," Mira said and rolled her eyes.
" Uhm, I'll think about it. I think I was scheduled late anyways. Besides I need to get back to work," Lucy said and quickly left.
Natsu looked a bit disappointed but quickly recovered.
Levy walked up to Natsu and patted him on the shoulder.
"I'll talk with her. She's had a hard couple of years but I think I can get her to go," Levy said.
"No need she's coming," Natsu said and grinned at Levy.
"How you figured that,"Levy and Mira said at the same time.
"She said she'll think about it. That's progress. I'll see you guys on Saturday bring a jacket it may get cold on Saturday," Natsu said and left the opposite way Lucy did.
"Gotta love his optimism," Levy said and got back to work. The couple still there shook their head and followed Levy.