Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, its characters or plotlines. That right belongs to Hiro Mashima. BUT I do own the crack ship that is contained within this plot line of my own design (Probably already used).

Lahar's P.O.V.

Lahar did his best to keep his face neutral as he slowly explained things to Lucy. The slow blinking she did periodically as she paid attention with an almost single-minded focus, was borderline scary. It brought him back to the moment he had come down from his office and she had stared at him, (after invading his personal space) while causing utter panic and chaos to descend upon the Magic Council headquarters after removing his glasses and hair clip. Swallowing as he shifted himself, arms behind his back so he was in the at lean and rest position.

"That is simple Miss Heartfilia. In that time you will refrain from taking missions, we will compensate you by paying you a monthly stipend of about One hundred Thousand Jewels. Do not worry about the rent for your apartment, we are covering that as well. But you will not be staying in the said apartment, no you will be living in a house provided and warded by the Magic Council for the duration of the coming Six months. Due to the nature of this mission, talking about it with anyone, even your guild master here is strictly prohibited. That does not mean that we will keep you from coming here for visitations with your friends. Does this sound acceptable to you Ms. Heartfilia?"

The cold calculating look in her brown eyes had Lahar speculating on what was going on her head. Though the way her mouth seemed to drop open marginally at what is being offered, not in shock, but rather in disbelief, made him wonder if this was not acceptable.

"So.. what you're saying to me is this. That I will be paid for my services, my rent will be taken care of and that I can visit with my family members here at the guild, but I am unable to talk about the mission in any shape or form, on top of not taking any missions."

"That is correct. Is this acceptable?"

Watching as she raised a finger to her mouth, tapping it against her lips as she continued to stare at him. After a few minutes, Lahar wanted to growl in frustration at not receiving an answer. Then again he was well aware of her upbringing, that her father specialized in contracts, so it would not be a jump in logic to assume that he taught her about them as well.

"Master, may I ask that you leave the room for a few minutes so I can talk in private with these two about this in more detail. Since it has been made clear that details are private?"

"Of course, Lucy. When you're done please just call me."

Silently Lahar let his eyes follow the short and aged guild master as he left the room, closing the door behind him. Before he whipped his gaze back to the blonde who was now staring at him with an expression of cold, ruthlessness on her face that made him feel a shiver run down his spine. There was no mistaking that looks since he often wore it when dealing with the criminals.

"Alright, where is the real contract at Captain Lahar? I am by no means an idiot. This little thing doesn't contain all the information. There will be no answer until I have read it."

Unable to help the smile that he knew spread across his face, Lahar reached into his cloak, pulling out a much thicker manila envelope and held it out to her. When she raised one eyebrow before coming forward and taking it, he let himself indulge in a quick once over of her. Taking in her full appearance as she looked at what she was now holding, before turning and going to the desk. Promptly sitting, opening the envelope and extracting its contents, only to pause long enough to pull Gale Force Glasses from somewhere on her person and start reading.

Her blond hair had grown out quite a few inches, she now wore it in low pigtails with her bangs framing her face. Giving her a young but elegant look. While her clothes were very form fitting (like a second skin) showing off her curves to the point of being borderline obscene in his opinion. Though he did not that she had traded the tiny skirt for shorts and the belly shirt was now a tube top bearing the Heart Cruz symbol. Overall though, he could tell that she still carried herself in a manner that screamed high society.

"You're staring openly, Lahar."

Starting a bit at the whispered comment from Doranbolt, Lahar narrowed his eyes and glanced to the side. Seeing the smirk on the man's face. With a soft sniff, Lahar dismissed him. Turning his attention back to the blond behind the desk, just in time to see her finish reading the last few pages. The thoughtful look on her face as she pursed her lips before removing the glasses and looking up at both himself and his companion.

"Well, now that that is out of the way. Who is the person? When do I get to meet them?"

Blinking slowly at her quickly spoken questions, Lahar just shook his head denying her the answers. He would not give those until he secured her own answer.

"I believe you need to give your answer before I answer those."

The way her eyes narrowed and darkened her eyes as she tried to get into a battle of wills with him was almost amusing. Eventually, though he won when she sighed and looked away. The soft chuckling of Doranbolt over it all earned him a dark glare not just from himself, but Lucy as well when she stood up, hands being laid rather heavily on the desk.

"I accept. Now please answer my questions, Captain."

The forceful tone she used made him shut himself down while quirking a brow at her. As he noted in his peripheral vision Doranbolt stepped back away from him. Knowing already how he felt about those who didn't hold his rank or were his superiors making demands of him.

"That you will find out when we get to the house you will be staying in. There will be a copy of the contract that you just read, for you to sign. I will be waiting outside your guild "

With that said, he walked to the desk, gathered up the contract from between Lucy's hands, deftly slipping it back into its envelope. Then turned, marching to the door, pausing only momentarily to open it, before stepping out and into the guild hall. Where he paused and gave a small bow to Makarov before leaving the guild.

Lucy's P.O.V.

She narrowed her eyes at the open doorway, smothering a low growl in the back of her throat. That man, Lahar, just did something he would come to regret. She had every right to the information she asked and he just left. Flicking her gaze to Mest, or as he was known within the Council, Doranbolt, to see the man step back look a bit nervous. Making Lucy smile as she walked around the desk.

"Doranbolt, do you know who this person is? and how long do I have to wait to meet them?"

The way he stepped back as she entered his personal space let Lucy know that he was uncomfortable as his shifted his gaze from her own. The slight bobbing of his Adam's apple as swallowed. Then in the next second, he was gone from her line of sight, using his magic, running like a coward. This told Lucy that he knew who it was.

"Lucy?"

With a soft sigh, she relaxed her body and looked at Master Makarov, who had a curious yet worried look on his face. Giving a small shake of her head, she gave him a soft smile as she made her way to stand by him.

"It is okay. I agreed to the terms. Now... to tell my team."

The small grunt of affirmation he gave her told her that he understood her hesitance. But this would pan out great for her. Give her more than enough money in savings for a while to come. Which would help, since her team was overly destructive? Nodding her head as she looked out the doorway and into the guild proper. Seeing Doranbolt there with Wendy clinging to him. Cute, yet pathetic, if that was his attempt to keep her from asking him her questions.

Sighing again, she took the short walk to stand by the guild bar, where her diminutive Guild Master jumped up and coughed getting everyone presents attention. Causing a small wave of nerves to wash through her at having to give a very brief description of what was to happen.

"LISTEN UP BRATS! Lucy has an announcement."

When all eyes present were focused on her, Lucy gave her biggest and warmest smile to them. Taking a deep breath to ready herself, she leaned back against the bar top, crossing her arms so they rested over her stomach. Her eyes flicking to each guild member before she spoke up.

"I have been asked to assist in a mission from the Magic Council. This mission will take me six months to complete and I was personally asked for by one of the individuals involved. In that time, I will not be able to go on missions with my team but have permission to come and visit everyone here. Do not worry, I am being thoroughly compensated by the council and I am unable to talk about anything related to this mission."

The moment she finished she waited, counting backward in her head from ten before Natsu bellowed out that she wasn't allowed to do this. Quickly followed by the rest of the guild. Silently she looked at Master Makarov, pleading with him to reign them in. Again getting an understanding look from him, before he once more bellowed for everyone to be quiet. Once silence had settled across the guild hall, Lucy stood up straight and let her face go hard as she glared at her best friend and teammate.

"This is my choice. There is absolutely no danger involved and I am relishing this chance to help someone. Someone who is on the Magic Council. And do not think to try and change my mind. This is a once and lifetime opportunity. I mean, think about it, it is not every day that a Fairy Tail Mage can say that the Magic Council came to them and asked for their help. That is something to brag over and hold over their heads."

The laughter that came from her spoken words helped ease her, though she could tell that Natsu looked ready to explode again. His overprotective nature rearing its head where she was concerned, even if she already told him she only saw him as a brother and nothing more. So she was thankful when Erza grabbed him as he made to dash towards her.

"Lushy are you really going to abandon us for six whole months?"

Looking up at the blue exceed who was flying around just above her, she couldn't help it. Opening her arms and inviting him in, Lucy hugged Happy to her chest. Running a hand over his head, earning a low purr from him.

"No Happy. If you and someone else were listening, I will still be able to come to the guild for visits. This work is delicate in nature and very sensitive. It just means that I am not going to be going on any missions with the team."

"Oh! Okay."

Those two simple words made her smile as she leaned down and kissed the silly exceed on his nose before tossing him back into the air. Before returning her gaze to her teammates. It was so easy to read their looks, none of them happy, but understanding, well except for Natsu. Thought that was to be expected since he was no losing his rights to her house, fridge, and bed.

"This was your own choice right, Lucy?"

Blinking slowly, as she nodded her head at Erza. Who frowned and returned her nod as she clamped her armored hand down harder on Natsu's shoulder.

"Then we will respect your choice. And if they are compensating you, that means you will not have to worry about your rent for the next six months, I take it?"

"You are correct. I am also getting paid for this 'job' as well. And on that note, I need to go get myself packed and ready to go. Doranbolt if you will."

With that said, the silence in the guild hall starting to feel suffocating, she turned and walked out of the building. Instantly her eye found the annoying Captain standing at the gateway to the guild. He was leaning back against one of the posts, a leg bent so that the foot rested on the aged and weathered wood. His dark purple eyes boring into her, as he continued to look a mix of constipated, bored and annoyed all at once. Making her wonder why she had been so damned obsessed with seeing him without his glasses and hair down.

TBC