"Lucy, I'll be going out a bit, later this afternoon." Julia said as her mistress got dressed.

"Oh? What for?" Lucy asked, tying her uniform's necktie around her blouse collar.

Smirking sweetly, Julia leaned back in her basket casually and bit into a mango. "It'll be a surprise, love." She sweetly said, as the blonde turned curiously to her. "Will it be a good surprise or a bad surprise." She asked, narrowing her eyes at the fox. "What's the fun if I tell?" Julia laughed. Sighing, Lucy turned back to her dresser mirror. "Just be home by dinner." She stated.

Julia smirked rather deviously at her plans. I am a bored fox, who has years to live. The least I can do is have fun while I do this. She thought.

"Oh, Julia," Lucy called, looking at the fox by the mirror. "How are you supposed to help me with... with Hibiki-kun?" she asked, blushing slightly. Noticing the hint of pinkness in her mistress' cheeks, Julia merely smirked meekly. "Won't it just be more fun if you found out later, Lucy?" She gave a sly, sweet smile.

Sighing, Lucy got her bag and marched toward the door. "Do not go to school, Julia." She instructed the fox with a finger pointed to the fox. Giving a mock bow, the fox leaned back into the basket. "Whatever you say, Lucy." She smirked as the blonde closed the door.

"Though," She played with a finger below her lower lip. "I have more ways than one to slip into places I'm not, my dear mistress." She chuckled.

"And I am an honorable fox," She stood up, stretching her limbs. "I plan to fulfill my contract," She walked over to the window. "But my way." She chuckled before jumping out the window, landing gracefully on the ground, skulking away into the forest's darkness.


"Lu-chan~" Levy called, walking up behind Lucy. "Hi, Levy-chan." Lucy replied with a smile. "Where's your cousin?" The blunette asked meekly. "Home. Why?" She asked, raising a brow up. "She's quite the talk of the school, Lucy." Mirajane answered, joining the two girls. "Really?" The blonde girl asked Mirajane over her shoulder. "Yup." Levy chirped with an adorable smile. Makes sense why everyone was staring at me earlier. Lucy thought, recalling the morning earlier when everyone was whispering while they watched the blonde girl; some boys blushing and drooling a bit.

"Miss Mira," A familiar voice came from the opposite hallway. "Hello, Hibiki-kun." Mirajane replied with her signature sweet smile.

"Levy," He nodded toward the blue-haired girl, who waved back. "Lucy." He smiled brightly at her. Lucy blushed pink and mumbled a hello in return. Hibiki turned his smiling face back to Mirajane. "So, Mira, the group was talking..." He started, the two walking off farther from the girls.

"What was that?" Levy teased, nudging Lucy in the ribs playfully, a knowing expression on her face. "What was what?" Lucy asked innocently, still pink in the cheeks. "Don't play coy, Lucy." She retorted, waving a finger in front of her friend. "That!" Levy exclaimed raising both her arms to gesture to the strawberry-blonde talking to Mirajane.

"He greeted us?" She answered coyly, rubbing her nape.

"I have eyes, Lu-chan." Levy puffed up her cheeks, placing her hands on her hips. She shook her head, defeated. "Nevermind. I doubt you'll say anything." She sighed, making Lucy chuckle.

"Alright, Hibiki-kun." Mirajane said, as the platinum-haired beauty joined her friends once again. "I'll pass the message." She smiled again to the boy.

"Right." He nodded to her. Smiling at the two girls behind her.

"Oh, Lucy." He said, looking at the blonde girl. "Can I... talk to you for a sec?" He asked rather shyly, rubbing the back of his head in a shy manner as well. Lucy turned pink. "Oh, uh... sure." She smiled, following Hibiki, knowing her friends behind her were smirking deviously and planning something.

"What did you want to talk about?" She asked, trying to keep her voice calm.

"Well, uh..." Hibiki scratched the back of his head, his cheeks a hint of pink. Lucy giggled at the his shyness. It's cute. She thought, though it caused her to blush more.

"So, Lucy," He said, bringing her up from her thoughts. "I was thinking, well..." He fumbled, he placed his hand on his nape. "If it was alright if..." He said, not meeting her eyes. "Hibiki," She said rather worried, tilting her head to look him in the eyes. "Sorry." He mumbled, standing straighter.

"I was thinking, if it would be alright if I..." He took in a deep breath, "I could walk you home." he finished, looking her in the eye.

Lucy stood there, blushing a deep shade of pink. "Um... what made you... want to walk me home?" She asked softly.

Hibiki looked away, scratching the back of his head once again. "Well... I thought it would help us, you know, get used to being around each other." He explained, a light pink still dusted over his face.

Lucy's shoulders sunk. Oh, the marriage... She thought sadly. Hibiki seemed to notice her dejection, and his eyes widened. "No no no! Don't think I'm just doing this for the marriage, I mean, yes I am, but that only just a small fraction of the reason!" He quickly stuttered out. Lucy tilted her head t the side cutely, genuinely curious of his sudden guilty-sounding defense. "I mean, I just, uh... kinda wanted to spend some time with you, that's all." He awkwardly explained, his cheeks now a bright red.

Lucy's heart skipped a beat at this. What- She thought, shaming a tomato. She let out an involuntary giggle, making Hibiki look at her curiously. "It's alright. Sure, I'd love to walk with you." She smiled sweetly. "I'd love to spend time with you too." She muttered, hoping that Hibiki would and wouldn't hear her.

Hibiki smiled wide at the blonde a head shorter than him. "Great! I'll meet you by the gate." He beamed. She nodded meekly, smiling brightly.

"Great." He took her hand, placing a light kiss on it. "See you then." He said, waving to her before heading off to his classroom.


Lucy saw blushing again at his gentlemanly gesture of a farewell. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh... She repeatedly chanted in her mind.

"Oh my gosh, Lucy!" Levy gushed, rushing over to tackle Lucy from the back. "What did he say?" She hurriedly asked, a dreamy look on her face. "Well," Lucy started, but a squeal was heard from behind the two. "Oh my goodness, Lucy!" Mirajane gushed. "Did you see how Hibiki-kun looked at you?" She asked, stars in her eyes. "The two of you are perfect for each other!" She cried, a contented, dreamy look on her face.

"I'm gonna die." Lucy muttered loud enough for only Levy to hear, covering her face with a hand. She nodded slowly, chuckling softly.

"Now," Mirajane turned to the blonde, determination glittering in her deep blue eyes. "What did he say?" She asked excitedly, stars twinkling around her eyes. "What did he say?" Levy repeated, stars around her eyes as well.

"He- he just wanted to ask if it was alright if he walked me home." She said slowly.

The two squealed loudly, making head turn to look at the two popular girls that acted oddly. "Guys, you're making a scene!" Lucy whispered loudly, blushing at the unwanted attention.

"What did you say?" The two said at the same time, ignoring Lucy's claim and the other student's odd stares.

"I-I said that you're making a-" Lucy started, giving an awkward smile.

"Not that!" The two said at the same time, not noticing the synchronicity of themselves. "I mean what you said to Hibiki-kun!" They half-yelled at the same time.

Lucy turned red. Her friends said it loud enough to make people around them turn curiously and interestedly at the trio, curious about whatever gossip could be about one of the school's hottest boy. "Guys!" She loudly whispered. She walked around the two and pushed them forward to their classroom. "Do you guys know anything about subtility?" She sighed out exaggeratedly, pushing the two.

Mirajane and Levy merely giggled in apology. "Sorry." They said at the same time once again.

"So, what did you say? To him." They repeated again, now softly.

Sighing, Lucy gave a weak smile to the two. "I said I'd lo- I'd appreciate it." She half-lied. A tiny white lie. I did tell the truth. She forced a larger smile. Lucy knew she'd never hear the end of it if she confessed that she'd love to have Hibiki with her.

Levy had a dreamy expression on her face again, while Mirajane didn't look all convinced at Lucy's answer. She opened her mouth to say something, but the bell cut her off. "Oh, look at that. Lunch's over. Let's get to class." Lucy hurriedly said, walking around the two girls to pull them by the arm this time.

That was close. She sighed in relief.


"Finally." Lucy said, stretching her arms as the last bell rang for the day. "I hate physics." She muttered with a sigh, leaning over on her desk. "Don't we all?" Cana sighed beside her, as the two chuckled together.

"So Lucy, where's your cousin?" She asked the blonde, stuffing her books into her bag.

"Home, I didn't want to, you know, cause any more problem for anyone." Lucy answered with a half-smile, making Cana smirk knowingly and nod.

"Lucy," Mirajane called from the classroom's first door. "You have a visitor." She sang, a sly smile on her face.

"Hey guys." Hibiki stepped into the room, giving a small wave to everyone there. Soft squeals were heard at the back of the room, where some girls were and the boys left roll their eyes. "Lucy," He smiled to the blonde, tilting his head to one side slightly.

"Hibiki!" She called, going over to the blonde by the doorway. "I thought we'd meet by the gate?" She asked, noticing some students slowed by the classroom, wondering why Hibiki Laytes was in the there.

"Yeah, no reason. I thought I'd just come to fetch you." He responded with a smile, making Mira squeal quietly and her other friends give each other knowing smirks, and making the girls at the back whisper to each other, and the boys exchange glances.

"It's fine, right?" He asked, his smile dropping for a second.

Lucy shook her head and gave him a bright smile. "Of course!" She chirped, running back to get her bag. She glanced at her friends, and noticed Cana and Erza smirking at her, Wendy giggling, and Levy with a hand over her mouth, trying to hide her smile, her eyes laughing with glee. Lucy rolled her eyes at her friends and stuck her tongue out at them, before striding back to Hibiki.

"I'll be going first, guys." She called out, thought they already knew. "Take care, Lucy." Mira said, smiling sweetly as always. "Take care, you two." Erza called as well, as the rest waved farewell.


"Sorry," Hibiki chuckled. "What for?" Lucy turned to him. "Your friends." He explained with a sympathetic smile. "Don't worry," She giggled. "They're always like that." She answered.

"Isn't your house this way?" Lucy pointed to the right side of the fork in the road.

"Yeah, but I wanted to bring you home first." Hibiki answered, flashing his signature grin. "How do you know where I live?" He smirked, raising a brow at her.

Lucy blushed slightly, pouting. "I went to your house before, Hibiki-kun." She said, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Really?" He asked, genuinely surprised. "When?"

"A year ago, maybe." She said, placing a finger on her chin. "Though when I went there, there was no sign that Michelle had a son." She chuckled at him.

Hibiki looked slightly confused, scratching the top of his head. "Maybe I was out." He muttered, making Lucy laugh. "Obviously, Hibiki-kun." She said.

"Just call me Hibiki." He smiled down at her. "Is it alright?" She asked, looking up at him. "Of course. Unless you want to call me big brother now." He added, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Lucy laughed and playfully shoved his arm.

As the two neared the Heartfilia estate, laughing a joking with each other, they noticed the traffic of large trucks that passed by them by the road. "I wonder what's the traffic all about." Hibiki thought aloud, watching another truck pass by them. "A new neighbor?" He answered his own question.

"Maybe. We don't get a lot of neighbors around this time, though." She thought, as Hibiki wrapped his hand on her forearm. "You might get hurt," He explained, pulling her closer to him. "Stay close." He said, making her blush as was practically being hugged by him. Stop blushing, you idiot! You'll make it obvious! She scolded herself.

"Isn't that your father?" Hibiki asked, pointing toward a large blonde man by the Heartfilia estate gate.

"Eh? You're right." She side, hesitant to get out of Hibiki's hold. Get it together, Lucy! She scolded herself, moving forward to meet her father. As she moved forward, Hibiki's grip seemed hesitant to loosen around the blonde's arm, but was able to let go as she was a foot away from each other.

"Father!" Lucy called, slapping herself mentally for feeling down. "Father!" She called again, briskly walking over to the large man talking to an uniformed man.

"Lucy, you're home early." He said, bending over to allow his daughter to kiss him on the cheek, and vice versa. "No... reason." Lucy answered, not wanting to explain her reason of being home early.

"Anyway, what's all this?" She asked, gesturing to the trucks she and Hibiki noticed earlier. "Ah, this, well- Hibiki!" Jude called, noticing the strawberry-blonde boy striding over to the father-daughter pair. "Good afternoon, sir." Hibiki politely said, taking his hand to shake. "What brings you here, son?" Jude asked, happy to see the boy. "Well, I was, uh," Hibiki looked to Lucy, hesitant to answer directly. "You were?" Jude asked, nodding.

"He walked me home, daddy." Lucy smiled, looking pleadingly at her father. Don't do anything embarrassing, father! She yelled at him with her eyes when their gazes met. Jude gave a knowing, patient smile to the two, nodding in understanding. Hibiki smiled in return, and Lucy sighed in relief.

"Forgive me for being nosy, sir, but what's all this?" Hibiki repeated Lucy's earlier question.

"Oh, this. This is your and your mother's things." Jude answered, looking at the large mansion. "Me and my mother's... things?" Hibiki repeated in a confused tone.

"Yes. You and your mother are moving in." He answered.

"What?!" Lucy and Hibiki yelled at the same time.

Jude looked surprised at the boy, then to his daughter. "I thought I told you?" He said in a questioning tone. Lucy shook her head vehemently.

Jude scratched his head, obviously confused. "I swore I told you. I thought I left a message in your room." He said, shaking his head.

My room? She turned her head to the window of her room, seeing Julia sitting on the window seat, lean back on the wall casually, one leg crossed under, the other propped up. Her head facing the window, glancing at the girl and smiling slyly, playing with a grape. "Have fun," She mouthed to blonde as she propped her elbow on her knee, resting her head in her palm, smiling sweetly to her mistress. Now, things will get interesting. She laughed, watching Lucy's jaw drop.


C/N: I like this chapter. I think it's cute and rather fluffy. XD

Do feel free to suggest how Julia gets Hibiki and Lucy together. I've got everything laid out, but it would be fun to hear what the readers thing. X3

"We're all mad here."