Sweet Peppermint Chocolate

Normal P.O.V

The decadent drink sits on the oak table, hot steam billowing out of the rounded mug. Cream swirled into the delightful chocolately substance. Lucy breathes in the slight peppermint and savours the hot liquid caressing her almost blue lips. Her dry throat warms to the chocolate and she hungrily gulps down large mouthfuls of Magnolia's Finest Hot Chocolate. Once refreshed, she sits staring out at the frosted window.

"It seems like only yesterday..." She whispers to the frozen land busily preparing for another celebration. Christmas is nearly arriving.

Lucy's P.O.V

"My, my look how big you've gotten!" Lisanna pats at my bloated stomach.

"Oh, it doesn't look bad, does it?"

"No way! You're glowing!" Levy states, the white-haired mage nods manically.

"Thank you, there's still a while to go," I blush, taking another sip of my hot chocolate.

Lisanna and Levy both shuffle their coats off before perching besides me on the settled chairs. They lean back confidently.

"So, how is it being pregnant? Are you like checking out every Mage in town?" Levy asks confidently.

Before I can give her a glare, Lisanna pipes up, "I bet you're having more fun at home! Tell me does it hurt the baby?"

The image whirls in my head as the nearly swallowed liquid rushes to the back of my throat making me choke. Did she just say that? I collect my breath and decency before quietly wiping the hot- chocolate dribble away with my sweatshirt sleeve.

"Lisanna!" I sputter, "Listen, I haven't got raging hormones yet as I'm not that pregnant." I pause before mumbling, "And no, it doesn't hurt the baby."

Levy's face contorts before bursting out with laughter, I feel my ears go freakishly hot and I swat her to stop. She whines rubbing her arm.

"Anyway, Levy, how are things going with ? Are you getting enough pleasure?" I make a sly smile at Levy's beetroot face. Her mouth hung open in silent protest.

Lisanna slumps dramatically onto the wooden table making us both jump.

"Levy is getting married, Lucy is having a baby and I'm getting nowhere with Natsu!" She complains, wailing her hands about.

I awkwardly pat her shoulder, "Everything will fine, Lisanna. Maybe, Natsu wants it to go slow?"

The Take-Over mage still lies flat on the table before confessing, "I don't want to go slow, we've been going so slow that I'm starting to feel like out relationship is becoming a sloth."

"That would be an interesting animal to cross-over" I ignore Levy's statement.

"Look, why don't you talk to him about it? Natsu always listens and I'm sure if you just have a little chat he'll open up more." I give her a grin and she stares at me from beneath her folded arms. Suddenly, she whips back to her previous upright position and her perky plastered smile is back on her face. I've always thought she was beautiful, I remember being so jealous of her blue eyes that would sparkle like gems.

"Lucy, how do you do it?"

"Hm?" I hum not really hearing the question.

"How do you keep Sting so under control? He's so good to you, he seems like the perfect man," Levy continues.

I'm stunned, my eyes have widened and all previous thoughts wash away. The perfect man? I chuckle, and it grows until it's a full on laugh.

"What!?" Levy whines.

"Why are you laughing? It's true!" Lisanna joins in.

I brush away a tear and settle back into my seat, wrapping my cold hands around the steaming mug.

"The perfect man?" I repeat, "I don't think anyone can be the perfect man." I pause to look at their disbelieving faces. I sigh, "Sting isn't perfect, just like me. We have our moments."

"I haven't seen you two ever acting up?" Lisanna says with her finger pressed against her chin, trying to recall.

"We haven't been here long. Didn't I tell how we first met?"

"Huh-uh! You were out of it; he bumped into you and took you back to your house. Then you fell in love, got whisked away to a training camp."

"Not really, Lisanna." I glance at Levy and she does a discrete nod. "See, I was actually in love with... someone." I level my eyes with Lisanna's blue gems. "I was utterly in love with Natsu."

Her eyes widen, I flinch when she grabs my hand. Her pale hand wrapped around mine. Her warmth spreading through me.

"I'm sorry," she mutters. I lift my eyes to hers, "I'm sorry I never noticed. I'm sorry I put you through that pain."

I'm frozen; her face is filled with guilt. I shake my head and place my other hand on our interlinked hands. "No, it was the best thing for me. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. It was a crush and I see it today as nothing more. I'm completely in love with Sting and forever will be." I look up at Levy and she's closed her eyes.

"I'm not the perfect wife; I moan at him and argue about small irrelevant things. I whine and interrupt. I go out and leave him with the chores; I say things I don't mean."

"We all do that-"

"Sting's not the perfect husband: He goes out drinking with his mates and comes back hammered. He sometimes shouts, he sometimes argues, he might slam the door; he'll leave his washing on the floor."

"Lucy-"

"We're not the perfect picture, we have our flaws. But, after every argument or every slam of the door; we'll come back to each other with apologetic faces. One time, I made him pancakes with 'sorry' written with honey. And he came home with a bunch of flowers. Then, everything that mattered doesn't and it's just me and him. The alcoholic and the idiot." My lips curl into a small smile. "We're perfect for each other. Just like," I gesture to Levy. "Just like you and Gajeel."

She smiles and whispers, "thank you."

"And, Lisanna and Natsu. You connect like a puzzle, you will always fit and there is only one piece that will fit."

Lisanna blushes, "thank you. That was beautiful and I think I understand more about-"

"Love in general," Levy interrupts. "Lucy, will you do a reading at my wedding?"

A grin spread across my face, "I'd be delighted!"

"Lisanna, will you be my bridesmaid?"

"Sure I will be!"

"You too, Lucy?" Levy quickly asks.

"I would be honoured."

"Then that's settled," Levy collects her bag and coat. "We've got to try on some dresses!"

Lisanna and I both giggle excitedly. I tip the mug back and let the rest of the peppermint hot chocolate flow down my throat. I lick my lips before following Lisanna and Levy out the door into winter's presence.

Normal P.O.V

Three mugs sit empty on the oak table. Tiny grains of chocolate left settled at the bottom of the ceramic mugs. A woolen scarf is left draped across the back of the chair, the same one a Celestial Mage was wearing. A man hidden within a large trench coat grabs it. Her rubs it between his fingers and then takes a long whiff of the strawberry and vanilla scent. He smirks.

Two other large men come up behind him.

"So she's the one?" His raspy voice instantly put's an invisible evil aura around the three.

"You bet ya," He sniggers. "A fine one she is at that." He wraps the scarf around his neck.

"Boss, when do you think we can... begin?" The other one pipes up in a low tone, quivering in excitement.

"Any day now," he pauses. "It's time I sent Lucy Heartfilia to reunite with her father."

A toothy sadistic smirk spreads across the main guy's face. Metal teeth, sharp and pointed, some would say looked much like a shark's hunting smile.

Yes, it has been a while. Lately, my head has been empty of ideas but I finally think I have a plan for this story! I will never abandon this story as so many of you fantastic readers are following, favouriting and reviewing every day. It really makes me happy and it feeds my determination.

So thank you to you all for waiting. Now, obviously, I have added a previous character in... I wonder who it is?! I'm even getting excited to write it! Levy's and Gajeel's wedding is arriving soon! Might need some ideas for that... Review! Right, another than that, thank you for reading and I'm sorry for any mistakes.

In the next chapter: It's time to get ready for a Christmas wedding! With a hormonal Lucy and a stressed Levy most of the boys have stayed in a safe distance. Fairy Tail are all hyped up for the long awaited event, but just what is bugging Sting? Find out in: Festive Plans.

-Glimmering TopHat

Check out my other stories and review below as it would really help me.

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