I am so not satisfied with this chapter.

So please don't be too harsh on it. I'm having the best block right now.

Still I'll be welcoming all kinds of criticisms.

And editing the chapter's I made, made me think twice about publishing it.

I just want to give the best out of the story. =(

But it seems I can't right now. Still I'll try!

Oh gosh. Tell me how does it go then?

This will be a break from the whole messed up situation and a hint of something.

Next chapter, I hope would be better.

Thank you!

Chapter 14

Natsu and Lucy couldn't help but gulp at the news right in front of their eyes. As soon as they were rescued by Virgo and Caprico they were brought to the hotel. Right now, they were inside Fairy Law's room together with a flushed Erza, a quiet Jellal and a laughing Gray.

"Never thought you had that in you Jellal!" Gray said in between laughs while nudging his ribs with his elbow.

Lucy turned to Erza. "What just happen?" But she received no response.

Right now on the flat screen TV in front of all of them was a picture of Erza and Jellal, kissing. Why were they kissing? Because Jellal just proposed to Erza in public.

"Why'd you do that without my permission?" Lucy asked while holding Jellal by the collar. Lucy was glaring evilly at him.

"That was all for you Lucy!" Gray finally spoke. She released Jellal and waited for further explanation while tapping her foot on the floor and crossing her arms across her chest.

"They did it for us Luce." Natsu said grinning at her. "It's only a diversion. So don't worry they're just acting."

She stared at him in disbelief but the smile on his face was still there. Lucy looked at Erza and she was looking down. Well Lucy doesn't know why.

"Then, thank you Erza and Jellal." She smiled at them.

"Actuall –"

Erza cut Jellal off. "I-It's nothing Lucy. I'm always ready to do anything for you. You know that." Finally she looked up to Lucy with a smile.

Lucy doesn't know but she felt it. That thing that was with Erza's smile, she'll knew it from everywhere and anywhere. She's supposed to know it. She's the one good at it. Erza just flashed her fake smile, but then again Lucy doesn't know why.

She nodded hesitantly.

"That was a very brilliant diversion Jellal." Gray complimented once again while slapping the back of Jellal to match the happiness he had with what he had complimanted.

"Yeah. I didn't know it takes that much to remove their attention to Luce and I." Natsu added and for once agreed with Gray with something.

"But I –"

Erza stood up making everyone shut up. "Well let's go back to the true issue. Now that their attention is not yours it's time to make our move."

"Right. So what is it you had in mind?" Gray asked.

"Let's get from issue to issue. First is Juvia as replacement. She needs to be protected from Lisanna's fans and other Fairy Law fans that were solid to the original members."

"I'm on it!" Gray volunteered feeling it should be his responsibility because Juvia is on bass and they will be spending more time together than anyone in the band. Well with Lisanna he doesn't know why aren't they that close when they always spend time together getting the harmony of lead and bass guitars.

"Ooooooh mister Fullbuster liking our new member?" Natsu teased.

Before Gray could retort Erza continued. "Then there is Lucy-Natsu-Lisanna issue."

Everyone fell silent.

"Lucy will be distancing from Nat –"

"WHAT?! No. I won't allow that!" They all looked at Natsu shocked at his reaction. Why was he clingy to Lucy suddenly? "I-I mean Lucy and I were just warming up to each other and we shouldn't be affected by these things!" He smiled glad at what he just said. "I mean you know how much Lucy likes me. She'll die because of missing me."

A vein just popped out of Lucy's forehead and in a second Natsu's head had a bump on it.

Gray was laughing real hard. "Idiot! That was for both of you. How could we stop this and help Lucy if you're acting like a child clinging to his mommy?" Gray said and glared at Natsu.

"But how could I protect Lucy if I'm not with her?" He said sitting beside Lucy and putting and arm around her shoulder.

She instantly removed it and scooted away from him. "Can I say something about this?"

But no one has seemed to hear her. They were arguing about Lucy needed to be away from Natsu especially right now. But on their contrary Natsu would always go against them and so the arguing didn't stop.

Lucy sighed. "I think I'll be doing some work now. I've missed a lot of time and I have to make up for all those." She mumbled and stood up.

But a warm hand grabbed her arm and made her sit on his lap. Natsu had his arm protectively around her waist and the other on top of her head. "Only I can protect her, so don't argue. I want her near me." Natsu said making everyone silent.

Erza's eyes were wide.

Jellal sighed and slapped his forehead.

Gray smirked.

"Okay. I think they all agreed. Will you let go of me now?" Lucy said trying to pull herself away from their awkward position.

But he tightened his grip on her. "You know you want this too." Natsu said to her ear.

She blushed a hundred different shades of red. "N-No. No. No. I didn't. I-I.. Let me go now!" She shouted as she elbowed his chest.

"Kiss me first." Natsu said pouting his lips towards her.

Lucy blushed even more. "I-In your dreams Pinky!" She said as she shoved Natsu's face away with her hands and with that Lucy was free. She immediately stood up breathing heavily.

Natsu chuckled. "I knew you like it."

"I. Do. Not. Mister –"

Oh right. She doesn't know his surname. Well going back Jellal told her it was just 'Natsu'. Oh what a boring name. Lucy shrugged the thought off and walked away still blushing real hard.

"Natsu don't play with her feelings." Jellal said flicking his forehead.

"Ouch! What was that for?" He placed a hand on his forehead touching the part where Jellal just flicked him. "And I'm not playing with her."

"So Natsu the player has been taken down?" Gray smiled at him crossing his arms across his chest.

Natsu couldn't help to utter another word.

So then Erza spoke. "I don't care if you're playing or not just don't you dare make her sad or I'll break your face."

Natsu and the two other boys gulped.

"If we won't be doing anything about Natsu and Lucy's proximity then you're also saying that we're all gonna let Lucy's issues?"

"I think that would be it." Gray agreed.

Natsu smiled. Sure they won't be able to do anything in him being close to his 'toy'.

"But we still have to put some barriers. No seeing her with just the two of you." Jellal started the conditions.

"Hey! That's not fair. You're putting restrictions too, that doesn't make any difference to distancing the two of us." Natsu complained.

"You're still allowed to be with her but not the two of you alone. It's for Lucy's sake too." Jellal said strongly and using that voice might be the last say for the band because Natsu went silent.

"Do you think Levy and Gajeel succeed?" Gray asked out of the blue.

Natsu perked his head up looking at him confusedly.

"Idiot. We were asking for Mira's help. She's the only one who can stop the spread of wrong news or totally stop it." Gray explained leaning against the couch.

"Then why are you naked?" Natsu asked with a smug smile.

"Ahhh! When did this happen?" He stood up covering his private parts.

Erza looked away to Jellal's direction. Jellal face-palmed and Natsu started laughing out loud.

When Jellal looked up he met Erza's eyes. They stared at each other for a while, but Erza suddenly looked away.

"But you know how much Mira cared for her sibling right?" Natsu said when his laugh died out and Gray went back with clothes on. Natsu wiped the tears' of joy in his eyes and tried to look serious but couldn't help when he saw Gray once more.

Gray had enough and slapped the back of his head making them head butt each other with a glare. Jellal sighed and Erza stood up forcing them away from each other. And at last their back on their sits. "If we won't try then things will just get worse." Gray muttered looking away.

Minutes of silence have passed and finally Erza stood up. She dusted herself off. "I'm going." She said without looking at anyone and in one snap Erza is out of the room and Natsu and Gray started bickering and fighting again. Jellal is left on the couch staring longingly at the closed door.

The halls were brightly lighted due to the increase in guests and fans that kept on bugging the favourite bands. Though the only ones who were able to get rooms in the hotel and stay were the upper class teens and such others kept on going and trying their other amenities. Ever since the 'Band Battle' has started Heartfilia hotel is progressing. They're rooms were all accommodated, mostly by teenagers but there were still the regular customers like the old businessmen on business trips. But the progress could be seen everywhere, anywhere inside and out is lively. It is now so much different than what it was before the 'Band Battle'.

And Erza walked not knowing where she'll go. She was looking down staring blankly at her feet. People bumped on her and turned to look back but she ignored them, she continues walking completely ignorant about her surroundings. Well Erza's been like this since the 'diversion' Jellal made for the band and Lucy. Surely Erza would agree to that. After all it was all for Lucy. She will always be a good friend to her. But Jellal was her boyfriend and he proposed to her, for a diversion. Erza thinks it was fine, it was for her friends. Why wouldn't she be fine with it? She kept on telling herself that it's all fine.

It's for Lucy and those band members she has grown close to.

Erza passed by Lucy's room and decided to check on her. "What? It shouldn't be like this. I-I can't now." Erza opened the door big enough for her to see Lucy pacing back and forth with her phone on her ears.

"Let's just not talk about this now, dad. I need to think about it first."

"What? I can't be with him on this project."

"No. I can handle this, Erza will definitely help me. I know she'll be there for me." Erza's heart stopped for a while. Truly, Lucy trusted her more than what she expected.

"Fine. So be it." She said throwing her phone on the table and sitting on the couch. Lucy curled into a ball and hugged herself. Erza felt like it would be the best time to walk to her and then she hears Lucy mutter. "It should have been you."

And with that Erza knew Lucy needed that time to herself. She knew deep down Lucy still longs for that Dragneel son even though she doesn't admit it. Feeling lonely Erza immediately closed the door and runaway.

The click of the closing door got Lucy's attention.

"Who's there?" Did someone just hear what her father asked her to do? That would be bad if it's her friend or someone close. She stood up to check it but there's no one there she opened the door and looked from left to right, no one's there.

After that Lucy decided she'll take a walk. She grabbed her keys and jacket and started walking down the corridors. The staffs were greeting her with a smile and somehow she manages to look at them now. Maybe next time she'll smile to them. Maybe next time he'll teach her on how to smile to strangers, again.

She walked towards the back side of the hotel. There is a labyrinth of bushes and leaves there and a fountain at the center. It reminds Lucy so much of her past and it will be the first time since that day that she'll enter the labyrinth again. He used to be lost there and Lucy always finds him and act like he's not lost at all. With that memory she can't help but smile to herself and then she arrived at the center of the labyrinth.

There stood the glorious fountain of a man and woman hand in hand and smiling to each other. The water glisten as light flashes to it. It reminds Lucy of her mother and father or more like it was really them when they met. She watched as the water splashes and goes back.

Walking around the statue, Lucy saw something red. It was glistening like the water. And Lucy perfectly knew who owns it; she smiled and walked over to her but stopped when she heard sobs.

She doesn't know what to do but the urge to hug the other girl overpowered within her. Lucy didn't think twice she hugged Erza from the side. Erza on the other hand was shocked. From where Lucy came from she doesn't know and for why Lucy was hugging her? She doesn't know. Erza wiped her tears away expecting Lucy to be the one sad she pulled away and looked at Lucy's face.

"What happen?" Erza asked.

Lucy shook her head. She noticed it's always like this. She'll come to Erza and cry herself to her but when did Erza do that to her? She can't remember any incident about that. Maybe Lucy's been selfish. Erza knew everything about her, but Lucy doesn't know a lot about Erza. It's always about Lucy.

"I'm sorry I wasn't a good friend. I know something's wrong but I wasn't able to read you the way you are to me." Lucy said sitting beside Erza and looking up not wanting things to go overly dramatic. "I know something's wrong with you but I wasn't able to figure out myself. Now that I've think of it I didn't know you much. You're not talking about yourself, and it's always me. I'm sorry Erza."

Erza's eyes were wide. Is this really the Lucy she knew? Apparently, Lucy doesn't seem to be that ignorant to her surroundings. And.. Wait.

Lucy said she doesn't really know her, but she trusted her so much. Erza smiled at the thought. She stayed silent and waited for Lucy to continue.

"So do I need to beat someone up for making you cry?" Lucy said stretching her legs and she looked at Erza.

Erza shook her head from side to side. "No I can do that myself."

"Then, tell me what's the problem."

"Well then I hope you'll understand this kind of situation.." Erza muttered softly. "I just felt like Jellal's been playing with my feelings. He used that proposal as a diversion for the issue. It's really fine with me after all it was for you, but the mere thought using our relationship for something like this.. I just felt bad. I don't know maybe knowing the proposal from him isn't true just sucks to know." She sighed and looked to her side but Lucy was nowhere to be found.

"Lucy?" But there's no response. Erza didn't panic though, the hotel was guarded all over so there's no chance that Lucy will be kidnapped or something like that. Yet, Erza decided to follow where Lucy might have gone to.

She was sort of happy now. Knowing Lucy was sort of sensitive and trusting her even though Lucy doesn't know her much. But Erza must admit that what made her feel light was being able to say what's on her mind, even though Lucy didn't finish what Erza wanted to say. Well, saying it to the air is better than keeping it to yourself.

Erza walked back to the hotel when she notice a group of reporters, cameras all over and the crowd has gone wild. It was peculiar. Lucy didn't mention any guests coming tonight. Now Erza has to move fast and get dressed herself to help Lucy in accommodating the guest. "Must be some kind of star or an important person to gather a lot of reporters and fans." Erza mumbled as she runs to the elevator but too late because the reporters were already there she has to take the stairs then.

Upon reaching the correct floor she saw Lucy together with a hooded big man, all rooms in that floor was occupied and mostly by the band members.

Lucy knocked on the door. It opened then Lucy smiled. She looked at the hooded man and nodded. Suddenly, he punched the one who opened the door. Erza quickly run towards the commotion. The reporters weren't able to step to the band's floor for Lucy's guards stopped them and sent them away.

As Erza runs she noticed the familiar room, she always walks through this corridors.. which leads to Fairy Law's HQ. She slowed down her pace and saw a man lying on the doorway.

"Lucy!" She shouted as she was nearing them.

Erza was right it was Fairy Law's HQ and the man lying was –

"..Jellal." Erza gasped. What could have happen?

"Oh hey Erza!" Lucy waved when Erza neared. "I'm sorry about this. I punched him a while ago but it doesn't even affect him so I asked.." She tapped the man's arm. "Mr. Mayweather here to help me. Thank you then sir!" Lucy asked for a crew. "Excuse me? Would you be nice to help our great boxer here? Give him all he needed and lead him to his room for 3 days and 2 nights." She turned back to the big man. "Thank again mister! It's nice knowing you." She smiled innocently.

Erza stood there in shock. "Lucy.. first of all thank you for doing this stuff for me but you shouldn't go this far." She looked at Jellal'd lying figure. "Look at him, he's unconscious. And you should've let me finish first."

Lucy scratched the back of her head. "Sorry!"

"You two.." Erza stared at the two heads peeping by the door on either side of Jellal. "Bring him inside before anyone sees him."

Natsu and Gray instantly saluted and followed Erza's command. Erza pulled Lucy inside and locked the door.

Jellal laid on his bed unconscious, his cheek was slightly swollen. "Get some ice. And not one word to anyone." Erza warned both of them and they brought ice as Erza asked for it.

She sat on the bedside beside Jellal's lying form. She stared at him as she brushed the loose strands of hair on his face. Soon the ice was there and Lucy, Natsu and Gray stood by the wall next to the door they watched as Erza place the ice pack on Jellal's face.

Lucy felt guilty.

"I'm so –" But Gray held her arm. Natsu stood there looking at Gray's hand holding Lucy's arm and something itched in him. Lucy looked at Gray as he shook his head from side to side and with that Lucy goes back to her place in between them, Gray still holding her arm. Suddenly they felt Natsu hovering in between them leaning forward to break Gray's hold on Lucy. Gray knew what Natsu was doing so he tightened his grip which made Natsu glare at him. Natsu leaned further but Gray tightens his grip more until he let Lucy go and Natsu fell on the ground with a thud when he got up Gray was still holding Lucy's arm while whistling to himself. Natsu had enough of it so he stood up, held both their arms and pulled it apart.

He holds onto Lucy's arm while 'whisper-shouting', but it's more like shouting, threatening Gray. Natsu stood in between them.

"Don't hold her again. Don't even look at her with those droopy eyes of yours."

"Oh yeah squinty?" Gray retorted.

All this time Lucy sighed and watched the two guys fight and it just made her smile for no reason.

"WILL YOU SHUT IT DOWN?" Erza roared when the two guys started shouting at one another.

They both stopped and Gray reached for Lucy as if gesturing her to come with him outside, but Natsu stopped him and put Lucy's arm away by holding it up in the air.

"As if I can't reach that." Gray smirked.

"And I'll punch you with this other hand to keep your filthy hand away."

Gray smirked even more. He knew it, he understands everything. Finally he just looked at Lucy who's been blushing all this time. "Wanna come outside this room?"

Natsu couldn't help but grin happily. Lucy was blushing and it was all because of him. He's happy. Wait doesn't he made a lot of girls blush everyday just by smiling at them? So.. Nevermind.

"S-Sure." She stuttered and immediately pulled her arm from Natsu. And Natsu frowned a little and immediately followed the two, shutting the door behind him leaving Erza and Jellal inside.

Erza puts the ice pack on Jellal's swollen cheek every now and then.

He winced.

"I'm sorry." Erza said and set the ice pack down.

"No. I'm sorry I have to wait for Lucy to hire someone and punch me out of my senses."

Erza stared at him for a while and looked down on the mattress.

"But Erza, I need you to know I didn't use that proposal as a complete diversion. The truth is, I half used the issue about them to have a grand proposal. I didn't mean to make you believe that it's all for them."

Erza stayed silent.

"I was a jerk for not clearing things out sooner."

He sat up and looked at Erza. "You bastard! You made me feel like I was a tool for your band's popularity. If Lucy wasn't involved I would've brea –"

And he pulled her into a tight hug.

"Stop it, I don't want to hear you say it. I know. I'm sorry." He pulled away and reached for his bedside table. "I believe I wasn't able to give you this.." He showed her a little box, Jellal opened it and there a ring of white that shines and glitters as light flashes on it. The rock was held on the small silver hoop which cannot be seen because of the jewel's size.

"So will you still agree to marry me?" Jellal asked hopeful.