Watching the carriage holding Loke within it slowly make its way down the winding path of the mountain, I can't help but feel a bit lonely. I keep my expression impassive while the others watching the carriage make its way slowly into the forest just stare off equally uninterested. All except Juvia who tends to sneak glances my way as if she were waiting for me to do something, but I remain calm and unmoving.
I then follow the others inside towards the dining area for dinner while thinking back to about an hour ago.
Right before Loke had finished packing his belongings into the carriage, I had managed to sneak a few minutes to talk to him. Unfortunately, I was not able to ask any of the questions still ringing throughout my head. Instead, Loke had pulled me into a bone-crushing hug that left me breathless as I hugged him back with equal vigor.
"I'll miss you," I had whispered to him while trying to contain my tears. I didn't want him to leave, at least not yet, and it hurt that it would be a long time before I was able to see him again as well as the others.
"I'll miss you too Princess," he whispers while planting a soft kiss on my forehead before making me look up at him, "But this isn't goodbye forever. We'll see each other again soon." Pulling away, he then brought out a letter from his coat and handed it to me.
The paper of the letter was the familiar stationary that my father used to use. Even the seal of the Heartfilia house was stamped over the wax seal that kept the envelope closed filled me with a warmth upon seeing it. I trace my hands over the delicate calligraphy written at the front of the envelope recognizing the intricate lettering to come from my old caretaker Aquarius.
"Everything is going to be fine Lucy," Loke then whispered while pressing a firm, yet gentle, hand on my shoulder. Somehow that gesture felt as if he were giving me strength, "I'll be writing to you constantly, so if there's ever anything that you need just write back," he had told me before removing his hand from my shoulder.
"Won't the people here get suspicious of you writing to me so often?" I had asked, feeling worried that Loke was being careless again.
His mischievous smile left me cringing as he shook his head playfully, "Just tell them that I am simply an admirer who just doesn't know when to back down."
Shaking my head, I couldn't help but laugh, "They'll definitely believe me, especially since that is exactly how you are."
With a few more words of goodbye exchanged we had went our separate ways before he was then riding down in his carriage out of my sight. The only comfort I had with me was his letter tucked deep within my pocket.
Chapter 20 - Family Portrait
POV: Lucy
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail
"Can you believe that carrot top?" Etsuko's bellowing words ring throughout the whole dining room bringing me back from my reverie as I watch the blue-haired boy slam his hands down on the table angrily, "He wanted to take Lucille with him right in front of us!" he says while spreading his arms wide around him comically with his face scrunched up into an angry scowl.
"No," Rosalind gasps from her seat beside her brother just across the table from myself.
"Did he now?" Mirajane asks while continuing to place our plates of food before us with her usual cheery smile stretched across her lovely face.
Etsuko nods vigorously before looking at his father and then at Gray and Juvia who were sitting side by side next to me. Both Natsu and Gray nod while looking at the exuberant boy with amused expression. I try not to giggle when they both smile and then wince at the action due to all the bruises marring their faces.
"Etsuko was the one who stopped Mr. Celeste from taking me away," I inform the older woman as she sets down my own plate before me.
"Happy," Etsuko says loud enough for us all to hear, "Call me Happy Lucille. It sounds weird when you call me Etsuko all the time."
"And I'm Rosy!" Rosalind perks up while nodding her head encouragingly.
I stare at the two children feeling a strange sensation from their words. My father's words of always addressing a person by their first name unless we were both familiar with each other swim through my head. I had followed that rule for a long time by only addressing everyone I met by their official names, especially now that I was residing within the castle and caring for the king's children.
I don't belong here…
Smiling at both children, I can't help but feel a bit overjoyed.
"Ok, Happy and Rosy," I tell them both before earning a short applause from all those residing around the table.
"Congratulations Lucille, now you're one of us," Gray announces while lifting his cup towards me in a sign of cheers.
"Thank you," I murmur happily as I take a sip of my own drink feeling my cheeks burn enjoyably, "Although, I shouldn't be thanking you all too much," I say clearly while letting my face fall into a frown causing everyone else's mood to sober up, "It does not feel like I am wanted much since Happy was the only one who stood up for me," I joke while smiling towards the small boy.
For only a split second the room is quiet before the children's cheers and the adult's laughter fills the room. Gray tries to deny that fact by saying that he and Natsu had stood up for her, but was shot down the minute that Juvia reminded him that he and the pink-haired male had both been sparring. Though, her soft teasing smile did not go unnoticed.
"Well, all I know is that Natsu looked just about ready to knock the living daylights out of that bastard once he heard him saying that he was going to whisk Lucille away," Gray joked while lightly elbowing me with a teasing grin, "Looks like Loke Celeste isn't the only male interested in you Lucille," Gray jabbed before laughing heartily at my embarrassed expression.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY POPSCICLE STICK?!" Natsu hollers while slamming his hands down on the table hard. His face red from embarrassment rather than rage, "What nonsense are you filling Lucille's head with?"
"You heard me loud and clear, Hot Head!" Gray yells back causing Juvia to roll hers eyes and mutter something I can't hear under her breath, "Don't tell me you weren't going to go all 'Dragon Force' on that guy?" Gray asks in a mocking tone that leaves Natsu glaring at him angrily, but not denying his statement in any way.
The children laugh across the table, covering their mouths as Happy giggles, "Daddy lllllllllikes her," causing the older Dragneel to freeze at his son's words.
"Whose side are you on?" he asks, his whole face, ears, and neck, burning a deep scarlet. This only causes the children to laugh even harder.
I watch the scene completely speechless. I silently observe as everyone, excluding Juvia and a giggling Mirajane, argues with one another and singling the mortified king out. I can only stare, with my own cheeks burning slightly, as I think back to how I had seen Natsu holding his wooden sword as if ready to fight, but fight for who?
I saw the way he would defend you whenever anyone picked on you and the way he would always make you laugh when you were sad.
Loke's words from a few nights ago, swim through my head as I watch the squabbling king threaten his children comically. The noise they all produce sounds muffled as if I were not a part of the lighthearted family picture they were all creating with one another. Even then after feeling as if I didn't belong amongst the colors swirling around me, I couldn't help but feel a warmth pool throughout my body at the thought of Natsu looking so embarrassed from the teases being thrown his way.
Sapphire eyes watch me before turning concerned as Mirajane lightly places a hand on my shoulder and asks, "Are you feeling alright Lucille?"
I look up at the worried silver-haired female not knowing how to answer her question. Of course, I wasn't feeling alright. My family had just left the castle not too long ago leaving me feeling lost and abandoned. My best friend from my childhood did not remember me, and I was being hunted down by one of the most ruthless families that lived within Fiore. Add to the fact that I was starting to feel emotions I had not felt in so many years, but I could not say this out loud. I could not express my worries, at least not yet.
Forcing a smile, I assure the older woman that I was indeed fine, but she did not look convinced in the least.
Gasping with large open eyes, Mira exclaims, "Don't tell me that you've fallen in love with Mr. Celeste and are planning to actually run away with him?!" Turning away and throwing her hand over her face and placing her free hand over her heart, Mira laments as if she were an actress in a play, "Oh dear, we were able to keep Mr. Celeste from taking our dear Lucille away, but it seems that he has brainwashed her to leave with him on her own free will."
"Wait, what?!" I exclaim as I stand up, not following what she was saying as I hear her mutter something about orange-haired babies. At the same time the children's heads whip towards my direction with looks of disbelief on their small faces, "When did you come up with an assumption such as that?" I ask the mourning beauty who refused to turn and look at me, "That's not…"
"Why do you want to leave us!" the children cry from their places across the table, "You promised you wouldn't leave!"
"But I'm not…"
"So we weren't able to guard Lucille's heart from that bastard. We have failed in protecting her!" Gray laments while shaking his head remorsefully and earning a disbelieving glare from his fiancé.
"You didn't even do anything," Juvia mutters while crossing her arms and huffing her arms in annoyance while giving me a reproachful look. I swear to Mavis that I even heard her mutter, "Love rival," under her breath.
Shaking my head, I am at a loss for words on what to say or even do. I turn to look at Natsu who stares at me making my face burn up while I shake my head unable to say anything. Everyone's eyes are on me and I feel cornered as I slam my hands down hard on the table to get everyone to shut up. Even with gloves on, the silverware on top of the table rings loud enough so that everyone becomes completely silent, "I am not in love with Loke Celeste!" I argue, almost gasping for air as I glare down at Gray who ducks his head, "I am not running away with him," I tell Mirajane who looks away almost whistling, "I am not leaving the castle any time soon either," I inform the children who sigh with relief as I feel my head pounding painfully, "I said I wouldn't leave," I say in a much softer tone as I then direct my attention back to the baffled king, "I… I promised."
Looking down at my shaking hands, I barely catch a glimpse of the surprise on Natsu's face. My head and heart are pounding a mile a minute and I am completely infuriated at Loke for inadvertently causing this to happen. I can almost hear his glimmering laughter resonate through the room making me curse his name even more.
Oh, he would get his when the time came.
"Alright, knock it off you four," Natsu warns as he scowls at everyone around the table except for Juvia and myself, "You all need to learn not to take things too seriously," he says while leaning back in his seat looking completely drained, "And Mira, you need to stop assuming things that trouble people unnecessarily."
"Yes, your Majesty," Mirajane says with a rueful smile, "I'm sorry Lucille," she then tells me before she rushes off back into the kitchen with her ears burning in gleeful embarrassment.
We finally settle down and eat our meal in complete silence. The children continuously sneak quick glances towards me and their father. I keep my eyes trained on my food, my cheeks still burning angrily, as I eat small spoonsful of my soup. I'm completely mortified from the recent occurrence of the cook and children and wish for nothing more than to bury myself in a deep hole. Or better yet, I could go and drown myself in the lake while everyone was sleeping.
Sighing, I look up from my half-eaten food and watch as Natsu stares at his children who have their heads bowed down in shame. His hard eyes soften as his thing frown turns into a pensive smile while a soft chuckle escapes his lips, "You both never learn," he murmurs before he turns to look at me making me jump in surprise that I was caught looking at him.
I expect his small smile to disappear and return to his usual stony look, but instead his smile only widens as he laughs at my apparent perplexed expression. My heart skips a couple of beats at the familiarity of the warmth he is exuding through that simple lopsided smile.
The simple gesture makes my heart race and my face burn as I smile timidly back making him chuckle even more. Shaking his head in amusement, Natsu goes back to eating his food while I continue to glance at him from the corner of my eye, my mind buzzing more than before with a single thought.
That's the first time he's ever smiled at me since arriving at the castle.
Pushing that thought away, I continue to eat my food completely oblivious to the suspicious looks the children were giving me and their father…
Bonus chapter! Bonus Chapter! BONUS CHAPTER!
Since re-writing this story I have made it my mission to add more fluff into this story and more comedic relief!
Also, comment when you guys all return to school, I'll make sure to update a chapter on that day around noon hopefully! If you're already in school... well you can suffer with the rest of us.
Well that's all for today.
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Until next time my lovelies.