So there are 9 demon gates.. Well I hope Lucy gets to defeat one, by herself. Please Mr. Mashima. Please? :) Any, here's the next chapter. Quite earlier than I've expected though, thanks Mr. Jobs for creating tablets.

Chapter 35

It's been about 20 minutes since they've left the hotel and since then the whole, really really really fast, drive to their destination had been really really quiet. Yukino didn't know if she needs to talk because the tension inside the car is just getting higher. She wanted to talk about something but she doesn't know what to. It's difficult for her to think of anything except for the wedding. She could see that Natsu was also in the same situation as she was, but maybe in a whole new level, maybe that's how he love Lucy. And on second thought, he's on the driver's seat so the pressure is on him. Yukino wanted to cheer him up, she wanted to let him know that she believed in him. She do. Even though she can't wait on her seat, there's nothing she could do. And so she'll put everything in. Natsu's hands. She believed in his feelings for Lucy. And she believed in Sting. She doesn't know why but believing in both of them, in Sting and Natsu, is the only thing that's keeping her sane right now.

"You okay there?" Natsu asked. He looked at her through the mirror but their speed didn't increase, still at full speed.

She was taken aback for a while but she managed to smile. "Yes. I believe you, Natsu."

Natsu's eyes squinted and he smirked later on. "Well then, believe in this car too."

It sounded peculiar to both Yukino. Rogue peeked at what Natsu might have been saying and right then they both felt that the car is moving slower and slower. Yukino positioned herself between the gap of the two chairs in front.

"What's happening? Why are we stopping?" She asked Natsu.

Natsu exasperatedly lean on his seat and sighed heavily. "We ran out of gas." He mumbled.

Yukino looked at Rogue and he too doesn't know what to do.

Suddenly, they could hear something from the outside. "Do you hear that?" Natsu asked.

"Yes. It sounds like a chopper." Yukino suggested. "Are we that high to be close to those flying vehicles?" She sighed. "It's not fair." Yukino said and clenched her fists crumpling her dress in the process.

It was very loud which make Natsu go out of the car and search for the source of the sound. On the outside it was really windy the source of the sound isn't that far from them. And in fact, someone from it's door is smiling down at him.

"Bet you need a ride?" Gray asked as he looked down on Natsu from the inside of the chopper. The open helicopter where Gray stood at the entrance was just a couple of feet from the ground.

"H-How?"

"Get your company if you want to get to that damn wedding faster." Gray shouted through the wind and the sound. "I'll tell you everything when you get in. Well unless you don't want to hop on and want me to stop that wedding myself or you do it?" He smirked and let a ladder down.

Natsu doesn't need to be told twice. He'll get Gray for trying to do what he's ought to do later. Immediately he grabbed Yukino and Rogue.

"You go. I need to do something." Rogue said when they're out of the car.

Yukino looked at him curiously. "What do you need to do?"

"Just.. go. Time is running." And he gently pushed her towards Natsu. "Take care of her until she gets to Sting." Rogue said and Natsu nodded in response.

Yukino went up first and when she's inside the helicopter moved leaving Natsu still hanging on the ladder, climbing. When he reached the floor Gray grabbed his arm and pulled him in. Inside the chopper was Gray, Erza and Yukino all looking at him as he finally arrived inside. Natsu sat on the last seat putting his seatbelt on.

"So?" Natsu asked. "What's all this? How?"

Gray crossed his arms across his chest and smirked. "Should you thank use first for loo—" Before Gray could finish Erza hit Natsu straight in the face.

"You idiot!"

"What the hell was that for?" Natsu shouted. Yukino was taken aback by all the commotion suddenly happening right before her eyes.

"I was calling you the whole time. Why aren't you answering?!"

Natsu cowered in fear and shrank in his seat. It was Yukino who tried to explain for him. "I'm.. We.. Natsu.. Natsu is the one driving.. A-and.." Erza was looking at her and so was Gray. "..he's.."

"I'm driving really fast." Natsu said as he clenched his fists. "How'd you get this helicopter? It's.."

"Dragneel's." Gray finished. "It was in the Heartfilia port. Everything with the Heartfilia sign cannot be used as ordered—"

"Probably, Sting's father might have foreseen us coming. So expect high security when we get there." Erza finished.

"How were you able to use this?" Natsu asked.

"Gramps.." Gray said and lean on his chair. "He said Lucy kept this one in the back."

"The order was 'the Heartfilia vehicles'.." Erza finished.

"Thank you. Thank you for helping." Yukino said to both of them, enveloping Erza's hands in hers. "Thank you."

Erza returned the gesture and smiled warmly. "No problem. Besides, you're close to Lucy right?"

Yukino was confused but she hesitantly nodded.

"She told us that you're the one who approached her first, together with Sting and Rogue, to be her friend, after this.." Erza glanced at Natsu and glared at him. "..guy here 'died'."

Yukino turned to Natsu and gasped, putting her hands on her mouth and her eyes widening. "You.. You're.." Natsu huffed, crossed his arms and looked away. "Does Lucy know?" Yukino asked looking back at Erza.

"I told you not to tell it to anyone yet." Natsu mumbled.

"Why?" Yukino asked worried.

"Don't tell anyone about it. What you heard you leave it here." Erza answered for Natsu. "He hid it from the very beginning he met Lucy." She rolled her eyes.

"Hey! I didn't know she was she when I first met her!"

Gray tsked. "Still, you didn't tell her when you knew."

"I have to. I need to." Natsu retorted.

"W-Why?" Yukino asked hesitantly and was quite shocked at the sudden change of mood in the chopper. "You didn't know how miserable she is when you, your parents and her mother died."

"I'm protecting her. If I came back like nothing happen, I know the person who tried to kill me and killed my parents will come back and hunt me." He balled his fists hard. "There's something that happened in that cruise.. I need to remember." there was silence after another explaining to Yukino and mocking from his friends. "But now, it's the wedding." He looked away and into the mountainside.

From where they are, the resort where the wedding is being held can be seen. It was like a white spot on a nature green mountain. Natsu's eyes turned serious from sad. This time he won't fail. He won't let this thing happen, not when it's Lucy's happiness that's in bargain. Natsu knew that he's caused her a lot of pain ever since he should've died. His parents and her mother were a weight too. When he met her he really didn't know it was her. There are visions of a small girl in his dreams but he didn't imagine that that girl will become a wonderful lady full of sorrows within her. He didn't know it was that hard for her to go on. Natsu promised that he'll take away those tears soon. He promised he'll make it up to her, once the coast is clear for him to show his true identity.

"I will do anything for you, Luce." He mumbled softly.

"We are gathered here today to witness the exchange of vows between our beloved Sting Eucliffe and Lucy Heartfilia.." The priest stated as Lucy reached the altar.

Lucy tightened her hold on the small, elegant-looking bouquet of flowers in her hands. This was it. She's going to fulfill her father's will. The one she chose according to Jiemma's options. There are options but that doesn't mean you can choose one from the other. Because in the end you'll just have to do what Jiemma said you would. He'll always manage to find a way to go things his way.

"Lucy..?" Sting mumbled.

Lucy was caught off guard and looked up to the priest With her eyes wide. "Ah! Yes! I.. I.. will do." She finished with a sad end.

Everyone around her looked confused but it was Sting who holds her arm and squeeze it lightly which made Lucy look at him questioningly. "He just asked if you're okay." He smiled sadly at her. Sting knew very well that Lucy was against this as well as he is. But he chose to be a good son to his father as Lucy chose to be a good daughter to her father.

It was against their will, but they chose this path.

"R-Right. I'm fine." Lucy said softly that only the priest and Sting were able to hear. "Please continue with the ceremony."

The priest looked at them worriedly. "Is there something wrong?" He whispered to them. Soon there's a buzz of sounds behind them. The guests are getting confused as to why the priest and the man-and-wife-to-be are mumbling to themselves.

Lucy shook her head weakly as Sting averted his gaze to the priest and smiled weakly. "Please continue." Sting said with a small smile.

The priest was really worried about them. It doesn't seem like a nice seen between two people who are to be married. They're.. sad. Even so, they told him to go on. It was against every law of being married. But, seems like these two will push through even if he'll interfere the ceremony.

He cleared his throat. "Marriage, is a union of two people who love each other unconditionally..." He started to say religious things about marriage and such. "It was something tied by love which glues the life of two people together."

Lucy kept on yhinking about the upcoming future with Sting. She couldn't picture it as something that is really fun or something that common couples experiences after marriage. She sees herself seating, a ring on her finger, thinking about Natsu. Maybe it would end up her commiting adultery or maybe Sting too. Will they be able to handle that kind of life even with the high profile they'll be having? Surely not. If issues like that happen, surely it will be the end of the company for them. Soon enough they'll be bankrupt and Heartfilia Groups will fall. She cannot bear the thought of losing the company either that way after they get married or right now. It was the only memory of the Dragneels and her parents, and she has to take care of it. No matter what or no matter how. She'll be ready to sacrifice herself for the company. Natsu Dragneel must be so proud of her. She thought. Well, actually maybe he'll be disappointed because he'll probably choose happiness over the company. But it's not a choice for her. Not when the family she knew, the only thing they left of her is the company. It was the company that is her happiness now.

Lucy looked at Sting at the corner of her eye. He seemed to be in deep thought and his eyes are full of sadness, the way her eyes wonder to nowhere. He must have been forced into this because of her. His deep breaths and sighs every now and then distracts the priests commencing the ceremony. It didn't go unnotice by other people too. She felt sorry. Maybe if she didn't agree with the wedding, then he's free right now. She held a big fat tear from coming out. Lucy should be tough. She chose this path and should not go back from it even if every part of her wants to. She needs to keep herself sane and going to be able to run the company again. "After this, everything will go back to the way it was.." She mumbled really soft. "I'll work again." She thinks of the ways on how her life will be if she'll be able to endure this horrid day. "Just a few more hours.." She said to herself.

"Let us now witness the exchange of vows between the bride and the groom." Said the priest making Lucy snap out of her trance. "Please Sting.." He turned to the said guy. ".. I, state your name."

"I Sting Eucliffe.." Sting repeated.

"..do solemnly swear.."

"..do solemnly swear.."

"..take, state the name of your bride.."

"take... take.. Lu.. cy.. Heartfilia"

"..as my legally wedded wife."

"..as my —"

"STING!" That voice made Sting stop and everyone in the church looked to the doors where the source of the voice is coming from. "I object!" It was Natsu though who spoke.

Jiemma's eyes widen.

"Is the groom having some kind of affair with that man?" Asked some of the guests.

Yukino entered the venue following suit. She was panting and her eyes widen at the sight of Sting in front of the altar with Lucy standing right beside him. "Sting.." Was all she is able to say.

"H-How..?" Sting asked. He could feel his father's eyes boring into him. Soon he found himself walking towards Yukino. She ran into him and was welcomed by Sting by a big hug. How he missed this girl in his arms. He squeezed her tightly and kissed the top of her head. He pulled away from her far enough to see her tear-stained face. "Why are you here? Where's Rogue? I asked him to.."

"I don't want to leave you like this. And I will never escape for my own cause." He looked at her lovingly and pulled her into a hug once again.

"You shouldn't have." He whispered. His voice was muffled in her hair and soon he find himself holding his cries. "Why would you even do that? Didn't I ask you to be safe and happy back to England?"

"W-Well, I can live happy and safe but I left my heart here." She held his hand and intertwined her fingers in his. She was shaking. Definitely, shaking. "I left that source of happiness here, and I came to stop by to get it." She said and smiled warmly at him.

He was taken aback by the sudden confession and pulled her into a hug once more. "Mine's in your hands too." He said to her ear. Soon there were cheers all around them. "But.." He pulled away from her and looked at her sadly. Sting looked at Lucy who was still at the altar. "..we have to do this." He gave her hand a squeeze and let her go.

During the entire moment Lucy was actually in a daze as Natsu barged into the hall. She couldn't take her eyes off of him until Yukino came and confessed to Sting. She was moved by Yukino's courage. She was able to tell him her feelings and now she felt guilty by being the reason as to why their ending won't be a happy one. She clenched her fists and looked Jiemma's way. He was shaking in anger. He's gritted his teeth as he watch his son kiss and hug the intruder. Maybe his plan was spoiled but when Sting said that he needs to go back to Lucy and just made a closure with Yukino there was a glint of a victorious smile grazing his lips.

Sting turned around from Yukino, clenching his fists so tight. But he managed to give Lucy a weak and sad smile. He chose this. As he took one step towards the altar he was held back by a strong hand which pulled him by his shoulder and right when he turned around a punch in the face made him fall on the red carpet of the floor.

"Who the hell told you I agree? You still want to continue with this damn wedding even though you knew what Yukino felt about you?" Natsu stood in front of him glaring angrily. "And.." He sat on the bull of his foot and smirked at him. "I won't let Lucy be married to anyone, but me." He grinned at him then looked at Lucy still standing frozen at the altar. He stood up and walked towards her.

Lucy was standing frozen at the altar. And she felt weak the moment those words left Natsu's mouth. Did he really mean it? She felt the bouquet of flowers she was holding fall on the floor right in front of her. She was too dazed to move and pick it up. That she even forgot how to breathe. She watched as Natsu walked down the aisle towards her with that smile getting wider as the distance between them decreases. Her heart was pounding against her chest and when Natsu reached the altar she felt her heart stopped beating. She could feel her lungs tightening but all of it stopped when he reaches for her hands.

"I never gave you the permission to lie to me and get married." He said kissing the back of her hand.

Lucy immediately pulled her hand from his and took a step back. This action made Natsu frown. "I'm not something that is yours. Go back to where Lisanna is, she might be looking for you." Lucy said.

Natsu gaped at Lucy's reaction but a smile crept up his lips. "You look cute when you're mad."

"Unbelievable. How could you say such things when—"

BLAG

Suddenly, a couple of flower stands were on the floor.