Chapter 12: How about this dress?

Saturday mornings were the lazy mornings for the mom and daughter. If she could she'd stay in her pajamas all day she would. The only thing she did was sleep in until Celi barged into her room. But that wasn't the case today. She was awoken by the banging of her front door and the squeals and giggles of her friends.

She squinted at the alarm clock next to her bed. It was 10am. Wait, why so late? Celi was sleeping in late today then. She was normally up by 7am and bouncing in her bed, rushing the mom to wake up. She groaned and stood up before her friends knocked down her door. She grabbed a silk robe to cover her matching silky two piece pajama set.

"I'm coming!" she walked over to the door and unlocked it, "you guys ever heard of phones?" she opened the door and her coworkers slid inside. Levy in a short orange dress, Cana in a black tube top and jeans, Lisanna and Juvia were more casual in shorts and graphic tees. The blonde sighed as they all made themselves at home.

"Nice bedhead, Lu." the brunette chuckled, making Lucy run her fingers through her tangled blonde strands.

"I like those pink pajamas. Looking like a lingerie model!" Juvia chided. The robe was coming undone revealing her short shorts and crop top cami.

"Why are you all here?" she asked in annoyance and tightened the sash around her robe.

"Are you even wearing a bra?" Lisanna asked, staring at her chest.

"No, I was sleeping!" she crossed her arms across her chest feeling embarrassed. Which caused them to laugh.

"What do you guys want?" she asked again.

"We're going shopping!" Levy cheered. She remembered her friend needed a dress and she round up the rest of the crew to join in. She already had everything she needed but wanted to help the blonde. The rest had a few things to buy so they were eager to join as well.

"I wanna go shopping!" the little blonde appeared from the hallway with a long purple nightgown, her strawberry blonde tresses sticking out everywhere, "Good morning…" she said shyly when she saw her mother's coworkers invading her couch.

Cana and Lisanna seldom went to Lucy's home so they hadn't seen the little child in a good while.

"Good morning little Lu~!" Cana ran to hug Celi.

"Good morning! Wow, Lu she is your twin!" Lisanna beamed.

"It's decided then! We're going!" Juvia cheered.

The blonde finally caved when the belligerent bunch wouldn't stop pestering. She made a quick breakfast of pancakes and ate quickly, while everyone ate she changed her pajamas for skinny jeans and a pink v-neck tee. Her hair was in a ponytail and she always opted for a makeup free face on her off days, save for a little bit of mascara and some lip gloss. She dressed her daughter in a yellow sundress and sandals.

When she emerged into the living room she saw exactly what she knew would happen. Her coworkers did in fact made themselves at home. Levy and Lisanna were, thankfully, helping her clean her kitchen while Cana sat on the couch with her feet up on the coffee table. She figured Juvia was probably in the bathroom.

"You all certainly made yourselves at home," Lucy groaned, "thank you, Lev and Lis for helping with the cleaning."

"Alright! Let's go." the pale bluenette came out from behind.

"Yay! Shopping!" the little blonde beamed.

Magnolia mall wasn't the biggest mall in Fiore but it was a decent destination for finding everything you could ever need. Equipped with just about every kind of department store for different needs. It harbored a large food court and a movie theater. Not to mention a huge bowling alley. On Saturdays, however, it was it's busiest.

Juvia and Cana had gone to a men's department store, as their partners still needed an accessory. Which left Levy and Lisanna to help Lucy with Celi while she tried on several dresses.

"Okay, what about this one?" She came out of the dressing room while her friends sat on a bench. She looked at the three way mirror in the waiting area inside the large dressing room. It was a loose fitting black dress.

"I don't think that dress flatters you at all," Lisanna frowned.

"I don't like it either." Levy shook her head.

"It's boring!" her daughter huffed. She was sitting on Levy's lap.

"You said it!" Levy giggled, "c'mon Lu, you need to get out of your comfort zone."

"We miss the old Lucy." Lisanna said.

"You guys suck." Lucy exhaled and went back to the fitting room to try another dress. It honestly looked just the same as the last one, except it was a dark purple.

"How about this dress?" Levy knocked on the dressing room door.

Lucy opened the door and her mouth fell to the floor, "you gotta be kidding me," she groaned.

"Try it on!" Levy shooed her back inside and closed the door. Leaving the garment hanging inside.

"How will I even fit into this?!" she said loudly and after more groans and grunts she finally opened the door, "can you help me with the back?"

Levy let out a wolf whistle, "whoa mama! This is it!" she tied the back and pushed her so that she was in full view of what seemed like everyone now as Cana and Juvia had returned.

She received shocked looks and cheers.

"Why do you hide these?" Cana came up from behind Lucy and laced her arms around her carrying a breast in each hand making Lucy flinch and blush.

"Hey!" she crossed her arms across her chest, "it's too revealing." she eyed herself in the mirror. In her head she was practically having a mental breakdown. Her hips had gotten wider, not to mention her derriere also took on a bit of volume and the worst of all was that she hated the stretch marks that adorned her cleavage now. They were faint but to her, it was all she could see.

"I think you look bootiful, mommy." Celi tugged on the garments skirt. Maybe that was enough to make her feel a little better. she bent down and hugged her daughter.

"Thank you, pumpkin." she didn't know why but she could feel herself tearing up and she blinked her tears away.

"So you're getting the dress?" Levy asked and everyone else was waiting for her response eagerly.

"I- I guess so." she sighed. Her eyes were drawn to the cleavage of the dress.

She received cheers from her peers. Then they all were walking towards a shoe store when Juvia interrupted, "Hey girls, I'm starving and I'm honestly really craving a chicken sandwich from 8island."

"You're always hungry now, Juve. You alright?" Lisanna asked.

"Yes! Sorry, I'm just on my time of the month, you know!" she said a bit too loudly, a nervous hand rubbed the back of her neck.

"Right… Well don't overdo it." Lucy added.

"I'm hungry too, mama!" Lucy's daughter joined. Which caused all of them to head to the food court.

The women and the child sat in a table as they talked about what else they needed to buy. Lucy was busy helping Celi scoop up noodles with her fork.

"Oi! Hey Lis!" A familiar voice made her ears perk up as she looked up at her newfound rosy-haired friend. He was waving at Lisanna.

"Hey Natsu!" Lisanna gave Natsu a quick hug and he smiled and reciprocated her hug. The blonde looked away, helping twirl a few noodles for her daughter.

"Natschu!" Celi got up from her chair and ran to him, hugging his leg.

"Hey there!" he patted the little blonde's head receiving giggles from her. His eyes searched for her mother involuntarily until their eyes met.

"Hey Natsu," Lucy smiled from her chair.

"So you're the Natsu everyone has been talking about!" Cana eyed the pinkette. He was dressed casually today in khaki shorts and a black tee.

"Who has?" he raised an eyebrow. Looking at Lisanna and then a quick glance at Lucy.

"I told them you're going to the party with us," Levy smiled.

"Oh, yeah!" he grinned, "that's why I'm here." he looked over his shoulder, he had a garment hung over his shoulder covered in a black bag in its hanger, "I gotta do a few more things so I'll see ya guys later!" he patted Celi's head one last time who was still clinging onto his leg.

"Bye Natschu!" the little girl waved and the rest bid their goodbyes.

They finished their shopping in good time and they each headed home. The dress was hanging on a hook in the back of the car. A haunting sight. She wasn't ready for the long night ahead. To go out in public wearing that. To be accompanied no less and to someone that lingered in her mind longer than she wanted him to. Well, she wasn't prepared at all at what the night would entail and how one single night would change everything in her life.


A/N: I'M BACK! Happy Valentine's day to those that celebrate it! There's a nice cliffhanger for you! This was just a fun chapter full of friendship. :) The next one is where the fun comes! Which, for making you wait so long, will be posted soon! -Rin