A/N: HUGE thank you to Nightmare Senshi and MrsPuppet for helping with editing and reviewing chapters, and to both for character help, Nightmare remade Hestor in her story "Star of Bosco" and gave him dimension and made more than the villain I had originally created in him, he's her character now. To the ladies of Discord where we RP out endless story ideas, dialogue, character designs and world building...You're the best. To the readers here who take the time to leave the reviews and PMs you are why this story is still being reworked and reposted. Lemons ahead, I hope you all enjoy!
Desna
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Kaleb gripped the doorframe, eyes rolling back in his head, if he hadn't had his legs braced they would have buckled. Lucy had caught him, he'd freely admit she'd gotten him, he'd just been walking from the livingroom to the kitchen and she'd caught him by the belt and slammed him against the doorframe. He'd laughed at her aggression, he'd been teasing her on and off all day but only because she'd started it, bending over right in front of him at the little shop where she'd been picking out gifts for the boys. Wriggling that gorgeous ass of hers then looking back at him with a smirk on her face.
Two could play the game though, and he was dressed right for it too, in snug cut off jeans that sat a little low on his hips and a tight white tank top. She'd turned around to show him a blouse she liked and dropped it, finding him reaching up over his head with both hands to pull a nice hat down innocently claiming he thought it would look good on Xally, but really letting his shirt ride up and bare his midsection to her hungry gaze. He'd held the hat up when she'd finally torn her eyes away from his lower body and raised an eyebrow at her "Xally likes these sunhats, you think she'd like this?"
He damn well knew she really loved his body and caught her plenty staring with hazy eyes at various parts of him but his abs and chest seemed to get her most. "Lucy? You dropped the shirt Sunshine." He'd smirked and she'd finally narrowed her eyes and puffed out her cheeks, bent down and snatched up the blouse and spun away from him blushing.
So when they got back to the house after a whole day of teasing each other he'd honestly been waiting for her to come out of the bathroom and fully intended to pounce on her because he was well past his limit of self restraint by then. But she'd come out of nowhere while he was prowling around like a caged animal waiting for her and slammed him against the doorframe, ripped his belt and jeans open and yanked them down gripping his ass and taking him in her mouth and reducing him to a moaning weak legged mess in moments.
His back arched as her teeth scraped over the sensitive head of his erection, her nails running teasing edges under his balls and sending shivers through him.
Her other hand shoved his shirt up, nails raking down his hard stomach, her eyes hungrily devouring him even as her head bobbed and her plump pink lips squeezed him making him struggle not to buck his hips because sweet Gods did he ever want to. She'd learned to do this on his body, guided by the Sudehpah, and Kaleb had really enjoyed being a learning tool throughout those lessons. But Lucy took what she learned and applied her own creativity, her knowledge of him and what turned him on, like bringing her hand down and running it up the back inside of his thigh, ghosting her fingers there near where his leg met his body.
"Lu...Lucy...oh Fuck…" He breathed and she smiled doubling her efforts loving the sounds he made, how he reached over his head to grab the doorframe, stretching that gorgeous body out for her like he'd done in that store...Gods...turning around to see him stretched up, shirt baring his midsection, tight abs, that cut V with the bobtailed panther still sporting a hickey by its head from her ministrations that morning the tight denim hugging his body that he filled so perfectly...she'd tried, she'd so fucking tried to beat him and had known from the look on his face he'd be all over her as soon as she came out so she'd decided to turn the tables on him, catch him by surprise. He'd been teaching her how to use the magic she had gotten from him during their mating, and she knew how to block him out, so, she'd done just that, blocked him completely then hunted him down and pounced.
She'd finish him too, see her big Boscan lose control before she'd stop no matter what he did to try and stop her.
"Ah!...nnngh!...Lucy...honey...oh Gods...st...stop or…" He was gasping raggedly now, hips involuntarily bucking into her movements and she dug her fingernails into the ass cheek she held, drug the others along the underside of his balls and pressed downward with her lips tight on his shaft until her nose hit his hard belly.
Cum in my mouth Kaleb...let me taste you… she purred mentally sending him wicked images of her swallowing him and he shuddered, groaning out her name and came, his hot seed hitting the back of her throat and she swallowed him down, her throat constricting on him and making him cry out and shudder again.
When his shudders ceased she pulled back, licking the tip then kissing it before wiping her mouth and sitting back to smile up at him. He looked deliciously disheveled, cutoffs at his ankles, shirt shoved up under his arms, hair partially pulled from the tie holding it by him throwing his head back against the doorframe. His lips were parted, chest still heaving as he caught his breath and Lucy smirked, meeting his hooded lavender gaze proudly.
Maybe he hadn't passed out but...give her time, she'd get him, and then she'd let Cana know…
He laughed, clearly catching that thought. "I almost did, saw spots...Gods help me Sunshine, you've gotten really good at that…" he chuckled and she grinned then squeaked when he grabbed her under her arms and plucked her from the floor, kicking his shorts and underwear from his ankles and carrying her to the kitchen counter "Been wanting to do this…" He growled before setting her on it and flipping her skirt up, Lucy gasped as he deftly hooked his fingers in the waist of her panties and freed her from them, pushing her so she laid back while he spread her legs and hooked them over his shoulders.
"Turnabout is fair play…" He purred and then Lucy was screaming, writhing, and at his mercy like he'd been at hers.
They played well into the night before finally stumbling upstairs to the master bedroom where they lay wrapped in each other's arms, looking out the large open balcony doors at the night sky beyond while a cool sea breeze blew over them.
"The family arrives tomorrow right?" Lucy asked and Kaleb smiled, nodding.
"Little after noon the ship docks. Dad, Farron and Hestor, Zen and Bickslow are staying here, everyone else will be at the hotel down the block." He replied.
"I'll be really happy to see the boys." She admitted, as wonderful as the week had been having each other to themselves, she'd missed Raiu and Hasu.
"They're going to stay either in Dad, Zen or Bixys room, though, knowing them they'll likely end up in here too." He chuckled and Lucy smiled, snuggling in closer against his side and humming when his arm tightened around her.
"Well, I suppose Erik and Vander will have to move out of the room down the hall then hmm?" She said softly while tracing her finger over the cross over Kalebs heart. He grinned, looking at her.
"How long have you known?" He demanded.
She smirked "Since the ship, as we were leaving it I saw Cobra peak around a corner." She said and Kaleb laughed hugging her and kissing her temple.
"So much for grand spies hmmm?" She chuckled and Kaleb nodded, sending the whole thing to the pair in the room a couple doors down the hall from them.
"Aw Fuck Tink! Really?! We could have been out having a good fucking time not worrying about trying to stay out of your fucking sight!" She heard Cobra yell and laughed.
"So not sorry." Lucy said quietly.
"I heard that!" Cobra yelled.
Lucy giggled and hid her face in Kalebs chest, sighing as he rubbed her back. She turned her eyes toward the night sky again and sighed, happy, she was truly deeply happy, she was in love with a wonderful man, one who loved her and stood by her side, not in front of her keeping her from getting stronger. Married, had a huge family now through him and she was...happy, felt, fulfilled, ready for more.
More she was going to get too, when they returned home she would be the new co-master of White Sea and would work in the same office as Kaleb with her own host of duties, she knew her schedule for the first week looked pretty daunting, but Kaleb would be there, right by her side to help her settle in, and the boys were in school and everything would be fine because...Kaleb would make sure it was and Lucy would start knocking heads together to make sure it was if she had to.
"You won't need to. You'll have me and Thane until you select your own aid Sunrise, and Gaza has offered to help, she might be a good candidate for an aid for you, she's filled in for me a few times when Thane was out ill or away." He told her and she smiled, then blushed, that wasn't really all she was thinking about….
Kaleb stilled and looked at her feeling a gentle barrier keep him from catching her thoughts. She drew a breath and her pretty blush made him smile but he didn't understand why she was suddenly shy, what was going on in that beautiful mind?
"Lucy honey…" He breathed softly, encouraging her to talk and she kissed him chastely, looking down into his eyes as she laid across his chest.
"I was thinking...after the games...I don't want the boys to get too old to enjoy...siblings you know? I...after the games...I want to...have a baby…" She said and Kalebs eyes widened, a grin lighting his face, he cupped her face in his hands and she smiled in relief at the pure joyful excitement she saw and felt coming from him.
"Oh Lucy….you mean it? I don't want you to feel rushed, the boys will be fine…" He said and she kissed him quiet, smiling down at him.
"I want a baby, I want us to have several...I want a big family and waiting...well...it doesn't make sense." She said firmly and Kaleb drew a deep breath, a tear escaping one of his eyes he kissed her hard. She grinned at him.
"So I take it you agree?" She asked and he crushed her in a tight hug, kissing her everywhere he could reach.
"YES, Gods...yes...Lucy...my Lucy...I can't wait to see that beautiful body grow with our baby….I can't wait to put one in you" He growled and she giggled.
"Does the idea of getting me pregnant turn you on Kaleb?" She asked and he growled again, biting her neck
"Gods yes." He admitted and she squealed as he flipped her off of him and onto her back, moving over her and wrapping her legs around his hips. He spent the next hour showing her just how much that idea turned him on.
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By 1pm the following day the house Lucy and Kaleb had been relaxing and enjoying privacy in was filled to the gills with family and friends, the huge terrace off the first floor kitchen was alive with people drinking and laughing and Freed went all over the house with Vander setting up deeply woven and refined protection fields, wards and defenses for the dwelling to augment what it already had. Arman had taken no chances when he'd sent his children there for school or when he was in town for diplomatic purposes, it was wise to be careful.
It was Freed who found the tiny lacrimas, three of them, two in the master bedroom, one in the bathroom over the shower...recording cameras...the ones in the master bedroom aimed right at the bed.
He brought them to first Vanders attention, then Armans and Kalebs, the four men standing in the study frowning at them.
"I disabled them, and Presca is going to go over them to see if there's a traceable magic signature on them, but Kaleb, they were still warm when Freed brought them to me, they've been in use, and their range is only about a mile but in the city? There's a fuck ton of places they could be set up to record. Safe bet they were watching you and Lucy." The shadowquip said seriously.
Kaleb glared at the devices, the idea...someone watching them, they had been in the bed plenty over the last week, Gods it was their honeymoon after all. The shower...how many times had they been in there together...he narrowed his eyes, trying to rein in his anger and frustration, the lacrima at his neck glowing faintly and as soon as it did Vander and Arman exchanged worried looks. The lacrima lighting meant it was feeding magic back to Kaleb to remind him he was powering up.
The big blonde drew a slow breath and the lacrima dimmed again.
A soft knock and Kaleb waved a hand toward the door, it unlocked and Presca stepped in, locking it behind himself.
"Cobra needs to know where Van is." Presca said and Kaleb nodded, linking the slayer to his mate.
Presca picked up one of the lacrima and eyed it, his steel colored eyes taking up a faint glow. He smiled.
"Assassin design, someone took pride in designing these, they're very nice….and...very traceable. Give me a little bit to sift through all the signatures in the area, I'll find a trail." He said with certainty gathering up the cameras and taking a seat.
"I need to get back to Lucy." Kaleb said with a frown. Arman caught his arm, looking over the men in the room seriously.
" The women's challenges start tomorrow, we have to be vigilant, alert. We know the woman Sorrano wants Lucy to suffer and is willing to harm anyone to visit that on her, we also know she has Zen targeted, so I expect a close watch on them. Vander, Presca, I'm relying on both of you, we must protect our family until that woman is found and brought in." He said firmly.
"Of course Mr. Pradesh." Presca said and Arman rolled his eyes, releasing Kaleb and reaching out to ruffle the ex-assassins thick chocolate colored hair. "Arman, Presca, for the Gods sakes you're practically one of my own children, call me Arman." He smiled and Presca nodded, returning his smile.
"Dad, you think you could get Bosco to put a bounty on her? I mean she was involved in the whole shit show with Kurino." Vander said.
Arman nodded. "They've actually been talking about that, I'll push for it, you and Erik and Presca reach out to your contacts and let them know, I will personally assure a nice reward for her capture."
"Hey Kaleb? See if you can get Gajeel to pop in here, I know he's got some folks he can reach out to, and with his skill set? I'm thinking security might be a thing he could help with." Vander called and Kaleb nodded as he left the room to find his wife.
Gajeel was sitting in a large chair in the living room, Emzadi seated on the arm of it with his hand on her knee, thumb idly rubbing her smooth skin while she played with his hair. He squeezed her knee when he heard Kalebs request in his head gave Emi a smile as he rose "Be right back babe." He said and she nodded, noting his calm but more serious expression and the one her older brother wore when he came into the room.
Emzadi was observant, she was a Dragoness, but more than that, her personality lent her to battle, to strategy, and while she didn't often need it, her magic so strong she could burn her way through most obstacles, she was viciously protective of her family, and, as capable as Kaleb of visiting instant death on people if they threatened those she loved.
Kalebs smile, though, was real when Lucy turned and beamed up at him, she was very happy for her brother, he'd finally found someone that broke through his over intellectual mind to the fiery heart inside. Lucy had taught Kaleb how to embrace love, and once he had, like everything her older brother did, he gave all he was to it.
Like her somewhat brooding mate, Gajeel, once they were mated, had given her all of him, laid himself bare to her while they had mated, talked for hours with her, told her everything she hadn't seen as they had first shared souls. She understood him, and adored him, and whatever he had just gotten up to do, she didn't doubt he'd tell her about it if it was important. That didn't slow her curiosity though. So she decided to focus on other things.
She had been talking with Lucy and Cana, both women reluctant to tell her much about the woman, Levy, who had so harmed her mate.
"I'm not sure what...happened, really, when I last saw them, Gajeel was comforting her, promising he would keep her safe and she was alone and Levy was all for it." Lucy sighed shaking her head.
"You gotta understand, Levy, she's kinda funny, awkward, smart, and usually pretty loyal and shit. She had a fling with Jet a few years ago but that was before Gajeel came into the picture, after he joined the guild she started crushing on him right away even though he'd well...beat the fuck out of her burned Phantom Lords symbol into her belly and bolted her to a tree. We all thought it was weird but also sorta admired it, that she was not just forgiving him, but interested in knowing him better." Cana added and Lucy nodded.
"Yeah, they had a weird sort of relationship as time went by, Gajeel watched over her, protected her, and she kind of...followed him around. Master kept him busy with solo missions and he also was in high demand with our team and the Raijinshuu for bigger ones because, well...he's a powerhouse and really really good on missions, he doesn't come across that way, but Gajeel is super good at planning and working through tough situations." Lucy said.
"Little Blue would ask him to go on missions with her team, but Gajeel Jet and Droy did NOT get along so they were always miserable for him, he went though, whenever he wasn't committed to something else, everyone thought they would...hook up ya know?" Cana said and Emzadi nodded, twirling a thick lock of hair around her finger.
"Did she say she liked him? In private with all of you?" She asked and Lucy and Cana looked at each other and shrugged.
"Yeah, when we'd talk about which guy we'd most like to take home Levy always said Gajeel, I mean, Jet and Droy? Not exactly built to impress, Jets a weed of a man and Droy? He eats, hefty, Gajeel physically, sorry Em but you know, your man has a rockin body, like mine does, and we all speculated about whether he had piercings on his cock…" Cana let that trail off looking imploringly at Emzadi who smirked.
"Of course he does, and yes, they feel...delicious." She purred and Cana cackled, rubbing her hands together.
"Fuck...I wonder if I could talk Rowan into one…" She muttered, Lucy giving her a horrified look before looking at Emzadi.
"Levy isn't a bad person Emi, I think she just gets too wrapped up in her books and research and forgets to...feel, sometimes, Jets known her a lot longer, knows how to manipulate her, and has always been obsessed with her, if he found a way to turn her from Gajeel...he'd do it, no matter what it was. That's why I'm actually worried about her now that I know Gajeel is safe. What if Jets...done something to her? To get her to marry him?" She said.
Cana frowned at her. "Jet wouldn't force Levy, he may be nuts about her and a stalker almost on Juvias level, but he'd never hurt Levy or force her into something, besides, you think Gajeel wouldn't think of that and make sure before he left?" Cana asked and Lucy had frowned, grudgingly admitting that was true.
Emzadi though, she knew how devastated Gajeel had been when Levy had, suddenly out of nowhere one night, as they had been sitting at a bistro getting dinner in Crocus, blurted out.
"Gajeel...you know this wont work...you and me….we're just too different, I'm, well...small, and I like calm and quiet and reading and art and gentle things and you...well….I've never been hurt and injured more often than since I've been with you, and lets face it, you're a huge man, if you rolled over wrong in bed one night you could crush me….I don't like cussing, don't like loud rock music, I want peace, and...peace just doesn't follow you Gajeel...you...attract...violence. I...I'm going to Shadow Gear, Jet and Droy are here in Crocus and staying at Droys family home, I'm going with them, I'll be safer… I'm sorry but...this thing we've been playing at...it's over." She'd said and just that fast...Gajeels heart broke. He'd tried to talk her out of it, demanded to know where the change of heart had come from, just the night before they had come close to having sex and Levy had been the one to initiate it, climbing into his lap as he'd sat going over reports from the council.
Had Lily not walked in, they likely would have finally been together, but, the exceed had come home and interrupted them and it was only a few days later Levy had shown up with Jet and cut off their relationship.
Emi would let it go, she really would, except something was nagging her about it. Not that she felt like Levy was a threat, she knew better, even those who cared about Levy admitted that she wasn't a strong fighter, and Emzadi had brought down entire dark guilds by herself, one script mage wouldn't even challenge the Dragoness, but why would a woman walk away from a man like Gajeel after all he had done for her and how much she had seemed interested in him….it didn't sit right and Emzadi had long ago learned to trust her instincts.
Once the wedding week was over, she was going to look into this Levy McGarden, quietly of course, and see if the woman who had hurt her mate so badly had really meant to do so, had really not wanted him. It was possible, it was just...Emzadi herself had a very hard time imagining it.
When he returned to the room it was with Vander, who was pulled into Cobra arms, the pair whispering softly to each other as Arman and Freed crossed the room to join Farron and Hestor. Gajeel smiled as he came back to his mate, almost sighing as her fingers slid up his chest and she nuzzled in against his neck, nipping at his ear and making his eyes close as the smell of a summers day and hot cinnamon washed over him. His shadows, her sunlight, his metal, her fire, He'd found peace in her arms, home and family by her side and those of Fairy Tail who hadn't given up, who hadn't walked away and abandoned everyone else with barely a backwards glance.
He'd made a point of thanking Bickslow and Laxus for saving Bunny, watching her now, sitting now in Kalebs lap, laughing as Xally explained how the next week would work to her, Cana and Erza to prepare them for the games and challenges of what was called the Womans week, all about testing the relationship, giving everyone a chance to know each other better and have fun.
Erza was delighted by it all, so was Cana and, surprisingly, so was Bunny, who seemed to have bloomed brighter than she had ever been before within the welcoming arms of White Sea and it's Guildmaster. He liked Kaleb, the man was honest, strong, supportive and had a firm grip on his massive guild but not a strangling one, the members were happy, the guild was thriving and he and Emi were content spending time in Pelerno and White Sea both.
Arman had already made a point of spending time with him, they had spent an entire day in downtown Pelerno, just talking, Arman getting him fitted at Elluris, had insisted he let him order him some suits and Gajeel was in one now, a traditional Boscan suit in black with steel accents that hugged his body and had the nice side effect of turning his mate on. She slid into his lap once he sat down and he wrapped his arms around her possessively, his whole life he'd wanted what he held in his arms now, a mate, a future that included family and happiness.
She got along well with Lily, who absolutely loved her long nails scratching between his shoulders and how warm she always was, perfect to take a catnap in her welcoming lap whenever he wanted. His ruby eyes skimmed over Bunny, noting how Kaleb was getting the veiled look he got when he started reaching distances with his magic, he'd bet anything the man was hunting, using that magic to try and find who had put those fucking cameras in this house, who was stalking him and Lucy. Kaleb meant business, had been clear with all of them privately that he was taking an aggressive stance in this, he wanted Sorrano and whoever was helping her brought down and had sent word through Thane to the guild branches to issue a dark mage hunt...on Sorrano.
Now, for most guilds, that was as simple as posting fliers and the interested mages would take on the job, but White Sea had specialized in taking down dark mages and guilds for more than 200 years, they had the hunt down to a well oiled science.
Sorrano's magic, every contact, every place she had ever lived for more than a few weeks, her history, every detail was being broadcast through the branches, mages mobilized to gather more intel, to visit where she had been, talk to everyone who knew her. They were bringing Sabertooth in too, Sting and Rogue reporting Yukino had gone missing shortly after returning home. Mages already in Fiore were being pulled off other tasks to assist Sabertooth in finding out exactly where Yukino had gone.
Sorrano, soon, would not have sneezed somewhere in the last 3 months without White Sea knowing once their people got rolling with this, they would find every hiding place, every sanctuary, every ally and enemy. Mages perfect to counter her magic would come into Minstrel on "vacation" by tomorrow and specialized trackers, like Presca, would be heading out to take up the trails the first wave found to follow.
Gajeel himself was on security detail, a position he was perfectly fine with, one he and Emzadi were well suited to. Vander and Cobra had Kaleb and Lucy, Gajeel and Emzadi were assigned to keep an eye on Zen, Sorranos other target.
Zen sat smiling across from Kaleb and Lucy, content learning what the women would be doing for the next week and how the men would be involved, idly wondering if he and Shimako would do this, they hadn't yet simply because, while they were married and mated, there was little rush for a honeymoon...yet.
So he sat and soaked up the happy vibes in the room as Shimako was bustling around in the kitchen area, happily humming, Hasu sitting at his feet playing a board game with Raiu, Hasu and him and Zen was enjoying himself, he loved his little nephews and their bright inquisitive personalities. Hasu was confident, happy, and loved being held, hugged and cuddled, Raiu was more self contained, enjoyed his hugs and cuddles plenty but was happy to sit by himself where as Hasu preferred sitting on his Uncles feet in between crawling into his lap for cuddles. Zen sure didn't mind, perfectly happy to hold the child or have him sitting on his boots.
Kaleb shifted Lucy to the chair and moved down to the floor to join them, pulling a grinning Raiu into his arms and "helping" him with his turns until Zen had to step in and do the same for Hasu to keep the game balanced, brothers eyeing each other through narrowed eyes from both age groups.
"So I pick the first challenge?" Lucy asked, smiling watching the easy banter between Kaleb and his brother as they "helped" the boys play monopoly...both boys moving into full Tycoons quickly and destroying their chuckling Aunt Xally who held up her hands in surrender when Zen relieved her of her last property collecting rent.
"Yep, something for couples usually, challenges can be translated for non-couples to play too but…" Emzadi handed Lucy the list of challenges from the last wedding she'd gone to and Lucy read them, eyes widening and cheeks turning pink.
"First couple to return with picture of themselves having sex in public...how does THAT translate?" She asked incredulously. Emzadi grinned. "Non-coupled participants had to find willing partners or forfeit that day." She said wickedly.
"Tie partner down for play with silk scarves, ripped scarfs are an instant disqualifier" She shook her head and Emzadi shrugged.
"That wasn't hard to translate, play can be a lot of things." She said lightly.
"I like this one...we'll start with this." Lucy said pointing and Emzadi beamed, snatching the list up and hurrying to the study to write it down so each woman could have a copy.
"At the end of the week, the winner gets a special prize, donated by Papa." Xally said brightly.
"And everyone here would love to have what I selected so play to win." Arman declared
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The following day dawned bright and beautiful. Capressa was temperate, like Pelerno but with the bite of the ocean in the air, so not as tropical as Pelerno, but still generally warm enough shorts were good enough while the sun was up though it did get chilly at night.
Everyone assembled on the terrace for breakfast and Lucy had been overwhelmed by four guests she hadn't been expecting at all but that were apparently, Gajeels wedding present, and one she kissed the slayers cheeks for too.
Mira, Lisanna as well as Wendy and Carla. She was still wiping at tears almost an hour after the group had appeared following Gajeel and Emzadi.
"MIRA! WENDY!Lis!" She'd screamed and been instantly swarmed. Erza fell into the bunch and it was a mess of tears and hugs and weeping women even Kaleb stayed clear of.
Breakfast was spent catching up, Mira nearly fainting when she met the boys and hugging Kaleb so hard she squeezed the air out of the big man.
"Elfman and Evergreen send their love but Ever is pregnant so they stayed in Magnolia." Mira said happily.
"We haven't heard from Master Makarov in over a month." Mira admitted a little sobered when Lucy asked if she'd heard from anyone.
"Talked to him two weeks ago, still on his fucking "mission" whatever the fuck it is." Laxus growled. They had been in twice a month contact with Makarov since Kaleb had told them all their former Guildmaster wanted to be kept up on how they were doing.
"At least you hear from him...and no, we haven't heard from anyone else really, in fact when Gajeel reached out to us he was the first one since the guild disbanded...it's sort of...sad." Mira admitted.
"I was super busy, but nobody called me, not even Natsu." Wendy agreed then beamed at Lucy "I'm really happy for you Lucy." She added.
"Yes congratulations!" Mira said brightly and her elbow to Lisannas side made the youngest Strauss roll her eyes.
"Congratulations Lucy, You know I'm happy for you though, and extra happy knowing for sure you're not romantically into Natsu…" She added the last and yelped, Miras heel coming down on her foot, the two sisters glaring at each other.
"Yeah, never was Lis, Mr. Forget-you-the-second you're outa sight and I? Yeah, not even friends anymore. I'm happy, happier than I've ever been, Kaleb...is a good man." She said smiling toward her mate who returned her smile.
Mira leaned in close "He looks at you like he really loves you Lucy...I'm soooo looking forward to blonde babies with lavender eyes!" She declared and Lucy just smiled.
"Ok! The challenge for today! For all who are participating you have your papers from Emzadi! We will all meet back here at noon!" Lucy called and everyone got up in pairs, Kaleb raised a brow when she came up to him and gripped the front of his shirt.
"So….we need to go to a club and see about getting you on stage." She said. His eyes widened.
"What?!"
"The challenge is to prove you are not jealous by putting your partner in the spotlight and letting them be there for the evening…." She said.
"There are...fuck...a hundred or so clubs in Capressa." He admitted and Lucy grinned "Yeah, Emzadi said to keep it close to here, so that takes the number down to 6, two feature dancers, and honey...I know you can dance." She grinned at him and Kaleb rolled his eyes. Something he didn't advertise, his father had put all of his children through dance lessons, Bix and Vander went into gymnastics and acrobatics too, but Kalen and Farron had gone all the way into college in ballroom and salsa dancing classes even going into competitions a few times Kaleb had been Emzadis partner for a national championship when he was 18, Bosco taught exotic dancing too and he'd gone through the ranks in that as well and...Bickslow, trying to cheer up a sad Lucy early in their time in Bosco, had told her how Kaleb Cristoff and Vander had gone undercover in a strip club in Autumn city for almost a month to catch some slave traders.
Lucy had finally asked him about it and he'd smirked, happy to give his beautiful mate all the private shows she wanted, for as big as he was, he trained, and worked his body, maintaining his flexibility and agility because it made a difference in battle and he had trained in dual wielding longswords, that skill required some agility and precision his dancing had helped a lot with.
He smiled at her though, the challenges tested things for the couple, loyalty, patience, tolerance and an understanding of each other. This challenge would test it all he was sure, but no wife of his was going to lose her own challenge.
"Ok...shit...well, lets go see if we can find a place willing to let a stranger on their stage tonight." He chuckled.
Lucy nodded, ready to put on her best saleswoman act.
It proved needless. The first club, and she had chosen a strip club because...well...they did visiting talent more? The woman who ran it though took one look at Kaleb and smirked. "Show me what you've got gorgeous, and I get it sweety, womens challenge, red headed woman brought in a pretty sexy guy with black hair, he's gonna dance tonight, tell your friends? I'll put all your guys on stage tonight, long as they can dance and dont mind striping...No jealous bitch routines though, patrons like to touch, and if he's not gonna play the crowd...I don't need him."
Lucy smiled at Kaleb who was shaking his head. "He can play a crowd." She said with confidence.
When they left to go find him clothes he could strip in she was alternating between grinning and blushing and regretting agreeing to it, he was a good dancer, he could have probably pulled off one of the fancy dance clubs.
Everyone met up at lunch and compared notes as to where everyone had landed "stage" spots and Lucy laughed when she found Erza and Gray, Cana had Rowan, and Cobra had Vander all at the same club she was puting Kaleb on stage at, with Cidalise having been roped into the festivities when she'd been caught out shopping by Cristoff and ended up as his partner for the events.
"Ok, so...winner at our club determined by the crowd?" Cobra demanded. Lucy narrowed her eyes on him.
"You're gonna really be ok with this? Mr. Possessive?" She teased and Cobra waved a hand.
"Hey, I know my mate, Vander can fucking dance, sing, and I don't think any of you alls mates can beat mine when it comes to getting people to want to fuck em, I've watched that shadowy shit seduce pissed of guards in nasty places, he can get a bunch of horny women tossing bills and wet for him." Cobra said confidently.
"My Man will take in more money than your Shadow Snakeboy." Cana said. "I'll BET you Rowan can out do Vander, Vans sexy, I won't deny it, but Rowan is sex on legs, all creativity and talent? Women go nuts over ginger guys!" She declared.
"And yet KALEB headlined at the strip club they were under cover at in less than a week of being there. Yeah...BOTH of you? MY husband will blow your boys away." Lucy said lightly.
"Gonna put your jewel where your mouth is there Tink?" Cobra demanded rubbing his fingers together and Lucy narrowed her eyes.
"10 thousand says Kaleb is top performer." She said.
Cana whistled "Shit Lu...alright, 10k it is, Cobra? Putting your jewel on your mates ass shaking abilities?" Cobra narrowed his eyes.
"Like taking candy from babies seriously, but yeah, 10k it is."
"I shall lay 10K on Gray beating all three." another voice came and Lucy and the others turned to look at Erza who was smirking coming over to them.
"Snowballs? Oh Fuck, you sure you wanna go there She-zilla?" Cobra snorted and Erza raised her chin "Gray is a superior dancer, I'll wager 10K that with his natural affinity for stripping without music or incentive, when he actually applies himself he'll be amazing at it."
"You're all doomed." Lucy declared, turning to look at her husband. Kaleb was standing by the opening to the terrace talking with his father and Lucy smirked, letting her eyes run up and down that tall frame, drawing a deep breath Kaleb nodded at whatever his father had said and when Arman turned to pour himself something more to drink Kaleb stretched, pulling his arms behind his head and arching his back and Lucys mouth ran dry...yeah...she was so going to win….
"Y'all can bet," Cidalise snorted into a drink, "..ain't int'rested in doin' so." they understood it, she didn't bet, not after being 'bet' on in Pergrande in the Arenas, she still wasn't recovered enough mentally for even a friendly bet.
Oh course, she didn't know her competitors were doing pretty much what she was. Cana with her eyes latched on Rowan who was laughing with Cristoff, who was playing with the boys, one hanging off each arm he was lifting them up getting them to shriek and laugh. He was also making his generous amount of muscle bulge and flex and half watching the Encan roll her eyes but look highly amused.
Vander was reviewing some song Gajeel had written recently with the Iron Slayer, lips moving as he mouthed the lyrics, a long fingered hand pushing through red streaked black hair and Cobra smirked, Vanders ability to work a crowd was something he had witnessed more than once, his mate was...spectacular on a stage, he could control himself, sit back and watch his mate get a bunch of women screaming, because well, he trusted Vander now, had no idea when the fuck it had happened, but he knew, felt it, Vander was committed to him, loyal, and loved him, like he loved Vander, Gods fucking help him. The Poison Dragon Slayer was head over heels and to hell with the world, as long as he had Vander, he'd be ok.
"Ya know what? I'm gonna let you think so Tink." He said, catching Vanders eye he broke away from Lucy and Cana and went to join his mate. Sliding a hand to Vanders ass and squeezing hard enough anyone but Vander would have yelped, but Vander just turned his head to smirk at him.
"New song Gajeel just finished, was telling him we should start working the chords and smooth it out, so...since Emi just informed Gajeel he's stripping tonight, from the look on your face I'm guessing I'm doing the same thing?" He asked with amused wine colored eyes searching Cobras.
"Babe, you're not just stripping for me tonight, you need to out strip your brothers Cris and Kaleb, I put money on you." Cobra said with a sly smile and Vanders eyes lit, the spark of instant excitement at the challenge igniting the deep dark red.
The betting continued, and even as they went to the two clubs that were serving as "stages" Farron with Mira and Hestor with Lisanna, who had decided not to participate and forfeited the day, were drafted as judges, Farron and Mira going to one club while Hestor and Lisanna went to the other, both men promised no less than Arman that they would be impartial and really, as long as they were separated so they weren't distracting each other that looked to probably work.
So, with tough judges deciding since everyone had found a "stage" for their significant other for the evening, Lucy was sliding her hands over Kaleb making sure his clothes, which would be easy for him to rip off, did a good job of hiding the impressive body beneath them.
She'd opted for a thin linen suit and had Virgo help her adjust it so it was loose on Kalebs big frame with weak seams so he could tear it off piece by piece. None of the others had Virgos help, nope, only Lucy had that resource, she fully intended to win this damn it.
He Still, even with the suit hiding the details of his impressive build, looked amazing, and he smiled at her, tipping her chin up as she smoothed another imaginary wrinkle "Sunrise, win or lose, this is about having fun." He whispered, kissing her softly and she hummed.
"I know...I'd just love to make Cobra and Cana eat their words. I'm not as worried about Gray or Cris as I am Vander honestly." She admitted.
Kaleb smirked "I've never seen Gray dance, but I'm not worried about Vander or Cris. If Bix were here? I'd worry, but he's with the boys soo…" He shrugged and winked at her and Lucy could only cross her fingers.
He looked incredible, but so did Cristoff, Vander and Gray….
When the music heralded the opening of the evenings fun the Owner came out and announced a wedding party from Bosco was in town, which was greeted with wolf whistles and howls of approval.
"Gods bring on the Boscan MEN!" Someone screamed and the owner of the club grinned.
"They're competing against each other ladies, your reactions count, so when you find the one you like? BE LOUD!" She yelled and away they went.
Really, between all the screaming, women crowding the stage, loud music and flashing lights it was a whirlwind Lucy struggled to keep up with, but one thing she knew, when Kaleb went out, the noise was deafening.
Following Kalebs own advice she tried not to watch too much, women were reaching for him, trying to throw money at him, get him to let them touch him and he did, yes, Vander knew how to work a crowd, but Kaleb read minds, he found the catalysts in the room, the women with influence over their friends, who others followed, and he gave them attention, moved the way they wished he would and that had the women losing their damn minds over him.
As the clothes came off the excitement just got more intense too as the women saw the body under the clothes was far better than they'd even hoped it was.
By the time he walked off the stage, the clubs bouncers had to come to keep women from trying to follow him.
Sweaty and disheveled and in nothing but a g-string he leaned against the backstage wall and Vander strolled by rubbing his hair with a towel, shaking his head.
"Fuck you and your magic." The shadowquip chuckled.
Lucy came up and slid her hands up Kalebs chest and he shuddered, smiling, his head tipped back as he caught his breath, eyes closed.
"Cris is still going, but I did my best Sunshine." He said softly, muscle tightening under her fingers.
She pressed a kiss over the cross tattoo. "I know, without a complaint, without any argument, you just went along with this, don't think I don't appreciate it." She said smiling up at him and he grinned, opening his eyes and looking at her.
"Win or lose…" He said and she giggled.
"Win or lose, I'm happy." She said and he pushed off the wall heading for the dressing rooms. "Then so am I. Come on Honey, I need a shower and clothes that don't fall apart then I fully expect a nice back rub when we get back to the house." Lucy grinned and followed happily , swatting Vanders bare ass as she passed him in the dressing room and earning herself a snicker from Cobra.
Once back at the house the "judges" sat and announced their decisions, Farron and Mira had apparently videod the performances at the club they were at and brought their number one choice to Lisanna and Hestor then compared notes and, Lucy was beaming as they declared her the winner of the first challenge.
"Now you chose the second!" Emzadi called and Lucy grinned, already knowing what she wanted. Something a little tamer, significant others would go out into the city and bring back a food their partner had never tried, bring it back and they had to pick something their partner would LIKE. Lucy already had her plans for what she'd pick for Kaleb, though she had no idea what he'd get for her, she liked most things, didn't tend to be picky.
"No forms of strawberry cake Gray!" Lucy and Cana declared together when the challenge for the next day was announced and Gray rolled his eyes. "Yeah whatever, I'll find something, I know Erza, she's like a sister." Cidalise had been a shocking upset during that challenge, the woman having been gone oddly the longest, but coming back with a single container that didn't even SMELL of chocolate, but she'd brought back enough for everyone, curiosities were piqued especially when Cristoff had moaned, the Encan smirking as she handed over what looked like a very simple fried donut.
The events weren't just the challenges, and they weren't just specifically for women. They played a game of hide and seek that resulted in the Dragon Slayer mates all getting way more "finding" then they had planned on, not that Lucy was much better off, when Kaleb found her he flew them to a spot along the cliff overlooking the sea by the house and just...ravished her.
The boys got to play with them, and deeply enjoyed their involvement, especially the game of flag football, both boys were insanely fast for their age, agile and willing to duck between legs and make adults collide, which added to the overall intensity of the game a good bit considering men the size of Laxus, Beck, Kaleb, Zen and Cristoff were involved.
Vander of course took right to what the twins had started and turned getting people to collide into his primary focus on the field.
Altogether, the week was amazing, Shimako and Zen managed to win the third challenge, no one, not even Cobra heard what the small Stellan had said to Zen, making him lean down, but only a few words had his eyes darkening and her smiling a small, secretive smile. She'd gotten Zen to kneel after coming into the room where all the women had to call their partner and do whatever it was they wanted with him. Shimako licked her lips as she spread stardust glitter along his wings, the woman actually flushing a bit as she bit her lip, looking down at Zen with heated eyes.
He'd knelt, spread his wings and with only a minor sigh, held still while she covered them in multicolored glitter. The best part? When Lucy called Kaleb in next and she had to get Kaleb to hold still while Zen shook the glitter from his wings all over his brother. Lucy agreed Shimako had won even though her partner had agreed, because Kaleb had taken longer to convince to come in and let himself be embarrassed while not knowing what Lucy was going to do.
No conclusive winner was decided but everyone agreed it had been hugely fun and, the "prize" for the week was awarded to Lucy for winning two challenges, nobody else had won more than one.
Arman was grinning as he handed her the box "I was hoping you would win, I had a cute prize I was going to give if anyone else won, but this….this is meant for you my dear, Zen?" He called as Zen smiled faintly when he saw what Arman was holding.
The slender silver box was placed in his hands and Zen turned to Lucy.
"This was our mothers, when the device went off that killed her, somehow, it was pushed into me, I was holding it when the men came to take me and it would never allow anyone but me to touch it, We all...the whole family...agreed, it should be passed to you Lucy." Zen said softly, Kaleb and Arman both smiling, the others starting to close in around them. "If he accepts the contract on his own terms."
Lucy took the box finally and glancing from it to Zen to her new husband who nodded encouraging her to open it, she looked down and lifted the lid.
Inside, on a bed of crushed dark blue velvet, was a platinum key bearing the symbol of Draco…...
Hestor narrowed his eyes just a bit, mostly as if to wait and see as he leaned into Farron; they'd all heard the tales, all knew that Lucy had NOT been given key trials and given what Hestor had gone through? With Draco being a generational key, quite a few in the room knew this could blow up...badly, depending on what the spirit did. The man didn't even want the key...but he didn't see any reason for someone not marrying Zen himself or Farron - again not that he WANTED the key, he didn't, he had enough issues with his keys and did not want to throw a dragon into that mix - he saw no reason and had been rather adamant that if there was no trial...he'd find a way to take his issue to Sei Roo...or Higher, though the 'higher' wasn't ever said and it was said ominously, with Hestor's eyes half unfocused, almost like he wasn't fully talking.
"There will be a trail…" A voice said and Lucy stared at the bright key and felt the world shift...