Summary: Lucy misses her home and wishes to be anywhere but with the Court despite the lovely arrival of Edward.

Pairings: Lucy/Erza friendship, parental Erza/Edward, parental Silver/Erza, Jellal/Erza, parental Jellal/Edward, Sibling Erza/Gray/Natsu, mentions of Levy/Lucy friendship, some implied Gajeel/Levy if you look carefully, mentions of Gray/OCs, a little implied one-sided Wakaba/Lucy, and, of course, Natsu/Lucy. Lots and Lots of Natsu/Lucy.

Author's Note: Someone PM'd me this week to request another instalment of this 'verse. Fortunately for them I was already working on it before they asked, and I decided to skip my Friday update in order to focus solely on this update because…..OH MY GOD! I HAVE OVER THREE THOUSAND REVIEWS! THANK YO! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO ME! THANK YOU SO MUCH! So this chapter is dedicated to you all, thank you for being so supportive and encouraging. I hope you enjoy it.

Lucy did not get to go home.

With negotiations taking place with Spain, Natsu was suddenly required to spend all his time at Court and with the likelihood of someone else hoping to use Lucy for their own cause and may or may not kidnap her on the road, Lucy also had to stay in Court.

Lucy was not a fool she knew the real reason why she was being kept at Court.

They didn't trust her.

"It's not a matter of trust," Erza said, though the bright red patches on her cheeks and her inability to look Lucy in the eye suggested otherwise, "of course we trust you. You are our friend, our family, in fact we trust you so much, especially myself, that we want you to stay at Court because we need your help with the alliance with Spain and….well, you see…..I am with child! And I really need some company for my confinement."

"Oh Erza!" Lucy couldn't help but gasp in delight as she took Erza's hands into her own. Over the last couple months in particular she had gotten close again to the redheaded duchess. Her only equal in rank, and perhaps her only friend who wasn't her husband or her servants. It touched her greatly that Erza seemed to want and need her company just as much. "How wonderful! Of course I shall be there for your confinement!"

"I am honoured," Erza smiled, "to have such a friend in you."

And so Lucy spent her days sewing in Erza's rooms instead of doing her own stich work in her own bower chambers in the old, but cosy, castle of hers. She spent her days walking in the Royal gardens instead of her own meadows while enduring the stares and sly whispers of her fellow courtiers. She had still yet to make many friends at Court though Mistress McGarden, who had previously been dismissed by Lady Ultear, cheerfully spoke to her as did her new employer the Lady Mirajane, but it was not enough to ease the nastiness of Court life.

The Royal Wards that Lucy had played with on that fateful day with Natsu, so long ago now though it had only been a year and a half, had been moved to a country home for their education and health, and therefore Lucy did not even have that distraction to cheer herself up with.

As Erza's belly grew bigger, the whispers grew louder again.

Only this time, instead of her being a traitor, the whispers were focused on her fertility. Erza had only been married a few short weeks before Lucy and although it had taken some time, what with the rebellion and uneasiness before Christmas, she was now with child. Surely Lucy ought to be with child too? Did that mean she was barren? Or was it because she refused to do her wifely duty because of her Lancastrian loyalties? Would poor Lord Dragneel be childless forever thanks to his frigid wife?

These whispers mixed with the constant presence of Viscount Dryer and the Spanish Ambassador Jose Porla at banquets, and dinners, and hunts, and even in the long, narrow, corridors of the palaces were beginning to unnerve her. Especially as they kept shooting her assessing stares. She wasn't sure what they were thinking about but she did not like it. She did not like the way their dark, empty, eyes seemed to look at her as if they were searching for a threat or worse….an ally.

She did not know what on earth Viscount Dryer would want with the Spanish Ambassador who was negotiating for his princess' marriage to their current king….but if it involved staring at her like that, she did not want to know and certainly did not like it!

Her only comfort was her nights with Natsu, and even then they were uncomfortably chaste and becoming increasingly rarer. With the whispers still in her mind, she could no longer take comfort in just sleeping beside her husband as she could not help but wonder if she was making him suffer. Surely he would want to….? Surely he finds this unbearable as the next man would? On top of this was the fact Natsu was busy with smoothing things over with the Spanish, with going on mini-quests to help Jellal search whatever it is Erza was craving that moment, or even keep Gray company on his excursions.

In fact that was the most common one, Gray seemed to always want Natsu's company. It was beginning to hurt Lucy a great deal especially since she, like everyone and their dog in London, knew that these nightly 'excursions' were in fact visits to a brothel.

It was all too much.

It was all too painful.

And Lucy just couldn't cope, she was lonely, she missed everything, she wanted to be far away from everything and everyone, she was hurt, she was in need of…..she wanted….oh she wanted….

Lucy just wanted to go home.

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

"Congratulations My Lady, you have a son."

Erza blinked dazedly at that.

She had spent months of a slow, burning, pain, as her stomach grew too big for her swordplay, her back ached constantly, her bladder was sorely abused by her growing child, and she rarely got to keep her breakfast down. Then, after spending what felt like an eternity locked in a hot, stuffy, dark, chamber, Erza went through hours of utter, agonising, pain as she had to push out her baby.

She was now exhausted beyond belief and the midwife's words barely reached her. She had a son? A little boy? Her own baby? It was something she could hardly believe….

"Let me see him," she whispered hoarsely, "let me hold my own child."

The midwife hesitated but Lucy obeyed instantly. She briskly walked towards the midwife plucked Erza's child out of her arms, and carefully carried him over, before placing him into Erza's own arms. Erza felt a stab of affection for her sister in law who had been the very best of friends in these last few months unlike her stepsister who was frosty at best these days. Well frosty at best had always been the best way to describe her relationship with Ultear, they had been rivals for Erza's father's affections, but still…

Erza's thoughts of sisters vanished in an instant as her child was placed in her arms. There was a sudden warmth that surged through her as she held the most precious thing in the world. Her heart flooded with a love that she had never felt thought and suddenly she felt weak, vulnerable, and tender. "You are perfect," she whispered as she tried to blink back tears. She was still the Duchess of Somerset, she was still a formidable general, she was not a weeping, wailing, woman that needed to be held. Her son stared gravely back at her and she soaked in how much he looked like her, her dark brown eyes blinking back, and tuffs of scarlet red hair sticking out. "Your grandfather would be proud," she whispered to her son.

Whenever he visited her or had her to stay, Lord Silver would pat her head, run his fingers through her hair admiringly, and call her his 'fiery princess'. He always seemed to be delighted in her and whatever she did, and proudly boast her and her scarlet hair for all of England to hear.

She gazed adoringly at her 'fiery prince' and knew within her heart, her father would be just as delighted with his first grandchild as he was with his first child.

"Isn't he perfect?" Erza demanded of her ladies. "Isn't my son the most perfect being you have ever seen?"

Lucy had been staring at the baby with a weird expression on her face. One mixed with longing, great sadness, and yet strangely hopeful, she snapped out of it when Erza spoke, and smiled sincerely. "Yes," she agreed with Erza, "Absolutely perfect. In fact I think he has the Duke's face behind your colouring. I have seen the Duke of Somerset look equally grave during council meetings and feasts alike."

Erza ducked down to look at her child's face and had to agree with Lucy. Her son's seriousness was definitely his father's. "I am glad you agree," Erza murmured as her attention was slowly being stolen by her child again. "It would be a poor thing indeed if my son's godmother did not agree that he is perfect."

Lucy blinked in surprise and then a dazzlingly happy expression took over as she babbled her thanks. Lucy, unfortunately, had not been able to articulate a coherent response as that was when the men decided to break all rules and come into the birthing chamber. Jellal, was the first to reach her, and she was grateful for his loving kiss on her hand and then her forehead, and cheek, before he planted one on their son's forehead and had to pry the baby out of her arms so he could hold him. Gray walked in with his usual lack of care for rules, not that it mattered he was the King, and Natsu followed because….well since when had Natsu ever knew the definition of rules?

Erza tried to ignore the two different aches in her body with great difficulty. There was the painful, soreness, of just giving birth, and then there was a strange metaphorical ache in her arms that longed to be filled with her son's tiny body.

"Have you decided a name yet?" Gray asked as he held the baby carefully. "Something suitably royal, I assume."

"We thought to call him Beelzebub," Jellal deadpanned.

Gray choked as Natsu snorted with laughter and Lucy tried hard to suppress a smile. Erza had no qualms of smacking her husband for that. "Tell me you're joking!" Gray shouted.

"Of course he is," Erza snarled. "We're calling him, Edward."

"Good, good," Gray said though he still looked horrified at the potential Beelzebub named child, "a lovely name. A very kingly name. In fact-"

"No," Erza interrupted him, "you are not going to use my son to destroy the last few months of negotiating. We only just got Spain to seriously consider. In no time we'll be haggling the dowry and choosing one of the many daughters. You are not getting out of it by naming my child your heir."

"But wouldn't you like to be the mother of the King of England?" Gray asked whiningly. "You'd be awfully good at it. You are bossy as it is."

Erza's eye twitched at that but she chose to ignore that insult. "I am not letting you make my son the reason why England plunges back into war," she said firmly, "don't argue!" she silenced her brother before he could even open his mouth. "You know just as well as I do that if you acknowledge someone for an illegitimate line as your heir suddenly a dozen of our cousins that also descend from one illegitimate line or another will make a claim."

Subconsciously, Erza's eyes skated towards Lucy which caused Natsu to take a protective step closer to his wife. Lucy flinched and grimaced under Erza's stare and instantly Erza felt guilty, it was not Lucy's fault, after all, that men like the Viscount, had no problem using her in their games.

Quickly, Erza decided it was best to move onto another subject, and narrowed her eyes at something that had been bothering her for a while.

"I want this," she said coldly, "to be the last time you hold my child without your clothes on, Gray."

"Oh crap! Not again!"

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

Yuletide had come again.

As the Twelfth Night was drawing to a close, Lucy tried to not let it bother her that it had been a tiny bit over a year since she had been home. In so many ways life at Court had improved since she had been made godmother to Lord Edward, people thought she was trustworthy now or at least an acquaintance worth having in order to further their greed and ambition for more land or titles, she was able to talk to other people without shame being brought upon them, and she was capable of going wherever she pleased without being followed (though Sir Gajeel stilled shadowed her every move whenever Mistress McGarden – "Call me, Levy! Please. And can I call you Lu?" – was accompanying her), but that did nothing to stop the whispers.

As Edward thrived, the whispers about Lucy's lack of child grew louder. The whispers about the King and his brothers were visiting every whore house in London were so loud that they echoed in Lucy's mind. The whispers that she refused to do her duty and that their marriage was an unhappy, cold, one haunted her.

As did the looks Viscount Dryer and the Spanish Ambassador still sent her.

Tomorrow was an important day as tomorrow was the day that Gray signed the betrothal contract in front of every lord, gentleman, bishop, and even some of the merchants, of the country and seal it for good. There would be nothing to stop it from happening and the York Regime will be able to flourish with the assistance of their newfound Spanish friends, and it was something Lucy blatantly celebrated alongside her husband.

So why they were still looking at her like that, she does not know, but she wished that they would stop. Her spine chilled each time she caught their equally dark and assessing eyes, and she cannot help but shiver.

There was a cackle of laughter and Lucy's attention was brought back to the entertainment. "My Lady, Duchess," the Lord of Misrule leered at her, "You have failed to answer my riddle." What riddle? Lucy had been so distracted that she had not realised she been asked one. "You will have to do a forfeit."

Sir Wakaba, an odious man if you asked Lucy, he was always smoking something and making crude comments about all the ladies in Court, had been made the Lord of Misrule. He gave her a look that made her feel like he was stripping her with his eyes, she did her best to not shudder, and instead gave him a tight smile.

"Very well, My Lord," she said stiffly, "what is my forfeit?"

"Your forfeit, my frigid lady," Sir Wakaba smirked, "my Lady Disdain, my Lady of Ice," several people laughed and Lucy tried not to flush in embarrassment. They all knew. They all knew that her marriage was unconsummated. They all knew she was as untouched and cold as a nun, and they mocked her for it. She felt Natsu tried to stand up by she pushed him back down before anyone noticed. It would not help if Natsu suddenly challenge the Lord of Misrule to a duel for a bawdy joke. "Is to kiss your Lord husband, warmly, lovingly, and dare I say it? Wantonly."

Lucy's cheeks definitely heated up at that in humiliation and fury as others laughed. "Come now, Sister," Gray teased her, "it would be ungracious to not do the forfeit."

"Very well."

As Lucy stood everyone fell into a hushed silence. She was aware of every eye watching her and it made the hair on the back of her neck prickle. "Lucy," Natsu whispered, "You don't have to listen to that snow fairy, you don't have to-"

Lucy placed a finger on his lips which silenced him instantly, though for good measure she whispered; "hush!" before she moved her finger to the side of his lips, brushing his plumper, lower, lip with her thumb before she suddenly swooped in and kissed him.

Lucy's only kiss before this had been over a year ago when she had married him. There had been many near kisses before, an occasional affectionate peck as well, but neither Natsu nor Lucy had initiated an actual kiss in all of their marriage until now, and that kind of broke her heart. That they had to be dared by a perverted old man into doing this.

Reluctantly she pulled away, she kept her eyes resolutely away from Natsu's face, and caught the eye of Aquarius who looked furious that Lucy had been put in such a situation. That had been the last straw, unable to cope anymore with being the centre of everyone's attention, Lucy stepped away from the table.

"I hope you are satisfied," she said to Sir Wakaba, "I would hate to see what else you would call a forfeit," and with that she left the Great Hall, head held up high, and fully aware whoever she passed hastily bowed or curtsied.

It was not until she made it down the corridor, and around the corner, that she began to make a run for it.

She ran as fast as she could as she tried so desperately to block out everything. The way everyone stared, and laughed, and whispered, the way Sir Wakaba leered, the way Natsu's lips felt against her –

Block it out!

She focused on the sound of her footsteps echoing throughout the corridor, they got louder the faster she went, and she used it to block the rest out, as she reached for the door to her rooms, her hand mere millimetres from the door when –

A pair of hot, strong, large hands grabbed her waist, she could feel the heat of them seep into the layers of her gown, and she was suddenly whirled round to face a panting, frustrated, flushed, Natsu. "Lucy!" he gasped. "Lucy, I-"

"I am sorry!" she burst out before he could say anymore. "I know you do not want me. I know you do not wish to be," she could not even say the words she was so embarrassed, instead she shook her head rapidly, "and I am sorry you were put on the spot like that. Just so they could have their fun."

Natsu blinked and then he suddenly scowled and clutched her all the more tightly. She couldn't quite keep the gasp from leaving her lips. "What the hell, you weirdo?" he shouted. "What do you mean I do not want you?! You are my wife! Of course I want you!"

"That's not what I mean!" Lucy cried out exasperated.

"And then what did you mean?!"

"I am not blind, deaf, and dumb, Natsu!" Lucy snapped. "All of London knows that you and Gray go to the brothels. I do not have to be intelligent to know you go there because you do not wish to be in my bed."

"What?!" Natsu looked horrified and furious all at the same time. "I wouldn't want hundreds of those nasty, cheap, painted women when I can have just you!" he blurted out. Lucy's eyes widened at that and he flushed all the more. "God, Luce," he moaned in embarrassment. "I sit downstairs while Gray takes whoever he likes upstairs and wait for him to be finished."

"Why?" Lucy whispered.

"Because he is a fucking stupid ice moron who thinks he can go to brothels without assassins or the like trying to-"

"No," Lucy interrupted him, "why do you sit downstairs? It is not as if you have….those urges," she blushed even more at that, God was there ever a delicate way of putting that into words? "Satisfied at home. So why do you stay downstairs when you can be satisfied there instead?"

"Because it is against my principals," Natsu said instantly, his eyes blazing with a passion usually reserved for duelling, "I have never once believed in sexual relations outside of marital relations. I am not him." There was no doubt to who Natsu was referring to there. "I do not take another's man woman and leave a child on her. I do not make children and then leave them with a cousin to take care of. I have no plans to lay with any woman other than my wife, and so that stupid moron that I call brother can lay with every woman in London in order to rebel at the thought of arranged marriage, but I am going to wait downstairs so I can escort him home and then return to my wife."

"Natsu…." Lucy breathed.

She could feel tears of relief building up in her eyes and she wanted to howl and cry that she was so glad to know this. That she was pleased she would be the only one for him, and that she wanted only him as well. She could not quite put into words but she definitely opened her mouth to try and say them when Natsu spoke up again.

"Lucy," he stepped back and released her them, "you shouldn't let those idiots get to you. It doesn't matter. Whether we have relations or not, I mean" he added quickly, his cheeks were a bright red just as Lucy's were, and she was certain they would have matched Erza's scarlet hair. "I told you on our Wedding Night, and I will tell you again, I want it when you want it, and if that is never then I will happily wait still."

"But I do want- I mean," Lucy stammered, her cheeks hotter than ever, and Natsu's startled expression flustered her even more. "I….oh Cursed Saints!" she gave up trying to say it in words and chose instead to fling her arms round Natsu's neck and drag his head to her level so she could kiss him again.

He responded immediately. His hands searing through her gown at her hips, his legs walking them back into a wall, his lips fast and fierce, and a sudden heat took over as Lucy melted into kiss and encouraged for more until breathing became a requirement again, and Natsu rested his forehead against hers as they both panted for breath.

"I want to be your wife, in every way," she whispered hotly against his lips. "Natsu, please…"

He smirked, and she suddenly squealed when he swept her up into his arms, and suddenly kicked their door open.

"I'm all fired up!"

And then he kissed her again.

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

No one would know that right this second Lucy was very sore between her legs. No one would know that after a year and a half of marriage, Lucy finally had it consummated last night and her sheets were bloody with the proof (which had made Natsu horrified until Lucy persuaded him it was fine, and perfectly natural, and she'd quite like to do it again. "It's not natural, you weirdo," Natsu argued, but the smile she could feel against her lips, as she pulled him back onto her, told her that he was not so bothered by it now), and she was a wife in everything now.

It was hard not to feel radiant and smug, her husband loved her. Her husband wanted her. Her husband did not just consummate their marriage last night, he made love to her. She could feel her skin glowing with the happiness, she might be sore, there was definitely bruises on her hips from being held too tight, and other bruises dotted round her neck and collarbone, but not one person in this hall would know.

Lucy stood upright and proudly as she wore her ermine robes over a deep purple gown. This was an official state event which meant her head now also ached with the heavy burden of the duchess coronet. Lucy had been brought up for these events and was used to this sort of dress, Natsu, however, looked extremely uncomfortably as he tugged at the ermine fur collar and frowned at the heaviness of his own coronet.

Lucy tried not to giggle, it would not go down well if she laughed in the middle of the Archbishop of Canterbury droned on about the virtues of marriage and keeping one's word. Gray sat there regally at the table with a solemn expression though Lucy could see his fingers twitching towards the ties of his own robes.

Erza's hand fell onto her ceremonial sword and Gray instantly dropped his hands onto his lap and looked slightly sheepish.

The Archbishop started to ask Gray if he had any objections and Lucy tuned out the persistent loud, booming, questions, and Gray's constant, measured, responses as she felt Natsu's hand take hers.

He held her hand tightly and she felt the usual sparks at his own touch, the warmth, the love that he seemed to just radiate naturally, and she was unable to keep herself from meeting his eyes and give him an adoring look which could never convey just exactly how much she felt.

Gray picked up the quill and began to sign the contract.

They shared a warm smile.

Natsu mouthed something and she was fairly certain it was 'I love you' which only made her smile more as she mouthed it in return. His returning grin was dazzling.

Gray put the quill down, Natsu and Lucy broke apart just as Gray sighed ever so slightly which fortunately no one but a small handful caught as everyone else applauded.

It was now official.

King George (Gray) of England, first of his name, was now officially betrothed to the Spanish Infanta Juvia of Aragon.