Thank you for the reviews! It's nice to hear your thoughts of what might happen in the story, StainedGlassM and graystripemkc. They actually gave me some ideas for the story. Hopefully it will keep you entertained and interested in the future too!

And here is chapter 10! Enjoy!

Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail and I'm just playing with the characters.

The blonde pair walked in silence trough the town. Laxus in front and Lucy a bit behind him. From time to time she had to take one or two running steps to keep up with the man's much faster pace. It was awkward. Lucy would have wanted to talk with Laxus to clear the things between them. She still hadn't apologized for the scene she caused, for instance. But even more than fearing to open her mouth, she just didn't find a good moment to do so. Laxus' irritated aura was silently telling her that he wasn't in any mood for chitchat, and Lucy wanted to respect that. Sometimes it was just best to let people calm down on their own before any talking. Lucy wanted to believe that when he was ready, he would talk... Well probably not, but maybe he would at least let her talk.

So instead of forcing some talk on Laxus, Lucy did some sightseeing. Magnolia was a pretty town and she would have been more than happy to live there. The bit oldish fair of the houses made it homely. Everything seemed to go on slowly, in relaxed pace. She also liked that it missed the fuss of bigger cities, but it was still big enough that not everyone knew each other. And what was the most important was that Fairy Tail was located in here. Who knows any of the people she had passed might have been a mage of Fairy Tail?

Deep in her thoughts, Lucy didn't noticed that Laxus stopped and she ended up bumping right at his back. Rubbing her sore nose, she stepped on the man's side to ask what happened for him to halt so suddenly. But then she saw the murderous glare he was giving somewhere in front of them. She ended up swallowing the question. Following Laxus' gaze, she tried to see what had upset him so badly this time. First she couldn't see anything, but then she spotted a small old man standing on a porch of one of the houses, staring back at Laxus.

Lucy tried to figure out who the tiny elder was - Had she seen him somewhere before? - when she felt a zap on her upper arm. "Auch!" She yelped and took a fast step away from Laxus. Her eyes went completely round, when she saw the man. He had lightning dancing all around his arms and the mere glare he had given the old man had turned into a canine bearing snarl. Who ever the elder was, Laxus seriously seemed to hate him.

"Gramps." Laxus growled quietly. Why was that bastard standing on his porch? This was exactly why he didn't like coming back to Magnolia. The second he steps his foot in to the town, the old man is hot on his heels nagging about this and that. Didn't he have better things to do than run around after his grandchild pretending to care? For example leading a fucking guild! It was all this tiny shit head's fault that Fairy Tail was a laughing stock around the whole kingdom. Just how the fuck did he even know he was back? His mood taking a serious turn to worse again, Laxus spun around and started to march back to where they had come from.

Lucy glanced between him and the tiny elder. The old man run off the porch and slightly after the retreating Laxus. "Laxus! Stop right there!" He shouted and to Lucy's surprise the younger man actually did stop. Laxus' hand, finger by finger, rolled into a fist so tight his knuckles started to turn white.

"What?!"

The loud bark made Lucy flinch even from that distance. Slowly she turned to the old man's direction to see how he would react. The elder shook his head while sighing. "Would it kill you to show yourself at the guild sometimes? Other than picking up a mission or messing with the other members."

"Yes!"

"Laxus..." The old man shook his head again and furrowed his brows looking tired. "You still have to come officially register the job to the guild, if you have accepted it." He said firmly. This caused Laxus magic burst out even more as his level of anger rose. Lucy, who had literally jumped a bit further from him, couldn't understand how the old man didn't even bat his eyes to that. Looking between the two for a moment, she wiggled nervously. Should she step in? She started to fear that Laxus would more likely give up on the job than go through something that literally made him boil over.

Laxus tuned around and the hate full glare he gave the old man gave Lucy a start. But it also gave her an odd adrenaline boost and she found herself stepping between the men, face toward the older one. "Excuse me..." She raised a shaking hand. "C-could the job registering be done by the client?"

Like only now noticing her presence, the old man turned his attention to her, a bit astounded. For a moment his mouth opened and closed as he didn't know what to say. He glanced at Laxus, but the younger man was also staring the girl a hint of confusion mixed into that furious expression on his face. "I guess it's alright." He finally answered still a bit bewildered. He wanted to let the girl from the uncomfortable position. She looked like a scared pray, who knew that the predator was right behind her.

Lucy let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you." She mentally fist bumped as her real arms were too slack to do it at the moment. Now Laxus wouldn't be forced to do something he loathed and she didn't have to fear for him abandoning her. She took a step toward the elder man, her plan being to ask him more specific instructions for the job registering, but she couldn't get further as a hand landed on her shoulder to spun her around. Laxus, now standing right in front of her, stared down at her with displeased expression. Lucy blinked confused. Shouldn't he be happy she offered to help him?

"What are you doing?" He growled, but didn't sound as angry anymore as he had second ago when shouting at the old man.

"...helping you...?" Lucy cocked her head to the side. Had she really done something she shouldn't have?

Laxus let out a frustrated scoff. "Didn't I tell you not to involve yourself with the guild?"

"Actually you only said not to ask about the guild-" Laxus eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. "B-but I guess I misunderstood! I will leave the job registering to you then." Lucy babbled, cold sweat running down her forehead. She hadn't realized that the guild was such a taboo to the man. She though that he just didn't want her to get too mixed in his private life.

Laxus furrowed his brows. He had completely forgotten that the guild had to do the job registering. Normal free-for-all missions went through Magic Council, where they were registered and then the posters are sent to the official guilds, and the guild just has to inform the officers which missions has been taken. The missions requesting a certain mage, if accepted, had to be requested in the guild and then send to Magic Council for filing. It was rather simple thing to do, but the idea of going to the guild was simply obnoxious. Especially if Gramps was "missing" him enough to show up on his front door.

Still, sending the girl to do it didn't tempt him either. Laxus pinched the bridge between his eyes. He had to think. If Lucy were to step a foot in to the guild, it was very possible she would realize the pitiful state their guild was in. She could end up joining the squad that looked at Fairy Tail mages along their fucking long noses. He wouldn't be able to take it for a whole week, that was sure. Lucy, however, seemed to be a bit of a special case. There was a chance she could mix in with all those morons better than well. Laxus wasn't sure which one was the worst option.

Laxus let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine." He had to forcefully push the word out of him and when he finally succeeded it was more of a growl than an actual word. He had to think positively. It was only plus for him, if he could avoid going to the guild to get nagged. There was no saying how the oddball of a princess would react on seeing the guild. If they got lucky, the cream of the trouble makers would be away on missions of their own. He should still make his team go with her, or more like go watch over her. "You will go, but my team will come with you." He stated, pointing at Lucy. The girl nodded her head frantically as an answer. "And you," Laxus turned his attention back to the old man. With death glare, he growled. "I will send the girl to the guild later. So, get the hell away from my house."

The elder lifted his hands up in surrender. Without a word he started to walk toward them. Lucy didn't realize she started to hold her breath when the tiny man approached. After he had passed the two of them, she noticed that her lungs were screaming for oxygen She let out a long breath, then took even bigger one in.

Laxus only clicked his tongue disgusted as the man had passed them, then headed to the house without a word. He took out his key and opened the door. He turned around to tell the girl to step in only to find her still standing on the same spot, staring after his grandfather. "Are you coming or not?" He barked annoyed starling the girl awake from her thoughts. With a high pitched sorry she ran to the house. She slowed a little at the door, glanced up at him and then with a whisper 'Excuse me.' she stepped in.

Nearly tiptoeing she walked deeper into the lightless house. Lucy felt like she was entering a beast's den. A beast's den that smelled like wood and leather and something else. Lucy sniffed the air gently as she tried to recognize the third scent that lingered in the dim space. Man... It was the first word that the scent brought to her mind. Her father's office had the same kind of a smell, but this one was a bit different. It was more masculine and somewhat...exiting. The though made her blush lightly as she finally realized what she had done. She had just willingly stepped inside to man's house. Alone.

Laxus watched as the girl proceeded forward. Like a small, insecure but curious animal she one step at a time walked deeper into the darkness of the house. His nose being accustomed to his house's scents, he easily detected the changes in the girl's scent. First she was clearly a bit scared, but then the curiousness won over it and the scent of fear flattened. Then she stopped, her scent changing again. It was like fear, but something else was mixed in it. What on Earth was the girl thinking?

Laxus stared her back a moment longer, the door knob in one hand. Then with a tiny shook of his head he pulled the door closed. The bang made Lucy jump around startled, her eyes wide. Laxus' own eyes widened a bit, when a spike of new kind of scent reached his nose. The something mixed in the fear got stronger. And it was now easier to tell what that 'something' was. A light smirk turned the corners of his mouth up. "Naughty princess." He whispered only for his ears to hear.

Lucy felt her body tense up even more when Laxus started to approach her. Even if she couldn't see perfectly in the feint light, his eyes she could distinguish perfectly. The couple rays of light, which prevented the room from going completely black, made the golden color of his eyes dance like lightning. It was as beautiful as it was fearsome. Under that gaze it was impossible for her to move and in mere seconds Laxus stood right next to her. The man lifted one of his arms and started to move his hand toward her. Lucy squeezed her eyes shut, mentally getting ready for the moment she would feel his fingers against her skin.

However, the moment never came. Instead she heard a gentle 'click', immediately followed by a weak light pushing trough her closed lids. Carefully she cracked one eye open and saw that the light had been turned on. Lucy opened her second eye too, then on the corner of her eye glanced around. Shaky sigh of relief exited her, when she didn't see Laxus anymore.

"Don't worry. I wouldn't touch a fancy-panties-princess like you even with a long stick." A voice whispered right next to her ear

Laxus watched amused as the girl jumped forward with a shriek, hand covering her ear. Her face was literally in flames as she turned to glare him. He straightened his posture and huffed before walking away. He grabbed the fur lined coat from his shoulders, trowing it then on a large leather coach while heading to a kitchen located on the other end of the big living room.

Shocked, annoyed and a little bit offended by his words, Lucy stared after him brows furrowed. She wanted to say something back, but no matter how hard she thought nothing came to her mind that didn't sound childish or otherwise stupid. Feeling that she had to at least do something, Lucy stuck her tongue out toward the man. When his back disappeared to the kitchen, she pulled her tongue back.

After a short moment Laxus walked out of the kitchen a beer in hand. He stared Lucy, who hadn't moved a single step from the spot he left her, a moment, then with dismissing shook of a head he headed to the sofa set of one coach and two armchairs with a glassy coffee table between. He sat down on one of the armchairs, the leather creaking under his weight. Without even bothering to kick his shoes of he lifted them on the table, one on top the other. With a whiz the beer can opened and the liquid inside found its' way down his throat. On the corner of his eye he saw the girl finally moving. He watched disinterested as she walked to the other chair. Not even for a second did she take her eyes off him. And when she sat down on the chair, she did it so carefully and slowly that the leather didn't let out a single sound. Laxus wanted to roll his eyes. Didn't he already say he wouldn't touch her?

"So," Laxus started while playing with the press button of his can with a finger. The clicking sound it made nearly echoed in the otherwise silent house. "You have to settle with the coach." He swung his thumb toward the furniture. Actually there was a guest bed in upstairs his team mates uses sometimes. The problem was that his own bed was also upstairs. "There is couple rules you must follow, if you don't want to keep your head." He heard the girl swallow nervously. "First, upstairs is my territory. You won't step your foot there in any condition. Are we clear?" He gave Lucy a warning glare and she answered him with rapid nods. "Second, I'm not your fucking cleaning lady. You are responsible for your stuffs and I don't want to see your shit laying around. Thirdly, don't touch my beer or brake my things." He took a sip from the can in his hand. "Otherwise I don't really care what you do."

Lucy waited a short moment if there was going to be more rules, but when the man kept silently drinking his beer she nodded slowly. For some reason she had thought that Laxus would have been the kind to tell her not to touch anything and live as she wasn't even there. A small smile visited her lips. Maybe living with Laxus wasn't going to be so bad. As long as she didn't annoy him and he keeps his promise of keeping his hands to himself - he could have phrased it a bit more nicely thou - there shouldn't be any problem. Head turning she studied her new living quarters. Everything she needed would be only couple steps away. The kitchen was right there and the bathroom on the other side of the living room. All this was crowned with a nice view to a small garden on the back yard. As she stared out through the glass wall, Lucy tried to picture Laxus taking care of the flowers. Her smile grew. She couldn't really picture it.

Hearing the leather creak again, Lucy turned her attention back to Laxus. He had stood up. "I will call Freed to come by to fetch you. While waiting you should think what we should do for the remaining five days." The man said indifferent and then without a single more word he headed to the stairs. Lucy watched as he climbed to the second floor, leaving her completely alone.

Even if she was given the freedom to do whatever she wanted, doing so in someone else's house felt wrong. Feeling a bit awkward, Lucy kept sitting on the chairs while hugging her bag. She continued to study the room until she let her curiosity won. If she had the permission to do what she wanted, maybe some exploring wouldn't hurt. She got up, planning to go see the garden more closely, but right then booming voice called for her. "Oi! Princess!" The start it caused made her spun around so abruptly that she hit her leg on the coffee table. Lucy slammed a hand over her mouth to cover the silent scream she let out. Limping slightly she walked to the stairs.

"Yes?" Lucy breath out in pain, when she reached them.

Laxus stood on top of the stairs, holding a big white bundle of fabric in his hand. "Catch!" was the only warning Lucy got before the man threw the bundle down, right toward her. Panicking Lucy spread her arms in attempt to catch it, but middle of the fly the bundle opened and it landed on her, covering her from head down. Stunned Lucy stood still, arms still stretched and eyesight blocked. "Here comes more." Laxus voice told her and second later she felt something more land in her arms.

Laxus watched the girl wiggle under the blanket he had thrown her. He snorted amused, when her blonde head popped out under the cover and the girl took a deep breath for fresh air. Believing that even a princess like her would know what to do with a blanket, a pillow and some sheets, he turned around. He went to his room and grabbed a communication lacrima from his night stand. He concentrated his magic in it. A short moment later the face of Freed appeared in it. "You called?" The image said.

Laxus nodded while unbuttoning his shirt. "Yeah. I want you, Bickslow and Ever to go to the guild with Heartfilia. She's going there to register the mission and I want all of you to keep an eye on her. Come pick her up when you're free."

Freed nodded his head on the other side of the lacrima. "As you wish." Without need to extend the talk, Laxus broke the connection and threw the orb on his bed. His shirt flied on the bed too a second later, followed by his socks, pants and boxers. Without a single piece of fabric covering him, Laxus walked to the bathroom attached to the bedroom. He stepped under the shower head. Slamming the faucet open, he felt droplets of water starting to hit him. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the water running down his body. It was like his bad mood was washed away with it. Shower truly was the perk of living among people. Without them he probably would have moved to the mountains years ago.