Hey Guys!,

So I'll admit that I almost did not get this out today. I was really having some writer's block and it might show. However, I will say that I am taking this as a sign that after chapter ten I am taking a slower pace. I will try to release two chapters a week, but I will also not push myself too much either. As always, hope you enjoy and feel free to comment or review.

- Signed

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.

Lucy

As Lucy stepped into the kitchen, she stopped. Something wasn't right. She started scanning for details. The half-full box of packed personal items on her table was still there and did not seem disturbed in any way. Her dishes, dirty and clean alike, were still piled in a haphazard way. The broom and dustpan were still leaning against the wall and Michelle, who she had moved in here earlier that day while she took a break and packed a little more was still sitting next to the sink.

Wait! That was it! Michelle had been sitting on the box of cookies, which were now gone! She rushed over to the doll and picked her up, looking underneath her to see if maybe they'd magically appear. They didn't. Attached to Michelle's hand was a note. Lucy ripped it off and read the message, which was written in neat penmanship.

Lucy,

You have not lost as much weight as you've needed to and now I'm concern that your wedding dress won't fit. I have removed all temptations and stockpiled your frig and pantry with only healthy items. If you'd like a snack, there are some apple and oranges to be found.

Capricorn

Why that son of a motherless goat! How dare he remove her one sure-fire way of keeping her nerves in check! It was true that she had planned on losing ten pounds before the wedding and had only lost five, so not quite a dress size, but still! They lived in a world of magic for heaven's sake! The seamstress she was seeing could easily alter the dress the day before the wedding with the right spell.

Stomping to the closet, she pulled down her dress and put on the first layer. It was nothing but a tight-fitting bodice and petticoat to make the skirt flare, but these were the parts that would give the rest of the dress form and were the tightest part. Okay, so it was a little tight around the bust and hips, but so were most of her outfits. Really, she just needed to make sure that she could sit and stay in them for a few hours without wishing she were dead.

Gliding, for that, was the only way one should walk in a wedding dress, she moved to her desk and sat gingerly. Alright, she could still breathe, and though a little labored, it was passable. Picking up her quill, she decided to write Natsu his next letter. She figured she could reevaluate the situation after the letter was signed and sealed.

Piece 8 - Your Justice

Letter 8

Natsu,

As I write this I sit in my wedding dress. Capricorn stole my cookies, saying that I was still too fat for my dress and I'm here to prove him wrong! See if I summon him in the next year for a mission! Although, he still has to come to the wedding. He got us the china I wanted.

Anyway, when I left off last, we had just spent the night sleeping next to one another, but I couldn't think about that. I had to think about Miss Fairy Tail. I needed the money and I had to be clever. I knew that the competition was going to be rough. In all honesty, I figured that the only way I would win is if I appealed to foolish masculine fantasies.

Well, you know what happened next. I got turned to stone for quite some time and only awoke when Erza defeated Evergreen. I was furious, though I tried to hide it. How could I be so weak again! I was partners with some of the strongest members of Fairy Tail and yet I was the burden that kept getting caught. True, when I later learned the details that Erza was a statue for a while like the rest of us, Gray was beaten for a time and you couldn't leave the guildhall, I felt a lot better. On a side note, I'm just glad that we finally know why you couldn't leave. You sure are robbing the cradle! Haha.

Anyway, I was determined to help so I fought alongside everyone else. I defeated Bigslow with Loke's help and then destroyed a few lacrima in that stupid thunder palace. After all that I sat back to watch the show, you and Gajeel defeating Laxus. True, I couldn't watch it in real-time. I was clear across the city, but I did watch a lacrima recording of it later while you were being bandaged up. It was amazing and that whole thing with Mystogan! But, I digress.

What impressed me Natsu was that while Laxus was your enemy and you eventually fought him like one, you still wanted him in the guild and treated fairly. To you, loyalty to the guild was never about the reputation but about the people. You had defeated Laxus with Gajeel to show him that true strength did live with us and that he was being a complete jerk who put countless people in danger. But, you also wanted him to be shown mercy after he'd learned his lesson. You ... also wanted to have a rematch almost right away, but I'll blame the painkillers.

It's just you have such a distinct sense of justice that is rare to find in this world and you never waver from it. Come after one of your friends and they will be defeated, but you always give them a chance to back down. Just like you always give people who express a desire to change a second chance. Yes, Natsu, you are a rare, rare man, and I'm just glad I figured it out before someone else could scoop you up.

Love,

Lucy

Natsu

Natsu's ten-minute break turned into a twenty-minute break when Happy flew in. He was still singed and smelled awful. Burnt fur was never a pleasant smell.

"Man Happy, what happened to you?"

"What happened to me? Natsu, you happened! Don't you remember fireballing me out of the sky all because I played one harmless prank?"

"Harmless prank? You were comparing me to Gray, in front of Lucy!" He glanced at the lacrima and cleared his throat. "Well, one day it will be in front of Lucy, but it doesn't matter."

"Yeah, whatever. I'm just here to try and clean up and then head back out. I have to meet Pantherlily to see if that new place will work."

"How is the house hunt going?"

"Uh, not too bad. We still have time and with Master saying we could stay at the guildhall until we find something, I'm not in that big a rush. The place we looked at yesterday was good. It was a studio, which is perfect for two bachelor exceeds. We're small enough that we can easily fit ourselves, two beds, and our stuff in it. Patherlily doesn't like the price though. He is so picky!"

"I'm sure if you were shopping with Carla, you wouldn't be saying that."

"If I were shopping with Carla we could afford a palace. Carla's mom sends her an allowance every few months. Being the princess of the exceeds sure does have its perks."

"Yeah. How are things with Carla?" Happy shrugged and looked frustrated, before slowly flying into the bathroom. Carla had been visiting her people and Happy was more than a bit concerned. They had found out from Patherlily that by age, both Happy and Carla were considered children, but because of Earthland's high magical content and lack of exceed culture, they had grown much faster than those in Edolas. As such, Carla would probably be presented at court soon, and then she could start entertaining suitors. Happy was obviously concerned that Carla would find a very acceptable suitor while she was gone. When Happy did come out, looking and smelling better, Natsu tried to cheer him up.

"Don't worry Happy. Carla will be back for the wedding and I'm sure that you can sweep her off her feet then."

"I guess. Anyway, I've got to go. I'll be back in an hour, maybe two."

"Bye!" Natsu called as he turned back to the lacrima. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. This next part was another one that could get his blood boiling if he thought about it too much. At the time, he'd thought everything was a game, then he found out a few days later that Laxus had been pretty serious and might have actually gone through with his threat to kill all the girls in a careless, thoughtless moment. It had actually been a very good thing for his temper than Laxus had stayed away for so long. Thinking on it now, he decided to not add that battle to his story. It had nothing to do with the piece he was talking about today anyway.

Piece 8 - Your Beauty

"Hey Luce," Natsu started.

"I know that you probably are still reeling or angry from my last recording, probably both. Anyway, the next piece has to do with the next day, when you were in the Miss Fairy Tail contest. I had slept amazingly in your bed, but by midmorning, I was feeling pretty tired again. So, I just ate, and ate, and ate. Honestly, it was pretty normal behavior for me during a festival, except that I wasn't really enjoying it. It all tasted like ash."

"I was ordering my third funnel cake when I saw you hurrying to Fairy Tail. I knew why you were going because you had that flyer clutched to your hand. I smiled and thought that I might actually go watch this year. That sort of thing never really appealed to me, but if I could go and support you then it might be worth it. Plus, I wanted to know why you were dressed as a cheerleader. It seemed an odd choice of clothing."

"I was just about to turn back for my next funnel cake when I saw it. Many of the younger guys in the square had stopped and were now watching you. Some of them even started moving towards the guildhall. Now, I'll admit I don't have much experience with girls, but I've been in the Fairy Tail men's locker room enough times when they're peaking in on the girls to know the smell of male arousal."

"I didn't actually get to eat my funnel cake since it burnt to ash in my hands and I trudged to the guildhall. I was so frustrated. I had just gotten rid of Loke, or so it would seem, and now you had to go catch all the men's attention by wearing a cheerleading outfit. It didn't even show as much skin as your normal outfits."

"I made sure to order a ton of food in order to keep my mind and hands occupied as more and more men piled in and the stench of their need became almost unbearable. When it started, I was relieved to realize that not all the men were there to see you. They were plenty happy to see many of the others. That was when it happened. You came walking out and for the first time ever, you took my breath away." Natsu stopped and smiled, still amazed that such a beautiful woman was willing to marry him.

"I'm not sure if it was the lighting or that I was seeing you at a different angle or if I was reacting to the other men's need, but suddenly I was aware of just how beautiful you were. It was the first time something like that had ever happened to me and I definitely wanted to see more. Of course, that was when Evergreen stepped out on stage and ruined it all. I wonder what would have happened if my sudden appreciation for you had been allowed to continue for more than thirty seconds. I may not have forgotten it so easily and we may have ended up together long ago."

Natsu stopped and shrugged. "But it's whatever. I guess I'm just trying to admit that I'm as human as the rest of them when it comes to you. Sure it took a long time for the seed planted that day to grow, but it was planted all the same and for that I will always be a fan of the Miss Fairy Tail contest. But if we ever have daughters they are not entering!"

Natsu turned off the lacrima on that note and sighed. He had perhaps another hour or two of sunlight and he really wanted to go do something. He'd barely seen anyone today but he felt that he should finish more recordings. One more he decided, then he'd go out and see what kind of trouble he could get into at the guildhall.