Hello! Got inspired today, finally, putting this out there. I will most likely NOT be doing a part two to this story, looking back, I have several places where I'm not meshing right, things don't work quite the way I would like them to and there are none of the litany of characters in here that I would like to play with after speaking with some other authors. I will likely pick up parts of the new plotline as I work through this and change things up a bit.

Thank you SO MUCH for sticking with me, I should wrap this up in the next few chapters, leaving just a few bits there at the end not finalized because... some of that mystery really makes a story great, means you can draw some of your own conclusions but DON'T WORRY, yes... Lucy's revenge will still be had.

Love you all so much and I hope you enjoy this next little bit.

As always, Desna owns the Pradesh Family and the wonderful expanded Boscan Universe, Hiro Mashima owns everything else.

Enjoy!

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Chapter 49: Those Quiet Moments

Lucy leaned back against Zen and sighed, eyes closed and just enjoying the feel of the sun on her face, "So… what now?"

Zen looked down at her and frowned, "I… cannot leave my family Lucy, not after I just found them. And I can't ask you to leave yours."

Lucy sighed heavily. It had been a week since she woke up and things were slowly returning to normal. Natsu had fallen back into his normal routine, though the brawls had reduced. He was a more mature person these days, but it wasn't all totally gone, he still… couldn't help himself when it came to punching Gray and Gray? He always hit back. And sometimes hit first. They just tried to do it more in the training area now.

Erza had been by Lucy's side frequently, and as Lucy got strong enough again, they often trained together. The Knight had been incredibly impressed and she had said so, multiple times. She was proud of Lucy, and Lucy was just about jumping for joy about that.

Vander had been in the hall exactly once since she woke, just to check in before he had to rush back for work. Kaleb was in and out, he did have a guild to run, but he made a point to have Thane jump him every few days to be with Zen and to check on Lucy, and to check Lisanna's mental state, who continued to improve. Bickslow was happily enjoying time with… everyone, and Lucy couldn't be happier for him. He finally had his family and his guild family and he didn't have to choose, really. Things were… good. Emzadi, Erik, Gajeel, Wendy, Cristoff, Ryos, Sting, Yukino and their little girl, Laxus, and Natsu had been hovering. A lot. And while Lucy thought it was… slightly irritating she did enjoy the time she spent with Yukino and playing with the baby, and she did love her dragon kin, even if they were annoying. Xally stopped by once, checking on Lucy for herself, but couldn't stay long and Farron and Arman checked in via com every day without fail.

All of those people cared for her and she… didn't really know what to do. But… Fairy Tail was her home. Zen might be the one she loved but Fairy Tail was her family, just as his siblings were his, and after a week of discussing it they were no closer to a decision.

"So… you think we should… try long distance, then?" Lucy asked him, looking up to his features while they sat on the roof of the guild hall, under the stars.

He sighed heavily, "I don't think there's another good option, Lucy. Too many people will get hurt if either of us leaves our home.."

Lucy frowned at that, "What about the bond?"

The former gladiator seemed to consider that while he rubbed hands up and down her arms, "I'm not sure what'll happen. But I'll visit whenever I can, I know my siblings will too, and we can drag you to Bosco at least once a week to spend time with us. It… could work. Has to."

The celestial mage sighed, shrugging, "I… guess you're right. I just don't like the thought of living so far from you."

Zen nuzzled into her neck from behind and sighed, "I don't like it either," he admitted, "but this is our only option right now. We'll figure out what happens in the future, but for now… we each need to be with our families. It's important."

She nodded, "...right. You're not wrong, I agree... " she said softly, leaning further into him and forcing herself to relax as much as she could as her eyes drifted closed with a quiet sigh.

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A few months into the 'long distance situation' and Lucy? She thought she was doing pretty well. She'd been traveling at least once a week to Bosco and her com had been on her… constantly, and with the frequent messages and the constant training she kept herself busy enough not to notice when she was apart from Zen for too long, and Zen, for as much as he missed Lucy… was happy being with the family he'd been denied for so long. They tended to spend a few hours alone together when she arrived before meeting up with the rest of the Pradesh family, whoever was in town that week, to watch old movies and binge on popcorn, sometimes (most of the time) it ending up either in a cuddle pile on the floor or an epic pillow fight.

It was something special for Lucy, different than Fairy Tail, quieter and more intimate, more… personal and Lucy found herself really enjoying the sense of family she'd found with them.

So it was that night as Lucy lay there, curled up against Zen's chest as they watched a film on the Lacrima Screen that she decided she'd spend more time there, with them… and step back on the constant training a bit, she needed time and finally she was getting some, no more evil, no more… terrible things knocking on her door, and she knew… that wouldn't last so for now? She planned to enjoy herself.

"What are you thinking about?" Zen asked, looking down at her as he curled against her, Arman at his side leaning back, legs crossed as he sipped his scotch, looking for all the world like he wasn't paying attention… not that that meant anything for the sound mage.

"Just… thinking I should spend more time here," she admitted, "Don't need to have these big grand meetings every time but… maybe split my time more evenly? White Sea… I could join provisionally, maybe," she mused.

Kaleb arched a brow at her from the recliner, "Possible, it hasn't really… happened before but Fairy Tail is a Fioran Guild, White Sea doesn't have current ties to Fiore… I can't just give you dual membership in both guilds, the magic doesn't work that way, the Guildmark I put on you would overwrite the Fairy," he said, "However… we work well with Fairy Tail, have ever since they took in Bixy, maybe they'd consider falling in with us, sistering the guilds and making Fairy Tail our branch in that nation."

"Really?" Lucy smiled, "I mean, you'll have to convince Master Makarov and Laxus, they're pretty stubborn and the guild is really, really important to them… not sure they'll just accept becoming part of White Sea…"

"There's a lot of benefit for them, really, the backing of four thousand mages and branches across the nation, financial benefits, it's really good support for mages starting out, opportunities for education Fioran mages just would never have without it," Kaleb said, humming, "And they would in all ways still… be Fairy Tail, just with international support."

"That's a good point," Farron said, walking in as he pulled his tie loose and removed the band from his hair, "They may go for it… maybe speak with Ms. Mirajane first, get her on board," he smirked a bit, "Then? It'll be an easy job convincing them."

Lucy snorted, "...that's true. Mirajane is SCARY when she wants to be."

Kaleb pulled out his com and blinked when Cristoff snatched it, "Nope, not working right now," he said, "It's family night and the food smells done," he said, Mr. Elan indicating the same thing from the kitchen as the slayer grinned, "Told you."

Lucy smiled warmly at them as she made her way to standing, "If you want to sister Fairy Tail… I really think it would be good for them, now I think about it."

"Of course. If it was just about you I wouldn't offer it, White Sea having some level of political influence in Fiore? Would be a great things for mages across that entire nation," Kaleb said, trailing his family as they all moved into the dining room, a snapping sound coming from the kitchen followed by a yelp that sounded remarkably like Bickslow.

"Stop trying to sneak food!" Mr. Elan's voice was heard followed by a muffled apology as the seith mage met them in the dining room, the chef following him bringing out plates.

Lucy shook her head as she grinned, "Never learn, do you Bix?"

"I learn plenty," Bickslow protested, putting a hand to his chest, "It's just… it's so good…" he said grinning, earning another smack to the back of the head that had him ducking down and sitting.

Arman smiled faintly as he sat at the head of the table, the movie going on in the other room honestly just… forgotten to conversation, "Well it sounds like you're all going to be very busy… and it's a good time, too, Fiore's been… off," he admitted, trailing off when his com went off and let out a quiet sigh, "If you'll excuse me."

The ambassador stood, moving just out of the room to have his conversation but both Farron and Cristoff tensed, their gaze following their father, Kaleb blinking a moment later with a furrowed brow as he looked at the doorway.

"What?" Lucy asked, blinking and looking around the table, slowly arching a scarred eyebrow.

"Something's going on in Fiore," Farron said quietly, pulling out his own com to type on it quickly.

"Okay… What is going on in Fiore? Is everyone safe?" Lucy asked, slowly moving to stand but Farron held a hand up, "Everyone's safe for now, hold on," he said, Cristoff narrowing his eyes slightly but everyone falling into a somewhat tense silence while Arman continued his phone call, running a hand through his dark but silver streaked hair as he let out a sigh and put his com away, slowly returning to the table.

"You may need to postpone your plans for sisterhood between White Sea and Fairy Tail," Arman spoke finally, taking a seat, "It seems the princess was found… poisoned. They are claiming they have an energy mage confirming dragon magic… matching Cobra's. They've disbanded Fairy Tail officially and dragon slayers have been ordered executed if found in the country's borders within the next twenty-four hours, Cobra specifically has an arrest warrant issued in his name, the former pardon he'd received has been rescinded."