Summary: Times were rough when Lords sold their daughters for money and power. A contract was none negotiable once both parties signed. So what happens when Lucy finds herself amongst a group that will do anything for their beliefs? LaLu and other couples.

Authors note: And here is the next chapter! Things really hit off here and we'll see where it takes us! Let me know what you think of it and what you want to see happen!

Disclaimer: I, in no way, own Fairy Tail!

Previously: "Loke spoke to me before. And it seems this Spirit King needs you. And that won't be possible if this Everlue shitbag has your keys and does Mavis knows what to you." At his strange words, Lucy looked at Mavis to see the dark look on the First Masters face.

"Yeah. Let's get your friends back Lucy!" Natsu cheer broke the tension and Lucy couldn't help but smile a teary smile.

"Yes. Let's get my friends back."

Chapter 5: Contracted Part 1

Everyone was in a flurry of activity the next day and Lucy could do nothing more than watch as Wendy tried to treat her remaining wounds and demanded that she rest between treatments, knowing how much of a strain her body had already been through since she ran away from home. With a heavy sigh she reclined against the wall of her small hut. The crew had a wood mage among them and they had all worked tirelessly to build another ship under the watchful eye of Laxus and Makarov, with the First also commenting on their work every so often.

"What's wrong Luigi?" Natsu cheerful voice shocked her and she screamed, twisting around, her fist already flying. It was only when she connected with his face that she realised what she had done and she jumped up, leaning over the windowsill to take in the sight of the salmon hair man splayed out on the floor.

"How did you even get in there without me seeing you?" Her voice echoed through the village and those nearby could only laugh at the blonde woman. In the day and a half that she had been introduced to them all properly, they had gotten used to her and Natsu's' interactions. Mainly involving bodily violence against their resident pyro.

"I was sleeping?" His muffled words were followed by an indignant scream and Lucy huffed before striding away from her hut, hair fluttering in the breeze as she left Natsu to recover.

"Lucy!" The blonde stopped to see Gray and Juvia run up to her, both slightly out of breath and covered with water droplets, their clothes clinging to them like a second skin, "Want to come for a swim? You know, before you end up killing Natsu." Gray asked her, a smirk on his face as Juvia rushed forward to grab the blonde woman's hand.

"Yes. Juvia thinks you should come with us! Have some fun. Other guild members are in the surf at the moment."

Lucy could feel her cheek twitch as she responded, "I don't know Juvia. Wendy said I should be resting. And I don't have a spare set of clothes anyway." She watched as the light slowly diminished in the blunettes eyes only for it to spark back up suddenly.

"No! You must join us. I have spare clothes for you if you need them. Come have some fun!" Juvia cheered before dragging Lucy down the sand path, the smell of salt growing stronger the closer they got to the beach.

Lucy could only follow her new friend as she was dragged all the way up to the shore line, feeling uncomfortable being surrounded by so many people. All those she had met that day before were strolling through the water, some even daring the deeper water for a swim. Even Erza was taking a break from the work, the half build ship bobbing just off the shore in the distance.

"Uh. I think I'll just stay here for a bit." Lucy dug her heels into the sand and felt Juvia's grip loosen on her hand. It caused the other woman to pause before she turned to Gray.

"Well… if that's what you want. Come in when you're ready." Gray patted her on the shoulder before following Juvia into the water, leaving the blonde in the shallows.

"You know, we don't bite." Lucy yelped at the sudden voice and looked to her side to see a blue eyes woman with silver hair standing next to her. A maroon dress clung to her, silver hair held up by ribbon that allowed her to look at Lucy unobscured, "I don't think we've properly been introduced to each other. My name is Mirajane. But you can call me Mira." Mira held out her hand and laughed when Lucy hesitated.

"Well I'm-"

"And you are Lucy Heartfillia. Guest Member of the Fairy Tail crew." Mira grinned at the blonde, turning to face the water before them, "You don't have to be scared. You may not have known us long, but you need help, and we always help people. It's what we do."

Lucy stared out at the people playing in the water. She could see Wendy playing with a young boy. Loke talking with two women, a brunette and a shorter blunette. "Everyone here seems so happy."

Mira only let out a small sigh, "Would you believe most of us are orphans?" Her words caused Lucy to gasp and the blonde rounded on her, eyes wide with disbelief, "Yes. Almost every person here doesn't have family. Which is why Fairy Tail has become our family instead. I have my sister and brother," Mira paused to point at two silver haired individuals with another Brunette woman and a man with blue hair, "Elfman and Lisanna are both my younger siblings. And their partners are Bixlow and Evergreen. Then you have Cana," She pointed to the brunette talking to Gray and Juvia, "her father is one of the strongest mages in the Guild, and usually stays on the mainland of Fiore to do missions to keep our building going with funding while we're away."

"I thought you were pirates?" Lucy could feel a headache growing behind her eyes as she tried to remember all the names she had been told since she woke up the day before.

"Yes. It seems it. But we just utilise what we can and have a group trained on how to navigate the sea and use a ship. We're actually based in Magnolia. We were on our way here for exams but things came up." Mira sent Lucy a big smile before she turned and walked away, waving over her shoulder, "If you'd like, you can help me with dinner later on. I could use the help." And with that, the friendly barmaid was gone.

"Exams?" Lost in thought, Lucy moved away from the water and found a spot under a tree to sit, "Why would they take exams?"

"You know, people are going to think you're crazy if you keep talking to yourself." Again, Lucy screamed at the sudden voice and she placed a hand over her pounding heart. Her other fist slammed into the sand, creating a small cloud as she glared up at the man that towered over her.

"And you people will give me a heart attack if you keep sneaking up on me." Lucy huffed, realising her words had no effect on him.

"Well someone's grouchy today." She could tell he was smirking without looking at him and heard him sit down next to her, the sand crunching under his feet as he got comfortable, his arms out behind him to support his weight, "What's got you so mad?"

She looked at him incredulously, unsure why he was being so friendly.

"Oh don't give me that look." Laxus sighed before he shook his head, "I know I was an ass on the ship. It's who I am. However, I think I made it clear that we would help you. So relax, would ya?"

Lucy was silent for a moment before she looked back over the water, "I'm sorry." Her words were mumbled and he peeked at her from the corner of his eye.

"What for?"

"I know you all said that you had issues with Phantom to begin with, but I've only made them worse. And now, you plan on helping me get away from my father and Everlue, as well as get my keys back, for what?"

He closed his eyes, enjoying the breeze, "That's for me to worry about. Everything will go as it should and you'll be free of your fathers power game." He turned to look at her, his blue eyes fierce, "I know what it's like being a pawn in a game. I'll make sure you get out of yours."

His conviction stole her breath and she looked away, her heart racing as a brush spread across her cheeks, "You still haven't told me what you want in return." She tensed the second she felt his breath roll down her next, his lips so close to her ear that she could feel his heat radiate from his skin.

"You could be my reward." His voice was low and husky, and his lips just fluttered over the shell of her ear as he spoke. Her eyes widened and she yelped, standing from her spot suddenly.

Her face was bright red and Laxus laughed, the sound chesty and deep, unsettling her more than she already was, but she wasn't sure if what she felt was a negative feeling.

"Oh shut up you-" Her mouth snapped shut as he stood as well, his tall frame dwarfing her easily. One of his hands grabbed her hip, pressing the rough fabric of her pants into her skin, and the other disappeared into her hair.

"Mmm. What were you going to say Blondie?" He lowered his face to hers, taking in the mild panic in her eyes.

"I…" She swallowed loudly, her body visibly shaking, "Get off me. Let me go!" She struggled, not caring for the painful tingling from her scalp or the way her nails jug into his chest.

It took Laxus only a moment to comprehend her words and he released her, watching as she staggered backwards and into the sunlight. Her chest heaved with her breaths and he lowered his arms to his sides, his hands fisted.

"I… Lucy?" He watched as her eyes darted everywhere, panic clear on her face. But it was the vacant stare that told him she was lost in her memories, ones his actions had brought back to the surface.

"Just… I'm going… I'm going to help Mira." With that, the blonde took off, racing back down the path towards the village.

"Laxus?" The man turned to see Loke jogging up to him, his face twisted with concern, "What happened?"

"I'm not too sure Loke. But I have what we need." He hand the Spirit a few strands from his hand, "You know what to do with it."

Loke nodded quickly before disappearing in a shower of light and glitter.

xXx Contracted xXx

It was another three days before they had the boat sailing across the sea. Wendy helped speed the boat up by controlling the wind and sending it into the sails, despite the lecture she received from Carla the whole time. Everyone on the crew had a job to do, and this time, Makarov and Mavis were on the ship with them. Despite the happy atmosphere, some singing songs to make the work easier, a heavy sense of foreboding seemed to seize Lucy's body.

She shivered at the sea spray that landed on her, the sun doing little to warm her as she watched the horizon. The bowsprit* let her get closer to the water than any other section on the boat and she relished the isolation it provided her. A few of the crew had yelled out to her to be careful when they had seen her stagger over the foremast but she had waved off their worry and continue her climb down to the front of the ship. Each person she had meant in Fairy Tail had invoked feelings in her that she had never felt before, and she couldn't help but be overwhelmed. It was only when she felt her throat close up that she sensed the man behind her and she bit back a sob, scrubbing her face quickly before facing her new companion.

"Loke?" She whispered his name, taking in the way the wind played with his wild mane of orange hair, "Do you need something?"

She shuffled her feet, his gaze piercing through her. They stood in silence for a long time, and it was only broken when Loke sighed and wrapped his arms around her, his cotton shirt rough against her skin, "Princess…. Lucy. Even I can feel your distress. Surely you must know that you aren't alone. Even Aquarius is worried about you."

At his words Lucy felt the key against her bosom heat up, nearly burning her chest with its intensity. She took in a shuddering breath before pushing him away, staring up into his eyes only to see the devotion he held for her, "Why?" Her question confused him and Lucy held up a hand to holt any words he was going to speak, "You're all so sure that you can keep me away from my father. But even if we stop Everlue… Even then, if I go back, I won't be able to get my keys back from Father. Or save Virgo from that horrible man. I'll be locked in my room until it's time to sign the contract and that will be all. And if it's a contract to Everlue… He'd do anything to get my keys…"

Something shone in Loke's eyes that she couldn't place and watched as the man shook his head, "We won't let anything happen to you Lucy. I will be there for you. You still have Aquarius and myself by your side." As he spoke, he pulled something golden from his pocket and placed it in front of her face before kneeling down on one knee, his head bent, "From this day forth Princess, I would like for you to be my Master."

She felt the tears fall, her mouth wide open as she took in the symbol on the key. The proud lines etched the sign of Leo and her heart nearly beat out of her chest as she stuttered, her hands hovering just over the key, "But Loke… I couldn't. I don't want to be your master. You aren't tools to be used. You're all living beings. Spirit or otherwise… I-"

He placed a hand over her mouth as he stood again, placing the key in her hand and closing her fingers over it, "Even if the King didn't tell me to look out for you, I would have done it anyway. You magic calls to us all. And you've treated all the other Spirits so well that they rave about you. It would be an honour to stand by your side Lucy."

She couldn't bite down on her sob and she crumbled into Loke's arms, "Loke. Thank you." Her gratitude rolled off her in waves and he tightened his hold on his new master, slowly lowering them to the wood deck. Her cries drew some of the more curious crew members over and they peered over the bannister to see the ginger haired man holding their guest.

"What's going on here?" Laxus' voice rumbled down to them and Loke glanced upwards to see the blonde captain staring down at him, something hard in his gaze. He just shook his head and kissed the top of Lucy's' head.

"Nothing that needs to concern you Captain." His words sounded bored and he barely paid any attention to the way Laxus yelled at people to get back to work before the mammoth of a man jumped down to them.

"Anything to do with this ship and my crew is my concern Loke." Laxus growled, small sparks of electricity bouncing off his skin, his fur lined jacket rustling in the wind and static.

"Please…" Lucy's words were mumbled before she pushed herself away from Loke's chest. Her eyes were puffy and red and it made Laxus' breath catch, "Please don't be mad a Loke. It's my fault."

"Princess…" Wide eyed, the men shared a look with each other, a silent understanding going between the before Loke continued to speak, "Lucy. I am now in your hands. I answer to you first."

"No." The Captain knelt down to be level with them, his gaze harsh before he placed a hand on her head, "Despite Loke being a Spirit Blondie, don't be worried about his position with us. He'll always be family and will always be welcome here. And as long as you are with us, you and he are still part of the crew."

Laxus stood quickly, pulling his coat from his shoulder and dropping it over her, the fur almost like a crown upon her golden hair. There was a pause as he stretched, his cheeks slightly flushed.

"And with that said… " He looked down at the pair, his muscles tensing as he jumped up to the level above, "Get cleaned up and go help Mira get dinner ready for the crew. You need to pull your weight around here too."

And then he was gone.

And there you have Part 1 of this section. It was going to be just one section but I smashed over six-thousand words, so I split it into two, mainly because the next part will be action packed and I wanted that to have the spotlight. Please let me know what you thought of this chapter!

*bowsprit – the most forward point on a ship that extends from the stem and sits before the foreman (just google Pirate ship diagram if that made no sense, I tried)

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