Hey. Two chapters in a day. That apparently happened.

With Bickslow mated, someone leaking that Cristoff was her knight, and Farron's return, Arman told his extended group of children in no uncertain terms that they'd all be home for dinner. There was a not so subtle threat when Kaleb tried to get out of it.

"Xally's coming from the hospital. Em and Cris are coming from the Pelerno branch. Farron and Freed are coming from the capital. Vander is-"

"And Meredy," Kaleb added as Lucy listed who all would be there. The group coming from White Sea was boarding an airship together.

"Hm. Really? That's interesting."

"Yeah. She couldn't get a direct flight to White Sea. She was hanging out with Vander when Dad demanded we all come for dinner. You know that Dad doesn't mind us bringing potential sons or daughters-in-law home with us."

The conversation between the two of them returned to the book on code that she'd borrowed from him.

That smile was suspicious, Erik thought.

I was thinking the same thing, Kaleb responded, looping Bickslow into the conversation.

Is this about Cosplayer scheming something?

Yeah. It makes me nervous when she smiles like that, Erik replied.

Are either of you hearing anything? Bickslow asked.

Yes. Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, Erik said.

I'm even getting a ballet with the music. If I probe any deeper, she'll sense it.

She probably like it if you probed her.

Kaleb choked. Next to him, Lucy looked confused then amused.

"I'm gonna tell your dad that your talking about me behind my back." With that, she stood joined Evergreen and Laxus. The latter looked relieved at someone else being there for Evergreen to talk Elluris fashion with.

As they approached the Pradesh home, Lucy noticed that Erik was looking increasingly nervous. They'd barely made it out of the car when Arman decided he'd waited long enough burst out the door with his children trailing behind him.

"I'm so happy for you, Bix!" he said, wrapping his arms around his son.

"Thanks, Dad."

"And you!" he said, turning to Erik. "Welcome to the family!" He engulfed Erik in a hug as well.

Erik stood frozen, his eye wide like a deer in the headlights. Lucy hugged. Meredy hugged. This? This he didn't know how to deal with. This was terrifying.

Farron and Kaleb were chuckling. They both could hear his inner commentary. Lucy was giggling because she could guess what he was thinking.

"Cosplayer tricked us to get us together," Bickslow said, deciding to save his mate.

Arman released Erik and turned to Lucy. "Good job," he said as he tossed an arm over Lucy's shoulder and started steering her to the house.

"What am I, chopped liver?" Kaleb muttered as he trailed behind his dad.

Very attractive chopped liver, Lucy told him.

"Hello, Kaleb. Hello, Laxus and Evergreen."

Lucy frowned when Cristoff and Emzadi appeared. In theory, she was supposed to be able to make jumps like that too. She just hadn't managed to do more than disappear from her spot for a second and appearing an inch away. That had proved useful for avoiding an attack but still annoying when she knew Cristoff could make it from Pelerno to White Sea in a single jump.

"Hello, Cris, Em," Arman greeted as they entered the house.

"Hi, Dad. So, what's the deal with this whole knight thing?" Emzadi asked, sidling up on Lucy's other side.

The table was already set with food since Kaleb had them running late to leave as he tried to get some last-minute paperwork done before sending Thane home. Knowing that, Cristoff had stayed in his own office for a bit longer.

"Honestly, I'm not real sure. I've summoned Draco and he's kind of explained things. Normally, the queen of a tatsu only has a knight if the tatsu is particularly large and requires that the queen's mate spend a significant time away from her or if the mate isn't as strong as the knight since the knight would be expected to protect not only his own mate but the queen.

"He thinks the wires got crossed between Cris and I. That because Draco and Nurem are mates, our souls couldn't decide between kin or mate, so they chose knight as a middle ground."

She's still scheming something, Kaleb said to Bickslow and Erik while Lucy explained what she'd learned from her dragon. All I'm hearing is Moonlight Sonata on repeat.

I've noticed.

"What exactly makes you a queen?" Meredy asked, realizing that she was the only one out of the loop.

"I'm a dragon slayer."

"When did that happen?"

"It's been a few months."

"Oh."

"While Em is undoubtedly more powerful, a queen is only a queen with subjects. I have three kin-"

"Four," Erik interjected quietly.

"Aw. Really."

Lucy stood and walked over to hug him. The slayer found himself in both the awkward and enviable position of being nearly smothered by her breasts. Uncertain of his mate's reaction, Erik glanced at Bickslow who mostly looked amused and envious. He decided to nuzzle in making her squeak, jump, then cuff his head.

"Don't do that," she scolded as she walked back to her seat. She changed the music in her head to Macabre Danse, knowing that the violin would annoy him. "Anyways, with four kin, I outrank her."

"Got it. What about his mate?"

"That's where things will get complicated. His mate will have to deal the fact that he'll always be my knight as well as her- their spouse."

You caught that right? Erik asked.

Yes…

Do it and I'll have Cancer cut off your hair in your sleep, Lucy threatened before Kaleb could even consider probing deeper. And your leather pants will end up bedazzled with rhinestones.

No one listens when I say not to piss her off, Bickslow said with an eye roll.

"Even if we're not sharing pleasure, there'll always be an intimacy between us. Add in that I'm a naturally touchy person and-" Lucy shrugged.

Meredy looked over Cristoff. His eyes met her curious gaze and she blushed. "I'd deal with it," she mumbled.

"And hopefully, my mate will as well," Cristoff said, recognizing her scent of arousal.

"And really, it would be a shame if she didn't. He's really good in bed. He does this trick with his tongue-"

"Please stop," Laxus groaned.

"I'm sure Em would be very happy if you asked him to teach you," Lucy said, not even pretending to be innocent.

"If it's the trick I think it is, I learned it from a very skilled Minstrellan man. It's a shame he was only in Bosco for a few days enjoying himself before an arranged marriage." While Boscans respected marriage, they weren't above assisting someone having a last hurrah before an arranged marriage since so many of the countries around them insisted on the tradition. Especially those that don't get to meet their spouses-to-be ahead of time.

Somehow, the conversation devolved into a contest amongst the Pradesh siblings comparing conquests. Nobody was surprised that Vander took the lead.

After dinner finished and Arman insisted that it was Kaleb and Vander's turn to clear the table, Farron walked up to Lucy and asked to speak with her alone while the others fought over what board game to play.

"I need to ask you for a favor," Farron said.

"Okay?"

He sighed. He'd rather hoped that he could get her to agree without telling her for what. "I need a date for a ball."

She blinked owlishly at him for a moment. "You have a very handsome promised only a few feet away from us."

"He won't go."

"You're a politician. Your entire job is to convince people to do things they don't normally want to do." She paused then asked in a suspicious tone, "What's the ball for?"

"Princess Hisui's birthday."

"And Lord Justine will be there," she said understandingly. "Wait. My father will be there. No."

"Lucy-"

"No. My father has not known where I've been for the last eight months. Do you have any idea of how peaceful that's been? I go on your arm, he knows I'm in Bosco."

"Are you scared of him?" he asked, his brows furrowing.

"My first two kidnappings were paid for by him. Without Fairy Tail or the prestige of working for Sorcerer Weekly…"

"Lucy, you're a member of White Sea. I know. I put that mark on you," Kaleb said from the doorway.

"At least your eavesdropping in person," Lucy muttered.

"White Sea is the largest guild in Ishgar."

"Exactly. The largest guild with over a thousand mages. It would be easy for me to go missing."

"Lucy." Kaleb reached out to touch her, but she shifted away, so he let his hand drop. "You're in my life now. If you think I'm letting you get away, then you're a fool. And we both know you're not. Understand?" Lucy nodded. "Good. Now agree to go with my brother and let's go play some board games."

She turned to Farron. "You have to agree to never let me be alone with my father for more than five minutes."

"Agreed. I'll arrange a pick up for you in a week."

The group walked back inside. Before Lucy could settle down next to Laxus, Meredy moved to take her turn with the celestial wizard. Taking the opportunity presented to her, Lucy casually bumped Meredy into Cristoff as they were walking. Cristoff jumped as he felt the electricity in his veins and his dragon reacting loudly enough that Kaleb and the sound mages could hear it. His eyes flickered silver as he stared at the maguility mage. Then he glanced at Lucy who nodded. The sonata that she'd been playing in her head finally ceased.

Cristoff was torn. Part of him wanted to hoist Meredy and run off with her like some sort of caveman. The other side could sense Lucy telling him not to do exactly that. His queen wanted to handle this first and his dragon was sulking. He bared his neck, showing that he acquiesced, and Lucy pulled the reluctant Meredy out to the balcony.

This time, Lucy pushed herself up onto the railing and watched as Meredy paced.

"You know, I seem to always have deep, important conversations on this balcony," she mused to herself.

"I'm his mate, aren't I?" Meredy asked, ignoring Lucy's commentary.

"Yes. How do you feel?"

"Like I need whiskey."

"I'm sure that can be arranged."

"How long have you known?"

"Since we got out of the bunker and my magic could expand fully. Apparently, that's a trick that the queen can do."

"That's why you wanted me to stay in Bosco."

"Yes. And do you know how hard it was to get you two to meet without being super obvious?"

"Why not be obvious?"

"What would you have done? You're already half ready to bolt out the door and you've talk to him."

"Do I have time to get to know him?"

"Yes, though, you should mate before the full moon."

"That's in a week and a half."

"I know."

"And if I say no?"

"Then he waits until his dragon reacts again. His dragon reacted to you because your personality and your magic is a good fit for him. And vice versa. But if you decide, that's it. If you change your mind halfway through the marking, you'll probably kill him."

Lucy held out her hand with her wrist bared. It took Meredy a moment to realize what she was doing before linking them with her magic. With a small smile, Lucy let Meredy feel everything she felt toward the lunar slayer.

There was attraction and arousal which Meredy understood having been around the man. There was amusement when he's being playful. Awe in his skill. Annoyance in her inability to emulate him. Frustration when they trained. Safe whenever he was around. Happiness because she knew how much he wanted to find his mate.

Meredy undid the magic.

"Well?"

"I always imagined being wooed."

"Then make him woo you for a week," she said, dropping down. "He's already planning on wooing for the rest of your lives. Come on."

"Wait. I need to tell you. I found what the job is that Erza and Jellal have been fighting about. The Council wanted Erza's help on infiltrating a dark guild, Avatar. Since it's a Council job, Erza wants Jellal to stay away."

"That sounds dangerous."

"Immensely."

"Thanks. I'll keep an eye on it."

The two went inside to enjoy the night with friends.

Are you okay? Kaleb asked Lucy.

Yeah. Thanks. She met his eyes and smiled. I think I'll be staying at the guild for the next week though. Guess we'll see how much you really want me around.

I'll always want you around, he replied. However, I think you'll have to be the one that asks to share pleasure next time. He sent his own image of her writhing underneath him. All of the dragon slayers heard her breath catch, though only Erik chuckled with a knowing smirk.

Shut up, she said while wishing she had a better retort.

He'd worry about his hair except that he knew how much she liked it. It's not going to stay an impossible thought.