[chapter two]


"Help me," Lucy whispered against the floor tiles as the wind kept pounding against her skin. "Help me…" she continued to plead. Tears flowed from her eyes, hitting the ground dramatically and slowly. "Please…."

"It's going to be okay," a voice cried out. Immediately, the wind ceased and Lucy managed a smile through her tears.

"You're here," she said, overwhelmed with her own happiness. Finally, she was safe again…she was safe…

Lucy wanted to keep her eyes closed this time.

These dreams were special, the ones where she felt nothing but safe. The feeling rarely came to her when she was awake, so as her head pressed against her pillow, she wished for nothing then to go back to sleep. Sadly, her wishes went ignored.

The dream, however, wasn't the only reason she wanted to stay in bed.

Natsu freaking Dragneel, she thought glumly, sitting up while rubbing her head. She was meeting him for the last time today before they would get married.

I hate this, she thought, clutching the pillow to herself. Vaguely, she noticed Rain come in to start her daily cleaning, but Lucy dutifully ignored her. She just didn't want to deal today…why did she have to deal every single day? Why?

Rain said something to her that sounded suspiciously like a suggestion for a warm bath. Lucy only nodded and stood up, trudging towards the bathroom. Just like every day.

When will this end, Lucy thought as she shut the bathroom door, still clutching the pillow, with one last glance at Rain.


"Don't you dare try to fucking wake me up," Natsu grumbled into his pillow as his longtime nursemaid, Mira, bent to shake him awake. She stilled, and smiled.

"Good. You're up. Get dressed and then go see your father," she said. Natsu groaned and buried himself even more into the cushions.

"Tell him I'm dead," he moaned. Mira scowl-smiled (only she can do that) and pulled off his covers, making him curl up into a tiny ball.

"You're going to be if you don't get up," she threatened. Natsu stilled at her words, but finally, and reluctantly, got out of bed.

"Can't wait to face another fucking day," Natsu mumbled to himself as he headed towards his closet.

Mira only laughed as she left the room and closed the door before the pillow would hit her. No matter how many times he's tried, Natsu's never managed to actually hit her with the pillow. Was his aim really that terrible?

It bothered Natsu to no low end, but like every day he ignored it and continued on. He was so sick of the endless routine of the mornings at the Dragneel residence. Little did he know, a certain blonde had the exact same issue.


"He will be here in five hours time," Jude Heartfilia told his daughter as she took a bite of her breakfast. He watched her visibly blanch.

Lucy quickly chewed her food and then asked as sweetly as possible, "How come the suitors always come over here? How come we don't go and visit their place? I've met with Natsu, what…six times, and every time, it's always him that comes over here. Why is that?"

Jude just stared at her with a gaze that completely said that he felt no reason to respond since it doesn't even matter. Lucy stared back, unflinching, fork held in air. Jude sighed.

"The suitors always came over to our residence because it is a sign of respect for the woman. It is considered indecent for the woman and her guardians to be the ones to travel such a long ways just to meet one suitor," he said, matter-of-factly.

Lucy contained her snort, and instead just focused her gaze back down at her over easy eggs.

This isn't fair, thought Lucy. She just wanted to have her life. She just wanted to live her life. So why was that so hard? Why was it so hard? Why did it have to be so hard?


"I don't want to marry her," Natsu grumbled, with his arms crossed tightly around his body. Makarov sighed.

"You're marrying her and that's that," he said, eyes fixed on the road. Natsu swore as he looked out the window.

"This isn't fair," Natsu mumbled under his breath. Makarov sighed once again.

"This is getting annoying kid," Makarov said.

"Shut up," Natsu retorted. "If this was you, you'd be reacting the same way, so shut it old man." Makarov laughed but stayed silent otherwise.

"You'll be just fine Natsu. Lucy's a good person and so are you," he finally said. Natsu glared at him.

"Whatever," he muttered. He focused his gaze back out of the window, wishing that he could just go home.


Lucy watched with contempt as the car drove into the driveway.

She knew who was coming out this time, which did not make her at all happy. The doors opened and she immediately saw the pink, spikey hair that she still didn't understand even after all of these years. Makarov soon followed him, and before she knew it the nicest man and the most evil boy were ringing her doorbell.

Lucy stood back from the window and situated herself in the foyer, ready to greet one of her guests with a smile. As Rain opened the door, immediately she could hear Natsu's annoying voice.

"-can't you just tell them that I died or something? Please old man? Anything to stop me from seeing the brat…please. I'll do anything. I'll be good for like…a while…please? I don't want to see Lucy Heartfili—" Natsu cut off as he noticed the door was open.

Lucy glared at him. She glanced around quickly, seeing if her father was nearby and when she saw that he wasn't she said, "Well I don't want to see you either Pinky." She heard Rain gasp, but besides that she remained her composure.

The two guests walked inside and Natsu returned her glare.

"Don't fucking call me that," he told her. Lucy was about to respond, but this time Makarov cut in.

"Natsu! Do not curse in front of a lady, especially Lucy," he scolded. Natsu looked away, somewhat abashed. Lucy smirked at him before turning to Makarov and saying, "No, it's okay Mr. Dragneel. It was my fault for egging him on, and it was his fault for falling for it. We'll do better next time."

Makarov only smiled and pretended not to notice the glint in her eyes. He looked around, searching.

"And pray tell where is Jude?" he asked.

"Right here," Lucy's father said, joining the conversation as he held out a hand to shake, "Makarov…been a long time hasn't it? It's always good to see you."

"Yes it is. Do you want to discuss the marriage in private?" Both participants of the "marriage" flinched at the word, but both fathers ignored them.

"Yes that sounds like a great idea," Jude said, "and I'll trust my daughter to keep pleasant company for your son here." He looked pointedly at Lucy who just nodded slightly, and Natsu had to contain his scoff.

Soon, the two men were walking away leaving Natsu and Lucy together, alone. Both remained quiet. Lucy watched as Natsu looked around, ignoring her. She scowled.

"I don't want to marry you," she finally said. Natsu's gaze snapped towards her.

"And I don't want to marry you either."

"Well at least we agree on something," she stated, a little irritated. Natsu's lips tugged upwards as he heard the irritation in her voice.

"Yeah, I guess," he muttered looking down at his shoes. Lucy raised an eyebrow at his response, but besides that made no comment.

Well this is awkward, both Lucy and Natsu thought.

What could they say?

They were going to get married and that's that. There's no question about it so what could one say in a situation like this besides what they think about the marriage? And both have already said how they feel which is they don't want it. They don't want to get married, but they knew they would. It was out of their control.

They were to be married.

"This sucks," Natsu finally said, relaxing. He sat down in one of the "fancy chairs" as he called them. Lucy followed suit and nodded.

"Yup…so…what are we going to do Pinky? About the whole marriage thing?" she asked. Natsu raised an eyebrow.

"What else? We'll get married…" he said. Lucy sighed. That really wasn't what she meant.

"No…I mean what about kids? Our fathers definitely want us to have kids to like keep the family businesses going, you know?" she said. Natsu flinched at her words.

"Oh," he said. "Yeah, this really sucks." Lucy just forced a smile at his words.

"This isn't really fair, isn't it?" she asked.

"Life isn't fair. At least, that's what I've been told," he responded. Lucy could feel the tears pricking at her eyes, but she forced them back. She would not cry here, especially not in front of him. She had to remain strong.

"Yeah…huh. Guess it isn't is it?" she agreed.

Silence followed, and finally Lucy couldn't handle it. She stood up before the tears started to come down at an even faster rate and rushed to her room. She heard Natsu's startled surprise but she completely ignored him.

Running up to her room, she locked the door and ran to her bed.

Damn them. Damn Father and what he will think of my actions… damnit… she thought as she buried her face into the pillow.

The pillow brought here nothing but comfort and safety and that is exactly what she needed to feel right now. Her eyes drifted shut and before she knew it she had fallen deep into the abyss of dreams.


Natsu did not know how to react to what just happened.

He had just watched Lucy's disappearing form vanish up the staircase and he stood there, eyes wide with a small "O" as his mouth. He swore that he saw tears from Lucy, but he still didn't know what to do about it.

He had never seen her cry or anything remotely close to that.

Every time they would converse they just irritated and insulted each other. So how should he react? Finally, he decided to stay put and he sat back down. After all, it really wasn't his business (yet) with what went on in the princess's head.

He looked around the mansion, admiring the view once again. He liked the place, but he would never admit that. That was mainly because he didn't like Jude and he didn't really like Lucy…obviously. He did like their maids and he liked the mansion, but that's about it.

"Mr. Dragneel? Where is Miss Lucy?"

Natsu's gaze snapped towards the right where he saw a bordering-on-old lady with a smile on her face. He's seen her before and she was nice to him. He couldn't remember her name though but…wait…what did she say?

"What?" he asked, wanting her to repeat what she said. Rain smiled at him.

"I asked where Miss Lucy was," she repeated, all smiles.

"Oh. Sorry. Uhm…well she sort of took off…she like ran up those stairs and just didn't come back…." Natsu trailed off unsure of what to add to that.

Should he mention that she might be crying?

He decided against it.

After all, if it was said that she was crying the lady might bother her or even worse…tell his dad who would no doubt blame him. So, he didn't tell her. He watched the lady (Rain- he still couldn't remember her name) purse her lips and nod.

"I am sorry about my mistress's behavior, Mr. Dragneel. She…no I mustn't tell. Thank you Mr. Dragneel," she says as she heads in the same area that Lucy rushed off towards.

Natsu still doesn't know how to respond.

So instead he just continues sitting there, playing with his fingers until someone comes and releases him from this purgatory.

"I want to go home…." he mumbled, before finally he leans back and drifts off into a dreamless sleep just like his betrothed.


Hey guys. Happy New Year. I hope your year is filled with nothing short of happiness. And here you go, this updated chapter just to celebrate...I'm curious...any of you watch Sherlock because if you do ARE YOU AS EXCITED AS I AM? Sorry...this whole day I have been freaking out. Anyways...I want you all to listen to something on tumblr (the link is in my profile- it's the first link...please listen to it).

Anyways thank you so much for reading this story and...

have a great year and

Bai guys. :)

-DiAnna44

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