Yuletide Lessons

Chapter 8

December 18th


"Natsu, please try to remember that the tree is flammable and keep your powers under wraps!" Mira shouted as a group of guys lugged the huge tree through the guild doors.

"Hey, it wasn't my fault last years tree went up like a Roman Candle! No one told me the darn thing had been flocked in the first place!" He shouted back grunting as he pulled harder.

"That shouldn't matter you idiot! Whether it was flocked or not you never should've used your powers around the damn tree in the first place!" Gray shouted, getting into the dragon slayers face as they continued to pull.

"I was only trying to get the thing through the doors faster you perverted Ice Pop!"

"No one asked you to, you Moronic Matchstick!"

Lucy watched as the arguing seemed to fuel the pulling, and wondered if the tree would catch fire on the friction from the ground faster than Natsu's powers.

"Do you think they realize they're the only ones pulling the tree now?" Rogue whispered as most of the guys had stopped pulling and were watching the spectacle laughing.

"Nah, they're so engrossed in their little spat they probably won't realize it until they pull it through the guild and halfway across Magnolia unless..."

Lucy left off just as the two really started going at it, hands let go of the ropes and fists started flying. "Unless that happens." She laughed.

Mira threw her hands up in frustration. "Why does this always happen? You two outside with that! I don't want you messing up our tree!"

Gajeel rolled his eyes and corralled the two fighting idiots outside before they could do much damage. "I got this Mira."

"Thank goodness, last year we went through at least four trees because of those two." Mira sighed, rubbing her temples. "Erza can you stand at the door and make sure they stay out there until they stop fighting?"

The redhead nodded and moved to stand in front of the doors closing them behind her.

"Is it always like this during Christmas?" Rogue asked.

Lucy snorted. "Worse! Those two are like an old married couple with their spats and I have no clue where they come up with half the names they spout."

Beside her Levy lowered her book with a giggle. "Boy, that's for sure."

A tankard was plopped down on the table as Cana dropped in the seat across from them. "Married, HA! Good one Lucy. Can you imagine the kids those two would pop out? Say..." She paused with the tankard halfway to her lips as she looked at the closed doors, the shouts could still be heard from outside. "Who do you think would be the woman in that relationship?"

Rogue's eyes bugged as he choked, while Levy and Lucy burst out laughing.

"Oh Gods, I can't even imagine, could you Levy?" Lucy snorted, clutching her stomach in laughter.

Levy wiped a tear from her eye and caught her breath. "That would be a sight to see, no doubt. If either of them would turn into a woman, heaven help us, is all I say."

Fro plopped down on Rogue's shoulder and poked his cheek getting his attention. "Yes, Frosch?" Rogue winced, wondering what she was going to ask and hoping most of the conversation went over her head.

"Fro's confused. Both of them are boys, so how could they make babi..."

"Here Fro, have some of Mira's famous hot chocolate!" Lucy chirped loudly, shoving a mug across the table.

"Oh yum. Fro thanks you!" She shouted, scrambling onto the table and taking a big gulp.

Lucy smirked and looked at Rogue who sighed in relief. "You just gotta know how to handle kids."

She shrugged at his awed look. "Most have really short attention spans and anything sweet helps too."

They turned back to the tree seeing a transformed Elfman standing it upright into a tree stand along with a few other guys while Mira directed the men to tilt it this way or that, trying to make it straight.

"No, more to the left guys. No, your left. Gah, too much, now go back to the right."

Levy sighed with a smile as she went back to her book. "They're gonna be at that for a while. Mira's such a little perfectionist on anything to do with Christmas."

Cana snorted. "Tell me about it. She had me hanging mistletoe last year all over the damn place and they all had to be spaced the same distance apart, exactly."

"Why" Rogue asked.

She shrugged. "Beats me. All I managed to get out of her was crazy rambling of traps and surprising people."

"What?" He said, apprehensive, his eyes going back to the take over mage still shouting instructions.

Lucy giggled and placed a hand on his arm. "Oh don't worry too much about it. She gets like that every year when it has something to do with relationships."

"You should see her around Valentines day." Levy shivered. "There's more than one reason she's referred to as a 'she-devil'."

Rogue looked even more panicked.

"Just don't let her corner you when she has that dark gleam in her eyes." Cana remarked and leveled a stern stare at him. "And if she starts rambling about babies, make a mad dash for the door. You seriously don't wanna be around to see what she comes up with."

Rogue nodded just as a hand plopped onto his shoulder making him jump, only to squelch a terrified squeak at whose hand it was.

"Hey guys, what are we talking about over here?" Mira asked leaning in close, curiosity shining in her eyes.

Rogue's eyes went wide and he desperately shot looks at the girls around him.

"Oh, we were wondering what sort of stuff we are going to do at the Christmas party this year," Lucy piped up.

"Mhmm." Cana responded. "We are going to have your eggnog this year, right?"

Mira cocked a brow and smiled, which made Rogue finally relax somewhat. He didn't want her spilling the beans about their little talk.

"Oh have no fear. There will be a ton of food, lots of fun stuff for everyone and yes, we will have eggnog for you to spike just like you do every year Cana." She replied, rolling her eyes.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Cana, said, smirking into her cup as she strolled off to get a refill.

The girls laughed as Rogue looked confused. "She does that every year." Lucy explained.

"And we have yet to actually catch her doing it." Levy piped up.

"She's definitely gotten more crafty over the years," Mira sighed before looking at Lucy.

"Oh right, I almost forgot. This came for you Lucy." She said handing over a box to the blond.

"How did..." She faltered, taking the box.

"Early Christmas present Lucy?" Levy inquired, leaning in to look at the box. "Wait, there's nothing saying whose it's from except 'open me', weird."

Fro smacked her chocolate rimmed lips. "Yeah, Lucy's got a secwet panda."

Mira laughed as Lucy turned red.

"I believe you mean 'Secret Santa' Frosch." Rogue chuckled as he reached over and wiped the cats mouth.

"Well, you gonna open it Lucy?" Mira clasped her hands bouncing on her heels in excitement.

"Erm, I was gonna wait til I got home."

"Aww come on. I'm dying to see what you got and the tag says open me." Mira pouted.

Lucy looked from Levy to Mira and then her eyes landed on Rogue who was preoccupied with cleaning up Fro and sighed.

"Oh alright." She tore the tape from the edges and opened the lid carefully, wondering what this one would contain. Lucy leaned in as four other heads did the same as she pushed the packing peanuts around and grabbed onto something hard. Gingerly she lifted the object and gasps came from all around as the most gorgeous compass she'd ever seen met their eyes. It looked like it was made from gold and as she turned it in her hands carefully, little specks glittered out from the surface.

"That's beautiful Lucy." Mira whispered.

"It looks expensive." Levy Murmured in wonder before she pointed. "Look, its got stars and keys all over it."

"Somebody knows what you like Lucy." Mira replied.

"Is there a note with this one too?" Rogue asked.

"Too?" Levy piped up.

Both girls looked to Lucy as she rummaged the bottom of the box deliberately ignoring their questioning gazes and pulled out a piece of paper.

"Yeah," Fro shouted. "Lucy's gotten some before this."

"You don't say." Mira murmured, looking interested as she leaned in towards the blonde.

"So, what does the note say?"

Lucy sighed, wondering how she was going to dodge the Take-Over Mage now that she'd clearly scented something to do with romance.

"It says," She blushed. "No matter where you are, if you are lost I will find you." She muttered.

Mira gasped, sparkles in her eyes looking wistful. "How romantic."

"Sounds like something straight out of a romance novel," Levy said sighing along with Mira.

Lucy peaked at Rogue and noticed his mouth quirked into a sort of smile, before it vanished. 'The heck was that about?' She wondered.

"Ok," She shouted jumping up suddenly. "We've gotta go hang our stockings you two. Come on!" She pulled Rogue to his feet and out the door, Fro flying beside them trying to keep up.


Lucy sighed as she hung her stocking on the wall, her eyes went to the pair beside her doing the same. Fro's little voice filtered into her ears as she studied the dragon slayer secretly.

'I wonder what he's thinking about? I'm confused about all this and I have no idea who this secret Santa could be so I can only imagine what he must be thinking.' She froze as a thought ran across her mind and she narrowed her eyes. 'Could he have an idea who it is? He's got a great sense of smell so he might know… but the question is, does he? And would he keep something like that from me?'

Her eyes took his posture in silently. He was calm, and relaxed as he answered his exceed and glanced over briefly offering a shy smile.

She smiled back as she focused back on her sock, her fingers traced over the letters of her name gently. 'I really don't think he knows anything, but I need to ask someone about this or I'll go crazy. This confusion, this split inside me is tearing me apart. How can I possibly choose between two people, one whose captured my heart with his shy demeanor and gentle ways. And the other who I know nothing about but seems to know the way to my heart anyways. How can someone I know nothing about know so much about me?'

Lucy had a feeling that until she asked someone with more knowledge than her about the matters of the heart she would never get anywhere like this.


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