Juvia smiled sadly towards her shivering servant, the boy had refused to wear her cape despite her insistence. He told her the snow and cold didn't really bother him and he would prefer if she kept it as she was more used to having the warmth of a palace and never really stepping outside.

What she didn't truly realise was how terrible Natsu's clothes were compared to hers and even her other servants' clothing. She noticed this morning as they left that Natsu's tunic was a lot thinner than the servants in the North Palace. He claimed this is because he was usually the go-to servant for controlling and lighting the fireplaces in their palace.

As the four approached the market Gray had told Juvia about she could see it was filled with laughter and beautiful lanterns, and everyone was smiling and enjoying the atmosphere.

"Natsu, Juvia wants you to buy hot chocolate and keep warm," the servant shook his head and pulled his signature scarf over his nose and looked away from the others.

"You shouldn't worry about me, Your Highness," Juvia frowned at the formality. Natsu was still unsure about Gray's thoughts on how he addresses Juvia, all servants at the North palace seemed to keep very much to themselves and only interacted with their royal family when necessary.

Juvia looked down at the fur-rimmed blue gown she was wearing. Watching as the fabric swished and contrasted against the snow. She heard Princess Lucy sigh from the other side of Gray and when Juvia looked towards her she could see genuine worry in her face when she looked at Natsu's form.

"So, anything, in particular, you guys want to do?" Gray asked smoothly, looking around at his kingdom and its winter beauty.

"I kind of want to go to the fire show," Lucy smiled softly at Juvia. "Gray can't stand heat so he never wants to go with me..."

"What the hell is fire show?" Natsu looked to Juvia for her share of knowledge. But the blue princess merely shrugged as she had also never heard of it.

"It sounds dangerous," Gray nodded at Juvia's statement to confirm that it indeed was, but Lucy rolled her eyes and looked ahead again.

"It may be dangerous, but since when do people like us get to actually experience something dangerous," Juvia watched as Lucy bit her lip in resignation. "It doesn't matter, we don't have to g-"

"Yeah, we do! I wanna know what the hell fire does to turn into a show!" Natsu was bouncing on his feet. "I only ever see fire in a fireplace when old man Jose can't light one for himself."

"Why doesn't Natsu accompany you to the fire show, Lucy?" Juvia smiled at them both. "You got along well when we stayed in your palace and I would be more than willing to get him out of my hair for a day."

"Oi!" Her servant frowned and flicked her in the ear, making her flinch but she still giggled to show she was only kidding.

"Well, I don't mind if you don't mind, Natsu," the servant shouted in exhilaration and seemed to forget that Lucy was a princess and therefore someone to be respected. He had grabbed her by the hand and ran through the streets with her dragging behind him.

"They get along well," Gray stated, and he was right. Natsu was the one who Lucy was immediately concerned about when the two showed up at her palace after the flood. Her touches and caresses went straight to him and her face was lit with worry.

The Apollo Princess clearly cared deeply about Juvia's best friend.

"They're cute together, don't you think?" Juvia smiled light-heartedly in the direction where her two excited friends disappeared in.

"Unfortunately, they are," Gray tapped his nose as he thought. "Should we set them up?"

"Set them up to fall in love and then make him watch Lucy get forced to marry you?" Gray's face soured at Juvia's statement, she was right. "From what I've heard I doubt Lucy's father would approve."

"He really wouldn't approve. He barely approves of me, he tried to bargain her off to Lyon when the offer was first approached. He'd rather her be the head of the state than with the second in line. When he heard our mother left us an equal heritage he was suddenly my kissass," Gray lead Juvia to wear there were some free picnic benches. "He's an idiot, but don't tell her I said that."

Juvia giggled, "Juvia promises she won't." After they sat down Juvia started drawing a random pattern with her finger in the snow. "I can't tell if Juvia's mother is also trying to seduce Lyon or not."

"Wait, what?" Gray chuckled at the absurdity of the statement.

"Well, Juvia tried to introduce herself this morning when she heard own mothers giggle when Lyon said something about a kitchen," Juvia frowned as Gray laughed loudly. "What?"

"Nah, this sex quest thing is so funny," he smiled gently at her. "Don't take it personally, but seeing you get all flustered and annoyed about her plan is kind of cute. Plus, Lyon is a huge dork, seducing him and having him lusting after you is probably the last thing you would want."

Juvia blushed at his words and looked away. She wasn't used to the flirty type of banter that Prince Gray gave her. Heck, she hadn't ever been complimented by a male noble before. SHe wasn't the prettiest in her court back in the Marina so she never got any genuine attention.

"Hey, have you ever seen a frozen river?" He suddenly asked, and Juvia watched as his jaw clenched after his question.

"No."

He is so handsome.

"Do you want to?"

#

"Wow, that's so cool!" Natsu exclaimed as rings of fire exploded from the performer's mouth. "If Queen Naida wasn't such a jerk I bet I'd be able to learn that.

Lucy giggled and shook her head as her new friend's eyes widened in amazement at each movement the fire made. "You really don't like her, do you?"

Natsu shook his head quickly, "nope, but she took me in after my parents died. She has a weird phobia of mine and Juvia's friendship, which bugs me a lot, but overall she's just a nasty person."

"That sounds awful," Lucy looked down and then back towards Natsu who had shrugged in response.

"Eh, I'm more grateful to have someone like Juvia still in my life. She kinda reminds me of my mum… caring and soft, although those traits are what the Queen uses against her most," Natsu ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know how a person could use their own flesh and blood as a pawn to get what they want."

"Yeah, sounds just like my own father. He and Juvia's mother grew up together, although he prefers to keep me in isolation. My engagement to Gray was very convenient for him," Natsu put a comforting arm around Lucy as she spoke, rubbing his thumb up and down her shoulder.

"It'll all work out, as long as Juvia's around she'll stick up for true love, believe me," he smiled down at her and got one in return, his heart melting slightly at the sight.

"You… You're…" she stared up at his face as the reflection of the fire made his complexion almost glow.

Lucy raised her hand to softly stroke his dirt covered cheek and he bore a full grin for her.

"See you're looking happier already, Princess."

A/N: SORRY IVE BEEN GONE SOOOO LONG I WAS IN LONDON AND THEN GOT RESUCKED INTO PLAYING SKYRIM

Anyway pals once again thank you for continuing to read this and giving feedback i love you all 3

Also please feel free to stalk me on my tumblr (zal-eska) or twitter ( _zaleska) whichever you use most i will be available for some crying because the last chapter IS APPROACHING FSFGHKJFHBJKDFHJG im not ready save me