Hi everyone! Thanks so much for the encouraging reviews! It took a while but here is the new chapter! I hope you all like it! I'm looking forward to your feedback :)! As always do not own these characters!

At the office

Two weeks had passed since the kiss happened and Gajeel's hell began. Everyday he had to endure Acnologia's smug face as he took Levy out to lunch and every night he would find solace in drinking. Last night had been particularly bad, which meant his hangover was worst then ever. He had considered not showing up at all but who was he kidding he needed to be here. He was trying to make sure that everything was in order for when he left. Well when he finally gathered up the courage to leave. Some small part of his still held up hope though. Hope that this was all a bad dream, or a prank, or that Levy was going to come to her senses and see his cousin for the asshole he really is. Speaking of Levy, she was probably glaring at him from across the room, as she had everyday since he started this drinking habit of his. Eventually he lifted his head only to find her right in front of him, scowl and all, ready to yell at him.

"Urgh! Please don't yell, I don't think my head can take it today!"

"Seriously! You're asking me not to yell! You have been coming in hangover everyday! You barely do any work other than your "mysterious" new task that you refuse to let me see." You barely speak to me. You don't even look at me Gajeel! You idiot can't you see how worried I am! I miss you! "Do you even care about this job? Do you even care what happens to this publishing house? DO YOU EVEN..."

"MAYBE I DON'T!" Well in for a penny, eh Gajeel! "Let's be honest I never did. I took this job to impress my father, and you only worked with me because you had to. But hey I did my job! I made this place stay open and I made sure it actually had employees, which you almost drove away. Moreover, Miss McGarden lets not point to many fingers here! I am not the only one that has been slacking lately. What finding prince charming took all the interest out of work? Or is organising an engagement so time consuming that you need to take longer lunch breaks and leave early every god damn day?"

That last part stunned Levy but as she was about to ask what he meant he stormed out of the office.

What did he mean engagement? Does he think Acnologia and I are getting engaged? I know we have been spending a lot of time together but it's not like I have had a choice! He keeps showing up unannounced! He keeps me longer at lunch and he never listens when I say I want to go back to work! Argh! I wish I could figure out how to turn him down gently, but how do you do that? How do you tell him that when he keeps kissing you out of the blue, you don't feel anything but uncomfortable. And that you secretly wished it was someone else in his place! On top of that, how do you break someones heart when they were so sweet to you and sent you the most thoughtful gifts? Argh, this is such a mess! I guess it's a good thing I'm having lunch with Lucy today.

Speak of the devil. Lucy entered the room with a very confused look on her face.

"Was that Gajeel I saw storming out of here just now?"

"Umm, yes we had a fight and stormed out." said Levy with tears in her eyes. Lucy took her hand in comfort and pulled her in a hug.

"Oh Lucy I really need some advice! So many things have happened since I last saw you and I do not know how to deal with them!"

"Of course! That is what friends are for after all! I am sure we will figure everything out together!"

And so Levy started explaining all the events of the past few weeks to a bewildered Lucy. Wow! I don't know what to say to that? Why couldn't these two idiots be simple like Natsu and I? Although, that wasn't that easy either, he was so dense. Urgh! Focus Lucy! Okay so we have to help Levy and Gajeel somehow?

"So, lets see if I got this right! Acnologia has been courting you and he claims he is your mysterious A. He kissed you unexpectedly, in fact he keeps doing that but you do not know how to turn him down. Gajeel witnessed the kiss and he has been acting strange ever since and for some reason he thinks you are getting married to his cousin. Did I get that right?"

"Pretty much. Oh Lucy what should I do? How do I turn down Acnologia? How do I figure out what is wrong with Gajeel?"

"What do you mean figure out?" Oh my god! She's still in denial?! Great this is going to be tougher than I thought!

"Levy, Gajeel is jealous! How can you not see that?"

"Not this nonsense again Lucy! Gajeel does not care about me that way!" Please stop getting my hopes up! Argh, what am I saying?! I don't care about him that way!

"Fine, fine! I'll drop it!" For now "So about Acnologia. Why don't you do the same thing as when Freed was courting you?"

"Umm, well that was a very different situation."

"Different how?"

"I cannot say!"

"You cannot say? To me? Since when do you keep secrets from me?"

"This is complicated!"

"Well you know I won't tell anyone!"

"Lucy please trust me, it will not help with dealing with Acnologia. Trust me!"

"Levy common, how bad could it be? It's not as if you caught him with someone else?..." Looking at Levy's expression made Lucy stop in her tracks. As the wheels started turning in her head she started shouting: "Wait he was with someone else? Who?! And why are you keeping quiet about this? He was courting you and he was with someone else!"

"Lucy please calm down! Lower your voice! It's not what you think! Yes he was with someone else but they can never be in the public eye and his family expects certain things from him so he decided to court me."

"Still, I'm sure there is a solution. There is always a solution. I mean look at Natsu and I. My father opposed us for so long and we made it."

"Well this is different!"

"Different how?"

"You cannot tell anyone this Lucy. It could ruin them both. Um, I was meeting Freed at the library for our weekly reading session and I was a bit earlier than usual. I heard voices behind the stacks and I went to see who it was. Um, that's when I saw Freed and Sir Laxus and at first it looked as if they were fighting, but then Sir Laxus kissed him. I was about to get out of there quietly but I knocked a few books and they saw me. We talked and they explained the situation to me. In the end, I decided I would keep it a secret but I could not be courted by Freed any longer since I would like to try and have a marriage for love. Please do not tell anyone, Lucy! They really love each other and I don't want them to get hurt. Freed and I are actually great friends now."

"Oh Levy I would never! Don't worry their secret is safe with me, but you were right. This does not help your situation at all. I think for now you should start with distancing yourself from Acnologia. He has not met with your parents yet, correct?"

"Yes, he has not come by our mansion yet. He has been asking though, but I have been postponing it."

"Good! Keep it that way! And be very alert! Maybe say that the kissing does not make you comfortable. I mean he should be asking permission in the first place, but since he is not you should make it very clear! And when it seems like he is more receptive to what you are saying, try to explain to him that your feelings are not entirely romantic yet. He can either give you time and space, or break it off. Just make it very clear for him!"

"That sounds like a plan. Oh Lucy I don't want to hurt him. I really wanted to fall in love with him, but I don't know why I cannot!"

That's because you are in love with Gajeel, you silly girl! Oh well, one thing at a time Lucy.

"Well, that's not really how love works Lev. You really think I wanted to fall for that knucklehead husband of mine? But we cannot control who our heart chooses. Even if does not make sense or it doesn't sound right. Think of Freed and Laxus. Do you think they wanted to fall in love for someone who society would punish them for? Love is unpredictable, and sometimes it can take us a long time to come to terms with it. It is sad that you cannot return Acnologia's love but you also cannot force yourself to love him. And do you think he would be happy with a wife that does not love him? It will be okay. I'm sure he will find his match and you will find yours! And I will help you every step of the way."

"Thank you, Lucy! I love you!"

Well here it is! What did you think? I thought this might be a good point to stop at.

The next chapter will start pretty much where this one stopped. It will be an interesting one I think!

I cannot make any promises about when it will be up though, my PhD keeps me pretty busy.

Free time is over :'(

Oh well, thanks for reading and if you want you can follow me on tumblr:

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I post a lot of different stuff on it, so unlike what the name suggests it's not exclusively Gajevy ;)

xxx