The days passed in a blur for Lucy, who had begun spending more time with Bickslow once more. She could tell by the way the girls looked at them that they didn't approve and still felt that Bickslow should pay for the way he'd treated Lucy, but none of them said a word, though she could often see Erza walking around with her hand on her sword and Mira seemed one wrong move away from slipping into her Satan Soul.

It was Gray that she worried the most about, though. He walked around in a daze most of the time, looking like someone had stolen his greatest treasure. She knew that he had agreed to stay friends with her, but she wondered if it was really that good of an idea when she saw him looking like he did. She did her best to ignore it whenever he sat beside her, however, she didn't want their friendship to be any more awkward than it already was.

"Lucy!"

She grinned when Bickslow walked in with his 'babies' flying around him as per usual.

"Hey babies," She replied as one of them settled in her lap.

"Momma?" Peppe asked, looking up at her.

Bickslow shifted uncomfortably, "I told them to stop calling you that, honest."

She grinned, "I don't mind."

He grinned back and her heart skipped a beat as he settled down next to her. She couldn't believe that, even now, he could make her feel this way. She shook her head and watched as the other dolls settled around the two of them, Pappa claiming Bickslow's lap for his own.

"So, Lucy," Bickslow leaned forward eagerly. "I was thinking - would you like to go out on a date with me?"

Lucy giggled.

"I've been on dates with you, Bickslow," She teased. "They always end up to be weirder than you."

He shook his head, "This will be awesome, I promise. And - since we're starting over - it'll be different than the other dates we've been on."

Bickslow watched earnestly as Lucy considered it for a moment. He was worried that she would say no after all the planning that he'd put into the date. If she did that then he didn't know what he would do with himself, but, to his relief, she agreed.

"So, where are you taking me?" She asked, swinging her legs under the table.

He grinned, "I can't tell you, but I just know that you'll love it."

She raised an eyebrow, but only asked one more question, "And how should I dress?"

"However you want. I'll pick you up at eight." He replied before getting up and hurrying out of the guild.

Lucy watched Bickslow leave with a thoughtful expression on her face. What on earthland could the boy be planning? She shrugged, whatever it was it was going to be late. The sun was setting earlier and earlier and it would be sunset, if not later, when he picked her up. Looking down, she realized that she should probably start getting ready now if she wanted to be done when Bickslow arrived to pick her up. After all, it was already six.

She hurried home and dug through her closet. His vague answer didn't give her much to work with as far as clothes, which left it all up to her. She frowned as she dug out dress after a dress, discarding each one in annoyance. She really didn't understand why she was getting all uptight about a date with a guy who she'd dated for three years, but there she was, freaking out because she couldn't find a suitable dress for the evening.

She sighed as she discarded the last dress in her closet. For a moment she thought about calling Levy and getting her opinion, but she shook her head and dove into her pile of dresses, searching frantically for the perfect one. She finally settled on a short, light blue dress with white lace around the edges.

Glancing at the clock she almost freaked out when she realized she only had thirty minutes to do her hair and make up. Thankfully, she had applied most of her make up earlier and only needed to do a touch up on it before summoning Cancer to do her hair.

Finally, she was ready, which was a good thing because Bickslow would be arriving at any minute.

Bickslow, meanwhile, had been just as frantic as she had been, but for a different reason. He'd easily settled on a pair of blue jeans and a nice button down shirt. Slicking his hair back he began his other preparations and was thankful when he finished in just enough time to arrive at Lucy's place. He silently scolded himself for being so nervous when she answered the door.

For a moment Bickslow was certain that his heart quick working as he stared at the beauty in front of him. If he'd had any doubts about his feelings for her, they were gone the moment he saw her in that dress. She looked like an angel and he grinned a huge, dopey grin as he offered his arm to her.

"So are you going to tell me yet where we're going?" She asked as she took her arm.

He shook his head, "It's a surprise."

"I really don't like surprises," She only half-teased as he led her out into the streets.

"Well, I hope you like this one," He replied.

The two walked in a comfortable silence until they reached the hill where he'd broken up with her. He could feel her hesitation and mentally kicked himself for bringing her here, even if it was the best spot for his plans. He turned and smiled at her, silently reassuring her.

"Come, sit," He led her to the blanket he'd spread out, before setting out the sandwiches he'd prepared.

"It's not fancy," He apologized. "But I thought a moonlit picnic would be perfect for the girl who loves the stars so much she can summon them from the sky herself."

Lucy gaped a little bit at him, surprised that he could be so romantic while sticking to his unconventional ways. He grinned in response, settling down beside her as they ate in silence. Once they were done, as if by some unspoken agreement, they laid down on the blanket, gazing at the stars as Lucy pointed out the constellations that made up her spirits.

Bickslow wasn't sure when it happened, but, as he watched her, he decided that he was going to marry the beautiful celestial mage. For now he would keep that to himself, but one day soon, he knew, he was going to have to ask her to marry him.

AN: So if you're wondering about Lucy's dress - imagine the black one she wore back when she thought Natsu was going to confess he liked her, make it blue. Tada, you have the dress ;)