Lucy grinned at her best friend, brushing her hair from her eyes as Levy helped her get ready. It had been two months since Bickslow and her had finally started dating once more. She was surprised at how easily they'd fallen back into their relationship after the heavy hearted breakup, but the two bounced back well enough. Bickslow had informed her yesterday that she needed to dress up because he was taking her somewhere special tonight. That was all that she could get out of her boyfriend, however, and so she'd called Levy in a panic. She only had the one red dress after all, and she didn't want to wear something that she'd had for over five years.
Levy had immediately gone out shopping with the blonde, going to every single store until they finally found the perfect dress. The dress was ankle length in a lovely shade of dark lavender. It was form fitting with a small slit going up the left leg and a modest scoop neckline that just showed a hint of her well-endowed chest. The back was almost completely open with only a criss -cross pattern holding it in place until it reached her waist, where it closed completely. As soon as she'd tried in on the two girls had cooed in unison, loving the way it fit the blonde celestial mage.
They'd easily found a pair of matching heels to wear with it and had carefully carried them home, both of them grinning at Lucy's good fortune.
Now here they were getting Lucy ready for the big date. Cancer stood behind her, carefully shaping her hair into an elegant up-do that she hadn't worn since leaving the Heartphilia mansion for the last time. Levy stood beside him, watching as Lucy's applied her makeup, holding the dress up reverently. Lucy giggled at Levy's expression.
"It's not like it's a wedding dress, Lev," She teased gently.
Levy blushed, "No, but it might lead to wedding dress."
Lucy's eyebrows furrowed for a moment before she returned to putting on the finishing touches of her make up.
"What are you talking about, Levy?" Lucy asked softly.
Levy's eyes widened, "Nothing. Nothing at all, I have to go use the bathroom now."
Lucy watched her best friend flee the room in concern. It wasn't like Levy to keep secrets from her best friend and Lucy could tell that she was trying to keep a secret from her right now. Lucy frowned as she dismissed Cancer and finished getting dressed. What was Levy trying to keep secret from her? She sighed, shrugging. When Levy was ready to tell her, she would.
Bickslow stood in front of Lucy's door, feeling nervous. Was it too soon to be proposing to the her? He wasn't sure, but he had a feeling that a lot of people would say yes it was if they knew he was going to do it. He rolled his eyes, then again, he'd never been one to do what was expected of him after all. Still, he was worried about Lucy's reaction. Would she reject him? He didn't think so but there was no way for him to know for sure.
Sighing he knocked on the door, his throat went dry and for a moment his brain seemed to disconnect from the rest of his body before he remembered to breathe. If he thought she'd looked amazing on their first date that was nothing compared to how she looked now. He shifted as he offered his arm to her and wondered how he would react at their wedding if this is how he was at just seeing her in a nice dress.
Lucy gave him a strange looked and he swallowed, realizing that he'd been staring at her for a while now.
"Ready to go?" He asked, grinning at her.
She grinned back, "Ready, but where are we going?"
He winked at her, "It's a surprise."
She groaned, "You really like you're surprises, don't you?"
He nodded, "I really do."
She rolled her eyes and allowed him to lead her to the carriage that he had rented, climbing in with her before the driver took off.
Lucy was surprised when the driver didn't ask for an address. Bickslow must have already given him the address before coming up the apartment. She tried not to sigh in frustration, but not even knowing the address meant that she didn't even have an idea about which district they were going to, though she assumed that it was one of the nicer ones.
She was even more surprised when they stopped a short while later in front of a fancy restaurant that Lucy had never been to. She looked up and gasped. This was the most elite place to eat in Magnolia and you couldn't even get in with a reservation. Of course, the only way to even get a reservation was to know someone important.
"Bickslow," She stared up that place. "How on Earthland are you going to get us in there?"
Bickslow grinned, "I got us reservations, of course."
"But how?" She demanded, not even being a Heartphilia could get Lucy into the place.
His grin widened, "Let's just say I know the owner."
She gaped at him as he led her inside.
"Mr. Bickslow, good to see you," The host greeted them. "You're usual spot?"
Bickslow nodded, suddenly seeming much more mature than he normally was as he followed the host to a semi-private area on the balcony. Lucy couldn't say a word, she just kept gaping at him in surprise.
"You have a usual spot?" She hissed as soon as the two of them were alone.
Bickslow rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "Well, yeah I guess. I do eat here a lot. Most of the time, though, I have my babies with me and am wearing armor, so I try to stay out where people can't see me. It tends to weird them out."
Lucy rolled her eyes as she sat across from him, picking up the menu only to drop it back down.
"Can you even afford this?" She demanded, staring at the prices.
He waved a hand, unconcerned, "Don't worry about it. I got this covered. Just order whatever you want."
Lucy did as he asked, still a little uncertain and feeling very out of her depth as the waitress bowed respectfully and left.
"I feel like we're in an alternate reality," She giggled. "Everyone is being so respectful to us and no one is trying to kick us out yet."
Bickslow's face darkened, "No one would dare try to kick us out, or else the owner would be very upset with them."
"Who does own this place, anyway?" Lucy asked, glancing around at the beautiful, expensive restaurant.
Bickslow shrugged, "Just some weirdo I know."
Just then the host approached them, shifting nervously.
"Mr. Bickslow, it seems there's a problem downstairs. One of the guests is being a little unruly and refusing to leave, despite the fact that we told him several times that without a reservation we simply cannot let him in."
Bickslow shrugged, "Where's Freed, doesn't he normally handle this stuff?"
The Host bowed, "I'm afraid Mr. Justine has left for the evening. He has a date with Ms. Strauss I believe."
Bickslow sighed, looking over to Lucy, who was watching the exchange in confusion.
"I'll be right back," He whispered, kissing her cheek softly before stepping out with the host.
Bickslow followed the host in irritation. He wasn't very good with customers to begin with and this one had just made the top of his short list of people he just wanted to strangle.
"What seems to be the problem?" He asked as they reached the man in question.
"I want to eat here," The man demanded, eyeing Bickslow.
Bickslow knew that even in his black suit he still looked a little out of place with his slicked back blue-black hair that had various spots shaved off and his neon green eyes. Not to mention the tattoo that went across most of his upper face. He found he was annoyed that man stared at the tattoo for a moment.
"You're the owner?" He asked, raising one eyebrow skeptically.
"Yes, what's the problem?" Bickslow growled.
"Well, I'm the Mayor of Magnolia and I demand to be let in."
Bickslow cocked his head to one side, studying the man.
"Really, because I once saved the mayor - well, okay, more than once - and you don't look anything like him. See," Bickslow handed the man a picture of the Thunder Legion surrounding the Mayor. "So not only are you rude but you're a liar."
"You let riff-raff like him in, but not me?" The man demanded, pointing to where Levy and Gajeel were sitting eating quietly.
Gajeel turning, raising one pierced eyebrow at the man, having heard his question and Bickslow smirked.
"Of course, those 'riff-raff' as you call them are my friends and guild mates," Bickslow said. "Now, I'm in the middle of a nice dinner with a beautiful woman who I plan to propose to, so I suggest you leave and stop pestering my staff to let you in. Make a reservation like a normal person or else find somewhere else to go."
The man opened his mouth to speak again when he noticed Lucy descending from the stairs and shut his mouth immediately as he stared up at the blonde.
"Lucy?" He whispered, not believing his eyes.
Bickslow turned to stare at his girlfriend. Right now she had command of almost everyone in the room. He had forgotten that she was once sole heir to the entire Heartphilia fortune until she'd given it all up to join Fairy Tail and become a mage. In that moment he could see the upbringing and the aristocracy that had been drilled into her from the time she was a child and he fell even harder for the girl. He understood now why her spirits called her Princess.
Even concerned as she was Lucy floated slowly down the steps, approaching the men with ease.
"What seems to be the problem here?" She asked, allowing just enough annoyance into her voice to let those around her know that this wasn't to be tolerated.
"Lucy," The man whispered again, staring at her. "You look just like your mother."
Lucy turned and broke into a smile, "Hello, JoJen. Are you the one that's causing a commotion down here?"
He hung his head a little, "I'm sorry, Ms. Lucy. I just wanted to get in and eat."
Lucy frowned, "I'm sure the wonderful host has told you that you need reservations to get in here."
He nodded miserably, "I'm sorry."
"Good, now, I know of a wonderful place that doesn't require such a trivial thing as a reservation if you would like to eat there."
JoJen nodded eagerly, thankful that Lucy wouldn't be yelling at him. She smiled kindly and gave him directions to less upscale place to eat and bid him goodbye. She was surprised to see the entire wait staff and Bickslow staring at her in amazement.
"What?" She demanded, tilting her head to one side.
"Not even Freed could have handled that as well as you did," Bickslow whispered in her ear. 'They're all amazed at how well you pulled that off. Maybe I should give you a job here."
Lucy laughed, "Maybe once I forgive you for not telling me that you were the owner of the place."
He grinned back, "Well, technically I co-own it with Free. Shall we go back to our meal?"
She nodded eagerly, if a little suspiciously, "Of course."