Chapter 4: Cana Strikes Again

The next morning I woke up in a familiar blue room in Laxus's house. I had seen it before, but never actually stayed the night just in case his team came over the next morning and jumped to the wrong conclusions. At least I wasn't waking up in Laxus's bed though that would be a little embarrassing, and give me way too many flashbacks. Looking outside I was surprised to see the sun already in the sky considering that it had been about mid afternoon when we had gotten back yesterday. I guess I was a way more tired than I had previously thought if I had slept for so long.

Going out into the hall I noticed that Laxus's bedroom door was still shut, so I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. Laxus could cook, but most of the time he just ate at the guild because he hated eating alone. Not that most people knew that since no one really paid attention to his habits. Maybe I am a little more aware of him then is wise, especially since it leads to there being deeper feelings between us and I can't let that happen even if I do care for him. There is no way I am going to have people trying to pair me with another close friend, if it wasn't for the fact that Natsu knew I didn't like him in that way it would have risked our friendship.

Humming softly I steered my mind out of the dangerous territory of my treacherous heart and focused on making breakfast. Laxus's appetite was just as big as the rest of the dragon slayers, and it would take me a while to make enough food for the both of us. As the bacon and sausages sizzled in the pan, I started to mix up waffle batter, for some reason Laxus hated pancakes, but absolutely loved waffles. I didn't really understand it since they were basically the same thing to me just shaped differently, after all the exact same ingredients went into them.

"Hmm if I get breakfast out of the deal maybe I should make you stay over more often." I heard from behind me as a pair of arms circled themselves around my waist before a hand sneakily grabbed a piece of bacon off of the plate where a batch was already sitting.

The implications of the wording made me blush and I was glad that I was standing in front of the stove with my back to him. At least if he saw my face I could just blame the flush on the heat from cooking three different things at once. Slapping his hand as he reached out to steal another piece of bacon I glared at the taller mage behind me. Although as I turned my head to look at him I realized just how close we were and for a moment I found my eyes flickering down to his lips, and had to tear them away before I did something stupid and kissed him.

"Hands off Sparky," I said as I quickly turned my head away to stop the thoughts of kissing him. No reason to keep my eyes on him and end up having him catch my gaze on his lips next time. Ogling someone's body was one thing, but looking at their lips always showed that you were doing more than just admiring them.

"Fine," he said and I could just imagine the pout on his face as he went to go make himself coffee. Something I couldn't really stand, but everyone has different tastes I guess.

I was glad that he left though because when his arms had been circled around me it had been difficult to breath. It seemed being away from him for two months had just made the attraction on my part grow instead of die down as I had been hoping. Really if I kept this up it would only become way to clear to Laxus that I felt way more for him then friendship. Something I was absolutely positive that would disgust him. I had seen the type of women who Laxus tended to hook up with, and even if I was somewhat good looking I was nowhere in their league.

It took me another half hour of being in high proximity with Laxus before I finished cooking enough breakfast for the both of us. To make it worse during that time I could practically feel Laxus's eyes burning into my back. We were just lucky that we weren't currently at the guild because it would have Mira plotting and scheming about the two of us before either of us could blink. Seriously I sometimes wondered if she was part bloodhound with how she seemed to sniff out couples, even if sometimes she was way off base. Like she had been with Natsu and I.

Sitting down to eat breakfast with Laxus I wondered how long it would take him to question me about what his grandmother had said. Really he probably would have right when he had gotten up if it hadn't been for the fact that he didn't want to distract me. Although how he thought it was okay to sneak up on me well I was cooking and act like we were lovers or married is way beyond me. I must be getting way to in tune with Laxus if I didn't even jump when his arms had wrapped around me.

"So other than your magic glitching out how did your mission go?" Laxus asked just before he took a sip of his coffee. Certainly not the first question I had been expecting him to ask, but maybe he is planning on leading up to it.

"Not too bad, we got the whole reward this time. It's really fun working with Lisanna, and I can't believe we didn't ask her to join our team right after she got back. Although she did have to get used to having her magic again, so maybe it was best that we waited. Our employers were the magic council this time, and half of the mission was just dispelling a magic circle. It took us the longest, and the mages we beat before that weren't too strong."

The look Laxus was giving me was calculating, but why he was looking at me like that I had no idea. Maybe after having seen my disastrous results in the Grand Magic Games he didn't think that I was strong enough. It still made me feel a little warm remembering that he had stood up for me and defeated all of Raven Tail for me after they had cheated when I went up against them. Really it took me a while to prove to our clients that I wasn't as weak as I had seemed to be in the Games, but then again maybe it's because except for when I went against Minerva my life had never seemed to be in danger. When we go against the odds we always seem to come out on top.

"That's good. How did your magic end up going on the fritz anyway?"

Panic rose up in me at that question. I was afraid that when I responded that Laxus would realize that I was lying, and believe that I didn't trust him. Truthfully I was also afraid that if he looked at me, and challenged my answer to his question that I would just spill everything and completely ruin his life.

Laughing lightly as if it was funny, but really because I was in a panic I scrambled for words to say. "It just happened, Erza seems to think that it was one of the mages we went against. Though it could have been anything, but Porlyusica doesn't seem to think that it will cause any long term harm and my life isn't in any danger." There answering with the truth and letting him figure out his own answer. Sure I am purposely misleading him, but at the same time I'm not actually lying straight to his face.

His eyes narrowed as if he was going to say something to challenge me, but he just sighed and left it alone. Much to my relief and turned back to his breakfast. At least he isn't as messy of an eater as Natsu that would be a point against him, although maybe I should start looking for faults to try and make myself go back to just seeing him as a friend. Really if it hadn't been for seeing Natsu eat like such a pig all the time and his childlikeness there might have been a chance for us in a different life time. Well plus that other tiny little detail that made it seem way too gross to me. That's probably how Lucy Ashley and Natsu Dragion ended up getting together they were different people with different pasts that made them perfect for each other.

A few hours later after leaving Laxus's house to go home and get ready for the day I was finally ready to head to the guild. Lisanna was the best thing to happen for me because now I didn't have to worry about explaining things to Natsu if I came home late, or if didn't come home at all. Plus without Happy coming over as much it meant that my business wasn't constantly aired out at the guild by the loud mouth little traitor who would spill the beans to anyone for fish. Although I'm certain if the secret is important enough and that he knows it means a lot to someone that no amount of fish would make him spill.

Now I was walking along the flood wall like usual, hearing the usual be careful from the nice fishermen. Since I had already dealt with Laxus I was no longer as worried about facing the guild. Laxus was the one who I had been most sure to notice a lie, other than Erza who had been with me at the time and already drawn her own conclusions. Now I just had to inform the master about my restrictions, and see if he would maybe let me help out either with his paperwork which everyone knew he detested, or another thing within the guild that wouldn't involve using magic.

As the familiar front doors of the guild came in view an overwhelming feeling of peace came over me. Just as always coming back to the guild after a long mission was always like coming home. Fairy Tail had shown me that I could be happy doing what I love without feeling guilty about not being the perfect lady that my father had wanted me to grow up to be. My new home and new family didn't expect anything from me except to be the best that I can be, and for me to stay happy. Even if I someday had to leave the guild I knew that they would always remain my family, and that if I ended up dying before my time I knew they would mourn me.

Pushing the thoughts of my perhaps pending mortality if that decided it wanted to activate I put a smile on my face and pushed open the doors. Waving to everyone I made my way to the bar counter to get a strawberry smoothie from Mira, usually I get a milkshake, but I want to try something healthier this time. Besides it would have a lot of the vitamins that I would need to keep in my system.

"Morning Mira," I said with a bright smile. Mira was like the big sister to the guild despite her matchmaking tendencies and as long as she wasn't trying to pry in my love life we got alone quite well.

"Morning Lucy, the usual?" she asked as she was cleaning a few glasses. It was lucky that Kinana joined the guild and helped her out with the bar, although I still didn't know how the both of them handled the dragon slayers appetites, and still managed to serve the rest of the guild.

"I think a strawberry smoothie today," Mira was staring at me weirdly. Probably shocked since the day I had joined the guild I had never, ever changed my drink order, except when I decided to have drinks with everyone. Even that was seldom though, and to most of the guild once my condition became public knowledge they would probably blame the alcohol.

"Happy hasn't been teasing you about your weight again has he Lucy?" she asked in concern even as she went around to make my smoothie.

"No I just don't feel like the usual sugar rush today Mira," I answered.

I wonder how the stupid cat will react once he knows I'm pregnant. Knowing him he would probably make even more comments about my weight, not that I would mind since I would be weighing extra due to my child. Even if I had never wanted to have kids because I didn't want our families affliction passed on I already loved the child that I was currently carrying, and I knew I would do anything to protect him or her.

Mira still looked skeptical, but didn't seem too suspicious about the motives. Eventually I would tell everyone, but I wanted to wait until after I was certain that I wouldn't miscarry. Mama had had a lot of miscarriages before me after all, probably due to the affliction coursing through her blood. At least Mira didn't seem to think it was anything more than a diet, because I didn't need people questioning me about my pregnancy too early.

Jumping off of my usual seat I headed over to Cana's table, better to not sit around Mira too long. Knowing her she might just think that my change in drink might be because of a guy. Seriously it was like almost every second of the day that her mind was on the guilds possible romances, and I so didn't need that right now. Sure she means well, but only one guy will be allowed in my life like that right now, and I still doubt that he will ever see me that way. Even if his behaviour in the last little bit has been a little weird.

"Hey Lucy," Cana said her words already slurred at this time in the morning. I had honestly thought that maybe after she had told Gildarts that he was her father that she might drink less, but she still drank just as much if not more since then. Honestly I'm sometimes actually most of the time surprised that she hasn't received alcohol poisoning by now.

"Hey Cana."

In front of Cana she had her usual cards and was smirking at me as she messed around with them. I had gotten used to her using her card magic to look up things that she was curious about, and I was just glad that she couldn't actually look and see who was compatible or not. Otherwise with her fortune telling and Mira's matchmaking combined the guild would no longer be a safe haven. The most she can do is tell about fated encounters, and half of the time the so called fated encounters weren't about romance at all.

"Ooh la la Lucy you naughty naughty girl," Cana said with a smirk her eyes coming up from her cards. For a moment I panicked wondering if Cana was able to foretell pregnancies with her cards or not, but by the mischievous look on her face I calmed down slightly. If Cana was being mischievous it wouldn't have anything to do with children.

"What now Cana?" I asked with a sigh. With Cana it could be anything and everything and she had a habit of driving everything way out of proportion. Really you would think people would stop paying attention to her stories by now considering the secrets she tends to let out, but instead I find myself surrounded by my closest female friends. All looking forward to whatever gossip Cana was about to impart on them from her card reading.

Cana's smirk just got bigger as she stared at Levy, Mira, and Erza. I was glad Wendy wasn't in the guild at the moment because I was certain that whatever Cana was about to say wasn't acceptable for our younger guild mate. My suspicions were confirmed when Cana began to speak, "well I was trying to figure out when Lucy would have an encounter with the guy meant to pop her cherry, but it seems like little miss innocent isn't as innocent as we all thought," she finished speaking with a leer in my direction.

Really I should have expected something like this from Cana. Apparently since she found out I was a runaway heiress, even if the company is no longer around and my father is gone, that for a big hurrah I should have given up my virginity right away. Even though it's stupid I understood her reasoning considering that in the higher circles a man could dissolve the marriage immediately if his bride wasn't innocent. Yet in memory of my mother I refused to do something like that out of spite, but that didn't mean I was going to wait for marriage. I had just wanted to wait for someone who I had a high amount of chemistry with even if we didn't end up in a relationship afterwards.

"Lu-chan I thought we were supposed to tell each other everything!" Levy said with a pout staring at me with wide eyes.

Erza's reaction was as respected and she was a bright red, poor Jellal he's going to have a heck of a time with her considering how easy she can get embarrassed. Although you'd think that with the types of outfits we have seen her wear that she would be more open with that sort of thing. Once she got over the shock though I'm certain that she will demand his name so that she can hunt him down and defend my honor.

"Lucy who is he?" Mira asked a very familiar gleam in her eye that made me want to run away, but I was certain that the four women in front of me wouldn't allow me to get too far. Especially not when Mira wants to matchmake and Erza gets into her angry mood.

"No better yet when did it happen?" Cana asked shoving Mira aside and looking like the cat who ate the canary. Cana just loves to figure out other people's love lives and air all their dirty laundry out to the guild. Sometimes it surprises me that she doesn't run her own gossip column in Sorcerer Weekly she certainly finds out enough dirt.

Backing away from the two who looked like demons from my own personal hell I tried to think of a way to get them off my back. Who could I throw under the bus long enough that I can make my escape? Damn it I was supposed to do something when I got to the guild, but with Cana deciding to corner me I've completely forgot what it was. Apparently when trying to think of solutions to major gossips I can't keep my mind on other things.

"Lu-chan tell us please!"

"Not happening I don't need you crazy people going after someone I'm not even dating!" I yelled at them feeling pressured. I'm just glad that the guys are having their usual brawl so that no one else heard my outburst, at least as long as none of the dragon slayers were listening in on our conversation.

"Lucy you will tell me now!" Erza demanded finally snapping out of her funk and apparently deciding the best way to get answers from me was holding a damn sword to my throat. Really why do they think they have the right to bug me about my love life. I give advice if they need it, but I don't interrogate them about the guys I know they have feelings for. Why can't they show me the same courtesy?

"No Erza," I told her fire burning in my eyes. "My private life is my own if I want to discuss it with you guys I will, but I'm not going to be cornered into telling you something that I'm not ready to discuss just yet."

Unbeknown to the girls a certain spiky haired guy was watching and listening to their entire conversation he was proud of Lucy for not backing down especially when faced with Titania and the Demon Mirajane. It took a lot of guys to choose not to spill when they got into interrogator mode, and he didn't think that he had seen anyone else do so. He had been prepared to step in with how uncomfortable they were making her, but apparently she was strong enough to stand up for herself and keep her secrets just that.

He wasn't the only one watching the conversation, although he was the only one who could hear it. A certain white haired takeover mage was heading over as well to see why her sister and the others seemed to be ganging up on Lucy.

"Hey what's going on guys?" Lisanna asked making Erza finally pull the sword away from my neck as she spun around to face the other girl.

Maybe Lisanna will actually help me get away from this conversation. Then again she is Mira's younger sister and who knew if she actually wanted to get involved with something like this. Plus at times she seemed to want to matchmake as well since before I had told her that Natsu and I were just friends she had told me she was fine with me going after him. Just because she thought we weren't meant to be together because our Edolas counterparts were.

"Lucy got her cherry popped, but won't tell us who did the deed," Cana said before taking another deep gulp from the barrel in front of her.

Squealing Lisanna turned to me with hearts in her eyes and I had a bad feeling about what she was about to say. "Lucy was it the guy you told Natsu and I about?" Damn it yeah just as bad as I thought. I really shouldn't have come to the guild today.

"Lisanna!" I exclaimed in protest. I should have never told her and Natsu. Maybe I should have just gone solo afterwards to show them I didn't care, but knowing the guild they would have spinned it another way and it would have made everything worse.

"Guy what guy? Do you know his name Lisanna?" Mira asked her eyes going all sparkly at the chance of still getting her answer. Not even paying attention to the fact that I had tried to stop her sister from continuing with what she had been saying. You would have thought that they would have agreed with me that it was my business, but no apparently I'm not allowed to keep my privacy.

"No, Lucy just told us there was someone she had feelings for because she knew that everyone else kept thinking she liked Natsu. She wanted to reassure us that she didn't and you should have seen the look on her face when she talked about him, it was so sweet," she finished talking with another squeal.

Unfortunately her squealing had also caused the other girls to squeal and awe at me. Really if I wasn't so angry I would probably be blushing like crazy by now. Why do all of the girls in Fairy Tail have to be like this? Maybe they had all grown up together, but I wasn't a part of that, and they needed to respect my boundaries.

I opened my mouth to start trying to convince them it was none of their business, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me. My heart almost stopped as I found Laxus standing behind me and I almost felt like he was going to admit that he remembered everything and tell the girls he was the one who took my innocence. Instead he started to pull me away from the girls who looked like they were about to use their strongest magic to stop him.

At least they would have if he hadn't start speaking. "Titania Blondie was supposed to meet with Jiji when she returned. Or did you forget about the complications on your mission?" he asked his characteristic scowl on his face. If I didn't know him better it would have seemed like he didn't care about me at all, and had just wanted to berate Erza. Though I wonder why it took him so long to remind me that I was supposed to meet Master. Unless if he was being just as nosy as the girls.

"Oh no Lucy I completely forgot please hit me for my forgetfulness," she begged turning towards me. Erza really is just way to extreme most of them time, although I wished she would be this way in my private business.

"No it's fine, but I guess I'm going to go see Master now, bye," I said the last part like a squeak before running off having to duck under Laxus's arm to even escape from him and the girls.

Sighing with relief as I walked towards Master's office I was glad that I no longer had to put up with the interrogation. At least the entire guild hadn't ended up joining in or even paying attention to what we were discussing. Ug this is just horrible, why do my guild mates need to be so nosy it's like living with a crowd of reporters, difficult to keep a secret and full of half truths and lies.

"Hello Lucy," Master said with a smile as his office door opened before I could even knock. He must have seen my questioning look because he elaborated, "the argument downstairs reached me, I'm surprised that no one else could hear it. Don't worry as long as he hasn't hurt you I won't question you on who he was."

Smiling brightly as him I was glad. Although I wondered if he would have been so calm and accepting if he had known that it was his grandson. Probably not knowing him he would either be mad at Laxus for taking one of his eye candy mages, or would start planning our wedding. It's really hard to tell which it would be, or maybe it wouldn't be either and he would think that I'm not good enough for his grandson.

Looking into Master's expectant eyes I realized he was still waiting for me to reassure him that the so called mystery man of mine hadn't hurt me. "Not at all Master he was very kind, besides I know he would never hurt me."

If he had been listening to the conversation he would realized that Lisanna had asked if it was the guy I told her and Natsu about. So it's not like I was really giving anything away by admitting that he wasn't just a stranger I had a one night stand with. Actually knowing the guild if that had been the case they probably would have hunted the guy down. Even if she had made things more complicated Lisanna made it more likely that they wouldn't hurt him, not that they could unless if he let them, since I already knew him personally. I'm just glad that Lisanna didn't know if he was in the guild or not.

"I will reassure you that he isn't in a relationship with anyone at this time, but that's the only clue you get."

"Thank you Lucy," he said with a bright smile. Although it's probably not much of a reassurance since he probably wouldn't think that I would go after a taken man in the first place. "Now why did you need to talk to me?"

Looking into the fearful look in his eyes I realized that most of the time when a mage came to talk to their guild master privately they wished to leave the guild. Did Master really think that I would leave my family? Probably not most likely he's just thinking of all possibilities and is afraid of the worst case scenarios.

"At the moment my magic is on the glitch and Porlyusica suggested that it is best for me not to go on missions, or participate in the S-Class exams this year."

Master let out a sigh of relief although he still looked a little concerned, and I wondered how long it would take him to go to Porlyusica to ask her what is going on. I was still afraid of her telling him and then him treating me differently. Whether he would treat me better or worse with the news is still up for debate.

"What will you be doing for money until you get your clearance to go back on missions?" he asked looking at me curiously.

"Blondie's going to be helping me with the paperwork you keep foisting off on me old man. I'll discuss a payment method with her on how much she gets a month to make sure her apartment is stocked with everything she'll need."

I had to stop myself from jumping when Laxus had strolled in. Not once had he said anything to me about this, but I guess that helping him with paperwork is better than anything else. Plus it isn't exactly strenuous and can't really harm the baby. Not to mention that my background as an heiress made it so that I had been trained to deal with the types of things needed to run a household so helping with guild paperwork shouldn't be too different.

Master was looking between the two of us in shock, yet luckily he didn't have that crazed match making expression on his face. Instead he seemed to be a little confused, not that I can really blame him since everyone in the guild believes that we don't get along. With that belief it would seem a little strange for him to offer me a job. Earlier could be seen as him berating Erza instead of rescuing me, but offering me a job without an ultimatum to begin with must have Master's head spinning like crazy.

"Is that alright with you Lucy?" he asked me the look in his eyes telling me that he wouldn't blame me if I refuse. With the situation that I am in right now I wanted to laugh at how Master was treating me and offering me to stay away from his grandson. It made me wonder just how shocked everyone would be if Laxus and I actually dated, if this is how his own grandfather acts after he offered for me to do paperwork with him.

"Why not," I said with a shrug like I couldn't care less one way or another even though I was laughing on the inside. Laxus's smirk told me he understood my humor just as well, well maybe not completely since he doesn't know that I'm carrying his child.

"Well then Blondie let's go get to work," Laxus said dragging me out of the room. Well at least with him making me start right away it means that the girls can't corner me again. Plus Master won't think anything of me hiding in Laxus's office this way, since I was going to hide in their anyway since the wards would keep those I'm avoiding out.