Chapter 9: The Article

Things have been quite quiet in the guild lately. It seems instead of actually caring about fighting that Natsu and Gajeel have been more aware of their surroundings lately. Both of them seem to be unable to stay away from their mates, much too Team Shadow Gear's dismay because Gajeel is always inviting himself to go on the missions Levy's going on. The weird part about that though is the fact that Gajeel rarely ever takes any payment allowing it to be split between the actual team. I'm certain it has something to do with why all the dragon slayers have been tense lately with Wendy being the only exception.

Even Laxus won't allow me out of his sight, and I had thought before that I was around him too much. No matter who I'm talking to in the guild Laxus is always nearby and he hasn't gone on a mission in a while. Despite the fact that the Raijinshuu has definitely asked him to go on a mission with them, and he doesn't even allow me to pay him any rent. It seems the only time I'm out of Laxus's sight is when I'm talking with Levy or Lisanna and then the person watching me is one of the other slayers. It's driving me absolutely bonkers.

I've also been bored this morning because I've been waiting to read the newest edition of Sorcerer's Weekly, but I sort of forgot to renew my subscription with Laxus's address as my new one, and Laxus doesn't get the magazine. So far it seems no one's gotten it though because the shipment is late because otherwise I would have gotten one off of Mira.

"Lucy-san we want to talk with you if you aren't busy," the voice of the very mage I had been trying hard to avoid told me. Turning around trying to keep my nervousness in check knowing that the dragon slayers would sense it I gave a slight smile to the Raijinshuu's leader and his team behind him.

Looking into their faces I tried to determine why they would suddenly seek me out. Had they perhaps realized I was trying to avoid them and decided the best part was to ask to talk to me in front of other people, so that it would seem weird if I refused? Or maybe they had finally wanted to ask me just what was going on between me and their Laxus. Evergreen looked bored but a little curious, Bickslow's face was mostly covered so I couldn't tell his emotions, and Freed was looking at me like he was expecting me to bolt. Meaning he at least had realized that I had been trying my hardest to not talk to them.

"Um sure I guess, what's up?" I asked him trying to act like there was nothing wrong with talking to them. Like there wasn't the chance that they were here to warn me away from Laxus and tell me that I'm not good enough for him.

"We would rather talk to you in private if you don't mind," Evergreen told me or more like demanded.

"Uh I'm not really supposed to leave the guild," I told them trying to flounder for a way to get out of it. I really do not want to be alone with the team who practically worships Laxus.

I can tell that Mira is a little curious about why they are talking to me because her attention is completely focused on us even as she is cleaning up the bar as she goes along. Little miss gossip queen has been a little more careful about what she says to me in regards to Laxus lately, and by the very mischievous looks I've seen from her lately I wonder if she has realized how I feel about him. Could my defending him seem like something more then what Nakama would do for each other?

"That's fine Cosplayer-chan, Laxus-kun will definitely let us use his office to talk with you," Bickslow told me winking at me as his babies repeated cosplayer-chan over and over again.

I had to admit meeting in Laxus's office was smart of them and would make it so not even Laxus would know what they are saying to me, well unless if he demands for his team to allow him to stay which I really don't see happening. Laxus's office just like Master's have been sound proofed, although Master usually leaves his door open a crack so that he can hear people coming or going. It's why Laxus and I can talk normally when we are in his office because not even the dragon slayers can hear what is going on past the runes as long as the door is firmly shut. Instead of reassuring me that we wouldn't be heard it made me more nervous about what they were going to say to me.

"Laxus-sama may we please borrow your office to talk to Lucy-san?" Freed's voice drifted from across the room. I hadn't even realized that Freed had disappeared on us.

Laxus turned his head towards us with an interested look on his face and a slight grin when he clearly saw my uneasiness. Nice to know that he thinks his team wanting to ambush me is funny. I am so going to make him feel uneasy or something when he is least expecting it to get him back for basically laughing at me. Glaring at him I got mad when his grin seemed to get even closer and I could hear him give a usual grunt to answer Freed, clearly agreeing for us to use his office without supervision.

Looking between the three mages I wished the ground would just open up and swallow me whole. It's sort of funny that I can go face to face with a dark guild and not show them my fear, but something as simple as the man I'm in love has a group of bodyguards who want to privately talk to me scare me. At least they didn't seem aware that I was afraid of them though because I really couldn't explain it to them after all they knew I had forgiven them long ago for Fantasia, so the only logical conclusion for them would be realizing how I feel about Laxus.

Evergreen it seemed realized I wanted to bolt because she had grabbed my elbow and started to drag me up towards Laxus's office. Bickslow and Freed following us, but I felt like I was boxed in by them. Turning my head towards the guild to try and find someone to help me I could see Gajeel laughing at me as well, and he was keeping Levy-chan occupied so she wouldn't help me. My team would have been my next bet, but Natsu just gave a cheery wave and turned his attention back to his mate. Useless the lot of them sure if I'm in trouble where I can be physically hurt they will help me, but not when I'm being dragged away by guild mates.

Soon enough we had made it all the way to Laxus's office and when the boys closed the door behind us it felt like the clicking sound was signifying my doom. Tearing my arm out of Evergreen's grasp I stole the chair behind Laxus's desk hoping that it would keep at least a little distance between the three of us.

"Oi Cosplayer-chan why do you seem so nervous?" Bickslow asked his babies repeating, "nervous, nervous," behind him.

Before I could respond or really even think of a response Freed started talking, "perhaps Lucy-san fears our reputation considering that she is living with Laxus-sama at the moment."

Blushing deeply at his words and the way he said it made it seem like Laxus and I were in a relationship. If only that was true though I could die a happy woman really if Freed is acting so calmly it must mean he doesn't think I'm a threat to his relationship with Laxus, even if everyone knows that Freed is head over heels for Mirajane.

"Freed-san please don't say it like that, anyone who doesn't know the situation would misunderstand. Then again I don't see how anyone would think that L... Sparky would ever go after me like that after all he goes for strong women, but you know how the gossip is," I told him flitting my eyes away from him even as I felt the pain deep in my heart. Saying those words out loud, to the people who had known Laxus for a lot longer than I had made everything seem even more real, and reminded me that Laxus and I were in two very different classes. I just hoped that they hadn't heard my stumble with his name.

My attention was brought back to them however when Bickslow slammed his hand down on Laxus's desk making me turn to look at him with wide eyes. I had never seen Bickslow look so angry before and it was actually pretty terrifying. Just like everyone else he has to agree that Laxus and I just don't suit each other, and he was angry that I had even implied that Laxus could be mistaken for liking something like me.

"Cosplayer-chan never talk about yourself like that again. A weak woman wouldn't have been able to beat me in Fantasia, or help Cana-chan beat Freed and I during the S-Class games. She definitely wouldn't have been able to summon two zodiac spirits at once and still have enough magic left over to do that spell you used, and you would have been able to use it if Raven Tail hadn't cheated. Not to mention that a weak woman wouldn't have been able to help keep Natsu and Gray inline the way you do. Laxus would be lucky if someone mistook you two for having a relationship," he told me and he must have been really angry because his babies didn't even copy him like they tended to.

Locking my eyes with Bickslow and the other two I was shocked. I had certainly not expected Bickslow to be angry at me for implying that I was weak. Sure I expected that sort of reaction from my own team if they heard me say something like that, but Bickslow and I rarely ever talked so it was shocking. Yet by the looks on Evergreen's and Freed's faces they completely agreed with him. I know that I am strong in my own way, but I'm still certainly not the type of woman Laxus would go after, so I think he only said Laxus was lucky to be nice. Laxus could have his pick of any female in all of Fiore, so why would he settle for me?

"Um why don't we talk about whatever it is you guys need to talk with me about," I said nervously. I really didn't need them to try and convince me more because they would just make me hope that Laxus could actually see me that way one day.

The glances the Raijinshuu shared told me that they knew exactly what I was doing, but they didn't argue with it to my relief. It is a little weird that Laxus's bodyguards would be trying so hard to reassure me that I am strong, especially with the context of why they think I don't believe it. I just meant to imply to them that I'm not really Laxus's type and they took it a little deeper then I had intended.

Freed turned to look at me obviously deciding that he would start it off, "well Lucy-san with you having to stay with Laxus-sama for your protection we thought it would be nice to get to know you better. It would be a little strange for all of us if we came to visit Laxus-sama and the relationship between us was strained."

I had to admit Freed was right, but I didn't actually want to get close to Laxus's team. Not because I held any resentment to any of them or anything like that, what I knew of them showed that they were loyal to a fault and very kind. Yet Freed especially made me nervous because of how smart he was. My own team was too dense to pick up on underlying attraction, and apparently the whole guild was as well not realizing that the original fights between Laxus and I had been sexual tension. Freed though would certainly be able to pick it up if he knew me better like they were planning, Evergreen might as well considering that she isn't as dense as Erza. Really there are so many people who never seemed to pick up on it before, but should have.

Before I could think of an answer to him though that would help me out as well I felt the ground shaking under me. Now logically I should have been worried about someone attacking the guild, but you don't live in Fairy Tail for long before you recognize the tremors that come from Master's anger. I wonder what poor fool has set Master off this time and what exactly they could have done to get him this angry.

"LAXUS," his voice called out making me jump and turn to the Raijinshuu with wide eyes. Not even giving them a chance to respond I found myself stumbling out of Laxus's chair and running the short way to Master Makarov's office. I had no idea why I was doing it, or rather I was afraid that if Master was mad at Laxus that he would exile Laxus from the guild once again and I just don't want to lose Laxus especially not now.

Yet at Master's door I found myself standing there wondering what I should do. It's not like I could just barge into the Master's office after he angrily called for Laxus without it seeming really weird. The Raijinshuu is probably already suspicious about why I had left so suddenly. Leaning against the wall I watched a very confused looking Laxus heading up to his grandfather's office, the look he gave me telling me that he had absolutely no idea what he could have done to set his grandfather off. Watching as Laxus walked into the room everything inside of me told me to follow him, but instead I just found myself sinking to the floor to wait for Laxus to come back out.

Laxus had been patiently waiting for his team to finish with his mate when he had felt his grandfather's anger. Looking around the guild he had wondered what poor fool had set his grandfather off this time, but didn't really care because he wanted to see Lucy again. Really what could his team want with her all of a sudden, and why talk to her where no one could hear their conversation? If they set her off in any way or upset her they were going to find out that they would have hell to pay.

"LAXUS," his grandfather's voice called out making him glance upwards in confusion. As far as he knew he hadn't done anything lately to set his grandfather off. Unless if he had found out that Laxus had found his mate and not told him, but he didn't see his grandfather being angry enough over that to send tremors throughout the guild.

Seeing the guild looking at him with wide eyes he decided it was best just to head up there now and get this over with. No point worrying about something he couldn't control without knowing exactly what he could have done that was so wrong. Walking up the stairs he was a little surprised to see Lucy standing beside his grandfather's office and tried to convey with his eyes that he had no idea what was going on. Walking into the office he hoped it didn't take too long because he wanted to see why Lucy had been waiting outside his grandfather's office after he had been angrily called up.

"What do you want Jiji?" he asked looking around the office hoping it would give him some clue to what was going on. All he could tell though was that his grandfather had been messing around again considering that an open Sorcerer's Weekly was on his desk.

"I want you to explain this!" the old man growled shoving the magazine he had been looking at into Laxus's arms. Waiting for Laxus to open it which he did with a sigh and then his eyes turned wide as he started to read the feature story.

A True Fairy Tale in the Guild of Fairy Tail

Story by Jason of Sorcerer Weekly

Cool cool cool it seems that the lovely guild of Fairy Tail has it's very own Fairy Tale happening under their very noses. This cool reporter wonders if the rest of the guild has any idea of what has been happening over the last year between two very special people. Lucy Heartfilia the cool and beautiful Celestial Maiden of Fairy Tail seems to have fallen head over heels in love, but not with the person everyone was expecting. No instead it seems that Heartfilia-san has had a secret relationship happening under the very noses of her precious guild with someone who other sources say she has never gotten along with. Is their animosity just a way to get their guild to leave them alone?

It's just so very cool a love story for the ages. According to her secret love's neighbor the two have been close enough in the last year that Heartfilia-san even has a key to his place. Said neighbor claims that he has never seen a cuter couple then the two and that they seem so deeply in love. Isn't it cool when you fall in love?

That's not the juiciest thing though apparently Heartfilia-san has now moved into said love's place, but when asked about why Heartfilia-san is now living with Laxus Dreyar. Yes The Laxus Dreyar grandson of Fairy Tail's Master Makarov Dreyar-sama, reporters were told it was for her own safety. Apparently Heartfilia-san had been attacked in her own apartment by unknown dark mages, and Laxus Dreyar saved her. Cool cool cool that her love saved her from such a terrible fate.

Now usually Heartfilia-san would be able to hold her own against dark mages with the help of her trusty Celestial Spirits. Yet Heartfilia-san hasn't gone on any missions in quite a while, and this reporter found out that it's because Heartfilia-san's magic has been on the fritz since the last mission she took with Team Natsu (who now has the added member of Lisanna Strauss read page 7 for more details.) Cool cool cool this reporter senses something more than magic being affected by the mission they had went on, which has been classified by the Magic Council so not cool.

The big question this curious reporter is asking is: is it possible for Heartfilia-san to be pregnant? Are the rumors of her and Laxus Dreyar true, and if so is he the potential father of Heartfilia-san's child. This curious reporter will have the answers to these questions next week after interviewing the lovely Heartfilia-san to find out if this is all true or just pure speculation because of her needing protection from Laxus Dreyar-kun. So Cool.

Laxus looked at the story as his fists crumpled the sides of it. He hated the fact that reporters found it fun to make up stories without basing them on fact especially since the story was what he had been secretly wishing forever. Unfortunately he and Lucy weren't in a relationship, and it was highly unlikely he could have fathered her child unless if he had slept with her when he was drunk. Maybe he should have kept asking her more often even if they hadn't the first time she had brought him home drunk. Although now that he thought about it there had been that one night that he had woken up in his bed naked, and he had definitely smelt Lucy's scent in his house. He had just put it off though since she had acted normally the next day when she had went off on a mission with her team.

Taking his eyes off of the article in his hands he looked into the angry face of his grandfather wondering what he could say. The article was wrong in the sort of relationship he had with Lucy, but it was right about her having the key to his apartment before she had moved in and that they had been meeting up for over a year. Yet until he talked to Lucy and made sure that there was no chance she was pregnant and that they hadn't slept together well he was drunk, he couldn't actually deny why his grandfather was angry.

"I need to go talk to Lucy," he told his grandfather turning around to leave before his grandfather's giant arm grabbed him and dragged him back.

The glare his grandfather was giving him told him he should choose his next words wisely. "Are you telling me that this article is true?!" his grandfather demanded glaring at him with his magic radiating around him.

"Somewhat, but Lucy and I aren't in an actual relationship. We're friends however I can't deny that there is a chance we could have slept together well I was drunk," he told his grandfather sheepishly running a hand through his hair. He felt like a thirteen year old boy again getting the talk from his grandfather for the first time and being completely embarrassed.

"How is it that could have happened?" his grandfather was still obviously angry, but trying to keep his anger in check until he had all the facts.

"Look Lucy and I became friends over a year ago when she helped me get home after I had passed out drunk. I confronted her the next day about it after having smelt her in my apartment and the underlying scent of sex, but she blushingly told me she was a virgin and that nothing had happened. After that it kept happening and after the fourth time of her having to awkwardly dig through my pants for the key I gave her, her own copy. Then we slowly became friends and met up at least once a month for a meal, but we didn't tell anyone because we thought you would all think we were together and continued to act like we hated each other when in the guild."

He replied although by the answering glare on his grandfather's face Laxus was certain his grandfather knew he left things out. Like how he had started to fall in love with Lucy during that time, sure he had been attracted to her before that which is why he had actually been hoping they had slept together so he could ask her out. Yet as he got to know Lucy as herself he found himself falling in love with her and after a while he realized that she was his mate.

"Laxus," his grandfather began his face softening slightly, "do you love her?"

Turning his head away from his grandfather he could feel his cheeks flaming. Obviously his grandfather had seen something in his eyes or his face that had given away his true feelings for the spunky blonde. "Yeah I do, she's my mate Jiji."

The look his grandfather was giving him was comical his eyes all wide and his face flushed with excitement as he stared at Laxus. Then his face turned confused and he looked at Laxus with his head tilted to the side. Then he exploded again, "if she is your mate, why the hell aren't you two together?"

Flinching Laxus was glad that his grandfather's office was sound proof otherwise his little mate would know the truth. Not to mention that if there was any chance that she was pregnant that she might have run off after he had said he needed to talk to her. He wondered if she knew she was pregnant already, if she actually was, and if so why she was hiding it from him. Feeling a pain in his heart he wondered if maybe she didn't like him that way and felt like telling him that she was pregnant with his child would trap them together. Maybe she knew that he would demand they get married although more because he loved her and wanted a family with her then him wanting to do right by her.

"Because she's never shown that she loves me or even has any feelings for me Jiji. I know if she finds out that we are mates that she will feel obligated to be with me, and I want her to want to be with me because she loves me," he admitted his voice soft as he told someone how he really felt for the first time.

He knew that Lucy had wondered for a long time why he had never told his team about their friendship even if she never came out and asked him. Her team she couldn't tell because they were incapable of keeping secrets, but they both knew his team would do anything for him. That was sort of the problem though, they would do anything for him meaning if they found out how he felt about the blonde they might have tried to drag her own feelings out. Since he knew when he was around her without the front they held in front of the guild that his love for her was on his face, and apparently one of his neighbours had realized that as well.

"Laxus, go find Lucy. Show her the article since we can't really hide it and see how she reacts. If it's false ask her out and say you want to give it a chance, and if it's true then tell her that your mates. Heck have Natsu tell her if you think she won't believe you because then she will know that you love her since a dragon slayer can't recognize his mate until they are already in love," his grandfather told him softly before pushing him towards the door. Throwing the article to him at the last minute.

Before he left though Laxus remembered something that put his fears to rest something that Lucy had done when Lisanna asked if the guy who took her virginity was the one she had told Lisanna and flame brain about. If she had told other people she had feelings for him then it meant his little mate had been bottling up how she felt just like he had been. He wasn't going to take his grandfather's advice though he would use the mate card as a last resort he wanted her to believe his feelings without knowing his dragon side had chosen her. Wanted her to know just how much he loved her.

Hearing the door behind me open I lifted up my head smiling as Laxus came out of the room. He didn't look like he was in trouble although he did look like he had a lot on his mind. Jumping up to stand beside him I was a little surprised when he wrapped his arms around me and buried his head into my hair.

"Um Laxus," I squeaked confused at what he was doing.

"You smell so good," he whispered so lowly that I wasn't even sure if I had heard him correctly, but it still made me blush like crazy.

Pushing against him a little I felt my face turn even redder as he held me tighter against him for a moment before he let me go. I was going to ask him what was going on, but he shoved the Sorcerer Weekly into my face turning away from me and it almost looked like he was blushing. Looking at the article I was shocked to see a picture of Laxus and I under the heading A True Fairy Tale in the Guild of Fairy Tail. At first I had thought maybe the picture was what had him so embarrassed or us being linked together in that way, but after reading the article I felt myself going white as a sheet.

I had been expecting speculations about my relationship with Laxus once it became public that I was living with him, but I hadn't expected for anyone to realize my condition let alone Jason. Jason who had blatantly ignored me in the past but now he had found what he must believe to be a very juicy story and suddenly I was important enough to write about. Maybe Laxus does remember us sleeping together the night of the party though. Otherwise he wouldn't even think it's possible for me to be pregnant, or maybe he hadn't even read the article and just wanted to warn me about the rumours.

"So?" he asked looking me in the eye as I put the article down and tried to slow my heart.

"So what?" I asked trying to play dumb for a moment the fear taking over once again.

"Lucy," he growled at me his eyes flashing with irritation, "are you pregnant or not?"

Gulping I wondered if I would be able to run or not, but by the way he suddenly grabbed my hand I knew he had realized my intent. Glancing around I was glad to see that we were alone, but that didn't mean that Gajeel and Natsu weren't eavesdropping on our conversation.

"You remember us sleeping together then?" I asked instead trying to stall the unavoidable answer I would give him. My heart was breaking as I realized that now I would never know if Laxus truly loves me or if he will only stay with me for the babies.

Laxus's eyes flashed with something unrecognizable as his hand tightened slightly around my wrist, although not tight enough that it hurt. "No, but I knew it was a possibility that we could have. So you have feelings for me Lucy?"

It was then that I remembered that Laxus had been listening when I had been talking with the girls a while back. He would have heard me admit how I felt about the guy I had given my virginity to and considering that he hadn't asked me who the father of my babies was that meant that he didn't even think there was someone else I could have been with. My heart felt like it was going to stop now that Laxus knew how I felt about him.

Tugging my arm away from him I tried to run, but instead found myself wrapped up in Laxus's arms before he did something completely unexpected. Instead of teasing me about it like I thought he would I gasped as I felt Laxus's lips on mine. Our first kiss that didn't happened when he was drunk and it felt like sparks were going off inside of me. I felt like I could completely lose myself in that kiss before I remembered what we had been talking about and yanked my head away.

I tried to get out of his arms completely, but this time Laxus refused to let me go making me angry. "Damn it Laxus let me go!" I screamed at him wanting to run away from the humiliation I was feeling.

"Not a chance Lucy. I've been waiting too long to find out how you feel about me and now that I know you aren't going anywhere."

"Wait what?!" I asked him my eyes wide. He couldn't be implying what I think he is right. Because his words make it sound like he wanted me to have feelings for him.

"Stupid girl," he told me although his tone was affectionate, "I love you."

"No that's not possible. You're just saying that because I'm pregnant," it had to be that.

The wide eyed look he gave me and the whoop of joy reminded me that I hadn't confirmed it when he asked me. Why would he be acting like this before he even got the answer to his question? Although his face quickly turned serious again as he calmed down slightly.

"I've loved you for almost a year now Lucy and I will do anything to prove it to you," he said before gently kissing my forehead and walking away. My legs went weak as I watched him walk away I was so confused about everything and I wanted what he said to be true, but he was a dragon slayer and even if he thinks he loves me now that will dim when he meets his mate.