A/N: Had a couple of pretty neat predictions about what was going to happen next. You are all so lovely.

I hope I don't disappoint with this chapter.

Also, I'm pretty pleased that I had a bunch of extra time this weekend to knock out three chapters for you all. (I'm lying, I've totally neglected my house and my husband and left my kids to eat candy and play outside in the dirt all weekend)

But don't get too comfortable. I really don't want to promise quick updates and then not be able to deliver them. The Life of a College Student/Mom.

Enjoy!

"Our-...marriage?" Lucy stood dumbfounded, obviously the only one in the room shocked by the announcement. She looked at Gray and saw that his small smile had disappeared, the frown set back in its place.

"Yes, Lucy. Silver and I have been working through the details, and we've finally come to an acceptable agreement." Her father acted as if this wasn't a big deal, that announcing your only daughter's engagement was a normal task that was to be handled without any emotion. "Both parties will benefit from this arrangement, but there is still much to be discussed."

Lucy couldn't believe this. Her father had only looked her way once since she stepped foot in the room, and now he was dismissing her. He was looking at Silver, who in turn was looking at Gray expectantly.

Words escaped her. She wasn't even trying to fit the bill of the "perfect Princess Daughter" by staying silent and accepting this arrangement with pride; she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs and let her father know exactly what she thought of him. But her mind couldn't concentrate long enough to process a thought.

Gray was staring at her, and after a few minutes of silence he cleared his throat. "Perhaps Lucy and I should take a walk." He uncrossed his arms and walked over to her, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. "Maybe you can give me a tour?"

Lucy stared at him, aware that her mouth was hanging open, but not even close to caring. She took one last look at her father, who had already turned his back to them, then nodded her head at Gray. She allowed him to lead her out of the study, then down the hall. They walked next to each other silently, following the long hallway down until it led them onto an open terrace.

Lucy all but threw herself onto the railing, clenching the top so hard and hoping it would break in her hands. She stared out across the landscape, unaware that she was actually looking at anything.

Gray came up next to her, resting his elbows on the railing as he, too, stared out across the huge pond that took up most of their back garden. They stood there together, silently, for an immeasurable amount of minutes, until finally Gray sighed. "Look-"

"I will never love you." Lucy stared at him, her voice unwavering.

He turned to face her quickly, "Good! I will never love you, either!" They glared at each other for several more minutes, neither one of them backing down.

Until Gray started to break a smile. Suddenly, the tension between them broke, and they both began laughing.

When the laughter began to die down, Lucy looked back out over the water. "I'm sorry."

Gray let out another small laugh. "No, it's alright. I'm just glad we're on the same page about this."

She turned her attention back to him. "What do you mean?"

"Like I was trying to tell you before, I wasn't told about this so-called engagement until we were already halfway here. My father got me into coming by telling me that it was an obligation of an heir to witness the coming out of a neighboring princess."

"Well, in all honesty, that's what tonight is about. So he didn't technically lie to you. It just seems as if there's going to be an extra announcement, now."

He turned to face her, his face appearing so much friendlier than it did in her father's study. "No, I was told that this was to be kept between us for the time being. I guess to make it seem less like the negotiations of two kings, and more like love."

"Well, isn't that convenient for them." Lucy sighed softly, grateful that she, at least, wasn't going to be forced to marry a tyrant.

"The truth is...I'm in love with someone else." Gray turned towards the house, leaning back against the railing and crossing his arms across his chest, one leg over the other.

Lucy instantly felt sorrow. "Gray..."

He closed his eyes, tucking his chin into his chest. "She's a witch in the town just south of Crocus. She's amazing. She actually predicted that something would come in the way of our love, but she was still confident in us. I'm not sure how she could be, but I've never known her to be wrong before."

Lucy wasn't sure what to say. She felt an overwhelming sadness for the situation to begin with, but now that Gray had admitted he was being forced into this with her when his heart belonged to another, she felt especially helpless.

Gray sighed once more, and then lifted his face towards her. His smile had reappeared, effectively raising her mood. She could get used to him easily; he seemed like an incredibly easy person to get along with and be around. "How about we go on that tour? Not much else to do, since our loving fathers have trapped themselves in that stupid study."

Lucy smiled back at him. Yes, she could definitely get used to being around him. As friends, of course. "Sure. Allow me to show you my home, Prince Gray."

He extended his arm for her to take, "After you, Princess Lucy."

"There you are, milady. A perfect fit!"

Lucy stood in front of her wardrobe mirror, watching as the maid shook out the back of her new dress. Of course it was a perfect fit; she had been standing here for the last two hours as her handmaidens had made last minute adjustments. But she wasn't about to say that out loud and spoil their excitement. No, instead she just smiled her practiced smile and took in her reflection.

She had specifically asked that this dress be modest and simple; she couldn't stand the poufy skirts and tight bodices that her father preferred her to wear. And since it was 'her night', he had begrudgingly agreed to her requests. This dress was form-fitting, but loose, hugging her gently from her chest down to her hips before opening up and flowing freely past her feet. The sleeves ran down to her elbows, covering her shoulders but leaving her collarbone and neck open. Her back was completely free, allowing her to move as she wished and stay relatively cool. The entire gown was a crimson red, trimmed in a light pink and topped off with a modest white sash.

If she had to be excited about anything tonight, then this dress was it. "It's perfect."

Her handmaidens bowed low, one of them brushing a hand under her eye. "You are most welcome, milady. You look so beautiful." Lucy met the eyes of her oldest handmaiden, the one who had been with her since she was born. The woman's eyes were misty, her face becoming red and splotchy "You remind me of your mother."

Lucy looked back at the mirror, trying to see her mother in her own reflection. She didn't really remember what her mother looked like, but she knew she inherited every aspect of her looks from her. Her handmaidens told her regularly: her golden hair, the heart shape of her face, her figure was all identical to Lady Layla of Magnolia. The only thing she had taken from her father was her chocolate brown eyes, which she hated because they were extremely plain.

Her mother had died when she was just a baby, so she never got to know her. She had grown up hearing stories about how majestic and regal and proper she was, but Lucy couldn't help feeling that that barely explained her at all. Unfortunately, she'd never know the truth, because her father was as emotionless as a dragon and nostalgic memories were not anywhere on his list of "Things That's Ok to Talk About".

"Milady, it's time!" Lucy was pulled from her thoughts as one of the servants peeked into her bedroom door, letting her know that she was about to be announced. It wouldn't really look good for her father if she was late for her own coming-out party. It'd be even worse if she didn't show up at all.

Smiling to herself as she thought about everything that would happen if she, in fact, did skip this party, Lucy began walking down the halls, toward the south stairs that would take her straight to the ballroom.

This is the story of how Lucy, Princess of Magnolia, died.

Lucy narrated her own death as if she were the author of book, trying to entertain herself before she actually did die of boredom.

She had been standing by her father's chair for what had to have been six hours (just one), as each and every male of worth attending came and introduced himself. There was Bacchus of Acalypha (who smelled like he bathed regularly in wine), Jellal of Hargeon (who was actually pretty sweet), Midnight of Freesia (who scared the crap out of her), Gray of Crocus (who winked at her as he bowed, before dramatically reaching for her hand to kiss it), among so many others. She forgot almost all of them as soon as they said their name, and she was sure they were only presenting themselves to her so that they had a chance to measure her up close. Like a piece of meat.

Finally, finally, the line ended, and her father made the announcement of how proud he was to present his only daughter, blah blah lie lie, and that the party could now officially begin.

Lucy watched as the crowd came together and started drinking, dancing politely, and talking in small groups. She didn't care that no one had come up to engage her in conversation, or ask her to dance; in fact, she was pretty thrilled that everyone seemed to ignore her all together.

She caught eyes with Gray across the room, who was pretending to listen to some random woman, and he smiled, nodding his head ever so slightly. Her excitement started to grow, threatening to bubble up and explode and ruin the entire plan that they had come up with earlier this evening.

She watched as he politely (although knowing him, he probably wasn't all that polite) excused himself from the woman's company, then started walking towards her and her father. His face showed a mask of contemplation, and he bowed before her father gracefully.

"Your Highness, I was wondering if I could have a word with you. My father hasn't been too forthcoming in his details about your accomplishments here in this country. As your future...well...business partner, I'd like to learn more."

His words came out perfectly: showing an extreme respect to fluff her father's pride while also hinting at an unsatisfied curiosity and turning this marriage into nothing but a business deal. Her father fell right into his trap.

As the King stood and started on his tirade about just how great he really was, Lucy started to take small steps backwards.

Six, seven, eight...ten steps back, and she was free to throw herself behind the giant curtain and take off running.

No one even noticed that she had left, and no one was following her as she ran through the abandoned foyer, out of the palace doors and through the front gardens.

She felt such an adrenaline rush as she came upon the palace gates, and the only thing she could think about was that she couldn't believe her and Gray's plan had actually worked. Lucy had never been this happy.

Lucy took a deep, excited breath, and then passed through the gates that had been keeping her captive her entire life. She smiled widely, looking around at all the darkened buildings, as four men, who had noticed her leaving and had followed her out of the palace, with hungry smiles and wickedness shining out of their eyes, stalked her from behind.

See? I told you not to hate on my baby Gray just yet.

Poor Lucy, though, finally getting a small window of freedom to explore the town and she gets stalked.

Where's Natsu?

;)