Chapter 29: Decline

"What?! Your arranged marriage to Natsu?!" Levy shouted who sat across from the blonde who was trying to hide under the menu list.

"Levy tone down your voice people are looking at us. They might think that we are some weird teenagers" Erza reprimanded as she lowered her menu list

"I don't care!" Levy replied to the scarlet haired girl before pulling down the menu list that Lucy has been using to avoid answering questions, "You, Lucy Heartfilia, tell us the whole story. Now."

Before Lucy explained anything, she looked at her friends who were so focused to her which actually made her feel awkward and so exposed.

"Okay, fine…" Lucy took a deep breath and exhale before starting to tell the whole story beginning from the dinner with the parents.

As Lucy shared her story, the girls would start laughing then later in a few minutes they would have curious looks making them ask certain questions which Lucy warmly answered back. In the story they learned about Lucy and Natsu's mothers' idea about seeing them both married to one another. They started laughing about the bargaining of Grandine about the years before getting married.

"So, in six years, wedding plans are to be made?" Levy asked looking at the blonde beauty

"Yeah…can you believe that, in six years I'll be married" Lucy suddenly slumped herself back to her seat as she looked at her finished drink, "I'll be a Dragneel"

Silence lingered for a moment as the three contemplated about the new situation Lucy and Natsu are in now. Erza silently ate her cake and watched the blonde stare away.

"Are you ready for it? I mean, the two of you are just in your first month as a couple. Talking about marriage is not really done at this stage." Erza commented as the blonde remained fixated staring at the empty glass

"Yeah Lucy…Look at us, me and Gajeel may be dating already for three years but we never had plans yet of settling down and tying the knots. I mean yeah, we want to be together forever but we're too young to plan for our weddings…"

"Was I out of my mind?" Lucy asked no one in particular, as she slowly sat up and her friends just stared at her, "I haven't started college yet and now I have agreed to a wedding?"

"Uh Lucy…" Erza called but trailed off when Lucy suddenly looked at her really intense

"I can't believe this! I fell to my own parent's trap! All this time they have been pushing me to go out with Natsu and now MARRIAGE?!"

"Lucy calm down-" Levy reminded but was cut off quickly by the blonde

"No Levy!" The said girl was taken aback but stayed silent, "I have been a fool…Agreeing to marry Natsu in just a snap? No…He has to work hard for it and what is the assurance that we are going to be together forever-"

"Whoa Lucy! Stop right there!" Erza called out loud making the blonde silent and wait for the scarlet haired girl to continue, "Did you just doubt your relationship with Natsu?"

"Huh? What?" Lucy suddenly stunned as she tried to remember what she was blabbing about, "Did I say that?"

"No you did not…but you meant it the way we understood it." Levy answered for Erza who was now holding a serious façade to the blonde

"Okay, I didn't mean it that way but come on, lets be realistic, couples fight to the point of breaking up." Lucy reasoned out but then Erza just raised a brow which made the blonde swallow hard

"Not all couples, Lucy. Remember that…And besides, you said you are to get engage after six years so practically we are all adults by then."

The three was silent for a moment as they weighed up the words of Erza. As time passed by, Lucy finally broke the silence and looked at her friends.

"I guess I'm just being overwhelmed with the idea that I'm going to be married in six years. I mean, I want it to happen but...in a different way."

"What do you mean?" Levy inquired

"I want Natsu to ask me for marriage because he feels like its the right time and not because of some arrangement we had with our parents. Its not just about being meant for one another but being in the right time and place." Lucy then looks down at her lap, as she suddenly felt sad and crying.

"I get your point Lucy…but what will you do now? Everything is being arranged already by your parents and so as Natsu's." Lucy then looks at Erza who was just silent as she was asked. Lucy couldn't give an answer quickly but then something snapped at her brain that she suddenly stood up.

"I know now!" Lucy claimed as her friends looked at her with wide eyes

"oh-kay…what do you have in mind, if we may ask?" Levy questioned as she moved quite far from the blonde

"I'll decline." Lucy stated before running off from her seat and from the diner they have stayed for that morning talk. Levy and Erza were left in surprise and confused as they watched their friend run off and leave them.

"Where is she going exactly?" Levy asked Erza without looking at the scarlet haired girl

"I have no idea…"

"Natsu!" Lucy shouted as soon as she passed the gates of the Dragneels. When she reached the front of the house, she called out once more before bending to catch her breath.

Hearing his name twice, Natsu knew that someone was outside and he knew who it was. As he opened the door, he saw a bending and out of breath blonde, "Luce? What happened to you?" Natsu came up to his girlfriend who was still out of breath

"I'm fine…" Lucy waved off as she stood up straight and looked at her approaching boyfriend, "I just ran"

"Why would you run? You hate running"

"Shut up."

"Alright feisty girl…what's up?" Natsu asked as he stood before Lucy, "You wouldn't run for nothing."

"I don't want to get married in six years." Lucy blurted out as soon as she composed herself. The male teen looked surprised, which the blonde expected, so she exhaled loudly before continuing herself but was beaten when Natsu asked quickly.

"Wait, what do you mean Luce? Do you wanna get married…earlier?"

"No. I don't want to get married anytime soon. I'm declining from the agreement." Lucy suddenly takes Natsu's hand, which surprised the male more but then he lets her continue, "I don't want to marry you."

"Wait what? Do-"

"Not like that baka…"

"Then what do you mean?"

"I want to get married in the right time and place. When we're actually ready."

After Lucy confessing her real intention, the two fell silent trying to read each other as they held to one another's hand. The moment could have been awkward for others but for the two, it was just the perfect chance for them to breathe. The longer the silence went the two felt more relaxed and confident.

Gaining all the strength and confidence, Natsu finally reacted and squeezed Lucy's hand softly making the girl look at him, "I get what you want…"

Lucy kept her eyes to the pinkette hoping that Natsu really understood what she really wanted. So she waited for him to continue, "Of course, you want spontaneity. No weddings in six years, got it."

Hearing what she wanted, Lucy slowly smiled at Natsu, which the male teen returned the gesture. As the two was about to share a kiss,a voice suddenly called out which made the couple freeze from their spot.

"Lucy? Natsu? What's going on?"

Natsu turns and sees his mother walking out of the door who was now approaching them, "Mom…"

Lucy quickly broke the silence and mentioned her intention, "Auntie Grandine, I'm so sorry but I can't go on with the agreement. I don't want to get married in six years or anytime soon." Lucy said as she stood along with Natsu to face the middle aged woman

"But I thought we agreed already-"

"Mom…" Natsu cuts off trying to get his mother's attention, which he did "Lets not force anything to Lucy."

"Auntie…Its not that I don't like the idea because I actually want to get married and I want it to be Natsu. But…" Lucy trailed off as Grandine gave a serious look to the blonde. Lucy slightly grips Natsu's hand tighter than usual as they saw the face of Grandine as if she is very disappointed and irritated. Seeing how nervous Lucy got, Natsu squeezed her hand once more and assured her with a smile.

Feeling the soft squeeze of Natsu's hand, Lucy was able to regain her composure and thought to herself that no matter what happens, she needs to do this, "I believe in destiny… I think it's sweeter to see a couple get married because they feel its time and its not forced. It's more sincere when they are actually ready for something like marriage. And I want us to feel that its time to get married and not because we were told to do so."

The two was barely breathing as they waited patiently for the middle aged woman to give any reaction. And for the blue haired woman who just eyed the two hold hands, Grandine tried to keep herself in character as the disappointed mother.

As the three stood outside the home, the day just got heavier as Grandine kept her silence. But soon enough, she broke it by lowering her head and secretly smiled. When she looked up, she saw Lucy in the verge of tears, "Well said Lucy…" then she smiled making the two smile back at her.

"Have you said this to your parents Lucy dear?"

"No…Not yet." Lucy sniffed as she tried to stop her tears from dropping but failed when she felt the tears run down her cheeks. But then Natsu wiped it away and smiled at the blonde, "No need for tears…"

"Yes…"

"Now go you two. Talk to Layla and Jude about what you have decided."

Reaching Lucy's house, the two went straight to Layla and Jude, telling them that they had some important matters to discuss. Lucy and Natsu started explaining to them about not being mentally ready to get married anytime soon. The two had to tell their emotions regarding the arranged marriage and how they felt it wasn't right.

"Mama, papa…We can't just do it yet. I know six years is still far from now but I just can't live in a life where something is planned like a wedding. These are the kinds of occasion where you don't plan it ahead."

Layla and Jude was silent for moments as they looked at the two teenagers. They knew in their hearts that their daughter isn't ready for such things and that she is still to experience many hardship in the relationship.

"Auntie, Uncle…I want to marry Lucy someday…and I was hoping that day would not be forced. I want to marry her because of love and not because of an arrangement." Natsu added as he kept his eyes to the two middle aged parents.

"Does Grandine know this?" Layla asked as she silently fixed her dress

" Yes…and she allows me, us, to decline." Lucy answered back as she wrapped her arms to Natsu's as she waited for her mother to answer back.

"Well then…never been happy for you to decline." Jude finally says as he looked at the two teens who seemed to be holding their breaths, "I'm so sorry Lucy for making you feel this way. You might think that we are bad parents-"

"No! papa, mama, I will never think like that. I know that you planned this because you just care for my future. But don't worry, I'll be fine no matter what the future brings to me." Lucy then looks at Natsu who smiled back at the blonde

"Don't worry Auntie, Uncle, I'll be there with Lucy facing any challenges in the future." Natsu said as he looked back at the two middle aged parents.

"Well then, no marriage in six years."

-End of Chapter 29-